Solomon Burke | 30 Days Out

Solomon Burke, one of the greatest soul singers of all time, has died at the age of 70. He apparently died of natural causes while on a flight to Amsterdam, where he was scheduled to perform at a show with Dutch band De Dijk.

Burke helped define the sound of ’60s soul with songs like “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,” “Cry To Me” (which became a hit twice thanks to its inclusion in Dirty Dancing), “Home In Your Heart,” “Down In The Valley,” “Get Out Of My Life Woman” and others. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and won a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy a year later for Don’t Give Up On Me.

Associated Press story on Solomon Burke’s death

MP3: “Cry To Me”

MP3: “Since I Met You Baby”

MP3: “Just Out Of Reach”

MP3: “Got To Get You Off My Mind”

MP3: “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love”

MP3: “Home In Your Heart”

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Rockin’ the Stocking

Posted in Christmas with tags Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Butthole Surfers, Jackson Five, Otis Redding, Smashing Pumpkins, Solomon Burke, Tito Jackson on December 18, 2009 by 30daysout

When it starts to get close Christmas takes on an otherworldly, nightmarish quality, especially when you’re going in and out of stores searching for that “perfect” gift. One thing I hate is getting requests for Christmas – in other words, “if you are gonna get me a gift, get me this …” Hey do I look like friggin’ Santa Claus?

I was in a store the other day and went into a “Twin Peaks” -like dream state. Hoo, I was afraid that little dancing dwarf guy was gonna come out as Santa Claus! Scary. Let’s cut through the crap and haze and dissolve this nightmare with some rockin’ holiday tunes.

MP3: “Christmastime” by Smashing Pumpkins

MP3: “White Christmas” by Otis Redding

MP3: Seasons Greetings from Tito Jackson

MP3: “Up On The Housetop” by the Jackson Five

MP3: “Someday At Christmas” by Pearl Jam

MP3: WMMS Christmas Message From Bruce Springsteen (1974)

MP3: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Bruce Springsteen & Friends

MP3: “River” by Joni Mitchell

MP3: “Good King Wenceslas” by Butthole Surfers

MP3: “O Holy Night Cha Cha Cha” by Brave Combo

MP3: “I Believe In Father Christmas” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

MP3: “Presents For Christmas” by Solomon Burke

MP3: “Rockabilly Christmas Ball” by Dwight Twilley

MP3: “Come All Ye Faithful Surfer Girls” by the Chevelles

MP3: “Little Saint Nick (alternate version)” by the Beach Boys

Completing the Dream

Posted in Uncategorized with tags Bob Dylan, Dion, Mavis Staples, Sam Cooke, Solomon Burke, Stevie Wonder, the Impressions, U2 on January 19, 2009 by 30daysout

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This week we celebrate a moment of optimism and hope as welcome a new leader. But first we take this opportunity to remember a giant who helped make this all possible. Martin Luther King Jr. implored us to not be merely satisfied with installing people in places of power and hoping that they will make a change – he taught us that change must begin with each of us, in our own hearts.

MP3: “Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder

MP3: “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” (live) by U2

MP3: “Up To The Mountain” by Solomon Burke

MP3: “Abraham, Martin and John” by Dion

MP3: “Freedom Highway” (live) by Mavis Staples

MP3: “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke

MP3: “People Get Ready” by the Impressions

MP3: “The Times They Are A’ Changin’ ” by Bob Dylan

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30 Days Out (From Christmas): Soul Christmas

Posted in 30 Days Out (From Christmas) with tags Atlantic Records, Booker T. and the MGs, Carla Thomas, Christmas music, Clarence Carter, Holiday music, King Curtis, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Soul Christmas on December 23, 2008 by 30daysout

soul-christmas

Day 27 – In 1968, Atlantic Records was arguably the best R&B record label on the planet. With all due respect to Berry Gordy’s Motown Records, the Atlantic roster of artists created classic soul and R&B that topped the charts and rocked kids across the world. So some of the biggest names on Atlantic (and its subsidiaries Atco and Stax) came together in ’68 to put together the simply titled Soul Christmas.

First out of the gate was a song specificially recorded for the project: “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter. Although that’s an instant keeper, the highlight has to be the two tunes contributed by Otis Redding. His “White Christmas” is brilliantly bleak, and the arrangement of “Merry Christmas, Baby” set the pattern for many more versions to follow.

The original Soul Christmas is available on CD with some bonus tracks (thanks, Rhino Records!). It’s the second greatest Christmas album of all time, in our humble opinion. Our pick for the best? Tune in tomorrow, same Bat-time, same Bat-URL!

MP3: “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter

MP3: “Merry Christmas, Baby” by Otis Redding

MP3: “Jingle Bells” by Booker T. & the MGs

MP3: “Gee Whiz, It’s Christmas” by Carla Thomas

MP3: “The Christmas Song” by King Curtis

MP3: “White Christmas” by Otis Redding

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Famed Producer Jerry Wexler dies at 91

Posted in Uncategorized with tags Associated Press, Atlantic Records, Independent Film Channel, Jerry Wexler, Solomon Burke, Tom Dowd, Tom Dowd and the Language of Music, Wilson Pickett on August 15, 2008 by 30daysout

Jerry Wexler, the man who coined the phrase “R&B” and help launch the careers of Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke and many others at Atlantic Records, died today at age 91. Check out the rest of the story from the Associated Press. Wexler is featured in the excellent documentary about late producer Tom Dowd called “Tom Dowd and the Language of Music.” It has been playing on the Indepedent Film Channel (IFC) this month, so check it out if you get a chance.

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Review: “Like A Fire,” Solomon Burke

Posted in Review with tags Ben Harper, Eric Clapton, Keb Mo, Solomon Burke on June 18, 2008 by 30daysout

You know it’s a pretty good year so far when you get releases from two soul legends just a month apart. Hot on the heels of Al Green’s latest, Southern soul giant Solomon Burke turns in Like A Fire, where he is joined by the likes of Ben Harper and Keb ‘Mo on a batch of new tunes. The title song is contributed by Eric Clapton (although he doesn’t play on it) and it’s followed by “We Don’t Need It,” a Keb ‘Mo composition. Both of these are pretty good, but after that it’s kind of hit and miss. Unlike Green (on his recent Lay It Down) Burke doesn’t approach the power and majesty of his old Atlantic Records music; it’s probably because the material isn’t as consistent and strong. Another cameo appearance, by Ben Harper on “A Minute To Rest And A Second To Pray,” is OK but again here the material is only so-so. Luckily, the 68-year-old Burke is such an explosive singer that he manages to overcome all weaknesses, even if his guest stars don’t. Backed by a band including Danny Kortchmar on guitar, Dean Parks on bass and Steve Jordan (who also produced) on drums, Burke has a versatile group to back his vocal pyrotechnics. The payoff comes late on the album with “Thank You,” co-written by Burke with Clapton, a loping country blues with nice acoustic picking from Kortchmar, that updates the Solomon Burke trademark sound. So nice to have this guy still around, don’t you think?

MP3: “Thank You”

MP3: “We Don’t Need It” (with Keb ‘Mo)

Solomon Burke official website

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