#crate diggin

CRATE DIGGIN’: In Honor of Della Reese

The soulfully divine Delloreese Early, better known as Della Reese, passed this November, and while the world mourned yet another legend, it sparked a sensation that sent me perusing and ultimately stumbling across my 1960s spirit album! The Detroit darling's early beginnings derive from a strong gospel influence, singing in churches from the age of six until she was discovered in the 1940s at a talent contest by the incomparable Mahalia Jackson at eighteen years old! Della's career is unequivocally matched with seven decades of touring across the world as a Grammy-nominated gospel and gold-awarded R&B/jazz singer and songwriter, ordained minister, author, Golden Globe-nominated actress, and overall force of nature!   This woman is a creative’s #LifeGoals, #CareerGoals, and #Goal'sGoals While searching through her discography, I came across many jazz ballads as well as a very familiar song,"Whatever Lola Wants", commonly used in commercials from Pepsi to Magnum ice cream. Originally written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for the 1955 musical Damn Yankees and sung by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and many others, Della included a rendition accompanied by 11 tracks, entitled Della Della Cha Cha Cha. The album is a collection of sassy siren cha-cha anthems, intended for the carefree girl who knows exactly what she wants and gets it, too! She is luxurious and sexy, fun and confident – a tease. She’s me in the ‘60s, walking into a speakeasy with a long, black fur coat, draped in diamonds, an ole nasty pin curl, bold red lip, and an 'it' factor that demands all the attention in a room. (And yes, I did make up a fictional scenario in my head to illustrate the nostalgia of it all because that's where this album takes me!) The ‘60s were a pivotal era in music that brought us many of today's cherished sub-genres, and Della Reese's parts in that are undeniable. Her style was intentionally robust and outgoing, the difference between an artist who simply sings a song and the artist who becomes the song. Della became her songs. Every single track on Della Della Cha Cha Cha is pleasingly dramatic, from her diction to the overuse of alliteration in songs like, "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." Many of the songs are repetitive, mimicking classic cha-cha dance counts, with a heavily emphasized brass percussive orchestra.

What I like most about Della Della Cha Cha Cha and many of Della’s songs is her attention to vocal detail. It wasn't solely about sounding pretty; it was the overall approach. From scatting to stressed annunciation, vibrato, scooping, and many other techniques, Della mastered the art of dynamics and gave each individual song just what it needed! 

Because of Della Reese, artists with unique tones like SZA and Khalid have a place in the mainstream pop industry making alternative R&B. Her music will forever hold weight among music enthusiasts. 

Check out Della Della Cha Cha Cha above!

Rhythm Roulette: Mr. Porter (VIDEO)

Best episode so far! 

CRATE DIGGIN’: Dr. John - In the Right Place

Just a few days ago, as I was frantically preparing my apartment for my impending move, I stumbled upon a dusty old box sitting at the very top of my closet. Peering out from under the flaps was a gigantic fly. A colorful, delicately hand-drawn fly, one of the many creatures and creations that litters the cover of Dr. John’s record In the Right Place (1973).

I think the first time I encountered Dr. John came while watching one of my family’s favorite movies, Sahara. Right at the beginning of the film, you’re treated to the lead track from the record, “Right Place Wrong Time,” a funky, up-beat, horn driven jam. It only took until the first chorus before I was beginning my parents to buy me a record player.

I couldn’t remember the last time I sat down and listened to the full album, and since rediscovering it, it hasn’t stopped spinning back at my apartment. While “Right Place Wrong Time” may have gotten me (and many others since it landed on Billboard’s Top 200 for 33 weeks) hooked, each track on the album is great. Super funky, super soulful, with Dr. John’s unique raspy voice guiding you along the whole ride. It took me a long while to even realize that the New Orleans-style backing band that I loved so much was in fact The Meters, only adding to my appreciation. I can only hope that you get as much out of this ol’ gem as I did this past week.