Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
ANITA BAKER-COMPOSITIONS.
ANITA BAKER-COMPOSITIONS. Some time ago, I wrote an article of Anita Baker’s seminal 1986 album Rapture, one of my favorite soul albums of the eighties. I’ve long been a fan of Anita’s music, and have for some time, been meaning to write another article on Anita’s music. Today, while I was listening to a number …
JIMMY HUGHES-WHY NOT TONIGHT?
JIMMY HUGHES-WHY NOT TONIGHT? Between 1962 and 1970, Jimmy Hughes only released three albums before retiring from music and withdrawing from public life. Why I hear you ask? The answer to that is quite simple, Jimmy became disillusioned that his music wasn’t being sufficiently promoted by Volt Records’ boss Al Bell, as well of becoming …
A TASTE OF HONEY-A TASTE OF HONEY.
A TASTE OF HONEY-A TASTE OF HONEY. Not long ago, I was listening to a number of compilations of disco classics released by Harmless Records. Between 2010 and 2011 they released a total of twelve compilations of disco tracks. This was the perfect opportunity to reacquaint myself with some of the music I’d grown up …
ODYSSEY-ODYSSEY.
ODYSSEY-ODYSSEY. Back in December 1977, Odyssey had a major hit on their hands with a disco classic Native New Yorker, a track which, thirty-four years later, is still a hugely popular dance-floor classic. Back then, having loved the tracks I’d heard from the album, I decided to try and find a copy of the album. …
BILLY PAUL-WHEN LOVE IS NEW.
BILLY PAUL-WHEN LOVE IS NEW. In a previous article I wrote about one of Billy Paul’s best know albums Let ‘Em In. After his hugely successful 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, released in 1972, which helped make Billy Philadelphia International Records’ first male superstar, 1976s’ Let ‘Em In is one of his best known and …
THE O’JAYS-BACK STABBERS.
THE O’JAYS-BACK STABBERS. Back in August 1972, after Gamble and Huff had previously managed to convince The O’Jays not to quit the music industry, the group released their debut album Back Stabbers. Having already released a series of singles and albums in the sixties for various labels including Minit, Imperial and Bell, nothing could’ve prepared …
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES-I MISS YOU.
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES-I MISS YOU. Although Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes had originally been formed back in the early fifties, as The Charlemagnes, and became The Blue Notes in 1954, it wasn’t until August 1972, that the group released their debut album, originally entitled I Miss You. However, after the success …
CANDI STATON-CANDI STATON.
CANDI STATON-CANDI STATON. Sometimes, I decide to write more that one article on an artist, if they’ve released a number of highly regarded or important albums. However, sometimes, my reasons for writing about an artist more than once are that as well as being an important and influential artist, they’re an artist whose music I …
JEAN CARN-JEAN CARN.
JEAN CARN-JEAN CARN. By the time Jean Carn signed for Philadelphia International Records in 1976, she’d been involved in the music business since the late sixties. After studying at Atlanta’s Morris Brown College, Jean became know as a hugely versatile vocalists, with a five octave range and the ability to sing in a variety of …
THE CHI-LITES -THE CHI-LITES.
THE CHI-LITES -THE CHI-LITES. The early seventies were a great time for anyone who loved soul music. It seemed that during that period, labels throughout America were consistently producing some fantastic music. Several cities had successful labels, all of which were releasing both critically acclaimed and commercially successful music. This seemed to be the case …
THE DELFONICS-THE DELFONICS.
THE DELFONICS-THE DELFONICS. Growing up, The Sound of Philadelphia was one of the biggest musical influences in my life. For a number of years, it seemed to provide the soundtrack to my life. Sice then, I’ve been inseparable from that sweet, beautiful sound. Over thirty years later, hardly a day goes by when I don’t …
SMOKEY ROBINSON-QUIET STORM.
SMOKEY ROBINSON-QUIET STORM. There can’t have been many recording artists who have left a hugely successful group to concentrate on their position as Vice President of a record company, and in doing so, embark on a somewhat low-key solo career. Well, in July of 1972, that’s exactly what Smokey Robinson did. He’d been planning to …
THE DRAMATICS-WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET.
THE DRAMATICS-WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET. Earlier in October 2011, six albums which were originally released on Stax, were released having been remastered by Joe Tarantino. Previously, I’ve reviewed Shirley Brown’s Woman To Woman and Johnnie Taylor’s Taylored In Silk, both of which were great albums, and have hugely benefited from being remastered. The remastering …
ANN PEEBLES-IF THIS IS HEAVEN.
ANN PEEBLES-IF THIS IS HEAVEN. Since I first started buying soul music, there are certain labels which have been great favourites of mine. Among them are the obvious ones Stax, Fame, Philadelphia International, Cadet, Motown and of course Hi Records. Hi had been founded in 1957 by a group of people including Ray Harris, a …
JON LUCIEN-SONG FOR MY LADY.
JON LUCIEN-SONG FOR MY LADY. Some time ago, I wrote about two of Jon Lucien’s album that he recorded for RCA in the early seventies Rashida and Mind’s Eye. Both albums were three albums full of some great music, but sadly, they failed commercially. Although the albums weren’t huge commercial successes, Jon’s music was highly …
THE THREE DEGREES-INTERNATIONAL.
THE THREE DEGREES-INTERNATIONAL. Recently, I’ve been looking back at some of the albums released on the Philadelphia International Records label. Now, when many people think of Philadelphia International, they immediately think of artists like The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Billy Paul and Teddy Pendergrass, some of the biggest and most successful artists …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 