Liberian Girl
Michael Jackson






Smooth Identifiable Voice...

Michael Jackson was unquestionably the biggest pop star of the '80s, and
certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time. In his prime,
Jackson was an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate the
charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves,
stunning musical versatility, and loads of sheer star power. His 1982 blockbuster
Thriller became the biggest-selling album of all time (probably his best-known
accomplishment), and he was the first black artist to find stardom on MTV,
breaking down innumerable boundaries both for his race and for music video as
an art form.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Liberian Girl"


~Shears

Ruby Baby
Donald Fagan






Smooth Style...

Donald Fagen was one of the two masterminds behind Steely Dan, the seminal
jazz-pop band of the '70s. Fagen's solo work has been a continuation of the band's
work of the early '80s -- carefully constructed and arranged, intricately detailed
pop songs that are more substantial than their stylish surface may indicate. His
1982 solo debut, The Nightfly, was the best album he had made in years; it
covered the same ground as the last two Steely Dan albums, yet surpassed it in
terms of ambition and achievement.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Ruby Baby"


~Shears

Everything But The Girl
Imagining America






Smooth Lite Jazz....

Originating at the turn of the 1980s as a leader of the lite-jazz movement,
Everything but the Girl became an unlikely success story more than a decade
later, emerging at the vanguard of the fusion between pop and electronica.
Founded in 1982 by Hull University students Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, the duo
took their name from a sign placed in the window of a local furniture shop, which
claimed "for your bedroom needs, we sell everything but the girl." At the time of
their formation, both vocalist Thorn and songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Watt were
already signed independently to the Cherry Red label; Thorn was a member of the
sublime Marine Girls, while Watt had issued several solo singles and also
collaborated with Robert Wyatt.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Imagining America"

~Shears

Woman In The Waves
Michael Franks






Smooth west coast singer ....

An enormously popular performer in the late '70s and early '80s, though his
jazz credentials are in dispute. Franks performed folk/rock songs while in high
school, then became a literature student at UCLA and a part-time performer. He
taught undergraduate music courses in the early '70s at both UCLA and Berkeley,
then provided scores for the films Count Your Bullets and Zandy's Bride. He made
his first album in 1973, then enjoyed success with a string of late '70s albums on
Warner Brothers. He has worked with the likes of Flora Purim, Kenny Rankin, Ron
Carter, the Crusaders, David Sanborn, Toots Thielemans, Eric Gale, and others,
and has had songs recorded by The Manhattan Transfer, Patti Labelle, Carmen
McRae, and the Carpenters.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Woman In The Waves"


~Shears

Sarah Sarah
Jonathan Butler








Smooth & Laid-Back...

South African expatriate Jonathan Butler isn't really a jazz artist, but his
laid-back, slightly jazz-tinged approach to R&B/pop has earned the
singer/guitarist/songwriter/producer a lot of supporters in the urban
contemporary, adult contemporary, quiet storm, and smooth jazz/NAC
markets. Butler has enjoyed a following since the late '70s, although he
reached his commercial peak in the late '80s, and he continues to tour and
record in the 21st century. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, in October
1961, Butler was only a child when he started singing and playing acoustic
guitar. Butler, who was the youngest of about 12 children, absorbed a
variety of music when he was a kid.




Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Sarah Sarah"


~Shears

Bella
Carlos Santana








Very Smooth...

Carlos Santana grew up in Mexico, the son of a father who was a mariachi
violinist. He took up the violin at five, but at eight switched to the guitar. The
family moved to Tijuana, where he began playing in clubs and bars. In the early
'60s, the family moved to San Francisco. Santana at first remained in Tijuana, but
he later joined them and attended Mission High School, graduating in June 1965.
In 1966, he was one of the founders of the Santana Blues Band. Despite the
name, the group was at first a collective; it was required to name a nominal leader
due to a provision of the musicians union.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Bella"


~Shears

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
Lady Of Magic






Distinctive Smooth Sound....

The sound is distinctive—passionate, creative, original, soulful, honest, and
powerful. For nearly thirty years Frankie Beverly and Maze have created a unique
sound and become one of the most influential groups in modern history. Their
1976 debut album, MAZE Featuring Frankie Beverly, produced a string of hits,
including “Lady of Magic” and “Workin’ Together.” They followed up their
successful debut with a parade of equally successful albums throughout the
1980’s, topping the charts with singles like "Travelin' Man," "Feel That You're
Feeling," "Joy and Pain," "Look in Your Eyes," "Southern Girl," and “Never Let You
Down.” As they continued to gain momentum, they solidified their international
standing, selling out concerts around the globe with their legendary live
performances.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Lady Of Magic"

~Shears

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
After The Morning After






Distinctive Smooth Sound....

