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Ewart Beckford, aka Daddy U Roy, changed the focus of Jamaican popular music by turning the sound system deejay from an incidental figure that told jokes in between records and made announcements about where the next dance would be held, to a major star whose rhyming toasts were as important as the lyrics for any singer. U Roy's command on the microphone on sets like Dickies Dynamic and Sir George the Atomic paved the way for his influential residency on King Tubby's Hi Fi. Keith Hudson, Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Bunny 'Striker' Lee were some of the first producers to bring him into the studio, but the breakthrough hits came for Duke Reid in 1970, with Roy toasting over old rock steady rhythms. Work for Prince Tony subsequently brought him international fame through a contract with Virgin, but he continued to record grassroots efforts at home. The Originator gathers some of the greatest tracks U Roy cut for Striker, voiced as usual at King Tubby's studio over hot hits by Johnny Clarke, Cornell Campbell, Gregory Isaacs, and others, King Tubby's Skank' celebrates Tubby himself.

Mix righteous fuzz guitar, bad-ass keyboards and ecstatic African rhythms and what have you got Celebration by Aktion - a slab of of heavy Afro-funk-pysch-rock from the hardest working band in 70s Nigeria. Aktion had a residency at the Lido Night Club and Restaurant in Warri but toured constantly. Drummer Ben Alaka and Bass player Renny Pearl Nwosa created a bedrock of hardcore rhythm that allowed the rest of the band to cut loose and follow their own groove. Celebration, their second album, sees Aktion at the height of their powers. Ben Alaka had claimed his crown as the best drummer in the country (Proof: the intro to 'Centepede'), keyboardist Zeaky George has got his freak on (have a listen to 'We're Laughing') and Jimi Lee's searing guitar breaks were leaving scorch marks across every track ('Celebration', 'Groove The Funk', take your pick.) Sadly, Celebration was also their last album. Renny and Lemmy left to form The Stormmers. Jimmi Lee hooked up with Mona Finnih and discovered disco. But Celebration remains a psych rock monster - and a funky, fuzz-filled tribute to Nigeria's rocking east.

- Peter Moore

Baad John Cross's New Revolution is a Afro-electro-funk-boogie-disco banger that could only come from 1980s Nigeria. Bright, optimistic, with an unrelenting eye on the dance floor, it is regarded by many as a prototype of the electro rhythms that would become the signature sound of Nigerian boogie. A Cameroonian by birth, Cross arrived in Lagos a cheeky smile, a pair of white dungarees and a bag full of songs. After proving his chops with uncredited session work, he signed with the legendary Coconut label, hooked up with producer Modjo Isidore and created a stone cold boogie classic in New Revolution. 'Gimme Some Lovin' and 'Get Up And Dance Salsa' (briefly a dance craze in Lagos, apparently) are dance floor classics, 'Jeanie My Love' the obligatory love ballad and 'We Need Freedom' a Marleyesque call for peace across the continent. The real surprise is 'Rock n Roll Birthday', a rockabilly number straight out of 80's London. (The cover photo has a similar vibe.) Sadly, New Revolution was to be Baad John Cross's only album. He was soon back in Cameroon, eking out a career as a session musician, but not before creating one of the freshest Nigerian boogie albums ever made.

- Peter Moore

Originally developed by Rocoe as a mere discographic label, Body Heat has developed further as an all-round platform for all those who believe in funk-fuelled dance music and currently consists in the label, a club night (currently 'the thing' in Milano's nightlife) and a collective of artists, under the 'Body Heat Gang Band' name.
Body Heat Disco' is their frst full album, which aims at giving a perspective on the genres they like to play with: funk/disco/soulful house/ acid jazz and electro. The band gives their own twist to all these genres, taking from the past and bringing them in a contemporary esthetic and sound dimension. Body Heat Disco' is also a show that bridges the gap between live music and club culture, including musicians, mcs, singers, dj, dancers and visual acts - presented in Milano in late 2017 for the frst time, it will be brought to theaters, clubs and ballrooms of all Italy in 2018.

