Interview with Ralph Tee
You are the label president on UK's No.1 soul label, as voted by readers of Blues&Soul magazine . How does it feel to be voted the no.1 label in the UK ?
We were number one for 5 consecutive years, and Dome records too had that honour before Blues & Soul removed the 'best label' category from their results. The main thing is that I am very happy to be doing what I do and I applaud and respect other labels such as Dome and Cafe De Soul who recognise and support real soul artists from the UK
How did you get started in the music business ?
Like many as a DJ which I continue to do today both in the clubs and on radio. I also published a soul fanzine called "Groove Weekly" between 1980 and 1982 which got me into journalism This got me a position at Blues & Soul and also "Mix Mag" and "The Street Scene" where I was Editor of both. My first record company break was at Arista where I worked with Whitney, Aretha, Patrice Rushen, Kashif, Bobby Womack, Phyllis and Kenny G among others. It was the only major that had artists at that time that really excited me.
You have previously worked as a writer, reviewer and editor for magazines like Blues & Soul and MixMag. How is your relations to music mags and their reviewers todays ?
I believe I have a great relationship with all the magazines and their reviewers, and from time to time I still contribute to Blues & Soul where I was an Assistant Editor for two years back in the 80s. Journalists like Charles Waring, Bill Buckley, Chris Wells, Bob Kilbourn, Kevin Allder, Andy Kemp, Peter Lewis, just to name a few, have been very supportive. Peter Lewis in fact wrote for "Groove Weekly" in 1980
How did your love for black music start ?
Through radio in London in the 70s, especially Robbie Vincent on Radio London and Greg Edward on Capital Radio. Robbie appealed to the anorak side of my interests, needing to know all the latest releases, what labels they were on, who produced what etc. Greg created a club atmosphere on radio. The two styles were completely different but I guess I took the best elements of both to create a style to my own. The real turning point was 'Saturday Night Fever' as that movie soundtrack changed everything and came at the time when I was just old enough to start DJ'ing and everyone my age was into soul music.
Several Expansion Records artists were big in the late 70īs and early 80īs and had deals on major labels. Now they have signed with Expansion, how come ?
People say that the music you grow up with in your formative years as a teenager becomes the music you end up preferring for life. For me the late 70s and early 80s produced the best music, and by the time I was in a position to run a label the music had changed and many of my favourite artists were without record deals. Knowing that many people my age were still interested in these artists gives me the perfect reason to work with them if I can, and it just so happens that may are without deals.
Expansion Records also releases re-issues, compilations, 12" and 7" singles as well as previously un-issued albums . You cover all aspects it seems, can you take it further ?
Because we are interested in new artists as well as veteran acts and re-issues, there are really few limits. It would be nice to have a hit single and some platinum albums hanging on my wall, and we have come close a few times despite the music industry being in a hopeless state right now. With regard oldies there are always new and interesting things to find and that I find amazing. Regarding formats, I still love vinyl although it has become very expensive to make. We actually lose money most times on our vinyl albums but it would break my heart to stop doing them.
The Soul/R&B scene seems to do very well these days with quite many new and exciting artists like Frank McComb, Donnie, Marlon Saunders....(and so on), how do you see the scene ?
I see the scene as being in a complete mess. Great records are being made but nobody is getting rich and most people are just getting by. There is very little understanding between artists, labels, distributors and retailers of each others positions and everyone is under pressure. Risks are huge financially as to compete with mainstream r&b you have to play their game to a certain extent, and if you play the game with a non-commercial record you can image what could happen. If it were not for passionate people, none of these records would ever come out. The expectations of artists are huge, as is their investment in their music, but try telling that to a record store who would rather remove their soul section and sell computer games instead alongside the Top 20.
At the moment there is still a lot of talent about, and it's great to see people making records, but the general public are sheep like and are mostly seduced away from talent by major corporations.
Are there any new exciting albums on the way from Expansion Records ?
Always, but don't tell my bank manager. We have had a great year artistically with Frank McComb, Marilyn Scott and Impromp2. I am also very excited about Gwendolyn Joy, and of course all our new compilations "Soul Togetherness 2003", "Village Soul" and artist collections by Jean Carne, Phyllis Hyman and Mtume & Lucas. I was very excited about recording a new track with Jean this year with Niteflyte, and the Phyllis Hyman project has taken me two years to complete and includes many previously unheard tracks.
Which Expansion Records release is your favourite ?
Very Very hard to say. The obvious album to say would be Howard Hewett's "This Time" with it's combination of voice, songs and production. But I've loved everything we've put out this year, and think Kloud 9, Kashif, Kuh Ledesma, and Ollie Woodson would also be among the front runners - though personally I keep going back to Woody Cunningham "Never Say Never" and Act Of Faith "Release Yourself".
Could you give Soulportal.dk your personal top 10 albums ?
Can I give you Top 10 tracks insetad??
1) Keni Burke "Never Stop Loving Me"
2) Aretha Franklin "This Is For Real"
3) Teddy Pendergrass "Come Go With Me"
4) Jean Carn "Don't Let It Go To Your Head"
5) Phyllis Hyman "You Know How To Love Me"
6) Atlantic Starr "Silver Shadow"
7) Candi Staton "Young Hearts Run Free"
8) Rose Royce "Wishing On A Star"
9) Stephanie Mills "Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin'"
10) Ashford & Simpson "It Seems To Hang On"
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