Hi everyone, here are our lucky seven musical streaming* suggestions for the week.
Gratitude (2019) by Steve Cole (Genre: Jazz, Easy Listening):
“It’s during the times when we’re confronted with life’s hardest struggles that we learn to appreciate the humanity around us. On his latest album, Gratitude, saxophonist Steve Cole offers thanks for the people who’ve helped see him through some of his tough times – the loved ones, the musicians and collaborators who rallied around, and the often-nameless professionals whose job is to help and to heal.
Gratitude arrives on the heels of a health scare in Cole’s family. The successful battle left the saxophonist feeling rejuvenated, with a renewed sense of hope and faith in his fellow humans. That depth of feeling shines through on the album’s ten tracks, which joyously spotlight Cole’s gift for infectious grooves, soulful melodies, and vibrant pop hooks.” – From the Mac Avenue website
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The Golden Age of Light Music: The Lost Transcriptions – Vol. 2 by Various Artists (Genre: Easy Listening, Film Scores, Broadway Scores, Classical):
This album features light music from the scores of early twentieth century Broadway shows and films. This is the second volume in a series that highlights light music, and features music by Percy Faith & His Orchestra, Mantovoni & His Orchestra, The Cavalcade Orchestra and the Raf Concert Orchestra.
Songs in the set include Falling In Love with Love from the 1938 musical play “The Boys of Syracuse”, In The Still of the Night from the 1937 film “Rosalee”, April Showers from the 1921 Broadway musical “Bombo” — all by Percy Faith & His Orchestra, Play Orchestra, Play from the 1935 musical revue “Tonight at Eight-Thirty” by Mantovoni & His Orchestra and As Long As There’s Music from the 1944 film “Step Lively” by the Cavalcade Orchestra.
Note: this is one volume in a series and there are four volumes in the series and several other “light music” albums available in the Freegal Music Catalog – just search for The Golden Age of Light Music and you’ll find them all!
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The Collected Marion Meadows by Marion Meadows (Genre: Jazz, R&B, Easy Listening):
A collection of smooth jazz songs by the noted jazz and R&B songwriter and saxophonist.
Songs in the collection include For Lovers Only, Whenever Your Heart Wants to Sing, Keep it Right There, One More Chance and Wishing
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Tall, Dark, and Handsome (2019) by Delbert McClinton (Genre: Big Band, Blues, R&B, Roots Rock & just great music!):
“Delbert McClinton is a legend among Texas roots music aficionados, not only for his amazing longevity, but for his ability to combine country, blues, soul, and rock & roll as if there were no distinctions between them. A formidable harmonica player long before he recorded as a singer, McClinton performed with legends like Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reid, and more. McClinton’s career began in the late ’50s, yet it took him nearly two decades to evolve into a bona fide solo artist. In 1978, Emmylou Harris took his “Two More Bottles of Wine” all the way to the top of the country charts. Over the next years, McClinton placed material with stars like Wynonna, Vince Gill, Lee Roy Parnell, and Martina McBride among others. He has guest appearances with Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, BB King, Mavis Staples, and more.” – from the publisher
Songs include Mr. Smith, If I Hock My Guitar, No Chicken on the Bone, Let’s Get Down Like We Used To and Gone to Mexico.
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Back Again (2019) by Mac Powell And The Family Reunion (Genre: Country, Roots Rock):
“Mac Powell grew up in a small town in Alabama. His love for music began at an early age as both of his parents would sing and play guitar around the house. Mac soon began to sing in the local country church by day, and listen to his Dad’s record collection by night. When Mac was a sophomore in high school, he moved to Atlanta, GA where his passion for music and faith found an outlet in the band THIRD DAY. Over the past 25 years THIRD DAY has helped transform Christian music and built a devoted fan base while traveling the world many times over, selling 10 million albums, earning 4 Grammy awards, 1 American Music Award, 24 Dove Awards, and by being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Along the way, Mac has been honored to perform in front of millions of fans around the world and play music with some of the best musicians in the industry. Many of these acquaintances both onstage and in the crowd have turned from friends into true family members, and now it’s time for a good old fashioned Family Reunion! MAC POWELL and the FAMILY REUNION officially started in early 2018 as the next chapter of Mac’s musical journey. The Family Reunion is a band that has developed over the past several years from the musical brothers” that have been recording and playing live with Mac in support of his first 2 independent solo projects. The songs on Back Again are foot stomping’, hand clappin’ Southern roots country songs that clearly pay tribute to the early musical inspirations from his childhood.”– From the Mac Powell and the Family Reunion website
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McGear (1974) by Michael McGear (Genre: Classic Rock, Pop):
Michael McGear, for those who may not know, is the younger brother of Paul McCartney. Michael McCartney used the McGear stage name from the mid-sixties through the nineteen eighties to try and chart a musical path separate from the stellular one of his brother Paul. In the eighties, when he retired from the music business’ he began using his birth name again – Peter Michael McCartney.
