Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

In a career spanning over 50 years James Brown became known as a progenitor of funk music and influencing the development of many other genres. All his hit songs, hidden gems and collaborations are now bundled on Collected. It contains 29 songs, including music from his early days with the Famous Flames, the J.B.’s and a wide collection of tracks from his solo career.

Brown began his career as a gospel singer and joined a rhythm and blues vocal group, the Famous Flames, as the lead singer in the 1950s. Later on he formed his own band and released successful singles as “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”, “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”. While developing the funk to a new level he created the J.B.’s, with which he scored hits like “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” and “The Payback”. Brown was inducted into 1st class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. During the years he gained different honorific nicknames including “Godfather of Soul”, “Mr. Dynamite”, and “Soul Brother No. 1”.

Mr Bongo are pleased to announce the release of a new 7" single by the duo comprised of Glenn Fallows and Mark Treffel on the 20th of May through Mr Bongo.

Following on from their debut album 'The Globeflower Masters Vol.1', we couldn't resist releasing a 45 from the duo. 'Fear Me Now' features three lush, warm and timeless productions with two brand new tracks taking inspiration from library music giants such as Hawkshaw and Bennett.

Taking inspiration from classic 60s and 70s soundtrack and cinematic composers such as Axelrod, Morricone, Gainsbourg, Jean-Claude Vannier and Piero Umiliani, the album was very well received upon its release and struck a chord with the scene’s connoisseurs.

Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse Is An Epic Album By American Soul Artist Eugene Mcdaniels. It's A Vinyl Classic With An Eclectic Mix Of Funk, Soul And Folk. The Jazz Band Which Is Backing Mcdaniel Adds The Swing To All The Incredible Arrangements. supermarket Blues' Is A Song In Which He Focuses On The Racial Acts, While the Parasite (for Buffy)' Is A Ten-minute Tribute To The Native Americans. The Album Has Been Prized And Sampled By The Hip-hop Community Dozens Of Times. It's Dark And Political Psychedelic Soul Album With Excellent Grooves, A Masterpiece Which Is Now Available Again On Vinyl. The Album Is Dedicated To Roberta Flack Who Is Credited: special Thanks To Miss Roberta Flack For Not Being Afraid To Help A Brother. She, In My Opinion, Is A Lady Of Quality, Grace, Humanity And Talent Of The Highest Order. I Love You, Bert-g.'

Eugene Mcdaniels (1935-2011) Was An African-american Musician Who Rose To Fame During The Early 1960s. After His First Hit, a Hundred Pounds Of Clay', Reached Number 3 In The Billboard Hot 100 Chart He Released A Couple Of Other Hits. He Has Been Living For Years Out Of The Spotlights Before Launching A Series Of Youtube Videos With Thoughts About His Music In 2010. A Year Later He Passed Away.

A deadly combination of cold wave synths and hypnotic tablas collide on Kutiman’s explosive double-edge single. Electro tabla banger “Guruji” is backed by the meditative sounds of “Majan”.

Kutiman dreamed of learning to play tabla from the source since being gifted a compilation of traditional Indian music as a teenager. Finally making it to Kolkata in 2017, Kutiman practiced twelve hours a day for two months under the tutelage of Pandit (Master) Tanmoy Bose. One of India’s greatest tabla players, Tanmoy Bose toured the world with Ravi and Anoushka Shankar.

Destined to smash post-pandemic dancefloors, “Guruji'' begins with looping sitar and a halftime tabla rhythm, before a cascade of synth-played motifs rain down, centered around a droning bass synth. Working with similar sounds, “Majan” takes a much more relaxed approach, creating a reflective, psychedelic and cinematic answer to “Guruji”.

Recorded in his isolated bunker in the Negev desert, musical nomad Kutiman draws from a deep well of aural reconstructions collected over lifelong musical plimages around the world. The psychotropic sounds of “Guruji” and “Majan” designate brand new territory for the prolific multi-instrumentalist and producer.

RECENT PRESS FOR KUTIMAN 'WACHAGA' ALBUM:

'Psychedelic, spiritual jazz quests over recordings made in Tanzania' UNCUT COVER MOUNT CD..

