Hip-Hop News

Next on deck, straight from Producer Dan Ubick’s Lions Den Studio, comes two more re-imagined soul classics from Los Angeles’ own Night Owls. First up, we have soul phenom Eli “Paperboy” Reed taking on Ray Charles’ classic “You Don’t Know Me” and Rocksteady champions Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos, laying their beautiful soul harmonies to Eddie Kendricks’ timeless “If You Let Me.”

For Side A’s “You Don’t Know Me,” Ubick had a tough assignment - find someone who could bring his own innate soulfulness to a song sung by “The Genius” in his prime. The answer came from Massachusetts-bred Eli “Paperboy” Reed, who moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi at 18 to cut his teeth singing in juke joints all over the Delta. Then, moving on to spend a year as minister of music at Chicago’s Southside church of Soul legend Mitty Collier (Chess Records) and relocating back to the East Coast to record for Capitol Records, Warner Brothers, Colemine Records, and now Yep Roc, Dan had found his man. On “You Don’t Know Me,” Reed’s voice ranges from belted lows to soulful highs that perfectly sets the stage for this more upbeat and Roots Reggae-infused rendition. With a tip of the hat to Jamaican legend and producer Bunny “Striker” Lee, Night Owls take Charles’ classic soul and R&B standard to new territory. But that’s not all; Ubick also brought in Staten Island’s crown jewel, Eamon Doyle, who meticulously laid in all the vocal harmonies, faithful to Ray’s original. On Side B is Eddie Kendricks’ “If You Let Me” feat. Jr Thomas & The Volcanos (Colemine Records), re-done here with a nod to another legendary Jamaican singer, songwriter, and music producer, The Techniques’ own Winston Riley (Johnny Osbourne, Dave & Ansel Collins, Hortense Ellis, etc.). Originally debuted on Eddie Kendricks’ post-Temptations 1972 masterpiece People…Hold On (Tamla/Motown), Night Owls create a decidedly more moody and dubbed-out tone here, laying into a bass-heavy one-drop feel that perfectly sets the stage for Jr Thomas’ soulful lead and Volcanos members Alex Desért (Hepcat, The Lions) & John Butcher’s (The Expanders) spot on backing harmonies. While keeping much of the original harmonic language, Night Owls bring this much-loved classic to new heights, primed for the dance floor. It’s hard not to sway your hip and groove to this one!

Following the singles "Zanzare" and "Barocco", Chiaré is the self-titled debut album from songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chiaré, aka Chiara Ianniciello, the latest recipient of the Bianca D'Aponte Award for emerging Italian singer-songwriters.

The album, which will be out on April 19th, contains eight atmospheric and intimate tracks where Chiara's warm and gentle voice weaves snapshots from her feelings and her personal story over retro-flavoured, jazz-infused arrangements that are reminiscent of some of Italy's finest singer-songwriters (Lucio Battisti and Pino Daniele in particular).

"It all started about three years ago," says Chiara. "Ernesto Massimino Voza and I started from a sound that somehow wasn't really me, and after a long process of trial and error, we finally found what seemed to be right for me. Peppe Maiellano, who arranged all the music, brought it full circle. The album has a common thread: love. Almost all of the songs are about strategic love, the fear of freely loving someone and the frustration at not being able to get out of an on-and-off relationship that made me suffer, but that I've tried to narrate with some irony. If my writing were an artistic movement, it would be naturalism. I drew a lot of inspiration from Pino Daniele, Eduardo De Crescenzo, and Lucio Battisti, while trying to develop my own personal, authentic style."

Chiara holds a diploma in jazz singing and is now completing her studies in classical double bass. In her debut album she uses both standard Italian and the Neapolitan dialect, mixing jazz, soul and R'n'B. Modernity and tradition come together, creating a delicate yet irresistible sound.

Amazing floaty modern soul / disco goodness out of late 70s Queens, NY. 'Love Is The Same' two brilliant and different versions, both dancefloor fire…

Mark Beiner met Ben Iverson in 1976 when I was 17 years old, at the time he was a junior at Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens. Mark had taken a part time job as a Produce Clerk at Walbaum's Supermarket on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, Queens, where I met Ben Iverson, the "Frozen Food Manager."

