Powerhouse Radio Blog

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by Kingsley H. Smith
03/28/2007

We've been featuring interesting magazine covers from my personal magazine archive on recent consecutive Wednesdays. Today is the 2nd of a 5 part series with another 1969 cover in the spotlight. The blues has never gone away, but according to Peter Barnes and Paul D. Zimmerman of Newsweek in this May 26th edition, the art form was experiencing a surprising rebirth during the year of Woodstock. You were more likely to hear the blues revival on progressive rock radio, rather than on the soul stations of the day, as R&B radio was delivering the slick contemporary sounds of Motown and Philly. A similar parallel exists today, as R&B maintains a diminished foothold next to the advancing forces of hip-hop. B.B. King, Big Mama Thornton, Muddy Waters, and Albert King are mentioned as a few of the authentic purveyors carrying the blues flag forward. The authors acknowledge Canned Heat, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, and even Blood Sweat & Tears for plugging in new audiences to the expanding blues universe. The cover darling of this article was Janis Joplin. She would live only 16 more months after this feature was published. I can tell you from the one Janis Joplin concert I attended at the Singer Bowl in New York City, she sang hard, drank hard, and put her all into her performance. Yes, she did have a bottle with her on stage, and I don't mean water. In the context of the times, the Port Arthur, Texas native offered her concept of the blues through a rock edged lens. You can debate the authenticity of this approach, but her emotion leaped out from deep inside, projected by a memorable voice oozing peppered passion, in convincing fashion from the soul. So, two years shy of the 40th anniversary of ?The Rebirth of the Blues,? we salute the bluesmen and women past and present, who sing the reality stories of sadness, joy, and everyday experiences. This is Magazine Flashback part 2 of 5 See Magazine Flashback part 1 of 5 See Magazine Flashback part 3 of 5 See Magazine Flashback part 4 of 5 See Magazine Flashback part 5 of 5 ----- Previous Post | Next Post

0 Original Dreamgirl Showstopper Jennifer Holliday

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by Kingsley H. Smith
12/27/2006

Here's a picture of the original Dreamgirls showstopper, Jennifer Holliday. This is one of the 45 rpm picture sleeves from the original Broadway cast album. Jennifer is our final classic soul 45 rpm picture treat for you this holiday week, as we head towards 2007. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Evelyn 'Champagne' King uncorks her New Spirit

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by Kingsley H. Smith
10/25/2006

I've always enjoyed Evelyn "Champagne" King, (left in this photo, along with Thelma Houston, and the late Vicki Sue Robinson). Of the three times I've seen E-C-K live, her booming voice always left a lasting impression. She started out in the music business as a teenager, performing her lively hits, including "Shame," "Love Come Down," and "I Don't Know if it's Right." Evelyn's waited in the wings for over a decade before recently signing a new recording deal. She really hasn't gone anywhere, as she's continued to perform through the years. Her new album will give her the opportunity to expose her talent to a whole new generation. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Soulful 45 RPM Picture Sleeve Flashback

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by Kingsley H. Smith
10/12/2006

By approximately 1990, 45 RPM picture sleeves faded into music history. The colorful jackets artfully promoted the latest songs by eager recording acts with visions of hits dancing in their heads. The seven inch vinyl record inside of the sleeve also faded into oblivion along with 8 track tapes, turntables, and electric typewriters. CD singles still come with picture sleeves, but as digital downloading of music becomes more popular, the days of CD singles are numbered. Retail CD albums will probably last a little longer. Can you guess what year these four songs with sleeves were released? Hint: all four are from the same year in the 1980's. These four original 45 RPM picture sleeves, from the PowerhouseRadio.com collection, promoted what turned out to be major hits for Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, and minor releases for Natalie Cole and Smokey Robinson. As you might guess, sleeves keep increasing in value. Do you have any in your collection? Most 45 RPM picture sleeves, even without the vinyl records inside, fetch between $5 to $10 a piece in 2006. Several authors have written books estimating the value of these sleeves. The more famous the act, the more value the sleeve has. I'm lucky enough to have several hundred original 45 RPM picture sleeves going back to 1964, 99.5% with the records too, and I plan to hold on to all of them. Answer to the trivia question: 1987. Want to use any of our picture sleeves as a screen saver? Visit the Powerhouse Radio Picture Sleeve Pop Wallpapers collection. Previous Post | Next Post