Monthly Archives: August, 2013
THE STAPLES SINGERS FEATURING MAVIS STAPLES-THIS TIME AROUND.
THE STAPLES SINGERS FEATURING MAVIS STAPLES-THIS TIME AROUND. Having signed to Stax Records in 1968, The Staple Singers went on to be one of Stax’s most successful groups. They helped fill the void left by the death of Otis Redding and the loss of Sam and Dave to Atlantic Records. Along with Isaac Hayes and …
BETTYE CRUTCHER-LONG AS YOU LOVE ME.
BETTYE CRUTCHER-LONG AS YOU LOVE ME. For Bettye Crutcher, getting a foothold in the male-dominated world of Memphis songwriting wasn’t easy. Her songs already been rejected by Willie Mitchell at Hi Records. Willie told her he’d already got Don Bryant signed to Hi Records. Don had already established himself as a successful and prolific songwriter. …
DAVID PORTER-GRITTY, GROOVIN’ AND GETTIN’ IT.
DAVID PORTER-GRITTY, GROOVIN’ AND GETTIN’ IT. By the summer of 1969, David Porter was one of the most important people at Stax Records. He’d played his part in the label’s success story since 1961, when he cowrote That was The Life I Live, the B-side to Barbara Stephens’ single I Don’t Worry. Soon, David established …
KENYA SPECIAL-SELECTED EAST AFRICAN RECORDINGS FROM THE 1970S AND 80S.
KENYA SPECIAL-SELECTED EAST AFRICAN RECORDINGS FROM THE 1970S AND 80S. Many record companies have yet to discover the importance of presentation. This is especially the case with reissue labels. What they forget, is that times have changed. Consumers, because that’s what the modern day music lover is, demands much more than before. No longer are …
FUNK GLOBO: THE SOUND OF NEO BAILE.
FUNK GLOBO: THE SOUND OF NEO BAILE. Over the last few years, Mr. Bongo Records have established a reputation as a progressive, forward thinking label. Releasing everything from African, Brazilian, jazz, Latin and reggae music, eclectic describes the music the Brighton-based label releases. The latest offering from Mr. Bongo Records, is Funk Globo: The Sound …
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE-THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON.
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE-THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON. Two years in the making, Sly and The Family Stone released There’s A Riot Goin’ On was released in November 1971. It was the followup to 1969s Stand, Sly and The Family Stone’s fourth album. Released to critical acclaim, Stand was Sly and The Family Stone’s …
EBO TAYLOR-EBO TAYLOR.
EBO TAYLOR-EBO TAYLOR. In the history of Ghanian music, Ebo Taylor is a pivotal figure. Best described as an innovator, Ebo Taylor’s music would influence the further generations of Ghanian musicians. However, Ebo was much more than a musician. He was also a songwriter, arranger, producer and bandleader. Ebo Taylor has done it all, and …
QUICKBEAM-QUICKBEAM.
QUICKBEAM-QUICKBEAM. Atmospheric, cinematic and ethereal are just some of the words that describe the music on Quickbeam’s debut album Quickbeam. So too does sparse, minimalist and flamboyant. Intriguing and compelling, the twelve soundscapes have been influenced by a myriad of eclectic influences. This includes ambient, Celtic, classical, folk, indie rock, jazz and soul. Comprising twelve soundscapes, …
WOODENBOX-END GAME.
WOODENBOX-END GAME. Fueled by the sound of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Kayne West, Glasgow-based Woodenbox, set about recording their sophomore album End Game at Chem 19 recording studio in Hamilton. Given Woodenbox’s somewhat eclectic soundtrack, it’s no surprise that End Game is a similarly eclectic album. Best described as genre-sprawling, the Glasgow-based folk …
ACID RAIN: DEFINITIVE ORIGINAL ACID AND DEEP HOUSE 1985-1991.
ACID RAIN: DEFINITIVE ORIGINAL ACID AND DEEP HOUSE 1985-1991. For those of us of a certain vintage, the music on Harmless Records’ forthcoming box-set Acid Rain: Definitive Original Acid and Deep House 1985-1991, provided the soundtrack to our lives, over a six year period. These six years were the golden days of house music. Born …
NANCY WILSON-KALEIDOSCOPE AND I KNOW I LOVE HIM.
NANCY WILSON-KALEIDOSCOPE AND I KNOW I LOVE HIM. Not many artists have enjoyed the longevity that Nancy Wilson has. Nancy released over seventy albums over a career that’s spanned six decides. Her career started back in 1956, when she was just nineteen. Three years later, in 1959, Nancy released Like In Love for Capitol Records. …
T-CONNECTION-MAGIC.
T-CONNECTION-MAGIC. T-Connection were an unlikely success story of the disco era. First up, they weren’t American, like most disco artists. Instead, they were from the Bahamas. Founded in 1975, T-Connection’s charismatic lead singer and keyboard player Theophilus T. Oakley was a classically trained musician. Along with bassist Kurt Oakley, drummer Berkeley Van Byrd, guitarist Monty …
GLORIA GAYNOR-LOVE TRACKS.
GLORIA GAYNOR-LOVE TRACKS. It’s almost fitting that the song that the song that rejuvenated Gloria Gaynor’s career was I Will Survive. After all, by December 1978, when Gloria Gaynor released Love Tracks, she was one of music’s survivors. She had to be. The last few years hadn’t been easy. Things had started well for Gloria, …
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