Back then Mark remembers, 'I was going to work early just to talk to him about his musical background and his time spent in the 50's and 60's with the Ohio Doo Wop Group, "The Hornets", or better known as, "Ben Iverson and The Hornets."'

In 1978 after Ben and I discussed getting together and composing music, I started writing poetry and expressing in writing my break-up with my college girlfriend, Paula. Ben and Mark went on to writing two albums worth of material, which in turn gave us a lot of time and presence on stage at our live gigs.

The regular Coast to Coast Band members consisted of Ben Iverson on Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitarist and Co-Executive Producer, Joe Crowley, who is known today as "New York Congressman Joe Crowley." Carl (Woody Wood) Morton on Bass Guitar, Jimmy Johnson on Keyboards. Lead Guitarist, Lou Jimenez, currently owns his own recording studio, Music Labs in Elmont, Long Island. On Drums, Eddie Byam, on Alto Sax, Jay Cohen, who in the 70's used to record for "Gary U.S. Bonds." Gary Pevols on Trumpet. On Bone, Scott Burrows, Trumpet player, Steve Becker, along side Neil Levine, Stan Stockley, Tom Russo.

Gabriels Announce Angels & Queens Album Release Details

Full Length Debut Album Released 28th April 2023

Six New Tracks Include New Sounwave Produced Version Of Debut Single, “Love And Hate In A Different Time”

Gabriels are very pleased to announce details of the full release of their debut album, Angels & Queens.

The 13 track record will be released on 28th April 2023 via Atlas Artists/Parlophone Records. It was produced by the Grammy winning and fellow Compton local, Sounwave.

Angels & Queens - Part I was released back in September, picking up widespread acclaim across the globe. Its release was governed by the band’s desire to push through the release of new recordings this year, and release the record in two distinct chapters. The second chapter now concludes the full album’s tracklisting for a Spring 2023 release.

Angels & Queens incorporates a brand new recording of the band’s seminal debut single, Love & Hate In A Different Time, and songs that have already become staples of the band’s live set; Offering, Glory, and Great Wind.

The new record from San Francisco based band Monophonics entitled "In Your Brain" sits on the fuzzy psych side of soul and funk. Paying homage to innovators such as Sly Stone, Norman Whitfield and Funkedelic's George Clinton, the 6 piece outfit displays their ability to put a moody stamp on each composition. Touching on everything from cinematic soul, heavy funk, 60's rock and spaghetti western laced with yellow sunshine acid, the album is sure to leave you tuned in and turned on!

Sometime in 1984, San Diego native Anthony "Antone" Williams found himself sitting alone at Pure Sound Studios, tinkering around with a drum machine. Eventually he landed on a "sinister groove" which would lay the propulsive foundation for his hauntingly melodic tour de force, "Windows of My Mind." Released the following year as a seven-inch single on his own Unity Records label, the song features Antone's otherworldly production. Some have referred to the result as "post punk soul," but we'll let you be the judge.

Coming up in San Diego in the Seventies, part of an extensive musical family, Antone's creative fuse was lit by the sounds of Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, and the Jackson 5.. At the age of 13, he was performing in area clubs, making a name for himself. By age 22, he had opened his own recording studio, Pure Sound. The influence of Sly and the Family Stone was decisive for Antone, who took to wearing a star-shaped gold necklace, not unlike the one famously worn by Stone on his epochal 1975 LP High on You.

"Windows of My Mind" was Antone & The Underworld's sole release. Limited to 500 copies and handed out as a promotional tool for a purported album of the same name, the single didn't get much traction. (A story as old as time.) Perhaps the music was ahead of its time and Antone's visionary message will finally sink in 2023. "I didn't want to make a song like Shake Your Booty", he says now. And yet we think that this long-lost record with its "sinister groove" is eminently danceable, almost 40 years later. We challenge you to take a listen to this home-grown 1985 7", remastered directly from the original tape, and make an assessment of your own.

Clear Vinyl

'Days of Glory' contains a relatable storyline, sweet soul vocals, and an up-tempo instrumentation flavored with a nostalgic soul scent'

No Kind of Pitiful is exemplary of 1960s soul with an important message! It is an upbeat song that will help you feel better

Brian Scartocci is a veteran soul singer and songwriter.