About The Album: “Originally released in 1974, McGear was the second solo album by Mike McGear (McCartney) and was a more “serious” record than his work with the Liverpool satirical trio Scaffold, or his work with Roger McGough on the McGough & McGear album. Recorded at Strawberry studios in Stockport, (the musical home of the band 10cc), the album was produced by Paul McCartney (who also played on the album and co-wrote most of the material with Mike) and featured Linda McCartney and members of Wings, along with guests such as Paddy (“Pipes”) Moloney of The Chieftains. The album featured a selection of tremendous songs such as ‘Rainbow Lady’, ‘Simply Love You’, ‘Givin’ Grease a Ride’ and ‘The Man Who Found God on the Moon’. McGear also featured an inspired cover of the Roxy Music song ‘Sea Breezes’, the evocative ‘The Casket’ and the hit single ‘Leave It’. The sessions also spawned a non-album single; ‘Dance the Do’ (which featured Vivian Stanshall). The album features 21 bonus tracks, including 13 previously unreleased outtakes and tracks alongside singles appearing on CD for the first time.” – From the publisher
Songs on the LP include Sea Breezes, What Do We Really Know?, Have You Got Problems, Rainbow Lady & Simply Love You.
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Rhythm & Blues Lost Gems by Various Artists (Traditional Rhythm & Blues, R&B, Blues):
This 80 song collection from Silverphonic Records features some really terrific early rhythm and blues tunes from the era when the music that eventually expanded into modern R&B truly was a mixture of rhythm and blues with a dash of big band era horns!
Songs in the set include Let’s Go Steady by Piano Slim, The Bride Should Have Been Me by Quincy Jones & Carmen Taylor, Ham’n’Eggs by Skip Manning, Hot Wire Baby by Lil’ (Preacher) Roy, Love Is A Crazy Thing by Big Bertha, Candy by Moohah (AC Williams) and All Gone by Joe Morris & His Orchestra.
Videos of the Week:
Gratitude by Steve Cole
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Soho by Steve Cole
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Coronation Scot by Mantovani & His Orchestra
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Falling In Love With Love from the 1938 Musical Play The Boys of Syracuse by Percy Faith & His Orchestra
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Strike Up The Music by Sidney Torch & His Orchestra
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Be With You by Marion Meadows
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My Cherie Amour by Marion Meadows
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A Fool Like Me by Delbert McClinton & The Self-Made Men
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If I Hock My Guitar by Delbert McClinton & The Self-Made Men
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Back Again by Mac Powell & The Family Reunion
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Mess of Me by Mac Powell & The Family Reunion
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Leave It by Mike McGear
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Sea Breezes by Mike McGear
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Ham ‘n’ Eggs by Skip Manning
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Love Is A Crazy Thing by Blind Billy Tate
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Til’ Broad Daylight by Buster Smith & His Heatwaves
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Have a great weekend!
Linda Reimer, SSCL
REFERENCES:
Print References
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn
Online References
AllMusic: https://www.allmusic.com/
About Mac Powell & The Family Reunion from the Official Mac Powell & The Family Reunion Website, https://www.macpowellandthefamilyreunion.com/about
Gratitude by Steven Cole, Review from Mack Avenue, https://www.mackavenue.com/store/art7064
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*Freegal is a free streaming music service available for free to library cardholders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries. STLS member libraries include all the public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler, and Allegany counties — including our own Southeast Steuben County Library.
You can download the Freegal music app to your mobile device or access the desktop version of the site by clicking on the following link:
*The Freegal service offers library card holders the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day.
Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.
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