Heat Rocks

Latest Episodes:

Nelson George on Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions" (1973) Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

Innervisions marked a significant transition in Little Stevie Wonder's career. He began to move away from the Motown romantic ballads and towards a more conscious and experimental sound. He talked about poverty, racism, drugs, and Richard Nixon. It's an album filled with social justice anthems, made almost entirely by Stevie himself at 23 years old.

Culture critic and writer Nelson George sits down with us (remotely) to talk about Stevie embracing of new musical technology, the changing landscape of black radio at the time, and Stevie's own transformation as an artist during the early 70s

More on Nelson George

More on Innervisions

BBC's review of Innervisions
Stevie Wonder Emerges As A Visionary with Innervisions (Ultimate Classic Rock)
Malcolm Cecil on working with Stevie (Wax Poetics)

Show Tracklisting (All songs from Innervisions unless otherwise indicated):

Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
Living For The City
Too High
Living For The City
Too High
New York Voices: Too High
Golden Lady
Jesus Children of America
Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
Barbra Streisand: All In Love Is Fair
Higher Ground
Curtis Mayfield: Future Shock
Donnie: Heaven Sent
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes: Hope That We Can Be Together Soon

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Bonus Beats: Old Music Reviews and James Gadson Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

On this minisode, Oliver goes back to a few of his old reviews and discusses the extremely underrated and overlooked session musician James Gadson.

Ask us a question on Facebook or Twitter @heatrockspod and we might answer it in a future Bonus Beats episode!

Oliver's archived review of Dilated Peoples The Platform (Wall of Sound)
Oliver's archived review of M.O.P's Warriorz (LA Weekly)
James Gadson with Bill Withers on Ain't No Sunshine

Comfort Music #2: Oliver's Picks Apr 23, 2020

Show notes

We continue our Comfort Music series with Oliver and discuss his five favorite comfort albums. We talk about the often overlooked genius of Labi Siffre, the intimacy of Duke Ellington's compositions, and how Tribe helped Oliver get through the tough times.

Show Tracklisting:

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: April in Paris
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Isn't This A Lovely Day?
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Under a Blanket of Blues
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: The Nearness of You
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Moonlight in Vermont
Duke Ellington: Solitude
Duke Ellington: Where or When
Duke Ellington: Willow Weep For Me
Labi Siffre: Gimme Some More
Labi Siffre: I Got The...
Labi Siffre: Cannock Chase
A Tribe Called Quest: Electric Relaxation
A Tribe Called Quest: God Lives Through
A Tribe Called Quest: Award Tour
Frank Ocean: Pink + White
Frank Ocean: Nikes
Frank Ocean: Seigfried
Frank Ocean: White Ferrari

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Bonus Beats: Reggae Covers with Adam Mansbach Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

On this special bonus ep, Oliver talks to writer Adam Mansbach to discuss the weird and wonderful world of reggae covers. They talk about their favorite (and least favorite) covers, why reggae and hip-hop share more in common than you might think, and what aspects of a song lend themselves to a good reggae flip.

More on Adam Mansbach

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Comfort Music #1: Morgan's Picks Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

The Albums:

Earth, Wind & Fire - Spirit (1976)

Vesta Williams - Vesta (1986)

Anita Baker - Compositions (1990)

Agent K - Feed The Cat (2002)

Braxton Cook - Somewhere In Between (2007)

We are kicking off our Comfort Music series this week with Morgan's five comforting albums. We discuss what exactly makes music comforting, Tower Records, and the power of pleasant voices.

Show Tracklisting:

Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit

Earth, Wind & Fire: Imagination

Vesta Williams: Don't Blow A Good Thing

Vesta Williams: Congratulations

Vesta Williams: You Make Me Want to (Love Again)

Vesta Williams: I'm Coming Back

Lalah Hathaway: I'm Coming Back

Vesta Williams and Lalah Hathaway: I'm Coming Back

Vesta Williams: Be You

Anita Baker: A Perfect Love Affair

Anita Baker: More Than You Know

Anita Baker: Love You To The Letter

Agent K: Armz R Deh

Young Disciples: As We Come (To Be)

Agent K: Rideaway Getaway

Agent K: Hands

Kaidi Tatham: These Things Shall Pass

Braxton Cook: FJYD

Braxton Cook: I Cook

Jill Scott: Slowly Surely (Theo Parrish Remix)

Jill Scott: Jilltro

Jill Scott: Honey Molasses

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Bonus Beats: Heat Rocks Mailbag II Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Oliver answers a couple of questions from fans on this special mid-week minisode!

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Remembering Bill Withers with Joey Dosik Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

(This episode originally aired 03/28/2019)

The Album: Bill Withers: +Justments (1974)

Despite the massive success of Withers's first two albums, Just As I Am and Still Bill, label problems prevented +Justments (his fourth LP) from being released on CD until 2010. As such, it's been a sleeper of an album despite how good it is. Withers was never the most confessional of artists but this album, which came about during the dissolution of Withers's marriage to Denise Nicholas (amidst accusations of abuse), is about as close to he gets to talking about his personal life via song. Meanwhile, scoring all this were former members of the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band, as good a rhythm section that any artist in L.A. could hope to be hooked up with.

