Tuesday, July 15, 2008

bubbaTUNESday - Point Yer Sisters Part 2 Priority

While their previous album Energy touched on rock and roll while keeping a bit poppy (Not poopy) The Pointer Sisters launched an attack on the rock and roll side of things, and why the hell not? They could sing just about anything and with so many great songs out there, why not break a mold and carry on. Unfortunetly for them they ended up with a big old dud on their hands Priorty didn't launch any real hit singles "Who Do You Love" hit #105 and "Blind Faith" hit #106 but I'm here to tell you if you own one Pointer Sisters album I'd go with this one - just for the singing style and the out front way the sisters push their whole attitude. I am also here to tell you I love Priority!

bub130 Pointer Sisters - PRIORITY (1979; July 15, 2008)
Here is my favorite of our two delicious Sisters la Pointer albums, opening with some ring wrunging guitar and drums June starts a growling and singing right from the beginning - "Who Do You Love" opens up Priority on a kick it kind of note, just one listen as the piano kicks in, the guitar kicks in and June starts crooning, it's totally fun... and not unlike Tanya Tucker's take into rock and roll on her Tear Me Apart album (also 1979) this isn't so wild in the rock and roll arena - I mean it's not Metallica, but I guess when you are used to an artist in a certain genre some of this comes as a surprise and "Who Do You Love" with its uber feisty delivery is certainly a surprise.

Then the sisters take a Bob Segar tune "All Your Love" to just as super extreme measures wringing out the emotion with their super cool voices though making it a tad of blues/rock rather than straight up rock - you know kind of like Rolling Stones or Bob Segar. Plus this one is sung by Ruth in her smokey little voice with a bit of a more Benatar-ish rasp.

The rugged take over comes back a few notches with Anita's sweet voice on "Dreaming As One" - a nice little ballad that comes off far from the sacharine ballads of time. It's just a lovely little song to bring it down a notch.

Then we move into some super cool territory with a Graham Nash tune "Turned Up Too Late" - a sassy little number that effects the conkles of my bitter heart. "Hey baby what are you blind/ how long you been gone/ I'm not the returning kind/ I don't need you to lean on".. "You come to me with eyes all watery/ do you believe I'll fall in/ poor little thing so out of date/ now I can say your love has/ turned up too late.." But there's even better lyrics to be had:

"if you were the sun and moon/ I'd still cloud over/
rain would still fall down too soon/ and we would just grow colder"

and my ultimate fav - "Hey baby I ain't ashamed/ Of being turned down/ I hope you got the same strength/ You're gonna need it now.." once again sassy pants Pointer.

Then should someone doubt they were going for a more rocking sound they put themselves up to ridicule by doing a cover of the Rolling Stones "Happy" but should you want to laugh at the notion of the Pointers taking on the Richards/Jaggar let me tell you they make it their own and totally nail it. The song was even released as a single in the UK but like most of the material here it didn't do anything chart wise.

"Blind Faith" was the first single and it should've been a hit, I just don't understand how some things never make it. Of course it doesn't hurt that it's Ruth singing and she is ultimately my fav singer in the group - I mean come on "Automatic" and that man voice, she's practically the black Alison Moyet or is Alison the white June Pointer? - Anyhoos, "Blind Faith" has everything including the other Pointers "bop shoo bopin'" behind Ruth's sassy (yes still sassy) vocals on the sassy (yes still sassy) lyrics.

The next song "Don't Let A Thief Steal Into Your Heart" has made its way into my heart as one of my all time Pointer Sister songs. Opening with a semi menacing rock guitar that turns bluesy you have Anita yelling "yeah" before breaking into a catchy chorus - "don't let a theif into your heart/ or you may end up broken hearted/ don't let a whisper tear you apart/ or you will wind up right back where you started..." Then the verses and the catchiness with Anita's high voice and Ruth's low growl singing simutaneously - it sends chills right down the point of - er spine.

The Pointer Sisters kind of knew about formula when they opted to record another Bruce Springsteen song, this time turning to "(She's Got) The Fever" which is a long steamy little song that was never going to be a single but sure as heck makes a great song. In fact when I initially did our first Pointer Sisters Bubbatunes compilation On Fire, it was the only song on there from this album (but I didn't have the album then so what did I know about how great this is) - and now I'm kind of glad I did, as it really is a great song and full of that Pointer Power. Oh and umm Ruth sings the lead (go figure).

