Let me know what you think of this little number. I was going for a old soul vibe, the kind of feeling that’s meant for the late evening, early morning hours where the night gets the best of you.
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The southern soul gem Knock On Wood by Eddie Floyd came out in 1967 on Stax Records. Backed by the Stax House Band, Booker T. & The MGs, the album relishes the gritty sound that defined the label, from its rifle-crack snare, to its punchy rhythm section, complete with swaggering horns and chromatic guitar progressions. Here I’m featuring the opening two songs of the album, the title track and "Something You Got". The former features the same progression as Wilson Pickett’s famous “Midnight Hour” but played in reverse, talk about getting bang for your buck.
“S’posin I should fall in love with you
Do you think that you could love me too?”
An unheralded classic from one of the greatest early jazz musicians. While Fats didn’t possess the voice that made Louis Armstrong so identifiable, Fats is quite a character and every bit Armstrong’s equal as a musician.
“I can hear her heartbeat for a thousand miles/ And the heavens open every time she smiles.”
For Valentine’s Day, take a break from all of the typical love song fodder that’s out there and take a listen to the oft-overlooked classic “Crazy Love” from Van Morrison’s 1970 flawless release Moondance. The blissful instrumental arrangement is matched by Van Morrison’s cooing falsetto and earnest lyrics, you can tell he means every word of it.
So treat yourself, or your loved one, to all of Moondance as your soundtrack for Valentine’s Day. You won’t regret it
The Art of the Mixtape 