+Justments was the pick by L.A. soulster Joey Dosik, who's recorded extensively with Vulfpeck but has recently branched into his solo career with his debut album from last year, Inside Voice, which includes a cover of "Stories" from Withers's album. Amongst other things, we discussed how Dosik discovered this slept-on album in his ex-girlfriend's crates, how he learned his own singing voice by studying Withers's, and how drumming great James Gadson is supernaturally clean in the pocket.

Note: the first half of our episode was taped in the MaxFun kitchen on a remote rig because the power had gone out in our building. We were able to get back into the studio properly for the second half but we apologize for the uneven sound quality of the first half.

More on Joey Dosik

"Joey Dosik Talks NBA-Inspired 'Running Away' & Getting A Pep Talk From Quincy Jones" (Billboard)
Interview with Atwood Magazine
Twitter | Bandcamp | Website

More on +Justments

Bomani Jones on +Justments.
Review on Popmatters.
"Ain’t No Sunshine In Bill Withers’ Masterpiece, +’Justments" (Trunkworthy)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from +Justmentsunless indicated otherwise):

Ruby Lee
Joey Dosik: Game Winner
Stories
Bill Withers: Ain't No Sunshine
Can We Pretend
Heartbreak Road
Can We Pretend
Heartbreak Road
Stories
Joey Dosik: Stories (Live)
Joey Dosik: Stories
Railroad Man
You
Green Grass
Ruby Lee
Shuggie Otis: Inspiration Information
Stevie Wonder: Visions

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there

If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Bonus Beats: Heat Rocks Mailbag Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

Oliver answers a couple of questions from fans on this special mini episode to get you through the week.

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Trackademicks on Sade's "Lover's Rock" (2000) Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

After the amazing success of Sade's previous album, Love Deluxe, fans were eagerly awaiting the band's next album. Fans had to wait for 8 long years before Lovers Rock dropped in the fall of 2000. And the wait was most definitely worth it. As the title suggests, the band moved more towards soul, R&B, and, well, lovers rock.

Producer/Remixer Trackademicks sits down with us to discuss Lovers Rock on its 20th anniversary. We get into the crazy amount of Sade remixes, (including Trackademicks' own remixes), Sade's impeccable voice, and the space and patience throughout the album.

More on Trackademicks

More on Lovers Rock

The Making of Lovers Rock
The Fader's 2000 cover story on Sade
A Peek Behind Sade's Veil of Heartbreak (The New York Times)

Song Tracklisting (all songs from Lovers Rock unless otherwise indicated):

By Your Side
2 Player Co-Op: No Ordinary Love
Every Word
Immigrant
Droop-E: I'm Loaded
Slave Song
Sade: No Ordinary Love
The Neptunes: By Your Side (Remix)
Cottonbelly Fola: By Your Side (Remix)
Naked Music: By Your Side (Remix)
Ben Watt: By Your Side (Remix)
Trackademicks: Give It Up (Remix)
Lovers Rock
Slave Song
Every Word
All About Our Love
King of Sorrow
It's Only Love That Gets You Through
Somebody Already Broke My Heart
Flow
Lovers Rock
Massive Attack: Better Things
Massive Attack: Five Man Army
Astrud Gilberto: Beber de Agua
Esthero: Breath From Another
Alex Isley: Into Orbit
Alex Isley: Road to You (Trackademicks Remix)

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Patrice Rushen on Minnie Riperton's "Come to My Garden" (1970) Mar 26, 2020

Show notes

Musician/composer/producer/songwriter/music director/legend Patrice Rushen joins us to discuss Minnie's debut solo album Come to My Garden. We talk about the lush orchestration courtesy of Charles Stepney, Minnie's distinct voice, and Patrice's own journey with the album.

At around the 27:50 mark, Morgan incorrectly states Lynn Fiddmont's song was "I Love You", when it's actually "U R Loved"

More on Patrice

"Patrice Rushen Found Success in Jazz and Dance Music. She Hasn’t Been Forgotten" (The New York Times)
Pop Matters' interview with Patrice
Website

More on Minnie Riperton

Minnie Riperton – 10 of the best (The Guardian)
Minnie Live on ABC 's In Concert

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Come to My Garden unless otherwise indicated):

Come To My Garden
Oh By The Way
Masters At Work: I Am The Black Gold of the Sun (Remix)
Only When I'm Dreaming
Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World
Expecting
Lynn Fiddmont: U R Loved
Ramsey Lewis: Les Fleurs
Gang Starr: Jazz Music
Les Fleurs
Completeness
Rainy Day in Centerville
Les Fleurs
Rotary Connection: Memory Band
Memory Band
Flora Purim: You Love Me Only
Expecting
Come To My Garden
Oh By The Way
Chicago Gospel Keyboard Masters: Walk With Me Lord
Close Your Eyes And Remember
Come to My Garden
Rotary Connection: Turn Me On
Kadhja Bonet: Childqueen
Carleen Anderson: Morning Loving
Earth, Wind & Fire: Imagination
Deniece Williams: Free

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

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