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Japanese funk bomb released via Eglo Records! One for the dance floors.

Nigeria has been one of these African countries with a rich western oriented music scene spawning some highly praised garage rock acts like OFEGE and some hot blooded steaming funk acts. One of these groups taking a turn on music that was happening a few thousand miles west in the USA about five or six years prior was AKWASSA and here we gotta listen to their second album 'In the groove' and the title actually says it all. They play some funky music that would make James Brown (God rest his soul) or Betty Davis (Miles Davis' beautiful and highly gifted wife) go crazy for and they do it with a routine you would rather expect with American superstars. AKWASSA impress with a tight as a teenie's ass rhythm section grooving some hypnotizing beats that consist of wild percussions and an airy drumming tied together by some captivating bass lines. Upon this rhythmical basement you find a grinding organ scrubbing your senses and a clean wah wah driven guitar that erupts into fuzzed out solos from time to time. The mid ranged voice comes with a rich tone and nobody would question me if I'd tell him this was a US act. Well, okay, there is a little accent but at least his English is grammatically perfect. In the end it does not matter much for the voice is one instrument that adds a patch of color to the whole picture. How great to know this Afro Funk classic from the 70s can now be enjoyed by a young audience with an open mind. Old school funksters, take your chance, this is sheer bliss.

Now we enter territories of smooth disco grooves and spicy samba rhythms as solid background for whipping melodies of the most charming kind. This is a lush late 70s disco production with an affinity for jazz that showcases a band lead by a truly gifted violin player. Elements of electronic dance and pop music and Latin sounds embrace each other and get tied together by sexy funky bass guitar lines. Samba, Salsa and whatever South America has to offer join forces with the Western club music of the day and in between all those fluffy but rich arrangements some freaked out piano eruptions and twisted song structures prove Alfredo De La Fe's fondness for the jazz scene aside from the mainstream. His violin turns into a screeching demon raging upon an ever flowing pulse of percussions, bass and drums. And the beat will definitely not leave you alone for the whole playing time. Alfredo's violin is the secret star of this record and he as the multicultural band leader, born in Cuba, living in the USA after 16 years in Columbia, knows to enchant and fascinate his listeners with songs that have the charm of pop and the edges great jazz offers, fused into one vivid world of sound. The deep and wide structures invite you to take a trip through a pulsating city with music, dances and happy spirits everywhere. My favorite here is the truly modernized but utterly hypnotizing 'My favorite things' I only used to know from John Coltrane before. Folks, Alfredo De La Fe might play a really smooth, happy and lightweight music but this man really pulls it off. No wonder that original pressings of this album go for 180,00 Dollars. Now we can change that with a beautiful fresh reissue and if you are a lover of Latin music, disco and funk, be welcome to lend your ears to Alfredo De La Fe.

Now we enter territories of smooth disco grooves and spicy samba rhythms as solid background for whipping melodies of the most charming kind. This is a lush late 70s disco production with an affinity for jazz that showcases a band lead by a truly gifted violin player. Elements of electronic dance and pop music and Latin sounds embrace each other and get tied together by sexy funky bass guitar lines. Samba, Salsa and whatever South America has to offer join forces with the Western club music of the day and in between all those fluffy but rich arrangements some freaked out piano eruptions and twisted song structures prove Alfredo De La Fe's fondness for the jazz scene aside from the mainstream. His violin turns into a screeching demon raging upon an ever flowing pulse of percussions, bass and drums. And the beat will definitely not leave you alone for the whole playing time. Alfredo's violin is the secret star of this record and he as the multicultural band leader, born in Cuba, living in the USA after 16 years in Columbia, knows to enchant and fascinate his listeners with songs that have the charm of pop and the edges great jazz offers, fused into one vivid world of sound. The deep and wide structures invite you to take a trip through a pulsating city with music, dances and happy spirits everywhere. My favorite here is the truly modernized but utterly hypnotizing 'My favorite things' I only used to know from John Coltrane before. Folks, Alfredo De La Fe might play a really smooth, happy and lightweight music but this man really pulls it off. No wonder that original pressings of this album go for 180,00 Dollars. Now we can change that with a beautiful fresh reissue and if you are a lover of Latin music, disco and funk, be welcome to lend your ears to Alfredo De La Fe.

