Diane and I entertained friends last week, enjoying a tasty pot roast and lively conversation. The topics du jour jumped around a fair bit, as they always do when we get together, from recent goings-on in our lives to the body politic, plus a few forays into how life used to be. We all remember what I sometimes think of as the “before times”—i.e. before the Internet became a thing. Those were the days, my friend…
We also discussed various movies and TV series we’ve come across, including the one-and-done River, which first aired on BBC One in 2015 and is now available on Amazon Prime, Britbox, Tubi and other services. It’s a compelling mix of mystery and manifested visions, with Stellan Skarsgård—looking a helluva lot like my grandfather—cast as a detective dealing with the death of his partner, who’s played to perfection by Nicola Walker. (Side note/question: Has Walker ever appeared in anything that isn’t good? Unforgotten and Annika are both excellent, while The Split is stellar.)
River either introduced me to or reminded me of a song I either never knew or had totally forgotten: Tina Charles’ thoroughly infectious “I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance),” which topped the UK charts in early 1976. Early in the first episode, Stevie (Walker) sings it to her grumpy partner (Skarsgård) and, well, it’s a just a delightful sequence. The scene isn’t on YouTube, so here’s Charles performing it on Top of the Pops:
Anyway, after dinner, the conversation veered from podcasts to playlists and how, in today’s niche-ridden world, people discover new music. I recommended they check out several retro-R&B artists, as Jennifer enjoys the old-school sound, including Jalen Ngonda, Ella Thompson and Nia Wyn. I would have mentioned Stone Foundation and MT Jones, too, but didn’t wish to overwhelm them.
That dinner conversation and this blog are both good indicators of the subjects I enjoy discussing—mostly entertainment-related stuff. I can easily hold court on new releases and old favorites, be they singles, albums, movies and TV shows. Even now, decades removed from seeing an episode, I can easily dive deep into the not-so-intricate plots that pockmarked The Brady Bunch. (Crazy, right?)
Today, in fact, a few of my favorite singer-songwriters released teaser tracks for their forthcoming albums. Country artist Kelsey Waldon, who I’ve seen three times in recent years (and had tickets for a fourth but, due to illness, couldn’t go), shared the second single from Every Ghost, which is due from Oh Boy Records in June. “Tiger Lilies” explores how memories of departed loved ones linger with us, always.
Malin Pettersen’s “Free,” on the other hand, delves into the chains that constrain us: “Aren’t you tired my friend/of waking up yet again/to bonds and ties and restrictions/on how to live your life…” (The album isn’t slated for release until September, but can be pre-ordered here.)
One of my lifetime favorites, Suzanne Vega, also has a new album slated to hit the record racks next Friday; “Alley,” released today, conjures the moody gems found on her breakthrough set, Solitude Standing.
Old-school soul has been much on my mind of late, and not just because of recommending a few artists to our friends last week. Southern Avenue, whose “Upside” I spotlighted a while back, has a new album out today that I‘ll likely spotlight Sunday. While I’ve barely had time to digest it, it’s safe to say that “So Much Love” is one of its standouts.
Another album I hope to feature in the days ahead: trumpeter Michael Sarian’s way-cool Esquina, also out today. It’s ambient jazz, which I’ve found myself enjoying more and more of late. “Floating Ballerinas” is one of its highlights.
The Old Grey Cat 
One thought