For more than a decade, the singer has been making a name for himself in the red-hot Austin music scene. The renowned vocalist has lent his voice to a series of popular local and regional bands including Austin Heat and Blind Lead The Blind.

In 2012 Brian Scartocci wowed an international audience as a contestant on the hugely popular competitive singing program, The Voice. Now based in Texas, the New Jersey native has established a reputation across the United States as a dynamic performer and gifted vocalist. Known for interacting directly with the audience, he can often be found offstage, getting down with the crowd.

Originally released in 2014 as Vol.7 in the Luv N'Haight Edit Series which was the first on a 7-inch and featured heavyweight digger, edit-master, and producer Kon with his take on Twilight’s Modern Soul and Boogie classic “You’re In Love”. He stays true to the original but packs a bit more punch into the groove while keeping the focus on the catchy vocals and chorus on the A-side, and doing it Dub-style with minimal vocals and plenty of echo on the flip.

Unreleased, "lost" 7inch off the Bruton library music album "Deep Funk". Two killer cuts by the Sound Stylistics: The Message is a piece of heavy soul featuring the vocals of late great UK soul singer Noel McKoy, Freedom Sound is a space funk groove with moog synth on top. Officially licenced from BMG Zomba Production Music in 2007, manufactured and forgotten. These 45s have just been unearthed from the pressing plant's storage room after more than 15 years.

The funky, atmospheric, evocative and sometimes downright weird output of companies such as DeWolfe, Cavendish, Burton and the ubiquitous KPM have always been a guiding inspiration for ATA Records, as evidenced in the spooky soundtrack vision of The Sorcerers, the big band brass of The Yorkshire Film & Television Orchestra and even in the soul-jazz of The Lewis Express & Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble. It only seemed natural for the team at ATA Records to scratch their own Library itch and so "The Library Archive Vol. 1" was born in 2019. Recorded over a series of sessions in the Aladdin's Cave of vintage recording equipment that is ATA studios, it featured many of the ATA stable of performers. Released in 2021, "The Library Archive Vol. 2" still had the golden age of European Library music squarely in it's sights, but this time the focus was drawn more to the off-kilter soul organ sound of Italian quartet I Marc 4. These two volumes garnered praise from Library aficionado Shawn Lee ("Holy...

Cymande's debut LP housed in a gatefold jacket and paper inner sleeve. Remastered for vinyl in 2022 at Abbey Road Studios, and pressed on Translucent Orange Crush Vinyl for the very first time.



Patrick Patterson - Guitar
Steve Scipio - Bass
Mike Rose - Alto / Flute / Bongos
Peter Serreo - Tenor
Derek Gibbs - Alto / Soprano
Sam Kelly - Drums
Pablo Gonsales - Congas
Ray King - Vocals / Percussion
Joey Dee - Vocals / Percussion

Our was formed some twelve months out of the ruins of a few other bands. The influences are vastly different, as are the backgrounds and personalities, the only main link being the fact that we all hail from the West Indies. The band got together at about the same time the “Afro-Rock” wave took hold, but it brought its own kind of rock.

The above form the NYAH-ROCK band CYMANDE. All of our music is our own. We’ve worked at trying to convey a true spirit of togetherness and we believe that this comes across best in the “Rasta” folk song and Zion, the earth tunes brought to the band by Mike and Pablo who are grounded in the teachings of Rastamen, but prefer to retain the prefix, self taught. We call our Music NYAH-ROCK and through it we speak of our ideals, our heritage and ourselves. We try to engender a feeling of happiness and to convey this feeling to those people who want to find the time and reason to listen to us. NYAH-ROCK is our rock. It is the music of the man who finds in life a reason for living.

CYMANDE is symbolised by the Dove and the head of a Rastaman. They in turn, we believe, symbolise peace and love. The Dove is one of the main characters in calypso from which the name was taken. Steve, Mike, and Patrick have played together in bands before getting together in CYMANDE, Ginger Johnson and his African drummers being the best known. We have all known each other for quite some time gigging around here and there, we finally go together first five of us then the rest came one by one. Now we are one.

