John Abbey
John Abbey (pictured with Windy City legend Jerry Butler) founded Blues & Soul magazine in 1967 and was its editor into the 1980s. John is still active in the industry, booking numerous R&B artists around the world and managing the Three Degrees.
751 articles
List of articles in the library
Charley Pride — America's Coloured Cowboy
Profile by John Abbey, Record Mirror, 5 August 1967
ASK ANYBODY who knows anything about Country Music to name an artiste with a bright future in this field and you'll hear the name Charley ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, September 1969
DISCOVERED IN our own backyard! ...
Retrospective by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, September 1969
WE REGRET the loss this month of another R&B artist, Roy Hamilton. Whilst Roy has frequently strayed from R&B, he is generally considered to be ...
Retrospective by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, September 1969
FREDERICK (SHORTY) Long drowned in a boating accident on Sunday, June 29. Also killed in the same accident was Shorty's friend, Oscar Williams, who also ...
The Temptations Came, Saw And Almost Conquered
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 January 1970
AND SO, it's all over. The Temptations, first ambassadors of Soul and Motown have been and gone again. The question now is whether it was ...
The Temptations: The Talk Of The Town, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 January 1970
ON ENTERING the exclusive surroundings of London's most popular dinner and entertainment club, my mind was engaged on the description that most journalists from the ...
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1970
Soul together — so untogether! ...
The Miracles: Thank The Beatles
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1970
SMOKEY ROBINSON and the Miracles flew into London specifically to appear on Tom Jones TV show. Even if many Soul fans disapprove of what Mr. ...
Jimmy Ruffin: I Nearly Became A Temptation
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, March 1970
AND SO, the news is out that the Ruffin brothers, David and Jimmy, could well be linking up in the States as a double act. ...
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 March 1970
RECORD OF THE FORTNIGHT ...
Wilbert Harrison: One Man Band
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, May 1970
ALMOST WITHOUT WARNING, Wilbert Harrison arrived in London during mid-April to appear with Creedence Clearwater at London's Royal Albert Hall concerts. Wilbert was chosen by ...
Isaac Hayes: The Isaac Hayes Movement (Enterprise 1010 — U.S.), (Stax 1032 — U.K.)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 May 1970
THE ISAAC HAYES MOVEMENT IN DEPTH ...
Inez Foxx Speaks Frankly To B and S
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, June 1970
...and tells the truth about her first solo tour and its problems ...
Isaac Hayes: The Most Important Soul Man Of Today
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, June 1970
JA: How did you first get together with David Porter, in the very beginning? ...
Diana Ross: Reflections on Diana's solo debut
Report by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 July 1970
TOURING late June, Diana Ross passed through London during a holiday period and E.M.I. Records held a reception in her honour. ...
Sam & Dave: The Split — The Story
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 July 1970
AFTER 10 YEARS, Sam and Dave have finally parted company. They both intend to continue in the business, yet neither is certain of exactly which ...
Syreeta, Stevie Wonder: Stevie & Syreeta: A Perfect Marriage Of Musical Ideas
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 July 1970
THIS YEAR, 1970, Motown are celebrating their 10th anniversary. During their ten very successful years, Stevie Wonder has been virtually an ever present. ...
The Flirtations: In Pursuit Of That Elusive Hit
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 July 1970
DESPITE THE fact that the beautiful Flirtations virtually live on our doorstep, the British public has inexplicably ignored their many fine records, despite the fact ...
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas: Martha's 10 years at Motown...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, August 1970
THIS YEAR is the tenth anniversary of Motown Records and to celebrate it in London, Martha Reeves and her Vandellas spent one week meeting the ...
Aretha Franklin: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 August 1970
WHEN THE second house of Aretha's only London date started half an hour late, it did at first appear a bad sign. However, since the ...
Clarence Carter, Candi Staton: Clarence Carter & Candi Staton: Clarence and Candi and Rick Hall
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 August 1970
WHEN WE heard the good news of Clarence Carter's impending marriage to his protege, Candi Staton, we felt we had to get in touch with ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1970
OUTSIDE OF the States, Bobby Womack does not really mean a great deal. On listening to his current American album, My Prescription, this is indeed ...
Bobby Womack: My Prescription (Minit LP 24027 U.S. only; No British release scheduled)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1970
THE ALBUM opens with one of Bobby's own compositions, 'How I Miss You Baby', a mid-tempo song with a sad sounding chorus. The heavy guitaring, ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1970
IT WAS ONLY because one member of Atlantic's London office staff had particular faith in Otis Leavill's R&B hit from the States, 'I Love You', ...
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band: Express Yourself
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 September 1970
THOUGH THE Watts 103rd St. Band are not yet a big act in Britain, they have established themselves as one of the top attractions in ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 September 1970
ONE OF the most promising talents to emerge in the States this year has been R. B. Greaves. His multi-million seller, 'Take A Letter Maria', ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 September 1970
The Isley Brothers, Ronnie, Rudolph and O'Kelly, have spent well over a decade at the top. Their success culminated in the formation of their own ...
The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield: Curtis Mayfield: Curtis; The Impressions: Check Out Your Mind
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 September 1970
Curtis Mayfield: Curtis (Curtom) ...
The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield: Curtis Mayfield: No Longer An Impression
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 September 1970
AS EXCLUSIVELY reported in Blues & Soul some 4 months ago, Curtis Mayfield has officially left the Impressions after 12 years. When we finally tracked ...
Freda Payne: The Story Behind Band Of Gold
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 September 1970
"THAT'S REALLY funny, because I was only talking to the office yesterday asking if 'Band Of Gold' had made any charts overseas – especially Britain". ...
Chairmen Of The Board: The Chairmen of the Board
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 September 1970
FOR MANY YEARS, I have been singing the praise of a certain Norman Johnson, who was the lead voice with the Showmen. ...
Esther Marrow: Newport News Virginia
Retrospective by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1970
BRITISH SOUL FANS could be for-given for having never heard of Miss Esther Marrow a month or so ago since Miss Marrow has, to date, ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1970
GENERALLY, all forms of American music finally break through in Britain. But, to date, there has been one outstanding exception in that the smooth groups ...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1970
IN THE FIVE short months that have passed since the last time the Tops came to Britain, a great deal has happened to them. ...
The Last Poets: Thoughts... and Music: The Last Poets
Comment by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1970
AS EDITOR of Blues & Soul, I have always done my personal utmost to concentrate on the musical content of our music and the artists ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 October 1970
PERCY SLEDGE made a fleeting visit to London recently on his way to Holland to receive an award. Naturally, B&S got together with him and ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 October 1970
ALREADY, Holland-Dozier-Holland have introduced us to Freda Payne and the Chairmen of the Board this year via their Invictus label. It is highly likely that ...
The Mar-Keys, The Memphis Horns: The Memphis Horns
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 October 1970
HOW MANY of you have listened to the Memphis records and thought to yourself how great the brass is? Every Sam & Dave record, or ...
Clarence Carter, Candi Staton: Clarence Carter: 'Patches' An Ideal Album Track
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 November 1970
OWN UP, all those who didn't give Clarence Carter's 'Patches' even an outside chance of making the U.K. charts; let alone actually make the Top ...
Patti LaBelle: Pattie Labelle and Bluebelles: Fly-IN High
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 November 1970
IT HAS gone virtually unnoticed in the British musical press that Pattie La Belle (or Patty La Belle or Patti La Belle!) and her Blue ...
David Porter: Gritty Groovy Now He's Got It
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1970
REMEMBER THE big Soul boom of last year when every second record on the pop chart was a revived Soul sound? Naturally, everyone saw this ...
The Edwin Hawkins Singers: Edwin Hawkins
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1970
EVERY NOW and then, a true phenomenon occurs in the world of popular music. The 60's was a period when at least one unusual occurrence ...
Roberta Flack: The Real Roberta Flack
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1970
ROBERTA FLACK sings. In fact, as Les McCann so aptly put it in the liner notes of her first album for Atlantic Records, titled First ...
Tom Dowd: The Reluctant Master
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1970
"COLUMBIA DIDN'T record Aretha badly, it was just that what they did was untimely. Aretha Franklin is incapable of making a bad record." ...
Rufus Thomas: The Dog... The Funky Chicken... now for The Push & Pull
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 December 1970
DURING RUFUS Thomas' 20 years recording career, he has directly started two dance crazes in the States. In the early '60s he was responsible for ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 December 1970
DEE DEE Warwick has been turning out good records now for half a decade and she really hasn't received the acclaim she warrants. However, her ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, January 1971
CAROL WOODS made her British debut recently on the Ember label with 'If I Let You' and, whilst this particular record has been unable to ...
Booker T & The MGs: Booker T And MG's: Still Very Much Together
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 January 1971
IN THE British music press of late, there have been numerous rumours that Booker T. and the M.G.s have split up or are about to ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 January 1971
THERE IS always a curious under-current in Soul music in this country for certain artists who don't mean too much in their own country. ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 January 1971
JERRY WEXLER is without doubt, one of the great producers who revolutionised Rhythm and Blues music in the 50's and 60's. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 January 1971
THERE ARE numerous vocal groups that never make the Top 10 of the National Chart. Most of these acts simply fade into obscurity or carry ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1971
No U.K. release for 2 years but still a great favourite ...
William Bell: Wow…William Bell
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1971
WHEN IT comes to be rated as the most under-appreciated man in Soul music, one William Bell must rank as hot favourite. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 February 1971
THE NEW Year is only a month old yet already something of great note has occurred in the chart stakes in the States. Gladys Knight ...
Curtis Mayfield: The Bitter End, NYC
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 February 1971
Curtis Mayfield's Solo Debut ...
James Brown: The Sugar Shack Club, Boston
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 February 1971
The Greatest Showman In Soul ...
The Spinners: Motown's Spinners
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 February 1971
AFTER NEARLY ten years of trying, the Spinners finally achieved their break-through in this country via the first Stevie Wonder production of them. The song ...
Ike & Tina Turner: Deutches Museum Hall, Munich
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 February 1971
TO WITNESS the Ike & Tina Turner Revue is an experience in itself but, to make certain that a revue of the show got into ...
Ike & Tina Turner: Workin' Together #1
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 February 1971
Part One ...
Jackie Moore: Precious 8 Months Later A Hit
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 February 1971
BRITAIN HAS always been quick to accept a new Soul sister and, if anything, the respect accorded to a female singer in this country far ...
Ike & Tina Turner: Workin' Together #2
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 March 1971
Part Two: The Ike Turner Story ...
James Brown, Bobby Byrd: Bobby Byrd
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 March 1971
IF YOU'VE ever wondered who the second voice is on James Brown's 'Sex Machine', we can put your mind at rest for it is none ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 March 1971
WITH JOE Simon's signature, Spring Records have gained their first real entry into the super-star league. Joe's first for the label, 'Your Time To Cry', ...
Vicki Anderson: Ready To Quit Unless Something Big Comes Along
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 March 1971
VICKI ANDERSON made a lot of friends in this country with her part in the James Brown Revue. On record, she is best known for ...
George Clinton, Funkadelic: Introducing Rozetta Johnson
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 April 1971
IT'S RARE that a tour by an American R&B group can cause controversy that makes headlines in the more general pop music papers. But that's ...
Margie Joseph Makes A Big New Impression
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 April 1971
FOR THOSE of you who haven't noticed, the fastest rising album on the American chart over the last month or so belongs to one Margie ...
Rozetta Johnson: Funkadelic, What's It All About
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 April 1971
WHEN IT comes to female Soul singers, you've got to look south of the Mason-Dixon line. It's in the South that you'll find the girls ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 April 1971
WITH THE natural progression of our music, for the first time we are able to claim musical genius within Soul Music. ...
Eddie Kendricks, The Temptations: Eddie Kendricks: A Temptation No More
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 April 1971
A MOTOWN News Release, dated March 19, 1971, confirmed something that we had been hearing about for several weeks – namely that Eddie Kendricks, lead ...
Freda Payne: The Heart and Soul of Freda Payne
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 April 1971
WITHOUT A DOUBT, the most exciting and worthwhile 'new' discovery of 1970 was Freda Payne. Exciting because she is just that; worthwhile because she will ...
Aretha Franklin: Aretha's Thank You To B&S Readers
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 May 1971
ANOTHER VISIT PLANNED FOR THE END OF THE YEAR ...
Brook Benton: Either You Got It Or You Don't Got It
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 May 1971
ONE OF the most pleasing successes of 1970 was Brook Benton with what to me was probably the most soulful record of that year, 'Rainy ...
Eddie Kendricks: All By Myself (Tamla)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 May 1971
WHEN WE first reported the fact that Eddie Kendricks had recorded a solo album, we never imagined that the album would in fact be the ...
Funkadelic, Parliament: Parliament/Funkadelic: A Parliafunkadelicment Thang
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 May 1971
RARELY DOES an R&B act cause any controversy or speculation prior to making a British tour. But the one exception in recent years is Funkadelic, ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 May 1971
"YOU'RE JOKING. It's just like a dream. God, it must have been five...no, six years ago that I made that record." Those were the first ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 May 1971
YOU HAVE probably noticed a record by a group called Fuzz, which has been on the American Top 100 now for some three months or ...
Arthur Conley debuts on Capricorn
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 June 1971
ALTHOUGH ARTHUR Conley is acknowledged as being one of the finest young entertainers on today's Soul scene, it's quite a while since his last really ...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 June 1971
HAVING HAD three consecutive chart records in this country and with 'Pay To The Piper' gradually edging its way into the Top 30, the Chairmen ...
Garnet Mimms: In Search Of A Record Outlet
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 June 1971
SOME FOUR years ago, Garnet Mimms was just about the hottest R&B entertainer in the States. Then his contract with United Artists Records expired and ...
The Dixie Flyers: The Guys Behind The Hits
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 June 1971
THE FIRST real opportunity that R&B fans had to know of Dixie Flyers collectively was when they turned up on Aretha's Spirit In The Dark/Don't ...
B.B. King: Background To A Living Legend
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 June 1971
B.B. KING is the undisputed King of the Blues – fact! Every press release in existence on B.B. will tell you that he is a ...
Carol Woods: Get High on Carol
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 June 1971
SIX MONTHS ago, we featured a young lady in our magazine who had just made her British debut on the recording scene; her name was ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 July 1971
FREQUENTLY, we receive letters from readers' asking us to write about the people behind the scenes in our music. For example, the features we did ...
Curtis Mayfield: The Gentle Genius
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 July 1971
FEW – IF ANY – people have contributed as much to the progression of what is generally regarded as Soul music as has Curtis Mayfield, ...
The Fascinations, Curtis Mayfield: It's third time lucky for the Fascinations
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 July 1971
IT'S ONE of the strange things about the music world when a record that is five years old and is making its third bid for ...
Jean Knight: another Malaco Studios success
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 July 1971
WITH THE initial success of King Floyd's 'Groove Me', Soul music spotlighted the relatively small town of Jackson, Mississippi, and the record's producer, Wardell Quezergue. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 July 1971
"NASSAU'S GONE funky; Nassaus's gone Soul" is how the Beginning Of The End bounce into the history-making hit, 'Funky Nassau'. History? This is the best ...
Bettye LaVette, Esther Phillips: Behind the scenes with Lelan Rogers
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 July 1971
LELAN ROGERS first sprang to prominence as the man who brought national success to Esther Phillips with 'Release Me'. In the decade that has passed, ...
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On (Tamla-Motown)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 July 1971
An in-depth review of Marvin Gaye's chart-topping American album, What's Going On. ...
Sam & Dave: Together again: Sam & Dave
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 August 1971
AFTER less than a year apart, Sam Moore and Dave Prater – alias Sam & Dave, the Dynamic Duo – are back together. The decision ...
Obituary by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 August 1971
CURTIS OUSELEY – known the world over as King Curtis – was fatally wounded and died on Friday, August 13 only a few yards away ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 September 1971
THE LAST time I talked to Al Green, he was riding high with his adaptation of the Temptations' 'I Can't Get Next To You'. Now, ...
Curtis Mayfield talks to B&S about his new album
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 September 1971
IT IS, indeed, very rare for an American artist to make a short visit to this country and immediately score a hit single in the ...
Kool and the Gang: Introducing Kool And The Gang
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 September 1971
CONSIDERING THAT Kool & The Gang have only ever had one British release they have an incredible following. That release – well over a year ...
Simtec & Wylie: Introducing Simtec & Wylie
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 September 1971
IF YOUR'E looking for an ultra-funky record, then Simtec & Wylie's 'Gotta Get Get Over The Hump' is perfect for you. The record is currently ...
The Five Stairsteps: the Stairsteps revisited
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 September 1971
IT'S ALMOST five years to the day since I first met Clarence Burke Sr., better known the world over as Papa Stairstep. At the time, ...
Carla Thomas: The Memphis Queen
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 October 1971
RIGHTLY, CARLA Thomas is the Memphis Queen. ...
David Ruffin, The Temptations: David Ruffin
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 October 1971
THE TEMPTATIONS without David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams! Strange, but true – that is the sad situation as of today. There was enough ...
