Tag Archives: BBR Records
SWEAT BAND-SWEAT BAND.
SWEAT BAND-SWEAT BAND. After George Clinton and his manager Archie Ivy formed Uncle Jam Records, the nascent label’s first release was the debut album from Bootsy Collins newly formed P-Funk supergroup Sweat Band. Formed out of the ashes of Bootsy’s Rubber Band, Sweat Band was a short-lived P-Funk group, who released just one album in 1980. …
THE GAP BAND-THE GAP BAND VII.
THE GAP BAND-THE GAP BAND VII. For The Gap Band, commercial success didn’t come overnight. Quite the opposite. Instead, it took three albums. Neither 1974s Magician’s Holiday nor 1977s The Gap Band charted. Then when The Gap Band signed to Mercury Records, their third album The Gap Band reached number seventy-seven in the US Billboard …
BILLY PAUL-LATELY.
BILLY PAUL-LATELY. Having founded Philadelphia International Records in 1971, Gamble and Huff made Billy Paul one of the first signings to their new label. Gamble and Huff had know Billy since 1967, when he was working on his debut album Feelin’ Good At the Cadillac Club. Billy’s debut album needed some work to complete it, …
SKYY-SKYY LINE.
SKYY-SKYY LINE. By the time Skyy released their fourth album for Salsoul Records, Skyy Line, which was recently rereleased by BBR Records, Salsoul, and indeed music, had changed dramatically. Between 1975 and 1979, Salsoul Records had established a reputation as disco’s premier label. Salsoul Records gained a reputation as an innovative and influential label, who …
CASTON AND MAJORS-CASTON AND MAJORS.
CASTON AND MAJORS-CASTON AND MAJORS. When Caston and Majors released their eponymous debut album in December 1974, it was very different from the music Motown had made their name releasing. This wasn’t the poppy soul that was referred to as The Sound Of Young America. Quite the opposite. Caston and Majors demonstrated how Motown’s music …
ARTHUR PRYSOCK-ALL MY LIFE.
ARTHUR PRYSOCK-ALL MY LIFE. Ever since his career began in 1944, Arthur Prysock had watched musical tastes constantly change. Since then, Arthur’s music had been in and out fashion several times. His fusion of jazz, blues, pop and R&B had proved commercially successful during the fifties and sixties. Arthur’s recording career began in 1959 at …
ANITA WARD-SONGS OF LOVE.
ANITA WARD-SONGS OF LOVE. The best way to describe Anita Ward is an accidental disco diva. Why? Well, before the release of her disco classic Ring My Bell, Anita hadn’t even been in a disco. Instead, the whole disco craze had passed her by. So, when she released Ring My Bell, Anita became disco’s latest …
BLACK SLATE-AMIGO.
BLACK SLATE-AMIGO. Back in London in 1974, Black Slate became one of the first wave of British reggae bands. Indeed, Black Slate were the third major British reggae band to be formed. They were following in the footsteps of British reggae pioneers The Cimarons and Matumbi. These three bands were pioneers, leading the way for …
DONNA ALLEN-PERFECT TIMING.
DONNA ALLEN-PERFECT TIMING. Donna Allen, whose 1986 debut album Perfect Timing will be rereleased by BBR Records on 25th February 2013, career started ten years before her debut album was released. However, Donna Allen’s career was almost accidental. She’d originally been a cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in 1976, as a favor to …
DELEGATION-DEUCES HIGH.
DELEGATION-DEUCES HIGH. By the time Delegation came to record their fourth album, 1982s Deuces High, which BBR Records will released on 25th February 2013, the group’s lineup had changed several times. It seemed Delegation’s lineup was constantly evolving. Members joined, then left. When Delegation came to record their fourth album, Deuces High, Ricky Bailey was …
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY.
THE O’JAYS SHIP AHOY. In August 1972, when The O’Jays’ released Back Stabbers, little did they realize how important an album it would become. Back Stabbers was certified gold, and fourteen years after The O’Jays were formed, were on their way to becoming one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful groups in the …
CARMEN MCCRAE-I AM MUSIC.
CARMEN MCCRAE-I AM MUSIC. There’s not many artists who, during their career, release over sixty albums and are nominated for seven Grammy Awards. Carmen McCrae did both. It’s no understatement to say that Carmen McCrae was one of the most influential jazz singers in musical history. Having referred to Carmen McCrae as a jazz singer …
AZTECA-PYRAMID OF THE MOON.
AZTECA-PYRAMID OF THE MOON. During the ten months between the release of Azteca’s debut album Azteca, and the release of their sophomore album, Pyramid of The Moon, the future looked bright for Coke and Pete Escovedo’s genre defying band. Released in December 1972, Azteca had reached number 151 in the US Billboard 200 and number …
TYRONE DAVIS-IN THE MOOD.
TYRONE DAVIS-IN THE MOOD. After Carl Davis signed Tyrone Davis to Dakar Records in 1968, success came quickly for Tyrone. His debut single Can I Change My Mind gave Tyrone the first of three US R&B number one singles. A year later, Tyrone released his debut album Can I Change My Mind in 1969. This …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2012-PART 2.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2012-PART 2. The first six reissues of 2012 I reviewed were released between February and August 2012. My first choice from The Best Reissues of 2012-Part 2 was also released in August, before September proved to be one of the best months of 2012 for rereleases. BILLY PAUL-360 DEGREES OF BILLY …
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2012-PART 3.
THE BEST REISSUES OF 2012-PART 3. Throughout my review of The Best Reissues of 2012, I’ve reviewed albums that have either been commercial successful or for some reason, failed commercially. Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with the music. Often, it’s too innovative, released at the wrong time or not promoted enough. Behind each of the my …
DELEGATION-DELEGATION II.
DELEGATION-DELEGATION II. Although Delegation calling their third album Delegation II, might seem somewhat confusing, but in many ways it made sense. Delegation II the second album to feature the new lineup of Ricky Bailey, Ray Patterson and Bruce Dunbar, who’d replaced founding member Len Coley. So essentially, Eau De Vie, Delegation’s sophomore album and now …
DELEGATION-EAU DE VIE.
DELEGATION-EAU DE VIE. Often, it seems American bands have a monopoly when it comes to producing quality and successful soul and funk music. Sometimes, British groups can match their American counterparts in the success stakes. It doesn’t happen often, but very occasionally, a British band releases a single or album that takes America by storm. …
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