Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
CULT CLASSIC: THE IMPRESSIONS-ABOUT TIME.
Cult Classic: The Impressions-About Time. For any group, losing their lead singer can derail their fortunes. In some cases, this can prove fatal. It’s a body blow that the group never recovers from. Especially when the lead singer happens to have written many of the group’s biggest hits. This was the case with The Impressions. …
THE SOUL OF THE MEMPHIS BOYS.
The Soul Of The Memphis Boys. Label: Kent Soul. Somewhat belatedly, the Memphis Boys are starting to receive the recognition that they deserve. After all, they were one of the top studio groups of the sixties. They were the house band at Chips Moman’s American Studios and are up there with the studio groups at …
SHE’S ALL RIGHT WITH ME! GIRL GROUP SOUNDS USA 1961-1968.
She’s All Right With Me! Girl Group Sounds USA 1961-1968. Label: Ace Records. Format: LP. Over the last few years, Ace Records have released many lovingly curated volumes of their Beat Girl, Girl Group Sounds and Where The Girls Are compilations. Recently, Mick Patrick who is responsible for so many of these compilations, compiled She’s …
READY OR NOT-THOM BELL’S PHILLY SOUL ARRANGEMENTS AND PRODUCTIONS 1965-1978.
Ready Or Not-Thom Bell’s Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. In the late-sixties and seventies Thom Bell was one of the architects of Philly Soul, and worked with everyone from The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners to M.F.S.B., The O’Jays, Three Degrees and New York City. Artists came from …
ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS-JUST COOLIN’.
Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers-Just Coolin’. Label: Blue Note Records. Format: LP. Although Philly-born tenor saxophonist Benny Golson’s tenure with The Jazz Messengers was short-lived, he still played an important part in the development and history of the group. He joined in 1958, and during the summer, helped Art Blakey recruit three new Messengers. …
LARAAJI-SUN PIANO.
Laraaji-Sun Piano. Label: All Saints Records. Format: LP. On the album cover to his new album Sun Piano, which was released by All Saints Records, Laraaji describes playing the piano as: “my music therapy.” This is something the seventy-seven year has been doing since 1953, when he was just ten and living in New Jersey. …
CULT CLASSIC: JOHNNY RIVERS-NO THROUGH STREET.
Cult Classic: Johnny Rivers-No Through Street. As 1983 dawned, Louisiana born singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Johnny Rivers had just turned forty, and had been a professional musicians since 1956. Back then, he was still known Johnny Ramistella when he formed his own band The Spades, who later that year, released their debut single. Less …
CULT CLASSIC: HARMONIA-DELUXE.
Cult Classic: Harmonia-Deluxe. In June 1975, the three members of Harmonia returned to their studio in Forst for the recording of their sophomore album, Deluxe. It would become the followup to Musik Von Harmania, which had been released in January 1974. Sadly, this groundbreaking album had failed to find an audience. It was a bitter …
STARLESS-EARTHBOUND.
Starless-Earthbound. Format: LP. Label: Last Night From Glasgow. Just over four years after Starless released their critically acclaimed eponymous debut album, the Scottish supergroup make a welcome return with their long-awaited and much-anticipated sophomore album Earthbound, which was recently released on the Last Night From Glasgow label. It’s the latest chapter in the Starless story, …
BOILLAT THERACE QUINTET-BOILLAT THERACE QUINTET +3.
Boillat Thérace Quintet-Boillat Thérace Quintet +3. Label: We Release Jazz. Format: CD. Release Date: ’10th’ July 2020. By 1974, the Swiss jazz scene was thriving, and the Montreux Jazz Festival which had been launched in 1967, was in its eight year. The organisers had surpassed themselves with what was an all-star lineup Between the ‘2nd’ …
GREG FOAT-SYMPHOMIE PACIFIQUE.
Greg Foat-Symphonie Pacifique. Label: Strut Release Date: ‘3rd’ July 2020. Prolific and versatile are words that describe London-based Greg Foat, who nowadays, is regarded as one of Britain’s top jazz pianists and composers. His career began back in the noughties, and in 2009, he founded The Greg Foat Group who went on to release five …
DEEP PURPLE-BURN.
Deep Purple-Burn. Label: UMC/Virgin EMI. Release Date: ‘10th’ of July 2020. When Ian Gillan and Roger Glover left Deep Purple in 1973, this left a huge void for one of the unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal. They were regarded as almost irreplaceable, and had played a huge part in Deep Purple’s rise to titans of rock. …
CREAM-DISRAELI GEARS.
Cream-Disraeli Gears. Label: UMC/Polydor. Format: Vinyl. Release Date: 10th July 2020. Nowadays, the British rock group Cream are regarded as the world’s first ever supergroup. They were founded in the summer of 1966, and split-up in November 1968, having released four albums that sold over fifteen million copies worldwide. This included their critically acclaimed sophomore album Disraeli Gears, which was released in November 1967 and hailed a classic by …
CULT CLASSIC: DIES IRAE-FIRST.
Cult Classic: Dies Irae-First. For many new bands, their main objective is to release an “album” and they want to do this as quickly as possible. This will be a sign that they’ve “arrived” and have one foot on the musical ladder. Sadly, for some bands, that’s as far as it goes. The album fails to …
CULT CLASSIC: M.F.S.B.-UNIVERSAL LOVE.
Cult Classic: M.F.S.B.-Universal Love. Unlike Motown, countless books haven’t been written about Philadelphia International Records. That’s a missed opportunity, as there are many stories waiting to be told. Until now, only parts of the Philadelphia International Records’ story has been told. Many of those who played an important part in the rise and rise of Philadelphia International Records, haven’t had …
ATA RECORDS: THE LIBRARY ARCHIVE VOLUME 1.
ATA Records: The Library Archive Volume 1. Label: ATA Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘10th’ July 2020. Nowadays, library music is highly collectable, especially the albums released by KPM, De Woife, Amphonic, Conroy and Sonoton from the sixties, seventies and early eighties. That is regarded by many collectors as a golden age for library music. …
CULT CLASSIC: ERIC ANDERSEN: SWEET SURPRISE.
Cult Classic: Eric Andersen: Sweet Surprise. In 1975, thirty-two year old folk singer and songwriter Eric Andersen moved to Greenwich Village, New York, where it had all started for him in the early sixties. Back then, Eric Andersen was part of the folk scene, and as a twenty-one years in 1964, had auditioned for Vanguard …
KENNY DORHAM-TROMPETA TOCCATO.
Kenny Dorham-Trompeta Toccato. Label: Blue Note Records. Format: Vinyl. On December the ‘15th’ 1953, twenty-nine year old Texan trumpeter Kenny Dorham had already been a member of Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine and Lionel Hampton big bands and had joined Charlie Parker’s Quintet in December 1948. Less than five years later, and the sideman embarked upon …
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