Aretha Franklin: Aretha's Artistry
Profile by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, May 1968
THE YOUNG lady who has probably had more effect on the r&b scene in the U.S.A. than anyone else during the past year, who has always ...

Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul in London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, May 1968
FRIDAY, MAY 10th, marked the long overdue arrival in Britain of America's first Lady of Soul, the remarkable Miss Aretha Franklin: an event which soul fans ...

Nina Simone
Interview by Dave Godin, Blues & Soul, July 1968
ONE IS always apprehensive about meeting artists for whom one has a great admiration or burning passion – I deliberately avoided meeting the one and only ...

The Dave Godin Column: Howlin' Wolf
Essay by Dave Godin, Blues & Soul, April 1969
I RECENTLY READ a most scathing and critical review of the new Howlin' Wolf album which has been issued in the States on Cadet-Concept (the progressive-underground ...

Billy Preston
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, September 1969
DISCOVERED IN our own ...

The Temptations Came, Saw And Almost Conquered
Report and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 all ...

The Temptations: The Talk Of The Town, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 other ...

Sam & Dave, Arthur Conley, Jimmy Ruffin: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1970
IT STARTED out as a most exciting way to start the 70's for every British Soul lover. But after three weeks on the road it all ...

Doris Troy: Dave Godin Meets Mother Soul
Interview by Dave Godin, Blues & Soul, February 1970
WHEN EDITOR John Abbey asked me if I would do a feature interview with Doris Troy to coincide with her forthcoming single release on Apple, I ...

Booker T And The MGs/Blue Mink/Jimmy Ruffin: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, March 1970
THE HAMMERSMITH Odeon has been the scene of great jubilation and triumph for many top r&b/soul artists in the last few years and soul fans have ...

Dionne Warwick: The Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by Dave Godin, Blues & Soul, May 1970
THE "PRINCE Albert Hall" (as Dionne so charmingly referred to it) is the most peculiar venue in London for a recording artist to play. ...

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? ...

Clarence Carter & Candi Staton: Clarence and Candi and Rick Hall
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 him ...

Aretha Franklin: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 opening ...

Bobby Womack
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 a ...

The Isley Brothers
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 T. ...

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band: Express Yourself
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 their ...

Curtis Mayfield: No Longer An Impression
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 him ...

Curtis Mayfield: Curtis; The Impressions: Check Out Your Mind
Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, September 1970
Curtis Mayfield: Curtis (Curtom) ...

R.B. Greaves
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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', has ...

Freda Payne: The Story Behind Band Of Gold
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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". That ...

The Glass House
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 ...

Sly & The Family Stone: Lyceum Ballroom, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1970
THE APPEARANCE in London of the much-heralded exponents and instigators of psychedelic soul – only their second ever British date; the first being at the Isle ...

The Memphis Horns
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Otis, ...

The Voices Of East Harlem/Estha Marrow: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1970
The Voices That Raised The Roof ...

Ray Charles and The Raelets In Concert
Live Review by Dave Godin, Blues & Soul, November 1970
THE ANNUAL concert featuring Ray Charles, his Orchestra and The Raelets is an event which usually draws S.R.O. crowds and this year was no exception. The ...

Reflections On Garnet Mimms
Overview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1970
NEW YORK SOUL '64 TO '67 ...

The Edwin Hawkins Singers/Blue Mink: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1970
IN PRACTICALLY every biography written about today's soul singers, mention is made of how he or she began singing in church; so much so that there ...

Jerry Wexler: Aretha, She's Just Unbelievable
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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. ...

Carol Woods
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 achieve ...

Mad Lads
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 on ...

Homer Banks
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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. ...

Nine Simone: Super Star For 1971
Report by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, January 1971
AS HAS been noted by her many fans and soul people generally, there has been a marked silence from the High Priestess of Soul for some ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Workin' Together #1
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1971
Part One ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Deutches Museum Hall, Munich
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 this ...

Curtis Mayfield: The Bitter End, NYC
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1971
Curtis Mayfield's Solo Debut ...

