FEBRUARY
February 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Rufus’s “Seal in Red” LP, that band’s eleventh and final studio album. It was the band’s third album to be recorded without Chaka Khan. It peaked at #49 on
Billboard’s R&B Albums chart and included the single “Take It to the Top” (US R&B #47).
“Seal in Red is the brand new album by Rufus, their first for Warner Bros. Records, and one of the hottest, most sophisticated and satisfying musical offerings in the band’s long career… Seal in Red, highlights the newest addition to Rufus’ all-star line-up, vocalist Ivan Neville, son of Aaron Neville, founder of New Orleans’ foremost musical family, The Neville Brothers. On a collection of ten new original Rufus tunes, Ivan’s powerful and distinctive voice brings a whole new dimension to the tight, together Rufus sound. One spin of their latest smash single ‘Take It To The Top,’ is proof positive that the Rufus magic is as potent and provocative as ever.” [from Warner Brothers’ press release for “Seal in Red”]
“Seal in Red” was released on CD in Japan on July 25, 1992. It has also been made available via some digital download sites, but I don’t think it has been released on CD anywhere other than Japan.
FEBRUARY 1
Rhino Records’s excellent “Treacherous, Too!” cd was released on this day in 1991. As a companion to Rhino’s 2-CD “Treacheous” collection, the tracks on “Treacherous, Too!” are lesser-known b-sides and rarities. Of particular interest: the track listed as Cyril’s “Tell Me What’s On Your Mind” is actually a more developed version of the song known as “What More Can I Do” (found on Rounder’s “Good Old Funky Music,” Sundazed’s “Kickback,” the European release of “Trick Bag” and a few other discs.)
FEBRUARY 2
** Rowena “Cookie” Neville’s Birthday **
FEBRUARY 2
Aaron performed “My Precious Star” during the 1996 Miss USA Pageant. https://youtu.be/Udsi4fZKXQU?t=2249
FEBRUARY 3
On this day in 2018, friends and family gathered together to pay tribute to (and raise money for) Charles. Sadly, he would pass away two and a half months later. https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/friends-family-raising-money-for-saxophonist-charles-nevilles-battle-with-pancreatic-cancer/article_c3ee7a6a-279b-5dba-a06b-20f7c9bc3cfc.html
FEBRUARY 4
On this day in 2002, the Neville Brothers appeared on NBC’s the Today Show. Here is an interview segment from that appearance: https://youtu.be/vlZmpxUvDvo
FEBRUARY 4, 11, 18, or 25
Aaron performed “Ave Maria” some time in February of 1992 with Italian performer, Milva. https://youtu.be/V2UFkZSZuSg The info below the YouTube video translates to “From ‘Alta Classe by Gianni Mina’, an episode dedicated to Milva; February 1992
Maria Ilva Biolcati, (July 17, 1939 – April 23, 2021) was an Italian singer, stage and film actress, and television personality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milva
“Alta classe” (High class”) … was an Italian television program , broadcast on Rai 1 on Tuesdays at 21.40 for twelve episodes from 7 January to 28 April 1992 , hosted by Gianni Minà. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_classe_(programma_televisivo)
Since the show aired on Tuesdays and we know it aired in February of 1992, the show has to have happened on the 4th, 11th, 18th, or 25th. If anyone is familiar with this TV show and knows the actual date of this episode, please let us know!!!
FEBRUARY 5
** LIRETTE NEVILLE’S BIRTHDAY **
FEBRUARY 5
On this day in 1997, Aaron was a guest on Ellen DeGeneres’ show. (There is no video available online, unfortunately.)
FEBRUARY 5
On this day in 2023, the Grammy Award for “Best American Roots Performance” was given to Aaron and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band for their recording of Aaron’s “Stomping Ground” (from the “Take Me To The River – New Orleans” documentary soundtrack.)
