Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

Delicate Wash is back for Round 4, delivering a seamless combination of spaced-out street synths and exquisite disco toe-tappers.

Four cuts of a familiar 1980's metropolitan milieu, WASH#4 provides the b-movie soundtrack to a cinematic underworld of swanky penthouse soirees and back alley brawls.
Whether in a mix or live set, this evocative quartet is an eloquent addition to any audiophile's storytelling toolkit.

Limited hand written label 7" is for Indie stores only. On the heels of his debut LP, "How Do I Talk To My Brother?", Ben ventured to the west coast and was welcomed with open arms by fans of his sweet and uplifting soul music. The A-side, a cover "That's The Way It Goes by the Harptones, was recorded on a handheld cassette while performing live at a radio station. The B-side was recorded in Brooklyn upon returning from the tour and thus christening their newly renovated recording studio. So enjoy this unique little 45!
Also Available From Ben Pirani: How Do I Talk To My Brother? LP/CD, Art School Girl 7”, Light Of My Life 7”.

Desmond Foster´s first solo 45 on Soul Tune Records! Desmond is definitely no rookie, especially not to the European scene. The A side gives you the impressive "Wheels Keeps On Turning", a powerful ballad and a future classic where Desmond sings his heart out! The B side "Attitude" is a crossover winner with the message don't run around with an Attitude and talk sh*t, be yourself ... and what a good message that is!

Limited clear vinyl 7" is for Indie stores only. The incredible uptempo track from Kelly's debut album that feels like it's was pulled straight off of some deep and rare Numero compilation, we are proud to present the stand alone 45 of "Since I Don't Have You Anymore" with the instrumental on the flip. Also Available From Kelly Finnigan: Catch Me I'm Falling 7”, The Tales People Tell LP/CD, I Don't Wanna Wait 7”.

Any historians keen on the subject of "French youth in the 1980s" are holding a treasure in their hands. As a true archaeologist of this decade dedicated to disposable culture, digger-in-chief Vidal Benjamin with his newest compilation, 'Pop Sympathie', offers them a unique journey in the heart of the cyclone of emotions that struck all teenagers during the first seven years of François Mitterrand's mandate. Fifteen musical nuggets, exhumed from the dungeons of history, each and every one of them teaching us about what really obsessed the youngsters at that exact moment, i.e. what happens when the city lights come on at dusk, when irrepressible urges that stir them to get lost even more appear until the end of the night.

The artists gathered here did not have the honour of breaking into the local charts, but they all individually reached for the sky. Each song of 'Pop Sympathie' tells more or less the same story: that of a girl who throws herself into the night like one immerses one's self into the void, who rushes into a one-night adventure to become a star. And too bad if in the early morning she finds herself back at square one. In all these miniature odysseys there is neon lights, lasers, smoke machines, broken glass on checkered tiles, strangers on leather benches, celebrities in the bathrooms, stolen kisses, alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, Polaroids, venetian blinds and radioactive tubes.

If the first opus of Vidal Benjamin, 'Disco Sympathie', focused on the funky mood of songs that could have been played at Le Palace, then 'Pop Sympathie' develops itself as the imaginary soundtrack of another nightclub, Les Bains-Douches, the capital’s epicenter of nocturnal drifts. So what do we listen to, blasé, at Bains-Douches? Mainly synthesizers. The child of punk and post punk, French New Wave celebrates the matrimony of machines and lolitas under the auspices of a retro trend that revisits the atomic age. Trying to surf on that wave and hit the charts, a bunch of producers (Stéphane Berlow, Laurent Stopnicki, Bernard "Black Devil" Fèvre, Johny Rech, Jean-Yves Joanny ...) will spot their talents amongst friends, in a travel agency or at the local bar. These virtual stars are called Cecilia, Laurent, Sonia, Janou, Fabienne, Anne, Arielle or Ronan, not even 20 years old, and often leaving just an overexposed photo and their first name on a single as the only memories of their swift passage in this particular musical story. It took all the love and sweet madness of Vidal Benjamin to bring them back in the light of day.

Clovis Goux

Tempo Dischi's second release is one of electronic music’s seminal albums; 1798 Italian space disco album: Automat by Automat.

A year after the release of Oxygène by Jean Michel Jarre, a milestone for electronic music, “Automat" was released in Italy, a timeless record that has influenced the years to come. Released in 1978 by EMI Italia, the album has been produced by two veteran italian songwriters and composers, Romano Musumarra and Claudio Gizzi after meeting Mario Maggi, one of the major innovators in the manufacturing of electronic instruments in Italy. Maggi invented the first programmable monophonic synthesizer ever made: the MCS70. Its sounds have been the basis for the production of the whole Automat album. That synth was used only for this record and remained a prototype, leaving a halo of mystery behind this record.