The sound is distinctive—passionate, creative, original, soulful, honest, and
powerful. For nearly thirty years Frankie Beverly and Maze have created a unique
sound and become one of the most influential groups in modern history. Their
1976 debut album, MAZE Featuring Frankie Beverly, produced a string of hits,
including “Lady of Magic” and “Workin’ Together.” They followed up their
successful debut with a parade of equally successful albums throughout the
1980’s, topping the charts with singles like "Travelin' Man," "Feel That You're
Feeling," "Joy and Pain," "Look in Your Eyes," "Southern Girl," and “Never Let You
Down.” As they continued to gain momentum, they solidified their international
standing, selling out concerts around the globe with their legendary live
performances.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "After The Morning After"

~Shears

Kings
Kevin Toney








Smooth Blackbyrd...

Jazz keyboardist Kevin Toney started his career by collaborating with Donald
Byrd throughout the 70s, starting with Byrd's 1972 album Black Byrd and then with
his group the Blackbyrds. He also supported saxophonist Andrew White on a
number of albums and spent the '80s working with artists like Rahmlee Davis and
Brenda Russell. In the next decade, Toney continued his work as a supporting
musician and launched a solo career, releasing smooth jazz and funk records like
Special K, Pastel Mood and Extra Sensual Perception.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Kings"


~Shears

Randy Crawford
Are You Sure






Smooth Fiery Vocals....

Randy Crawford's initial notoriety came from her fiery vocal on "Street Life," a
1979 song matching her with the Crusaders that was included on the soundtrack
for Burt Reynolds' film #Sharky's Machine. Crawford was born in Macon and grew
up in Cincinnati; she worked in clubs as a teen, accompanied by her father.
Crawford was lead vocalist in a group that included bassist Bootsy Collins before
touring as George Benson's opening act in 1972. Cannonball Adderley invited her
to sing on his LP Big Man.




Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Are You Sure"

~Shears

Andreas Vollenweider
White Winds






Smooth Maestro ....

Andreas Vollenweider was one of the few musicians to gain superstar status as
a "new age artist" back when the term was first used as a marketing category in
the mid-'80s. The Swiss harpist, however, quickly transcended the need for
alternative record sales when his albums simultaneously broached Billboard's pop,
jazz, and classical charts in 1986. Born in Zurich in 1953, Vollenweider was
ensconced in the city's fine art scene, courtesy of his father, one of Europe's
leading organists. After becoming proficient on guitar, flute, and other instruments,
the young Vollenweider developed a passion for the harp, which he modified to
suit his needs. Not only did he construct a damper to expedite more rhythmic
playing, he broadened the harp's tonal range by electrifying it.




Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "White Winds"

~Shears

Euge Groove
Chillaxin'






Euge Smooth ...

Euge Groove -- a pseudonym for saxophone journeyman Steve Grove -- began
playing piano in the second grade and turned to the saxophone at the age of nine
or ten. His teacher gave him a classical education on the instrument, which he
followed at the University of Miami's School of Music, where he became interested
in jazz. Upon graduation, he initially remained in Miami doing sessions and playing
in bands such as Expose, where he can be heard on the group's #1 1987 single
"Seasons Change." He then moved to Los Angeles and joined Tower of Power,
remaining with the group about four years. Following this experience, he
freelanced, doing sessions and working in backup bands, his clients including Joe
Cocker, the Eurythmics, the Gap Band, Huey Lewis and the News, Elton John,
Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Eros Ramazotti, and Richard Marx.




Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Chillaxin'"

~Shears

Kim Waters
In The Mood






Smooth Sax Appeal ...

Maryland-born saxophonist Kim Waters debuted in 1989 with the LP Sweet and
Sexy; where his earliest releases -- 1991's Sax Appeal, 1993's Peaceful Journey
and 1994's It's Time for Love among them -- boasted an R&B vibe, he eventually
began moving towards smooth jazz, a transformation which culminated on 1998's
Love's Melody. One Special Moment followed a year later and From the Heart was
issued in spring 2001.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "In The Mood"

~Shears

Babyface
Tonight It's Goin' Down






Smooth & Sensitive ...

As a singer, producer, and songwriter, Babyface was an inescapable presence
in virtually every major facet of pop music during the '90s. His own recordings
helped rejuvenate the R&B tradition of the smooth, sensitive, urban crooner and
made him a staple of urban contemporary radio. Yet their considerable success
was eclipsed by his songwriting and production work for other artists, which linked
him with some of the biggest stars and hit singles of the decade (and not just in
the realm of R&B). You'd be hard pressed to name a '90s hitmaker with a track
record more consistently successful and versatile than Kenny "Babyface"
Edmonds.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Tonight It's Goin' Down"

~Shears

Jon Secada
Stay






Latin Smooth...

