Monthly Archives: July, 2017

THE MURMAIDS-WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?

The Murmaids-What Might Have Been?  Sadly, musical history is littered with groups that are remembered as one-hit wonders. Their brush with commercial success may have been brief, but at least they enjoyed a tantalising taste of what some established groups take for granted. As a result, after a group has enjoyed one hit single, they want another. This comes as no …

Continue reading

I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU!: GARAGE-BEAT NUGGETS FROM THE FESTIVAL VAULTS.

I Want You, I Need You!: Garage-Beat Nuggets From The Festival Vaults. Label: Playback Records. Nowadays, the Festival Records’ vaults are a regarded as a musical treasure trove, and is proving a popular hunting ground for compilers and reissue label. This includes one of Playback Records who on the ‘4th’ of August 2017 will release …

Continue reading

AMMOYE-THE LIGHT.

Ammoye-The Light. Life has been easy for Jamaican-Canadian singer and songwriter Ammoye, who has had to cope with a number of setbacks during her life. This has made the three-times Juno nominated singer stronger, and inspired Ammoye to keep following her dream of becoming a successful singer-songwriter. It’s a dream that she has never lost sight …

Continue reading

SUE BARKER-SUE BARKER.

Sue Barker-Sue Barker. Label: Playback Records. Forty years ago, in 1977, Adelaide-based singer Sue Barker released what’s without doubt, one of the greatest soul-jazz albums in the history of Australian music. That album was Sue Barker, which was released on Marcus Herman’s label Crest International. The release of Sue Barker should’ve been the start of …

Continue reading

REDBONE-ALREADY HERE, WOVOKA ANDD BEADED DREAMS THROUGH TURQUOISE EYES.

Redbone-Already Here, Wovoka and Beaded Dreams Through Turquoise Eyes Label: BGO Records. When brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas decided to move to Los Angeles in 1969 to form a new band Redbone, they arrived with just a handful of change in their pocket. However, moving to Los Angeles was just too good an opportunity to …

Continue reading

DREADNAUGHT-HARD CHARGIN’.

Dreadnaught-Hard Chargin’.  Label: Red Fez Records. For over twenty years, high-energy power trio Dreadnaught have spent much of their time touring America, and have played in more than half of the states of the union. Audiences in each state have been fortunate enough to hear Dreadnaught play songs from the various critically acclaimed and award-winning …

Continue reading

FREDDIE NORTH-THE A-BET YEARS.

Freddie North-The A-Bet Years. Nine years after making his recording debut with The Rookies, Freddie North signed to Nashboro’s newly formed A-Bet imprint in 1967. This would be home to Freddie North for the next nine years, and where he would enjoy the most successful period of his career. However, his story began in the country music …

Continue reading

RED HOT BOPPERS-HMV VINYL EXCLUSIVE.

Red Hot Boppers-HMV Vinyl Exclusive. Label: Sun. Over the last few years, the resurgence of interest in vinyl has taken many within the music industry by surprise. Some went as far as say that the resurgence of interest in vinyl would be short-lived and was no more than a passing fad. How wrong they were. …

Continue reading

SOUL OF A NATION (AFRO-CENTRIC VISIONS IN THE AGE OF BLACK POWER: UNDERGROUND JAZZ, STREET FUNK AND THE ROOTS OF RAP 1968-1979).

Soul Of A Nation-(Afro-Centric Visions In The Age of Black Power: Underground Jazz, Street Funk and The Roots Of Rap 1968-79). Label: Soul Jazz Records. On the ‘4th’ of August 2017, Soul Jazz Records will released their eagerly awaited new compilation, Soul Of A Nation (Afro-Centric Visions In The Age of Black Power: Underground Jazz, …

Continue reading

GIL SCOTT-HERON-THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED…PLUS.

Gil Scott-Heron-The Revolution Will Not Be Televised…Plus. Label: BGP. After releasing a trio of studio albums on Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman Productions between 1970 and 1972, Gil Scott-Heron signed to Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s Strata-East Records. By then, Gil Scott-Heron was well on his way to becoming America’s conscience. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, …

Continue reading

JOHN JAMES-MORNING BRINGS THE LIGHT, JOHN JAMES, SKY IN MY PIE AND HEAD IN THE CLOUDS.

John James-Morning Brings The Light, John James, Sky In My Pie and Head In The Clouds. Label: BGO Records. When twenty-one year John James first started playing in folk clubs across Britain, many musicians and music fans were struck by just how versatile a guitarist he was. Many started referred to the Welsh singer-songwriter as …

Continue reading

GRINGA-LETTERS FROM A.BROAD.

Gringa-Letters From A.Broad. Label: gringamusic.com  One of the most exciting, up-and-coming new bands in San Francisco’s live scene is Gringa, a five-piece female band who recently, have been winning friends and influencing people with their unique, genre-melting sound. The basis for Gringa’s irresistible, hook-laden sound are the rhythms from the music of Brazil and the …

Continue reading

THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF MICHAEL ROTHER.

The Life and Music Of Michael Rother. During the early seventies, the German music scene was thriving, and  was one of the most vibrant in Europe. Some of the most influential and innovative music was being accorded released by German bands. This included the holy trinity of Can, Kraftwerk and Neu!. Along with Amon Düül II, Ashra, …

Continue reading

LINK WRAY-FROM RUMBLE TO THE 3-TRACK SHACK: 1958-1973.

Link Wray-From Rumble To The 3-Track Shack: 1958-1973. It’s no exaggeration to say that Link Wray was one of the most important, innovative and influential guitarist in the history of modern music. Link Wray influenced Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Iggy Pop, Phil Everly, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who and the Rolling Stones, while his 1958 instrumental hit Rumble, popularised the …

Continue reading

GOTTA GET UP: THE SONGS OF HARRY NILSSON 1965-1972.

Gotta Get Up: The Songs Of Harry Nilsson 1965-1972. Label: Ace Records. Enigmatic describes Harry Nilsson who was, without doubt, one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation. He released sixteen studio albums and e four soundtracks albums between 1966 and 1980. Sadly, most of these albums failed to find the audience they so …

Continue reading

ESMARK-MARA I AND MARA II.

Esmark-Māra I and Māra II. Label: Bureau B. On the ‘27th’ of July 2017, Esmark, the collaboration between sound architect Nikolai von Sallwitz and experimental artist Alsen Rau will join what is one of the most exclusive clubs in music. Its members include musical luminaries like Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Guns N’ Roses, Bruce Springsteen …

Continue reading

EBERHARD KRANEMANN AND HAROLD GROSSKOPF-KRAUTWERK.

Eberhard Kranemann and Harald Grosskopf. Label: Bureau B. Ever since The Beatles released Love Me Do in 1962, many musical luminaries have talked about collaborating on an album. Sadly, that is often as far as it got. Egos got in the way of the project, and what could’ve been a historical collaboration was shelved.  Other …

Continue reading

BERT MYRICK-LIVE ’N WELL.

Bert Myrick-Live ’N Well. Label: BBE. Every record collector has an album that has continued to elude them for many years. Finding it is the equivalent of finding the holy grail. They’ve searched for years, and never come close to finding that elusive and rare album. It gets that they can’t pass a record store, …

Continue reading