Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
A GUIDE TO THE BIRDSONG OF SONG AMERICA.
A GUIDE TO THE BIRDSONG OF SONG AMERICA. Previously, the only way to release an album was via a record company. Not any more. Nowadays, there are numerous ways to release an album. This includes crowd-funding, which since 2010, has raised $89bn. Crowd-funding, however, is far from a new phenomenon. Although the term was first coined …
RICK WAKEMAN-THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII.
RICK WAKEMAN-THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII. In early 1972, Yes were touring America to promote their fourth studio album Fragile. On a stopover in Richmond, Virginia, Rick Wakeman, who had joined Yes in August 1971, and made his debut on Fragile, was perusing the airport bookshop. Eventually, Rick bought four books, including Nancy Brysson …
CIAO BELLA! ITALIAN GIRL SINGERS OF THE 60S.
CIAO BELLA! ITALIAN GIRL SINGERS OF THE 60S. Ciao Bella! Italian Girl Singers Of The 60s, Ace International’s first compilation of 2015, is described as “groovy girl-pop.” That’s the perfect description of the latest compilation of girl-pop from Ace Records. Previously, Ace Records have released compilations of American, French and Japanese girl-pop. Other record companies …
THE VALENTINOS-LOOKIN’ FOR A LOVE-THE COMPLETE SAR RECORDINGS.
THE VALENTINOS-LOOKIN’ FOR A LOVE-THE COMPLETE SAR RECORDINGS. The story of The Valentinos began back in 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio. That’s when the Reverend Friendly Womack first heard his five sons sing. Before long, Friendly, Curtis, Bobby, Harry and Cecil had adopted the moniker The Womack Brothers. They then made their debut in their father’s …
RHYTHM ’N’ BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-MAD DOGS, SWEET DADDIES AND PRETTY BABIES.
RHYTHM ’N’ BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-MAD DOGS, SWEET DADDIES AND PRETTY BABIES. Not many compilation series survive to celebrate their tenth anniversary. Usually, a compilation series runs out of steam after four or five compilations. By then, the compiler has exhausted the supply of new music. However, as with every rule, there is an exception. …
SAM DEES-IT’S OVER-70s SONGWRITER DEMOS AND MASTERS.
SAM DEES-IT’S OVER-70s SONGWRITER DEMOS AND MASTERS. Sometimes, for whatever, reason, an artist doesn’t enjoy the commercial success and critical acclaim they deserve. Instead, their music is only enjoyed a discerning circle of music lovers. That’s the case with Sam Dees. He is, without doubt, one of soul music’s best kept secrets. Sam Dees could’ve, …
CERRONE-LOVE IN C MINOR.
CERRONE-LOVE IN C MINOR. Recently, I wrote about Cerrone’s second album Cerrone’s Paradise, released in 1977. The album that inadvertently started Marc Cerrone’s solo career was Love In C Minor, released the year before, in 1976. After this, Marc Cerrone would go on to become one of the biggest selling artists of the disco era, …
ERIC CLAPTON-461 OCEAN BOULEVARD.
ERIC CLAPTON-461 OCEAN BOULEVARD. By 1974, Eric Clapton had established a reputation as a survivor. He had managed to overcome heroin and alcohol addiction. His life had spiralled out of control after releasing his debut solo album, Eric Clapton in August 1970. It reached number seventeen in Britain and number thirteen in the US Billboard …
TIM BUCKLEY-LORCA.
TIM BUCKLEY-LORCA. 2015 marks the fortieth anniversary of the death of one of the most talented, and innovative, vocalists of his generation, Tim Buckley. He died on June 29th 1975, aged just twenty-nine. That day, music lost a true visionary. Tim Buckley was, and always will be remembered as a musical chameleon, who believed his …
CHRISTIAN WALLUMROD-PIANOKAMMER.
CHRISTIAN WALLUMROD-PIANOKAMMER. Christian Wallumrød’s recording career began nearly twenty years ago, in 1996, when the Christian Wallumrød Trio released their debut album Birch. Released to widespread critical acclaim, Birch launched the career of Christian Wallumrød. Since then, Christian Wallumrød star has been in the ascendancy. To the onlooker, it seems Christian Wallumrød has done everything …
JOHN MARTYN-GRACE AND DANGER.
