Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
DAVID BOWIE-LET’S DANCE.
DAVID BOWIE-LET’S DANCE. In a recent article about Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), David Bowie’s 1980 album, I mentioned how this was the start of a really successful period for him. His next album was Let’s Dance, released in April 1983, and co-produced by NIles Rodgers of Chic. This was Bowie’s fifteenth album, in a …
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS-NATTY DREAD.
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS-NATTY DREAD. In a previous article about Bob Marley and The Wailers I mentioned how Natty Dread was the album that provided Bob Marley with his first hit single, No Woman, No Cry in the US. I also mentioned in that article, how it was the first album he released as …
ANN PEEBLES-I CAN’T STAND THE RAIN.
ANN PEEBLES-I CAN’T STAND THE RAIN. For many years, I’ve loved Southern Soul music, and during that time, discovered a number of great artists and labels. Two of my favorite labels are Stax and Hi Records. Previously, I’ve written about some of the great artists who recorded on Hi Records, including the legendary Al Green, …
SISTER SLEDGE-WE ARE FAMILY.
SISTER SLEDGE-WE ARE FAMILY. In a recent article about, Chic’s second album C’est Chic, I mentioned how Niles Rodgers and Bernard Edwards had written, arranged and produced We Are Family, Sister Sledge’s third album. This was released in January 1979 in the US and April 1979 in the UK and became the group’s most successful …
MUSHROOM JAZZ VOLUMES 1-6 THE OM RECORDS’ YEARS.
MUSHROOM JAZZ VOLUMES 1-6 THE OM RECORDS’ YEARS. In an article I wrote a few months ago, I featured one of my favorite record labels OM Records, which over the years, has released a huge amount of great albums since the label was founded in 1995. Since I wrote that article, I’ve been planning to …
PRIMAL SCREAM-BEAUTIFUL FUTURE.
PRIMAL SCREAM-BEAUTIFUL FUTURE. Recently, I had the misfortune to read the misinformed rant of musical wannabe online, who dismissed out of hand, one of the most popular genres of music, indie music. To this poor misguided soul, this genre of music is all rubbish, whiney boring music. To them, Keisha and Katy Perry are the …
THE REVOLUTIONAIRES-GOLD MINE DUB.
THE REVOLUTIONAIRES-GOLD MINE DUB. The Revolutionaires were the house band at the famous Channel One Studios and included some of the most famous reggae musicians of all time. Sly and Robbie made up the rhythm section, Tommy McCook played saxophone and Bertram McLean played guitar. Looking back at the past members of the band, it …
CHIC-RISQUE.
CHIC-RISQUE. Recently I’ve going through my music collection and listening to a some of my favorite older music. This has included some old soul and funk from the sixties and seventies, especially, Southern Soul, early acid house and some of the best disco music from the seventies. This is something I do a lot, and …
RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN-RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN.
RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN-RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN. In a previous article on Chaka Khan and her album Chaka, I mentioned how, originally, she was the vocalist with the legendary funk band Rufus. This gave Chaka her big break into the music business, and by their second album, Rags To Rufus, released in 1973, the band …
ESTHER PHILLIPS-ALL ABOUT ESTHER PHILLIPS.
ESTHER PHILLIPS-ALL ABOUT ESTHER PHILLIPS. If I was to ask most people, have they ever heard of Esther Phillips or her music, I’m pretty sure that most people would say no, who is she? That to me is a huge shame, because they’re as yet, unaware of one of the most talented, versatile and underrated …
CANDI STATON-I’M JUST A PRISONER.
CANDI STATON-I’M JUST A PRISONER. Sometimes, an artist or group records one single, and forevermore, they become known for that song. It doesn’t matter how many great singles or albums they’ve recorded before, or after, that’s the song they’re always known for. This is the case with many of the artists I’ve previously written about. …
KRAFTWERK-TRANS-EUROPE EXPRESS.
KRAFTWERK-TRANS-EUROPE EXPRESS. In the history of electronic music, one of the most important and influential, groups are Kraftwerk. From their formative years, and their eponymous debut album Kraftwerk, released in 1970, they’ve constantly reinvented their music, using the latest technology. In the early years, they were one of first groups to realize the potential of …
DJ ROGERS-IT’S GOOD TO BE ALIVE.
DJ ROGERS-IT’S GOOD TO BE ALIVE. Over the years I’ve been interested in music, and buying albums, many things have led me to buy an album. It can be obvious things like reading a good review, hearing the album in a friends house or in a record shop. Other times it can be less obvious. …
TERRY CALLIER-WHAT COLOR IS LOVE.
TERRY CALLIER-WHAT COLOR IS LOVE. Over the past thirty-five years, I must have bought and listened to, thousands of albums. Many of these albums are albums are great albums, but commercially, weren’t successful. Often it’s hard to understand why these albums weren’t successful, why they never sold in larger quantities and why the artist wasn’t …
LED ZEPPELIN-IV.
LED ZEPPELIN-IV. In a previous article I mentioned how, in the early seventies, a group or artist had to sell a huge amount of albums or singles, to achieve a top twenty placing. This was a time when multi-million selling albums was common place. When the group this article is about, released their fourth album …
SYL JOHNSON-DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.
SYL JOHNSON-DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH. In previous articles I’ve written about Southern Soul, I’ve focused on one particular label, Hi Records. Previously, I’ve written about three of their most famous artists, the legendary Al Green, O.V. Wright and Otis Clay. These three artists produced some of the most successful and critically acclaimed albums on the …
THE HACIENDA AND ITS MUSIC-THE HACIENDA COMPILATIONS.
THE HACIENDA AND ITS MUSIC-THE HACIENDA COMPILATIONS. Recently, I’ve been reading Peter Hook’s book The Hacienda How Not To Run A Club Properly, which tells of the trials and tribulations of being part-owner of one of the most innovative, important and successful clubs ever. For anyone considering launching a club, or even club night, it’s …
LEONARD COHEN-I’M YOUR MAN.
LEONARD COHEN-I’M YOUR MAN. Today I’m going to write about an artist and his music who is much misunderstood. On many an occasion I’ve been talking about music to people, and when Leonard Cohen’s name comes up, everyone immediately says the same thing, “oh, his music’s depressing and miserable.” It seems to be that he’s …
BOBBY WOMACK-THE POET.
BOBBY WOMACK-THE POET. In a previous article I wrote about Bobby Womack, I mentioned how The Poet was a comeback album for him. Things had started to go wrong for him in 1976, when he was dropped by his record label United Artists. His music was no longer is popular, it had failed to keep …
DR JOHN-THE SUN, MOON AND HERBS.
DR JOHN-THE SUN, MOON AND HERBS. There are two reasons that I’ve decided to write about Dr John’s 1971 album The Sun, Moon and Herbs. The first reason is that in a previous article about his 1998 album Anutha Zone, an album which was to some extent, a comeback album, and welcome return to form …
dereksmusicblog
