Category Archives: Rock
GRINGA-LETTERS FROM A.BROAD.
Gringa-Letters From A.Broad. Label: gringamusic.com One of the most exciting, up-and-coming new bands in San Francisco’s live scene is Gringa, a five-piece female band who recently, have been winning friends and influencing people with their unique, genre-melting sound. The basis for Gringa’s irresistible, hook-laden sound are the rhythms from the music of Brazil and the …
THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF MICHAEL ROTHER.
The Life and Music Of Michael Rother. During 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 accorded released by German bands. This included the holy trinity of Can, Kraftwerk and Neu!. Along with Amon Düül II, Ashra, …
LINK WRAY-FROM RUMBLE TO THE 3-TRACK SHACK: 1958-1973.
Link Wray-From Rumble To The 3-Track Shack: 1958-1973. It’s no exaggeration to say that Link Wray was one of the most important, innovative and influential guitarist in the history of modern music. Link Wray influenced Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Iggy Pop, Phil Everly, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who and the Rolling Stones, while his 1958 instrumental hit Rumble, popularised the …
GOTTA GET UP: THE SONGS OF HARRY NILSSON 1965-1972.
Gotta Get Up: The Songs Of Harry Nilsson 1965-1972. Label: Ace Records. Enigmatic describes Harry Nilsson who was, without doubt, one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation. He released sixteen studio albums and e four soundtracks albums between 1966 and 1980. Sadly, most of these albums failed to find the audience they so …
JOHN ARMSTRONG PRESENTS AFROBEAT BRASIL.
John Armstrong Presents Afrobeat Brasil. Label: BBE. Not many independent labels are still going strong after twenty-one years. Especially considering how different the musical landscape is. The music industry has been transformed during the last twenty-one years. As a result, there have been a few casualties along the way, and some familiar faces are no …
SEAFARING STRANGERS: PRIVATE ROCK.
Seafaring Strangers: Private Rock. Label: Numero. As the sixties drew to a close, the Rolling Stones were one of the most successful bands of the decade. They were preparing to release their Let It Bleed, on the ‘5th’ of December 1969. It was the Rolling Stones eighth album in Britain, but their tenth album in …
THE LIFE AND TIME OF MICK CLARK, BLUESMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE.
The Life and Time Of Mick Clarke, Bluesman Extraordinaire. Mick Clarke can remember the day that his life was changed was forevermore. He was nine years old, and living in London, England. That was when he heard the blues for the first time. It was a life changing experience for Mick Clarke. Since that day, …
OTE MALOYA-THE BIRTH OF ELECTRIC MALOYA ON REUNION ISLAND 1975-1985.
Oté Maloya-The Birth Of Electric Maloya On Reunion Island 1975-1985. Label: Strut. Nothing ever stays the same. That is certainly the case in music. It has been since the birth of rock ’n’ roll just over sixty years ago. Since then, every musical genre has continued to evolve and reinvent itself, in an attempt to …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SEA LEVEL.
The Life and Times Of Sea Level. By August 1975, all wasn’t well within The Allman Brothers. It hadn’t been for the last couple of years. That was despite The Allman Brothers being at the peak of their popularity. Their last three albums had sold over a million copies and were certified platinum. Meanwhile, The Allman …
THE STORY OF SEATRAIN-FIVE DRUMMERS, FIVE GUITARISTS AND FOUR ALBUMS.
The Story Of Seatrain-Five Drummers, Five Guitarists and Four Albums. Although Seatrain were only together for four years and released four albums, there were five separate lineups of the band. Drummers and guitarists proved to be Seatrain’s Achille’s Heel. Seatrain featured five different drummers and guitarists between the release of their 1969 debut album Sea …
TOO SLOW TO DISCO VOLUME 3.
Too Slow To Disco Volume 3. Label: How Do You Are? During the last few years, there has been a resurgence in interest in the West Coast sound which sadly, fell from grace in the late seventies. Before that, the West Coast sound had won over the hearts and minds of record buyers, and provided the …
STEVE AND THE BOARD-THE COMPLETE STEVE AND THE BOARD.
Steve and The Board-The Complete Steve and The Board. Label: Playback Records. Although Steve and The Board were formed in Brisbane, Australia, in 1965, the story began 9,000 miles away in 1950. That was when Steve Kipner the founder of Steve and The Board was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. However, Steve Kipner didn’t spend much …
VOIGT/465-SLIGHTS STILL UNSPOKEN.
Voigt/465-Slights Still Unspoken. Label: Mental Experience. The story of Voigt/465 is a case of what might have been. They were formed in Sydney, Australia in 1976, and spent the next three years trying to make a breakthrough. By May 1979, things were looking up for Voigt/465 and they looked on the verge of a breakthrough. …
ZEPHYR-ONE OF THE BEST BANDS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD.
Zephyr-One Of The Best Bands You’ve Never Heard. Like many bands who don’t reach the heights that their music deserves, the story of Zephyr is one of what might have been. They released a trio of albums between 1969 and 1972, which nowadays, have a cult following including Zephyr, Back To Colorado and Sunset Ride. These two …
CAN-THE SINGLES.
Can-The Singles. After releasing eleven albums in eleven years, Can called time on their career in 1979. By then, Can were rightly regarded by critics as one of the most important, influential and innovative bands of the Krautrock era. However, like many of the Krautrock bands, Can hadn’t enjoyed the commercial success that their music …
BIG STAR-POWER POP PIONEERS.
Big Star-Power Pop Pioneers. Sadly, in music, talent doesn’t guarantee commercial success. If it did, Big Star would’ve been one of the biggest bands in musical history. Alas, that wasn’t the case. Lady luck failed to smile on Big Star when they released a trio of albums between 1972 and 1978. Despite this, Big Star are …
WILD HONEY-TORRES BLANCAS.
Wild Honey-Torres Blancas. Label: Lovemonk Records. Just over four years ago, Wild Honey released their much-anticipated sophomore album Big Flash in April 2013. This was the followup to Wild Honey’s 2009 debut album Epic Handshakes and A Bear Hug. While it was released to plaudits and praise, Big Flash marked the coming of age of …
JUNIE-THE COMPLETE WESTBOUND RECORDINGS 1973-1976.
Junie-The Complete Westbound Recordings. Label-Westbound Records. By 1973, nineteen year old Walter “Junie” Morrison Jr. was a member of one of the most successful funk bands of the early seventies…The Ohio Players. He had joined as a sixteen year old, and played on their sophomore album Pain, which was released in February 1972. Pain proved to …
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