The album moves in the furrows of an atypical space disco, with abstract classical arias alternating with more sustained rhythms, which combine electronic experiments, progressive psychedelic journeys with cinematic themes. The A Side, composed by Gizzi is an electronic disco-tinged suite divided into three parts (The Rise, The Advance, The Genius). Ater a brief spatial intro, the insistent arpeggio expands into a soundtrack theme with a sumptuous melody, which slowly fades away to make room for a progressive psychedelic journey. The B Side, composed by Musumarra, is made by three tracks, including ‘Droid‘, one of the most representative songs of the electronic music of the early eighties. A magic sequence between the bassline, the electro drums, and the spatial disco theme with a futuristic and cinematic mood. This is a record that has influenced the music of our days and after 40 years may still sound contemporary.

A re-issue of 2005 Grammy-nominated album by R&B and funk legends ‘Earth, Wind & Fire’. Never released before on vinyl, the album features collaborations with Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland, Outkast’s Big Boi, will.i.am and Kenny G. The album rose to No. 8 & 32 in the US R&B/Hip-Hop and Billboard 200 charts respectively. This 2020 re-issue also features two previously unreleased bonus instrumental tracks. Territory: World ex China.

New Zealand juggernaut Fat Freddy’s Drop return with a new studio album, ‘Special Edition Part 1’, due for digital release on 15th November, with 2LP Vinyl and CD following up on 10th January. The 45rpm vinyl edition is produced with
a different track order across four sides and promises to deliver super fat loud audio.

Part 1 of a double album, ‘Special Edition Part 1’, comprises of six tracks of which ‘Raleigh Twenty’, ‘Trickle Down’ and
‘Six-Eight Instrumental’ were written and recorded undercover at the band’s Wellington studio, BAYS, while the other
tracks; ‘Special Edition, ‘Kamo Kamo’, and ‘OneFourteen’, have all been developed and evolved from the band’s celebrated live jam sessions, whilst on the road in front of audiences worldwide.
Supremely crafted at Freddy’s own BAYS studio in hometown Wellington, the deep musical and rich vocal layers reflect
Freddy’s inspiration from the black music lexicon and is a response to the crowd energy at their world dominating live
shows.

‘Special Edition Part 1’ is the first release of a long envisaged double album project with separate chapters. The next
journey, Part 2 will be released in 2020 after stringent road-testing with audiences over 35 shows across New Zealand, UK and Europe celebrating the release of the Part 1. These upcoming live performances will allow the band to fully explore new song-writing technology and give rise to a slamming Part 2. The new album follows on from 2015’s ‘BAYS’ LP, which saw support from Financial Times, Resident Advisor, Dummy, the DJ Mag and Clash-acclaimed ‘Blackbird,’ second album ‘Dr Boondigga and the Big BW’ - which gained rave reviews by The Guardian and BBC Music - and the band’s record breaking debut album ‘Based on a True Story’, which went nine times platinum and remained in New Zealand’s top 40 charts for over two years after its release in
2005.
The album cover artwork is by Wellington artist Otis Chamberlain, a continuing evolution from his creation for the its first single ‘Trickle Down’, a work that's morphed from digital cover art to the band’s massive summer tour backdrop and the recently released late-night buttery steppers ‘Kamo Kamo’. Fat Freddy’s Drop have been performing and recording together for more than 15 years, establishing themselves as one of New Zealand's most internationally successful acts. Considered one of the best live experiences in the world, they will embark on their biggest European and UK tour since they sold out a double hitter at London’s 02 Academy Brixton in 2018. Including an already sold out show in Dublin, the band will headline Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on 29th April 2020, Liverpool’s Invisible Wind Factory on 30th April, returning back to London’s Alexandra Palace on 1st May – the palace was the scene of two triumphant sold out headline concerts in 2014 and 2017 - before heading north to Glasgow’s Barrowland on 3rd May.

In 2003 Ibrahim Ferrer released his Grammy-winning second solo album ‘Buenos Hermanos’, an audacious and assured album firmly rooted in tradition but at the same time expanding the horizons of Cuban music in the 21st century with its varied repertoire and modern sound. For this very special edition release, producer Ry Cooder has revisited the original mixes and added 4 previously unheard tracks, recorded at the original album sessions, to a brand new sequence - creating a completely reimagined ‘Buenos Hermanos’.

