Happy Music Monday! Today Scott's in the mood to hear one song over and over again. Get ready. He's doin' it for love.
Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love
This soulful single was so popular that it's the first song Google recommends when you type in "Bobby Caldwell." The weird thing is, Caldwell wrote it super fast and expected a different song to be his breakout hit! Also here's another weird thing: Bobby Caldwell is white. This fact was hidden from the public in 1978 until after the song began to chart, and even today some fans just assume he's a black guy because of the sound. Caldwell released a bunch of records over the years and had a pretty good career (especially in Japan) but no song ever touched the stars like this one did.
Want proof? Four more cover versions comin' right up. Then it'll be your turn to post a few.
Otis Gayle - What You Won't Do For Love
The sign of a real hit is how cool the reggae version turns out to be. I suspect it'll be real easy to nod along to this one, proving once again that reggae musicians are the ultimate arbiters of good taste. Also this cover proves that Caldwell's influence stretched well outside the United States.
Roy Ayers - What You Won't Do For Love
I love Roy Ayers. I have loved Roy Ayers since the first time I heard him. There's nobody who does music the way Roy Ayers does. And just like with Prince, no matter how much Roy Ayers I track down, there's always something more I haven't yet heard. So I was super happy to find this cover from one of the few Roy Ayers records I don't already own. It adds some funk but keeps the pop and makes a track that's both familiar and new at the same time. Good and novel all at once.
Goldie - What You Won't Do For Love
For those who don't remember Goldie, this artist was known for making dance music with a jungle leaning. His 90s production work was known for a certain intensity, which is not a style you'd expect to associate with smooth pop jazz. And yet, here we are, with a digital-sounding mix of Bobby Caldwell's hit. And look at that: it's great.
Aaliyah - Age Ain't Nothing but a Number
Oh, and just in case you thought I was being a purist, stop worrying. Because when you go to find your What You Won't Do For Loves, you'll have full access to samples and references too. Classic R&B heroine Aaliyah was actually born in 1979, which means she never lived in a world without Bobby Caldwell! She was savvy enough to take the song down her own path, and scored a huge (and slightly controversial) hit in the process.
So when you take your turn at today's Music Monday comments section, don't just post Go West and leave. Explore the world of samples too! Who knows what flowers you'll find blooming from the roots of this song!
Let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. See you next week.