And Soul Train Was One Hip Trip

“Armed with sharp suits and a mesmerizing voice, Don Cornelius set out in 1970 to entertain viewers of Chicago’s WCIU with a song-and-dance TV show called Soul Train,” USA Today reports. “Turns out, America wanted in on the party.
“Cornelius, 75, died Wednesday at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif., from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said.”
Here’s a collection of some of the best writing and reporting on Cornelius’s life, death and legacy.

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Posted on February 2, 2012

Uploaded to YouTube by MrAlwaysKID

Everybody out here starvin’.

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Posted on February 1, 2012

By CompilationTUBE

We don’t care about blue lights, take a picture!

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Posted on January 31, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Rise Against at the UIC Pavilion on Friday night.

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Posted on January 30, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Ghost at the Bottom Lounge on Tuesday night.

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Posted on January 27, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

I’m a big fan of Songfacts, so I found the year-end results of most requested Songfacts of 2011 quite interesting. A lot of Adele. But No. 1 was “Pumped Up Kicks,” a song I was vaguely familiar with to the point of asking a buddy of mine what it was every time it came on at Filter. Now I know for reals. It’s pretty great.

Not everyone thinks so though – once they realize what the song is about. I couldn’t disagree more with those folks.

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Posted on January 26, 2012

By Bass Club Chicago

“Bass Club Chicago just got in a Fender Custom Shop Adam Clayton Precision Bass and what a beautiful instrument it is. When Adam had a moment away from touring with U2, he sat down with Fender Master Builder Paul Waller to design this instrument. This bass is a part of Fenders ‘2011 Limited Collection’ with only 60 pcs being made. The Gold Sparkle finish makes it feel like you’re opening buried treasure every time you open the case. This bass not only plays well but with the Abby Hand-wound Pickup, has tone for days. This bass is already spoken for and is not available for sale.”

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Posted on January 25, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

“Last Friday, the renowned blues and R&B singer Etta James died at a hospital in Riverside, California, outside L.A.,” Davis Inman writes for American Songwriter. “James had battled health problems and years of drug abuse, but died from complications of leukemia.
“Though James had an early hit in her career with a song called ‘Dance With Me, Henry’ (also known as ‘Roll With Me, Henry’) and success with a girl group called The Peaches in the ’50s, the singer really hit her stride when she signed with Chicago’s Chess Records in 1960.”
Indeed. Here she is portrayed by Beyoncé Knowles in the 2008 chronicle of Chess, Cadillac Records.

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But we can also bring you the real thing. Here are the few Etta James performances on video to be found; the first three from her appearance with Dr. John and Allen Toussaint on on WTTW’s Soundstage in 1982 and the other captured from rehearsal for the Blues Fest in 1988.

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Posted on January 24, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Sound Tribe Sector 9 at the Congress on Friday night.

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Posted on January 23, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Young Distractions at Chrome Chicago on Thursday night.

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Posted on January 20, 2012