Hip-Hop Vinyl Neuheiten & Releases - News

Underground Jazz, Street Funk & The Roots Of Rap 1968-79

Soul Jazz Records' new release 'Soul of a Nation: Afro-Centric Visions in the Age of Black Power' is released in conjunction with a major worldwide art exhibition, Soul of A Nation: Art in the The Age of Black Power which takes place at the Tate Modern, London, UK (July-Oct 2017) and The Brooklyn Museum, New York, USA.
The album shows how the ideals of the civil rights movement, black power and black nationalism influenced the evolvement of radical African-American music in the United States of America in the intensely political and revolutionary period at the end of the 1960s following the assassinations of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and the rise of the Black Panther party.
Featuring groundbreaking artists such as Gil Scott-Heron, Roy Ayers, Don Cherry, Oneness of Juju, Sarah Webster Fabio, Horace Tapscott, Phil Ranelin and many others, Soul of A Nation shows how political themes led to the rise of 'conscious' black music as new afro-centric styles combined the musical radicalism and spirituality of John Coltrane and radical avant-garde jazz music alongside the intense funk and soul of James Brown and Aretha Franklin and the urban poetry and proto-rap of the streets.
The Soul of a Nation exhibition draws on the links between Black art forms - art, music, poetry - and how they came together during the civil rights and black power era as part of the wider black arts movement across the United States.
Iconic African-Amercian revolutionary figures such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Angela Davis, John Coltrane, Muhammad Ali all appear in the radical artworks of Barkley L. Hendricks, Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, Lorraine O'Grady and Betye Saar.
A selection of original radical jazz record sleeves artworks which appear in Soul Jazz Records' earlier groundbreaking Freedom, Rhythm and Sound - Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art book will also be on show at the Tate, London throughout the exhibition. The Freedom, Rhythm and Sound book is also newly back-in-print in conjunction with this major exhibition and the release of the Soul of a Nation album.
Stuart Baker (founder of Soul Jazz Records) will appear on the panel of Jazz for Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power discussion at the gallery as part of the show.
Soul of a Nation comes with extensive sleeve-notes and exclusive photography in a large 36-page outsize booklet and slipcase. Double gatefold vinyl album edition comes with full colour inners + bonus download code and includes full sleeve-notes/photography.

The Allergies' debut album introduced the world to the way they effortlessly fuse funk, soul, disco, hip-hop and breaks into dancefloor-ready nuggets of ear candy. Taking classic sounds and reshaping for the modern age is the signature that won them plaudits across the globe.

Not ones to rest on their laurels, it hasn't taken long for them to deliver more of the goods on their second full-length album, 'Push On'. As well as taking the successful formula of the first record and expanding on the sound with raw Funk, Psych, Northern Soul, and Boogie influences, The Allergies enlisted two giants of underground Hip-Hop to bless mics on the album as well.

After a hugely successful collaboration on their debut LP, once again the dynamic lyricism and production skills of the inimitable Andy Cooper (Ugly Duckling) are present and correct in this new collection. Besides bringing the party on tracks like 'Main Event', he also settles scores with 'It Won't Be Me', before destroying all-comers on the battle Rap behemoth, 'Buzzsaw'. Also joining in on the action is UK MC veteran, Dr Syntax (The Mouse Outfit, Foreign Beggars) who prescribes some more healthy Hip-Hop advice on the track 'Remedy'.

Other highlights include the vintage Soul stomper, 'Entitled to That', Sixties uptempo groover, 'Hold You Close', and the fantastic little strutter, 'Get Down On You'. All in all it's a brand new set of future classics from your new favourite funky beatmakers, The Allergies.

Retrogott is back on AVA. RECORDS! Following Funky Beats And A Green Petrol Bus, here comes Funky Beats And A Supersonic Turbojet: Fresh as usual in a hand stamped color cover!