FEBRUARY 7
On this day in
2003, dozens of well-known musical acts got together at Radio City Music hall in New York City for the “Salute To The Blues concert, excerpts of which would be released on CD and DVD as “Lightning in a Bottle.” During the show, the Nevilles performed “Big Chief.” Ivan also performed with several other artists. (Mac Rebennack fans will be pleased to know that Ivan plays alongside Dr. John on several tracks!!!)
Ivan plays tenor drum on Mavis Staples’s “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean”; He plays pump organ on Odetta’s “Jim Crow Blues,” Natalie Cole’s “St. Louis Blues” and the Natalie Cole, Mavis Staples And Ruth Brown collaboration, “Men Are Just Like Street Cars”; He plays piano on India Arie’s “Strange Fruit” and Buddy Guy’s “First Time I Met The Blues”; He sings and plays organ on The Neville Brothers’ “Big Chief” and plays organ on David Johansen & Hubert Sumlin’s “Killing Floor,” Solomon Burke’s “Turn On Your Love Light,” and “Down In The Valley,” Angelique Kidjo, Buddy Guy And Vernon Reid’s “Voodoo Child,” and B.B. King’s “Sweet Sixteen”; Lastly, he plays Organ and electric piano (Wurlitzer) on Mos Def’s “Minnesota Blues” (aka “Black Jack Blues.”)
FEBRUARY 14
** OMARI NEVILLE’S BIRTHDAY **
FEBRUARY 14
On this day in 2023, Cyril and Bo Dollis, Jr appeared on WWOZ.
FEBRUARY 15
Joe Banashak (record distributor and label entrepreneur) was born on this day in 1923. (He died on October 23, 1985.) In 1959, he founded Minit Records with local disc jockey Larry McKinley. He went on to form Valiant Records in 1961 with a new partner, Irving Smith (the name of which was quickly changed to Instant Records) and several other local labels as well (including ALON, AIRECORDS, Tune-Kel, and BANDY among others.)
Among the many Aaron Neville recordings released on Minit and Instant are: “Over You,” “Every Day,” “Show Me The Way,” “Reality,” “Let’s Live,” “Waitin’ At The Station,” “Humdinger,” “Wrong Number,” “For Every Boy There’s A Girl,” and “I’ve Done It Again (Once Again).” Art’s Instant recordings include: “Too Much,” “That Rock ‘n’ Roll Beat,” “All These Things,” “Come Back Love,” “You Won’t Do Right,” “Skeet Skat,” “Buy Me A Rainbow,” and “Hook, Line And Sinker.”
FEBRUARY 15
Prior to the release of the “Yellow Moon” LP, A&M released a single for “Sister Rosa” on this day in 1989.
FEBRUARY 16
The “Valence Street” LP was released on this day in 1999.
FEBRUARY 17
On this day in 2023, the first single from Ivan’s “Touch My Soul” LP was released. That single (“Greatest Place on Earth”) features Trombone Shorty, Ben Jaffe and Charlie Gabriel.
FEBRUARY 18, 19, 20, 21…
The Neville Brothers performance for the PBS series ‘Sessions at West 54th’ first aired during the weekend of February 18.
FEBRUARY 20
On this day in 1991, Aaron and Linda Ronstadt won a Grammy Award for “All My Life” (Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals)
FEBRUARY 21
Ivan’s second solo LP, “Thanks” was released on this day in 1995. The Japanese and Canadian pressings of the CD contain bonus tracks not found on the US version of the disc. The Canadian version includes a cover of Neil Young’s “Down By The River.” The Japanese pressing includes “So The world Can Dance” and “Meet Up with You.”
FEBRUARY 22
On this day in 1986, the Brothers performed “Big Chief” and “Midnight Key” on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (Season 11, Episode 11)
FEBRUARY 22
AS PER SATCHMO.COM … Aaron & Linda Ronstadt performed “All My Life” and “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on this day in 1990.