Hugh Masekela: the Union of South Africa
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 October 1971
HUGH MASAKELA is best known in this country for his UNI instrumental hit, 'Grazin' In The Grass', which later provided the Friends of Distinction with ...
Leroy Hutson: The Impressions: Introducing Leroy Hutson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 October 1971
IN ALL honesty, it was strange to see Fred Cash and Sam Gooden flanking a new "leader" and central figure of The Impressions. Sadly, the ...
Troy Keyes: back in the swing with VMP
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 October 1971
TROY KEYES had a very successful single in 1967, 'Love Explosions', and has been conspicuous by his absence ever since. "I spent a year with ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 October 1971
WITHIN EVERY Invictus and Hot Wax group there is a winner. General Johnson showed up with the Chairmen, Steve Mancha turned up singing lead for ...
Booker T & The MGs: Do Booker T and M.G.'s still exist?
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 October 1971
DONALD 'DUCK' Dunn, best known in R&B circles for his invaluable contribution to our music via Booker T. & The M.G.'s, was recently in London ...
Mable John: in love with Hawaii (amongst other things)
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 October 1971
MABLE JOHN, one of the most charming people in the whole record industry, bounded into London once more as leading lady with the Ray Charles ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 October 1971
THERE ARE a handful of American artists who don't need a current record to provide them with sufficient work in this country. Frequently, this is ...
Detroit Emeralds: The Detroit Emeralds
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 October 1971
IF EVER there was a record destined to become an in-demand oldie, it is the Detroit Emeralds' 'Do Me Right', which somehow managed to avoid ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 October 1971
DESPITE HAVING been one of Soul's leading acts for close on five years now, The Intruders have yet to make any serious impression on the ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 October 1971
THE MOST successful of all of this year's re-issues has undoubtedly been The Tams' 'Hey Girl Don't Bother Me', which, prior to being re-released on ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 1971
FUGI Is a name that will mean absolutely nothing to virtually every reader of B&S. So let's start by telling you that Fugi – pronounced ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 1971
IT'S QUITE a few months now since Jimmy Ruffin was last in the British charts following a run of about one year when his name ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 November 1971
ALREADY BEING tipped as a potential giant R&B record in this country is Ann Peebles version of 'Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love'. The only ...
The Temptations: The best Temptations of them all?
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 November 1971
MUCH HAS been written in B&S lately about the departure of Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams from the Temptations and, in all fairness, a lot ...
The Platters: The real Platters!
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 November 1971
IN THE States, there is as much confusion over The Platters as there has been over The Drifters with numerous groups touring the country using ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 November 1971
THE SUCCESS story of the day in our music must lie in Memphis with that patient and ever consistent genius, Willie Mitchell. Since he became ...
Curtis Mayfield: Roots (Curtom)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 November 1971
A PREVIEW OF CURTIS MAYFIELD'S SECOND STUDIO-RECORDED SOLO ALBUM ...
Freddie North: the magnetic North
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 November 1971
AFTER SIXTEEN years of trying hard, Freddie North has broken through into the proverbial good time – and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 November 1971
CONSISTENCY IS what has kept two sisters and their cousin, the Emotions, to the fore of the numerous female groups who come and go. Since ...
William Bell: The Real William Bell
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 November 1971
AFTER MANY years of having a fake William Bell on hand, the real McCoy finally arrived in Britain recently in the form of a suave, ...
Denise LaSalle: Denise La Salle
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 December 1971
THE LAST twelve months have been extremely successful for new female Soul artistes. The most recent success belongs to Chicago's Denise La Salle, whose 'Trapped ...
The Main Ingredient: A two-year run of hits
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 December 1971
RCA RECORDS has never had a good reputation as an R&B label. However, quietly they have recently built up quite a roster of good R&B ...
Chocolate Syrup: Introducing Chocolate Syrup
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 January 1972
1971 HAS been a remarkable year for group's names and none has been more imaginative than Chocolate Syrup, five young men who are currently enjoying ...
Honey & The Bees: Introducing Honey and The Bees
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 January 1972
HONEY and the Bees are four beautiful young ladies from Philadelphia who have just come off their biggest hit to date. 'It's Gonna Take A ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 January 1972
MILLIE JACKSON has had one of the most meaningful songs of 1971 in her current hit, 'A Child Of God (It's hard To Believe)'. Not ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 January 1972
BRITAIN HAS always been a happy hunting ground for Rufus Thomas, right back to his first tour in 1967, not so long after notching up ...
Brenda & The Tabulations: Brenda and The Tabulations
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 January 1972
OVER THE past five years, Brenda & The Tabulations have been Philadelphia's most consistently successful act. Since the first time that she showed up on ...
People's Choice: Introducing People's Choice
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 January 1972
PEOPLE'S CHOICE 'I Likes To Do It' has been one of the most consistent selling Mojo singles to date – it has never achieved the ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 January 1972
IF I HAD to select the most satisfying thing to me personally of 1972 (within the realms of our music!), I would be more than ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1972
HERE'S AN unbelievable story – would you believe that Donnie Elbert's 'Where Did Our Love Go' is three years old, was recorded in London and ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 February 1972
SINCE EMERGING as an important solo entertainer, Curtis Mayfield has also emerged as the president of a successful record company, due mainly to his basic ...
The Chi-Lites: Eugene Record: Today's Genius
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 February 1972
IT WAS in February 1970 that my eyes were first really opened to the Chi-Lites. Until then. I had only been able to hear a ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 February 1972
THE UNIFICS main claim to fame in this country is via their in-demand oldie, 'Court Of Love', a record that sold close on a million ...
Maceo Parker & All The Kings Men
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1972
MACEO & All The King's Men, currently on the U.K. Singles chart with 'Got To Getcha' and 'Thank You', didn't come into existance until March ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1972
CONTINUING THE success story of former Golden World/Ric Tic artists are The Dramatics, who were recently awarded their first Gold Disc for million-plus sales on ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1972
THE LAST Poets have enjoyed success in the States via two albums, The Last Poets and This Is Madness, both on the Douglas label. However, ...
O'Jays: The O'Jays: Together For More Than A Decade
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1972
OF ALL the so-called lesser known American vocal groups, the O'Jays are one of the most remarkable. Not only have they been together for well ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, March 1972
IT'S FUNNY the way that you run into people by surprise. On planning a quick interview with Curtis Mayfield, I discovered that his road manager ...
Jackie Moore, Wilson Pickett: Wilson Pickett, Jackie Moore: Copacabana, NYC
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, March 1972
CAN YOU imagine seeing Wilson Pickett at the Talk of the Town in London, complete with middle-aged folks having a night out, coach parties from ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 March 1972
WHEN ATLANTIC recommences battle in this country following the switch from Polydor to Kinney's distribution, one of the records that will receive maximum support is ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 March 1972
DESPITE spending a week or so in this country, it is doubtful whether many British citizens had an opportunity to see Hot Wax' successful trio, ...
The Stylistics: Four Releases, Four Hits!
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 March 1972
FOR SO LONG, the Delfonics were acclaimed as the leading exponents of the Philadelphia Sound and that was the way it stayed until only a ...
Art Ensemble of Chicago, Fontella Bass: Fontella Bass: Holding on this time
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 March 1972
FONTELLA BASS has had just one hit record in this country and that was with 'Rescue Me' back in 1965. However, ever since, every record ...
Chairmen Of The Board: General Johnson & the Chairmen: back to basics
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 March 1972
AS EXCLUSIVELY reported in B&S, the Chairmen Of The Board are back working but as a trio. ...
James Brown: Talking Loud And Saying Something
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 March 1972
JAMES BROWN is renowned for being a leader of his people and never more so than right now. During his long and successful career, he ...
The Persuasions: unreliable musicians led them to sing a cappella
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 March 1972
THE PERSUASIONS are unique. They are, in fact, the only full time professional exponents of Accapella in the States. Accepella is the art of musical ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, April 1972
WHEN 1971 is finally evaluated in years to come, historians will look back and acknowledge Bill Withers as one of the most significant and important ...
The Temptations: Temptations Special: Damon Harris and Richard Street
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, April 1972
Rappin' with Damon Harris... ...
The Temptations: Temptations Special: Dennis Edwards
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, April 1972
THE PAST year has seen some traumatic changes for the Temptations, changes that would certainly have wrecked any normal group's career to the point where ...
Donny Hathaway: Donny Hathaway Live! (Atlantic K40369 £2.09) ****
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 April 1972
DONNY HATHAWAY has quietly established himself as one of the most successful of the newer acts. His great strength seems to lie in his knowledge ...
Donny Hathaway: Live! (Atlantic K40369 £2.09)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 April 1972
DONNY HATHAWAY has quietly established himself as one of the most successful of the newer acts. His great strength seems to lie in his knowledge ...
Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway: Donny Hathaway: Aiming High
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 April 1972
AS WAS written in the Bill Withers feature in the last issue of B&S, there have been a handful of new talents in the 70's ...
The Moments: Moments with the Moments
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 April 1972
OF ALL the stalwart American groups, the most hard done-by title surely goes to the Moments, three young men with a string of hits that ...
The Undisputed Truth: Undisputed Talent; That's The Truth!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 April 1972
CERTAINLY ONE of the most impressive of 1971's many noteworthy new talents is Motown's trio, the Undisputed Truth. Though not initially discovered by him, Norman ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 May 1972
THOUGH SOMEWHAT quiet on the recording scene of late, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, the original wildman of our music, is still attracting large audiences in the ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 June 1972
WE'VE SAID it before and we'll no doubt say it again – Britain's soul fans are far more loyal to their favourite girl singers than ...
Frederick Knight: Success From Out Of Left Field
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 June 1972
REGULAR READERS of B&S will already be more than aware of how we occasionally jump on a record right from when it becomes available in ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 June 1972
IT'S NOT very often that a basically Soul single is talked about as being an instant British hit but that's the way Love Unlimited's first ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 June 1972
REGULAR readers of B&S who follow the U.S. charts have probably noticed that every now and then a record comes on the charts then drops ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 June 1972
IF WE had to nominate the most asked after Soul artist who is outside of the super league of the Hayes/Mayfield/James Brown/Motown and ilk, it ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 June 1972
IN THE past year or so, we have been blessed with more genuine talent acceptance for our music and those who make it than at ...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 June 1972
PROBABLY THE MOST eligible superstar to join our ranks over the past twelve months is Al Green, an unpredictable artist and an equally unpredictable man. ...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 June 1972
"I'M FINALLY going to make it to Europe," an overjoyed Bobby Womack yelled over the phone to me! "My agent just told me that there's ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 June 1972
IT'S BEEN many months since Candi Staton was last featured on the charts in the States. Now, to confound everybody, she has two singles at ...
The Drifters, Clyde McPhatter: Clyde McPhatter: A Personal Tribute
Obituary by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 June 1972
CLYDE McPhatter is dead. I would be a liar if I said I was surprised because Clyde has been 'lost' for quite a few years. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 June 1972
THREE YEARS ago, George Perkins' debut single, 'Crying In The Streets', gave him a No. 1 R&B record. Now comes the belated follow-up and a ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 June 1972
THINGS HAVE changed quite a good deal for The Nite-Liters since we last heard from them. Back then, they were almost totally unknown in this ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 July 1972
BELIEVE IT or not, this September marks the 20th anniversary of Gladys Knight and the Pips. Before you let your imagination run away with you, ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 July 1972
DESPITE the fact that she has never been properly represented in this country on record, Laura Lee is certainly one of the most requested female ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 July 1972
"YOU KNOW, we recorded the album for Columbia but they just did not want it. They were too busy with Sly and Chicago; Santana and ...
Betty Wright: I Love The Way You Love (Atlantic 40364 £2.09)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 July 1972
CERTAINLY BETTY is going to find it tough to come up with another classic such as 'Clean Up Woman'. It's sad that that's the price ...
Little Royal: Introducing Little Royal
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 July 1972
CURRENTLY ENJOYING his first national success is Little Royal, whose 'Jealous' single currently stands high on the American Soul charts. Although it's his debut on ...
Love Unlimited: Love Unlimited (Uni UNLS 24 £2.00)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 July 1972
THREE YOUNG Californian ladies who have enjoyed an international hit first time out with 'Walkin' In The Rain', here in its entirety of four minutes ...
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 August 1972
EVERY YEAR, there are only a handful – maybe six – records which go on to become all-time personal favourites, records that get played at ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 August 1972
THE OHIO Players started life a decade ago as the Ohio Untouchables and their first real claim to fame is that they were featured vocalists ...
Mel & Tim: Starting All Over Again
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 September 1972
SINCE EXPLODING on to the scene some two years ago with two consecutive million sellers, Mel and Tim's recording career fell into a period of ...
Roberta Flack: Sounds for Saturday (BBC-2)
Film/DVD/TV Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 September 1972
Roberta Flack TV Special... deliberately brilliant? ...
Chakachas: The great Chakachas mystery solved: well, almost!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 September 1972
EVER SINCE the emergence of the Chakachas and their first record, 'Jungle Fever', there has been a great cloak of mystery surrounding their background. I ...
The Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas: Wattstax 72: Seven Hours of Soul
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 September 1972
THE whole idea of WATTSTAX '72 was splendid. It enabled more than 100,000 people to attend a seven hour concert at the Los Angeles Coliseum ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 October 1972
I MAKE no apologies for stating that Mark IV's 'Honey I Still Love You' is by far my favourite record of the moment. Equally so, ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 October 1972
DESPITE BEING relatively cold in the States right now, The Drifters are having their most successful year ever in this country. They currently are on ...
Curtis Mayfield: Superfly (Buddah Super 2318.065 £2.25) *****
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 October 1972
CURTIS, THE Gentle Genius, joins the ranks of Black music-men who have supplied their musical talents towards film scores. However, Curtis surpasses all of them, ...
The Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 October 1972
WHEN AN act has a million seller first time out, it is highly unusual for the public to have to wait eleven months for the ...
Thom Bell, The Delfonics: The Delfonics
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 October 1972
PHILADELPHIA'S Delfonics are probably the innovators of the city's famed sound, dating back to their earliest Philly Groove hits such as 'La La Means I ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 October 1972
THEIR ALBUM sleeve note begins: "Most of us became aware of The Persuaders via their monster single recording of 'Thin Line Between Love And Hate'. ...
Archie Bell and the Drells: Archie Bell & The Drells: Here They Go Again
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 November 1972
IT'S BECOMING commonplace these days for Britain's pop public to turn on to American soul acts at a time when the artists' career is quiet ...
The Independents, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: The Independents, Harold Melvin: Whither soul?
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 November 1972
THE INDEPENDENTS and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes are two of a handful of talented groups who have managed to break through in this ...
O'Jays: The O'Jays: Back Stabbers (CBS 65257 £2.29)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 November 1972
THE O'JAYS' success with 'Back Slabbers' has been one of the high spots for Soul of 1972. Hot on the heels of the hit single ...
Rev. James Cleveland, Aretha Franklin: Rev James Cleveland
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 December 1972
IT'S REALLY quite a sad commentary on life that it took a pupil to bring the master to the attention of the world. But that's ...
Bettye Lavette: First Album Due After Ten Years…
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 December 1972
BELIEVE IT or not, Bettye Lavette is celebrating her tenth year as a recording artist and yet it is only now that she really feels ...
Bob & Earl: Back On The Road Again
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 December 1972
IT'S MORE than three years since Bob & Earl were last here but much has happened for the duo in that time. ...
Syreeta, Stevie Wonder: Syreeta... Lady Wonder
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 January 1973
I HONESTLY wonder how many people have listened to Syreeta's first Mowest album, entitled simply Syreeta, and compared it to the last record that this ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 January 1973
WITH THE current and phenominal success of the production and songwriting team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, it is only right that Billy Paul ...
Millie Jackson: Millie Jackson (Mojo Select 2918.005 £2.00)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 February 1973
'If This Is Love'; 'I Ain't Giving Up'; 'I Miss You Baby'; 'A Child Of God'; 'Ask Me What You Want'; 'My Man A Sweet Man'; ...
Timmy Thomas: 'Why Can't We Live Together'/'Funky Me' (Glades 2027.012)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 February 1973
SOMEBODY RECENTLY described this record as the 'I've Been Lonely For So Long' of 1973 and there are certainly similarities. It is completely out of ...
Timmy Thomas: The One Man Band
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 March 1973
MOST PEOPLE probably figure that 'Why Can't We Live Together' is the first time they have heard the hypnotic and highly individualistic style of organ ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 March 1973
FACTUALLY, CYMANDE is one of the hottest acts in the States right now with a Top 10 single in 'The Message' and an album tucked ...
Al Green: Poll '72's Top Male Vocalist
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 March 1973
ALTHOUGH AL Green claimed to be a little surprised about being voted No. 1 Male Vocalist in our annual poll. I think that few other ...
Clydie King: Ready Willing And Certainly Able
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 March 1973
I SUPPOSE it's true to say that Clydie King is best generally known in this country for her successful duet hit with Jimmy Holiday, 'Ready. ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 April 1973
GROVER WASHINGTON Jr. became one of Kudu's brightest lights by a complete one in a million accident. "I was called in to do a background ...