A few years ago, Melodies family members Floating Points and DJ Red Greg got their hands on a couple of original 70s obscurities. While these standout records shone brightly in their own right, the two DJs saw the potential to create their own edits behind the scenes, finely attuning the original versions to modern-day dancefloor standards. Of these new recordings, they cut only five copies for themselves and a few DJ friends of theirs. Today, Melodies International is very proud to bring you MEL006 and MEL007. Fully licensed, lovingly mastered to the highest possible standards and carefully edited to dial up that dancefloor enjoyment, these two 'You're A Melody' classics weren't originally meant to get official releases. But due to popular request, they are now available to play and share in very special moments at parties around the world. MEL6 arrives as a 7-inch, with the original version and the edit on the flip. First released in 1979 as a three-minute up-tempo library recording, 'Disco Baby", one of 10 tracks off a record available to license for film, radio, television and other media, held some hidden magic that would only get uncovered almost four decades later. Informed by years of combined dancefloor experience, Floating Points and Red Greg have slightly tweaked the original material, realising that played in the right context, it can become a true disco anthem.

Eddie C's Red Motorbike rolls into town again...
We're sticking with to the 7" format for this one, as Eddie splits the release with Moon Tan
Two more slinky, late night grooves await, as the scissors and tape are expertly wielded

Another keeper...

Hand - stamped, 7" vinyl only business

Having welcomed in 2015 on BBC 6 Music with a guest mix on Craig Charles' NYE House Party to over 250,000 listeners, Diesler was welcomed back to the show in late January 2015 to launch the first 'A Little Something Radio' Compilation.
Along side Craig Charles the compilation gained support from fellow BBC 6 Music DJ Huey Morgan who featured it on his show too. Such high profile launch and support, along with the 15 wonderful tracks on the compilation of course, propelled the release to become one of Here & Now Recordings most successful debut compilations.Inspired by his podcast of the same name, Diesler returns with the 2nd installment of 'A Little Something Radio' - 'London Sessions'.
Diesler delves deep into the vibrant and rich Modern Disco, Electronic Soul & Balearic scenes which thrive across the global dance floors and festivals, with a selection which reflects the variety of music he plays in his London DJ sets.
The 14 track CD and LP features established acts including Leo Zero (with remixes including Madonna, Lana Del Ray & Florence & The Machine under his belt), Yam Who(remixer of John Legend, Zero 7 & Amp Fiddler), Darkhouse Family (regulars at Fabric), US producer Tall Black Guy (who's fans include Gilles Peterson, Jazzy Jeff & Questlove) and Plateau Gats (supported by Hacienda legend & M-People founder Mike Pickering) well as debuting new artists Narcsus Prye, Ubiquity and Rich Keyworth who have all been hotly tipped thanks to their amazing live shows and work on feature film scores.
Along side European DJ jaunts Diesler also enjoys a monthly sell out residency called 'You Dig', with his DJ partner Simon Ham, at Soup Kitchen in Manchester, which was rated in the Top 10 UK Clubs by The Guardian.

Rsd Limited pressing

Reissued in its original form for Record Store Day 2016 for the album's 50th anniversary.

RSD Limited pressing

1981 studio album.  James Ingram on the singles "Just Once" and "One Hundred Ways," 

'Creation One' is a stunning eight track, jam packed album, so elusive but full of pure joy! Invigorating, stimulating, delightful, a treasure of rhythms grooves and breaks! 'Sombre Guitar' is the favourite to many, especially DJs! In the 1970's, composer and multi-instrumentalist John Danser formed Danser's Inferno, a funky Jazz-Rock-Fusion band, an ensemble of 14 very talented musicians. At age 14 John Danser emigrated from London and established himself in New York City where he earned a master's degree in music at the Manhattan school of music. In his early years, Danser played in classical as well as jazz gigs, simultaneously arranging and composing. He later went on to have an extensive musical career and at one point served as a bandleader at Concord hotel, during the Borscht Belt era, where he played for Sammy Davis jr., Milton Berle, Bob Hope and Judy Garland. - Rachel Kinoti

