Category Archives: Country
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 AND SOME DAYS THE BEAR EATS YOU.
Ian Matthews-Valley Hi and Some Days You Eat The Bear and 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 …
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 …
LOVE’S BEEN GOOD TO ME-THE SONGS OF ROD McKUEN.
Love’s Been Good To Me-The Songs Of Rod McKuen. The latest instalment in Ace Records’ long running and successful Songwriters’ series focuses on American singer, songwriter and poet Rod McKuen. His career spanned four decades and is celebrated on Love’s Been Good To Me-The Songs Of Rod McKuen. It was released by Ace Records and …
OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS-OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS.
Ozark Mountain Daredevils-Ozark Mountain Daredevils. When Ozark Mountain Daredevils signed to Columbia Records in 1979, it was a new start for one of the finest purveyors of Southern fried country rock. They were keen to enter the studio and begin work on their seventh studio album Ozark Mountain Daredevils, which was recently reissued by BGO …
STONEGROUND-STONEGROUND AND STONEGROUND 3.
Stoneground-Stoneground and Stoneground 3. The Stoneground story began in San Francisco in 1968. That was when Tim Barnes and Luther Billed and Mike Mau founded Stoneground. By late 1970, they had released their eponymous debut album, Stoneground. It’s joined by Stoneground 3 on BGO Records’ recently reissued two CD set. These two albums document the early …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2016-PART 1.
The Best Compilations Of 2016-Part 1. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been looking back at the music released during 2016. The final part of this annual series looks at the compilations released during 2016. Just like previous years, thousands of compilations were released during 2016. They cover literally every musical genre. Quite simply, there …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2016-PART 3.
The Best Compilations Of 2016-Part 3. Kev Beadle Presents The Best Of Inner City Records. In 1976, music industry veterans Irv Kratka and Eric Kriss founded Inner City Records. What they didn’t know about the music industry, wasn’t worth knowing. This looked like a musical marriage made in heaven. By 1979, Inner City Records was …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2016-PART 5.
The Best Compilations Of 2016-Part 5. The Golden Age Of American Country Music: More Country Hits. For many people, the golden age of country music was the late fifties and early sixties. During that period, country music provided the soundtrack to much of American life. Providing the soundtrack were giants of country music like Johnny …
CROMWELL-AT THE GALLOP.
CROMWELL-AT THE GALLOP. By 1975, Dublin had an eclectic and vibrant music scene. There literally was something for all musical tastes. This ranged from the traditional showbands that had long been part of the Irish music scene, right through to traditional Irish music and sentiment-laden pop music. However, this was only part of the story. …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 2.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 2. Circles-More Circles. Just a year after the release of their eponymous debut album, Circles returned in 1984 with their sophomore album, More Circles. Again, Circles had put their impressive of array of technology and traditional instruments to good use on More Circles. It features the coming of age of Circles. They …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 4.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 4. Gordon Lightfoot-Dream Sweet Rose, Midnight and Salute. For Gordon Lightfoot, the seventies proved to be the most successful period of his career. Commercial success and critical acclaim were constant companions for the man that was dubbed “Canada’s greatest songwriter.” This success many thought would continue into the eighties. Gordon …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 5.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 5. Led Zeppelin-The Complete BBC Sessions. Last year, the Led Zeppelin reissue campaign continued when Atlantic Records released The Complete BBC Sessions as a three CD set. This is essentially an expanded version BBC Sessions which was released in 1997 as a double album that featured twenty-four songs. However, nine …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 6.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 6. Melissa Manchester-Home To Myself, Bright Eyes, Melissa and Help Is On The Way. It was almost inevitable that Melissa Manchester would end up embarking upon a musical career. The Manchester family were a highly creative family, with music playing an important part in everyday life. So it was no …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 7.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 7. Sun Ra-Jazz By Sun Ra Volume 1. During a career that spanned six decades, it’s estimated that Sun Ra released around 125 albums. This includes Jazz By Sun Ra Volume 1 which was released by Poppydisc for Record Store Day 2016. It was one of three Sun Ra albums …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 8.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2016-PART 8. The Charlatans-The Limit Of The Marvellous-Vinyl. Between 1964 and 1969, The Charlatans’ star shawn bright. They were larger than life mavericks who looked like a cross between 19th Century, wild west outlaws and Victorian dandies. This carefully cultivated image soon began to prove popular with the audience at their …