Oh Music and I Go Waaaaay Back
She's gone with me everywhere I've ever been on this planet. She also changes with the times, but one of the beauties about music is you can have thousands of wives. And just because a wife may get old doesn't mean she's not still absolutely beautiful, especially those wives that were among the most beautiful songs to ever grace this planet
A music subscription with plenty of storage on my device is an absolute must for me. Over the years I've developed quite the library. None of our catalog of music are meant to be competitive against the other, but each of our catalog of music will also tell, in part at least, our individual story. I think that's why when you hear a song you love, it transports you back to where you were when the song was hot. Gatherings with people who may have passed away or you don't associate with anymore. To me, it's my favorite memory jogger
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My music taste is also eclectic. That's what this page is for. When I was podcasting, I did a few episodes of a solo version of the music show I produced. A couple of those episodes I played some of my all-time favorite songs. But that was only a pebble size sample of my musical catalog. So, this page is for some of those other songs not mentioned on my podcasts
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Also, as noted by (**), whenever you see those - not just here, but anywhere on the site - that means I have stand-up material on that subject. If you plan to check me out on stage (oh and trust me, you should!), it's a really good idea to familiarize yourself with anything with that symbol beside it
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So, here goes. You can get to know a lot about me from the music I choose. Check it out with me
58 Jams from the Music Safe of Comedian and Entertainer Spiritt Garrett (I have to write it that way for SEO purposes)
**The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations
I'm a big time fan of Motown music from back in the day. The Tempts are probably my all-time favorite of that era. I liked this video because it showed the guys at their prime. And I like how they just patiently waited in the front until they were cued, then they all briskly walked on stage and jumped right into that shit
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Temptations Forever
**Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) - The Temptations
I tend to lean more toward my favorite artists songs that were not played to death on the radio. And while I wasn't around at that time to know if this one was, I know it wasn't one of their bigger hits, so I assume not
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This one is another classic in the Tempts catalog to me
**Get Ready - The Temptations
This one was bigger but still not as big as some of their other hits. But this is actually one of my favorites of theirs
**Bernadette - The Four Tops
**Standing in the Shadows of Love - The Four Tops
I grew up with Motown music and not only do I still love this shit, I have some very hilarious stand-up material about this song, if I do say so myself
**Diamonds and Pearls - Prince & the NPG
I wasn't a huge fan of Prince's music in general, but I did like some of his songs, including this one. This song came out in like '92, but it doesn't sound dated like a lot of the music that came out during that time
**Kiss - Prince
This one too. And I have really funny material on this song too
**It Wasn't Me - Shaggy
This song is a classic from about 25 years ago now (feel old yet?), but it is still a hit and I've got great stand-up material about this song too
We Both Deserve Each Other's Love - L.T.D.
Every time it Rains - Will Downing
I had never heard this song until 10 years ago when one of the ladies on my Fair Game Podcast chose this song as one of their song choices for a particular subject of one of the shows. I've been on this song something heavy ever since then. This one never gets old me
While I love music from many different genres, the majority of my favorite songs are from the smooth, R&B category. And in that regard, there are few who are better, more consistent, and have been doing it as long as Will Downing. If you don't know about Will you really need to get on your shit, especially if you're a fan of R&B
Kickin' Back - Mila J
First of all, Mila is fine as fuck. And the song is so mellow, which is how I love my R&B. But the message in this song is my shit too. After spending so many years subjugated by an old school, domineering mother, all of us who survived that shit and got out can point to songs like this as inspiration to remind me that as an adult, I can in fact do whatever the fuck I want, and don't anybody any muthafucking explanation about anything I do. Unfortunately, there are still a great many of us still held captive by our family under the assumption they know what's best. Y'all, that's such fucking bullshit!! LIVE. YOUR. LIFE.