We can make it together, you and I Cymande
We can teach the people love if we try
In all their hearts, there rests the problem
In my heart and your heart, the answer lies
We can seal our friendship now, you and I Cymande
If we show them love
This is the time
There is an answer
If into our heart flies our dove
– CYMANDE

My meeting with CYMANDE was purely chance caused by confusion of dates, for on the afternoon of 18th October 1971 in the basement of a club in Soho, London, I was due to see another group. The band were rehearsing, or rather what they termed as rehearsing was a troup of friends specially brought for the occasion and which seemed to increase as the afternoon went on shouting, chanting and jumping about like there was no tomorrow and this I later discovered was how it was everywhere the band played. I found myself caught up in an atmosphere of electric excitement and my brain pummelled with music and rhythms which had an incessant infectiousness. When I confronted the band and asked them to describe their music the answer came back very quickly and I might add with considerable pride “We are a NYAH-ROCK band man. We play NYAH-ROCK. It is our music. It describes the way we feel about life and people.”

On this album I have tried to capture the excitement of this band. The music is unpretentious, extremely infectious but above all absolutely sincere. On stage CYMANDE are a joy to watch. The colour and movement is captivating and the music is simply - NYAH-ROCK

– John Shroeder

Welcoming the inimitable DJ and Producer Dan Shake with his forthcoming EP Verde, set for release on May 26 2023.
Renowned for his infectious charm in the booth and an expert ear for funk, soul and disco rarities, the producer who cut teeth making maximum impact dancefloor groovers is now taking an introspective new direction. Dan was inspired after his relocation to Devon from London where a new found feeling of escapism and appreciation for nature allowed him to experiment with his own sound more than before, including using his own vocals at the forefront for the very first time.

Dan Shake (Daniel Rose-Weir) began his notoriety with the Mahogani Music released 3AM Jazz Club / Thinkin’ in 2014, using Moodymann’s seal of approval as a springboard for his ambitions. Even as dancefloor-igniting releases piled up year on year, such as the Ibiza-smashing ‘Claudia’s Trip’, or any number of Shake Tapes white label edits, Shake’s expertise as a DJ began to match his production chops. This makes for two combined sides of what Dan Shake represents: an explosion of colour, variety and flavour, no matter whether he’s jamming on a rotary in the booth, or juicing fresh joy from old samples in the studio. Basements, lofts, tents, festival stages with the production dialled up to 11 – all are welcome opportunities to let loose. But as his sound has evolved and his reputation as a killer DJ has grown, Shake’s love of connecting to the dancers in front of him has remained, well, unshakable.

You just can’t imagine ho many Joe Johnsons soul singers were around on both coasts of the States at the crossing of the sixties and the seventies. And how long it took us to find the right one. Double banger here out of a privately produced Long Player that never had a 7” vinyl to lead to its publication. Until now of course, with that Time Capsule feel as trademark of our flagship record label.

Following up on their acclaimed debut EP Yagana in 2022, the 5-piece band Pigeon return with a brand new offering: Backslider.

As Pigeon develop and hone their sound further, Afro-disco remains at the core while jazz and no-wave make way for new elements of electro, rock and synth pop.

With their debut Yagana EP gaining critical acclaim, each member has found themselves heavily in demand on top of their own individual pursuits – Falle Nioke is releasing his solo work as well as other projects, while Steve Pringle and Graham Godfrey play in various bands (Michael Kiwanuka and SAULT to name a few). Adding to the creative melting pot, Tom Dream pursues filmmaking and bespoke music composition via his own studio, and Josh Ludlow runs his own record label M.A.D. Records.

​​Lead single 'Backslider', a laid-back, 80s funk-rock bassline is backed by a deliberate, plodding drum kit - frontman Falle Nioke proceeds to sing in English and French - calling someone a 'backslider', for their dishonesty and bad behaviour.

Track 'Ikanabore', is a fast-paced, Afro-disco workout primed for the dancefloor, driven by a catchy chorus, guitar hooks, a heavy rollicking kick drum and plenty of modulated synth - highlighting the band's ability to effortlessly cross between tempos and genres.

Smoove returns with his label Wack Records and delivers two killer cuts straight from the heart of Motown.

Utilizing original Multitracks from the home of Rick James and The Supremes, Smoove gets his swirv on and delivers two up-tempo Hip-Hop bangers!

