Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
ONE IN A ROW: THE WILLIE NELSON SONGBOOK.
One In A Row: The Willie Nelson Songbook. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Willie Nelson is, without doubt, a giant of country music, and a leading light in the outlaw country subgenre. Nelson is also a prolific songwriter whose songwriting career began in the early fifties. He’s written countless classics, and many of his songs have …
ISAAC HAYES-HOT BUTTERED SINGLES 1969-1972.
Isaac Hayes-Hot Buttered Singles 1969-1972. Label: Stax. Format: CD. Release Date: 25th October 2024. Isaac Lee Hayes Jr was born on 20th, August 1942 in Covington, Tennessee. He was the second child of Eula and Isaac Lee Hayes Sr. However, tragedy struck when Hayes’ mother died when he was young. The situation got even worse …
NEW JILL SWING 1988-94.
New Jill Swing 1988-94. Ace. Release Date: 27th, September 2024. Format: CD. In the mid-eighties, a new genre of music was born, new jack swing or swingbeat. It was a fusion of jazz, funk, rap and R&B and incorporated the production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop. Producers who pioneered this new musical movement included …
RODION G.A.-FROM THE ARCHIVES 1981-2017.
Rodion G.A. From The Archives 1981-2017. Label: Ace Format: CD and 2LP. In April 2022, I pitched the idea of a new Rodion G.A. compilation to Ace. This was a just over a year after the death of Rodion-Ladislau Rosca, the cofounder of Rodion G.A. By then, four years had passed since the release of the …
ALICE CLARK-ALICE CLARK.
Alice Clark-Alice Clark. Label: Solid Japan Release Date: Format: CD. Sadly, all too often, hype and image has triumphed over talent, while commercial success and critical acclaim eludes truly talented artists. Chastened by the experience, many of these artists turn their back on the music industry. They’re content to return to civvy street, free from …
WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN-THE PAUL WILLIAMS SONGBOOK.
We’ve Only Just Begun-The Paul Williams Songbook. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 26th July 2024. The latest instalment in Ace’s Songwriter Series is ‘We’ve Only Just Begun-The Paul Williams Songbook,’ which will be released on 26th July 2024. It features twenty-two tracks penned by a man who originally, was an accidental songwriter. Paul Hamilton …
THE BLUE NILE-HIGH.
The Blue Nile-High. Label: Confetti Records. Format: CD. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe The Blue Nile. They’re the complete opposite of most bands. The Blue Nile have been described as publicity shy. That’ is an understatement. Ever since Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell and Paul Joseph Moore formed The Blue Nile, …
THOM BELL-DIDN’T I BLOW YOUR MIND? THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA 1969-1983.
Thom Bell-Didn’t I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983. Label: Kent. Format: CD. During 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 …
ATLANTA: HOTBED OF 70s SOUL.
Atlanta: Hotbed Of 70s Soul. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. During the fifties and sixties, the Atlanta’s black music scene was thriving. One of the most important figures during the sixties was Bill Haney. He was a a producer, songwriter and owner of Down South Productions, which was responsible for some of the finest Southern …
JOHN SAVAGE’S SECRET PUBLIC-HOW THE LGBTQ+ AESTHETIC SHAPED POP CULTURE 1955-1979.
Jon Savage’s The Secret Public-How The LGBTQ+ Aesthetic Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 31st May 2024. Ever since the birth of rock ’n’ roll, homosexuality has been part of popular music. However, in the fifties, it wasn’t talked about openly. That was the case right through to the sixties, where …
TOMORROW’S FASHIONS – LIBRARY ELECTRONICA 1972-1987.
Tomorrow’s Fashions – Library Electronica 1972-1987. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 28th June 2024. Over the last few years, there’s been a resurgence of interest in library music, with British and European record labels releasing lovingly curated compilations that are welcomed by a coterie of musical connoisseurs who have a passion for library music. …
DJ TONER Q4RTET- OUT SIDE.
DJ Toner Q4rtet-Out Side. Label: Tangential Music. Format: Digital. Release Date: ‘3rd’ May 2024. Over the last two decades, Spanish musician and producer DJ Toner, has been determined to break the barriers between hip hop, jazz and electronica. This he’s successfully done when collaborating with other artists, when working as a solo artist or with …
GRACE CUMMINGS-RAMONA.
Grace Cummings-Ramona. Label: Ato Records. Format: CD. Melbourne-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist released her self-produced debut album ‘Refuge Cove’ in 2019. A lot has happened since then, and now she’s been hailed as one of the rising stars of Australia’s thriving music scene. Three years after the release of ‘Refuge Cove,’ Cummings returned with her much-anticipated …
ALINA BZHEZHINSKA AND TONY KOFI-ALTERA VITA.
Alina Bzhezhinska and Tony Kofi-Altera Vita. Label: BBE Music. Format: CD. Release Date: 5th April 2024. In 2023, harpist Alina Bzhezhinska and tenor saxophonist Tony Kofi released ‘Altera Vita’ as a single. This was the first collaboration by the pair, and was greeted by widespread critical acclaim. Then when Downbeat released their list of the …
RODION-LADISLAU ROSCA AND RODION G.A.
Rodion-Ladislau Rosca and Rodion G.A. Who Was Rodion-Ladislau Rosca? The words enigmatic, innovator, pioneer and maverick describe the late, great Rodion-Ladislau Rosca. He was, without doubt, one of the most talented, inventive and influential European musicians of his generation. He was also an inventor, philosopher, poet and a man who dared to dream. Rosca spent …
DAVID AXELROD-SONGS OF INNOCENCE.
David Axelrod-Songs Of Innocence. Label: Oldays Japan. Format: CD. Release Date: 22nd March 2024. By the time David Axelrod began work on his debut album Songs Of Innocence in 1968, the thirty-seven year arranger, composer, drummer and producer old had enjoyed a chequered career. He had started off as a boxer, before changing direction and …
CULT CLASSIC: DEXTER GORDON-ONE FLIGHT UP
Cult Classic: Dexter Gordon-One Flight Up. Label: Blue Note Records. Format: LP. Not long after Dexter Gordon recorded ‘A Swinging Affair’ on August the ’29th’ 1962, the thirty-nine year old jazz saxophonist decided to leave New York where he had been living, and moved to Europe. He settled first in the Danish capital Copenhagen, but …
MOLLY LEWIS-ON THE LIPS.
Molly Lewis-On The Lips. Label: Jagjaguwar. Format: CD. In November 2017, Sydney-born singer and musician Molly Lewis was one of the artists who featured on Kirin J Callinan’s single ‘Big Enough.’ A lot has happened since then. By 2021, she had signed to US-based label Jagjaguwar, and released her much-anticipated debut EP, ‘The Forgotten Edge.’ …
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