New Orleans Heat Revisited
589040
I received an ARC of this book, and voluntarily chose to review it. Maria takes us back to New Orleans to meet Bradys work buddy also a detective at NOPD. Danvers likes a fruity cocktail with an umbrella but that doesnt mean hes not a tough all action guy. He is asked to show new girl Jade around town without getting involved, which he finds increasingly difficult. Jade has escaped a pushy mother and overbearing boyfriend to pursue her career in forensic science in New Orleans. Shes sworn off men but finds it hard to resist the attraction when working with Danvers. They become a team when trying to unravel a supposedly cut and dried murder case. I enjoyed the storyline and characters.
2588849
Andre has really given quite a concise review (I'll forgive the spelling mistakes) but I'll add my two cents. I have been a fan of Heatwave for quite a while. They have a very male sound and quite a unique one at that. Joe Public may only know them for their smash hit "Boogie Nights"(UK#2,US#2) in 1976...but their story is a lot longer than that. They had another big hit "The Groove Line" (UK#12,US#7)and another album but then tragedy struck. Lead singer Johnnie Wilder was injured in an horrific auto accident. He stayed with the band though and with the other boys and producer Phil Ramone they created the mixed bag that is "Hot Property".Despite all the craziness that happened with Johnnie, the album charted and peaked at #38 pop in the USA. Heatwave could never be described just as a "disco band". Their style is harmonious, complex. Lets take a look at the songs."Raise A Blaze" is probably my favourite song on here, and the most commercial too, with its funky rhythm,harmonies and vocoder, strings urgently darting in and out and bass guitar always there. "One Night Tan" is of a similar vein, with its dark synth sound working a treat."Disco" has a very atmospheric chorus ("At the disco, where all the happy people like to go") that would be better if it went longer. It breaks into a jazzy type thing that halts the mood. "All Talked Out" is another high point with a great lyric ("I know we've had our groovy times, but I've seen all the danger signs, ain't no doubt, we're all talked out") and a good feel to it."Eyeballin" was released as a single but did not chart. It is quite funky, though, as in many Heatwave recordings, the vocals and harmonies can be at times grating. Of the ballads, "First Day of Snow" is very pretty. The bonus tracks are the 12" of "Eyeballin" which is better than the original, "Birthday" a bside in both the 7" and 12" version that doesn't really do much for me, and the US version of "One Night Tan" which is only subtly different, but is quite good."We'll Always Say Goodnight" is a pleasant ballad. You may have gathered I'm not such a fan of the ballads (although "All I Am" on "Candles" is excellent.) Big Break Records have done an excellent job with the packaging, the liner notes are detailed and there are some great photos and complete discographical information, which I appreciate. All in all, ,fans of Heatwave will like this once they have gave it some time to sink in.
1797860
When most Americans think back to Hurricane Katrina, it seems we remember only New Orleans (New Orleans underwater, evacuees in the Super Dome, residents being pulled to safety from their rooftops, etc.) when actually it was Mississippi that bore the brunt of the wreckage in the wake of the storm.

Many of the stories in this book are surprisingly uplifting, about neighbors helping neighbors, other states pitching in with relief efforts, and people coming together in the midst of a crisis. This well-written, engaging book is both an informative read, taking readers behind the scenes during and after Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi, as well as a memory refresher for those of us who might have forgotten certain details from Katrina.

I definitely recommend it!
463572
In recent years the music of New Orleans has been reissued at a pleasing pace, with labels from Soul Jazz to Funky Delicacies unearthing rare finds from the city's past. Of course, since Katrina preserving the century-plus of great music and cultural history of N.O., from the earliest jazz through funk and hip-hop, seems all the more critical and precious. Undoubtedly one of the prime movers of New Orleans soul and funk over the past 50 years is songwriter/producer/pianist Allen Toussaint. A decade ago EMI issued a 2-CD set, "The Minit Records Story" that featured 28 tracks written and produced by Toussaint during his first 'golden' era, 1959 - 63 (the second disc covers the resurrected label's non-N.O. soul years, 1966 - 70), and Capitol issued a too-slight 20 track overview of the same material a few years ago. Sundazed Records has contributed mightily to the city's musical heritage by reissuing The Meters' seminal catalog (1968 - 77) as well as two CDs collecting the superb work of Lee Dorsey produced by Toussaint during Dorsey's Amy/Sansu period (1965 - 70). The 2-CD set under discussion, "Get Down Low!" features 50 remarkably consistent and varied tracks Toussaint (mostly) wrote and produced for Sansu/Amy, after his Minit years (and a two year stint in the Army). As such it contains fewer national hits. Many of these artists and tracks are reissued here for the first time in decades.

