Tag: USA

Tower of Power | Maybe It’ll Rub Off

“In the realm of power funk and jazz-rock, Tower of Power was an original voice, one carved from a unique place within an exceptionally heady moment,” (AllAboutJazz). “And this convergence of forces, clearly, has yet to cool some 53 years hence. Horns? They’ve carried up to six at a time, to hell with diminished door splits. A big band of scorching funk, Tower of Power traces its roots to 1968 Oakland, where it flourished in a thicket of sound tearing at industry barriers. The band, initially dubbed the Motowns, was founded at the juncture which begat Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago Transit Authority, and Earth Wind and Fire. Even then, the soul—if you will—of Tower of Power was born in the muscular arrangements and searing leads of the former as much as the latter’s R&B core.”

Tower of Power released Urban Renewal in 1974 — one of three releases by the band that year, just four years into its history. Although the album lacked an uptempo hit like “What is Hip?” or a stand-out lush ballad like “So Very Hard to Go” or “You’re Still a Young Man,” the release was a snapshot of the band hitting its stride.

“Maybe It’ll Rub Off,” built in F major overall, features an instrumental mid-section that meanders through several other keys between 1:45 and 2:31, when it returns to the initial key.

Deniece Williams | It’s Gonna Take a Miracle

Written by Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein and Lou Stallman, “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” was first released in 1965 by The Royalettes, a four-girl soul/Motown group. The song describes the desperation of someone who is so heartbroken from a breakup that it will take a miracle for them to fall in love again. R&B and gospel singer Deniece Williams released her cover of the tune in 1982, and it sat at the top of the R&B chart for two weeks. The tune moves through multiple tonalities in the bridge starting at 1:52, and returns to the home key of G for the verse at 2:24.

Lucky Daye | How Much Can a Heart Take (feat. Yebba)

Lucky Daye established a solid career as a songwriter before trying his hand as a performer, writing for the likes of Keith Sweat, Mary J. Blige, Boyz II Men, and others. “Neither explicitly retro nor overtly commercial, Lucky Daye is a singer/songwriter with a modern, slightly left-of-center approach to R&B with a foundation in classic soul,” (AllMusic).

From Exclaim.ca‘s review of Daye’s 2021 sophomore album, the duets-only Table for Two: “‘How Much Can a Heart Take,’ which features an assist from Arkansan songstress Yebba, is the EP’s crown jewel. It’s a bitter break-up track that plays like whiskey with a honey chaser. The verses are full of fiery attitude but thanks to Yebba’s spotlight-stealing vocals, the song unfolds into something lush and sweet near the chorus. Though the EP is light on ‘I love yous,’ it’s not nearly as depressing as it sounds. The instrumentals are deceptively warm and soulful throughout and Daye’s honeyed voice betrays the biting, sometimes tortured lyrics. It’s that juxtaposition that makes Table for Two so much fun.” 

After a start in C# minor, the wordy but relatively harmonically static verse opens up into a new vista with the chorus, which shifts into a G maj – C maj – A/B progression (G major-ish?) and then back to the original key. The pattern continues from there.

In addition to the live performance video below, don’t miss the original video as well, which features the two vocalists swapping roles while miming each other’s vocals.

Kristin Chenoweth | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Emmy and Tony-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenowith released her second holiday album, Happiness Is…Christmas, in October. “I hope that they smile, and I hope that they are eating food and opening presents…and I hope they just are happy,” Chenowith said in an interview with The Christophers blog, discussing what she hopes people take away from the album. “And then when they come upon a song like ‘The Stories That You Told,’ I hope they remember somebody that they’ve lost and their smile…There’s been so much to be bummed out about and you have to really look – seek and ye shall find – and you will find happiness. That’s what I want people to find in this album.”

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is the penultimate track on the album, and modulates from G to Ab at 2:54.

Kelly Clarkson | Merry Christmas (To The One I Used To Know)

Kelly Clarkson released her second Christmas album, When Christmas Comes Around…, last October. “My purpose for choosing this lyric as the title of this project was to bring forth a sense of reality to the fact that we are probably in very different places emotionally When Christmas Comes Around…,” Clarkson said, explaining how she settled on the name. “Some of us are consumed with a new love, some of us reminded of loss, some filled with optimism for the coming new year, others elated for some much deserved time away from the chaos our work lives can sometimes bring us. Wherever you are, and whatever you may be experiencing, I wanted everyone to be able to connect to a message on this album. Each year you may even have a new favorite depending on where you are in your life, but while change can be unpredictable there is no better time of year, in my opinion, to breathe hope into one’s life and let possibility wander.”

This song, co-written by Clarkson and album producers Jason Halbert and Aben Eubanks, is the fourth track on the record; it modulates from F up to Gb at 1:20.

Pistol Annies | Make You Blue

Pistol Annies, an American country group made up of singers Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, released their first Christmas album, Hell of a Holiday, earlier this year. “Make You Blue,” a song about being lonely during the holidays, is the sixth track on the record. It modulates from E up a half step to F at 2:06.

Destiny’s Child | Do You Hear What I Hear

*This is the fifth and final installment of our weeklong series on “Do You Hear What I Hear”

American R&B group Destiny’s Child released their only Christmas album, 8 Days of Christmas, in 2001. The album peaked at 34 on the Billboard 200, and was certified platinum in 2020. “Do You Hear What I Hear” is the sixth track, and modulates from Bb to B at 0:57.

Alex Newell & Lindsay Pearce | Do You Hear What I Hear

*This is the fourth installment of our weeklong series on “Do You Hear What I Hear”

The cast of the TV show Glee released their second Christmas soundtrack album, Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2, in 2011, featuring ten covers and two original songs. Alex Newell and Lindsay Pearce are the featured vocalists on “Do You Hear What I Hear,” which modulates from C up to D at 1:58.