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Minus Kendal trods the outer reaches foraging for aural morsels, slinging you a monthly smorgasbord of sultry sonix from trenchcoat folk to silicone synthwave.

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There's an old Brian Eno quote that is inevitably referenced when talking about the Velvet Underground - something along the lines of "They only sold 30,000 copies of their first album, but everyone who bought the album started a band". It's slightly inaccurate (they sold a lot more copies), but the message is clear: few bands have had such an outsized, potent, and wide reaching effect on the musicians that followed in their footsteps. Their stubborn desire to continually approach songwriting from the left field, and continuous sonic reinvention reverberated for decades, influencing punk, post-punk, art rock, ambient music, even notably influencing real political revolution in Czechoslovakia. Two hours of The Velvets' best, selected and mixed by Claire Rousay.

Enchantment

Enchantment

Enchantment has been played over 10 times on NTS, first on 4 January 2014. Enchantment's music has been featured on 14 episodes.

There is more than one artist with this name:

1) Enchantment was a doom/death metal band from Blackpool, United Kingdom. They released only a demo and 1994's full length CD called "Dance the marble naked". The band had a 6 record deal with Century Media and disbanded after one full length album.

2) Enchantment is a funk, soul, R&B band formed in Detroit. Members: Emanuel 'EJ' Johnson, David Banks, Joe 'Jobie' Thomas, Ed 'Mickey' Clanton, Bobby Green. Formed in the late 60s at Detroit's Pershing High School, Enchantment became one of the most enjoyable but underrated groups of the late 70s and early 80s. Consisting of lead singer Emanuel "EJ" Johnson, Bobby Green, Mickey Clanton, Joe Thomas and Dave Banks, Enchantment was for many years a local favorite, playing gigs in the Detroit area while hoping to ultimately score a record contract.

Enchantment had its first big break in 1976, as the group signed with the Roadshow label and recorded a debut album with young producer (and future Motown executive) Michael Stokes. Enchantment was a decent introduction to the group, but most importantly was the first showcase for Enchantment's strong harmonies and the wonderful falsetto lead vocals and songwriting skills of EJ Johnson. Johnson was more influenced by Eddie Kendricks than Philip Bailey, but in an era of falsetto lead vocalists (from Russell Thompkins of the Stylistics to Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites), his ability to both master emotional ballads and attack blistering upbeat tunes moved him to the head of the class. Enchantment's debut album boasted two top ten R&B hits, "Sunshine" and the beautiful ballad, "Gloria," both written by Johnson.

Enchantment's follow up, Once Upon a Dream, was a gem, far surpassing its predecessor. Featuring the crossover ballad "It's You That I Need" and the stepper "If You're Ready," it was, front to back, one of 1978's most listenable LPs and included both more mature group vocals and more elaborate backing work by great local Detroit musicians (including a ripping saxophone solo by Bob Seger sideman Alto Reed). Beyond the LP's hits were a slew of memorable album cuts, including "Silly Love Song" and the swing ballad "Angel In My Life." Unfortunately, while Once Upon A Dream should have thrust the group to A-list status, it became Enchantment's commercial peak. The group followed in 1979 with the solid Journey To the Land of Enchantment, and its hit, "Any Way You Want It," but problems at Roadshow Records began to affect the Enchantment's visibility and active promotion.

1980 brought the downfall of Roadshow and the group's ill-fated move to RCA's fledgling black music division. Soft Lights, Sweet Music was a disappointment, and the group quickly switched to Columbia Records, where they hoped that an affiliation with the world's largest record company would create great opportunities for increased crossover success. Unfortunately, Enchantment was lost in Columbia's monolithic organization and their two albums there died from lack of support. Their final recording, 1983's marvelous Utopia, reunited them with Michael Stokes and was a critical success (and is very much worth searching for), but barely dented the charts.

Enchantment continues to perform in multi-group Soul Music shows. EJ Johnson has also become a popular name in Gospel circles as both a writer and producer. He released his first solo CD, the impressive Totally With Me, in 1999. In 2003, Enchantment released a beautiful single version of "God Bless America" in honor of America's soldiers in Iraq (with proceeds to the United Way). The single found the group in absolutely fantastic vocal form and is worth finding both for the cause and for the quality of the music.

