Introducing…. Fitz & the Tantrums, although the album “Pick up the pieces” came out last summer and the Ep is even from way back in 2009. Its worth re-introducing this somewhat Motown instumented band, that reminds me, songstructure & hook wise, more of some 80ies bands that i simply cant name no more, but i know that Fitz’ swinging curl looks a lot like 80ies band ABC’s frontman Martin Fry, and the whole lot of them sure have that Blues Brothers look. In a post Mark Ronson world these songs fit right in with the modern day whiteboy soul thats rejecting todays so called soul offerings and looking for something with a more original feel – and this is where Fitz & the Tantrums come in, they sound authentic and thats why we dig them. Here are the tunes we recommend.

Fitz and the Tantrums: facebook / official website / myspace

Fitz & The Tantrums Performing LIVE! that’s right LIVE!!! “Breakin’ the Chains of Love” from Fitz&theTantrums on Vimeo.

Great acoustic version of The Knocks’ Dancing With The DJ.

Dancing With The Dj (Campfire Acoustic Version)

Also check out the Chiddy Bang remix which I posted some time ago in case you missed it (also linking to the original version). Aaaaaaaaaaand…. watch out for some further intel on the Motown cover EP previously announced here.

It’s been two or three months since our last post concerning The Knocks. This one’s the first track of their upcoming EP titled The Same Old Songs and it features Mr. James “JPatt” Patterson on vocals. The EP will contain another five Motown reworks and will be released within the next days. Looking forward to that.

The Knocks on MySpace // Twitter // Facebook

It’s Wednesday again. The so called Motown Wednesday!

Brenda Holloway’s wikipedia: here

Brenda Holloway – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy

Brenda Holloway – Every Little Bit Hurts

Brenda Holloway – When I’m Gone

The Funk Brothers, are the people who created the Motown sound as itself. Often they were forgot, as they’ve mostly became props for quality as studio musicians, but in most case just by singers and additionally the Funk Brothers never appeared on any record cover. They always were THE band, when it came to recording a new Motown hit of that time. The list of number one hits is damn long and many many musicians like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Four Tops etc. reached their popularity just because of these guys. Yesterday, I watched Standing In The Shadows Of Motown (google video), a documentery about them. I really can recommend that movie to everybody who wants to know how that great movement in music history took place.

PS: If you liked that movie, buy it on DVD in order to have pure phenomenal sound quality!

After I got so much great feedback to the start of the Motown Editions, I’m really glad to present you the second one. This time I have some more popular stuff. The radio stations my parents used to listen to during my childhood had The Supremes always in their repertoire. So here are my three favourites of a this great Ladies:

The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go

The Supremes – Come See About Me

The Supremes – Baby Love

Some weeks ago I saw a documentary about Detroit, Michigan. The story which told me what the city had been, what it became and especially what it is today impressed me a lot. The whole subcultural power which is reinventing the city right now, still finds its roots in the Motown years. That’s why I wanted to share this new weekly Motown Edition with you. Martha Reeves was one of the big names at that time and with the Vandellas, she formed one of the very first girl groups in terms of our pop-culture imagination.

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas – (Love is Like A) Heat Wave

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas – Quicksand

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas – Nowhere to Run

For years there has been nothing – i mean literally no interesting music/ production coming out of Hamburg, germany, which used to be one if not THE music capitol of the country. There are always certain shifts towards places – remember Bristol in the mid nineties, Frankfurt in the late 80ies, early 90ies etc. Anyway its hard to keep up with Berlin these days, with all the concentrated talent there. So Shifty are hailing straight out of Hamburg and these guys are simply doing some fine enjoyable remixes. Especially their Major Lazer/ Nina Skye remix caught my ear. Although i didnt want to post another Major Lazer remix, a least for long now, this one is hard to resist. Sounds like a proper 60ies Ska original. Lovely… as well as the other stuf they sent through. All enjoyable – grab their material and make sure to feed your ipods. They will appreciate it.

Louder-Major Lazer (So Shifty 1961 Ska Version)

R._Kelly_&_Kerry_Hilson_-_Number_One_(So_Shifty_Remix)

So Shifty – Nowhere To Run To

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