Janelle Monáe f. Miguel, "Prime Time"

Happy Kansas Day!

The Temptations, "My Girl" (Live)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: The Jackson 5, "I Was Made to Love Her" (Stevie Wonder)

;)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: The Fugees, "Killing Me Softly" (Roberta Flack)

We had the luxury of spending the weekend with my father-in-law, who had the good sense to recommend one of the greatest covers in the history of music--Lauryn Hill, Wyclef and Pras, with their unforgettable remix of the Roberta Flack classic. Enjoy.

Rufus Thomas, "Little Sally Walker"

Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, "Express Yourself"

For yesterday...

Beyoncé, "Love On Top"

And Part 2...

Talib Kweli f. Norah Jones, "Soon the New Day"

From Eardrum...

The 500 Club!: Otis Redding, "Chained and Bound" (Live)

Today marks Tuna Day's 500th post, and to mark the occasion, we turn to Maura's favorite performance from one of her favorite artists.  Here's the incomparable Otis Redding, performing at LA's Whisky Go Go in 1966.  Enjoy, and thanks for listening.

Sonia Dada, "You Ain't Thinking about Me" (Live in Australia, 1993)

Here's some vintage Sonia Dada, from their 1993 tour of Australia, where the band soared to the top of the charts.  The original lineup, shown here, featured Michael Scott, Paris Delane and Sam Hogan on vocals, Dan Pritzker and Dave Resnick on guitar, Erik Scott on bass, Chris "Hambone" Cameron on keys, and Hank Guaglianone on drums.  Enjoy!

Frank Ocean, "Bad Religion"

Janelle Monáe, "Tightrope (Live at Glastonbury 2011)

Ann Peebles, "99 lbs"

Natural-born goodness, y'all.

Roberta Flack, "Compared to What"

From 1969's First Take...

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Aretha Franklin, "The Weight" (The Band)

This is the way a great cover is done, folks.  I love the blues guitar intro that sets the stage for the funk to drop.  And the full-throttle gospel of the chorus.  And the horns.  And the kick drum's dum da-dum.. dum da-dum... dum da-dum... during the "a-a-a-and..."  OK.  I admit... I love everything about it.  And I also love the original.  And the Last Waltz version (below), which features The Staple Singers!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Ray Charles, "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)

Gladys Knight and the Pips, "I Heard It through the Grapevine"

Originally written for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles by Barrett Strong ("Money (That's What I Want)") and Norman Whitfield, the song faced an uphill battle past Berry Gordy to reach the public.  Gladys' and the Pips' version was the first to be released and eventually became a #1 single.  Of course it was later outperformed by Marvin's definitive take, but this is stellar... seen here on Soul Train.  Enjoy!

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (Soul Train)

R.I.P., Don Cornelius.

NOSTALGIA WEEK: Shai, "If I Ever Fall in Love" (a cappella)

From 1992.  13-year-old me was floored.  For that matter, I still am.  My frie-e-e-e-nd...

Etta James, 1938-2012... "Tell Mama" and "At Last"

Man, could she bring it...