Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

For no particular reason, there hasn't been that many sister funk 7"
re-issues out on Tramp so far. Therefore we are especially proud to present this amazing double-sider. This is soul music at it's best.

"EIGHTIES LADIES"

This vocal ensemble comprised Denie Corbett, Marva Hicks, Susan Beaubian, Sylvia Striplin and Vivian Prince. In 1979 Denie had recorded a disco solo single “What You Won’t Do For Love” and was featured lead with group Station Break on another disco release “Be What You Are. Marva Hicks had recorded a debut solo single “Looking Over My Shoulder” in 1978 and would later infiltrate the modern soul world with “One Good Reason” from her 1991 self-titled debut and only solo album.

Vivian Prince recorded a boogie track “Gotta Get A Hold On You” in 1982 and of course Sylvia recorded a solo project “Give Me Your Love”, which was also reissued by 'Expansion' for 'Uno Melodic'.
As Eighties Ladies; they are best known for “Turned On To You”.

- Produced by the legendary: Roy Ayers.

It feels like someone left the light on in the studio and it all just ran itself, there had been a funky human input earlier in the day but, by a Darwinian machine-led kind of osmosis, the tracks recorded spent the wee small hours self-reducing and simplifying themselves - Marinated in music. 'I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil,' said Truman Capote. 'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,' opined Leonardo da Vinci much earlier in proceedings.

Yes, it's the space around the object, what you leave out that makes what you leave in so important. "ESG" know this. Sure they can play the game but it's the swagger of the groove and the minimal topping - like an anti-cup cake - that makes this unique New York sisterhood so appealing on 'Keep On Moving'. Sampled on TV ads, lauded by critics and swooned over on the dancefloor, ESG's post-punk took out the grunge and polished the basics.

Cut them open and 'less is more' is written all the way through. 'Keep On Moving' was released just over ten years ago to much praise (Q said it was 'even better' than 2002's much loved 'Step Off'). 'ESG' had been sparring partners for PiL and early hip hop and four years after the 'Off', they were onto something new - rhythm as core, reflective storylines about relationship management, sensuality and insanity gather around the bass fix but they're much blurrier than the incessant beats. Inadvertently they unmask techno and glitch and leave out any kind of superfluous fluff. It's hard and temple throbbing.

Turn it up. And keep moving. 'If there's one tune which sums up
ESG's enduring lust for life, it's the beautifully-judged Black Flag
early techno crossover of the closing 'Gimme A Blast'.' The Guardian 5/5 // 'This album's every percussive aspect has been honed to impart the maximum amount of pleasure.' The Observer // 'Despite their influence on younger bands (you can hear LCD Soundsystem's knobbly grooves on 'Insane'), ESG still sound like nothing else.'
- The Guardian.

Come Away With "ESG". 35-year anniversary release of the classic genre-busting debut album by the Bronx sisters ESG. The sample-friendly opus that's the inspiration for hip-hop, house and post punk. Music that falls outside of the no wave, new wave and post punk library, it's for the dance floor but it's not funk, there's no horns, no driving organ; it's the opposite of Sly And The Family Stone but no less cool and no less groovy. 'A lasting document of their unique brand of minimal funk that would influence subsequent post-punk, hip-hop, and dance music acts. Stripped down to the most basic of drumbeats and rudimentary bass lines, 'Come Away' confirms the notion that the real rhythm is what happens between the beats. - AllMusic // 'This is dub disco with a punk edge.' Paste // 'Uncut punk-funk straight off the streets of the South Bronx.' Record Collector // 'ESG are that rare thing' Guardian // 'Come Away with ESG sounds so shockingly current.' Paste // 'A musical snapshot of New York City at the beginning of the '80s.' - Allmusic.

Originally released in 2011 as CD and digital exclusives on Ikebe Shakedown's debut self-titled album, "Asa-Sa" and the B-side "Pepper" are both horn-driven, heavy, Afro-influenced slices of funk best-served on the 7" format. 'Ikebe Shakedown' has kept their signature funk, tight horns and impeccable rhythm through several releases including their most recent album "Kings Left Behind" on Colemine Records which made it to #2 on Billboards Jazz chart.

'Soul Tune Allstars' takes on the mighty "Desire" originally recorded by Francisco Aguabella, it´s latin soul heaven in 2020! The B-Side "Messin around" is what you get when you mix Jazz, Soul and Funk, try to sit still to this one.

A pair of Jim Sharp rare edits. Side A sees Let’s Ride built from the ground up from the original samples with DJ friendly formatting. The B side has an OG rebuilt marauders era instrumental with Ms Badu dropping science about the South.

Yes, we know the soul and funk world of the glory days, big labels, radio shows and bands amid a social context of segregation. A context that starts becoming less important when this music genre enters the mainstream in the late 70’s to eventually fade away at a fast pace in the 80’s until its complete disappearance in the 90’s and beyond. This time though, we dive a bit deeper into the hoods, because the social context of today ain’t no greatly different and it has its very own music, deeply rooted in the sounds of the early days, although more immediate and dense of beats and urban feel.

