Category Archives: Funk
THE SPINNERS-WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS.
The Spinners-While The City Sleeps. Label: Kent Soul, In 1964, The Spinners signed a seven-year recording contract with Berry Gordy’s Motown label, which the Detroit-based group would transform their fortunes. They had already enjoyed two hit singles That’s What Girls Are Made For and Love (I’m So Glad) I Found You in 1961. Since then, …
BALEARIC 4.
Balearic 4. Label: Balearic. During the nineties several small independent labels started to release lovingly curated compilations of downtempo or chill out music, which was popular in the Balearic Islands, and especially on the White Island, Ibiza. That was where many British and European DJs first saw chill out sets being played at places like …
SHINA WILLIAMS AND HIS AFRICAN PERCUSSIONISTS-AFRICAN DANCES.
Shina Willians and His African Percussionists-African Dances. Label: Mr Bongo. By 1979, Afrobeat had grown in popularity in Nigeria, and was influencing and inspiring a number of Western musicians including the legendary vibes player Roy Ayers . He was just one of many musicians who had started to incorporate elements Afrobeat into his unique and …
SUPER ELCADOS-TOGETHER IS ALWAYS A GOOD VENTURE-TAMBOURINE PARTY VOLUME 2.
Super Elcados–Togetherness Is Always A Good Venture-Tambourine Party Volume 2. Label: Mr Bongo. During the early sixties, a musical revolution took place in Ghana, when musicians started combining elements of West African musical genres including highlife and fuji music which they fused with American funk and jazz. Playing an important part important part in this …
MIDNIGHT IN TOKYO VOLUME 2.
Midnight In Tokyo Volume 2, Label: Studio Mule Japan. Release Date: ‘27th’ July 2018. During the seventies and eighties, Japan still had a thriving and vibrant jazz scene, although many artists and bands had turned their attention to fusion. This includes the thirteen artists and bands that feature on the new compilation Midnight In Tokyo …
MULATA ASTATKE AND THE ETHIOPIAN QUINTET-AFRO LATIN SOUL.
Mulatu Astatke and The Ethiopian Quintet-Afro Latin Soul. Label: Strut Records. By 1966, Ethiopian multi-instrumentalist Mulatu Astatke was twenty-three, and had already spent time studying music in London, Boston and New York. This included spells at two prestigious institutions, London’s Trinity College of Music and Boston’s Berklee College of Music. However, having finished his studies, …
DEUTSCH AMERIKANISCHE FREUNDSCHAFT-FUR IMMER.
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft-Für Immer. Label: Groenland Records. History treats groups differently, and that was the case with Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft a.k.a. DAF, who released four albums between 1980 and 1982. They’ve been described variously as the “godfathers of techno,” the pioneers of EBM and the forefathers of electropunk. DAF recorded five albums during the four …
DAVID AXELROD-SONGS OF INNOCENCE.
David Axelrod-Songs Of Innocence. Label: Now Again Records. By the time David Axelrod began work on his debut album Songs Of Innocence in 1968, the thirty-seven year arranger, composer, drummer and producer old had enjoyed a chequered career. He had started off as a boxer, before changing direction and finding work in film and …
MILLIE JACKSON EXPOSED: THE MULTI-TRACK SESSIONS MIXED BY STEVE LEVINE.
Millie Jackson Exposed: The Multi-Track Sessions Mixed By Steve Levine. Label: Southbound Records. To remix or not to remix, that is the question that many critics and music fans have asked over the last few years. Especially if it’s a classic album, which adds to the controversy. Soon, feelings are running high at the thought …
HOT PEPPER-SPANGLISH MOVEMENT.
Hot Pepper-Spanglish Movement. Label: Espacial Discos. By 1977, it looked as if the disco bubble would never burst as it provided the soundtrack to danceflooors in Britain, Europe and North America. DJs and dancers had been won over by disco which had grown in popularity over the past few years. Initially, disco was an underground …
LA DISCOTEQUE PSYCHEDELIQUE VOLUME 1 (VINYL).
La Discoteque Psychédélique Volume 1 (Vinyl). Label: Boss-A-Tone Records. Nowadays, the compilation market in Britain is fiercely competitive, with independent and major record companies from home and abroad fighting for the compilation pound week after week. That has been the case for the last few years, and with every passing week new record companies join …
NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN-LOOKING AT YOU, LOOKING AT ME, THE NATURE OF THINGS AND DIVINE EMOTION.
Narada Michael Walden-Looking At You, Looking At Me, The Nature of Things and Divine Emotion. Label: BGO Records. The first many record buyers heard of Narada Michael Walden, was when he was announced as Billy Cobham’s replacement in the second lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1974. By then, Narada Michael Walden was just twenty-two …
SOOTHSAYERS-TRADITION.
Soothsayers-Tradition. Label: Wah Wah 45s Release Date: ‘29th’ June 2018. New Album Of The Week. For nearly two decades, London-based Afro-dub pioneers Soothsayers, have been winning friends and influencing audiences with their unique brand of politically charged music at their now legendary concerts. Soothsayers have also released a number of singles, EPs and six albums …
DIALI CISSOKHO AND KAIRA BA-ROUTES.
Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba-Routes. Label: Twelve Eight Records. Release Date: ‘29th’ June 2018. Just over six years ago, North Carolina-based Senegalese kora master Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba released their debut album Resonance in April 2012. Resonance featured songs about mythology, migration and justice, while Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba combined elements of African …
RAMSEY LEWIS-FUNKY SERENITY, RAMSEY LEWIS’ GOLDEN HITS, SOLAR WIND AND SUN GODDESS.
Ramey Lewis-Funky Serenity, Ramsey Lewis’ Golden Hits, Solar Wind and Sun Goddess. Label: BGO Records. Not many recording artists spend sixteen years signed to the same label, but bandleader, composer and pianist Ramsey Lewis had signed to Chess Records in 1956, and his band Ramsey Lewis and The Gentlemen Of Swing their debut album later …
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