Category Archives: Pop
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 4.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 4. Iggy Pop-The Idiot. Label: UMC. When Iggy Pop released his debut solo The Idiot in March 1977, it was a stylistic departure from the former leader of The Stooges. The Idiot seemed to have been influenced by Kraftwerk, James Brown and David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy. As for the title, …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 5.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 5. Melissa Manchester-Home To Myself, Bright Eyes, Melissa and Help Is On The Way. Label: BGO Records. Success didn’t come overnight for Melissa Manchester. She released her debut album Home To Myself in 1973, which was well received by critics, but reached just 156 in the US Billboard 200. In …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 6.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 6. Radiohead-OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 – 2017. Label: XL Recordings. In June 1997, post rock pioneers Radiohead released the album that transformed their career, and catapulted them to music’s premier league. OK Computer with its abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic range of disparate influences was very different to …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 7.
The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 7. Stoneground-Stoneground and Stoneground 3. Label: BGO Records. When Stoneground released their eponymous debut in early 1970, critics were won over by a fusion of blues, folk, pop, psychedelia, rock and soul. Seamlessly, Stoneground switch between and fuse musical genres and influences. To do this they deployed seven separate vocalists …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 1.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 1. Every week of the year, dozens of compilations are released by independent and major record labels which makes choosing just a few of the highlights of 2017 no easy task. However, after much consideration I’ve managed to choose The Best Compilations Of 2017. Acetone-1999-2001 Label: Light In The …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 2.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 2. Conrad Schnitzler-Filmmusik 2. Label: Bureau B. Filmmuzik 2, just like Filmmuzik 1, is the perfect starting place for newcomers to the music of Conrad Schnitzler. Both albums are a gateway to the rest of Conrad Schnitzler’s back-catalogue. These compilations will be the first step on a voyage of …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 3.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 3. Innerpeace-Rare and Spiritual Funk and Jazz Gems: The Supreme Sound Of Producer Bob Shad. Label: Wewantsounds. Nowadays, the music Mainstream Records released between 1964 and 1978 is more popular than ever. It seems that with every passing year more people discover the delights of Mainstream Records’ illustrious back-catalogue. …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 5.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 5 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins-The Planet Sessions. Label: Ace Records. Inimitable and unique describe the late Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. He was one of the great musical showmen, whose performances were designed to leaving a lasting impression. They always succeeded in doing so. So did his music including the songs on The …
THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 6.
The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 6. The Monkees-Summer Of Love. Label: Rhino. Even today, The Monkees divides the opinion of many critics and record buyers. Partly that is because of the perception that The Monkees were a manufactured band that was the brainchild of television executives. Despite that, The Monkees went on to enjoy …
DAVID JOHANSEN-IN STYLE AND HERE COMES THE NIGHT.
David Johansen-In Style and Here Comes The Night. Label: BGO Records. Singer, songwriter and actor David Johansen first came to prominence as the lead singer of the seminal proto punk band the New York Dolls, in the early seventies. This was the start of a long and varied career for David Johansen, who after the …
EMILIO APARICIO-SONIC SCIENTIST AND MUSICAL PIONEER.
Emilio Aparicio-Sonic Scientist and Musical Pioneer. Nowadays, the words pioneer and innovator tend to be overused, and musicians who create truly groundbreaking music seem to be sadly, few and far between. While there are some pioneering musicians whose music continues to push musical boundaries, there are no longer as many as there once were. Especially …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANE BRUN.
The Life and Times 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 …
PHIL SEYMOUR-THE PRINCE OF POWER POP.
Phil Seymour-The Prince Of Power Pop. Sadly, not every artist goes on to enjoy a long and successful musical career, and their star shines only briefly. That was the case with Nick Drake and Gram Parsons, whose tragic and untimely deaths cut short what could’ve and should’ve been a long and successful career. Neither of …
THE ORIGINAL SOUND OF BURKINA FASO.
The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso. Label: Mr. Bongo Records. After the success of Mr. Bongo’s The Original Sound Of Mali compilation, the Brighton-based label recently released a new compilation, The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso which was compiled by David ‘Mr Bongo’ Buttle and Florent Mazzoleni. The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso transports the …
HABIBI FUNK: AN ECLECTIC SELECTION OF MUSIC FROM THE ARAB WORLD.
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World. Label: Habibi Funk Germany. Nowadays, hundreds of compilations are released by record companies all around the world, and with one click of a button music fans have access to an eclectic selection of music that forty years ago, wasn’t available to record buyers. Back …
ASARAN EARTH TRIO-WHY SHOULD YOUR HEART NOT DANCE.
Asaran Earth Trio-Why Should Your Heart Not Dance. Nowadays, 8.2 million people call New York City home, including many musicians and vocalists who have arrived in the Big Apple from the seven continents of the world. They know that New York is still one of the musical capitals of the world, and home to some …
BOZ SCAGGS-MIDDLE MAN AND OTHER ROADS.
Boz Scaggs-Middle Man and Other Roads. Label: BGO Records. As the seventies gave to the eighties, American singer, songwriter and guitarist Boz Scaggs had released eight solo albums, and was enjoying the most successful period of his career. His last three albums had sold in excess of 6.5 million copies, transforming Boz Scaggs’ career. Until …
HIROSHIMA-THIRD GENERATION, ANOTHER PLACE AND GO.
Hiroshima-Third Generation, Another Place and Go. Label: BGO Records. Dan Kuramoto’s interest in music began when he became the inaugural chairman of the Asian-American studies program at California State University in Long Beach in the sixties. This was an honour for Dan Kuramoto who had just graduated from California State University with a degree in …