Category Archives: Soul

GIL SCOTT-HERON-THE FLYING DUTCHMAN YEARS.

Gil Scott-Heron-The Flying Dutchman Years. After releasing a trio of studio albums on Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman Productions between 1970 and 1972, Gil Scott-Heron signed to Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s Strata-East Records. By then, Gil Scott-Heron was well on his way to becoming America’s social conscience. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, musician, and author …

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REDBONE-GO WEST IN SEARCH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

Redbone-Go West In Search Of The American Dream. When brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas decided to move to Los Angeles in 1969 to form a new band Redbone, they arrived with just a handful of change in their pocket. However, moving to Los Angeles was just too good an opportunity to turn down. Pat Vegas had recently …

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JOEY NEGRO + SEAN P PRESENT THE BEST OF DISCO SPECTRUM.

Joey Negro + Sean P Present The Best Of Disco Spectrum. Label: BBE. Nearly eighteen years ago, BBE released the first volume in their critically acclaimed Disco Spectrum series. It was compiled by DJ, remixer and crate digger extraordinaire Joey Negro. He was responsible for a compilation that stood head and shoulders above the competition …

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SUE BARKER-AUSTRALIA’S BEST KEPT MUSIAL SECRET.

Sue Barker-Australia’s Best Kept Musical Secret. Forty-two years ago, in 1977, Adelaide-based singer Sue Barker released what’s without doubt, one of the greatest soul-jazz albums in the history of Australian music. That album was Sue Barker, which was released on Marcus Herman’s label Crest International. The release of Sue Barker should’ve been the start of …

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WILSON PICKETT SINGS BOBBY WOMACK.

Wilson Pickett Sings Bobby Womack. Label: Kent Soul. Nowadays, Wilson Pickett and Bobby Womack are remembered as two of the legends of soul music. Both men enjoyed long and illustrious careers, which saw them write their names into musical history. The two men also shared much in common, with Wilson Pickett and Bobby Womack both …

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MAD MATS DIGGING BEYOND THE CRATES VOLUME 1.

Mad Mats Digging Beyond The Crates Volume 1. Label: BBE. Mats Karlsson’s life changed forevermore when hip hop arrived in Europe in 1983. Back then, he was living in northern Stockholm, which was an ethnically diverse neighbourhood, and had no interest in music. That soon changed when he discovered hip hop. Soon, Mats Karlsson threw …

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MAINSTREAM MODERN SOUL 2 1969-1976.

Mainstream Modern Soul 2 1969-1976. Label: Kent Soul.  By 1964, had already spent over twenty years working in the music industry. He had started at the bottom and worked his way up, and now he was one of the most respected figures in American music. Bob Shad knew everyone and they knew him. They knew …

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THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF JUNIE-FROM OHIO PLAYER TO SOLO ARTIST, FUNKADELIC AND BEYOND.

The Life and Music Of Junie-From Ohio Player To Solo Artist, Funkadelic and Beyond. In 1970, most sixteen years in Drayton, Ohio, were still at high school and were making plans for college or the world of work. Some were worrying about being drafted, and heading for Vietnam to fight in a war that America was struggling …

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AMMOYE-THE LIGHT.

Ammoye-The Light. Life has been easy for Jamaican-Canadian singer and songwriter Ammoye, who has had to cope with a number of setbacks during her life. This has made the three-times Juno nominated singer stronger, and inspired Ammoye to keep following her dream of becoming a successful singer-songwriter. It’s a dream that she has never lost sight …

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SUE BARKER-SUE BARKER.

Sue Barker-Sue Barker. Label: Playback Records. Forty-two years ago, in 1977, Adelaide-based singer Sue Barker released what’s without doubt, one of the greatest soul-jazz albums in the history of Australian music. That album was Sue Barker, which was released on Marcus Herman’s label Crest International. The release of Sue Barker should’ve been the start of …

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FREDDIE NORTH-THE A-BET YEARS.

Freddie North-The A-Bet Years. Nine years after making his recording debut with The Rookies, Freddie North signed to Nashboro’s newly formed A-Bet imprint in 1967. This would be home to Freddie North for the next nine years, and where he would enjoy the most successful period of his career. However, his story began in the country music …

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GIL SCOTT-HERON-THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED…PLUS.

Gil Scott-Heron-The Revolution Will Not Be Televised…Plus. Label: BGP. After releasing a trio of studio albums on Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman Productions between 1970 and 1972, Gil Scott-Heron signed to Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s Strata-East Records. By then, Gil Scott-Heron was well on his way to becoming America’s conscience. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, …

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MODERNISTS: MODERNISM’S SHARPEST CUTS.

Modernists: Modernism’s Sharpest Cuts. Label: Kent Dance. Ever since the birth of rock ’n’ roll, youth cults have come and gone. Some have proven to be nothing more than passing fads, and nowadays, are mere footnotes in cultural history. Some youth cults have endured, and played an important part in British culture. However, none of …

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PLAYBACK RECORDS-THE STORY SO FAR.

Playback Records-The Story So Far. Many record buyers dream of leaving the 9 to 5 grind behind, and founding their own record company. In their dream, their new record company would reissue some of their favourite hard to find albums. These hidden gems are the albums that slipped under the radar first time around, and …

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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 …

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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 …

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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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ON BROADWAY: THE SONGS OF BARRY MANN AND CYNTHIA WEIL.

On Broadway: The Songs Of Barry Mann And Cynthia Weil. Label: Playback Records. Ever since The Brill Building was built-in 1931, it has been synonymous with the music industry. Its eleven floors housed music industry offices and recording studios. The Brill Building was also home to some of the greatest songwriting teams in musical history. …

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JEANETTE JONES-DREAMS ALL COME TRUE.

Jeanette Jones-Dreams All Come True. Label: Playback Records. The history of soul music is littered with artists who could’ve and should’ve gone on to greater things, but for whatever reason, commercial success and critical acclaim passed them by. That, sadly, was the case with Jeanette Jones. She had talent in abundance, and a voice that …

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