Category: 2005-2009

“Rossignol” (2007) – Lionel Loueke * Written by Lionel Loueke * LP: Virgin Forest * Produced by Robert Sadin * Label: Obliq Sound

On his 2007 Virgin Forest album, guitarist Lionel Luoeke mixes his West African roots and his jazz chops into an especially fine purée. As you can hear on this track, the sound is entrancing and organic, featuring chanted vocals that could be sung in Fon or French—the prevalent languages in his native Benin. If Loueke were simply singing from a lexicon of his own invention, though, he would get your attention. (The female voice on “Rossingol” and others on the album belong to Gretchen Parlato.) Loueke is currently based in New York City.

“Got to Be There (Stripped Mix)” (2009) – Michael Jackson * Written by Elliot Willensky * LP: The Stripped Mixes * Produced by Tom Rowland and Jeff Moskow with Harry Weinger and Doug Schwartz * Label: Motown

After Michael Jackson’s death in June 2009, State Farm ran a commercial featuring a new, understated mix of the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” that focused on the voices and acoustic guitar. Demand prompted not only a new jingle single, but a full album of “stripped mixes” of early vintage Michael Jackson tracks. The collection’s jewel is “Got to Be There” because it rescues the 1971 #4 hit outright, scrapping the double-tracked vocal that made the shrill sharp IV in “beside me” such an uncomfortable listen. The lone vocal track now allows listeners to marvel in Michael’s delivery.