One of the greatest soul funk albums of the 80s, and a darn record to find! The tracks are nice and tight, with sort of a smooth modern soul and a good dancefloor groove. Made by a vast collective of musicians in and around LA in the early eighties who recorded for the KMA and Jam-Power labels. Most famous from that collective became Chuckii Booker who went on to solo fame. Gift Of Dreams recorded two full albums for Jam-Power, this being the first and a bit more soulful of the two. Overall there are already many touches of electro, boogie and funk which makes this music being in such high demand. This beautifully restored reissue contains all the info and illustrations of the very first, full colour and pretty artsy LP-sleeve design. Licensed by David Wooley, Jam Power Records

Back to back in-demanders from producer - King Jammy's vaults recorded and mixed by Jammy at Channel One studio, Two of Johnny Osbourne's finest roots classics seeing first time single release complete with their lethal dub companions. Hi-Times band in full effect, top draw vocal and dubs cut loud and proud and housed in the classic Greensleeves 12" bag.

Stepper a-Class with one french tune sang in french. And 2 instrumentals on the flip.

Excellent Kris Kemist instrumental with nevertheless Solo Banton pusher !! Big one with a wicked printed sleeve ! Comix Epic Dub !

The Soultrend Orchestra is the brainchild of author and arranger Nerio "Papik" Poggi (who has produced more than 20 albums in the last 10 years and has collaborated with several Italian and international artists including Mario Biondi , Matt Bianco, Sarah Jane Morris, Wendy D Lewis and Tom Gaebel) accompanied for this new project by producer and composer Luigi Di Paola with whom Papik has been working for over twenty years.
The first Album related to 'Soultrend' was released in 2011 and was titled 'Groovy Nights'.
Now out of the catalog, it had a glimpse of all their musical experiences and preferred genres : soul, funky, disco and acid
jazz. The Album was mostly appreciated in UK.
The new album by 'Soultrend Orchestra' is entitled '84 King Street', the band gets bigger and Present a more ambitious project than the previous one. The main inspiration is clearly the disco sound of Nile Rodgers & Chic who have been so popular of lately with a worldwide rebirth of this musical style , the sound of the Album is also dipping into the Italo House tradition, recently re-evaluated in today's world of dance, by Italian producers like Mauro Malavasi and his most famous projects 'Change' and 'Peter Jaques Band'.
More than 35 musicians and singers have taken part in the recording of the Orchestra's Album. among the featuring vocalists, Lucy Campeti (from the Duo Groovy Sistas), who has worked with Gabin, Franco Micalizzi, Gloria Gaynor and Mario Biondi, Ely Bruna, (who has featured in most of Papik's projects),
Frankie Lovecchio, (who has collaborated with Claudio Baglioni, Delegation, Mario Biondi, Mike Francis and Amy Stewart), the soul Band 'Adika Pongo', who in 2011 released an album for the historic UK soul label 'Expansion Records',
Frankie Pearl (from the Duo 'Groovy Sistas'), a very talented singer. Los Angeles born, who has featured in the recent years in various Rai TV Shows, Anna Fondi (one half of the 'More Blonde' duo), highly demanded as a vocalist for international dance projects, Letizia Liberati ('More Blonde'), Isabella Canana, Dario Daneluz, all three well-known Italian session vocalists, and to complete the list the Soul duo Janine Johnson and Eli Thompson, aka 'Westcost Soulstars'.
Endless are also the important collaboration of over 20 musicians involved with the Orchestra.
The title "84 King Street" refers to the address of New York legendary "Paradise Garage" disco where Larry Levan (world
renowned Disco DJ) was the main resident and where Disco Music had its highest peak in popularity during the second
half of 70's.

Yellow Sunshine' by the band of the same name is an essential proto-Disco jam from back in 1973. A big one with the underground Disco heads and B-boy DJ's in the Bronx alike this record is a sure-shot! Often early Hip-hop DJ's would buy 2 copies of this 45 or the LP and cut it up long enough for the crowd to get loose and into the groove. A party-rocker of the highest order. Produced in Philadelphia, originally released on Kenny Gamble's 'Gamble' label and featuring some heavyweight players including Dexter Wansel, Roland chambers and more, 'Yellow Sunshine is the perfect blend of funk, Rock & Disco - old school style. Backed with 'Don't Tell Me later Girl' a la the original '73 Gamble Records promo this one's an essential for anyone who digs that Funk! There's always been poor imitations, but this 2017 repress is from the MASTER TAPES (Yes, we can prove it) and is fully, 100% LEGIT in every way. 'Yellow Sunshine' - now available again, released in conjunction with Gamble / PIR. Back on the streets. Same as it ever was! Buy on sight!