The whole gloriousness that is Priority ends with the riporous "The Shape I'm In" full of spicy lyrics and rockin' vibes - it's the perfect ending to a great overlooked album.

And now you like me, the Bradle that I am, can enjoy the greatness that is Pointer Sisters Priority (with lyrics and artwork - as this poor puppy will probably never see the light of day on CD).

Pointer Sisters - Priority (bub 130)
Track List:
01. Who Do You Love 02. All Your Love 03. Dreaming As One 04. Turned Up Too Late 05. Happy 06. Blind Faith 07. Don't Let A Thief Steal Into Your Heart 08. (She's Got) The Fever 09. The Shape I'm In

Download POINTER SISTERS - PRIORITY

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posted by swivek @ 11:41 AM 0 comments

bubbaTUNESday - Point Yer Sisters Part 1 - Energy

The Pointer Sisters may not be typical music fare for anyone around my immediate vicinity but start singing little ditties like "I'm So Excited" or "Neutron Dance" and you can bet there's going to be some jiggy going on.

Personally I love these gals in each and everyone of their incarnations - that's right they've had their fair share of changing around in their long career - it all began with a sort of doo wap funk quartet that ended in 1978 when sister Bonnie went solo, then it went pop/rock for about two minutes before going all dancey pop and soul in the late 80's...

Two of their best albums appeared in a more rock vein, the first was 1978's Energy which really kicked the girls (now June, Anita and Ruth only) into the stratosphere with their version of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire." The album that followed that, Priority, was even more rock orientated and it's now one of my personal favs - and because they are both extremely rare (Priority isn't on CD at all) to find on CD, they've been added to the Bubbatunes line up...

and here is our first little piece of pointer paradise -

bub129 Pointer Sisters - Energy (1978; July 15, 2008)

Opening with a jumpy bass line and then an electric guitar of immense 1978 proportions, "Lay It On The Line" with sassy Ruth vocals about being a bad girl, it's quite apparant this isn't the old Pointer Sisters with thrift store 40s garb and doo wop style, but beneath the crunchy guitar solos still lies some incredible harmony vocals by the Sisters Pointer and with a whole new fervor to boot this is why they were about to come into their own in mainstream pop.

The girls start sharing vocal duty on "Dirty Work" - "I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah" - a song written by Don Fagen but one I recognized immediately when I got on another strange kick and started buying Melissa Manchester albums. (Don't judge me) - but the girls make it all their own - with the whole lusting little song and it keeps going on and on until the hip cool ending.

"Hypnotized" by Bob Welch starts pretty funky and when Anita starts singing in her smoky voice - I'm all ears. It's all kind of spooky when the other girls start singing back up and the blues guitar kicks in, but it's a real highlight.

The interesting ballad "As I Come Of Age" follows with the girls all sharing harmony vocals - no leads or anything, but the sound is great.

Then we go into some fun with "Come And Get My Love" opening with some keyboards and guitar like a cross between Tom Petty and Olivia Newton-John until Ruth starts singing like Tina Turner - "how long mus I sit around /waiting for you / think of all the heartache / you've been putting me through/ you must have a soul / but it don't show / come on and love me or let me go/ come and get your love... before I give it away..." Sassy pants Pointer.

"Happiness" and "Fire" come in next - the one,two shot of the hit singles from Energy. "Happiness" finds its way onto all the Pointer Sisters compilations, opening with a piano and the soulful, "I love the way you love to live/ you love life/ you're inspiration/ I love the way you give/ your love so freely/ you're a sweet sensation/ you're my invitation to..." dunt, dunt, dunt on the piano keys, and all together a thumping little disco-ish beat kicks in "Happiness". Though to call it a disco song isn't quite accurate - there aren't any swinging orchestras or cooing, but it's a similar vein as a demo-ized version of "Don't Leave Me This Way" - more soulful and poppy than simply dance.

Of course there's "Fire" - that one time obscure Bruce Springsteen song that the Pointers made all their own. There isn't much to say about it, other than if you haven't heard it in a while you really need to give it another listen cause it's a really good song, just that beginning bass line will hook you back in ... though you have to wonder if the lyrics would now be classified as an invitation to date rape..?? though I guess she does tell him he knows she's a liar and when she kisses oooh fire, so I guess then she just drags him into the house herself... Plus the bridge is one of the best ever - "you had a hold on me right from the start/ a grip so tight/ I couldn't tear it apart/ my nerves all jumpin/ acting like a fool/ well your kisses they burn/ but my heart stays cool...." a little break, "well Romeo & Juliet...." and by the end it all breaks into a super cool keyboard/organ solo. Oooh Fire indeed.

