Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
CHERYL LYNN-INSTANT LOVE.
CHERYL LYNN-INSTANT LOVE. When Cheryl Lynn released her eponymous debut album Cheryl Lynn, it contained a single that since then, has become synonymous with Cheryl, Got To Be Real. It reached number one in the US R&B Charts, while her debut album was certified gold. Since then, Got To Be Real has become a disco …
JOHN MORALES-THE M & M MIXES.
JOHN MORALES-THE M&M MIXES. Over the past few months, I’ve reviewed a number of compilations of remixes from some of the best and highest profile remixers in the history of disco. Recently, I’ve reviewed Mixed With Love-The Walter Gibbons Anthology and Larry Levan-The Definitve Salsoul Remixes 1978, while previously, I reviewed Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton …
MIXED WITH LOVE-THE WALTER GIBBONS ANTHOLOGY.
MIXED WITH LOVE-THE WALTER GIBBONS ANTHOLOGY. Recently, I reviewed Larry Levan-The Definitive Salsoul Mixes 1978-1983 and this provoked some controversy. The controversy was whether Larry actually remixed some of the tracks on the compilation. These rumors weren’t new to me, as they’ve been circulating for many years. I hoped my review would bring these rumors …
THE STAPLE SINGERS-THE STAPLE SINGERS.
THE STAPLE SINGERS-THE STAPLE SINGERS. By the early eighties, The Staple Singers had spent over thirty years performing and recording. Their career started in 1948, with the group singing in churches in the Chicago area. Four years later in 1952, they signed their first record contract, releasing their debut album Uncloudy Day in 1959. Since …
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND.
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND. Imagine this scenario. You’re part of a band whose just released your debut album which fails to chart. A year later, you release the followup which not only reaches number one in the US R&B Charts and is certified triple-platinum, but features two singles that reach …
JOHN AND GINA CAREY-THE FAMILY THAT LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE TOGETHER.
JOHN AND GINA CAREY-THE FAMILY THAT LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE TOGETHER. This year, 2012, has been a big year for John and Gina Carey, releasing three albums so far. On St. Valentines’ Day 2012, which was quite apt, considering how devoted to a couple they are, they both released their new solo albums. John released …
LARRY LEVAN-THE DEFINITIVE SALSOUL MIXES 1978-1983.
LARRY LEVAN-THE DEFINITIVE SALSOUL MIXES 1978-1983. Recently, when I reviewed Salsoul Nation-Mixed and Compiled By Luke Howard, I mentioned how although Salsoul Records was one of the most important labels of the disco era, but no record company had undertaken a comprehensive and extensive reissue of its back-catalogue. However, not long after I wrote that …
RICHARD SEN PRESENTS THIS AIN’T CHICAGO.
RICHARD SEN PRESENTS THIS AIN’T CHICAGO. When I first received Richard Sen Presents This Ain’t Chicago released on Strut Records in June 2012, I was instantly transported back to 1985, when I first heard the first wave of Chicago House music. Straight away, I realised that things were about to change. This wasn’t just a …
THE DELLS-ONE STEP CLOSER.
THE DELLS-ONE STEP CLOSER. The last time I reviewed an album by The Dells, it was their 1978 album Love Connection. Like their previous album, They Said It Couldn’t Be Done But We Did It Anyway, it was produced by Norman Harris’ The Harris Machine. Along with some of Philly’s finest musicians, The Harris Machine …
DENIECE WILLIAMS-I’M SO PROUD.
DENIECE WILLIAMS-I’M SO PROUD. Sometimes, the difference an experience and talented producer can make to an artist’s career can’t be underestimated. While everyone has their own examples, Deniece Williams certainly felt this when she first met Thom Bell. Instantly, they realized they were musical soul mates. By that time, Thom Bell was a vastly experienced …
CHAKA KHAN-NAUGHTY.
CHAKA KHAN-NAUGHTY. After Rufus released their sixth album Street Player in 1978, Chaka Khan decided the time was right to launch her solo career. Her peerless vocals played a huge part in the success of Rufus, resulting four of their albums being certified gold and 1977s Ask Rufus being certified platinum. Chaka’s solo career started …
DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-LET’S FLY AWAY.
DISCO RECHARGE: VOYAGE-LET’S FLY AWAY. Back in June 2012, when Harmless Records launched their new label Disco Recharge, the new label’s first release was Voyage’s eponymous debut album Voyage. This saw Voyage embark upon a worldwide whistle-top tour, during which they paid homage to various styles of music. Their final destination was America, not just …
ROSE ROYCE-ROSE ROYCE III: STRIKES AGAIN.
ROSE ROYCE-ROSE ROYCE III: STRIKES AGAIN. When Norman Whitfield decided to set up his own record company Whitfield, after spending ten years at Motown as their psychedelic kahuna, one of his first signing were Total Concept Unlimited, an eight-piece band from Los Angeles. Norman became the group’s mentor, signing them to his label and shaping …
THE O’JAYS-TRAVELIN’ AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT.
THE O’JAYS-TRAVELIN’ AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT. A year after The O’Jays released Message In the Music, their final album to feature William Powell, The O’Jays would release Travellin’ At the Speed of Thought, their first album featuring their new vocalist Sammy Strain. Given how successful The O’Jays had been since releasing their first album …
TEENA MARIE-NAKED TO THE WORLD.
TEENA MARIE-NAKED TO THE WORLD. Having left Motown after a bitter and prolonged legal dispute, Teena Marie signed for Epic Records, releasing five albums. She’d enjoyed commercial success at Motown, releasing three albums that were certified gold between 1979 and 1981. These were Lady T in 1979, 1980s Irons In the Fire and 1981s It …
RONNIE FOSTER-DELIGHT.
RONNIE FOSTER-DELIGHT. After the release of Ronnie Foster’s previous album, 1978s Love Satellite, Ronnie headed out on the road with George Duke, before accompanying George Benson on one of his tours. On his return home, Ronnie would release the most commercially successful album of his career, Delight. On Delight, which was rereleased by SoulMusic Records …
QUAZAR-QUAZAR.
QUAZAR-QUAZAR. Having spent several years aboard George Clinton’s Mothership Connection, as vocalist and guitarist for Funkadelic and Parliament, Glenn Goins started getting restless being just a side-man for George. He watched other members leave the bands, forming their own successful bands. Soon he too, was considering his future, having played important roles on mid-seventies Funkadelic …
DISCO RECHARGE-TANGERUE/STRANGE AFFAIR.
DISCO RECHARGE-TANGERUE/STRANGE AFFAIR. After the success of Harmless Records’ Disco Discharge series, which celebrated the release of four further volumes in 2012, taking the total to sixteen volumes of the Disco Discharge series, Harmless have launched another new label and series, Disco Recharge. The Disco Recharge series sees Harmless rerelease long out of print classic …
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