Top Of The Box » Soul

Amy Winehouse Live on the BBC

Terry Lane — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:19:03 +0000

Family and friends including Mark Ronson and Kelly Osborne attended the funeral of Amy Winehouse at Edgwarebury Cemetery in north London today.

Amy Winehouse was just 27-years-old when she was found dead at her home in Camden, north London, last Saturday. The cause of death will not be known for up to four weeks as police await toxicology tests, following a post-mortem examination carried out yesterday proved inconclusive.

Anyone who has seen videos of her last concert in Serbia last month has witnessed what a state Amy was in. A stumbling performance that looks to be caused by a cocktail of alcohol and drugs.

Here is Amy Winehouse at her finest performing a live rendition of ‘Rehab’ on Jools Holland’s Later BBCtv show and singing ‘Valerie’ with Mark Ronson for the BBC Live Sessions concert.

Amy Winehouse R.I.P.

Simply Red – Holding Back The Years

John Williams — Sun, 30 May 2010 09:29:02 +0000

Back before Mick Hucknall became a fanny magnet to the stars, Simply Red released their debut album Picture Book, a brilliant collection of songs which included their first hit single Money’s Too Tight To Mention.

Holding Back The Years was the second of the two standout tracks on the album and was released in 1986, reaching number 2 in the UK charts.

Simply Red – Holding Back The Years

Beverley Knight – Change Is Gonna Come – Live

John Williams — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:04:18 +0000

Here is one of the best live versions of the Sam Cooke classic Change Is Gonna Come, performed by the incredible UK R&B artist Beverley Knight backed by the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

This spine tingling version of the song was performed on Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny a few years ago.

Beverley Knight – Change Is Gonna Come – Live

P.P. Arnold – The First Cut Is The Deepest

John Williams — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:51:41 +0000

The definitive version of the Cat Stevens song First Cut Is The Deepest, in my opinion. PP Arnold performs the song on Beat Club on UK TV in 1967.

There have been many covers of this classic song, many great versions, this is my favourite.

P.P.Arnold – The First Cut Is The Deepest

Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers To Cross – Live

John Williams — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:06:34 +0000

I’m not sure when this clip was recorded, but it features a beautiful acoustic version of Many Rivers To Cross performed by Jimmy Cliff with Jools Holland playing some wonderful piano to accompany the smooth vocals of Cliff.

Jimmy Cliff first recorded the track for his 1969 album, simply called, ‘Jimmy Cliff.’ Many Rivers To Cross also featured on the 1972 soundtrack album The Harder They Come, Cliff also starred in the film.

Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers To Cross – Live

David Bowie – Golden Years – Soul Train

John Williams — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:30:29 +0000

David Bowie with the funky Golden Years performing on Soul Train in 1975. Bowie allegedly had to get himself drunk before he could perform on the show.

Golden Years is taken from the album Station to Station which was released in 1976. The album features the last of Bowie’s alter ego’s The Thin White Duke and is considered to be among his significant works.

David Bowie – Golden Years – Soul Train

Quincy Jones and James Ingram – One Hundred Ways

John Williams — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:28:19 +0000

This is Quincy Jones featuring the vocals of James Ingram on the 1980’s song One Hundred Ways. This performance is shot at the Paramount Theater, Seattle in 1983.

Quincy Jones and James Ingram – One Hundred Ways

Billy Preston – That’s The Way God Planned It

John Williams — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:18:31 +0000

Billy Preston was among the first artists to sign for The Beatles Apple label, he worked closely with the band during the recording of Let It Be when he was often referred to as the fifth Beatle.

This was Preston’s biggest hit in 1969, That’s The Way God Planned It. This performance comes from the early seventies possibly George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh.

Preston died in 2006 after suffering kidney disease for some years, he was 59 years old.

Billy Preston – That’s The Way God Planned It

Aretha Franklin – Love all the hurt away

John Williams — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:59:28 +0000

A fine performance as ever from Aretha Franklin, seen here singing Love all the hurt away. She originally recorded the song with George Benson and does a fair impression of him in this video. What a great voice.

Aretha Franklin – Love all the hurt away

Aretha Franklin – Don’t Play That Song For Me

John Williams — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:00:20 +0000

The excellent soul voice of Aretha Franklin performing the standard Don’t Play That Song For Me, this version taken from the UK tv Cliff Richard Show in 1970.

One of the true greats of soul music.

Aretha Franklin – Don’t Play That Song For Me