LO'S PICK OF THE DAY -"2nd Emotion" by Rosie Vela From the 1986 release; "Zazu"

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Originally featured on Inside MusiCast as my Pick of The Day

This album has to be at the top of my list of treasured albums. Especially for me, because I tend to gravitate towards more male vocalists than female.

When I play this album, I am always taken back to the first time I heard her single "Magic Smile" on Los Angeles' 94.7 The Wave. I was so crazed!! I was like - "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!? I LOVE IT!" At the time, there was really nothing else similar on the radio waves. I not only bought the album but the cassette because of course, I had to listen to it on the way home.

The vibe of "2nd Emotion" is so bouncy and ultra cool. Perfect for the mid-80's aerobics! Hearing that gorgeous velvety voice with her slight cool, airy vibrator and the band playing along side her is truly a match made in heaven. For me at least. 

Written by Rosie Vela, this tune features the best musicians in the business; Donald Fagen and Aaron Zigman on synth, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Jimmy Bralower & Jim Keltner on drums, along with "The McCoys" Rick Derringer on guitar. Lending on Backing Vocals with Rosie are Jenny Peters and Joy Askew.

I should also mention that Steely Dan producer and a guest on Inside MusiCast; Gary Katz produced "Zazu" and from what I understand is the one who brought in Donald and Walter to work on this project.

Technically, her style seemed all over the map, with Rosie not annunciating her lyrics to the point of almost being impossible to understand, almost scat like. The funny thing is, when I was a child, I can remember making up little songs by myself and wondering why I couldn’t stay on track in the basic melodic style and criticizing my young self. Hearing her sing confirmed that there was someone else who sang the way I did and it sounded fabulous!

She may have been a former Revlon model, but Rosie Vela proved she was and is more than just a beautiful face. Having written what I consider a solid piece of work, this tune still stands strong today.

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