Category Archives: Pop
CULT CLASSIC: TIM MAIA-DISCO CLUB.
Cult Classic-Tim Maia-Disco Club. By 1978, Tim Maia had released nine albums since his 1970 eponymous debut, and although some of these album had been released to critical acclaim and were a commercial success, the charismatic Brazilian singer found himself financially embarrassed. Things had been going from bad to worse over the last few years …
YESTERDAY HAS GONE-THE SONGS OF TEDDY RANDAZZO.
Yesterday Has Gone-The Songs Of Teddy Randazzo. Label: Ace Records. The name Teddy Randazzo means different things to different people. To some, he’s the singer who had Billboard 100 hits with 1958s Little Serenade, 1960s The Way Of A Clown and Big Wide World in 1963. He featured in rock revues alongside Chuck Berry and …
CULT CLASSIC: SKEETER DAVIS-LET ME GET CLOSE TO YOU.
Cult Classic: Skeeter Davis-Let Me Get Close To You. Nowadays, Skeeter Davis is remembered and regarded as one of country music’s pioneers. She was one of the first women in country music to enjoy commercial success as a solo artist. This proved to be a game-changer. Skeeter Davis paved the way for several generations of …
AMERICAN TUNES-SONGS BY PAUL SIMON.
American Tunes-Songs By Paul Simon. Label: Ace Records. Ace Record’s critically acclaimed and commercially successful Songwriter Series is one of their longest-running compilation series. It’s featured songs by such luminaries as Burt Bacharach, Harry Nilsson, Dan Penn, Serge Gainsbourg and Tony Hatch. There’s also been compilations featuring the music of some of the greatest songwriting …
SHEL’S GIRLS-FROM THE PLANET RECORDS VAULTS.
Shel’s Girls-From The Planet Records Vaults. Ace Records. During the sixties and into the early seventies, Chicago-born Shel Talmy was one of the most successful and innovative producers working in the British music industry. He had arrived in Britain from Los Angeles in 1962, as a twenty-five year old. By then, his dreams of becoming …
CLASSIC ALBUM: GEORGE HARRISON-ALL THINGS MUST PASS
Classic Album: George Harrison-All Things Must Pass On the ‘10th’ of April 1970, Paul McCartney announced his departure from The Beatles. This signalled the end of The Beatles, and start of his solo career, which began a week later, when Paul McCartney he released his debut album McCartney. Meanwhile, The Beatles were in the process of releasing …
50 YEARS AGO IN 1969 DAVID AXELROD RELEASED SONGS OF EXPERIENCE.
50 Years Ago in 1969 David Axelrod Released Songs Of Experience. By 1968, composer, musicians and producer David Axelrod was just about to embark upon a solo career after nine years working in the music industry. Buoyed by the experimental climate of popular music, David Axelrod wrote and recorded what was akin to a suite-like …
IN 1984 THE BLUE NILE RELEASED A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS.
In 1984 The Blue Nile Released A Walk Across The Rooftops. Some albums are like old friends, and that is the case with The Blue Nile’s debut album A Walk Across The Rooftops. It’s an album I’ve treasured and loved for over three decades, and has I been a faithful companion in an ever-changing musical world. A Walk Across The Rooftops …
35 YEARS AGO IN 1984 LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS RELEASED RATTLESNAKES.
35 Years Ago In 1984 Lloyd Cole and The Commotions Released Rattlesnake.s During the eighties, Lloyd Cole and The Commotions were, without doubt, one of the finest purveyors of perfect pop, releasing a triumvirate of critically acclaimed albums during a six year period, and becoming one of the most successful Scottish bands of the past forty years. The Lloyd Cole and …
THE MONKEES-HEAD
The Monkees-Head. Label: Rhino. On September the ‘8th’ 1965, the Daily Variety contained an advert that said: “Folk & Roll Musicians-Singers for acting roles in new TV series.” This was a new sitcom that had been written by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider about a struggling rock band from Los Angeles. The new sitcom would …
BEAUTIFUL FREAKS-WAVING OUR FLAG HIGH, WAVE ON, WAVE ON: MUSIC FROM THE ORIGINAL COUNTER CULTURE
Beautiful Freaks-Waving Our Flag High, Wave On, Wave On: Music From The Original Counter Culture. Label: TAD. The TAD label recently released Beautiful Freaks-Waving Our Flag High, Wave On, Wave On: Music From The Original Counter Culture, which is another lovingly curated compilation that is a cut above the competition. This eighteen track, two CD celebration …
THE DAISY AGE.
The Daisy Age. Label: Ace Records. Release Date: ‘30th’ August 2019. When is a movement not a movement? When it’s the Daisy Age, which was never really a movement. It’s been described more like an ethos or set of principles that for a short while, pervaded into hip hop, R&B and even pop. The ironic …
TABANSI SAMPLER.
Tabansi Sampler. Label: BBE Africa. Release Date: ‘30th’ August 2019. Over the next two years, BBE Africa, an imprint of BBE Music, will release around sixty albums from the Tabansi Records vaults. This is part of their Tabansi Gold reissue series, which got underway recently, and is a reminder of what’s the most important, influential …
LIVE IT UP! BAYSWATER BEAT GIRLS 1964-1967.
Live It Up! Bayswater Beat Girls 1964-1967. Label: Ace Records. Release Date: ‘30th’ August 2019. It’s hard to believe that it was back in the nineties, when the Brit Girls genre was born, and record companies started releasing the first ever compilations. Little did anyone realise back then, that this new genre would thrive and over …
NKONO TELES-PARTY BEATS.
Nkono Teles–Party Beats. BBE Africa. During Tabansi Records’ long and illustrious history, few people made the same impact as Nkono Teles, who was born in Cameroun, but grew up in Nigeria. That was where in 1952, Chief Tabansi founded the label he lent his name to, Tabansi Records. Three decades later, groundbreaking composer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BOB LIND.
The Life and Times Of Bob Lind. Bob Lind, it’s fair to say, is a many of many talents. He started life as a singer-songwriter in 1965, and helped define the folk rock genre. His debut single Elusive Butterfly gave Bob a hit single on both sides of the Atlantic in 1966. Five years and four albums …
MELISSA MANCHESTER-1973-1976: HER EARLY YEARS AND BREAKTHROUGH.
Melissa Manchester-1973-1976: Her Early Years and Breakthrough. It was almost inevitable that Melissa Manchester would end up embarking upon a musical career. The Manchester family were a highly creative family, and music played an important part in everyday life. That was no surprise. Melissa’s father was a bassoonist in the New York Metropolitan Opera. She would …
COME ON LET’S GO! POWER POP GEMS FROM THE 70s AND 80s.
Come On Let’s Go! Power Pop Gems From The 70s and 80s. Label: Big Beat. In 1967, Pete Townsend of The Who was promoting Pictures Of Lily, and was asked how he would describe their music, he replied: “power pop is what we play.” Back then, music journalists weren’t always wanting to pigeon hole music, …
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ANE BRUN.
The Life and Career Of Ane Brun. In her native Norway, forty-one year old Ane Brun is one of the most successful singer-songwriters of her generation. Her career began in May 2003, when she released her debut album Spending Time With Morgan. This was the start of a glittering career for Ane Brun, who recently …
GRIFTER KID AND THE MIDNIGHT RAIDERS-THE RECEIPTS OF TIME.
Grifter Kid and The Midnight Raiders-The Receipts Of Time. Label: Grifter Kid and The Midnight Raiders. Nowadays, it seems, many bands and musicians have identity crises. Maybe that always was always the case, and third rate bar bands managed by Marge Simpson soundalikes who look as if they should be playing Duelling Banjos for the …
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