Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
FOTHERINGAY-SANDY DENNY’S SOMETIMES FORGOTTEN AND SHORT-LIVED GROUP.
Fotheringay-Sandy Denny’s Sometimes Forgotten and Short-Lived Group. When Sandy Denny left Fairport Convention in December 1969, the reason she gave, was that the wanted to hone her skills as a songwriter. However, less than a year after her departure from Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny formed a new group, Fotheringay. Although Fotheringay were a short lived band, …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOGWAI.
The Life and Times Of Mogwai. The Mogwai story which began in 1991, when Stuart Braithwaite and Dominic Aitchison met in Scotland’s musical capital, Glasgow. Four years later, they met drummer Martin Bulloch and formed Mogwai, which film buffs will remember, is a character from the movie Gremlins. Mogwai was always meant as a temporary name, …
STEVE TIBBETTS-HIS ECM RECORDS YEARS.
Steve Tibbetts-His ECM Records Years. Ever since Minnesota born composer and guitarist Steve Tibbetts signed to ECM Records in 1981, the pioneer of sound-forming has only released nine albums for Manfred Eicher’s Munich-based label. These albums document the career of a musical innovator who was introduced to music at an early age. Steve Tibbetts was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1954, and …
THE LIFE AND TIMES Of LARAAJI.
The Life and Times Of Laraaji, Laraaji’s career has spanned five decades, and during that period, the American multi-instrumentalist has released around forty albums and countless collaborations. Many of these albums were self released by Laraaji on cassettes, and feature his unique and inimitable genre-melting sound. This is best described as a fusion of ambient, …
MOUNTAIN-THEY COULD’VE BEEN GIANTS OF ROCK.
Mountain-They Could’ve Been Giants Of Rock. Mountain were the band who could’ve and should’ve become one of the biggest hard rock band of the seven tie but left the field clear for the unholy trinity of hard rock. Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple continued to write their way into musical history while Mountain would …
THREE DECADES OF POPOL VUH.
Three Decades Of Popol Vuh. In West Germany in the early seventies, a number of groundbreaking bands were formed including one of the most important, innovative and influential bands in the history of German music, Popol Vuh. Over the next three decades Popol Vuh. established a reputation for releasing ambitious and innovative music that influenced the next generation of musicians. This was the case from the release of Popol Vuh’s 1970 debut …
ØYWIND TORVUND-THE EXOTICA ALBUM.
Øyvind Torvund-The Exotica Album. Label: Hubro Music. With some albums, nothing is as at seems as a myriad of disparate sounds assail the listener leaving them wondering what was that I heard? It was, wasn’t it? Surely not? It was. This argument rages on as they contemplate the music that they’ve just heard. That is …
HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER-THE MERLE HAGGARD SONGBOOK.
Holding Things Together-The Merle Haggard Songbook. Label: Ace Records. For the latest instalment in their Songwriter Series, Ace Records turn the spotlight on the late Merle Haggard, who was one of the finest exponents of the Bakersfield Sound. Hag as he was known, eschewed the increasingly slick and homogenized country music that was coming out …
TIM MAIA- THE FIRST TEN ALBUMS: 1970-1978.
Tim Maia-The First Ten Albums: 1970-1978: . By 1978, charismatic Brazilian singer-songwriter Tim Maia’s career was at a crossroads and he was worried about what the future held for him. Tim Maia found himself financially embarrassed, after a couple of musically barren years. He had spent much of the money he earned on cars, musical instruments …
NICOLETTE LARSON-THE WARNER BROS YEARS.
Nicolette Larson-The Warner Bros Years. Nowadays, far too many people are scared to follow their dream and instead, settle for second best and the drudgery of working 9-5. Sadly, it’s only much later, when it’s too late, that they realise what they gave up and what might have been. Nicolette Larson was determined that wasn’t …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TRASHCAN SINATRAS.
The Life and Times Of The Trashcan Sinatras. Nowadays, very few bands get to celebrate their tenth anniversary, never mind their twentieth or thirtieth. Especially bands formed in the eighties. Many were short-lived affairs, who released a couple of albums, before calling it a day. Some crashed and burned amidst rancour and anger. Often, money was at …
IRMA THOMAS-IN BETWEEN TEARS RECORD STORE DAY 2019.
Irma Thomas-In Between Tears-Record Store Day 2019. Label: Reel Music. There’s not many artists whose career spans six decades but Irma Thomas’ does. The Soul Queen of New Orleans released her debut single (You Can Have My Husband But) Don’t Mess With My Man on the Ron label in 1960, and since then, has recorded …
TOMMY HUNT-THE COMPLETE MAN: 60s NYC SOUL SONGS.
Tommy Hunt-The Complete Man: 60s NYC Soul Songs. Label: Kent. Mention the name Tommy Hunt, and many soul fans will think of the music that the Pittsburgh-born singer recorded for Scepter in the early sixties. That was where Tommy Hunt came to prominence as a solo artist. However, this wasn’t Tommy Hunt’s first encounter with …
TONY BANKS-HIS LIFE AFTER GENESIS.
Tony Banks-His Life After Genesis. All too often, Tony Banks has been referred to as “the keyboard player from Genesis.” This is doing the sixty-seven year old a huge disservice. Tony Banks is a multi-instrumentalist, whose just as comfortable playing guitar as his playing piano, Hammond organ, synths or Mellotron. Seamlessly, Tony Banks could switch …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF NORMA WINSTONE.
The Life and Career Of Norma Winstone. There aren’t many British jazz singers who have enjoyed the longevity, commercial success and critical acclaim that Norma Winstone MBE has. Her career has lasted over fifty years. Despite all the commercial success, critical acclaim and awards, the seventy-seven year old singer shows no signs of slowing down. Norma Winstone isn’t …
THREE DAY WEEK-WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT 1972-1975.
Three Day Week-When The Lights Went Out 1972-1975. Label: Ace Records. In 1973, both Britain and America were experiencing one of the worst years since the end of World War II. The Vietnam War still raged, while the civil rights movement continued to fight for equality and an end to the racial discrimination that blighted …
ROGER WATERS-THE SOLO YEARS.
Roger Waters-The Solo Years. Following the departure of Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd, bassist Roger Waters became the group’s creative force. This was the case from Pink Floyd’s third album, Ummagumma, which was released in 1969, right through to 1983s The Final Cut. After the release of The Final Cut, Roger Waters left Pink Floyd. …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 