What do Tyler the Creator, Mantronix, Stetsasonic, DJ Shadow, Eric B and Rakim, Brand Nubian, Jay-Z and N.W.A. have in common?
What do UK Apachi and Shy FX, DJ Zinc, Bukem, Ganja Kru, Lemon D Ice, Dillinga, Photek, 4-Hero, Congo Natty, Krome and Time, Roni Size, Skream and Shut Up and Dance have in common?
Not to mention The Prodigy, Squarepusher, Leftfield, Oasis, Aphex Twin, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, David Bowie, Primal Scream, Lady Gaga and Dizzee Rascal?
Answer: They have all sampled The Winstons’ ‘Amen, Brother’!
The Winstons’ ‘Amen, Brother’ is THE most sampled drum break in the history of music and has shaped the history of electronic music ever since its creation in 1969.
This is the official release of the Winston’s ‘Color Him Father’ album, out of print for fifty years on vinyl, a glorious break-heavy album of soul, funk and gospel featuring the single ‘Color Him Father’, ‘Amen, Brother’ and loads more! The fully remastered album is housed in exact-reproduction original sleeve and design and comes with 4 extra bonus tracks that the group released only as singles. There is also a very special one-off first pressing only of this album that comes with an exclusive one-sided dubplate special 12” of ‘Amen, Brother’ featuring a specially extended break mix of the classic tune.
The Winstons’ ‘Amen, Brother’ was originally the B-side to ‘Color Him Father’ a superb soul tune released by a multi-racial group from Washington, DC, in 1969. The drum break was played by George G.C. Coleman, and the song was based on a Curtis Mayfield guitar riff. The soul connection was no coincidence. The Winstons were formed from the backing groups to both Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions before they came into their own spotlight. The Winstons signed to Mayfield’s Curtom Records in Chicago in 1968. Drummer extraordinaire G.C. Coleman had already played with The Marvelettes, Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield (and in the 1970s would play with the funk group Brick).
‘Color Him Father’ became a million-selling no. 1 R&B hit single in the US and the following year the Winstons released their debut (and only) album also entitled ‘Color Him Father’, on Metromedia Records, featuring both sides of the single alongside nine other excellent soul, funk, gospel and R&B cuts. Unfortunately, the group split up the following year, citing difficulties in touring the southern US due to their inter-racial line-up, and their sole album has long-since sunk into obscurity.
Fast forward nearly 20 years and the ‘Amen, Brother’ break was discovered by hip-hop producers after the song appeared on the seminal Ultimate Breaks & Beats series of original breaks (alongside ground-breaking tracks such as James Brown’s ‘Funky Drummer’, The Incredible Bongo Band’s ‘Apache’ and Herman Kelly’s ‘Dance to the Drummers Beat’) in 1986. The track became the staple of hip-hop, with countless songs based on George G.C. Coleman’s epic six-second drum break.
Fast forward once more, this time to the UK at the start of the 1990s, and 100s of drum and bass producers began sampling and speeding up the ‘Amen, Brother’ break, adding reggae bass lines to create first jungle and then drum and bass – and by the 1990s the ‘Amen’ drum break dominated this new musical genre.
The Winstons’ Color Him Father’ is a superb rare slice of soul, funk and gospel music that has changed the course of music over the last fifty years!

Yazmin Lacey didn't set out to be a singer. Born and raised in Manor Park, East London, she relocated to Nottingham whilst working for a children's charity and initially only considered making music as a way of having fun with friends. However, a chance encounter lead to her earning a place on Future Bubblers - Gilles Peterson's development programme devoted to discovering and nurturing fresh UK talent – and enthused by the experience, Lacey recorded some songs in her living room, then in 2017 self-released her debut EP, 'Black Moon'. The more polished 'When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees' EP followed in 2018, and then 'Morning Matters' EP in 2020 – the EP's title track has clocked up over 14 million plays on Spotify and also saw Yazmin make her COLORS debut performing 'On Your Own'.

Die niederländische Gospel-Soul-Sensation Michelle David & The True-tones feiert eine triumphale Rückkehr nach ihrem 2022er Werk "Truth & Soul", das von BBC Radio 6 zu einem der Alben des Jahres gekürt wurde. Mittelpunkt der Combo ist die ehemalige New Yorker Kirchenchorsängerin Michelle David, bekannt durch erfolgreiche Musicals/Shows (Mama, The Sound Of Motown, Glory Of Gospel, Mahalia) und als Backgroundsängerin (Diana Ross, Michael Bolton). Auf dem live im Studio aufgenommenen Album "Brothers & Sisters" gelingt es der Band wieder meisterhaft, die rohe, dynamische Energie und die gefühlvolle Atmosphäre ihrer Live-Auftritte im Studio einzufangen, wo sie mit peppigen Grooves, kraftvollen Vocals und starken Melodien, inspiriert von altem Gospel über Curtis Mayfield und Bobby Womack bis zu Klassikern des renommierten Stax-Labels, das Publikum in den Bann ziehen.

