Category Archives: R&B
BOBBY CHARLES-BOBBY CHARLES.
BOBBY CHARLES-BOBBY CHARLES. Bobby Charles will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of swamp pop. He played a huge part in popularising swamp pop, not just in Louisiana, but much further afield. However, there’s more to Bobby Charles’ career than that. Much more. Bobby was also a successful songwriter. The story begins in …
ALGEBRA BLESSETT-RECOVERY.
ALGEBRA BLESSETT-RECOVERY. It was six years ago, that Atlanta born soul singer Algebra Blessett released her debut album Purpose. It was produced by Kedar Massenburg who previously, produced India Arie and D’Angelo. On its release in 2008, Purpose was released to critical acclaim. Comparisons were drawn with India Arie and Erykay Badu. Critics forecast great …
BREAKAWAY-BREAKAWAY AND STRAIGHT TO THE TOP.
BREAKAWAY-BREAKAWAY AND STRAIGHT TO THE TOP. BBE Music’s latest release sees two of the rarest albums make their CD debut. For years, both of Breakaway’s two albums have been prized assets among record collectors. Copies have exchanged hands for ever increasing sums of money. Despite this, no record company decided to take the plunge and …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST REISSUES OF 2013 PART 6.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST REISSUES OF 2013 PART 6. THE CURTIS COUNCE QUINTET-EXPLORING THE FUTURE. One of jazz’s best kept secrets is hard bop and West Coast jazz double bassist Curtis Counce. He may not have enjoyed the longevity of many of his contemporaries, but was one of the leading lights of West Coast …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 1.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 1. Considering how many compilations have been released during 2013, picking the fifty best compilations wasn’t easy. After all, I’ve listened to hundreds of compilations. They’ve come from the four corners of the globe, featuring every musical genre known to man. This includes everything from Acid House, …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 2.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 2. CAN YOU JACK? CHICAGO HOUSE AND EXPERIMENTAL HOUSE 1985-1995. Can You Jack?Chicago House and Experimental House 1985-1995 isn’t a new compilation. Not at all. It was originally released way back in 2005. Now eight years later, just as the Chicago House is about to celebrate its …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 3.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 3. HALL OF FAME VOLUME 2. Without doubt, one of the most influential record labels in the history of Southern Soul is Fame Records. It released some of the most important music in the history of not just Southern Soul, but soul music. Then there’e the music …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 4.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 4. LOUISIANA SATURDAY NIGHT REVISITED. Ace Records waited an amazing twenty-three years to release the followup Another Saturday Night, which was released back in 1990. Released to critical acclaim and an appreciative audience, Another Saturday Night was one of the compilations of 1990. Everyone expected a followup …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 5.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 5. PIED PIPER PRESENTS A NEW CONCEPT IN DETROIT SOUL, When the definitive history of soul music is written, several cities will loom large in the story. A triumvirate in particular, have played a hugely important part in the development of soul. This triumvirate are Memphis, Philadelphia …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 1.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 1. With 2013 drawing to a close, and a new musical year beckoning, it’s time to look back at the best music released during the year. Over the next few days, I’ll look back at the best compilation, reissues and new releases. Before that, I’ll pick …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 2.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 2. ELLA FITZGERALD-DEARLY BELOVED. Ella Fitzgerald enjoyed a fifty-nine year career that saw her crowned The Queen of Jazz and The First Lady of Song. With a three-octave vocal range, Lady Ella became one of the most influential and revered singers in the history of jazz …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 3.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2013-PART 3. PHILLY REGROOVED: THE TOM MOULTON REMIXES-SPECIAL VINYL EDITION. Just over three years ago, in August 2010, Harmless Records released the first instalment in the Philly ReGrooved compilation series. Featuring twelve remixes of tracks from the Philly Grooved back-catalogue Philly ReGrooved: The Tom Moulton Remixes was …
SWAMP DOGG-TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF YOUR MIND.
SWAMP DOGG-TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF YOUR MIND. Described as an album of gonzo soul from a true musical maverick, Total Destruction Of Your Mind was the debut album from Swamp Dogg. Released in 1970, Total Destruction Of Your Mind saw Swamp Dogg draw inspiration from everyone from Frank Zappa, Van Morrison and Sly Stone. Everything from …
DUST MY RHYTHM AND BLUES-THE FLAIR RECORDS R&B STORY 1953-1955.
DUST MY RHYTHM AND BLUES-THE FLAIR RECORDS R&B STORY 1953-1955. Despite only being around for just three years, Flair Records released some of the best R&B and blues of that period. Formed in 1953, Flair Records became the second subsidiary of Modern Records. RPM was Modern Records’ first subsidiary, Flair Records the second. It was …
WOLFMOON-WOLFMOON.
WOLFMOON-WOLFMOON. Swamp Dogg first encountered Tyrone Thomas in 1964, when Brooks O’Dell first brought him to his Philadelphia home. Brooks had given Swamp Dogg the hard sell about Tyrone Thomas. Swamp Dogg wasn’t disappointed. He was so impressed that he invited Tyrone into his house. This was the start of a tumultuous musical partnership. As …
HARTLEY AND WOLFE-BESPOKE FUTURE.
HARTLEY AND WOLFE-BESPOKE FUTURE. Last year, DJ Vadim released his tenth solo album, the critically acclaimed Don’t Be Scared. One of the singles from Don’t Be Scared was I’m Feelin’ U, which featured Essex’s finest purveyor of all things soulful, Greg Blackman. Now a year later, DJ Vadim and Greg Blackman are about to release …
BOPPIN’ BY THE BAYOU-MORE DYNAMITE.
BOPPIN’ BY THE BAYOU-MORE DYNAMITE. Back in May 2013, Ace Records released Bluesin’ By The Bayou, a compilation of “low down, dirty and greasy blues from Louisiana.” With some zydeco thrown in for good measure by compiler Ian Saddler, Bluesin’ By The Bayou was a potent musical cocktail. The music on Bluesin’ By The Bayou …
LONG-LOST HONKERS AND TWANGERS.
LONG-LOST HONKERS AND TWANGERS. For their latest compilation, Long-Lost Honkers and Twangers, Ace Records return to the golden age of the instrumental. Featuring twenty-six tracks, Long-Lost Honkers and Twangers is a return to an era when instrumentals were King. This “golden age” began around 1956 and exploded when Duane Eddy released his debut single Movin’ …
NEW ORLEANS FUNK VOLUME 3.
NEW ORLEANS FUNK VOLUME 3. From the moment you put on Soul Jazz Records’ recent compilation New Orleans Funk Volume 3, you’re transported to the Big Easy. It’s the Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street is full of tourists desperate to experience the sights and sounds of one of America’s musical capitals. Filling the air, is …