'Psychedelic celebration of Tanzania from Israeli polymath' 8/10 Uncut Lead Review with Q&A'

".. It has the feel of a rare find, the kind of record of you listen to and immediately get excited about" 4/5 NARC

'Kutiman has constructed a faded cosmic slop which is half brown acid Mulatu, half psychedelic dreampop' WIRE Magazine

"Chants and barrages of percussion become the backdrop to spacey jazz improv a la Pharoah Sanders... the liveliest tracks head into genuinely unpredictable, cosmopolitan terrain" SUNDAY TIMES

Until recently, it was thought that we had heard all there was to hear from Saâda Bonaire. The German studio project's 1980s recordings had been compiled on the now cult-classic double LP Saâda Bonaire, released by Captured Tracks in 2013. Though the group had continued working until 1994, founder Ralph "von" Richtoven had firmly stated that all of their post-1986 work was lost. Released now for the first time ever, 1992 compiles the band's long-lost early nineties material. Produced between Bremen and New York City, the 12 songs presented here capture the group's attempts at steering their trademark fusion sound (reggae, afro-funk, Eastern music, and sultry German female vocals) into uncharted nu jazz, trip-hop, and house territories. It's no surprise, given both the time lapse and the fluid nature of the project, that these recordings differ sonically from the 1980s material. 1992 finds Saâda Bonaire folding new influences from the time (house, hip-hop, rap) into their eclectic sonic universe. Vocalist Andrea Ebert's soulful voice -the result of a church choir background and an early love of American soul and jazz music- offset Stephanie Lange's laid-back, more German-sounding vocals. This unique interplay bolstered the band's new direction - evident in their inspired takes on James Brown's "Woman" and Syreeta Wright and Stevie Wonder's "To Know You Is To Love You". The American influence was also made literal via contributions by renowned DJ Matthias Heillbronn and rapper Jimmy Lee Patterson, both of whom lent some stardust to the tracks at François Kevorkian's Axis Studios in NYC. Unfortunately, the demo recordings were considered too bizarre for 1990s record label standards, and as a result were never published. As with all things Saâda Bonaire, the discovery of these discarded recordings feels like a sort of magical impossibility. It's been nearly ten years since the release of the last compilation, and thirty since the recordings were originally captured. That they still manage to sound fresh and avant garde is a testament to Saâda Bonaire's flair for creating pop music for past, present, and future outsiders.

For fans of - The Meters, War, New Mastersounds, Jungle Fire. Mestizo Beat's first 45 release with All-Town Sound. An upbeat and eclectic blend of early 70s funk and soul. We are very excited to welcome Mestizo Beat to the All-Town family! MB incorporates a diverse mix of sub-genres within the Funk and Soul spectrum. They have released a string of 45s with labels like Colemine, F-Spot, Common Good, and now ATS! We couldn't decide which tunes should be assigned the A and B sides, so we left them unmarked, for you to decide. "Poppin Off" catches your attention right from the start with some Metersesque organ and guitar interplay. It settles into the groove and this is a feel good Southern Funk influenced burner. A 4 piece horn section comprised of members of Sure Fire Soul Ensemble mixed with Jungle Fire's Steve Haney on percussion, round out this recording. On the flip side is "City Of The Body Bag" which would have you believe you were hanging out somewhere in South East Los Angeles in 1973. This tune takes heavy influence from the band "War" and is destined to be another Latin Funk struttin' classic.

Available on limited edition 7-inch vinyl, exclusively on Our Label Records.

This is a brandnew FUNK BOMB by Germany's own Flo Mega and the incredible band The KBCS. Both artist have new albums out and are touring together. This release is exclusive to Our Label Records.

Freda Payne’s two-step classic rare groove “Tell Me Please” gets it’s long overdue first release on 7” single. Since first recorded and released in 1978 it has remained only as an album track from Freda’s “Supernatural High” LP that year. This Skip Scarborough composed song also featured on Expansion’s ‘Skip Scarborough Songbook’ but a 7” edition has never appeared before. It is accompanied by a Pam Sawyer/Marilyn McLeod song

“I Get High (On Your Memory)” produced by Tony Camillo. Originals of this on Capitol Records from 1977 exchange hands for small fortunes making both these songs on one 7” single an essential purchase. Both high quality definitive luxury soul.

