Bandtraxs session Blog: July 2009

Monday, 20 July 2009

Dennis Coffey talks about my session on Radio 6 Craig Charles Saturday 19th July 2009

Hear Dennis Coffey talking about the project to Craig Charles Saturday 19th July 2009:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/funk_soul/

You will have to zoom down to about 47 minutes. 'Tell me' played earlier on the show too!

Vinyl Labels for Detroit session recordings

My wife spent hours yesterday designing the 45rpm labels for two Detroit recordings. The plan is to commission 2 x 45's (Tell me/Suddenly there's you) with instrumentals on the 'B' side. They are both getting some airplay here in the UK on BBC radio 6, Craig Charles Soul & Funk Show, with Peter Young, Ian Dewhirst, Richard Felstead and even Tony Blackburn up on Hull's KCFM! There has been a couple of lovely offers to do the vinyl for me and take that worry away, but...as I intend to see this project through from the actual song writing to distribution and airplay, I would very much like to soldier on, maybe relying on these helpful people to guide me through with any difficulties I encounter. They are far more experienced than I, but again I feel obliged to continue as planned. Once done, I can maybe contact them with a view to other future projects and opportunities.

About Me

Carl Dixon, English song writer, producer and singer is now available for seminar talks, music consultation, analysis, productions collaborations, radio and TV interviews.

Carl was born in Kingston Upon Hull and despite a career in international freight forwarding and broadcast television since leaving school in 1973, he has had a passion for all things Motown, Philly, Soul and Northern Soul. Passionate about meeting the musicians who played on his favourite records, a notion took place circa 1974 on the Baileys dance floor in Hull city centre that someday, somehow he would make the pilgrimage to Detroit and Philly to pay homage to them. That happened in 2008 when through an Internet forum he joined in 2002 called Soulfuldetroit.com met celebrated producers/musicians Dennis Coffey and Bobby Eli who helped him achieve his dreams. Along with notable session musicians both in Detroit and Philadelphia (some of The Funk Brothers and MFSB), eight songs were recorded of which six were released, two being pressed to 7" vinyl in Detroit at the Archers pressing plant, shipped over to the UK and sold via the Internet and bespoke record shops on the high street. Those songs are also for sale digitally world wide, fully registered with the PRS and PPL.

Carl is also a member of BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors) and continues to write and produce in London exploiting the technology of the day by commissioning instrument parts and vocals from professionals in the US. Recent projects include drums from Detroit, guitar, bass and horns from both LA and Nashville for example. In addition Carl performs as the retro 60's/70's group 'The Delgonives' with his own compositions and a couple of covers here and there. 'Libby, let's leave it at that' being the first release in 2013 followed by ‘Never should have kissed you’, ‘Santa, let’s leave it at that’, 'Loving you always came easy', 'Soul Girl parts 1 & 2' and 'I've got you on my mind'. Carl co produced 'Soul Girl' for 'The Delgonives' with Robert Paladino famed writer and producer of the Northern Soul #4 rated anthem ‘You don’t love me’ by ‘The Epitome of Sound’ on Sandbag records. ‘Soul girl’ was co written by Paladino brothers, Robert and Mike and is a derivative of 'Playgirl' by The Four Winds (1963). 'I've got you on my mind' was written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway and a hit for the White Plains here in the UK in 1970 on Deram Records. Recently Carl has co written with U.K. Soul diva Diane Shaw. Their song called 'Good lovin' Man' which was released on her album 'Love, life and strings' went to number one on a bespoke soul radio station. The song also featured on the B side of a 7" 45 rpm record accompanying the Lulu classic 'Leave a little love' on the A side.

It would be criminal not to mention the support of the DJ's over the years who have championed Carls very early music endeavours realising the potential of what he is doing in the competitive retro music arena today. As far back as 2007, Harry Grundy who broadcasts a weekly FM and Internet soul show on Salford City FM and is a Northern Soul DJ, championed a simple instrumental demo called 'Suddenly there's you' which was in fact produced and released later because of that scenario. Harry gave the song creedance and a chance on the airwaves where many would not have. Also Hitsville Chalky a midlands based similar DJ was instrumental in getting Spyder Turner to perform 'Tell me (crying over you)' live at the Prestatyn Soul Weekender a couple of years ago. Through these mediums Carl is now getting occasional airplay and live performances with his song writing collaboration.

Carls wealth of knowledge not only with his first passion, music, but with his television and freight forwarding experiences since 1973 make him unique and approachable from a number of different perspectives and he is now available for seminar talks, music consultation, soul DJ work, radio and television interviews communicating proficiently and passionately about the past, present and future.

Any enquiries please contact: carl@bandtraxs.com