Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
THE STYLISTICS-HURRY UP THIS WAY AGAIN.
THE STYLISTICS-HURRY UP THIS WAY AGAIN. The story of The Stylistics has some similarities with that of The Delfonics. Both groups were among the finest purveyors of the Philly Sound and both were produced by Thom Bell. However, when Thom stopped working with each group, their music never had the same depth or quality. Even …
JERRY BUTLER-THE BEST LOVE.
JERRY BUTLER-THE BEST LOVE. Jerry Butler’s role in the Philadelphia International Records story was more than just a singer. Over the years, he wrote songs a number of songs either with Gamble and Huff, or on his own and worked as a producer for the label. This he did during the two periods he was …
MINNIE RIPERTON-COME TO MY GARDEN.
MINNIE RIPERTON-COME TO MY GARDEN. Although I’ve previously written about Minnie Riperton’s music, with articles on Adventures In Paradise and Perfect Angel, I’ve as yet, to write about her debut solo album Come To My Garden. Today is an opportunity to revisit what was Minnie’s first album after leaving Rotary Connection. Come To My Garden saw …
ARETHA FRANKLIN-I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVED YOU.
ARETHA FRANKLIN-I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVED YOU. Recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that the most overused word in the English language is the word “classic.” Nowadays, something can’t just be good, it must be a classic. It doesn’t matter if someone is talking about a book, cuisine, technology, a building …
EDDIE HAZEL-GAMES, DAMES AND GUITAR THANGS.
EDDIE HAZEL-GAMES, DAMES AND GUITAR THANGS. A few years ago, in 2006, I was listening to an Atlantic Records box set What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves 1967-1977, when I came across an Eddie Hazel track California Dreamin.’ Wow, the Mama and Papas song never sounded like this I remember. I started trying …
MARLENA SHAW-SPICE OF LIFE.
MARLENA SHAW-SPICE OF LIFE. Recently, I wrote a review of Marlena Shaw’s 1977 album Sweet Beginnings, and in that article mentioned an album that featured two songs that will forever be associated with Marlena Shaw. These songs are Woman of the Ghetto and California Soul, both of which were on Marlena’s 1969 Spice of Life. …
BILLY PAUL-ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE.
BILLY PAUL-ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. After Billy Paul released his hugely successful and critically acclaimed Let ‘Em In album in 1977, he was under pressure to deliver a worthy successor to such a great album. By then, Billy had become Philadelphia International Records first male superstar. His star had been in the ascendency since he’d …
THE DELFONICS-TELL ME THIS IS A DREAM.
THE DELFONICS-TELL ME THIS IS A DREAM. Of all the groups that walked through the doors of the Sigma Sound Studio in Philadelphia, The Delfonics were one of the pioneers of the Philly Sound. Under the watchful eye of Thom Bell, one of the triumvirate of producers that included Gamble and Huff, Thom helped define …
CHIC-REAL PEOPLE.
CHIC-REAL PEOPLE. Last week, I was lucky enough to get a copy of Nile Rodgers new autobiography Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco and Destiny which was truly, a fascinating read. It dealt with not just his music career, but his early family life. Now I’ve many similar books over the years, …
ASHFORD AND SIMPSON-HIGH RISE.
ASHFORD AND SIMPSON-HIGH RISE. Recently I wrote a review of Ashford and Simpson’s 1982 concept album Street Opera, which dealt with the problems couples face in economically tough times. They dealt with the problem how does a couple keep their love alive when money’s tight. The idea behind the album was the problems an ordinary …
BETTYE SWANN-DON’T YOU GET TIRED OF HURTING ME.
BETTYE SWANN-DON’T YOU GET TIRED OF HURTING ME. Sometimes, although an artist has only recorded a couple of albums, these albums prove to be more important and influential than artists who have released a dozen albums. We can all think of great artists who released just one or two albums and then disappeared from the …
THE THREE DEGREES-3D.
THE THREE DEGREES-3D. In previous articles I’ve reviewed the two albums The Three Degrees recorded for Philadelphia International Records, with Gamble and Huff. These albums The Three Degrees and International were both fantastic albums, with some great music on them. They were the most commercially successful albums of the The Three Degrees’ career and to …
SISTER SLEDGE-LOVE SOMEBODY TODAY.
SISTER SLEDGE-LOVE SOMEBODY TODAY. Recently, I bought a copy of Niles Rodgers new autobiography Le Freak, which I’ve been working my way through. In the book, he talks about all the artists and groups he’s worked with. One of these groups, was Sister Sledge, who with Bernard Edwards they wrote, arranged and produced two albums. …
DENIECE WILLIAMS-MY MELODY.
DENIECE WILLIAMS-MY MELODY. By the time Deniece Williams released her fifth album My Melody in March 1981, she’d already had two of her albums certified Gold in America. When her debut album This Is Niecy was released in August 1976, it reached number thirty-three in the US Billboard 200 and number three in the US …
THE DETROIT SPINNERS-SPINNERS.
THE DETROIT SPINNERS-SPINNERS. Whenever I buy, or I’m about to buy an album, I always check the album sleeve-notes to see who played, arranged or produced an album. Sometimes, this indicates the quality of an album. When you look at the credits for The Spinners’ first album for Atlantic Records, entitled Spinners, the personnel on …
LEON HAYWOOD-COME AND GET YOURSELF SOME.
LEON HAYWOOD-COME AND GET YOURSELF SOME. Back in 2000 when I was listening to a BBE Records compilation Strange Games and Funky Things III, compiled by Kenny Dope, I first heard what’s probably Leon Haywood’s best known track, I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You. It’s one of these compelling and catchy tracks that once …
ERNIE HINES-ELECTRIFIED.
ERNIE HINES-ELECTRIFIED. Ernie Hines was one of three artists who arrived at the We Produce label, a subsidiary company of Stax. The label had been set up by Stax’s co-owner, and label chief Al Bell, to expand Stax, making them big enough to stand alone company, following the discovery of the problems with the seven …
THE OVATIONS-HOOKED ON A FEELING.
THE OVATIONS-HOOKED ON A FEELING. Many years ago, when I first heard The Ovations album Hooked On A Feeling, I was instantly struck by the likeness of Louis Williams voice to the late Sam Cooke’s. It was almost uncanny hearing the album, and hearing a voice so similar to Sam Cooke. This was even more …
WILLIE HUTCH-ODE TO MY LADY.
WILLIE HUTCH-ODE TO MY LADY. Although Willie Hutch’s career spanned five decades, during which time he released a number of successful, influential and innovative albums, there are two albums that many people remember him best for. These two albums are The Mack, released in 1974, and Foxy Brown released in 1975, which were both soundtracks …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 