Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
THE SALSOUL STRINGS-HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE.
THE SALSOUL STRINGS-HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE. Recently, I’ve been reviewing many of Salsoul Records’ releases, and during these reviews, explaining how Salsoul Records started to change around 1978. This change came about when several of Salsoul’s key personnel started to leave the label or play less of a role in the label’s releases. This …
THE ORIGINAL MASTERS-DISCO VOLUME 8.
THE ORIGINAL MASTERS-DISCO VOLUME 8. As many regular readers of this blog will realize, I’m constantly on the lookout for new music to tell you about. With the lack of new releases from both the major and independent record companies, I’m having to dig even deeper looking for new music. That’s meant I’ve been checking …
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: WHEN COUNTRY MEETS SOUL.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: WHEN COUNTRY MEETS SOUL. Compilers it seems, are always looking for new ideas for the compilations, that will make their particular compilation standout from the sometimes overcrowded compilation market. Record companies big and small, sometimes perceive compilations as shooting fish in a barrel, an easy way to make quick buck. Having said …
M.F.S.B.-THE GAMBLE AND HUFF ORCHESTRA.
M.F.S.B.-THE GAMBLE AND HUFF ORCHESTRA. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been charting the rise of Salsoul Records and then the changes in personnel that ensued from 1978 onwards. The story of Salsoul Records wouldn’t have happened without Philadelphia International Records and Gamble and Huff. M.F.S.B. were Philadelphia International Records legendary house-band, and in 1975 …
SAM COOKE-THE RCA ALBUMS COLLECTION.
SAM COOKE-THE RCA ALBUMS COLLECTION. With record companies on what seems like an extended summer break, it gives me the opportunity to look back at albums I’ve overlooked or not had time to review when they were released. Now as someone whose something of a self-confessed music addict, who can’t go more than two days …
THE FOUNTAIN MUSIC AND PLAZA IN CROWD COLLECTION.
THE FOUNTAIN MUSIC AND PLAZA IN CROWD COLLECTION. Recently I wrote a feature on two of Electronic Dance Music’s most ambitious and innovative labels, Japan’s Fountain Music and Plaza In Crowd. Although Fountain Music and Plaza In Crowd were only founded in June 2008 by Shinji Tokida, they’ve been releasing innovative and groundbreaking music since …
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I.
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I. In the last few articles I’ve written about Salsoul Records, I’ve mentioned how from 1978 onwards, things were changing at Salsoul. The Salsoul Orchestra played a huge part in Salsoul’s success. They were much more than musicians, with many of its members songwriters, arrangers and producers. This included the Baker, Harris, …
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-FOURPLAY.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-FOURPLAY. Before changing their name to Double Exposure, the Philadelphia quartet of James Williams, Joseph Harris, Charles Whittington and Leonard “Butch” Davis were known as United Image. The group had formed back in the sixties, whilst the four members of United Image were still in high school. Through their lifelong friendship with legendary Philadelphia …
FIRST CHOICE-HOLD YOUR HORSES.
FIRST CHOICE-HOLD YOUR HORSES. By the time First Choice signed to Gold Mind Records in 1976, they’d already released three albums since forming in Philadelphia 1972. First Choice would go on to release three albums for Gold Mind Records, a subsidiary of Salsoul Records. Their first release was 1977s Delusions, which contained two tracks that …
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. Having signed Loleatta Holloway to Gold Mind Records in 1976, Loleatta’s producer and mentor Norman Harris set about giving Loleatta a makeover. He started transforming the Southern Soul singer in the a disco diva on her debut album Loleatta. After her Sasloul debut Loleatta was released, Loleatta Holloway’s makeover to …
LUTHER VANDROSS-GIVE ME THE REASON.
LUTHER VANDROSS-GIVE ME THE REASON. There aren’t many singers that go from singing backing vocals to releasing a string of gold and platinum albums. While that might sound like the stuff of fiction, that’s what happened to Luther Vandross. During the late seventies, Luther was singing backing vocals for Chic, while no doubt studying Niles …
DEXTER WANSEL-VOYAGER.
DEXTER WANSEL-VOYAGER. For any label, losing many members of their house-band, plus some of their best songwriters, arrangers and producers could’ve proved fatal. This is what happened at Philadelphia International Records in 1975. Many of M.F.S.B. were locked in a dispute with Gamble and Huff over money. When the dispute couldn’t be resolved many of …
M.F.S.B.-PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM.
M.F.S.B.-PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM. Often, when I’m either writing about Philadelphia International Records or Salsoul Records, I mention M.F.S.B. Philadelphia International Records’ legendary house-band. M.F.S.B.’s role in the Philly Sound can’t be underestimated. They played on literally every album the influenced and shaped what became known as the Philly Sound. Whether it was working with Thom Bell …
SAM RECORDS EXTENDED PLAY-MIXED BY JACQUES RENAULT.
SAM RECORDS EXTENDED PLAY-MIXED BY JACQUES RENAULT. Sometimes, I wonder whether the music industry sets out to take advantage of loyal fans. Too often, the same albums are constantly rereleased, usually under the premise of remastering the album or celebrating the twentieth or thirtieth anniversary of its release. Come Christmas, Greatest Hits and Best of …
JACKIE MOORE-WITH YOUR LOVE.
JACKIE MOORE-WITH YOUR LOVE. It was during the recording sessions for Jackie Moore’s 1973 album Sweet Charlie Babe that Jackie first met Philly guitarist and producer Bobby Eli. In 1973, Bobby was a member of M.F.S.B., Philadelphia International Records’ legendary house band. Two years later, after a dispute over money, Bobby Eli and other members …
GO GO GET DOWN-COMPILED BY JOEY NEGRO.
GO GO GET DOWN-COMPILED BY JOEY NEGRO. Usually, at this time of year, the compilation market is at its most buoyant, with record labels releasing some of their best compilations of the year. This year things have been unusually quiet, with quality compilations being the exception rather than the rule. Apart from a few independent …
JERRY BUTLER-NOTHING SAYS I LOVE YOU LIKE I DO.
JERRY BUTLER-NOTHING SAYS I LOVE YOU LIKE I DO. When Jerry Butler signed to Philadelphia International Records in 1978, it was a homecoming of sorts. Seven years previously, in 1971, Gamble and Huff and Jerry Butler ended what had been a fruitful working relationship. Now seven years later, the three men were older and wiser. …
IDRISSA SISSOKO-LOPILOPILO.
IDRISSA SISSOKO-LOPILOPOLO. There are few people in music that work as hard as Boddhi Satva does, that I can say with a degree of certainty. Not only is he one of the hardest working men in music, but successfully juggles a variety of roles. Boddhi Satva is a DJ, recording artist, producer and owns his …
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