OUTTA SIGHT presents the first in a new series of Long Play albums pairing two soul music luminaries.
Rarer Stamps draws its inspiration from the album Rare Stamps issued by Volt Reoords a Stax subsidiary in 1969. The original LP was the inspiration of Al Bell and was one of 3 Rare Stamps collections each featuring archive material from Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor and splitting the 3rd package between JJ Barnes and Steve Mancha. The Barnes/Mancha pairing went on to become an iconic album, an essential part of any respectable soul collection.
Here we bring together two of Detroit's finest, the mighty Barrett Strong and the much overlooked Gino Parks. Each side spotlights the best of their hot R&B action plus a super rare 45: in the case of Barrett Strong we include his first and rarest Tamla recording Let's Rock', and from Gino we feature the incredibly obscure Detroit doo-wop cut Last Night I Cried'.

Detroit has become a symbol for the decline of American economy in recent years but once was a kind of musical capital reaching a peak in the late 1960s when two main directions of sound with a typical 'Detroit' flair had their origin in the motor city. One was a rough edged and earthy heavy rock style whose protagonists MC 5, THE STOOGES and FRIJID PINK came to some fame and fortune, not to mention the original ALICE COOPER BAND. The other was the world famous Motown soul sound with countless more or less successful bands and solo artists. Somewhere in between the sweet but hot blooded soul and rumbling proto heavy metal and proto punk of both musical worlds you will stumble over an all black outfit named BLACK MERDA, the first black rock band from the USA as legends tell you. But even though the band name and the African American origin of the band members which almost scream to put the 'black music' label onto this band there is more color to be found in their songs than you would expect. We have elements of soul, funk, blues and fierce hard rock crossed with some more peaceful and relaxed West coast rock aspects resulting in a rich melody writing in this mix performed by a bunch of professionals who really know which skill to use at which point. But they play with passion reigning over techniques and calculation so BLACK MERDA will capture your heart quickly after this beautiful record started spinning on your turntable and they will demand their share of love from you. Highly recommended to fans of JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE and BAND OF GYPSIES, ARTHUR LEE'S LOVE, BETTY DAVIS, MARCUS MALONE.

Man, this is a blast. Soulful disco and pop music with a rather naked production and heart melting songs is what Ms. Cleveland has to offer on her hyper rare 1977 album 'Looking up', a sacred gem of late 1970s black music with electronic tinges. Her masterpiece must be the hypnotizing soul pop anthem 'Love will set you free' that lives from a primitive electronic drum beat, some rattles and tambourine sounds and the interplay of organ and synthesizer. Actually even the organ sounds like a synthesizer. Her rich and soulful voice will captivate you within a moment. There are some slower tunes in here that have a spaced out feel due to the synthesizer lines despite their stylistical link to early ska and rock steady or lush classy pop. Carrie's vocals have a unique charm and come as intriguing as they can. This cat knows to sing like an angel, clean and innocent but with the spirit of a diva. This is indeed a strange album and if you can imagine KRAFTWERK working with Donna Summer on disco music, this is close to what you will discover here. Original copies of this jewel go for 450,00 and more Dollars and I agree that this record is so unique in its whole approach it may bring a true aficionado and collector to the point where money plays a minor role. A strange little rarity of angelic beauty. Great to find it reissued now so we can all enjoy the slick weirdness offered by Carrie Cleveland.