Jon Secada (he legally changed his first name from Juan in 1990) immigrated to
the U.S. at the age of nine in 1971, settling in Miami where his parents opened a
coffee shop. He earned both a B.A. and a M.A. in jazz vocal performance at the
University of Miami. Becoming involved with Gloria Estefan's career, he co-wrote
six songs on her multi-platinum 1991 album Into the Light, among them the
number one hit "Coming out of the Dark," and sang backup vocals on her
subsequent tour. Then he signed to SBK Records and launched his own career with
a self-titled debut record in 1992. With only one album, he became one of the
biggest adult contemporary artist of the '90s, selling over six million albums
worldwide. His smooth mix of R&B, pop, and Latin music appealed to a number of
different audiences.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Stay"

~Shears

Eva Cassidy
Autumn Leaves






Masterfully Smooth...

The heart-tugging story of Eva Cassidy reads almost like the plot of a Movie of
the Week tearjerker. A native of the Washington, D.C., area, the painfully shy
Cassidy earned a local reputation as a masterful interpreter of standards from
virtually any genre, blessed with technical agility and a searching passion that cut
straight to the emotional core of her material. Despite the evocative instrument
that was Cassidy's voice, record companies shied away from her, unsure of how
to market her eclectic repertoire; for her part, Cassidy adamantly refused to allow
herself to be pigeonholed, prizing the music above any potential fame.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to watch & hear "Autumn Leaves"

~Shears

Paul Taylor
Pleasure Seeker






Smooth Horn Textures...

The unstoppable phenomenon of saxophonist Paul Taylor reached a fever pitch
in 2004--"Steppin' Out," the irrepressible title track from his 2003 Top Ten
Billboard Contemporary Jazz album, became Radio & Records' third biggest genre
airplay cut of the year, he toured the U.S. as a featured performer with the all-star
"Groovin' For Grover" lineup (including Jeff Lorber, Richard Elliot and Gerald
Albright) and he performed and made his acting debut on the legendary ABC soap
opera One Life To Live. In 2005, Taylor celebrates ten years since the release of
his debut album On The Horn with his fourth Peak Records recording Nightlife--an
ultra-seductive soul jazz date featuring more of the irresistible elements that made
Steppin' Out an urban instrumental classic: unforgettable hooks, funky alto sax in
addition to his well known soprano, explosive grooves and live, sizzling horn textures.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to watch & hear "Pleasure Seeker"

~Shears

Praful
Sigh






Smooth Horn Textures...

Praful was born and raised in Germany, and after school he received a solid
Jazz sax and flute education at the Amsterdam School of Arts. Somehow never
quite feeling at home in the straight-ahead-jazz-scene, he moved over the years
from Fusion to the roots of Latin, Brazilian, African and later also Indian music,
playing all these styles with various Dutch formations.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Sigh"

~Shears

Peter White
Who's That Lady






Smooth Beatles Fan...

Growing up in the sleepy little English town of Letchworth Garden City in the
1960s, I first got interested in music while listening to the Beatles on the radio. My
parents bought me an acoustic guitar when I was about 8 and I taught myself to
play while simultaneously taking lessons on the recorder, piano and then later,
clarinet. My music education was going along just fine until one day in 1967 I
heard the Jimi Hendrix song “Purple Haze”. I had never heard sounds like that
coming out of my acoustic guitar and I decided that from that day on, the electric
guitar was to be the most important thing in my life.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Who's That Lady"

~Shears

Andreas Vollenweider
Skin And Skin






Smooth Maestro ....

Andreas Vollenweider was one of the few musicians to gain superstar status as
a "new age artist" back when the term was first used as a marketing category in
the mid-'80s. The Swiss harpist, however, quickly transcended the need for
alternative record sales when his albums simultaneously broached Billboard's pop,
jazz, and classical charts in 1986. Born in Zurich in 1953, Vollenweider was
ensconced in the city's fine art scene, courtesy of his father, one of Europe's
leading organists. After becoming proficient on guitar, flute, and other instruments,
the young Vollenweider developed a passion for the harp, which he modified to
suit his needs. Not only did he construct a damper to expedite more rhythmic
playing, he broadened the harp's tonal range by electrifying it.




Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Skin And Skin"

~Shears

Seal
Fly Like An Eagle






Smooth Brit...

Seal emerged from England's house music scene in the
early '90s to become the most popular British soul vocalist
of the decade. Although his earliest material still
showed signs of acid house, by the mid-'90s he had created
a distinctive fusion of soul, folk, pop, dance, and rock that
brought him success on both sides of the Atlantic



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Fly Like An Eagle"

~Shears

Fourplay (featuring Michael McDonald)
My Love's Leavin'






Smooth All-Star Studio Musicians...

