It's Not the Beat, It's the Groove

Wishing Madonna a Happy Birthday. Kelly and Dave go back to 1984, and revisit the moment Madonna became Madonna: the release of her album "Like A Virgin." We go back and cover ALL the hits, and go under the wrapper to discover how this masterpiece was created. From the influence of music magician Nile Rodgers, to the influence of Stephen Bray, we unpack those who helped put The Material...

Join Kelly and Dave as we dive deep into Stevie Wonder's masterpiece "Songs in the Key of Life." Listen as we discuss some of our favorite tracks from this iconic album and hear the stories behind the music. This work moved us then and still makes us dance and celebrate.

Join Kelly and Dave as we uncover the secret sauce behind the hits of artists we love such as Aretha Franklin, The Bee Gees, The Average White Band, Chaka Khan, and Scritti Politti. Arif Mardin, who was a producer at Atlantic Records, and referred to as "the Man with the best ears in town," helped shape so many of the songs we love.

Join Kelly and Dave as we uncover the magic of Ashford & Simpson. From their days penning hits for Marvin Gaye and Aretha, to their own powerhouse performances, this duo has created a legacy of excellence in songwriting, performance and production.

In this episode Kelly and Dave journey across the pond to recruit a true Jamiroquai fan. Mark, who has followed the band since its inception, gives us a unique point of view, and helps us uncover the magic of this Band. Kelly, Dave and Mark each share a few of their favorite Jamiroquai songs from their early years (the first 3 albums). Join us to enjoy the confluence of music and friendship as we...

While searching for some Steely Dan info, we came across a book written all about the album Aja. The author: Don Breithaupt. Upon further review, not only has Don interviewed Donald Fagen (and lived to tell about it), he also is the composer and frontman of the band Monkey House. Join us for a lively discussion about music, including playing a track from Monkey House's latest album Crashbox!

In today's episode, Kelly and Dave take you back to the amazing Earth, Wind & Fire album I Am. We uncover a totally "no skip" album, listening to each track as we grow in our understanding and appreciation of a band that created a cultural statement from their combination of soul and style. From deep grooves to reflective lyrics, this album moved more than just bodies — it moved...

Join Kelly and Dave as we investigate the music of David "The Hitman" Foster. Listen as we uncover songs we never knew David was behind. From Earth, Wind & Fire to Madonna, check out all the songs Foster was involved with. We will travel from Disco, to Jazz, to Funk, to Pop.

Have you ever been listening to a song, and said "That's Michael McDonald?" Well, we have! In this episode Kelly and Dave share some of their favorite songs on which Michael McDonald sang BACKING vocals. Yes, he has had a terrific career as lead singer of the Doobie Brothers, and as a solo artist, but today we focus on just those songs on which Michael is the backing singer. Some are...

Join Kelly and Dave as we dive deep into the wonder that is Chaka Khan. In our last episode, we covered her work with Rufus. Now we explore the hits that made her famous as a solo artist. You know the songs, but do you know the backstories? Find out how Chaka Khan rose into a supernova, singing some of the most well-loved songs ever.

What do you get when one of the most powerful voices in music teams up with a pioneering funk band? Pure magic — and a few behind-the-scenes twists. This week on It’s The Groove, we’re diving into the rise of Chaka Khan and Rufus — from their earliest days to the breakout success of classics like “Tell Me Something Good” and “Ain’t Nobody.”Discover how they redefined funk and R&B, created musi...

Dive deep with Kelly and Dave into one of popular music's most famous albums: Aja by Steely Dan. Learn about how Donald Fagen and Walter Becker assembled an All-Star Team of studio musicians to bring their vision to life. We leverage Don Breithaupt's tome on the album for detail, and sprinkle in a few fun stories along the way. Most of all, listen to the classic tracks, and uncover somethi...

Kelly and Dave had a fun time discussing 8 songs that are REALLY good, and you'll know a lot of them...but they were never released as singles. One night we went down the rabbit hole and found 20+ songs that we love that were never released as singles. We had to pare this down to 8, so listen to our episode and then tell us the ones YOU think should have made the list!

They played on literally thousands of tracks. We have curated some of the very best, from albums as diverse as Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees, Michael Jackson's Thriller and Lionel Richie's Can't Slow Down. What connects these great songs? The musicians behind them. So who are they? Listen as Kelly and Dave uncover more "hidden connections" in the music we love.

Join Kelly and Dave to examine the music of a highly underrated group of Musicians who came together to create some music magic as Toto. Learn about the origins of the band, and listen to some of our favorite Toto songs. Stay tuned because in the next episode we will cover more of the music they created with and for other artists.

Join Kelly and Dave as we celebrate the Queen of the Quiet Storm, Sade. Learn about how the band started, and how they were anything but an "overnight success." Listen as we discuss our favorite Sade tracks and play them. Groove with us as we listen to these smooth, funky tracks.

Join It's The Groove as Kelly and Dave reminisce about the year 1985 in music. From "The Greatest Night in Pop Music" to LiveAid, the year was filled with so much great music. Your Groove hosts select 10 songs from that year that highlight the diverse music scene.

As we close out 2024, Kelly and Dave reflect back on what we are grateful for. We focus on those who have encouraged, supported and guided us through our musical adventures, including beginning this podcast.

Rod Temperton was named "The Invisible Man," because, while he composed some of the best-known, and most-loved songs of our generation, many never knew who he was. In the second installment of our tribute to Rod, Kelly, Faith and Dave uncover more of the songs he wrote, for artists as diverse as George Benson and Anita Baker. And stay tuned to find out what Faith feels is a "travesty."

Co-Hosts Kelly and Dave are joined by filmmaker and author Faith Penick to uncover the history behind one of the best songwriters in history, Rod Temperton. In Volume 1, listen as Faith, Kelly and Dave discuss his beginnings with the band Heat Wave, and his subsequent collaboration with the titans of popular music, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. And listen to a few of our favorite songs from th...

If you haven't already listened to Saxy Songs, Part 1, check that out to find out why Dave is such a Saxophile, and how we chose the songs that are on these two podcast episodes. We had too many songs to cram into one pod, so we added a second, which is still full of great songs featuring a saxophone. Kelly even gets into the action with a few of her favorites.

Sadly, we lost Quincy Jones on November 4. However, it does give us the opportunity to celebrate a life well lived, and his amazing contributions to the world of music. We pay tribute to this amazing man and his legacy through a review of just a handful of the songs he brought into our lives and hearts. There will never be another Quincy Jones, so join us in our celebration of his life.

From Baker Street to Rio, lots of popular songs have featured the work of the saxophone artist. But which saxy songs reign supreme. Join Kelly and Dave as they sift through It's The Groove-worthy songs to select their top saxilicious songs.

In this episode, Kelly and Dave review two bands that they LOVE, that haven't had great popularity. Join them as they return to the late 80's and early 90's to explore two bands, Curiosity Killed The Cat (yes, that's the name), and The Brand New Heavies. Hear the tunes they love, and find out how they each discovered these great bands.

Join Kelly and Dave as we discuss 3 bands which should have been more popular. We have loved these artists, and think when you hear their music, you'll love them too. Kelly introduced Dave to one of these artists, and he is eternally grateful she did. Join us and maybe you'll find some great new songs to enjoy!