Plus 3 bonus tracks! These folks were all England based but originated from quite a few former Commonwealth countries with many having African roots. Back in 1968 before they became DEMON FUZZ (The Devil's child) the musicians started as a typical soul music group but following a trip to Morocco they had opened their minds and broadened their musical vision towards a conglomerate of jazz, African roots music, psychedelic sounds, blues, powerful rock and tinges of funk and soul music. The multi ethnical band felt like playing multi ethnically influenced rock for the club and festival audiences all over the UK who were craving for the next hot sensation. And despite their sensational musical vision and captivating compositions DEMON FUZZ never made it further than a cult band. Anyway, what they deliver here is progressive even for its time and still groovy and hypnotizing enough to fill the dancefloors of the most hip underground clubs. Great saxophone lines (or are these melodies created by a sax) over polyrhythmic groove patterns will drive each fan of bands like SOFT MACHINE and COLOSSEUM nutz. You can bet. There is the mandatory cover version included here, 'Another country', originally played by THE ELECTRIC FLAG, which received another cover treatment from Leicester based heroes PESKY GEE! , later to be known as BLACK WIDOW. Both English bands do an awesome job on it and DEMON FUZZ get the most psychedelia out of their open jazz saxophone improvisations over a smooth, repetitive rhythm pattern in the long middle section. This tune must have been written by the Devil himself to deprive you of your soul. The soul is indeed what this composition has been all about ever since, the essence of soul music but the way it got spiced up with so many extraordinary and exotic elements makes it one of these ever flourishing youthful anthems of progressive rock and pop from the late 60s, the pioneer days of progressive music. The further you get on this album the more greatness you will experience. Fans of the jazz and rock amalgam of the Canterbury scene will definitely get excited when they stumble over 'Afreaka'. Each not gets played with so much love and passion, with a nearly demonic lust and an irresistible joy of life despite some melancholic undertones. The progressive breakouts that flow directly into the one or another boiling psyche soul cauldron come as naturally as they can come. They belong here and are one color of so many. Go and experience this beautiful record yourself if you can take a strong alloy of PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC, SLY & THE FAMILY STONE, COLOSSEUM, WAR, GINGER BAKER'S AIRFORCE, MILES DAVIS, OSIBISA, BLACK WIDOW, IF and NUCLEUS.

Ooouh yeah, this is an easy one. The group comes from Brazil, the album has been originally released in 1978 at a preliminary height of the disco movement, there is a beautiful black woman surrounded by a shiny atmosphere and with a fluffy white afro wig on her head smiling at you from the cover. You can imagine that this is hot blooded, steamy disco funk with slick production, striking, yet gentle lead vocal lines, whipping brass arrangements and a mood of nothing but pure joy. The whole experience is rather polished and aims at a typical disco audience but all participating musicians are top players and they interact so tightly that the result is an irresistible permanent groove that will capture your soul and leaves you breathless on the dancefloor when the record is over. The arrangements are complex and thick with layers shifted upon layers of all kinds of instruments like electric piano, synthesizers, brass instruments, sexy wah wah guitars. The funk influence from the early years is still present when this music was performed and even lived in dirty backstreet clubs in some suspicious parts of the big US cities. This album heats you up with an extra dose of physical energy and a sexualizing swing that originates from the band's Brazilian pedigree. Even the more moderate ballads will tickle your senses with a highly captivating feeling for simmering grooves and soft arrangements that are like a musical canopy bed with a beautiful nude lady waiting for you. Well, you see, I get utterly sexualized by this sweet soul music and all the hot funk eruptions here despite or maybe even because the lush and slick sound. If you love this aspect of black music from the 70s with an extra Latin touch, this is yours and will stay forever. For fans of Donna Summer, AIR, WAR and THE TEMPTATIONS.

After many hours I spent among high society buggers at clean mansion parties lately it is time to go back to the streets and crawl through some nasty gin palaces for the real stuff, the dirty, the hot blooded and unrestrained grooves and striking melodies. And so we end up in some hell hole of a backstreet barroom where half dressed beauties dance around the rods and a mean looking bunch of black guys in shiny outfits lounge around the stage and play some steamy and ever pulsating soul and funk with enough dirt beneath the fingernails to prove their ghetto origins. And when I open my eyes again I am here in my comfort zone, the living room of my apartment and I listen to some vinyl turning on my turntable but still shiver from the experience I made in my dream. What is this all about Oliver Sain (1932 - 2003) was a bandleader extraordinaire and brought his crew to play at highest levels while still retaining an honest feeling. Most songs on this first album of his group come as instrumentals with the occasional commanding shout by the master himself and you will for sure recognize a few fairly popular melodies and indeed, there are adaptions of classics like 'Georgia' and the 'Harlem nocturne' played with an enormous dedication which of course goes for all the performances here. Oliver Sain and his band do not just play down their tunes, they live out each note with the fire burning within their hearts. Especially the expressive saxophone playing will leave you as a listener floored. Eruptive lines that could come straight from the vaults of the great late John Coltrane meet a rather relaxed and laid back funk sound, can you dig it There is steam heat and sheer love pouring from these well executed compositions and adaptions. Prices for originals of this rare vinyl go up to 180 Euros, so we can shiver with anticipation to get our hand on the beautiful Funky Planet reissue quite soon. Black music aficionados with a special fondness for 60s and 70s stuff will feel like a child in a sweets shop. It's all good and groovy here.