Gladys Knight
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1971
"'If I Were Your Woman' is the long awaited follow up to 'Grapevine'" says Gladys ...

James Brown: The Sugar Shack Club, Boston
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, February 1971
The Greatest Showman In Soul ...

Joe Simon
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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', his ...

Ike & Tina Turner: Workin' Together #2
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, March 1971
Part Two: The Ike Turner Story ...

Bobby Byrd
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 other ...

James Brown: Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, March 1971
IF ARETHA is the Queen of Soul and Otis was the King of Soul, James Brown must qualify as the Super-King of Funk! On the evidence ...

Rozetta Johnson
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 with ...

Funkadelic
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 just ...

The Heart and Soul of Freda Payne
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 be ...

The Stars Behind The Stars: The Raelets
Profile by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1971
THE ART of vocal back up work – the vocal accompaniment which so often complements and assists the names out front to obtain the exact sound ...

The Sweet Soul Of The Sweet Inspirations
Profile by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1971
IN THE first part of this short series, we covered the role of The Raelets. In this article, the work of the most important group in ...

Parliament/Funkadelic: A Parliafunkadelicment Thang
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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, an ...

Tami Lynn
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 few ...

Garnet Mimms: In Search Of A Record Outlet
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 his ...

Carol Woods
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Carol ...

The Dixie Flyers: The Guys Behind The Hits
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Play ...

Arthur Conley
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 successful ...

The Fascinations
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 success ...

The Beginning Of The End
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 selling ...

Curtis Mayfield: The Speakeasy, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1971
THE ALL-too-brief, spur-of-the-moment appearance of Curtis Mayfield at London's Speakeasy club must surely rank as a historic event in the history of soul music in this ...

King Curtis
Obituary by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 from ...

Tam Lynn's Debut Album
Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1971
IT IS very difficult to analyse a debut album from any artist, since an artist's potential is often judged on their first album as opposed to ...

Dionne Warwicke: Is She The Same Girl?
Comment by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1971
THE RELEASE of four Dionne Warwicke albums by Decca – Soulful, Motion Picture Hits, Promises Promises and Very Dionne has sparked off some renewed interest in ...

Kool And The Gang
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 ago ...

Curtis Mayfield
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 national ...

Al Green - Superstar
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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, just ...

Simtec & Wylie
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 leaping ...

The Five Stairsteps
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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, the ...

The Intruders
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 European ...

Carla Thomas: The Memphis Queen
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, October 1971
RIGHTLY, CARLA Thomas is the Memphis ...

Willie Mitchell
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, October 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 Vice-President ...

The Impressions: Live
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, October 1971
THE DEACON'S Rap, Sam and Fred's superb harmonics, Leroys faultless lead, all combined with Curtis' lyrics gave us what must have been the greatest show on ...

The Tams
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Probe ...

David Ruffin
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 talk ...

Leroy Hutson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 most ...

Diana Ross
Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1971
MOTOWN'S MUCH-heralded first independent production centred on Diana Ross, proved to be all it was cracked out to be – and more! Screened on B.B.C. 2 ...

8th Day
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 100 ...

Booker T and M.G.'s
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 as ...

Hugh Masekela
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 their ...

Detroit Emeralds
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 becoming ...

Ann Peebles
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 hindrance ...

The Platters
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 the ...

Valerie Simpson: Underexposed
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1971
WITHOUT DOUBT, Valerie Simpson is one of the most important talents to emerge this year. Her debut album, Exposed made some considerable impression on both the ...

The Main Ingredient
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 acts, ...

Denise La Salle
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 By ...

The Supremes: Soulfully Supreme
Report and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1971
2008 introduction: The Supremes were in the UK for their first post-Diana Ross tour with Jean Terrell as the group's new lead singer and Motown had ...

B.B. King
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1971
PERHAPS MORE than any other single entertainer, B.B. King has contributed a good deal to "opening the doors" for the blues and for making it "respectable" ...

