Hip-Hop News

The world of funk 45s still have some treasures to offer. One of them is definitely Jesse Morgan's so far widely unknown sole 45rpm single release. If you want to get more information on the artist we strongly recommend to check out our forthcoming compilation album titled "Feeling Nice Vol.3" which will be released later this year. It contains "I Gotta Get Back" besides 15 other deep-funk bombs, some of them being re-issued for the very first time.

This month Athens of the North presents two 45's from a true musical genius, Weldon Irvine. Here we have 2 classic sides taken from the 1976 LP Sinbad on RCA. The vocals Don Blackman are certainly the equal of Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' for conscious soul perfection, I don't think I can give it higher praise than that. This is in my top 5 records of all time dont think, buy it.

With a magnificent compilation Dial Records celebrate their 15th anniversary! ALL offers a collection of exclusive works by long related label artists and friends.
Alongside the founders Carsten Jost, Lawrence and Pawel and Dial regulars Pantha Du Prince, Efdemin, Roman Flügel, Rndm, John Roberts, Christian Naujoks and Queens, the fully packed CD (80:00 min CD / three 12inches) presents contributions by beloved artists Stefan Tcherepnin, James K, Physical Therapy and Dawn Mok plus the first label appearance of Dj Richard who is going to release his Album on Dial Records in September 20
Happy Birthday to ALL of you!

Earnest Endeavours's second EP release features the rising stars of the UK's homegrown, experimental dungeon beats scene and Wales's most captivating and hard hitting producers: Darkhouse Family - aka Don Leisure and Metabeats.

Following their breakthrough debut EP 'Family Trees' on Fat City (hosted on the landmark 'Producers' series alongside compadres and luminaries Dabrye, dBridge, Mosca and Julio Bashmore) Darkhouse Fam's triumphant 'In & Out' EP is an accomplished blaze of guttural, syrupy, synth-addled hip hop with an old school approach re-appropriated into a new school vision. Certified bangers from start-to-finish, the EP is engulfed by a hot boxed funk created by collaborations with the legendary vocalist / producer Om'Mas Keith from notorious hip hop dynasty Sa-Ra Creative Partners (previous credits include Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Erykah Badu) on 'Take On The World'; West Coast funkadelic baller, EE's B. Bravo (on 'Like No Other'); and Cardiff's own Vanity Jay on the sublime soul bump of 'Sticky Trees'.

Van Hunt, a Dayton, Ohio-born musician, made his way to Atlanta where he drew acclaim for his production efforts and crafty songwriting, featured on recordings by such diverse artists as Dionne Farris, Rahsaan Patterson, and Cree Summer as well as the platinum-selling soundtrack, Love Jones. His own self-titled debut album arrived in 2004, instantly establishing Hunt as a distinctive and original talent with its idiosyncratic melding of R&B, neo-soul, funk, pop, and rock 'n' roll. Hunt received a 2005 Best Urban/Alternative Performance' Grammy nomination for his breakthrough hit single, Dust' that was featured on his debut album.
On The Jungle Floor followed two years later, highlighted by the single, Character,' as well as by a surprising cover of Iggy Pop & James Williamson's Kill City classic, No Sense Of Crime.'
In 2007, Hunt received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals,' honoring Family Affair,' a collaboration with John Legend and Joss Stone found on the 2006 Sly & The Family Stone tribute album, Different Strokes For Different Folks

clear marbled vinyl
Written, produced, arranged and engineered by Joseph Longo 3 Pal Joey Music aka Earth People
New York finest Joseph Longo III (aka Pal Joey / Earth People) presents an excursions into deep &
soulful house and electronica.

Originally recorded in 1936 as 'Weed Smokers Dream' by the Harlem Hamfats, the drug references were significantly toned down for Lil Green's 1941 update 'Why Don't You Do Right'. Since then the song has been a jazz standard, perhaps reaching a peak of infamy with its inclusion in the 1980s film 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'. Paired here are two smoldering, female vocal takes on the song, both from the late 50s R&B era so cherished by popcorn collectors and DJs.

When it comes to funky-soul type of tunes, Billy Bailey's "You Better Stop" can be easily rated as one of the finest examples in this genre. Recorded in the mid 1970s and self-released on his own Bay-Del label, original copies of this beauty are very, very hard to find and due to the sheer quality sought after by record collectors worldwide.

