Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME.
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME. Recently, when reviewing The O’Jays’ Message In the Music, I mentioned how that 1976 was a pivotal year for Philadelphia International Records and their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. From the very first album Philadelphia International Records released, M.F.S.B. provided the album’s heartbeat. These musicians included bassist Ron Baker, guitarist Norman Harris and drummer Earl Young. …
DIANA ROSS-DIANA.
DIANA ROSS-DIANA. While Diana Ross’ 1979 album The Boss had been commercially successful, reaching number fourteen in the US Billboard and number ten in the US R&B Charts, resulting in the album being certified gold, for the follow-up Diana wanted a more modern, contemporary sound. Then fate intervened, when Diana was handed an album of …
P&P RECORDS HITS, HITS, HITS.
P&P RECORDS HITS, HITS, HITS. Each week, I always check out what albums will be released during the next few weeks and months. Sometimes, you get the odd surprise, with something being released without much fanfare of publicity. This was the case with P&P Hits, Hits, Hits a fifteen-disc box set, featuring nearly two-hundred tracks …
QUINCY JONES-YOU’VE GOT IT BAD GIRL.
QUINCY JONES-YOU’VE GOT IT BAD GIRL. During his career, Quincy Jones has fulfilled every musical role possible. This has seen him working as an arranger, producer, composer, conductor and musician. Despite this, when many people talk about Quincy’s career, they automatically mention that he produced Michael Jackson’s legendary 1981 Thriller. Mind you, Thriller did sell …
NATURAL FOUR-THE NATURAL FOUR.
NATURAL FOUR-THE NATURAL FOUR. Having formed in Oakland in 1967, Natural Four signed their first recording contract with a local Oakland label Boola Boola Records. Their debut singles was I Thought You Were Mine, which sold over thirty-thousand copies in the Oakland area. After the release of the follow-up, Why Should Me Stop Now ABC …
HARVEY MASON-GROOVIN’ YOU.
HARVEY MASON-GROOVIN’ YOU. By the time Harvey Mason signed a five year recording contract with Clive Davis’ Arista Records in 1976, Harvey was one of the most in-demand session drummers. He was seen as the go-to guy for anyone needing a top-class drummer. This saw Harvey playing on albums by Minnie Riperton, Donald Byrd, Chick …
EDDIE LEVERT-I STILL HAVE IT.
EDDIE LEVERT-I STILL HAVE IT. Never before, has an album title been more apt than Eddie Levert’s debut solo album I Still Have It. What Eddie Levert still has, is one of the best voices in R&B music. Eddie proves the maxim that form is temporary, but class is permanent. After joining The O’Jays in …
MICHAEL KIWANUKA-HOME AGAIN.
MICHAEL KIWANUKA-HOME AGAIN. When a new artist is compared favorably to some of the biggest names in music, then generally, people start to take notice. However, for those of us somewhat long in the tooth, we wonder whether, this is just the marketing department of a record company trying just a bit too hard to …
JACKIE MOORE-I’M ON MY WAY.
JACKIE MOORE-I’M ON MY WAY. Although many people remember Jackie Moore for her million selling single Precious, Precious released in 1970 on Atlantic Records, there’s much more to her career than just one track. Jackie’s career started in 1968, with Dear John, released in 1968 on Shout Records. Two years later, in 1970, came Precious, …
ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLS-WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER?
ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLS-WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER? One of the many highlights on Tom Moulton’s recent Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton Remixes was Tom’s remix of Archie Bell and The Drells’ Where Will You Go When the Party’s Over? Of the thirty-one remixes, that was one of my favorites. That set …
ARETHA FRANKLIN-GET IT RIGHT.
ARETHA FRANKLIN-GET IT RIGHT. By the early eighties, Aretha Franklin’s wasn’t enjoying the same success as earlier on in her career. It had been ten long years since one of her albums had been certified gold. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she hadn’t had a single enter the top forty since 1976s Sparkle and …
BILLY PAUL-EBONY WOMAN.
BILLY PAUL-EBONY WOMAN. Billy Paul played a hugely important role in the success of Philadelphia International Records. Not only was his 1972 album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul the first album released on the newly founded Philadelphia International Records, but his classic single Me and Mrs Jones gave the label their first number one single. …
BIG BOY BLOATER AND THE LIMITS-BIG BOY BLOATER AND THE LIMITS.
BIG BOY BLOATER AND THE LIMITS-BIG BOY BLOATER AND THE LIMITS. Recently I reviewed BBE Music’s forthcoming compilation Snowboy Presents New Vintage Volume 1 and although the compilation is crammed full of some great music, one track stood out from the rest, Big Boy Bloater and The Limits’ Big Fat Trap. From the moment I …
KEB DARGE AND LITTLE EDITH’S LEGENDARY WILD ROCKERS 2.
KEB DARGE AND LITTLE EDITH’S LEGENDARY WILD ROCKERS 2. While Keb Darge has been a compiler of quality compilations since the late nineties, his life has revolved around music since the seventies. His career started as a record collector, then dancer, DJ, record compiler and label owner. Keb started his career Northern Soul DJ and …
THE DELFONICS-LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU.
THE DELFONICS-LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU. When Stan Watson, manager of The Delfonics, and owner of Philly Groove Records, met novice producer Thom Bell in 1967, this would be the start of a relationship that saw The Delfonics not only pioneer the Philly Sound, but become one of the most successful soul groups of …
THE ISLEY BROTHERS-GO FOR YOUR GUNS.
THE ISLEY BROTHERS-GO FOR YOUR GUNS. Some time ago, I wrote about The Isley Brothers 1976’ album platinum certified album Harvest For the World, which was released during the hottest period of The Isley Brothers’ career. This hugely successful run of albums started with the release of 1973s 3 + 3 which was also certified …
THE FUTURES-THE GREETINGS OF PEACE.
THE FUTURES-THE GREETINGS OF PEACE. I thought that since the Philadelphia International Records-The 40th Anniversary Box Set was due out on 21st May 2012, that I’d revisit a few of the artists that’ll feature on the box set. This has included The Jacksons, first post-Motown album The Jacksons, which gave them the most successful album …
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW-ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK.
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW-ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK. Like many people, one of the most memorable parts of The Last Picture Show is the soundtrack. For me, it’s not just the music typifies the era, it’s the way director Peter Bogdanovich uses and deploys the music in such an evocative way. During the film, the music wafts out …
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