We are in Chicago, a place where every 2 hours someone is shot, and every 14 hours someone is murdered. It ain’t no Iraq or Afghanistan but one of the biggest and most sophisticated cities in the world. In the city’s west and south sides, which are considered the heart of Black America, gang rivalry is tearing its people apart. It has become so brutal that both police and perpetrators agree that this urban warfare is out of control. I started this release process after Yann sent me an heads up on this song and it took me most part of last year to build some mutual trust with Lay Lemons aka Biggz from North Lawndale, main area in the west side of the city and one of the most dangerous places in the world. When I first contacted him, Lay was having a hard time (and still does) as his daughter Raven was caught innocent in a gang shooting crossfire.

After the following investigation, the FBI (yes, big gangs are federal business) arrested and charged some members of The Four Corners Hustlers, yet Raven’s murder has no responsible and Lay suddenly lost his daughter overnight in the summer of 2017. He simply couldn’t concentrate on music, and the silly requests from a mad Italian with his crooked english were probably sounding to him like aliens speaking from outer space. I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Lay’s cousin, sound engineer and recording studio owner living today in Detroit, so accept my gratitude Mr. Tony Amos.

Lay Lemons has never been involved with gangs nor was Raven, nowhere near that business. They are people of music, family and religion trying to survive in one of worlds toughest places. This song, its vibe, the beats, the voice... Are coming straight out of their hood, written around a fire bin on the side of the street and put together with 3 instruments. It has no chorus, it’s verses all the way through, it is a kind of prayer to the unknown in the hope of salvation through everyday strength.

Lay Lemons I salute you.

Caroline True Records are very happy, by public demand (honestly!) to release, on limited wax, a true dancefloor gem-a track that has been described as a “Sax-Banger” of the very highest order.

A remix that’s hard to pigeonhole-but one that has been featured heavily by DJ luminaries such Ben UFO (Hessle Audio) & Job Jobse at Dekmantel where the track ruled the evening back in 2017 & again this year. It’s grown in popularity totally organically across Europe’s more discerning dancefloors & has many admirers..

2019 was a busy year for Kutiman, he released several singles (including his collaborations with Turkish singer Melike Sahin and Rioghnach Connolly), as well as his Psychedelic Jazz Funk ep "Lines From Different Sources".
So it should come as no surprise that Kutiman's first release for 2020 is the monster "Saluf/Badawee", two track desert funk 7".

Both compositions on this limited edition vinyl are unmistakably in line with Kutiman’s psychedelic, heady funk-jazz musical legacy, but they also introduce a new approach in production esthetics and a narrative characterized by the essence of the region they were recorded in. 

Saluf is an irresistible hypnotic middle eastern brain melter that is steadily building and charging with harmonizing synths and horns on top of dubbed out drums and handclaps. Think a pitched down Omar Soulyman instrumental meets Tinariwen in a smokey club and you’re getting close.

Known to be one of the highlights of the Kutiman Orchestra’s live sets and a certified crowd pleaser, capturing the spirit of Saluf in the studio was like capturing lightning in a jar. Those in the know will be more than pleased with the recorded outcome and those who are not  familiar with the song, are in for a treat. 

Badawee on the other hand is a new composition. A potent, slow burning, Middle Eastern head nodder that just keeps on giving. Kicking off with heavy drums and persisting cymbals to keep things steady, a rusty synth lead appears and followed by ethereal textured melodies that enhance the song to a blissful effect. Reverbed snares strike like thunder from a distant storm and the whole thing just takes off to the upper sonic spheres. 


Recap of all things Kutiman

The story began when three Stornoway Cove’s (Innes, Uilly and Boydie) met up in the house to have the craic on a Saturday night playing music with just the dog and the cat watching. After a few tunes getting thrown across the room Boydie stated muttering a few sentences. As he is a man of few words not attention was really given to him until he shouted ‘Quick, line me out!’ Not a second to spare a set of old broken headphones were cable tied to a guitar amp and out came a few cobwebs followed shortly after with a sound nobody had ever heard before.

The band play homemade songs that tell stories in a funny kind of way about the island life. It’s not for everyone but they’ve sold out Glasgow Barrowlands and 5 other dates already for their Spring 2020 tour with a second night announced for Barrowlands in November. They won BEST LIVE ACT at the Scot Trad Awards 2019!

Peat & Diesel – Light my Byre takes you on a journey to the heart of the Western Isles, where #peatlemania was born. You might have time for a brandy in the ‘Airidh’ but don’t miss your ride in Calum Dan’s Transit Van, we ain’t stopping till we lose the water.

