Unorthodox Jukebox by Bruno Mars

I will gladly say it, you can put me in the Bruno Mars fan club. This young man has got an incredible voice, and perhaps an even greater talent. Channeling Sam Cooke, Prince and Micheal Jackson and that my friends is not just hyperbole this fellow might have the strongest, most versatile voice in music today.

As good, as catchy, as the first album was there is no doubt in my mind that this album is better than his first one. The first single Locked Out of Heaven has been all over the radio but even that is more of a generic hit, more a result of Mars ability to make a catchy hit in his sleep than a reflection of his talent.

On Moonshine Mars sounds like he has come off a Micheal album from the eighties with a chorus that is silky smooth, even makes me think a little of Dan Hartman. The first song on the album is Young Girls a song that Mars sang a couple of months ago on Saturday Night Live. This will soon be soaring to the top of your charts without a doubt.

Four other songs on the album deserve exceptional notice and in sets of two they are as different as any you will find. When I was Your Man finds the singer lamenting the loss of a woman that he should have bought flowers and held her hand. He was however too young and too dumb and now she is Dancing with another man. Heartbreak through the voice of Bruno Mars is pop friendly but that should mitigate this exceptional talent. If one is still not convinced the last two minutes and thirteen seconds on the album should seal the deal. If I Knew could have been sung by any of the forefathers of black music from the sixties, for me Sam Cooke comes to mind but you can take your pick. It is a perfect song.

To talk about the other two songs of note one needs to turn the page and put the kids to bed because that is when bad Bruno comes out. With his nod to Prince and perhaps even Marvin Gaye and Rick James the song Gorillas has Mars dropping his Mf's with the best of them advising his girl " you and me baby will be making love like gorilla's." After expressing no worries about the cops being called about their loud carnal activities, his girl calling him Daddy, and calling him, for you Prince, a sexy mother,,,,,r, we know that Bruno knows where all his sweet songs end up. It is a contrast but it is well crafted and Prince is surely smiling somewhere.

Following that song with a spoken into about squirrels and MF's again we here Treasure which starts like Delirious era Prince but before you get settled you get comfortable with another naughty song you realize this is just another slice of eighties pop sounding more like Kool and the Gang or El Debarge than anything else.

In short, and, with Bruno's height, that is indeed a pun, one does not know who Bruno Mars really is. Perhaps the Pandora skit on SNL earlier this year spoke volumes, perhaps the song title of Jukebox is meaningful. Whatever it is Mars has numerous influences and with his talent his albums are like a tour of popular black music of the last few decades. He has a voice like sugar and is incredibly talented.

This is a very good album.

Sam Cooke, Portrait of a Legend

One of the famous quotes in Rock and Roll is when Jon Landau heard Bruce Springsteen for the first time and said " I have heard the future of rock and roll and it's name is Bruce Springsteen.

This proved to be true. There is no bigger fan of Bruce Springsteen than me. I have seen him several times and own all of the music he has released. Every concert tour I will attempt to be there.

That said over the last few years I have developed a huge appreciation for the soul singers and Motown of the sixties. Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding are amazing. There music reaches me in ways nothing today can do.

My wife's sister has wide ranging and eclectic music tastes and she told me I needed to listen to Sam Cooke. I was not unfamiliar, having heard his music in Animal House approximately 1000 times.

This collection may be as close to perfection as you will ever hear. It is without a doubt the most uplifting collection of music in my 13000+ song collection in my itunes library.

From the gospel of Jesus Gave Me Water to Touch the Hem of his Garment to songs we all know from A Chang is Gonna Come, Having a Party, Twistin the Night Away. What a Wonderful World, Cupid and on and on it goes.

You could list every song on this album.

I read just recently that a survey of musicologists named Sam Cooke as the consensus favorite as the greatest singer of the 20th century. Of course that is a subjective vote, there are so many great singers across so many great genres. That said Sam Cooke gets my vote too.

This man's voice was as near perfection as you will ever hear.

The Very Best of Otis Redding

Otis Redding died at the age of 26. I must confess until a short time ago the only Otis Redding I had in my collection was Sittin on the Dock of the Bay. A great song.

Now that I have listened to more Otis Redding and listened to this collection I realize that as great a song as that is it is not the best in his collection or even very representational of his musical style.

I have a playlist on my IPOD for what I call Motown though I am not sure it is all Motown specifically but it is all that kind of music. Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Jackie Wilson and others lead the way. Otis now joins that list.

The voice was purely perfect. " These Arms of Mine, Try a Little Tenderness, and I've Been Loving You Too Long may be three of the sweetest slow songs to dance to you will ever here.

What a gift to sing like that.

As they say in Animal House " Otis is my man" After listening to this music I can only be sad I took this long to find it and make sure that I pass it on to my music loving oldest son.

Marvin Gaye

This past weekend the sun was out, it was very warm for early March and we decided to do some early spring cleaning. Cleaning up my desk, papers, nightstands and bookcases I put on my favorite Motown playlist and was reminded just how great Marvin Gaye was. Songs flowing out of the speakers at a loud range put my feet to dancing and my voice to shouting like I was at church. From early songs like I'll Be Doggone to the last songs we heard from him before his untimely death like Sexual Healing Marvin Gaye was a master.

His music seems more special, more energetic than at anytime I have ever listened to it. I do not know why that may be but I challenge any of you this. Put on the triple play of " Thats the Way Love is, I Heard it Through the Grapevine and What's Going On and deny what a genius he was.

Another one gone too soon, Marvin was a master. I will be listening again this weekend. Marvin makes even housework something to feel good about.