FEBRUARY 22
On this day in 1990, the Nevilles walked away from the Grammys with two awards: Aaron won the “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals” award with Linda Ronstadt for “Don’t Know Much” and the Neville Brothers won the “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” award for “Healing Chant” (from the “Yellow Moon” LP)
FEBRUARY 24
AS PER SATCHMO.COM … “All My Life” by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville entered the Billboard Top 40 in 1990; the tune went on to win a Grammy for the duo.
FEBRUARY 24
The Peabody Award-winning motion picture “Boycott” (about the 1955-56 Montgomery bus boycott) was released on this day in 2001. Aaron portrays the “Angry Neighbor” in the movie. (The motion picture soundtrack, including “Ella’s Song” by Aaron plus Sweet Honey In The Rock, and Lamar Campbell And Spirit Of Praise, was released nine days earlier on February 13.)
FEBRUARY 25
Recorded on March 16, 2001 & March 17, 2001 at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, CA, the funky METERS’s “Fiyo At The Fillmore, Volume 1” was first released in April or May of 2001 on the Funky Meters Records label. Two years later (on this day – February 25 – in 2003), the disc was re-released on Too Funky Records (with a studio [demo] recording of the song “Too Funky” added as a bonus track.)
FEBRUARY 25
On this day in 1973, Dr. John’s “In The Right Place” LP was released. The backing musicians on that album? Art Neville, George Porter, Jr., Leo Nocentell & Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste (aka The Meters)!
FEBRUARY 26
On this day in 1997, Art won a “Best Rock Instrumental Performance: Grammy Award for his performance of “SRV Shuffle” at the Stevei Ray Vaughan tribute concert https://youtu.be/CefnW8EwdZE .
FEBRUARY 26
The 37th NAACP Image Awards ceremony (hosted by Cuba Gooding, Jr.,) honored the best in film, television, music of 2005 and took place on February 26, 2006, at the Shrine Auditorium (in Los Angeles.) A tribute to the Neville Brothers occurred during that show. Aaron and India Arie performed “Louisiana 1927.” See both the tribute and performance here: https://youtu.be/-OxcXHuAY0k
FEBRUARY 26
** ATHELGRA NEVILLE GABRIEL’S BIRTHDAY **
FEBRUARY 27
The Nevilles’ final LP, “Authorized Bootleg Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA” was recorded on this day in 1989. In early 2010, the recording was made available via digital download from Wolfgang’s Vault. In September 2010, it was released as a 2-CD set by Hip-O Select. It was only available directly from Hip-O for the first two months. In November 2010, the set became available through normal retail channels and mail order vendors.
FEBRUARY 27
On this day in 2001, Sundazed Music released its 14-song collection of Meters rarities titled “”Kickback.” Five of those tracks had been previously released by Rounder in 1990 on its “Good Old Funky Music” collection; four had been released on Rounder’s “Meters Jam” collection in 1992; two were alternate versions of songs issued on the “Trick Bag” LP; and three were completely new! The sound quality on “Kickback” is noticeably cleaner than that on the earlier releases.
FEBRUARY 28
On this day in 1995, Rhino Records released “The Meters Anthology: Funkify Your Life.” The legal issues that were preventing the band’s Warner recordings from being released were finally resolved, enabling Rhino to represent the Meters on disc the same way they did for the Nevilles’ with the “Treacherous” sets.
It would still be a few years before Sundazed and Rhino UK would reissue the band’s complete albums, but this set from Rhino provided Meters fans with much of what they had been craving for many years. 26 Josie-era tracks (6 from “The Meters,” 8 from “Look-Ka Py Py,” 5 from “Struttin’” and 7 of the 8 non-LP sides that were issued by Josie just before the band made its switch to a major label) and 17 Warner’Reprise-era tracks (4 from “Cabbage Alley,” 3 from “Rejuvenation,” 4 from “Fire on the Bayou,” 3 from “Trick Bag,” and 3 from “New Directions.”) All in great sound quality!
nevilletracks 