Category Archives: R&B
ON THE DETROIT BEAT! MOTOR CITY SOUL-UK STYLE 1963-1967.
On The Detroit Beat! Motor City Soul-UK Style 1963-67. Label: Ace Records. As 1959 unfolded, Detroit based songwriter, producer and future musical impresario Berry Gordy Jr had already discovered The Miracles and started to build a successful portfolio of recording artists. There was only one problem, what would Berry Gordy Jr do with these talented …
DR JOHN-THE ATCO YEARS 1968-1974.
Dr John-The Atco Years 1968-1974. Gris Gris. When a copy of Dr John’s debut album Gris Gris was sent to Atlantic Records’ founder Ahmet Ertegun he disliked the album so much, that he was reluctant to even release the album and said: “how can we market this boogaloo crap?” This wasn’t the response that Dr …
ONENESS OF JUJU-AFRICAN RHYTHMS-VINYL.
Oneness of Juju-African Rhythms-Vinyl. Label: Strut. After five politically charged years living on the East and West coast of America, bandleader James “Plunky” Branch returned to his home town of Richmond, Virginia, where he formed Oneness of Juju won released their Afro-jazz classic‘African Rhythms’ on the Black Fire label in 1975. Now some forty-three years later Strut …
WINSTON McANUFF AND FIXI-BIG BROTHERS.
Winston McAnuff and Fixi-Big Brothers. Label: Chapter Two Records Following his recent collaborations with the Jamaican roots collective Inna De Yard, the man of the moment Winston McAnuff, returns with Big Brothers, the second album he’s released with French accordionist and producer Fixi. Big Brothers was recently released on Chapter Two Records and finds Winston …
WILLIE HIGHTOWER-OUT OF THE BLUE.
Willie Hightower-Out Of The Blue. Label: Ace Records. Sadly, nowadays ageism is rife in society and many experienced and talented professionals are consigned to the scrap-heap. Many talented and experienced people are suddenly jettisoned by organisations who should know better. Many of these people are only in their fifties and sixties and have a lot …
KAT FRANKIE-BAD BEHAVIOUR.
Kat Frankie-Bad Behaviour. Label: Grönland Records. Romanian author Nico J. Genes wrote in her book Magnetic Reverie: “follow your dreams, let them guide you. Who knows where they may take you.” This is what Kat Frankie decided to do in 2004, when she gave up her job in Sydney, Australia, and left her family and …
NEW BREED R&B (VINYL)
New Breed R&B (Vinyl). Label: Kent Dance. The phrase New Breed R&B was coined way back in 2001, when Adrian Croasdell was compiling a new compilation for Kent Dance. This was New Breed R&B: Soulful 60’s Blues For Today’s Dancers, which featured a selection of songs from the original Kent and Modern labels. It was …
THREE SIX NINE! THE BEST OF SHIRLEY ELLIS.
Three Six Nine! The Best Of Shirley Ellis. Label: Ace Records. The ‘16th’ of June 1954 was a proud day for twenty-five year old singer-songwriter Shirley Ellis, when she registered her first songwriting copyrights with Library Of Congress. This she hoped would be the start of a successful songwriting career that would transform her fortunes …
PLANET MOD-BRIT SOUL, R&B AND FREAKBEAT FROM THE SHEL TALMY VAULTS.
Planet Mod-Brit Soul, R&B and Freakbeat From The Shel Talmy Vaults. Label: Big Beat Records. The name Shel Talmy, means different things to different people, and many record buyers all automatically remember the Chicago-born producer’s work in Britain with legendary rock bands The Who and The Kinks. Others will remember Shel Talmy as the producer …
DR JOHN-REMEDIES AND DESITIVELY BONAROO.
Dr John-Remedies and Desitively Bonnaroo. Label: BGO Records. When a copy of Dr John’s debut album Gris Gris was sent to Atlantic Records’ founder Ahmet Ertegun he disliked the album so much, that he was reluctant to even release the album and said: “how can we market this boogaloo crap?” This wasn’t the response that …
CHARLIE RICH-TOO MANY TEARDROPS: THE COMPLETE GROOVE AND RCA RECORDINGS.
Charlie Rich-Too Many Teardrops: The Complete Groove and RCA Recordings. Label: Ace Records. By 1963, thirty-one year old singer, songwriter and pianist Charlie Rich found himself looking back at his career as he was about to sign for Groove, a subsidiary of RCA. Charlie Rich’s career began five years earlier when the former college football …
TEEN BEAT VOLUME 6.
Teen Beat Volume 6. Label: Ace Records. When a new compilation series is launched, the compiler and record company always hope that this is the start of a long running and successful series. That was the case when Ace Records released Teen Beat-30 Great Rockin’ Instrumentals in September 1993. Nearly twenty-five years later, and Ace …
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 …
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 …
TAKE WHAT YOU NEED: UK COVERS OF BOB DYLAN SONGS 1964-1969.
Take What You Need: UK Covers Of Bob Dylan Songs 1964-69. Label: Ace Records. As 1969 drew to a close, Bob Dylan was without doubt, one of the biggest names in popular music, and had come a long way since releasing his eponymous debut album on March ’19th’ 1962. This was the first of nine …
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