Featuring Buena Vista stars Orlando ‘Cachaíto’ López, Manuel Galbán and Angá Diaz, a guest appearance from The Blind Boys of Alabama, Ry Cooder on guitars and the esteemed Chucho Valdés on piano, the Grammy-winning album’s varied repertoire includes fresh takes on classic songs and thrilling examples of the romantic ballads and boleros for which Ferrer is justly famed.

“Ferrer is on stunning form, coaxing endlessly subtle nuances from a set of finely crafted original songs … heavenly.” – The Guardian. “The Cuban maestro has hit top form.” – Q **** “A classic from top to tail.” – MOJO **** “An excellent bolero singer”  - The New York Times.

Marketing: Print and online PR campaign – reviews targeted in Songlines, MOJO, Uncut, The Line of Best Fit, The Quietus, The Guardian, The Independent, Sunday Times Radio campaign – plays/coverage targeted on BBC Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 6Music, BBC Regional stations Social marketing (organic posts and paid advertising) & e-newsletters via World Circuit/Ibrahim Ferrer/Buena Vista Social Club digital properties YouTube advertising using pre-roll ads + keyword targeting.

Former member of A Forest Mighty Black and founder of Trüby Trio, Rainer Trueby presents his new compilation, Soulgliding, released on BBE Music. Starting life as a group on Facebook, ‘Soulgliding’ is a phrase coined by Rainer Trueby to describe the more languid, smoother side of 2-Step, Boogie, Modern Soul and even Jazz.

This silky collection spans several decades and sums up what Soulgliding is all about: evocative airy music that feels like a dream-flight across a friendly sky. Or, as Patrick Forge puts it in his wonderful sleeve notes… “Soulgliding..... It’s all in that word, a stroke of genius, no explanation needed, I knew what it was about before I even read the rules. Anyway there was only one rule that really mattered, the speed limit, nothing beyond 110bpm.

What I didn’t know when Rainer first convened the eponymous Facebook group was just how addictive it would be. Several months of sharing, liking, commenting, loving and frantic dives into Discogs later, and Soulgliding has become a thing. A genre? Well, almost. This selection lovingly compiled by Rainer himself goes a long way to solidify the notion and stake a claim on the territory.

This set of gliders has all the elements; from the slow (enough!) boogie of Crystal Winds, to the jazzy excursions courtesy of Ambiance and Les Hooper, and a clutch of tunes that are closer to the original 2-Step blueprint from Demo Cates, Bridge, Cloud One and Donna McGhee. Then there are the eighties drum machine grooves of Patrice Rushen and Fifth Of Heaven and the ethereal beatless magic of Peter Brown’s “Without Love”.
A selection that manages to amalgamate plenty of obscurities without losing the essence, a selection which shimmers, soothes, inspires……glides.”

From the cosmic creative musical mind of Swiss/Catalan studio whizz, Zeleste Nightclub engineer, video nasty film composer, occasional Jaume Sisa (Muìsica Dispersa) collaborator and future electronic music therapy pioneer J. M. Pagaìn comes the synth-ridden, vocoder-loaded 1984 sci-funk soundtrack to Barcelona’s daytime TV response to the universal E.T. phenomena. Get ready to meet your new alieniìgena amic and the unidentified flying object of thousands of Catalonian kids’ affections through the 1980's as Finders Keepers present Pagaìn’s lost lunar modular synth score to ‘Kiu I Els Seus Amics’ (Kiu And Friends aka Kiu Is Your Friend).

From the same intergalactic phenomenon that brought such delights as Turkey’s exploito cash-in ‘Badi’ or South Africa’s lo-rent homage ‘Nukie’ to our unregulated small screens and the same craze which filled international airwaves with the likes of Extra T’S electro smash single ‘E.T. Boogie’ or the million selling Columbian ‘Cumbia De E.T. El Extraterrestre’ smash hit... not to mention a wide range of unofficial theme-tune cover versions from Holland, Austria, France and Germany (lest we forget an inspired late period Lee Scratch Perry Album).

In 1982 the diaspora from Steven Spielberg’s small fictional mid-American neighbourhood that played host to everyone’s favourite torch fingered, three toed, Skittle-scoffing space goblin touched virtually every family home in every major city resulting in one of the biggest cinematic merchandise phenomenas of the 21 st Century, resulting in an unexpected high-demand / short-supply play-off in which bootleggers, copyists and counterfeiters rose to the challenge like never before.

