"I'm a bitch and I'm back"

Last night I saw Tina. I find it hard to put into words the feeling I had throughout the show. To finally see her live was a dream come true. The entire show was a hit packed monster. Here's a few cover songs that were not part of the set.

Tina Turner - The Bitch is Back

I really wanted to hear this last night, but no dice. I even got my hopes up that it would be the first song of the night because "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" was played a few songs before she went on.

Tina Turner - Under My Thumb

She obviously loves the Stones and often credits them with helping get her career back on track. In the show last night, she did Jumpin Jack Flash and It's Only Rock and Roll - which you may remember her performing with Mick at Live Aid when he ripped her skirt off and she's 'surprised' and then elated. Bless.

Herbie Hancock featuring Tina Turner - Edith and the Kingpin

The second half of the show starts with an intimate sit-down with her band, where she played some of my favorite songs including "Let's Stay Together" and "I Can't Stand The Rain." It was my favorite part of the show. I wish I had a recording to share with you. Instead, here is her cover of a Joni Mitchell song from Herbie's last album. I think it's marvelous to hear Tina sing in a setting like this and wish she would record an entire album of acoustic music.

Unbeknownst to me, it was her birthday yesterday, and she mentioned during intermission that she had two birthday presents waiting backstage for her during the break: Beyonce and Jay-Z! I have to hand it to Beyonce. Although she's clearly inspired and borrowing from Tina - the dancing, the rock stance, the hair, the legs - she obviously loves her too.

At the end of the show, the band was in high gear during an amazing rendition of "Nutbush City Limits" - literally upon hitting the last note, the power went out on stage. That's how fucking hot Tina Turner is. She can short circuit the electrical system at a major concert arena. 

Anyhoo, the show was suddenly over and Tina stood on stage alone - speaking to us without a mic. And spontaneous choruses of Happy Birthday were ringing out from the audience from all over the stadium. And mama looked humbled.

What a tremendous woman. I can't wait to see her again on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

"I’m sorry I can’t hear the hits"

I'm feeling very modern. Very contemporary. Very au courant today.

The Glimmers - I'd Much Rather Go (Out With The Boys)

The kids still can't get enough acid. I love how the beginning builds up and up and up, but it's not all the way up yet. It goes back to the beginning and builds up and up again. Then your drugs kick in.

Robots in Disguise - We're In The Music Biz (Baron Von Luxxury's None More Black Remix)

It's the world series of italo versus electro versus acid versus disco. I fully gag around 1:45 when you get a touch of Duran Duran strings over disco revisionism. Obnoxiously enjoyable.

ps. Baron Von Luxxury's his fake name.

"I'll accept you as you are"

Ah, youth.

This past weekend I went to my sister's wedding, which was a ton of fun. I saw lots of family, including my cousin Wendy who was not only one of my favorite playmates in the mid-70s, but also instrumental in my appreciation of women's clothing.

Maxine Nightingale - Get Right Back Where We Started From

The DJ played this hit from 1976 at the wedding reception and I thought Wendy was going to lose her mind. It was so much fun to dance to with her, like we were kids again.

Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. - You Don't Have To Be A Star

A couple nights later I heard this on a jukebox at Jimmy's Corner in Times Square and - come to find out - it's also from '76. Good year for proto-disco, huh?

"this ain't a good place for us to talk"

My two favorite remixes of the moment.

CSS - Move (Metronomy Remix)

Their new album is a classic sophomore slump. But this remix of the second single Move more than makes up for it in my book. Crazy shit.

Dragonette - Competition (Whip Vocal Remix)

I just picked up their new album Glamor and was really impressed. A great pop record from an underground electro act. This remix might best be described as squelchy.

"If my heart keeps singing will my song go winging"

Goodbye, Yma. You were a magical bird of paradise. I'll never forget the first time I heard your voice.

Yma Sumac - I Wonder

From the Hal Willner project Stay Awake, on which unusual artists reinterpreted the music from Disney films. This song is from Sleeping Beauty (see below).

Yma Sumac - Gopher Mambo

A more typical Sumac number full of yelps and dancing.

Yma Sumac - Jivaro

A warcry for the headhunter race of the Jivaro.

Here's a version of I Wonder from the Disney film Sleeping Beauty. Apparently there's a mini-phenomenon of ladies uploading their own rendition of this classic song to YouTube.

Read the New York Times obit on Yma Sumac.

Visit Yma's site.

"I will be president of this country"

"I think I might go home again"

Mama's back.

At fifty, Grace Jones has mellowed a bit. Her new album Hurricane is overall a down-tempo affair, reminiscent of her former label-mate and contemporary Marianne Faithfull's recent work. And the lyrics, at least on these two tracks, are rather introspective.

Grace Jones - Well Well Well

A dubby reggae number in the vein of her legendary collaborations with Sly and Robbie. They worked on this album with her, so this might actually be one of their productions. But I haven't seen the credits yet to confirm.

Grace Jones - Williams Blood (Aeroplane Remix)

The first single, written with Wendy and Lisa, and remixed by trendy nu-disco outfit Aeroplane. Sure to be a blog-house hit, despite it's sleepy tempo.

BUY IT > Grace Jones - Hurricane