Johnny Williams: Slow Motion To The Top
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 April 1973
JOHNNY WILLIAMS and his first release on Philadelphia International provided us with one of the most interesting statistical records of last year. Apart from the ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 April 1973
IT'S WELL over a year ago that Ronnie Dyson took 'When You Get Right Down To It' to the top of both pop and soul ...
Barry White: A Potential Superstar
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 April 1973
ANYONE WHO has heard Barry White's first album on 20th Century will undoubtedly concur on the point I am about to make – he is ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 April 1973
OLDIES HAVE always played a major part in the British Soul scene and it is quite amazing how many of these in-demand items come from ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 May 1973
AT A time when a lot of talented girls are beginning to surface again, it is also worth noting that there are a few completely ...
Billy Paul: The Age Old Problem Of The Follow Up
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 May 1973
BILLY PAUL exploded on an unsuspecting public with the tale of 'Me And Mrs. Jones', a record that sold more than 2 1/2 million copies ...
Bunny Sigler: On To A Winning Streak
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 May 1973
THERE ARE honestly very few people within our musical sphere who I really want to interview and who I have missed. But one such person ...
The Lost Generation: Lost Generation
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 May 1973
THE LOST GENERATION is four young men – two sets of brothers – who exploded to fame two years ago with 'The Sly, Slick And ...
The Stylistics: on poll success... Thom Bell... the Supper Club Scene
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 May 1973
IT REALLY wasn't such a surprise to B&S readers that the Stylistics' first album should come out as top album in the annual B&S Poll. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 May 1973
IN THESE sceptered isles, of course, Dobie Gray is best known in the Northern disco circuit where 'The In Crowd', 'Out On The Floor' and ...
First Choice: Everybody's First Choice
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 May 1973
IT'S NOT very often that we Europeans get the opportunity to appreciate an American Soul record in advance to the native Americans, but in the ...
Gladys Knight And The Pips: a new chapter
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 May 1973
A NEW page in the seemingly long and successful career of Gladys Knight & the Pips is about to begin with the group's debut release ...
Leon Haywood: The Good Times, The Bad Times And The Times In Between
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 May 1973
IN OUR quest to track down the select band of artistes who are always there in the background but never seem to get the right ...
Al Green, Syl Johnson, Willie Mitchell: Willie Mitchell
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 June 1973
WILLIE MITCHELL. His name is synonymous with the rich brass sound that has become known worldwide as the Memphis Sound. For years, Willie as been ...
Sly & the Family Stone: Impressions of Sly Stewart
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 August 1973
WHEN ONE interviews Sly Stewart, it's not so much an interview — it's more a case of throwing a question into a computer and coming ...
Sly & The Family Stone: White City, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 August 1973
"SLY STONE to appear at White City Festival". After reading various articles concerning Sly Stone, you imagine the feeling of reading this headline. ...
The Moments, Sylvia Robinson: All Platinum Records: Behind The Scenes With Joe Robinson
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 August 1973
JOE ROBINSON is President of All Platinum Records, a complex of record companies that embraces Stang, Vibration, Horoscope, Turbo and All Platinum labels. ...
Curtis Mayfield: Back To The World (Buddah Super 2318.085 £2.15)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 August 1973
THE INSTANTLY recognisable voice and music of Curtis Mayfield has successfully carried him once more to the top of the American charts with this somewhat ...
Manu Dibango: The Originator Of 'Soul Makossa'
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 August 1973
THERE IS absolutely a no contest when it comes to the most recorded song of the year in soul circles. It is simply 'Soul Makossa' ...
Dr. John, The Meters, Aaron Neville: The Mighty Meters
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 August 1973
WITH VIRTUALLY no publicity, the mighty Meters recently came into London as part of the Dr. John entourage. We were fortunate enough to catch up ...
The Staple Singers: Be What You Are
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 August 1973
AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THEIR NEW ALBUM BE WHAT YOU ARE ...
Willie Hutch: This Brother's Worked It Out
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 August 1973
MOTOWN'S PRESS release on Willie Hutch proudly quotes what Cash Box — the influential American music trade paper — said about his soundtrack to The ...
Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On (Tamla)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 September 1973
UNLESS A veritable monster soul single rears its head during the final quarter of this year, Marvin Gaye will have the pleasure of having the ...
Bill Withers One of Today's Most Talented Singer-Songwriters
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 October 1973
IN CASE you are wondering — as was I — just what has been happening to Bill Withers since he was in Britain over a ...
Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On (Tamla Motown STMA 8013 £2.38)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 October 1973
IN A MINIMUM of words, this is THE album of the year! After the gem album, What's Going On, everyone has been wondering if marvellous ...
Bill Withers: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 November 1973
POSSIBLY BECAUSE most major soul people only make one trip over here every year or every other year, it's true to say that most of ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 November 1973
IF YOU study Thom Bell's creative work, there is an undeniable classical influence in everything he does. The easy explanation to this is that the ...
Bobby "Blue" Bland: Bobby Blue Bland: Arrival!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 November 1973
WHEN THE news was announced that the vast ABC/Dunhill Record complex had purchased the Duke-Peacock group of companies, speculation began as to what ABC would ...
The Isley Brothers: The Isleys: first time winners again!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 November 1973
THE SUCCESS of 'That Lady' keeps up quite a remarkable record for the stalwart three brothers, the Isleys. Over the years, the brothers have been ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 December 1973
J.W. is the man who took Sam Cooke from his gospel background and helped mould him into the very first Soul superstar. He performed a ...
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: Black & Blue (Philadelphia International 65859 £2.17) ****
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 December 1973
HAROLD MELVIN & the Blue Notes are the masters of the long tracks — as they proved on their hugely successful first album, from whence ...
O'Jays: The O'Jays: Ship Ahoy (Philadelphia International PIR 65860 £2.17)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 December 1973
THE O'JAYS have emerged as the most serious competition that the Temptations have had during their four year reign as undisputed top soul group. And ...
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 December 1973
MOST INITIAL comments that I overheard on my way out from the Philly Package concert at London's Hammersmith Odeon theatre were slightly tinged with disappointment. ...
Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Ann Peebles: Willie Mitchell: Mr. Memphis
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 January 1974
WHILST THE Philadelphia Sound has undoubtedly been the top sound of 1973, the nearest rival to it has been the Memphis Sound as carried out ...
The Stylistics: Rockin' Roll Stylistics
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 February 1974
IT WAS indeed a pleasure to greet Stylistic Airrion Love with the news that the groups current single, 'Rockin' Roll Baby', had just attained No. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 March 1974
SO, THE time has arrived when we can have anonymous soul artists topping the charts. Already this year, the Love Unlimited Orchestra has topped both ...
The Dramatics: A Dramatic Experience
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, April 1974
OVER THE past two years, the Dramatics have become established as one of the most consistently successful vocal groups in America. The success streak began ...
Manu Dibango: The Soul Makossa Man
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 April 1974
HIS FRIENDS call him Dibbs but to the rest of the world his name is Manu Dibango, and he is the creator of one of ...
Eddie Kendricks, The Temptations: Eddie Kendricks: The Son of Sagittarius
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 May 1974
THE BRIGHTEST star on the horizon at the end of 1973 and beginning of 1974 was undoubtedly Eddie Kendricks, one-time lead vocalist with the world's ...
The Fatback Band: Fat 'n' funky sounds that set folks dancin'!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 May 1974
PERHAPS THE No 1 underground disco record of last year belonged to a New York based band called the Fatback Band. The record, of course, ...
Kool and the Gang: Kool & the Gang: Wild And Peaceful (Polydor 2310.299)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 June 1974
THE MASTERS of funk, Kool and the Gang, offer what has to be one of the funkiest albums of all time. Kool fans will already ...
The Delfonics: Very much alive and kicking
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 June 1974
WITH ALL of the current interest in the Philly Sound, now is a very apt moment to consider the group that started it all, the ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 July 1974
THE WELCOME revival in the musical fate of Etta James is highlighted by the release of a fine new album, produced by Gabriel Mekler and ...
George McCrae, Gwen McCrae: George & Gwen McCrae: Mr. & Mrs. Soul!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 July 1974
IN EUROPE, we are quite used to discos being a major force behind the establishing of R&B hits but it's a medium that hasn't been ...
James Brown, The J.B.'s, Fred Wesley: Fred Wesley: The man behind the main man
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 August 1974
WITH THE continuing progress of the James Brown Empire, it seems that Fred Wesley is rapidly becoming James' sergeant-at-arms. His name crops up time and ...
Johnny Bristol: Hangin' On In There Baby
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 August 1974
EVERYONE SEEMS to be knowledgably tipping Johnny Bristol for the same sort of instant and long-standing success that Barry White and Isaac Hayes have enjoyed ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 September 1974
A look at a rather special group — the first white act to headline an Apollo show in many a long year... and they won ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 October 1974
THOUGH JOHNNY Bristol has been involved with recording success for years now, his past track record stems from his career as a record producer. But ...
B.T. Express: Introducing The B.T. Express
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 November 1974
CURRENTLY SCORING with their very first nationwide release is the Brooklyn based band, the B.T. Express. The group's first Scepter release, 'Do It ('Til You're ...
Graham Central Station, Sly & the Family Stone: Introducing Graham Central Station
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 November 1974
Leader Larry Graham, bass player with Sly's original Family Stone, outlines the formation and progress of this happening group. ...
Latimore: Time to Straighten It Out
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 December 1974
WHENEVER YOU look at the higher echelons of the American singles chart, you'll always find at least one good, straight and clean Blues record. Right ...
The Manhattans: "Where Motown had the sound of the 60's, Philadelphia has the music for the 70's"
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 December 1974
I MAKE no apologies for admitting that my favourite record of the moment is 'Don 't Take Your Love From Me' by the Manhattans, a ...
Bunny Sigler: A Philly institution
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 December 1974
WITH THE Philadelphia 'thing' still at its peak, it is especially worthwhile catching up on the happenings of one of the city's most important citizens, ...
The Delfonics, The Four Tops, The Tymes: Four Tops, Delfonics, Tymes: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 December 1974
THIS WAS probably the soul event of a fairly inconspicuous year for our music as far as concerts in the capital are concerned Without thinking ...
The Meters: Rejuvenation (Reprise K54027)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 December 1974
NEW ORLEANS' most celebrated musicians progress here to the point where they seem to be on the verge of really breaking through. The album is ...
Shirley Brown: Woman to Woman (and men too!)
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 January 1975
ONE OF 1974's really great soul records was undoubtedly Shirley Brown's 'Woman To Woman', the million selling single that launched Stax' new Truth label and ...
Graham Central Station, Larry Graham: Graham Central Station: Platform Two
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 February 1975
THE WARNER Brothers Music Show concert package that is currently touring Europe marks the arrival of the six-piece Californian band, Graham Central Station's at platform ...
Tower of Power: Power From The Tower
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 February 1975
THAT OLD adage that you have to be Black to be a soul band has been firmly buried over the past couple of years. You ...
Kool and the Gang: Kool & The Gang: Bringing Funk To The Folks
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1975
IT WAS sad to stand there at the Rainbow Theatre in London's Finsbury Park area (five minutes from the Arsenal football ground for geography lovers!) ...
The Ohio Players: Ohio Players: Funk & Fire
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1975
AS ANYONE who witnessed the one and only Ohio Players concert in London will gladly testify, they rank as one of the most colourful and ...
The Ohio Players: Ohio Players: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1975
THE AIR of expectancy that preceded the Ohio Players was thick with excitement as the capacity-filled theatre buzzed with atmosphere. Suddenly, the rhythm started and ...
The Chi-Lites: Baileys, Leicester
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1975
WHEN IT comes to perfection, I think we would all agree that it is a state of affairs that is rarely achieved. Well, on this ...
The Chi-Lites: The Brightest Lites
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 February 1975
EUGENE RECORD, Marshall Thompson and Robert Lester, known affectionately the world over as Squirrel. They are the Chi-Lites, currently midway through a tour of Britain ...
Betty Wright: Danger High Voltage (RCA SF 8408)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 March 1975
'Everybody Was Rocking'; 'Love Don't Grow On A Love Tree'; 'Show Your Girl'; 'Come On Up'; 'Shoorah Shoorah'; 'Where Is The Love', 'That's When I'll ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 March 1975
Betty Finally Cleans Up In Britain ...
The Hues Corporation: The Love Corporation
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 March 1975
'LOVE CORPORATION' really is an apt title for the Hues Corporation's new single because this L.A.-based trio literally ooze love for their fellow men and ...
Rufus: The Rufus Story: The Two Faces of Chaka Khan
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 March 1975
IN A WORLD of mass-production, it is comforting to occasionally come across something that is truly original. Something that has not been begged, borrowed or ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 March 1975
THERE ARE two specific reasons why it is always a pleasure for me to interview and then present a feature on the Tymes. Firstly, because ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 April 1975
WITH THE continued success of the disco in America, we are constantly getting a steady flow of new talent hitting the charts. Carol Douglas is ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 April 1975
ONE HARDLY is likely to forget the name of Dooley Silverspoon and that really was the main purpose behind Dooley – whose actual surname is ...
Ann Peebles: Learning To Cope With The Rain
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 April 1975
BEING THE recording artist for a classic can have almost as many pitfalls as advantages. The history of our music is littered with names who ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 April 1975
When 'Swing Your Daddy' exploded on to the scene, everybody was saying they knew the name of Jim Gilstrap – but where from? ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 April 1975
TRYING TO interview the Drifters sometimes proves an almost impossible task but it is one that I relish every time it is made possible because ...
The Moments and All Platinum Records: Moments To Remember
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 April 1975
I'M SURE THE Moments will understand my meaning when I say that I am absolutely dumbfounded to be able to write a feature on them ...
Choice Four: B&S debut feature: Choice Four
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 April 1975
WITH VAN McCoy currently riding the crest of a wave as a producer and songwriter via his work with The Stylistics – and his own ...
Odia Coates: B&S debut feature: Odia Coates
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 April 1975
ODIA COATES is now a lady with two claims to fame. Her actual discovery as far as the world is concerned is that she was ...
Vernon Burch: B&S debut feature: Vernon Burch
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 April 1975
VERNON BURCH may be a new name to you but his past is littered with success since he was one of the contributing members of ...
Grover Washington Jr: Grover Washington: Mister Magic
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 April 1975
IN JAZZ circles, Grover Washington Jr. is even unique because though he has been commercially successful in a big way, he still appeals to the ...
New York City: A Return Ticket From Philadelphia
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 April 1975
AT A TIME when we should have been welcoming George McCrae back for his second British tour, we are instead featuring that super-talented quartet, New ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 April 1975
AS any reader of B&S will have already perceived, the new Sam Dees album – The Show Must Go On – ranks as one of ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 April 1975
THE QUESTION that every B&S reader has been asking of late has been: Where is War? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last War ...
Tamiko Jones: B&S debut feature: Tamiko Jones
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 May 1975
IF SHEER beauty could ensure a hit record, then Ms. Tamiko Jones would simply never yield the top spot. However, as well as having something ...
The Three Degrees: The International Three Degrees
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 May 1975
THE MOST successful banner carriers on behalf of the Philly Sound are undoubtedly the beautiful and talented Three Degrees, Sheila Ferguson, Valerie Holiday and Fayette ...
Carl Graves: B&S debut feature: Carl Graves
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 May 1975
CARL GRAVES is a young man currently making his name on a worldwide basis via a lovely debut solo recording on A&M Records, 'Baby Hang ...
The Jimmy Castor Bunch: Jimmy Castor: The Everything Man Really Has Everything
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 May 1975
ON REFLECTION, the two most successful names to emerge from the highly successful Atlantic Super-Soul concert tour were Jimmy Castor and Sister Sledge. ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 May 1975
IT WOULDN'T take a genius to notice that Loleatta Holloway's delectable US hit, 'Cry To Me', is simply one of my favourite sounds of all ...
Shirley Brown: Woman To Woman (Stax STX 1031)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 May 1975
AS WELL as being one of the most soulful sounds of '74, Shirley Brown's 'Woman To Woman' was also one of the year's best-selling singles. ...
Newcomers, The : The Newcomers
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 May 1975
THOUGH THEY bear the name of The Newcomers and this is their Debut Feature in B&S, the trio are in fact far from being a ...
Curtis Mayfield: Love To The People
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 June 1975
I ADMIT THAT I always eagerly look forward to the bi-annual interview time with Curtis Mayfield because it never quite seems like an interview. ...
Hamilton Bohannon: Insides Out
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 June 1975
WHEN, BACK in January we became the first British magazine to interview the talented Hamilton Bohannon, I confess I didn't expect to ever have to ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 June 1975
THE NAME Leonard Caston should already be more than familiar to B&S devotees because he has contributed a good deal to the furtherance of our ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 June 1975
SINCE IT'S a proven fact that rare talent cannot stay hidden indefinitely, you really shouldn't be at all surprised that Sister Sledge are currently reaping ...