Detroit Chicago Well, no not at all. This 1968 release comes from a German band playing some lush and dynamic soul pop with an emotionally exalted vocal style that reminds a bit of Tom Jones at times. The songs range from powerfully onward grooving booty shakers to striking melodic tunes with great chorus lines that enlighten your spirit. When you take a listen you will realize these folks had a sense for the classic beat music of just a few years prior to this release and they really manage to lay down a steaming performance on this style actually already outdated back then. But since THE SOUL EXPLOSION spice up everything with a dark and brooding back street club atmosphere at the right moment, they could do what they want and always sounded exciting and fresh. I could not have told the difference between these krauts and any popular British or North American act in their genre. There is passion, sheer lust, a wild and animalistic drive and an ongoing groove that will mesmerize you. Technically this is a really solid group that knows to let loose when it is time to but mostly keeps the energy flow under control. I am certain that 60s fanatics who love the soul and early rock fusion of this era will go insane. It might be one of these typical exploito bands that were only studio projects done by the same musicians on several occasions for good money to be sold in the bargain bin to a willing audience. Well, we rather do not think further into that direction since the music that appears on 'Soul fire' strikes your deepest inner self and sets your spirit aflame. The melodies are amazing and if you go and check the rhythms you will end up shaking without a chance to escape the everlasting pulse. This should have been enormously big. Think of later day ANIMALS, THE FOUR TOPS and the EQUALS all thrown into a mixer on full throttle, you might get something of a similar quality. Oh, Baby, c'mon shake it with me, yeah!

Detroit Chicago Well, no not at all. This 1968 release comes from a German band playing some lush and dynamic soul pop with an emotionally exalted vocal style that reminds a bit of Tom Jones at times. The songs range from powerfully onward grooving booty shakers to striking melodic tunes with great chorus lines that enlighten your spirit. When you take a listen you will realize these folks had a sense for the classic beat music of just a few years prior to this release and they really manage to lay down a steaming performance on this style actually already outdated back then. But since THE SOUL EXPLOSION spice up everything with a dark and brooding back street club atmosphere at the right moment, they could do what they want and always sounded exciting and fresh. I could not have told the difference between these krauts and any popular British or North American act in their genre. There is passion, sheer lust, a wild and animalistic drive and an ongoing groove that will mesmerize you. Technically this is a really solid group that knows to let loose when it is time to but mostly keeps the energy flow under control. I am certain that 60s fanatics who love the soul and early rock fusion of this era will go insane. It might be one of these typical exploito bands that were only studio projects done by the same musicians on several occasions for good money to be sold in the bargain bin to a willing audience. Well, we rather do not think further into that direction since the music that appears on 'Soul fire' strikes your deepest inner self and sets your spirit aflame. The melodies are amazing and if you go and check the rhythms you will end up shaking without a chance to escape the everlasting pulse. This should have been enormously big. Think of later day ANIMALS, THE FOUR TOPS and the EQUALS all thrown into a mixer on full throttle, you might get something of a similar quality. Oh, Baby, c'mon shake it with me, yeah!

In November 1979 Neil Rushton's Inferno label released a Northern Soul compilation album "Out On The Floor Tonight" from tracks it had issued on 45s. The LP came out with no fuss, and in the mad at the time frenzy at the time frenzy of all things Northern Soul at the time was issued, sold OK, and was soon forgotten as other new releases came along.
In the 1980's, UK released Rare Soul compilations became the flavour of the month and "Out On The Floor Tonight" quietly built up a following, before being hailed as a classic of the genre towards the end of the decade by a new Mod scene and the UK "On The Run" Scooterist juggernaut.
In more recent times, the Soul Soul renaissance has seen the album hailed as iconic, and several leading movers and shakers on the movement have praised the LP as being their perfect introduction to the strange but wonderful world of Northern Soul.
The zittgiest is happening, with announcement of the release, with many people acknowledging Out On The Floor Tonight", the first model, as  their all time favorite Northern Soul album. In the spirit of that, Part 2 features 3 tracks also featured in Part 1 - the other 13 hand picked tracks (no fillers here) are all time classics too. This really is "16 Classic Northern Soul Floor Fillers", so all the signs are that this much delayed "follow up" will earn the same credibility as the first release.

