Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
MICHAELA MCCLAIN-THE STORY SO FAR.
MICHAELA MCCLAIN-THE STORY SO FAR. Recently, I came across one of the most talented singer, songwriters and musicians I’ve heard in a long time. Her name is Michaela McClain, who released her debut single Needed More in March 2012, with her sophomore single Ur Love following later in March 2012. After that, Michaela headed to …
BEN E. KING-I HAD A LOVE.
BEN E. KING-I HAD A LOVE. In 1975, Ben E. King had resigned to Atlantic Records. His first album for Atlantic Records was Supernatural, which was produced by Bert De Coteaux and Tony Silvester. Supernatural had proved a commercial success, reaching number thirty-nine in the US Billboard 200 and number thirteen in the US R&B …
B.B. KING-TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU.
B.B. KING-TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU. In 1973, B.B. King decided to head to Philadelphia, to work with some of the city’s greatest musicians on his album To Know You Is To Love You. Many of these musicians were members of M.F.S.B, Philadelphia International Records’ legendary house-band. Among the members of M.F.S.B. which …
BLACK SLATE-AMIGO.
BLACK SLATE-AMIGO. Back in London in 1974, Black Slate became one of the first wave of British reggae bands. Indeed, Black Slate were the third major British reggae band to be formed. They were following in the footsteps of British reggae pioneers The Cimarons and Matumbi. These three bands were pioneers, leading the way for …
MUSIC FOR DANCEFLOORS-THE KPM MUSIC LIBRARY (DELUXE EDITION).
MUSIC FOR DANCEFLOORS-THE KPM MUSIC LIBRARY. Ever since the dawn of hip hop, library music has proved a source of inspiration for sample-hungry hip hop producers and crate-digging DJs alike. Library music has also proven popular with music lovers with discerning musical tastes. Little did the founders of Chappell, Bosworth and KPM Music realize the …
DONNA ALLEN-PERFECT TIMING.
DONNA ALLEN-PERFECT TIMING. Donna Allen, whose 1986 debut album Perfect Timing will be rereleased by BBR Records on 25th February 2013, career started ten years before her debut album was released. However, Donna Allen’s career was almost accidental. She’d originally been a cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in 1976, as a favor to …
GEORGE MCCRAE-DIAMOND TOUCH.
GEORGE MCCRAE-DIAMOND TOUCH. For George McCrae, Rock Your Baby, the single that transformed his career was something of a double-edged sword. Commercially, releasing a single that sold over eleven-million copies, reached number one in over eighty countries and was named Rolling Stone magazine’s song of the year in 1974 changed George McCrae’s life forevermore. The …
DELEGATION-DEUCES HIGH.
DELEGATION-DEUCES HIGH. By the time Delegation came to record their fourth album, 1982s Deuces High, which BBR Records will released on 25th February 2013, the group’s lineup had changed several times. It seemed Delegation’s lineup was constantly evolving. Members joined, then left. When Delegation came to record their fourth album, Deuces High, Ricky Bailey was …
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY.
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY. In August 1972, when The O’Jays’ released Back Stabbers, little did they realize how important an album it would become. Back Stabbers was certified gold, and fourteen years after The O’Jays were formed, were on their way to becoming one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful groups in the …
DISCO LOVE VOLUME 3-EVEN MORE RARE DISCO AND SOUL UNCOVERED (COMPILED BY AL KENT)
DISCO LOVE VOLUME 3-EVEN MORE RARE DISCO AND SOUL UNCOVERED (COMPILED BY AL KENT). Glasgow’s disco don Al Kent is back, and he’s been crate-digging again. Digging deep. Way deeper than he’s ever dug before. The result is his new compilation Disco Love 3, which will be released on BBE Music on 18th February 2013. …
LAURA NYRO-GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE.
LAURA NYRO-GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE. Recently, I’ve been reviewing albums which although not strictly Philly Soul, feature many of the musicians, songwriters, arrangers and producers who were architects of the Philly Sound. This include Ecstasy, Passion and Pain’s Ecstasy, Passion and Pain, Joe Simon’s Drowning In A Sea of Love, Dusty Springfield’s A Brand New …
GWEN GUTHRIE-GOOD TO GO LOVER.
GWEN GUTHRIE-GOOD TO GO LOVER. By 1986, when Gwen Guthrie released Good To Go Lover, her first album for Polydor, she was already an established artist and songwriter. Good To Go Lover which will be rereleased by SoulMusic Records on 18th February 2013, marked Gwen’s debut as producer. It seemed that Gwen Guthrie had the …
FREDA PAYNE-SUPERNATURAL HIGH.
FREDA PAYNE-SUPERNATURAL HIGH. Mention the name Freda Payne, and most people will automatically think of her 1970 two-million-selling single Band of Gold. That, however, is doing Freda Payne a huge disservice. Why? Well, Freda Payne’s career has lasted over fifty years, and saw Freda release eleven studio albums. One of these albums was 1978s Supernatural …
STEPHANIE MILLS-I’VE GOT THE CURE.
STEPHANIE MILLS-I’VE GOT THE CURE. By 1984, Stephanie Mills was about to release her ninth album, I’ve Got The Cure. This was her final album on Casablanca Records, and featured Stephanie’s number one single Medicine Song. However, success hadn’t come overnight for Stephanie. Neither Stephanie’s 1974 debut album For The First Time, nor her 1975 …
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD-A BRAND NEW ME.
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD-A BRAND NEW ME. For Dusty Springfield, her 1970 album A Brand New Me proved to a hugely significant album for three reasons. A Brand New Me was the followup to what is seen as Dusty’s finest album Dusty In Memphis, released in 1969. Another reason was that A Brand New Me featured what …
BLUE MAGIC-MYSTIC DRAGONS.
BLUE MAGIC-MYSTIC DRAGONS. The story of Blue Magic, is far from unique. Their eponymous debut album Blue Magic, released in January 1974, reached number forty-five in the US Billboard 200 and number four in the US R&B Charts. This resulted in Blue Magic being certified gold. Blue Magic featured the million-selling Philly Soul classic Sideshow, …
JOHN DAVIS MONSTER ORCHESTRA-UP JUMPED THE DEVIL.
JOHN DAVIS MONSTER ORCHESTRA-UP JUMPED THE DEVIL. By 1977, disco was at the peak of its popularity. Salsoul Records, owned by the Cayre brothers had established itself as disco’s premier label. Soon, other labels looked enviously at Salsoul’s success. They wanted to hitch a ride on the disco bandwagon. One thing many labels hadn’t worked …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 