Hip-Hop News

2024 Reissue

Released on the famed tax scam label Tiger Lily in 1976, Sounds Of
The City Experience's self-titled debut album is a rare groove treat with original pressings often reaching astronomical figures on the second-hand market. Its quality carries over into the sound with its richness of character pushing beyond what must have been a very limited recording budget. The members, whose anonymity today stands in stark contrast to the instant fame they generate on the record, go from strength to strength across these ten tracks, and craft some of the most catchy and enticing soul and funk of the 70s. P-VINE is excited to be reissuing the album for a limited edition LP package with an iconic Japanese obi strip attached.

Sylvia Striplin is NY based Ajazz, soul, and R&B singer who is also well known as a member of Ladies of the Eighties which is led byARoy Ayers. This is her only solo album which was released from Roy's label "Uno Melodic" in 1981 and P-VINE are so proud of releasing this finest rare groove as limited 180g heavyweight double LPs with OBI-strip! all tracks have been newly remastered.

A Philly groove classic remixed, mastered, and edited specifically for 7” vinyl. The A-side features a remix by New York disco don and re-edit whiz Mike Maurro with the B-side reserved for the original single version, remastered for maximum aural pleasure.

Going solo while still keeping intact his devotion to RS Produções, Nuno appears as a true heartbreaker. Silky, space soul, why not even risk the patented future r&b? But this music exists and manifests itself apart from the established production centres, the golden arches of hype edifices and synthetic promotion regurgitated by a thousand cloned fingers. "Sai Do Coração" is a very brave, romantic improbability, shying away from DJ bravado and dancefloor top speed. Through these grooves comes a pure distillation of love, an alchemical sublimatio resulting in the much sought-after "higher substance", a bright globe issuing rays of affection all around.

With love we most likely also buy into a degree of suffering, and though this is not at all the ID of the album, Nuno explicitly connects the two sentiments in "N'Dengue", a cathartic cold cut one grows to cherish intensely by the time it is over. It's a key moment, grief pours out, liberation achieved in the dance - "I will love, I will suffer, I will shout, I will dance". Flip to the other side for "Confusão No Ghetto", another gritty expression, a richly percussive, slow tempo observation of things gone wrong. All the rest in the album feels simple, direct and yet sophisticated like photosynthesis. Like the soil, through which geological becomes biological. Nuno whips up a variety of textures and flavours into the invisible form of Music, romantic fiction into action.

Kalita are delighted to announce the first ever re-release of Los Angeles-based outfit Addmoro’s three sought-after recordings from their privately released invisible 1985 boogie grail ‘Keep On Trying’. With original copies of the album out of reach for all but a select few since its initial release over thirty-five years ago, this is a much overdue retrospective of the group’s musical output.

Originally privately released on the group’s eponymous label Addmoro Records, Kalita’s 12” reissue single features both the vocal and instrumental versions of ‘Keep On Tryin’, plus the saxophone-featuring boogie monster ‘Rock & Roll Skate (Sax Version)’, arguably one of the heaviest boogie recordings of the genre.

With original copies of Addmoro’s album selling for over £600 on the rare occasion that they come up for sale, Kalita now deliver a loud and remastered 12” single for all.

Two massive cumbias recorded in 1983 by Afrosound, the studio band fronted by Fruko and put together by Discos Fuentes in order to emulate the guitar-heavy tropical sounds emanating from Perú and Ecuador at the time. Heavy on space sounds and unexpected sonic tricks, these two songs were released as a tribute to E.T. aiming to take advantage of the pull of the film that year. First time reissue. - Afrosound was born from the desire of Discos Fuentes vice-president José María Fuentes to come up with a domestic version of the emerging African and Latin rock sounds coming from outside the country, inspired by groups like Osibisa and Santana. The mission was to emulate the guitar-heavy tropical sounds emanating from Perú and Ecuador at the time. According to various sources, the 1972 tune 'La danza de los mirlos' (by Peru's Los Mirlos) emerged as a great success in Colombia and with it a new way of interpreting the country's most famous musical export, namely cumbia, through a Peruvian perspective. Fuentes executives convened an expert crew of musicians led by Julio E. Estrada aka Fruko the following year to create this type of music for the domestic market because they sensed a potential for similar success. Once again Fruko is at the helm in the studio for this recording, simultaneously holding it down and allowing the musicians to explore their most spaced-out fantasies. This time Jose A. Villerias is in control at the mixing console, pulling all sorts of tricks with space sounds, reverb and echo, and everyone sounds as if they are having a lot of fun. Both songs had been previously recorded and included on Afrosound's 1974 album "Carruseles" -recently reissued on Vampisoul- but these new versions from 1983 feature an updated sound with an extensive use of space effects and unexpected sonic tricks. Taking advantage of the pull the film was having at the time, the result was carefully packaged with an E.T. themed artwork, aiming commercial success.