British pianist Ashley Henry makes his major label debut with the release of the Easter EP on Silvertone / Sony Music.

Drawing influences from jazz, hip-hop and R&B, the 6-track selection is an imaginative project that boldly explores new musical territory, marking Henry out as an important new artist on the Jazz scene

Born and raised in South London, Henry graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2016 and has gone on to perform and collaborate with the likes of Jason Marsalis, Terence Blanchard and Jean Toussaint. Within the Easter EP, audio and visual style touchpoints include the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim, Ahmad Jamal, Sinead Harnett, Digital Underground, ZuZu and even Margot Fonteyn, Era Istrefi, Freddie Mercury and Dreezy.

Henry is beautifully influenced by his Jamaican heritage and in particular the wave of Caribbean jazz musicians from the 1950s, including the likes of Joe Harriott, Harold McNair, Dizzy Reece, Harry Beckett and Wilton Gaynair, who arrived in Britain during the jazz boom of the late post war period. Despite this eclectic range of international influences, Henry's sound remains distinctively British, crazily present and in the true tradition of jazz is bold.

The Easter EP sees Henry tackle a broad range of material in his original tracks and re arrangements of tracks by revered US rapper Nas and indie punk trio The Enemy.

One part heaven one part earth. One part ancient one part future. Presently, the supernova, vocalist, song writer, and universe whisperer gifts us fresh melodic emcee energy and soul stirring content hovering somewhere between the collective essence of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, and the unknown."

As featured on Feeling Nice Vol.4, we thought it is well worth to re-release Frederick Knight's "Steppin Down" on 45 too. Even better, the B-side "Heart Complication" is a monster deep-soul track which many of you may have not heard yet. We here at Tramp re-release good music, whether it is rare or not. This one is indeed rare so get your hands on it before all copies are gone.

First ever official reissue of Ice's rare and in demand North Carolina born soul funk jam 'Reality' via Athens of the North Records and Magnetic Recordings. Super rare modern soul / boogie tune. First played by Ian Wright and a Few others on the Deepfunk scene and then picked up by the Northern soul scene.

A high-speed car chase between a Dodge Charger and a Ford Mustang, with super-cop Bullitt at the wheel, who forces the hitman off the road and into a petrol station, which explodes and incinerates him. Prior to that, harsh clashes of metal, hubcaps flying all over the place, and the chief character Steve McQueen, who grimly changes gears and hurtles through the streets of San Francisco, wheels screaming and rubber burning. That was how Hollywood staged one of the longest and most dramatic car chases, long before the days of the Anti-Blocking-System and Anti-Slide-Control.

Very up-to-date and just as exciting as the screenplay is the music Lalo Schifrin wrote for the film, which embeds the characters, places and events in a musical context. For example, "Bullitt": the metrically angular main theme portrays a mysterious, cool character who sums up a situation with keen alertness and then makes his attack with the speed of lightning.

Initially the music travels through easy-going Latin terrain. But gradually the rhythmic texture changes and takes a rougher path, with clicks, knocks and hammering. Legendary flute lines create a compensatory placidness with airy clouds floating above the sharp mix. A really special track is "Shifting Gears": here you can listen to Schifrin tuning the car, how he manipulates a jammed springy bossa to take on the sound of clean, smooth-running rock.

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.

As featured on Movements Vol.9, we thought it is well worth to re-release "When The Well Runs Dry" on 45 too. Even better, what you find here is a previously unreleased alternate take! Listen to the first seconds of the B-side "A Brighter Day" and you know why this 45 should be in any DJs box. Essentiell re-release for the open minded DJ who does not only play tracks which are in demand but just plain funky.

Here come The James Hunter Six! Serving yet another delicious dish of what you wish with the premier single off their upcoming LP, Whatever It Takes (DAP-051).

And I'll be a monkey's uncle if James hasn't delivered two of his most compelling sides to date on this one. I Don't Wanna Be With- out You' is a graduate level course in the Three R's of R&B: Rhythm, Rhyme, and Romance.

