Funk | Soul Vinyl 2931 Items

Seal My Heart / I Love You

Release: 2022 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Jai Alai is different from sister label Soul4Real in that this imprint focuses on 21st century releases that were either CD only, or totally missed, and there is a very exciting programme of future releases already lined up. But before we get into my favourite release so far, the correct pronunciation of the label is “hi-uh-lie” which is a Basque version of the court ballgame pelota - no more mis-pronunciations please! It would be fair to say that we could have done with a few more releases from this immensely talented “Songbird Of Love” over the years, but maybe your purchase might help that. I fell in love with her voice on the wonderful stepper “I’ll Always Be A Part Of You”, released on the short-lived New York label 1800 Records in 1986, so I was surprised to learn that Elaine was Los Angeles born and bred, particularly as her 1990 follow up dancer “The Sweetness Of Your Love” was on Miami label Never Stop Productions, which further enhanced her underground following in the UK & European soul scenes. In 1993 her “Good Love” was included on the Meteor Man film soundtrack (starring amongst others, Luther Vandross), but it would be a while before she returned to the studios having toured as background then lead singer in Rose Royce from 1997-2007. She finally released her own CD album “The Woman I Am” on Eee Project in 2007, from which these two killer cuts have been released for the first time on vinyl: “Come See About Me” is an infectious floor-filler pitched just below mid-pace, but “What Am I To Do” is the most sublime kneetrembler, taking you straight to a late night smoky jazz room with Ella or Billie on stage. Worth it for this side alone.

Go to Item

Sir Wick

7" | 2022 | EU | Original (Jai Alai)

17,99 €*

7" | 2022 | UK | Original (Cordial)

Release: 2022 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Continuing with the theme of finding and releasing quality 21st century CD-only tracks on to 7” vinyl, Jai Alai now are proud to present their fourth release which showcases the stand-out tracks from the only two albums released under the name Sir Wick. Chad ’Sir Wick’ Hughes is probably best described as a musician (trombone, piano, percussion), composer, teacher, adjudicator and clinician, but somehow that doesn’t seem quite enough to describe such a unique musical talent. Born in Detroit, and graduating from the same High School as Diana Ross, Paul Thompson, & Ron Carter, he went on to study composition and arranging, and holds regular clinics around the north and mid-west US states sharing his expertise. The topside on this limited edition release is the lead track from his debut album “An Interpretation Of A Universal Language” (2007 Sir Wick Entertainment Llc) which features the sublime vocals of Sedalia Marie, a beautiful mid-pacer, whilst the other side “I Love You” features the mellow vocals of Anthony Saunders on a track from Chad’s opus work “A Tale Of Two Fools”, which he began in 1996 but only finally orchestrated and released as his second album in 2017 - a soundtrack featuring a full orchestra comprising eight woodwind parts, full strings, big band brass, and seven-piece rhythm section. Originally intended as an operetta, it was evolving into something bigger; an opera, musical or stage play maybe, but he finally referred to it as a ‘novical’ (a musical novel), which best describes this story of a young musician falling in love for the first time. A biopic, maybe? One could easily take these two fabulous tracks at face value as simply just another great double-sider, but isn’t it nicer to know the full story?

Go to Item

Ken Allison

Power & Soul

The Otherside / Make Me Belive

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Ken Allison hails from Chicago and has been performing in the city since the early 70s. Ken has only previously released one 7" singe with the classic 'Freedom (Sweet) Freedom' and 'This is our Love Story' from 1980. 'Power & Soul' is Ken's signature song for when he walks out on stage, which we have reconstructed for this release. It's an almost Princesque workout of slammin' funk moves with jazzy undertones.

Go to Item

Bobby Oroza

7" | 2022 | US | Original (Big Crwon)

Mr Brown Eyed Soul Volume 2 Red Vinyl Edition

Release: 2022 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

While Bobby Oroza puts the finishing touches on his next album, he treats us to this killer two-sider to end out 2021 and hold us over until the new record is finished. Bobby's debut album "This Love" made big waves around the world and amassed him a cult following from the US to Japan and everywhere in between. He found big love in the sweet soul scene early, but has since made fans in a myriad of circles and subcultures globally. It has by now become clear that his music is not just one thing, analog soul textured for sure, but also with an array of influences that span far beyond the soul ballad world. It is that inability to really nail down his sound that has become the biggest charm, an esoteric and profound passion permeate the lyrics and vibe of everything about Mr. Oroza. This new 7" shows off two sides of Bobby's song writing, an upbeat number on the "plug" side and a heavy duty ballad on the flip. The A side "The Otherside" is an optimistic tune that Bobby humbly shares his story about the troubles we can create for ourselves and the possibility of having a change of mind that frees us from them. The track is equally encouraging with its sunny energy that carries an important message from Bobby to anyone who is struggling and can't see a way out. The B side "Make Me Believe" is another instant classic for the slowie enthusiasts. A moody, soul bearing, cry for help that comes off with a sweet- ness. The vulnerability makes it romantic while the heavy backing track brings it that unique energy that classic B sides have where they are heart- breaking and gorgeous at the same time.

Go to Item

Sunny & The Sunliners

LP | 2022 | US | Original (Big Crown)

24,99 €*

Mavis Staples & Levon Helm

Release: 2022 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Sunny Ozuna is a living legend and a man worthy of praise on many levels. In the Texas and Latin Music pantheon, few have been at it longer and are more revered by their fans and peers than Sunny is. He became a star right out of high school in the late `50s and hasn't looked back in the seven decades since. Among countless other honors and notable achievements, Sunny was the first Latino artist to appear on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" (in 1963). He penned "Smile Now, Cry Later," a hit for him and The Sunliners, which along with the theater masks that grace the album's cover, became staples in the Chicano Soul and Lowrider Soul cultures. We have been fans of Sunny & The Sunliners' music for a long time. We first got in touch with Sunny to try to reissue some of his records in 2013 but we didn't sign a deal until 2015. It took a trip to San Antonio and then two years of steady phone calls before they decided "if you have been chasing us for this long, you must be serious." With Sunny's blessing we started getting everything mastered, scanned, and planned. First we released 2017's Mr Brown Eyed Soul Vol. 1 compilation that put rare 7" sides next to some of his biggesthits and mixed in some choice album cuts for good measure. In the wake of that, we released three of Sunny's full lengths with their original track lists and art: Smile Now, Cry Later, Little Brown Eyed Soul, and The Missing Link - all of which were Record Store Day releases that raised money for the victims of 2017's Hurricane Harvey. For the 7" collectors, we reissued ve 45s,making some very hard to come by sides widely available again and pressing some tunes on the format for the first time. In 2020, as an homage to Sunny, we released Dear Sunny... a compilation of Big Crown artists covering Sunny & The Sunliners songs. Through all of this we were able to do what we set out to do: get Sunny's music to a new audience of people and make it all accessible and available again to his existing fanbase. Sunny still keeps a busy schedule an...