First Word Records is extremely delighted to present 'Torn : Tonic' — the sophomore album from singer, performer, poet and producer, Allysha Joy.

Delivered unfiltered, straight from the soul, ´Torn : Tonic' pulls us into a 10 track journey that weaves through the multiplicity of letting go, standing tall, and creating space all at once. The album's expansive and vivid exploration of healing examines the power that comes with accepting the complexity of change. Allysha walks listeners through the remedy she finds in sound and emerges empowered to share this healing with others. Deeply moving and lyrically compelling, 'Torn : Tonic' hosts a stellar line-up of artists, creating a world of collective power, growth, and hope.

Allysha Joy is an integral member of the vibrant Melbourne soul & jazz scene, well known for both her solo work and as lead vocalist for 30/70. A uniquely-talented soul, her husky voice, and formidable Fender Rhodes prowess have garnered attentive audiences around the world.

Her 2018 debut album 'Acadie : Raw' was named 'Best Soul Album' at the Music Victoria Awards, featured in Bandcamp's 'Top Soul Albums' of the year and received a nomination for 'Best Jazz Album' at the Worldwide Awards. An incredibly prolific artist, Allysha has released on labels; Rhythm Section, Gondwana, Future Classic, Total Refreshment Centre and now another drop for First Word, after her acclaimed 2020 EP, 'Light It Again'.

Allysha's production on 'Torn : Tonic' effortlessly arches across a sonic palette, comprised of shuffling broken grooves and exquisite celestial melodies. There are healthy swathes of skippy neo-soul boom bap sensibilities, entwined with stark swing-laden electronic percussion, Detroit-esque sun-saturated synths, and Antipodean bruk backbeats. And whilst this project was produced entirely by Joy herself, she is far from alone, inviting in an array of female and non-binary artists to bless assorted tracks with their own unique gifts. Ego Ella May, BINA, Rara Zulu, Belle Bangard and Dancing Water all appear, expanding upon the formulaic roles of featured artists to share the creative space as equal collaborators.

'Torn : Tonic' exudes vibes, from the opening whiplash snare of 'Peace, to the rolling jazz-bruk of lead single 'Let It!', to the sweet soulful sonics of 'Still Dreaming', to the closing triumphant shout of "All Joy!!" on 'G.N.D.', this is a 40-minute opus that will definitely require repeat listening.

Allysha's poetic introspection reveals the album's intention to demand space, purpose, and pleasure. Her words are deliberate and direct to the alarm bells and messages her artistic vision carries. Fluid, cross-genre, and spirited with generational stories embodied, 'Torn : Tonic' sits at the intersection of a feminist manifesto of Joy's momentous leap as an artist, and her exploration of what it means to be human in today's capitalist-driven world.

In Allysha's words, 'Torn : Tonic' is exactly as the name describes. "It is looking directly into the shadow of pain and overcoming it with joy. No love songs! Just social, political, emotional anthems for change! It is the first record I have produced entirely on my own and it feels like that perseverance that I have consistently had to conjure up is embedded in this music, overcoming my own conditioning in a society and industry that constantly tells me I can't, so I must!"

