Category Archives: Funk
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE-SMALL TALK, HIGH ON YOU AND HEARD YA MISSED ME, WELL I’M BACK.
Sly and the Family Stone-Small Talk, High On You and Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back. Label: BGO Records. As Sly and the Family Stone prepared to release their seventh studio album Small Talk in July 1974, they were enjoying the most successful period of their career.They had been enjoying commercial success and critical …
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH-NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
The Undisputed Truth-Nothing But The Truth. Label: Kent Soul. By the time The Undisputed Truth released their eponymous debut album in July 1971, Norman Whitfield had spent the best part of nine years at Motown. He was one of the company’s top producers, and was the man who brought psychedelic soul to Motown in 1968. …
TRIGAL-BAILA MI RUMBA.
Trigal-Baila Mi Rumba. Label: Pharaway Sounds. When Trigal signed to Belter Records in 1975, this was the start of a musical adventure that would last five years and see the band release two albums and four singles. They featured Trigal’s unique and inimitable fusion of gypsy rumba-funk and flamenco pop, which found favour with audiences …
THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA-UNDER BURNING SKIES.
The Souljazz Orchestra-Under Burning Skies. Label: Strut Records When The Souljazz Orchestra was founded in Ottawa, Canada, in 2002 none of its members had any idea where they would or what they would be doing in fifteen years time. They didn’t even know if The Souljazz Orchestra would still be together? The Souljazz Orchestra could’ve …
NON GROUP AND BEYOND.
Non Band and Beyond. During the summer of 1978, a musical revolution took place in Japan, which changed music forevermore,..punk. The Japanese punk rockers were christened Tokyo Rockers, and initially were disregarded by the mainstream music industry. Record company executives made the mistake of thinking that the Japanese punk movement was just a passing fad, …
ARTHUR BLYTHE-ELABORATIONS, LIGHT BLUE ARTHUR BLYTHE PLAYS THELONIUS MONK AND PUT SUNSHINE IN IT.
Arthur Blythe-Elaborations, Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk and Put Sunshine In It. Label: BGO Records. By 1982, alto jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe was forty-two and had been signed to Columbia since 1978. Since then, he had already released a quartet of albums for his new label. This began with two critically acclaimed albums …
RANKY TANKY-RANKY TANKY.
Ranky Tanky-Ranky Tanky. Label: Self-Released. When South Carolina natives Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Charlton Singleton and Clay Ross first met in 1998, they had just left university, and were wondering what the future held for them? The meeting proved to be a game-changer for the four musicians, and soon, they had formed what’s still remembered …
JOEY NEGRO + SEAN P PRESENT THE BEST OF DISCO SPECTRUM.
Joey Negro + Sean P Present The Best Of Disco Spectrum. Label: BBE. Nearly eighteen years ago, BBE released the first volume in their critically acclaimed Disco Spectrum series. It was compiled by DJ, remixer and crate digger extraordinaire Joey Negro. He was responsible for a compilation that stood head and shoulders above the competition …
MAD MATS DIGGING BEYOND THE CRATES VOLUME 1.
Mad Mats Digging Beyond The Crates Volume 1. Label: BBE. Mats Karlsson’s life changed forevermore when hip hop arrived in Europe in 1983. Back then, he was living in northern Stockholm, which was an ethnically diverse neighbourhood, and had no interest in music. That soon changed when he discovered hip hop. Soon, Mats Karlsson threw …
THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF JUNIE-FROM OHIO PLAYER TO SOLO ARTIST, FUNKADELIC AND BEYOND.
The Life and Music Of Junie-From Ohio Player To Solo Artist, Funkadelic and Beyond. In 1970, most sixteen years in Drayton, Ohio, were still at high school and were making plans for college or the world of work. Some were worrying about being drafted, and heading for Vietnam to fight in a war that America was struggling …
BOBBY HUTCHERSON-HIGHWAY ONE, CONCEPTION: THE GIFT OF LOVE AND UN POCO LOCO.
Bobby Hutcherson-Highway One, Conception: The Gift Of Love and Un Poco Loco. Label: BGO Records. Less than three years after Bobby Hutcherson made his recording debut, the twenty-three year old vibraphonist released his debut album The Kicker on Blue Note Records in 1963. This was the start of the most prolific period of his long …
FUZZY HASKINS-THE WESTBOUND YEARS.
Fuzzy Haskins-The Westbound Years. Between 1970 and 1977, Fuzzy Haskins was a member of not one, but two of the most prolific and successful funk bands of the seventies,..Parliament and Funkadelic. They released a total of fourteen albums, which sold in excess of 2.5 million copies. Still, though, Fuzzy Haskins found time to embark upon …
GRINGA-LETTERS FROM A.BROAD.
Gringa-Letters From A.Broad. Label: gringamusic.com One of the most exciting, up-and-coming new bands in San Francisco’s live scene is Gringa, a five-piece female band who recently, have been winning friends and influencing people with their unique, genre-melting sound. The basis for Gringa’s irresistible, hook-laden sound are the rhythms from the music of Brazil and the …
JOHN ARMSTRONG PRESENTS AFROBEAT BRASIL.
John Armstrong Presents Afrobeat Brasil. Label: BBE. Not many independent labels are still going strong after twenty-one years. Especially considering how different the musical landscape is. The music industry has been transformed during the last twenty-one years. As a result, there have been a few casualties along the way, and some familiar faces are no …