Posted by Robert Benson on 06 Jun 2008 at 3:48 pm |
Category: 1. General Music
With vinyl record sales up more than fifteen percent over last year’s totals (858,000 ‘units’ bought in 2006 versus 990,000 in 2007, according to Nielsen Soundscan), has the comeback of this historical audio medium reached its pinnacle? No one can say for sure, but one thing is certain, these sales figures are not a full indication of just what is happening in the ‘vinyl world’ and how many records have truly been sold.
These sales figures may be underestimated and under represent the exact sales figures because they don’t always include the sales… Continue reading
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Posted by Robert Benson on 25 May 2008 at 10:33 am |
Category: 1. General Music
Album cover art has a fascinating and long history. From the days of Alex Steinweiss to pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roger Dean, album cover art has evolved; with some highly praised covers (i.e. the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper LP) to the controversial, including Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” that featured nude women.
But using old, generally unplayable vinyl records (LP’s) as a canvas, artist Daniel Edlen is creating one-of-a-kind ‘Vinyl Art’ masterpieces, adding a new dimension to the art of vinyl albums.
I spoke with Daniel about his love of art and music and… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 23 May 2008 at 7:23 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
In response to the request from some of you here - in particular Praful who said: “has anyone come across a site where you can list your records/wants list” - we have now built a site for you! Find That Record is the name of the site, and the aim is to help you do exactly that.
As part of the Campaign For Real Music, our aim is to make finding that rare record as easy as possible.
There are… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 20 May 2008 at 9:58 am |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
In a few short years, analogue radio as we know it will vanish into the ether, becoming white noise and making way for the brave new world of digital broadcasting. The pops, crackles, whistles and hiss that have lived with me for so long will disappear forever. Most of all, it is the Frequency Modulated band, the soundtrack to my generation, that will be most sorely missed when it eventually disappears, never to be heard again. Looking back on things, it’s been one hell of a journey.
But first (as they say in… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 19 May 2008 at 9:45 am |
Category: 2. Vocal Gems
Rosemary Squires, the only singing star of her era still touring, continues to earn first rate reviews. It’s over 60 years since her first broadcast at the age of 12 and she remains in peak form, giving immense pleasure not only to those of a certain age group but also to their grandchildren who recently rated her “real cool”.
We feature here a recent review of her latest tour:
“Legendary songstress Rosemary Squires served up more than two hours of pure golden entertainment in her show Gigs, Giggles and Gossip at the Guildhall Theatre.
And… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 19 May 2008 at 9:28 am |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds
This coming Bank Holiday Sunday 25 May 2008 offers a chance to hear some fantastic real soul being played by music connoisseurs. This will be an afternoon and late nite session of all things good, including classic soul, funk, boogie, disco and some house too.
The Campaign For Real Music is proud to support an event in which real music can be heard how it should be - on vinyl and being played LIVE too: guests will popping in along the way including live percussionists and guitar and a 5 piece break-dance crew.
Who?
Look… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 12 May 2008 at 2:08 pm |
Category: 2. Vocal Gems
The 50th Anniversary Tour 2008
Legendary singer Jack Jones returns with his Big Band to the UK in May 2008 for his 13-date tour, which includes Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London.
Jack is one of the last great singers of his generation. He received two Grammy awards for ‘Best Pop Male Vocal Performance’ for “Lollipops and Roses” and “Wives and Lovers”. He received a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance’ for his “Jack Jones Paints a Tribute To Tony Bennett”. He was also honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of… Continue reading
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Posted by Phil Driver on 12 May 2008 at 12:27 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
People often ask me where the original idea for Soul Unsigned came from. The answer is that it started with a packet of Nestle breakfast cereal… Rewind to 2003, and I’m doing the Sunday morning shop with Mrs Soul Unsigned. Something catches my eye on one of the cereal packets.
Nestle were giving away a 30-day free trial of EJAY “Dance 4″– a software package that allowed you to create your own music from a library of 1000s of drum, bass, guitar and vocal samples.