Arthur Ponder, a life long Macon, Georgia resident, started his singing career in the 60s replacing Otis Redding in Johnny Jenkins & The Pinetoppersafter Otis went solo. Although he gigged extensively, he did not actually make it onto a record until around 1970. Presented here, we have mostly his 80s Modern Soul output Solo and with local group Side Show, some with was released on 45 others remain unreleased till now. Special thanks to Angelo Angione who went above and beyond to help with this project and Arthur Ponder - The Prince of Georgia Soul.

This is the second previously unissued release by Cleveland ohio group bell telephunk, who went on to become kinsman dazz/dazz band.

This is from 1976. "sister moon" being a sublime slice of lush produced mid 70's soul music.

The opening rimshot drums of "Loveliness Of You" by Carlton Jumel Smith and Cold Diamond & Mink have sunday soul written all over them. This easy breezy groover closes Calton's 2022 singles trilogy with a style that echoes classic Hi productions for Al Green from the early 1970's. It's clear that on Timmion Records, Carlton has found a home far away from home.

Carlton's soulful demeanor is hard not to like, and if there is any truth to what he's singing here, some even seem to fall in love with it. The recipe is not complicated here, and there is no reason to keep it a secret: just a steady groove by a tight rhythm section, horns that lift the beat off the ground and a voice that wraps itself around your heart. And sometimes that's all you need.

The new single on Bob Stanley's Measured Mile label is a terrific double-header from Connie Stevens – ‘Tick Tock’ b/w ‘Keep Growing Strong’. A northern soul monster, arranged by the late Philly soul legend Thom Bell, original copies of Tick Tock regularly fetch £250 or more.
It was originally the flip side, as Connie Stevens was handed the very first opportunity to record Thom Bell and Linda Creed's evergreen ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’, later a hit for both the Stylistics and Prince. The record label decided to retitle it ‘Keep Growing Strong’, for unknown reasons - Measured Mile have rescued it from obscurity and made it affordable once again.
A classy orchestrated floor-filler and a timeless Philly ballad. You can't go wrong.

REPRESS!

Two unreleased edits emerge from Mark E's Merc label starting the E-version series.

Kahn turns a classic disco track into an expertly extended, peak-time puncher adding percussion and persistent loops. While Mingo stretches a drum laden ethnicity around its Techno foundations.

Already being played by Gilles Peterson, Daniel Avery & Dixon.

Jerry Bell, brother to Philly legend Archie Bell, has recorded, toured and performed as vocalist with New Birth, the Dazz Band and in his own right as a solo artist since the 1980s. His 1981 album “Winter Love Affair” contains the classic track “Tell Me You’ll Stay”, never previously been issued as a 7” single until now. The song is written and produced by Michael Wycoff (who gave us “Looking Up To You”) and his an uplifting soulful dancer adopted by the rare groove scene.

One thing that's become apparent, is the vast trove of super-rare independent U.S. Soul releases that crept out in the ‘60s and ‘70s, usually with only local distribution. Many of these records never made it out of the city they were made in and would have been doomed to obscurity if not for the international network of Soul collectors.

Guitar Ray's incredible "You're Gonna Wreck My Life" on New Orleans’ music veteran Senator Jones' label, Shagg, is a case in point. This New Orleans gem from 1974 has recently soared in popularity with much in-demand original copies going for between £1000-£1500 apiece. We're delighted to be able to make this available again with a straight reissue on the original label. Yet another example of the buried treasures that surround us.

Beautiful gospel modern soul album produced by harold sutton first released in 1985 on C.L.L. Records

J.D’s TIME MACHINE Presents: DREAM AGAIN & RAIN ON MY STAR

IZIPHO SOUL have delved deep into James Day’s musical catalog and unearthed two gems from 2012 which were born to be released on a 7”. Influenced by the great Philly Soul and Motown songwriting teams, vocalists Lisa Bello and Jherimi Harmoni give world class performances and saxophonist Joe Cunningham takes them home with soul and passion.

