All posts by Ken Shane »
Soul Serenade: Marvin Gaye, “Baby Don’t You Do It”
The Holland-Dozier-Holland song "Baby Don't You Do It" had some great cover versions, but it's hard to to to the Marvin Gaye original
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Soul Serenade: Jerry Leiber, 1933 – 2011
Jerry Leiber, a founding father of rock and roll, and one of the greatest songwriters in the history of popular music, died this week. Ken Shane pays tribute
Read More »Soul Serenade: Steve Cropper, “Dedicated – A Salute to the 5 Royales”
Lowman Pauling and the 5 Royales were a seminal influence on the young Steve Cropper. The legendary guitarist pays tribute to the group on a fine new album
Read More »Soul Serenade: The Marvelettes, “Playboy”
The Marvelettes were Motown's first successful female group, and they scored the company's first number one pop hit. In all they scored 21 hits in eight years
Read More »A Fan’s Notes: Newport Folk Festival 2011
Ken Shane was back at the Newport Folk Festival this year -- but this time, he wasn't just there as a journalist
Read More »Soul Serenade: Brook Benton, “Rainy Night In Georgia”
Despite having a number of hits, Brook Benton had been largely forgotten by the mid-'60s. Then in 1970 he returned with the biggest hit of his career
Read More »Soul Serenade: The Staple Singers, “I’ll Take You There”
Ken Shane will be covering the Newport Folk Festival for Popdose again this weekend. Among the artists he looks forward to seeing is soul legend Mavis Staples
Read More »Soul Serenade: The Ronettes, “Be My Baby”
In which our own Ken Shane and Jim Fusilli of the Wall Street Journal debate the merits of Phil Spector's work in light of his murder conviction
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