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Rediscover all the legendary hits that shaped the sound of Funk Music on a nice double vinyl. Including such great songs as "And The Beat Goes On" by The Whispers, "A Night To Remember" by Shalamar or "Midas Touch" by Midnight Star...

Keep It Simple!

That's what Tony Allen told me, whether on stage, in the recording studio or when we were working together on the album "The Source"(Blue Note 2017) in my studio. Obviously, if he repeated it at will, it's because it's so difficult, to express the essential, not to scatter, over-play, over-arrange. So natural for him, so constraining for others! For years he pushed us, the members of his group to develop our projects. I had something in mind, necessarily with him, unfortunately his unexpected demise decided otherwise.
It took a moment to accept his departure, to accept being a voice, to find a new path. The desire to continue the work started together, that of mixing styles, sounds to appropriate them and create new, authentic. The desire also to meet new people, another energy.
After composing music for this project, I asked my friend Ben Rubin, musician and producer to help me record it. I found in NYC what I was looking for, a sense of urgency, that of doing, generous and committed musicians. I knew Jason Lindner, a musician that I have been following for a long time and he was the first person I thought of for pianos and synthesizers. He has this ability to find new and powerful sounds, with a direct and unadorned playing. For the drums, I didn't especially thought about a musician whose playing could come close or far to Tony's. Ben suggested Josh Dion to me, I've been following him since his "Paris Monster" project, I love his ability to make his drums sound like a new instrument by playing the bass synth with his right hand, that forces him to keep it simple! He also plays 2 tracks in drum/synth mode on the album.
I'm also happy that he agreed to sing a song on this album.
So we recorded at the Figure8 recording studio in Brooklyn, Eli Crews providing the sound recording, we decided with Ben to create a powerful and assumed sound from the take. Many biases on the tones, whether on the drums and the keyboards. Back in my studio in Paris, I continued to search, to dig while recording additional saxophones, percussions and keyboards.

I met Tchad Blake during a week-long mixing seminar. His work on the album on is radical.
Keep it simple?
Difficult but I try to remain so on all the phases of evolution of this project, from writing to production, in the improvisation parts. Where I feel it the most is in the immediate joy of playing with Jason and Josh, of tweaking a few sounds in my studio to create the unexpected, surprise in the structures, authenticity. Simple as the desire to go towards something essential, to seek oneself, to find oneself, to doubt but also to invent oneself.

Akae Beka’s inimitable style of rich, deep, multi-layered songwriting, uncompromising devotion to RasTafari and soulful healing melodies developed over decades performing with St. Croix based band Midnite and countless recordings. At the point of his untimely passing in 2019, he had released over 70LP’s. He is without a doubt one of the most prolific reggae artists ever known.

Rule the Time, originally released as a CD LP in 2007 is a full cup of innovative deep roots reggae that showcases outstanding musicianship alongside the visionary vocal and lyrical powers of Vaughn Benjamin. Lovers of the “old- time” heavyweight roots will deeply appreciate this unique album with its potent drums, deep bass, enchanting melodies and live horns. The production on Rule the Time was led by Vaughn Benjamin and Tippy I of I Grade Records, with additional co-production by Kenyatta Itola, Tyrone “T Rock” Davis and Seth Theodore of Million 7 Sound. Vaughn’s creative musical arrangements and one-of-a-kind basslines provide the anchor for the unique sound of this album.

Following 16 years of anxious anticipation, for the countless Akae Beka fans that are also vinyl connoisseurs, this LP is now being released on as a 12” vinyl LP courtesy of Before Zero Records. This offers the listener not only the chance to enjoy this LP in an analogue form, but also the chance to hold the artwork as a 12” square masterpiece, created by the hands of Ras Marcus, the artist who gave the powerful visual presence that became synonymous to much of the I Grade / Akae Beka works over the years.

Barcelona based Annie Hall drops her debut EP on 20/20 Vision 'Maruxaina', following releases on D1, Detroit Underground, Semantica, CPU and most recently our Exit Planet Earth vinyl series. Annie's eclectic and uniquely expressive output has seen her serve up tracks that take you straight to the dance floor, alongside complex and inventive musical soundscapes.

Kicking things off on the A side the title track 'Maruxaina' draws you in with nostalgic breaks and bass trudges, complimented by warm echoed chords and hypnotic tones. Next up on the A side 'Meiga' serves up a driving groove with deep rolling drums and patterned glitches, intertwining uplifting chord progressions and a soothing vocal, forming a uniquely mesmerising electronic soundscape.A

'Bretema' opens up the B side with a space bound atmospheric gem, grounded by a solid break groove yet elevated with cinematographic synths and harmonic melodies. Wrapping up the EP 'Sarabia' provides an unapologetic experimental expression that blurs the boundaries of genre, with off kilter pads, deep kicks and edgy glass synths creating a beautifully obscure serenity.A

The 18th Parallel has prove to be at the forefront of Roots Reggae in Europe. They placed themselves has one of the most authentic bands in terms of Roots and their collaboration with Jamaican legends put a light on their amazing work. Today, The 18th Parallel presents another scorcher with DJ superstar Big Youth. On a rockers one drop riddim led by the funky touch of drummer extraordinaire Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace, Big Youth proves that he’s hotter than ever and true to his roots providing conscious lyrics and legendary gimmicks. ‘Long Road’ will take you into a trip to a Rockers movie dance party where style and fashion are as eccentric as the DJ on the mic. “Move ya!”

