Johnny Burgos’ A Long Story Short finds the Brooklyn singer-songwriter warmly celebrating some of R&B’s past. Burgos and his producer Jeremy Page have proudly combined the sensibilities of doo-wop and ’60s R&B to make a record that sounds like much more than dead nostalgia. The opening track, “Growing On Me,” brings up images of poodle skirts and the concept of courtship. Burgos’ falsetto plays well with the arrangement, which drops down into his clear tenor that has the eager feelings of an early romance. “Under Your Window” reveals the heart of a man in love as it capitalizes on some of the soul memories made at Stax Records. One of the smoothest moments is the topsy-turvy love of “Sidelines,” fortified by strings and a vibraphone that glides the notes through. A Long Story Short is a welcomed throwback in the midst of a market oversaturated with carnal love songs, as Burgos’ album is a reminder that love is its own process. 

Funk and R&B singer Carl Carlton passed on December 14 at age 73. His son, Carlton Hudgens II confirmed his passing on Facebook. Carlton became famous for his 1981 hit, “She’s A Bad Mama Mama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked).” The infectious single was a hit and became a staple of the culture, transcending generations. The Detroit native started his career in the ’60s as the teenaged Little Carl Carlton. In those early days he recorded the songs “So What” and “Don’t You Need A Boy Like Me” for local label Lando Records. He signed with Back Beat Records out of Houston in 1968 and scored a hit on the UK’s Northern Soul scene with “Competition Ain’t Nothing.” He had a minor hit in 1971 with “I Can Feel It,” which was the first recording he made dropping the “Little” from his name. His American breakthrough came in 1974 when he covered Robert Knight’s “Everlasting Love.”

The Back Beat label was sold to ABC in 1972 and by 1976 Carlton was involved in royalty disputes that stopped him from recording for a time.  Leon Haywood helped him get a deal with 20th Century Records and he also penned “She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” for Carlton. The song earned Carlton a Grammy nomination and an unforgettable place in funk history. He released 10 albums over the course of his career and his first gospel song, “God Is Good,” in 2010. Carlton was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.  In 2023, he was featured in the “Rhythm, Love, and Soul” episode of the PBS series American Soundtrack. 

Will iHeartRadio keep its new policy of no Ai-generated music now that President Trump has signed an executive order blocking the states from having Ai regulations?

Why did some people question Ravyn Lenae’s Blackness? 

Is Raphael Saadiq right about charts not being the real representation of a song’s importance?

Watch Ari Lennox perform “Under The Moon” live at the Eaton Hotel. Her performance has the same smoky nostalgia as the studio version. The single is one of three that have premiered before the release of her next album, Vacancy. She recently collaborated with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox on the title track and she shared “Soft Girl Era” back in April. Vacancy marks a new era for Lennox, as it is her first album for Interscope after a frictionless departure from J. Cole’s Dreamville imprint. Vacancy drops on January 23rd.