JOHN MARTYN-GRACE AND DANGER. In November 1977, John Martyn released what’s was undoubtably one the finest albums of his career, One World. It was an atmospheric, experimental and genre-defying album. Everything from folk, jazz, reggae and rock melted together over eight tracks. Released to overwhelming critical acclaim, One World was hailed a classic album. This …
THE PHANTOM BAND-FEARS TRENDING.
THE PHANTOM BAND-FEARS TRENDING. For fans of The Phantom Band, it’s either a case of feast of famine. Having released their debut album Checkmate Savage in January 2009, The Phantom Band returned in October 2010 with their sophomore album The Wants. After that, nothing was heard from The Phantom Band for four long years. During …
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN-GIRLS IN PEACETIME WANT TO DANCE.
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN-GIRLS IN PEACETIME WANT TO DANCE. Over four years have passed since Belle and Sebastian released their eighth studio album, Belle and Sebastian Write About Love. Since then, Belle and Sebastian’s only release was The Third Eye Centre, a nineteen track retrospective released in August 2013. It featured rarities, remixes, B-Sides, non-album tracks …
ROXY MUSIC-FLESH AND BLOOD.
ROXY MUSIC-FLESH AND BLOOD. By June 1980, when Roxy Music released their seventh and penultimate album, Flesh and Blood, they were reduced to a trio. Only Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and Andy McKay remained. Phil Thompson had by now, left the band, and original members. Brian Eno and Graham Simpson had long left the band. Since then, many …
DIRE STRAITS-DIRE STRAITS.
DIRE STRAITS-DIRE STRAITS. In 1977, punk was at the peak of its popularity. For the last year, bands were being formed all over Britain. Suddenly, it seemed, everyone was a musician. That was all very well. However, there was a problem. Many of these bands weren’t very good. The problem was, many of this new …
BRIAN ENO-HERE COME THE WARM JETS.
BRIAN ENO-HERE COME THE WARM JETS. For Brian Eno, 1973 was the year the second chapter in his career began. Brian had just left Roxy Music after touring their sophomore album, For Your Pleasure. By the end of the tour, Brian had realised the life of a rock star wasn’t for him. He found the …
KING CRIMSON-LARK’S TONGUES IN ASPIC.
KING CRIMSON-LARK’S TONGUES IN ASPIC. It was in October 1969, that King Crimson burst onto the scene with their debut album In The Court Of The Crimson King. A true prog rock classic, In The Court Of The Crimson King was was released to critical acclaim and commercial success on both sides of the Atlantic. In …
TANGERINE DREAM-RUBYCON.
TANGERINE DREAM-RUBYCON. Tangerine Dream are, without doubt, the original musical chameleons. Since forming in 1967, Tangerine Dream’s music has been constantly evolving. As a result, they can never be accused of standing still. Far from it. During the last six decades, Tangerine Dream have flitted between musical genres as they recorded over 125 studio albums. …
COCTEAU TWINS-BLUE BELL KNOLL.
COCTEAU TWINS-BLUE BELL KNOLL. By 1988, the Cocteau Twins’ star was in the ascendancy. They were officially, one of music’s rising stars. So it’s no surprise that major labels were starting to take an interest in the Cocteau Twins. That wasn’t surprising. The Cocteau Twins had already served their musical apprenticeship. They had already released …
TARAF DE HAÏDOUKS-OF LOVERS, GAMBLERS AND PARACHUTE SKIRTS.
TARAF DE HAÏDOUKS-OF LOVERS, GAMBLERS AND PARACHUTE SKIRTS. Twenty-five years ago, Taraf de Haïdouks made their debut. Little did anyone realise that this was the start of musical journey that would see Taraf de Haïdouks crowned “the best Gypsy band in the world.” That’s quite an accolade. However, anyone that’s seen Taraf de Haïdouks live, …
dereksmusicblog
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