Who could resist an offer like that? Even if the… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 04 Feb 2008 at 6:29 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
The phone rings. All I can hear is MJ shouting “Oh my god you ain’t going to believe this. Jean carne is in town; and the icing on the cake is Alyson Williams, Shirley Jones and Glenn Jones are all going to be on stage with her”.
MJ booked the tickets and we meet outside London’s Jazz Café. The table we had was literally within touching distance of the keyboard player and instantly the night had a lovely, chilled vibe to it.
The band arrived on stage and Jean Carne took the mic to… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 04 Feb 2008 at 5:34 pm |
Category: 1. General Music
In this feature, soul and jazz aficionado Sunshineman provides an insight into one the best possible routes to becoming a radio presenter: Hospital Radio.
Many of today’s top presenters started their careers this way, and if you always thought hospital radio was all pop and no substance, think again…
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In the summer of 1976 (the year of UK’s big heat wave and coincidently, the moment when Roy Ayers released “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”), I had finally left comprehensive school and was preparing for a years’ Foundation Course at Worthing College of Art & Design, to… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 18 Jan 2008 at 11:48 pm |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds
Back in the early 1980s, a collection of soul LPs (and cassettes, but not CDs as they had not yet hit the shops) came along which, for many of us, changed our worlds forever.
Each StreetSounds edition was something to get truly excited about. Why? Because you could be certain that every release would contain all of the very best dance tracks of the day. Not the usual two-and-a-half minute album versions, either, but the full length, extended and often exclusive remix versions, some tracks running to over 10 minutes. Eight or so of… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 18 Jan 2008 at 4:22 pm |
Category: 3. Light & Easy
Neil Richardson is the man behind some of the most evocative arrangements and compositions of all time. Neil ranks up there with the best arrangers this country has ever produced. He created much of the BBC Radio Orchestra’s output during the 70s and 80s, and has worked with many of the leading orchestras in the world, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
If you listened to any decent radio during the 60s, 70s and 80s, you will have undoubtedly heard plenty of Neil’s work, even though you may not have known he was the master… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 18 Jan 2008 at 1:14 pm |
Category: 2. Vocal Gems
Ask anyone for a list of the truly great male singers, and the reply inevitably includes Sinatra, Bennett, and Crosby. Vic Damone, Bobby Darrin, Nat King Cole and the other Rat-Pack members are also likely to be named. But those who really know their singers will include Jack Jones somewhere up the top of this list.
It’s easy to see why. This is a man who has performed to sell-out audiences for best part of half a century. He has released dozen upon dozen of fantastic albums. He has recorded infamous theme tunes… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 18 Jan 2008 at 11:04 am |
Category: 4. Soul Sounds, 1. General Music
I had a look in HMV the other day, and there’s a brand new “80s soul weekender” CD out. I have a few of these collections already. On taking a look at the track listings, it all seemed just a little too familiar. Rufus and Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody. Yes, great tune, certainly a classic, but doesn’t it feature on every 80s soul CD ever made? Candi Staton – Young Hearts. Maybe just a tad overplayed? Earth Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland. Haven’t we had that one a few times… Continue reading
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Posted by Radiocafé on 14 Jan 2008 at 10:08 pm |
Category: 6. Other Music, 1. General Music
Few broadcasters are more fondly remembered than Ray Moore, who entertained millions of listeners for years with his regular early morning show on Radio 2.
Ray looked after the 5 to 7.30am slot throughout the seventies and eighties in his uniquely special way. He was one of the highlights of radio, even managing to make travel forecasts and sports reports entertaining.
Common Moore references included “Gatport Airwick”, “Moore’s ‘Orse”, “Old Moore’s Alma Nag” (a pun on the name of his beloved wife, Alma) and referring to a fellow broadcaster, “the Truckers’ Flussey” (Sheila Tracey).
Part… Continue reading
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