The Magnificent Seven Live: The Supremes and the Four Tops live at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1971
DUE TO lack of publicity, the International Children's Aid Charity concert on Tuesday November 30 at the Royal Albert Hall was not as well attended as ...

Millie Jackson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 only ...

Brenda and The Tabulations
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 the ...

Chocolate Syrup
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 their ...

People's Choice
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 accolade ...

Donnie Elbert
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 that ...

The Last Poets
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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, in ...

Billy Preston: Working The Way God Planned It!
Report and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1972
BILLY PRESTON has been here all the time, yet he's only just arrived; and after many years of building his way up the bumpy road of ...

Stevie Wonder: A Little Too Far Out?
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1972
ALL IN ALL, 1971 was not a big year for Stevie Wonder in this country, and his appearances in the chart were, in fact, few and ...

Betty Wright
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Betty ...

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 little ...

Don Gardner
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 was ...

The Persuasions
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 vocal ...

Temptations Special: Damon Harris and Richard Street
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, April 1972
Rappin' with Damon Harris... ...

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 it ...

Donny Hathaway: Aiming High
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 who ...

Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 States. ...

Candi Staton
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 one ...

The Nite-Liters
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 country, ...

George Perkins
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 change ...

Love Unlimited
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 single ...

Frederick Knight: Success From Out Of Left Field
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 the ...

The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Blood, ...

Esther Phillips: Twenty-Five Years A Star
Profile by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1972
A MORE apt title could surely not have been found for the initial Kudu set by Miss Esther Phillips. From A Whisper To A Scream just ...

Wattstax
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 for ...

Chakachas
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 think ...

Mel & Tim: Starting All Over Again
Review and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 restraint ...

Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace (Atlantic)
Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, September 1972
WHEN I WAS first privileged to hear some of Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace album when John Abbey brought back from the States several cassettes'-worth of the ...

The Drifters
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 the ...

Jackie Wilson: The Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1972
THERE ARE very few performers whose career can span a good fifteen years and continue to be chart names and still draw crowds, particularly in the ...

The Stylistics: The Sound Of Sweet Soul
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1972
PERHAPS ONE of the most significant 'happenings' this year has been the much-deserved chart success of the sweet-soul-sounding Stylistics who have undoubtedly been hailed as a ...

Junior Walker
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1972
CURRENTLY enjoying very considerable success with his very cleverly put together maxi-single of 'Walk In The Night', 'Right On Brothers And Sisters' and 'Gotta Hold On ...

Ray Charles
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1972
TO QUOTE the title of one of his famous Atlantic recordings, a virtually guaranteed event is the annual visit of the Ray Charles revue with The ...

Gladys Knight: Soul Perfection In Person
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1972
IT'S A VERY rare treat to meet an artist whose work you admire and whose in-person appearances you find exciting and who on top of all ...

Rev James Cleveland
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 almost ...

The Jackson 5, Junior Walker, The Sisters Love: Empire Pool, Wembley
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1972
THE FIRST ever visit of Motown's Jackson Five is something which numerous people won't forget in a hurry: the staff at the hotels that the group ...

Bill Withers/Fontella Bass: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1972
IN THESE days when it's applied with alarming frequency to practically every new talent that emerges, the word "genius" as with so many other superlatives is ...

Esther Phillips
Review and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1972
IT'S ALWAYS a very gratifying and rewarding experience to see an artist in whom you have particular faith and in who you strongly believe, finally begin ...

Stevie Wonder: Man Of Today And Tomorrow
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, January 1973
ONE OF THE most rewarding and exciting aspects of taking any serious interest in any field of music is observing the artistic development and progress of ...

Eddie Kendricks: Holding On
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1973
2008 intro: Eddie Kendricks had enjoyed critical acclaim with his groundbreaking 1972 People, Hold On album. The former Temptation had to experience a commercial mainstream breakthrough ...

Martha Reeves: A Lady With A Big Future
Report and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1973
IT WOULD surely be true to say that every fan must have one or two records that they will always treasure – the special one or ...