This once privately released album finds its origins in the jazz music scene of Boston / Mass., USA from where people came together to lay down the two lengthy compositions 'The beginning of a new birth' (25 minutes) and 'The prayer' (15 minutes) by composer and director John Jamyll Jones. The mood is thoughtful and spiritual in some way with wordless chants, hypnotizing polyrhythmic grooves and haunting lead harmonies by saxophone and flute creating a colorful trippy stream of sound that is certainly domiciled in the field of free modal jazz in a rather relaxed fashion. It is the kind of spiritual jazz created on all acoustic instruments that recalls the greatest works of JOHN & ALICE COLTRANE or PHAROAH SANDERS during their heydays. You swim on top of this gently flowing river of notes and sometimes get swallowed by a few freak out sound maelstroms. You drift through a haze of colors and sounds until you reach a state of total enlightenment due to the repetitive nature of the rhythms and song structures. The solos of flute and saxophones are just awesome and the melodies set your soul ablaze despite the fact that the background by drums, standing bass and piano stays with one line like a stubborn mule as experienced in 'The prayer'. Well, people who love this kind of jazz will be enchanted by the WORLD'S EXPERIENCE ORCHESTRA and their sole album from 1975.

This once privately released album finds its origins in the jazz music scene of Boston / Mass., USA from where people came together to lay down the two lengthy compositions 'The beginning of a new birth' (25 minutes) and 'The prayer' (15 minutes) by composer and director John Jamyll Jones. The mood is thoughtful and spiritual in some way with wordless chants, hypnotizing polyrhythmic grooves and haunting lead harmonies by saxophone and flute creating a colorful trippy stream of sound that is certainly domiciled in the field of free modal jazz in a rather relaxed fashion. It is the kind of spiritual jazz created on all acoustic instruments that recalls the greatest works of JOHN & ALICE COLTRANE or PHAROAH SANDERS during their heydays. You swim on top of this gently flowing river of notes and sometimes get swallowed by a few freak out sound maelstroms. You drift through a haze of colors and sounds until you reach a state of total enlightenment due to the repetitive nature of the rhythms and song structures. The solos of flute and saxophones are just awesome and the melodies set your soul ablaze despite the fact that the background by drums, standing bass and piano stays with one line like a stubborn mule as experienced in 'The prayer'. Well, people who love this kind of jazz will be enchanted by the WORLD'S EXPERIENCE ORCHESTRA and their sole album from 1975.

Craig Charles Funk & Soul Classics is a 3CD compilation of well-known, classic Funk & Soul tracks - ranging from the 1960s to modern day classics, and a few hidden gems!
The album showcases the variety of this music, from leading bands and artists of the genre(s) as championed by Craig on his BBC 6Music and Radio 2 shows
Craig has more exposure than ever at the moment - he is currently DJ'ing on Radio 2 and 6Music, and will be leaving his role in Coronation Street after 10 years w/c 21st September, as he prepares to go back into Red Dwarf, so he will be promoting the album alongside that.

01. The Jacksons - Can You Feel It
02. Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up
03. Otis Redding - Hard To Handle
04. James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing
05. The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone
06. Aretha Franklin - Respect (Live At Philly West Version)
07. The Isley Brothers - Its Your Thing
08. The Jackson Sisters - I Believe In Miracles
09. Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
10. KC & The Sunshine Band- That's The Way (I Like It)
11. Edwin Starr - 25 Miles
12. Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
13. Maceo & The Macks - Parrty
14. Kool And The Gang - Kool's Back Again
15. Little Richard - Get Down With It
16. Bobby Byrd - I Know You Got Soul
17. Al Wilson - The Snake
18. Billy Paul Am I Black Enough For You
19. Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands
20. Al Green - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

01. Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances
02. Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Comin'
03. Chairmen of the Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time
04. Georgie Fame - Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
05. Frank Wilson - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
06. Clarence Carter - Snatching It Back (Single Version)
07. MFSB - TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)
08. Parliament - P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
09. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
10. Sandie Shaw - Sympathy For The Devil
11. Buddy Rich - The Beat Goes On
12. Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s - Blow Your Head
13. Mop Mop Feat. Fred Wesley & Anthony Joseph - Run Around
14. Cymande - Brothers On The Slide
15. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Ain't That A Bitch
16. Charles Bradley - The World (Is Going Up In Flames)
17. Gil Scott-Heron - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
18. Shuggie Otis - Strawberry Letter 23
19. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe
20. Heatwave - Always and Forever

01. Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar
02. Leon Bridges - Better Man
03. Omar - The Man
04. Cody ChestnuTT - Look Good In Leather
05. Cookin' on 3 Burners Feat. Kylie Auldist - This Girl
06. Quantic and Alice Russell With The Combo Bárbaro - Magdalena
07. Frootful Feat. Angeline Morrison - Fish In The Sea
08. Shaun Escoffery - Hercules
09. Mario Biondi And The High Five Quintet - This Is What You Are
10. Lee Fields & The Expressions - Ladies
11. The Excitements - Wait A Minute
12. Lady - Money
13. 6ix Toys - Do Your Thing
14. Nick Pride & The Pimptones - Everything's Better In The Summertime
15. Jessica Lauren Four - Happiness Train
16. Betty Davis - Anti Love Song
17. Lack of Afro Feat. Jack Tyson-Charles - Recipe For Love
18. The Bamboos - Amen Brother
19. The Apples - Killing
20. Incredible Bongo Band - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

2xLPs + 2xCDs. The two Lp´s CDs feature Lotus Flower & MPL Sound studio albums.

Mukatsuku digs deep again to bring you two hot scorchers as the last remnants of Summer lays way to an oncoming autumn....A side Courtial with Errol Knowles is a modern soul dance floor gem of excellence from the San Francisco Bay Area championed by the likes of Snowboy & Keb Darge at various funk nights of the 90's including ...With the killer piano intro,fat back drums and those dope vocals with a message it just doesn't get much better than this...An original minted copy of the 45 would set you back a couple of hundred British pounds...On the flipside Sounds Of The City Experience deliver a peak time funk instrumental workout with furious drums and brass with a soundtrack feel to rival Quincy Jones circia Mr Tibbs or Johnny Pate circia Shaft In Africa.

They're young and tough - and especially wonderful too - easily one of the most compelling harmony soul groups to ever hail from the Windy City! The set's a Chicago soul gem from the early 70s - recorded with a laidback, slightly tripped-out vibe that's different than the tighter styles of other groups from the same scene - definitely righteous at points, with some of the superbad modes you might hear from an east coast lineup like The Delfonics or Soul Generation, especially when they were trying to get a bit more conscious in their message. Arrangements are great - handled by Tom Tom Washington, Eugene Record, and Cliff Davis - very much at the best Brunswick mode, but again with a deeper sort of vibe too. The title cut's a monster, and a very fitting follow-up to their earlier 'Sly, Slick, & Wicked' track - and the album features 2 versions (vocal and instrumental) of a cut called 'This Is The Lost Generation', a very righteous soul groove with a heavy production tip.

Review courtesy of Soulmakossa

Re mastered and re released for 2015 in conjunction with Brunswick. Too legit to quit.

 After recording various psych soul and funk tracks on the whiz record label The Real Thing carried on after leaving the label to record more studio cuts with musician and producer Stu Gardner. Here they let it rip with an incredible fast version of James browns "Give it up, turnit loose".....And they left in that all important secret ingredient of a lovely long drum break. Stu Gardner himself took to the microphone on this track, with various background vocals and screams, and did the vocals for the amazing b-side "it a family thang"!

Wonderful fully re mastered re issue of these 2 funk nuggets from Young Holt Unlimited.
Re released on a dinked 7" for 2015 in full collaboration with Brunswick Records.
Mp3 samples attached

Latest volume in the attractively priced, ever reliable 3CD Soul Lounge series, with a strong line-up of soul, R&B and jazz artists, including Shaun Escoffery, Jarrod Lawson, Bluey, Diplomats of Soul,
Avery Sunshine and Tortured Soul

Released on CD for the first time is a stunning new Opolopo remix of 'Sleepwalkers' by Jazz FM's Soul Artist of the Year Jarrod Lawson, as well as the Nigel Lowis remix of 'Soul Town' by Ola Onabule and the DJ Spen & Gary Hudgins remix of Shaun Escoffery's 'People'. Other up-tempo highlights include Reel People's remix of Heston's 'Resign 2 U', the Incognito remix of 'Believe In Love' by JD73 and the Layabouts remix of Imaani's'Yeah'.

