SOMETHING OLD
Diana Ross - Love Hangover
1976
Diana Ross - Love Hangover
1976
When Diana Ross recorded Love Hangover, Motown Records was not sold on disco music yet... except for producer Hal Davis.
Davis felt the song would be perfect for Ross despite the reluctance. To get her to record it in its true disco fashion, he didn't force. He didn't push. He just made the recording studio look a bit more like Studio 54, installing bright strobe lights in the booth alongside a healthy dose of vodka. By bringing the disco to her, she leaned into the feeling and made magic happen.
The beginning of the song carries a fairly standard Motown R&B sound, with a locked-in but mellow groove. Around 2:40, it abruptly transforms. Violins burst, already established grooves pick up the pace, the percussion evolves entirely, and Ross' sultry ad-libs and giggles take over traditional lyrics.
The song marks a cultural shift, especially for Ross, who sings the cherubic Theme from Mahogany only two tracks behind on the same album. The reserved, girlish sound of The Supremes was starting to be left behind as she pushed toward something more wild and free, most obviously proven by her wildly successful 1980 Diana album with hits like I'm Coming Out and Upside Down.
All that being said: if this song doesn't intrinsically make you want to bust a move, then no words will convince you.
SOMETHING NEW
A$AP ROCKY - PUNK ROCKY
January 5th, 2026
A$AP ROCKY - PUNK ROCKY
January 5th, 2026
The first single in anticipation of A$AP ROCKY's Don't Be Dumb, which was later released on January 16th, ended up being a pretty stellar outlier on the album.
With album art by Tim Burton, a music video showing the disarray of a suburban neighborhood starring Winona Ryder (à la Edward Scissorhands?), and Rocky's deep interest in German Expressionism, the hip hop star is leaning toward the darkness more commonly found in the rock/punk/metal scene. This is true both aesthetically and musically.
He shows his vast sonic range with this indie rock song about misguided love with witty lyrics like
You thought he was the one, I guess he's just a two.
With album art by Tim Burton, a music video showing the disarray of a suburban neighborhood starring Winona Ryder (à la Edward Scissorhands?), and Rocky's deep interest in German Expressionism, the hip hop star is leaning toward the darkness more commonly found in the rock/punk/metal scene. This is true both aesthetically and musically.
He shows his vast sonic range with this indie rock song about misguided love with witty lyrics like
You thought he was the one, I guess he's just a two.
I really love the sort of hollow yet pounding drum sound that's reminiscent of Rocky's earlier Sundress. I've been listening to this nonstop and am eager to see if it paves the way for future cross-genre and more experimental hip hop endeavors.
SOMETHING BORROWED
Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted and Black (Nina Simone)
1972
Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted and Black (Nina Simone)
1972
The extraordinarily talented Nina Simone wrote this anthem for the black youth, and debuted it in the perfect setting: The 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival (gorgeously documented in Summer of Soul, Questlove's 2021 documentary).
Inspired by Lorraine Hansbury's autobiographical play of the same title, the song was released as a single in 1970 and charted highly.
Aretha Franklin would take the name for her album two years later and cover the song, naturally.
I opened this by ensuring I give Nina her credit as a genius, a necessary recognition for writing such a terrific song and releasing a truly delightful recording of it.
Aretha's version, however, is life-changing.
For nearly two minutes before breaking into the still gorgeous and deeply rhythmic meat of the song, we have the pleasure of celestially experiencing Aretha leading a choir with just piano and Hammond organ (played by the great Billy Preston). To say it's intense is an understatement. Nina's voice turns somewhat naturally nasally when she sings the word "young," whereas Aretha's entire body seems to enter the word. Regardless, there will never be another Nina Simone or Aretha Franklin.
Aretha Franklin would take the name for her album two years later and cover the song, naturally.
I opened this by ensuring I give Nina her credit as a genius, a necessary recognition for writing such a terrific song and releasing a truly delightful recording of it.
Aretha's version, however, is life-changing.
For nearly two minutes before breaking into the still gorgeous and deeply rhythmic meat of the song, we have the pleasure of celestially experiencing Aretha leading a choir with just piano and Hammond organ (played by the great Billy Preston). To say it's intense is an understatement. Nina's voice turns somewhat naturally nasally when she sings the word "young," whereas Aretha's entire body seems to enter the word. Regardless, there will never be another Nina Simone or Aretha Franklin.
The arrangements here are remarkably lush and give Aretha's gospel-trained voice some of the greatest moments to shine in her lifetime. Which is saying quite a lot, considering she's known for literally always vocally stunning anyone who listens.
SOMETHING... JAZZ
Dizzy Gillespie - A Night In Tunisia
1956
Dizzy Gillespie - A Night In Tunisia
1956
In the hope of exploring some of the genres that black musicians specifically pioneered, we simply could not neglect jazz. And on that note, here at the Dizzy Express, we could never neglect the marvelous Dizzy Gillespie.
A Night in Tunisia, a seminal work, was written by Gillespie in 1942 and has been recorded countless times -- including by him! Always good no matter the year, here's a busier recording from his 1964 Afro album. This bebop standard has stood the test of time and will forever stand as a perfect example of the beauty of jazz: fullness, expressiveness, and creativity. A genre that would not exist without the endless extraordinary black talents who created a new sound for America.