Here’s the “Soulful Strut,” which later became Barbara Acklin’s “Am I The Same Girl?” Carl Davis produced the latter record. He died this week. This was the original instrumental by Young-Holt Unltd: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX1XSOzDPik
Carly Simon and James Taylor’s son Ben has been making great music now for ten years. He has a new album out this week called “Listening.” It’s his strongest effort yet. Here’s a link to “Worlds Are Made of Paper.” This should be a hit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtDgdfbMPNk
Valerie Simpson released her first solo album in decades this week. Here’s “Love Never Dies,” a tribute to her late husband Nick Ashford: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWq4zwjbPA0
Rob Thomas is an underrated singer songwriter. His group matchboxtwenty, in business since the mid 90s, has another hit. It’s too catchy to ignore. You like it, admit it. Classic pop in a sea of crap on the radio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8WLa6umgdw
Aimee Mann, “Charmer”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcpXTUT0-7o. Her new album hits in late September. Yay!