This all-star group (comprised of keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour,
bassist Nathan East, and drummer Harvey Mason) was formed in 1991 after the
quartet came together on part of James' Grand Piano Canyon album. They have
since recorded a number of CDs for Warner Bros. that have all been big-sellers,
not surprising considering the popularity of James and Ritenour. Larry Carlton took
over the guitarist's spot in the late '90s, first appearing in Fouplay on the band's
successful 1998 album, 4. The group's music borders on jazz with some strong
improvisations mixed in with large doses of pop and RB, about what one would
expect from these studio musicians.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "My Love's Leavin'"

~Shears

Earl Klugh
Midnight In San Juan






Smooth Guitarist...

An acoustic guitarist with a very pretty tone, Earl Klugh does not consider
himself a jazz player and thinks of Chet Atkins as being his most important
influence. Klugh played on a Yusef Lateef album when he was 15 and gained
recognition in 1971 for his contributions to George Benson's White Rabbit record.
He played regularly with Benson in 1973, was a member of Return to Forever
briefly in 1974, and then in the mid-'70s, began recording as a leader. After a
couple well-received solo albums on different Capitol imprints including Blue Note,
Klugh hit pay dirt with 1979's One on One, a Grammy-winning collaboration with
pianist Bob James.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Midnight In San Juan'"

~Shears

Santana featuring Sean Paul & Joss Stone
Cry Baby Cry






Smooth Blend...

After "Just Feel Better" featuring Steven Tyler, Santana returns with a new
single from his latest album "All That I Am". This time it's "Cry Baby Cry", which
sees him teaming up with a rather unusual pair of guest vocalists - Sean Paul and
Joss Stone. With Sean Paul rapping and Joss Stone providing the chorus, this
combination has turned out really well - another great example of how good songs
can unite different musical styles. Only downside is the video, in which Joss
doesn't make an appearance, although Sean does.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Cry Baby Cry"

~Shears

Cousin Dupree
Steely Dan






A Smooth Sophisticated, Distinctive Sound ....

Most rock & roll bands are a tightly wound unit that developed their
music through years of playing in garages and clubs around their
hometown. Steely Dan never subscribed to that aesthetic. As the
vehicle for the songwriting of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely
Dan defied all rock & roll conventions. Becker and Fagen never truly
enjoyed rock -- with their ironic humor and cryptic lyrics, their eclectic
body of work shows some debt to Bob Dylan -- preferring jazz,
traditional pop, blues, and R&B. Steely Dan created a sophisticated,
distinctive sound with accessible melodic hooks, complex harmonies
and time signatures, and a devotion to the recording studio.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "Cousin Dupree"



~Shears

Put Your Records On
Corinne Bailey Rae






This Year's Smooth Grammy Nominee ....

Up for two Grammy nominations, 'Best New Artist' and 'Record Of The Year'.
Neo-soul songstress Corinne Bailey Rae was born in Leeds, England, in 1979 to
a British mother and West Indian father. Displaying an interest in music from an
early age, Rae studied classical violin until she acquired an electric guitar in her
early teens. Inspired by such '90s alt-rock icons as L7, Veruca Salt, and others,
Rae formed her first band, the all-female indie rock outfit Helen. Despite
developing a strong local following, the band ultimately folded and Rae enrolled at
Leeds University to study English literature. While at school, a job at a jazz club
inspired her more soul-oriented leanings and she began writing songs. Eventually,
she scored a record deal with EMI and released her self-titled debut
solo album in 2006.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "Put Your Records On"



~Shears

Midnight Tango
Steve Miller






Smooth Jazz Roots ....

Miller was born to Dr. George "Sonny" Miller, a pathologist, jazz enthusiast and
amateur recording engineer, and Bertha, a jazz-influenced singer. In 1950, the
family moved to Dallas, Texas. While at St. Mark's School of Texas, Miller formed
his first band, The Marksmen. Miller taught classmate Royce Scaggs some guitar
chords so he could join the band; Scaggs became better known by his nickname,
Boz. Miller attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the 1960s, where
he formed The Ardells. Scaggs joined the Ardells the next year. Ben Sidran was
added to the Ardells as a keyboardist the following year. Miller was only sixteen
when he started college, and dropped out six credit hours shy of a literature
degree. Miller's godfather is Les Paul, pioneer of the electric guitar. Paul
encouraged young Miller to utilize his prodigal talents, and much of Miller's success
has been attributed to Paul's tutelage during his childhood and teenage years.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "Midnight Tango"



~Shears

Next Year Baby
Jamie Cullum





Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Next Year Baby"


Next year, things are gonna change
Gonna drink less beer, and start all over again
Gonna read more books, gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook, spend less money on shoes
I’ll pay my bills on time,and file my mail away, everyday
Only drink the finest wine,and call my Gran every Sunday

Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things? The answers probably no
If there’s one thing I must do, despite my greatest fears
I’m gonna say to you, how I felt all of these years
Next Year
Next Year

I’m gonna tell you how I feel
I‘m gonna tell you how I feel

Resolutions, baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things? The answers probably no
If there’s one thing I must do, despite my greatest fears
I’m gonna say to you, how I felt all of these years
Next Year
Next Year


~Shears

In My Life
Laurence Juber






English Smooth....

