Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
LARAAJI: VISION SONGS VOLUME 1.
Laraaji: Vision Songs Volume 1. Label: Numero Group. Format: LP. During a career that has spanned five decades, American multi-instrumentalist Laraaji has released around thirty 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 best described as a fusion of …
A CRUDE MECHANICAL-DISCOURSE.
A Crude Mechanical-Discourse. Format: LP and Digital. Once in a while, a debut album comes along that features groundbreaking, genre-melting music that stands head and shoulders above other albums that have just been released. That was the case with A Crude Mechanical’s much-anticipated debut album, ‘Discourse.’ It was based on a speech made by American …
REET HENDRIKSON-REET.
Reet Hendrikson-Reet. Label: Moved-By-Sound. Format: CD. Sadly, Estonian folksinger Reet Hendrikson only ever released one album during her carer. This was ‘Reet,’ which was released in 1969, on the Estonian-Canadian label Reindeer Records. However, this stunning album of folk and psych-folk failed to find the wider audience it deserved. Nowadays, though, Hendrikson’s music is starting …
LITTLE GIRLS-VALLEY SONGS.
Little Girls-Valley Songs. Label: Playback Records. Format: CD When sisters Caron and Michelle Maso grew up in Colorado, they were complete opposites, and had a love-hate relationship. Michelle was a cheerleader, while Caron enjoyed partying and hanging out with her friends. However, the pair became firm friends when they decided to move to Los Angeles …
FREDDIE SCOTT-THE VERY BEST OF FREDDIE SCOTT.
Freddie Scott-The Very Best Of Freddy Scott. Label: Playback Records. Format: CD. Freddie Scott was born on April ’24th,’ 1933, in Providence, Rhode Island. Music was part of his life from an early age. He sang around the house, at school, at church and by the time he was twelve, he was touring England with …
JOHNNY ADAMS-RELEASE ME.
Johnny Adams-Release Me. Label: Playback Records. Format: CD. Johnny Adams’ recording career lasted exactly forty years. His career began in early 1958, when he released his first single ‘I Won’t Cry’ on Ric. It was a hit single in New Orleans and the Southern states. For the twenty-six year old soul man this was the …
CANDI STATON-I’M JUST A PRISONER.
Candi Staton-I’m Just A Prisoner. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. By 1968, Candi Staton was twenty-eight, and still hadn’t embarked upon a solo career. However, that would soon change when Clarence Carter introduced her to Rick Hall. He would transform the former gospel singer’s fortunes. Sixteen R&B hit singles were recorded at Rick Hall’s Fame …
LAGOS THUGS-CHAOS.
Lagos Thugs-Chaos. Label: Immensum Music. Format: Digital Album. Three years ago, Lagos Thugs, a twelve piece Afrobeat band, was formed in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. That was the start of three year journey that has resulted in the recent release of their debut album Chaos, on Immensum Music. It’s a tantalising taste of a …
IN THE LIGHT OF TIME-UK POST-ROCK AND LEFTFIELD POP 1992-1998.
In The Light Of Time-UK Post-Rock and Leftfield Pop 1992-1998. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘29th’ September 2023. Back in the early nineties, a number of British bands decided it was time to explore a different side to pop and rock music. They were going to push musical boundaries and create innovative music. …
CULT CLASSIC: THE COUNT BISHOPS-THE COUNT BISHOPS.
Cult Classic: The Count Bishops-The Count Bishops. During 1977, a genre that has continued to divide opinion was at the peak of its popularity, punk. This anti music was championed by critics and cultural commentators who were willing to overlook that many of the musical charlatans within punk bands could barely play their instruments and …
THE COUNTS-WHAT’S UP FRONT THAT COUNTS.
The Counts-What’s Up Front That Counts. Label: Ace Records. Format: LP. Soul and funk group The Fabulous Counts were formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1968 by organist Mose Davis, guitarist Leroy Emmanuel and vocalist and saxophonist Demo Cates. Initially, the trio jammed with musicians in their local neighbourhood. This included conga player Keith Mangrum and …
JOHNNY LYTLE-THE LOOP.
Johnny Lytle-The Loop. Label: BGP. Format: LP. Release Date: ‘28th’ July 2023. Johnny Dillard Lytle was born into a family of musicians on December October ’13th’, 1932 in Springfield, Ohio. His father was a drummer and his mother an organist. Influenced by both, the future vibes virtuous grew up playing drums and piano. However, before …
TRIBAL RITES OF THE NEW SATURDAY NIGHT-BROOKLYN DISCO 1974-5.
Tribal Rites Of The New Saturday Night-Brooklyn Disco 1974-5. Label: Ace Records. Release Date: 30th June 2023. Londonderry-born writer Nik Cohn moved to New York in 1975, and started writing for New York magazine. One of his first assignments was documenting a new underground movement in the clubs of Brooklyn and Queens. These discos were …
MILLIE JACKSON-MILLIE JACKSON
Millie Jackson-Millie Jackson. Growing up, life wasn’t easy for Millie Jackson. She was born in the city of Thomson, in Georgia, on July the ’15th’ 1944. Her father was a sharecropper and worked long hours for little reward. Life was tough for the Jackson family, and got tougher when Millie Jackson’s mother became ill and …
28 LITTLE BANGERS FROM RICHARD HAWLEY’S JUKEBOX.
28 Little Bangers From Richard Hawley’s Jukebox. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘26th’ May 2023. 28 Little Bangers From Richard Hawley’s Jukebox is the first volume of the Sheffield-born singer-songwriter’s favourite singles. These are singles he’s collected during crate-digging expeditions as he’s travelled the globe. This includes singles he’s discovered in thrift shops …
FOLK, FUNK AND BEYOND-THE ARRANGEMENTS OF JOHN CAMERON.
Folk, Funk and Beyond-The Arrangements Of John Cameron. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘26th’ May 2023. John Cameron came to prominence in 1966 after he arranged Donovan’s Sunshine Superman. The arrangement was a fusion of jazz, folk and proto-psychedelia, and when the single was released, it topped the US Billboard 100 and launched …
SHE’S GOT THE POWER! FEMALE POWER POP, PUNK AND GARAGE.
She’s Got The Power! Female Power Pop, Punk and Garage. Label: Big Beat Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘28th’ April 2023. Back in August 2020, Big Beat, an imprint of Ace Records, released the compilation Girls Go Power Pop to widespread critical acclaim. Now, just under three years later, comes the much-anticipated followup, Girls Go …
CULT CLASSIC-PER HUSBY SEPTETT-PEACEMAKER.
Cult Classic-Per Husby Septett-Peacemaker. Growing up, Per Husby never dreamt of becoming a musician. That was despite music playing an important part in his life. Initially he took piano lessons and later, enrolled in a correspondence course from Berklee that covered elementary jazz theory and the principles of arrangement. He also spent many hours listening to …
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