Carlitta Durand is down with the Little Brother/Foreign Exchange crew and is featured on Zo’s “Just Visiting Too” on a stellar version of “Nights Over Egypt”. Check this joint out from her “Doug and Patty EP”.
Carlitta Durand – Lost love feat. Jabee from BECAUSEUS on Vimeo.
One of dopest voices in the game is back, with a new album (“Love Me Back” due on 10/5/10) and a new single “Holding You Down (Going in Circles)”. Here’s the video and watch for cameos from some of your favorite old school rappers.
Rock these joints while you facebook stalk your ex and flavor your Rocky Road Ice Cream with your tears.
1. Hope She’ll Be Happier – Bill Withers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9dCl4FJIuw)
Probably the saddest song you’ll ever hear. A broken and bruised Withers sings about not only los
ing a lover, but losing a life partner. His tearful and shocking delivery puts you exactly where he is.
“I can’t believe she don’t wanna see me/we lived and loved together for so long…./but she’s gone.”
2. She’s Gone – PJ Morton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aXxWzxD1kE)
This song makes me imagine someone standing in the driveway as their lover drives away. Morton is shocked in his delivery and seems just at the edge of screaming as he sings, “She’s gone/She’s gone/She’s gone and I believe she’s serious this time.”
3. When Did You Stop Loving Me/When Did I Stop Loving You – Marvin Gaye (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ERYkXoOZg)
Taken from Marvin’s examination of a broken marriage, this song serves as a centerpiece on an album that is the grandfather of Usher’s “Confessions”. The passion of Marvin Gaye’s voice mix with the pain of realizing it’s over on this classic cut.
4. These Eyes – The Guess Who (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw8nXCx5qgo)
Imortalized by Michael Cera in “Superbad”, this song still carries alot of emotional weight. It says what most people think after the break-up of a serious relationship: “These eyes have seen alotta love/but they’re never gonna see another one like I had with you.”
5. Anyone Who Had A Heart – Luther Vandross (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHYH8qy-WOQ)
A remake of the Dionne Warrick/Burt Bacharach classic, Luther’s version is like listening to a piece of leather being ripped apart. His butter-smooth delivery only makes the words that much more heartbreaking.
6. I Don’t Love You Anymore – Teddy Pendergrass
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEtVdJwLHxc)
Put this one on when you think you’re over it. This has to be the most exciting, upbeat break-up song ever. Teddy bounces and grooves while singing the demise of his relationship. Crank this while you ride past his apartment.
7. My Whole World Ended The Moment You Left Me – David Ruffin/What Becomes of The Broken Hearted – Jimmy Ruffin
I wanted to include both these songs by the Ruffin Brothers because they could be a two-sided single. “Whole World Ended” being the bruised first-thought, with “What Becomes” being the devastating question that comes after.
8. Please Stay – Anthony Hamilton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8CD774iTmc)
Producer Jack Splash begins this goregeous ballad with light horns, which seems underscore that deep sadness of Hamilton’s vocal. The melancholy cousin of his breakout hit, “Charlene”, “Please Stay” is a mournful and heartfelt plea for a lover to stick around. Hamilton shows why he’s this generations’ Al Green. Pull out the boombox and play this in front of her window. Tonight.
9. Blame It On The Sun – Stevie Wonder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqJLTCxaehc)
Play this to underscore your post break-up question game. Stevie Wonder constructed these lyrics to reflect the finger-pointing that happens after a break-up and the ultimate conclusion that the fault lies with you. Haunting. Heartbreaking.
10. I’m Gonna Find Me Another You – John Mayer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aGW422nkWY)
This song wraps up the break-up mixtape because it’s about closure. You realize it’s over, and you realize you’re hurt. But you’re preparing for a comeback and when you find somebody, you want her to be just like the one who left you; expect (like John says) nicer and cuter.
This is one I actually have in my posession. So freaky and crazy. I really dig this one. The fold out is even doper.
Saw these cats on VH1 Soul. I love their retro vibe. Some of the best soul music today comes from England. Check them out.
Here’s my top ten soul music disappearing acts; artists that flashed greatness and then were out quicker than a fat kid in dodgeball.
10. Remy Shand – a multi-instrumentalist who had the potential to emerge as one of the few real talents from the Neo-Soul ambush of the early 2000’s. After a solid, Grammy nominated debut, “The Way I Feel”, he went ghost. Word has it, he’s in his native Canada. But he hasn’t relased anything since 2002.
9. Coffey Black – backed by Naughty By Nature’s KG, this New Jersey soul duo hit with “The Afterparty”, but never released another single and soon faded in the soul music sunset.
8. Sunshine Anderson – signed to Macy Gray’s now defuncted Soul Life label (the label that also housed Anthony Hamilton early in his career), Anderson released “Heard it All Before” in 2001, a song that continues to get airplay on R&B Adult Contemporary stations. She went silent after Soul Life folded and release one more album in ‘07, though none of the singles charted.
7. City High – one hit single. One hit album. One breakup between members Robbie and Claudette. One episode of “Intervention”. *crickets*
6. The Project G&B – another Wyclef project that ended with little fanfare. Their biggest claim to fame was Santana’s “Maria Maria”. After that, one single and that was the end. Clef…what’s the deal, son?
5. Glenn Lewis – hailed by many as a Stevie Wonder clone, Lewis made a splash in 2001 with his “World Outside My Window” album and it’s hit single “Don’t You Forget It”. Spurning his neo-soul beginnings, Lewis released the decidedly more urban ”Back for More” in 2004. Seems like he was the only one who wanted to come back for more.
4. Calvin Richardson – another neo-soul casuality. Great voice, but he went ghost after one solid album.
3. D’Angelo – two classic albums, derailed by a drug problem. Rumors have had him in the studio since ‘05, but have yield an album. Come back D. Leave that crack alone.
2. Bill Withers – after running through the 70’s with a gambit of classics, Bill Withers called it quits in 1985. He hasn’t recorded anything since then, and turns down offers to perform, rejecting million dollar show deals. No complaints for Withers though. His royalties keep him warm.
1. Lauryn Hill – after a classic album and a less-than-stellar Unplugged album, Lauryn Hill decided to pull back from the business and focus on family. She’s a fixture on the Festival circuit, here and over seas, but still no proper follow up to “Miseducation.” I hope she’s planning a comeback. I hope.
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