Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1.
SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1. With so many Salsoul compilations having been released over the past twenty years, any newcomer to Salsoul Records is spoiled for choice. Indeed, anyone looking to discover disco’s premier label, will be confused by the sheer variety of Salsoul compilations on offer. Sadly, Salsoul compilations fall into …
SALSOUL PRESENTS: DISCO DIVAS AND SOULFUL SISTA FLAVAS.
SALSOUL PRESENTS: DISCO DIVAS AND SOULFUL SISTA FLAVAS. when you look back at the history of Salsoul Records, you realize they weren’t short of some stunning female vocalists. Loleatta Holloway, First Choice, Charo, Carol Williams, Jocelyn Brown from Inner Life, The Sweethearts of Sigma, Brenda Gooch and Claudja Barry. Each of these divas feature on …
GARY CRISS-RIO DE JANEIRO.
GARY CRISS-RIO DE JANEIRO. Recently when I was reviewing a new Salsoul Records compilation, The Salsoul Records Story, which was recently released by Gold Legion, I was pleased to discover that the compilers had included Gary Criss’ Rio De Janeiro. This was the title-track to the only album Gary Criss released on Salsoul Records. Rio …
JOHN DAVIS AND THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA-THE MONSTER STRIKES AGAIN.
JOHN DAVIS AND THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA-THE MONSTER STRIKES AGAIN. By 1979, John Davis and The Monster Orchestra had released three albums between 1976 and 1976. Their debut albums for SAM Records was 1976s Night and Day. 1977s Up Jumped The Devil and 1978s Ain’t That Enough For You followed. These three albums cemented John Davis …
DISCO RECHARGE-THP ORCHESTRA-EARLY RISER AND TOO HOT FOR LOVE.
DISCO RECHARGE-THP ORCHESTRA-EARLY RISER AND TOO HOT FOR LOVE. One of the phenomenons of the disco era was the disco orchestra. Following the success of The Salsoul Orchestra, other record companies decided they too, wanted their own disco orchestra. Soon, disco orchestras were springing up throughout America. It seemed no American city was immune from …
DISCO RECHARGE-BORIS MIDNEY-COMPANION AND DOUBLE DISCOVERY.
DISCO RECHARGE-BORIS MIDNEY-COMPANION AND DOUBLE DISCOVERY. Looking back at the collateral damage caused by the events of Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, Chicago on 12th July 1979, it’s hard to believe the effect the Disco Sucks movement had on disco. Record labels like T.K. Records folded, artists were dropped by labels and radio stations …
PROG ROCKS!
PROG ROCKS! Although many musical genres divide opinion, some musical genres that tend to divide opinion way more than others. Everyone can think of their own example, but for me, three immediately spring to mind. These are disco, punk and prog rock. Of these three musical genres, when it comes to opinions, not many people …
GINA CAREY-MY SUNSHINE.
GINA CAREY-MY SUNSHINE. Back on 31st January 2013, Gina Carey released the ninth album of her career. This was Gina Carey…The Songbird. To coincide with Gina Carey…The Songbird’s release, Hey Mr was released was the lead single. Now two months later, Gina Carey releases the second single from Gina Carey…The Songbird My Sunshine. My Sunshine …
J.J. CALE-CLASSIC ALBUM SELECTION.
J.J. CALE-CLASSIC ALBUM SELECTION. One of the most underrated singer, songwriter and guitarists is J.J. Cale, whose career began back in the late fifties as Johnny Cale. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that J.J. Cale released his debut album Naturally. Naturally featured a track that would become synonymous with J.J. and would introduce his music …
RODION G.A.-THE LOST TAPES.
RODION G.A.-THE LOST TAPES. Rodion G.A’s The Lost Tapes is the most eagerly awaited albums of 2013. It’ll be released Strut Records on 27th May 2013. However, Rodion G.A. aren’t a new band. Quite the opposite. Instead, Rodion G.A. were formed by Rodion Rosca between 1975 and 1976. The ten tracks that comprise The Lost …
THE T.K. RECORDS STORY VOLUME 1.
THE T.K. RECORDS STORY VOLUME 1. Throughout his life, Henry Stone has been immersed in music. Indeed, ever since he was discharged from the US army in 1947, Henry Stone’s life has revolved around music. His career started in sales and distribution, at Modern and Jewel Records in 1948. After that, he moved to Miami, …
THE SALSOUL RECORDS STORY.
THE SALSOUL RECORDS STORY. Given Salsoul Records is disco’s premier label and was responsible for some of the most innovative and influential music of the disco era, you’d expect there to be many more compilations available than there are. Granted there have been a number of compilations released over the past few years, but recently, …
BACKBEATS-METROPOLIS STOMP TIME-NORTHERN SOUL FROM THE BIG CITY.
BACKBEATS-METROPOLIS STOMP TIME-NORTHERN SOUL FROM THE BIG CITY. When it comes to compiling a Northern Soul compilation, Harmless Records couldn’t have selected a better compiler than Kev Roberts for their latest Backbeats’ compilation Metropolis Stomp Time. After all, Kev Roberts life has been Northern Soul since Northern Soul’s heyday. Kev Roberts started off as a …
BACKBEATS-DETROIT GOLD-70S SOUL GROOVES FROM MOTOR CITY.
BACKBEATS-DETROIT GOLD-70S SOUL GROOVES FROM MOTOR CITY. After becoming embroiled in a dispute with Motown Records during 1967, the songwriting and production team of Lamont Dozier and brothers Eddie and Brian Brian Holland left the label in 1968. Motown sued Holland, Dozier, Holland, who countersued Motown. Like all litigation, things were getting messy and expensive. …
BACKBEATS-CROSSOVER TO SOUL-MORE CROSSOVER SOUL FROM THE 60S AND 70S.
BACKBEATS-CROSSOVER TO SOUL-MORE CROSSOVER SOUL FROM THE 60S AND 70S. Two of my favorite compilations from Harmless Records’ Backbeats series have been the two crossover compilations. The first of these was I Get My Groove, released in 2010. Then in 2011, came They Call It Crossover, which somehow, surpassed the quality of its predecessor. Now, …
BACKBEATS-DANCE FLOOR REVOLUTION-70S MODERN SOUL STUNNERS.
BACKBEATS-DANCE FLOOR REVOLUTION-70S MODERN SOUL STUNNERS. Over forty years ago, in the North of England a musical revolution was taking place in venues like the Wigan Casino, Cleethorpes Pier, Leeds Central, Stoke-On-Trent’s Torch and Samantha’s in Sheffield. Soon, Northern Soul became one of the biggest musical scenes. Not only was it thriving, but people from …
dereksmusicblog