"An explosive boogie funk production for your dancefloor,

with special guest Joe Bataan on the tracks "The Mover",

"50,000 Women Can't Be Wrong" and "Love Talk"

BABY JEAN's in demand R&B rarity was originally released on the Stacy label out of Chicago in September 1962. United Artists picked it up for national distribution in the same month but it failed to hit. However, it must have made an impression on Sam Cooke who 12 months later co-wrote the remarkably similar 'Dance What You Wanna' which was covered by Johnnie Taylor, The Miracles, George Lee and Little Richard.

MITTY COLLIER's superb mid-tempo R&B rarity 'Don't Let Her Take My Baby' was her second waxing for Chess Records and her most sought after. She went on to record of 15 singles for Chess including her R&B and Hot 100 hit 'I Had A Talk With God Last Night'.

CINDY SCOTT, aka Sundray Tucker, hails from Philadelphia and will be forever remembered in the UK for her scorching double-sider 'I Love You Baby' / 'In Your Spare Time' originally released on the Veep label in 1967. Leon Huff also had a hand in both sides as co-writer alongside David White, John Madara and Len Barry - the perfect pedigree for a Northern Soul winner. Cindy is the sister of former Supreme Lindy Laurence and cousin of the legendary Tammi Terrell and Bunny Sigler. No surprise then that she pursued a career in singing!

Here comes another heavyweight double-sider with probably the two rawest and nastiest deep-funk cuts ever recorded in Detroit, Michigan. Despite the fact that both tunes have been bootlegged on several compilation albums during the last years, we at Tramp decided to go for this official re-issue. Save yourself some money and get this high quality re-issue which even comes with the original label artwork.

Key-selling points: - original label artwork - limited to 500 copies - officially licensed

'YOU DON'T LOVE ME ANYMORE' is one of the most cherished of all Northern Soul 45s and memories of a packed dance floor at Wigan Casino come flooding back when you hear the feel good Philly intro signaled by a single drum beat. Jimmy Wisner's arrangement on a Leon Huff song produced by David White and John Madara collide to make the definitive Northern dancer. Valued at a rich £25 back in 1976 and something over £500 today shows that Mr Caswell has lost none of his appeal over the past 40 years! He currently operates a company hiring musical instruments and equipment in Hollywood and Philadelphia.

Lee Mitchell was born in 1939 and started out musically in local gospel groups. It was 1964 when he moved to California to try his hand at secular music. He and Los Angeles poducer/label owner J. R. Fulbright soon joined forces. Mitchell's second single for Fulbright titled "How Can You Be So Cold" is by far his finest recording. Backed with an impulsive funk instrumental, this 45rpm single re-issue is something which appeals to both soul and funk 45 collectors.

LITTLE WILLIE JOHN needs no introduction to R&B fans having broken the Billboard Hot 100 no less than 14 times. He is probably best remembered for his original 1956 hit 'Fever', famously covered by Peggy Lee in '58.

Here we feature two of LWJ's most in demand sides 'I'm Shakin'', from 1960 and the earlier 'My Nerves' from '56.

Mystery Road pays homage to the great unknown musicians throughout america who, with their self-produced singles, became local and regional hits just around the time that megacorporations began saturating the market and the radio with something that was less like music, and more like a product. They, with profit as their goal, turned the radio into a marketplace, and turned music lovers into consumers. In only a few generations, the violent severance of our ties to the traditions of our ancestors represents a loss of cultural heritage and has thrust us into uncharted waters - a Mystery Road.

For the last 7 years, Lucky Brown has been working with a label in Germany called Tramp. Tramp Records specializes in uncovering some of this great lost music, finding and interviewing the last living founders, and licensing the music in reprints of the 45s or for full-length compilations of never-before-heard studio material. Every other 45 released is an existing band that works within that framework. We are proud to say that Lucky Brown has a reputation worldwide for being one of the roughest.

Today, Lucky Brown, in this follow up to his first Tramp album: "Lucky Brown's Space Dream," is realizing another dream - (releasing an album in the form of a series of singles - each with it's own unique artwork, independent bands and writing and recording sessions.) {a 2 LP set} entitled Mystery Road. The different band names are not intended to mislead, different people play together in each different group. Sometimes Lucky comes in with an idea, other times the group invents the music on the spot to suit the mood. All of this, coupled with Lucky's experimental and vernacular approach toward sound recording and you start to catch the vibe of Mystery Road.

Lucky Brown, December 2014

Key-selling points:

- limited to 500 hand-numbered copies

- includes full album download code

- deluxe double vinyl with old school heavy cardboard cover

Clarence "Sir Guy" Barron got his start with a group called The Visions. He released his debut 45 on Guida's S.P.Q.R. Label in 1967. The years that followed brought forth some genuine masterpieces, including the single Sir Guy remains best known for, "Funky Virginia". We highly recommend the album "The Story of Lenis Guess" which contains many more tracks by Sir Guy, including "Let Home Cross Your Mind", "I Need You Baby", "For All You Have Been" and many more!