The Blackbyrds, Donald Byrd: The Blackbyrds: Off to a flying start
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 June 1975
IT'S CERTAINLY taken its time but the Blackbyrds' haunting 'Walking In Rhythm' has finally taken its rightful place in the British pop charts, having long ...
Joe Simon: The Reluctant Superstar
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 June 1975
IN TERMS of actual record sales and box office figures, Joe Simon has only one or two peers over the past decade or so. Yet ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 June 1975
WITHOUT A shadow of doubt, one of the most controversial records of all time within our musical sphere is Valentino's 'I Was Born This Way'. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 July 1975
IT'S STRANGE to think that without Barrett Strong, it is quite conceivable that the whole Motown empire would have never gotten off the floor because ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 July 1975
WITHOUT A shadow of doubt, one of Britain's most played disco sounds of the day is by Ernie Bush. Entitled 'Breakaway', the disco folk are ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 July 1975
ACTUALLY, ALTHOUGH we are acclaiming Ms. Linda Carr as a "B&S Debut Feature", we are being technically incorrect because Linda was featured way back in ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 July 1975
NEW YORK-based group, the Moment of Truth, currently have one of the hottest disco properties in their Roulette outing of 'Helplessly'. The record – their ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 July 1975
ALMOST without notice to the soul community, Rufus arrived and departed our shores towards the end of last month simply to appear on BBC-TV's Top ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 July 1975
NOW THAT the colour barriers have been well and truly broken down within our music, odds are that at any given moment, you'll find two ...
New Birth: The Re-Birth Of New Birth
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 July 1975
FRANKLY, ANYONE who has not in the past become totally confused with the New Birth, Niteliters and Love, Peace & Happiness triangle should apply immediately ...
Eddie Kendricks: The Hit Man Hits Again
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 July 1975
IF EVER an album was aptly titled it is the new Eddie Kendricks' Tamla set – The Hit Man. ...
KC & the Sunshine Band: KC and The Sunshine Band: The Miami Innovation
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 July 1975
A GREAT deal has been written about the emergence of the Miami Sound via names such as George and Gwen McCrae, Little Beaver and, of ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 July 1975
WITHOUT DOUBT, one of the prettiest and classiest ballads currently on the American charts comes from Detroit-based Ronnie McNeir and is entitled 'Wendy Is Gone'. ...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 July 1975
OVER THE past year or so, I can't think of a group who has made as much impact on our music as the Ohio Players. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 August 1975
IT'S FUNNY how some women are genteel yet others may be quite the opposite – yet still manage to retain their femininity. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 August 1975
UNTIL I spoke with Bobby Moore – whose record of 'Call Me Your Anything Man' is just about disco-land's favourite sound of the day – ...
Isaac Hayes: Black Moses Back From The Wilderness
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 August 1975
A SIGN OF TRUE GREATNESS in terms of an entertainer is surely the ability to stay. Think about it – how many names can you ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 August 1975
WITH SO much interest in the Philly disco sound, Detroit has been put pretty much into the shadows as far as dance music is concerned ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 August 1975
YOU CAN never keep a good man down and that old saying certainly applies to ol' Swamp Dogg! Over the past decade, there's hardly been ...
Joneses, The (soul): Keeping Up With The Joneses
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 August 1975
UNTIL THEY recently returned to the charts with 'Love Inflation', you may be forgiven for wondering what had happened to the early promise and enterprise ...
Millie Jackson: The Poor People's Queen
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 August 1975
STAND UP anyone who disagrees that Millie Jackson's Caught Up is the best deep soul album of all time... O.K., no takers, eh? Well, now ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 August 1975
AS BRITAIN gradually develops its own soul character, an ever-increasing list of names are attracting interest on this side of the Atlantic before they break ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 September 1975
WHEN IT comes to disco funk, James Brown is perhaps no longer unrivalled since the arrival of the B.T. Express, who are proving to be ...
Jackie Moore: More Precious the Second Time Around
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 September 1975
Jackie Moore is a pleasing young lady who exploded on to the scene back in 1971 with a multi-million worldwide selling single called 'Precious Precious' ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 September 1975
AFTER TWENTY years of giving others success, Quincy Jones is only now finally getting his just deserts — borne out by the rapid rise up ...
Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth Wind and Fire
Book Excerpt by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 September 1975
SO BRITAIN has finally tasted the elements. Earth Wind & Fire, nine piece California-based self-contained band/group, have been described by most American music journalists at ...
Smokey Robinson: Building A Quiet Storm
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 September 1975
WILLIAM 'SMOKEY' ROBINSON has been referred to as the "greatest poet of our decade" and when one listens to the unique lyric style that the ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 September 1975
AS FAR as Britain is concerned, the mere fact that you've made a record for the legendary Ric Tic label is sufficient to make you ...
Kay-Gee's, Kool and the Gang: The Kay-Gee's
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 September 1975
IF YOU'RE talking of funky disco groups today, you're sure to mention Kool & the Gang, B.T. Express, the Fatback Band – and the Kay-Gees. ...
Al Green: Al Green Is Love (London SHU 8488)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 October 1975
IF YOU'RE an Al Green fan already, this album will certainly ensure that you stay that way because this talented creator has one of the ...
Gloria Gaynor: Experience Gloria Gaynor
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 October 1975
HAILED AS the unrivalled Queen of the Discos, the delicious Ms. Gloria Gaynor has certainly spread her wings on her second MGM album, Experience. ...
Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Johnny Guitar Watson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 October 1975
"Let me talk to the Lone Ranger – and pronto!" ...
Lonnie Liston Smith: Visions Of A New World
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 October 1975
With the tremendous upsurge in jazz over the past couple of years, the strange thing is that remarkably few genuine 'new' names have benefitted. ...
People's Choice: The People's Choice
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 October 1975
WITH THEIR 'Do lt Anyway You Wanna' perched atop the world's R&B and pop charts, the Philadelphia band of the People's Choice are literally just ...
The Temptations: Still temptin'
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 October 1975
WHEN IT comes to successful vocal groups, the stalwart Temptations really have no peers. For over a decade now, they have reigned virtually uninterrupted over ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 October 1975
Although 'Van McCoy: The Artist' has really only just arrived in terms of commercial acceptance, Van's creative influence has played a major role within the ...
The Trammps: Can't Hold Back Trammps
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 November 1975
WITH 'Hold Back The Night' literally one step away from topping the British soul charts, now is the ideal time to trace back the long ...
The Impressions: Lasting Impressions
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 November 1975
Ever since I became interested in our music, I can hardly remember a time when the Impressions have been absent from the charts. ...
Natalie Cole: Whatever Will Be Will Be
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 November 1975
It's rare, very rare, for the son or daughter of a superstar to make it in his or her own right. The pressures are intense ...
Ramsey Lewis: Don't It Feel Good
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 November 1975
WITH THE ever growing interest in jazz, it's interesting to note that in most instances, the names who are bringing about the revival are relatively ...
The Undisputed Truth: Their Aim Is Higher Than High
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 November 1975
WITH THE increasing use of theatrics within the sphere of our music, it is interesting to note that Motown's Undisputed Truth were just about the ...
George McCrae: Growing Pains But It's Worth It All
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 December 1975
IN SOME ways, George McCrae has attained the impossible. Because if you consider the past, you'll find that virtually every artist who literally explodes on ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 December 1975
TRYING TO interview Jimmy Bo Horne is a strange mixture of a journalist's idea of paradise and bedlam because whilst for half of the time ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 December 1975
WITH OLIVER Sain's current double headed hunk of disco funk climbing into the British charts at his customary high placing, the timing could not be ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 December 1975
IT'S AMAZING how many of today's super-soulstars can be traced back to the Ric Tic-Golden World family for their very first step into showbiz. The ...
Chuck Jackson: The need to succeed
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 December 1975
ONE OF the major disappointments in what has otherwise been a very good year for our music was the cancellation of the proposed All Platinum ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 December 1975
THOUGH IT hasn't developed into being the monster success that we predicted, Mike & Bill's highly commendable (and danceworthy!) 'Somebody's Gotta Go' has established the ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 December 1975
WITH THE interest in home-grown soul now reaching the point where it's acceptable to feature British based artists and groups in the soul charts, one ...
David Ruffin, The Temptations: David Ruffin: Ruffin's Ready
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 January 1976
IF YOU check your American charts this week, you'll find that David Ruffin – after a break of some two years – is riding both ...
The Blackbyrds, Donald Byrd: Donald Byrd
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 January 1976
THE THING that most interests me with the new wave of Funk-Jazz giants is that they all have a tale of interest to tell. Whereas ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 January 1976
FOR EVERY successful sound, there always has to be a pioneer. For Motown and Detroit, I guess it was Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; for ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 January 1976
THE FIRST really big soul occasion for the year so far has been the recent highly successful concert appearances of Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds. ...
The Blackbyrds, Donald Byrd: Donald Byrd rools! Okay?
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 February 1976
YOU CAN'T say you weren't warned! The F-J (Funk-Jazz, for those of you who have been up the Amazon for the past year!) Revolution has ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 February 1976
MAKING HER debut in the British soul charts this week is vivacious Jean Plum, whose London release of 'Look At The Boy' has been hotly ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 February 1976
GETTING A record banned by the dear of BBC is as surefire a way of getting a hit as I know of and it's a ...
Evelyn Thomas: Introducing Evelyn Thomas
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 February 1976
WITH THE Chicago Soul Road-show only weeks away from kicking off its British tour, the timing of 20th Century's Evelyn Thomas could not be better ...
The Trammps: Zing Went Bummie And The Bums...!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 February 1976
THIS FEATURE could so easily have been devoted to – wait for it! – Bummie & the Bums! Who is this Bummie character I can ...
Brass Construction got Disco-Power!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 February 1976
I'M NOT prone to making rash statements (as most readers of B&S of any long-standing will bear witness) but I am going to predict that ...
The Fatback Band: Fat 'N' Funky... with a touch of sophistication!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 February 1976
You wan' 'em, you got 'em... the Fatback Band are back again, to acknowledge the support of their British followers. Boogie on... ...
Gil Scott-Heron: Good Evening, Here Is The News on Gil Scott-Heron
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 March 1976
The 'Jo'burg' man has a reputation for telling it like it is. However, John Abbey had his pre conceived notions of Gil completely and pleasantly ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 March 1976
COMPLETING THE other half of Ian Levine's winning double hand from Chicago, is L.J. Johnson who is comfortably placed in the higher echelons of both ...
Barbara Pennington: And now, the voice of them all, Barbara Pennington
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 March 1976
ACTUALLY, I must confess that when you ask me about hat-tricks from Blackpool, the first name to spring to mind would be Stanley Mortenson. But ...
Grover Washington Jr.: "Funk-Jazz" Personified!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 March 1976
Grover Washington Jr. is top of the tree of the new wave musicians who have merged Jazz and Soul. But he aims to branch out ...
Detroit Emeralds: Abe, Larry and Joe: today's Emeralds
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 March 1976
IT'S A pity that the original Detroit Emeralds have split up into two segments and gone their own way. Not that the two units aren't ...
Bobby Womack: Root-rappin' with Bobby Womack
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 March 1976
ROOT-RAPPIN? Whassat? Well, it's like this...John Abbey got to talking with Bobby and the conversation drifted to his very early days – his roots! ...
Esther Phillips: what a difference a disco hit made
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 March 1976
MS. PHILLIPS feels that new doors have opened up for her since 'Day'. She deeply regrets the cancellation of her Euro tour but looks forward ...
Brook Benton: Bartender Benton sets 'em up for Britain
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 April 1976
AFTER SOMETHING like twenty years of continuous success in the States, Brook Benton looks like finally achieving the breakthrough that has eluded him during the ...
The Sylvers: Boogie fever turns Sylver to gold...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 April 1976
FEVER IS never a very appetising thought but the way that the Sylvers family enthuse over the 'Boogie Fever', it sounds like it might be ...
The Softones: From the streets of Baltimore... The Softones
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 April 1976
VERY FEW of the soul super-groups break through into the really big time without serving a kind of apprenticeship and, with out wishing to blow ...
Bobby Womack: Root-rappin' with Bobby Womack
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 April 1976
Part 2 of an exclusive feature in which Bobby drifts back to his early days... his roots! ...
The J.A.L.N Band: Anglo Soul... The J.A.L.N. Band
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 April 1976
IN THE PAST, whenever a British-based band has attempted to create some genuine funky music, it has generally been sneered at and bypassed. But with ...
Tina Charles: Anglo Soul... Tina Charles
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 April 1976
IF YOU ask any New York disco follower which British name they most associate with their chosen musical path, I'll lay you odds-on that they'll ...
Gladys Knight and the Pips: Gladys in bloom. The Pips in harmony
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 May 1976
The lovely Ms. Knight is presently infanticipating, but she and the boys will not be idle over the next few months. There are several exciting ...
James and Bobby Purify: Their Two-Timing Puppet
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 May 1976
Discerning U.K. record buyers have shown their mettle once again. The Purify boys' recut of 'I'm Your Puppet' has virtually been passed over in the ...
Doris Jones: Electric Lady kicks Black Stash and goes solo...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 May 1976
The Levine Machine leaps into action again and Ian's latest protege is New York's Doris Jones. ...
Edwin Starr: Starr in ascendency!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 May 1976
YESSIREEBOB, VENUS and Mars are alright tonight! The past year has been relatively quiet for Edwin Starr but he seems happier than at any time ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 May 1976
I the beginning, there were the Poppies. Dorothy Moore spent 2½ years with that trio. Bow, with her beautiful 'Misty Blue' smash, she's carved her very ...
Mandrill: They Did It Their Way...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 May 1976
Hey caramba, the boys are really grabbing some attention with their 'Disco Lypso' cut. And they've proved it never pays to give in. They've continued ...
Archie Bell and the Drells: Archie & The Drells: here they go again
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 June 1976
Mr. Bell an' the guys had a somewhat lean spell after leaving Atlantic. Now they're reunited with Messrs Gamble and Huff and dancin' up the ...
The Meters: Restless Days In New Orleans
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 June 1976
By rights, the band should be right up there at the top. But, it seems they have hassles and problems to contend with. On their ...
O'Jays: The O'Jays Mind Their Own Business
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 June 1976
At a time when big-name tours have become economically prohibitive, the trio took it on themselves to underwrite their own nationwide tour. Eddie Levert explains ...
The Real Thing: Anglo Soul... The Real Thing
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 June 1976
AT A time when being black and British seems to be in vogue, it is important that we don't forget a group who have been ...
George Benson: Breezin' (Warner Bros. K56199)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 June 1976
ALTHOUGH GUITAR star George has been around for some years and is acknowledged by most jazz musicians to be the number one guitarist of them ...
Candi Staton: Candi's running free
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 June 1976
WITH THE greatest respect in the world to the delightful Candi Staton, I would have taken virtually any odds against ever seeing her sitting on ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 June 1976
Well, they ought to. Yep, you guessed it kids, it's Bootsy himself – he of incredible Rubber Band fame. Our man's been around some and ...
Al Wilson: Is this your idea of a Palyboy pin-up?
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 June 1976
Al Wilson, Playboy's first major soul signing, poses for B&S. Sorry we couldn't make it the centrefold, Al. ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 June 1976
An intergalactic communication from Space Commander George Clinton aboard the starship Parliafunkadelicment... ...
The Ohio Players: The Spirit of '76
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 July 1976
IT HAD to be more than just coincidence. Here I was in Ohio Player Satch Satchell's luxurious hotel suite overlooking Grosvenor Square writing for our ...
Candi Staton: Young Hearts Run Free (Warner Bros. K56259)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 July 1976
WELL, IF ever an artist(e) was deserving of success, then that role belongs to the ever-lovely Ms. Candi Staton. Over the past half decade, she ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 July 1976
The lowdown on the New York group who have hustled into both the U.S. and U.K. charts. A B&S expose by John Abbey who strongly ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 July 1976
Spotlight on the man who made the classic 'Love Don't Come No Stronger'. Jeff and his four brothers spearheaded a very talented family, as John ...
Ted Taylor: Bespoke Soul Taylor Made Hit Steals Up Chart
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 July 1976
Ted Taylor's contribution to Soul goes back further even than the Soul charts themselves – his early experience being gained with the original Mighty Clouds ...
Marlena Shaw : Marlena Shaw: Let's Hear It For The Good Guys (and Gals!)
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 July 1976
"Who Is This Bitch, Anyway?" Hey man, we're not being abusive...that was the title of Marlena Shaw's breakthrough album and serves to introduce this background ...
Barrabas: Rappin' with Barrabas
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 July 1976
IN NEW YORK to finish the mixing on their next album for Atlantic recently were members of Barrabas, the Madrid-based group who've enjoyed success throughout ...
B.T. Express: BT Express: Still Groovin' On The Right Track Baby
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 July 1976
They came from virtually nowhere last year and set the whole world a-dancin'. Now, with the CBS promotion machine behind them, they're making the big ...