This is the new digitally remastered 2015 expanded edition of Soul Jazz Records' biggest ever selling release, 100% Dynamite! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady and Funk in Jamaica.
Since the album's original release nearly twenty years ago, 100% Dynamite has become a cornerstone of reggae: eighteen killer tracks that show the influence that American Jazz, Funk and Soul music had on Jamaican Reggae.
The proximity of the West Indies to the USA meant that many Jamaican musicians were influenced by American styles of music whilst at the same time defining new styles of their own such as Ska, Rocksteady and Dub.
100% Dynamite features some serious Jamaican funk by Jackie Mittoo, The Upsetters and Toots & The Maytals, the cream of Jamaica's jazz musicians such as Tommy McCook, Cedric Brooks and Lennie Hibbert. Also included here are heavyweight Reggae versions to Soul classics by Marlena Shaw's 'Woman of the Ghetto', Aretha Franklin's 'Rocksteady', Syl Johnson's 'Is It Because I'm Black', William DeVaughan's seminal 'Be Thankful' and more.
100% Dynamite also features revolutionary tunes such as Johnny Osbourne's 'We Need Love', Sound Dimension's 'Drum Song' and Lloyd Robinson's 'Cuss Cuss', songs that helped define a unique sound for Jamaican music in the sixties and seventies. These influences went both ways - check Brentford All Stars massive 'Greedy G', the basis for Boogie Down Productions' 'Jack of Spades', or Willie Williams' 'Armageddon Time', later covered by The Clash.
This new expanded edition features seminal tracks from the greatest Jamaican producers - Clement Dodd, Lee Perry, Winston Riley (Techniques) and many more.
The album is available as CD, heavyweight double vinyl (+download), plus digital.

New one-off limited-edition special edition yellow coloured vinyl pressing of Soul Jazz Records’ seminal reggae meets funk and soul collection!

This is the new digitally remastered 2015 expanded edition of Soul Jazz Records' biggest ever selling release, 100% Dynamite! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady and Funk in Jamaica.
Since the album's original release nearly twenty years ago, 100% Dynamite has become a cornerstone of reggae: eighteen killer tracks that show the influence that American Jazz, Funk and Soul music had on Jamaican Reggae.
The proximity of the West Indies to the USA meant that many Jamaican musicians were influenced by American styles of music whilst at the same time defining new styles of their own such as Ska, Rocksteady and Dub.
100% Dynamite features some serious Jamaican funk by Jackie Mittoo, The Upsetters and Toots & The Maytals, the cream of Jamaica's jazz musicians such as Tommy McCook, Cedric Brooks and Lennie Hibbert. Also included here are heavyweight Reggae versions to Soul classics by Marlena Shaw's 'Woman of the Ghetto', Aretha Franklin's 'Rocksteady', Syl Johnson's 'Is It Because I'm Black', William DeVaughan's seminal 'Be Thankful' and more.
100% Dynamite also features revolutionary tunes such as Johnny Osbourne's 'We Need Love', Sound Dimension's 'Drum Song' and Lloyd Robinson's 'Cuss Cuss', songs that helped define a unique sound for Jamaican music in the sixties and seventies. These influences went both ways - check Brentford All Stars massive 'Greedy G', the basis for Boogie Down Productions' 'Jack of Spades', or Willie Williams' 'Armageddon Time', later covered by The Clash.
This new expanded edition features seminal tracks from the greatest Jamaican producers - Clement Dodd, Lee Perry, Winston Riley (Techniques) and many more.
The album is available as CD, heavyweight double vinyl (+download), plus digital.

'Soul Jazz Records' new journey into the mighty vaults of Clement Dodd's Studio One steps once more into the fertile musical environment of Jamaican music in the late 1960's and early 1970's, from the sweet harmony vocals of seminal 1960s Rocksteady right up to the nascent birth of Reggae and Roots music at the start of the 1970's. Sleevenotes to this album are by Steve Barrow, author of 'Rough Guide to Reggae' as well as Soul Jazz Records' own 'Reggae Soundsystem Cover Art' books.

While Ska at the start of the 1960's had taken American Rhythm and Blues as its main influence, Rocksteady focused on the emergence of American Soul music - with Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, John Holt & The Paragons, Carlton & The Shoes showing a particular fascination with the close harmonies of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions and other US Soul acts. Here The Heptones even feature with a cover of Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released'.

The influence of Soul music on Jamaican Rocksteady and Reggae is almost palpable, so much so that one wonders how much more successful singers like Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, Slim Smith and John Holt would have been had they been born in Chicago, Detroit or Memphis. Artists such as Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson and Owen Gray defined the era - a slowed down beat as Jamaican political and social heat slowly increased when the 1960's progressed into the start of the 1970's - and the music evolved further from Rocksteady into Roots Reggae. This album is released on heavyweight gatefold sleeve double vinyl (plus download code), CD with slipcase and digital album (ex-North America).

Soul Jazz Records set Sounds of the Universe:
Art + Sound 2012-15 features some of the heaviest Afrofuturistic producers out there, PITCHFORK.

Soul Jazz Records new Sounds of the Universe: Art + Sound 2012-15 is a new double album CD (and two separate volumes of double-vinyl) featuring a line-up of some of the most forward-thinking and progressive artists and producers working with electronic music around the world today.