● Cosmic Jazz-Funk Classic from 1975.
● All-Star Line-up (featuring Lonnie Liston Smith).
● First vinyl reissue since 1976.

Oliver Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer and bandleader. Oliver was born into a musical family in Missouri (his brother was a saxophonist who played with Cootie Williams in the 1940s, and his sister sang and played piano) so he began learning to play the piano when he was six and started on the saxophone at the age of eleven. In 1947 Nelson already started playing in local bands in and around the Saint Louis area. After his military service Nelson returned to Missouri to study music composition and theory. Upon completing his education and getting his degree, Oliver moved to New York City, playing with Erskine Hawkins and Wild Bill Davis, and working as the house arranger for the Apollo Theater. In the late 1950s he was the leader of various groups and began recording for Prestige Records
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From 1960 to 1961, he played with legendary artists such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington before joining the Quincy Jones big band (touring both in the U.S. and in Europe). After recording many successful records on various labels he had already made a name for himself as a distinctive composer/arranger and moved to Los Angeles where he started composing background music for television and films (including large productions such as Columbo and The Six Million Dollar Man). He also arranged Gato Barbieri's music for Last Tango in Paris.
Next to his own recordings…in the following decade Oliver Nelson has worked as an arranger, writer and instrumentalist on large ensemble albums for artists such as Thelonious Monk, Leon Thomas, Burning Spear and Louis Armstrong. Next to his Prestige and Impulse! albums he also recorded for big labels such as Capitol, Columbia and Verve Records. Nelson produced albums for big acts from the likes of James Brown, The Temptations and Diana Ross. Oliver Nelson’s work was sampled on records by Moby, Beastie Boys, DJ Shadow, J Dilla and countless others. But he is perhaps best remembered for his 1960 Impulse! album The Blues and the Abstract Truth, often regarded as being among the most significant recordings of its era. Oliver Nelson was unfortunately lost to the world of Jazz in 1975 when he died aged 43 from a heart attack. He left us with an impressive legacy…to say the least.
Today we present to you another classic recording by Mr. Nelson (Skull Session) recorded in 1975 for the ‘Flying Dutchman’ label. Here on this album, Oliver Nelson plays with a HUGE all-star line-up consisting of Jerome Richardson (Miles Davis-Alice Coltrane), Bud Shank (Ravi Shankar-Astrud Gilberto), Bill Perkins (Dizzy Gillespie-Charlie Parker), Chuck Domanico (Prince-Mary J. Blige), Maurice Spears (Herbie Hancock-Betty Davis), Buddy Collette (Charles Mingus-Chet Baker), Shelly Manne (Ornette Coleman), Bobby Bryant (Lalo Schifrin-Dennis Coffey), Oscar Brashear (Count Basie-Marvin Gaye), David Duke (Ella Fitzgerald-Lionel Richie), Vincent DeRosa (Jim Sullivan-Pharoah Sanders) and on the keyboards Mr. Cosmic funk himself: Lonnie Liston Smith !
Skull Session is a monster of an album that keeps Nelson’s 1960s trademark sound but takes a deep dive into Jazz-funk and adds disco, groovy soul, Bossa nova and electronic funk in the process. Oliver Nelson successfully included electronic instruments (like the Moog & ARP) and the incorporation of the rhythms that are often associated with them…all this without detracting in any way from the high-quality recordings he became known for. Every track is an original composition with a strong melody line and an imaginative arrangement…all living up to Oliver Nelson’s tremendous reputation as an arranger and composer. A sonic testament in every sense of the word. This is a GEM that is a must own for any kind of Bop fan.

Today we are proud to present to you the much-needed vinyl reissue of this outstanding album originally released in 1975 on the Flying Dutchman label. This reissue is now available as a deluxe 180g vinyl edition (limited to 500 copies), packaged in a gatefold jacket featuring the original artwork and sleeve notes by jazz novelist Nat Hentoff.

If you like head-bobbing grooves, the raw voice of a soul diva and proper funk horns, you'll dig The Exacters' latest groove bag "Ain't Gonna Lie", featuring Roxie Ray. The a-side on this latest edition to the Our Label Records catalogue starts off with an intriguing guitar lick and builds up to a fully blown soul funk head nodding dance track.

