Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
JO MANGO-WHEN WE LIVED IN THE CROOK OF A TREE.
JO MANGO-WHEN WE LIVED IN THE CROOK OF A TREE. One of the best kept secrets in Scottish music is Jo Mango, who released her new E.P. When We Lived In The Crook Of A Tree on 2nd December 2013, on Olive Grove Records. It features some of the most beautiful music I’ve heard for …
PHAROAH SANDERS-ELEVATION.
PHAROAH SANDERS-ELEVATION. Having released his debut album Pharoah’s First in 1964, Pharoah Sanders went on to release over thirty albums. As if this isn’t impressive enough, he’s accompanied jazz legends John and Alice Coltrane, McCoy Tyner and Don Cherry. Pharoah’s other collaborations have included working with such luminaries as Terry Callier, Sun Ra and Ornette …
HOLGER CZUKAY-ON THE WAY TO THE PEAK OF NORMAL.
HOLGER CZUKAY-ON THE WAY TO THE PEAK OF NORMAL. Holger Czukay’s name is synonymous with Can, the group he cofounded in 1968. Soon, Can went on to become one of the most innovative, influential and groundbreaking groups in musical history. Their music is best described as a fusion of ambient, avant-garde, electronic, experimental, industrial, jazz, …
DONNY HATHAWAY-NEVER MY LOVE: THE ANTHOLOGY.
DONNY HATHAWAY-NEVER MY LOVE: THE ANTHOLOGY. Described by some as a musical genius, Donny Hathaway never got the opportunity to fulfil his potential. No. Tragedy intervened in Donny Hathaway’s life, when his career was cut shot in January 1979. Donny was just thirty-four. He’d released just a trio of solo albums between 1970 and 1973. …
PIED PIPER PRESENTS A NEW CONCEPT IN DETROIT SOUL.
PIED PIPER PRESENTS A NEW CONCEPT IN DETROIT SOUL. When the definitive history of soul music is written, several cities will loom large in the story. A triumvirate in particular, have played a hugely important part in the development of soul. This triumvirate are Memphis, Philadelphia and Detroit. Some of the best soul music ever …
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS-I FEEL A SONG.
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS-I FEEL A SONG. For too long, Gladys Knight had been in the shadow of Diana Ross at Motown. Between 1967 and 1973, Gladys Knight and The Pips released eight albums. Then in 1973, when her contract with Motown ran out, she signed to a label where she would be wanted …
HALL OF FAME VOLUME 2.
HALL OF FAME VOLUME 2. Without doubt, one of the most influential record labels in the history of Southern Soul is Fame Records. It released some of the most important music in the history of not just Southern Soul, but soul music. Then there’e the music recorded at Fame Recording Studios, Muscle Shoals. The artists …
VAN MORRISON-MOONDANCE.
VAN MORRISON-MOONDANCE. 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. After all, two years earlier in February 1968, Van Morrison has released Astral Weeks, an album which was a game-changer. Astral …
DAMON- SONG OF A GYPSY.
DAMON- SONG OF A GYPSY. For any collector of psychedelia, if they’re lucky enough to find a copy of Damon’s Song Of A Gypsy, it becomes one of their most prized possessions. Finding a copy is another thing. Copies are rarer than hen’s teeth and are changing hands for large sums of money. Recently, copies have …
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS-CATCH A FIRE.
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS-CATCH A FIRE. Forty years ago, Bob Marley and The Wailers released the album that launched their career, Catch A Fire which was recently rereleased by Island on vinyl. Catch A Fire was certified in the UK and was the start of a career where critical acclaim and commercial success were ever-present. It also introduced the world to …
CHIC-NILES ROGERS PRESENTS THE CHIC ORGANIZATION-BOX SET 1/SAVOIR FAIRE.
CHIC-NILES ROGERS PRESENTS THE CHIC ORGANIZATION-BOX SET 1/SAVOIR FAIRE. Considering how influential Chic proved to be, and the commercial success and critical acclaim they enjoyed, it’s about time a lovingly compiled and lavish box set celebrating their career was released. After all, for their first three albums Chic could do no wrong. Their 1977 eponymous …
KING CRIMSON-RED.
KING CRIMSON-RED. King Crimson burst onto the scene in October 1969, with their debut album In The Court Of The Crimson King. A prog rock classic, it reached number five in the UK and was certified gold in America, when it reached number twenty-eight. Following the success of In The Court Of Crimson in America, …
PERU MARAVILLOSO: VINTAGE LATIN, TROPICAL AND CUMBIA.
PERU MARAVILLOSO: VINTAGE LATIN, TROPICAL AND CUMBIA. As the sixties unfolded, British and American music was on the cusp of a revolution. This began in 1962, when The Beatles released Love Me Do. Soon, the sixties were swinging. Over the Atlantic in America, the British Invasion proved a game-changer. For the first time, British music …
Z.Z. HILL-THE BRAND NEW Z.Z. HILL.
Z.Z. HILL-THE BRAND NEW Z.Z. HILL. The story behind how Z.Z. Hill found himself in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, recording with producer Swamp Dogg is the equivalent to a game of musical pass the parcel. It all started when Swamp Dogg bought Z.Z. Hill’s contract from Quin Ivy, one of the stalwarts of the Muscle Shoals …
OMAR SOULEYMAN-WENU WENU.
OMAR SOULEYMAN-WENU WENU. Prolific. That’s a good way to describe Omar Souleyman. After all, how many artists have released over 550 albums? However, not all that glitters is gold. Many of these albums are recordings of Omar singing at weddings. They’re sold at kiosks in Omar’s native Syria. That’s where his nickname The Wedding Singer …
SANDRA PHILLIPS-TOO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE BED.
SANDRA PHILLIPS-TOO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE BED. Producer Swamp Dogg hadn’t known Sandra Philips long, before he signed her to Canyon Records. Swamp Dogg was introduced to Sandra by her ex-husband. He let Swamp Dogg hear a single she cut for Epic. This was kismet. Not only was Sandra hugely talented, but she’d potential. She …
NEAL FORD AND THE FANATICS-GOOD MEN.
NEAL FORD AND THE FANATICS-GOOD MEN. Between 1964 and 1968, Neal Ford and The Fanatics were Kings of the Houston music scene. They spent several years honing their sound and were now enjoying the fruits of their labor. Their unique and slick fusion of rock, R&B and garage won friends and influenced other groups all …
WOLFMOON-WOLFMOON.
WOLFMOON-WOLFMOON. Swamp Dogg first encountered Tyrone Thomas in 1964, when Brooks O’Dell first brought him to his Philadelphia home. Brooks had given Swamp Dogg the hard sell about Tyrone Thomas. Swamp Dogg wasn’t disappointed. He was so impressed that he invited Tyrone into his house. This was the start of a tumultuous musical partnership. As …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 