Laufey: It Was Just A Matter of Time

With her charming and playful personality and a penchant for smart, original, but vaguely familiar sounding music, it was just a matter of time before the world discovered Icelandic artist Laufey. She seemed to be mostly an undiscovered artist at least as far as the masses were concerned, but now even my young granddaughter knows who she is! Winning a Grammy for her album Bewitched in 2024 didn't hurt. On the other end of the spectrum, a duet with Barbra Streisand has made her familiar to an older generation as well. Laufey's new album is here- and she smartly released both the clean version along with the explicit one. Otherwise, it'd be a pass for me. I like her style too much , so I'd be sad to have to pass. 

Making Records with the World's Biggest Stars

What do the following legendary musical artists all have in common? Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Sting, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Karen Carpenter, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Quincy Jones, Art Garfunkel and dozens more. They are have worked with producer Phil Ramone. 

The now deceased genius producer and artist goes behind the scenes of American Popular Music and reveals stories about the creation of one iconic song after another. How he did it and how he worked with some of the most gifted writers, musicians and singers to walk the planet. He'll mention the exciting work behind something like Still Crazy After All These Years, and the reader needs to turn on the record to hear what was put into it.

Who is the artist Phil said was most open to feedback? Who was terrified to meet Ray Charles and why? What song took over a decade to complete and which were written in a matter of minutes? 

Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music is a fan's dream book! Phil and co-author Charles L. Granata make this one a must-read... and a must listen to.

Reevaluating Barry Gibb

A great producer and song writer "hidden" within the confines of a top selling pop group. A hit making group that spanned decades. Barry Gibb is just a talented man. That I think that may be news to some of you.

Today as I was listening to a recording of Dionne Warwick's version of the old Ruby and the Romantics pop hit, "Our Day Will Come", I was taken by the arrangement and the background vocals by Barry. Even though her album Heartbreaker was a hit, I had not purchased it during its initial release , nor had I heard her version of the song.

Granted, I was well familiar with the song as it had its last big hit version recorded by Carpenters in 1973. Long a favorite from their smash album Now & Then, Karen's vocal and Richard's piano made for a song just waiting to be released as a single. Of course, it never was.

Beyond Saturday Night Fever and the smash songs from the album, BeeGees hits were appreciated, sometimes really enjoyed, but not always a staple in my collection. Admittedly, I loved two songs by younger brother Andy Gibb: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" and his later hit "Everlasting Love". They were pop perfection of the addictive candy kind!

Toss in Barbra Streisand's truly stunning Guilty album. Now, I respect her as an artist, can't stand her as a political activist, but thoroughly enjoy this disc, as its associated with so many personal happy memories. Particularly the title song- a duet with producer Barry.

Then there's Olivia Newton-John. So many hit singles that I like, but it was late night radio's "I Can't Help It" with Andy Gibb that kept me mesmerized (along with Ambrosia's smash "Biggest Part of Me") during long late night drives while I delivered bowling leagues sheets to alleys all over Southern California. And who wasn't captivated by "Islands in the Stream"? The Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet was just too catchy to ignore.

In the year 2003, a new artist came to the forefront as we saw Michael Bublé cover "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" also ;written by Barry Gibb. The list goes on and on. 

So I say, forgive Barry Gibb and his brothers for the misstep found in their involvement with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and let's give brother Barry the respect he deserves.

Barry Manilow's Epic Fail

This has crossed the line. I tend to like some of Barry Manilow's 90's stuff, Swing Street comes to mind, but his recent Dream Duets is actually a nightmare.

The artists involved- everyone from Whitney Houston to John Denver to Marilyn Monroe are mere pawns in a corporate decision. The family members or companies that "manage" these departed artists need to give it up. The artists themselves may have varied in their decisions to participate or not. I hope for most, the answer was "No!" This project reeks of bad taste.

At least most all of Barbra Streisand's duets partners are still alive! And for as much as we fans of the Carpenters would like to hear more, be thankful that brother Richard Carpenter would never stoop to this type of exploitation of sister Karen Carpenter.