"Angry Eyes" follows the pop/rock vein established earlier with some funky and almost pissy lyrics - "well I'll bet you wish you could cut me down with those angry eyes/ what a shot you would be / if you could shoot at me with those angry eyes..." It's actually a Loggins/Messina cover and who knew they were so angry or funky?

"Echoes Of Love" is a little more poppy but it's catchy as hell - I'm surprised this wasn't a single as it sounds like radio 1978 or at least early 79 - 80 ; similar though not quite as catchy as say "He's So Shy" - this is more in the vein the Pointers would be come to be really known.

The original Energy album ends with their cover of Sylvester's "Everybody Is A Star" and though I've read unfair reviews of their version, by this time I'm a Pointer lover and you can't tell me this toned down, country-ish version isn't actually very pretty.

For those Pointer Sisters afficiandos, (they exist) we didn't just leave it at that - instead we came up with some bonus cuts - notably the excellent rocking poppy ditty called "Love Is Like A Rolling Stone" which was a Bside only to the US "Fire" single - it's not only rare it's damn good...

and finally we end it all with the 12" version of the aforementioned "Happiness" in its longer and funkier version... and cause I love ya all so much, the artwork even comes with the lyrics, that's right I have way too much time on my hands.

Pointer Sisters - Energy (bub129)
Track List:
01. Lay It On The Line 02. Dirty Work 03. Hypnotized 04. As I Come Of Age 05. Come And Get Your Love 06. Happiness 07. Fire 08. Angry Eyes 09. Echoes Of Love 10. Everybody Is A Star
Bonus Tracks:
11. Love Is Like A Rolling Stone 12. Happiness (Extended)

DOWNLOAD POINTER SISTERS - ENERGY

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posted by swivek @ 10:42 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

New Bubbatunes - Divas 4 & 5 (&6,7,8)

Well we are near the end of February and that means Black Diva Month is coming to a close, and while you're all debating whether Tina, Whitney or Donna Summer are the ultimate diva, I have our final two new Bubbatunes to throw at you - I tell you when we celebrate a diva month, we go all out...

bub 74 Janet - 861704 (February 27, 2007)
I love me my Miss Jackson, and that's cuz I'm nasty y'all.. through her chubby years, her svelte bod and even through her latest attempts at commercialism, I have loved just about everything she has ever done. However, we only had limited time to do the very best of the Miss J, so a few things had to be thrown out, including anything off of her newest album 20 Y.0. which I do have but I'm still kind of wrapping my little white boy mind around it, and I definitely didn't want to push off one of my favorite Janet songs just to be a completist, and of course there's also the fact that her first two albums from 1982 and 1984 aren't represented at all, which is how we got our name kids - 861704 stands for 17 songs from the years 1986-2004 I know I'm so clever. Like our other divas Janet has her own official greatest hits out there and it's good but it came out in 1996 and our girl has had a number of hits in these past almost 11 years. Then there's also some kick ass killer album tracks that will never make a greatest hits...

Because I wanted to make sure I didn't forget any of my ultimate favs, we begin 861704 with one, two, three, four, five, six pop of my very favorite Janet singles starting with "Just A Little While" from 2004 - this song was rushed out right after Boobgate and had it done been for all that stupid boobla, I think it would've been a huge hit - the rest of the Damita Jo album is kind of boring and overly sexual but this was a perfect piece of pop confection and is my personal favorite Janet single ever. We then move into more pop/guitar fun with 2001's "Someone To Call My Lover" which is a lip flapping piece of fun, "maybe we'll meet in a bar/ he'll drive a funky car/ maybe we'll meet in a club/ and fall so deeply in love" try to sing along with this one, and though I love me some fun Janet, I also love the sexual crazed lunatic she started to become with the 1993 janet. album so my fav single from that time period is representin' with "If" - a sexy jaunt with those awesome synth strings and the fast paced 'rap' verse, it's unforgettable, and the first time Miss J finally dropped some clothing was in the video for one of my other favorites, "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" which is another piece of ultimate fun. It's so catchy and lovable it's no wonder it went up to #1 and made Janet want to finally show off her body - plus does anyone not remember all those hot guys in the video.. mmm bop. Her first big hit was in the feisty "What Have You Done For Me Lately" and though some of the songs from Control sound a tad dated ("Nasty" I'm talking to you) this one stands up very well, plus I love the lyrics ("soap opera says you have one life to live/ who's right/ who's wrong?) and the bridge is great since I too have never asked for more than I deserve. Then our final sixth song of the ultimate fav singles ends with the ballad "Again" which was used in her film Poetic Justice but was also included on the janet. album. It's simple and sweet and very touching.