Go to Item

Carry Me Home Clear Vinyl Edition

2LP | 2022 | EU | Original (Anti)

29,99 €*

Cascate Emozionali Volume One

Release: 2022 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Iconic singer Mavis Staples is an alchemist of American music, and during her 70+ year career one of her most beloved musical mo?ments was her riveting performance in Martin Scorsese's film' The Last Waltz,' performing "The Weight" with The Band, a moment that forged a life-long friendship between her and Levon Helm. Staples came to Woodstock, NY to perform as part of Helm's re?nowned Midnight Ramble series, and the ensuing concert-available now for the first time on the rousing new Anti- Records release Carry Me Home-would mark a personal high watermark for both artists. Captured live in the summer of 2011, Carry Me Home showcases two of the past century's most iconic voices coming together in love and joy, tracing their shared roots and celebrating the enduring power of faith and music. The setlist was righteous that night, mixing vintage gospel and soul with timeless folk and blues, and the performances were loose and playful, fueled by an ecstatic atmosphere that was equal parts family reunion and tent revival. Read between the lines, though, and there's an even more poignant story at play here. Nei?ther Staples nor Helm knew that this would be their last performance together-the collection marks one of Helm's final recordings before his death-and listening back now, a little more than a decade later, tunes like "This May Be The Last Time" and "Farther Along" take on new, bittersweet meaning. The result is an album that's at once a time capsule and a memorial, a blissful homecoming and a fond farewell, a once-in-a-lifetime concert-and friendship-preserved for the ages. Staples and the night's soulful crew of backup singers handle the vast majority of the vocal work here, but it's perhaps album closer "The Weight," which features Helm chiming in with lead vocals for the first time, that stands as the concert's most emotional moment. "It never crossed my mind that it might be the last time we'd see each other," says Staples. "He was so full of life and so happy that week. He was the same old Levon I'd always known, just a beautiful spirit inside and out." "My dad built The Midnight Rambles to restore his spirit, his voice, and his livelihood," says Helm's daughter, Amy, who sang backup vocals with her father and Staples at their performance. "He'd risen back up from all that had laid him down, and to have Mavis come sing and sanctify that stage was the ultimate triumph for him."

Go to Item

Cascate Emozionali

7" | 2022 | EU | Original (Early Sounds)

16,99 €*

Doctor T & Presley Strong

Release: 2022 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves, Soundtracks

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

The first release in a new catalog series dedicated to the 7" . Here are two reworks produced between Italy and the United States, inspired by Italian cosmic atmospheres of the late 70s: “Cascades” by Stephen Schlacks (1978) and “Pulsazioni” by Filippo Trecca (1979).

“Cascate Emozionali Volume One” is a tribute to these two composers, and to all others that, just like them, have created immortal melodies and atmospheres. This project is also a work of sound archeology, of careful research of the synthesizers and the sounds that have given life to the original versions, here reproduced with a contemporary luster, honoring their original essence. This music is a container full of emotions, of nostalgia for an era that no longer exists, of faded memories that are suspended in the cosmos, of moments that we miss. All of them connected to our childhood, our family, to our loved ones, and to the objects that were there all along, like the “Selene” chair of Vico Magistretti, redesigned for the cover by French illustrator Alexis Jamet.

Music to remember.

Go to Item

Love Is A Heartbreaker

7" | 2022 | UK | Original (Athens Of The North)

Get On The Otherside Colored Vinyl Edition

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Selma's own Doctor T, a.k.a. Lenoah Presley Strong, a.k.a. Rick Strong, was a fierce Selma talent, he could pick up any instrument and play it and was always playing local clubs. Lenoah came from a large musical family, his Dad, a professional gospel singer, would mentor him and his brother, who ended up recording on Malaco Records and has an underground classic - "Doing It Cause It Feels Good.

Lenoah split his time between the historic community of Selma, AL, where he was born, Beverly Hills, CA where he worked as an auto body hand alongside his older brother, Chuck Strong, a musical force in his own right. In California, T impressed the great Willie Hutch with his playing, rubbed elbows with soul icons such as Leon Haywood and Carl Carlton.

Athens of The North is proud to present a compilation of Doctor T's 7" Recording, all have been difficult to find on original vinyl even to the most avid collectors, most notably "Love Is A Heartbreaker," which is one of the best ballads and grittiest recordings ever laid to wax.

T recorded all of the instruments himself and had an ear like no other, always listening to music and drawing inspiration from his surrounding artists and musicians. Sadly, T passed away in 2021 at the age of 68 but leaves us some timeless Funk & soul that will endure

Go to Item

Bobby Oroza

LP | 2022 | US | Original (Big Crown)

22,94 €* 26,99 € -15%

Release: 2022 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

7" | 2022 | UK | Original (Kent)

Hodges, James & Smith

Wishful Thinking

11,99 €*

12" | 2022 | UK | Original (First Word)

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Hodges, James & Smith were the mainstays of Mickey Stevenson’s post-Motown recordings and he gave them this fabulous Mikim Publishing song, written by Vicki Basemore and the redoubtable Leon Ware. Superbly orchestrated, after a dramatic intro, it hits an uptempo rhythm that epitomises the great girl soul sounds of the early 70s – somewhat reminiscent of the Supremes’ ‘Up The Ladder To The Roof’.