IZIPHO SOUL are incredibly proud to announce our 100th 7” single!

LAWRENCE BEAMEN - THINKING OF YOU

The unsurpassable bass-baritone voice of LAWRENCE BEAMEN originally recorded THINKING OF YOU in 2008. After years of pleas for a vinyl release; it’s finally here and sounding fresher than ever.

THE 7 REMIX courtesy of Don Turney at DKS Productions has added a magic touch and beefed up this classic even further!

Arranged and produced by Narada Michael Walden and Lawrence Beamen. Music Produced by Narada Michael Walden. Lyrics by Lawrence Beamen.

On the flip is a new recording entitled BEEN A LONG TIME - a banger of a tune, straight outta Oakland, California.

Packaged in a hole backed picture sleeve.

On his new album always centered at night, moby has once again conjured into reality a collection of heartachingly beautiful, tender-yet-defiant songs, made in collaboration with uniquely talented, soulfully aware, other-worldly vocalists. All the songs are love letters to the unrestricted and enchanting music scene of late ‘70s, early ‘80s New York that shaped Moby as a musician. The featured vocalists were given the same assignment: “Please don’t write anything commercial. Let it be weird. Let it be personal. It doesn’t have to make sense.”

“Because of that randomized freedom, I’ve been on the receiving end of so much genius work,” says moby. “And the result has been one of the most exciting, surprising things I’ve ever done as a musician, and it’s one of the most worthwhile things a human being can do: make tender, gentle, vulnerable music that’s a clarion call to act.”

Featured on this album are some of the most exciting vocalists of our time. Some are well-known - such as serpentwithfeet on the breathless daydream of a song ‘on air’, the jazzy soulstress Lady Blackbird on the haunting ‘dark days’, or the astounding poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah on ‘where is your pride?’. Other contributors have been found in relative obscurity - such as friend and vocalist Brie O’Banion on the Cream cover ‘we’re going wrong’, or Sheffield poet laureate Danaé Wellington on the powerful ‘wild flame’.

“The goal for always centered at night is to do something uncompromising,” says Moby. “To make music that is emotional, atmospheric and potentially beautiful. And what better use of this weird privilege I have than trying to foster creative expression that has uncompromising integrity?”

Ultra rare modern soul/rare groove scorcher "It'll All Come Around" on the A side with funky cinematic soul from Love Unlimited Orchestra on the B. Only 250 copies made.

2 more rare as hen’s teeth jazz and soul classics on 7" for the first time! Limited to only 300 copies

A fantastic contribution to the early 60's "sweet soul" which Ben E. King had first helped pioneer as the lead singer of the Drifters before breaking solo. The most obvious highlight is the smooth but heart- felt title track and the mega- classic 'Stand By Me'.

Includes four bonus tracks: 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', 'Sway',
'Amore', and 'Spanish Harlem'.

Ridin (BlackCash & Theo Edit) b/w Riding High (BlackCash & Theo Edit) by Faze-O | Galaxy Sound Co. — GSC45-035 | “Ridin” is taken from the first album of the same name by the Dayton, Ohio funk band Faze-O. Released in 1977 on Atlantic Records subsidiary label, She Records, it was produced by Clarence Satchell of the Ohio Players. It was recorded at Paragon Recording Studios, Chicago, Ill./Engineer: Steve Kasciel & at Chicago Recording Corp./Engineer: Hank Neuberger.

