Monthly Archives: July, 2013
MASAAKI HIRAO AND HIS ALL STARS WAGON-NIPPON ROCK ‘N’ ROLL THE BIRTH OF JAPANESE ROKABIRII 1958-1960.
MASAAKI HIRAO AND HIS ALL STARS WAGON-NIPPON ROCK ‘N’ ROLL THE BIRTH OF JAPANESE ROKABIRII 1958-1960. The origins of the modern Japanese music industry can be traced back to the spring of 1958. Rockabilly was at the peak of its popularity. A generation of Japanese teenagers, were looking for something they could become part of. …
JAMES GOVAN WANTED THE FAME RECORDINGS.
JAMES GOVAN WANTED THE FAME RECORDINGS. Back in 1967, many an aspiring soul singer headed to Memphis. No wonder. 1967 Memphis was soul central. Labels like Stax and Hi Records called Memphis home. Similarly, Memphis was home to many artists, bands, songwriters and producers. Memphis was also home to many an aspiring unsigned singer. This …
A ROAD LEADING HOME-SONGS BY DAN PENN AND OTHERS.
A ROAD LEADING HOME-SONGS BY DAN PENN AND OTHERS. When eventually, someone decides to write the definitive history of Southern Soul, Dan Penn’s name will loom large. At last, one of Southern Soul’s reluctant heroes will receive the credit they deserve. A quiet, unassuming man, Dan Penn’s modesty belies that fact that, for over thirty …
SOPHISTICATED BOOM BOOM!-THE SHADOW MORTON STORY.
SOPHISTICATED BOOM BOOM!-THE SHADOW MORTON STORY. Enigmatic. That’s a word that’s often used to describe Long Island songwriter and producer George Shadow Morton. In reality, that’s selling Shadow Morton short. It also overshadows the reality that Shadow Morton was an innovative and influential songwriter and producer, who enjoyed a long and successful career. His career …
TRES CHIC! MORE FRENCH GIRL SINGERS OF THE 1960s.
TRES CHIC! MORE FRENCH GIRL SINGERS OF THE 1960s. Back in the sixties, the phenomenon that was ye-ye music swept through much of Europe. This included Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. However, France was undoubtably the ye-ye capital of Europe. Especially after Serge Gainsbourg success helped popularize the genre. It was French female singer-songwriters that …
PERSONAL LIFE-ONE STEP CLOSER.
PERSONAL LIFE-ONE STEP CLOSER. With so much music being produced using synths, samples, sequencers and drum machines, it’s no wonder music has lost its soul. Sadly, that’s been the case since the eighties. Since then, much of the music being released has a cold, clinical and sterile sound. That’s resulted in many people losing interest …
THE BEAT GOES ON: SALSOUL CLASSICS MIXED BY TOWA TEI.
THE BEAT GOES ON: SALSOUL CLASSICS MIXED BY TOWA TEI. Recently, there seems to be no end of disco compilations being released. Every week, it seems, another batch of disco compilations hits the shops. Many people have been wondering why? Luckily for them, I can put them out of their misery. This is officially the …
DISCO RECHARGE-TANTRA-THE COLLECTION.
DISCO RECHARGE-TANTRA-THE COLLECTION. The name Celso Valli means different things to different people. No wonder. In just six years, seamlessly, his musical career was transformed. Having joined Italian prog rock band Ping Pong, in 1971, the transformation of Celso Valli began in 1977, when he released Pasta and Fagioli. This was one of the first …
DISCO RECHARGE: THP ORCHESTRA-THP NO. 2 TENDER IS THE NIGHT AND GOOD TO ME.
DISCO RECHARGE: THP ORCHESTRA-THP NO. 2 TENDER IS THE NIGHT AND GOOD TO ME. By 1978, when the THP Orchestra entered the studio to released their third album, THP No. 2 Tender Is The Night, the Canadian production team of Ian Guenther and Willi Morrison had just joined disco’s elite. Their previous album, Too Hot …
BLOODSTONE-WE GO A LONG WAY BACK.
BLOODSTONE-WE GO A LONG WAY BACK. Eclectic. That’s the best way to describe Bloodstone’s music. Their music gradually evolved over the band’s lifetime. Bloodstone’s music has incorporated everything from doo-wop, soul, funk, R&B, rock, gospel and Latin music. It seems Bloodstone have constantly reinvented themselves musically. That’s no bad thing. Any group that stands still, …
ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON-ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON.
ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON-ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON. Between 1977 and 1978, Al Hudson and The Soul Partners released a trio of albums on ABC Records. These three albums were a fusion of soul, R&B and funk. Then in 1979, Al Hudson and The Soul Partners changed their name to Al Hudson and The …
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-AFRICAN QUEENS.
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-AFRICAN QUEENS. Just like The Ritchie Family’s three previous albums, their fourth album, 1977s African Queens which will be rereleased by Gold Legion on 27th July 2o13, was a disco concept album. Their 1975 Latin-tinged debut album Brazil was The Ritchie Family’s most successful album. Brazil, which featured The Sweethearts of Sigma’s vocals …
BOOKER T.-I WANT YOU.
BOOKER T.-I WANT YOU. It’s no exaggeration to refer to Booker T. Jones as a musical prodigy. Born in Memphis in 1944, Booker T’s musical talents were obvious from an early age. Whilst still at Booker T. Washington High School, Booker T. was already able to play piano, organ, oboe, saxophone and trombone. Aged sixteen, …
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