Music

Today was a great AM to be out there.  It was very reminiscent of a Cape Cod morning, quite cloudy to begin with and some wind and cool temps (mid-50s).  As I moved along, the sun began to appear, with great streaks of sunlight glistening off dew-covered trees, bushes, etc.  Those were my favorite AMs on the Cape, cloudy with the ocean waves breaking on the beach, before giving away to late AM sunshine. 

The great mood-setter led me to put on some Aretha Franklin and I commenced to thinking.  I love Lady Ree and consider her right there with my Motown favorites (Smokey, the Temps, Levi), although she never sang for any of the Motown labels.  I understand not everyone enjoys the Motown Sound or "soul music"/rhythm and blues.  I like a lot of it!  I don't criticize those who don't like it, though.  But I don't understand how and why they don't like it!  Again, I'm not being critical.  But just listening to Aretha had me questioning.  When she belts out songs like "Respect," "Since You've Been Gone," and "Think," how can one sit still?  Sing, dance, clap, move!  To me, it's just natural.  When she slows things down a bit, for instance on her versions of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (I still love S & G's version, too) and "Spanish Harlem" (ditto Ben E. King), the music just fills my soul, my being.  It's great!  I feel the same way about Smokey and the Temptations.

Other artists (I'm using the term loosely in some instances!) have the same effect on me--sometimes.  Bob Seger and John Mellencamp are two of them.  They have some of my all-time favorites.  But when they are bad, they are very bad.  I like John Fogarty (of CCR and solo fame), but the only one that really gets me going is "Centerfield."  Of course there are others.

Some of Springsteen's stuff is similar--great to dance or move to, but....  I sometimes wonder if it's him or his band.  After all, his voice is pretty lousy to my ear(s).  Could another singer have had all of the hits with the E Street Band?  I'm guessing yes, but who knows?

There was an article in today's paper about how Bob Dylan is still out there, moving along.  I never could catch on to him.  I like "Rolling Stone," but little else.  And, it's not just the sound. 

But, I suppose, that's one of the cool things about music.  There's something out there for everyone, jazz, classical, Motown, hippy rock, everything.  Out to Smokey....