soul Archive
09 Dec 2015
Box Set Review: George Duke — The Era Will Prevail (Part One)
George Duke (1946-2013) was one of the most fascinating figures in music during the second half of the 20th century. Duke was a jazz-and-classically trained musician proficient on any number […]
27 Nov 2015
Holiday Music Roundup 2015
Imagene Peise — Atlas Eets Christmas Let’s get a few things out of the way right up front about this holiday-themed release. First there is no Imagene Peise; despite a […]
07 Oct 2015
Bill Dahl and I Discuss “Groove & Grind: Rare Soul ’63-’73”
From a critical perspective, there’s not a whole lot to be said or written about Groove & Grind: Rare Soul ’63 – ’73. One either gets it, or doesn’t. Suffice […]
07 Sep 2015
Hundred-word Reviews for September, Part 6 of 8
Today I take quick looks at excellent reissue and compilation releases from three labels that excel at that kind of thing: Omnivore Recordings, Light in the Attic and Real Gone […]
13 Aug 2015
Shuggie Otis: The Music Keeps Calling Him Back (Part 4)
Continued from Part Three… Bill Kopp: A lot of highly-regarded musicians have named you as an inspiration. David Byrne was instrumental in the first [2001] CD reissue of Inspiration Information. […]
12 Aug 2015
Shuggie Otis: The Music Keeps Calling Him Back (Part 3)
Continued from Part Two… Shuggie Otis: But the songs kept calling me back. A song would be really good, and I’d think about it, and realize that I have to […]
11 Aug 2015
Shuggie Otis: The Music Keeps Calling him Back (Part 2)
Continued from Part One… Bill Kopp: You sent demo tapes to many labels, but nothing happened for years, until the reissue of Inspiration Information with the added Wings of Love […]
10 Aug 2015
Shuggie Otis: The Music Keeps Calling Him Back (Part 1)
“I look back now,” says Shuggie Otis, “and I think, ‘Wow. I must have a lot of patience!’” The multi-instrumentalist is reflecting on the curious arc of his career so […]
04 Jun 2015
Album Review: The Complete Stax Soul Singles Vol 3: 1972-1975
Nearly a quarter century ago (April 30, 1991 to be exact), a lavish, 9CD set called The Complete Stax/Volt Singles: 1959-1968 was released. Housed in a large box and featuring […]