It's been three years since Jessie Ware released her second album Tough Love. Described by Pitchfork as an album that moves into the territory of real, messy love' Tough Love was the critically-embraced follow up to Jessie's landmark debut Devotion in 2012. Signed to the influential London label PMR, Jessie's deep roots into UK music saw collaborations with SBTRKT and Disclosure bear fruit before her acclaim reached international levels. With both albums now gold-certified in the UK, a million albums sold worldwide and her influence undeniable, Jessie has spent the last three years working on her third album Glasshouse. The album includes multiple Radio 1 & 2 playlist singles and Jessie is confirmed for Sunday Brunch and Later with Jools around album release.

Joseph Malik’s Diverse Part 3 is the final instalment of a critically acclaimed trilogy he began in 2002. But this boldly uncompromising and musically accomplished album is also about the state of the world in 2021. The artist did not use any filters.

An emotional honesty lies at the centre of this deeply affecting audio-diary that references milestones in black music on both sides of the Atlantic, from Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On to Massive Attack’s Unfinished Sympathy to Young Disciple’s Road To Freedom. As is the case with these landmarks, Diverse Part 3, is unflinchingly personal and was born against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter protests that took place in Edinburgh, where Malik has lived since the early ‘90s.

“It’s a document of our times,” explains Joseph. “All I was really doing was looking at our times and saying this is happening right here and right now! I was writing down what was happening around me, and saying this is what I’m feeling.

Joseph began honing his production skills as a DJ/co-producer as part of Scotland’s foremost hip hop group, ‘Black’anized’, going under the code name ‘M.F Outa ‘National’ and together with longtime friend + DJ/producer, Saleem Andrew McGroarty aka ‘Awunsounds’, he recorded the ground breaking ‘Miles Out Of Time’ which was included on the ‘Headz’ album.

This was just the beginning of an extraordinarily, illustrious musical career that has spanned more than 30 years with Joseph Malik refusing to be stereotyped. Highlights include his vocal delivery on Rainer Trüby’s Trio seminal ‘High Jazz’ which resulted in a great friendship with Rainer who was instrumental in landing Joseph’s recording contract with German label, Compost on which he released his milestone, post club classic LP ‘Diverse’ to critical acclaim from his peers including Gilles Peterson and Norman Jay.

Selling more than 80,000 copies of ‘Diverse’, success continued for Joseph - touring with Terry Callier, releasing a double album on the Stereo MCs ‘Response’ label, writing his 1st hit record ‘Crack Pipe’, working on hip hop, techno and Drum + Bass productions with luminaries such as Drumagick, Grand Unified, Darren Emerson, Fred Everything and Kruder & Dorfmeister, a remix album with Aqua Bassino and Grand Unified on remix duties and currently, his work ethic is as relentless as it was in the 80’s; his dedication to his music is intense and passionate. For the last 2 years, Joseph has been working closely with friends of 30 years and his inspiration to sing, David Donnelly and Steven Christie along with Saleem Andrew McGroarty on ‘Diverse Part 2’, ‘Stranger Things Have Happened’, ‘Till Sunday’ EP, countless single releases and a forthcoming project with Ashley Beedle’s legendary reformed Black Science Orchestra.

Eugene Lamont Johnson a.k.a E Lamont Johnson or Lamont Johnson holds the distinction of being the first internationally recognized fretless bassist in R&B music. Born April 20th 1955 in Highland Park, Michigan. Lamont rose to prominence as a session musician on Gloster Williams &The King Vision’s 1977 gospel album project “Together” (Gospel Roots -5005). In the same year Lamont featured as part of the celebrated Detroit based band Brainstorm their best-selling 1977 album “Stormin’” for Tabu Records. Brainstorm was initially formed during 1975 by bandleader and saxophonist Charles ‘Chuck’ Overton, and included lead vocalist Belita Woods, Lamont Johnson on Fretless bass, Renell Gonsalves on drums, Trenita ‘Treaty’ Womack on percussion, flute and backing vocals, Bob Ross (a.k.a Professor RJ Ross) on keyboards, Gerald ‘Jerry’ Kent on guitar, Jeryl Bright on trombone and ‘Leaping’ Larry Sims on trumpet and flugelhorn. The album was recorded during 1976 and released the following year. It contained the disco hit “Loving Is Really My Game” the popular “Wake Up And Be Somebody” and the radio hit “This Must Be Heaven” a beautifully crafted ballad featuring the lead vocals of Lamont which still receives continued airplay to this day. Lamont did not feature on the band’s two subsequent album projects “Journey To The Light” (Tabu 35327) in 1978 and “Funky Entertainment” (Tabu 35749) in 1979.

