From standard to soul

Here’s the sort of net post I like, and like doing myself, about the evolution of the song Try a Little Tenderness. I knew it first, as did most in my generation, from Otis Redding.

http://youtu.be/dael4sb42nI

The article says of Ray Noble’s 1932 recording, “Mawkish, stilted and perfectly forgettable, it comes off as a courting lesson on how to gain permission to put hand on knee and stare just a little too long.” Personally, I completely disagree. I really like the Ray Noble and Bing versions. Clare Teal on BBC Radio 2 plays a lot of Ray Noble on her Sunday show. Here’s a tune, written by Noble, that’s featured prominently in Casablanca.

On another Pop music note, Denro reminds us that MTV is now officially 30 years old. Who didn’t have a crush on Martha “cute as a button” Quinn?

http://youtu.be/86Wa3QJLkFQ

Yeesh. Another 4:3 video made wide, like an HDTV in stretch mode. I think it’s popular because it makes everybody in old TV shows look fat, the way so many people are now.

Kate Klim makes her ex explain

The audience at Kate Klim’s show at Club Passim last night was quite a varied mix of ages and couples. Kate has a very sweet, bright and attractive stage presence, and when we saw her in Bridgewater back in May, she told some funny boyfriend stories. Kate didn’t do that last night, but a year ago she posted this cute video where she pressures an old boyfriend to talk about her.

http://youtu.be/uutgbnoTCLY