Category Archives: Country
THOS. RAPP AND PEARLS BEFORE SWINE-ONE OF FOLK MUSIC’S BEST KEPT SECRETS.
Thos. Rapp and Pearls Before Swine-One Of Folk Music’s Best Kept Secrets. When Pearls Before Swine released their fifth album City Of Gold in April 1969. it was the first album credited to Tom Rapp and Pearls Before Swine. This seemed only fair, as Tom Rapp was the only original member of Pearls Before Swine left. The …
PAUL BRADY-UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Paul Brady-Unfinished Business. Label: Proper Records. When singer-songwriter Paul Brady celebrated his seventieth birthday on the ‘19th’ of May 2017, he was officially one of the elder statesmen of Irish music. He had spent fifty-two years as a professional musician, first with The Kull, then The Johnstons and Planxty. Then in 1976, Paul Brady and …
SKID ROW-THE CLASSIC YEARS.
Skid Row-The Classic Years. By late 1967, Dublin’s vibrant rock scene was thriving with many newly founded bands playing in universities and clubs around the city. Some were already spreading their wings, and heading further afield taking their music to other parts of the Republic of Ireland. Its music scene had come a long way …
THE STORY OF SEATRAIN-FIVE DRUMMERS, FIVE GUITARISTS AND FOUR ALBUMS.
The Story Of Seatrain-Five Drummers, Five Guitarists and Four Albums. Although Seatrain were only together for four years and released four albums, there were five separate lineups of the band. Drummers and guitarists proved to be Seatrain’s Achille’s Heel. Seatrain featured five different drummers and guitarists between the release of their 1969 debut album Sea …
CHARLEY PRIDE-YOU’RE MY JAMAICA, ROLL ON MISSISSIPPI, EVERYBODY’S CHOICE AND CHARLY PRIDE LIVE.
Charley Pride-You’re My Jamaica Roll On Mississippi, Everybody’s Choice and Charley Pride Live. Label: BGO Records. By the time Charley Pride was preparing to release his new album You’re My Jamaica in 1979, he was one of the most successful country singers. He had already enjoyed twenty-one number one singles and eleven number one albums …
SKEETER DAVIS-LET ME GET CLOSE TO YOU.
Skeeter Davis-Let Me Get Close To You. Label: Playback Records. Nowadays, Skeeter Davis is remembered and regarded as one of country music’s pioneers. She was one of the first women in country music to enjoy commercial success as a solo artist. This proved to be a game-changer. Skeeter Davis paved the way for several generations …
Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes-Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes.
Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes-Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes. Label: Community Music Records. When Sam Gleaves and Tyler Hughes first met at a party in West Virginia, it was rather fitting that music filled the room. As they started to talk, the two men realised just how much had in common. They had a similar …
JERRY LEE LEWIS-TOGETHER, LIVE AT THE INTERNATIONAL LAS VEGAS, IN LOVING MEMORY:THE JERRY LEE LEWIS GOSPEL ALBUM AND KEEPS ROCKIN.
Jerry Lee Lewis-Together, Live At The International Las Vegas, In Loving Memory: The Jerry Lee Lewis Gospel Album and Keeps Rockin’. Label:BGO Records. Jerry Lee Lewis will always be remembered as one of music’s great survivors. He has enjoyed a long and chequered career, that although successful has often proved controversial. So much so, that …
STEVE YOUNG-SEVEN BRIDGES ROAD: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS.
Steve Young-Seven Bridges Road: The Complete Recordings. Ace Records. Over the last fifty years, there have been numerous examples of truly talented and gifted artists music whose music has been overlooked during their lifetime, This ranges from Nick Drake and Gram Parsons and to some extent, Tim Buckley. It’s only in death that their music …
REGGIE YOUNG-FOREVER YOUNG.
Reggie Young-Forever Young. Ace Records. There aren’t many musicians who release a new album at the age of eighty-one. However, most musicians aren’t Reggie Young, who recently released a new album Forever Young on Ace Records. This isn’t just any album though. Forever Young is Reggie Young’s long-awaited, and much-anticipated, debut album. In some ways …
THE YOUNGBLOODS-ROCK FESTIVAL, RIDE THE WIND AND GOOD AND DUSTY.
The Youngbloods-Rock Festival, Ride The Wind and Good and Dusty. BGO Records. As the sixties gave way to the seventies, The Youngbloods had been together since 1965, and had already released three albums since they signed to RCA Victor in 1966. The albums found favour with critics, and were released to widespread critical acclaim. Despite …
THOS. RAPP AND PEARLS BEFORE SWINE-CITY OF GOLD AND …BEAUTIFUL LIES YOU COULD LIVE IN.
Thos. Rapp and Pearls Before Swine- City Of Gold and…Beautiful Lies That You Could Live In. By April 1971, Pearls Before Swine were preparing to release their fifth album City Of Gold, which was BGO Records recently released alongside …Beautiful Lies That You Could Live In. City Of Gold would be Pearls Before Swine third release …
SING IT HIGH, SING IT LOW: TUMBLEWOOD RECORDS 1971-1973.
Sing It High, Sing It Low: Tumbleweed Records 1971-1973. Nowadays, it can be a risky business founding a new record label, and many hopeful music moguls are left licking their wounds. However, founding and running a record label has always been a risky business. It’s not a licence to print money, and never has been. …
THE JERRY CANS-INUUSIQ.
The Jerry Cans-Inuusiq. Over the last few years, The Jerry Cans have been one of the rising stars of the Canadian music scene. Recently, though, The Jerry Cans’ music has won them friends much further afield than the of Arctic reaches of Iqaluit, Nunavut, their hometown in the far North of Canada. This includes in …
OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS-THE MAJOR LABEL YEARS.
Ozark Mountain Daredevils-The Major Label Years. Ozark Mountain Daredevils roots can be traced back to 1971, when a group of friends in Springfield, Missouri began playing as Family Tree. By 1972, the band had changed its name to Ozark Mountain Daredevils and were being managed by folk rock duo Brewer and Shipley. This came about …
SEATRAIN-WATCH
Seatrain-Watch. Although Seatrain were only together for four years and released four albums, there were five separate lineups of the band. Drummers and guitarists proved to be Seatrain’s Achille’s Heel. Seatrain featured five different drummers and guitarists between the release of their 1969 debut album Sea Train, and their 1973 swan-song, Watch which was recently …
IAN MATTHEWS-VALLEY HI AND SOME DAYS YOU EAT THE BEAR…SOME DAYS THE BEAR EATS YOU.
Ian Matthews-Valley Hi and Some Days You Eat The Bear… Some Days The Bear Eats You. Having completed recording of Journeys From Gospel Oak, Ian Matthews had discharged his contractual obligations to Vertigo. Journeys From Gospel Oak was the third and final album he owed Vertigo. This left Ian Matthews free to sign a two …
THE RISE OF JUDY COLLINS 1961-1970.
The Rise Of Judy Collins 1961-1970. Judy Collins was never meant to become a folk singer. Originally, she had studied classical music and made her public debut when she was just thirteen. That night in Denver, Judy Collins played Mozart’s Concerto For Two Pianos. All Antonia Brico’s tuition and encouragement had been worthwhile. Her pupil …
WARREN STORM-THE HUEY MEAUX YEARS.
Warren Storm-The Huey Meaux Years. Often, an artist or band spends a large part of their career working with the same producer. That producer seems able to get the best out of the artist or band. Musical history is littered with examples. However, despite this success, there’s often the temptation to change producer. It’s as if the artist is keen …
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