Barbra Streisand and Michael Bublé Partner to Mixed Results

What began with incredible potential ends up with mixed results. Michael Bublé is one of my favorite musical artists. When I'd heard he was teaming with Barbra Streisand on this old Frank Sinatra classic, I had a fair amount of hope for a great number. After all, who didn't love Sinatra's take on It Had to Be You when Billy Crystal realized he did love Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally?

Frank's subtle style worked perfectly. 

That same style works equally well when Ms. Streisand opens up the song. Truly, she hasn't sounded this good in a decade. Michael comes in softly to great effect. It seems a good pairing, right? It is until the song kicks into high gear with horns blaring and subtlety gives way to fanfare, including the now obligatory "I love you Barbra" moment. The song winds down, returning to the gentleness of the opening. 

This Partners-hip had a lot of potential, but it was lost due to a bombastic approach.  

Love is the Answer- Barbra Returns

No doubt about it: Mrs. James Brolin still has a beautiful voice. And she returns on September 29 with a new album and a twist. "Love is the Answer" is her first new collection since "Guilty Pleasures in 2005. It's full of jazz standards and classics you'd come to expect.

Now for the twist- whether it was Barbra Streisand's idea as executive producer or someone else's, and this is a great one; with the deluxe two disc package, one features a quartet backing and on the other, a full orchestra accompanies her voice. This is an idea that should be embraced by many artists. (And I only wish Richard and Karen Carpenter would have done this with some of their music. It can still be done- and it would be amazing. What a way to celebrate their 40th anniversary in the music business.)

The song list does not capture many of my favorites in the genre, but there are a few. Gotta say, though, I love the title of the disc. Love is the Answer- and it's only found in God, nowhere else. "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (I John 4:7b-10)

Oldies but Goodies

Oldies for a not-so-snowy day in Denver...

1. Ordinary Fool- Carpenters 2. Nothing Bout Me- Sting 3. This Time I Know It's For Real- Donna Summer 4. House of Love- Amy Grant 5. I Only Have Eyes for You- Art Garfunkel 6. How Can I Fall? -Breathe 7. If We Were Lovers- Gloria Estefan 8. Have I Told You Lately- Rod Stewart 9. Someone Like You- Van Morrison 10. I Believe In You and Me- Whitney Houston 11. What's On Your Mind- Information Society 12. Freeway of Love- Aretha Franklin 13. Day Tripper- Beatles 14. Good Vibrations- Beach Boys 15. I'll Be There for You- Rembrandts 16. Friends- Michael W Smith 17. Deeper Than A River- Olivia Newton-John 18. Someday We'll Be Together- Supremes 19. We Must Be Loving Right- George Strait 20. When Love Finds You- Vince Gill 21. It's Impossible- Perry Como 22. Night and Day- Temptations 23. We Can Work it Out- Chaka Khan 24. If You Leave Me Now- Chicago 25. How Sweet It Is to be Loved By You- James Taylor 26- Rock with You- Michael Jackson 27. Home- Michael Buble 28. One Hundred Ways- James Ingram 29. Through the Years- Kenny Rogers 30. For All We Know- Barbra Streisand 31. Cry- Crystal Gayle 32. Sunday Kind of Love- Reba McEntire 33. What If I Loved You- Joey Gion 34. September- Earth Wind and Fire 35. Show Me the Way to Your Heart- Scott Grimes 36. Last One Singin the Blues- Karen Carpenter 37. The Very Thought of You- Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt 38. Beyond the Sea- George Benson 39. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning- Chris Botti 40. Fly Me to the Moon- Frank Sinatra 41. Unforgettable- Natalie and Nat King Cole 42. Honky Cat- Elton John 43. What A Wonderful World- Louis Armstrong 44. It Takes Two- Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell 45. You Cant Hurry Love- Phil Collins 46. Hello Again- Neil Diamond 47. Come in From the Rain- Captain and Tennille 48. Rise- Herb Alpert 49. Poor Side of Town- Johnny Rivers 50. Cant Help Falling in Love with You- Elvis Presley 51. Biggest Part of Me- Ambrosia