Redbone - Childish Gambino
On the surface, I don't know if I have much reason to like this song. It's different, for sure. With Donald Glover's slightly odd Prince-like falsetto that works brilliantly for this song, or the music that sounds like it was made on a Casio keyboard, I really shouldn't like this song as much as I do. But I love it
My Guarantee - Charlie Wilson
This was a hidden jewel on Uncle Charlie's album, Charlie, Last Name Wilson. This song never gets old to me
Yours - Shai
So back like 300 years ago during the 1990's, there was a group that was a force to be reckoned with called Shai. Their biggest hit is easily their acapella debut, If I Ever Fall in Love. But around that same time they came out with this one also in acapella, that I don't know if as many people heard as If I Ever, but I honestly loved this one at least 10 times more than If I Ever. And just like If I Ever Fall in Love, Yours still holds up today. Check out this classic
Some Enchanted Evening - The Temptations
As stated earlier, the Tempts are one of my favorites of Motown. My favorite lead singer of the group is Ali-Ollie Woodson (may he RIP). I'm sure this wasn't one of their hits but that don't mean it's not an absolute classic to me. And one of the main reasons I love this song so much is because of Ollie's PERFECT vocals! Check it
Pon De Replay - Rihanna
Not a huge fan of Rihanna, but she does have two bangers to me. This one and Please Don't Stop the Music
We All Want the Same Thing - Kevin Michael feat Lupe Fiasco
The year was sometime around 2006. There was a great show that I got addicted to (especially the first two seasons before they tried to appeal to teenagers) called Lincoln Heights (heeeey, Erica Hubbard...see, there I go again)
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Anyway, in one of their episodes I believe in the second season, when Erica's character Cassie worked at a local, happening spot as a barista, the coffee spot would have musical artist. One day there was this kid who looked like he was white but had an afro who appeared on the show performing his new song at the time, We All Want the Same Thing. Turns out the kid is bi-racial, and he has another song on this same album with Wyclef called It Don't Make Any Difference that explains what he went through. I loved this song from the second I heard it, and even though it wasn't included on the show, I'm including the bonus version that includes a verse from Lupe himself. Definitely check this one out
Family Affair - Mary J Blige
One of the best beats of Dr Dre's storied beat-making career is the star here. But the whole thing just works. Mary's smoothed out vocals. That catchy ass hook. This is another one that never gets old to me
Industry - Wyclef Jean
So, if you listened to my Vers(us) Solo podcast episode on Wyclef, you know I don't think he can sing for shit! But I did say he wasn't bad on this album. It was like he understood he had been doing much before and toned it down so we could hear his message. This shit worked WAY better. The first lyric of this song:
"Imagine if Biggie and 'Pac never got shot..."
​You know I was in!
My World is Empty Without You - The Supremes
Keeping with the Motown theme, this is my favorite Supremes song
How I Got Over - The Roots
Now we head over to hip hop (who else but your boy can go from Motown to hip hop in the blink of an eye?). The Roots are one of my all-time favorites, and How I Got Over is my favorite album of theirs, with The Tipping Point running a close second. The title track on How I Got Over is always one of my favorites, because Black Thought gets his Black Soul Singer on for this song, while still managing to bless us with a rap verse
Oh No - Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg
Dammit I still miss Nate Dogg. He really found his niche. No one has really been able to be that go to dude for rap hooks like he was. And his hook on here is one of the main reasons I love this song so much, and why it will likely never get old to me
Summertime n the LBC - Dove Shack
I grew up in LA so I thought this was a song that was a hit worldwide. But one year my sister and I went to our family reunion and reunited with our cousins in OKC, and they had never heard of the song when my sister and I started singing it in the pool. But this was one of the songs that I would say almost defined my youth. And all these years later, it still feels good to me
Ballin' - Snoop Dogg feat The Dramatics
After such a huge first collab hit between the Dogg and the Dramatics, you'd think that you would have heard this all over the radio too. But honestly, I had never heard it. Until one day around 2015 or 2016 when I tuned in to my favorite podcast at the time, Black Astronauts Podcast, and they played this song as their intro song to one of their episodes. It's been in my rotation ever since. I'm not going to compare the two Snoop/Dramatics hits, because I think they're both dope af
'Til You Come Back To Me - Rachelle Ferrell
Not to be confused with the song by Aretha Franklin of the same name, this is definitely a hidden gem that you weren't going to hear all over the radio. But it's a straight-up classic to me. And if you listen carefully, you can hear Will Downing (a frequent collaborator of Rachelle Ferrell) singing background on the hook
They Don't Live Long - Trick Daddy
This one I happen to remember what made me check it out for the first time. I did not hear it when it came out in the 90's. But I was watching Trick Daddy's Unsung episode, and this song was said to be his first breakout single. I liked what I heard on the episode, so it made me check out the entire song and, yep, this is one never gets old either
Pink Cashmere - Prince
I honestly don't even remember how I discovered this song. But I think it was one of those situations where I was listening on Apple Music after my playlist played its last song, and the computer coding takes over where it plays a radio station of similar songs. But this is definitely one of his nicer ones
It Feels So Good - Sonique
Aww man this one takes me back. Released back in '98, many of us had gay friends who put us up on game to this song. Listening to it, yeeep, I can see why it was a banger at gay and straight clubs alike. And man is this still a catchy ass tune. And her voice is so unique, especially when she sings "it's you I'm always thinking of"
She's a Bitch - Missy Elliott
HANDS DOWN my favorite Missy Elliott song
Just Shopping (Not Buying Anything) - The Dramatics
Oh, you thought Snoop's uncles from the Dramatics were only able to back him up? Nah man, this group called themselves the Dramatics because their songs were more like presentations. This is one of my all-time favorites of theirs. Of course the lyrics don't make sense. Just shopping, not buying anything. That's the same shit, ain't it?
