Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
CULT CLASSIC: LOCOMOTIVE-WE ARE EVERYTHING YOU SEE.
Cult Classic: Locomotive-We Are Everything You See. By 1965, all over Britain, new groups were being founded every day. They had watched as The Beatles and the rest of the British Invasion groups took America by storm. The new groups watched enviously, hoping and dreaming that one day soon, they would be signed by a …
CULT CLASSIC: PAVLOV’S DOG-PAMPERED MENIAL.
Cult Classic: Pavlov’s Dog-Pampered Menial. In the history of progressive rock, Pavlov’s Dog’s 1975 debut album Pampered Menial is regarded as a genre classic. That was despite the album’s commercial failure. It was released initially by ABC-Dunhill. The initial commercial failure was totally unexpected as the label had given Pavlov’s Dog a large advance which …
CULT CLASSIC: STANLEY TURRENTINE-COMIN’ YOUR WAY.
Cult Classic: Stanley Turrentine-Comin’ Your Way. When bandleader and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine entered Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey on January the ’20th’ 1961, he was twenty-six and about to record what would eventually become Comin’ Your Way. It was the third time he had made this journey since he had signed to Blue …
CULT CLASSIC: PHAROAH SANDERS-WELCOME TO LOVE.
Cult Classic: Pharoah Sanders-Welcome To Love. By the time Pharoah Sanders began recording Welcome To Love on the ‘17th’ of July 1990, at Studio Gimmick, Yerres, France, the American saxophonist and pioneer of free jazz was fifty, and was signed to the Dutch independent label, Timeless Records. Pharoah Sanders debut for his new label was …
CULT CLASSIC: EZE-NRI ROYAL DRUMMERS VOL. 1
Cult Classic: Eze-Nri Royal Drummers Vol. 1. One of the most important labels in the history of African music is Tabansi Records, which was founded in Onitsha, a trading centre in the Igbo southeast of Nigeria, in 1952. Chief (Dr) G.A.D. Tabansi had watched as Decca, and then Philips, closed the doors on their Nigerian …
CULT CLASSIC: SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA-WHEN ANGELS SPEAK OF LOVE.
Cult Classic: Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra-When Angels Speak Of Love. One of the most prolific artist of the twentieth century was the inimitable Sun Ra, who released around 125 albums during a career that spanned six decades. One that is a render of one of jazz’s pioneer and innovators is When Angels Speak Of Lovse. …
CULT CLASSIC: TERRY CALLIER-TURN YOU TO LOVE.
Cult Classic: Terry Callier-Turn You To Love. Talent alone sadly, is no guarantee of success. If it was, the late, great, Terry Callier would’ve enjoyed a long and successful career. Sadly, for much of his career, he was one of music’s best kept secrets whose music was appreciated more in Britain than it was in …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MUSICAL PIONEER EMILIO APARICIO.
The Life and Times Of Musical Pioneer Emilio Aparicio. Nowadays, the words pioneer and innovator tend to be overused, and musicians who create truly groundbreaking music seem to be sadly, few and far between. While there are some pioneering musicians whose music continues to push musical boundaries, there are no longer as many as there once …
CULT CLASSIC: DON ELLIS-SHOCK TREATMENT.
Cult Classic: Don Ellis-Shock Treatment. Bandleader, composer and trumpeter Don Ellis’ life was changed forevermore in 1974, when he was diagnosed with an abnormal heart condition, and a year later, in 1975, suffered his first heart attack which very nearly cost him his life. Fortunately, Don Ellis recovered and in 1977 signed to Atlantic Records. …
MARIANNE FAITHFUL: THE DECCA YEARS.
Marianne Faithful: The Decca Years. By March 1964, it was apparent that pop music wasn’t just a passing fad. The Beatles were a global phenomenon and the British Invasion of the American charts had just begun. Britain was a musical powerhouse ,that the world envied. Despite this, many labels weren’t resting on their laurels. Record …
THE RISE OF THE DOORS.
The Rise Of The Doors. By 1972, The Doors had decided to call the upon their career after the tragic death of their charismatic frontman Jim Morrison, who had died on the 3rd July 1971. The Lizard King became the latest entrant into the twenty-seven club, where he joined Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Alan Wilson and Jimi Hendrix. This …
CULT CLASSIC: BEN JAGGA-HOLD ON PRETTY WOMAN.
Cult Classic: Ben Jagga-Hold On Pretty Woman. Nowadays, every third rate, regional bar band has delusions of becoming the next Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple or Black Sabbath and spend their days dreaming of fame and fortune. Alas, these poor deluded fools shouldn’t give up their day job and should stick to pumping gas and parking cars because they usually lack …
CULT CLASSIC: RALPH THOMAS-EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
Cult Classic: Ralph Thomas-Eastern Standard Time. Back in 1980, saxophonist and flautist Ralph Thomas released his debut album Eastern Standard Time on the obscure Zebra Jazz imprint. Sadly, when this future spiritual jazz cult classic failed to find the audience it deserved until much later. By then, copies of Eastern Standard Time were almost impossible to find, and …
CLASSIC ALBUM: OSCAR PETERSON-MOTIONS AND EMOTIONS.
Classic Album: Oscar Peterson-Motions and Emotions. By 1969, forty-four year old Oscar Peterson was signed to the MPS label and was well on his way to becoming one of the greatest pianists in jazz history. The man who Duke Ellington called the Maharaja of the keyboard eventually won eight Grammy awards and released over 200 …
FUNKADELIC-FUNKADELIC AND FREE YOUR MIND…AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW.
Funkadelic-Funkadelic and Free Your Mind…and Your Ass Will Follow. Label: Westbound Records. Format: CD. Although George Clinton was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, in 1941, he grew up in New Jersey, where he formed the doo wop group The Parliaments in the late fifties.At the time he co-owned a barber salon in Plainfield and spent …
MILLIE JACKSON-21 OF THE BEST 1971-1983.
Millie Jackson-21 Of The Best 1971-1983. Label: Westbound. Format: CD. It’s no exaggeration to say that Millie Jackson was one of the most talented and charismatic female vocalists of the seventies and early-eighties. She spent twelve years signed to Spring Records and released sixteen studio albums between 1972 and 1983. Three of these albums, 1974s …
CAFE EXIL-NEW ADVENTURES IN EUROPEAN MUSIC 1972-1980.
Cafe Exil-New Adventures In European Music 1972-1980. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. At the end of David Bowie’s Station To Station tour in July 1976, he journeyed to Château d’Hérouville to start recording a new album.This wasn’t the followup to his critically acclaimed tenth album Station To Station. Instead, it was his friend Iggy Pop’s …
CULT CLASSIC: TIM MAIA 1970.
Cult Classic: Tim Maia 1970. For many musicians, choosing the title for an album can prove problematic. Especially, for a debut album. As a result, many of new artists and bands have released eponymous albums.This includes everyone from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers Band to Art In America and Ash Ra Tempel. Then there’s Cluster, Dire …
CULT CLASSIC: ALICE CLARK-ALICE CLARK.
Alice Clark-Alice Clark. Sadly, all too often, hype and image has triumphed over talent, while commercial success and critical acclaim eludes truly talented artists. Chastened by the experience, many of these artists turn their back on the music industry. They’re content to return to civvy street, free from a world populated by A&R executives, PR …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 