On the flip of this exclusive and limited Funk 45 "The Ashes" the horns take the lead. A similarly laid back groove sets a heavy foundation for jazzy horns that take you on a convertible cruise of a hot summer evening.

The Exacters are Guy Kilty (bass), Alex Stevenson (guitar) and Rob Shield (drums) and they make funk in Manchester, UK. For their debut single they drafted in some very special talent. Guy’s former Dojo Cuts bandmate, Roxie Ray, wrote and recorded the storming vocals for Ain’t Gonna Lie. Meanwhile, trumpet supremo Matt Burke arranged and produced the bruising horn parts on both "Ain’t Gonna Lie" and "The Ashes". As for the future, their mission is simple: more uber-tight rhythms, mighty horns, and formidable guest vocalists.

For Fans of Durand Jones & The Indications, Lee Fields, Charles Bradley. Ohio's sweetest soul singer Mr. Wesley Bright has returned with a new ear-worm called "Come Right Back". This family man, entrepreneur, and beekeeper came down to Loveland and to produce some tracks with Leroi Conroy in a more minimal, hard hitting manner. The track started off with a Wu-Tang reference and then eventually evolved into a massive 7 minute soul jam featuring strings and horns arranged by Wesley himself. Limited edition 45 (1500). Follow up to previous 45. "You Don't Want Me" produced by Leroi Conroy has 3.5M Streams on Spotify. Tracks: 1. Come Right Back (pt. 1) 2. Come Right Back (pt. 2).

More a family than a band, BANDA MAJE formed in a home studio in the historic district of Salerno, in Southern Italy, on the initiative of Peppe Maiellano (composer and keyboards) and Tonico Settanta (producer, rapper and DJ). The collective has an ever-changing number of members, all of whom – a bit like the lively port city they are from – exist at the crossroads between Italian melodies and imported genres like funk, soul and disco.

With a strong cinematic feel and an infectious funk groove, Banda Maje's first single "Fornellesse" is a great introduction to their forthcoming debut album "Ufo Bar", which transports you to a version of Salerno that combines local tradition and 70s pop and film culture.

The song is inspired by a real event from the late 19th century, when the traditional procession of Saint Matthew was banned by the city's mayor. In an act of rebellion against the ban, the 'Fornellesse' – i.e., the women who lived in the Rione Fornelle, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Salerno – stole the statue of the saint and, like modern wonder women, carried it themselves in procession among a jubilant crowd.

The single's B-side is a live cover of the opening titles from Ennio Morricone's soundtrack to the 1981 Italian comedy "Bianco, Rosso e Verdone" (directed by Carlo Verdone and produced by Sergio Leone) – a respectful tribute to the greatest Italian film composer of all times, and to a film that has shaped the imagination of many Italians.

Welcome to the sound of… Salifornia!

Repress in soon. For the third installment of his PeteStrumentals series, producer Pete Rock takes a departure from the sample-heavy style that has earned him recognition as a living Hip-Hop legend. This twelve-track project is instead a collection of beats crafted by the producer, then reimagined by his stellar band, The Soul Brothers - drummer Daru Jones (Jack White), keyboardist BigYuki, bassist MonoNeon (Prince), guitarist Marcus Machado and vocalist Jermaine Holmes (D'Angelo); all critically acclaimed musicians in their own rights. After performing together across Manhattan, cementing their creative bond, Pete Rock & The Soul Brothers combined their individual musical influences and experiences to craft a smooth sonic experience that is truly the sum of all of its stylistic and instrumental parts. PeteStrumentals 3 is a masterful blend of Funk, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Soul, a mellow soundtrack for any occasion.

Spring 2019, Disco Milk drops the last release of the year on the label and it's a funky bom! Wrapped around a fat funk bass, Trust In the Super Paolo packs a real punch to the groove offering a slice of groovy hip hop for those that like their music with a distinct funky vibe!

Perfectly complimenting the Original Mix the one man production juggernaut that is LTJ X-Perience, J&M Brothers and David Agrella add his effervescent discoish touches to the track, blessing it with a silky smooth groove yet still retaining a dance floor moment with it's infectiously groovy melodic line!!!

King Most was a guest in multiple shows of Oonops' radioshow on Brooklyn Radio before he invited him for (meanwhile sold out) releases on his "Oonops Drops" and "Resense" selections via Agogo Records.

