Meet 'The Weather Girls' Martha Wash
Martha Wash is the voice everyone recognises. She is the powerful vocalist behind such classic dance hits as “It’s Raining Men,” “Everybody Dance Now,” and “Carry On.” With the release of her new album, ‘Love and Conflict’, she adds to her incredible legacy of music. I caught up with Martha from her home in New York to chat about the new album, her dance and house music and her journey through each of her stages. Here’s the zoom in two parts below. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Martha a little as much as I did.
Martha (part 1) on singing with Sylvester
Martha (part 2) on 'It's Raining Men' and the progression to house music.
Martha (part 3) on the new album 'Love and Conflict
Martha Wash’s new album ‘Love and Conflict’ is out now.
From Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to The Dirty Knobs - Mike Campbell's journey
Mike Campbell is a guitarist and record producer best known for his work with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He has co-written an array of songs including “The Boys of Summer” with Don Henley for The Eagles.
Campbell first met Tom Petty when he moved to LA and signed a deal to record in 1975 as part of the band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Benmont Tench, Ron Blair and Stan Lynch. He also produced four songs on Roy Orbison’s Mystery Girl album and played guitar on The Wallflowers’ Sixth Avenue Heartache’. In 2009 he played guitar and mandolin on Bob Dylan’s ‘Together Through Life’.
Mike’s latest album is called External Combustion. I caught up with him to hear all about it. Here’s one of the tracks from it – ‘Electric Gypsy’ and below, our zoom interview.
Check out the conversation with Mike Campbell here
Listener's choice ... this week, Australia's Kevin "Bloody" Johnson
Kevin Johnson is an Australian singer-songwriter who was huge in the 70’s with hit after hit after hit. His biggest success came with ‘Rock and Roll I Gave You The Best Years of My life in 1973’. It was a tune that still stands as one of the most covered songs written by an Australian with 27 different artists recording it in 19754 alone. Covers include fellow Aussies, Col Joye and Digby Richarrds with artists like Mac Davis, Terry Jacks, Gary Glitter, The Cats (Netherlands) and Tom Jones following suit.
In 1974 Kevin Johnson released his second solo album. A third followed in 1976. Later that year he toured Europe appearing on countless TV shows. He was loved wherever he played. His songs just resonated.
I caught up with Kevin recently. During our zoom interview he talks about what was going on behind his lyrics, his overwhelming popularity and how he acquired the nickname kevin “bloody” johnson. Join me in our conversation here.
Kevin Johnson new album just released
Don’t forget to check out Kevin’s latest album. It’s appropriately titled ‘Kevin Johnson – The Classics’.