Author Archive: dereksmusicblog
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JEANETTE JONES?
Whatever Happened To Jeanette Jones? The history of soul music is littered with artists who could’ve and should’ve gone on to greater things, but for whatever reason, commercial success and critical acclaim passed them by. That, sadly, was the case with Jeanette Jones. She had talent in abundance, and a voice that was a mixture …
MELVIN SPARKS-FIVE FRUITFUL YEARS 1970-1975.
Melvin Sparks-Five Fruitful Years 1970-1975. Although American jazz and blues guitarist Melvin Sparks enjoyed a career that spanned five decades, the most fruitful period of his career was the seventies, when he released five albums between 1970 and 1975. Melvin Sparks’ career began at Prestige Records, where he released a triumvirate of albums between 1970 …
CYMBELINE-SWEDEN’S LOST GROUP.
Cymbeline-Sweden’s Lost Group. Nowadays, Norway and Sweden both have vibrant and thriving music scenes, where pioneering musicians record and release some of the most ambitious, important and innovative music that is currently being released in Europe. This is nothing new, and both countries have a long and illustrious musical history stretching back to the early …
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS-PURVEYORS OF PERFECT AND CEREBRAL POP.
Lloyd Cole and The Commotions-Purveyors Of Perfect and Cerebral Pop. With Lloyd Cole about to hit these shores on the latest leg of his 2016 tour, this seems a perfect time to look back at the band he made his name with, Lloyd Cole and The Commotions. They were one of the finest purveyors of perfect pop …
SAM DEES-“A PROLIFIC SONGWRITER AND OCCASIONAL PERFORMER.”
Sam Dees-“A Prolific Songwriter and Occasional Performer.” For many artists their career is a case of what might have been, and sadly, that has been the case with Sam Dees. He had the talent and potential to become one of the biggest names in soul music. Sadly, Sam Dees didn’t enjoy the commercial success and critical acclaim that …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PAUL BRADY.
The Life and Times Of Paul Brady. When Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady celebrates his seventy-second birthday on the ‘19th’ of May 2019, one of the elder statesmen of Irish music will have spent fifty-four years as a professional musician, first with The Kull, then The Johnstons and Planxty. Then in 1976, Paul Brady and Andy …
THE RISE AND DEMISE OF FREE.
The Rise and Demise Of Free It’s not often that someone get the opportunity to witness history being made. Those that happened to be in the Nag’s Head pub, in Battersea, London on 19 April 1968 saw history being made. They watched as four young men took to the stage for the first time. What …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CAN.
The Life and Times Of Can. Having released eleven albums in eleven years, Can called time on their career in 1979. By then, Can were rightly regarded by critics as one of the most important, influential and innovative bands of the Krautrock era. However, like many of the Krautrock bands, Can hadn’t enjoyed the commercial …
TEENAGE FANCLUB- BIG STARS AND KINGS OF JANGLE POP.
Teenage Fanclub-Big Stars and Kings Of Jangle Pop. Not many Scottish bands have enjoyed the longevity and commercial success that Teenage Fanclub have. Scotland’s Kings of jangle pop have been together four decades, have released ten albums and toured the world several times. Still though, Teenage Fanclub still going strong, and must be contenders for the 2017 Scottish Album of The Year …
THE INIMITABLE SUN RA, INNOVATOR AND MUSICAL PIONEER.
The Inimitable Sun Ra, Innovator and Musical Pioneer. Nowadays, music journalists are guilty of using the words innovator and musical pioneer all too freely, but that is the perfect description of the inimitable Sun Ra. He’s now regarded as one of the true pioneers of free jazz and a truly innovative and influential musician who pushed musical …
NAT BIRCHALL-COSMIC LANGUAGE-VINYL
Nat Birchall-Cosmic Language-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records. Manchester-based jazz saxophonist Nat Birchall has come a long way since releasing his debut album The Sixth Sense in January 1999, and nowadays, is regarded as one of the leading lights of the vibrant British jazz scene. Nat Birchall is also one of the most talented and inventive British …
A NEW LIFE VOLUME II-VINYL.
A New Life Volume II-Vinyl. Label: Jazzman Records Three years ago in 2015, Jazzman Records released A New Life, their critically acclaimed compilation of British jazz. This is no ordinary jazz compilation though. Instead, A New Life featured tracks from private pressings and hidden gems released by independent labels. So successful was A New Life …
ABSTRACT ORCHESTRA-MADVILLAIN VOLUME 1-VINYL.
Abstract Orchestra-Madvillain Volume 1-Vinyl. Label: ATA. On the ‘30th’ of June 2017, the Abstract Orchestra, who are led by saxophonist Rob Mitchell, released their debut album Dilla to plaudits and praise. Buoyed the response to Dilla, the Abstract Orchestra headed out on a lengthy tour of Britain where the all-star hip hop band’s music found …
ALAN HAWKSHAW AND BRIAN BENNETT-SYNTHESIS.
Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett-Synthesis. Label: Be With Records. During the last few years, many record labels have issued compilations of library music, which has been growing in popularity. The rise and rise in popularity of library music continued during 2018, and hardly a week seemed to go by without a new library music …
MAXINE BROWN-THE BEST OF THE WAND YEARS-VINYL.
Maxine Brown-The Best Of The Wand Years-Vinyl. Label: Kent. In 1960, twenty-one year old Maxine Brown signed to the small, New York-based Nomar label who released her All in My Mind. The deep soul ballad which was written by Maxine Brown and reached nineteen in the US Billboard 100 and number two on the US …
MOGWAI-THE STORY SO FAR.
Mogwai-The Story So Far. 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, until they …
JIMI HENDRIX-BOTH SIDES OF THE SKY-VINYL.
Jimi Hendrix-Both Sides Of The Sky-Vinyl. Label: Sony Music. From the moment that Jimi Hendrix saw T-Bone Walker playing his guitar with his teeth he took it as a challenge, and was determined that one day, he would be able to replicate what he had just witnessed the veteran bluesman do. In years to come, …
WAKE UP! MUSIC USA-UK-NU-HOUSE: THE START OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.
Wake Up! Music USA-UK-Nu-House: The Start Of Something Special. Label: Wake Up! Music Group. In early 2018, I was asked by Maddy Gomez, who runs Wake Up! Music Group to write the liner notes to Music Is My Life, the comeback album from Chicago-based DJ and producer Matt Warren. Mostly, when writing liner notes, it’s …
SOUL OF A NATION: JAZZ IS THE TEACHER, FUNK IS THE PREACHER-VINYL
Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher-Vinyl. Label: Soul Jazz Records. Just fifteen months after the release of their critically acclaimed compilation Soul Of A Nation, Soul Jazz Records release the much-anticipated followup Soul Of A Nation: Jazz Is The Teacher, Funk Is The Preacher as a three LP set. …
dereksmusicblog
dereksmusicblog 