Category Archives: Soul
MYSTIC MERLIN-MYSTIC MERLIN.
MYSTIC MERLIN-MYSTIC MERLIN. Many times, I’ve mentioned how when you’re crate digging in a record shop, desperate for something new to listen to, but finding nothing inspirational, you’ve got to think laterally. One thing I, and many other people I know do, is look for an album cover that stands out. Ideally, you’re looking for …
ARETHA FRANKLIN-ARETHA.
ARETHA FRANKLIN-ARETHA. By 1978 and the end of Aretha Franklin’s time at Atlantic Records, her career had stalled, lost direction. She wasn’t enjoying the hits that were a regular feature of her early Atlantic. Granted there were occasional bright spots, with Break It To Me Gently, which although it gave Aretha a US R&B number …
CHERYL LYNN-INSTANT LOVE.
CHERYL LYNN-INSTANT LOVE. When Cheryl Lynn released her eponymous debut album Cheryl Lynn, it contained a single that since then, has become synonymous with Cheryl, Got To Be Real. It reached number one in the US R&B Charts, while her debut album was certified gold. Since then, Got To Be Real has become a disco …
JOHN MORALES-THE M & M MIXES.
JOHN MORALES-THE M&M MIXES. Over the past few months, I’ve reviewed a number of compilations of remixes from some of the best and highest profile remixers in the history of disco. Recently, I’ve reviewed Mixed With Love-The Walter Gibbons Anthology and Larry Levan-The Definitve Salsoul Remixes 1978, while previously, I reviewed Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton …
THE STAPLE SINGERS-THE STAPLE SINGERS.
THE STAPLE SINGERS-THE STAPLE SINGERS. By the early eighties, The Staple Singers had spent over thirty years performing and recording. Their career started in 1948, with the group singing in churches in the Chicago area. Four years later in 1952, they signed their first record contract, releasing their debut album Uncloudy Day in 1959. Since …
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND.
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND. Imagine this scenario. You’re part of a band whose just released your debut album which fails to chart. A year later, you release the followup which not only reaches number one in the US R&B Charts and is certified triple-platinum, but features two singles that reach …
JOHN AND GINA CAREY-THE FAMILY THAT LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE TOGETHER.
JOHN AND GINA CAREY-THE FAMILY THAT LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE TOGETHER. This year, 2012, has been a big year for John and Gina Carey, releasing three albums so far. On St. Valentines’ Day 2012, which was quite apt, considering how devoted to a couple they are, they both released their new solo albums. John released …
THE DELLS-ONE STEP CLOSER.
THE DELLS-ONE STEP CLOSER. The last time I reviewed an album by The Dells, it was their 1978 album Love Connection. Like their previous album, They Said It Couldn’t Be Done But We Did It Anyway, it was produced by Norman Harris’ The Harris Machine. Along with some of Philly’s finest musicians, The Harris Machine …
DENIECE WILLIAMS-I’M SO PROUD.
DENIECE WILLIAMS-I’M SO PROUD. Sometimes, the difference an experience and talented producer can make to an artist’s career can’t be underestimated. While everyone has their own examples, Deniece Williams certainly felt this when she first met Thom Bell. Instantly, they realized they were musical soul mates. By that time, Thom Bell was a vastly experienced …
CHAKA KHAN-NAUGHTY.
CHAKA KHAN-NAUGHTY. After Rufus released their sixth album Street Player in 1978, Chaka Khan decided the time was right to launch her solo career. Her peerless vocals played a huge part in the success of Rufus, resulting four of their albums being certified gold and 1977s Ask Rufus being certified platinum. Chaka’s solo career started …
ROSE ROYCE-ROSE ROYCE III: STRIKES AGAIN.
ROSE ROYCE-ROSE ROYCE III: STRIKES AGAIN. When Norman Whitfield decided to set up his own record company Whitfield, after spending ten years at Motown as their psychedelic kahuna, one of his first signing were Total Concept Unlimited, an eight-piece band from Los Angeles. Norman became the group’s mentor, signing them to his label and shaping …
THE O’JAYS-TRAVELIN’ AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT.
THE O’JAYS-TRAVELIN’ AT THE SPEED OF THOUGHT. A year after The O’Jays released Message In the Music, their final album to feature William Powell, The O’Jays would release Travellin’ At the Speed of Thought, their first album featuring their new vocalist Sammy Strain. Given how successful The O’Jays had been since releasing their first album …
TEENA MARIE-NAKED TO THE WORLD.
TEENA MARIE-NAKED TO THE WORLD. Having left Motown after a bitter and prolonged legal dispute, Teena Marie signed for Epic Records, releasing five albums. She’d enjoyed commercial success at Motown, releasing three albums that were certified gold between 1979 and 1981. These were Lady T in 1979, 1980s Irons In the Fire and 1981s It …
QUAZAR-QUAZAR.
QUAZAR-QUAZAR. Having spent several years aboard George Clinton’s Mothership Connection, as vocalist and guitarist for Funkadelic and Parliament, Glenn Goins started getting restless being just a side-man for George. He watched other members leave the bands, forming their own successful bands. Soon he too, was considering his future, having played important roles on mid-seventies Funkadelic …
DISCO RECHARGE-TANGERUE/STRANGE AFFAIR.
DISCO RECHARGE-TANGERUE/STRANGE AFFAIR. After the success of Harmless Records’ Disco Discharge series, which celebrated the release of four further volumes in 2012, taking the total to sixteen volumes of the Disco Discharge series, Harmless have launched another new label and series, Disco Recharge. The Disco Recharge series sees Harmless rerelease long out of print classic …
DENIECE WILLIAMS-NIECY.
DENIECE WILLIAMS-NIECY. From the release of her debut album This Is Niecy in 1976, Deniece Williams embarked on an eight year musical adventure, where she released seven solo albums, two of which were certified gold and one platinum. During that period, Deniece worked with some of the most successful producers of that time. This included …
GEORGE MCCRAE-ROCK YOUR BABY.
GEORGE MCCRAE-ROCK YOUR BABY. Imagine an artist could record a single in an hour, costing them just $15 or $20 and that single went on to reach number one in the US Billboard and US R&B Charts. While that might sound far fetched, it actually happened. Back in 1974 George McCrae recorded Rock Your Baby …
THE JACKSONS-GOIN’ PLACES.
THE JACKSONS-GOIN’ PLACES. Just eleven months after The Jacksons had released the most successful album of their career thus far, 1976s The Jacksons, they released the followup album Goin’ Places. This was the second album of a joint venture between where Epic Records and Philadelphia International Records, with Gamble and Huff in charge of the …
PAUL BUCHANAN-MID AIR.
PAUL BUCHANAN-MID AIR. Although The Blue Nile only released four albums between forming in 1981 and they released their final album High in 2004, they’ve attained legendary status among their fans. Sadly, their albums never sold in the quantities their talent deserved. Very little is known about the three members of The Blue Nile, Paul …
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