When Spielberg regrettably told interviewers that he had no intention of making a sequel to ‘E.T. The Extra Terrestria’ it instantly became open-season for the imitators... but way before somebody squeezed-out ‘Mac & Me’, ‘ALF’ and ‘The Purple People Eater’, a team of kid’s TV executives in Catalunya were ready to fill the widening gap in the market without haste. Created in 1983 by Luna Films and Televisioì de Catalunya (TV3) and screened exclusively in Catalunya, ‘Kiu I Els Seus Amics’ was one of the first E.T. ‘tributes’ to make it out of the gate and with a crew of five individual directors and writers to ensure that the five episode, one-off series hit the wave of phone-home-fever, Kiu has since remained a short but sweet micro- memory in the hearts of an entire generation of Catalonian cosmonauts.

This special Finders Keepers edition comes complete with all of Pagaìn’s cosmic synthesiser soundscapes fully intact (barring striking comparisons with the likes of Tangerine Dream, John Carpenter, Vangelis and the soundtrack music of Suzanne Ciani), as well as some rare, unreleased, incidental TV edits. The bulk of this LP is made up of tracks taken from the rare full-length album, which was released after the TV programme had already been aired and coincided with sales of jigsaws and rubberised play figures in an attempt to catch-up with the unexpected mega-success of the show, needless to say, with a short promotional window, the LP (and cassette edition) did not benefit a re-press and with most copies sold to children, few vinyl pressings have escaped repeat needle scratches and decorated sleeves.

... Comprises 'Good Things' (a cover of the Maxayn classic), 'Gotta Get Better In A Little While' (cover of the Derek & The Dominoes gem) and new songs 'Coming Unstuck Again', 'My Child' and leading track 'Soona Than Much Layta'. NEW LINE UP – a veritable who’s who of the 1990's UK Acid Jazz Scene: Matt Deighton is still there playing central talismanic figure. Sulene Fleming (ex Brand New Heavies, vocals), Mick Talbot (the inimitable keyboard hero of The Style Council, Dexys), Ernie McKone (Galliano, Push, Paul Weller, Carleen Anderson), Bass Crispin ‘The Pump’ Taylor (Galliano, Push, Dexys, Candi Staton, Carleen Anderson) on drums.

The Detroit Reels Project, est. 2019.

We are proud to welcome to the world of Unissued Soul something we have been working on since almost a year. When Brad Hales from Peoples Records out of Gratiot, Detroit, invited us over to discuss the project I had no idea of what was going on.

Turns out a posse was coming together to handle a very relevant archive of reel tapes, mainly containing demo takes from a handful of recording Studios based in the area. After the discovery and the subsequent physical restoration of the reels (baking and transferring to a workable format), we at would play the role of complete/arrange and release those original recordings rolled up on a spindle since 50 years.

We have set up a little sister label called Cannonball Detroit with the not-so-easy task to handle the “artistic” side of this delicate plan.
All releases within this program bear an arranged/finished version on Side A and original reel demo on Side B.

Black Cash & Theo edits!
Galaxy Sound CO crew back at it!!

SIde A.
Hailing from Detroit Heavy Funk, Drum Beak Monster of a cut.
This record is a killer. Banginí drums, horns, a sweet bass line, Jake Wade and the Soul Searchers knew how to lay it down. Their DIY attitude was a great indication of just how much music that was under the radar at that time.

Toured with Blue-eyed Motown artist Stoney Murphy, even played in venues such as Detroit's famous Grande Ballroom.

Seaching for Soul, This 1968 Funk Bomb was even sampled in Beyonce song "Suga Mama""

Side B.
Show Stopper- Edits

Black Cash & Theo decied to give it Drum Edit Work out!!
This 45 from Iron Knowledge (from Youngstown, Ohio!) released in 1972 is an undeniable face melter! ìShow-Stopperî boasts one of the heaviest, gnarliest sounds ever put to wax!!!!!
In the distorted guitar riffs aggressive psychedelic funk "Show-Stopper" heavy drum break down.

The seventh 7-inch in Most Excellent Unlimited's series of Mr. K Edits combines a pair of lush midtempo modern soul gems, with both sides textbook candidates for a perfect set-opener. "Live In Me," from Rufus and Chaka Khan's 1979 Masterjam LP, was never released as a single, but that didn't stop it from becoming a fan favorite and warm-up classic for soulful DJs. Composed and produced by the legendary Rod Temperton and Quincy Jones, who were fresh off the completion MJ's Off The Wall when this was recorded, "Live In Me" is judiciously extended here by Danny Krivit without losing any of the graceful magic of the original.Philly jazz-funkers Pieces Of A Dream get another respectful Krivit extension on the flip side, with their gorgeous "Warm Weather." Written by maestro Dexter Wansel and featuring Barbara Walker on lead vocals, the laid-back pulse of this smooth '81rare groove mainstay has never fallen out of favor with DJs who understand the power of gentle persuasion.

