3/17/16 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY: Nina Simone- Mississippi Goddam


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Mississippi Goddam, written and performed by singer and pianist Nina Simone, captures her response to the murder of Medgar Evers in Mississippi; and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four black children. Released on her album Nina Simone in Concert, which was based on recordings of three concerts she gave at Carnegie Hall in 1964.   Continue reading

3/10/16 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Grace Jones- Slave to the Rhythm And I’ve Seen That Face Before

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Slave to the Rhythm is well-remembered not only for its musical content, but also for its artwork. Designed by Jean-Paul Goude, Jones’ partner at that time, the cover picture is a montage of several copies of a single photograph of Jones, that makes her hair look “extended” and her mouth “stretched”. The process of its creation is illustrated in the title song’s music video. Continue reading

3/3/16 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH- THROWBACK THURSDAY: Diana Ross- Standing Room Only Live At Ceasar’s Palace (1980)

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The HBO special, first aired in early 1980 as part of the network’s Standing Room Only series. It was taped in 1979 at Caesar’s Palace as Ross promoted her then-current album, The Boss. The album, featuring writers/producers Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, featured songs that showed off a range and power that many had forgotten Diana Ross possessed. This was a peak time in the diva’s career; Ross dazzled audience around the world with her demanding, Tony Award-winning An Evening With Diana Ross stage show, and starred with protege Michael Jackson in the 1978 film The Wiz.  Continue reading

2/25/16 O&A NYC BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY: Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come

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A Change Is Gonna Come is a song by Sam Cooke, released on December 22, 1964 by RCA Victor. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, “A Change Is Gonna Come” became an anthem for the American Civil Rights Movement. The song is widely considered Cooke’s best composition and has been voted among the best songs ever released by various publications. In 2007, the song was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress, with the National Recording Registry deeming the song “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.” Continue reading

2/17/16 O&A NYC BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY: Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit

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Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit is the original Black Live Matters anthem. This is rare live footage of one of the first anti racism songs.  Continue reading

2/11/16 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Greatest Love Of All- Whitney Houston

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Whitney Houston popularized the Michael Masser and Linda Creed song (originally recorded in 1977 by American singer and guitarist George Benson) under the title Greatest Love of All. The song was released in February 1985 on her Arista Records debut self-titled album Whitney Houston.  Continue reading

1/27/16 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Stephanie Mills- Home

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Stephanie Mills rose to stardom as Dorothy in the original Broadway run of the Tony Award winning musical The Wiz. The song Home, written by Charlie Smalls, from the show later became a No.1 U.S. R&B hit for Mills and her signature song. Continue reading

1/14/16 O&A NYC Throwback Thursday: David Bowie– Space Oddity

 

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Space Oddity, written and performed by David Bowie and released as a music single, and opening track of the album David Bowie (also known as Space Oddity) in July 1969. The song is about the launch of Major Tom, a fictional astronaut. Besides its title, which alludes to the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the introduction to the song is a barely audible instrumental build-up that is analogous to the deep bass tone in Also sprach Zarathustra that is prominently used in the film. The lyrics have also been seen to lampoon the British space programme. Continue reading

1/7/16 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell- Ain’t no Mountain High Enough

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Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, the R&B classic, written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson in 1966. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Motown recording artists Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The Gaye/Terrell version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, and is regarded today as one of the most important records ever released by Motown. Continue reading