Category Archives: Soul
CULT CLASSIC: RIM KWAKU OBENG-RIM ARRIVES.
Cult Classic: Rim Kwaku Obeng-Rim Arrives. For collectors of Afro-funk and disco, many albums remain tantalisingly out of reach. This includes Ghanian drummer Rim Kwaku Obeng’s legionary lost debut album Rim Arrives. It was released in 1977, four years after a perilous time for Rim Kwaku Obeng. He found himself stranded in London, without money, …
CULT CLASSIC: TIM MAIA-TIM MAIA (1977).
Cult Classic: Tim Maia-Tim Maia (1977. As 1977 dawned, Tim Maia had already released seven albums since his 1970 eponymous debut, and although some of these album had been released to critical acclaim and were a commercial success, the charismatic Brazilian singer found himself financially embarrassed. Things had been going from bad to worse over the …
CULT CLASSIC: MARY AFI USUA-AFRICAN WOMAN.
Cult Classic: Mary Afi Usuah-African Woman. When Mary Afi Usuah released her sophomore album African Woman on Clover Music in 1978, very few people outside of Nigeria heard the album. That was despite Mary Afi Usuah having performed in front of hundreds of thousands of music fans. Mary Afi Usuah had spent thirteen years touring …
CULT CLASSIC: FUNKADELIC-MAGGOT BRAIN.
Cult Classic: Funkadelic-Maggot Brain. Rumour has it, that when Funkadelic recorded their career defining album, Maggot Brain, they were on one long acid trip. Members of Funkadelic had dropped some Yellow Sunshine Acid before producer George Clinton pressed the record button and ironically, the result was their finest hour, Maggot Brain. Sadly, never again, would Funkadelic reach the same …
THE LONDON AMERICAN LABEL YEAR BY YEAR 1967.
The London American Label Year By Year 1967. Label: Ace Records. For a generation of British teenagers who embarked upon a lifelong love affair with music during the fifties and sixties, the London American Recordings will forever have a place in their heart. London American Recordings was the label that introduced a British music lovers …
CULT CLASSIC: MILLIE JACKSON-STILL CAUGHT UP.
Cult Classic: Millie Jackson-Still Caught Up. There’s nothing worse than not hearing how a story ends, and that was how many record buyers felt after hearing Millie Jackson’s critically acclaimed fourth album Caught Up, which was released in 1974. Caught Up was essentially a concept album, but in truth was like a musical soap opera about …
CULT CLASSIC: JAMES LUTHER DICKINSON-DIXIE FRIED.
Cult Classic: Luther Dickinson-Dixie Fried. All too often, artists spend days, weeks and sometimes even months recording their debut album. Eventually, the album is complete, and it’s delivered to the record company. Nervously and expectantly the artist awaits as the record company plan a marketing campaign. If the artist is signed to a major label, it …
CULT CLASSIC: BETTYE CRUTCHER-LONG AS YOU LOVE ME.
Cult Classic: Bettye Crutcher-As Long As You Love Me. For Bettye Crutcher, getting a foothold in the male-dominated world of Memphis songwriting wasn’t easy. Her songs already been rejected by Willie Mitchell at Hi Records. Willie told her he’d already got Don Bryant signed to Hi Records. Don had already established himself as a successful and …
CULT CLASSIC: CRAIG PEYTON GROUP-PYRAMID LOVE.
Cult Classic: Craig Peyton Group-Pyramid Love. For Craig Peyton, the founder member of Band X, 1976 was the most important year of his nascent musical career. It was the year they released their debut album The Best Of Band X. However, The Best Of Band X a private pressing, wasn’t a commercial success and instead, this innovative, …
MUSIC FROM JARVIS COCKER’S SUNDAY SERVICE.
Music From Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service. Label: Ace Records. When it was announced in 2010, that former Pulp frontman, and songwriter-in-chief, Jarvis Cocker, was about to present a show on BBC 6 Music, his statement of intent was posted on the Corporation’s website: “It is my intention to fill these hours with as much dodgy …
CULT CLASSIC: TIM MAIA-DISCO CLUB.
Cult Classic-Tim Maia-Disco Club. By 1978, Tim Maia had released nine albums since his 1970 eponymous debut, and although some of these album had been released to critical acclaim and were a commercial success, the charismatic Brazilian singer found himself financially embarrassed. Things had been going from bad to worse over the last few years …
YESTERDAY HAS GONE-THE SONGS OF TEDDY RANDAZZO.
Yesterday Has Gone-The Songs Of Teddy Randazzo. Label: Ace Records. The name Teddy Randazzo means different things to different people. To some, he’s the singer who had Billboard 100 hits with 1958s Little Serenade, 1960s The Way Of A Clown and Big Wide World in 1963. He featured in rock revues alongside Chuck Berry and …
SIDIKU BUARI-DISCO SOCCER.
Sidiku Buari-Disco Soccer. Label: BBE Africa. Release Date: ‘18th’ October 2019. There are very few people who manage to forge a career in both sport and music, but Ghanian born Sidiku Buari managed to do just this. He was a silver medallist in the 400 metres at the 1963 All-Africa Games held in Dakar, Senegal. …
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