This lovingly compiled collection features a stunning array of contemporary artists: Chicago’s Afro-futurist genius Hieroglyphic Being; Kaseem Mosse (aka Gunnar Wendell/Siege of Troy), one of the most talked-about, respected artists in underground house and techno; out of Detroit’s Moodyman stable comes Andres; also featured is Los Angeles-based Ras G, associated with the Brainfeeder label established by fellow producer Flying Lotus; and many more!

This new collection features a first CD of tracks recorded exclusively for Soul Jazz Record’s bespoke Sounds of the Universe label. These were originally issued under their Art + Sound series between 2012 and 2015 as unique hand-etched and original commissioned art pieces (reproduced here) collectors’ 12” singles - all pressed in micro-editions of 250 copies for each artist’s release that were only ever available exclusively from Soul Jazz Records’ boutique Sounds of the Universe shop in Soho, London.

The second CD features a fantastic set of all brand new exclusive tracks from the likes of Seven Davis Jr, Drexciya collaborator DJ Stingray, deep house virtuoso Mike Huckaby, Glaswegian noise-punk six-piece Golden Teacher, and lots more – all created and commissioned especially for this release. These songs are not available anywhere else in the world.

Together these 2CDs comprise an amazing selection of new progressive electronic music.

This album is released as double CD pack with slipcase and booklet. It is also available as two separate limited edition double vinyl editions in heavyweight vinyl and gatefold sleeves with full artwork + free download codes, and as a worldwide digital release.

New fully remastered re-release of Soul Jazz Records’ ‘The World of Arthur Russell’, the seminal collection of Arthur Russell’s essential music is being released on limited-edition heavy deluxe triple vinyl and deluxe CD edition.

This album brings together some of Russell’s best-loved and most accessible works including his wide-ranging music both solo and in groups including Dinosaur L (the essential ‘Go Bang’), Loose Joints (the equally classic ‘Is It All Over My Face’) as well as rarities such as the 7” only ‘Pop Your Funk’, Indian Ocean’s ‘Schoolbell/Treehouse’, Lola’s ‘Wax The Van’ and more.

Arthur Russell’s music effortlessly crossed musical boundaries making it timeless. His dance music credentials are faultless and this collection features mixes from Larry Levan, Françcois Kervorkian and Walter Gibbons. Similarly, his song-writing, musicality and performance skills are equally cherished as composer Philip Glass wrote, ‘this was a guy who could sit down with a cello and sing with it in a way that no one on earth has ever done before or will do again.’

When Soul Jazz Records’ The World of Arthur Russell first came out in 2003, Russell’s music had slipped into near obscurity. Nearly 15 years later there are over a dozen releases of his music, reissues of his original albums and more. ‘The World of Arthur Russell’ is the classic first collection of his work available once more.

“Arthur Russell fused the avant-garde with disco and sounds like nothing else on earth.” The GUARDIAN

“Russell is the great enigma of the New York music scene” THE WIRE

“Simply one of the best compilations of this or any year.” RECORD COLLECTOR

Soul Jazz Records' returns with their most successful series to date, New Orleans Funk. This new instalment subtitled 'Two-Way-Pocky-Way, Gumbo Ya Ya and the Mardi Gras Mambo' features more classic New Orleans funk in all its forms.

The syncopated percussion beat of the second line jazz parade bands, the secret language and dances of the Mardi Gras Indians, the mambo and latin rhythms of Professor Longhair and the city's many piano players help make New Orleans a unique musical melting pot.

New Orleans long musical heritage begins at Congo Square with the creation of jazz, the original creole culture clash of African heritage and European instrumentation.

In the 1960's and into the early 1970's add to this the creative powerhouses of Allen Toussaint, The Meters, Eddie Bo and others alongside the famous musical families of the city - the Nevilles, the Marsalis's, the Lasties - and we find ourselves at the birthplace of the original sound of funk - New Orleans Funk.

A seemingly endless line of amazing singers - Lee Dorsey, Betty Harris, Willie West, Eldridge Holmes - released a constant stream of stunning 45's, backed by the super-funk Meters and produced by Allen Toussaint. The multi-talented Eddie Bo, similarly wrote and produced for an elite set of artists including The Explosions, Chuck Carbo and others.

But limited local record distribution meant that most of these artists remained unknown outside of the city borders and as a consequence many of these records are serious collectors items today.

Add to this the syncopated poly-rhythm funk of Mardi Gras Indians with a rare version of the carnival classic Two-Way-Pock-A-Way, and the parade band jazz of the Rebirth Jazz Band (with their twisted take on the Blackbyrd's rare groove classic Do It Fluid) and you have the latest instalment in Soul Jazz Records' New Orleans Funk series.

This is Soul Jazz Records’ new journey into the heart of New Orleans and a guide to the city’s finest Funk music produced in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Featuring everyone from The Meters to Eddie Bo, Lee Dorsey to Betty Harris, this is a who’s who of the Crescent City’s most famous and most funky!

