Rock's Backpages: Search Results

Retrospective and Interview by James Maycock, MOJO, 2002

JOHNNY OTIS, the renaissance man of rhythm and blues, is somewhat ambivalent about entering his ninth decade. "I have two kinds of feelings," he concedes. ...

James Brown: Beat The Devil: James Brown's Demons

Profile by James Maycock, Observer Music Monthly, February 2004

DAMN! LIFE WAS sweet and dandy for the Godfather of Soul in the last few years. But James Brown's slippin' and slidin' once again – ...

Terence Trent D'Arby: Where Are They Now: Terence Trent D'Arby

Report and Interview by Johnny Black, Q, Summer 2001

ONCE THE snake-hipped future of soul, Terence Trent D'Arby never quite capitalized on the enormous publicity that greeted his arrival in the mid-'80's, nor the ...

The Jackson 5: Greatest Hits

Review by Dave Marsh, Creem, April 1972

MOTOWN HAS ALWAYS been known for its little ones more than its big ones, and the Jackson Five are no exception. This is undoubtedly their ...

Benny Spellman: New Orleans R&B stalwart Benny Spellman

Obituary by John Broven, Now Dig This, July 2011

BENNY SPELLMAN, the New Orleans R&B singer, died of respiratory failure on June 3, 2011, in Pensacola, Fla., at the age of 79. He was ...

James Brown 1933-2006

Obituary by James Maycock, The Independent, 26 December 2006

JAMES BROWN was one of the most extraordinary Afro-Americans of the 2nd half of the 20th century. A raw, emotional singer, electric performer and tough ...

Denise LaSalle, Rockin' Sidney: Rockin' Sidney and Denise LaSalle: The Toot Toot Route

Report by Mike Atherton, Black Echoes, 20 July 1986

Sidney Simien spent part of 1984 recording new songs at his home studio in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Unremarkable as this information may seem, it was ...

Timmy Thomas: Breaking the rules: Timmy Thomas

Report and Interview by Pete Wingfield, Let It Rock, May 1973

IN THE American record business, like any other, it’s the biggies with the bread that rule the roost. But every so often, an obscure record ...

Michael Jackson: Bad

Review by Tom Graves, Rock and Roll Disc, November 1987

IF MICHAEL JACKSON is not the most confusing entertainer of our time, you can't blame him for not trying. ...

The Fatback Band: Ain't No Such Thing As We Don't Sounds BAAAD

Interview by Vivien Goldman, Sounds, 6 March 1976

"WHEN WE get a groove we hate to quit!" shouted out Bill Curtis. His voice carried over inexorable waves of sound, cookin', stampin', and gettin' ...

Bernard Purdie: Purdie's School of Drumming

Interview by Pete Makowski, Sounds, 26 April 1975

Pete Makowski talks to top American session drummer Bernard Purdie ...

Prince: Sign O' The Times

Review by Paolo Hewitt, NME, 4 June 1987

Prince isn't a star, he's an event. And so is the release of his new double LP. Paolo Hewitt is let to the subterranean bunker ...

Jerry Ragovoy: Old Music for New People: A Tribute to Jerry Ragovoy

Memoir by Al Kooper, The Morton Report, 22 July 2011

MY DEAR FRIEND Jerry Ragovoy, legendary songwriter, producer, and arranger, passed away on July 13 of complications from a stroke. ...

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes: Southside Johnny Lyon: Greetings From Asbury Park

Interview by Nick Coleman, Time Out, February 1992

Unlike his old buddies Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven, Southside Johnny Lyon has forsaken the trappings of rock stardom for clapboard houses and the smell ...

'80s Soul: Never Too Much

Overview by Lulu Le Vay, Sleazenation, May 2002

80s soul: Black men and silky suits and silkier voices. White Essex casuals. Weekends at windswept holiday resorts. Luther Vandross. While the rest of the ...

Teddy Pendergrass: The Sex Symbol Of Seventy Nine

Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1979

Teddy continues to fill the major stadiums across the States and now he tells David Nathan what it'll take to tempt him to Europe... ...

Holland-Dozier-Holland: They Wrote The Songs

Profile and Interview by Roy Trakin, Hits, May 2003

An exclusive HITS dialogue with Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland by Roy Trakin ...

James Brown: Mister Messiah

Report and Interview by Philip Norman, Sunday Times, 1971

JAMES BROWN will die on the stage one night, on the moving staircase of his own feet in front of a thirty-piece band; and then ...

General Kane: Slamming The Crack

Profile and Interview by Simon Witter, NME, 24 January 1987

Crack may have killed Applejack but GENERAL KANE leader Mitch McDowell won't touch the stuff: "I'm no saint, I've done a lot of things in ...