Tavares' Third Era Brings UK Breakthrough
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 July 1976
If Heaven is missing an angel, then that winged spirit must be smiling down on the brothers Tavares. They've really broken through internationally and plans ...
The Crusaders: 26 Years Young And The Best Is Yet To Come
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 July 1976
'Tis strange to think that the Crusaders were laying down their distinctive sounds before some of their fans were even a twinkle in their daddies' ...
Hamilton Bohannon: Bohannon Boogies Into Phase Two
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 August 1976
Hamilton's free from the pressure he was under following his UK trip, and he's 'bad' no more! He's entering a new era and feels that ...
Silver Convention: Take Three Girls
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 August 1976
...three girls who look good and sound good; dub them Silver Convention; groom them and create for them the perfect disco-soul setting. That's what Silvester ...
Mark Radice: The Reluctant Disco Star
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 August 1976
Mark recording at the tender age of 7, and was groomed in the pop stakes. However, his new album features back-ups from Brass Construction and ...
Eddie Floyd: Malaco Is The Stax Of Tomorrow
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 August 1976
"MALACO? It's got a great future. It reminds me of Stax in the early days – there is that kind of atmosphere about the place ...
Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Johnny Guitar Watson: When You're Hot You're Hot
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 August 1976
Johnny 'Guitar' Watson has three singles riding the current chart, but he just couldn't believe that one of them is his old duet with Larry ...
Lou Rawls And The Philly Pay Off
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 August 1976
Lou was beginning to feel he'd never happen big in Britain but his CBS-Philly tie-up has paid a big divvy. Now he's planning a trip ...
Bobby Womack: BW Goes C&W (United Artists UAS 29979) ***
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 August 1976
SO, BOBBY'S Country-Western album finally hits the streets after several delays and not bearing the original tag, which was "Move Over Charlie Pride And Give ...
George Benson: By George No. 1 R and B, Jazz and Pop
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 August 1976
Music history was made recently when George Benson topped the R&B, jazz and pop charts with his debut album for Warner Bros. The guitar man ...
Herbie Hancock, The Headhunters: Herbie Hancock: 'Ancock An' The 'Ead 'Unters
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 August 1976
That's a fearful band name for someone as peaceful as Herbie Hancock to front. But, it's a name that clicks with the Soul-loving public when ...
Impact: 4 Happy Men Make An Impact
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 September 1976
AFTER WHAT can only be termed a false start with 'Happy Man', the rich promise of new Atco quartet, Impact is reaching fruition rather rapidly ...
The Fatback Band: Fatback Band: Givin' The People What They Want
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 October 1976
For their new Night Fever album, the band have concentrated on what the fans seem to like most – happy up 'n' dancin' music. John ...
The Real Thing: The Naked Truth About Survival
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 October 1976
John Abbey investigates the group's problems in surviving before their recent hits. ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 1976
WITH THE increase in non-American soul oriented acts reaching a peak, tasty funk combos are appearing almost literally out of the woodwork. ...
James Booker: A Winner Never Quits, A Quitter Never Wins
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 1976
'THE BLACK LIBERATCHI' That's what it says on the card and you can tell that it's going to be one of those interviews when you ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 1976
It's full speed ahead for Ms. Vega, who's being hailed as the most dynamic white female singer around. ...
Tavares: The Supergroup Of All Time
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 1976
The five brothers are really buzzin' at this moment in time. Will they go on to become the biggest Soul group of all time? ...
The J.A.L.N Band: The J.A.L.N Explosion
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 1976
After a spluttering start, Britain's black explosion is now gathering momentum and the J.A.L.N. Band look set to establish themselves as consistent hitmakers ...
James Booker: A winner never quits, a quitter never wins...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 November 1976
'THE BLACK LIBERATCHI' That's what it says on the card and you can tell that it's going to be one of those interviews when you ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, December 1976
John Abbey talks to the dazzling new group who have just hit the top spot on the U.S. singles chart ...
Cousin Joe Pleasants: Cousin Joe: 69 years young, an' the fire's still burnin'!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, December 1976
THE ONLY reason that the Blues is dying out is that the young folk simply don't want to know about the Blues. Even Blues legends ...
James Wells: First Time Around
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, December 1976
THE LATEST output from the Levine Machine is James Wells, who recently made a lightning trip to London to add some vocals for a new ...
Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Rappin' With Johnny Guitar Watson
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, December 1976
HIS RECENTLY COMPLETED EUROPEAN TOUR: "It was simply the greatest tour of my life! I don't think I've ever enjoyed myself on the road as ...
Skip Mahoney & the Casuals: Skip Mahoney and The Casuals: Well, Bless My Soul
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, December 1976
QUIETLY MAKING quite a name for themselves in the States and now in this part of the world, too – are Washington's premier vocal group, ...
Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth Wind & Fire: Spirit (CBS 81451)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 December 1976
IT HAS taken a mighty, mighty album to knock Stevie Wonder off the top spot in the States — albeit for one week because Stevie ...
Boney M: The Newest Darlings Of Euro Disco
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 January 1977
FRANCE: No. 1. West Germany: No. 1. Sweden: No. 3. Switzerland: No 1. ...
D.C LaRue: DC LaRue: Gay Clubs Give Birth To Hetero Hit
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 January 1977
PERHAPS THE final bolt in the ages old controversy about soul and colour was nailed in just a month back when D.C. LaRue's 'Cathedrals' topped ...
Rose Royce Clean Up With Car Wash
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 January 1977
With Norman Whitfield in the driving seat, the 10-piece outfit currently have two titles in the UK chart, both from the Car Wash movie. ...
Billy Paul: Let 'Em In (Philadelphia Int PIR 81695)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 February 1977
I CONFESS that I'm totally biased when it comes to Billy Paul because there is a quality about his voice that always appeals to me. ...
The Cate Brothers: Cate Bros' Blue Eyed Soul
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 February 1977
ALTHOUGH SCOTLAND'S Average White Band are credited mostly for the pulling down of that old colour barrier that used to segregate white soul acts away ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 February 1977
You Are My Starship was surely one of '76's major albums and earned Norman Connors the big breakthrough. He talks to B&S about his background ...
The Blackbyrds: Awright, we're back to settle some unfinished business!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 February 1977
The Blackbyrds' keyboards ace, Kevin Toney, explains the delay in getting their new album together, and the new directions they're heading in... ...
Rose Royce, The Temptations: The Norman Whitfield interview
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 February 1977
With three of his productions currently in the top four singles in this country, the timing could not have been better for this exclusive interview ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 February 1977
Pssst! Didja hear th' one 'bout th' Polish Kung Fu fans?With 'Kung Fu Fighting', Carl Douglas scored one of the best-selling singles of all time, ...
Odia Coates: Coates Of Many Colours
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 February 1977
IT'S FUNNY how some people look much better in real life than on photo. To date, I really haven't seen a good, accurate photograph of ...
The Bar-Kays: Euro Rumpshakers Get Hip To The Bar-Kays
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 February 1977
The group so nearly made the big Euro breakthrough a decade ago with their 'Soul Finger' anthem. Now 'Shake Your Rump To The Funk' has ...
Leon Ware: Motown's Musical Masseur
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 February 1977
Some guys get all the best album sleeve sessions! With his Musical Massage set, Leon Ware has come to the fore of Motown's influx on ...
Alvin Cash: The Ali Connection
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 March 1977
Alvin's friendship with Muhammad Ali goes way back and 'The Ali Shuffle' is his updated tribute to his good buddy. With the action the disc's ...
Bootsy Collins: Bootsy's Rubber Band: Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby (Warner Bros. K 56302) *****
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 March 1977
AS WELL as offering a very visual show, Bootsy and the rest of the Rubber Band also turn in a rather strange musical potpourri, too! ...
George Benson: In Flight (Warner Bros. K56327)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 March 1977
GEORGE IS joined by Phil Upchurch (rhythm guitar), Ronnie Foster (keyboards), Ralph McDonald (percussion), Harvey Mason (drums), Stanley Banks (bass) and Jorge Dalto (piano and ...
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: Harold Melvin and Blues Notes: The Inside Story...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 March 1977
The Blue Notes split was one of the big Soul stories of '76. Harold Melvin talks to John Abbey and gives the lowdown on what ...
Heatwave: The Hardest Working Band In The Land
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 March 1977
"We have always worked hard and that won't change because of a hit record. In fact, we may end up working harder" ...
The Trammps: Trammps: Disco Inferno (Atlantic K50339)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 March 1977
DESPITE THE fact that America acknowledges them as the Kings of the Disco-world, Philadelphia's most affluent Trammps have yet to register on the pop market ...
O'Jays: The O'Jays' Philly Decision
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 March 1977
'Magic' is how the O'Jays describe their success with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and they want to continue working with them. But they want ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 March 1977
You can't keep the good guys down and the Moments have popped up again with their 'Jack In The Box' monster. They talk to B&S ...
The Miracles: Miracles 'Spy' Sensation
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 March 1977
Uncle Sam has taken exception to the group's 'Spy For Brotherhood' and it's being withdrawn. "Rebellious", "Sacrilegeous", say the men in high places. "We're innocent", ...
The Manhattans: Rappin' With The Manhattans
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 March 1977
AT THE end of their recent highly successful debut British tour, we managed to corner the genial quartet of Manhattans just long enough to bring ...
Spider's Webb: The Soulful Saga Of Spiders Webb
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 March 1977
How a one-time Hully Gully exponent met and wed a Motown sessioness, and how as the frontrunners of Spiders Webb they wooed and won the ...
Edwin Starr: Under Rated Super Starr
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 March 1977
Edwin Starr consistently makes the charts, yet he's still somewhat underrated. He talks to B&S about his new album recorded at Chipping Norton and how ...
Bobby Caldwell: The Final Breakthrough
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, April 1977
IF PATIENCE is a virtue, then TK's Bobby Caldwell is a virtuous being. ...
Average White Band: AWB: Danger This Band Blows Superstars Off Stage
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 April 1977
Chart toppers, gold and platinum discs, SRO crowds, the Average White Band are accepted by audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. And they've been ...
Timmy Thomas: The Sweet Smell Of Success Revisited
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 April 1977
Timmy Thomas is back in chart business with his 'Stone To The Bone' disco giant. He reflects on his previous success and how he's learned ...
Billy Paul: It's The New Billy Paul, Let 'Im In
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 April 1977
Billy's bubblin' over about his new recordings. He tells B&S about his hopes for them, and about his new act, his production plans, and his ...
Deniece Williams: This Really Is Niecy
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 April 1977
Spotlight on a charismatic new star, Ms. Deniece Williams ...
Enchantment: Introducing Enchantment
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 April 1977
CURRENTLY ENJOYING their first major nationwide success is the five-man vocal group from Detroit, Enchantment, and though they appear under the Roadshow banner (via United ...
Teddy Pendergrass: The Whole Town's Talking 'Bout Teddy
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 May 1977
...Mr. Pendergrass, that is. B&S's John Abbey began whistlin' the toons from Teddy's album within minutes of first hearing it, an' that's the most accurate ...
Earth, Wind & Fire: Rappin' with Maurice White (of Earth, Wind and Fire)
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 May 1977
JUST AS their American run of successes seems to be on a temporary wane, so supergroup Earth Wind & Fire achieve their British breakthrough – ...
Brass Construction: The Brains Behind Brass Construction
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 May 1977
B&S SuperEd, John Abbey, goes a-rappin' with BC's Superleader, Randy Muller... ...
James and Bobby Purify: The Purified Anglophiles
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 June 1977
"Audiences? British are best...." Who says so? Messrs. James and Bobby, the Purify Brothers. Read on folks... ...
Bo Kirkland & Ruth David: Bo and Ruth Get Next To You
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 June 1977
PROBABLY THE biggest selling import single of all time is Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis' epic 'You're Gonna Get Next To Me'. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 June 1977
BRITAIN HAS always been a happy hunting ground for the more soulful American singers and though they may not all see their name in lights, ...
Shalamar, Simon Soussan: Simon's 'Uptown Festival'
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 June 1977
THE NAME of Simon Soussan is synonymous with the authentic British Northern disco scene/sound. Before joining the "brain drain" and defecting to America (Los Angeles, ...
Detroit Emeralds: The Detroit Emeralds: Resurrection!
Report by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 June 1977
Abe, James and Ivory are back in harness and the Detroit Emeralds are riding high again. B&S gets together with the guys and catches up ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 June 1977
The brothers have graduated with honours from their teeny bopper image. They still retain the respect and adulation of their younger fans but now the ...
The Supremes: New Supremes Will Spearhead New Motown Era
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 July 1977
The rumours suggested that the Supremes might soon be no more. But, though Mary is leaving to go solo, Susaye and Scherrie will continue with ...
Evelyn Thomas: Some Enchanted Evelyn
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 July 1977
Evelyn Thomas, a recent visitor to Britain, talks to B&S about her new album sessions. ...
Archie Bell and the Drells: The State Visit by Archie Bell and the Drells
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 July 1977
John Abbey talks to the man who was making disco records before Disco was even invented... ...
Hamilton Bohannon: This Smile Belongs To Hamilton Bohannon
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 July 1977
The Disco Man has the fastest-moving album of the day; that's why he's radiating happiness and joie de vie. ...
Brainstorm: UK Soulcharts Have A Brainstorm
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 July 1977
Although Brainstorm did well enough in the States with their debut single, Britain woke up to them first and they established themselves to a greater ...
The Platters: When Is A Platter Not A Platter
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 July 1977
When he leaves the group, it seems Herb Reed says he's been unable to use the name even though he first thought of it. But ...
Jerry Butler: The Return The Ice Man
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 July 1977
There were those who felt Jerry Butler might fade into obscurity. But, you can't keep a good man down and he's back with a vengeance...a ...
Jimmy Bo Horne: Seems To Me This Man's Gonna Happen
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 July 1977
John Abbey talks to cyclist-cum-Soulman, Mr. Jimmy Bo Horne ...
Johnnie Taylor: Johnnie's in the right place at the right time, again...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 July 1977
CBS is the right place to be today, says Mr. J. Taylor of Dallas, Texas. And who's to argue, considering his great success with the ...
George McCrae: Okay George, Diamonds Are Forever But
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 July 1977
In search of a new sound, George McCrae moved to New York to record his Diamond Touch album. But U.S. sales ain't been all they ...
The Floaters: "We're Floating along on the crest of a wave…"
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 July 1977
'Float On', the Floaters' disco monster was planned as an instrumental. But James Mitchell of the Detroit Emeralds dreamed the guys should ad-lib some vocals. ...
Tony Etoria And The 'X' Factor
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 July 1977
Tony's currently climbing both pop and Soul charts and seems to have that certain somethin' which could establish him as the first Black British Superstar... ...
The Trammps: Best Dressed Trammps You Ever Did See
Interview by John Abbey, David Nathan, Blues & Soul, 2 August 1977
"WE FEEL that maybe this one is going to go straight to the top!" exclaims Harold 'Doc' Wade, one member of the five-member Trammps who ...
Marlena Shaw …and happy days (aaaaay!)
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 August 1977
AND SHORTLY after arriving back at her Las Vegas home, Marlena Learned that CBS were inviting her to their annual conference – held this year ...
Marlena Shaw : Marlena Shaw: Sweet Beginnings
Interview by John Abbey, David Nathan, Blues & Soul, 2 August 1977
Re-united with producer Bert deCoteaux at Columbia, Ms. Shaw has really started to blossom. David Nathan and John Abbey gather th' fax from th' lady… ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 August 1977
Maze are recognised as Capitol's premier jazz band; but they really cut right across the board and sell to disco, funk, pop and rock fans ...
Smokey Robinson: Smokey Hits The Big Time
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 August 1977
Smokey Robinson talks about his movie projects, recording and tour plans....and of his intention to visit Britain soon! ...
Deniece Williams: No Free Time For Niecy
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 August 1977
THE SUCCESS story of 1977 certainly belongs to Deniece Williams. ...
Idris Muhammad: The Mountain Comes To Muhammad
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 August 1977
Turn This Mutha Out brought runaway success to Idris Muhammad, but his roots go back 20 years when he was drummer in Larry Williams' band. ...
Kenny Gamble: Kenny's Gamble Pays Off
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 August 1977
John Abbey talks to Kenny Gamble about the success of the Philadelphia International project which spearheads the whole 'Clean Up The Ghetto' campaign. ...
Danny Williams: The Ensign's flyin' and Danny's back with a bang!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 August 1977
AS JUST about anyone will readily inform you, the current hit single of 'Dancin' Easy' is a parody of the well-known TV advert, for the ...
Boney M: That risqué sleeve: "I hadn't even thought of it that way," says Boney M's Marcia!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 September 1977
SO, I asked the lovely Marcia Barrett, of Boney M., whether a sleeve that depicts virtually naked ladies and a gent wrapped up in chains ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 September 1977
John Abbey talks to Van McCoy who has just signed with MCA Records in a move to satisfy his desire to grow, as an artist ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 September 1977
Exclusive inter-galactic communication with the Star Wars victor ...
