Pop & Rock News

Cinedelic Records continues on with the release of yet another Paolo Vasile gem, and that is his score to Antonio Margheriti’s 1975 poliziottesco, Controrapina (The Rip Off) starring Lee Van Cleef. This soundtrack runs the gamut from strumming guitar and vocal numbers, to straight up dancefloor heaters. This beautifully produced record incorporates smooth sax, disco strings, wah guitar, and a driving beat — all the essential elements of a first rate 70s Eurocrime soundtrack. This release will be pressed in a run of 400 copies: 400, All will also include a super cool promotional .45 caliber pistol cut-out! (Alfonso Carrillo)

The first release on Koo Editions features a documentation of Pavel Pepperstein's exhibition in the Russian pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2009. Since 2009 was the year of the centenary of the Futurist Manifesto, the thematic reference looks to the historical Avant-Garde: it is in fact a work of Russian Retrofuturism and bold beauty. The vinyl features an extended track of Ilya Dmitriev, a mixable retro electronic flow deliberately influenced by 80s disco archetype. Pepperstein's speech blows over the beat from the ultraworld and goes in an unexpected direction, far from any hedonistic exaltation, embracing a severe criticism of a future towards which he absolutely does not want to tend. The artist, of unquestionable fame and international value, takes strong positions against the western cultural narrative and art market policies which deserve to be slammed in the face of today's public, like MiG that lands in your living room.
Koo Editions comes on vinyl purposing a selected documentation from art exhibitions, interviews, intermedia collaborations. KOO EDITIONS was born with the idea of using the vinyl medium as a moving exhibition space, referring to the relationship between certain experiences of visual art with the listening one. Why the record? Because the catalogs don't speak. The record is a place: "Where" in fact, deputy to the sound testimony of something that has already happened, can be preserved to be able to enjoy it from a distance (of time and/or space). The intent of KOO EDITIONS is not to launch a precise style or a defined aesthetic, but to put the accent on the voice of peculiar and seminal attitudes linked to the world of visual art. The record introduces an inversion of focus, compared to what usually happens in artistic events where the eye and not the ear is the master. This is not a matter of sound art, vinyl art, net art or anything else: the medium is NOT the message, but conveys it. The target audience is both that of the lovers and regulars of artistic events. One of researchers of particular records, which can also be DJs looking for adventures. The former will be able to purchase an artist's reference at the affordable price of a vinyl edition without having to come across the typical costs that an art collector usually faces, while the latter similarly to what has always happened for film soundtracks, will be able to approach a cultural sector usually distant from them by listening. The editions will be published in limited and numbered series, as are the art multiples, to underline their cultural significance and their collectible aspect. They are treated with the care that non-homologated historical content deserves. They will also be accompanied by unpublished material such as interviews and critical texts that will be published train on train on the site kooeditions.art, under construction. KOO EDITIONS is an independent documentary project by Giovanni De Donà, and is the result of experiences, risks, interests and personal research.

The Hi NRG maestro Bobby Orlando's hit duo 'Oh Romeo' burst onto the scene in 1982 with the hit record 'These Memories'. Now, fast forward to 2024 and the team at Iventi d'Azzuro have been working hard to bring to life remastered, extended versions of four other hard to find 'Oh Romeo' records. Presented on a finely crafted EP available in black or transparent red vinyl, 'Living Out A Fantasy' is a must have in any record collection and sure to explode any dancefloor!.

FÜR FANS VON: P!nk, Coldplay, aktuelle Muse, Imagine Dragons, Queen POWERIZED ist eine niederländische Rock Band aus Breda und besteht aus Nick Holleman, Thom Schotel und Ralph Adriaansen. Das Trio glänzt auf seine ganz eigene Art und liefert sowohl musikalisch als auch visuell eine abwechslungsreiche und dynamische Show ab. Ein wilder Ritt von unbeschwerten, tanzbaren Symphonien hin zu intimen Intermezzos. Die stimmgewaltige und ausdrucksstarke Darbietung von Frontmann Nick, die
verspielten Collagen aus perkussiven Elementen und dynamischen Rhythmen von Ralph und Thoms Fähigkeit Rhythmus und Melodie spielerisch zu verbinden, zieht die Zuhörer sofort in ihren Bann.