Johnny Nash
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, March 1973
"REALLY WEIRD" is how Johnny Nash describes the acceptance and success he's recently received in the States via his major CBS hit 'I Can See Clearly ...

Ronnie Dyson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, March 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 charts ...

Barry White: A Potential Superstar
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 potentially ...

Diana Ross: The Lady Is A Winner
Report and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1973
NO ONE is more aware than the lady herself of the totally negative attitude prevalent amongst quite a large number of people when it was first ...

Leon Haywood: The Good Times, The Bad Times And The Times In Between
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 break, ...

Dobie Gray
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 'See ...

Barbara Jean English
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 new ...

Willie Mitchell
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 a ...

Sly & The Family Stone: White City, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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. ...

All Platinum Records: Behind The Scenes With Joe Robinson
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, September 1973
JOE ROBINSON is President of All Platinum Records, a complex of record companies that embraces Stang, Vibration, Horoscope, Turbo and All Platinum labels. ...

Talking With Diana Ross
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, September 1973
PRE-CONCEIVED notions are always hard to forget and when one has been continually conditioned to a particular notion, time makes it that much harder to break ...

Donny Hathaway: Reassessing His Musical Life
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, September 1973
2008 intro: Donny Hathaway was in London on vacation after completing work on a new album, Extensions Of A Man and took a brief time for ...

Dionne Warwicke: Just Being Herself
Report and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1973
THAT CERTAIN entertainers decline or prefer not to give interviews is an incomprehensible fact that frequently puzzles both journalists and the public. ...

Aretha: Supersoulstar
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1973
2008 introduction: Aretha Franklin had just enjoyed major success with the Stevie Wonder composition 'Until You Come Back To Me'. She was in contract re-negotiations with ...

Ashford & Simpson: Really Somethin' Else!
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1973
OVER THE last five years, the emergence of producers-turned performers has been a phenomenon which brought into the limelight some of the finest creative forces at ...

The O'Jays, Billy Paul, The Intruders – Philadelphia International Tour: Hammersmith Odeon, London
Live Review by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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. Whilst ...

Stevie Wonder: Rainbow Theatre, London
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1974
IT'S BEEN said before but it's got to be said again: Stevie Wonder is, firstly, one of the most creative talents in the musical world today; ...

The Supremes
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, March 1974
PERHAPS MORE than any other female group around today, The Supremes have undergone what seem like almost regular personnel changes and to my mind, it's quite ...

Gloria Jones: Sharing Her Soul
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, March 1974
HOW MANY times, I wonder, do we hear that old worn out cliché from visiting Americans about how much they dig this country and how great ...

Doris Troy: Stretchin' Out and Gettin' Ahead
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1974
AS WE promised in the last 'TALA', we're gonna be checking out a few of the American artists who have decided to make their home on ...

Rufus & Chaka Khan: Tellin' Something Good
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1974
2008 introduction: The group Rufus had released its first album on ABC in 1973; by the following year, the Chicago-based team was on its second LP ...

Viola Wills: Struggling For The Truth
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1974
IT CAME as something of a surprise to the lady to learn that her name was already familiar to a hard core following of fans via ...

Syreeta: Spinnin' To The Top
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, September 1974
LIVING IN the footsteps is a problem which daunts performers from time to time when they come from a successful musical family – we all know ...

Lorraine Ellison: Heart And Soul
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1974
David Nathan talks to the 'Stay With Me' lady, who's set to unleash her talents and become much more than just a singers' singer ...

Ann Peebles: Sweet and Soulful
Report and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1974
David Nathan reports on Ann Peebles' London gigs and talks shop with the delectable lady. ...

LaBelle: Tomorrow's Brightest Stars
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1974
2008 introduction: In person interview conducted by David Nathan in the kitchen of Vicki Wickham's apartment in midtown Manhattan. Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash ...

Gloria Gaynor: Her 'Hello' Is Her Goodbye
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1974
2008 introduction: After having some club success with 'Honeybee', Gloria Gaynor was just beginning to get her career in gear when David met her in midtown ...