This latest visit to the Soul Lounge - with more than 3 hours of music on 3 CDs - is sure to find favour with those who like their soul and R&B with a touch of class. Released on the Soul Lounge label.

New label DINKED RECORDS will be focussing on digging up old soul/funk tunes which might not have been released on 7' vinyl before or are in need of a timely reissue. All tracks licensed and remastered for a fat sounding 45!

First up we have Ike Turner's 'Funky Mule', an enormous break which was a fave amongst Drum & Bass producers like Goldie, 4 Hero etc. It originally appeared on Ike's LP 'A Black Man's Soul' on Pompeii Records back in '69 but amazingly never appeared on a 45 ....until now! On the flip side we are treated to some bonus beats and skipless loops by Canadian turntablist, DJ Nick Bike, who was this year's Western CDN Red Bull Thre3style champ and is making big waves in the DJ world...limited copies!

Mr Zambon's (of The Very Polish Cut-Outs fame) side label TRANSATLANTYK has made quite an impact across a handful of releases This is their debut artist album, and who better to represent the free-wheeling spirit of their ethos than fellow Polish pals, Ptaki The high-flying Warsaw based duo (Their name translates to 'Birds' in Polish) have found themselves the object of hysteria after a mere trio of very well received releases on parent label (TVPC) and more recently for LA's Young Adults. Their music has a depth and enduring quality that has clearly set them apart from contemporaries, and Przelot has given them a broader canvas to, pardon the pun, spread their wings Familiar textures, acoustic guitars, rhodes and treated bass are assembled in a fresh and uplifting way as the duo seem unencumbered by any sense of homage or reverence to past masters.Cod Reggae (done well!), sleazy chuggers, and dreamy mid-tempo workouts sit easily alongside the Yacht Rock leanings and straight up blissed-out beach bar fare. All shot through with an undeniably Balearic sense of well being throughout.

Norman Jay MBE presents his latest compilation, titled 'Good Times Skank & Boogie', set for release 9th October 2015 on Sunday Best Recordings. This is his first compilation since 2011's Good Times 30th Anniversary Addition and follows on from his hotly anticipated Good Times Goes East party at St John Church at Hackney on 29th August.
Norman Jay is undoubtedly one of the finest and highly respected DJs in the world today and yet again pulls from his impressive collection to provide the ultimate eclectic selection.
For this 12th compilation, for those of you counting, Norman kicks off with St Germain's version of Henry Mancini's Pink Panther Theme. A cult favourite from 2004s Pink Panther Penthouse Party album, it of course immediately brings Peter Sellers to mind and a smile to your face. Next up former Uniques front man Slim Smith's Everybody Needs Love is a classic from 1968, cut at the legendary Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio. Penned originally by Motown heroes Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland and covered by household names including The Temptations and Glady's Knight & The Pips, Slim's version became something of a signature tune until his mysterious death in 1971. Sticking with Motown, Stevie Wonder's Living For The City is up next but it's the Michael McDonald rendition from his 2008 album Soul Speak, which proves the man who gave us the sublime Sweet Freedom had lost none of his class 20 plus years on.
D-Influence's Good Lover takes things up and brings them closer to home, to the streets of London infact. After a couple of independent releases the band, who had strong connections to the London Jazz and Soul scenes, served up this contemporary boogie tune as part of their 1992 debut long player for East West. They would subsequently score hits as a production team for a number of British R&B acts. Homegrown soul continues with Paul Johnson's Better Than This, released here via longstanding UK soul imprint Expansion to deserved acclaim last year. It's quality and appeal are simply timeless, whilst master Dego and Kaidi's mix adds a classic 80s soul dimension to proceedings.
The Chi-Lites I Keep Comin' Back To You and The Real Thing's Love Takes Tears continue and expand the 80s theme, bringing in 2-step and boogie, as does Deodato's Never Knew Love from the same period.
We switch again with Delroy Wilson's Better Must Come, a massively popular sufferers lament from 1971 by this former Jamaican child star, it would go on to be used in election campaigns by various Jamaican political parties. Kent People by Laurel Aitken & The Gruvy Beat is the next one out the box and was the flip to the 1969 anthem Skinhead Train. It features the UK's top reggae band of the era The Rudies, who along with Aitken, the widely-proclaimed Godfather of Ska, comprised of Earl Dunn (lead guitar), Trevor White (bass), Sonny Binns (keyboards) and Danny Smith (drums). They would go on to enjoy UK chart success backing singer Freddie Notes before they evolved into Greyhound. From the same year Splash Down by The Crystalites is another slate that ignited dance floors in both Jamaica and the UK upon release. Some of you will have noticed the rhythm track is the same as that of the earlier Kingstonians' best-seller, Sufferer, which came courtesy of legendary producer Derrick Harriott.
As the end draws close The Stone City Band featuring Rick James serve up some hard edged boogie, hotly followed by a classic Tom Moulton slice of late 70s disco courtesy of The Fantastic Four and their I Got To Have Your Love. If that doesn't have you dancing then Chanson's superb Don't Hold Back featuring James Jamerson Jr. on bass will leave you no choice. Classic Good Times indeed.