Musikalisch lässt sich POWERIZED am besten als Mittelweg zwischen P!nk, Coldplay, aktuellen Muse, Imagine Dragon mit einem Hauch von Queen beschreiben.

Das selbst produzierte Album BETTER THAN YOU zeigt alle Talente der Band. Die 10 Songs überzeugen mit einzigartigem, überwältigendem Sound mit lyrischer Tiefe und zeigen eindrucksvoll ihre Fähigkeit Dinge miteinander zu verbinden und zu einer Einheit zu verschmelzen. Beginnend mit einer Stimmung oder einer Emotion tauchen sie tief ein, saugen sie auf und machen sie zu POWERIZED. Das Ergebnis ist energiegeladener Pop-Rock der seinesgleichen sucht! Ein distinguierter Sound mit eigener Identität. Wir empfehlen einzusteigen und die wilde Fahrt einfach zu genießen!

Paisley Park Enterprises, in Partnership with Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Records, announces expanded reissue of Prince & the New Power Generation’s multi-platinum album Diamonds And Pearls. This 12LP+ Blu-ray features 47 previously unreleased tracks and over two hours of live filmed concert footage in high definition.

Following the successful release of the 1999 Super Deluxe Edition (2019), and Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe Edition (2020), the Diamonds And Pearls Super Deluxe Edition represents the third deep dive into Prince’s vault. It includes a total of 75 audio tracks across 7x CDs and 12x 180g vinyl records.

The set offers a newly remastered version of the album, plus 15 of the incredible remixes and B-sides from the era, including the never commercially released “Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Min.)” mix. The Super Deluxe Edition also features 33 previously unheard studio gems from Prince’s Illustrious vault, ranging from alternate versions of album tracks to numbers Prince gave away to other artists, and songs recorded while on the road in 1990.

Prince & The NPG previewed the Diamonds And Pearls Tour at Prince’s Minneapolis club, Glam Slam, on January 11, 1992. The sweaty, sold-out, last-minute show captures the sheer joy and sense of endless possibility that came to define this era. This previously unreleased live concert performance has been mixed from the 24-track master and rounds out the audio content of this 12LP set.
This same previously unreleased concert is also presented in stunning 2K video on the Blu-ray disc that accompanies both Super Deluxe Edition formats, in Stereo, 5.1 Dolby True HD, and Dolby ATMOS audio formats. The Blu-ray also features Prince & The New Power Generation’s performance at The Special Olympics at the Metrodome in Minneapolis in July 1991 (also in Stereo, 5.1, and ATMOS), as well as a previously unseen soundcheck.

The Blu-ray is completed by the long out of print Diamonds And Pearls Video Collection, originally released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1993. The 120-page hardback book which accompanies the SDE set features unseen photos by Randee St. Nicholas, and essays by: author & broadcaster Andrea Swensson; Archivist and Senior Researcher for the Prince Estate Duane Tudahl; British music critic and Prince expert Jason Draper; De Angela L. Duff, an Industry Professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn; Social Media Personality KaNisa Williams; and an introduction from Public Enemy founder, Chuck D.

Out 26th April, "Atlantic Oscillations" marks the return of world-renowned British producer Quantic ahead of the release of his most cohesive and intricate album to date. Bringing together new players and concepts with a dance orientated sound that has enchanted fans and tastemakers across the world for nearly two decades.

As the first Quantic release under his main solo moniker since 2014's critically acclaimed 'Magnetica', "Atlantic Oscillations" embodies a disco vibrancy taken directly from sweaty dance nights in Brooklyn's small disco and dance clubs, "I've had the chance to see some great DJs and got into the disco edit and some incredible dance songs. NYC summers are great for outdoor parties and I wanted to make something which was long and had a real journey for these kind of parties", Holland explains "it was primarily my wish to make a bad disco tune". The finished product is a track shimmering with the warmth of a New York City summer and the energy of a party equipped with a well-stocked free bar.

