Category Archives: Music

Happy Anniversary, Bro and Wan!

Just wanted to give a shout-out to my brother, Carl Barry and my sister-in-law, Joanne Barry—they are children of the stage, after all, as wonderful jazz musicians—for a Happy Anniversary. Yes, I call my brother “Bro” and my sister-in-law “Wan”, and it’s their $#-th wedding anniversary, and I would have put up this as a “Song of the Day”, except I did so on this date back in 2005! “Do you remember the 21st night of September?” I sure do! Many more happy and healthy returns, with much love, always!

September” also happens to be one of my all-time favorite Earth, Wind & Fire hits, with a wonderful lead vocal by the late, great Maurice White. Below is the group performing the song, but also check out an all-star performance of it at the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors [YouTube link].

Song of the Day #1886

Song of the Day: 1987 Disconet Top Tune Medley [YouTube link], mixed by Tuta Aquino and Dennis Muyet, was one of two medleys that Disconet produced that year, the last annual “Top Tune” medley offered by the subscription service. This particular one includes such hits as “I Want Your Sex“, “Looking for a New Love“, “Silent Morning“, “Catch Me (I’m Falling)“, “Fascinated“, “No Lies“, and a sizzling dash of “The Pleasure Principle” (by Janet Jackson).

Song of the Day #1885

Song of the Day: Stevie Wonder 80s Medley [YouTube link], mixed by Chris Matthew Sciabarra (yes, me!), includes some of Stevie’s best music from the 1980s (with one throwback added at the end!). The medley features “That Girl“, “Love Light in Flight“, “I Love You Too Much“, “Do I Do“, “The Woman in Red“, “Go Home“, “Get It” (a duet with Michael Jackson), “Dark ‘n’ Lovely“, and “Another Star“—from Stevie’s 1976 Grammy-winning masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life“. (H/T to Ryan Neugebauer, again, for the YouTube tech tips!)

Song of the Day #1884 (and Happy Birthday to My Sister!)

Song of the Day: The “S.O.S. III” SOLAR Disconet Medley [YouTube link], mixed by Robert F. Gregory, Fernando Fernandez, and Jose Crep Nunez, features the soulful “Sound of Los Angeles” (from which the SOLAR record label created its acronym). This medley offers some of the best R&B dance music of its era from such groups as Shalamar, Dynasty, The Whispers, Lakeside, and Midnight Star. I digitized this one from my own vinyl copy and posted it on YouTube, uploaded for the sole purpose of entertainment with no copyright infringement intended. The featured songs are among some of my—and my sister’s—all-time favorites … and it’s in her honor that I post this medley today. A happy and a healthy birthday to My Sister, My Friend—and many more to come! Despite some health setbacks this past year, my sister (“Ms. Ski” to all her former students!) still has that fascinating rhythm, and she’ll be back on that dancefloor in no time! (And another Tip o’ the Hat to our dear Ryan Neugebauer for his YouTube Tech Tips in getting this medley up!)

Song of the Day #1883

Song of the Day: The Jackson 5 Medley [YouTube link] features the first three #1 hits of The Jackson 5. This is where it all began. Check out another classic Jackson medley, performed live at the “Motown 25” Celebration in 1983 (with a solo “Billie Jean” thrown in for good measure) [YouTube link]. On this date, in 1958, Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop” was born.

Song of the Day #1881

Song of the Day: 1985 Disconet Top Tune Medley [YouTube link], mixed by the wonderful AratoMatarazzo duo again, takes us from soulful 105 sleaze-beats-per-minute to HiNRG 138 BPMs. Among its scorching dance hits, we find “Too Turned On“, “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?“, “Thinking About Your Love“, “Do You Wanna Get Away“, “I Wonder if I Take You Home“, “Trapped“, “Into the Groove“, “Point of No Return“, “Conga“, “I Like You“, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)“, “Freeway of Love“, “Perfect Kiss“, and “New Attitude“.

Song of the Day #1880

Song of the Day: Madonna Disconet Medley [YouTube link], mixed by Jose “Animal” Diaz, features many of Madonna‘s classic 80s hits, including “Borderline“, “Everybody“, “Lucky Star“, “Holiday“, “Physical Attraction“, “Like a Virgin“, and “Burning Up.” (Speaking of which, I will never forget the singer’s live performance of “Like a Virgin” at the VMAs in 1984 [YouTube link].) On this date in 1958, Madonna was born.

Song of the Day #1879

Song of the Day: 1984 Disconet Top Tune Medley [YouTube link], mixed by Mike Arato and John Matarazzo, strikes all the right chords of a stellar year in dance music. It includes, among other songs, such dance hits “Somebody Else’s Guy“, “Self-Control“, “Jam on It“, “Relax“, “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)“, “Lucky Star“, “Give Me Tonight“, “Swept Away“, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun“, “Dr. Beat“, “Din Daa Daa“, “I Feel For You“, “When Doves Cry“, and “The Glamorous Life” (those last three showing the impact of the Purple One on this year in music!).

Song of the Day #1878

Song of the Day: Whitney Houston Disconet Medley [YouTube link], mixed by Mike Carroll, features many of Whitney’s 80s’ hits, including “I Wanna Dance with Somebody“, “How Will I Know?“, “So Emotional“, and one of my all-time fave up-tempo Whitney tracks: “Love will Save the Day” (with that blazing vibes solo by Roy Ayers). Whitney is tragically gone nearly ten years now, but on this date in 1963, she was born. These tracks were from a happier time …