Now it's time to say hello again on his own label and his "Redropped" series where he strikes back with double-sided gold for any dancefloor. Enjoy two hot takes on classic songs which are edited perfectly in King Mosts unique style be that heavy beats or eased bossa rhythms.

As a full-time DJ King Most now sits at the top of San Francisco's DJ elite, shared the decks with favorites like Jazzy Jeff, Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), Rich Medina - his tracks got airplay by Gilles Peterson, DJ Spinna, Anthony Valadez and his songs on SoundCloud have logged over 300k plays!

Enough said - pre-listen to the tracks and get them on limited recycled black vinyl!

"Ideology" is the new album by Newcastle/UK soul and funk institution Nick Pride & The Pimptones, featuring the two singles "Don't Turn Me Loose" and "Four Leaf Clover". The Pimptones sound is the coming together of funk and soul, jazz and blues, disco and dance, tightly performed with pop sensibilities and a feel for the classic.

Nick Pride formed The Pimptones back in 2007 to deliver funk, soul and jazz with tight musical arrangements and a great live show. Since then the group has toured Europe, recorded four albums ("Go Deep" and "Rejuiced Phat Shake" on Légére Recordings, "Midnight Feast Of Jazz" on Record Kicks and the self released "It's The Pimptones"). dabbled in various side projects and gained international airplay and recognition. However, following "Go Deep" (2016), it was time for the band to go through a reinvention. The Pimptones now return refreshed and retooled. New singer and full time band member Eliza Lawson plus an all new rhythm section now perfectly compliment the horn section, always a Pimptones trademark.

From the more modern soul pop of "Four Leaf Clover" and "Put It On The Record", the disco of "Keep It In The Family", the organic funk of "Mama Got The Nasty Jams" to the Latin jazz of "UNITY", "Ideology" is not afraid to stretch out musically. But the twelve new tacks push the envelope lyrically as well, as Nick Pride explains: "For this album I wanted to talk about issues which mean something to me in a way which I hadn't tried on previous records. The challenge is to write about equality, acceptance, feminism and social justice whilst producing a record that's fun to listen to."

"Queens Are Stronger Than Kings" dreams of a world run by women rather than our male dominated political systems. "Oh Michelle" laments Michelle Obama's absence from office and dares to wonder how her government might handle today's America. "Woke" speaks of an individual's awakening from antiquated oppressions and seeing an old world with a new perspective: "This world is putting so many issues into clearer focus right now. We all have learning to do, we can all have these light bulb moments!" With awareness comes debate, and with debate there comes conflict. The song "Talking Bout Love" touches on the arguments which can follow. "Especially on social media, I see people so focused on trying to 'win' the debate or trying to sound cleverer than, or superior to, each other. This song takes a step back and asks which side of any given argument you should want to be on by the simplest possible criteria – are you on the side of compassion?"

Meanwhile when it's time for a straight ahead love song, the band delivers Northern Soul stompers "Don't Turn Me Loose" and "One More Tear", bangers which would sit happily on any of The Pimptones' previous albums. "Gotta Shimmy" is the type of irresistible instant funk that this band was born to play! I set myself the challenge of writing lyrics with purpose and message but not losing the joy of what soul music can be. Ultimately, the "Ideology" of this album is full of optimism and hope for a better future".

Founded by Freddy DeBoe, longtime Charles Bradley and the Extraordinaires saxman and stalwart, D-BO records' inaugural release are two burning, instrumental sides from the man himself.

"Remember the Good Times" breezy, mid-tempo groove and soulful horn melody sends you on a euphoric, Jr. Walker-laced trip through the forgotten corners of your mind. And if greasy, bluesy shakers are your bag, simply flip this platter over and dig "Gato Loco". A must for fans of the Las Vegas Grind compilations.

Pink Vinyl
It is with great joy that we present the Mr Bongo edition of Marcos Valle's 1983 self-titled masterpiece. A pure vintage that features the ultimate Brazilian-boogie cult-classic ‘Estrelar’ and iconic 80s cover art that sees a gloriously sun-drenched Marcos dressed in a pink v-neck t-shirt surrounded by a generous selection of deadly-looking neon cocktails.