The Emotions: Those Flowering Emotions Are Now In Full Bloom
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 September 1977
The young ladies have finally cracked Britain, and with their single snuggled at the top of the B&S chart the way now looks clear for ...
D.J. Rogers: Love, Music & Life (RCA PL12218)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 October 1977
THERE CAN be no disputing the fact that D.J. Rogers is one of the few relatively new names to actually come through with a distinctive ...
The Drifters: Ex Drifter Bill Chooses The British Way Of Life
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 October 1977
THE BRITISH soul colony – an ever expanding group of ex-patriot Americans who have chosen the British way of life – has had a goodly ...
Rose Royce: How Total Concept became Rose Royce
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 October 1977
It was as Total Concept that the Rose Royce combo came to London a few years ago. There followed a spell on the road with ...
Eddie Henderson: Soul Transfusion Brings success To Doc Henderson
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 October 1977
Eddie Henderson is a doctor of medicine and psychiatry, but currently he also has the hottest jazz-based album in the U.K. ...
War: The Latest News From The War Front
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 October 1977
John Abbey talks to War's keyboard maestro, Lonnie Jordan, about their recent signing with MCA. ...
Hodges, James & Smith: Hodges James and Smith: A Soulful Sound And A Bit Of Razzle Dazzle
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 October 1977
The ladies dislike any comparison with the Supremes and the Three Degrees but they have the charisma to take them right to the top. ...
The Stylistics: Stylistics Plead Guilty To Recent Lack Of Direction
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 October 1977
The guys feel they have been out of tune with the market for a while now but they are planning steps to get their career ...
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 November 1977
WHEN IT comes to our music, the fish-famed Scottish city of Dundee isn't exactly rivalling Detroit, Memphis or Philadelphia, is it? ...
Sylvester: How an ex-Cockette named Ruby Blue became Sylvester...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 December 1977
How an ex-Cockette named Ruby Blue became Sylvester... ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 December 1977
John Abbey talks to the group who found success in Philadelphia way before the whole Philadelphia thing happened... ...
Barry White: Look Out For Barry In '78
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 December 1977
Barry White struck gold with his last single and album but he's set to surpass himself with his plans for next year ...
The Temptations: The Revitalised Temptations
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 December 1977
Some felt that the Temps wouldn't survive outside of Motown but the guys are happy with their initial tracks for Atlantic and plan to fight ...
The Fatback Band: Fatback Band: The Master Dance Combo...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 January 1978
John Abbey talks to Bill Curtis about the band that's not strictly a 'band' anymore ...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 January 1978
VIRTUALLY everything that Earth, Wind & Fire touches turns to gold. One of the group's latest protegees consists of an eight-man aggregation known as Pockets. ...
Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Johnny Guitar Watson and the ups and downs of success...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 January 1978
Johnny has come up with 3 gold albums in little more than a year but it seems that life at the top isn't always one ...
Slave and the Freedom of Musical Expression
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 January 1978
The group are young and impatient to show their total musical prowess. Their second album shows a change of approach and is another attempt at ...
The Drifters: We haven't sung soul since Clyde McPhatter left!
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 January 1978
GROUPS COME, groups go. One day it'll rain, next day it'll be sunny. But one thing that you can rely upon is the fact that ...
Brass Construction: Brass Construction III (United Artists UAS 30124)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
WELL, THE question in hand for this album is simply this — are you fed up with the Brass Construction sound yet? If so, you'll ...
Dee Dee Sharp: Dee-Dee Sharp Gamble: What Color Is Love (Philadelphia Int. PIR 82433)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
DEE DEE'S second album since coming out of retirement and the biggest puzzle in my mind is simply why this superlative set didn't make the ...
Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth Wind & Fire: All 'N' All (CBS 86051)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
ANY ALBUM that can go straight into the American charts at No. 1 and sell more than two million in its first month can't be ...
Eleanor Grant: Look Out For Eleanor In '78
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
ALTHOUGH AT present, the name of Eleanor Grant is barely known around the record buying brotherhood of the world, you only have to speak to ...
Fat Larry's Band: Fat Larry's slimming down (but getting bigger!)
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
Larry's losing weight, so he may be fronting Not-So-Fat-Larry's Band soon! Bat with their new Stax affiliation, he and the guys are getting bigger every ...
Fat Larry's Band: Fat Larry's Slimming Down (But Getting Bigger!)
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
Larry's losing weight, so he may be fronting Not-So-Fat-Larry's Band soon! But with their new Stax affiliation, he and the guys are getting bigger every ...
Gil Scott-Heron: Bridges (Arista SPARTY 1031)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
'Hello Sunday, Hello Road'; 'Song Of The Wind'; 'Racetrack In France'; 'Vildgolia'; 'Under The Hammer'; 'We Almost Lost Detroit'; 'Tuskegee'; 'Delta Man'; '95 South'. ...
Michael Henderson: Goin' Places (Buddah BDLH 5018)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
BEST KNOWN for his work with Norman Connors — he sang lead on 'You Are My Starship' — Michael is vocally similar to Marvin Gaye ...
T-Connection Make It 3 In A Row
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
THOUGH THE disco boom of the past two years will no doubt have its negative after-effects, there can be no disputing the fact that it ...
The Commodores: Live (Motown TMSP 6007)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
'Won't You Come Dance With Me'; 'Slippery When Wet'; 'Come Inside'; 'Just To Be Close To You'; 'Funny Feelings'; 'Fancy Dancer'; 'Sweet Love'; 'Zoom'; 'Easy'; ...
The Fantastic Four Are Back With A Bang
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
Courtesy of the disco boom, the Fantastic Four are back in business and scoring their biggest hit of all time... ...
Village People: Village People (DJM DJF20524)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 January 1978
'San Francisco'; 'In Hollywood'; 'Fire Island'; 'Village People' ...
Fat Larry's Band: Off The Wall (Stax STX 3004)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 February 1978
WHATEVER RECOGNITION Fat Larry James' Band has gained came via the disco world's unanimous support of their only previous album and, more especially, the 'Center ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 February 1978
Following a highly successful tour of major American cities, Mandrill are now anxious to become a truly international act. Plans are underway for them to ...
Detroit Emeralds: The Emerald Behind The Floaters Gem
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 February 1978
HAVING FOUGHT their way back to prominence, the Detroit Emeralds are now set to consolidate themselves – not only in their own right but also ...
The Imperials: Old Doo Waps Never Die
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 February 1978
The Imperials discover that Britain love 'em ...
Earth, Wind & Fire, The Emotions, Deniece Williams: Earth Wind & Fire: Maurice White
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 February 1978
WITHOUT A shadow of doubt, Earth Wind & Fire is the most successful group that our music has ever given the world. In fact, after ...
The Commodores: Hot At Home An' Zoomin' In Europe
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 February 1978
SO, FOR the good news for European fans. The Commodores will definitely be touring Europe this April, and that is confirmed! ...
The Blackbyrds: You can't put a price on education, say the Blackbyrds…
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, March 1978
The guys have always restricted their working schedule in order to further their education. This has cost them a lot of dollars but they figure ...
Al Green: The King Is Dead Long Live The King
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
Al Green: the Logical successor to the title of King of Memphis... ...
Biddu's Planning For The Future
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
WHEREAS MOST producers and artists are satisfied with concentrating on today, our old buddy. Biddu, is firmly trying to forge a new sound for the ...
Con Funk Shun: Confunkshun: Memphians With California Bloodlines
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
The Magnificent Seven hail from the West Coast, but the band was born in Memphis ...
Parliament: Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome (Casablanca CALH2021)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
I DON'T REALLY believe that there is a funkier band in the whole world than the Parliament brigade and this latest offering is all the ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
Pleasure by name and pleasing to the ear, the guys look set to become one of the hot new acts of '78 ...
The Bar-Kays: Bar-Kays put the city back on the world's musical map...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
"Shake your rump to the funk", the guys suggested, and the world tuned in to the new Memphis era ...
Judd Phillips: The Memphis Mercury Connection
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
NO, IT ISN'T a devious underworld operation; rather, it is the efforts of the Chicago-based Mercury organisation to be the first major to capitalise on ...
Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Ann Peebles: Willie Mitchell: Gettin' Hi High Again
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 March 1978
Willie Mitchell has virtually forsaken his own career in favour of running Hi Records and putting the label back up there... ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 March 1978
"Success can be the emptiest place in the world," says Freda..."Having a husband and now a son makes me realise just how empty my life ...
Herb Alpert, Hugh Masekela: Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela: Herb and Hugh Fusion
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 March 1978
Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela explain their Tijuana Meets Africa project ...
Joe Simon: Mr Consistency That's Joe Simon
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 March 1978
"I may not make more than one gold record a year," he says, "but every release sells about 300,000...and that's what keeps me going to ...
The Blue Notes wanna be the black Beatles!
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 March 1978
The original Blue Notes, having endured the splits with Harold Melvin and Teddy Pendergrass, are aiming for versatility and the kind of musical freedom that ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 April 1978
It took Maze around nine months to go gold with their debut album but their second set has equalled that feat in just six weeks ...
Ralph MacDonald: The Percussive Roots Of Ralph McDonald
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 April 1978
Ralph's new album traces his musical roots from Africa to the Islands and America. Here he talks about his dual roles as artist and producer, ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 April 1978
IN THE two years of 'its' acceptance, Bootsy's Rubber Band has become established as one of America's leading progressive R&B bands. Each of their three ...
Kellee Patterson: Kellee Gets Fitted With Gold
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 April 1978
WELL, IT has taken a full six month cycle but Kellee Patterson has finally won her Gold disc for the interestingly titled 'If It Don't ...
Larkin Arnold: A Capitol Investment
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 25 April 1978
LET'S BE honest. A couple of years or so back and if you mentioned the name of Capitol Records, you thought of Glen Campbell, the ...
Sylvester: Sylvester (Fantasy FT 538)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 May 1978
THE DISTINCTIVE gent created a bit of a stir with his disco offering, 'Down Down Down' and 'Over And Over', and now follows through with ...
The Floaters: Floaters serve up a little piece of Magic
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 May 1978
With their all-important second album, the guys are intent on proving they are far more than just one-hit wonders... ...
Gene Chandler: The Duke Of Earl Is Back
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 June 1978
Having grown tired of working the chittlin' circuit, Gene went off the road to concentrate on the business side of things...and scored some notable successes. ...
The Trammps: How Chaplin Helped Give Birth To The Trammps
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 June 1978
The re-release of 'Disco Inferno', by way of its success in Saturday Night Fever, could give Trammps their first gold disc. B&S talks to Earl ...
Joe Tex: The Gut Feeling For A Hit
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 June 1978
Joe stays close to the streets and the people who buy the records. Thus, he has a good instinct for what's a likely hit and ...
The Manhattans: Manhattans Are Planning A Doo Wop Album
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 June 1978
The guys started out as a street-corner group and have always maintained an interest in the old doo-wap style. Now there's talk of them cutting ...
Sweet Thunder: Versatility Is The Name Of The Game
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 June 1978
AS THEIR biography says, the name of Sweet Thunder does sound like a paradox but if you listen to their new and charted album – ...
The Originals: A New Chapter Begins
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 June 1978
Until recently, the Originals had spent their career at Motown, and enjoyed great success. But, they felt it was time to move on and now ...
Bobbi Humphrey: Bobbi's Jam with Stevie
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 July 1978
Bobbi Humphrey tells B&S how Stevie Wonder came to play harmonica on her 'Home Made Jam' single in return for help she had contributed to ...
Dexter Wansel: The Message In His Music
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 July 1978
IF YOU take a look at virtually any album that comes out of Philadelphia International these days, you are almost certain to see Dexter Wansel's ...
Idris Muhammad: Idris Boogies On Up
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 July 1978
Idris Muhammad's new album is a deliberate attempt to widen his horizons and is set to surpass all that his Mutha album achieved. B&S examines ...
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: Martha Reeves: Martha's Happier Than Ever Before
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 July 1978
WE MEET AGAIN is the apt title for Martha Reeves stunning debut album for Fantasy Records because it reunites her with one of the men ...
The Jimmy Castor Bunch: Bertha Butt meets Darth Vader... courtesy of Jimmy Castor, of course!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 July 1978
WHEN IT comes to novelty disco tunes, Jimmy Castor has proven himself to be irresistible. Right from 'Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling You', through the ...
Faze-O repay Ohio Player's faith in them
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 July 1978
...and get SHE label off the ground! ...
Millie Jackson rings the changes
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 July 1978
Millie's new album is far more uptempo than any album she's ever done. Ironically, the track that most people are picking up on is a ...
Quincy Jones: Feelin' Great In '78
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 July 1978
Quincy Jones finds that the ideas and his music are just flowing these days, he feels like a man on the sea, just going with ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 July 1978
John Abbey talks to lead singer Eddie Levert and newest member Sammy Strain, and reports on just why and how the O'Jays have remained in ...
The Soul Children: back on to a good thing
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 July 1978
The threesome are back in business with David Porter and their 'Can't Give Up A Good Thing' single is lighting the way for the Stax ...
Hodges, James & Smith: Hodges, James and Smith: The Time Is Now
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 August 1978
WE AT B&S have always acknowledged the significance of timing. The right record at the right time and with the right company and suddenly a ...
Margie Joseph: Margie's Feeling Her Way To The Very Top
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 August 1978
Margie Joseph is using her God-given talent to the full. "My dream is to be a superstar," she says, "and I just don't want anyone ...
The Ohio Players: Ohio Players Come Out Of Hibernation
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 August 1978
John Abbey talks to Satch Satchell, the Ohio Players' spiritual leader. ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 August 1978
The 8-piece outfit spent most of their time in the studio until recently but with their fourth Fantasy album taking off they are currently on ...
Taste Of Honey: A Taste Of Honey: Funky-unky-unky
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 August 1978
Boogie Oogie Oogie has shot A Taste Of Honey to international stardom, but John Abbey discovers they are more than just pretty faces! ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 August 1978
The man himself talks to John Abbey about his second Fantasy album, his attitudes, and his aims for the future. Another B&S exclusive... ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 August 1978
Having licked a serious drug problem, Etta is climbing to the top again and has been delighting audiences on the road with the Rolling Stones, ...
Prince Phillip Mitchell: Prince Phillip's Makin' It But Good
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 August 1978
As a songwriter, Phillip Mitchell has penned hits for such diverse talents as Millie Jackson, Candi Staton, Ben E. King and Joe Simon. Now he's ...
Candi Staton: Disco Confuses Candi
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 September 1978
As long as she can remember, people have been dancing to Candi Staton's records. "It's just a new word for an old style," she says ...
Crown Heights Affair: Crown Princes of Disco!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 September 1978
WHEN IT comes to disco acceptance, few groups have attained the peaks that New York's Crown Heights Affair have managed over the past three years. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 September 1978
The Queen of the Dancefloors, the inimitable Grace Jones ...
Johnny Bristol: Still Hangin' In There...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 September 1978
'HANG ON In There Baby' remains to this day one of the best selling R&B based records of all time. It carried its creator, Johnny ...
Rick James: The Punk Funk Of Rick James
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 September 1978
Rick's style has been dubbed Punk Funk in some quarters. He himself agrees the term might be apt as it signifies the rebellious aspect of ...
The Stylistics: Back 'In Fashion'
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 September 1978
In Fashion just happens to be the title of the group's debut album for the Mercury label and it looks like giving them their biggest ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 September 1978
The all-white chart-toppers don't try to sound black – it's their natural way. "We just want to play that groove,'' they say. "If there isn't ...
Atlantic Starr: Meet Atlantic Starr
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 September 1978
John Abbey talks to the 9-piece outfit who are storming the U.S singles and albums charts ...
Rose Royce: The Golden Success Story
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 September 1978
The band's three albums have all gone gold, and then platinum – some achievement! Percussionist Terry Santiel tells B&S of the debt they owe to ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 October 1978
WHENEVER you think of the Miama Sound, the name of K.C. & the Sunshine Band immediately springs to mind. Via a long string of golden ...
Loleatta Holloway, Bunny Sigler: Loleatta Holloway: Queen Of The Night (Salsoul SSLP 1509)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 October 1978
THE LONG awaited second Gold Mind album from Loleatta and this time the lady is caught up with a myriad of production units. The whole ...
Sylvester: Step II (Fantasy F549)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 October 1978
SYLVESTER HAS carved a niche for himself in the disco world and his second Fantasy album will certainly consolidate his following around the nation's dancefloors. ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 October 1978
The lady's natural wit made her a runaway success on America's chat shows and her debut album was an international winner. Now she feels she's ...
Randy Jackson: Solo Randy Will Always Be Part Of The Jacksons
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 October 1978
THIS MONTH sees the release of the debut single by the latest of the super-talented children of Joe Jackson. Collectively, they are known to the ...
The Impressions: The Impresssions: Lasting Impressions
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 October 1978
After more than 20 years as a group, the guys are now bigger than ever in Europe. Recordwise, plans are afoot for them to record ...
