Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
JOHN DAVIS MONSTER ORCHESTRA-NIGHT AND DAY.
JOHN DAVIS MONSTER ORCHESTRA-NIGHT AND DAY. One of the phenomenon’s of the disco era, was the arrival of the disco orchestra. Obviously, the best known and without doubt, best, and most successful was The Salsoul Orchestra. They played their part in making Salsoul Records disco’s most successful and classic label. Other record companies, having seen …
THE O’JAYS-SURVIVAL.
THE O’JAYS-SURVIVAL. That The O’Jays released an album in 1975 entitled Survival, is almost ironic. 1975 would prove to be a traumatic year for The O’Jays’ label Philadelphia International Records. During 1975 Gamble and Huff were locked in a dispute with many of the members of their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. over money. Eventually, after the …
FIRST CHOICE-THE PLAYER.
FIRST CHOICE-THE PLAYER. In the early seventies, Philadelphia had become the soul capital of America. Forget about Detroit or Memphis, Philly was where some of the greatest soul music was being produced. Philly was a hive of musical creativity, with the Philly Sound providing the soundtrack to much of the seventies. This soundtrack came courtesy …
THE TRAMMPS-WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO.
THE TRAMMPS-WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO. After a series of modest hit singles, The Trammps contract with Buddah Records ended. Baker, Harris, Young decided to form their own label, Golden Fleece Records, which would release their debut album, Trammps. Released in 1975, Trammps reached number 159 in the US Billboard 200 and number thirty in …
BLUE MAGIC-BLUE MAGIC.
BLUE MAGIC-BLUE MAGIC. Having left The Delfonics, Randy Cain started working with Ted Mills, a Philadelphia-based songwriter. The pair would cowrite songs for the Philly-based WMOT production company. Not long after they started collaborating, Randy and Ted met Shades of Love, a Philly vocal group yet to make their commercial breakthrough. Featuring Keith Beaton, Richard …
M.F.S.B.-M.F.S.B.
M.F.S.B.-M.F.S.B. By 1973, Philadelphia International Records was well on the way to becoming one of the most successful record labels of all time, whilst supplying the soundtrack for the seventies, and a generation. Critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums started flowing out of Philadelphia. This included The O’Jays’ Backstabbers, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes’ …
S.E.L.-DAYDREAM.
S.E.L.-DAYDREAM. While many people may not yet have heard of S.E.L. or to give her, her real name, Emma Louise Bucknor, that could and should be, all be about to change. S.E.L’s new single Daydream has just been released. It’s the latest offering from one of the hottest names in the UK’s Nu-Soul and Nu-Jazz …
LATER ALLIGATOR-LOUISIANA ROCK AND ROLL.
LATER ALLIGATOR-LOUISIANA ROCK AND ROLL. Given the amount of music that’s released on a weekly basis, finding time to review everything isn’t easy. Often, some releases get overlooked in the process. This I discovered recently, whilst looking through two mountains of albums. They contain just some of the recent releases I’ve received. Within these two …
GREAT BRITISH ALBUMS.
GREAT BRITISH ALBUMS. Usually, in the run-up to Christmas, record companies find any excuse to release compilations, best of’s and box set galore. Wander through you’re local record shop, and you’ll find the umpteenth album of greatest hits from the usual suspects, including rock stars of yesteryear topping up their pension plans. Often, a similar …
TIM MAIA: WORLD PSYCHEDELIC CLASSICS 4: NOBODY CAN LIVE FOREVER: THE EXISTENTIAL SOUL OF TIM MAIA.
TIM MAIA: WORLD PSYCHEDELIC CLASSICS 4: NOBODY CAN LIVE FOREVER: THE EXISTENTIAL SOUL OF TIM MAIA. For a label looking to release a retrospective compilation of an artist’s career, things don’t always go smoothly. Pitfalls aplenty await the label. Often their persistence, never mind patience is sorely tested. Indeed from deciding to rerelease an album …
BLUE NILE-HATS.
BLUE NILE-HATS. For most groups, a gap of five years between albums would be unthinkable. It just wouldn’t happen. Either the group would be keen to get a new album released, or their record company would be pressurizing them to do so. Not the Blue Nile. In fact, the five years between their debut alum …
SURINAM! BOOGIE AND DISCO FUNK FROM THE SURINAMESE DANCE FLOORS ’76-83.
SURINAM! BOOGIE AND DISCO FUNK FROM THE SURINAMESE DANCE FLOORS ’76-83. All too often, when compilers decide to compile an album of disco, boogie and funk, they stick to what I’d call tried and tested tracks. They’re hardly adventurous, and as a result, far too many compilations of predictable, if not boring compilations are released.Granted …
MARY WELLS-THE COMPLETE 20TH CENTURY COLLECTION.
MARY WELLS-THE COMPLETE 20TH CENTURY COLLECTION. After four hit laden years at Motown, Mary Wells dropped a bombshell, when she announced she was leaving Motown. Mary couldn’t have chosen a better time to leave Motown. She was holding all the cards, and had just enjoyed the equivalent of a Royal Flush. My Guy had just …
SYREETA-ONE TO ONE.
SYREETA-ONE TO ONE. Mention the name Syreeta, and somewhat predictably, most people remember her as being married to Stevie Wonder. That, however, is doing Syreeta a huge disservice. Not only did Syreeta play a huge role in transforming Stevie Wonder’s career, writing and appearing on his albums, but enjoyed a successful solo career. Their marriage …
OLIVIA DE LANZAC-SPANISH MONK.
OLIVIA DE LANZAC-SPANISH MONK. Recently, I had the pleasure of reviewing Olivia De Lanzac’s forthcoming album for BBE Music Uncut, which will be released on 26th November 2012. This will be Olivia’s sophomore album, and the followup to 2010s Baby Let’s Play House. Uncut is a genre-crossing collection of compelling and eclectic tracks. It’s almost …
DELEGATION-DELEGATION II.
DELEGATION-DELEGATION II. Although Delegation calling their third album Delegation II, might seem somewhat confusing, but in many ways it made sense. Delegation II the second album to feature the new lineup of Ricky Bailey, Ray Patterson and Bruce Dunbar, who’d replaced founding member Len Coley. So essentially, Eau De Vie, Delegation’s sophomore album and now …
BLUE NILE-A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS.
BLUE NILE-A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe the Blue Nile, whose 1984 debut album A Walk Across the Rooftops was rereleased just two days ago. The Blue Nile are the complete opposite of most bands. Describing the Blue Nile as publicity shy, is an understatement. Indeed, …
ACID JAZZ: THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET.
ACID JAZZ: THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET. Over the last twenty-five years, record companies have come and gone. New labels have been set up, released innovative music, and then, they’re gone. Many of these people found that running a label wasn’t as easy as they thought. Often, the business-side got in the way of what …
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