Monthly Archives: July, 2019

HORN ROCK AND FUNKY GUITAR GROOVES 1968-1974.

Horn Rock and Funky Guitar Grooves 1968-1974. Label: BGP. Nowadays,  music historians regard 1968 as the year that American rock returned to its soulful roots. The man responsible, was one of the true legends of music, Bob Dylan, who joined forces with The Band, and they went in search of a chimerical America, and  what …

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BEVERLEY MARTYN-A CASE OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

Beverley Martyn-A Case Of What Might Have Been.  It was fifty-four years ago, when Beverley Martyn made her recording debut as a member of The Levee Breakers,  a jug band that also featured Mac McGann and Johnny Joyce. They released their debut single Babe, I’m Leaving You on Parlophone in 1965, when Beverley was just sixteen. Despite that, The Levee Breakers …

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GEOFF MULDAUR-FROM THE JIM KWESKIN AND THE JUG BAND TO THE WARNER BROS YEARS.

Geoff Muldaur-From The Jim Kweskin and The Jug Band To The Warner Bros. Years. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Geoff Muldaur was born in Pelham, New York, on August 12th 1943. Growing up, he developed a love music, which led to Geoff learning to play the guitar. Soon, he developed into a talented blues guitarist. Little did he realise that this …

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THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ANE BRUN.

The Life and Career Of Ane Brun. In her native Norway, forty-one year old Ane Brun is one of the most successful singer-songwriters of her generation. Her career began in May 2003, when she released her debut album Spending Time With Morgan. This was the start of a glittering career for Ane Brun, who recently …

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SUSANA ESTRADA.

The Life and Times of Susana Estrada. Ever since 1939, the brutal Francoist regime had ruled Spain with an iron fist. This came to an end with the death of dictator Francisco Franco on ’20th’ November 1975. After Franco’s death, control of Spain passed to King Juan Carlos. By then, Spain was in a state …

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VAN MORRISON-MOONDANCE-VINYL EDITION.

Van Morrison-Moondance Vinyl Edition. Label: Rhino. When Van Morrison released his third album, Moondance, in February 1970, little did he know he’d just released not only a classic album, but an album he’d never surpass. This wasn’t unexpected because  two years earlier, in February 1968, Van Morrison has released Astral Weeks, an album which was a …

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GRIFTER KID AND THE MIDNIGHT RAIDERS-THE RECEIPTS OF TIME.

Grifter Kid and The Midnight Raiders-The Receipts Of Time. Label: Grifter Kid and The Midnight Raiders. Nowadays, it seems, many bands and musicians have identity crises. Maybe that always was always the case, and third rate bar bands managed by Marge Simpson soundalikes who look as if they should be playing Duelling Banjos for the …

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THE NEU! STORY.

The Neu! Story. 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 recorded and released by German bands. This included the holy trinity of Can, Kraftwerk and Neu!. Along with Amon Düül II, Ashra, Cluster, Popol Vuh …

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BELLE AND SEBASTIAN-1996-2016: THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS.

Belle and Sebastian-1996-2016: The First Twenty Years. Over the last fifty years, many bands have been formed at university or college.  Many of these bands went on to hone their sound on college and university circuit. However, only one of theses bands went on to release their debut single and album  on their college’s record label. This might sound fat …

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THE RED SQUARE STORY.

The Red Square Story. Far too often, innovative music falls to find the audience it deserves. Instead, it’s enjoyed by a small, discerning and appreciative audience. These musical connoisseurs recognise the importance of music that could, and should, influence another generation of musicians. Sadly, all too often this doesn’t happen.  To rub salt into the …

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CATFISH-WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Catfish-What Might Have Been. The story of Detroit-based blues rockers Catfish is a case of what might have been. This talented five piece band was formed in the late-sixties, and over the next few years opened for Black Sabbath, Bob Seger, Black Sabbath and Ted Nugent, and played at the prestigious Fillmore East. It was …

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HIROSHIMA’S FIRST FIVE ALBUMS

Hiroshima’s First Five Albums. Dan Kuramoto’s interest in music began when he became the inaugural chairman of the Asian-American studies program at California State University in Long Beach in the sixties. This was an honour for Dan Kuramoto who had just graduated from California State University with a degree in Fine Arts. The chance to return …

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THE LIFE AND CAREER OF MUSICAL PIONEER EMILIO APARICIO.

The Life and Career Of Musical Pioneer Emilio Aparicio. Nowadays, the words pioneer and innovator tend to be overused, and musicians who create truly groundbreaking music seem to be sadly, few and far between. While there are some pioneering musicians whose music continues to push musical boundaries, there are no longer as many as there once …

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THE MORENA Y CLARA STORY.

The Morena Y Clara Story. As 1973 dawned, a new Spanish flamenco-pop duo Morena y Clara, were about to make their debut at the now legendary tablao restaurant Caripen in Madrid. This was where just Los Grecas had been discovered just a few months previously by producer José Luis de Carlos and were signed to …

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THE SHORT-LIVED STORY OF VOIGT/465

The Short-Lived Story Voigt/465. The story of Voigt/465 is a case of what might have been. They were formed in Sydney, Australia in 1976, and spent the next three years trying to make a breakthrough. By May 1979, things were looking up for Voigt/465 and they looked on the verge of a breakthrough. Their single State was …

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HEAT EXCHANGE AND THEIR LOST DEBUT ALBUM REMINISCENCE.

Heat Exchange and Their Lost Debut Album Reminiscence. Heat Exchange’s root’s can be traced to a Toronto high school, in the late-sixties. That was when four school friends decided to form a blues band, which they named Cloud. Just a couple of years later, and Cloud were one of the top bands in Toronto.  Several record …

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CROMWELL-WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?

Cromwell-What Might Have Been? By 1975, Dublin had an eclectic and vibrant music scene , and there literally was something for all musical tastes. This ranged from the traditional showbands that had long been part of the Irish music scene, right through to traditional Irish music and sentiment-laden pop music. However, this was only part of …

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GILLIAN HILLS-THE YE-YE YEARS 1960-1965. 

Gillian Hills-The Yé-Yé Years 1960-1965. Gillian Hills was born in Cairo, Egypt, on the ‘5th’ of June 1944  and was the daughter of teacher, traveller, author and adventurer Denis Hills and Dunia Leśmianowna, daughter of Polish poet Bolesław Leśmian. Much of Gillian Hills’ early life was spent in France which was where the fourteen year …

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SUSANNE SUNDFOR.

The Life and Times Of Susanne Sundfør, Although Susanne Sundfør only embarked upon a musical career in 2005, the thirty-three year old is already one of Norway’s most successful singer, songwriter and producers. Her last four studio albums have topped the Norwegian charts, including her fifth album Music For People In Trouble which was released …

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THE NON BAND STORY

The Non Band Story. In the summer of 1978, a musical revolution took place in Japan, which changed music forevermore,..punk. The Japanese punk rockers were christened Tokyo Rockers, and initially were disregarded by the mainstream music industry. Record company executives made the mistake of thinking that the Japanese punk movement was just a passing fad, …

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