RIP Freddie Jackson

  Freddie Jackson was one of the best, underrated Quiet Storm staples the genre produced.  Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles book ranked him 11th for the 1980's (in the book that ends in 2016).  From 1985-1992 he had an impressive run of 10 #1 singles and 3 #2's.  His hit years ended after 1992.  One reason he never achieved household name recognition like Luther Vandross is that he didn't cross over to the Pop Top 40 charts very often.  His biggest hit, "You Are My Lady" did get to #12 in 1985, but he never had that big Pop hit.  I liken his career to Whitburn's #18 Jeffrey Osborne who had a bunch of R&B hits in the 80's/early 90's, but never a solo smash.  His nearest top 10 Pop hit was "You Should Be Mine" #13 in 1986.   Osborne did have a big hit as lead singer of L.T.D. in 1977 with the #4 Pop "Back in Love Again". 

  In 2011 I saw Freddie Jackson in concert as part of the "Men of Soul" tour.  Jackson shared the bill with the late, great Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne and Howard Hewett.  Jackson's was a strong set.

  Jackson could sing uptempo songs but his specialty were classic slow jams like "Rock Me Tonight" or my favorite "Have You Ever Loved Somebody".  He came along just as the Black Pop of the mid-80's was beginning to reach its peak.  By the end of the decade and early 90's New Jack Swing took over the charts and singers like Jackson, Osborne and others faded from the R&B charts.  The Black Pop era is one I love and Jackson was one the best.  I think he's somewhat underrated as one of the best R&B singers of his era.  

Playlist for 10/1

Alabama Shakes - I Must Be Dreaming

Swell Season - Forward 

Little Big Town - It’s A Dying Art 

Soul to Soul (1971 Documentary) 

Charli XCX - Music, Fashion, Film

Sam Smith - Hazel Eyes 

Ariana Grande - Petals

No Static at All: A Journey into AOR 76-86 (Cherry Red box set)

Neil Young - As Time Explodes

Neil Young - Second Song

Ken Pomeroy - Cruel Joke

Emperor X - Unified Field

Poll: September 1972 Songs

  In September 1972 I was 8 years old and living in Mannheim, Germany, where my Dad was an Army CSM.  I'm not quite infatuated with AT40, but I heard the countdown on Armed Forces Radio.  

Pop Radio Gold

"Burning Love", Elvis Presley : 1
"Back Stabbers", O'Jays : 2
"Go All The Way", Raspberries : 3
"Garden Party", Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band : 4
"Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly)", Curtis Mayfield : 5
"Nights In White Satin", Moody Blues : 6
"Everybody Plays The Fool", Main Ingredient : 7
"Alone Again (Naturally)", Gilbert O'Sullivan : 8
"Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)", Hollies : 9
"Saturday In The Park", Chicago : 10
"Use Me", Bill Withers : 11
"Get On The Good Foot", James Brown : 12
"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right", Luther Ingram : 13
"Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)", Looking Glass : 14
"You Don't Mess Around With Jim", Jim Croce : 15
"I'm Still In Love With You", Al Green : 16
"Power Of Love", Joe Simon : 17
"The Guitar Man", Bread : 18
"Hold Your Head Up", Argent : 19
"Goodbye To Love", Carpenters : 20
"Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me", Mac Davis : 21
"Honky Cat", Elton John : 22
"Run To Me", Bee Gees : 23
"Play Me", Neil Diamond : 24
"Rock And Roll, Part 2", Gary Glitter : 25
"Coconut", Nilsson : 26
"Beautiful Sunday", Daniel Boone : 27
"Join Together", Who : 28
"Black And White", Three Dog Night : 29
"Ben", Michael Jackson : 30
"Lookin' Through The Windows", Jackson 5 : 31
"Speak To The Sky", Rick Springfield : 32
"Popcorn", Hot Butter : 33
"The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A.", Donna Fargo : 34
"Motorcycle Mama", Sailcat : 35
"My Ding-A-Ling", Chuck Berry : 36
"Sealed With A Kiss", Bobby Vinton : 37

Ranking: Songs from Janet Jackson - Control

   After two middling albums, Janet Jackson finally broke through with 1986's Control.  Thanks to her co-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, she crafted a remarkable mix of R&B, funk, disco and pop sounds.  This album was a blueprint for many for Jam & Lewis productions with other acts.   And many female singers followed Jackson's style on this album for their own releases.  I always forget that there were only nine songs on this album.  A concise listen.

1.  When I Think Of You

2.  What Have You Done For Me Lately

3.  Nasty

4.  Let's Wait Awhile

5.  Control

6.  Pleasure Principle

7.  Funny How Time Flies

8.  You Can Be Mine

9.  He Doesn't Know I'm Alive

Playlist for 9/13

Raul Malo - Live in Nashville 

Margo Price- Days of Unrest 

Carly Pearce - Honest Woman

Billy Strings - So Much for Goodbyes 

Joe Pernice - Sunny I Was Wrong

Slayyyter - Worst Girl in America

Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit

Ratboys -  Singin' to an Empty Chair

Low Cut Connie - Livin In The USA

Peter Frampton - Carry the Light 

Cecile McLorin Salvant - With Every Breath I Take

Michael (2026 Movie)

Music Years of My Life: 9/11/01

 First posted in September 2016

We all seek comfort in music when tragedy strikes.  One of the things I remember most about September 11, 2001, was going to Borders to buy the new Bob Dylan album, "Love and Theft" in the late afternoon.  9/11 was a Tuesday, which back then was New Release day, so I did what was normal for me on a Tuesday, and go to Borders (or Circuit City) and check out the latest CD's.  It was odd that inside this big store people were going about their daily business of browsing books, magazines, CD's, etc., while over the store's speaker system was a newscast of 9/11 events.