The song charted in 1978 on the top 10 R&B list. "Riding High" went on to be an oft-sampled song for many hip-hop & R&B acts from the late 1980s onwards. It was first sampled in Fresh Four's "Wishing on a Star" in 1989, produced by The High & Mighty, & would go on to be sampled over 120 times to date. Other notable samples were made in “Please Listen To My Demo” by EPMD (1989), “Proceed III” by The Roots (1994), “All That Money” by Funkahawlikz (1995), “Track 07 (Da 2nd Installment Vol. 4)” by J Dilla (2002), & “Killa Lipstick” by Ghostface Kills (2007). Even Snoop Dogg dug it twice for “Ride 4 Me” (1996) & “Bo$$ Playa” (2002). The Platinum Pied Pipers covered it in 2003 on #UbiquityRecords with a smooth modern soul swing take.

Master grade edit kings & beat makers Black Cash & Theo AKA #TheloniousBeats have a vast catalogue of essential sounds, & this release builds on that donut edit empire. While recorded in Chicago, you can immediately recognize why the West Coast picked up on it’s laid-back funky vibes.

Side A gives us an extended tight edit of the original vocal version while on the flip we are treated to the instrumental. Expertly remastered & edited up. Stamped, it is a 45-crate essential.

Come free your mind with this laid back funky donut

Taken from the forthcoming "Movements Vol.12" compilation album, "Funky Broadway" by The Villagers has never been released - until now. The B-side features the Garage-Rock cut "You're My Baby (Don't You Forget It)" from 1966, the same year as Dyke & The Blazers recorded the original version of "Funky Broadway".

A limited re-release of the very first single created by Virginia Soul Legend, Van Jones. Originally released in 1974, this release celebrates one of the most soulful, heartfelt recordings pressed onto a 7", the first step in Vans career defining his artistry & expression. The original release remains obscure due to the handful of copies known worldwide, now lovingly restored & released exclusively through Symphonical, in direct collaboration with Van Jones & Erwin Epps.

repressed !

Part two of a new Salsoul Re-edits series launches with four classic edits for RSD from seminal edit king Danny Krivit. With over 45 years behind the turntables, if anyone knows what little extra touch a record needs to work on the dancefloor...it's Danny! Taking his editing skills to four classics from the Salsoul vaults , Danny delivers once again. Available on vinyl for the very first time.

Get ready to unleash your inner seventies funk and soul enthusiast with the reissued edition of Miami's self-titled album! This record, which sadly became their last before disbanding in the early 1980s following the collapse of T.K. Records, for which they were the in-house band, will take you on a captivating musical journey.

The energy radiating from this album is almost palpable, filling the air with an electrifying atmosphere. From start to finish, Miami's self-titled album bursts with infectious energy that will transport you back to the soulful sounds of the era.

As the needle hits the vinyl, you'll be captivated by the undeniable groove and irresistible beats. It's a sonic experience that will make you want to move your feet and let loose to the soulful rhythms. This reissued masterpiece brings new life to a record that has long deserved celebration and recognition.

So, let's give Miami's self-titled album the overdue acclaim it deserves. Dust off this musical gem, crank up the volume, and let the funky and soulful melodies guide you on a nostalgic journey. Get ready to groove like never before and experience the magic of Miami's
unforgettable sound in this special reissue

Following on from their seminal Light As A Feather LP, Outubro (October) was originally released in 1980 and began Azymuth's run of prolific output for Milestone Records throughout the decade. Typifying the consummate craftsmanship of the three members' performances - each with such distinct personality and together so perfectly balanced - their perfectionist attitude to sound is maintained across the production on the album, beautifully colouring the expressionist fusion of samba rhythm, jazz progression, funk attitude and psychedelic electronics.

The album hosts a wonderful mix of tempos and styles, from Alex Malheiros' earth-shaking slap-bass on 'Dear Limmertz', which was to become a hit on London's underground disco and jazz-dance club scenes alike, to the late maestro Jose Roberto Bertrami's genial melodic Rhodes excursions on the vocoder laden, samba-jazz masterpiece 'Un Amigo', while Ivan 'Mamao' Conti's signature swing on 'Maracana' exemplifies the root of Azymuth's 'samba doidoi' (crazy samba) philosophy.

The two cover versions on the album consist of the title track which was originally penned by Milton Nascimento and Chick Corea's '500 Miles High', both of which magically reimagine the originals and further demonstrate the immense virtuosity of this cult recording. This Far Out Recordings release is mixed and mastered from the original tapes and will be released on 180g vinyl and CD.

