Category Archives: Soul
THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA-SOLIDARITY.
THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA-SOLIDARITY. When The Souljazz Orchestra released their acoustic album Rising Sun in 2101, it was to widespread critical acclaim. Now two years later, The Souljazz Orchestra are celebrating their tenth anniversary with the release of their fifth album Solidarity, which will be released by Strut Records on 17th September 2012. During the last …
MYSTIC MERLIN-FULL MOON.
MYSTIC MERLIN-FULL MOON. When Mystic Merlin started their musical adventure, here was a group of talented musicians looking to fill their considerable potential. They were the latest in a line of New York funk bands looking to hit the big time. Parliament, Funkadelic, Brass Construction, B.T. Express were funk royalty, but Mystic Merlin were looking …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-NICE ‘N’ NASTY.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-NICE ‘N’ NASTY. When I realized that this would my 500th review, I decided that to mark the occasion, by reviewing a really special album, one of my favorite albums. Now with the best part of two-thousand albums to choose from, I’ve plenty of choice. Regular readers of this blog will have realized …
LIGHT OF THE WORLD-LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
LIGHT OF THE WORLD-LIGHT OF THE WORLD. One of the bands who were at the forefront of the UK’s jazz funk movement during the late-seventies were Light of The World, whose name pays homage to Kool and The Gang’s 1974 album Light of the Worlds. They went on to release five albums between 1979 and …
GINA CAREY LIVE, LOVE AND LAUGH VOLUME 1 (LIVE).
GINA CAREY LIVE, LOVE AND LAUGH VOLUME 1 (LIVE). For any independent artist, trying to think of innovative ways of releasing music, isn’t easy. After all, major record companies have whole departments of strategists, whose job is to do just that. So, releasing music on a limited budget must be much harder. However, one artist …
CAROL WILLIAMS-‘LECTRIC LADY.
CAROL WILLIAMS-‘LECTRIC LADY. Ask me what my favorite album on Salsoul Records is, and I’m spoiled for choice. Instead of just one album, I’d probably give you a shortlist of albums. Obviously there would be something by The Salsoul Orchestra, Loleatta Holloway, First Choice, Inner Life and Double Exposure. Another album that would be right …
GINA CAREY-LIVE, LOVE AND LAUGH
GINA CAREY-LIVE, LOVE AND LAUGH Over the last two years, Gina Carey has been one of the busiest singers in music. What’s been a hectic couple of years, started with the release of Melodic in August 2011, which Gina wrote, arranged and produced. Melodic went on to reach number one in the UK Soul Charts …
PRIVATE WAX.
PRIVATE WAX. When the Disco Sucks movement tried to kill disco back on 12th July 1979 at Comiskey Park, Chicago, disco never died, and take it from me, never, ever will die. Instead, disco went underground. Out of disco came boogie, before disco went on to play a huge part in the development of house …
BODDHI SATVA-INVOCATION INSTRUMENTALS.
BODDHI SATVA-INVOCATION INSTRUMENTALS. Earlier this year, I came across one of the most beautiful tracks that I’d heard in a long time. This was Boddhi Satva’s From Another World, featuring a haunting, heartfelt and spiritual vocal from Vikter Duplaix. From Another World is one of these compelling tracks not only instantly grabs your attention, but …
TAVARES-MADAM BUTTERFLY.
TAVARES-MADAM BUTTERFLY. Between 1974 and 1977, Tavares enjoyed a trio of million selling US R&B number one singles with She’s Gone, It Only Takes A Minute and Whodunnit. These were just three of ten of Tavares’ ten singles that have Tavares a top ten US R&B single. That’s not forgetting the Grammy winning More Than …
BIG BOY BLOATER AND THE LIMITS-THE WORLD EXPLAINED.
BIG BOY BLOATER AND THE LIMITS-THE WORLD EXPLAINED. Some people are just born to sing the blues. It’s almost as they’re predestined to follow in the well trodden path of bluesmen like Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Floyd Dixon and Jimmy Rogers. There’s something about their world weary voices, the experiences they share, and their storytelling …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-HOW HIGH.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-HOW HIGH. With BBR Records comprehensive rerelease of the Salsoul back-catalogue due to begin later in August 2012, I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to give everyone a taster of what’s in-store. What better way to do this than with one of The Salsoul Orchestra’s albums How High. How High was …
MIXOLOGY-SAM RECORDS EXTENDED PLAY.
MIXOLOGY-SAM RECORDS EXTENDED PLAY. Just over a year ago, in July 2011, Harmless Records released their first installment in their new Mixology series, releasing Mixology-The Definitive Salsoul Mixes. This triple album featured thirty-one tracks from disco’s premier label, Salsoul. Now the Mixology series will return on 20th August 2012, with Harmless Records turning their attention …
THE O’JAYS-WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN.
THE O’JAYS-WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN. Any group that celebrate twenty-five years in the music business must be doing something right. For The O’Jays, they’d been formed in 1958 and released their debut album Comin’ Through in 1965. It was when The O’Jays signed to Philadelphia International Records and released their first album for …
MARLENA SHAW-WHO IS THIS BITCH ANYWAY?
MARLENA SHAW-WHO IS THIS BITCH ANYWAY? When Marlena Shaw left Cadet Records after the release of her second album The Spice of Life, she became the first woman to sign to the prestigious Blue Note label. During the four years Marlena was signed to Blue Note, she released some of the best music of her …
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-T.P.
TEDDY PENDERGRASS-T.P. By 1980, Teddy Pendergrass was at the height of his commercial success. Teddy has released three studio albums since leaving Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes. This trio of albums, 1977s Teddy Pendergrass, 1978s Life Is A Song Worth Singing and 1979s Teddy had all been certified platinum. Such was Teddy’s popularity, that …
SAGE MONK-HEARTACHE ALLEGORY.
SAGE MONK-HEARTACHE ALLEGORY. Over the past twenty years, the way people discover, buy and consume music has evolved beyond recognition. Maybe rather than evolution, the best word to describe these changes are revolution. No longer is a record shop people’s first place to look for new music. Instead, it’s the internet. Now downloading is perceived …
DAVID GRANT-DAVID GRANT.
DAVID GRANT-DAVID GRANT. For any artist, leaving a successful group can be something of a gamble. Regardless of how successful the group has been, there’s no guarantee that a successful solo career will follow. Obviously, there are exceptions to this, with Teddy Pendergrass one that springs to mind. After he left Harold Melvin and The …
CHARLES BRADLEY-NO TIME FOR DREAMING.
CHARLES BRADLEY-NO TIME FOR DREAMING. Although it was a long time coming, Charles Bradley released his debut album No Time For Dreaming in 2011 on Dunham Records. By 2011, Charles was fifty-three, and during his life, he’d travelled more than a few roads, most of them twisty. His love of music started when his sister …
THE CRUSADERS-STREET LIFE.
THE CRUSADERS-STREET LIFE. Having started their career as The Jazz Crusaders and releasing their debut album Freedom Sound in 1961, it took a change in name and sound before their music became commercially popular. This transformation occurred in 1971, with The Jazz Crusaders becoming The Crusaders. They released their “debut” album as The Crusaders in …
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