The year1978 was to prove to be one of the most prolific of Lamont’s recording career, playing bass on three studio albums. Firstly, on Hamilton Bohannon’s “On My Way” (Mercury SRM-i-3710), Jimmy McKee’s “First Time Out” (Champion- 8083N5) and Keith Barrows “Physical Attraction” (Columbia JC-35597) albums respectively. The final project of that year would be Lamont’s own album project “Music Of The Sun” (Tabu-35455) featuring Lamont on both bass guitar and vocals, the album also spawned two lead 45’s “Sister Fine/Yours Truly, Discreetly” and “Hey Girl/Differently”.

During 1979 Lamont would feature as a guest bassist on a further two studio album projects, firstly the self-titled debut album of fellow Detroit musicians Chapter 8 (Ariola 50056) followed by another self-titled album “Nightflyte” (Ariola 50060) who’s line-up included Howard Johnson prior to him embarking on a solo career. During 1980 Lamont began work on a second solo album for Tabu. Two lead 45 singles were recorded “Rock You Baby/Something More” (Tabu ZS9-5521) followed by the album’s title song “Rhumba” backed with the modern soul favourite “Masta Luva” (ZS9-5525) for whatever reason CBS/Tabu decided to shelve the remainder of the project. Later recording projects to feature Lamont instrumental talents were Was Not Was ‘s “Tell Me I’m Dreaming and Robert Lowe’s “Double Dip” jazz funk album. Later solo CD album projects from Lamont, “This Must Be Heaven” arrived in 2004 and “Amore’ Dance” in 2001 both on his own Allee Records Label. From the mid 70’s through to the present day, Lamont has been a notable electric bass instructor in the Detroit area and beyond. As well as the previously mentioned projects, Lamont and many of his prot’eg’es work can be found on many other world renown artists recording projects the most notable being, Earth Wind & Fire, The Dramatics, Anita Baker, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Phyllis Hyman, Beyonce, Howard Johnson, David T. Walker, Aretha Franklyn, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, The Temptations, The Winans amongst others.

Fast forward to the present and Soul Junction have licensed two previously unissued dance orientated Lamont Johnson produced compositions for this 45sinlge release with more to come. Under the project/artists name of “Lamont Johnson & Eugene” the recordings feature several different local Detroit musicians and vocalists. The a-side is a male vocally led early 90’s mid-tempo feel good dance number. While the b-side in contrast is a more synthesized bass driven 80’s female dancer which should appeal to the Boogie crowd,

Enjoy.

For the past 4 years the band has criss-crossed the Netherlands. Playing sold out shows at clubs, theaters and festivals from north to south, east to west. Capturing the heart and soul of every person there.

All the travelling also has rendered further personal development and awareness of who Michelle David & The True-tones are. We know them as a band that makes every show a soul spectacle with their unique gospel combined with soul, blues, jazz and afrobeat. Now with a new album coming up; 'Truth & Soul’ (29-04-2022) they expanded their musical horizon even more. Dreamy Indie soul with a heavy 70’s vibe mixed with Brazilian flavors and African Rhythms.

Truth & Soul also contains particularly personal duets with Lilian Vieira and Dobet Gnahoré, both well known for their extraordinary musical talent. Knowing who we are enables us to connect even more with those around us.- Michelle. 'You Can Make it' (the first single of the album) features Grammy - Winner Dobet Gnahoré. Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire Dobet Gnahoré is one of Africa’s hottest and most beloved artists.

Michelle: The lyrics are affirmations that should be on REPEAT. In times such as these we need to know we CAN AND WILL MAKE IT!

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.

