Caedmon
Tuesday August 28th 2007, 11:56 pm
I love record labels.
While most music fans hate them and blame them for everything from Prince falling off to record sales slumping, I defend their place in music today, and obsess over their back catalogues.
Some labels are favorites because they are synonymous with musicians I love. The Isley Brothers and T-Neck or John Coltrane and Impulse.
Some are favourites for issuing a handful of niche records. Fondle ‘em, Prism, Childrens Television Workshop or SoundInk.
I even have love for some large labels. Atlantic still means something to me even with Ahmet Ertegün gone and the strings being pulled by the Warner Music Group. They still put out some great music, sixty years after they started. I’m even kind of fond of the the first record label, Columbia Records, despite no one having anything good to say about them. I like that their name has lasted from Wax Cylinders to MP3 downloads.
I’ll get round to writing about more of my favourite labels, but to start I’ll do a few posts on the phenomenal American literary label Caedmon.
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Some lady
Monday August 20th 2007, 11:42 am
Lady – Number One 1982
More early 80s disco here. Probably the music I buy most of at the moment. Anyways, is it just me or does this “Lady” sound exactly like Gwen Stefani?
She does.
She really does.
I like this song a lot. Its like a huge pop hit that never was. I would that when I someday play it to a packed house, they would all sing along. They won’t.
It’s hard to find anything on Lady since she/they had such a generic name. The 7″ I have came out on a Mega Records but I’m not convinced its the same Mega Records that put out licensed electro and rap a couple of years later.
The producer Jerry Marcellino has a number of early 70s Motown credits to his name but nothing spectacular.
The flip side, “Living For The Thought” is a little too stomping for my disco tastes. Stick with the A and pour some cherry wine out for dead disco.
What you gonna do when S-E-X is on the menu?
Friday August 17th 2007, 4:03 pm
Times Square – You’re Hot (European Version) 1981
“So young ladies, and gentlemen, once you try it once, you gonna do it again”
Back in 1981 when Hiphop tracks hedged their bets by being disco tracks. Back in 1981 when disco tracks hedged their bets by being Hiphop tracks. Back in 1981 before Hiphop was responsible for our childrens upbringing. Back in 1981 when Hiphop exploited a whole side of vinyl for its tracks. Back in 1981 before Hiphop was drum machines and before-before it was loops of James Brown and before-before-before it was people with keyboards again. Back in 1981 when it was people with keyboards.
The bit with the key and horn swells hits all my favourite chords. That’s hot.
“You’re gonna do it again”