METALLIC SILVER w. BLACK STREAKS VINYL

"Everything I Thought It Was" ist das mit Spannung erwartete neue Album des multitalentierten Entertainers, Künstlers, Produzenten, Songwriters und Schauspielers Justin Timberlake. Es ist Justins sechstes Studioalbum und enthält die erste Single "Selfish", ein von ansteckenden Melodien getragener Pop-Song mit der ikonischen, gefühlvollen Stimme des Stars.

The groovier side of Iron Curtain is uncovered by Funk Embassy Records via the 11-track LP, out on 12" vinyl and CD. Recorded between 1974-1988, the compilers have unearthed funk, disco, soul, jazz, instrumentals, library music and covers from the Estonian Radio archives. This is the sound of ESSR (Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic) as heard at music halls, radio, TV shows and cafeterias along with underground parties and semilegal jazz clubs.

The selection ranges from folk-funk, psychedelic soul, dancefloor certified disco, Isaac Hayes reminiscent blues-funk, contemplative jazz-funk, Piero Umiliani-esque library music, funk-rock, in-your-face b-boy break to a flute-led master piece by Uno Naissoo – one of the founders of the Estonian jazz scene who organized the notorious Tallinn Jazz Festivals (1949-1967).

Some of the tracks have never been heard outside their initial recording, like the unreleased instrumental versions by the Estonian TV and Radio Estrada Orchestra "Kesköösamba" (1977); and "Mälestuste Teel" (1974, trnl. "On The Road of Memories"); a cover of Carita Holmström, "Näed vaid oma silmi" with the former Soviet child star Tiiu Varik belting her unique-timbred guts out. Other tracks are local classics, that have seen the light of day before, be it cassettes, compilation CDs or repressed vinyls.

Inspired by the resurgence of the spirit of Funk around the globe, the compilers have taken the intention to give a taste of Estonian music of the bygone Soviet era, during which the government attempted to control the artists and music being made. Nevertheless, a lot of influences made it through, as ESSR was the westernmost country in the Soviet Union. Since 1970s, Estonia's been a surprisingly fruitful ground for funk, soul, disco and jazz music. Just as well, contemporary acts like Misha Panfilov Sound Combo, Lexsoul Dancemachine and Estrada Orchestra have been well received in Europe and US. Archive findings by Frotee Records (e.g. Velly Joonas - Stopp Seisku Aeg), Peoples Potential Unlimited (e.g. Uku Kuut and Maryn releases) and Hyper Records (Collage represess) have met excited feedback. This LP serves as a worthy addition to introduce the small country's musical legacy.












j 10. Välgud Peeglis (Short Version) feat. Vanemõde - Tarmo & Toomas Urb

Karate Boogaloo aus Melbourne, Australien präsentieren mit Stolz "Hold Your Horses", ihre fesselnde neue Langspielplatte mit originalen Instrumentalstücken. Henry Jenkins, Hudson Whitlock, Callum Riley und Darvid Thor sind das Herzstück von Melbournes aufkeimender Instrumental-Soul-Bewegung und machen seit ihrer Schulzeit gemeinsam Musik. Die vier Freunde lernten sich in der Highschool kennen und haben die großen Instrumental-Bands wie Booker T & The MG's und The Meters genau studiert. "Hold Your Horses" ist Karate Boogaloos eigene Interpretation von instrumentalem Funk. Eine echte Reise vom Anfang bis zum Ende, bei der jedes Stück nahtlos in das nächste übergeht und eine Welt mit kinematischen Momenten, skurrilen Melodien und unheimlichen Dissonanzen erschafft, und von unbestreitbarem Super Heavyfunk untermauert wird. Alle Songs für "Hold Your Horses" wurden gemeinsam im Studio geschrieben, ohne dass eines der Mitglieder vorgefertigtes Material einbrachte. Es ist ein Prozess, der speziell darauf ausgelegt ist, die Stärken der Band und ihre Beziehung zueinander zu maximieren. Um das Erlebnis noch zu verstärken, erzeugt das LP-Cover (entworfen von dem in Melbourne lebenden visuellen Künstler Drez) ein interaktives optisches Kunsterlebnis, wenn die Innenhülle aus dem Umschlag entfernt wird. Karate Boogaloo ist ein Quartett, das mehr ist als die Summe seiner Teile; und die Teile allein sind sehr, sehr gut.