Key-selling points: - original label artwork - limited to 500 copies - officially licensed

THE FORMATIONS complete our hat-trick with their perennial favourite 'At The Top Of The Stairs', again, co-written by Leon Huff, this time with band member Jerry Akines. Today, the B-side, 'Magic Melody' gets equal attention, penned by founding members Victor Drayton and Jerry Akines. This original paring was so good it got released twice - firstly on the local Bank label and then nationally on MGM.

Another forgotton jewel from the deep vaults of Miami legend Henry Stone. The original 45rpm single is an in-demand collectors piece for quite some time. As a result of that it has been bootlegged some years ago with crappy label artwork and, even worse, a different artist on the B-side. So, fasten your seat belts, here is the long awaited, official re-issue of a rare groove classic. It comes with the original label artwork and Part 1 / Part 2 on both sides. Essentiel!

Key-selling points: - original label artwork - limited to 500 copies - officially licensed

Fran Palmero - Bass Aleix Sinteman - All Keys & backing vocals George Hurricane - Guitars & backing vocals Marc Mena - Trumpet Roger Fullosoul - Vocals & tambourine Sergi Franch - Baritone Sax Edu Neto - Drums All songs by The Slingshots Recorded between June 26th & July 3rd 2014 Produced by Mike Mariconda Engineered by Marc Tena Recorded at Red Bell Studio, Barcelona, Spain. Executive producers: Philippe Rocafort & Ivan Muench Management: Benet Perez

Limited Edition 45 Of The In Demand New Northern Soul Tune By UK's Blue Eyed Soul Diva In The Now Available Special Andy Lewis Remix!!

Volume two of Nik Weston's Lost Soul & Funk Gems continues with a track from Loleatta Holloway who sadly passed away in 2011 . Loleatta was probably best known for her disco classics including 'Hit & Run' & the much sampled 'Love Sensation'. In 1971 however she cut a dope club funk 45 cut for Fantasy sub label Galaxy with 'Bring It On Up' with soaring vocals, southern styled guitar and great brass and fatback drums. A perfect example indeed of 1970's female funk . On the flipside an incredible super soul drenched previously album only gem ''I'll Be Around '' from Ron Henderson And Choice Of Colour . The track appeared on the 1976 'Soul Junction' LP on two labels Chelsea and Choice Cut but has never been before on a 45 single in it's own right. Dramatic strings lead way to spine tingling vocals and arrangement to die for. This particular track has been in Nik's top 10 tunes of all time for 20 years or so and been a labour of love to finally get it licensed and released on Mukatsuku Records for a new audience to enjoy perhaps for the first time who may not have come across these beauties before. DJ support from Gilles Peterson,Marc Mac (4 Hero), Dr Bob Jones, Phil Levine,Dom Servini, Shuya Okino,DJ Snowboy, Dean Rudland and more

Loleatta Holloway rare funk soul track flipped by Ron Henderson And Choice Of Colour SOUL /NORTHERN MASTERPIECE which has NEVER BEEN ON A 45 BEFORE !!

MUKAT033 Mukatsuku Records limited 45

All releases on Mukatsuku are officially licensed and pressed on virgin vinyl . Strictly vinyl only - no digital.

Cherry B from France is back with a new single, a new sound and fresh Northern vibes.

After a European Tour to promote her first soul album called "The Way I Am" released in 2014, she found her audience and met a spectacular soul man: Lee Fields (Truth & Soul Records). She went on tour with him in France. Now she is feeling ready to push her music the way she wants to perform and create her own soul music style, looking for a different and personal way to write and compose.

Springtime is time for Cherry B & The Sound Makers to reach and to start to collaborate with an unexpected UK signature - Andy Lewis. This amazing DJ and producer (member of UK indie legends Spearmint and now playing the bass with Paul Weller) created two fresh tracks with an up-tempo, true Northern feel and his studio expertise is exactly what Cherry B was looking for.

"No Answer (Andy Lewis Mixes)" is released on Legère Recordings in co-operation with Raymuse Recordings as a 2-track 7inch vinyl and 5-track digital EP.

Raised amid the rich musical culture and history of the San Francisco Bay Area, Monophonics proudly carry the torch through the generations into today's musical landscape. Limited Edition! Exclusive digipack with a spectacular 3D lenticular!

Holding on to tradition, but by no means purists of any kind, they play their own brand of music known as "Psychedelic Soul."