By Chris Rizik

read more

Enchantment

Enchantment has been played over 10 times on NTS, first on 4 January 2014. Enchantment's music has been featured on 14 episodes.

There is more than one artist with this name:

1) Enchantment was a doom/death metal band from Blackpool, United Kingdom. They released only a demo and 1994's full length CD called "Dance the marble naked". The band had a 6 record deal with Century Media and disbanded after one full length album.

2) Enchantment is a funk, soul, R&B band formed in Detroit. Members: Emanuel 'EJ' Johnson, David Banks, Joe 'Jobie' Thomas, Ed 'Mickey' Clanton, Bobby Green. Formed in the late 60s at Detroit's Pershing High School, Enchantment became one of the most enjoyable but underrated groups of the late 70s and early 80s. Consisting of lead singer Emanuel "EJ" Johnson, Bobby Green, Mickey Clanton, Joe Thomas and Dave Banks, Enchantment was for many years a local favorite, playing gigs in the Detroit area while hoping to ultimately score a record contract.

Enchantment had its first big break in 1976, as the group signed with the Roadshow label and recorded a debut album with young producer (and future Motown executive) Michael Stokes. Enchantment was a decent introduction to the group, but most importantly was the first showcase for Enchantment's strong harmonies and the wonderful falsetto lead vocals and songwriting skills of EJ Johnson. Johnson was more influenced by Eddie Kendricks than Philip Bailey, but in an era of falsetto lead vocalists (from Russell Thompkins of the Stylistics to Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites), his ability to both master emotional ballads and attack blistering upbeat tunes moved him to the head of the class. Enchantment's debut album boasted two top ten R&B hits, "Sunshine" and the beautiful ballad, "Gloria," both written by Johnson.

Enchantment's follow up, Once Upon a Dream, was a gem, far surpassing its predecessor. Featuring the crossover ballad "It's You That I Need" and the stepper "If You're Ready," it was, front to back, one of 1978's most listenable LPs and included both more mature group vocals and more elaborate backing work by great local Detroit musicians (including a ripping saxophone solo by Bob Seger sideman Alto Reed). Beyond the LP's hits were a slew of memorable album cuts, including "Silly Love Song" and the swing ballad "Angel In My Life." Unfortunately, while Once Upon A Dream should have thrust the group to A-list status, it became Enchantment's commercial peak. The group followed in 1979 with the solid Journey To the Land of Enchantment, and its hit, "Any Way You Want It," but problems at Roadshow Records began to affect the Enchantment's visibility and active promotion.

1980 brought the downfall of Roadshow and the group's ill-fated move to RCA's fledgling black music division. Soft Lights, Sweet Music was a disappointment, and the group quickly switched to Columbia Records, where they hoped that an affiliation with the world's largest record company would create great opportunities for increased crossover success. Unfortunately, Enchantment was lost in Columbia's monolithic organization and their two albums there died from lack of support. Their final recording, 1983's marvelous Utopia, reunited them with Michael Stokes and was a critical success (and is very much worth searching for), but barely dented the charts.

Enchantment continues to perform in multi-group Soul Music shows. EJ Johnson has also become a popular name in Gospel circles as both a writer and producer. He released his first solo CD, the impressive Totally With Me, in 1999. In 2003, Enchantment released a beautiful single version of "God Bless America" in honor of America's soldiers in Iraq (with proceeds to the United Way). The single found the group in absolutely fantastic vocal form and is worth finding both for the cause and for the quality of the music.

By Chris Rizik

Original source Last.fm

Tracks featured on

Most played tracks

Sunshine
Enchantment
Roadshow, United Artists Records1976
Toe Jammin'
Enchantment
Columbia1982
Call On Me
Enchantment
Polydor1975
Only You
Enchantment
Columbia1982
Silly Love Song
Enchantment (Karl Bhy Productions, Karl Richardson mix)
Roadshow, United Artists Records1977
It's You That I Need
Enchantment
Roadshow1977
You And Me
Enchantment
RCA Victor1980
Thank You Girl For Loving Me
Enchantment (Bob Olson, John Lewis, Michael Grace mix)
United Artists Records, Roadshow1976
My Rose
Enchantment (Bob Olson, John Lewis, Michael Grace mix)
United Artists Records, Roadshow1976
Here's Your Chance (Vocal)
Enchantment
Columbia1983