Oh Man! What a couple of weeks it has been in the world!

The presidential election campaign gets crazier and crazier every day, the nation’s financial/monetary system is teetering on the brink, there are gasoline shortages in the southern part of the country due to the recent hurricanes… and my Mets collapsed down the stretch again and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row {sigh}. It’s like we are acting out in real time that age old Chinese saying curse:

Hell, considering how much has been and/or is already going on, I don’t know if we can take it if it gets any more interesting!

Sooo… with that in mind this week’s RIBS mix is called, “Mercy, Mercy Me! What’s Goin’ On?” There are occasions when the times get tough the tough get going, and on other occasions when times get tough the tough ride it out while listening to music. I heartily recommend the latter choice {smile}. On the menu this week we have a variety of “Protest/Message” songs that speak to the crazy conditions that we have in the world.

So, let’s all kick back, take a deep breath, exhale and ride out this craziness. Fortunately we have plenty of RIBS to munch on while we do!

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We lost another of the great ones last week, Norman Whitfield, former producer/songwriter with Motown back in the 60’s and 70’s. (BTW… I stole the opening above, paraphrasing the lyrics from Papa Was A Rolling Stone, from one of the comments (big ups to MeGaMoMa) on the Norman Whitfield post over on the Never Enough Rhodes blog; no I am not that clever {smile}, but it was very appropriate so I echo it over here)

If you have EVER heard one note of anything that came out of Motown during the 60s (and who among us haven’t?), then you have heard some of the genius that was is Norman Whitfield. Not only is he credited with being one of the creators of what we call the “Motown Sound”, he was one of the instrumental figures in the sub-genre referred to as “psychedelic soul”.

Today’s mix is a small selection of songs from the large variety of artists and groups that Norman produced and/or wrote during his legendary career. So, as we do here at Rhythms In Black Satin, let’s raise a toast to Norman Jesse Whitfield in remembrance and in thanks for all of the wonderful music and pleasure he has given us through the years.

Rest In Peace, Norman, you’ve earned it.

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OK, making good on my promise to get back on schedule over here. This week’s RIBS is one that was supposed to be posted a few weeks ago but I was “overcome by events” (as the saying goes) and am just posting it now.

Credit for the idea of our trio this week goes out to RR, one of my coworkers. These three are some of her favs:

1. Sade
2. Lionel Richie (solo)
3. Luther Vandross

And a very nice combination it is if I say so myself. Well, since I’m back let’s forgo a lot of “talk” this time around and get right to the music!

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Hey everybody! Yes, I’m still here.

First let me apologize for the lack of updates here for the past few weeks. I’ve been in and out of town on business IRL, that and a few other issues that came up that required immediate attention took up all of my time these past 3 weeks or so. Anyway, I’m back now and playing a little catch-up this week.

Here are two more Isaac mixes that I put together back when we got the sad news that Ike had passed away…

The first one today features not only some more selections by Ike, but also several cuts by groups/artists that he wrote for and/or produced back in the early days of his career. While most people are familiar with Isaac Hayes the singer, a lot of folks never knew (or perhaps forgot) that Ike was one of the main forces in shaping the sound of Stax Records (as a songwriter and producer) back in the late 60s/early 70s. He (along with David Porter) wrote most of the big hits for Sam & Dave (”Soul Man”, “Hold On, I’m Coming”, “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby”, etc.) and also wrote hits for Carla Thomas, The Emotions, Johnny Taylor, Mable John and The Soul Children

The second mix today has only 7 songs on it, but what songs they are! This one features many of the “Ike’s Mood”/”Ike’s Rap” cuts, Isaac’s long, extended slow jams with all of that orchestration and those wonderful transitions that define the classic Isaac Hayes sound.

So here we go! The RIBS are back, eat all you want!

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