The city of New Orleans has deep musical roots that stretch back to Africa. New Orleans first gave birth to Jazz music, a Black musical form centred on rhythm, improvisation, freedom and collectivity at the turn of the century. Similarly in the late 1960's New Orleans Funk came to define a unique sound, mixing Caribbean rhythms, New Orleans second-line syncopation and rhythm and blues, all played by the Big Easy’s finest musicians.

Whilst Jazz and Funk music spread throughout the world, many African-American musical traditions remained within the city limits such as Mardi Gras and Carnival, Saturday Night Fish Fries, Funeral Marching bands and much more which partly explains why New Orleans music is so unique.

The album comes with extensive sleeve-notes, exclusive photography and more, and is an essential guide to the musical landscape of New Orleans and - together with Soul Jazz Records’ earlier New Orleans’ releases - presents the definitive story of New Orleans Funk. Although on the mainland coast, New Orleans is also surrounded by lakes giving the city an island feel. Similarly its proximity to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti and the other West Indian Isles means that Latin and Caribbean musical influences are in its veins as much as American musical traditions. The upside of this city’s isolation is that New Orleans musical traditions flourished away from those of the rest of America. A thriving city full of artists, musicians, singers, producers, record companies, studios (well one studio actually) led to a 24 hour, 7 day a week musical life, playing in clubs, bars, brothels, carnivals and parades.

The downside of the cities isolation from the rest of the US was that the city never developed a solid music industry to back up the creative over-supply. Whilst New York had Atlantic, Detroit had Motown, Memphis had Stax, Chicago had Chess, Los Angeles had Modern, New Orleans had a multitude of small businesses fighting for space - and often each other. Without the marketing, promotional weight, business nouse and financial clout, New Orleans labels found it hard to get the nationwide distribution necessary to fill the million-odd jukeboxes throughout the country. So whilst every family in America knows the music of Gladys Knight or Smokey Robinson few could tell you about – let alone hum a tune from - Benny Spellman, Inell Young, Warren Lee….

This is far from being a reflection of the artists creativity or musicality - as anyone can tell you New Orleans melodies are the catchiest of all - more it is a reflection of the limitations of the local music industry. Some New Orleans artists became successful throughout the US such as Fats Domino in the 1950's and in the late 1960's The Meters and Lee Dorsey, but many artists remained within the city limits.

This makes for a fascinating goldmine of music released by a complex myriad of small labels run mainly by New Orleans producers, promoters and artists themselves. New Orleans Funk 2 brings together many of these artists along with text, sleeve-notes and photographs that gives social and historical context to the incredibly funky music of New Orleans.

Featured here is a new collection spanning Studio One's dancehall period - singers and deejays on classic Studio One rhythms, studio and electronic wizardry from the Brentford Road headquarters, lots of rare 12' singles, all effortlessly brought together to nice up the dance.

When Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd first ruled the dancehalls of Kingston in the 1950's, fighting off the soundsystem competition of Duke Reid, King Edwards and others, few could imagine how far the reign of Studio One would last. But the emergence of  'Dancehall' as a distinct style of reggae at the end of the 1970's, as upstart competing producers began recording vocalists and deejays performing over replayed classic Studio One rhythms, in many ways made the influence of Clement Dodd's vision more omnipotent than ever before (and lasting to this day).

Not surprisingly, Clement Dodd's creativity and business acumen made him quick to respond to this musical phenomenon - he soon began voicing the new stable of Studio One singers and deejays, such as Sugar Minott and Lone Ranger, over original classic Studio One rhythms recorded in the late 1960's - by producing some of the most innovative, time-bending and creative music of his career.
This album comes as CD with slipcase, super-loud, SUPER-HEAVY TRIPLE VINYL with free download code and as a digital download.

The 36 track 2CD album comes with 50-page book featuring text, biographies and photography. It also comes in a limited run two volume double-vinyl super-loud super-heavy gatefold sleeve editions. Compiled by Stuart Baker (Soul Jazz Records) and sleevenotes biographies by Jonny Trunk (Trunk Records).

TV Sound and Image features British composers who worked in television, film and music libraries the second half of the 20th century.

Aside from John Barry, whose work on the James Bond films made him a household name, or Tony Hatch and Laurie Johnson, the majority of composers featured here - Simon Park, Keith Mansfield, Reg Tilsley, Syd Dale, Keith Papworth – remain relatively unknown. And yet ironically they have created some of the most recognisable songs in British popular culture, their music widely disseminated on television.

A quick role call of these would include Neil Richardson (who composed the theme tune to Mastermind) and Barry Stoller (who wrote Match of the Day). The Simon Park Orchestra’s Eye Level, theme song to the BBC series Van der Valk, reached number one in 1973. CCS’s cover of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love was the theme tune to Top of the Pops. And so on.

This album is not however a stroll through the TV memories of the mind, but an exploration of the serious contribution that these creative musicians have on the landscape of popular music in Britain.

