Sam Cooke-d: Night Beats

Blackmail is the crime of threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person unless a demand made upon the victim is met. The word is etymologically derived from the world 'mal' a gaelic term for payment. The black, in blackmail refers to 'rent' paid to border reivers by English and Scottish to protect them from harassment as opposed to the 'white rent' paid to legitimate authorities.

Sam Cooke (1931 - 1964) was an American songsmith. And a black male, rather than anything to do with blackmail. He is considered to be a pioneer of soul music, and is known for at least twenty nine top forty hits that he had during his short life span. I currently cannot get enough of Ray Charles or Sam Cooke. My preferred album is Cooke's magnus opus Night Beat.

Along with said males, I am also currently enjoying Seattle based chaps; Night Beats. Who I like to assume (rightly or wrongly) are named after the inspirational pre-motown-dude. After getting the fuck out of their redneck hometown of Austin, they relocated to Seattle; the home of grunge, picked up a new member and started tearing the place a new seatthole. Sound good?

See www.myspace.com/thenightbeatswilleatyou and pick up their neu seven inch