Category Archives: Soul
CULT CLASSIC: DON ELLIS-SHOCK TREATMENT.
Cult Classic: Don Ellis-Shock Treatment. Bandleader, composer and trumpeter Don Ellis’ life was changed forevermore in 1974, when he was diagnosed with an abnormal heart condition, and a year later, in 1975, suffered his first heart attack which very nearly cost him his life. Fortunately, Don Ellis recovered and in 1977 signed to Atlantic Records. …
CULT CLASSIC: BEN JAGGA-HOLD ON PRETTY WOMAN.
Cult Classic: Ben Jagga-Hold On Pretty Woman. Nowadays, every third rate, regional bar band has delusions of becoming the next Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple or Black Sabbath and spend their days dreaming of fame and fortune. Alas, these poor deluded fools shouldn’t give up their day job and should stick to pumping gas and parking cars because they usually lack …
FUNKADELIC-FUNKADELIC AND FREE YOUR MIND…AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW.
Funkadelic-Funkadelic and Free Your Mind…and Your Ass Will Follow. Label: Westbound Records. Format: CD. Although George Clinton was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, in 1941, he grew up in New Jersey, where he formed the doo wop group The Parliaments in the late fifties.At the time he co-owned a barber salon in Plainfield and spent …
MILLIE JACKSON-21 OF THE BEST 1971-1983.
Millie Jackson-21 Of The Best 1971-1983. Label: Westbound. Format: CD. It’s no exaggeration to say that Millie Jackson was one of the most talented and charismatic female vocalists of the seventies and early-eighties. She spent twelve years signed to Spring Records and released sixteen studio albums between 1972 and 1983. Three of these albums, 1974s …
CULT CLASSIC: TIM MAIA 1970.
Cult Classic: Tim Maia 1970. For many musicians, choosing the title for an album can prove problematic. Especially, for a debut album. As a result, many of new artists and bands have released eponymous albums.This includes everyone from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers Band to Art In America and Ash Ra Tempel. Then there’s Cluster, Dire …
CULT CLASSIC: ALICE CLARK-ALICE CLARK.
Alice Clark-Alice Clark. Sadly, all too often, hype and image has triumphed over talent, while commercial success and critical acclaim eludes truly talented artists. Chastened by the experience, many of these artists turn their back on the music industry. They’re content to return to civvy street, free from a world populated by A&R executives, PR …
CULT CLASSIC: ZACH AND GEEBAH-FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY.
Cult Classic: Zack and Geebah– For The Love Of Money. Tabansi Records was founded in Nigeria in 1950, and filled a void when major labels like Decca and then Philips closed the doors on their Nigerian operations. Chief (Dr) G.A.D. Tabansi who lent his name to what would become Nigeria’s most important label, recorded artists …
THE AWAKENING-HEAR, SENSE AND FEEL.
The Awakening-Hear, Sense and Feel. Label: Real Gone Music. Format: CD. Of the twenty albums that Black Jazz Records released between 1971 and 1975, The Awakening’s Hear, Sense and Feel is a much prized rarity amongst collectors. Copies of the album change hands for hundreds of dollars. That is no surprise given the quality of …
CULT CLASSIC: DJ SHADOW-PRIVATE PRESS.
Cult Classic: DJ Shadow-Private Press. On September the ’16th’ 1996, DJ Shadow released his critical acclaimed landmark debut album Endtroducing…..on the label Mo Wax Recordings. Endtroducing….which featured uptempo jams and slow, dark and broody tracks was inspired by early hip hop and was hailed as a genre classic-in-waiting. It was no surprise when Endtroducing….was certified …
CULT CLASSIC: EROL BÜYÜRBURÇ-HOP DEDIK.
Cult Classic: Erol Büyükburç-Hop Dedik. By October 1976, Erol Büyükburç was one of the biggest names in Turkish music. He was a flamboyant showman who looked like, dressed like and conducted himself like a star. Erol Büyükburç wore lame suits and was greeted by a legion of loyal fans every time he took the stage. …
CULT CLASSIC KABASA-AFRICAN SUNSET.
Cult Classic: Kabasa-African Sunset. Kabasa was formed in Soweto by vocalist and bassist Tata “TNT” Sibeko and percussionist Oupa Segwa and guitarist Robert “Doc” Mthalane who previously, had been members of the iconic Afro-rock band Harari. The group had started life as The Beaters, but during a tour of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1976, changed their name …
CULT CLASSIC: AZTECA-AZTECA.
Cult Classic: Azteca-Azteca. When brothers Coke and Pete Escovedo were growing up in Oakland in the sixties, they were surrounded by Latin music which influenced them when they decided to form their own group, Azteca. Just like Santana, Azteca’s music was a fusion of musical genres and influences, including Latin and funk. They were also a group …
ESTHER PHILLIPS-WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MAKES.
Esther Phillips-What A Diff’rence A Day Makes. Label: Music On CD. Format CD. Despite releasing eighteen albums during a career that lasted thirty-five years most people haven’t heard of Esther Phillips. That’s a great shame because she was one of the most talented, versatile and underrated singers of her generation. She possessed a totally unique and …
LOFTS AND GARAGES-SPRING RECORDS AND THE BIRTH OF DANCE MUSIC.
Lofts and Garages-Spring Records and The Birth Of Dance Music. Label: BGP. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘30th’ October 2020. As 1979 dawned, the tide was turning against disco, which had been one of the musical success stories of the late-seventies, and had provided the soundtrack to dance floors across the world. That was about to …
HAPPY TIMES-THE SONGS OF DAN PENN AND SPOONER OLDHAM VOL 2.
Happy Times-The Songs Of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham Vol. 2. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. Release Date: ‘30th’ October 2020. One of the greatest songwriting partnerships of the past sixty years is without doubt Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham. The pair met at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals in the mid-sixties and went on …
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-LOLEATTA AND CRY TO ME.
Loleatta Holloway-Loleatta and Cry To Me. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. Release Date: ’30th’ October 2020. Before being transformed into a disco diva by guitarist, songwriter, arranger and producer Norman “The Machine” Harris at Salsoul imprint Gold Mind Records, Loleatta Holloway released two albums of Southern Soul for Michael Thevis’ Aware Records. The first was …
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