Today's standout tunes:
'60s/'70s R&B Hits
- It Only Takes A Minute-Tavares (The subject matter of "...Minute" differs considerably from "Back Stabbers" by The O'Jays, but those songs are rhythmically compatible.)
Country Coffee House
- Conversations With The Moon-Kitty Coen (Modern-sounding low-pitched vocals against a backdrop not unlike many '50s doo-wop songs.)
- Mind Your Step-Laura Chavez (Electric guitar stylings with considerable grit, fit for hitting the open road.)
Luna
- Teach Me Tonight-Tito Puente (This instrumental's cha-cha rhythm makes it easy to segue with Les Brown's bossa nova version of "Begin The Beguine.")
Real Jazz Just Music
- The Song Is You-Pat Bianchi (Bianchi's lightning fast organ playing serves this standard well.)
SiriusXM Love
- (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher-Rita Coolidge (Jackie Wilson had a big hit with this in 1967. Ten years later, Coolidge had an even bigger hit with it. Coolidge's vocals, and a slower yet still energetic tempo, made this an especially strong remake.)
Watercolors
- Carmel-Joe Sample (This has a bit more bite than I'm used to in Sample's solo piano recordings.)
Yacht Rock Deep Cuts
- Little Darling (I Need You)-The Doobie Brothers (A perfect cover; Michael McDonald handles lead vocals with his customary force. The instrumental interlude from 1:40 until 2:08 is one of the most infectious I've heard, as it builds upon the momentum of McDonald's preceding vocals. How was this not a hit?)