Kim Weston was Mickey’s most prolific solo act throughout his career and ‘It Takes A Lotta Teardrops’ is another triumph for her, albeit one that has only surfaced recently. It is another Basemore/Ware song from the late 60s which imitates the Motown sound exquisitely.

Go to Item

[ K S R ]

Peace + Harmony

A Time For Us (A Time For Love) / Everybody's Got A Song To Sing

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Hailing from Moss Side, Manchester, this young talent has been steadily building a rep for himself over the past few years as one of the UK's most exciting soul vocalists, with his releases encompassing an eclectic assortment of alternative R&B, future soul, hip hop and D&B. Influenced by an array of neo-soul artists, such as D'Angelo and Anderson .Paak, his own soulful style has already seen him tour and collaborate with a number of UK peers; working on projects with label-mates Children of Zeus & Australia's REMi, and supporting the likes of Etta Bond & The Mouse Outfit, as well as performing sell-out headline solo shows in Manchester and London, and playing various festivals across Europe, including the We Out Here festival very recently.

Since he began developing his music in 2017, [ K S R ] has had support from the likes of 1Xtra, BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing, Mixmag, NTS, Reprezent, Unity & Soho Radio, in addition to featuring on a slew of D&B tracks with artists like Lenzman, BCee, Emba & Redeyes. The collab with Emba was recently named a 'Kiss FM Future Selection' courtesy of Hybrid Minds and features have been supported on Spotify's 'New Music Friday' and 'Mandem - Kings' amongst others. His debut release 'Unfiltered' appeared on Polarface Records in 2019, which was followed by single 'Flex With Me' (also produced by Tyler Daley from Children of Zeus) then an independent second EP, 'Take Control', followed in late 2020 (during the pandemic) which amassed over 500k streams. Additionally to the releases, he was recently recruited by Manchester United as part of their 21/22 season kit announcements, as well as working with Nike and Size? on a special MCR-themed Air Force 1 release.

It's now time for a new extended project from Roosevelt Kazaula Sigsbert - better known as [ K S R ]. 'Peace + Harmony' is a solid set of alternative R&B, produced by Dom Porter and mixed by Eric Lau. Six tracks in all, including the single, 'Harmless' (which received support from the likes of Mr. Scruff (Worldwide FM), BBC Manchester and Victoria Jane (bbc Radio 1), was 'Track Of The Week' on 1Xtra/BBC Introducing, and saw the video racking up several thousand plays in its first weekend) and follow-up 'cgwy' featuring Children of Zeus on a brand new interpretation of their classic track 'Get What's Yours'. From the intro track 'I Wonder', to the downlow future soul of 'Lily Apart', to the autobiographical vibes of 'Born In '98', to the closing track 'Given Summer', also featuring the vocals of Ayeisha Raquel, each track on the EP is of course laced with Roosevelt's unmistakable silky smooth vocals, and is set to join his already impressive catalogue of underground soul classics such as 'Alien Boo', 'Stylin' and 'New Love'.

[ K S R ] says "my third EP, [ P E A C E + H A R M O N Y ] is a collection of my thoughts and experiences from my journey throughout the last two years of my life. Lots of aspects of my life changed over 24 months, along with everyone around the globe. When we were thrown into the unknown at the start of 2020, I stepped away from music for a while as I couldn't find any peace in my creativity and needed to evolve. I finally started to feel cohesive with my songwriting and music, and I could feel harmony between myself and my art once again."

Go to Item

Mirror

7" | 2022 | EU | Original (Super Disco Edits)

With Love Colored Vinyl Edition

Release: 2022 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

In February of 1976 Eddie Carmichael left the group “The Voshays” after catching the bandleader/manager stealing from the band. Derry Shepherd and Duncan Bethel left at that time also. About a week later I asked Derry if he would be interested in starting another band and he said sure. At that point Duncan Bethel agreed to participate and he recruited his friend Flynn Emanuel to play trombone. Derry was the manager of the cafeteria at Sears Department Stores in The Pompano Fashion Square Mall and he met Sandy Ficca who was the manager at Chess King Men’s Clothing Store in the same mall. Sandy also agreed to join the group and we auditioned bass players and chose Dave Segal and only one keyboard player auditioned and that was Bob Groszer. We now had all of the personnel for the group and we commenced rehearsing in the recreation center in Pompano Beach, FL at Westside Park. We did a few “Chitlin’ Circuit“ gigs to fine tune the band and music and then moved over to the beach circuit. While there we would perform spring and summer months at “The Ocean Mist” on the Strip in Fort Lauderdale, FL and for the fall and winter months the Big Daddy’s 8600 Club on Miami Beach. After 18 months of constant gigging I suggested that the band go into the studio and record some original music. Now all we needed was some serious financial support and songs. I met a man by the name of Jerry Bullard and convinced him to back the project. We formed our own independent label “Get Off Records” and publishing company “Situated Music”. At that point Dave Segal and Sandy Ficca left the group and Bruce Saddler who was the drummer for The Voshays joined us on the drums for the first two recordings. Sandy Ficca returned as drummer and brought in his old friend and bandmate Daryl Walker to play Bass on five of the six remaining songs. We recorded the entire album in five days at SRS Studios and Triad Studios both in Fort Lauderdale, FL in August of 1977. The first single “Give It Up (Let Yo Funk Fly Free) was a winner released only in the New York tri state area where in two weeks it reached number 16 in the top 100 and was poised to go number one nationwide on the R&B charts in the next two weeks. Henry Stone, owner of TK Records in Hialeah, FL wanted to sign the group as did many other major record labels including Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. But the usual problems of the music business reared its ugly head and the record was pulled from all radio airplay and the group who became disenfranchised with the business of the industry decided to call it quits. Derry Shephard went into Gospel Music production, Sandy Ficca went on to become the drummer for the Pop/Rock recording artists “Firefall”. Daryl Walker is a session player and music teacher, I did studio sessions and played in several cover bands and toured internationally. Bob Groszer toured with Sly Stone and other legendary recording artists. Dave Segal went on to start New York Bass Works in New York. Flynn Manuel became a music teacher in The Broward County School District and Bruce Saddler and Duncan Bethel left the Music industry completely. We were young and not good business people at that time and did not understand the rules of do’s and don’ts of the music industry. But we had three talented songwriters, a great arranger, a killer band and all the financial support that we needed. Looking back if we only had an experienced manager I truly believe Mirror would have gone on to create some great music over the years that followed. Peace and love all the time,

