1. Otis Redding: Try a Little Tenderness

“WHEN SHE GETS WEARY, TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS, I KNOW SHE’S WAITING, JUST ANTICIPATING, FOR THINGS THAT SHE WILL NEVER POSSESS. BUT WHILE SHE’S THERE WAITING, TRY JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TENDERNESS. THAT’S ALL YOU GOT TO DO. NOW IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT SENTIMENTAL, NO, NO, NO, BUT SHE HAS HER GRIEVES AND CARES. BUT THE SOFT WORDS, THEY ARE SPOKE SO GENTLE AND IT MAKES IT EASIER TO BEAR,,, YOUNG GIRLS, THEY DON’T FORGET IT.”

2. Max Roach Quartet featuring Abbey Lincoln: Freedom Day

RIGHT AT 2:34 MY HEART SCREAMED FOR THE STRINGS! I FOUND MY FREEDOM IN THIS WONDERFUL MELODY. “SLAVE NO LONGER, THIS IS FREEDOM DAY!”

3. Abbey Lincoln: Brother Where Are You?

AND BECAUSE ABBEY IS SUCH A GREAT STORYTELLER AND GRIOT, I JUST HAD TO HEAR ONE MORE BEFORE I WENT INTO MY SLUMBER. “IT SEEMS THERE ARE VERY FEW, WHO WILL ANSWER OUR BROTHER’S CALL. BROTHER WHERE ARE YOU, THEY TOLD ME THAT YOU CAME THIS WAY.”

4. Isley Brothers: Prelude to Harvest for the World

GROWING UP, MY MOTHER PLAYED THIS RECORD MANY MANY NIGHTS. SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL AND SOULFUL VOICE. WHEN SHE SANG IT, I FELT EVERY WORD. TONIGHT I WAS THINKING OF HER, AND I HEARD HER SINGING THIS IN MY HEAD. “GATHER EVERY MAN. GATHER EVERY WOMAN. CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE YOUR LIVES! GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR CHILDREN. WHEN WILL THERE BE, A HARVEST FOR THE PEOPLE? WHEN WILL THERE BE, A HARVEST FOR THE WORLD?”

5. Sade: Feel No Pain (She is a beautiful woman and I love her music)

SO, I WAS THINKING OF MY FATHER AND BROTHERS AS WELL, AND THIS REMINDED OF THEM. “HELP THEM TO STRIVE, HELP THEM TO MOVE ON. HELP THEM TO HAVE SOME FUTURE, HELP THEM TO LIVE LONG. HELP THEM TO LIVE LIFE. HELP THEM TO SMILE. DON’T LET THEM STAY HOME AND LISTEN TO THE BLUES…       DON’T  LET THEM LOSE, WE GOTTA GIVE THEM A CHANCE. IT’S GONNA COME BACK ON EVERY ONE, IF YOU DON’T MAKE THEM DANCE. DON’T LET THEM STAY HOME AND LISTEN TO THE BLUES…    ONE DAY, WE’RE GOING TO WAKE UP.WITH GHETTOS ALL AROUND. ALL OVER, MY FRIEND. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A MAN BREAK DOWN?”

6. Michael Jackson: In the Closet

I WAS HAVING MIXED EMOTIONS, SO I HAD TO LEAVE OFF WITH THIS. THE UP AND DOWN ROLLER COASTER RIDE I N THIS SONG, RELAXES ME. THE SOFT FEMININE SPEAKING AND THEN THE SMOOTH RAUNCHINESS OF MICHAEL, I LOVE IT! CAUSE… “THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, BABY, THAT MAKES ME WANT TO GIVE IT TO YOU. JUST PROMISE ME THAT WHATEVER WE SAY OR DO TO ONE ANOTHER, FOR NOW, WE’LL MAKE A VOW TO, KEEP IT IN THE CLOSET!”

TOUCH ME THERE, MAKE THE MOVES, CAST THE SPELL.

Peace and Love,

Kush Queendom and Shila Iris, Saturday, May 17, 1:49 a.m.