Laurence Juber (born November 12, 1952) is an English guitarist,
most famous for playing lead guitar in Wings.
A native of London, Juber joined Wings in 1978 and remained until its
disbandment in 1981. He subsequently became a studio musician and
played guitar for numerous television shows, including Happy Days
and Family Ties. In 1990, he released his first solo album, Solo Flight.
Juber began playing as a fingerstyle guitarist, once being voted
as "Guitarist of the Year" by readers of Fingerstyle Guitar magazine.
He also was part of Al Stewart's historic 1995 album Between the Wars.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "In My Life"



~Shears

Don't Let Me Down
Phoebe Snow






Smooth Style ....

Phoebe is hard to categorize. She sings jazz, pop, rock, soul, gospel--
she can do it all. She credits Aretha Franklin as an early influence.
Phoebe said, "I've enjoyed performing over the years with such
luminaries as Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Dave Mason, Cheap Trick,
Jewel, Buddy Miles, Al Green, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and all
the performers at the 1979 "No Nukes " Benefit at Madison Square Garden."


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "Don't Let Me Down"



~Shears

Randy Crawford
Silence






Smooth Vocals....

Randy Crawford's initial notoriety came from her fiery vocal on "Street Life," a
1979 song matching her with the Crusaders that was included on the soundtrack
for Burt Reynolds' film #Sharky's Machine. Crawford was born in Macon and grew
up in Cincinnati; she worked in clubs as a teen, accompanied by her father.
Crawford was lead vocalist in a group that included bassist Bootsy Collins before
touring as George Benson's opening act in 1972. Cannonball Adderley invited her
to sing on his LP Big Man.




Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "Silence"

~Shears

Perfect Love Gone Wrong
Sting







Smooth Style ....

Sting played bass and sang lead for the 1970's rock trio The Police. The group broke up in 1984
and Sting quickly became a superstar in his own right, famed for his angular good looks and
jazz-tinged pop hits. His first post-Police album, 1985's The Dream of the Blue Turtles, featured
Branford Marsalis and other jazz stars. Sting's later albums explored various sub-genres of pop
and rock. He became associated with activist groups like Amnesty International, helped to found
the Rainforest Foundation, and performed in Bob Geldof's 1985 Live Aid charity megaconcert.
Sting also took up acting, appearing in movies including Dune (1984), Plenty (1985, with Tracey
Ullman) and Stormy Monday (1988, with Melanie Griffith). He has written soundtrack tunes for
many movies, most famously Leaving Las Vegas (1996).


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "Perfect Love Gone Wrong"



~Shears

A Thousand Years
Sting







Smooth Style ....

Sting's seventh solo album has a millennial theme as he adopts an upbeat tone of new age
optimism in defiance of the doomsayers. Musically it's an ambitious work, encompassing as many
styles as there are songs. The hypnotic 'A Thousand Years' is based on a repetitive and
simple Bach signature, 'Big Lie Small World' is an off-kilter bossa nova and 'Fill Her Up' is
a slice of pure country swing.

Guests include James Taylor and Stevie Wonder and critics will no doubt dismiss it as on
over-polished coffee-table album for talking over at Notting Hill dinner parties. The reaction
is understandable for 'Brand New Day' is not really a rock record at all. But burrow under it's
glossy sophistication and there is a deep and satisfying soulfulness to
which you will want to return.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "A Thousand Years"



~Shears

Sacred Love
Sting







Smooth Style ....

Sting's seventh solo album has a millennial theme as he adopts an upbeat tone of new age
optimism in defiance of the doomsayers. Musically it's an ambitious work, encompassing as many
styles as there are songs. The hypnotic 'A Thousand Years' is based on a repetitive and
simple Bach signature, 'Big Lie Small World' is an off-kilter bossa nova and 'Fill Her Up' is
a slice of pure country swing.

Guests include James Taylor and Stevie Wonder and critics will no doubt dismiss it as on
over-polished coffee-table album for talking over at Notting Hill dinner parties. The reaction
is understandable for 'Brand New Day' is not really a rock record at all. But burrow under it's
glossy sophistication and there is a deep and satisfying soulfulness to
which you will want to return.


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "Sacred Love"



~Shears

Nothing `bout Me
Sting







Very Smooth....