A sultry rumba sets the mood, as Hunter swaggers in - donning his finest voice like a crisp tuxedo, complete with ruffled vibrato and rhyming cuff-links - and proceeds to lay on an absolute heart-stealin', deal-sealin', panty-peelin' gem.

On the flip, I Got Eyes' loosens the collar and brings the metro- nome mark up a few clicks for a punchy tightened-up workout, edged-up with vibes and street corner backgrounds.

Bring your talcum powder and a change of clothes cause it's another jaw-droppin' showstop- per by that finger-poppin' pond-hopper, James Hunter

Strictly limited to 60 hand-numbered, handmade clear lathe-cut 12" copies

THE TRIBE OF GOOD is a brand new supergroup collective headed up by multi Grammy-nominated dance producer Hal Ritson (Duke Dumont/Sigma/Dizzee Rascal/Katy Perry/The Young Punx/High Contrast... ) re-imagining the classic sounds of Soul, Disco and Funk for the 21st Century.

The debut track Loving You Baby' features production by Fatboy Slim's Skint records protege Thomas Gandey / Cagedbaby, and vocals from the exceptional dTale (Sigma / Dizzee Rascal).

After early independent copies were played heavily on BBC 6Music and playlisted by Mi-Soul radio plus FM4 and Ego FM in Germany the track is now back for a full release including a new house remix from Toolroom favourite Weiss who as had a superb 4 years in the limelight, remixing for the likes of MK, Icarus and Gorgon City. The Weiss remix was recently premiered on Radio One's essential mix by Pete Tong. It reached number 1 in the Buzz Chart (11-01-18).

The Tribe Of Good have completed a debut album and further limited run vinyl releases will be coming soon.

Destination' comes from an album Behind The Mask', recorded and first released in 1982. The project started out intending to be a new Incognito album, and follow up to the debut Jazz Funk', but took a different direction. With Bluey and original members of Incognito at the helm, Behind The Mask' welcomed additional guests musicians to become a separate entity and landmark 80s UK fusion album. Destination' has always been a go-to track, an electrifying full vocal dancefloor filler on the album but never previously released as a 12' single, with the Diffusion Re-Edit never previously available on vinyl. Both versions currently much in demand.

There is no need to introduce the recordings by Wayne Carter to record collectors of funk 45s. The few who are lucky enough to have his original 45s in their collection may appreciate this re-release. All others are likely to be superhappy to get these two songs on 45 for a fraction of the value of which original copies sell for.

Delroy Wilson, one of Jamaica's best loved vocalists, got his start with Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label, scoring his first hit when he was just 15 years old! His career soon took off and Wilson spent most of the following two decades producing hits for Dodd, as well as Sonia Pottinger, and Bunny Lee. These six tracks, recorded at Channel One and produced by Gussie Clarke, feature the unbeatable drums and bass of Sly And Robbie.

PRINCE BUSTER ALL STARS BONGO-LED HORNS VERSION OF ALL TIMES ABYSSINIANS CLASSIC SATA MASA GANA THE 'PRAISE TO GOD'. EARTH SOUND RECORDS EXCLUSIVE REMASTERED REISSUE LOADED WITH A DRUMS & BASS COOL OPERATOR CUT.

Slikk Tim, (AKA Gary Gritness and DopeGems) strikes back with his new persona on Arcane - Morris Mobley, and offers a mix of Modern Soul flavors, razor sharp vocals, and Grant Green-tinted guitar licks, served with shiny, luxurious synths, and a pounding 808.Built upon solid personal compositions and a strong lyrical sense, backed by suave rhythms and sophisticated chords. Morris Mobley ventures into a sharp, neo-noir vibe, paying tribute to the Johnny 'Guitar' Watson tradition, ranging from nostalgic love to nocturnal moods throughout this eight-tracker he single-handedly produced.

Solar Shield kicked off the Austin Boogie Crew Records discography with a bang in 2014 with his "Reesis" 45 -- so much so that the label had to press it THREE times to meet demand. Now , Austin boogie Crew present his much anticipated selftitled LP with 9 tracks of laid back modern funk!
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Austin, TX, musician Chris McDowell is a wonder on the keys. Under his Solar Shield moniker Texas producer Chris McDowell creates exuberant compositions that elegantly walk a tightrope between modern funk and electronic beat music. This quality nine track release features songs created between 2011 and 2013, settling into the modern funk cannon of 2018 with ease.