Category Archives: Pop

50 YEARS AGO GEORGE HARRISON RELEASED ALL THINGS MUST PASS.

50 Years Ago George Harrison Released 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  released his debut album McCartney,  The Beatles were in the process …

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NICK LUSCOMBE PRESENTS TOKYO DREAMING.

Nick Luscombe Presents Tokyo Dreaming. Label: Wewantsounds. Format: CD. Release Date: 27th November 2020. Usually, the compilation market is buoyant with a myriad of exciting, eclectic and esoteric releases hitting the racks of record shops each week. Sadly, 2020 hasn’t been like most years and this has resulted in many record labels have scaled back …

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MICHAEL ROTHER-SOLO II AND DREAMING.

Michael Rother-Solo II and Dreaming. Label: Gronland Records. Format: CD. By the early seventies, the German music scene was thriving, and  was one of the most vibrant in Europe. Some of the most influential and innovative music was being recorded and released by German bands who were part of a new musical movement and were making Kosmische musik. Its roots …

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CULT CLASSIC: DEUTSCH AMERIKANISCHE FREUNDSCHAFT-FUR IMMER.

Cult Classic: Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft-Für Immer. History treats groups very differently and that was the case with Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft a.k.a. DAF,  who released five albums between 1978 and 1982. They’ve been described variously as the “godfathers of techno,” the pioneers of EBM and the forefathers of electropunk. DAF were an influential and innovative group and …

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HAPPY TIMES-THE SONGS OF DAN PENN AND SPOONER OLDHAM VOL 2.

Happy Times-The Songs Of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham Vol. 2. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘30th’ October 2020. One of the greatest songwriting partnerships of the past sixty years is without doubt Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham. The pair met at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals in the mid-sixties and went on …

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CULT CLASSIC: RAMSEY LEWIS- SOLAR WIND.

Cult Classic: Ramey Lewis-Solar Wind. Nowadays, very few recording artists spend sixteen years signed to the same label, but bandleader, composer and pianist Ramsey Lewis signed to Chess Records in 1956, and  his band Ramsey Lewis and The Gentlemen Of Swing their debut album later on the Argo Records imprint later that year. This was …

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CULT CLASSIC : DAVID JOHANSEN-HERE COMES THE NIGHT. 

Cult Classic: David Johansen-Here Comes The Night. 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 demise of the New …

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ENO/CALE-WRONG WAY UP.

Eno/Cale-Wrong Way Up. Label: All Saints Records. Format: CD. Brian Eno and John Cale first worked together in 1974, when they also recorded the album June 1, 1974. When it was released twenty-seven days later on the ‘28th’ of June 1974 it was credited to Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno and Nico. Two of …

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MINA-THE QUEEN OF ITALIAN POP-CLASSIC RI-FI RECORDINGS 1963-1967.

Mina-The Queen Of Italian Pop-Classic Ri-Fi Recordings 1963-1967. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Mina Anna Mazzini was born in Busto Arsizio, in Italy, on the ’25th’ of March 1940, and by the time she was eighteen, Mina as she was now billed, had already embarked upon a career as a professional singer and released her …

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CULT CLASSIC: NKONO TELES-PARTY BEATS.

Cult Classic: Nkono Teles–Party Beats. 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 …

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CULT CLASSIC: MARIANNE FAITHFUL- LOVE IN A MIST.

Cult Classic: Marianne Faithful-Love In A Mist. By March 1964, it was apparent that pop music wasn’t just a passing fad. By then, The Beatles were a global phenomenon and the British Invasion of the American charts had just begun. Britain was a now musical powerhouse that the world envied. Despite this, many labels weren’t …

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GIRLS WITH GUITARS KNOW WHY!

Girls With Guitars Know Why! Label: Ace Records. Format: LP. There are very few compilation series that are still going strong after thirty-one years. Often, the compiler has run out of material or musical tastes have changed. However, Ace Records’ Girls With Guitars compilation series is still going strong after thirty-one years and six volumes. …

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SAINT ETIENNE PRESENT SONGS FOR THE FOUNTAIN COFFEE ROOM.

Saint Etienne Present Songs For The Fountain Coffee Room. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD.  Recently, Ace Records released the much-anticipated third instalment in the “Saint Etienne Present” series which are best described as soundtracks for places which are either real and imaginary. This time around, Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs have compiled Saint …

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BRAINCHILD-HEALING OF THE LUNATIC OWL.

Brainchild-Healing Of The Lunatic Owl. Label: Magic Box. Format: LP with CD. Progressive brass rock pioneers Brainchild were formed in Somerset in the late-sixties, and by the 1970 the septet had signed to A&M. This was perfect timing as the brass rock boom began in 1969 and continued until 1972. By then,  Chicago, Blood, Sweat …

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LUIZ CARLOS VINHAS-O SOM PSICODELICO DE L.C.V

Luiz Carlos Vinhas-O Som Psicodélico De L.C.V. Label: Mad About Records. Format: LP. Within his native Brazil, Luiz Carlos Vinhas is remembered and regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the Bossa Nova movement. He was one of the genre’s founding fathers  and was a founder member of Bossa Três in 1961. They became one …

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HELEN SHAPIRO-FACE THE MUSIC: THE COMPLETE SINGLES 1967-1984.

Helen Shapiro-Face The Music: The Complete Singles 1967-1984. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. By the time Helen Shapiro celebrated her twenty-first birthday in 1967 the London-born singer realise had already enjoyed the most successful period of her career. Her rise had been meteoric and was like the script to a Hollywood film. Helen Shapiro was …

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GIRLS GO POWER POP!

Girls Go Power Pop! Label: Big Beat. Format: CD.  When Pete Townsend of The Who was promoting Pictures Of Lily in 1967 he was asked how he would describe their music? He replied: “power pop is what we play.” That day, a new genre was born. However, back then, music journalists didn’t always feel the …

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BOB STANLEY PRESENTS 76 IN THE SHADE.

Bob Stanley Presents 76 In The Shade. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Sometimes, when people of a certain age reminisce about  their childhood they’re convinced that every British summer when they were growing up in the seventies was long and hot. Cue confused looks from their friends who remember things differently. “Are you sure about …

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CULT CLASSIC: STYX-CAUGHT IN THE ACT LIVE.

Cult Classic: Styx-Caught In The Act Live. By April 1984, the members of Styx should’ve been preparing for the release of the twelfth album of the band’s career Caught In The Act Live. Sadly, Styx had split-up citing musical differences which had divided the band over the last couple of years. It was the end of an era for a …

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TIM MAIA-RACIONAL VOLUME 2.

Tim Maia-Racional Volume 2. Label: Seroma. Format: LP. By 1975, Tim Maia was a changed man and had turned his back on the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle that he had embraced and enjoyed since releasing his eponymous debut album in 1970. Back then, the charismatic Brazilian singer realised that he was only here for a visit and decided to live life to the fullest. He …

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