The 2012 release of Monophonics last album In Your Brain saw the band pulling influences from such acts as early Funkadelic, Sly and The Family Stone and the The Temptation's Norman Whitfield produced records. With the new album, Sound of Sinning (April 1, 2015 on Transistor Sound Records), the band has grown in all areas of record making and felt a need to explore other important influences.

While the group has come to cherish these inspirations, With Sound of Sinning they started venturing beyond, to the groups that were inspiring those soul acts to embrace the psychedelic sound of the 60's and 70's. Bands such as The Zombies, The Beatles, Beach Boys and Pink Floyd.

Even with the experimentation of new musical territory, they display the sound that people know and love about Monophonics. Touching on Northern soul, doo-wop, rock and roll, Psych pop, and cinematic music, Monophonics show off their diversity while re- maining true to their roots. Overall it's heartfelt music and old school vibes, with-out losing sight of the present.

This is is music steeped in that timeless feeling when people could write and produce songs that you could listen to over and over again. Sound of Sinning was produced by Kelly Finnigan & Ian McDonald and recorded on an old Tascam eight-track 1/4" tape machine at Transistor Sound Studios in San Rafael, CA.

Monophonics is Austin Bohlman (Drums), Myles O'Mahony (Bass/Background Vocals), Ian McDonald (Guitar/Background Vocals), Ryan Scott (Trumpet/Back- ground Vocals/Percussion) & Kelly Finnigan (Keys/Lead Vocals) along with a rotating 2nd horn usually filled by Nadav Nirenberg (Trombone) from Ikebe Shake- down and Breakdown Brass.

"One of the best live soul bands I have ever seen!" - Al Bell (Record producer, songwriter, executive, and co-owner of legendary Stax Records)

7" single cut from the album "Jamaican Skarama", which has been reissued by Dub Store Records on LP and CD. The great duo, Stranger & Patsy, who recorded many classics during the 60's, sings another standard 'Word Is Wind'. The Jamaican soul 'Cry Another Cry' by Dobby Dobson is featured on the B-side. Both songs are appearing on a 7" single for the first time.

So much classic music is sweet and raw, while so much music from today sounds boring, overproduced and drained of life-force, why is this Possibly because most music in the popular arena is made on computers, written by songwriting firms for a 'personality' to mime on stage and in studio, and created with the intention of making a profit. Young musicians influenced by the glitz and glamour of the mass market literally 'play' right into the corporations' hands - gleefully mimicking the poses, the sentiments, and reinforcing the antisocial values of the plutocracy. Lucky Brown believes that beauty is not contained in the sound of the music but lives in the hearts of the musicians. Therefore, music made by people who love music and want to build a better world sounds different from music produced by corporations.

Until the advent of the industrial revolution, popular music was produced by regular people - the populace, get it Songs were written, played and recorded by people in a neighborhood. Music had meaning and purpose. The music was handed down from the elders in the same way as cooking, seeds, stories, building techniques, and values were, with each generation subtly manipulating the form to fit the needs of their communities and place in time. Lucky Brown is concerned about the wholesale destruction and loss of this rich cultural heritage. To put a price tag on everything and then force feed it into the waste machine degrades both the consumer and the producer. Beautiful songs do exist. You can write one yourself or find one tucked away in a dusty bin of 45s, but until we unlock the secrets of this classic music, our sonic landscape will likely be blighted by the mass homogeneity heard everywhere.

Originally released in Japan only, back in 1979, Prone is considered by most aficionados to be Ned Doheny's crowning glory. Even better than the superlative Hard Candy. So quite why this AOR/soft-funk gem has not been available legitimately on vinyl for over 35 years is anyone's guess.

To celebrate 'Be With Ned' - the West Coast maestro's first ever tour of the UK and Europe in March 2015 - Be With Records proudly present the first ever officially licensed reissue of this forgotten-funk classic. What makes this release truly special is the inclusion of the full-vocal version of jazz-funk classic To Prove My Love. It's the version of Prone that everybody has been waiting for.

Produced again by the legendary Steve Cropper, Prone's super-smooth grooves showcase Ned's beautifully laid-back vocals, virtuoso playing and forever-wry lyricism. Aside from To Prove My Love, it boasts some of Doheny's most under-appreciated tracks: witness the slickness of Think Like A Lover, Guess Who's Lookin' For Love Again and Funky Love.

Pressed on audiophile 180gram vinyl and featuring the original artwork for both jacket and lyric-insert, this limited reissue is one to treasure.

