Gnarls Barkley and a Soulful Predecessor
All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen has stumbled upon two albums recorded more than 40 years apart. He says there's a relationship between them.
Gnarls Barkley is the duo of rapper and singer Cee-Lo Green and producer Danger Mouse. Together, they were responsible for the 2006 smash single "Crazy." Their new album, The Odd Couple, is their second collection of forward-thinking soul and R&B.
Boilen points to a song like "Who's Gonna Save My Soul," which features samples from a spaghetti western and other elements that give the beat a dark sort of tension. "I love them, because it's great soul music," Boilen says. "But it's very much updated soul music. There's lots of stuff going on."
One day, Boilen was talking to a colleague who lent him a newly reissued Otis Redding CD. Though Boilen didn't think much of Otis Redding's albums in their day — too much filler, he says — having another listen to Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul gave him a new perspective.
"When you hear his voice on this — I didn't appreciate it well enough as a kid," he says. "And that band — I mean, this is what became Booker T and the MGs. The musicians are gorgeous, tasteful — listen to that Steve Cropper, that guitar. I miss this music."
It sets the work of Gnarls Barkley in perspective, Boilen says, compared to today's more straightforward throwback soul acts, such as Amy Winehouse or Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
"There's a lot of invention going on in Gnarls Barkley," he says. "And that's what I love about music, is when one piece of music advances the next. And it's growing, and it's changing, and it refers back, but then it pushes it forward. And so that's what I find in the Gnarls Barkley record that I love so much."
9(MDAyNzUwMDI2MDEyNTA3MTU5NzcyNTQyNA004))
- Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul by Otis Redding
- Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley
MICHELE NORRIS, host:
Bob Boilen is the host of NPRs online music show, ALL SONGS CONSIDERED, and he joins us on occasion to talk with us about what music hes listening to, new cuts. Bob has stumbled upon two albums recorded more than 40 years apart. But he says there is a relationship between them. And he joins us now here in the studio. Hello, Bob.
BOB BOILEN: Hi, Michele. Good to see you again.
NORRIS: So tell me about these recordings.
BOILEN: Well, first I started listening, like so many people, to the new Gnarls Barkley, which is this wonderful, crazy twosome. In fact, they called the album, The Odd Couple. Its two guys: Cee-Lo Green, whos the singer, and then this other fellow who goes by the name of Danger Mouse. And Danger Mouse is sort of the producer and does all these interesting sounds.
And I love them because its great soul music, but its very much updated. Theres lots of stuff going on. There are samples and all sorts of stuff going on. And Im just loving this record by Gnarls Barkley. And the one song that really got me was this ballad, soulful ballad, its called, Whos Gonna Save My Soul.
(Soundbite of song Whos Gonna Save My Soul)
Mr. CEE-LO GREEN (Vocalist, Gnarls Barkley): (Singing) Got some bad news this morning, which in turn made my day. When this someone spoke I listened. All of sudden has less and less to say. Oh, how could this be? All this time, I lived vicariously. Who's gonna save my soul now? Who's gonna save my soul now?
NORRIS: Sounds like something youll hear on an old 45.
BOILEN: Yeah. But, could you imagine the words, I got some bad news this morning that made my day
NORRIS: Ultimately made my day.
(Soundbite of laughter)
BOILEN: They dont theyd never say that in 1965 or however. And then, the writing credit is the folks from Gnarls Barkley. But then, also, along with that is some Italian film composer. So theres some sort of spaghetti-western sample going on there that (unintelligible) puts this very dark - lot of tension going on in the music, and yet its a soul ballad.
(Soundbite of song, Whos Gonna Save My Soul)
Mr. GREEN: (Singing) Who's gonna save my soul now? Who's gonna save my soul now?
BOILEN: And then, across the desk from where I work is this fellow, Lars Gotrich, and we talked music a bunch. And he said to me, have you heard the Ottis Redding reissue that was coming out? And I said, no, I hadnt. And, you know, frankly, when I listen to Ottis Redding records - albums when they came out in the day, they werent all the great. They were filled with a lot of filler stuff and there was always a handful of good songs on it and I say - he said, no, no, you really ought to listen to it.
So I put it on, and oh boy. I mean, this guy died at 26 Ottis Redding did, and what a shame, because when you hear his voice on this, I didnt appreciate well enough as a kid. And listen to the song Ive Been Loving You Too Long which weve all heard. And then (unintelligible) Gnarls Barkley and the solo thats in that, and lets see if you put some connections together like I did.
(Soundbite of song Ive Been Loving You Too Long)
Mr. OTIS REDDING (Singer): (Singing) Ive been loving you too long to stop now. There were time and you want to be free. My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me.
NORRIS: Well, Bob, before we continue, let me get on my hanky.
(Soundbite of song Ive Been Loving You Too Long)
Mr. REDDING: (Singing) Oh, I've been loving you a little too long. I dont wanna stop now, oh.
NORRIS: You know, in these CDs, even when you listen to them on 45s with the, you know, the awful sound quality and the crackle, the performance comes through because its all about emotion.
BOILEN: Absolutely. And you hear, you know, some of that emotion in the Amy Winehouses as of today, you hear that in the Sharon Jones and Dap-Kings records - good talented singers, good materials as well, but they feel a little like drawbacks compared to what I hear when I listen to the Gnarls Barkley. Theres a lot of invention going on in Gnarls Barkley and, you know, thats what I love about music, is when one piece of music advances the next and its growing and its changing and refers back but then it pushes it forward. And so, thats what I find in the Gnarls Barkley record that I love so much.
NORRIS: Bob Boilen is the host of ALL SONGS CONSIDERED. Bob, it is always good to talk music with you. Please come back soon.
BOILEN: Im going to find some more stuff and bring it to you.
NORRIS: And you can listen to the songs Bob talked about and check out his show, ALL SONGS CONSIDERED, at our music Web site. Thats npr.org/music.
(Soundbite of music)
NORRIS: Youre listening to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
