Summer Times

Spring semester came and went. It did not seem so fast in the middle of it but, now that it's over, the time flew right by.  This blog has been fun and will return sporadically throughout the summer. Here are a few more cuts ti brighten your days and nights!

"School Is Out" - Gary U.S. Bonds - Before Alice Cooper came along with his song of pretty much the same name (1972's "School's Out"), this 1960 ditty served the purpose of a Summer song.  It's a bit "lo-fi" and sounds like it was recorded at a party but most of U.S. Bonds's songs sounded like this.  Who needs stereo when you can turn this song really loud and just let it wail!

Mr. Bonds made a bit of a comeback in the 1980s thanks to Bruce Springsteen and his hirsute sidekick  Little Steven Van Zandt.  He had a couple of regional hits before "disappearing" for another two decades. He continues to work and record with Van Zandt. (RB Kamins)

"Slappin' The Cakes on Me" - John Pizzarelli - John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. (born April 6, 1960) is an American jazz guitarist and vocalist. He has recorded over twenty solo albums and has appeared on more than forty albums by other recording artists. The son of swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He started on guitar when he was six and played trumpet through his college years.  He attended Don Bosco Preparatory School, an all-boys Catholic school. In his teens, he performed with Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Zoot Sims and Clark Terry.
He may be recognized from his iconic pop ‘jingle’ from the television commercial for Foxwoods Casino in CT; however, Pizzarelli is an accomplished jazz guitarist. I have attended many of his performances in various venues ranging from cabaret venue, to live radio show recording, to Tanglewood in the Berkshires. I have always come away fully satisfied by an evening of memorable melodies. 

"Slappin’ the Cakes on Me" is one song from Pizzarelli’s 1993 CD entitled Naturally: This song, composed by Dave Frishberg, is a simply great collaboration with his father, Bucky; his brother Martin; Clark Terry and Ray Kennedy. When listening to it, one tends to close his eyes and float with the soft tones that create an ephemeral state of relaxation.  Enjoy it here. (Joseph Gaffney)

"Don't Take the Money" - Bleachers -  It is really fun, upbeat song that has themes of life experiences. To me, this song sounds like summer car rides which makes it very appropriate for this week as we enter the summer break. (Megan Winslow)

This group - well, actually this solo act - is the brainchild of songwriter and guitarist Jack Antonoff. He's composed mega-hits for the likes of Taylor Swift, Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, Sia, and Sara Bareilles ("Brave", a favorite around the Kamins household).  He's got that knack of writing "earworms", songs that get into your head and won't leave, no matter what you do.  

"Grandma's Hands" - Bill Withers - Withers was a working man making wash room and air stairs for aircraft companies in the late 1960s when a demo recording of his songs made the rounds of many record labels. Rejected by many different ones big and small (although several of songs were recorded by a number of people, including Diana Ross), the tape eventually landed in the hands of Clarence Avant, founder of Sussex Records.  He signed Withers, hired Booker T. Jones (famous for his work with Otis Redding, Carla Thomas), and the singer-songwriter went into the studios to record his debut Lp.  The album cover (on the left) was supposedly taken at the machine shop where Withers was employed. Happily, the first song Sussex released was "Ain't No Sunshine" which became a huge hit.  For the next few years, Withers had a string of big hits ("Lean on Me", "Use Me", "Kissing My Love") but Sussex Records went bankrupt. He then signed with CBS Records but had a real hard time dealing with producers and did not have a hit again until he connected with saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. to make "Just the Two of Us", a tune that went to number 1 in 1981.  He retired in 1985 and, thanks to the great popularity of his songs used in movies, television shows, and elsewhere, he's been able to live off the royalties.  He writes a few songs now and then but does not perform due to a medical issue.

The song I chose is from that debut album, a group of songs that continue to resonate 46 years after I first heard the album. This particular song is simple, spare arrangements (Stephen Stills on guitar), and quite a heartfelt vocal.  (RBK)