But there's more than just ultimate favorites on our compilation because I pretty much love all these songs in one degree or another, we have the hit singles from all those years, the guitar drenched "Black Cat", the sweet fun of "Together Again", "The Pleasure Principle" and "Control" from that insanely popular 1986 album, "Rhythm Nation" and "All For You" which is another of the early 2000's great janet singles, I mean when you start out with, "got a nice body all right/ guess I'm gonna have to ride it tonight..."

But there are a few feisty and superb album tracks that anyone with half an ear on Miss J would know - the house thump of "Throb", the super entrenched bitch fest of "This Time" which includes an operatic solo and ends with J saying, "You're dismissed" and a super cool send off called "What About" from 1997's The Velvet Rope. "What about the shit you done to me/ what about that?/ what about that?" I frickin' love it. Now if only she would start making more songs like the ones represented here, we could get her back on the top where she belongs.

Janet - 861704 (bub74)
Track List -
01. Just A Little While
02. Someone To Call My Lover
03. If
04. Love Will Never Do (Without You)
05. What Have You Done For Me Lately
06. Again
07. Black Cat
08. Together Again
09. This Time
10. The Pleasure Principle
11. Doesn't Really Matter
12. Throb
13. Scream (with Michael J)
14. Control
15. What About
16. Rhythm Nation
17. All For You

bub 75 Pointer Sisters - ON FIRE (February 27, 2007)
With this little compilation we end up adding four more divas to our list in one shot - the sisters that were the Pointers, Anita, June, Ruth and for a short time in the early days Bonnie came up with solid hits through out most of their career. From the 40's style bop tunes and even country twinged anthems in the early 70's to their shot at rock and pop in the late 70's and early 80's into the stuff they're most associated with - the synth laden dance pop of the 80's. Yes, these girls did it all and after listening to a bunch of songs (I was on a downloading frenzy) I realized how much I loved them. Of course Ruth's death last year, made me really want to go after the Pointer Sister's catalog and I found a few CD's to purchase but found the best compilation out there, is of course the one I'm presenting here, after all they did have a score of hits, some well known, some a little known, and some forgotten so it's my goal to try to represent the very best of the Pointers, from all the years and included a lot that aren't on every compilation including one of my all time favorite overlooked singles of the 80's "He Turned Me Out" a funky dance invocation that was featured in the film Action Jackson (one of the more overlooked action adventure films of any era), plus my favorite singles like their fun rendition of Springsteen's "Fire", and the pop laden mega hits "Neutron Dance," "I'm So Excited", "Jump (For My Love)" and my ultimate fav of that bunch, the slow robotic voice of Anita on "Automatic", I also discovered a few gems I never knew existed like a superb rendition of "Steam Heat" and their first single, a rousing fun harmonized confection called "Yes We Can Can" - then there's the girl group sounds of forgotten hits like "Should I Do It" (which Tanya Tucker also made in 1981) and "Could I Be Dreamin'" and a super cool Springsteen song that ended up on the follow up album that had included "Fire" - "(She's Got) The Fever)" is a moody rock song with super cool harmonies (their speciality) and a really cool rock track. In fact I've recently learned the whole album Priority from 1979 is essentially a rock album and a very good one at that - unfortunetly it's not on CD but should I happen to come across it on vinyl, I have a feeling Luther will be getting it and it will be a bubbatunes reissue in days flat.. until then enjoy the Pointer Sisters in their glory cuz these ladies were on fire!

Pointer Sisters - ON FIRE (bub75)
Track List:
01. Yes We Can Can
02. (She's Got) The Fever
03. Automatic
04. American Music
05. Fire
06. I'm So Excited
07. He's So Shy
08. Dare Me
09. Neutron Dance
10. He Turned Me Out
11. Steam Heat
12. Could I Be Dreamin'
13. Freedom
14. Slow Hand
15. Goldmine
16. How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side)
17. Jump (For My Love)
18. Should I Do It
19. Wang Dang Doodle

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posted by swivek @ 8:40 AM 0 comments