This well produced strong disco funk album is a hidden gem. The original is on many wants lists and rarely turns up. Heady disco funk from the glory days of the Miami soul scene in the 70's. This smoking album by the group Obatala is tight in a good way. Core funk energy mixed with some added strings and horns. A mode that's funky club, but never straight disco at all. Titles include "April", "Shades Of September", "Disco Party", "Funk-A-Fried", "Tight Rope", and "Work It Out". A killer set throughout! - Marc Janssen

This obscure and difficult to find LP is the Heath Brothers' debut album and is considered to be their best. 'Marchin'on' is unquestionably a masterpiece and is a much sought-after album. With its wealth of riffs, it is much appreciated by samplers and has been sampled by various contemporary artists. It was originally released in 1976 on Strata-East, a label at the time co-owned by Stanley Cowell. The album flows fluidly, meticulously in a warm rich blend with the four part 'smilin' Billy suite being a tour de force on its own. All suites have the same anchor in melody but each branches out to its own distinctive song varying from relaxed to light to dramatic and upbeat. The Heath Brothers was formed in 1975 by brothers Jimmy, Percy, Albert Heath and the much celebrated pianist Stanley Cowell in Philadelphia. The band later on continued with the brothers and alternate new members, with at one point the very talented 'Mtume' who is Jimmy Heath's son, joining. - Rachel Kinoti

Robust (Galapagos4) drops 2 tracks in collaboration with old school Chicago soul singer Doug Shorts (Jazzman Records / Daptone collaborator / Master Plan Inc frontman) who also dropped some cuts on Meaty Ogre's Cherries Records. Picture sleeve.

Limited edition remastered of the rare Phillip Wright classic!

SA-HA-RA are a London based writing and production team led by Peter Hinds Keyboards player of UK funk outts Light of the World,Incognito and Beggar& Co.
With Partners Steve Sinclair and Kevin Ellis they wrote and produced The enduring club classic Love so Fine'.
This 9 track vinyl album for 2017 includes tracks which expand on the SA-HA-RA sound and includes Dance,Soul,And Funk. Standout Tracks Include Why the hate, You are my Everything, and Lets get it on.
Including the Previously Hard to nd track Love so Fine'.

July 7 sees Seramic release a limited 12' vinyl version of their I Got You EP on Parlophone Records.

The EP includes recent singles Greg's Love, with Parliament-Funkadelic legend Bootsy Collins, Same Mistakes and the title track I Got You, the video for which features two members of the Great Britain Olympic Synchronised Swimming team and was recently nominated for a Berlin Music Video Award.

We are proud to announce the third release of the Tony Allen & Africa 70 (Disco Afro Series): featuring remastered original versions of Jealousy' and remixes produced by Loya (Reunion Island).

Multi-instrumentalist, initially playing jazz as well as African music, Sébastien Lejeune discovered electronic music when he was living in mainland France. This was the golden age of Warp Records figureheads IDM who had a huge effect on him, in particular the naïve melodies of Plaid and Boards from Canada. During a trip back to his homeland Sébastien became Loya. From that moment on, he started to mix Réunion maloya, Mauritian séga and Indian music with footwork tempo. He blends traditional maloya drums, beatboxes and synths, harmonizing the powerful vocals of Indian Ocean Island singers.

Tony Allen Afrobeat groove inspired me a lot to create the patterns with my drums machines which is the basic of my production work. The Indian Ocean Rhythms formerly coming from Africa recover the true sense on this beats.'

In 1975, Tony Allen recorded his debut album, Jealousy, the first of three made with Afrika 70 and produced by Fela Kuti. Jealousy is according to many still the highlight of his 4 solo-albums, featuring 2 afro-beat gems Jealousy' and Hustler'. Recorded at Decca's 16 track Abule-Oja studio in Lagos, Nigeria. Originally released on Soundworkshop Records in 1975.