Here then is a guide to the amazing music of many of the composers (both well-known and obscure) responsible for some of the most widely known music ever to come out of Britain in the second-half of the 20th century.

Reviews:

Quietus

Der Spiegel: "spannende Klänge ... die oft funky und immer lässig klingen"

"thrilling sounds.... often funky and always chilled"

New Zealand Herald: ***** "Every track is a killer... This is more than just music to mooch too."

Irish Times: **** "downright funky"

Volkskrant: "Ze leverden spanning op maat, die onbekende makers van fenomenale Britse film en tv-muziek. Door de cd TV Sound and Image opnieuw in de aandacht"

Evening Standard: "deeply funky"

Uncut Magazine "excellent 36 track set ... welcome additions to your collection"

Q Magazine: ****

18 months after the digital release on Daytoner's 'Shedits 3' EP, "Apache Steet" finally gets pressed to a limited edition 7" wax by Dinked Records/Friday's Funky 45.

This mash of Lou Rawls' tales of tough times with Michael Viner's famous Apache break has proved popular with funk, soul and breaks DJs, holding it's own in Juno Download's Breakbeat Top 10 for a year leading to discerning DJs demanding a vinyl pressing.

On the flip is another Apache fuelled monster, 'Michael's Incredible Twin', this time supplying the Skatalites to breaks DJs having featured on the digital 'Shedits 2' EP back in 2016.

7" . Steady Income Band. Harmonics, Rhythms & Melodies: MG & GA.

Founded by ordained bishop Larry H. Jordan and his brother-in-law Frank Tinsley in the early 1980's, Enlightment was among the first groups to fuse modern R&B production with gospel themes.

After providing the group’s ultra-rare debut album Faith Is The Key with a proper release, Nature Sounds is now making another lost classic from Enlightment available to the world. “Agape Love” was
a 1988 promo-only 12” single pressed in anticipation of a second Enlightment album, which unfortunately never came to fruition.

Previously only available in extremely limited promotional quantities, “Agape Love” has been re-pressed off the original vinyl parts and will now be hitting record shelves worldwide. “This is well-deserved reissue,” says famed DJ and record collector Kon, who calls the record “a lost gem that slipped through the cracks of obscurity.”

A little mystery goes a long way, but it's fair to say the appetite for unearthing those secret tunes and lost classics has rarely been stronger...

A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES give us a peek inside their formidable archive with four wonderful pieces of coveted music, in very short supply in their original form

One super limited, clear vinyl pressing.

The true definition of a "rare-groove", "Windy City Theme" is a triumphant, funky paean to the spiritual home of the Blues, Jazz and House music. Often closely guarded by the rare record cognoscenti this scarce 45 on the Chi Sounds label was originally released in 1976 and became a solid staple of London's underground rare-groove scene, finding favour with DJ's like Norman Jay and Giles Peterson with the track even appearing on their groundbreaking "Journeys By DJ" mix. B-side cut "Show Me The Way" is not to be overlooked either, a smooth, stepping soul number with lush orchestration and yearning vocals featuring the amazing arrangements of The Chi-Sound Orchestra, sounding like a beautiful cross between MFSB and Marvin Gaye. An utterly essential 45 for any serious

This LP 'FD10143H', Pieces Of A Man, produced by Gil Scott-Heron, comes in and out of stock. The Supplier 'Downtown304 LLC' restock this in the next few weeks. Hope, you're enjoying very well!

It's a Turkish Jazz-Funk Delight...!

Some hard-hitting rhythm section blending into a prime example of the swingin' sound of the cool influences of Jazz, Funk and Folk music, with a Turkish flavor. It's fantastic funk jazz groove built on a titanium synth bassline!

An instrumental library of traditional Turkish Jazz session reaching a great climax in drums and percussion sets + electro-bass break with moog and synthesizers from the beginning to the end.

Traditional Turkish songs are based on drums and synth bass over moody 5/8 fuzz guitars...

Album recorded & released in Denmark, 1979, and it has never been released in Turkey.

To the Wesssstside! Side A is treated with heavy synth play by Doc Flex infused with a funky guitar lick to get everybody Lifted in the club from the Gin & Juice. It’s enough for George to change his surname to McDre. On the flip, Evelyn let’s us know the The Show Is Over and also How We Do It on a smooth soulful stroll down Crenshaw Blvd. Two G-Funk tracks that are cold as Ice Cubes.

LIMITED TO 500 COPIES. NOT TO BE REPRESSED.

Two killer Wicked Lady tracks pressed for the first time on a 45rpm 7” for maximum volume & power! “Run The Night” (recorded in 1969, taken from the “Axeman Cometh” album) it’s raw psychedelic hard-rock with dirty fuzz-wah, sounding like a mix between Black Sabbath and The Stooges! “I’m a Freak” (recorded in 1972, taken from “Psychotic Overkill”) it’s a proto-Motörhead hard-rock bomb!