Go to Item

The James Hunter Six

LP | 2022 | Original (Daptone)

22,94 €* 26,99 € -15%

I Just Want To Be A Good Man

Release: 2022 / Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Daptone Records presents The James Hunter Six's latest offering, With Love: a heart-shaped collection of candle-lit ballads and love songs. Plucked like so many"he loves you" petals from the vast and sumptuous garden of his Daptone Recordings, these twelve lilting melodies have been selected and sequenced with great care, tenderness, and intention by Daptone staff for the solitary purpose of compiling some of the criminally overlooked treasures in the James Hunter Six's critically acclaimed catalog.

Go to Item

Pastor Champion

LP | 2022 | US | Original (Luaka Bop)

26,99 €*

7" | 2022 | EU | Original

Release: 2022 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

This album is a tribute to Pastor Wylie Champion, who died while Luaka Bop were in the process of releasing this, his first record, and his wife, Mother Champion, who died a few months earlier. The Label met Pastor Champion a few years ago while they were putting together another release, The Time for Peace Is Now: Gospel Music About Us. They found him in a collection of YouTube videos from the 37th Street Baptist Church in Oakland, California, put together by the pastor there, Bishop Dr. W.C. McClinton. There was quite a lot of talent in those videos, and among them was Pastor Champion whom they liked so much that they decided to make a record with him. God bless Pastor Champion and Mother Champion, peace be with them and their family. Love to all.

Go to Item

Feed LA

Cihangir / Feed Lala

11,99 €*

Rhythm Of Life / Good Thing

Release: 2022 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

From the famed German Funk outfit, Poets of Rhythm, Future Jazz group Faruk Green and studio magician, multi-instrumentalist and Jamie Lidell collaborator, Daniel Raymond Gahn, Feed LA was born.
“Cihangir” with its Jazzanova style drumming and perfectly warm vintage Rhodes keys can play 6 times before you’re ready to move on. The flip side is an amalgamation of hefty funk drumming, inspired breakdowns and fuzzed out freeform flourishes that are quickly becoming a signature sound of this Munich & Berlin based Quartet. Hand stamped by Michael "Treetop" Voss.

The Players:
Michael “Treetop” Voss
Jeff Ozdemir
Daniel Raymond Gahn
Özgür Bayraktar

Go to Item

James Mason

7" | 2022 | UK | Original (Dynamite Cuts)

16,99 €*

Lisa Bello / Jherimi Harmoni

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

The timeless ‘’Rhythm of Life ‘’ album by James Mason is possibly one of the greatest vocal Jazz fusion releases of all time. When I first started Dynamite cuts I wanted to make a 7” box set of ths LP. But instead released a double pack (2x7”); plus, another 7”, making 6 tracks from the album. Now 2022 we have been able to release two further monster tracks. “Rhythm of life” the title track from the LP is an up-tempo vocal dancer, a groovy driving jazz fusion masterpiece. And very excitingly, we have been able to make an exclusive 7” cut, the vocal soul gem “Good Thing”, on the flip. This one is huge

Go to Item

Dream Again / Rain On My Star

7" | 2022 | UK | Original (Izipho Soul)

15,99 €*

Boy, You've Been Acting Strange

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

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.

Go to Item

Legacy

7" | 2022 | UK | Original (Soul Direction)

21,99 €*

LP | 2022 | UK | Original (Jazzman)

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Legacy recorded very few songs under the guidance of Don Davis. The only two songs to be released were: "I Must Confess" and "Believe In Yourself" on Tortoise International Records. The other 2 songs on the same master tape were "Boy, You've Been Acting Strange" and "Celebrate (Legacy To The Bone)" After several conversations with Eddie Watkins who wrote all the songs he agreed to license the tracks to Soul-Direction for a 7" Vinyl Release

Go to Item

Reality

Disco Party

24,99 €*

LP | 2022 | US | Original (Vulf)

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

We at Jazzman have already given legitimate release to albums that fell foul of the notorious '70s 'tax scam' practice, namely those by Sounds of the City Experience and Ricardo Marrero. It now gives us great satisfaction to present Reality's 'Disco Party' album, for the very first time in agreement with the surviving members of the band. Possibly the most obscure of all the obscurities in the TSG catalogue, 'Disco Party' isn't actually 'disco' at all, moreover it's a fully rounded excursion into mid-70s dancefloor funk and proto-disco-jazz, performed by a group of expert musicians at the height of their powers. Recorded in one long session in NYC, until now, bandleader Dr. Otto Gomez and the rest of his crew had never even heard the recordings they'd made almost 50 years ago. Indeed, none of the band even knew that their album had been released!

At Jazzman, we consider it our mission to shine new light on music that went under-appreciated at the time of its original release. There are many varied circumstances which can cause an otherwise great record to not do so well - for instance, poor budget, marketing, promo and sometimes just plain old bad luck. Perhaps the most unjust circumstance involves the tax loss releases of the mid-70s - records made purely to cheat a few dollars out of the tax man.

Here, along with restoring the music, we have dug deep into the backstory of the group, interviewing Gomez and others to find out exactly who this unheralded NYC funk orchestra were and what happened to them before and after the monumental session laid out on this record. Our liner notes tell the story of the TSG label and the 'tax loss' phenomenon, and we delve into the history of the band from their humble beginnings as the Smokin' Shades of Black(!) to the present day. We also find out exactly what it means to record some brilliant music - only to have it taken away - and discarded.

Go to Item

Vulfpeck

Wong's Cafe

36,99 €*

Wendell Harrison & Phil Ranelin

Release: 2022 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

This one is special. All unreleased material. Only one pressing ever. Vulf collectors know the code. This is it.

