Tag Archives: Anita Baker

Music Monday: November 18, 2024

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Anita Baker’s third studio album, Giving You The Best That I Got, was released 36 years ago in the fall of 1988. It ended the year as the #1 album in the country where it stayed for four consecutive weeks. The title track became the first & best known single which peaked at #3 that December. As much as I like the song, it is the second single that stands as my favorite track. It was a Top Twenty hit in April 1989 and features bass player Nathan East who appears on six of the eight album tracks. He has been a part of Eric Clapton’s touring and studio bands for four decades.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

An 80’s era singer that flew under my radar was Rick Astley. While I always thought he was quite adorable & swooned over the blue eyed soul sound he had going on, dance music was never my thing so I usually did not listen to him or watch his videos. But then his 1991 album, Free, came out and included a ballad I absolutely adore to this day. I was not alone in that feeling as it became a Top Ten hit for him, peaking at #7 in April 1991. It featured The Andraé Crouch Choir on backing vocals who were prominently featured in the performance video that was in heavy rotation back in those wonderful & magical days when music video stations actually showed them.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Speaking of blue-eyed soul singers, another of my favorites is Mick Hucknall. I fell in love with Simply Red because of his voice starting with their 1985 debut album, Picture Book. One listen to “Holding Back The Years” or “Money’s Too Tight (Too Mention”) and it is hard to believe that record will be turning 40 next year. As much as that first release pulled me in, 1991’s Stars, kept me front and center in their world thanks to the fabulous title track.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Anita Baker: “Just Because” (1988, written by Alex Brown, Sammy McKinney and Michael O’Hara).

Rick Astley: “Cry For Help” (1991, written by Rick Astley and Rob Fisher).

Simply Red: “Stars” (1991, written by Mick Hucknall).

Stay safe & well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2018: Day 20

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Hi, Everybody!!!  Welcome back to the countdown.

I follow a lot of unbelievably talented & creative women on Instagram, and since their pictures are so beautiful, I wanted to share a few with you.

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Courtesy of Julie @ Little Farmstead 

If you like simple rustic farmhouse elegance, then you need to visit Julie’s Instagram page, @littlefarmstead.  Her neutral palette is punctuated with natural elements and lots of texture.  She also shares life on her farm with her beautiful family.  If all that were not enough, this year they added a few baby doll sheep to all the fun.  And yes, they are as adorable as they sound.  Visit her IG page to see them & the rest of her pretty pictures.  Thanks, Julie, for letting me share your picture!!!

Now to today’s song.

Remember when we were kids and we had to wait ALL YEAR to watch the Christmas specials-Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and my all time favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas?  Once a year was never enough for me.  I hummed the music all year long, danced the same dance as all the characters did when no one was looking and replayed the ice skating scene over and over again in my head in the middle of the summer when winter seemed years away.

Over the years I bought the corresponding book, the DVD and the music CD.  I probably watch the special on average once a month and I never tire of it.  When I am having a bad day and cannot adult another second more, I climb into bed, get under my covers and escape into that beautiful world of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and the rest of the gang.  And after 30 minutes in the safest most perfect world I have ever known, all becomes a little easier in the one I have to live in.  And I make no apologies for that.

Here is my favorite song from this heartfelt special along with a few covers that deserve honorable mentions.

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The Peanuts by way of the Vince Guaraldi Trio:  “Christmastime Is Here” (1965).

Anita Baker:  “Christmas Time Is Here” (2005).

Shawn Colvin:  “Christmastime Is Here” (1998).

Diana Krall:  “Christmastime Is Here” (2005).

Kenny Loggins:  “Christmastime Is Here” (1998).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Christmas Song Countdown Day 5

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hello, Vixens!!!  Welcome back to the Christmas Song countdown.

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Today’s song has the ability to transport me back to the warmest part of my childhood with the very first note.  And that is no easy feat.  I grew up much faster than I should have because that was my road to walk, but once you see happily ever after end in a horribly final way, you never believe in fairy tales again.

But these childhood friends of mine were my safe place, where I was kept out of harm’s way in a world with kids who did not see me differently because I no longer had the innocence of a child.  In fact, they did not even seem to notice.  They kept me in their world, no questions asked.  That was the part of my childhood I needed to hold on to most of all.  You do not forget friends like that.

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Copyright:  Charles M. Schultz

My friends, the Peanuts, already recorded this song to perfection.  But many other singers have covered this song since then, and this artist’s version is by far the solid second.  Between the combination of her beautiful voice and Diana Krall’s sublime piano accompaniment, this cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Sarah McLachlan:  Christmas Time Is Here.

PS:  Anita Baker’s jazzy, soulful version is also a worthy contender.  It definitely deserves a listen.

PSS:  The first song of the countdown was Joni Mitchell’s “River” (read that here) with an honorable mention to Sarah Mclachlan’s version.  Michael commented on that post that Robert Downey, Jr. did a “hauntingly beautiful” version of River when he was on “Ally McBeal”.   I love Robert Downey, Jr. and thought I saw every single “AB” episode when he was on it, but somehow that episode eluded me.  I listened to RDJ’s version today and Michael described it perfectly. It is hauntingly beautiful.  So, of course, I could not keep a gem like that to myself.  You can listen to it here.

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you   🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!

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