stuff123

There’s no better way to get me to stop writing than iTunes, other than maybe a trip to The Favourite Reading Room. Music is such a great escape. I prefer it to the television even though I like to watch sports shows.

And I started thinking about all those favourite lists that everybody comes up with. How can you have just one? There’s just so many good options in the world of music.

I’m always up for a challenge so I thought I’d try it and maybe come at it a little differently, in keeping with the philosophy of Stuff123.

“America the Beautiful” was playing by Ray Charles with Leon Russell on the piano and I have to believe that was Billy Preston on the Hammond B3. At least , someone who was influenced by his style. So the list might start with this one.

Most Inspiring Song Written
America the Beautiful Performed by Ray Charles

Most Goosebumps Given in a Live Performance
Gladys Knight at The O’Keefe Centre circa 3 or 4 years after Moses’ university graduation

Best Drum Solo Performance
Skip Prokop at the CNE Bandshell during the fireworks display. The rest of the band stopped playing (Lighthouse, a significant Canadian band in the 70’s). It went on for maybe 15-20 minutes. It was truly amazing. (Woh. iTunes is on shuffle. What plays at the end of the last sentence? Lighthouse. Some stuff you just don’t make up.)

Singer Most Capable of Singing in an NHL Hockey Arena Without a Microphone
Patti Labelle (Patti Labelle & the Bluebelles then) performing Over the Rainbow. They were an introductory act for The Rolling Stones. I would have been happy if Patti just did the rest of the show. Ticket was something like 8 bucks. Of course, you only made $1.25/hour at the grocery store then. They’re up to like 4 bucks now, arent’t they? Walmart’s only paying $3.75? That’s OK. I don’t shop there for that reason.

Singer Most Capable of Generating Enough Power to Light Cuba
Tina Turner especially in the early days as The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Ike was just scary.

Best Story Teller
Harry Chapin, who will always be best known for popularizing the phrase “It Sucks”

Best “Evening With A Friend” Live Performance
Smokey Robinson in one of those big hotels in Las Vegas. Here’s a tip for the guys reading this. Go in with 7 women. Before they figure out you’re the 8th member of that party, you get to sit right up front. The story about him stealing his guitar player of 25+ years from Diana Ross’ band in her first audition with Motown (Hitsville of course then) was stuff you only told good friends. Natalie Cole was a good opening act, as well.