Go to Item

What We Need / The Wok

7" | 2022 | JP | Original (P-Vine)

14,94 €* 22,99 € -35%

7" | 2020 | EU | Original (Timmion / Stylart)

Release: 2022 / JP – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

“A New Dimension In Cultural Awareness” were the words of Tribe Records’ co-founder and trombonist Phil Ranelin as the label emerged in a vibrant Detroit in 1972. Together with other co-founder and saxophonist Wendell Harrison, the duo delivered the first of what would become a treasure trove of spiritual jazz releases with 1973’s Message From the Tribe.

P-vine has lifted its first track, the bold and socially conscious “What We Need”, for an a-side that highlights the power of Tribe Records as a vehicle for social change as much as it was a label with a driving musical pulse. “We need knowledge and education. We need books with black history” begins a compassionate chorus of needs to right the wrongs of enduring displacement and loss experienced by black Americans. The b-side “The Wok” is taken from Harrison’s 1981 album Organic Dream.

Go to Item

Fred

Love Can Last Forever

10,99 €*

LP | 2020 | US | Original (Ropeadope)

Release: 2020 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

A certain level of soulful expression can be reached only when stars align correctly up there as well as down here. Once in a while a new track comes along that fools you into thinking you are listening to some lost re-discovery from the catacombs of American soul.

The first release on Timmion Records' new Stylart imprint should leave a lasting mark on all friends of quality soul balladry. "Love Can Last Forever" by the enigmatic Fred is the tune that will turn your heart to the love side whether you hear it at the end of a heavy club night, gripping on the wood grain wheel, or leaning on the bars of the penitentiary.

Who is Fred then, you might ask. Suffice to say he is a complicated man, who possesses a buttery falsetto and the rare power to turn banal testimonies of heartache and love into cathartic magic. This basically means he has soul, and we don't state this lightly here at Timmion. After his first release, there are a few other heaters lined up, so be prepared for Fred, his star is rising.

Go to Item

Cole Degenova

Really Human

25,99 €*

Fish Sticks Rhapsody Part 1 / Part 2

Release: 2020 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Somewhere between a soul pop concert, South Side jazz club, slam poetry reading, and punk rock dive bar, lives the music of Cole DeGenova. Combining poignant lyricism with infectious grooves and prodigious musicianship, the music seeks to elevate the audience while transcending genre barriers. As a keyboardist, vocalist, and composer Cole DeGenova has spent most of his life crafting his soulfully eclectic artistic voice, beginning his career at age 16 as a jazz pianist around his native Chicago. As a bandleader, he formed Cole DeGenova & The Peoples Republic while at Berklee College of Music, where he released his first album Just People Again in 2009, followed by his second, Another Country, in 2012.

Go to Item

Estrada Orchestra

7" | 2020 | US | Original (Funk Night)

18,99 €*

Release: 2020 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

The George Semper Orchestra

Got To Find A Way To Make Some Money / The Weight

7" | 2020 | UK | Original (Dynamite Cuts)

15,99 €*

12" | 2020 | EU | Original (Emotional Rescue)

Release: 2020 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Limited to 600 copies!

Go to Item

101 Band

Crazy Kind Of Feeling

13,99 €*

Wheels Keep On Turning / Attitude

Release: 2020 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves, Reggae & Dancehall

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Emotional Rescue presents the music of Haile Maskel in the first in a reissue series working with Patrick Billard aka DJ Duckcomb, sourcing and licensing from this digger's vaults and out to the wider world. Heralding from the furtive 60's Trenchtown, Jamaica, young Michael Ashley aka Haile Maskel grew up singing, learning guitar and bass. His first recording session was produced by friend Bob Marley, with Peter Tosh on keys, Robbie Shakespeare on bass and Carlton Barrett on drums. The list of sessions is long, working with Lee Perry, Light Of Saba, Dennis Brown and Sugar Minott. Touring took him overseas where he settled in Los Angeles in 1983, soon launching his Opulence Sound) label. Maskel's band, the 101's featured members of The Twinkle Brothers, including cousins Asher and Debo Brown on drum and bass, and augmented by local players. Mixing conscious messages in love songs, Maskel crafts a boogie discodub on which to exalt an uplifting summer jam. With the highly prized original the tapes unearthed unreleased dubs - "Take 1" providing a wonderful version. LA native Duckcomb found a trove of tapes of unheard material, still for discovery. For now, his longform Discomix, cutting and editing Maskel's vocal along with the dubs, completes a first archival splendor.

Go to Item

Desmond Foster

7" | 2019 | EU | Original (Soul Tune)

Release: 2019 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

12" | 2019 | US | Original (Underground)

T-Max The Novelist

Fix Your Face

21,99 €*

7" | 2018 | EU | Original (Aloha Got Soul)

Release: 2019 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Tmax TheNovelist's new single, "Fix Your Face" was recorded in Boston, MA. This limited edition 12" vinyl features a B side 1998 Tmax recording which was recently featured in an episode of SHOWTIME's Ray Donovan. Both songs were produced by Dow Brain.

Go to Item

Nova

Can We Do It Good

8,49 €* 9,99 € -15%

12" | 2016 | EU | Original (Funkotronic)

Release: 2018 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

"In 1978, Nova performed for Obama. Well, kind of: Nova was the band for the Punahou School prom in Honolulu, Hawaii, and a young student named Barack (known then as “Barry”) was in attendance.

Backtrack to 1976, and Nova was the opening band for Donald Byrd at the nearby Blaisdell Arena. The day was Sunday, June 27. The following day, Isaac Hayes would perform on island for the admission price of $1.

Nova, led by singer Checo Tohomaso, was one of several go-to party bands during the golden era of Hawaii funk and soul music in the mid-1970s through early 1980s.

The band’s infectious gospel-funk-disco can be heard on their sole release, a self-titled 1980 LP that feels like one big party recorded live in the studio. (Check out the Marvin Gaye-inspired “I Feel Like Getting Down” on the 2016 ‘Aloha Got Soul’ compilation on Strut Records).

The story is all too familiar, however: funk band releases LP, the music goes dormant in years to follow, and today original copies sell for hundreds online.

