Jawanza Kobie’s Weekly Wednesday Jazz Playlist April 6, 2022

 Sylvia Moy was the first woman at Motown to write and produce records for the label’s artists. When there were talks of dropping Stevie from the label due to changes in his voice, she requested that she be given a chance to change the label’s mind. “I don’t believe it’s over for him,” she said she told Motown’s head of artists and repertoire Mickey Stevenson, “Let me have Stevie.” Having promised to write a hit for the young talent to perform, Moy teamed up with songwriter Henry Crosby and came up with “Uptight (Everything Is Alright).” Other songs of hers were “This Old Heart of Mine” for the Isley Brothers and “Honey Chile” for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Christi McVie is a member and keyboardist for the super group Fleetwood Mac. She has written many of the groups biggest hits like ‘Don’t’ Stop (Thinking about Tomorrow)” “Little Lies” “You Make Loving Fun”. ‘Over My Head’ is one of my favorite tunes written by this songwriter. 

As far as I am concerned, no list of songwriters male or female would be complete without including the great Valerie Simpson.  I have been influenced by this gifted songwriter.  Along with her late lyricist husband Nick Ashford they wrote some of the most endearing songs of out time.  Their first hit was written for Ray Charles ‘Lets Go Get Stoned’ in the early 60s and then for Motown and their own solo career: ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing’ ‘Solid’ ‘Your Precious Love’ and this track ‘You’re all I Need To Get By’

Songwriter Brenda Russell has had a very successful career as a songwriter starting in 1963 at the age of 12. Her songs have been covered by: Babyface, Luther Vandross, Ramesy Lewis and sampled by Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur to name but a few. She really became more noticed in the 1980s for her songs ‘Dinner With Gershwin’ and this hit for singer Oleta Adams ‘Get Here’

Nina Simone has found her way to my Playlist more than once. This singer songwriter used her music as a reflection of the times during the civil rights movement. Her music spanned styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel and pop. One of her most poignant and heart felt tunes from that era was ‘Mississippi Goddam’ in response to the killing of civil rights field officer in Mississippi Megar Evers.

Thew prolific songwriter Joni Mitchell is the epitome of a singer songwriter. She has written tunes since the 1960s covered by Cosby, Stills, Nash, & Young’s ‘Woodstock’ to singer Julie Collins ‘Both Sides Now’. One of her songs ‘Chelsea Morning’ was the inspiration for the former President and his wife Bill and Hillary to name their only child Chelsea. One of my favorite and most sampled songs of hers is ‘Big Yellow Taxi’.

Aside from the larger than life persona of this country music legend, Dolly Parton is a very prolific songwriter. Mostly she has written music for the country music market with her songs being covered by those artist. She wrote the hit song ‘9 to Five’ for the movie of the same titled and her most famous cover of a song she wrote was ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston form the movie Body Guard.

A personal favorite and in my opinion underrated songwriter of mine is Aimee Mann. She started in the 80s girl group Till Tuesday and then branched out into a solo career. Her debute 1993 release of her album ‘Whatever’’ showed a gift for prose with thoughtful lyrics and music along with what I consider great production. She was a student at Berklee College of Music. Here is one of my favorite tracks of hers ‘That’s Just What You Are’ which was featured on the TV show Melrose Place.

In the very early 1970s it seemed you could not escape the sounds of singer songwriter’s debut album ‘Tapestry’ by Carol King. Along with her husband lyrist Gerry Goffin, of the Brill Building songwriters in the 60s which included Burt Bacharach, Neil Diamond, and others, they wrote some of the most enduring songs of our time covered by other artist such as The Drifters, Little Eva, Aretha Franklin. ‘It’s Too Late’ was from her debut solo album and a massive hit for her.

With her infectious beats and innovative videos, Missy Elliot is someone who I have come to admire and recognize as a force in the music industry. Missy Elliott has helped write several classics, such as “1,2,3, Step” from Ciara's album Goodiesand ‘One In A Million” by Aaliyah for her second album, One in a Million. She has also helped write for Jenifer Hudson, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, and many others, along with writing her own music for years. She is the first female rapper nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has collaborated with super-producer Timbaland on many of her hits. Here is ‘Work It” one of her most popular tracks performed by her.

The late singer songwriter Laura Nyro who passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 49 in 1997 was a prolific songwriter whose songs were made famous by the 5th Dimension, Three Dog Night, Linda Ronstadt, Blood Sweat & Tears. Rejecting commercial pressures, she would help push the boundaries of popular music by writing songs celebrating motherhood, female sexuality and her menstrual cycle. ‘This is her version of the tune she penned covered by the 5th Dimension “Stoned Soul Picnic’

North Philadelphia’s own Singer Jill Scott pens many of her tunes along with a collaborator at times. Her music empowers females and deals with relations. She is the only female on this Playlist who is known for mostly writing the lyrics to her tunes. She has won accolades for her acting and Grammy wins. She attended Temple University and planned on becoming a Highschool English teacher but was discovered by Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson at a poetry reading. ‘Golden’ is one of her biggest hits empowering women with its positive message.

I Hope You Enjoy

JK