The comfort of entertainment in times like that can't be denied.  For some it's as much needed as family, faith.  On September 21 the first benefit concert was broadcast, America: A Tribute to Heroes.  An unplugged/acoustic show, which featured many notable performances.  On October 20, a bigger event was staged, Concert For New York City, which had many powerful moments.

There were also patriotic songs post 9/11, mostly from the Country field. Two I liked were Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" and Aaron Tippin's "Where The Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly".

Many people have noted Clear Channel's infamous memorandum of songs which the company suggested radio stations not play. The list came out a week after 9/11.  In the end, it's memo didn't say stations couldn't play, say "In The Air Tonight" or "Free Fallin'", but suggested use their own judgment.  Still, as misguided as the their list was, it gives you an idea of how fragile the national psyche was in those early days. 

Music has always played a part in my life.  In times of stress and personal pain, music can soothe you.  We always go back to the songs we love.

Most Liked, Living Musicians

  The last time I updated this list was in 2023.  You'll always find someone who doesn't like some artist. So this list doesn't claim that all the names here are 100% loved.  But this is still a good sample of our most liked, living musicians.  

1.  Paul McCartney - It's very simple. He's a Beatle. But he also had a massive solo career. Who didn't love the Beatles?  Well, maybe someone out there didn't. But not anyone in my world. 

2.  Stevie Wonder - Seems to me that Wonder had already reached the "beloved figure" moment right after Songs in The Key Of Life was released in 1976

3.  Willie Nelson - Like Dolly, Willie is a Country music legend who is instantly recognized outside of his genre. A 2023 Rock Hall of Fame Inductee at age 90, he continues to tour and record. 

4.  Bob Dylan - The greatest songwriter who ever lived? Many would say yes.  But even if he's not #1, Dylan advanced what was possible as a singer/songwriter. 

5.  Joni Mitchell - Her battle back from a brain aneurysm in 2015 won her even more fans. And her back catalog of classic recordings has continued to find newer listeners.  

6.  Elton John - In July of this year, Elton finished a lovingly reviewed "Farewell Tour", which brought the nostalgia factor to new levels of admiration. 

7.  Mick Jagger/Keith Richards/Ronnie Wood/Bill Wyman -  Jagger & Richards are so linked that it proved impossible to separate. Ronnie Wood has been with the band since 1976. While Bill Wyman left the Stones in 1993, he is still part of their history.

8.  Ringo Starr - Again, like McCartney, he's a Beatle.  More than Paul, George, and John, he was the Beatle who carried his lovable persona into a solo career that is still viable. 

9. Bruce Springsteen - The "Voice of the Working Class" also known as "The Boss"?  It would be impossible to rank him outside the Top 10 with those credentials. 

10. Barbra Streisand - She amassed a huge, passionate fan base almost from the start of her career in the early '60s. 

The Rest

Adele

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

Al Green

Alison Krauss 

Ann & Nancy Wilson

Annie Lennox

Barry Gibb

Beyonce 

Billy Joel

Bonnie Raitt

Bono & The Edge

Brenda Lee

Buddy Guy

Carlos Santana

Carly Simon

Carole King 

Celine Dion

Chaka Khan

Cher 

Dave Grohl

David Byrne

Daryl Hall

Debbie Harry

Diana Ross

Dion DiMucci

Dionne Warwick

Elvis Costello

Emmylou Harris

Eric Clapton

Frankie Valli

Garth Brooks

George Benson

George Clinton

George Strait

Gladys Knight

Gloria Estefan

Herb Alpert

Herbie Hancock

Iggy Pop

Jack White

James Taylor

Janet Jackson

Jay-Z

Jeff Lynne 

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

John Williams 

Johnny Mathis

Kelly Clarkson

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds

LL Cool J

Lady Gaga

Linda Ronstadt

Lionel Richie

Madonna

Mariah Carey 

Mavis Staples

Miranda Lambert

Missy Elliott

Neil Diamond

Neil Young

Nile Rodgers

Pat Benatar

Patti LaBelle

Paul Simon

Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey

Peter Frampton

Phil Collins

Queen Latifah

Randy Travis

Ray Davies

Reba McEntire

Rihanna

Robert Plant & Jimmy Page

Rod Stewart

Ronald & Ernie Isley

Sade

Shakira

Shania Twain

Sheryl Crow

Smokey Robinson

Snoop Dogg

Steven Tyler & Joe Perry

Steven Van Zandt

Stevie Nicks

Sting

Taylor Swift

Tim McGraw

Tom Jones

Van Morrison

Vince Gill

Yo-Yo Ma