Spin That 45

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as my Pick of The Day: "The Higher You Rise" from the high def test record; "The Sheffield Track & Drum Record" featuring Robbie Buchanan and James Newton Howard, keyboards, Lenny Castro, percussion, Nathan East, bass, Mike Landau, guitar, and Carlos Vega, drums. National Hispanic Heritage Month Edition Today begins the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month. As a Latina, I am very proud of my Hispanic roots and felt that it was only proper to feature two of  Inside MusiCast's favorites for my Pick today; Lenny Castro and the sorely missed; Carlos Vega. Recorded May 22, 1982 at the Sheffield Lab Studios at MGM in Culver City, this album was designed for systems and component testing and evaluation. Sheffield Lab Recordings, founded by engineer great; Doug Sax and legendary musician / arranger; Lincoln Mayorga, it is an audiophile label which produced direct-to-disc classical and jazz albums. What a fantastic ...

Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast , my Pick of The Day: "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & The Gang from their album "Wild And Peaceful" The music world has lost another legend. Ronald Bell, aka Khalis Bayyan co-founder of one of the best funk bands ever; "Kool & The Gang" with brother Robert "Kool" Bell.  Growing up in the desert of Palm Springs California, what was available to hear the latest in music was one radio station. When this song came out in 1973, I was about 12 years old. I remember hearing  this it on the radio and thinking - “what the heck is this?? Give me more!” And then to see them on Soul Train, American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was great to see them moving and grooving, especially since my parents didn’t have a problem with me staying up late to watch the last two shows. Because we all have a soundtrack to moments in our lives, buying the 45 record was so memorable for me. . . My d...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day Longtime “Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)” artist Jon Gibson has created music for about 40 years. . . his way - his rules. Jon is the epitome of that West Coast / Blue-Eyed Soul sound. Considered early in his career as the “white Stevie Wonder,” Jon has proved over and over that he has always been the real deal. This tune has that funky feel that is synonymous with 80's synth funk and soul. The message is clear, but delivered in a way that makes you want to get up a move yo'self, body and soul. The personnel on this are definitely "A" list. On sax is Jon's longtime friend, jazz artist; Eric Marienthal, whose solo has that "Huey Lewis and The News" feel. My own long time friend, Tony Patler is playing on this as well. . . guitar and keys. Bob Somma is on guitar. You might remember Bob's work on Paula Abdul's 1988 release; "Forever Your Girl," and 80's funk group ...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day This album has to be at the top of my list of treasured albums. Especially for me, because I tend to gravitate towards more male vocalists than female. When I play this album, I am always taken back to the first time I heard her single "Magic Smile" on Los Angeles' 94.7 The Wave. I was so crazed!! I was like - "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!? I LOVE IT!" At the time, there was really nothing else similar on the radio waves. I not only bought the album but the cassette because of course, I had to listen to it on the way home. The vibe of "2nd Emotion" is so bouncy and ultra cool. Perfect for the mid-80's aerobics! Hearing that gorgeous velvety voice with her slight cool, airy vibrator and the band playing along side her is truly a match made in heaven. For me at least.  ;) Written by Rosie Vela, this tune features the best musicians in the business; Donald Fagen and Aaron Zigman on synth, Jim...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day Today is another special day for this lady! July 1st, marks the day I was welcomed as a team member of Inside MusiCast in 2014. To commemorate that day, I'd like to re-post one of my first posts as a correspondent. This one is perfect too. As most of us have been on lockdown, being that I am in Seattle, I am wishing I could be cruising down my beloved Pacific Coast Highway in Souther California. When I wrote this Pick 6 years ago, I had been in California driving that ocean highway Written by Jeff, his tune is the soundtrack of the Pacific Coast Highway. California music at it's best. Man, the vibe of this song is just too cool. From the beginning, with the two strums of the guitar, then percussion and then synth. This is soft funk with a whole lotta soul! Jeff Lorber takes his keyboards and brings it home with his 80's jazz fusion, making you feel so good. . .you just want to keep on driving. And I di...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day Since today is my birthday, I wanted to revisit the first record I ever obtained. Early 1967 - 5 years old and back then I was really into EVERYONE from Motown, The Beatles, The 5th Dimension, Neil Diamond, The Monkees, Paul Revere & The Raiders and The Young Rascals. Although my parents had their share of records, I felt that I should have my own, so with my birthday coming up, I asked my mom to give me "Groovin" as a present. Not a doll. I wanted music. The song has been described as a slow, relaxed groove. And it is. . . but. . . I hear a slow relaxed doo wop in the piano and vocals. That could be because Felix Cavaliere who was once part of Joey Dee and the Starliters, known for their Doo Wop dance hit "Peppermint Twist," found that slowing down those chords and vocals to this Afro-Cuban influenced tune, was a good combination. And then add to that, at the interlude, the piano parts that remin...

  Originally featured on  Inside MusiCast  as  my Pick of The Day What a perfect title this is. It describes where I was in 1984 / 85. Today, my husband and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. We both LOVE music. In fact, that was one of the main things that attracted me to him. This intense love of music of a higher level. But more from the technical side versus from how I related to music, which was more emotional. Before meeting him, I was all about Motown, Soul, 70's Rock, Soft Rock, Disco and New Wave / Punk. Which I still love today. Getting to know my husband, I learned he had seen just about every one, from the Police to Santana to Journey and more. One thing he was very passionate about was Jazz Fusion and experimental. I'm pretty sure that at some time or another I would have learned about great artists like Pat Metheny, Stanley Clark, Weather Report, Al Di Meola, Azymuth, Jeff Lorber, Yellowjackets and Jean-Luc Ponty and SCORES of others. But my hus...