Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
PETER KING-SHANGO.
PETER KING-SHANGO. All too often, innovative music isn’t appreciated when it’s released. It passes almost unnoticed. Apart from a few people, who realize the importance of the music, and champion it passionately, it can be years, even decades later, that the importance of an artist or album is recognized. This has been the case with …
DISCO AND BOOGIE IN NYC VOLUME 1: SEEDS OF CLUB MUSIC.
DISCO AND BOOGIE IN NYC VOLUME 1: SEEDS OF CLUB MUSIC. Earlier this year, fashionistas and tastemakers forecasted that the summer of 2013 would be “the summer of disco.” It was official, disco was back in fashion. The advice from those in the know, was dust off your flares, polish your disco ball and let’s …
PLEASURE-FUTURE NOW.
PLEASURE-FUTURE NOW. Portland-based Pleasure spent several years honing their style and sound before Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders “discovered” them. Pleasure were formed in 1972, after a merger of two high school bands, Franchise and The Soul Masters. Franchise were led by guitarist and vocalist Marlon McClain. Their music was a fusion of disco and …
THE JAZZ CRUSADERS-GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
THE JAZZ CRUSADERS-GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. Back in 1954, at Phillis Wheatley High School, Houston, Joe Sample, Stix Hooper and Wliton Felder met for the first time. Little did they realize the importance of this meeting. Unknown to them, this meeting would result in the formation of one of the most innovative and influential jazz …
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS-IMAGINATION.
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS-IMAGINATION. In 1973, it came as no surprise that Gladys Knight and The Pips decided leave Motown. After all, Gladys Knight had been forced to live in the shadow of Diana Ross. To onlookers. Diana Ross was Motown’s chosen one, while Gladys Knight had to settle for second best. So after …
PHYLLIS HYMAN-THE BUDDAH YEARS.
PHYLLIS HYMAN-THE BUDDAH YEARS. Although Phyllis Hyman’s career was cut tragically short, the eight albums she released between 1977 and 1991, are a tantalizing reminder of a singer who could’ve and should’ve become one of the greats of soul music. Sadly, that wasn’t to be. Tragedy intervened. Phyllis Hyman committed suicide, a week before her …
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-LOLEATTA.
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-LOLEATTA. Having released two albums for Aware, 1973s Loleatta and 1974s Cry To Me, Loleatta Holloway, the former Queen Of Gospel, released her final single for Aware, Only A Fool. Released in 1975, the single wasn’t a commercial success. That wasn’t the end of Loleatta’s woes. Michael Thevis, owner of Aware was wanted by …
KLEEER-WINNERS.
KLEEER-WINNERS. Kleeer, whose sophomore album Winners was recently released by BBR Records, could be described as a band with an identity crisis. After all, how many bands change their name five times? Kleeer did. Their origins can be traced to The Choice 4, an R&B band who were guided by Van McCoy. Richard Lee was …
ARP-MORE.
ARP-MORE. Three years after the release of his sophomore album The Soft Wave, ARP returns with More, which will be released on 16th September 2013 on Smalltown Supersound. During the last three years, much has changed for Alexis Georgopoulis a.k.a. ARP. Having toured The Soft Wave, he decided to take a break from touring. Instead, …
JERROME DERRADJI PRESENTS: KILL YOURSELF DANCING-THE STORY OF SUNSET RECORDS INC.1985-1988.
Jerome Derradji Presents: Kill Yourself Dancing – The Story Of Sunset Records Inc. Chicago 1985-89. Lately, there’s been a renaissance in compilations of early Chicago house music. That’s no surprise. After all, house music is nearly thirty years old. While not quite heading into its middle age, many people who were around at the birth …
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I.
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I. From 1978 onwards, things were changing at Salsoul. The Salsoul Orchestra played a huge part in Salsoul’s success. They were much more than musicians, with many of its members songwriters, arrangers and producers. This included the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey and Vince Montana Jr. So when …
DARRELL BANKS-I’M THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU-THE COMPLETE VOLT RECORDINGS.
DARRELL BANKS-I’M THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU-THE COMPLETE VOLT RECORDINGS. Although Darrell Banks only released two albums in a career that didn’t even last three years, his popularity surpasses singers whose careers were much longer and much more productive. Including demos, Darrell Banks discography numbers less than forty tracks. That was Darrell Banks’ musical legacy. …
THE STAPLES SINGERS FEATURING MAVIS STAPLES-THIS TIME AROUND.
THE STAPLES SINGERS FEATURING MAVIS STAPLES-THIS TIME AROUND. Having signed to Stax Records in 1968, The Staple Singers went on to be one of Stax’s most successful groups. They helped fill the void left by the death of Otis Redding and the loss of Sam and Dave to Atlantic Records. Along with Isaac Hayes and …
BETTYE CRUTCHER-LONG AS YOU LOVE ME.
BETTYE CRUTCHER-LONG AS YOU LOVE ME. For Bettye Crutcher, getting a foothold in the male-dominated world of Memphis songwriting wasn’t easy. Her songs already been rejected by Willie Mitchell at Hi Records. Willie told her he’d already got Don Bryant signed to Hi Records. Don had already established himself as a successful and prolific songwriter. …
DAVID PORTER-GRITTY, GROOVIN’ AND GETTIN’ IT.
DAVID PORTER-GRITTY, GROOVIN’ AND GETTIN’ IT. By the summer of 1969, David Porter was one of the most important people at Stax Records. He’d played his part in the label’s success story since 1961, when he cowrote That was The Life I Live, the B-side to Barbara Stephens’ single I Don’t Worry. Soon, David established …
KENYA SPECIAL-SELECTED EAST AFRICAN RECORDINGS FROM THE 1970S AND 80S.
KENYA SPECIAL-SELECTED EAST AFRICAN RECORDINGS FROM THE 1970S AND 80S. Many record companies have yet to discover the importance of presentation. This is especially the case with reissue labels. What they forget, is that times have changed. Consumers, because that’s what the modern day music lover is, demands much more than before. No longer are …
FUNK GLOBO: THE SOUND OF NEO BAILE.
FUNK GLOBO: THE SOUND OF NEO BAILE. Over the last few years, Mr. Bongo Records have established a reputation as a progressive, forward thinking label. Releasing everything from African, Brazilian, jazz, Latin and reggae music, eclectic describes the music the Brighton-based label releases. The latest offering from Mr. Bongo Records, is Funk Globo: The Sound …
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE-THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON.
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE-THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON. Two years in the making, Sly and The Family Stone released There’s A Riot Goin’ On was released in November 1971. It was the followup to 1969s Stand, Sly and The Family Stone’s fourth album. Released to critical acclaim, Stand was Sly and The Family Stone’s …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 