Legacy: Billy Paul

Everyone’s heard “Me and Mrs. Jones” but I admittedly was never hugely into Billy Paul beyond his biggest hit. His work with TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) is also well known and revered but their releases were always a little too long and lavish for my taste. I was nevertheless pleasantly surprised recently to learn that in many ways Billy preceded Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield in terms of putting out politically aggressive, smoothed-out ’70s soul. After spending an afternoon listening to Billy– and though I’m certainly not an expert–I chose my top 5 tracks for The Guardian which you can read/listen to HERE. You were electric in the smoothest way possible. RIP Billy.

Doris Troy:What’Cha Gonna Do About It?

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I’ve always loved Doris Troy before I even knew her work. As a 12 year old this Pepsi commercial is seared into my memory (probably like all pre-pubescent dudes at the time.) “Just One Look” is so iconic and just a perfectly recorded song in so many areas. I slept on this one recently but it certainly has all the right elements that made her other hit such a fine recording. Can’t get enough of this one.

Rolling Stone: Give The Drummer Some!

Very excited and honored to contribute to this large group piece for Rolling Stone’s list of “100 Greatest Drummers”. The reaction was great, hearing people debate, praise and talk shit about the list. I wouldn’t have minded a few more funk or African drummers but I get the list’s purpose. Spoiler alert: John Bonham (above) is #1. Take a look at the rest HERE.

FROM DISCO TO DAFT PUNK: GIORGIO MORODER

Of all the artists I’ve spoken to, perhaps no other was a gracious with their time or whose history runs as deep as Giorgio Moroder’s. I recently spoke with Mr. Moroder at length for Cuepoint which you can read HERE. Thank you sir, HUGE HUGE HUGE honor.