Royal Torrence aka ‘Little Royal’, was the half brother of the legendary James Brown as they reportedly shared the same father and were close bothers throughout their adult lives. Both singers shared a vocal talent that drew music lovers to them. Little Royal grew a following in soul music from the 60's and 70's and made waves with the hit ‘Jealous’ in 1972 reaching #15 in R&B chart. ‘Razor Blade’ is also another highlight that created a mini dance craze and has since been sampled by Ice-T and J Dilla.

Introducing ACID JAZZ’s first release of 2020 coming out on our newest subsidiary label Fingier Records, dedicated exclusively to the Soul, R&B, Boogaloo and Raw Funk productions from the Argentinean producer Kevin Fingier. After many years DJing and promoting Soul & Mod culture in Argentina, the co-founder of the Buenos Aires Soul Club decided to give a twist to his versatile production career and start to produce Soul and R&B recordings.

To achieve this, he gathered together a house band called The Kevin Fingier Collective and experimented with recording techniques used fifty years ago to get an analogue sound that’ll take you to straight to the 60s. For the first limited edition single Kevin brought back the legendary Northern Soul singer Gerri Granger, to sing on the A-side track Don't Wanna Cry No More - a Soul/Funk tune with a huge R&B influence. On the flip side there’s a killer Mod Jazz instrumental called Sunglasses After Dark Part 1.

The hotly tipped post-punk, disco-funk phenomenon Squid are back with a new EP called ‘Town Centre’ which is released vinyl via Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground label, the first EP from the legendary singles label.

Kicking off with the ambient sprawl of Savage, Squid are instantly revelling in the uncertainty and ambiguity found in the searching out of ideas and have created something that feels meditative yet active, capturing their alluring chaos but presenting it in a totally different manner. Next up, the propulsive, guitar-ledMatch Bet was written at guitarist Anton Pearson’s parents house in Norfolk and spawned from an open tuning fingerpicking pattern that sparring partner Louis Borlase had been developing after being inspired by the Don Edwards track ‘Coyotes’ in Grizzly Man. On The Cleaner, Squid are at their angular best, the lyrics are inspired by moving to London and trying to adjust to the pace and lifestyle of the city. The track is bursting with ideas, and there’s a clear energy and determination within the band to embrace different musical styles, deftly.Town Centre closes with Rodeo, a cinematic track that features an observational monologue from Ollie Judge.

For Town Centre the band once again team up with producer du jour Dan Carey and emerge with a powerful, intensely angular collection of songs that recall the finest corners of late 70s post-punk alongside a propulsive motorik drive and glimmers of early noughties disco whilst expertly making it all their own.

Records much-loved label sampler series continues with Vol.12 of their Attack The Dancefloor 12" vinyl releases.

This latest volume sees a JN remix of the classic Bobby D'Ambrosio track 'Moment of My Life' featuring the incredible Michelle Weeks on vocals and killer hammond solos galore. Alongside this, an expertly extended JN edit of American electro-funk duo The APX's boogie bomb 'Lose Yourself To The Groove', ready set for the dancefloor.

Also housed on this release, a Doug Willis raw edit of Carlos Romanos - 1 2 1 and a remake of one of Joey Negro's most played disco cuts 'K - Jee'. A track which holds a special place in JN's heart - the MSFB rework nestled on the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack which happened to be the first LP Dave Lee (JN) ever bought.

Another essential ATDF 12".

They Say: “Driving brass and sax ensemble over funky rhythm section, playing tracks of various feel and style”.

We say: From the Lincoln Continental that memorably adorns the cover to the tranquil funk contained within, this glowing ode to the grooving force of 70s American soul music is ice cool all over. With brilliant contributions from the Three Key Alans™ (Hawkshaw, Parker, Tew) as well as Mike Moran, Les Hurdle and Keith Roberts, this is driving music for only the vibiest cats.

Originally released in 1976, The All American Powerhouse is one of the very best of the Themes library releases. It’s killer. A feast of dramatic jazz, horizontal, melodic funk and bouncing sunshine-y West-Coast feels throughout, there also lurks an intense injection of the Blaxploitation sound. Understandable, given the subject matter and year it was released.

Highlights include Alan Parker’s confident, horn-heavy wah-wah-fuelled album-opener “Sweeny Todd”, Hawkshaw’s graceful “Getaway” glide and dramatic, breathless “Speed Run”, Mike Moran’s loose, organ-driven propulsive B-Boy classic “The Pick-Up” and Keith Roberts’ percussive tour de force “Overide” that closes out the LP.

