Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
HAROLD LAND-CHOMA (BURN).
HAROLD LAND-CHOMA (BURN). Musically, Harold Land was a late developer. Growing up in Houston, Harold never showed any interest in learning to play an instrument. Then in 1944, when he was sixteen, Harold heard Coleman Hawkins recording of Body and Soul. This was a life-changing experience. After this, Harold decided to learn how to play …
DJ VADIM-DUBCATCHER.
DJ VADIM-DUBCATCHER. For Dubcatcher, the followup to DJ Vadim’s critically acclaimed tenth album, Don’t Be Scared, he dawns the role of his alter ego Dubcatcher. There’s a reason for this. Dubcatcher isn’t another hip hop album. Instead, Dubcatcher is album of dancehall reggae. This isn’t DJ Vadim’s first reggae album. No. He’s previously released a reggae album. …
MOD JAZZ, AND THEN SOME!
MOD JAZZ, AND THEN SOME! It doesn’t seem like eighteen years since Kent Soul released the first instalment in the Mod Jazz series. However, that’s the case. 30th September 1996 was when Mod Jazz first hit the shops. Released to critical acclaim, Mod Jazz was a commercial success. Mod Jazz was music for attendees of …
ARTHUR PRYSOCK-TOO LATE BABY-THE OLD TOWN SINGLES 1958-66.
ARTHUR PRYSOCK-TOO LATE BABY-THE OLD TOWN SINGLES 1958-66. Although Arthur Prysock’s career lasted six decades, the most successful period of his career was the eight years he spent at Old Town Records. Between 1958 and 1966, Arthur Prysock released twenty-four singles. There’s also the small matter of nine albums. From Arthur’s debut album was I …
MILLIE JACKSON-ON THE COUNTRY SOUL SIDE.
MILLIE JACKSON-ON THE COUNTRY SOUL SIDE. Trying to describe Millie Jackson in just one word, is almost impossible. If I was asked to do so, the word I’d use would be versatile. She could breath life, meaning and drama into a variety of songs. Whether it was heartbreaking, soulful ballads or country soul, Millie could …
WARDELL GRAY-WAY OUT WARDELL.
WARDELL GRAY-WAY OUT WARDELL. During Wardell Gray’s tragically short career, he proved to be one of jazz’s innovators. His career lasted just fifteen years. It began in the swing era and encompassed the bebop era. Then, just when Wardell Grey looked like fulfilling his undoubted potential, tragedy struck on May 25th 1955. Towards the end …
ENO-HYDE SOMEDAY WORLD.
ENO-HYDE SOMEDAY WORLD. It’s no exaggeration to refer to Brian Eno as the Godfather of electronic music. He is, without doubt, one of the genre’s founding fathers. Brian Eno is also one of electronic music’s innovators. That’s been the case throughout Brian Eno’s career. Ever ever since his days with Roxy Music, Brian Eno had …
ASHFORD AND SIMPSON-HIGH RISE.
ASHFORD AND SIMPSON-HIGH RISE. By 1983, Ashford and Simpson were about to release their eleventh album, High Rise. It was their second album for their new record label Capitol Records. High Rise was also the followup to their 1982 concept album Street Opera, which dealt with the problems couples face in economically tough times. Street Opera dealt …
SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER: LEFTO.
SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER: LEFTO. The Southport Weekender has come a long way since it first took place back in 1987. Since 1987, the Southport Weekend has been one of the highlights of the dance music scene. Rather confusingly, the first Southport Weekend took place in Berwick Upon Tweed. This was a somewhat strange choice of venue …
CAROL WILLIAMS-‘LECTRIC LADY.
CAROL WILLIAMS-‘LECTRIC LADY. In late 1975, Carol Williams became the first Lady of of Salsoul. Carol, one of the original disco divas, became the first female singer to sign for Salsoul. At Salsoul Records, Carol worked with Vince Montana Jr, the man behind the rise and rise of The Salsoul Orchestra. With Vince at her side, Carol Williams disco …
SAM DEES-THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
SAM DEES-THE SHOW MUST GO ON. Without doubt, one of music’s best kept secrets is Sam Dees. So much so, that I’d describe Sam Dees as one of the best singers you’ve never heard. Sam’s career began back in the late-sixties. Sadly, commercial success and critical acclaim never came Sam’s way. As a result, Sam …
THE SOUND OF SIAM VOLUME 2.
THE SOUND OF SIAM VOLUME 2. For many people, Soundway Records’ compilation The Sound of Siam was their introduction to Thailand’s music. It was released to critical acclaim in November 2010. Sound of Siam was a trendsetting compilation. After that, interest in Asian music exploded. Record companies jumped on the bandwagon. Compilations of Indonesian, Cambodian, …
LEWIS L’AMOUR.
LEWIS L’AMOUR. Mystery and conjecture surrounded Lewis and his 1983 album L’Amour which was recently rereleased by Light In The Attic Records. Most of the mystery surrounds Lewis. Nobody really knew who he was. Lewis called himself Randall Wulff. However, thirty-one years later, conjecture still surrounded whether that was Lewis true identity. All that’s known …
THE BLACK HIPPIES-THE BLACK HIPPIES.
THE BLACK HIPPIES-THE BLACK HIPPIES. One of Nigerian music’s best kept secrets, are The Black Hippies. They only ever released two albums. Their finest moment was their 1977 debut album The Black Hippies. It was released in 1977, on EMI. Sadly, by then, disco and funk were flavour of the month. The Black Hippies were …
IMARHAN TIMBUKTU-AKAL WARLED.
IMARHAN TIMBUKTU-AKAL WARLED. Over the last ten years, Imarhan Timbuktu have been providing the soundtrack at dance clubs and private parties in Northern Mali. Imarhan Timbuktu have starred at the famous Festival au Desert. Gradually, word began to spread about Imarhan Timbuktu. Recently, Imarhan Timbuktu’s music has been heard further afield. This includes in Europe …
CHVRCHES-THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
CHVRCHES-THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE. One of the most highly anticipated albums of recent years was Chvrches’ The Bones Of What You Believe, which was recently nominated for 2014s Scottish Album Of The Year Award. It’s just the latest chapter in the Chvrches’ story. Chvrches are no ordinary band. Far from it. They’ve come …
THE DEADBEATS-ON TAR BEACH.
THE DEADBEATS-ON TAR BEACH. There aren’t many teenagers who dream of leaving the Florida sunshine to head to London, and form a band. That’s what Suzie May did in 1979. She left her home in the Florida suburbs, and arrived in Camden Town, London. Suzie was halfway towards fulfilling her dream. Her dream was to …
WIM MERTENS-MAXIMIZING THE AUDIENCE.
WIM MERTENS-MAXIMIZING THE AUDIENCE. Anyone interested in avant garde and experimental music will know the name Wim Mertens. He’s a composer, pianist, guitarist, vocalist and producer. Wim is also a musicologist, who studied music theory and piano at the prestigious Ghent Conservatory in Belgian. Music, however, wasn’t what Wim originally studied. No. Originally, Wim studied …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 