Mellow moods

[maarten]

OK, JazzPilgrim asked me to share with you a play list from the WAPS (Amsterdam radio station) Mellow Moods program.

Don The Dark Diva, an American living in Amsterdam (because of the more relaxed atmosphere for his ‘orientation’ as he told me), hosted this show. Don also used his considerable voice talents for voice-overs, commercials, radio jingles and he can even be heard as DJ in a MaiTai song (but I can’t off-hand remember which one – he is right at the beginning).

As I posted earlier, sadly Don died of Aids. He was a wonderful personality, both on and off-air. He would start each show by saying “Good evening Rene”, a gesture to his lover. Also, his first track would always be an instrumental, a lovely ‘against the grain’ touch to his show as most DJ’s tend to fill up the last minutes of an hour with something instrumental. His music choice was more jazzy, fusion as well as traditional. For instance, he would play David Sanborn, but also Angela Winbush. Very versatile, and probably ahead of his time as his choice of jazzy tunes are now considered “smooth jazz”.

Anyway, I sometimes filled in for him. Here is my playlist for 2 hours (there were also promo’s, commercials and news to be played, so this probably didn’t ad up to 2 hours of music). I think this was mid 80’s as my first track came out in 1986:

RJ’s Latest Arrival – Heaven in your arms (who has heard of this band? I have 2 albums, and I really like them both. But I don’t really know anything about them).
Kool & The Gang – Too hot (classic!)
College – Get in touch with me (beauty – especially that sax solo)
Unlimited Touch – Love to share (a rare ballad from this disco band. From their 1st album)
Sergio Mendes – Never gonna let you go (classic!)
Rose Royce – Wishing on a star (classic again. I am always torn between this one and “Love don’t live here anymore”. In the end I think this is my favorite because of the end part, which goes kinda uptempo)
The Stylistics – It started out (an under-rated track from an under-rated album – Philly sound par excellence. And you gotta love that piano)
Marcus Miller – Much too much (beauty – I think from his 1st or 2nd solo album)
Nicole McCloud & Timmy Thomas – NY eyes (classic)
Dionne Warwick & that guy from LTD – Love power (I think written by Bacharach/Bayer Sager)
Dany Caen – Let’s synchronize our hearts (Belgian female singer whom I know nothing about – but a gem of a ballad)
Love Unlimited Orchestra – Love’s theme (classic)
Commodores – Sail on (classic – and again it is the ending of the song that does it for me: it goes slightly uptempo)
Rufus & Chaka Khan – True love (a little hidden gem on the “Camouflage” album. I think another artist did this song, too – but I don’t remember who)
The Jones Girls – Nights over Egypt (classic)
Gladys Knight – Love is fire, love is ice (another Bacharach/Bayer Sager beauty)
SOS Band – Have it your way (oooohhhh – this will extract tears from a Barbie doll – what a classic ballad from their 3rd album)
Atlantic Starr – Always (classic)
James Ingram – 100 ways (classic and probably the song they’ll have to play at my funeral)
Alisha – Save a little love (little ballad ditty which I like because of the persistent, continuous conga inclusion – very ‘fetching’ if you can say that about a song)
Bobby Caldwell – What you won’t do for love (classic – all time favorite)
Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald – On my own (how I could have forgotten to include that one in JazzPilgrim’s favorite duets post… Another Bacharach/Bayer Sager beauty)
George Benson – Kisses in the moonlight (nice smoothy)

So that is it. I found another one that I did earlier in the 80’s so if there is interest I will post that one here, too.


_________________
"ON THE BEAT"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: maarten on 2002-07-31 01:22 ]</font>

[jazz_pilgrim]

Thanks, Maarten, for sharing your Mellow Moods playlist! It was worth the wait! :grin:

Sorry to hear about the death of your erstwhile friend, Don The Dark Diva.....But his music and influence lives on!

What a fantastic list! You have some SERIOUS gems in there!

Pick of the bunch for me? It's got to be Bobby Caldwell with "What You Won't Do For Love". A mellow classic. I remember picking up the LP for £10 in one of the many second-hand record shops in Brighton around 3 or 4 years ago.... I also have a Roy Ayers' version of that one.... One that Bobby Caldwell LP, I also love "Down For The Third Time"!!

Gladys Knight - Love Is Fire Love Is Ice - a really powerful ballad that one. Nice to see somebody else loves it!! It's great when these long-time bands can still come up with the goods - this was the late Eighties, but it was as good as anything she ever recorded, m'thinks...

Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt. I love the atmosphere on that one!! Bring on the camels!!

Rose Royce - Wishing On A Star - that ballad evokes strong memories for me... dancing with the ladies!! :grin: :grin: Couldn't keep 'em off me!! :lol: {if you believe that .....}

Love Unlimited Orch / Patti LaBelle Michael McDonald / Commodores / Timmy Thomas & Nicole - I love them all!!

Interesting that there are quite a few tunes that I don't know! But that is the way with ballads - there is quite often a great ballad tucked away on an LP - just waiting for you to discover!!....

I'll come back with a selection of my favourites later ...

BTW You mentioned James Ingram - 100 Ways - probably the song they will have to play at your funeral... Sounds like a great thread to me!!



_________________
It's got to be about the music !!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-07-31 01:56 ]</font>

[NickNack]

Maarten,

EXCELLENT list! A few I don't know and quite a few that I love. Like you, I also get torn between those two Rose Royce songs, but I always end up voting for "Wishing..." Reasons: The way the drummer changes style at the end to give the song a faster feel AND the very last "wishing" coming from the lead singer. By then, the song has faded almost out and I'm always cranking the volume to hear her plead that hope for a reunion. Great stuff.

[paul]

Hey Nicky. Great point on "WOAS." I agree with you on this song by the way. It's those little subtleties that make the difference for me between ordinary and great. I'd like to throw in Rufus' "Everlasting Love" for this same reason. I really love the way Chaka displays her vocal range in this song. It conveys so much emotion to me, from serious to mellow to tearful that I come to
experience the music rather than just hear it.

[maarten]

Thanks for your replies. I'm kinda thinking of digging out my very first ever radio show, which I have somewhere on a tape, and listing that playlist. But first I will have to listen to it again to ensure it is not too embarrassing...

And Paul - Best of artist: Rose Royce? Or did you already cover them?

[Skywalker]

WAPS is online now, 24/7: www.waps.tk

[eddie]

That's classic Quiet Storm right there. I would have followed Sos Band's "Have it your way" with Atlantic Starr's "Send for me" or "Your love finally ran out" since that SOS Band track has a Sam Dees feel to it.

I know it's an old post but RJ's latest arrival had 4 albums out but "Heaven in your arms" was their finest cut.