Yet, perhaps the most significant track here is Les Hurdle’s long-adored “Soul Train”. A grooving, bass-heavy library classic, it’s all swirling strings, stabbing horns, heavy open drums and melodic funk-rock guitars. Add in the funky clavinet, and the combination works beautifully.

As with all of our other Themes re-issues, the audio for The All American Powerhouse comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We’ve taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity.

Part two of a new Salsoul Re-edits series launches with four classic edits for RSD from seminal edit king Danny Krivit. With over 45 years behind the turntables, if anyone knows what little extra touch a record needs to work on the dancefloor...it's Danny! Taking his editing skills to four classics from the Salsoul vaults , Danny delivers once again. Available on vinyl for the very first time.

Sauce Combo is a powerful and dynamic jazz trio lead by Marcjean, saxophonist from Bestown (Besançon), sided by the mercenary drummer Tom Moretti and the melodious
Victor Pierrel on bass. The trio's music takes place in the modern jazz renewing coming especially from England and the USA. France has now a champion. Inspirated by vintage african and west indies jazz, 70's jazz funk and fusion but also 90's drum & bass, broken beat and hip hop, the repertoire is a rich jazz bomb exploding to the
ears. Each second brings its his new colorful burst to admire. The band's brilliant game makes it a living listening experience. The music is rich and versatile but cohesive and united. Why?
Crash Test came to light in one day during a single 7 hours recording session at the Honey For Bear laboratories. Arnaud Bataillard, the sound's engineer, wanted to try several new
tubes and audio gears added in his studio set up. The trio went to test it in a crash test session. All the recordings could have been compromise somewhere but... What was before planned as a try ended into a fantastic album. The mental disposition, while playing
when you know that all can be lost in a minute, gave the musicians the proper dimension to express their feelings in a total freedom. They were playing for pleasure and without any pressure. It was for all, but it could have been also for nothing. And we can literally feel that. This unique record had to be release as soon as possible to transmit the freshness of this beautiful impact to the listeners. Above all, Clément Laurentin's "Equilibre Précaire VI" achieves this album, offering a painting with four figures at the edge of the fall, in a constant imbalance, playing with time and gravity. It's the perfect allegory for the three band's members plus the engineer while making this record.

Convertion / Let's Do It was originally released on Sam Records in 1980. It featured the lead vocals of Leroy Burgess, who was also the lead vocalist for seminal disco tunes like Black Ivory / Main Line and Logg / I Know You Will. The Sam Records catalogue is currently administered by Nervous Records. Nervous has a long standing relationship with superstar producer Louie Vega, who with his MAW partner Kenny Dope has produced some of Nervous' most memorable tunes, including the signature Nervous release "The Nervous Track" by Nuyorican Soul. Louie as always a fan of Let's Do It and wanted to do a remix. Unfortunately the original parts were lost. Not to be deterred, Louie decided to reproduce the record, once again with lead vocals by Leroy Burgess. The result....Let's Do It - A Louie Vega Interpration. B-side Boogie Mix stays close to the original version. The A Side Dance Ritual Mix includes that magic Louie Vega flavor that will make it an immediate essential item for all dj's. The 12" release will be available two months prior to the digital release.

In 2019, The Mighty Mocambos returned in fine form with their new album "2066", played a storming European tour and celebrated a colourful year delivering their own true style of funk, Afro, hip hop with cinematic compositions and storytelling.

The mean streets groove and furious drums versus car chase workout of "Golden Shadow" and the joyous instrumental stomper "Preaching To The Choir" were soon identified as DJ favourites. ... So here they are on glorious golden 7inch vinyl to jumpstart in 2020 with.

5 Boroughs continue to bring the heat - massive party anthem backed with the tune that it sampled.

One of the last "holy-grails" in modern/-funk vinyl collectors circles gets a proper re-issue treatment in the end. RONNY PELLER's interpretation of "Coming Home Baby" is certainly one of the finest versions around. Read the full story in the accompanying liner notes of the full length album ("RONNY PELLERS SATIN SOUND", PT057.LP), which is scheduled for re-release on 20/03/2020.

They Say: “A selection of suspense underscores and drama blackcloths which vary in intensity and cover a wide range of suspense and drama situations”.

We say: A breaky, funky library great masquerading as a horror score. Oh, and the cover art is amazing.