The album was produced by the legendary Lincoln Olivetti and Marcos' brother Paulo Sérgio Valle. It showcases a real who's who of Brazilian music at the time, with stellar performances from vocalists and musicians such as Rosana, Serginho Do Trombone, Robson Jorge and Oberdan Magalhães to name but a few. This was Marcos’ second album, after having moved back to Brazil from his time living in Los Angeles, and that US influence is evident through its prominent boogie, soul and funk sounds. It also features collaborations with the US singer-songwriter, composer, pianist, keyboardist, and record producer, Leon Ware, who co-penned three tracks including 'Estrelar'. To complete the album there are tracks such as 'Fogo Do Sol', which is pure AOR / Balaeric vibes, and tracks that are more MPB and pop-inspired, making a well-balanced track list for both home-listening pleasure and dancefloor business.

What could we do to give one of Marcos' most celebrated albums the treatment it deserved and produce the most definitive re-issue possible? The answer was to enlist the services of Miles Showell, Abbey Road Studios Mastering and lacquer-cutting engineer and all-around audio-magician, to cut a special half-speed master edition. Miles had previously worked his half-speed magic on our Arthur Verocai album re-issue, and once again we are totally blown away by the richness which Miles has brought out in his mastering technique. He has enhanced the listening experience and taken this wonderful album to another level.

To celebrate the release we have pressed up several vinyl versions; both standard master, and Miles' half-speed mastering editions on Black vinyl, alongside special limited edition Rose and Mint-Green coloured vinyl variants that were inspired by the audacious-looking cocktails on the cover - sheer 80s excess!

BBE Music presents a brand new album celebrating one of Philadelphia soul music’s most iconic figures, Teddy Pendergrass, remixed by pioneering producer and engineer, John Morales. This exploration of 1970s Philly soul at its apex focuses on one of the era’s defining voices, Theodore DeReese Pendergrass. Born in Philadelphia in 1950, Pendergrass sang church music at age two, and was ordained a minister at ten years old. Having learned drums and played in local bands during his teens, at 20 he was hired as a drummer for the Blue Notes by group leader Harold Melvin. After being spotted singing along onstage, he was soon appointed lead singer, and the rest is history… The masterful, revealing remix work of John Morales affords these classic songs improved clarity, allowing each individual player more space to be heard and modernising the recordings without ever losing sight of the original spirit. The virtuoso quality of the songwriting, production, arrangements and performances shine forth anew, and so do some of the music’s subtler qualities and nuanced, sometimes conflicted, subtexts that might have been overlooked in the most conventional view of Pendergrass in his prime. Curated authoritatively, remixed with love and passion, John Morales’ collection revisits our relationship with Teddy’s and Gamble & Huff’s music as compellingly and immersively as when it was new. Teddy’s timeless force resides equally in his talent for portraying truthfully the joys and hurts, beliefs and doubts, blessings and challenges of our lives, and in the bravery of confronting them all with an honesty that is still utterly extraordinary.

Record Kicks drops "Solid Ground", the explosive debut album by US band The Grease Traps, recorded at Kelly Finnigan' Transistor Sounds and mixed by Orgone's Sergio Rios.

Recorded between Kelly Finningn's Transistor Sound in San Francisco and Fifty Filth Studio in Oakland and mixed by Orgone' producer Sergio Rios and Kevin O' Dea, Record Kicks is proud to finally present Solid Ground, the long-awaited debut album by US very finest deep funk & soul outfit The Grease Traps. The album is set for worldwide release on November 5 on vinyl, CD and digital format. The band, based in Oakland, CA, is the latest addition to Milan-based Record Kicks roster. Active since 2002, with a 45 released on well-respected funk/soul label, Colemine Records, now, after six years spent working on the album's recording and mixing, they are ready to present their first full-length release Solid Ground on Record Kicks. The album is anticipated by the two killer funk singles "Bird of Paradise" and "More and More" on limited edition 45 vinyl.

