My interest perked up when I landed on MTV and caught a glimpse of a music video featuring a funky dance tune by an exotically beautiful woman playing Latin percussion. I not only perked up, I was mesmerized.
Watch the classic music video for The Glamorous Life by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZrGOBFS748
This woman, Sheila Escovedo – better known as Sheila E. –
is set to release the story of her life on Sept. 2. The autobiography,
appropriately titled The Beat of My Own Drum, can be ordered by visiting her website: http://www.sheilae.com/shop/autobiography/#sthash.DVT3jynf.dpbs.
Sheila also recently released a new album, also aptly titled Icon. The following is a review of Icon, comparing several of the tracks to songs on Sheila’s albums that were released on Warner Bros. Records in the '80s and '90s.
The songs I reference may be obscure to those less familiar with Sheila's body of work, but will hopefully bring back fond memories for longtime fans:
The songs I reference may be obscure to those less familiar with Sheila's body of work, but will hopefully bring back fond memories for longtime fans:
A Throwback to '85 - Icon
opens with “Mona Lisa." No, this isn't a remake of the Nat King Cole standard. Sheila's "Mona Lisa" is apparently about the subject of the
famous da Vinci painting or a mythical woman from that era. Think “Dear
Michelangelo” from 1985’s Romance 1600 album.
Soul Salsa - Sheila E.'s self-titled 1987 album has a spicy instrumental dance track called "Soul Salsa." The phrase also applies to Track No. 2 on Icon: “Fiesta,” which combines Latin salsa,
reggaeton, R&B and hip-hop. Sheila’s trademark timbale playing permeates the song.
This is an upbeat party groove in the vein of “Private Party (Tu Para Mi)” from
1991's Sex Cymbal album.
Watch the red-hot video for "Fiesta," which was filmed on the streets of her hometown of Oakland, by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjHQ-Xhm3Rc
Without (Self) Love, It Ain't Much - “Who I Am Now” is a heartfelt, confessional ballad in
which Sheila shares how her spiritual faith has deepened over the years and
enabled her to become more compassionate. It brings to mind the introspective
hymn “Mother Mary” from the Sex Cymbal album.
'Love' On A New Train - “Lovely Day” is a delightful, upbeat ditty. Think “Love on a Blue Train” from the Sheila E. album. (Watch the video at the following link to the exclusive premiere on Billboard.com: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6229355/sheila-e-lovely-day-video-exclusive.)
Family Jam - In December 2003, Sheila E. presented the Family Jam, a reunion at the Los Angeles Forum of several singers and musicians who have worked with Prince, her longtime collaborator, in the past.
The event featured such artists as Patti LaBelle joining in a gospel-tinged group sing-along of "Purple Rain" and warbling her funky, Prince-penned 1989 R&B hit "Yo, Mister." Chaka Khan performed "I Feel For You," the song Prince originally wrote for his 1979 self-titled album and that Chaka took to the top of the pop charts in 1984.
The Family Jam also featured Prince and the Revolution members Wendy and Lisa, Brown Mark, Matt Fink and Bobby Z.; the lineup of The Family, who were signed to Prince's Paisley Park Records and yielded the '85 hit "Screams of Passion" and the original version of the ballad "Nothing Compares to You" before Sinead O'Connor turned it into a pop hit in '90; Sheila E.'s Glamorous Life-era band; and Prince's Purple Rain co-star Apollonia Kotero.
The Family Jam benefited the Elevate Hope Foundation, which support Sheila's passion for helping abused children heal through the power of the arts.
The event featured such artists as Patti LaBelle joining in a gospel-tinged group sing-along of "Purple Rain" and warbling her funky, Prince-penned 1989 R&B hit "Yo, Mister." Chaka Khan performed "I Feel For You," the song Prince originally wrote for his 1979 self-titled album and that Chaka took to the top of the pop charts in 1984.
The Family Jam also featured Prince and the Revolution members Wendy and Lisa, Brown Mark, Matt Fink and Bobby Z.; the lineup of The Family, who were signed to Prince's Paisley Park Records and yielded the '85 hit "Screams of Passion" and the original version of the ballad "Nothing Compares to You" before Sinead O'Connor turned it into a pop hit in '90; Sheila E.'s Glamorous Life-era band; and Prince's Purple Rain co-star Apollonia Kotero.
The Family Jam benefited the Elevate Hope Foundation, which support Sheila's passion for helping abused children heal through the power of the arts.
“Leader of the Band," a mid-tempo track from Icon, features a family jam of another sort. The song is fittingly
titled since it features Prince.
"Leader of the Band" is not another steamy duet like “Erotic City,” but rather a salsa-flavored track on which His Royal Badness plays piano.
"Leader of the Band" is not another steamy duet like “Erotic City,” but rather a salsa-flavored track on which His Royal Badness plays piano.
“Leader of the Band,” also features Sheila’s famous
bandleader and percussionist father, Pete Escovedo, and Sheila’s brothers Peter
Michael and Juan, who are also percussionists. The track opens with Sheila
playfully begging her father, “Come on, Pops, let me be the leader for once.”
And after turning in yet another stunning timbales solo,
Sheila concludes, “Mmm-hmm. I learned that from my daddy.”
Sheila E.'s stellar new Icon album is available on Amazon:
Thanks for sharing this post with us.Wikivela
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