Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
BLOODSTONE-WE GO A LONG WAY BACK.
BLOODSTONE-WE GO A LONG WAY BACK. Eclectic. That’s the best way to describe Bloodstone’s music. Their music gradually evolved over the band’s lifetime. Bloodstone’s music has incorporated everything from doo-wop, soul, funk, R&B, rock, gospel and Latin music. It seems Bloodstone have constantly reinvented themselves musically. That’s no bad thing. Any group that stands still, …
ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON-ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON.
ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON-ONE WAY FEATURING AL HUDSON. Between 1977 and 1978, Al Hudson and The Soul Partners released a trio of albums on ABC Records. These three albums were a fusion of soul, R&B and funk. Then in 1979, Al Hudson and The Soul Partners changed their name to Al Hudson and The …
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-AFRICAN QUEENS.
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-AFRICAN QUEENS. Just like The Ritchie Family’s three previous albums, their fourth album, 1977s African Queens which will be rereleased by Gold Legion on 27th July 2o13, was a disco concept album. Their 1975 Latin-tinged debut album Brazil was The Ritchie Family’s most successful album. Brazil, which featured The Sweethearts of Sigma’s vocals …
BOOKER T.-I WANT YOU.
BOOKER T.-I WANT YOU. It’s no exaggeration to refer to Booker T. Jones as a musical prodigy. Born in Memphis in 1944, Booker T’s musical talents were obvious from an early age. Whilst still at Booker T. Washington High School, Booker T. was already able to play piano, organ, oboe, saxophone and trombone. Aged sixteen, …
BACK TO MY ROOTS: DJ NORRI’S SALSOUL MIX.
BACK TO MY ROOTS: DJ NORRI’S SALSOUL MIX. Nine years after the release of The Salsoul Orchestra’s debut single Salsoul Hustle in 1975, what had been disco’s premier label, closed its doors for the final time. Having released 100 albums and 200 twelve inch singles, Salsoul Records had enjoyed a longevity few other disco labels …
PETER KING-MILIKI SOUND.
PETER KING-MILIKI SOUND. It’s almost ironic that Peter King, one of Nigeria’s best musicians, is better known in Europe and America than in his home country. Peter King’s is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most talented musicians. His name is synonymous with his Miliki Sound, a captivating fusion of African musical genres and influences. …
UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOLUME 3-A COLLECTION OF RARE SOUL AND DISCO.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOLUME 3-A COLLECTION OF RARE SOUL AND DISCO. 2013 year has hardly been a vintage year for compilations. So far, I’d say it’s been a decidedly average year. The mountain of compilations released have certainly been eclectic, but have varied greatly in quality. Ranging from the good, bad and the ugly, we …
R.M HUBBERT-THIRTEEN LOST AND FOUND.
R.M HUBBERT-THIRTEEN LOST AND FOUND. That R.M. Hubbert’s sophomore solo album Thirteen Lost and Found won the Scottish Album of The Year Award is particularly fitting. R.M. or Robert McArthur Hubbert, to give Hubby his Sunday name, is an unsung veteran of Glasgow’s music scene. He formed his first band Me, Hubby and Thom in …
RICK REDBEARD-NO SELFISH HEART.
RICK REDBEARD-NO SELFISH HEART. All too often, when I pore through each week’s new releases, I wonder where music is heading? It seems that nostalgia is now officially the future. A deluge of third-rate reissues seems to be all some record companies are releasing. Then there’s compilations. Like greetings cards, there are compilations for every …
CANDIDO-CANDI’S FUNK.
CANDIDO-CANDI’S FUNK. 1979 was one of the most important years in the history of Salsoul Records. That year, disco died and briefly, Salsoul returned to its Latin roots. This happened when veteran Cuban percussionist signed to Salsoul Records. Dancin’ and Prancin’ his Salsoul debut, consisted of just four infectiously catchy, genre-sprawling tracks. Despite it indisputable …
MURO-DIGGIN’ SALSOUL BREAKS.
MURO-DIGGIN’ SALSOUL BREAKS. Despite closing its doors nearly thirty years ago, interest in Salsoul Records has never been higher. A new generation of music lovers are rediscovering what was undoubtably disco’s premier label. So too, are a new generations of DJs. Realizing that Salsoul Records’ illustrious back-catalogue is a goldmine for killer tracks and elusive …
NANCY WILSON-THE SOUND OF NANCY WILSON AND NANCY.
NANCY WILSON-THE SOUND OF NANCY WILSON AND NANCY. Eight years and over a dozen albums after Nancy Wilson released her debut album Something Wonderful in 1960, she was now one of the biggest draws in jazz music. She was hailed as the “heir apparent to Ella Fitzgerald by Time Magazine” in 1964, the year she …
THE O’JAYS IN PHILADELPHIA.
THE O’JAYS IN PHILADELPHIA. When Kenny Gamble saw first saw The O’Jays, they were on the same bill as The Intruders. This was October 1968. The Intruders just had the biggest hit of their career with Cowboys To Girls, which Kenny and Leon Huff cowrote. Despite this, it was The O’Jays that grabbed Kenny’s attention. …
THE ISLEY BROTHERS-WINNER TAKES ALL.
THE ISLEY BROTHERS-WINNER TAKES ALL. That The Isley Brothers called their 1979 album Winner Takes All, seems almost fitting. After all, The Isley Brothers were on what was the hottest streak of their long career. Since 1973, when The Isley Brothers released 3 + 3, commercial success and critical acclaim had been ever-present. They’d released …
PAUL EVANS-FOLK SONGS OF MANY LANDS & 21 YEARS IN A TENNESSEE JAIL.
PAUL EVANS-FOLK SONGS OF MANY LANDS & 21 YEARS IN A TENNESSEE JAIL. Music it seems, has dominated Paul Evans life. Some of his earliest memories revolve around. As a child, he sat around the kitchen table with his family, listening to the popular music of that time. Doris Say, Eddie Fisher, Dinah Shore and …
ENCHANTMENT-UTOPIA.
ENCHANTMENT-UTOPIA. Enchantment’s sixth album Utopia, may not have resulted in Enchantment heading off in pursuit of Sir Thomas More’s mythical and idealized island, but it did mark a change in the lives and music of the veteran band. They maybe never knew it when they began recording Utopia, but seventeen years after they were formed …
GWEN MCCRAE-MELODY OF LIFE.
GWEN MCCRAE-MELODY OF LIFE. By 1979, Gwen McCrae’s career and private life were going through tough times. Her marriage to George McCrae was over. As for her music career, well, it seemed a long time since her number one US R&B single Rockin’ Chair. It was only four years. A lot had happened since then. …
THE SEEDS-FUTURE.
THE SEEDS-FUTURE. For any band with what might be described as a “generous” recording budget, the temptation to experiment and push musical boundaries must be tantalizing. Especially back in 1967, at the dawn of the psychedelic era. For The Seeds, resisting this temptation was impossible. The Seeds can’t be criticized for this. After all, during …
THE DJOON EXPERIENCE.
THE DJOON EXPERIENCE. Ideally situated in the vibrant Eastern quarter of Paris, the Djoon Club has gained a reputation as one of Paris’ leading clubs. DJ and dancers alike, make a pilgrimage to Djoon. Indeed, some of the biggest names in music have headed to Djoon. However, it’s not just a stopover for superstar DJs. …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 