Breath Of Danger was originally released in 1974, and rounded up a killer ensemble cast of library legends including Alan Hawkshaw, Brian Bennett, Alan Parker, David Lindup, Kenny Salmon, Barry Morgan and Ray Cooper.

Lindup’s opener “Cold Sweat” sounds like hip-hop-friendly mode Axelrod and, indeed, was brilliantly sampled by Kool Keith for his Dr. Dooom project. Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett’s “The Manipulator” sounds like it arrived straight out of the same sessions as their legendary Synthesizer & Percussion LP from the same year.

Over on the B-side Alan Parker’s “Psychosis” is a moving and beautifully restrained funk-guitar/cello/harp workout. Stunning. Kenny Salmon’s “Flying Squad” is a sleazy, flute-enhanced gem and the album closes with “Voodoo”, a seventy second riot of sound and colour from the dynamic drumming-percussion duo of Barry Morgan and Ray Cooper.

Sonically, there’s a widescreen vitality in all these tracks thanks to the driving rhythms, vibrant horn sections and blazing guitar work. It renders Breath Of Danger - 45 years old - truly ageless. The Themes series is known for having particularly striking sleeves, which was unusual for library records at the time, and Breath Of Danger’s scraps of comic-book crazy make for one of the most eye-catching.

As with all of our other Themes re-issues, the audio for Breath Of Danger comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We’ve taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity.

Widely and rightly regarded as one of the best ever soul and funk bands, the now legendary Average White Band tore-up the rule book and conquered the US, UK & International charts with a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. AWB’s repertoire has been a source of inspiration and influence for many R&B acts and they are one of the most sampled bands in history, remaining relevant today, continuing to reach new generations of younger audiences. Snoop Dogg, Fatboy Slim, Ice Cube, Puff Daddy, TLC, Rick Ross, will.i.am and Mark Ronson amongst countless others, have all borrowed sections of their grooves. AWB (aka ‘The White Album’) is the 2nd album by AWB and their first for Atlantic Records, originally released in 1974. The album reached #6 in the UK Albums Chart and #1 in the USA. ‘AWB’ includes the ground-breaking classic ‘Pick Up The Pieces’, also reaching #6 in the UK, as well as the coveted #1 spot in the USA It was produced by Atlantic’s legendary producer, Arif Mardin.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley was born on the 11th Street in Sekondi, Ghana 72 years ago. On the cover photo you can see on the right side the house of his birth which was also his parental home. The Ghanian legend’s latest release shows off a pride of heritage, and his honed talent for mixing highlife with other genres like rap, Afro-funk and Disco Ghanaian highlife. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley returns with 11th Street, Sekondi, his 31st album since his debut in 1973. The charismatic stage personality, no stranger to mixing humour into his music and who has performed alongside Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and highlife bandleader Ebo Taylor, has been a record collector’s staple since his appearance on the seminal Ghana Soundz compilation on Soundway in 2002, which re-introduced the world to his trademark ‘Simigwa’ style. Highlife, which started in Sierra Leone and Liberia, took hold in Ghana in the 1940s as a coming together of the musicians fed up with the foxtrot and quickstep parties originally hosted by English colonists. It began with big band horns and happy lyrics, popularised by artists such as E.T Mensah, before opening up in the ‘50s and ‘60s with a wave of guitardriven, socially conscious and more danceable Afro-funk hits -- a product of the easy movement of people between Nigeria and Ghana. It was then that Ambolley’s trademark baritone vocals burst onto the scene, under the tutelage of close personal friend Ebo Taylor.

Ambolley’s latest album, 11th Street, Sekondi, named after the area of West Ghana in which he grew up, is a look back at the area and musical styles that shaped the musician’s life. Black Woman is a funky number that opens the album with Ambolley on a tenor sax solo, while tracks like Little Small Girl showcase his renowned James Brown-influenced vocal flourishes. Soul, jazz, blues and comedy are present -- in keeping with his fervent belief that music must always be entertaining for the listener. The album is the second of his to be released on German label Agogo records, after acclaimed 2017 hit, Ketan. It also stays true to highlife's social ambitions, with reflections on the misguided pursuit of European ideals ahead of African values. Ambolley's career has been filled with accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Charles R Drew University in Los Angeles, and formal recognition from the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC for producing the first ever commercially recorded rap album.

FORTHCOMING ...

Far Out Recordings proudly presents Cry Babies' self-titled debut album from 1969. An early formation of Brazilian funk greats Banda Black Rio, Cry Babies took inspiration from the iconic US soul records of James Brown, The Isley Brothers and Kool & The Gang, all of whom are covered on their first and only album. Pioneering Brazil's funk fascination, Cry Babies paved the way for the likes of Jorge Ben, Dom Salvador, Trio Mocotó and Azymuth: with fat funky drum breaks, big round bass, touches of psychedelic Brazilian surf, and the kind of hazy soulful arrangements that could only emerge from Rio de Janeiro.