Now and then you might find yourself painted in a corner. It is usually the case that you can only blame yourself for ending up there. The painter of shapes and words, Nicole Willis has painted herself for the past ten years into the periphery of Helsinki, Finland, only to sing her soul out. Now she's back at grinding her vocal axe with The Soul Investigators.

Approaching the release of their third joint album in late 2015, it's time to test the waters with Paint Me in a Corner b/w Where Are You Now. Neither of the tracks carries much of a humour element. The first one points its pounding existential finger towards us all, urging us to break the chains of normality, while the beautiful melancholia of the second track rocks the listener in a mid-tempo groove paradise.

These two tracks might be just the thing to kick you in the chest with enough soul in order to get out of the house. Maybe even dance by yourself in a desolate corner of the bar.

Another fine example of funky-soul at its very best. While the A-side is highly regarded within the northern soul scene, the B-side is the tune why funk 45 collectors are after this beauty. Bot sides were recorded in the early 1970s and pressed on a small press run on 45rpm single. Original copies are nowadays very hard to find and due to the outstanding quality sought after by record collectors worldwide.

Limited to 150 ! 12" blue colored vinyl - 2 tracks :

As well as being the first full album produced by Phil Spector and the first LP to be released on his Philles label, "Twist
Uptown" retains its period charm thanks to what one critic called the Crystals' 'sweet-but-streetwise vocal magic.' File it
under Brill Building, Girl-Group Pop or whatever you choose, it wears it's half a century of history lightly.

Side 1
1. Uptown
2. Another Country - Another
World
3. Frankenstein Twist
4. Oh Yeah, Maybe Baby
5. Please Hurt Me
Side 2
1. There's No Other (Like My Baby)
2. On Broadway
3. What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen
4 No One Ever Tells You
5. Gee Whiz Look At His Eyes (Twist)
6. I Love You Eddie

Gecko Turner's fourth album, That Place By The Thing With The Cool Name is a marvelous journey. A globetrotter lifestyle and the opportunity to share experiences with musicians from remote places are the reason for the exuberant worldliness of this album. First signed to Quango, Gecko Turner released Guapapasea! in 2006 and has been going strong ever since. There is an incredible band playing on the album. Guitarist Rafa Prieto and bass player Dr. Robelto, whose Fender Bass is the backbone of the full sound of the Afrobeatnik Orchestra, have played on most of the tracks, with the participation of musicians from Texas, Nigeria, Brazil, Cuba, Guinea, England and Extremedura, transforming what Gecko once defined as his "soniquete". But despite all these flavours, the album still sounds distinctly like Gecko Turner and comes packed with his unique and unorthodox interpretation of Soul. The songs cross the frontier of an imaginary space, that "imaginary South" that can be found on the Guadiana/Mississippi River, which has its capital in the American deep south and which shares borders with Nigeria, Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba and Latin Harlem. In this imaginary space the spirits of Coltrane and Lou Reed roam freely and proudly make appearances on some of the songs, especially the last two on the album. "That Place By The Thing With The Cool Name" is not just a brilliant name, it is an overwhelmingly good album, created with the humility that only the very best have.

Two beautiful covers of Eden Ahbez's evergreen standard, Nature Boy. As first recorded in 1948 by Nat King Cole, the song went on to be performed by just about everybody, from Frank Sinatra to David Bowie! Here, we put together two complimentary versions by female Jazz vocalists, both slow, sultry and simmering, tipping them into the popcorn sphere.

Hailing from Flint, Michigan, JAY W. McGEE has been making music for almost 60 years and it seems that in these days of stereotyped and sterile soul, he's the only one fighting the battle to keep old school sensitivities alive!
DJ Poly Rhythm........http://fonque.de/
A legendary voice from the soul & boogie era of
the 1980s, back after more than 25 years with a
brand new album. "Love this voice since 'Turn Me
On' from 1980. This is definitely Le Fonque style!"
DJ POLY RHYTHM, LE FONQUE HAMBURG

Tremendous twin-spin two sider from larger than life, cult hero King Coleman. Famous for singing - uncredited - 'The Mashed Potatoes', the 1959 dance craze hit with backing from James Brown's band, Coleman's career was much more varied and lengthy than such fleeting infamy would otherwise suggest. Here, we have Coleman appearing on two early 60s, low slung and sleazy R&B dancers, both 'Down in The Basement' and 'Crazy Feelin' are total killers.

Landmark material here from Ray Charles, with one of his signature works and a song which inspired a million copycat attempts. 50 years on, 'What'd I Say' remains as fresh and exciting as ever before and is guaranteed to fill any dance floor in the known universe.