Just eating, not chewing anything
Ohh you know you were!! Just singing, not belting anything....
Dark Fantasy - Kanye West
One of my favorite Kanye songs was this one right here. As always back when Kanye was the shit, the production is flawless. And this song has one of my favorite Ye barz:
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Too many Urkel's on your team that's why your Winslow
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Get it? 'Cuz the family's name was, but it was a play on not winn-- oh just listen to the goddamn song lol
Don't Worry - The Game feat Mary J Blige
Let's see, hit debut album from Game. Check
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Dre beat on this track. Check
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The sweet sounds of Mary J Blige. Check
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Game spitting hot barz. Check
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What's not to love about this song?
Falsifying - Paul Wall/Chamillionaire
Oh this was my shit!!! I think my sister put me up on Paul and Cham, and this is definitely my favorite song of theirs. They even seemed like they almost tried to get a Nate Dogg type singing at the end. But I also love what the song is talking about. It's kinda in the wake of The Roots' What We Do, strictly speaking of subject matter
Lil Red Boat - Angel Grant
This one takes me back too. I remember I heard this song just before I went away to college in '97. To my surprise, when I first got to San Diego State, I found myself homesick. This song brought me a lot of comfort during that time (that's what I meant when I say music has gotten me through a lot of shit). This song has always been in my favorites since then and it still never gets old to me. Just such a beautifully mellow song
Washed Away - Arrested Development
Ahhh yes. My family would tell you I was a superfan of Arrested Developmentb back in the day, and there was nothing like their first album. Pops put me on to Speech and crew and I've been hooked ever since. Pretty much every song on that album is a hit to me. But this one is a hidden jewel on that album. The very last track, Arrested Development gently places the cherry on top of an excellent debut album. I not only recommend this song but the entire album
**The Glamorous Life - Sheila E
Famously written by Prince, this is one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard. The beat does sound like it came from the 80's, but the rest of it doesn't to me
Fire - The Pointer Sisters
I don't remember how/why I first heard this song, but I do remember I liked it from the first spin. And it was sometime in the last 10 years. This song doesn't sound like it came from the 80's to me. But I do have a bone to pick with one part of the lyrics. Did ma'am really call herself a liar? Twice?! Aight then
Fool's Gold - Jill Scott
Many, many moons ago, around the year of our lord (what the fuck does that saying mean btw?) 2015, I was able to manage a healthy-ish relationship for a few months despite the severe damage my mother's abuse left me with. She was a big Jilly from Philly fan, and one day she and I went to Jilly's show at the Greek. It was a surprisingly great show, even for dudes (y'all know Ms Jilly's music don't always appeal to us). She did this song at that show providing my first listen to it, and it's been in my favorite's playlist ever since
Temporary Love Thing - Full Force
Ok this song DOES sound like it's stuck in the fucking 80's. But it's still a jam. As a young'un, I watched House Party too many times to count. Especially the 10-year-old version of me favorite scene; "who's pussy is this baby?" lol Given Full Force's persona in that film, I just assumed they were rappers. I was not expecting to hear this shit when I finally listened to their music, but I still loved this song
Fantastic Voyage - Lakeside
Coolio's sample of this song may be more famous than the original. But the original is the bonafide shit!!!! And it makes sense that Coolio sampled it, because I believe it should be credited as one of the first songs to feature rap before it was called rap. You could even make the argument that Coolio decided to sample the song from the raps in it, as his flow is similar as Lakeside's flow in the song
Tha Shiznit - Snoop Dogg
Snoop's debut, Doggystyle, is widely considered a classic. This is my favorite song on a classic album of excellent songs. 'Nuff said
Old Cape Cod - Patti Page