Remastered limited edition : Originally released in 1984 on Eyes and distributed by Best Record.
Comes with the original picture cover art as was originally planned to be released.

"The Mark of the Devil" is the third and last chapter of Alex Puddu's trilogy with Italian legendary vocalist Edda Dell'Orso, here featured in three songs. Written, arranged, produced and performed by Alex Puddu, together with many great musicians, the album is Dope-Groove, is Prog-Rock, is Psych-Blues, a walk through the gates of hell within Lust and Temptation. This album is the most obscure and experimental Alex Puddu has ever made to date!

Say You Love Me wasn't "Om" Alec Khaoli's first solo recording but the 1985 EP solidified the bass player and songwriter's standing as one of South Africa's most consistently innovative pop auteurs. He built a career on ubiquitous rock, pop and soul hits with groundbreaking bands like the Beaters, Harari and Umoja.

But Khaoli's seemingly endless fountain of music continued outside these ensembles, where he usually played bass and contributed songwriting and vocals. Khaoli released several successful solo works while he made records with Umoja and worked on other productions with friends. This creativity was aided by Khaoli's own recording studio. He was the first South African to have a privately-owned studio.

As black artists were forced to record during lunch breaks and didn't get sufficient access and time in the white-owned studios, having his studio allowed Khaoli to develop in his own way. Hence his productive output during the 80's and early 90's, releasing 5 LPs with Umoja and 5 solo LPs, along with numerous singles and EPs. There's something broad and dynamic about the almost epic pop sound Khaoli creates on Say You Love Me.

Being the first South African to take control his recording process and thereby free himself from one of apartheid's many strictures, he took his vision of music to new realms and made timeless music for the dance floor in the process.

Do you long for a time where you could head out have a good time and dance your pants off Well The Allergies invite you back to the glory days of Northern Soul, high kicks and throwing yourself around the floor with their new single 'Entitled to That'.

It's an up tempo stomper with feel-good Soul sensibilities that would be equally at home at the Wigan Casino as it is on today's festival circuit. Following on in the same vein that made their 6 Music album of the day record - 'As We Do Our Thing' so popular, they continue to reshape classic sounds for the modern dancefloor.

Talented Soul songstress Honey Larochelle provides the sass in this peppy number co-penned with The Allergies by regular collaborator Andy Cooper (Ugly Duckling). This second single taken from their forthcoming album 'Push On' shows they've lost none of the verve that made their debut so good, and gives another taste of what to expect from the LP.

They balance out the release nicely with a steady groover in the shape of 'Get Down On You' - a steady Funk groove with a catchy bassline and the usual signature flair touches from the guys to keep the crowds entertained.

Steve Cobby & Porky released 3 albums as The Cutler between 2007 and 2013 and were on the way to completing a fourth when Steve cut loose from their label Steel Tiger and decided to go solo in all pursuits with his own imprint Déclassé.

Porky approached Steve last year with a shortlist of unreleased material they'd done together and wondered if there was life in them.
Cobby set to work completing the unfinished tunes and refining those almost complete. These 7 tunes are the fruits of those labours.
Project names have been cast aside in favour of surnames for all of Cobbys collaborations post 2013, but in essence this is still The Cutler.

"With The Ray Bryant Combo" - Aretha Franklin (voc), Quentin Jackson, Tyree Glenn (tb), Al Sears (ts), Ray Bryant (p), Lord Westbrook, Skeeter Best (g), Milt Hinton, Bill Lee (b), Belton Evans, Sticks Evans, Osie Johnson (dr)