Lay my head on the surgeon's table Take my fingerprints if you are able
Pick my brains, pick my pockets Steal my eyeballs and come back for the sockets
Run every kind of test from A to ZAnd you'll still know nothin' 'bout me
Run my name through your computer Mention me in passing to your college tutor
Check my records, check my facts Check if I paid my income tax
Pore over everything in my C.V. But you'll still know nothin' 'bout me
You'll still know nothin' 'bout me You don't need to read no books on my history
I'm a simple man, it's no big mystery In the cold weather, a hand needs a glove
At times like this, a lonely man like me needs love Search my house with a fine
tooth comb Turn over everything 'cause I won't be home
Set up your microscope, and tell me what you see
You'll still know nothin' 'bout me


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "Nothing `bout Me"



~Shears

At Last
Eva Cassidy





Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "At Last"


At last my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Ohh yeah
At last the skies above are blue
And my heart was wrapped in clover
The night I looked at you

I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
Oh yeah yeah

You smiled ohh and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine at last
For you are mine at last


~Shears

Basia
How Dare You






Pearly Smooth....

This Polish beauty's had a string of pearly smooth jazz and adult
contemporary hits throughout the late 1980s and early '90s. Basia's
strongly accented, but pleasant vocals were first heard with the English
sophisti-pop act Matt Bianco in the '80s. Basia and her band mate, Danny
White used the same "American soul meets lite Latin jazz" template for her
solo career. After major successes throughout the first Bush presidential
term, Basia's 1994 release Sweetest Illusion didn't sell as well as her early
albums and her career started stalling. Like so many artists, Basia now only
has a record deal in Japan, where both she and the reformed Matt Bianco
continue to experience major sales. Though it sounds vaguely exotic to
American ears, Basia is a common moniker in Poland, but the spelling of
her last name -- Trzetrzelewska -- helps explain why she's known
exclusively on a first name basis.



Listen to the entire song:
Click here to hear "How Dare You"

~Shears

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Everything But The Girl

We Walk The Same Line






Smooth Lite Jazz....

Originating at the turn of the 1980s as a leader of the lite-jazz movement,
Everything but the Girl became an unlikely success story more than a decade
later, emerging at the vanguard of the fusion between pop and electronica.
Founded in 1982 by Hull University students Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, the duo
took their name from a sign placed in the window of a local furniture shop, which
claimed "for your bedroom needs, we sell everything but the girl." At the time of
their formation, both vocalist Thorn and songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Watt were
already signed independently to the Cherry Red label; Thorn was a member of the
sublime Marine Girls, while Watt had issued several solo singles and also
collaborated with Robert Wyatt.


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'We Walk The Same Line~Everything But The Girl'

~Shears

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

Rendezvous
Doug Cameron w/Boney James






Smooth Groove....

Doug Cameron is an excellent electric violinist who thus far has been
content to perform mostly in the crossover and pop/jazz field. Growing up
in New York, Cameron started on the violin when he was five. He developed
quickly and was still in grammar school when he played in the Westchester
Conservatory Orchestra and the New York State Youth Orchestra. He mostly
studied classical music up to high school (including leading a group called
the Baroque Bums), then became interested in improvising and was particularly
fond of the recordings of the Allman Brothers. Attending the University of
Buffalo, Cameron often played in local clubs. One day Gregg Allman sat in
and he was so impressed by Cameron that the violinist joined him for a tour
and a recording. Graduating from college in 1978, Cameron settled in
Los Angeles. Since then he has worked in the studios and with such musicians
as David Benoit, George Benson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Doc Severinson's fusion
band Xebron, Jose Feliciano and many others. As a leader, Doug Cameron
has emphasized instrumental pop in his music, recording sets for Spindletop
(starting in 1986), Narada Equinox and Higher Octave.


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'Rendezvous'

~Shears

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

Lucy's
Mindi Abair






Born Smooth....

Born on tour into a musical family, Mindi Abair was playing piano by
the age of five. Within three years, she was playing saxophone and writing
songs. She made her way through Berkelee performing all kinds of music
from jazz to rock and R&B. Upon moving back to Los Angeles, Abair started
her own band. She also took on session work with artists as diverse as the
Gap Band, Adam Sandler, Mandy Moore, John Tesh, Teena Marie, and the
Backstreet Boys. During this time, she worked on creating her own sound
and released her debut disc in 1999. The Backstreet Boys connection really
paid off for her, and her website and CD (entitled Love) took off. The year
2000 saw the release of the follow-up, Always and Never the Same, and
shortly thereafter Abair signed with GRP Records. A sophomore effort, It
Just Happens That Way, was issued in 2003. "Lucy's," "Save the Last Dance,"
and the album's title track went on to impact Top Ten radio. A year later,
Abair returned with Come as You Are, her second set produced with her
writing partner, Matthew Hager. In 2006, Abair released Life Less Ordinary,
which featured guest vocals from Lalah Hathaway and Keb' Mo', and also
performed at the Governors Ball, the official Oscars afterparty.


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'Lucy's'

~Shears

My offer to save "The Guy James Show"

Don't let this great, passionate
Liberal voice (The Guy James Show)
dissappear!



