Monthly Archives: August, 2013
THE GET DOWN BOOGIE SOUND.
THE GET DOWN BOOGIE SOUND. Disco which had provided the musical backdrop to the second half of the seventies, went from hero to zero in the space of a year. Suddenly, disco sucked. Disco’s downfall started on Christmas Eve 1978, That’s when Steve Dahl was fired by Chicago radio station WDAI. It had previously been …
SIMBA AND MILTON GULLI-THE HEROES A TRIBUTE TO A TRIBE CALLED QUEST.
SIMBA AND MILTON GULLI-THE HEROES A TRIBUTE TO A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. In the history of hip hop, A Tribe Called Quest are one of the most innovative and influential bands ever. No ifs and no buts. The five albums they released between 1990 and 1998, featured a genre melting fusion of genres and influences. …
THE INNOCENTS-CLASSIC INNOCENTS-THE REPRISE, DECCA, WARNER BROS AND A&M RECORDINGS…PLUS MORE.
THE INNOCENTS-CLASSIC INNOCENTS-THE REPRISE, DECCA, WARNER BROS AND A&M RECORDINGS…PLUS MORE. Just like so many groups, the story of The Innocents began in high school. In their case, it was Sun Valley Junior High School, Los Angeles. This was the first step in a story documented on The Innocents-Classic Innocents-The Reprise, Decca, Warner Bros and …
ANGELA BOFILL-INTUITION.
ANGELA BOFILL-INTUITION. When Angela Bofill signed to Clive Davis’Arista Records, he decided to mentor his latest signing. For five albums, Angela was one of the labels most successful artists. Sadly, things went sour for Angela after her fifth album Teaser. Her final two albums 1984s Let Me Be The One and 1985s Tell Me Tomorrow …
BEATING THE PETRILLO BAN-THE LATE DECEMBER 1947 MODERN SESSIONS.
BEATING THE PETRILLO BAN-THE LATE DECEMBER 1947 MODERN SESSIONS. It was in 1927 when the Automatic Music Instrument Company invented the first multi-selection jukebox. For owners of juke joints and bars, the jukebox was a boon. Not only did it attract customers, wanting to hear and dance to the latest music, but It was much …
MYELE MANZANZA-ONE.
MYELE MANZANZA-ONE. Last year, Electric Wire Hustle’s eponymous debut album was released on BBE Music to critical acclaim and commercial success. Instantly, the album was hailed as one of the albums of 2012. This wasn’t just confined to their native New Zealand. No way. Britain, Europe, Australasia and North America were won over by Electric …
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-LOCKER ROOM.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-LOCKER ROOM. Following the trials and tribulations that surrounded Double Exposure’s sophomore album Fourplay, Locker Room their third and final album, which was recently released by Octave Records, proved to relatively plain sailing. Having released their debut album Ten Percent in 1976, there was a two year delay with the followup. This was due to …
PETER KING-SHANGO.
PETER KING-SHANGO. All too often, innovative music isn’t appreciated when it’s released. It passes almost unnoticed. Apart from a few people, who realize the importance of the music, and champion it passionately, it can be years, even decades later, that the importance of an artist or album is recognized. This has been the case with …
DISCO AND BOOGIE IN NYC VOLUME 1: SEEDS OF CLUB MUSIC.
DISCO AND BOOGIE IN NYC VOLUME 1: SEEDS OF CLUB MUSIC. Earlier this year, fashionistas and tastemakers forecasted that the summer of 2013 would be “the summer of disco.” It was official, disco was back in fashion. The advice from those in the know, was dust off your flares, polish your disco ball and let’s …
PLEASURE-FUTURE NOW.
PLEASURE-FUTURE NOW. Portland-based Pleasure spent several years honing their style and sound before Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders “discovered” them. Pleasure were formed in 1972, after a merger of two high school bands, Franchise and The Soul Masters. Franchise were led by guitarist and vocalist Marlon McClain. Their music was a fusion of disco and …
THE JAZZ CRUSADERS-GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
THE JAZZ CRUSADERS-GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. Back in 1954, at Phillis Wheatley High School, Houston, Joe Sample, Stix Hooper and Wliton Felder met for the first time. Little did they realize the importance of this meeting. Unknown to them, this meeting would result in the formation of one of the most innovative and influential jazz …
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS-IMAGINATION.
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS-IMAGINATION. In 1973, it came as no surprise that Gladys Knight and The Pips decided leave Motown. After all, Gladys Knight had been forced to live in the shadow of Diana Ross. To onlookers. Diana Ross was Motown’s chosen one, while Gladys Knight had to settle for second best. So after …
PHYLLIS HYMAN-THE BUDDAH YEARS.
PHYLLIS HYMAN-THE BUDDAH YEARS. Although Phyllis Hyman’s career was cut tragically short, the eight albums she released between 1977 and 1991, are a tantalizing reminder of a singer who could’ve and should’ve become one of the greats of soul music. Sadly, that wasn’t to be. Tragedy intervened. Phyllis Hyman committed suicide, a week before her …
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-LOLEATTA.
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-LOLEATTA. Having released two albums for Aware, 1973s Loleatta and 1974s Cry To Me, Loleatta Holloway, the former Queen Of Gospel, released her final single for Aware, Only A Fool. Released in 1975, the single wasn’t a commercial success. That wasn’t the end of Loleatta’s woes. Michael Thevis, owner of Aware was wanted by …
KLEEER-WINNERS.
KLEEER-WINNERS. Kleeer, whose sophomore album Winners was recently released by BBR Records, could be described as a band with an identity crisis. After all, how many bands change their name five times? Kleeer did. Their origins can be traced to The Choice 4, an R&B band who were guided by Van McCoy. Richard Lee was …
ARP-MORE.
ARP-MORE. Three years after the release of his sophomore album The Soft Wave, ARP returns with More, which will be released on 16th September 2013 on Smalltown Supersound. During the last three years, much has changed for Alexis Georgopoulis a.k.a. ARP. Having toured The Soft Wave, he decided to take a break from touring. Instead, …
JERROME DERRADJI PRESENTS: KILL YOURSELF DANCING-THE STORY OF SUNSET RECORDS INC.1985-1988.
Jerome Derradji Presents: Kill Yourself Dancing – The Story Of Sunset Records Inc. Chicago 1985-89. Lately, there’s been a renaissance in compilations of early Chicago house music. That’s no surprise. After all, house music is nearly thirty years old. While not quite heading into its middle age, many people who were around at the birth …
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I.
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I. From 1978 onwards, things were changing at Salsoul. The Salsoul Orchestra played a huge part in Salsoul’s success. They were much more than musicians, with many of its members songwriters, arrangers and producers. This included the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey and Vince Montana Jr. So when …
DARRELL BANKS-I’M THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU-THE COMPLETE VOLT RECORDINGS.
DARRELL BANKS-I’M THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU-THE COMPLETE VOLT RECORDINGS. Although Darrell Banks only released two albums in a career that didn’t even last three years, his popularity surpasses singers whose careers were much longer and much more productive. Including demos, Darrell Banks discography numbers less than forty tracks. That was Darrell Banks’ musical legacy. …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 