Not long after the album’s 1980 release, Checo met Marvin Gaye, who was living on Maui (where George Benson also resided). Shortly after, Marvin invited Checo and his counterparts to join his multi-city tour across Europe. Videos of Checo rocking keyboards, percussion and singing background vocals for Marvin Gaye’s last European tour can be found online.

Checo, born in Florida yet raised in lush Manoa Valley as well as Okinawa, Japan, now resides in Vancouver, Canada, where he leads the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir and continues to deliver his signature sound: high energy, positive, “sweet soul” music.

AGS-7010 features two non-stop groovers with a 7” edit by Roger Bong on the A-side. LP reissue in the works!"

Go to Item

Katze Cookie

Wüstenbrand EP

Release: 2016 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves, Electronic & Dance

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

King Canyon Blue Vinyl Edition

King Canyon

LP | 2023 | US | Reissue (Mixto)

29,99 €*

Musical Massage Vinyl Me, Please Edition

Release: 2023 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

Eric Krasno is a two-time Grammy winning guitarist, musician and producer best known for his work with Soulive, Lettuce, Tedeschi Trucks Band & Pretty Lights. Krasno has been nominated for a Grammy a total of seven times for Best Blues Album, Best Contemporary Blues, Best R&B, and Best Electronic Album. Otis McDonald is a producer/multi-instrumentalist best known for his copyright free music released exclusively through the YouTube audio library, amassing over 5 million downloads and over 25 million streams. Mike Chiavaro is a Brooklyn based electric and upright bass player with an impressive history. Combined they form King Canyon, blending their unique styles into an infectious groove filled project with healthy doses of R&B/Soul and funk. The vibe will resonate with fans of Khruangbin, Bobby Caldwell, Allman Brothers, Soulive, Lettuce, El Michels Affair, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Menahan Street Band, Durand Jones and the Indications, and Son Little (who's featured on one of the tracks). In the perfect quarantine story the trio forged a relationship and has yet to meet in person. In April of 2020 in the midst of quarantine, Eric Krasno came across Otis McDonald’s music on Instagram and immediately became a fan. Months later, McDonald who had been working on music with his longtime friend, Mike Chiavaro, enlisted Krasno to add in some guitar to the mix and before they knew it, the trio had an album's worth of material and thus King Canyon was born. The guys have still yet to meet in person, but despite this, the grooves are insatiable. The writing and feel are unlike any other projects these musicians have been involved with previously.

Go to Item

Leon Ware

LP | 2016 | US | Reissue (Vinyl Me, Please)

35,99 €*

LP | 2022 | EU | Reissue (Blueline)

Release: 2016 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-10-18

Why you'll love it...
Musical Massage is of the body, and beyond the body. Far past merely the physical or the sexual, or even the romantic—the engine of Musical Massage is a spirit, a cohesion, a rhythm, a way of life, and a shared understanding.

Go to Item

V.A.

Christmas Hits

25,99 €*

Release: 2022 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-11-01

Victim Of Love Vinyl Me, Please Edition

Charles Bradley

LP | 2013 | US | Reissue (Vinyl Me, Please)

33,99 €*

It Was A Home Vinyl Me, Please Edition

Release: 2013 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

Why you'll love it...
The first notes Charles Bradley sings on Victim of Love, his 2013 sophomore release, are not words but moaned lamentations. A drawn out “ooh” reminds listeners who we are dealing with: The Screaming Eagle of Soul, who doesn’t simply sing. Bradley wails, pleads, begs and screeches his way through Victim of Love. Many tracks are love songs, but they’d be better described as songs of longing.

Go to Item

KAINA

LP | 2022 | US | Original (Vinyl Me, Please)

33,99 €*

Root Cause Vinyl Me, Please Edition

Release: 2022 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

Why you'll love it...
Find your own home in KAINA's voice. The R&B Chicago-based singer's sophomore album, It Was A Home uncovers her evolving artistic direction and her sense of self. The album includes features from artists like Helado Negro, Sleater-Kinney and Sen Morimoto (who also produced the album).

Go to Item

Cleo Reed

LP | 2023 | US | Original (Vinyl Me, Please)

33,99 €*

2LP | 2012 | US | Reissue (Karma Chief)

Release: 2023 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

Why you'll love it...
Meet the latest addition to the VMP Rising family, New York artist Cleo Reed.
Their debut solo project, Root Cause, came together over their time at Berklee and is the result of them grappling with the kind of performance anxiety and identity issues that plague most college students. Root Cause wraps all of Reed’s insecurities, aspirations, and familia history in musical cloth worthy of their lineage. Their vision has culminated into a project that’s both intimate and loud, expansive and singular, greater and braver than the sum of its parts.
Limited to 500 copies, the VMP exclusive version of Cleo Reed's Root Cause is pressed on Black & White A-Side/B-Side vinyl at GZ Vinyl. The 1LP will arrive in a double gatefold, direct-to-board, numbered jacket.

Go to Item

Kendra Morris

Banshee

35,99 €*

3LP | 2018 | US | Reissue (Deepgrooves)

Release: 2012 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

Kendra Morris' stellar and soulful debut album 'Banshee' is finally back on vinyl for the first time since 2012. Originally released via Wax Poetics, Colemine Records is now proud to make this album widely available again on record shop shelves, right where it should be. Pulling influences from late-60s and early-70s psychedelic R&B and funk, Kendra adds her own rock twist in collaboration with producer/guitarist Jeremy Page. The album is a rich sonic tapestry, with hip-hop references and beats weaving throughout. All of this sets the perfect backdrop for Kendra's known powerhouse vocals. 'Banshee' effortlessly blurs the lines between sounding old and new, and has left a lasting impression over the last decade. Kendra, in her own words, "howls like a banshee... and roars like a wolf."