Genre - Funk, Breaks, Hip Hop, Beats, Disco-Rap. Previously unreleased 6-track demo by forgotten NYC-area band RENEGADE FORCE. There is no background information about this recording, a salvaged demo by unknown musicians seeing collaborative release between Snow Dog and Heavenly Star Records (Clyde Alexander & Sanction, Margo’s Kool Out Crew, Cloud One). The group’s dead-on execution of Zulu Nation/Wild Style-era “live hip-hop band” vibe recalls Positive Force, Doug Wimbish, Planet Patrol, Pumpkin & Friends and The Harlem Underground Band. The cassette-demo era of record labels generated tens if not hundreds of thousands of unheard, often unlistenable, and ultimately discarded tape submissions to A&Rs at independent and major labels. The overflowing mail tub of hand-addressed submissions is a distant memory in the digital age, but it was a cumbersome and disorganized yet vital element of the business through the early 2000s. The recording’s origin is murky, the equipment/instrumentation (all analog by the sound of it) fits the early 1980’s NYC landscape that included Kool Herc, Grand Wizard Theodore, and Afrika Bambaataa, with the influence of the emerging popularity of drum machines evident on “School Disco”. The other tracks are straight up gritty funk vignettes, tight bass / guitar / drum workouts in sparse trio style, with intermittent synth accents. These six tracks would not sound out of place on any number of groundbreaking NYC indy electro / hip hop labels from the early-mid 1980s: Sunnyview, Emergency, Streetwise, Profile, Sugarhill, Enjoy, Cutting Records.

Reuben Howell was from Greenwood, Minnesota based mainly in Florida throughout his career. He was the first white soul singer to sign to Motown Records where he recorded two albums. “You Can’t Stop A Man In Love” was also covered by Cark Carlton and The Temptations. The Supremes also recorded it as “You Can’t Stop A Girl In Love”.

Both sides of this 7” are in demand. They were originally released together on Motown in 1973. “You Can’t Stop A Man In Love” on its own has sold for over £200, both sides together currently at £300 for a mint copy of these two 70s northern/modern crossover tracks.

Including Roberto Turatti Remix and Italoconnection Remixes

Received a 7.5 rating from Pitchfork. The debut full length from Melbourne, Australia’s Romero is a burst of hard hitting, punk-laced powerpop. Well informed by the classics and every bit as relevant-as-it-is timeless, Turn It On! is a memorable party. An album that captures the vitality of a young band hitting their stride and doing it on their own terms without a single note of indecision. Much in the way that The Undertones, Blondie, and even Big Star debuted with a sense of purpose, Romero invite us to eleven tracks of soulful powerpop gold. Sharp production across Turn It On! catapults the impressive guitar work of both Adam Johnstone and Fergus Sinclair to the front of the mix alongside Alanna Oliver’s heart-pounding energy and show-stealing vocal prowess. Anchored by the smooth rhythm pocket of Justin “Murry” Tawil and Dave Johnstone, Romero waste no time in showing their hand on the quick-paced album opener ‘Talk About It’—recalling '80s powerpop rhapsodies. The title track beckons bodies to the dancefloor with a rich Runaways-like temper that naturally explodes into a fiery guitar solo. Meanwhile ‘Halfway Out The Door’ and ’White Dress’ show off the band’s adept ballad-writing, boasting truly emotional highs, lows and soaring choruses. Those hip to the incredible debut Romero single—‘Honey’ b/w ‘Neapolitan’ (Cool Death, 2020) will be overjoyed to see these relatable anthems recast in the album’s tracklisting. Turn It On! reveals stories of personal striving, restarting, mulling-over the unsaid, resisting control, deteriorating relationships, the emotional throes of uncertainty and celebrating growth through all such experiences. The rollercoaster of life is mirrored by the sonic and lyrical turns Romero have crafted into their debut album—a hopeful tonic for whatever you’re going through, and a dose of excitement for what’s to come. Includes lyric insert and 11"x17" poster.

Finally! The first Sally Shapiro album re-issued. Almost 20 years later sound as fresh as the first listening.