In opposite to other Nigerian acts which hardly got known beyond the borders of their homeland, BLO were always very popular in the Western world. Accompanying Ginger Baker of CREAM fame was the first step to break them into the western popular music market of the 70s and what followed could be called an African fairy tale.

Still this, their fifth album from 1979, waited a long time for a proper reissue, especially on hot black wax with originals in good conditions fetching prices of 300 € and more. For fans of 5th Dimension, The Temptations, Hot Chocolate, Earth, Wind & Fire. First ever and long overdue official reissue of this long lost Nigerian disco classic from 1979. Fifth album by one of The most outstanding Nigerian 70's afro beat acts.

Next up on Friday’s Funky 45 we showcase 2 of Featurecast’s most popular edits. Side A is his incredible reworking of Aretha’s “One Step Ahead” which first appeared on a 45 ten years ago on Wah Wah’s Dubplate series and doesn’t come cheap on Discogs. On the flipside is a collaboration between Lee and Mike The Gaff, “Ain’t Got Time” which again appeared on a 45 back in 2016 but again will cost you £££ on Discogs – now you can bag both in demand tracks on a single 45 remastered for 2019 and sounding really LOUD!! Limited edition – don’t sleep!

• TWO INCREDIBLE SIDES • FIRST EVER 7-INCH RELEASE OF THE CULT “POURING WATER ON A DROWNING MAN” • PROBABLY THE MOST SOULFUL 45 YOU’LL BUY THIS YEAR!

LEE MOSES is back on Outta Sight in 2020. The cult soul figure caused a stir last year with our first ever reissue of the legendary “Bad Girl” (OSV188), still available.

Now, thanks to our friends at Gusto we are proud to present the FIRST EVER 7" SINGLE of the soul-defining side “Pouring Water On A Drowning Man”! This landmark track has been known to collectors since the mid-Sixties thanks to James Carr’s Goldwax recording and it has been covered many times by the likes of Percy Sledge, Otis Clay and in more recent times by Elvis Costello.

But none of them hold a candle to Lee Moses who tears into the track and spits out a definitive so-soulful masterpiece. Who needs a B-side when we give you something of this magnitude! Ok, so we’ll spoil you with the Dynamo-dynamic rarity “Never In My Life” produced by the legendary Johnny Brantley. A truly stunning 45 to see the New Year in!

Eddie C's exemplary RED MOTORBIKE hits No. 20 with another fine double A, dinked 7" !!

A breezy and musical ride awaits on the A, as 'On The Coast' provides a beautifully sliced, pastel linen suited piece of early 80's Japanese Jazz-Funk

On the B, label regular CEM G's 'By The Sea' is reworked by Eddie into a looped-up and irresistible mid-tempo musical mover.

Madcliff recorded one album in 1977 from which come these two tracks for the first time on 7” single. Singer, Songwriter, Drummer, Bassist and Keyboardist Chris Hills wrote the songs and was integral to the group before joining Players Association. The killer cut is the funk bomb “You Can Make The Change” which was made popular by Keb Darge at his legendary deep funk nights and has been sought after ever since.

· This compilation features the rarest and unknown instrumental tracks of that Funky Groove early sound.
· Light music along with wind section and keyboard ready to hit the dance-floor, that we call Spanish-Grooves.
· Composers, musicians & arrangers like Gregorio García Segura, Rafael Martínez, Antonio Barco, Antonio Latorre, Jaime Botey, etc.

During the 70's, an important number of orchestras and dance bands popped up in our country but not many of them released their own songs or covers on vinyl, so we can’t say that our music library has bulky volumes, rather it’s just the opposite.

You have to dig deep in the catalogue of obscure record labels to find some quality pieces, which we will usually attribute to Tinglado 13, Conjunto Nueva Onda, The Matches, Conjunto Don Pelegrin, Rafael Martínez, Carlos de Ros, Salgado y su Grupo, Mesié Bató, Pedro González, Jorge Enrique. Most orchestras played bossa nova, soul, some lounge and easy listening, and a usual mix of light music with wind section and keyboards, something like “spanish-soul” or “rhythm'n'blues-pasodoble”.

It was a time when the bands survived playing shows with a repertoire based, mostly, on Spanish popular songs and international hits.

Many artists recorded with nicknames, many others used licensed songs paying rights to the original authors and some orchestras changed their names when they pressed their records, in an attempt to appear modern or simply for pure commercial purposes, that's why it is difficult to trace accurately the musical path of many of these artists. This scene was especially intense in Aragon and Catalonia, where a bunch of labels emerged, often simply as platforms for bands to promote their own music.

This compilation aims to discover to a wider audience some of the most sought-after instrumental gems by discjokeys and disco music collectors, eager for soul, groove and hot sounds.

Prolific soul man Carlton Jumel Smith made a fresh opening into deep vintage soul sounds with his Timmion single debut. Now he's back for more with the dancefloor track "This Is What Love Looks Like", paving the road towards his album, which is dropping on Timmion at the beginning of 2019.

