Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
LARAAJI-AMBIENT 3 (DAY OF RADIANCE)-VINYL EDITION.
LARAAJI-AMBIENT 3 (DAY OF RADIANCE)-VINYL EDITION. Despite being one of the most innovative musicians of his generations, Laraaji still remains one of music’s best kept secrets. That’s despite releasing nearly thirty albums. Many of these albums showcase Laraaji’s unique ambient sound. Best known for playing the zither, Laraaji’s music is best described as a fusion …
LINK WRAY-EARLY RECORDINGS AND GOOD ROCKING TONIGHT.
LINK WRAY-EARLY RECORDINGS AND GOOD ROCKING TONIGHT. Nowadays, Link Wray is regarded as one of greatest guitarists in musical history. Link Wray influenced everyone from Jimmy Page and Neil Young to Iggy Pop. He also popularised the power chord in his 1958 instrumental hit Ray Gun. For that alone, several generations of guitarists owe Link …
SOUTH TEXAS RHYTHM ’N’ SOUL REVUEW 2-FROM THE VAULTS OF CRAZY CAJUN RECORDS.
SOUTH TEXAS RHYTHM ’N’ SOUL REVUEW 2-FROM THE VAULTS OF CRAZY CAJUN RECORDS. Back in February 2013, Kent Soul released South Texas Rhythm ‘N’ Soul Revue, a compilation of some of the finest soul and R&B to emerge from the Lone Star State. It was recorded at Huey Meaux’s studio, and featured many of the …
GOLDEN STATE PSYCHEDELIA.
GOLDEN STATE PSYCHEDELIA. Eventful. That described Leo De Gar Kulka’s career. He was an intelligence officer, recording engineer, producer and owned a recording studio and record company. That’s why eventful best describes Leo De Gar Kulka’s career He was born in Czechoslovakia in 1921, but moved to Los Angeles in 1938. By the time the …
DAVE HAMILTON’S DETROIT SOUL VOLUME 2
DAVE HAMILTON’S DETROIT SOUL VOLUME 2 Sadly, Dave Hamilton is one of the forgotten men in the Motown story. That’s despite being one of the original members of Motown’s house band The Funk Brothers. They were formed in 1959, and right through to 1962, Dave Hamilton played guitar and vibes on early Motown recordings. Then …
BOBBY GILLESPIE PRESENTS SUNDAY MORNIN’ COMIN’ DOWN.
BOBBY GILLESPIE PRESENTS SUNDAY MORNIN’ COMIN’ DOWN. Bobby Gillespie’s life has always revolved around music. That’s been the case since he was growing up in Mount Florida, in the south side of Glasgow. Back then, Bobby Gillespie hungrily devoured music. It was akin to an education. This education didn’t take place at the at Glasgow …
FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH VINYL EDITION.
FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH VINYL EDITION. In music, the most overused word is legend. It’s a word thrown around like confetti at a Las Vegas wedding. Nowadays, every two-bit hip hopper, EDM star or Nu Soul singer is being referred to as a legend. That’s far removed from the truth. However, it’s nothing new. The overuse …
CHANGE-REACH FOR THE SKY AN ANTHOLOGY.
CHANGE-REACH FOR THE SKY AN ANTHOLOGY. Part of the soundtrack to the disco era was recorded by studio bands. They featured mostly anonymous session musicians and unknown vocalists. Many of these musicians and vocalists were just at the start of their careers, including Luther Vandross. The twenty-eight year old backing vocalist had worked with everyone …
BRIAN ENO-AMBIENT 1/MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS-VINYL EDITION.
BRIAN ENO-AMBIENT 1/MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS-VINYL EDITION. After leaving Roxy Music in 1973, Brian Eno’s career changed direction. Instead, his attention turned to ambient and electronic music. This was a controversial decision, given Roxy Music were one of the most successful British bands of the early seventies. Brian Eno’s creativity was being stifled. He felt he’d …
CINNAMON GIRL: WOMEN ARTISTS COVER NEIL YOUNG FOR CHARITY.
CINNAMON GIRL: WOMEN ARTISTS COVER NEIL YOUNG FOR CHARITY. At this time, of year, anyone looking for a compilation is spoiled for choice. Literally, there’s something for everyone. That’s the case whether it’s a lavish, lovingly compiled, budget busting, multi-disc box set, or something more modest, that you’re after. This week, over one hundred compilations …
JOHN COLTRANE-A LOVE SUPREME-THE COMPLETE MASTERS BOX SET.
JOHN COLTRANE-A LOVE SUPREME-THE COMPLETE MASTERS BOX SET. On December 9th 1964, four musicians made their war to the Van Gelder Studio, on 445 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. They were scheduled to record an album with renowned jazz producer Rudy Van Gelder. He was a veteran of countless recordings, and had worked with …
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND-THE MATRIX TAPES BOX SET.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND-THE MATRIX TAPES BOX SET. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The Velvet Underground would surely have agreed with Charles Dickens in 1969. They had just endured the most tumultuous year of their career. The Velvet Underground released their eponymous third album in March 1969. It stalled …
MOGWAI-CENTRAL BELTERS -VINYL BOX SET.
MOGWAI-CENTRAL BELTERS -VINYL BOX SET. 2015 finds post rock pioneers Mogwai celebrating their twentieth anniversary. A lot has happened in that twenty year period. Mogwai have released eight studio albums and three soundtracks. These albums have been critically acclaimed and commercially successful not just in Britain, but in America. That’s why nowadays, Mogwai are regarded …
PSYCHEMAGIK PRESENTS MAGIK SUNSET-PART TWO.
PSYCHEMAGIK PRESENTS MAGIK SUNSET-PART TWO. Over the last two years, crate-diggers extraordinaire Psychemagik, have released a quartet of compilations. That takes some doing, as compiling compilation are fraught with difficulties. As a result, many compilers struggle for two years to get one compilation released. Especially, if it’s a compilation rarities. A multitude of problems await …
KING CRIMSON-THRAK.
KING CRIMSON-THRAK. Throughout the history of King Crimson, the lineup has been in a constant state of flux. The lineup is best described as fluid, with members leaving, only to join and return at a later date. By 1995, King Crimson were onto their fifth lineup, when they recorded Thrak, which was recently released by …
JOY OF LIVING-A TRIBUTE TO EWAN MCCOLL.
JOY OF LIVING-A TRIBUTE TO EWAN MCCOLL. Many people won’t have heard of James Henry Miller. However, they will have heard of Ewan McColl. He was one of the greatest folk musicians of his generation. However, Ewan McColl was much more than a musician. Ewan McColl was also an actor, playwright, poet, record producer and …
THE ALAN PARSON’S PROJECT-THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.
THE ALAN PARSON’S PROJECT-THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. Alan Parsons was just eighteen when he started work at Abbey Road Studios, in October 1967. Less that two years later, Alan Parsons received his first credit when he engineered The Beatles’ Abbey Road. It was released in September 1969, and was the …
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND-LOADED BOX SET.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND-LOADED BOX SET. For The Velvet Underground, 1969 had been a turbulent year. They had released their third album The Velvet Underground in March 1969. It featured the debut of Doug Yule, who was brought in to replace John Cale. This was meant to the start of a bright new future for The …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 