Norman Jay MBE presents his latest compilation, titled 'Good Times Skank & Boogie', set for release 9th October 2015 on Sunday Best Recordings. This is his first compilation since 2011's Good Times 30th Anniversary Addition and follows on from his hotly anticipated Good Times Goes East party at St John Church at Hackney on 29th August.
Norman Jay is undoubtedly one of the finest and highly respected DJs in the world today and yet again pulls from his impressive collection to provide the ultimate eclectic selection.
For this 12th compilation, for those of you counting, Norman kicks off with St Germain's version of Henry Mancini's Pink Panther Theme. A cult favourite from 2004s Pink Panther Penthouse Party album, it of course immediately brings Peter Sellers to mind and a smile to your face. Next up former Uniques front man Slim Smith's Everybody Needs Love is a classic from 1968, cut at the legendary Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio. Penned originally by Motown heroes Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland and covered by household names including The Temptations and Glady's Knight & The Pips, Slim's version became something of a signature tune until his mysterious death in 1971. Sticking with Motown, Stevie Wonder's Living For The City is up next but it's the Michael McDonald rendition from his 2008 album Soul Speak, which proves the man who gave us the sublime Sweet Freedom had lost none of his class 20 plus years on.
D-Influence's Good Lover takes things up and brings them closer to home, to the streets of London infact. After a couple of independent releases the band, who had strong connections to the London Jazz and Soul scenes, served up this contemporary boogie tune as part of their 1992 debut long player for East West. They would subsequently score hits as a production team for a number of British R&B acts. Homegrown soul continues with Paul Johnson's Better Than This, released here via longstanding UK soul imprint Expansion to deserved acclaim last year. It's quality and appeal are simply timeless, whilst master Dego and Kaidi's mix adds a classic 80s soul dimension to proceedings.
The Chi-Lites I Keep Comin' Back To You and The Real Thing's Love Takes Tears continue and expand the 80s theme, bringing in 2-step and boogie, as does Deodato's Never Knew Love from the same period.
We switch again with Delroy Wilson's Better Must Come, a massively popular sufferers lament from 1971 by this former Jamaican child star, it would go on to be used in election campaigns by various Jamaican political parties. Kent People by Laurel Aitken & The Gruvy Beat is the next one out the box and was the flip to the 1969 anthem Skinhead Train. It features the UK's top reggae band of the era The Rudies, who along with Aitken, the widely-proclaimed Godfather of Ska, comprised of Earl Dunn (lead guitar), Trevor White (bass), Sonny Binns (keyboards) and Danny Smith (drums). They would go on to enjoy UK chart success backing singer Freddie Notes before they evolved into Greyhound. From the same year Splash Down by The Crystalites is another slate that ignited dance floors in both Jamaica and the UK upon release. Some of you will have noticed the rhythm track is the same as that of the earlier Kingstonians' best-seller, Sufferer, which came courtesy of legendary producer Derrick Harriott.
As the end draws close The Stone City Band featuring Rick James serve up some hard edged boogie, hotly followed by a classic Tom Moulton slice of late 70s disco courtesy of The Fantastic Four and their I Got To Have Your Love. If that doesn't have you dancing then Chanson's superb Don't Hold Back featuring James Jamerson Jr. on bass will leave you no choice. Classic Good Times indeed.

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.