Ohh I bet you this one FUCKED YOU UP, didn't it?! Don't trip. It did me too. But in my defense, I actually discovered this song from one of my favorite action movies, and my favorite movie of the series too, Die Hard 2. Y'all remember Marvin the janitor was playing this on his old ass record player. This song is my escape. It's not very long, but for that 2 1/2 minutes every time I hear it, I'm away on an island somewhere. And don't let me be high when listening to this song, shiiiiiiiit. You can call me all you want, I ain't answering that shit while I'm on vacation
Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
Who the fuck goes from Snoop to Rascal Flatts in the blink of an eye? Haha, welcome to my mind bitch
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I don't even care man! I know I'm not the normal demographic of a song such as this, but so!! I love this fucking song. Featured in one of my favorite movies, Cars, I STILL blast this shit in my car on near max volume and be groovin' like a muthafucka
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"If you're going my way, I wanna ride it all night long"
'scuse me while I listen to this shit again right now
Love Saw It - Karyn White feat Babyface
What a beautiful song. Can you believe this was released in '88? But it doesn't sound like it came from the 80's, does it? And I think Karyn White was an underrated singer even in her heyday. This one is a straight-up classic to me though
Call Upon - Bryann T
I know a lotta y'all were like, who the fuck? I get it. This one has a bit of a story
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Depending on how far you are into perusing this site, you may know that in 2022, I spent some time in rehab/mental health treatment. After three successful weeks, you still had to attend groups basically all day until 3 or 4pm, but you could attend your groups at a remote location. To get us to that remote location, the facility had several vans and enough staff to man those vans
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​One of the guys who worked there, who played a few games of chess with me, was a daily driver to the facility. I really preferred to ride in his van, to the point where when the vans were lined up outside in the morning, I always asked him which one he was driving so I could snag a seat. He was cool, but he also always connected his iPod to the speakers of the car, allowing him to play his own music in the van. I thought he had some great taste in music. In fact, so did many of us, and he would have a line of patients wanting to ride in his van. One morning while on our way to the remote location, this song came on. After listening to a couple of minutes, it prompted me to yell out from the back asking him who this was and what the name of the song was (one of the ladies riding in the van wanted to know too). I recorded it in my notebook in my backpack (we could only use our cell phones from 4 - 7 every day and only while located at the main facility)
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I then pulled it up on YouTube when I got back to my room, and yep, this song has been in heavy rotation ever since. Like the employee who introduced me to his song, Bryann T is super religious as he's a gospel rapper. But one thing about me and music, I couldn't care less about your beliefs. Musical artists have to draw from their own lives to be able to connect themselves to a song they're creating. His deep conviction makes for excellent music. Who gives a shit if I agree with what you're saying or not when it comes to music? I just think that's stupid. This man and I don't share the same beliefs, but we don't have to, and that's the beauty of living in this flawed but great country of ours. I think he is a super dope ass rapper
Children, Go Where I Send Thee - Kenny Rogers feat Home Free
Like the Bryann T song above, I have to include the entire video for both of these because I couldn't find an audio only option. So, there's a bit of a roadmap to how I got to this version of the song
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By the end of 2023, I had developed a massive crush on a meteorologist on my local news station. In watching for her, they advertised a choir based out of my hometown, Los Angeles, that had a holiday concert coming up, called Angel City Chorale. Interested in the music, I went to their website and saw that in addition to the option to buy tickets, it also had a free option to livestream the show. I signed up and attended the concert virtually. It was great!!!