Jerry Butler: The Ice Man Returneth Home
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 November 1978
Jerry talks to B&S about his reunion with Gamble and Huff and his plans for the future... ...
Timmy Thomas: The Gospel Freak
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 November 1978
The 'Why Can't We Live Together' man now has a dual role – as head of TK's Gospel division and leader of the Freak dancefloor ...
B.B. King: An Audience With The King
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 November 1978
The King in question is Mr. B.B. King and in this exclusive interview he talks to John Abbey about the future of the blues as ...
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes: Back To Their Roots
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 November 1978
The rumours are that Harold Melvin and the group are set to return to Philadelphia International. Harold himself tells B&S how it is.... ...
George Clinton, Funkadelic, Parliament: Parliament Funkadelic: Watch Out The Mothership Is Coming
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 December 1978
Beware, Britain – the Mothership is coming! George Clinton and those extra-terrestial beings, Parliament-Funkadelic, are about to descend on to your cities. It will be ...
Barry White: The Man (20th Century Fox)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 December 1978
THE MAESTRO has consistently found support for his distinctive style and is currently riding both U.S. R&B and disco charts with his punchy 'Your Sweetness ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 December 1978
Eddie Henderson: I didn't get where I am today by not being danceable... ...
Bernie Worrell: P-Funk: Bernie Worrell, The Keyboard King
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 December 1978
THE LATEST Parliafunkadelicment member to shoot solo shots is Bernie Worrell, the keyboard king of Funkadelia. Entitled All The Woo In the World, the album ...
Funkadelic: P-Funk: Mike Hampton – Kid Funkadelic
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 December 1978
REPRESENTING the younger generation of Funkadelicans is Mike Hampton, a long-haired extrovert who plays perhaps the meanest guitar within our musical sphere. "I am not ...
The Brides Of Funkenstein: The Solo Talents Within The Parliafunkadelicment Thang…
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 December 1978
AS ONE would imagine, monogamy isn't in keeping with Dr. Funkenstein's image and so I guess it was only natural that when he launched his ...
George Clinton, Funkadelic, Parliament: The George Clinton Interview: Part 2
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 December 1978
Coinciding with the arrival of the whole Parliafunk-adelicment entourage in Britain for concert dates, B&S concludes its exclusive interview with the mastermind of the whole ...
Al Green: Soulful Al's not so Green in the disco stakes, either...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 January 1979
Mr. Green's first album in a year leans more towards disco than anything else he's released. But, he explains, it wasn't a deliberate move to ...
Grover Washington Jr: Grover's Motown Seed Is bearing fruit a-plenty
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 January 1979
ALTHOUGH on odd occasions they have varied their musical direction – notably into Country & Western for a minute and via the Rare Earth Rock-Pop ...
Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Johnny Guitar Watson: Guitar Giant!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 January 1979
AFTER THE comparative failure of Funk Beyond The Call Of Duty, Johnny Guitar Watson is back with a vengeance. ...
Mother's Finest: one group under two grooves
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 2 January 1979
I DON'T know about you, but the image that I had always had of Mother's Finest was that they were a sort of Osmonds-type pop ...
Cameo: Ugly Ego (Casablanca CAL 2040)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 January 1979
NINE PIECE, self-contained group have established themselves a little bit more with every release since their arrival on the scene more than two years ago. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 January 1979
As his new album implies, Marc Cerrone surely has that Golden Touch...in fact, the album reportedly shipped gold in seven countries! ...
Heatwave: International Heatwave
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 January 1979
LONDON, England, is hardly renowned for its temperate climate but it can boast one long and consistent Heatwave because it is – and probably always ...
The Temptations: Temptations Thrive On Their New Found Freedom...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 January 1979
AFTER A rather disappointing first year with Atlantic Records, it looks as though 1979 will see the mighty Temptations searching in earnest to regain their ...
Chic: C'est Chic (Atlantic K50565)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 January 1979
THE FIVE piece Chic outfit have become one of disco's hottest properties and their 'Le Freak' hit is just about the most played record around ...
The Staple Singers: Muscle Shoals Revisited...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 January 1979
IT CAN'T be coincidence that the minute the Staples return to Muscle Shoals, they come away with their best selling album since the last time ...
Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers: Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers: Bustin' Loose
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 February 1979
1979 HAS been acclaimed as the year that Funk would fight back. Proof of the truth of that statement can be found by simply looking ...
Instant Funk: The return of Funkkkkk
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 February 1979
Into the winner's circle with a three year old recording, Instant Funk now look set to become 79's major funk success. Read on... ...
Brass Construction: Randy Muller: Dance To The Music
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 February 1979
"The new Brass Construction album will have the same kind of rhythm pulse and good groove as the first one..." ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 February 1979
AFTER TWO rather varied albums, T-Connection have made up their minds that their about-to-be-released third album will be the one to kill the discos. ...
The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, The Jacksons: The Jacksons: Ten Golden Years
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 February 1979
The guys recently celebrated ten years as a headlining act and B&S took the opportunity to talk to them individually and gather their thoughts on ...
The Neville Brothers: A Family Affair
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 February 1979
THE NAME of Neville is synonymous with the whole New Orleans sound. The eldest brother, Art, has invested more than twenty years into the music ...
Van McCoy Comes Out Of Retreat...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 February 1979
Having now emerged from a somewhat less fruitful period, following his huge international smash, 'The Hustle', Van McCoy talks of his recent creative and emotional ...
Chaka Khan: B&S award is more meaningful says Chaka...
Report by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1979
ON THE face of it, the most surprising Poll winner this year was Chaka Khan's victory in the Female Vocalist division – where she edged ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1979
WE GOT the opportunity to spear with Celi Bee (of Celi Bee & the Buzzy Bunch disco fame) on one of the lady's rare stopovers ...
Gene Chandler: The Duke Is Back
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1979
RIGHT NOW, Gene Chandler's 'Get Down' is just about the biggest disco record in the country. Presently, Gene is touring the country promoting his biggest ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1979
THE RELEASE of Straight From The Heart marks the return home of the Rance Allen Group. After a gap of four years – during which ...
Rose Royce: A Very Satisfying Year
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1979
UNDOUBTEDLY, 1978 was The Year Of The Groups. Earth Wind & Fire, the Commodores and Rose Royce almost held a monopoly on the awards. Though ...
The Dixie Hummingbirds: Flyin' High
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 February 1979
THERE HAS been a whole lot of publicity about the fact that fifty years ago, Walt Disney was introducing Mickey Mouse to the world over ...
Rick James: Bustin' Out Of L Seven (Motown STML 12104)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 March 1979
WITHOUT A shadow of doubt, Canadian Rick James was one of the most significant discoveries of 1978. His 'You And I' and 'Mary Jane' singles ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 March 1979
The man triumphed in both Disco sections of the annual B&S Poll but, surprisingly, tells us that his next album might actually be his last ...
ADC Band: The ADC Band: All Fired Up...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 March 1979
THEIR BIOGRAPHY calls them a "funky renaissance band" and I guess that does just about sum up the ADC Band, Detroit's own band who have ...
The Commodores: 3 Times a Winner
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 March 1979
Lionel Ritchie and the Commodores triumphed in 3 sections of the recent B&S Poll. Here Lionel, who won the award as Best Songwriter, tells why ...
Evelyn "Champagne" King: Evelyn Champagne King: A Bubbling Bundle Of Talent
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 March 1979
From office cleaning to record stardom, the 'champagne' lady uncorks her story...and cites producer T. Life as the Rat in her life!!! ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 March 1979
Lead vocalist Greg Williams explains how a chance meeting with Jermaine Jackson led to the guys achieving their big breakthrough. Now they're readying their second ...
Bunny Sigler: A Disco Believer
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 April 1979
After 12 years, writer, producer, singer Bunny Sigler finally has the creative freedom to pursue all avenues to his own satisfaction. ...
Chaka Khan, Rufus: Chaka Khan: Chaka Really Is Every Woman
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 April 1979
OVER THE years, we have covered just about every possible facet of Chaka Khan's career. So, during a break whilst recording a new album with ...
Creme D'Cocoa: Philly Versatility
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 April 1979
VENTURE RECORDS was launched last fall and immediately attained its initial breakthrough with 'Do What You Feel', the debut release on a new quartet from ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 April 1979
After a lengthy absence from the charts, Edwin's back with a vengeance. And he's well tuned in to disco as some folks acclaim 'Twenty Five ...
Sister Sledge: Family Breakthrough
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 April 1979
WHOEVER CAME up with the idea of putting that beautiful family quartet, Sister Sledge, together with platinum Chic hitmakers, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, is ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 April 1979
ALTHOUGH 'Shoot Me' has been the vehicle for the world to become acquainted with Ms. Tasha Thomas, it is a somewhat unlikely source. 'Shoot Me ...
Bloodstone: Shining brightly, six years on...
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 April 1979
WOULD YOU believe that it's six years since Bloodstone hit the world's record charts with their haunting 'Natural High' ballad – probably one of the ...
Natalie Cole: The Natalie Cole interview
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 April 1979
IN THREE short years, Natalie Cole has risen to the point where today she is a household name. In the past few months, Natalie has ...
Labelle, Patti LaBelle: The real, raw Patti LaBelle
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 April 1979
Patti is happier with her latest album than with anything she has ever done before, and feels that producer Skip Scarbrough has captured the real, ...
War: Luther Rabb: War's new bass man...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 May 1979
War's newest member is rarin' to go...as part of a very enthusiastic band, and as a solo act ...
Maze: The 'Inspiration' Behind Maze
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 May 1979
B&S raps to Maze leader Frankie Beverly who reveals the formula behind their 'rapid' rise to stardom. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 8 May 1979
'Kiss And Say Goodbye' provided the Manhattans with a global hit, and now the enduring quartet look forward to continued success with their new album. ...
Millie Jackson: A few moments pleasure with Millie Jackson
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 May 1979
John Abbey talks to Millie about her new album, and her forthcoming set with Isaac Hayes... ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 May 1979
I DON'T know about you, but my impression of Joe Simon has always been of a sober, conservative character. Maybe it was his clean approach ...
Eddie Henderson: doctor at the crossroads
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 June 1979
With the music world making so many demands on his time, Eddie feels he may have to phase out his medical practice completely... ...
Lamont Dozier: Lamont Takes To The Road
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 June 1979
Lamont Dozier is putting together a show to promote his new album and these will be his first live gigs for some 20 years! ...
Taste Of Honey chase more sweet success
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 June 1979
It ain't easy emulating the huge success of a record like 'Boogie Oogie Oogie' but the hit group are setting out to do just that. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 June 1979
The family group explain how the Jacksons inspired them to switch from gospel to contemporary music. ...
Randy Crawford, The Crusaders: The Crusaders: Street crusade
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 June 1979
B&S catches up with the Crusaders who have campaigned for jazz all over the world and whose new album is centred around 'street life'... ...
The Jimmy Castor Bunch: Jimmy Castor: Home
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 June 1979
AFTER AN absence of one album, the Jimmy Castor Bunch are back within the Atlantic family – this time on the Cotillion label. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 June 1979
KLEEER IS another of the new signings that Atlantic has come up with of late. The sextet's debut record, 'Keeep Your Body Working', has already ...
McFadden and Whitehead: Ain't No Stoppin' Gene and John Now
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 June 1979
The McFadden and Whitehead story began back in the 60's when they toured with Otis Redding as members of the Epsilons. Then, in the early ...
Prince Phillip Mitchell: Atlantic Crossing
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 June 1979
AFTER TEN years of giving his best songs to other acts – notably 'Starting All Over Again' for Mel & Tim, 'Hurt So Good' for ...
Sister Sledge: 'We really are family'
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 June 1979
THERE IS a certain closeness, a certain warmth about a family unit that is totally indestructible. It positively glows and when you are lucky enough ...
Tasha Thomas: The Glamor of Disco
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 June 1979
AS WE have so often said, one of the great things about the disco boom is that it has brought to the surface a whole ...
Narada Michael Walden: The Disco Awakening of Narada Michael Walden
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 June 1979
ALTHOUGH he has just come off of one of Atlantic's biggest ever disco records – 'I Don't Want Nobody Else' – Narada Michael Walden wants ...
Alton McClain & Destiny: Alton Meets Her Destiny
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, July 1979
ONE OF this year's giant left field records comes from three absolutely beautiful young ladies, Alton McClain and Destiny (D'Marie Warren and Robyrda Stiger). ...
The Spinners: Eternal Spinners
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, July 1979
TIMING AND distinctive sound are two of our favourite comments when it comes to reviewing music in B&S. Timing (and the inborn knowledge when to ...
The Floaters: Floating Into The Future
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, July 1979
WE'VE MADE this point on numerous occasions before – sometimes, a blockbuster hit can be the worst thing that can happen to a new act. ...
Anita Ward: Anita rings chart bell
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 July 1979
'RING MY BELL' is just about the hottest dance property in the land right now and it introduces to the world a young lady from ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 July 1979
ENCOUNTERED Gene Chandler, fresh from his European trek, where he was awarded a Silver Disc in London for sales exceeding 250,000 in the U.K. ...
Mass Production: Purest Mass Production
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 July 1979
ALTHOUGH THEY don't actually top the charts with their every release, Mass Production have established themselves over their three year recording stint with Cotillion as ...
Mike Theodore: High On Success
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 July 1979
WITH HIS second album on Westbound – High On Mad Mountain – seasoned producer/arranger, Mike Theodore is further consolidating on the success of his first ...
The Ohio Players: Up An' Dancin'
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 July 1979
"Arista are famous for their pre-programming scheme and they could afford us!" ...
B.B. King: B.B King: Reds and Blues
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 July 1979
"I learnt the true meaning of freedom...But I also believe that music is the international denominator for bringing people together" ...
Van McCoy: In Memory of Van McCoy
Obituary by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 July 1979
JULY HAS been a devastating month for our music because of the tragic, sad deaths of Minnie Riperton and Van McCoy. Both were highly creative ...
The Jones Girls: Keeping up with the Jones Girls
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 July 1979
Diana Ross and Gamble & Huff are useful people to have in your corner, and the talented trio openly acknowledge their gratitude and the belief ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 July 1979
THE COMMODORES have attained a peak that no black group before them has ever been able to attain. For 1978, they were the fourth best ...
Barry White: The Message Really Is Love...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 August 1979
IT'S an old criticism that so few people practice what they preach. But, in the case of Barry White, the title of his new album ...
Shirley Brown stretches out...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 August 1979
After her huge success with 'Woman To Woman', people expected Shirley to carry on rapping. Now she's resigned with Stax and her new album gives ...
Taka Boom: An Undisputed Talent
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 August 1979
Taka spent a year and a half with Undisputed Truth and now she's capitalising on that experience with her solo career... ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 August 1979
Commodore William King concludes this exclusive interview talking about the group's new album, the prospect of solo albums, touring plans, and a possible full-length movie... ...
Doris Jones And The British Link
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1979
BECAUSE OF the nature of the music business, situations occasionally arise that go totally against the usual course of events. ...
Double Exposure: Secrets From The Locker Room
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1979
B&S investigator probes behind the scenes and unearths the concept of the quartet's startling new album... ...
Carol Douglas: Get Into Carol's Life
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1979
WITH THE release of her fifth album for Midsong International, Carol Douglas has reached a new stage in her career. ...
Michael Jackson's Peacock Music
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1979
INTERVIEWS with Michael Jackson are few and far between. However, after the Jacksons' Platinum Party, at which the whole family was presented with platinum awards ...
Linda Evans: Solo Linda Scores Group Success
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1979
HAVING TRIED on three occasions to establish herself within a group – on each occasion, a trio, by the way – Linda Evans decided that ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1979
Pax Amantis?...the Custos Warriors?...Sun spokesman Byron Byrd explains all and then some... ...
The Trammps: Disco's Favourite Sons
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 August 1979
IF THERE is such a thing as disco-land's favourite group, then that would surely have to be Trammps – five young men from Philadelphia who ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 September 1979
WITH THE disco boom now officially on the wane, maybe we can get back to normal business! But before we write off that whole dance ...
Michael Jackson: Off The Wall (Epic 83468)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 September 1979
THE FIRST solo album from Michael Jackson in many years and he has enlisted the productions support of Quincy Jones to produce a first class ...
Billy Preston: No Longer Going Round In Circles!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1979
B&S talks to Billy about his early days with Little Richard and Ray Charles, his development as a solo talent and his recent pacting with ...
Bootsy Collins: Nothing Will Stop The Funk
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1979
B&S drops in on Bootsy who says it out loud... ...
Candido: Technicolor Yul Brynner
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1979
IT TOOK the advent of disco to allow percussionists to come to the fore, and challenging Ralph McDonald for the leading role in commercial percussionists ...
Walter Murphy: Louie's Yer Uncle
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 October 1979
ONE OF the most unusual records currently climbing the lists is 'Full Tilt Boogie' by the even more strangely named group, Uncle Louie. ...
Fern Kinney: Fern's In The Right Groove
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1979
POPPY SEEDS have been the source of at least one good thing in this world. In the 60's there was a group called the Poppies ...