When Sally Shapiro’s iconic debut LP, Disco Romance, hit the European scene in late 2006 (and the following year in North America), it created a bit of an earthquake, the vibrations of which the duo of Sally Shapiro and Johan Agebjörn are still riding today. Pitchfork awarded it “best new music” and an 8.5 review. Nearly 2,000 music fans on the big RateYourMusic forum ranked it the top Italo Disco album of all time. It wasn’t that it was the only Italo Disco revival album. However, Disco Romance was notable for the particularly high quality of the songwriting and production, for Sally’s ethereal vocals, and for the depth and breadth of the album’s scope.

With its iconic cover (French singer Sheila hanging from a parachute in the middle of pterodactyls), and its 8 disco-funk hits (including 'Spacer', 'King of the World', 'Charge Plates and Credit Cards' and 'Your Love Is Good'), the album King Of The World had everything to make an impression in 1980, especially as it was written, composed, arranged and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards from the band CHIC. Its success was worldwide and its influence on the Disco and Rock scene was effective and everlasting.

The King Of The World Edition (2020 Remaster - 1LP Red) will feature the remastered album in transparent red vinyl. With her unique career, Sheila has always known how to make her repertoire fresh and stay true to the spirit of the times, as proven by this collaboration with Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards. She was also one of the first singers to be produced by The CHIC Organization.

In the late 1970’s Cazeaux O.S.L.O.’s mother contributed to the Brown [read Black is beautiful] American cultural treasure chest by dancing on a television show called Soul Train. This is fresh, truly fly and absolutely cold crush. He made a song about it. That’s the truth. It was first performed at an instore appearance at Northside Records in 2018 which brought the house down and Chris Gill has been hassling the band to release the song ever since. It only seems fitting Northside ended up pressing this gem to wax! On the A-Side we have the original version in true So.Crates boom-bap soulful fashion, and on the B-Side Skomes digs into his UK Garage roots and ups the tempo for the club! Fresh!

Remastered for both vinyl and CD, this reissue also includes numerous bonus tracks, including the rare and original Peter Cook promo spots for the record, that were only available on the original UK picture disc pressings of 'Tryouts For The Human Race' and 'Beat The Clock'. “Virgin Records had the wonderful idea to enlist British comic Peter Cook to do two promo spots for the No.1 In Heaven album. They stood him in front of a mic and let him riff away at the meaning of the syndrum bleeps in 'Tryouts For The Human Race'” Russell Mael / Los Angeles, January 2019 The No.1 in Heaven album saw a departure from Sparks' more traditional band format– and saw them collaborate with the renowned Giorgio Moroder to create an album of synth laden electro tracks, sans guitar and bass. At the time the album received mixed opinions from music critics, some accusing Sparks of betraying their pop and rock roots; but forty years and 16 more albums later, Sparks are still confounding, and amazing critics with their genre defying and pioneering music. Now, No.1 In Heaven is seen as an important and essential bookmark in the history of electronic music, inspiring countless other artists. Now available as 2LP Coloured Vinyl. (2CD format released 8th March 2019). EXISTNG ORDERS STILL STAND

Funky disco rap from Spiltmilk and Jozy, ‘Gotta Have the Funk’ is the first single from Spiltmilk’s upcoming
album ‘Funk Side of A Moon’. Hip house is in effect!
This funky instrumental has been chosen and blessed by many classic house lovers, 1983 bass, funky clav, and a nostalgic 90’s old school funk house vibe. Trevor Wyatt aka ​Spiltmilk ​is madly passionate about refining his sound techniques. He is totally in to spacey mutated funk right now, so keep an eye for his latest Album: ‘Funk Side of A Moon’ which will release in early 2020 on MSLX recordings. ​Jozy​ is one of Canada’s hypest new vocalists and she carries a strong message. Her new RnB Hip hop album ‘Next Phase’ will release in early 2020.

“BREAKAWAY” by Steve Karmen was originally released on United Artists in 1968 following a successful advertising campaign for the Pontiac car, for which the ‘jingle’ had been written, featuring the slogan “Breakaway In A Wide-Trackin’ Pontiac”. Karmen extended the 30 second track with fills and breaks building the energy and excitement and creating the perfect dance track for the highly charge Casino Ballroom where it exploded in 1974. Jimmy Radcliffe ad-libbed a new and impassioned vocal for the singles plug-side, but – to this day – it is the thrilling instrumental that rules the dance floor.
Although associated with Wigan Casino, “Breakaway” was originally spun by DJ Colin Curtis at Blackpool Mecca under the imaginative title “Black Ship To Hell” (The Wigan Casino Years by Tim Brown). Today, over 50 years on, it has lost none of its energy and appeal and remains a favourite oldie and guaranteed floor-filler.