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The theme of that particular show was Celebrate Me Home. And it culminated with introducing me to a new song of the same name by Kenny Loggins. I absolutely loved ACC's rendition of the song, to the point where it actually brought me to tears. But at another point in the same concert, they did this song. Before they began, the director of the choir, Sue Fink (who is hilarious btw), mentioned coming across the Spelman college Glee Club version of the song, drawing inspiration for her choir to cover it. I pulled up the same YouTube video she watched, and I could totally see why!! Their version was absolutely flawless! That made me search for more options of this same song, particularly in my music subscription where there were no ads. That's where I came across this gem
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Home Free seems like the Boyz II Men of country music. While I love all of the versions of this song I've heard, I think this one is my favorite
Midnight in Harlem - Tedeschi Trucks Band
This fucking song right here! This is another one I have no business loving the way I do. It came on after my playlist ended and it automatically plays similar music. I remember this song had me hypnotized from the beginning, especially her voice. The name of the band is the combination of the last names of the married couple - the lady who sings on this song, and the lead guitarist - in the band. I really enjoyed the whole album, but especially this song. This song almost sounds like it could have been included on the soundtrack for Sinners (one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard, to an absolutely fantastic movie I can't wait to arrive on home video, so I can wear that shit out like I have the soundtrack)
See You When I Get There - Avery* Sunshine
Dude, if you've been sleeping on Ms Sunshine, you really need to get on your shit. She is ah-mazing. This whole album is my shit, but this is probably my favorite song of hers. She also had a new album last year that was pretty good. Her first single off that album, called Fire, was dope too. She's another super religious artist, but I really dig her music
Best for Me - Joyner Lucas feat Jelly Roll
Oh yeah, this is my shit. I first discovered Joyner on my favorite track off Eminem's Kamikaze album, Lucky You. Joyner had a new album in 2024 and this was the first single. As I first discovered Joyner through Eminem, it's not a coincidence to me that this song was CLEARLY influenced by Eminem's Stan
Houdini - Eminem
As a day one fan, I knew Em released his final album in the summer of 2024. This was the first single off that album, that had me so ready for the album to drop. It's vintage Em. Unfortunately, I found this to be the most disappointing album of his career, though I'm still a day one fan and there are some songs I like. But nothing I liked more than this one
Returning - Lalah Hathaway
Donny's daughter dropped a new one in 2024 too. I enjoyed the album for its mellow vibe, but this was definitely my favorite on the album. In fact, I still have yet to get past this song on the album
Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man
Were you like, who? I was too. In the summer of 2024, I took a vacay trip to Vegas, and I stayed at a hotel I had never stayed at before. This particular hotel had speakers playing the same song in the elevator main lobby, on the elevator, and in the lobby of the floor you get off on. While walking to my room one day, this song came on while I was waiting for an elevator. It grabbed my attention enough to Shazam it, where I had the same reaction you probably did when I saw who it was by. But the song is the shit. I don't know anything else about or by Portugal. The Man. But this song is my shit
Promise (Cool JD Remix) - Jagged Edge feat Loon
Promise was JE's second single from this album after Where's the Party At? if I remember correctly. I don't know if it's that hypnotizing LL Cool J sample (although we could have done without JD's dialogue in the beginning), or if it's the perfect vocals from JE, but this is definitely my favorite Jagged Edge song, with I Gotta Be coming in second
Just Like I Told You - The Temptations
The Temptations newest iteration around the turn of the century turned out three consecutive bangers. When people thought Temptations, they were mostly interested in their golden oldies. But my family and I were on the Phoenix Rising album something serious. It's the only of these three albums I loved the entire album. I'm not sure I could pick a favorite song from that album, but if I had to, this one would definitely be a strong consideration
Too Hot - Kool & The Gang
I was perusing my music subscription one day for something to listen to, and came across the Kool & The Gang essentials playlist. I decided to hit play and took a nostalgic trip back to my childhood. But it wasn't until I got to this song that I remembered how much I love it. To the point where I listened to it three times in a row, solidifying it to me as an absolute classic
Stayin' Alive - Bossa Bros & NARA
One day I was across the street at work waiting for my breakfast. In the restaurant I was in, this song started playing. I could hear it enough to tell I liked it but couldn't hear enough of it to tell what it was saying to look it up. So, I Shazam'd it. My mouth flew to the floor when I saw which song it was, to the point where I thought Shazam might have fucked up. But it didn't, earning this as one of the most unique and mesmerizing covers of a song I've ever heard
Luv 2 Luv U - Timbaland & Magoo feat Shaunte & Playa)
I forgot how much I loved this song until it came up in the suggested section of my music subscription and I clicked play. That Timbo beat and that hook are money every fucking time I hear em, even all these years later. Those of us on the west coast in particular who are drawn to Dre, may occasionally forget about Timbaland and need to be reminded. Shit like this makes me apologize profusely for that. Apologies sir
Heaven Can Wait - Michael Jackson
I'm one of the very few people who actually liked MJ's Invincible album. I swear I don't understand the majority of this planet. Some of y'all seem like y'all don't like shit! This was definitely a stand-out on the album to me, and I think it's the most "Michael Jackson" song on Invincible. In listening to it again recently for the first time in years, I found myself humming it to myself first thing when I woke up the next morning, prompting me to listen to it again. Confirming I absolutely love this song