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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 13
Friday, July 13, 2007
Candi Staton finds new life on U.K. music charts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Soul legend Candi Staton is back on the charts once again.
Well, at least in Great Britain.
The “Young Hearts Run Free” singer has two new tracks on the hipster electronica duo Groove Armada’s latest album, “Soundboy Rock.” And one track, “Love Sweet Sound,” freshly remixed as a dance club anthem-in-waiting, is poised as the album’s next single.
Last year, Staton was gigging in London when Groove Armada co-founders Andy Cato and Tom Findlay turned up in the audience (the singer’s U.K. club appearances also have attracted members of the Rolling Stones and singer Joss Stone).
“I had no idea who those boys even were!” the Stone Mountain resident told Buzz on Friday, laughing. “Someone had to tell me that they’re these triple-platinum recording artists. They were so sweet to me.”
That sweetness extended to a co-songwriting credit for Staton on “Love” and another track titled “Paris.” Translation: royalty checks.
“Isn’t that amazing?” Staton asked. “After all these years, I’m learning. I’ve finally figured a few things out. Back in the day, you weren’t thinking about the business end of things. It was just: ‘Ooh, I get to sing with Bobby Womack!’ “
Back when she cut her first series of soul classics in Muscle Shoals, Ala., in the 1960s, men dominated the industry and Staton had little, if any, input.
Groove Armada sent a car for her in London and encouraged her to use her self-penned lyrics.
“It’s all turned around for me these days,” she said wistfully. “Kids are downloading me, both the new stuff and the old music. Us old school soul folks are now the teachers for a new generation who want to learn from us. Our lives are all about seasons. You can be hot in the summer but in the winter it was, ‘Candi who?!’ Finally for me, it’s spring again and I’m truly blessed.”
HIPSTER HIDEAWAY?
We might be officially too old to haunt Johnny’s Hideaway these days.
Brace yourself: the 28-year-old divorcee emporium on Roswell Road now has a MySpace page.
At myspace.com/johnnyshideaway, there’s a complete show schedule, oodles of pictures of youngish hipsters loving on each other and an info box that informs users, among other things, that the Hideaway now has Wi-Fi. Thankfully, they’re still playing Francis Albert Sinatra on the club’s Hi-Fi. According to its MySpace page, although the nightspot has now relaxed its dress code, standards remain. For example, its posted code states, in part: “No ripped or soiled jeans, no flip-flops [our personal fave] and no sweatshirts.”
Also, “gentlemen must remove their hats after 8 p.m.”
There was no immediate word if fedoras were exempt.
USHER GROWS UP, AND GETS DRESSED
Bad news for fans of Alpharetta pop singer Usher’s traditional state of dress, which, technically speaking, is a state of undress. The impending groom and father might just be growing up on us. In the August issue of Stuff magazine, the singer tells the glossy: “I used to be the guy who tore off his shirt during every show. Now I’m a little more comfortable in my skin, and I don’t have to show my chest or my stomach every time I take a picture.”
Still, the performer may have admiration for the guys who shuck their shirts at night. “As for the shirtless guy at the club, maybe he’s having fun,” he says in the issue. “But the real players, you don’t see them coming. That guy who’s in the back chilling, he’s the one who always leaves with the hottest chick. And that’s his reason for being out in the club anyway, right?”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I think we need Uncle Chris to come in.”
— “Good Morning America” co-host Diane Sawyer, requesting assistance from news anchor Chris Cuomo during her live interview Friday with squirming Buford toddler Garron Penland and his mother, Kate. Last month, the small fry was ejected from an ExpressJet flight for making too much noise.
PEREZ HILTON LANDS OWN SHOW ON VH1
Perez Hilton, the online blogger who has us scribbler types who actually cracked a journalism textbook contemplating a new career at a car wash, had a big announcement on PerezHilton.com Friday. He’s landed “What Perez Sez,” his own show on VH1 this fall.
And since the blogger is far more articulate, we’ll let him explain it in an excerpt from his home page, complete with his punctuation: “Perez is coming to television!!!!! Perez is coming to television!!!!! Perez is coming to television!!!!! Perez is coming to television!!!!! Perez is coming to television!!!!! … Perez is going to be like the gay Barbara Walters of VH1! The show will be a fun, fresh way of looking at the wacky world of celebrities and interacting with them. It will be like PerezHilton.com come to life, but even juicier.” The series of one-hour specials will bow on the cable channel in September.
Goody.
That gives us plenty of time to prepare a syringe and purchase the necessary amounts of Drano and bleach.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Today: Director Ingmar Bergman is 89. Actor Matthew Fox (“Lost,” “Party of Five”) is 41. Musician Taboo of Black Eyed Peas is 32.
Sunday: Actor Philip Carey (“One Life To Live”) is 82. Actor Jan-Michael Vincent is 63. R&B singer Millie Jackson is 63. Singer Linda Ronstadt is 61. Actor Terry O’Quinn (“Lost”) is 55. Drummer Marky Ramone (The Ramones) is 51. Actor-director Forest Whitaker is 46. Actor Brian Austin Green (“Beverly Hills 90210”) is 34.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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