DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Bennie James, soul DJ at KTUH, offers some musical advice for Valentine's Day. Artists on his playlist include Freddie Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Roberta Flack.
Soulful You're home, the crib is softly aglow with candles (scented, perhaps), you're feeling snuggly-comfy -- and it's time to get your oh-so-slow groove on with that special someone.
love songs
are key
Song listBy Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comLet Bennie James help you pick some music to help set and maintain that lovin' mood tonight and beyond.
The London-born deejay who dishes out "The Soul Breakfast" Thursday mornings on KTUH-FM and holds down a late-evening gig Saturdays at Gordon Biersch Brewery knows how to make it last -- musically, that is.
Already armed with lists of soul songs that are his favorites (see below), he glances at some promotional CDs of compilations timed for the Valentine season.
"'Stairway to Heaven' from the O'Jays is a great slow jam -- aw, and you can't go wrong with 'Sexual Healing' from Marvin Gaye."
James also picked out some Motown songs like Gaye's "Distant Lover" and "If This World Were Mine," one of those primo duets he did with Tammi Terrell and, of course, the Temptations' "My Girl."
"Soul music has always been mostly about love," he said. "I've learned so much since I've been here, and I have no qualms sharing what knowledge I have. ... I'm willing to mix up the obscure with the popular in my sets."
Raised in a household filled with music and growing into a break-dancing B-boy and house party deejay in London, James moved here with his wife and 2-year-old son to spread his Soul Love skills to Honolulu.
"For me it's always about the song," he said, "and this music puts you on a higher level -- it feeds my own soul, it's my spiritual outlet. And, if you notice, a lot of the tunes I picked are sung by men, so no one can accuse us of not being sensitive!"
But, to be fair, James does give props to Aretha Franklin, Randy Crawford, Patti LaBelle, Roberta Flack and current favorite Selena Johnson for being powerful soul sisters.
"So I dedicate these love songs to everyone in love on this Valentine's Day," James said, "and remember to try to like your partners as much as you love them."
BACK TO TOP |
Bennie James' Classic
Soul Love Jams:The Obvious 10:
"Love TKO" / Teddy Pendergrass
"Rock Me Tonight" / Freddie Jackson
"Between the Sheets" / The Isley Brothers
"Always and Forever" / Heatwave
"Reasons" / Earth Wind & Fire
"Ribbon in the Sky" / Stevie Wonder
"Me and Mrs. Jones" / Billy Paul
"Natural High" / Bloodstone
"Fire and Desire" / Rick James & Teena Marie
"The Closer I Get to You" / Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack
The Not-So-Obvious 10:
"'Cause I Love You" / Lenny Williams
"If Only You Knew" / Patti LaBelle
"Make It Last Forever" / Keith Sweat
"I Wanna Know Your Name" / The Intruders
"Wish" / The Manhattans
"It's the Way Nature Planned It" / The Four Tops
"If You Think You're Lonely Now" / Bobby Womack
"Hey Girl" / The Temptations
"For Your Precious Love" / Otis Redding
"Gotta Get You Home Tonight" / Eugene Wilde
The 10 Best "New School" Love Jams:
"Fortunate" / Maxwell
"Tonight Is the Night" / Jerzee Monét
"Do Those Things" / Dave Hollister
"Getting Late" / Floetry
"More Than a Woman" / Angie Stone & Calvin
"Special Day" / Jaheim
"My Place" / Tank
"Before I Let You Go" / Blackstreet
"Body" / LSG
"Break of Dawn" / Michael Jackson
"The Soul Breakfast" with Bennie James can be heard 9 a.m. to noon on KTUH-FM 90.3. More grooves can be heard from deejays Terri ("The Rókery," 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays), Cookiehead Jenkins ("Vinyl Grooves," 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays) and Sifu "Jive" Walker ("Afrostylus," 9 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays). Soulful inquiries can be directed to benniejames@hotmail.com.
Click for online
calendars and events.
