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Mocha and Cream. The Story of Global Records - E. Mark Windle.

1960s northern soul R&B rare soul soul labels southern soul Store news

Mocha and Cream. The Story of Global Records - E. Mark Windle.

The passing of Edwin James Balbier a couple of years ago went virtually unnoticed in UK northern scene circles: indeed few outside of the industry will recall his name. Yet, this individual would be the unwitting driving force behind one of the most popular soul re-issue (if brief) label imprints of the 1970s, even if it was the company’s younger soul music enthusiast employees who shaped the nature of the label arm of the operation. Balbier’s initial interests did not lie in soul music, but more generally in the oldies market. Born in 1930, the Philadelphian had an early career...

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Hit and Run! An Interview with Garry Cape - E. Mark Windle.

Hit and Run! An Interview with Garry Cape - E. Mark Windle.

When I asked reissue / retrospective soul label owner Garry Cape about the motivating factors for his 2020 return to the soul market with the reactivation of his Hit and Run label series, issues of mortality seemed to be at the top of the list: “I guess it had something to do with my good friend John Anderson becoming ill and passing away recently. It made me think. I’d had some health issues a few years back. What if I was gone? I generally work alone. So I’m sitting on a bunch of unreleased recordings that would potentially never see...

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Reaching Different Shores. Subculture Rediscovery of The Tempests - E. Mark Windle.

Reaching Different Shores. Subculture Rediscovery of The Tempests - E. Mark Windle.

More than a decade on from the release of The Tempests' Would You Believe LP and break-up of the original recording band, important life events had taken over. Day-job careers, university education, the armed services and raising families; the musical activities of their youth were becoming distant memories for many of the former Tempests members.  Across the Atlantic, the love of soul music from an earlier era remained. It would be safe to comment that, at one point at least, mainstream America was oblivious to the enduring popularity of old blues and soul in other parts of the globe. The...

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Hound Dog! The Story of Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton - E. Mark Windle.

Hound Dog! The Story of Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton - E. Mark Windle.

Among other genres, Elvis Presley was informed by the blues in his early years. Even as a teenager, the songs he heard on Beale Street were a source of musical inspiration. And few would argue against the suggestion that his interpretation of Arthur Crudup’s blues number “That’s All Right” kick-started the teenage rock ‘n’ roll revolution. But if that’s true, then “Hound Dog” provided the pace. It was almost inevitable that Elvis’ take on the song, which sold ten million copies worldwide, would overshadow the original version and the story of the woman who originally recorded it. “Big Mama” Thornton...

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R-E-S-P-E-C-T. A Reflection for Women's History Month (E. Mark Windle).

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. A Reflection for Women's History Month (E. Mark Windle).

Let’s face it. There would be no need for a Women’s History Month forty years on from inception, if under-recognition of female contributions to culture, society and the workplace wasn’t still a “thing”. The music business is as guilty as any other male dominated industry of inequality and denied opportunity. Female recording artists are still, on average, earning less than male counterparts. Less women reach music executive positions, and less are employed as songwriters, musicians within the industry. The good news is that strong, determined, pioneering women are well represented though the decades, and in all facets of the business....

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