When Mike Malloy was fired from AAR, I could not believe how
that happened. I only knew that I was prepared to help Mike & Kathy
any way I could to get them back on the air. As Guy James and
Bob Kincaid both will agree, Mike Malloy IS the king of Liberal Radio.

In my search to fill the void of Mike's message I remembered Mike
talking about this radio network called the H.O.R.N. I tracked it down
and the first show I heard was Guy James, WOW, I thought this
guy is really, really good! Suddenly, Guy James went into this
rant about how unfair and ridiculous it was for AAR to silence
and just take Mike's voice away. He didn't stop at just one mention,
Guy James was on this daily! For THAT I will remain loyal to
the Guy James show as long as I am able to breath. I also want
to say that Bob Kincaid was just as outraged over Mike's firing.
I NEVER miss a Guy James, Bob Kincaid and a Mike Malloy show.

I've become not only a loyal listener of Guy James, but a friend.
We communicate daily. Some of you may know that I offered to
help Guy out with the music on his show. Guy does everything
to keep the show on. He has no producer, he does his own show
research and show prep. There are no paid body's, including Guy.
In fact Guy James has poured his own money in the effort.
He can no longer sustain the expense.

If you listen to a NovaM show that airs at 3:00 pm, keep listening.
Or if you love Randi Rhodes, keep listening. Just do yourself a favor
and go to 'The White Rose Society" and download "The Guy James Show"
AFTER listening to NovaM or Randi.

http://www.whiterosesociety.org/

Now here's my offer!

I am looking for sixty supporters for the show. All we need
is 60 (sixty!) people to donate $10 per month. Now I'll
go even further. PayPal will only take a $10 minumum.
IF, you will commit to just $5 per month, I'll trust that
you will send the donation directly to "the Guy James Show"

Simply go to Guys website and help out.
http://www.theguyjamesshow.com/

After Guy James confirms your participation, I will produce
a Guy James Show CD. It will include Guy's intro music,
some of Guy's wonderful rants and selected songs that has
aired on the show. If will be done with crossfades to make it
flow as seemlessly as possible. There will be a nice CD cover with
the content listed on the inside. Guy will even personally
write a message to you (and sign it) to each supporter.
I will then mail it to you when you give Guy your address.

So, come on LET'S SAVE LIBERAL RADIO!

~BillySHEARS

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

On and On
Kenny Rankin






Smooth Singer's Singer....

Growing up in the multicultural hotbed of New York's Washington Heights
neighborhood, he absorbed a broad array of musical influences, from AfroCuban
to Top 40 to Jazz to Brazilian. But he traces his emergence as a performer to a
specific childhood epiphany. "I was in the fourth grade and sang 'O Holy Night'
in a Christmas play," he recalls. "My teacher, Miss Isabel Pringle, came over
to me and patted me on the head and said 'Kenneth, that was lovely.' She set
me on the path in music that I find myself on today."


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'On and On~Kenny Rankin'

~Shears

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

You & I
Pieces of a Dream






Philly Smooth...

Comprised of bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and
keyboardist James Lloyd, Pieces of a Dream were founded in 1975 in Philadelphia
when the principal members were all teenagers. Originally somewhat jazz-oriented,
Pieces of a Dream have mostly emphasized R&B, although they usually include a
few jazz numbers in their performances. Grover Washington, Jr. produced their first
three albums (all for Elektra during 1981-1983); they have since recorded for
Manhattan and Blue Note. Saxophonist Ron Kerber became a member in the 1990s,
preceding the four varied releases that appeared throughout the decade. A collection
appeared at the turn of the century, but the band proved to still be going strong with
2001's Acquainted with the Night and 2002's Love's Silhouette. No Assembly Required
was released in 2004 on Cleveland's Heads Up label, followed by 2006's Pillow Talk,
also on Heads Up.


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'You & I~Pieces of a Dream

~Shears

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

Baby Come To Me
Regina Bell






Engagingly Smooth...

Regina Belle emerged as a prolific, consistently engaging vocalist on the
urban contemporary scene. Born in New Jersey, Belle's early experience was
in gospel, though she was also attracted to R&B during her childhood. She
studied trombone, tuba, and steel drums, and at 12 won a school contest
singing the Emotions' "Don't Ask My Neighbors." Belle sang in a New Jersey
vocal group, and studied opera and jazz in college. New York disc jockey
Vaughn Harper introduced her to the Manhattans, and she began working as
their opening act. Belle recorded a duet with them, "Where Did We Go Wrong,"
that was produced by Bobby Womack in 1986. She earned a solo Columbia
contract in 1987, and the single "Please Be Mine" earned both praise and a
number two R&B hit. A follow-up single, "So Many Tears," also made the R&B
Top 20, and the hit "Without You," pairing her with Peabo Bryson, was the only
memorable thing about the film Leonard, Part 6. Her second LP, Stay with Me,
secured her success, and she went on to earn more acclaim. Releasing Passion
in 1993, she returned five years later with Believe in Me, which was followed
by 2001's This Is Regina! and 2004's Lazy Afternoon.


