THE MAJESTICS - VAMPIRA

                                                       ''Black You Know Is Beautiful,
                                                         Do You Go Along With That?
                                                         Coz When I Start To Do My Thing,
                                                         I Turn Into A Bat''


THE MAJESTICS were a UK based SOUL VOCAL GROUP, formed by the US stage actor CLARKE PETERS. They released a number of 45's for a variety of labels during the mid 70's, but failed to make any commercial impact. VAMPIRA was the title music for a 1974 UK COMEDY HORROR MOVIE that starred DAVID NIVEN and TERESA GRAVES. It came out on the B-Side of ''LITTLE BLACK PEARL'' a number which more closely reflected the rest of the groups recorded output

The US made BLACULA had been a box office success a couple of years earlier, so presumably a black American female vampire seemed like a winning idea at the time. The title theme was a funky tune in the 'BLAXPLOITATION' style of the day with humorous lyrics to match the camp action of the movie. The composer ANTHONY NEWLEY isn't a name associated with this musical style, but he did compose the lyrics to GOLDFINGER {with partner LESLIE BRICUSSE} and many of his numbers contain an element of humor. That sense of playfulness finds it's way into the songs lyrics {particularly in the RAP sections of the number}


                                                     ''Back In Transylvania,
                                                      They Found A Drink That's New,
                                                      If Someone Wants To Drink Your Health,
                                                      They Drink It Out Of You!''



Clarke Peters went onto have a long and varied career on stage and screen, appearing as David Essex companion in the movie SILVER DREAM RACER and in numerous WEST END THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS. He wrote the hugely successful stage musical Five Guys Named Moe, but is probably best known for playing the role of Detective Lester Freamon in TV crime drama The Wire

GINO VANNELLI'S SOUL TRAIN DEBUT

GINO VANNELI was a Canadian singer who combined JAZZ,POP,ROCK and SOUL influences in a captivating and unique fashion.''PEOPLE GOTTA MOVE'' {a SOULFUL LATIN DANCE tune from his 1974 LP ''POWERFUL PEOPLE''} began to pick up plays on BLACK RADIO in the U.S.A and a chance meeting with STEVIE WONDER led to him being offered a support slot on a short tour {replacing an unavailable CHAKA KHAN}.The tune was released on 7'' and shortly after DON CORNELIOUS got in touch and offered a spot on his SOUL TRAIN TV Show.Gino was only the second non black artist to appear on the show {the first being the veteran MOTOWN session guitarist DENNIS COFFEY}.He put in a stellar performance and received an enthusiastic response from THE SOUL TRAIN GANG.The song went onto reach Number 22 in THE BILLBOARD HOT 100

MEAN MACHINE - RUNNING WITH THE RAT PACK

MEAN MACHINE appear to have been a studio project that included songwriter/vocalist ROGER COOK,bassist HERBIE FLOWERS and drummer BRIAN BENNETT.All three were well established in their respective fields when the 45 was released in early 1976.COOK had written a number of hits and was a member of BLUE MINK along with FLOWERS.BRIAN BENNETT {like FLOWERS} was in demand on both POP and 'LIBRARY' sessions and had also released a number of solo LP's.The TOP SIDE: ''RUNNING WITH THE RAT PACK'' is a medium tempo HARMONICA driven COUNTRY FUNK number that brings to mind AREA CODE 615 and TONY JOE WHITE



The tempo is turned up on the B-SIDE: ''BOOGIE TO THE DRUMMER'',a fantastic dance number that owes a little to ''THE RESURRECTION SHUFFLE'' by ASHTON GARDENER & DYKE,BENNETT leads the charge on this one,syncopated SNARE ROLLS,COWBELL and WHISTLES lay the base for a VOCAL CHANT and some propulsive BOOGIE PIANO

SCORCHED EARTH - ON THE RUN

''The Freedom Path Is Never Straight
It's Crooked And It's Full Of Hate
But Brother Hold On,You Gotta Hold On
Crosses Burning Up The Night
A Hooded Face Against The Light
But Brother Hold On,You Gotta Hold On''


SCORCHED EARTH were a band put together by songwriter/producer BEN FINDON as a vehicle for the Trinidadian born singer BILLY OCEAN.Their sole release was a 45 for the YOUNG BLOOD label in 1974.The record reveals the band as a first rate FUNK-ROCK outfit with POP sensibilities.The top side ''ON THE RUN'' is based around a medium paced drum and bass dance groove that builds with a melodic string arrangement and vocal hook.The songs lyrics refer to civil rights/race issues in a similar way to those of ''BROTHER LOUIE'' by HOT CHOCOLATE {another band that fused ROCK and SOUL influences}.The B-Side ''CAN YOU FEEL IT'' is a harder edged FUNK number that brings to mind SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE.





The following year Ben took Billy to the GTO record label where he achieved solo success with ''LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU'' and ''RED LIGHT SPELLS DANGER'' in in 1976 and 1977 respectively

THE BAY CITY ROLLERS - YOU MADE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC

Three years on from the first flush of 'ROLLERMAINIA' in the UK,THE BAY CITY ROLLERS were keen to build upon their NORTH AMERICAN success and enlisted producer HARRY HASLIN to work on their next LP ''THE GAME''.Haslin was born in PHILADELPHIA and had helped to swing DAVID BOWIE in the direction of SOUL/FUNK music when he worked on the song ''FAME'' {which became Bowie's first US hit}

The rollers had also dabbled in this direction with ''THE DISCO KID'' and ''DON'T STOP THE MUSIC'' that same year,but ''YOU MADE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC'' would prove to be their but their big DISCO moment in 1977

Another figure from the Philly music scene LEN BOOTH was brought on board to provide the song which gave them a US #10 in Billboard in August of that year.





Len Booth was certainly a talented songwriter and released some worthy singles under his own name during the following couple of years.His 1978 release ''LOVE WON'T BE DENIED'' received a fair number of 'DISCO SPINS' in the UK and is still fondly remembered