Category Archives: Pop
JON SAVAGE’S 1980-1982-THE ART OF THINGS TO COME.
Jon Savage’s 1980-1982-The Art Of Things To Come. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. In November 2015, Jon Savage’s critically acclaimed book 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded was released. The book told the story of what was one of the most important and influential years in the history of popular music. However, this was just …
A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING-THE DOLLY PARTON SONGBOOK.
A Way To Make A Living-The Dolly Parton Songbook. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Release Date: “31st” March 2023. On September the ‘18th’ 1967, Monument Records released Hello, I’m Dolly, the debut album twenty-one year old country singer Dolly Parton. The album reached number eleven in the US Country charts, and featured two hit singles, …
GUERRILLA GIRLS! SHE-PUNKS AND BEYOND 1975-2016.
Guerrilla Girls! She-Punks and Beyond 1975-2016. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Eclectic describes the twenty-five tracks on Ace Records new compilation Guerrilla Girls! She-Punks and Beyond 1975-2016. This carefully curated compilation features everything from mid-seventies punk pioneers to leftfield post-punk groups, jangly female pop combos grunge bands and vigilante Riot Grrrl groups of the eighties …
SONGS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS WRITTEN BY LEONARD COHEN.
Songs Of Light and Darkness Written By Leonard Cohen. Label: Ace Records. Format CD. Release Date: ‘25th’ November 2022. Just over six years ago, on October the ’21st’ 2016, Canadian singer-songwriter, novelist and poet Leonard Cohen releasedYou Want It Darker to widespread critical acclaim. Sadly, it turned out to be that last album released during …
DO IT AGAIN! THE SONGS OF BRIAN WILSON.
Do It Again! The Songs Of Brian Wilson. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD Release Date: ‘28th’ October 2022. Brian Wilson is seen by some as the closest thing music has had to a genius. Proponents of this argument cite the Beach Boys 1966 progressive, psychedelic Magnus Opus Pet Sounds. By then, he was one of …
A SNAPSHOT IN TIME.
A Snapshot In Time. Ace Records. Format: CD. Ever since the birth of rock ’n’ roll, youth cults have come and gone. Some have proven to be nothing more than passing fads that nowadays, and nowadays, are mere footnotes in cultural history. Some youth cults have endured and played an important part in British culture. However, …
WRAP IT UP-THE ISAAC HAYES AND DAVID PORTER SONGBOOK.
Wrap It Up-The Isaac Hayes and David Porter Songbook. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Release Date: 30th September 2022. One of the most important songwriting partnerships in the history of Stax Records was Isaac Hayes and David Porter. They started writing together towards the end of 1964, and success came quickly for the pair when …
TRIP ON ME-SOFT PSYCH AND SUNSHINE (1966-1969).
Trip On Me-Soft Psych and Sunshine (1966-1969). Label: Big Beat Records. Format: CD. Release Date: 30th September 2022. The perfect soundtrack to a long hot summer is Trip On Me-Soft Psych and Sunshine (1966-1969). It’s a lovingly curated collection of late-sixtes California sunshine pop and psych nuggets from the vaults of various independent labels and …
LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH! GIRL GROUP SOUNDS USA 1962-1966.
Look But Don’t Touch! Girl Group Sounds USA 1962-1966. Label: Ace Records. Format: LP. Ever since the eighties, Ace Records has been the go-to label for girl group compilations. Since then, they’ve released ten volumes of their critically acclaimed Where The Girls Are as well as the Girls About Town and Stop, Look and …
GIRLS WITH GUITARS GONNA SHAKE!
Girls With Guitars Gonna Shake! Ace Records. Format: CD. There are very few compilation series that are still going strong after thirty-three years. Often, by then, the compiler has run out of material or musical tastes have changed. However, some compilation series survive changing musical tastes and prosper. That’s the case with Ace Records’ long-running …
WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN.
We Are The Children Of The Sun. Label: BBE Music. Format: CD. Recently, BBE released the compilation We Are The Children Of The Sun, which was compiled by DJ and renowned crate digger Paul Hillery, who is one of leading lights of folk-funk scene. This new compilation offers a tantalising taste of a genre that …
LADIES SING THE BOSS.
Ladies Sing The Boss. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. On the ‘5th’ January 1973, Bruce Springsteen released his debut album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Forty years later the album was ranked at No. 379 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. By then, the man known simply as The Boss was well …
DUSTY SINGS SOUL.
Dusty Sings Soul. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Dusty Springfield’s love of soul and R&B was apparent from the very start of a solo career that spanned three decades. Between 1964 and 1995 she released fifteen studio albums. However, she was at the peak of her powers when signed to Philips Records. Especially on the …
JON SAVAGES’S 1977-1979-SYMBOLS CLASHING EVERYWHERE.
Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere. Label: Ace Records. Format: 2CD Set. Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere is the seventh instalment in the compliant series he has curated for Ace Records. This long-running series has been released to critical acclaim, and like previous volumes features a truly eclectic collection of tracks. They reflect just what music journalist Jon Savage was listening to …
LENNY KAYE PRESENTS LIGHTNING STRIKING.
Lenny Kaye Presents Lightning Striking. Label: Ace Records. Format: 2CD. Versatile describes musician, composer and producer Lenny Kaye. Many music fans remember him as the guitarist in the Patti Smith Group. Lenny Kaye also worked with everyone from REM and James to Suzanne Vega and Kristin Hersh right through to Soul Asylum and even poet …
GUS DUDGEON-PRODUCTION GEMS.
Gus Dudgeon-Production Gems. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. The late, great Gus Dudgeon never set out to become a producer. It was something he had never considered after leaving school and being fired from eleven jobs over a four year period. Working in a toy shop, advertising agency and even a clip joint wasn’t for …
BLOW MY MIND! THE DORE-ERA MIRA PUNK AND PSYCH LEGACY.
Blow My Mind! The Doré-Era-Mira Punk and Psych Legacy. Label: Big Beat Records. Format: CD. During the fifties and sixtes many small record companies sprung up across America. Especially, in cities like New York and Los Angeles which were two of America’s musical cities. One of these new labels was Era Records which was founded …
PSYCHEDELIC SOUL PRODUCED BY NORMAN WHITFIELD.
Psychedelic Soul Produced By Norman Whitfield. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. In 1968, producer Norman Whitfield began to pioneer the groundbreaking psychedelic soul sound at Motown. This was a stylistic departure for the label and the start of a new and exciting chapter for Motown. By then, Norman Whitfield had been at Motown for nine …