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'Baby Come To Me~Regina Belle

~Shears

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

Never Get Enough
Raul Midon






Uniquely Smooth...

Raul Midón is a blind singer, songwriter, guitarist from New Mexico
currently based in New York City. He combines his distinct voice, strumming,
beats, and acapella sounds to create a one-man performance. His unique
style shows influence of virtually every musical genre which came before
him, including jazz, blues, R&B, and folk


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'Never Get Enough~Raul Midon'

~Shears

Expressions
Raul Midon






Uniquely Smooth...

Raul Midon is a blind singer, songwriter, guitarist from New Mexico
currently based in New York City. He combines his distinct voice, strumming
beats, and acapella sounds to create a one-man performance. His unique
style shows influence of virtually every musical genre which came before
him, including jazz, blues, R&B, and folk.



Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'Expressions~Raul Midon'

~Shears

As
George Michael & Mary J Blige'






Smooth As Silk...

Yorgos Kyriatou Panayioutou (George Michael) achieved fame in the duo Wham in his native U.K.
in 1982. Through 1986, he and his partner, Andrew Ridgeley, scored hit after hit in a variety of
styles from rap to up-tempo pop to slow ballads. As songwriter and lead singer, Michael gradually
overshadowed the group, and by the time they split, he was ready for a massively successful solo
career. This began with the 1987 album Faith, which featured a series of chart-topping hit singles
and sold more than seven million copies. That Michael had not achieved a similar critical success
was evident from the title of his follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, which must be
considered a major commercial disappointment even though it sold a million copies, included two
Top Ten hits, and hit number two. With Vol. 2 apparently shelved, Michael contributed several songs
to the charity album Red Hot + Dance in 1992, and one of them, "Too Funky," reached the Top 20.

After the failure of Listen Without Prejudice, Michael engaged in a bitter legal battle with his record
company, accusing them of not properly promoting the album and asking them to release him from
his contract; he stated that he would refuse to release any records if he lost the lawsuit. He lost.
After losing an appeal, Michael bought his way out of his Columbia contract and signed with the
music division of Dreamworks, a fledgling entertainment corporation founded by Steven Spielberg,
Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. In 1996, he released Older, its sales clearly hampered by his
long hiatus away from performing. In 1998, Michael made tabloid headlines when he was arrested
for lewd conduct in a men's public restroom at a park near his Beverly Hills home; following the
incident, the singer appeared on CNN and publicly revealed his homosexuality. The covers collection
Songs From the Last Century followed in late 1999.


Listen to the entire song:
Click Here For 'As~George Michael & Mary J Blige'

~Shears

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

When We Dance
Sting







Very Smooth....

Lay my head on the surgeon's table Take my fingerprints if you are able
Pick my brains, pick my pockets Steal my eyeballs and come back for the sockets
Run every kind of test from A to ZAnd you'll still know nothin' 'bout me
Run my name through your computer Mention me in passing to your college tutor
Check my records, check my facts Check if I paid my income tax
Pore over everything in my C.V. But you'll still know nothin' 'bout me
You'll still know nothin' 'bout me You don't need to read no books on my history
I'm a simple man, it's no big mystery In the cold weather, a hand needs a glove
At times like this, a lonely man like me needs love Search my house with a fine
tooth comb Turn over everything 'cause I won't be home
Set up your microscope, and tell me what you see
You'll still know nothin' 'bout me


Listen to the entire song:
Click here for "When We Dance~Sting"

~BillySHEARS

Visit my website for musical commentary by well known Liberal minds!

Aja
Steely Dan







Sophisticated, Distinctive & Smooth....

Most rock & roll bands are a tightly wound unit that developed their music through years of playing
in garages and clubs around their hometown. Steely Dan never subscribed to that aesthetic. As the
vehicle for the songwriting of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely Dan defied all rock & roll
conventions. Becker and Fagen never truly enjoyed rock -- with their ironic humor and cryptic lyrics,
their eclectic body of work shows some debt to Bob Dylan -- preferring jazz, traditional pop, blues,
and R&B. Steely Dan created a sophisticated, distinctive sound with accessible melodic hooks,
complex harmonies and time signatures, and a devotion to the recording studio. With producer Gary
Katz, Becker and Fagen gradually changed Steely Dan from a performing band to a studio project,
hiring professional musicians to record their compositions. Though the band didn't perform live after
1974, Steely Dan's popularity continued to grow throughout the decade, as their albums became
critical favorites and their singles became staples of AOR and pop radio stations. Even after the group
disbanded in the early '80s, their records retained a cult following, as proven by the massive success
of their unlikely return to the stage in the early '90s.


Listen to the entire song: