Monthly Archives: April, 2019
HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER-THE MERLE HAGGARD SONGBOOK.
Holding Things Together-The Merle Haggard Songbook. Label: Ace Records. For the latest instalment in their Songwriter Series, Ace Records turn the spotlight on the late Merle Haggard, who was one of the finest exponents of the Bakersfield Sound. Hag as he was known, eschewed the increasingly slick and homogenized country music that was coming out …
TIM MAIA- THE FIRST TEN ALBUMS: 1970-1978.
Tim Maia-The First Ten Albums: 1970-1978: . By 1978, charismatic Brazilian singer-songwriter Tim Maia’s career was at a crossroads and he was worried about what the future held for him. Tim Maia found himself financially embarrassed, after a couple of musically barren years. He had spent much of the money he earned on cars, musical instruments …
NICOLETTE LARSON-THE WARNER BROS YEARS.
Nicolette Larson-The Warner Bros Years. Nowadays, far too many people are scared to follow their dream and instead, settle for second best and the drudgery of working 9-5. Sadly, it’s only much later, when it’s too late, that they realise what they gave up and what might have been. Nicolette Larson was determined that wasn’t …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TRASHCAN SINATRAS.
The Life and Times Of The Trashcan Sinatras. Nowadays, very few bands get to celebrate their tenth anniversary, never mind their twentieth or thirtieth. Especially bands formed in the eighties. Many were short-lived affairs, who released a couple of albums, before calling it a day. Some crashed and burned amidst rancour and anger. Often, money was at …
IRMA THOMAS-IN BETWEEN TEARS RECORD STORE DAY 2019.
Irma Thomas-In Between Tears-Record Store Day 2019. Label: Reel Music. There’s not many artists whose career spans six decades but Irma Thomas’ does. The Soul Queen of New Orleans released her debut single (You Can Have My Husband But) Don’t Mess With My Man on the Ron label in 1960, and since then, has recorded …
TOMMY HUNT-THE COMPLETE MAN: 60s NYC SOUL SONGS.
Tommy Hunt-The Complete Man: 60s NYC Soul Songs. Label: Kent. Mention the name Tommy Hunt, and many soul fans will think of the music that the Pittsburgh-born singer recorded for Scepter in the early sixties. That was where Tommy Hunt came to prominence as a solo artist. However, this wasn’t Tommy Hunt’s first encounter with …
TONY BANKS-HIS LIFE AFTER GENESIS.
Tony Banks-His Life After Genesis. All too often, Tony Banks has been referred to as “the keyboard player from Genesis.” This is doing the sixty-seven year old a huge disservice. Tony Banks is a multi-instrumentalist, whose just as comfortable playing guitar as his playing piano, Hammond organ, synths or Mellotron. Seamlessly, Tony Banks could switch …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF NORMA WINSTONE.
The Life and Career Of Norma Winstone. There aren’t many British jazz singers who have enjoyed the longevity, commercial success and critical acclaim that Norma Winstone MBE has. Her career has lasted over fifty years. Despite all the commercial success, critical acclaim and awards, the seventy-seven year old singer shows no signs of slowing down. Norma Winstone isn’t …
THREE DAY WEEK-WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT 1972-1975.
Three Day Week-When The Lights Went Out 1972-1975. Label: Ace Records. In 1973, both Britain and America were experiencing one of the worst years since the end of World War II. The Vietnam War still raged, while the civil rights movement continued to fight for equality and an end to the racial discrimination that blighted …
ROGER WATERS-THE SOLO YEARS.
Roger Waters-The Solo Years. Following the departure of Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd, bassist Roger Waters became the group’s creative force. This was the case from Pink Floyd’s third album, Ummagumma, which was released in 1969, right through to 1983s The Final Cut. After the release of The Final Cut, Roger Waters left Pink Floyd. …
MANCHESTER-A CITY UNITED IN MUSIC.
Manchester-A City United In Music. Label: Ace Records. Mention Manchester, and most people think of two things music and soccer, and specifically God’s own team Manchester City who for too long, were perceived as the city’s second team. That wasn’t always the case and isn’t the case any more. Between 1966 and 1975, Manchester City …
CYCLONE! GALLIC GUITARS A-GO-GO 1962-66.
Cyclone! Gallic Guitars A-Go-Go 1962-66. Label: Ace Records. In the early sixties, rock ’n ’roll arrived in France, and was immediately embraced by a new generation of French musicians with an intensity. Among the first wave of French rock groups were Les Chats Sauvages and Les Chaussettes Noires, who nowadays, are regarded as having set …
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ALICE CLARK?
Whatever Happened To Alice Clark? Sadly, all too often, hype and image has triumphed over talent, while commercial success and critical acclaim eludes truly talented artists. Chastened by the experience, many of these artists turn their back on the music industry. They’re content to return to civvy street, free from a world populated by A&R …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE BETA BAND
The Life and Times Of The Beta Band. The Beta Band was formed in Edinburgh in 1996, and a year later, in July 1997 released their Champion Versions EP, which was the first of a trio of innovative EP’s the folktronica pioneers released. In March 1998 The Beta Band released their sophomore EP The Patty Patty Sound, with Los Amigos …
THE CHARLATANS-THE MUSICAL MAVERICKS AND DANDIES WHO HAD IT ALL.
The Charlatans-The Musical Mavericks and Dandies Who Had It All. Between 1964 and 1969, The Charlatans’ star shawn brightly, and the larger than life musical mavericks dressed like ‘19th’ Century outlaws, and embraced the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle. L.S.D. and pot were part of The Charlatans’ diet. It fuelled The Charlatans as they took San Francisco by storm, and commercial …
HALLELUJAH-THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN.
Hallelujah-The Songs Of Leonard Cohen. Label: Ace Records. On the ‘21st’ of October 2016, Canadian singer-songwriter, novelist and poet Leonard Cohen released what was to be his swan-song You Want It Darker to widespread critical acclaim. Sadly, just seventeen days later Leonard Cohen passed away on the ‘7th’ of November 2016, aged eighty-two. That day, music lost …
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