Category Archives: Jazz
DIABLOS DEL RITMO-THE COLOMBIAN MELTING POT 1960-1985.
DIABLOS DEL RITMO-THE COLOMBIAN MELTING POT 1960-1985. Often when I review albums, I’m often frustrated by the lack of sleeve-notes. I like to read about how an album or compilation was made, the inspiration behind it and any backstory. Some albums are better than others, offering detailed and accurate sleeve-notes. Then there’s albums where there …
GOODY GOODY-GOODY GOODY.
GOODY GOODY-GOODY GOODY. Often, looking back through musical history, one decision can change forever change a group or label’s future. Whether it was Gamble and Huff’s decision to allow their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. to leave Philadelphia International Records following a dispute with money, or Harold Melvin’s decision not give give Teddy Pendergrass equal billing in …
BUNNY SIGLER-LET ME PARTY WITH YOU.
BUNNY SIGLER-LET ME PARTY WITH YOU. Bunny Silger seemed to have been around the Philadelphia music scene forever, by the time he signed to Norman Harris’ new label Gold Mind Records, where he’d release his fifth album Let Me Party With You in 1978. Eleven years before, Bunny had released his debut album Let the …
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-BRAZIL.
THE RITCHIE FAMILY-BRAZIL. In the seventies, Philadelphia was a musical hotbed, with the City of Brotherly Love giving the world some of the greatest groups of the decade. Everyone remembers artists like Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass and Barbara Mason, plus groups like The O’Jays, The Three Degrees, M.F.S.B, The Trammps and Harold Melvin and The …
THE CHARLIE CALELLO ORCHESTRA-CALELLO SERENADE.
THE CHARLIE CALELLO ORCHESTRA-CALELLO SERENADE. Back in 1958, Frankie Vali walked into a nightclub in Newark, New Jersey and immediately, was bowled over by the band that were playing. Straight away, Frankie knew this band were special and knew why. The secret to their success was the man who wrote and arranged their music. When …
THE EBONYS-THE EBONYS.
THE EBONYS-THE EBONYS. During the seventies, Philadelphia International Records was one of the most successful record labels in America. Without a doubt, it was one of Philly Soul’s greatest label. Between 1972 and 1975, it seemed Philadelphia International Records could do no wrong. Artists like The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, The Three …
BILLY PAUL-GOT MY HEAD ON STRAIGHT.
BILLY PAUL-GOT MY HEAD ON STRAIGHT. Three years before Billy Billy Paul released Got My Head On Straight in 1975, he’d released his fourth album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul. Not only had 360 Degrees of Billy Paul made Billy Paul a worldwide star, but had played its part in launching Philadelphia International Records as …
M.F.S.B.-M.F.S.B.
M.F.S.B.-M.F.S.B. By 1973, Philadelphia International Records was well on the way to becoming one of the most successful record labels of all time, whilst supplying the soundtrack for the seventies, and a generation. Critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums started flowing out of Philadelphia. This included The O’Jays’ Backstabbers, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes’ …
LATER ALLIGATOR-LOUISIANA ROCK AND ROLL.
LATER ALLIGATOR-LOUISIANA ROCK AND ROLL. Given the amount of music that’s released on a weekly basis, finding time to review everything isn’t easy. Often, some releases get overlooked in the process. This I discovered recently, whilst looking through two mountains of albums. They contain just some of the recent releases I’ve received. Within these two …
TIM MAIA: WORLD PSYCHEDELIC CLASSICS 4: NOBODY CAN LIVE FOREVER: THE EXISTENTIAL SOUL OF TIM MAIA.
TIM MAIA: WORLD PSYCHEDELIC CLASSICS 4: NOBODY CAN LIVE FOREVER: THE EXISTENTIAL SOUL OF TIM MAIA. For a label looking to release a retrospective compilation of an artist’s career, things don’t always go smoothly. Pitfalls aplenty await the label. Often their persistence, never mind patience is sorely tested. Indeed from deciding to rerelease an album …
SURINAM! BOOGIE AND DISCO FUNK FROM THE SURINAMESE DANCE FLOORS ’76-83.
SURINAM! BOOGIE AND DISCO FUNK FROM THE SURINAMESE DANCE FLOORS ’76-83. All too often, when compilers decide to compile an album of disco, boogie and funk, they stick to what I’d call tried and tested tracks. They’re hardly adventurous, and as a result, far too many compilations of predictable, if not boring compilations are released.Granted …
MORE LIKE TREES-FULL CIRCLE.
MORE LIKE TREES-FULL CIRCLE. Just nineteen months after More Like Trees played their first concert in an East London pub, the London-based, acoustic trio release their debut E.P. Full Circle on 26th November 2012, on BBE Music. Ever since that debut gig, More Like Trees have built a loyal following and in the process, while …
OLIVIA DE LANZAC-UNCUT.
OLIVIA DE LANZAC-UNCUT. For Olivia De Lanzac, whose new digital album Uncut has just been released by BBE Music, her musical journey has seen her cross two continents and live in three countries. Olivia was born in the Congo, brought up in Greece and now, is based in London. This journey has influenced Olivia’s musical …
FANGA AND MAALEM ABDALLAH GUINEA-FANGNAWA EXPERIENCE.
FANGA AND MAALEM ABDALLAH GUINEA-FANGNAWA EXPERIENCE. As someone whose been a champion of African music for twenty-five years, I’ve recently been really enjoying Andy Kershaw’s autobiography No Off Switch. I’ve enjoyed his stories of traveling through Africa discovering new music. Having discovered artists that previously were unheard of outside of their own country, he gave …
NANCY WILSON-KEEP YOU SATISFIED AND FORBIDDEN LOVER.
NANCY WILSON-KEEP YOU SATISFIED AND FORBIDDEN LOVER. Some artists almost become synonymous with one label. That was the case for Nancy Wilson. Having released her debut album Something Wonderful in 1960, she spent twenty-four years at Capitol Records, releasing close to forty albums. It almost seemed unthinkable that Nancy Wilson would leave Capitol Records. However, …
BILLY PAUL-WAR OF THE GODS.
BILLY PAUL-WAR OF THE GODS. A year after the release of Billy Paul’s most commercially successful album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul in 1972, an album that featured the Grammy Award winning number one single Me and Mrs Jones, Billy released his follow-up album War of the Gods. By this time, Philadelphia International Records had …
JOHN CAREY-FAMILY.
JOHN CAREY-FAMILY. It seems hardly a month goes by without John or Gina Carey releasing a new single or album. So far this year, Gina has released three albums, Love Letters, Love Letters 2 and Live, Love and Laugh. John seems to be determined to keep up with the pace set by Gina, by releasing …
GEORGE DUKE-A BRAZILIAN LOVE AFFAIR.
GEORGE DUKE-A BRAZILIAN LOVE AFFAIR. By 1979, when George Duke released A Brazilian Love Affair, he was one of the hardest working men in music. Not only had he released fifteen solo albums, but had moved into production. Then there was George’s work as a sideman. The list of musicians George has played with reads …
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