As is well known, early relationships are not always blessed, and it is certainly no secret that the collaboration between Aretha Franklin and Columbia's record producer John H. Hammond did not last long. Hammond's later attempts to candy Franklin's irrepressible natural voice with sugary arrangements and studio gimmicks did not go down well with the public. On the first Franklin disc from Columbia, however, it was honeymoon all the way. With a successful mix of pop and jazz standards, the super talent - Aretha had just turned 18 years old - brought her vocal chords to vibrate. Fired on with youthful élan, these evergreens sound so fresh, new and intoxicating that the question of their genre is quite irrelevant. From a seesawing R & B ("Won't Be Long") via bell-like waves of melody ("Over The Rainbow") right up to the freely styled, jazzy Gershwin classic "It Ain't Necessarily So" - everything is right there! The Ray Bryant Trio - augmented with winds - proves itself a formidable ensemble with true presence yet unobtrusive accompaniment. If you compare the mature performances of Aretha Franklin in her subsequent years with Atlantic (Atlantic SD7205), you will soon recognize that the later 'First Lady of Soul' was in full command of her profession right from the very beginning.

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

The JB's was the name of James Brown's backing band from 1970 through the early 1980s. In addition to backing Brown, the J.B.'s played behind Bobby Byrd, Lyn Collins, and other singers associated with the James Brown Revue, and performed and recorded as a self-contained group. The band released 8 albums in the 1970's and were led by trombonist Fred Wesley.

It's no exaggeration to say that Geraldo Pino and his band the Heartbeats kickstarted the whole soul/funk/afrobeat scene in West Africa. Mixing highlife, funk and jazz, and using the latest equipment, they laid waste to all before them. In 1966 Fela Kuti was a jobbing musician, eeking out a living with highlife bands. When Gerlado Pino came to town, it changed his life. Pino tore up the scene,' he recalls in an interview with Carlos Moore. I knew I had to get my shit together. And fast!'. Produced by Odion Iruoje and engineered by Emmanual Odenusi, Let's Have A Party is Geraldo Pino's masterpiece. It's slick and heavy, tough and uncompromising, with musicianship that will blow your mind. It's all killer, no filler, with 'Heavy Heavy Heavy' and 'Let Them Talk' bonafide, nailed on funk classics. The Heartbeats are exactly that, a tight and efficient engine that keeps the groove moving. This is US-style funk, with an emphasis on extended percussion workouts and organ wigouts. You can't listen to 'Power To The People' without being impressed - or compelled to dance. The extended call out to each Heartbeat in 'Let's Have a Party' is well deserved. If my house caught on fire, this is the one album I'd rescue. After one listen, I reckon you'd do the same. - Peter Moore

Two classic Roy Ayers productions back to back on a replica of the original Blue Thumb DJ promo release from 1977.

"Everybody Loves the Sunshine" is the quintessential summer track that has been sampled numerous times by hip hop artists such as Brand Nubian, P.M. Dawn, Common, Masta Ace, Mos Def and others as well as by R&B singer Mary J. Blige.

The Roy Ayers version is the better known track and is his signature tune. The legendary Jazz-Funk pioneer walked tall at Polydor Records in the 1970's for whom he produced a number of seminal albums.

Roy Ayers Music Productions were a side project for Roy Ayers. He was not a member, though he did write and produce songs on the group's debut album Come Into Knowledge (1977) on which this version the track was released.

Segun Bucknor fell in love with American soul music as a student at New York's Columbia University. Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke and Ray Charles hadn't made much of a splash in Africa at the time and when Bucknor returned to Nigeria in 1968, he was determined to bring the sound to a wider audience. The result was brand of Afro-Soul that in turn became a proto-type of Afrobeat. With his bands, The Assembly and The Revolution, he released a few politically charged tracks, but even with his energetic dance trio, The Sweet Things, turning up the heat, Bucknor couldn't compete with Fela Kuti. This self-titled album, the last he released, sees Bucknor go back to his soul roots. Released after The Revolution were disbanded, the Afrobeat affectations are scaled back and his soulful voice brought to the fore. The concerns are more personal than political. It's the sort of music the Sweet Things would nod their heads to rather than shake their booty. That's not to say the African beats aren't still there. On songs like 'The Price Of Love' and 'See And Believe' they form an intriguing bedrock for the songs to be built upon. On Segun Bucknor the sound sophisticated not sweaty, comforting rather than confronting. - Peter Moore,