Toussaint also worked with a number of other small labels during the '60s, so the quality of this material is indeed striking. This set covers a mere two years, after all. But it is packed with minor classics and delightfully eccentric one-offs like the surreal Omar Khayyam's "The Rubaiyats" and Diamond Joe's "Gossip Gossip." Imagine, if you will, what Toussaint was doing between the witty and soulful Minit classics and the harder funk of The Meters, and that's a general picture of what's on this set. Some artists - Betty Harris, Lee Dorsey, Benny Spellman, and Earl King - are well known, others - Willie Harper, Curley Moore, Lee Calvin Lee - remained local figures. Sundazed manages to mine the gold, or the gumbo, however, from the loping two-part title track (by Moore, with marvelous piano trills by Toussaint) to the proto-psych-funk "Hot Tamales, Parts 1 & 2" by one Prime Mates. Betty Harris revisits Mojo Hanna territory with "Bad Luck," and two of Dorsey's many classics ("Ride Your Pony," in its mono single mix, and "Holy Cow") are included. One hears traces of Stax and Motown, but mostly that's what they are - traces. Toussaint the auteur stands out at both his most likeable - many melodies and grooves stick in your head after just a couple of plays - and singular. One can certainly discern his rhythmic stamp, lighter than, say, Eddie Bo's, but always irregular and infectious. And by the time of the last sessions to be included, Art Neville's "Bo Diddley" and the unissued-at-the-time "Too Late" the sound and presence of The Meters is unmistakeable. "Get Down Low! The Soul Of New Orleans '65 - '67" feature marvelous songs, deep grooves, great singers, and New Orleans' finest session men, all brought together by Toussaint during a brief but wonderful period.
4567910
I visited New Orleans for the first time and I really needed to know how it was before the hurricane/flooding, and get some culture of the city. This film covers the tragedy along the gulf coast.  Must see for African Americans!
3724437
I've really come to enjoy the Sentinels of New Orleans series. This is a collection of short stories, scenes and a novella all set in that world. I felt like some of this was the author developing the characters and ideas that would make it into the novels. Some of the characters are the same ones in the series, others are not but are still interesting. This was an enjoyable read to pass the time until the next Sentinels of New Orleans novel comes out.
3089264
Great reading. I enjoyed the New Orleans setting, it's my hometown, it's what drew me in. Interesting plot and good characters. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a little New Orleans spice.
1191976
Love all the Tubby books. New Orleans always takes an I tree sting position in this series.  This book deals with the way and fact hat the NOLA pd had, for years, been questionable.  The story is always fun and interesting.  Read this book and love it.
2764803
a little melted up but i understand the heat in florida is not nice otherwise perffff thank you!!!!!!!!!!! <3
2174103
In a city known for its flourishing crime, Julie Smith still captures the allure of the area and draws her readers in.  The Skip Langdon series offers a tour of New Orleans while focusing on outwitting the criminal element.  Stories are well constructed, peopled with good characters but not bogged down by them.  Emphasis is on giving background detail to the crimes and outing the perpetrators. And making the reader sweat through the humidity of seasons in the Crescent Cityl
4708967
It was very enjoyable.  I loved the New Orleans, LA setting.  Having been to New Orleans and other areas in LA, it was quite enjoyable.
3145741
I've been a Heat fan since the first home game played in 1988 against the Supersonics. We lost that game...but it didn't matter to me. I was effectuated by how the team maneuvered plays! Since that day, until today...I believe I am one of the fans that will ride out for her hometown team & shows her team spirit in every way possible. This emblem really looks great on my truck, not to mention that it looks 100% better in person than what you see in the picture displayed!! I will update my comment & post a picture. It holds well, & now I will ride around Atlanta Georgia showing off my Miami Heat love in style as I get the finger by Atlanta Hawks fans as they ride by. Either way, they can kiss my.....Heat lol
786323
This album is only superior to The Heat. And maybe it's on par with Secrets but Toni Braxton and More Than a Woman are far superior (especially the latter which got slaughtered on the charts and in people's minds; they expected more I suppose). Toni's low contralto has always sent me places. When she first stepped out on the scene she was vulnerable longing had some love issues but wasn't afraid to sing about love - losing it gaining it obsessing over it. Back in the early 90s she made us feel it! Teamed up with Babyface she was a force to be reckoned with.

And since then she's been releasing solid CD after solid CD; some of it with a little bit of filler but enjoyable nonetheless.

But we're here to talk about her latest release Libra so let's do that shall we?

This is a 10 song journey that is over soon after you blink your eyes a couple of times.

The 10 tracks are similar in fashion to her old school hits: Potential hits, slept on tracks and some filler. Libra is no exception:

1. Please -- Good choice of a second single. I applaud her because in her video she wears her hair short and sexy and I've always loved that in her. Contemporary hit that was slept on. 4 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

2. Trippin' (That's the Way Love Works) -- Nice. Contemporary. Relate-able. 4.25 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

3. What's Good -- Great mid-tempo. Samples a 2Pac song. I just found out that it's his Dear Momma. 5 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

4. Take This Ring -- I LOVE this song. Rich Harrison who caters to Amerie mostly produced this. Truly gets a party started!! The drums are mean and back beat; crazy! Another slept on potential hit. 5.25 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

5. Midnite -- A catchy, mid-tempo ladies' anthem. Low trade-mark contralto. 4.25 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

6. I Wanna Be (Your Baby) -- Sappy yet better than I thought. 3 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

7. Sposed to Be -- Features a hip-hop beat. Another mid-tempo. This album is full of them, which in my opinion is good. Don't wanna overdo it with too many slow tracks. Not that memorable but huge compared to I Wanna Be. 3.75 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

8. Stupid -- Jazzy, and a nice change of pace from Toni. Slept on. Should've been a single! 4.75 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

9. Finally -- Eh... 3.25 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

10. Shadowless -- "I'm running down the streets, trying to find the answers..." Yeah, right. Like I believe that one, you silly, silly girl." LOLZ Good song otherwise. 4 stars.