Produced by one of Brazil's most prolific musical minds, Durval Ferreira - whose song writing and production credits also include Sergio Mendes, Deodato, Emilio Santiago, Ed Lincoln, Joao Bosco, Quarteto Em Cy and Dila - the Cry Babies sound, while distinctly North American in influence, carries all the sunshine warmth of the samba jazz and bossa nova records that were coming out of Brazil at the time.

With saxophonist Oberdan Magalhães responsible for the album's arrangements, it's no surprise that when Warner Music established themselves in Brazil in the mid-seventies, Magalhães was the man they asked to form a group (Banda Black Rio) to develop this new merging of stateside soul and Brazilian influences. Yet while Banda Black Rio's tight, groove-heavy sound has awarded them cult status amongst lovers of instrumental Brazilian music, their first formation as Cry Babies is a lesser-known story. Since its first and only release, the original record has remained impossibly expensive and hard to find.

Set for its first ever vinyl reissue, Cry Babies has been remastered and pressed to 180g vinyl, with a high-quality replica sleeve, and will be available via Far Out Recordings from 31st January 2020.

Credits: Producer - Durval Ferreira, Coordinator - Nelson Attílio, Saxophone, Arrangements - Oberdan, Bass - Oswaldo, Congas - Carioca, Drums - Luiź Carlos, Guitar - Ovid, Organ - Sérgio Carvalho, Piano - Moacir, Trombone - Serginho, Trumpet - Paulinho, Vocals - Aldo, Rosana, Artwork - Mibielli.

Sly Stone is a songwriter and record producer, mostly famous for his role as front man for Sly and the Family Stone. The band played a critical role in the development of soul, funk, rock, and psychedelics in the 1960s and '70s.

Sly Stone was identified as a musical prodigy at a young age. By the time he was seven, Sylvester had already become proficient on the keyboards and by the age of eleven he had mastered the guitar, bass, and drums as well. While still in high school, Sylvester had settled primarily on the guitar and joined a number of high school bands.

In 1993 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group.

High On You (1975) is the first solo album by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone. For the most part Stone performed a large part of the instrumentation for each song on his own by using multi-tracking. The album prominently features vocalist Rudy Love and includes the singles I Get High on You', Le Lo Li' and Crossword Puzzle'.

Black Repress

New 12" from the "Fonk" french master Dabeull, with a lot of vintage synths, 80's sounds and hairy moustache.
Vintage Funk from today.

Back from a tour in Mexico, Dabeull then toured in Europe as support of FKJ. It is during this period that all his talent as a "doctor fonk" was brought to light with his vintage lab, his eighties sounds and its undisputed mastery of his talk-box table ...

The Golden Pilot is on!

The first release of a series of edits curated by Bounce FM.
Unknown or forgotten gems edited by the crew of vinyl addicts who run a sincere party in Turin since 2011.

Still Loving You, by Twilight, was originally released in 1981. Housed in a low-fi generic album cover, this very polished, professionally produced record sounds like it was made by a super talented band. Strains of Earth Wind and Fire, George Duke and Roy Ayers, flow through a collection of tunes that effortlessly blend soul, disco, funk, Latin and Brazilian vibes.

But looks, as evident with the LP cover, can be deceptive. Twilight was not a band. In fact, with the exception of a guest horn section and one guest vocal, Twilight was, and still is, Lawrence Ross; one man with a clear vision of what his music should sound like, and how he would make it on his own. Working the nightshift at General Mills, Ross was a Head shift packer at a flour mill where, in the twilight hours, there was enough quiet time to create songs.

He estimates it took him about a year to write the album, but recording only took a week. Able to get by with only 3 hours sleep he recorded Still Loving You in a seven-day stretch between 10 am and 11 am every morning, just a few hours after finishing work. Ross showed-up to the studio with a master plan to make a record as he heard it in his head, by playing everything himself. “I laid out a tick track from begin to end on the first day,” he explains. “Then I went in and laid down the bass on the next day, and then drums, and then keyboards etc, with each process taking one hour of studio time each day.”

Brooklyn's Breakdown Brass have returned with a monstrous cover of the Rick James classic "Mary Jane", a follow-up to their smash debut 45 "Monmouth b/w Next Episode" (Kept Records). The track blends their trademark heavy sound with the strolling soul vib.