Millie Jackson: Sayin' What Comes Naturally
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1974
IF THERE is truly any justice, 1974 will see the final emergence of the magnificent Mille Jackson right at the top of her field, where she ...

Ashford and Simpson: Nick and Val
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1975
IT'S PRETTY hard to believe that the young, unassuming couple seated comfortably in their smart New York apartment-and-office are the masterminds behind a whole string of ...

Grover Washington: Mister Magic
Review and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 hard-headed ...

The Spinners
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
IF YOU talk about supergroups these days, it is inevitable that The Spinners will enter your conversation. In the relatively short space of four years, the ...

The Futures
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
"TO BE a moon, not just a star" is the collective ambition of five, talented young guys from the City of Brotherly Love. Known as The ...

Carol Douglas
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 the ...

Al Green: Love, Happiness And Convictions
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
2008 introduction: Known as the "Prince Of Soul," Al Green had built up a strong audience thanks to a string of hit singles and best-selling albums. ...

Melba Moore: Soulful Sophistication
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
LIKE MOST everyone else, you're probably under the impression that the name Melba Moore is more synonymous with Broadway, Las Vegas, supper clubs and Hollywood than ...

Walter Heath
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
TALKING WITH Mr. Walter Heath midway during his recent stay in New York on the bill at the Uris Theatre with Seals & Crofts is an ...

Revelation
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
"POSITIVE THINKING and a high energy level" are, according to Benny Diggs, what make Revelation what they are. If you ever feel that you want some ...

Sister Sledge
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
THE TRULY amazing dynamism of the four lovely ladies who make up Philadelphia's own SISTER SLEDGE are finally getting the kind of recognition which their sensational ...

Dee Dee Warwick
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1975
IT'S BEEN more than a while since we heard from one young lady whose consistently good records seemed to never hit quite as big as they ...

Tamiko Jones
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 that ...

Carl Graves
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Up ...

Johnny Bristol and Allen Toussaint: Producers 'N' Performers
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, May 1975
IT SEEMS that it's an increasingly notable fact that more and more producers, after scoring successfully in that field, are turning their attention to the studio ...

Barbara Mason: This Girl Is A Woman Now
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, June 1975
YOUR IMPRESSIONS of Ms. Barbara Mason may well be restricted to the young girl of the tender age of 16 singing her own composition, 'Yes I'm ...

Natalie Cole
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, June 1975
BEING THE daughter of such an internationally famous man as the late Nat King Cole could conceivably pose a problem for any budding star. After all, ...

Earth, Wind & Fire: A Creative Explosion
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1975
TO UNDERSTAND the true power of Earth, Wind & Fire, you have to understand that these are nine people with a message. A universal message which ...

The Impressions
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1975
WITHOUT OVERSTATING the fact, you could justifiably say that The Impressions have come a long way! ...

Linda Carr
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 1966, ...

Thelma Houston
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1975
IT SEEMS that there will always be that small coterie of artists you will always find falling under that elusive category, "the singer's singer". ...

Natural Four
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1975
CURRENTLY WOWING audiences on their tour with fellow Curtom recording artists, The Impressions, the four-man Natural Four are creating more than a little impact and are ...

Ronnie McNeir
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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'. The ...

Charlie Whitehead
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 a ...

Betty Davis: Filthy But Funky
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, August 1975
IT'S FUNNY how some women are genteel yet others may be quite the opposite – yet still manage to retain their femininity. ...

The Kay-Gee's
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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. Although ...

Van McCoy: The Real McCoy
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 framework ...

Ramsey Lewis: Don't It Feel Good
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 new ...

Chuck Jackson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Tour, ...

Rufus' Chaka Khan: Golden Lady
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1975
IT'S DIFFICULT to believe that much of the power, strength and soul that you hear when you hear Rufus stems from anyone as petite and almost ...

