Charles Kirsch interviews the author of the libretto and screenplay for the musical WICKED.
50 years ago THE WIZ/ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING was number 30 on the Billboard Soul LPs for the week ending 6/14/75 and number 50 on the TOP LPs chart listed as The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Check out the Broadway page for podcasts, music, and news about theater at www.neosoul.com/broadway
IMO – Trixie’s DJ Mix is the best Pride mix (even though it’s two years old) especially if you are just about to hit 60, but there are a few recent hits included. It’s also the only way to listen to Vanity 6’s Nasty Girl on Apple Music.
For PRIDE month, visit https://neosoul.com/out-100/
On May 17, 1975, That’s the Way of the World went to number one on the Billboard LPs chart, and stayed there for three weeks.
The number one Soul LP for the week ending May 10, 1975 in Billboard magazine
The top 16 Hot Soul Singles or the week ending May 10, 1975 in Billboard magazine
- GET DOWN, GET DOWN (Get On The Floor) – Joe Simon (R. Gerald, J. Simon), Spring 156 (Polydor) (Gaucho/Belinda, BMI)
2. WHAT AM I GONNA DO-Barry White (B. White), 20th Century 2177 (Sa-Vette/January, BMI)
3. BABY THAT’S BACKATCHA-Smokey Robinson (W. Robinson), Tamla 54258 (Motown) (Bertam, ASCAP)
4. BAD LUCK (Part 1)-Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
(V. Carstarphen, G. McFadden, J. Whitehead), Philadelphia International 8-3562 (Columbia) (Mighty Three, BMI)
5. SPIRIT OF THE BOOGIE-Kool & The Gang
(R. Bell, D. Boyce, Kool & The Gang), De-Lite 1567
(PIP) (Delightful/Gang, BMI)
6. SHAKEY GROUND-Temptations
(J. Bowen, E. Hazel, A. Boyd), Gordy 7142 (Motown) (Jobete, ASCAP)
7. CHECK IT OUT-Bobby Womack (B.Womack), United Artists 621 (Unart/Bobby Womack, BMI)
8. MY LITILE LADY – Bloodstone (McCormick), London 1061
(Crystal Jukebox, BMI)
9. L-O-V-E (Love)-Al Green
(A. Green, W. Mitchell, M. Hodges), Hi 2282 (London) (Jec/Al Green, BMI)
10. ROLLING DOWN A MOUNTAINSIDE – Main Ingredient (J.D. Hilliard, L. Ware), RCA 10224 (Better-Half, ASCAP)
11. THANK YOU BABY – Stylistics
(H. Peretti, L. Creatore, G.D. Weiss), Avco 4652 (Avco Embassy, ASCAP)
12. LOVE WON’T LET ME WAIT-Major Harris
(B. Eli, V. Barrett), Atlantic 3248 (Mighty Three/ Friday’s Child/WMOT, BMI)
13. TOUCH ME BABY (Reach Out For Your Love)-Tamiko Jones
(J. Bristol), Arista 0110 (Bushka, ASCAP)
14. I WANT TO BE FREE- Ohio Players
(J. Williams, C. Satchell, L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, W. Beck), Mercury 73675 (Phonogram) (Ohio Players/Unichappell, BMI)
15. ONCE YOU GET STARTED- Rufus
(G. Christopher), ABC 12066 (Mocrisp, ASCAP)
16. ROCKIN CHAIR-Gwen McCrae
POLITICSNY 2025 Black Power Players at https://politicsny.com/power-lists/2025-black-power-players/#alvin-bragg
Alvin Bragg
Manhattan District Attorney, Office of the Manhattan District Attorney
Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. is the 37th district attorney elected in Manhattan. A lifelong Harlemite, Alvin made history as the first Black Manhattan district attorney. He has spent more than two decades as a federal, state, and local prosecutor and civil rights attorney fighting to make our communities safer and our criminal justice system fairer. Alvin earned his A.B. from Harvard University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
What is the proudest moment in your career so far?
In the three years that I’ve been in office, we have worked with the NYPD to drive down gun violence substantially. Shootings in Manhattan are down 45% compared to 2021 and murders are down 20% compared to 2021. There is more work to do, but I look forward to continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners, community groups and local residents to push these numbers down even further and deliver lasting public safety.
Listen to Jerry Mitchell talk about Billy Porter at the 1:09:54 mark in this podcast plus his musical BOOP.
Check out the Fathers Day Shop at amazon
Tina’s versions of the music in Tina! The Tina Turner Musical
Check out the various AppleMusic playlists I have curated:
neosoul.com/music/playlists.html
Neo Soul is a name for Alternative R&B:
WHAT IS alternative R&B? Rap-free jazz and R&B. This music combines traditional R&B elements and
contemporary lyrics without the hard-driving rhythms and lyrics of hip-hop (Source: Janine Coveney, “The Rhythm and
the Blues,” Billboard, p. 34,December 27, 1997).
or is Neo Soul different than Alternative R&B?
According to Wikipedia, neosoul describes a style of music that emerged from SOUL and contemporary R&B. D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell are usually mentioned as examples of neo-soul artists.