=^_^= Dri =^_^=

41.25/10 = 4.125

4.13 stars.

She is in need of Babyface again to return to the hit-making factory we used to hear her churn them pleasant, radio-friendly songs from. Will she be a smart girl next time? Will she continue to write (or co-write) her tracks? We must wish on our lucky stars, and keep those fingers crossed!

Cover Art: A++
Songwriting: B-
Vocals: B-
Vocal Acrobatics: C+
Production: A
Length: B

4.13 stars.

Overall: B-

Download: Take This Ring, What's Good, Stupid and Trippin'.
1027012
Johnny Dodds was one of the most important New Orleans musicians to play in Chicago during the 1920's, the beginning of recorded jazz. He played clarinet with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Seven and Jelly Roll Morton's Trio. He also played and recorded with several less well-known groups, and his recordings cover a wide range of early jazz styles, from the complex mixtures of arrangements and improvisation with Oliver and Armstrong to the looser blues-drenched "skiffle" recordings with guitarist Blind Blake and pianist Jimmy Blythe.

This disc includes the eight sides by the New Orleans Wanderers and New Orleans Bootblacks which featured, along with Dodds, George Mitchell on cornet and Kid Ory on trombone. Especially outstanding is "Perdido Street Blues," which begins with an underlying riff and continues with haunting solos by Mitchell and especially Dodds. Also included are the sessions by the Black Bottom Stompers, six of which feature Louis Armstrong, but this time with Dodds as leader.

The remastering is up Retrieval's usual high standards (it's enough to say that John R.T. Davies was involved), and I feel this is the best reissue of these sides I've come across so far. An added plus is that the sides by each group are complete and presented in chronological order. A must-have for fans of 1920's New Orleans/Chicago jazz.
3926818
I dunno what you think, but real world new orleans is awesome!  I am definitely ordering this video.  I like this season the best out of all of them, because I can really relate to Matt in a lot of his ways.  But, thats about it. :P
Tommy
3298454
I kinda stumbled onto this album through a friend, and just loved what I heard. Hot Hot Heat has been around for a while, and with this release may finally be finding the larger audience it deserves.
10 songs in 32 min., "Make Up the Breakdown" takes charge from the opening track, and doesn't let up. One great track follows after another. Best songs include the single "Bandages", "Naked in the City Again", "No Not Now", "Talk to Me, Dance with Me", and "Aveda".
Needless to say, HHH does not find any airplay on radio stations, but (this is an old tired song), it is telling about the state of radio. Great album!
2070499
Forgive me - - I want to review all three of the BLACK HEAT re-issues at once, and I REALLY hope that readers of my reviews will catch this and get the albums, so I'm going to post the same review for all three of their albums: BLACK HEAT, NO TIME TO BURN and KEEP ON RUNNING as ALL three are strong and worth getting... (Keep On Runnin' in this weakest, actually, but still worth getting to complete your collection.)

Alert - - Fans of hard edged funk meets rock MANDRIL, WAR, fired up BRASS ROCK and SF EAST BAY ROCK and SOUL... get ready...!
Funky rhythm section, screaming Hammond and Hohner D-6, congas, psychadelic wa wa guitars, great horns, funky bass lines and cool vocals !

Black Heat were an early 70's FUNK / Black Rock group produced by the legendary Joel Dorn and who recorded on the Atlantic Label.  Their sound - - both musically and production wise was BIG and FAT... kinda like WAR... the main catch being that WAR was able to pen a lot of memorable hits... I think BLACK HEAT'S albums were stronger OVERALL, but for some reason, they be it promotion or whatever, they simply never had a "big hit".  - - Some tunes charted and years later Zimba Ku would be sampled like mad by DJs (as well as other tunes), but I guess they were better at the hard *ss jamming  than the "hooks"... You can almost imagine them playing at college campuses for a mix of long haired hippie kids and black duded with big afros... -- You may or may not agree with me, but I really think they should have gotten War/Mandril cult status too and should have been rediscovered by the same generation that's digging all that music once again... sadly, they simply didn't have the hits, hence don't have the "oldies" appeal necessary to fund adequate promotion.  HOW AWFUL!

Whatever, get this album, BURN SOMETHING and PLAY IT LOUD... you won't regret it !  - - I've been through multiple copies of their vinyl and am really happy to have it in the convenient form of MP3 to carry with me wherever I go... First heard their albums about 20 years ago...know they'll be just as good in 20 to come... That's unless something happens causing me to Defunkify and I go on a Carpenter's kick...