Monthly Archives: January, 2013
CHANGE THE BEAT-THE CELLULOID RECORDS STORY 1979-1987.
CHANGE THE BEAT-THE CELLULOID RECORDS STORY 1979-1987. In 2012, Strut Records released Only For You: The Sound of Cajmere and Cajual Records, which paid homage to Cajmere, one of the innovators of the Chicago house scene and his label Cajual Records. This proved to be one of Strut Records’ most critically acclaimed and commercially successful …
THE STYLISTICS-ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY.
THE STYLISTICS-ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY. Often, when a group decide to change producer, this can mark a change in their fortunes. This is even more risky when the producer has co-written some of your biggest hits. Forty years ago, The Stylistics were about to release their third album Rockin’ Roll Baby. Their two previous albums, 1971s …
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-LIFE IS MUSIC.
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-LIFE IS MUSIC. Mention the words concept album, and it conjurs up a certain image. Music journalists of a certain vintage, sixth formers in the seventies and of course, bloated prog rock bands. Indeed, every home should have one of these albums. After all, it’s a great way to deal with unwanted guests. …
GILES-PETERSON-BLACK JAZZ RADIO.
GILES-PETERSON-BLACK JAZZ RADIO. While there are numerous compilations of music released on jazz labels like Blue Note, Prestige, Columbia, Impulse, Verve and Pacific, one label is often overlooked…Black Jazz Records. Indeed, compilers of compilations often overlook the riches of Black Jazz Records’ back-catalogue. Thankfully, Giles Peterson, one of the UK’s best DJs and crate digger …
GINA CAREY…THE SONGBIRD.
GINA CAREY…THE SONGBIRD. Recently, I interviewed American soul singer Gina Carey, ahead of the release of her ninth album, Gina Carey…The Songbird. During that interview, Gina spoke of how Gina Carey…The Songbird is the start of a new chapter in her seventeen year career. With a new manager guiding her career, the future looks bright …
THE TRAMMPS-THE TRAMMPS III.
THE TRAMMPS-THE TRAMMPS III. Just five days apart, in November 1977, two albums were released that would play a huge part in The Trammps’ career. On 10th November 1977, The Trammps released The Trammps III. Then five days later, on 15th November 1977, the Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Soundtrack was released. It featured …
DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-ONE STEP HIGHER.
DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-ONE STEP HIGHER. By 1982, Voyage had established themselves as one of Euro Disco’s most innovative groups. Since 1978, Voyage had released a trio of critically acclaimed, cutting-edge albums. Their debut was 1978s Voyage, with Fly Away following later in 1978. Two years later, in 1980, came Voyage’s third album Voyage 3. Now …
GEORGE DUKE-DON’T LET GO.
GEORGE DUKE-DON’T LET GO. There aren’t may artists who’ve worked with such an eclectic range of artists as George Duke. Among the artists George Duke has worked with are Frank Zappa, Anita Baker Flora Purim, right through to Jean Luc-Ponty, Cannonball Adderley, Billy Cobham and George Clinton. Whether it was jazz, rock, soul, disco, R&B …
PATTI AUSTIN-END OF A RAINBOW-THE CTI MASTERS.
PATTI AUSTIN-END OF A RAINBOW-THE CTI MASTERS. For Patti Austin, it was almost as if it was written in the stars that she would become a singer. It was her destiny. Quite simply, Patti Austin was born to sing. That is almost indisputable. After all, how many children aged five sign a recording contract. Patti …
AUDIO ARQUE RECORDS.
AUDIO ARQUE RECORDS. Since the birth of the digital age, one of the many benefits is that nowadays, musicians worldwide can have their music heard by a much wider audience. This came about at the perfect time. Computers and digital audio workstations were becoming much more affordable. Now all a producer needed, was a copy …
RONNIE LAWS-MR. NICE GUY AND CLASSIC MASTERS.
RONNIE LAWS-MR. NICE GUY AND CLASSIC MASTERS. Having spent two years at university in Texas, Ronnie Laws decided the world of academia wasn’t for him. He left university to join a new band who were fusing funk and soul. Ronnie played flute and saxophone on their third album Last Days and Time, released in November …
CARMEN MCCRAE-I AM MUSIC.
CARMEN MCCRAE-I AM MUSIC. There’s not many artists who, during their career, release over sixty albums and are nominated for seven Grammy Awards. Carmen McCrae did both. It’s no understatement to say that Carmen McCrae was one of the most influential jazz singers in musical history. Having referred to Carmen McCrae as a jazz singer …
YESKING-OVERPROOF.
YESKING-OVERPROOF. 2008. That’s when Yesking released their debut album Rock This World, which was produced by Yesking head honcho Rhys Adams and Mark Rae, of Rae and Christian. Now five years later, on March 18th 2013, Yesking will release their sophomore album Re-Record Not Fade Away on BBE Music. For Yesking’s legion of fans, that …
MAMY WATA-PROMESSE.
MAMY WATA-PROMESSE. Recently, when I was compiling my list of the twenty best new albums of 2012, Offering Recordings were one of the labels that came out on top. Sage Monk’s Heartache Allegory and Idrissa Sissoko’s Lopilopolo, both released by Offering Recordings, featured in my twenty best albums of 2012. Offering Recordings were founded by …
NORMAN HARRIS-THE HARRIS MACHINE.
NORMAN HARRIS-THE HARRIS MACHINE. For Norman Harris, all his hard work building Gold Mind Records had been in vain. Gold Mind Records had been experiencing financial problems and eventually became part of Salsoul Records. Latterly, Gold Mind Records didn’t even have a distributor. Eventually the Cayre brothers decided that the only solution was that Gold …
BLUE MAGIC-THIRTEEN BLUE MAGIC LANE.
BLUE MAGIC-THIRTEEN BLUE MAGIC LANE. Blue Magic’s first two album had seen their fortunes vary. Their 1973 eponymous debut album Blue Magic, had been certified gold, and featured the million-selling, Philly Soul classic, Sideshow. Written by Bobby “Electronic” Eli and Vinnie Barrett, Sideshow was also certified gold, after selling over one-million copies. It seemed that …
AZTECA-PYRAMID OF THE MOON.
AZTECA-PYRAMID OF THE MOON. During the ten months between the release of Azteca’s debut album Azteca, and the release of their sophomore album, Pyramid of The Moon, the future looked bright for Coke and Pete Escovedo’s genre defying band. Released in December 1972, Azteca had reached number 151 in the US Billboard 200 and number …
BILLY PAUL-GOING EAST.
BILLY PAUL-GOING EAST. After releasing Feelin’ Good At the Cadillac Club on Gamble Records in 1968 and Ebony Woman on Neptune in 1970, Billy Paul signed to a newly formed label in Philadelphia. It had been founded by two songwriters, musicians and producers. The label was Philadelphia International Records. Its two founders were Kenneth Gamble …
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