Darrow Fletcher
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1975
WE OFTEN hear tell of child prodogies – those rare breed that begin their careers at some more than tender age! Frequently, in the crazy world ...

Tamiko Jones
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 list ...

Stephanie Mills: The Wiz Kid!
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, 1976
"This young lady has gusto, tenderness, sweetness, and Soul... all the qualities to make her more that just another singer – a Star!" David Nathan goes ...

David Ruffin
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 singles ...

Betty Wright
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Philly, ...

Donald Byrd
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 many ...

Donald Byrd
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 begun ...

Lamont Dozier: Stretchin' Out
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1976
WHEN THE time comes to chronicle the names of some of the top producers and songwriters of the sixties and seventies, there is no question that ...

Donna Summer
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 route ...

Jean Plum
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 tipped ...

D.J. Rogers: Songs Of Love And Hope
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, February 1976
A young man whose West Coast reputation is spreading fast. ...

Barbara Pennington
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 the ...

Bobby Womack
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 ...

Esther Phillips
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 to ...

Detroit Emeralds
Profile by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 good ...

The Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, March 1976
HALF A Million Hustlers Can't Be Wrong. That's how many buyers Eddie Drennon attracted for 'Let's Do The Latin Hustle' – in the States alone. Now ...

L.J. Johnson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 pop ...

The Softones
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 our ...

The Impressions: Imps In The Mood For Love
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1976
WITH EVERYONE into disco music, the Impressions concentrated on a love mood for their 'Loving Power' set. And that move seems to have paid handsome ...

Bobby Womack
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, April 1976
...AAH, WHERE were we now? Oh, yeah, Bobby and the Valentinos had just got to their first real hit with 'It's All Over Now' on Sam ...

California Soul Hits The Big Apple
Live Review by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1976
A special report by David Nathan on the on-stage and behind-the-scenes activities at Warner Brothers' special "California Soul" series of concerts during end of February at ...

The Staple Singers
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, April 1976
ONE OF the most welcome sights of recent months has been the re-appearance in the pop and R&B charts of that much-loved and extra-soulful family known ...

Edwin Starr
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 before. ...

Dorothy Moore
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, May 1976
TO REFER to the beautiful 'Misty Blue' by the equally beautiful Ms. Dorothy Moore as a unique record is perhaps an under-statement. Rarely do deep soul ...

The Sylvers
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, June 1976
WHEN PAT, Angie, Olympia, Edmund, Leon, James, Ricky and Foster (with Charmaine off sick that day) were seated around the table in Capitol's conference room, eating ...

The Real Thing
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 around ...

Willie Mitchell: Changing Sounds In Memphis
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, June 1976
Willie Mitchell's distinctive Memphis sound has been the driving force behind many golden hits over the years. Now he feels it's time for a change. The ...

Bootsy Collins
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, June 1976
"SAY MAN, do you think these shades make me look just a little like Bootsy Collins? ...

Archie Bell & The Drells
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, June 1976
ITS AN old saying that you can't keep a good man down, right? Well, that saying has never been better proven than by our old friends, ...

Al Wilson
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, June 1976
ANY LONG-TERM reader of B&S will know what I mean by a "backbone of our music singer". They are the artists who don't attain superstar status ...

Luther Are Good For The Soul
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, June 1976
2008 introduction: "Luther are three girls and two guys whose debut single for Cotillion is attracting a lot of attention. They are not headliners yet, but ...

The Emotions: Happiness Is…
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, July 1976
Happy days are here again for Wanda, Jeanette and Sheila. They learned a lot from the quiet times and that knowledge is serving them well now ...

Albert King
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1976
Been stood up by your girl? Low on cash? Behind with your payments? Then you must know the blues. They'll be around as long as Life ...

Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: Really Something Else
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1976
David Nathan spends an enlightening few hours with five very intelligent but pretty crazy people who are really shaking the industry up ...

Curtis Mayfield: The Creative Mastermind
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, December 1976
TO TRY and describe Curtis Mayfield's enormous contribution to the music world would take far more adjectives than we have at our disposal. ...

