Category Archives: R&B
MOD JAZZ, AND THEN SOME!
MOD JAZZ, AND THEN SOME! It doesn’t seem like eighteen years since Kent Soul released the first instalment in the Mod Jazz series. However, that’s the case. 30th September 1996 was when Mod Jazz first hit the shops. Released to critical acclaim, Mod Jazz was a commercial success. Mod Jazz was music for attendees of …
ARTHUR PRYSOCK-TOO LATE BABY-THE OLD TOWN SINGLES 1958-66.
ARTHUR PRYSOCK-TOO LATE BABY-THE OLD TOWN SINGLES 1958-66. Although Arthur Prysock’s career lasted six decades, the most successful period of his career was the eight years he spent at Old Town Records. Between 1958 and 1966, Arthur Prysock released twenty-four singles. There’s also the small matter of nine albums. From Arthur’s debut album was I …
ASHFORD AND SIMPSON-HIGH RISE.
ASHFORD AND SIMPSON-HIGH RISE. By 1983, Ashford and Simpson were about to release their eleventh album, High Rise. It was their second album for their new record label Capitol Records. High Rise was also the followup to their 1982 concept album Street Opera, which dealt with the problems couples face in economically tough times. Street Opera dealt …
WAYNE COCHRAN-GOIN’ BACK TO MIAMI-THE SOUL SIDES 1965-1970.
WAYNE COCHRAN-GOIN’ BACK TO MIAMI-THE SOUL SIDES 1965-1970. Unmistakable. That describes the outlandish outfits Wayne Cochran wore on-stage. Then there was his glistening peroxide bouffant. Wayne certainly grabbed your attention. Especially his music. It ranged from the raunchiest R&B to country soul and even biker funk. Eclectic described Wayne Cochran’s music. That’s obvious when you …
SWAMP POP BY THE BAYOU.
SWAMP POP BY THE BAYOU. When the first compilation of Swamp Pop was released back in the early seventies, it was a genre without a name. So, the compilation was simply called, The Other Sound Of The South. Then Bill Millar coined the term Swamp Pop. That day, a new musical genre was born. Swamp …
MONICA AZULL-I LIKE IT.
MONICA AZULL-I LIKE IT. I Like It. That’s not just the title of Monica Axull’s new single, but what anyone whose heard the single so far, thinks of it. Monica Azull many people believe, is a star in the waiting. She looks like she’s on the cusp of a successful career. She’s come a long …
MOVEMENTS 6.
MOVEMENTS 6. One of the longest running compilation series is Movements, compiled by Tobias Kirkmayer. The first instalment in the series, Movements was released back in 2005 on Perfect Toy Records. In an ever crowded compilation market, Movements was well received. A year later, in 2006, came Movements. Then nothing. Four long years passed without …
ERA RECORDS AND WEST COAST NORTHERN SOUL.
ERA RECORDS AND WEST COAST NORTHERN SOUL. The Era Records story began back in 1955. That’s when two cousins, Lew Bedell and Herb Newman decided to decided to form a record label in their hometown, Los Angeles. They called their new label Era Records. For Lew and Herb, this was indeed the start of a …
THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE.
THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE-THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE. In 1955, Sean Bonniwell’s life changed when he heard The Platters’ Only You. That’s when he decided to become a musician. Eventually, his dream became a reality, and he became one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the mid-sixties. With his band The Bonniwell Music Machine, …
MERRY CLAYTON-GIMME SHELTER.
MERRY CLAYTON-GIMME SHELTER. When the Rolling Stones released Gimme Shelter in 1969, many people were left wondering who duetted with Mick Jagger on the single? That was Merry Clayton. Her vocal powerhouse helped make the song a classic. However, Merry Clayton wasn’t meant to even sing on Gimme Shelter. No. She replaced Bonnie Bramlett, who …
LOU ADLER-A MUSICAL HISTORY.
LOU ADLER-A MUSICAL HISTORY. Songwriter, producers, manager, director and impresario. That describes Lou Adler. During a long and illustrious career, that started back in 1958, Lou Adler has written over 150 songs and has 300 production credits to his name. Lou Adler has worked with some of the biggest names in music. Among them are …
DR JOHN THE NIGHT TRIPPER-GRIS GRIS.
DR JOHN THE NIGHT TRIPPER-GRIS GRIS. The scenario that I’m going to describe, really happened, and demonstrates that even the most experienced people in the music industry get things wrong. It was in January 1968, and Dr. John completed his debut album Gris Gris. A copy of Gris Gris was sent to Ahmet Erteghun at Atlantic …
YOU TALK TOO MUCH-THE RIC AND RON STORY VOLUME 1.
YOU TALK TOO MUCH-THE RIC AND RON STORY VOLUME 1. Joe Ruffino founded his Ric and Ron labels in 1958. For the next five years, they were one of New Orleans’ premier independent R&B labels. During this five year period, artists of the calibre of Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams, Eddie Bo and Eddie …
GEORGE DUKE-DON’T LET GO.
GEORGE DUKE-DON’T LET GO. There aren’t may artists who’ve worked with such an eclectic range of artists as George Duke. Among the artists George Duke has worked with are Frank Zappa, Anita Baker Flora Purim, right through to Jean Luc-Ponty, Cannonball Adderley, Billy Cobham and George Clinton. Whether it was jazz, rock, soul, disco, R&B …
RHYTHM ’N’ BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-ROMPIN’ AND STOMPIN’
RHYTHM ’N’ BLUESIN’ BY THE BAYOU-ROMPIN’ AND STOMPIN’ Last year was a busy year for Ian Saddler. He compiled a trio of compilations of blues, R&B and zydeco for Ace Records. The first of these was Bluesin’ By The Bayou, a compilation of “low down, dirty and greasy blues from Louisiana.” With some Zydeco thrown …
DUSTY HEARD THEM HERE FIRST.
DUSTY HEARD THEM HERE FIRST. For the latest instalment in Ace Records’ Heard Them Here First compilation series, compiler Mick Patrick has turned to the music that influenced Dusty Springfield. Dusty Heard Them Here First was recently released by Ace Records and features twenty-four tracks. Fittingly, each of these tracks are the US versions. Why …
KENT’S CELLAR OF SOUL VOLUME 3.
KENT’S CELLAR OF SOUL VOLUME 3. Eight years after the release of Kent’s Cellar Of Soul Volume 2, Kent Soul have belatedly released the followup, Kent’s Cellar Of Soul Volume 3. It’s been well worth the wait. The Kent’s Cellar Of Soul seems to mature like a fine wine. That’s thanks to the two men …
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