The second studio album from Nigerian-German singer/ songwriter Nneka, No LongerAt Ease is a politically charged collection of songs which fuses an eclectic combination of Jamaican reggae, ‘70s soul-funk, drum’n’bass, and electronica. It is inspired by the Chinua Achebe novel of the same name. Its 15 tracks that are given a lo-fi edge, tackle a range of tough subjects, from the Niger Delta struggle to government corruption, to religious hypocrisy. This release features the single “Walking” for the first time on vinyl, and contains the tracks “Heartbeat”, “Suffri” and “Mind vs. Heart” a.o. Additionally, the album features performances by Pat Attah and Wesley Williams

An American soul vocal group that would go on to shape the sound of pop music much farther beyond their imaginations, Numero is proud to present the first official American 45' repressing of the Ponderosa Twins + 1 original 1971 release of Bound b/w I Remember You.

An American soul vocal group that would go on to shape the sound of pop music much farther beyond their imaginations, Numero is proud to present the first official American 45' repressing of the Ponderosa Twins + 1 original 1971 release of Bound b/w I Remember You.

If ever there was a time for the Return of the Funki Dred it’s now.

As the world slowly emerges from a pandemic of chaos into the forward facing challenge of Black Lives Matter, could there be a more reassuring soundtrack than Back To Life or Keep On Movin’? However, in keeping with these unique times those tunes will be as never heard before.

Soul II Soul’s Funki Dred Records is back after nearly thirty years in hiatus, still bridging the gap between street and sophistication with a schedule of totally 21st Century takes on club classics, and passing the Dred Head banner on to a selection of new young stars.

“This is something we’ve had under consideration for a while,” Soul II Soul front man Jazzie B explains. “But first we had to make sure the remixes of the Soul II Soul hits were not only musically perfect within the genres we had reimagined them, but that we were adding something to each original. Although we want to bring the Soul II Soul nation with us on this latest stage of our journey, we’re very conscious how much those tunes mean to so many people so we had to treat them with extra respect.

“We’ve always looked at and looked at developing new artists – that’s why Funki Dred Records was first set up back in the 1990s, and we figured we’d hit a point at which we’d connected with enough fresh talent to go forward. As for the timing, if we can contribute to wave of feeling sweeping the globe with our positive message we are proud to do so: A happy face, a thumpin’ bass, for a loving race.”

Funki Dred will be releasing music on 12” black vinyl, and collectible coloured vinyl. First on the reactivated catalogue will be an Afrobeat 'Zepherin Saint’ remix of Back To Life featuring the legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen. The 12” features the full ten minute plus Zepherin Saint Mix re-working, alongside a punchy ‘Zepherin Saint Radio Edit’ and a ‘Zepherin Saint Club Edit’, and to complete the package comes a different take on this classic track in the form of the 'Tribe Vocal Mix’.

The 12” will come on Limited Clear Green Vinyl (Limited to 500 copies), alongside a DJ friendly Black Vinyl version, and will form part 1 of a series of reworked and remixed 12” vinyl of classic Soul II Soul tracks.

This new series on Expansion explores classic and exceptional 70s and 80s 'modern soul room' tracks making them available on 7' single for the very first time.

The Moments were a prolific sweet soul group in the 70s, signed up by Stang Records and regularly in the charts. They comprised vocalists who would later become Ray, Goodman & Brown. As The Moments their first US R&B No.1 was Love On A Two-Way Street' in 1970 and in the UK were best known for Nine Times', Dolly My Love' and Girls'. When they changed labels, a handful of songs were left unissued including the incredible Sleep Won't Come', first released as a CD bonus tracks on a 2CD Moments anthology Moments To Remember'. Interest in the songs has become high since that time resulting in an inevitable debut release on vinyl here on Expansion.

The B side is one of the group's most underrated gems.

Das Debütalbum der Youthsayers, einem Südlondoner Community-Projekt, gegründet von zwei Mitgliedern der legendären Afro-Reggae-Band Soothsayers. Zu den aktuellen YS-Mitgliedern gehört u.a. auch der von Brownswood gesignte Oreglo. Die LP enthält acht einzigartige Interpretatione klassischer und neuer Dub- und Afro-Jazz-Tracks, darunter Coverversionen von Theon Cross, Fela Kuti, Cedric IM Brooks, The Fontanelles und Soothsayers.