TRAX ON WAX

TRAX were a LONDON based POP SOUL group who released a couple of 45's on FRESH AIR RECORDS during 1974. The label was run by REAL THING manager TONY HALL and put out a number of interesting soul related records during a three year period. London had a well established scene for live SOUL / FUNK bands by the mid 70's, but the record industry continually struggled in it's efforts to market them to the general public. The TRAX records were a case in point. The A and B sides of both records were self penned and display different facets of the bands sound. The A-Sides: '' WASN'T IT NICE '' and '' NUMBER ONE LOVER '' were both upfront and compelling numbers that built upon the work of two of the most successful LONDON POP / SOUL groups of the previous decade. The former appears to bear the influence of the CALYPSO / SOUL sound of THE EQUALS and the later the POP / MOTOWN derived melding of THE FOUNDATIONS. Both contained strong hooks, crisp harmonies and snappy brass arrangements, but despite their obvious merit and the bands unique and eye catching ORANGE HAIR / PVC CLOTHING combo, they failed to get the attention they clearly deserved. The B-Sides: '' BLACK BOY '' and '' HOUNDS '' are something else entirely and wonderful in their own right. Both are stylish CINEMATIC FUNK based numbers with lyrics that include a fair degree of SOCIAL COMMENTARY. Neither would sound out of place on the CURTIS MAYFIELD '' SUPERFLY '' soundtrack. Unfortunately there isn't much info about the band online apart from a brief bio here which names the lineup and tantalizingly mentions an unreleased 3rd single! Surprisingly they also failed to get a mention in the otherwise excellent '' SOUNDS LIKE LONDON - 100 YEARS OF BLACK MUSIC '' book by LLOYD BRADLEY. It's regrettable that such a quality act has barely been acknowledged - If anyone has more info on the band: Please leave a comment below or get in touch at: denimdisco@hotmail.co.uk

PARIS - LIAR

 

'' LIAR '' was the B-Sibe of '' CIRLES '', The sole release by PARIS on the independant THUNDERBIRD label in '76. Both sides of the disc were co-produced by guitarist MICK GREEN whose band SHANGHAI put out an LP and a couple of singles on the label the same year { see the previous post on DENIM DISCO for more info on them }. The A side is a pleasant mid tempo MOR number that apparently went nowhere and it's interesting to speculate on the outcome had the disc been flipped as '' LIAR '' is a graceful and impressive YACHT SOUL number redolent of '' HOW LONG '' by ACE

SHANGHAI - HARLEM DANCER

                                        BROWN SUGAR had a sister who moved on up to HARLEM:

                             

                          '' It was a cold grey day in Harlem, the rain was pouring down 

                            As I shivered past the doorway, where the hookers and the priest stood around 

                            It was a hobo on the corner, he laughed and began to shout 

                            See the crazy chick right down the street man, she really givin' out ''

SHANGHAI were a mid 70's BRITISH BLUES ROCK BAND formed by veteran guitar hero MICK GREEN and drummer Peter Kircher. The band released a self titled LP on the WARNER BROS label in '74 featuring the vocals of CHUCK BEDFORD and a follow up on the UK independant THUNDERBIRD in '76. The lineup had changed for the second LP '' FALLEN HEROS '' . Bedford was replaced by former ' REBEL ROUSER ' CLIFF BENNETT and a second guitarist BRIAN ALTERMAN was added. The band promoted the album on THE OLD GREY WHILSTLE TEST and toured as support for STATUS QUO, but quickly Fragmented. GREEN reformed THE PIRATES { the group he is primarily associated with } and BENNETT sadly quit the music business completely

 

Neither of their LP's have been reissued in any form and copies of the original vinyl pressings are now coveted by fans and collectors. The non LP '' HARLEM DANCER '' was one of their more interesting tracks and stands up well today. A FUNKY BLUES ROCK number in the BAD COMPANY / STONES mould that sneaked out on the B-SIDE of '' CANDY EYES '' { a track from '' FALLEN HEROES '' } . It's a real mover and one that really defines the term DISCOTHEQUE ROCK!