As avid record collectors and fans of that old school analog sound, Solid Ground was recorded straight to 8-track tape on a Tascam 388, which also graces the cover art. Half of the tracks were recorded live at Transistor Sound Studio by soul crooner, Kelly Finnigan, and Ian McDonald where both Kelly and their band, Monophonics, have recorded their last few albums. The other half of the tunes were recorded by Kevin and Aaron at Fifty Filth Studio in Oakland, CA where the band also rehearses and mixed by analog-obsessive Orgone producer Sergio Rios. The album's original tunes draw from the Traps' various soul influences ranging from gritty funk ("Bird of Paradise" and "Hungry") to fuzzed-out psychedelic ("Residue") to sweet lowrider soul ("More and More"). The lyrics by lead singer The Gata also don't shy away from pressing issues of the day such as racism in America ("Roots") and finding hope in a world that seems pitted against you (the JB's style "Solid Ground"). The rare funk covers from the album provide a taste of the raw energy one would experience at a Grease Traps live show. The Traps also supplemented their sound with special guests including the Monophonics horns, background vocals from seasoned Bay Area vocalists, Sally Green and Bryan Dyer, as well as strings organized by Kansas City master viola player, Alyssa Bell.

The seed of The Grease Traps formed back in 2000 when keyboardist, Aaron Julin, answered an ad put out by guitarist, Kevin O'Dea, searching for players who were hip to the rare grooves laid down by Blue Note artists such as Grant Green and Lou Donaldson. They quickly formed Groovement, covering those same artists along with other jazz-funk staples. When their sax player and frontman moved away, they switched gears to form the band, Brown Baggin, getting into the harder funk of the JB's, the Meters, Kool & the Gang, and lesser known acts such as Mickey & the Soul Generation. They also started digging into the rare funk compilations put out by Keb Darge, Jazzman Gerald,and labels like Harmless, Ubiquity, Soul Jazz, and Now-Again. Modern day soul and funk outfits such as Breakestra, the Whitefield Brothers, and the Daptone/Soul Fire crews provided additional inspiration.

In 2005, while still playing with Brown Baggin yet fed up with juggling the schedules of seven band members, Aaron and Kevin put out an ad to find a bassist and drummer to jam with as a quartet. The first two cats to show up were bassist, Goopy Rossi, and drummer, Dave Brick. It was clear from the get-go that this rhythm section had great chemistry. Originally intended as a fun side project, the Traps quickly took priority as Brown Baggin dissolved. Performing as an instrumental quartet for a number of years, they eventually expanded their repertoire to include horns as well as that sharp-dressing soul brother, The Gata, on lead vocals. Over the years, they've shared the stage with acts such as Shuggie Otis, Robert Walter, Durand Jones, Monophonics, Neal Francis, and Jungle Fire.

New Supa Killer Boogie Funk album of Funk Lab "Natural Feeling"

Dutch producer returns to Boogie Angst for instrumental sophomore LP

Rotterdam, The Netherlands - Boogie Angst proudly presents Music Ruined My Life, the brand new instrumental LP from Rotterdam-based artist and producer Moods.

Dropping in the wake of front runner singles 'Talk About It,' and 'Music Saved My Life',' the Dutchman's notorious fusion of soul, R&B, and alternative influences takes a whole new dynamic courtesy of his first fully live recorded offering.

Recorded live in the city of Leiden during the peak of the pandemic alongside a full band, the LP taps effortlessly into the balance of soulful and jazz-inspired undertones that have hallmarked the project since breakthrough single 'Love Is Real.' A tastemaker favorite and label staple, the LP shows a more intricate and uncaged spin on the Moods sound, which has been consistently hailed by tastemakers globally and sampled by the likes of Logic.

The supple guitar plucks and resonating brass of 'Deeper Water' sets the LP in motion, building towards the funkier and perkier swells of album cuts such as 'Ecstacy' and 'Push Pull.' Capped by 'Return To 4ever,' a sultry and deeply atmospheric fusion of jazz and contemporary soul sounds, the eight-track endeavour shows that for all his streaming and collaborative success, the rich musicianship of the Moods project has not waivered.

"There really wasn't a huge concept or target for this record, it was more about tapping into the pure joy of making and creating music," he explains. "The pandemic was such a weird time, there was a lot of uncertainty in all aspects of life. So it almost felt like the perfect time to try something new. Having the band together in one room was a real rush, I liked how the record came together and how each artist brought their own energy to the project.

"I enjoy working with vocals, and I think the vocalists I have worked with on projects so far have been amazing. But when you take that element out and focus more on the instrumentation and arrangement, it's a really different experience, and that's something I really enjoyed for Music Ruined My Life.

