Jul 13, 2023·edited Jul 13, 2023Liked by Dan Epstein
Ok, I'm an idiot. I only learned of the book and read it because of your reference to it in the Rawls' piece. As someone who grew up in the NJ suburbs in the '70s listening to and loving The Spinners, The Stylistics, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the O'Jays etc., I really enjoyed the book and learned a lot, although I would have liked a little more on the songwriting process for some of the major hits.
Oh, I totally agree (about the songwriting, not you being an idiot). This is an issue I have with a lot of music books — songwriting is often given short-shrift. I really wished Elton John would have gone a lot deeper into that aspect of his career in his autobiography, for example.
Jul 13, 2023·edited Jul 13, 2023Liked by Dan Epstein
Totally agree. By the way, with respect to "Hot Fun in the Summertime," I think Sly Stone is one of the most underrated musicians of our time (along with Ray Davies and the Kinks -- if it is possible to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and still be underrated, they would top that list for me). The message in Sly's songs and the diverse racial and gender make up of his group makes me believe -- or at least hope -- that his music would thrive if it was issued for the first time today. I was going to say that I wish there was a full-scale biography of Sly's life and works -- perhaps a Dan Epstein project ? -- and then I saw that a Sly memoir, written with Ben Greeman, will be coming out in September.
The book Joel Selvin did on Sly about 20 years ago was such a bummer that it actually affected my ability to enjoy Sly’s brilliant music for a while. Curious to see what this new one brings to the table, though!
Great post! I love all your choices! Even though summer isn’t referenced, my go to is Marvin Gaye’s, “Got to Give It Up” (1977). I imagine all of the voices you hear in the beginning of the song hanging around a glimmering L.A. pool, while sipping cocktails and dancing and swimming throughout the day and night.
War's "Summer" is one of the best go-to summer songs of all. Thanks for including it here, Dan!
That's a big 10-4, good buddy!
Great post. If you are into 70s soul and R&B, I just finished "A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul" by John Jackson about Leon Huff, Kenny Gamble and Thom Bell and the great music they created. https://www.amazon.com/House-Fire-Rise-Fall-Philadelphia-ebook/dp/B00WBN52NE
Thank you! And yes, that's a great book — in fact, I quoted from it last month in my post about Lou Rawls! https://danepstein.substack.com/p/im-not-braggin-on-myself-baby
Ok, I'm an idiot. I only learned of the book and read it because of your reference to it in the Rawls' piece. As someone who grew up in the NJ suburbs in the '70s listening to and loving The Spinners, The Stylistics, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the O'Jays etc., I really enjoyed the book and learned a lot, although I would have liked a little more on the songwriting process for some of the major hits.
Oh, I totally agree (about the songwriting, not you being an idiot). This is an issue I have with a lot of music books — songwriting is often given short-shrift. I really wished Elton John would have gone a lot deeper into that aspect of his career in his autobiography, for example.
Totally agree. By the way, with respect to "Hot Fun in the Summertime," I think Sly Stone is one of the most underrated musicians of our time (along with Ray Davies and the Kinks -- if it is possible to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and still be underrated, they would top that list for me). The message in Sly's songs and the diverse racial and gender make up of his group makes me believe -- or at least hope -- that his music would thrive if it was issued for the first time today. I was going to say that I wish there was a full-scale biography of Sly's life and works -- perhaps a Dan Epstein project ? -- and then I saw that a Sly memoir, written with Ben Greeman, will be coming out in September.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/22/funk-legend-sly-stone-announces-memoir-thank-you-falettinme-be-mice-elf-agin
The book Joel Selvin did on Sly about 20 years ago was such a bummer that it actually affected my ability to enjoy Sly’s brilliant music for a while. Curious to see what this new one brings to the table, though!
Not familiar with the Selvin book. Why was it such a bummer?
Great post! I love all your choices! Even though summer isn’t referenced, my go to is Marvin Gaye’s, “Got to Give It Up” (1977). I imagine all of the voices you hear in the beginning of the song hanging around a glimmering L.A. pool, while sipping cocktails and dancing and swimming throughout the day and night.
Oh yeah — that Marvin track is one of the all-time great party jams!