Category Archives: Soul
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 …
DEXTER WANSEL-TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY.
DEXTER WANSEL-TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY. Mention the name Dexter Wansel, and many people think of the music herwrote, arranged and produced for artists on Philadelphia International Records. The artists that Dexter worked with during his time at Philadelphia International Records reads like a who’s who of Philly Soul. Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Lou Rawls, The …
ARETHA FRANKLIN-JUMP TO IT.
ARETHA FRANKLIN-JUMP TO IT. Before Jump To It was released in 1982, Aretha Franklin’s career was going through something of a lean spell. It had been six years since Aretha’s last top forty single Something He Can Feel and six years since her 1976 album Sparkle had been certified gold. Since then, Aretha had released …
BILL WITHERS-STILL BILL.
BILL WITHERS-STILL BILL. A year after the release of his debut album Just As I Am, Bill Withers released what would prove to be his most successful album ever, Still Bill. Not only did it build on the success of his debut album Just As I Am, it became the first of two of his …
TEENA MARIE-EMERALD CITY.
TEENA MARIE-EMERALD CITY. Having released four albums for Motown between 1979 and 1981, three of which had been certified gold, Lady T, Teena Marie had signed for Epic after a prolonged and bitter contract dispute that cost her over one-million dollars in legal fees. Her first album for Epic had been 1983s Robbery, which reached …
RONNIE FOSTER-LOVE SATELLITE.
RONNIE FOSTER-LOVE SATELLITE. Between 1972 and 1975, Ronnie Foster released four studio albums and one live album for the legendary Blue Note label. His debut album was 1972s critically acclaimed The Two Headed Freap, before releasing the funk drenched Sweet Revival in 1973. It saw Ronnie interpret ten tracks, including The O’Jays classic Back Stabbers …
SALSOUL NATION-COMPILED AND MIXED BY LUKE HOWARD.
SALSOUL NATION-COMPILED AND MIXED BY LUKE HOWARD. Two of my favorite labels are Philadelphia International Records and Salsoul Records. Both labels were hugely important during the seventies, producing some of the greatest music of the decade. Even forty years later, the Philly Sound’s inimitable sound is still as popular and influential. Similarly, Salsoul Records’ music …
ROBERTA FLACK-FIRST TAKE.
ROBERTA FLACK-FIRST TAKE. Mention Roberta Flack‘s name, and most people automatically think of two songs, The First Time I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly. The story of First Take is one where if fate hadn’t intervened, might have resulted in the album forever remaining a hidden gem. Having been released in 1969, First Take …
EARTH, WIND AND FIRE-THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
EARTH, WIND AND FIRE-THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD. If I were to ask which group during a ten year period between 1973 and 1983 released nine albums in the US, resulting in two album certified gold, plus three platinum, two double platinum and two triple platinum in the US, how many people answer Earth, …
GQ-TWO.
GQ-TWO. When Sabu and The Soul Survivors were founded in 1968 they were a quartet, but by the early seventies, the group became The Rhythm Makers primarily playing funk. The Rhythm Makers released one album had one Hole In Your Side, which contained the jazz-funk hit Zone. Then when drummer Kenny Banks left the group, …
HEATWAVE-TOO HOT TO HANDLE.
HEATWAVE-TOO HOT TO HANDLE. Having spent several years playing London’s club circuit, Heatwave signed to Epic Records in 1975. What would was a three year period where Heatwave released three albums, two of which were certified platinum and one gold. This remarkable run started with 1976s Too Hot To Handle, which reached number eleven in …
VISIONEERS-HIPOLOGY.
VISIONEERS-HIPOLOGY. After a long wait of six year since the release of Dirty Old Hip Hop, Marc Mac under the guise of Visioneers is back with the follow-up Hipology, a double album,due for release on 11th June 2012, on BBE Music. However, during the intervening six years, Marc hasn’t been resting on his laurels. Far …
JEAN CARN-WHEN I FOUND YOU LOVE.
JEAN CARN-WHEN I FOUND YOU LOVE. This year has been a good vintage for anyone who loves Philly Soul. First came the release of Philadelphia International: The Re-Edits, then came the release of Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes. Then just two weeks ago came the Magnus Opus, the Philadelphia International: 40th Anniversary Box …
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME.
M.F.S.B.-SUMMERTIME. Recently, when reviewing The O’Jays’ Message In the Music, I mentioned how that 1976 was a pivotal year for Philadelphia International Records and their legendary house-band M.F.S.B. From the very first album Philadelphia International Records released, M.F.S.B. provided the album’s heartbeat. These musicians included bassist Ron Baker, guitarist Norman Harris and drummer Earl Young. …
DIANA ROSS-DIANA.
DIANA ROSS-DIANA. While Diana Ross’ 1979 album The Boss had been commercially successful, reaching number fourteen in the US Billboard and number ten in the US R&B Charts, resulting in the album being certified gold, for the follow-up Diana wanted a more modern, contemporary sound. Then fate intervened, when Diana was handed an album of …
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