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Ian McCann

A music journalist, columnist and editor, Ian McCann has written for NME, Financial Times, Record Collector and Potato Digest, and was a reporter for a Radio 1 programme for several years, which happened by accident. He has written jokes for comedy shows, spent several years on the news desk at the Independent, and won a national award for Headline Of The Month. He enjoys music you can dance or swoon to, anything with soul, and the less pretentious regions of rock’n’roll. His record player is registered at the UN as a weapon of mass destruction.

Articles by Ian McCann

Summer Holiday: The Story Behind Cliff Richard’s Shining Hit Song

In Depth

Summer Holiday: The Story Behind Cliff Richard’s Shining Hit Song

Released at the peak of his fame, Cliff Richard’s Summer Holiday is a classic pop song that’s no mere romantic fling – it lasts forever.

‘Sweet Soul Music’: Arthur Conley’s Taste Of Sweet Soul Success

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‘Sweet Soul Music’: Arthur Conley’s Taste Of Sweet Soul Success

Recorded with Otis Redding’s guiding hand, Arthur Conley’s ‘Sweet Soul Music’ album was an all too brief entrée from a shoula-been soul icon.

How Ray Charles’ Genius Debut Album Birthed Soul Music

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How Ray Charles’ Genius Debut Album Birthed Soul Music

Ray Charles’ self-titled debut album may not have delivered the bundle of joy singlehanded, but it represents the birth of soul music.

‘The Exciting Wilson Pickett’: An Explosive Southern Soul Album

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‘The Exciting Wilson Pickett’: An Explosive Southern Soul Album

Stuffed with killer soul songs, ‘The Exciting Wilson Pickett’ was a perfectly named album from the ‘Wicked’ soul icon.

‘Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul’: Behind The Timeless Masterpiece

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‘Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul’: Behind The Timeless Masterpiece

Some albums are stuck in time. Some don’t fit any time. A few suit their era yet transcend it. Such is ‘Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul’.

Best Atlantic Records Soul Albums: 20 Thrillers From The Home Of Soul

List & Guides

Best Atlantic Records Soul Albums: 20 Thrillers From The Home Of Soul

The best Atlantic Records soul albums not only invented soul music, they shaped it over decades, making history with each new record.

Working My Way Back To You: The Story Behind The Classic Pop-Soul Song

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Working My Way Back To You: The Story Behind The Classic Pop-Soul Song

Turned into a hit by both The Four Seasons and Spinners, Working My Way Back To You is a pop-soul classic that keeps on returning.

Best Curtis Mayfield Songs: 20 Super-Fly Soul And Funk Anthems

List & Guides

Best Curtis Mayfield Songs: 20 Super-Fly Soul And Funk Anthems

From political calls to arms, to romantic ballads, the best Curtis Mayfield songs made the Chicago-born singer a global soul icon.

Best Cliff Richard Songs: 20 Classics From A British Rock Icon

List & Guides

Best Cliff Richard Songs: 20 Classics From A British Rock Icon

Wider-ranging than you may imagine, the best Cliff Richard songs aren’t just part of Sir Cliff’s history, they chart the development of pop.

Atlantic Records: The Story Of How One Record Label Changed The World

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Atlantic Records: The Story Of How One Record Label Changed The World

For 75 years, Atlantic Records has been home to an array of artists and landmark albums. It is one of the most influential labels in history.