Segun Bucknor fell in love with American soul music as a student at New York's Columbia University. Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke and Ray Charles hadn't made much of a splash in Africa at the time and when Bucknor returned to Nigeria in 1968, he was determined to bring the sound to a wider audience. The result was brand of Afro-Soul that in turn became a proto-type of Afrobeat. With his bands, The Assembly and The Revolution, he released a few politically charged tracks, but even with his energetic dance trio, The Sweet Things, turning up the heat, Bucknor couldn't compete with Fela Kuti. This self-titled album, the last he released, sees Bucknor go back to his soul roots. Released after The Revolution were disbanded, the Afrobeat affectations are scaled back and his soulful voice brought to the fore. The concerns are more personal than political. It's the sort of music the Sweet Things would nod their heads to rather than shake their booty. That's not to say the African beats aren't still there. On songs like 'The Price Of Love' and 'See And Believe' they form an intriguing bedrock for the songs to be built upon. On Segun Bucknor the sound sophisticated not sweaty, comforting rather than confronting. - Peter Moore,

LP is on Now-Again Reserve Edition gatefold jacket. Hand-numbered edition of 1000. 160 gram vinyl from Quality Record Production. OBI strip and resealable Japanese-style' plastic sleeve. Download card for WAV files of the album. Contains booklet with the story of this mysterious band, told for the first time, and many unpublished photos. // The CD is presented in a 6-panel eco-wallet with a 16-page booklet with the story of this mysterious band, told for the first time, and many unpublished photos. They have been known to deep soul, funk and disco collectors for decades for their sought after 7' Watching Out/Dazed,' long thought to be the band's only recordings. Egon tracked down Split Decision Band's vocalist and songwriter Gordon Starr Flipping in the hopes of more and got it - with Split Decision Band, Now-Again presents a never-before-released album of devastatingly good disco and boogie from the unlikely city of Des Moines, Iowa. Flipping's collaborations with Prince's stable made him a Midwestern legend, but his band's music is more than an urban tall tale - this album finally proves to the world their merits.

One of the rarest funk 45s in existence and the rarest 45 on Ellis Taylor's Forte label flipped with a previously unreleased acetate (has a little bit of background noise but what you gonna do when there is only one copy in the world, we did out best to make it sound good and it does). Both tracks are stone cold Deepfunk killers. Super Black is from the tapes and sounds amazing (better than the original) so go destroy a club with this.

For the past four decades, a growing cult of soul music collectors have sought two obscure LPs and a handful of extremely rare 45s released on the vanity record label LAD Productions, Inc. between the late seventies and the mid eighties by the mysterious South Side Chicago singer/song writer Larry Dixon.
Larry's raw songs capture the transition from R&B to boogie-down as disco was rapidly becoming extinct.
They also perfectly illustrate Larry's ability to overcome his environment and discrimination, transcended by his determination to write and produce music. With the support of his faithful musicians, Larry's success was only hindered by lack of airplay and promotion, but his talent shines through.
This is the story of Larry Dixon, his label LAD Productions, Inc., and his friends and family throughout four decades of music in Chicago's toughest neighborhoods.
Jerome Derradji is proud to reactivate Past Due Records - the boogie funk division of Still Music to release this fantastic archive - what many consider to be the Holy Grail - of Chicago Funk, Boogie and Soul.

Exclusive promotional vinyl 45 to support the library album THE BREAK DOWN from the vaults of Warner/Chappell Production Music . The Rhythm Snipers recreate the old school funk sound that gave birth to hiphop by using analogue 8-track tape machines and authentic vintage equipment. 'Standing Rock' is bongo-heavy blockparty breakbeat anthem with western chorus, 'B-Boy Champions Medley' is a breakdance funk mashup with four different breaks all played live. Limited quantities as most of the pressing is used as a giveaway to clients in film/TV/advertising.