Ronn Matlock: Introducing Mr. Ronn Matlock
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1979
RONN MATLOCK is the latest in an endless line of new talents who seem to be constantly emerging again from Detroit. Though his Hot City ...
Kilo: Worth Their Weight In Gold
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1979
THOUGH KILO may be a new name to you their first album is only just on the streets now, their debut for Stax – the ...
Lenny Williams: Mr Consistency
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1979
"It isn't time to start abandoning disco or anything as drastic as that. It's just that people want their music more varied these days." ...
Sylvester: The Living Proof Of Disco's Heat
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1979
'MIGHTY REAL' was, of course, one of Sylvester's biggest hits – his biggest in Europe, in fact. However, it is more than just the title ...
Tamiko Jones: Tamiko's Intercity Hit
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 20 November 1979
New York, Detroit, Atlanta, back to Detroit, on to Nashville. Those were the ports of call for Tamiko Jones. ...
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 December 1979
TAKE A tip from me...Nature's Divine are going to be a supergroup! This ten-piece ensemble from Detroit are already well on their way with their ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 December 1979
"TO ME, a punk is someone who says what's on his mind and who doesn't take no shit!" So says Rick James, one of our ...
Dynasty claim their piece of the rock
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 December 1979
CURRENTLY ENJOYING their first major taste of success with 'I Don't Want To Be A Freak' is Dynasty, two young ladies and a young man ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 January 1980
John Abbey talks to the Music Band's harmonica ace, Lee Oskar ...
Stacy Lattisaw, Narada Michael Walden: Narada's Awakening Continues...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 29 January 1980
Narada's 1979 chartbusting Awakening album paved the way for 1980 success. Now, the talented performer reveals his plans for continued acceptance and his aspirations for ...
Patrice Rushen: Rushen Invasion!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 11 March 1980
BY THE TIME she was twelve, Patrice Rushen was a highly accomplished keyboard player and she developed into one of the highest regarded instrumentalists long ...
Chaka Khan, Rufus: Chaka Khan: Chaka's Naughty Bits
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 April 1980
Naughty is the title of Chaka Khan's new album, but she denies trying to project a 'naughty' image. However, she confesses to being naturally impish ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 May 1980
TO GET some measure of Michael Jackson's success during 1979, you only have to look at the B&S Poll results because Michael walked off with ...
Chic, Diana Ross: Diana Ross: Diana (Motown 8033)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 June 1980
'Upside Down'; 'Tenderness'; 'Friend To Friend'; 'I'm Coming Out'; 'Have Fun (Again)'; 'My Old Piano'; 'Now That You're Gone'; 'Give Up'. ...
Stephanie Mills: Sweet Sensation (20th Century Fox T603)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 June 1980
'Sweet Sensation'; 'Try My Love'; 'I Just Wanna Say'; 'Wish That You Were Mine'; 'D-a-n-c-i-n''; 'Still Mine'; 'Never Knew Love Like This Before'; 'Mixture Of ...
Stephanie Mills: The Stephanie Mills interview... The Sweet Sensation of Wizdom
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 June 1980
AT THE tender age of just twenty-three, Stephanie Mills has starred on Broadway, earned two Gold albums and a Gold single and headlined concerts in ...
Con Funk Shun's Golden Spirit...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 July 1980
"It's a cold business," claim Con Funk Shun, but the seven piece funk aggregation couldn't be hotter right now... ...
Millie Jackson: For Men Only (Polydor 2391460)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 July 1980
'This Is Where I Came In'; 'This Is It'; 'If That Don't Turn You On'; 'I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again'; 'A ...
Randy Crawford: Now We May Begin (Warner Bros.)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 15 July 1980
'Last Night At Danceland'; 'Tender Falls The Rain'; 'My Heart Is Not As Young As It Used To Be'; 'Now We May Begin'; 'Blue Flame'; ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 August 1980
Chic's Bernard Edwards talks about the frustrations of being underestimated outside of the disco sphere; about the problems of producing the Diana Ross album; and ...
Odyssey: Hang Together (RCA 13526)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 August 1980
'Hang Together'; 'Never Had It At All'; 'Don't Tell Me, Tell Her'; 'Down Boy'; 'Follow Me'; 'Use It Up And Wear It Out'; 'If You're ...
Tom Browne: Love Approach (Arista/GRP 5008)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 August 1980
'Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)'; 'Her Silent Smile'; 'Forever More'; 'Dreams Of Loving You'; 'Nocturne'; 'Martha'; 'Moon Rise'; 'Weak In The Knees' ...
David Ruffin: Gentleman Ruffin (Warner Bros. K3416)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 October 1980
'I Wanna Be With You'; 'All I Need'; 'Love Supply'; 'Still In Love With You'; 'I Got A Thing For You'; 'Can We Make Love ...
Larry Graham's Maui Manoeuvres...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 October 1980
Larry's built his own studio on the Hawaiian island of Maui and the first project was his own solo album. But this doesn't signal the ...
Richard Tee: Natural Ingredients (CBS 84194)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 October 1980
'What A Woman Really Means'; 'Now'; 'The Nut's Off The Screw'; 'Tell It Like It Is'; 'Us'; 'Back Door Man'; 'Spinning Song' ...
Rick James, The Mary Jane Girls: Rick James' Case Of Life Or Death
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 October 1980
Our Punk Funk hero has a new perspective on life following his recent hospitalisation. He's had to readjust his lifestyle as it became a case ...
Rick James: Garden Of Love (Motown)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 October 1980
'Big Time'; 'Don't Give Up On Love'; 'Island Lady'; 'Gettin' It On'; 'Summer Love'; 'Mary-Go-Round'; 'Gettin' It On (In The Sunshine) Reprise' ...
Teena Marie: Irons In The Fire (STML)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 October 1980
'I Need Your Lovin''; 'Young Love'; 'First Class Love'; 'Irons In The Fire'; 'Chains'; 'You Make Love Like Springtime'; 'Tune In Tomorrow'; 'You Make Love ...
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 October 1980
'Can You Feel It'; 'Lovely One'; 'Your Ways'; 'Everybody'; 'Heartbreak Hotel'; 'Time Waits For No One'; 'Walk Right Now'; 'Give It Up'; 'Wondering Who' ...
The Pointer Sisters: Special Things (Planet K 52242)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 21 October 1980
'Could I Be Dreaming'; 'He's So Shy'; 'The Love Too Good To Last'; 'Evil'; 'Save This Night For Love'; 'We've Got The Power'; 'Where Did ...
George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Roger & The Human Body, Zapp: Zapp: More Sound To The Pound...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 13 January 1981
Roger, Larry, Lester and Terry "Zapp" Troutman have "bounced" their way to the winners circle with their hit single and debut album. With an overload ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 February 1981
His album, titled Dirty Mind, has been banned by radio stations across America because of its lyric content but Prince aims to promote it on ...
Bootsy Collins: Bootsy Sweats it Out
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 April 1981
Bootsy Collins explains his foolosophy and talks about his long lay-off and the legal hassles surrounding The Rubber Band... ...
Diana Ross: To Love Again (Motown STML 12152)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 April 1981
AFTER THE massive success of the Chic produced Diana album, the chic Ms. Ross reverts back to her sophisticated approach for this set of nine ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 April 1981
ONE OF the year's first really big records is not only the debut release by a new group but it also gives birth to a ...
Maceo Parker, The Sweat Band: The P-Funk New Doo Crew… No Sweat, it's Bootsy's Banned Band!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 April 1981
Maceo Parker explains that the Sweat Band is virtually a continuation of the Rubber Band ...
George Clinton, Funkadelic, Parliament: The P-Funk Noo Doo Crew: the Man with the Key to Funk
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 April 1981
George Clinton takes the lid off R&B... Rhythm and Business, that is! ...
Change, Luther Vandross: Luther Vandross: The man most likely...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 November 1981
With a wealth of musical experience behind him, via a string of hits with Change, background sessions for a host of Soul's top names and ...
Earth, Wind & Fire: Earth Wind & Fire: Omni Coliseum, Atlanta GA
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 November 1981
THIS WAS the first time that Atlanta had seen Earth Wind & Fire in over a year and there was much speculation about their widely-publicised ...
Luther Vandross: Never Too Much (Epic EPC 85275)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 December 1981
ALTHOUGH 'NEVER Too Much' may be the first time that Luther Vandross has had his name high on the charts, it's far from the first ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 March 1982
To date, there have been five albums by Maze. Each one of them has gone Gold and two of the quintet are closing in on ...
The Jones Girls: Get As Much Love As You Can (Philadelphia Int. PIR 85347)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 23 March 1982
BRENDA, VALONE and Shirley Jones actually sing as good as they look and that's why they are one of the world's top vocal groups today! ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 April 1982
Part 2 of an in-depth interview with Frankie Beverly conducted just before the band's Euro debut success ...
Patrice Rushen: Hit The Road Pat...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 18 May 1982
Touring is Patrice Rushen's main aim for the next couple of years."I intend to make myself more visible, even if that means spending less time ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 August 1982
HOW MANY labels can you think of that can boast that their first single and first album releases both went straight to No. 1 in ...
Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross: Aretha Franklin: Jump To It (Arista 204 742)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 August 1982
WELL, THE teaming of Aretha Franklin and Luther Vandross as her producer is magical and this is perhaps one of the really great Aretha albums ...
Rick James: Too much to do to get messed up now...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 September 1982
STREET SONGS sold excess of a million and was easily the biggest R&B-based album of 1981 and is, in fact, still on the charts after ...
The Valentine Brothers: Valentines' day is nigh
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 7 September 1982
IF EVER a record summed up the situation, then the Valentine Brothers' recent 'Money's Too Tight' smash in a pretty fair assessment of the predicament ...
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 October 1982
FOR THOSE of you who consider the Time to be mere clones of Prince, let me put you right here and now. This seven-man band ...
Vanity 6: Vanity 6 (Warner Bros. 23716)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 October 1982
WELL, IF you thought Prince was raunchy, try these three ladies because if there is such a thing as musical porno, here it is! With ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 19 October 1982
From out of the P-Funk cauldron, the Troutman brothers have emerged supreme. In this exclusive and revealing interview, Roger Troutman explains the thinking behind the ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 November 1982
ALTHOUGH 'THE Message' has been one of the dancefloor world's biggest smashes of 1982, that success does not minimise the actual lyrical content of what ...
Cheryl Lynn, Luther Vandross: Cheryl Lynn: Cheryl & Luther's Instant Love Affair...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 November 1982
ONE OF the big success stories of the moment surrounds Cheryl Lynn, whose duet with Luther Vandross on 'If This World Were Mine' is currently ...
Gwen McCrae: Gwen's Return Trip
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 November 1982
WITH THE release of her second Atlantic album, On My Way, it looks as if the Florida born Capricorn, Gwen McCrae — born December 21 ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 30 November 1982
IN AN INDUSTRY that is male-oriented, the arrival of the eight-piece, self-contained and all girl group, Klymaxx is a welcome addition. The lovely ladies are ...
Janet Jackson: Janet Jackson (A&M AMLH 64907)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 February 1983
JANET IS the youngest of the Jackson family and the latest to enter the recording fray. In her younger years, she also co-starred in the ...
The Valentine Brothers: First Take (Bridge)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 22 March 1983
THE EXTREMELY talented Valentine Brothers — John and Billy — hit the American charts with the pulsating 'Money's Too Tight' ditty and they now follow ...
Aurra: Live And Let Live (Salsoul SA 8559)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 May 1983
'Such A Feeling'; 'Coming To Get You'; 'Live And Let Live'; 'Undercover Lover'; 'Baby Love'; 'You Can't Keep On Walking'; 'One More Time'; 'Positive' ...
Debarge: The New First Family Of Motown
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 May 1983
IT SEEMS that Motown have finally found the successor to the Jacksons! After the ineffectiveness of the first album by the Debarge family, their second ...
Prince Charles & The City Beat Band: Lock Up Yer Women... Prince Charles Is Comin'
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 May 1983
IN DAYS of yore, it was not uncommon for plundering royalty to ravage the land and have their evil way with local wenches. But we ...
Lonnie Liston Smith: Escape From Limbo...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 May 1983
It's been almost three years since Lonnie Liston Smith came across with new product. But with his new Dreams Of Tomorrow set he's escaped from ...
The Whispers: Love For Love (Solar 60216)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 May 1983
ALTHOUGH SIDE one is sub-titled the "dancin' side" (and side two is the "romantic side"), that is somewhat misleading because to be truthful, only the ...
Gladys Knight and the Pips: Gladys Knight & The Pips: Visions (CBS)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 May 1983
WHEN IT comes to sheer consistency and reliability, Gladys Knight & the Pips take some beating! They have that uncanny knack of teaming up with ...
Rick James, The Mary Jane Girls: The Mary Jane Girls: Rick's Chicks
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 May 1983
Any Rick James backing group is sure to be talented, suggestive and female! However, there's more to the Mary Jane Girls than at first meets ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 June 1983
ALTHOUGH JUICY Fruit may represent James Mtume's first taste of success as an artist, his whole career has been filled with his records because his ...
Mtume: Juicy Fruit (Epic EPC25399)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 July 1983
THE NAME of Mtume (pronounced Em-too-may) should be familiar to you because prior to 'Juicy Fruit'-ing his way to the top in his own right, ...
Phyllis Hyman: Phyllis Puts A Tiger In Her Tank...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 12 July 1983
Right now, Phyllis Hyman's career and her music is her whole life. "I live, breathe, think and eat music" she says. And with her Goddess ...
Gwen Guthrie: A Portrait of Gwen Guthrie
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 26 July 1983
IF YOU stop to think about it, the perfect credentials for a potential superstar must be having served an 'apprenticeship' as a background singer. The ...
Jennifer Holliday: Holliday Plans
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 November 1983
Jennifer Holliday has her aims firmly set: to become one of the best recording artists; to return to Broadway; and then to settle down to ...
Peech Boys: N.Y.C. Peech Boys: Life Is Something Special (Island)
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 1 November 1983
THE FIVE New York City Peech Boys have already made their mark around the discos of the world and this new album is destined to ...
Rick James, Teena Marie: Teena Marie: Groovin' With Confidence
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 27 December 1983
Teena Marie's debut set for Epic is a concept album. She tells B&S how Rick James built her confidence to try something new... ...
Gloria Gaynor: Queen of Queens
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 February 1984
Having bounced back with the gay national anthem, the evergreen Gloria Gaynor looks confidently into the future ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 July 1984
Despite a frustrating and depressing stint in Los Angeles, Cherrelle stuck to her guns and is now enjoying the success she fought for. ...
Report by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 31 July 1984
John Abbey reports from backstage at the opening of The Jacksons' Victory Tour, the most eagerly awaited tour for many a long year. The organisation, ...
Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Luther Vandross: Marcus Miller: Bassline Return
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 14 August 1984
B&S EXCLUSIVE WITH MARCUS MILLER In this interview direct from the USA, the poll-winning bassman talks to John Abbey about his sparkling new album, the people ...
Midnight Star: Star Attraction
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 5 February 1985
NOW HERE'S a trivia question I couldn't answer immediately! Which was the only group to have a Platinum album during 1984? ...
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Alexander O'Neal, Prince: Alexander O'Neal: Alexander the Great!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 28 May 1985
One of the most stylish albums so far released this year is the self-titled set from Alexander O'Neal. B&S checks out the singer's roots and ...
Whitney Houston: 2nd Generation Soul
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 9 July 1985
TO SAY that we critics [sic] and journalists have been known to hype an artist would perhaps be the understatement of the year. However, in ...
Isley Jasper Isley: The Message in the Music
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 10 December 1985
MAKE NO mistake about it, by the time you read this in print, 'Caravan Of Love' will have given (Marvin) Isley, (Chris) Jasper and (Ernie) ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 24 December 1985
EVERY NOW and then, a gospel record will break into the commercial big leagues. When that happens, it poses a very big question for the ...
Roger & The Human Body, Zapp: Roger — The Tyrant of Zapp!
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 6 May 1986
ONE DOES not actually need to be overly alert to notice that the line-up for the new Zapp album is an all-change arrangement. From the ...
Freddie Jackson: Freddie, the ladies' fantasy man
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 16 December 1986
IN THE 37 year history of Billboard magazine's black charts, only four artists have ever replaced themselves at the No. 1 spot — Johnny Otis ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 February 1987
"In a lot of ways, I guess I've taken the bass as far as it can be taken", says Stanley Clarke ...
Sylvester: Mutual Admiration Time
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 3 February 1987
For his new Mutual Attraction album, Sylvester has cut his version of Stevie Wonder's 'Living For The City', which he first heard at a club ...
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 17 February 1987
MIKI HOWARD — FROM DANCER, BACKGROUND SINGER AND SIDE EFFECT TO SOLO STAR ...
Jocelyn Brown: Jocelyn For Position
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 4 August 1987
ALTHOUGH JOCELYN Brown has had her fair share of hits — particularly in the UK — since she was catapulted to fame (not necessarily fortune, ...
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