UNMASKING THE NEW YEAR 2021!
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FORGOTTEN MUSIC #103: A TRIBUTE TO CURTIS MAYFIELD
I’m not usually a fan of tribute albums, but I recently acquired A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield from 1994. I enjoyed Steve Winwood’s version of “It’s All Right” and the Repercussions and Curtis Mayfield singing “Let’s Do It Again.” Whitney Houston belts out “Look Into Your Heart” and The Isley Brothers perform a soulful rendition of “I’m So Proud.”
Rod Stewart had a hit with “People Get Ready” and I liked Phil Collins’ “I’ve Been Trying.”
Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down after lighting equipment fell on him during a live performance at Wingate Field in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, on August 13, 1990. He died from complications of type 2 diabetes at the age of 57 on December 26, 1999. GRADE: A
TRACK LIST:
| All songs written by Curtis Mayfield except “Amen”, by Mayfield and John W. Pate, Sr. “Choice of Colors” – Gladys Knight – (3:52) “It’s All Right” – Steve Winwood – (4:21) “Let’s Do It Again” – Repercussions and Curtis Mayfield – (4:55) “Billy Jack” – Lenny Kravitz – (6:18) “Look Into Your Heart” – Whitney Houston – (3:54) “Gypsy Woman” – Bruce Springsteen – (3:34) “You Must Believe Me” – Eric Clapton – (4:28) “I’m So Proud” – The Isley Brothers – (4:57) “Fool for You” – Branford Marsalis and The Impressions – (3:45) “Keep On Pushin'” – Tevin Campbell – (3:21) “The Makings of You” – Aretha Franklin – (4:26) “Woman’s Got Soul” – B.B. King – (3:49) “People Get Ready” – Rod Stewart – (5:01) “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go” – Narada Michael Walden – (5:09) “I’ve Been Trying” – Phil Collins – (5:01) “I’m the One Who Loves You” – Stevie Wonder – (3:58) “Amen” – Elton John and Sounds of Blackness – (4:41) |
FAVORITE TV SHOWS OF 2020
CELEBRATING 42 YEARS OF MARRIAGE! CHEERS!
BUFFALO BILLS VS. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
[Buffalo Bills on Twitter] It’s Been A Long Time Coming (Hype Video Bills Dropped For Winning AFC East from r/nfl
The Buffalo Bills, led by Quarterback Josh Allen–the AFC Offensive Player of the Week…for the FOURTH TIME this season!–play the Playoff-less Patriots. For the first time in 19 years, the Patriots will be home watching the Playoffs instead of dominating them. The Bills are 7-point favorites.
NFL WEEK 16 (2020)
After the Buffalo Bills defeated the Denver Broncos 48-19 last Saturday, they face a divisional opponent in the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. The 6-8 Patriots won’t make the Playoffs this season. Cam Newton proved to be ineffectual at quarterback. The Big Question is how will the Bills treat this game? Will they “rest” starters to keep them healthy for the Playoffs? Or will they step on the gas to beat a bothersome opponent? We’ll see tomorrow. How will your favorite NFL fare today?
FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2020
My reading in 2020 was all over the map because of Covid-19. My moods changed and I read (and reread) a number of “comfort” books: Urban Fantasies, classic Science Fiction, and locked-room mysteries. I also read about how some of my favorite films were made and how Evil Geniuses are ruining our lives. This is not a typical list of my reading interests, but 2020 wasn’t a typical year. What books kept you going through the coronavirus pandemic?
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE KELLEYS 2020!
AND A WHITE CHRISTMAS, TOO!
THE CHRISTMAS SNOWBLOWING ELF AT WORK!
FORGOTTEN MUSIC #105: SLOW JAMS CHRISTMAS Volumes 1 & 2
No Holiday parties, no guests, no Patrick or Katie visiting us. This season, with the coronavirus raging, requires hunkering down. Diane has loaded up on food and other essentials so we don’t need to leave our house for awhile. So, it’s baking and cooking and listening to music. Here are a couple of mellow CDs perfect for these crazy times. How will you be spending the Holidays?
Tracklist
| 1 | –The Temptations | Silent Night | 6:02 |
| 2 | –The Whispers | Happy Holidays To You | 4:34 |
| 3 | –The Whispers | The Christmas Song | 3:48 |
| 4 | –Luther Vandross | At Christmas Time | 5:01 |
| 5 | –The Temprees | It’s Christmas Time Again (The Christmas Song) | 4:11 |
| 6 | –Donny Hathaway | This Christmas | 3:31 |
| 7 | –Nat King Cole | The Christmas Song | 3:11 |
| 8 | –Charles Brown | Please Come Home For Christmas | 2:38 |
| 9 | –The Emotions | What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas? | 3:22 |
| 10 | –The Stylistics | When You’ve Got Love, It’s Christmas All Year Long | 4:28 |
| 11 | –Margie Joseph | Christmas Gift | 3:27 |
| 12 | –The O’Jays | Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | 4:57 |
Tracklist
| 1 | –Alexander O’Neal | My Christmas Gifts | 3:15 |
| 2 | –The Whispers | A Very Special Holiday | 3:48 |
| 3 | –The Whispers | This Christmas | 4:18 |
| 4 | –Al Jarreau | The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) | 4:12 |
| 5 | –Charles Brown | Merry Christmas, Baby | 2:53 |
| 6 | –Al Green | I’ll Be Home For Christmas | 3:15 |
| 7 | –The Ebonys | (Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Year’s Ain’t New Year’s) Without The One You Love | 2:09 |
| 8 | –Rotary Connection | Christmas Love | 3:10 |
| 9 | –Brook Benton | Soul Santa | 3:22 |
| 10 | –Darryl Tookes | Merry Christmas | 3:14 |
| 11 | –The O’Jays | I Can Hardly Wait ‘Til Christmas | 4:40 |
| 12 | –Lou Rawls | Auld Lang Syne | 1:34 |
WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #10: THIS IS YOUR TIME By Ruby Bridges
On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges–a six-year-old–became the first black child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. Ruby was escorted by four Federal Marshalls while crowds of segregationist protesters stood outside the William Frantz Elementary school each day to shout insults and threats at a child.
This situation was captured in the iconic painting, The Problem We All Live With, by Norman Rockwell. Ruby was taught one-on-one by Barbara Henry, a teacher who came from Boston to teach her. The other teachers refused to allow Ruby to join their classes.
I found This Is Your Time moving and insightful. This is a book every American should read. GRADE: A