The second part of the Blue Channel Session completes the bundle. Steve O Sullivan crafted an additional, stripped-down version of “Complete With U” under his Bluetrain alias, as featured in the original release on the first vinyl. Limited coloured vinyl.

Storming Dub Records continue with the release of strictly Dubplate vinyls for Sound Systems. This time we have the melodica maestro and producer Chazbo!Chazbo is well known for being part of the famous Bush Chemists for years and an essential part of Conscious Sounds studio and label in London and for his own label Roots Temple. For this release the now Japan based producer delivers a killer far-east flavoured rootikal tune leaded by oriental melodies wiyh a heavy bassline on a stepper riddim with an excellent Dub on the flip enriched by nyahbinghi drums.

repressed !

Commodo chalks up another release for DEEP MEDi and this one delivers vocals from JME. JME also featured on Skepta's 'That's not me' which recently won the 2014 MOBO for best Video.
The Instrumental sits snugly on the flip; with full focus on the beat. Anything but a B side!

EXTREMELY RARE PRIVATE PRESS FUNK MODERN SOUL LP FROM 1979

The only soul album released on LA-based Emkay Records by Marcus Kelly and Westmoreland Co. This St. Louis group was led by Philip Westmoreland.

Produced by Kent Washburn & Oliver Sain.

Little Roy’s WOKE UP is a four song Zion I Kings showcase style ep with dub mixes by JAH David Goldfine.Few singer songwriters of his generation have maintained a recording career as consistently masterful as Little Roy.

His timeless classics “Prophecy” and “Tribal War” are among the most versioned songs in the reggae songbook. With a career now spanning six decades, every new Little Roy release raises the Rastafari musical banner another notch higher with no end in sight.

On WOKE UP, the Zion I Kings are complemented in fine style by musicians and vocalists who rank among the finest in reggae. These include, on drums, Roberto Sanchez and Aston Barrett Jr. who is joined by lead guitarist Lamont “Monty” Savory on the title track. Horns are by Okiel Mcintyre and Zoe Brown is featured on flute. Barbara Naps and Madeline Singer join JAH David on the background vocals.In 2023, Zion High Productions is celebrating twenty years of “crucial Rastafari music for these crucial times”.

Glen Washington’s long lasting musical legacy continues to flourish with JAH CHILDREN, a roots and culture showcase ep with the celebrated roots and culture reggae sounds of the Zion I Kings.

Starting from the mid-1970s, Glen Washington’s singing and drumming have been mainstays in reggae dance halls and on stage shows worldwide. In 2012, Zion High Productions paired the Jamaican born and Florida-based singer with the Zion I Kings on MASTERPIECE to great critical acclaim. JAH CHILDREN is further evidence that working with producer/ engineer JAH David Goldfine over many years brings out the best in the singer’s songwriting and vocal performances.

On the four songs with matching dub mixes, the Zion I Kings are joined by a stellar array of reggae’s top musicians. Included are drums by Roberto Sanchez, Winston “Horseman” Williams, and Lincoln “Style” Scott, saxophones by Donald “JAH Bless” Toney and Garrett Kobsef, trombone by Balboa Becker, trumpet by Okiel Mcintyre, flute by Zoe Brown, and percussions by Scully Sims and Norman Grant. Russ “Tuff Lion” Williams does the lead guitar on “No Limit” and Chet Samuels is a featured vocalist on the title track.

Cover artwork is by longtime Zion High Productions collaborator Ato “Art of the Covenant” K.D. Roberts.

Ithiopians, voiced in 2019 in Florida by JAHMALI. Riddim by Jerry Lionz Official and Rim Bim, horns by Patrick Aba Original. Mixed by James Zugasti. 12" it's a promo for an upcoming album by Jahmali.

The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series Entry #8: Karriem Riggins’ To The Jungle. Riggins is the type of drummer whose power and finesse shakes even Malcolm Catto. If you know what that means, this is the album for you. The Madlib Invazion Music Library Series was created by Madlib and Egon to give their creative friends a chance to stretch out and indulge in whatever type of music they wanted. This music was created for easy, one-stop clearance in film and television synchronization usage and for sampling. You can also enjoy these albums in the way that many do with the best of the best vintage library catalogs – listen, ponder, repeat.

Melody SoulJah takes us on a journey through new and dubbed out landscapes with this heavyweight instrumental outing 'The Creeper'. It's raw and gritty drum beat, relentless pulsating bassline and eastern styled string lines set the scene, whilst it's subterranean & cinematic atmosphere transport us back to the smoke filled halls and late night sound system sessions of a time gone by.