Go to Item

Picture
Coming Soon

Axiom Funk

Funkcronomicon

62,99 €*

Release: 2018 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

7" | 2023 | US | Original (Colemine)

Picture
Coming Soon

Aaron Frazer

Bad News / Done Lyin'

11,99 €*

Radio Verde (Compiled By Americo Brito & Arp Frique) 2024 Repress

Release: 2023 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

The A side of this 45, a brand new track from Aaron Frazer, is about how pressure makes diamonds. The last couple years have been really challenging, especially for those navigating relationships amidst the chaos. This song celebrates the connections of love that are strong enough to weather any storm, and the certainty that comes from making it through together. The B side features a track from Aaron's first solo LP, Introducing. Lyrically, Frazer sounds lovesick; the imagery he paints of demons "so close behind" and the repetition of these lyrics emphasize his longing. The song starts with piercing guitar, dark bass, and chime piano and Frazer himself drums throughout the song. The orchestration is swell while the strings and voices blend well with the transcendent feel of the music. Grab this 45, on either black and limited edition heart shaped vinyl, available 12/08/2023 from Colemine Records.

Go to Item

V.A.

2LP | 2019 | EU | Reissue (Colorful World)

28,99 €*

LP | 2013 | EU | Reissue (Proper)

Release: 2019 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-13

Arp Frique returns with a brand new release on his imprint Colorful World Records in collaboration with Rush Hour. A compilation of 12 Cape Verdean gems assembled with the help and knowledge of Americo Brito, there is a very special story behind it. Americo Brito, who
features on Arp Frique’s original Nos Magia, is a proud and important member of the Cape Verdean community in Rotterdam. His story reveals the historical connections between radio, vinyl, Cabo Verde and Rotterdam’s international music scene in the 70s and 80s.

Cape Verdean insiders say “we export all they have to other countries, only to import it back again”. Cape Verdeans have migrated all over the world, mainly to cities with big harbours, like New York, Boston and Rotterdam (Holland). Rotterdam became one of the main destinations
(next to Portugal) on the European mainland. When Americo, like many of his friends and relatives moved to Rotterdam, he quickly became infected with the music virus. Surrounded on a daily basis by Cape Verdean music in Portuguese pensions and small hotels, this was where sailors ingested a dose of “sodade” through the interpretations of their beloved music by the local Cape Verdean artists. Americo took to the stage with his band Djarama in the 70s and 80s. The live music scene was buzzing and the Cape Verdean community had their own infrastructure for arranging shows, often in nightclubs where the band had to bring their own soundsystem. Interestingly, Americo didn’t stick to performing and recording music. He found another way to help spread the Cape Verdean magical secret of music across Rotterdam, Holland and beyond: “There was this spot in Rotterdam where all foreign radio stations were housed, all these different nationalities together, Surinam, Cape Verdean, Hindustani…Guy Ramos and some of my other friends made radio in the 80s there. I got involved in their radio activities. Later on I started to work as a technician and eventually as producer and radio DJ for “Radio Voz De Cabo Verde”. Radio became bigger and there were around 4 different Cape Verdean stations active at one point in Rotterdam. instrumental in the development of this was the attic of a Dutch friend, where “Radio Babalu” came to life. Radio has always held a special place in my heart.” Americo’s music collection stems from this era, also aided by his many travels across Europe to cities with Cape Verdean communities. Alongside Rotterdam local, Arp Frique, Americo unveils some of these songs: dancefloor hits and beloved radio gems known in the Cape Verdean scene by younger and older generations alike, and so far undiscovered by a “bigger” audience. The compilation showcases the worldly view of Cape Verdean music, incorporating knowledge from their travels in their compositions. It ranges from the obvious funana and coladeira, to the more unexpected influences of deep disco, new wave, uptempo reggae, jazz-funk and Brazilian pop music; demonstrating just the tip of the iceberg, but what an amazing t(r)ip it is!

Go to Item

Savoy Brown Blues Band

Shake Down

30,99 €*

Release: 2013 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

LP | 2015 | Reissue (Gm & Publishing)

Jackie Wilson

So Much

27,99 €*

Release: 2015 / Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

LP | 2015 | Reissue (Gm & Publishing)

Clarence Gatemouth Brown

Alright Again!

27,99 €*

Release: 2015 / Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

2LP | 2023 | EU | Original (Colorsxstudios)

V.A.

Move:Feel

49,99 €*

Killing Me Softly Atlantic 75 Series

Release: 2023 / EU – Original

Genre: Hip Hop, Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

Renowned Berlin-based music discovery platform ColorsxSTUDIOS will release their new vinyl compilation album, ‘MOVE:FEEL1’, just in time for the holidays.

The limited-edition double disc gatefold vinyl will feature 16 beloved A Colors Show tracks, both recent and from the archive, including London-based rapper Kwengface’s ‘Freedom’ that was released earlier this year, critically-acclaimed Malian artist Fatoumata Diawara’s ‘Nterini’ from 2019, and Dominican-Italian star YEИDRY’s breakout 2020 hit ‘Nena’.

The album is truly international—it will feature songs sung in six different languages (including English, Swedish, German, Bambara, French, Vietnamese, and Spanish) and represent artists from 15 different countries across the world.

‘MOVE:FEEL1’ reflects and celebrates the launch of Colors’ new ‘move’ and ‘feel’ playlists that are now available across all DSPs. Updated monthly, these playlists will curate Colors’ genre fluid output into cohesive listening experiences that cater for varying emotional states.

The songs on the ‘move’ playlist—and hence on the ‘move’ sides of the vinyl—are uptempo, bold, sexy and energetic, and aim to set the tone for daring and unapologetic enjoyment. In contrast, the tracks on the ‘feel’ playlist and discs are downtempo and emotive. They are for relaxation, and to help listeners contemplate their internal and external environments

Designed by Colors’ in-house creative team, the vinyl cover is mirrored, meaning its appearance adapts depending on the light and colors it reflects. This was an important decision to ensure the cover represents all of the featured artists, who all performed their A Colors ShowS against different colored backdrops. The mirrored material also enables the audience to literally (and hopefully metaphorically) see themselves in the album.

Each side of the mirrored cover is adorned differently: while the “move” side features embossed lines, stripes and slashes indicative of motion, the more introverted “feel” side is debossed with goosebump-like grooves. Even with their eyes closed, people will be able to feel which side of the album is which, adding an extra sensory layer to the listening experience. MOVE:FEEL1’s design also prioritizes sustainability, using no single-use plastics for its packaging.