Moods garnered more than 30m+ streams globally for debut LP Zoom Out, and has continued to leap from strength-to-strength courtesy of his soulful take on the boundaries between electronic and contemporary R&B.

Blue Vinyl

We are so happy to bring you another (the 2nd) Double 7 Inch with 4 smooth, funky Brasilian Edits by our long time TSTD family member Vibes4YourSoul!
Too Slow To Disco regulars will remember his name from several relases so far: his standout remix for L'impératrice on the "TSTD - En France" compilation, his remix for Poolside from "The Sunset Manifesto", his edits on all 5 Yacht Disco Edit compialtions, and the quickly sold out double 7 inch with Edits we released in 2020.
He is one of the crème of new reworkers and edit-producers, that have specialized in those soulful, smooth slow jams and midtempo tracks, that Djs all love for their warm up sets.
Vibes4YourSoul (aka V4YS) is a Parisian DJ and producer whose musical universe blends together elements of disco, rare groove, afro-latin and soulful indie, with the deeper edge of contemporary house and nudisco sounds. The four reworks on this Double 7 Inch take you on a colorful trip to Brasil, held together by Vibes4YourSoul's lush, mellow and funky production:

Fruit of a long and passionate digging experience, his DJ sets are eclectic journeys through times and styles, with groove as a common thread.
A member of Yuksek's Partyfine label crew, he's regularly revisiting old or contemporary tracks through edits and remixes, widely shared and played by numerous DJs.

Recent official releases include an original track for Cookie Records second compilation, an exclusive edit Partyfine's compilation "re-cover", an official remix for French pop band L'Impératrice on Berlin label HDYA?City Slang, and several funky edits for NYC nudisco weblabel Noc Boots.

LIMITED EDITION

Nigerian classic Black Children Sledge Funk Group 1976’s debut album full of positive vibrations and feel-good grooves! A sunny blend of Reggae and Afro-Funk with a lot of percussions, psychedelic and rhythmic guitar and organ. In the mid-seventies in Nigeria everybody loved them; they were a symbol and pride of Africa.

Michael Hammedatha Moore sang and played congas and percussion. Daniel Carlos Yakubu played guitar. Jerry Freeman Nwokolo was on keyboards. Ricky Hardnar on bass and And Benson Teteh played the drums. Everyone in the band changed their last name to Black.

'Atomic Soul' was written in July 2018 with a pairing of the multi talented Tom Funk and singer Ed Holley. At the time it received plays from Gilles Peterson on his BBC 6 Radio show. We've released the single under the original project name of Chordially. This is extremely limited to 150 copies.

The inaugural release of the newly minted Smugglers Way label, these two anonymous cuts bear the mark of a master’s touch: “Step By Step” is a hypnotic summer anthem featuring a singular majestic vocalist, and “Creative Source” has the the familiar euphoric rush of a perfectly uplifting 70s R&B/disco sample chopped hot and filtered.

As a lifelong soul boy - poet, actor, presenter Craig Charles has been adding to his trunk of funk music since his youth, and now after almost 20 years hosting his world renowned BBC6 Music and Radio 2 shows, DJing at clubs and festivals around the globe his reputation as an ambassador for all things soulful & funky is indisputable. Craig was overwhelmed with the success of Volume 1 which hit the Official UK Album charts; "It's been a whole year (and what a weird year) since I unleashed Volume 1 on a music starved world. It clearly hit home with a funk hungry public as it got into the UK charts, nestled between film soundtracks and pop compilations, so I'd like to thank everyone for supporting - especially those who grabbed the double vinyl album - that was an instant sell out!" Volume 2 contains all the trademark features his fans have come to love -kicking off with The Allergies - and their 100% exclusive Trunk Of Funk remix of their bombastic Move On Baby.

2022 repress. Their cover of The Chakacha's classic, "Jungle Fever" has been burning up dancefloors since its first pressing on Plane Jane Records. BRSB put the punch in the drums and the one drop in the arrangements, taking the original tune and updating it into something DJs and their audiences are going crazy for. "Tender Trap", the flip side, starts out with a syncopated intro that will catch the ear of any hip hop fan for a number of reasons, then the tune turns into an all out funk burner, steel pans and guitars taking turns over the driving drums. Another BRSB sureshot.