'Delayed Effect Dub' pushes the drums and bass to the forefront with Melody SoulJah's melodic textures stripped back, echoing and reverberating throughout for the heavy-duty dub mix.

Dubquake Records presents “Hold Strong”, a new collaboration between O.B.F Sound System and Jamaican singer Mikey General! Following the release of the emblematic title "My Sound A Danger" published in 2014 at the end of the album "Wild", the collaborations Mikey General / O.B.F had remained until this day of the order of the dubplate despite a few studio sessions very productive. With the release of this new single, recorded Yard Style in 2018 at the "Dog Ah Bark Studio" at Nazamba, O.B.F is catching up with time.
Rub-a-dub atmosphere on riddim O.B.F, brassy roots influences and text of struggle: "Hold Strong" follows the good recipes that made the success of the JA / Geneva collab. The tune available on 7 inch with its dub version comes in an original cover that highlights the work of the Ivorian up-cycler artist recognized under the name of Saliou Gnambode. Hold Strong!

Super rare reggae vocal tune by Randall Thaxter ... original member of The Gaylads and first time re-issued, backed with a killer instrumental recorded at Coxsone’s Studio 1. Both sides feature The Conscious Minds band.

Veteran singer Robert O Dallas (formerly “Yabba Youth”), confidently announces his arrival at the Poor Man’s Friend studio with this important and thought evoking message to the youth. His instantly recognisable voice combines with the deep, eary production to create a heavy, meditative record with a much needed commentary on current social issues.

The B side, “Do Good Brother”, is a stern reminder to follow your heart and “Do all the good that you can.” A heavy horns section leads this late 70’s inspired roots cut, whilst Mr Dallas gives an incredible vocal performance alongside that harmonizes effortlessly.

Re-Stock

This release combines You Got The Best of Me', extremely rare on original 7' single, with I Can't Forget About You', never previously released on 7' vinyl. Both songs are Ronn Matlock's best on the 1979 album Love City' from Cotillion Records. The vocal style has been described as Teddy Pendergrass meets Barry White while the music is modern soul from a golden period of strings and horns championed by Earth Wind & Fire and equally legendary producer of these two sides, Michael Stokes. Both are dancefloor gems, I Can't Forget About You' first acknowledged by Expansion in 1994 on the compilation Soul Chasers Vol.2'.

Warehouse Find!

Stratus were a cross-genre rock band formed around 1974 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, led by Robert Ackley. Originally recorded in 1976 at Wildwood Recording Studios, an embellished description of a basement in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. This release was funded by a local dentist and promoted by ‘Cathy’, Ackley’s muse and inspiration for the release and the track ‘Girl’ in particular. Only 1000 copies were ever pressed, the majority of which were subsequently distributed by the band at shows as pseudo-business cards, with many pristine original copies as a result becoming lost to time. The tracks have since resurfaced in Europe many years later, much to the surprise and joy of Ackley himself. Remastered from one of the last remaining mint condition original presses, this release is a must for all collectors of blue eyed soul and AOR rarities. This reissue marks the first release in 7” format since its 1976 debut.

Two killer cuts from Disco 3000 and Sleeping Beauty: a frantic drum machine workout and a June Tyson singalong.

33rpm 7" on heavyweight 70g neon magenta vinyl in die-cut picture sleeve.

2022 Repress

Jamaican love songs always came across as heartfelt poetry whether they conveyed a broken heart, unrequited love or even the message ‘it’s all over don’t bother to come back’ anecdotes. But whatever the mood the singers of these songs were so good and versatile that putting such
subject matter over in a few verses was always so moving and believable.
 
Jamaican love songs were a constant in the ever evolving sounds and
journey’s that reggae music took us on, from ska to rocksteady to the early reggae sounds of the late 1960’s early 1970’s. We have complied a great selection of songs that all deal with that timeless subject matter. Max Romeo’s heartfelt ‘Sometimes’ opens our set in fine style, known more for his roots singing this song proves what a great singer he is. The Melodians a great Jamaican vocal group are featured here with ‘Best Girl’. The Sensations provide us with our title track ‘Born To Love You ‘and the theme for this compilation a great rocksteady tune with fantastic harmonies. Alton Ellis gives us the soulful ‘Room Full Of Tears’. Ken Boothe
provides us with his rendition of Dennis Brown’s ‘Money In My Pocket’  the ode that money cannot buy you everything. Cornell Campbell sings one of his most overlooked classic songs with his prideful `She Wears My Ring’. The great singer of love songs  himself  Mr John Holt tells us that we should all `Reconsider’, before giving up on love and a great lost singer Monty Morris gives us two great examples of how to find love in `Do It My Way’ and `Magic Moments’.
A great selection delivered as only Jamaica can do with style and feeling…….

Hope you enjoy the set …greetings from Jamaica… love songs for all…