There are very few musicians in the world that bare their entire soul like Charles Bradley.
The 66-year old’s earthy-husk harkens the spirits of both Otis Redding and James Brown which has earned him the crown The Screaming Eagle Of Soul, and despite his debut record No Time For Dreaming only dropping in 2011, followed by his sophomore effort Victim Of Love in 2013, Bradley has become one of the most sought-after live acts worldwide.
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For those that have witnessed his live show, it’s no wonder why he consistently booked around the globe. His live performance is life-changing. A man who has lived through some defeating times like sleeping on the streets, near-death experiences, horrific segregation of the US’ south, just to name a few, Bradley’s live performance is as real as real gets. Often crying as he recounts his troubled life through song, jumping into the crowd to hug fans at the end of each gig not to mention some killer dance moves that include the splits (yep), Bradley’s live show truly is an emotional experience like no other.
This year, Bradley and his band The Extraordinaires were named on the epic Byron Bay Bluesfest lineup, which will see the tight-knit crew not only perform at the iconic New South Wales festival, but also a string of hotly anticipated shows across the nation throughout March and April.
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We were extremely blessed to steal some of Bradley’s time before he touches down on Aussie soil, the now Brooklyn-native taking us through the songs that changed his life, providing a very personal story behind each track.
The interview was so humbling and Bradley spoke with such raw, evocative emotion as he explained the significance of his favourite songs, Bradley even singing each track to us, that we decided to provide the audio of the recording of his explanations so that Tone Deaf readers could also appreciate how extraordinary this man’s story truly is.
The Eagles – ‘Take It To The Limit’
“I was going through some heavy [things], I didn’t want to be on this planet it was that heavy.” Bradley explains how this song helped him through horrific racial discrimination in New York State. Hear more:
Bobby Womack – ‘I’m Through Trying To Prove My Love To You’
“I’m going to give you all the love I’ve got to give you, but that iddy-biddy love that God give left inside of me, I’m going to take care of it.” Bradley belts out the Bobby Womack classic detailing why he’d love to cover the track. Hear more:
Barbara Streisand – ‘Memories’
“That’s going way back to when I was in Florida…if I crossed a fence, I’d be thrown in jail.” This song stirs some deep, dark memories of Bradley’s past. Hear more:
Aretha Franklin – ‘Gotta Find Me An Angel’
“I’ve been looking for an angel my whole life, and I never found it.” A story that’s too true in Bradley’s life. Hear more:
James Brown – ‘I Can’t Stand It When You Touch Me’ & ‘Please, Please, Please’
“I’ll tell you who really uplifts me is James Brown’s music, because I love his music.” The soul-singer reels off the inspiring tracks of James Brown. Hear more:
Charles Bradley – ‘How Long’ & ‘Heartaches And Pains’
“Every time I sung that song oh my God I broke down and cried on stage.” Bradley explores the pain of performing his most heart-felt songs. Hear more:
Charles Bradley Australia 2015 Tour Dates
Sunday, 29th March 2015
Perth WA
Monday, 30th March 2015
The Corner, Richmond VIC
Wednesday, 1st April 2015
The Corner, Melbourne VIC
Thursday, 2nd April 2015
Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
Bluestfest: Thursday, 2nd April – Monday, 6th April 2015
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay NSW
