Happy Birthday Candi Staton!

Celebrating Candi's birthday with her version of "Shine A Light" by the Stones off her Grammy-nominated album Back To My Roots and much more. 

Candi Staton - Back To My Roots

For Candi Staton’s latest album “Back To My Roots;” the soul legend has recorded a sensational set of songs that draw heavily upon her gospel roots.

It is best to let this great lady of soul speak for herself: “This album was recorded over several years. We took our time. I planned for it to be my last full album, so it was a labor of love and a family affair. My son Marcus produced, mixed and mastered it. My daughter Cassandra runs our label and kept all the business straight. My son Marcel came up with the bass line for ‘1963.’ My sister Maggie Peebles joined me for two songs we sang as kids. My British bandleader, Ernie McKone, cut ‘Shine A Light’ in London, which is only right considering it’s a Rolling Stones classic.

Mark Nevers, who produced some of my past Americana albums, stepped in to do some sweetening on certain tracks. Guitar great Jonathan DuBose Jr gave ‘I Missed the Target Again’ new life. Blues great Larry McCray added some zing to 'Hang on in There'.

My longtime friend William Bell was the perfect person to sing ‘My God Has A Telephone’ with me. I’d just like to thank my other sons, Terry and Clarence Jr for their support.”

Staton’s voice has always been a powerful and emotive instrument and on this album it has never sounded finer. No wonder “Back To My Roots” was nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 2026 Grammys, her first nomination in 40 years! 

Get a copy of Candi Staton's "Back To My Roots" album directly from Ace Records UK right here who've also collected her incredible FAME recordings for the brilliant Evidence 2CD compilation, available right here. 

Check out Candi's version of The Rolling Stones tune "Shine A Light" along with more clips and interviews below.  

 

LINKS

New York Times Candi Staton is a survivor

One For The Weekend: Lightnin' Hopkins

Lightnin' Hopkins' "War Is Starting Again" – which he originally cut for Ivory Records – seems like the right tune for the moment. 

The Boys (UK), Gene Champagne, Dany Laj @ The Horseshoe, Friday

Ground floor UK punk crew The Boys will be joined by Gene Champagne and Dany Laj & The Looks on Friday night.  

LINKS

Get tickets for The Boys show at The Horseshoe on Friday (March 13) right here. 

Tickets for The Boys gig on Saturday (March 14) at Hamilton's Corktown Pub are available here.  

Mozzy Dee, The Kewpie Dolls, The Shook Boys @ The Horseshoe, March 12

El Paso's Ameripolitan Awards crowned rockabilly queen Mozzy Dee tears it up at the Horseshoe with them Kewpie Dolls opening!

LINKS
Mozzy Dee site

Vintage Rock Soundtrack Of My Life: Mozzy Dee

Tickets for Mozzy Dee with the Kewpie Dolls & the Shook Boys at The Horseshoe available here 

R.I.P. Legendary reggae producer Phil Pratt, 1943-2026

Sadly, legendary Jamaican reggae producer and label owner Phil Pratt has passed away at the age of 82. He'll be greatly missed. 

From Trojan Records...

Legendary Jamaican music producer Phil Pratt has passed away, with the cause of his passing on 25th February yet to be confirmed.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica on 15th June 1943, and Christened George Phillips, Phil first made his mark on the local music scene as a singer and guitarist prior to producing his first recordings during the rock steady era.

By the early 70s, he was established as one of the island’s most accomplished record producers, releasing scores of Jamaican hits by some of reggae music’s premier talents, their number including John Holt, Ken Boothe, Pat Kelly and Dennis Brown.

Primarily utilising the facilities at Channel One and Lee Perry’s Black Ark studios, Phil continued to release popular singles, principally on his Sunshot and Terminal labels, prior to settling in London around the middle of the decade.

Thereafter, he continued to record and release new material, but in the mid-80s, eased off from his music-making career to concentrate on managing his kitchen in Harlesden, although he did still occasionally return to the studio to produce new reggae and r&b works, almost all of of which has yet to see issue.

A gentle and truly humble man whose importance within the sphere of Jamaican music cannot be overstated, Phil Pratt produced some of the most popular and influential reggae recordings of all time, with his passing a huge loss to both fans of his music and those lucky enough to have enjoyed his company.

Andy Maize & Aaron Comeau launch new Captains of Everything LP @ Cameron House, Wednesday

Andy & Aaron will be playing songs from their new Captains of Everything album "Avast and Belay" tonight from 6 pm to 8 pm.

LINKS
Captains of Everything Avast and Belay

Eleni Mandell previews forthcoming Tailspin album with "Music and Motion"

Eleni Mandell's long overdue new album Tailspin will be released on May 29th. Check out the video for the first single "Music and Motion" below. 

Writes Eleni...

"Hello!!!!! I made a new record, and I just dropped my new single, "Music and Motion."

I'm so, so, so, so excited!

It's been 7 years since I released a full-length album, and this is my first single from it - Tailspin will be out in the world May 29th, and I am beyond thrilled to share this project with you.

We are living through such tough times. I hope this song will sprinkle a little joy into your lives!

Go stream the hell out of my latest release, "Music and Motion", wherever you stream music, and grab the pre-order link for the new album right here: https://www.elenimandell.com/."

 

Check out the video clip for the first single "Music and Motion" directed by Manny Marquez below. 

Credits: 

Written by Eleni Mandell

Directed by Manny Marquez

Cinematography by Rod Hassler

a School Kids Records Release 2026

Produced by Sheldon Gomberg, Eleni, and Steve Gregoropoulos

Engineered by Mirza Sheriff

Mixed by Paul Figueroa

Mastered by Mark Chalecki at Little Red Book Mastering

Eleni on guitar, Steve on keyboards and drum machine

Danny Frankel on drums

Nigel Harrison on bass

Inara George on backing vocals

Becky Stark and Eleni on additional backing vocals