Wally Badarou
is one the most significant session musicians of the world. As a keyboard player for the legendary «Compass Point All Stars» on the Bahamas he was inolved in the making of essential albums for Grace Jones, Joe Cocker, Gwen Guthrie, Robert Palmer, Mick Jagger, Talking Heads and Marianne Faithful. Furthermore he was an inofficial member of Level 42 und produced their albums. His own albums are collector's items and with «Chief Inspector» he scored a top 10 hit in 1986.
A song from pre-Zaïre Congo, which I never knew the title of.
At the Olympia, Paris in the early 70's.
Pure energy from absolute masters in orchestration.
Any song of the past, good or bad, when it happens to remind me of a close friend no longer with us.
Her first album ever (from 1960 on RCA), which I bought a copy on eBay for 70 euro. Sadly she died last year. She was the voice of Africa.
I fell in love with music and songs, not records. From Beethoven’s «Violin Concerto in D Major» to James Brown’s «Give It Up Or Turn It A Loose», from Simon & Garfunkel’s «Bridge Over Troubled Water» to Jimi Hendrix’ «All Along The Watchtower». I fell in love with music, way before I knew I would make a living out of it.
My first memories were through the radio, not the turntable. Edith Piaf’s «La Foule», Marcel Amont’s «Bleu Blanc Blond», Guy Béart’s «L'eau Vive». Records I remember seeing and hearing, but not actually «listening to» were my father’s: soundtracks like «Orpheo Negro», George Cukor’s «Let's Make Love», and lots of classical music.
I'll let it up to my survivors. Music won’t be my concern anymore. They’ll be the ones to worry about. I don’t feel like imposing anything to them.
Greatest summers were in the tropics.
A song that did make absolutely everybody dance, back in the 60’s in Africa: «There Was A Time» followed by «I Feel All Right», recorded live at the Apollo.
Brown overdubbed his vocals against slow-down backing tracks, yielding the funkiest slow groove ever.
How could I know ? Ask them.
I keep my mobile silent at all times, as a courtesy to my neighbours and yet, never miss an important call.
Thank god, Sunday is like any other day for us musicians. No darker, no brighter, just regular.
Each and every Stevie Wonder ballad, period.
