
To
kick off a number of features on female soul stars we give a hearty
welcome back to Peter Burns as he brings to our pages the story
of Esther Phillips. A unique vocal style set Ms. Phillips apart
and she maintained a successful career spanning many different
styles of music. Her Northern outings packed dance floors in the
mid 70s but her history is so much more than that as you’ll
see when you read her story.
The Australian soul ‘scene’ is populated by Ex-British
emigrants and the odd Australian national. The collecting of soul
releases on Australian record labels has grown in tandem with
their developing scene and has now expanded beyond their shores.
With some fantastic classic soul releases on good quality vinyl
and some great looking promos to be sought out, the Australian
records have become extremely sought after in the last decade
or so. When I first contacted Nigel Loveless for assistance I
envisaged a four or five page article showing some of the harder
items to find. As my research developed it became apparent that
there was so much quality music issued there that it eventually
developed into a full blown feature.
This issues ‘diary report’ takes in three countries,
(should have been a fourth but the dreaded flu kept me away from
Hamburg), US, UK and Spain. The live acts in Chicago at the Soul
Trip USA event were outstanding and the surprise appearance by
Mel Britt in Detroit reduced many soul fans to tears. The Midnight
Hour Event at Prestatyn lived up to it’s reputation as THE
live gig in the soul calendar when we were treated to a fantastic
live showcase that was up there with the best one’s so far.
The Volumes performing ‘Lady In Green’ was a memory
to cherish! On to Valencia in Spain and the Gonna Be A Big Thing
Allnighter. UK DJ collectors Andy Dyson and Ady Pountain joined
Barbara Grassi from Italy and the local crew of Dani and Albert
to provide a perfect blend of soul for their sell out crowd.
There are certain acts, be they individuals or groups that are
so revered that they seem to transcend musical styles and become
almost bigger than the genres they cross. Little Anthony and The
Imperials are one such act. Spanning all styles of music, the
group have been at the top of their game for decades and have
recently been inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland,
OH. Jason Thornton spent some time with the group as they toured
the Southern States and brings us the full story of a group that
are held in the highest esteem by fans worldwide. From their early
street corner harmony-influenced beginnings, through the Rock-n-Roll
era to their wonderful soul outings with Teddy Randazzo and Victoria
Pike, it’s all here, in full glorious color, just as it
should be!
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