Category Archives: Funk
DEXTER WANSEL-TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY.
DEXTER WANSEL-TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY. Mention the name Dexter Wansel, and many people think of the music herwrote, arranged and produced for artists on Philadelphia International Records. The artists that Dexter worked with during his time at Philadelphia International Records reads like a who’s who of Philly Soul. Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Lou Rawls, The …
ARETHA FRANKLIN-JUMP TO IT.
ARETHA FRANKLIN-JUMP TO IT. Before Jump To It was released in 1982, Aretha Franklin’s career was going through something of a lean spell. It had been six years since Aretha’s last top forty single Something He Can Feel and six years since her 1976 album Sparkle had been certified gold. Since then, Aretha had released …
BILL WITHERS-STILL BILL.
BILL WITHERS-STILL BILL. A year after the release of his debut album Just As I Am, Bill Withers released what would prove to be his most successful album ever, Still Bill. Not only did it build on the success of his debut album Just As I Am, it became the first of two of his …
TEENA MARIE-EMERALD CITY.
TEENA MARIE-EMERALD CITY. Having released four albums for Motown between 1979 and 1981, three of which had been certified gold, Lady T, Teena Marie had signed for Epic after a prolonged and bitter contract dispute that cost her over one-million dollars in legal fees. Her first album for Epic had been 1983s Robbery, which reached …
RONNIE FOSTER-LOVE SATELLITE.
RONNIE FOSTER-LOVE SATELLITE. Between 1972 and 1975, Ronnie Foster released four studio albums and one live album for the legendary Blue Note label. His debut album was 1972s critically acclaimed The Two Headed Freap, before releasing the funk drenched Sweet Revival in 1973. It saw Ronnie interpret ten tracks, including The O’Jays classic Back Stabbers …
SALSOUL NATION-COMPILED AND MIXED BY LUKE HOWARD.
SALSOUL NATION-COMPILED AND MIXED BY LUKE HOWARD. Two of my favorite labels are Philadelphia International Records and Salsoul Records. Both labels were hugely important during the seventies, producing some of the greatest music of the decade. Even forty years later, the Philly Sound’s inimitable sound is still as popular and influential. Similarly, Salsoul Records’ music …
EARTH, WIND AND FIRE-THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
EARTH, WIND AND FIRE-THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD. If I were to ask which group during a ten year period between 1973 and 1983 released nine albums in the US, resulting in two album certified gold, plus three platinum, two double platinum and two triple platinum in the US, how many people answer Earth, …
GQ-TWO.
GQ-TWO. When Sabu and The Soul Survivors were founded in 1968 they were a quartet, but by the early seventies, the group became The Rhythm Makers primarily playing funk. The Rhythm Makers released one album had one Hole In Your Side, which contained the jazz-funk hit Zone. Then when drummer Kenny Banks left the group, …
HEATWAVE-TOO HOT TO HANDLE.
HEATWAVE-TOO HOT TO HANDLE. Having spent several years playing London’s club circuit, Heatwave signed to Epic Records in 1975. What would was a three year period where Heatwave released three albums, two of which were certified platinum and one gold. This remarkable run started with 1976s Too Hot To Handle, which reached number eleven in …
VISIONEERS-HIPOLOGY.
VISIONEERS-HIPOLOGY. After a long wait of six year since the release of Dirty Old Hip Hop, Marc Mac under the guise of Visioneers is back with the follow-up Hipology, a double album,due for release on 11th June 2012, on BBE Music. However, during the intervening six years, Marc hasn’t been resting on his laurels. Far …
JEAN CARN-WHEN I FOUND YOU LOVE.
JEAN CARN-WHEN I FOUND YOU LOVE. This year has been a good vintage for anyone who loves Philly Soul. First came the release of Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits, then came the release of Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes. Then just two weeks ago came the Magnus Opus, the Philadelphia International: 40th Anniversary Box …
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME.
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME. Recently, when reviewing The O’Jays’ Message In the Music, I mentioned how that 1976 was a pivotal year for Philadelphia International Records and their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. From the very first album Philadelphia International Records released, M.F.S.B. provided the album’s heartbeat. These musicians included bassist Ron Baker, guitarist Norman Harris and drummer Earl Young. …
P&P RECORDS HITS, HITS, HITS.
P&P RECORDS HITS, HITS, HITS. Each week, I always check out what albums will be released during the next few weeks and months. Sometimes, you get the odd surprise, with something being released without much fanfare of publicity. This was the case with P&P Hits, Hits, Hits a fifteen-disc box set, featuring nearly two-hundred tracks …
QUINCY JONES-YOU’VE GOT IT BAD GIRL.
QUINCY JONES-YOU’VE GOT IT BAD GIRL. During his career, Quincy Jones has fulfilled every musical role possible. This has seen him working as an arranger, producer, composer, conductor and musician. Despite this, when many people talk about Quincy’s career, they automatically mention that he produced Michael Jackson’s legendary 1981 Thriller. Mind you, Thriller did sell …
NATURAL FOUR-THE NATURAL FOUR.
NATURAL FOUR-THE NATURAL FOUR. Having formed in Oakland in 1967, Natural Four signed their first recording contract with a local Oakland label Boola Boola Records. Their debut singles was I Thought You Were Mine, which sold over thirty-thousand copies in the Oakland area. After the release of the follow-up, Why Should Me Stop Now ABC …
HARVEY MASON-GROOVIN’ YOU.
HARVEY MASON-GROOVIN’ YOU. By the time Harvey Mason signed a five year recording contract with Clive Davis’ Arista Records in 1976, Harvey was one of the most in-demand session drummers. He was seen as the go-to guy for anyone needing a top-class drummer. This saw Harvey playing on albums by Minnie Riperton, Donald Byrd, Chick …
EDDIE LEVERT-I STILL HAVE IT.
EDDIE LEVERT-I STILL HAVE IT. Never before, has an album title been more apt than Eddie Levert’s debut solo album I Still Have It. What Eddie Levert still has, is one of the best voices in R&B music. Eddie proves the maxim that form is temporary, but class is permanent. After joining The O’Jays in …
JACKIE MOORE-I’M ON MY WAY.
JACKIE MOORE-I’M ON MY WAY. Although many people remember Jackie Moore for her million selling single Precious, Precious released in 1970 on Atlantic Records, there’s much more to her career than just one track. Jackie’s career started in 1968, with Dear John, released in 1968 on Shout Records. Two years later, in 1970, came Precious, …
ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLS-WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER?
ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLS-WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER? One of the many highlights on Tom Moulton’s recent Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton Remixes was Tom’s remix of Archie Bell and The Drells’ Where Will You Go When the Party’s Over? Of the thirty-one remixes, that was one of my favorites. That set …
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