Go to Item

Picture
Coming Soon

Roberta Flack

LP | 2023 | US | Reissue (Analogue Productions Atlantic 75 Series)

86,99 €*

LP | 2023 | EU | Original (Wagram)

Release: 2023 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

180g 1LP 45rpm

Go to Item

Frank Sinatra

Sings Christmas

17,99 €*

Release: 2023 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

LP | 2023 | EU | Original (Gondwana)

Sunda Arc

Tides

27,99 €*

Release: 2023 / EU – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-20

7" | 2023 | US | Original (Brewery Twon)

Ron & The Hip Tones

18,99 €*

Vulfnik Ivory Vinyl Edition

Release: 2023 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

In his teens and twenties, singer-songwriter Ron Aikens was a promising voice out of South Philadelphia. He had earned a spot in United Image, a Soul music group that eventually signed to Stax/Volt Records and was making waves. However, fate anchored Aikens' dreams just as things were taking off. "Right around that time that record was playing on the air and everything, I got snatched," he says. More than 50 years later, Ronald Aikens is still affected by the turn of events that landed him behind bars for much of the 1970s. The subject conjures palpable emotions for the singer in his pauses and silence. At Graterford, Ron eventually joined Power Of Attorney—a storied Polydor Records-backed band with ties to James Brown, Shep Gordon, and Stan Vincent. In this chapter, Ron appeared on television, met celebrities, shared stages with Stevie Wonder, and lived out some glory as he and his band-mates became a touring sensation all while incarcerated—even though the band consisted of 4 lifers. Upon his prison release, the talent made several attempts to rebuild his dream. However, bad timing and bad business dealings ultimately left him hapless and hopeless. Forty years ago, Ron hung up his microphone and accepted a long-time janitorial position at Philly's City Hall. A man moved on with life as the music business moved on without a talented artist. "I had nowhere to hide," declares Aikens, "so I had to just leave it all behind."

A decade ago, Ron Aikens quietly began performing once more. In the 2010s, the singer would take the trolley from his West Philadelphia home and busk at 15th Street Station and the city's Market East. "I didn't think anybody would pay me any attention," the retiree recalls, astonished to see dollars in his bucket. On mild and warm days, Aikens sang songs by homegrown talent like The O'Jays, Hall & Oates, and Teddy Pendergrass, as well as Motown and others. But he did not perform his originals. "People want to hear songs that they built memories around; they don't want to hear me," he remembers thinking of his long-dismissed songwriting. That changed in 2020, when Max Ochester, owner of a local record store, Brewerytown Beats, stood before Aikens' amp on 12th & Market. "I went down specifically looking for Ron because I had unreleased Power Of Attorney stuff," says Max. He was looking for information.

In 2020, Max's label released two remastered 1972 Power Of Attorney recordings ("Changing Man" b/w "I'm Just Your Clown"). Those songs were cut before Ron Aikens joined the group in Graterford, but curiosity ignited a relationship. Aikens, who had released material as Galaxxy for Pop-Art Records, Doc, Aikens & Shields—a single by POA producer Stan Vincent (John Lennon, The Five Stairsteps, Connie Francis), as well as work with United Image and Power Of Attorney, proved his voice and showmanship were still strong. "He made me feel like he wanted to do something," Ron says of Max. "I don't have a drive like that anymore."

That drive has created momentum. In 2023, 74-year-old Ron Aikens returned to the studio for the first time in nearly 40 years. Max and Grammy Award-winning co-producer Aaron Levinson have highlighted Ronald Aikens' fantastic voice and story. The result is Ron & The Hip Tones.

"My whole thing is to do it how it would've been back in the '70s," Max explains. "I want to do the Philly sound, so I'm hiring arrangers, hiring songwriters—local guys. That process—a full production—has been thoughtful and curated, from the songwriting to horn sections, Gospel background arrangements, and a harp player. "This is a good team, man!" Ron says emphatically, recalling the days when sessions involved rooms of talented creators.

On May 5, the Brewerytown label will release a digital version of the single of Ron Aikens' first music in over 40 years to be followed by a 45rpm record: “Do What I Wanna Do” b/w” Baby Are You Ready.” It was recorded at the famed Elm Street Studio owned by Rob Hyman of The Hooters. In addition to Max and Aaron, personnel includes songwriters David Cope and Fred Berman—who also plays drums on the record, Adam Faulk on keys, guitarist Doug O'Donnell and bassist Brendan McGeehan. Waverly Austin hired and arranged the background vocals, and Bill Jolly provided horn arrangements. The release will also be available on special picture cover 45.

“Do What I Wanna Do” was an existing song brought to Ron and Max, who infused their own heart and soul into the composition. Ron is at a stage in his life where he does what he wants to, says what he wants, and be who he’s gonna be. The message is unapologetic and free.

“Baby Are You Ready” nods to the slow-burning ballads of the ‘70s. Honoring that true “Philly Sound,” the song is enhanced with a harp player, Elizabeth Cohen AKA Lizzie Harp.

Upcoming songs touch upon Ron’s troubled past head-on and express in song how he’s been feeling all these years. Others channel lowrider oldies, with splashes of West Coast Soul.

The music is alive and very symbolic of Ron Aikens' life, evolution, and perspective. He decided busking was unsafe after the pandemic, and his newfound interest in his own music perhaps encouraged him to make one more swing at a dream that goes back nearly three-quarters of a century. "I'm here. I'm breathing," he says in a West Philly coffee shop with a smile and wide eyes. "I ain't gone yet. If I'm gonna breathe, I need to sing!"

Go to Item

Vulfmon

LP | 2023 | JP | Original (Vulf)

54,99 €*

Release: 2023 / JP – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves, Pop

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

Vulfnik Black Vinyl Edition

Vulfmon

LP | 2023 | US | Original (Vulf)

39,99 €*

Release: 2023 / US – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves, Pop

Add to Cart Coming Soon Sold out Currently not available Not Enough Coins

Preorder shipping from 2024-09-27

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind / Air Of Love Plain Sleeve Edition

Ivana Santilli

7" | 2023 | US | Original (Love Touch)

11,99 €* 14,99 € -20%