Soul/Disco/Funk single here for the first time ever on vinyl!
The independent UK label Six Nine Records Ltd, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, proudly presents Stone Paxton who now makes his debut on the label! Mr. Paxton has been in the music business for a long time and has got many strings to his bow; besides being an artist he’s also a producer, composer, arranger and writer. This brand new release contains the original album version of the sure-shot winner “Feel The Groove” with an extended version on the flipside. Definitely not to be missed as it is a limited UK press with small hole and full colour printed picturen cover!

The 3rd studio album 'Susanne and the Sad Sunset Disco' from Sue The Night will be released on October 20 and this of course includes a new tour: The Sunset Disco Tour.

The Supremes A’ Go-Go marked the
group’s first number one pop album. It is
presented here in its rarely heard Mono
mix, which according to many reviews has
more punch and immediacy than the Stereo
version. Various compilations had skimmed
the most familiar songs off of other Supremes’
albums, but the concept behind Supremes A’
Go-Go was to get the group to cover some of
the top hits of other (mostly Motown) acts. As
a result, every song on the album was familiar
in name, and only “You Can’t Hurry Love” was
culled for any hits packages. A number one
album on the pop and R&B charts, Supremes
A’ Go-Go also benefited from the fact that the
album didn’t include any pop standards or
slow ballads, just solid R&B dance numbers. It
was the first LP by an all-female group to reach
number-one on the Billboard 200 album charts
in the United States. The LP contains two of the
Supremes’ top ten Billboard Hot 100 singles:
the #9 hit “Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart”
and the #1 hit “You Can’t Hurry Love”. 180-
gram VIRGIN VINYL LIMITED EDITION.

Karate Boogaloo is the side project of Melbourne soul favourites The Cactus Channel. As KB, they freely explore a unique interpretation of soul music.Their contribution to the split 7” Do You Even Know What A Passport Is is a prime example of their unapologetically wonky melodies, cinematic dramatism and jilted funk arrangments. Surprise Chef’s offering ‘Where’s The Cream?’ is a heavy duty up-tempo track full of 70s deep funk sensibilities, with savage rhythmic guitar and harsh organ sitting atop a crusty drum break beat. Two sides of oddball instrumental soul recorded in early 2018, straight to tape at Karate Boogaloo's Collingwood studio.

Sylvie Vartan's most wonderful songs beautifully remastered by Mr. Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering... Super cute, lovely, yet Rock n Roll artwork by Mr. Allan NoMan

Detailed liner notes by M.Jean-Emmanuel Deluxe, author of the acclaimed, beautiful, and definitive book "Ye-Ye Girls of '60s French Pop"

Imagine..if you will...a world in which your dearest chic girl pop singer guests a couple of humour records, goes on to have hit after hit, is all over TV and media, with the coolest radio shows and magazines for youngsters being almost fanzines for her. Then she gets her own TV shows and um, marries Elvis, and does a multi-night stand at the Paris Olympia where The Beatles are supporting HER! That world existed, it was early 1960s France, a marvellous, self contained world of music, film and art, where Vince Taylor was not a weird guy in leather pants who never really clicked with the kids,but the major star he was in his own head! And..Well, obviously, it wasn't really Elvis, but the French-World analogue Johnny Hallyday (handsome, good hair, and a great dancer!), so..in France it WAS!... But the hits? The TV shows? And the magazines and radio? Yes! Those really happened....and The Beatles did support her (and it was a big and lucky night in their career!)...Now, don't you wish we were there, in that world? A bizarro technicolor mix of....I don't know, Viva Las Vegas/HELP!/Les Demoiselles de Rochefort? I certainly do...or maybe pop this record on and let's pretend? Oh, I think so, yes...