Norman Whitfield
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 with ...

Phyllis Hyman: This Lady's Got Star Karma
Profile and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, March 1977
"This lady's got star karma...The buzz about Phyllis Hyman started amongst the superstar elite. It hasn't taken long for the word to get ...

The Brains Behind Brass Construction
Profile and Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, May 1977
B&S SuperEd, John Abbey, goes a-rappin' with BC's Superleader, Randy Muller... ...

Bob James: A Profile Of Mr Low Profile
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1977
FIRST, there was One. Then Two. Naturally, then, Three And now there's Four. ...

Aretha Franklin: Queen Aretha #1 – From Detroit to The Columbia Years
Retrospective by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1977
An appreciation of the career of Aretha Franklin ...

Aretha Franklin: Queen Aretha #2 – The Golden Years
Retrospective by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1977
"THERE WAS a great zest, love and feeling for the music," states Jerry Wexler and when pressed further on the subject of that first session on ...

Aretha Franklin: Queen Aretha #3 – Into the '70s
Retrospective by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, August 1977
1969 IS GENERALLY acclaimed as the year that saw something of a decline on Aretha's part. The decline was, in a sense, inevitable. The ridiculous pressures ...

Aretha Franklin: Queen Aretha #4 – The Brand New Aretha
Retrospective by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, September 1977
Part 4 of an appreciation of the career of Aretha Franklin, by David Nathan... ...

Aretha Franklin: Queen Aretha #5 – The Future
Comment by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, September 1977
David Nathan concludes his in-depth appreciation of Aretha Franklin ...

Earth Wind & Fire: Maurice White
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 seven ...

Aretha Franklin
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, September 1978
In one of the very rare interviews she grants, Lady Soul gave this in-depth story to B&S' David Nathan at her beautiful Encino, California home. Hopefully, ...

KC & the Sunshine Band
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 hits, ...

Mtume: Not Just Funnin', Mtume Mean Real Business
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1978
Mtume's jumping off point came when two of the guys wrote a hit for Roberta Flack, but they are more than just a songwriting team ...

P-Funk: Bernie Worrell, The Keyboard King
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 is ...

The Brides Of Funkenstein: The Solo Talents Within The Parliafunkadelicment Thang…
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 chosen ...

P-Funk: Mike Hampton – Kid Funkadelic
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 a ...

George Clinton
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 Thang... ...

The Art of Being Chic
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, 1979
On the eve of their departure for their British concert dates, David Nathan talked to Chic about the chemistry that makes up their hit sound and ...

Heatwave
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 will ...

Chic: A Day In The Life Of Chic
Report and Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, January 1979
So what actually happens when you have the No. 1 pop, r&b and disco record in the nation? How does an average day transpire and in ...

Grover Washington Jr: The Man
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, June 1979
By way of many fine recordings and countless live performances, Grover has become acknowledged as one of the decade's most talented musicians. But what of the ...

Minnie Riperton
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, June 1979
2008 introduction:This interview was David's second face-to-face conversation with Minnie; at the time, she was dealing with health challenges – in 1976, she had been diagnosed ...

The Commodores
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 selling ...

Barry White: The Message Really Is Love
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 – ...

Teddy Pendergrass: The Sex Symbol Of Seventy Nine
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, October 1979
Teddy continues to fill the major stadiums across the States and now he tells David Nathan what it'll take to tempt him to Europe... ...

Ashford & Simpson: Nick and Valerie's Hit Cure
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, November 1979
With the success of their recent albums and the ensuing singles hit, Ashford and Simpson have truly arrived. David Nathan finds out what makes them tick, ...

Rick James
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, November 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 music's ...

Sylvester: The Living Proof Of Disco's Heat
Interview by John Abbey, Blues & Soul, 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 to ...

Anita Baker
Interview by David Nathan, Blues & Soul, May 1987
YOU MIGHT assume that after winning two Grammies, a couple of Soul Train Music Awards and having a two million-plus-selling album, Anita Baker would hear the ...