Think of classic funky soul with a little bit of Chicago, some Tighten Up guitar and blaring horn melodies, and you get an idea, where this energizing groove is headed. Carlton gets going with his soulful testimony, while the A-list of Finnish soul and jazz players from Tuomo Prättälä and Jimi Tenor to Jukka Eskola strengthen the Cold Diamond & Mink band to new heights.

If the first single dripped with heartaches and bitterness, this one is a monumental sonic heart emoji instead, seasoned with sweet sunshine. Even though Carlton can play any part the lyric casts him in, the conveyor of positivity suits him well. In real life it's not rare to see the man smiling, and when performing he oozes with peace, love and soul, turning the audience inside out. Here he's laid down one for the dancers!

End to end, back to back solid gold SOUL & FUNK bombs are what's contained on this slab of wax! That's right, Gwen's 1979 LP has lashings of dope drums, wriggly bass synths, brass and of course, THAT voice! Absolutely stellar tracks on here - 'all this love that I'm giving' - famously sampled by Cassius on their infamous smash 'feeling for you' is actually the album opener! The whole album unfolds from this point and we're treated to the classy, string laden 'I can only think of you' next. All in all this album has always been one of those rare LP's that has soul fans frothing at the mouth, traditionally a very tough one to track down and always commanding high prices on the collectors market. Released on TK Disco's CAT offshoot label and produced by the equally legendary Betty Wright (!) this is one sure shot that you'll need on your shelf and on your turntable if you're into this kind of flavour!

A bona fide legend of the acid jazz / jazz funk scene, James Taylor returns with a stunning new James Taylor Quartet record,
People Get Ready (We’re Moving On). An absolute sonic marvel of a record, particularly when listening on vinyl, it ties together the effortless melodic funk of the quartet, the fullness of sound that only an orchestra can bring, high quality commercial song-writing and the staggering vocal talents of Noel McKoy and Natalie Williams. Undoubtedly one of the best sounding records of 2020.

In the Artist's words: “Along with a desire to develop the breakthrough sound of JTQ + orchestra debuted on Soundtrack of Electric Black, I also wanted to make a record to showcase outstanding soul voices.

Reaching back and re-examining the crossover work I did thirty years ago with the UK’s finest soul singer Noel McKoy, combined with the discovery of the stunning soulful vocal talent in the form of Natalie Williams, I was drawn to write a funk vocal album for these outstanding voices, but now incorporating these new orchestral ideas.

With JTQ still gigging heavily, we have developed our sound and matured to become rhythmically stronger than ever. Coupling this with the supercharged support of Audio Network which gave us access to Abbey Road Studios, we had the perfect recipe for creating something special. I hope you enjoy this album half as much as we did making it! Peopl... Get Ready.. .We’ve moved on!“
- James Taylor, 2020

A British jazz funk icon and renowned for his Hammond organ sound, James Taylor recorded this “dream project” at London's Abbey Road Studios with a string orchestra and two UK soul sensations in Natalie and Noel, the latter with who he previously worked when helping to carve out the Acid Jazz sound back in the early 1990's.

For those of you hearing James Taylor Quartet for the first time, his career as JTQ - of which the group is most fondly known - dates back to the late '80s. Take a quick glance at the labels he's recorded for - Gearbox, Acid Jazz, Ubiquity, Freestyle Records and Record Kicks - some of the most revered in the wider jazz and funk categories, and it gives you an idea of the level of respect he has garnered over a career that places him in a category all of his own.

Historically supported by all mainstream media across national and tastemaker radio, TV and music press, we expect to see a high visibility return with this record. Expect widespread blog / online press / music monthlies support plus Radio 2 / BBC6MUSIC action for the People Get Ready (We’re Moving On) single, on DSPs from January 31st.

Available on vinyl for the first time in over 40 years, Crasft Recordings/ UMC are proud to release Johnnie Taylor’s 1968 album, Who’s Making Love. When Stax became an independent entity, it lost it's impressive catalogue of hits (by artists like Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, and Sam & Dave) to Atlantic.

Luckily, Johnnie Taylor came to the rescue, and gave the label its first big post-Atlantic hit with his provocative 1968 single, “Who’s Making Love.” The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped to bolster the label’s profile (and finances).

The album Who’s Making Love was released months later, and not only featured the title track but also an irresistible collection of bluesy songs penned by Booker T. Jones, Bettye Crutcher, Steve Cropper and the inimitable team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter.

Highlights from the passionate singer’s performance include the melancholic “Can’t Trust Your Neighbor,” the hopeful “Hold on This Time,” and single “Take Care of Your Homework.”
- Pressed on 180gm vinyl.

First single from Monophonics' new album "It's Only Us".
This is the first new material from the group since their 2015 album "Sound Of Sinning" and they're picking up right where they left off, blending authentic soul with hints and leans of psychedelic elements as well. And on the heels of Kelly Finnigan's debut solo record, the group just continues to get stronger and stronger with regard to production and songwriting. This 45 of "Chances" hits stores on February, 21th and their new album will be out on March, 13th.