MELODIES” is the first album released on the MOON label. The album was the first album released on the MOON label, and it marked a drastic change
in sound direction from the RCA/AIR era, as a result, the range of their work expanded, and the Christmas classic “Christmas Eve” was born from their work.
The result is a monumental masterpiece that will remain in the history of pop music. Includes “Christmas Eve” “High Air Pressure Girl,” “Merry Go Round”
and more. Includes detailed liner notes by Tatsuro Yamashita himself!

Compact, colourful and full of fine songs, this is truly, pocket music. Includes ‘Saturday's Lover’, ‘Wind Corridor’, ‘The War Song’ and more.
Includes detailed liner notes by Tatsuro Yamashita himself!

Armed Gand was a project created in Vicenza by famous Italo-disco producer/musician Maurizio Sangineto “Sangy” (Firefly, Creatures, etc), featuring keyboard wizard Flavio Botta plus three black american vocalists: Kenny Claiborne, Joe Beach and James Otis White Jr, who were army soldiers destined in Italy at the time (hence the “Armed Gang” name).

Their sole album was released in 1983 in Italy and Brazil on Sangy’s own label, Musix, and is now heavily sought-after by collectors and DJs.

Originally released in 1986, Animal Magic is the second album from The Blow Monkeys, which gave the band their commercial breakthrough after 1984’s critically acclaimed debut Limping For A Generation.

Animal Magic features the hit single ‘Forbidden Fruit’ and the classic ‘Digging Your Scene’, which was a top 20 hit in the UK, the US and worldwide. The album, a triumph of intelligent, soul influenced sophisti-pop, is a treasure trove of superbly crafted gems including ‘I Backed A Winner (In You)’, which sees singer Dr Robert backed by the acapella singers The Demon Barbers, and ‘Sweet Murder’, featuring Jamaican reggae musician Eek-A-Mouse.

This reissue is pressed on limited edition solid white vinyl and features exclusive liner notes by journalist Barry McIlheney, who was editor of Smash Hits at the time of Animal Magic’s original release. Barry interviewed lead singer Dr Robert exclusively for this reissue and Robert talks about the band’s success at the time upon the release of ‘Digging Your Scene’, and the album which propelled them into the limelight.

Philly local talents at the crossing of the 6’s and 7’s, they were initially known as The Twilights. At the time they only recorded 3 songs

for demo purposes. Although all musicians were featured on many productions from Manny Campbell’s stables, The NuRons’ All Of My Life and I'm A Loner being a couple of them. During the mid 1970's The Delights did go on to record and release a few 45's for the Phil-L.A Of Soul Label. Like the previous release in the Unsung Heroes program, these masters are phisically preserved at University of Philadelphia.

The Edwards Generation are a family group that was lead by the legendary Duke Record's Chuck 'Bullfight' Edwards. The group originated in Pittsburgh before moving to San Francisco in the mid 1970s. They self released a number of singles and an album called 'The Street Thang' during the '70s on Tight Records, which have all become highly sort after items. The Edwards Generation were a hard working band that recorded a number of self composed compositions that all remained unreleased until Cordial Recordings partnered the family to release the songs on vinyl, CD & digital. The album is a collection of uptempo dancefloor gems alongside the slower downtempo songs 'Dynasty' confirms that the The Edwards Family are highly talented songwriters and that the time is right for the songs to be heard.

• Formed by drummer Bill Curtis in 1970, the Fatback band started off as a funk band although when disco began to break in 1974, they added that four-to-the-floor wrinkle to their sound to serve up some classics. In 1975 Fatback released both their fifth and sixth albums - “Yum Yum” and “Raising Hell” - in the same year. Although singles had been released Stateside as early as 1971, it was not until 1975 that Fatback began to appear on singles here.

• Their third UK 7” – ‘Yum Yum (Gimme Some)’ - got to number 40 in the UK charts in August. Later in November, ‘Are You Ready (Do The Bus Stop)’ got to number 18, which helped propel the “Raising Hell” LP into the top 20. This album also spawned the Top 10 hit ‘Spanish Hustle’ in early 1976. Both “Yum Yum” and “Raising Hell” have been out of print on vinyl for decades. These new editions allow funky Fatback fans to drop the needle and get back into the groove.