Funk | Soul Vinyl 686 Items

Israel Suite / Dominante En Bleu

Release: 1973 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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180 gram pressing!

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Rupture

LP | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Sommor)

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Pharaway Sounds)

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Impossible to find Spiritual Jazz / Funk / Groove / Psych rarity from France, 1973.

Rupture was born when famous French songwriter Boris Bergman (France Gall, Dalida, etc) decided to record a conceptual album about the history of Israel. He approached ace drummer and singer Sylvain Krief (Airto Fogo, Michel Fugain, Aznavour, Clark Terry, Bud Powell, etc) and soon, other musicians joined: Jean-François Jenny-Clark (Don Cherry, Steve Lacy, etc) on bass, Georges Locatelli (Total Issue) on guitar, Jean-Pierre Mas (piano, organ, guitar, vocals…) In resume, Rupture was a kind of super-group featuring some of the best musicians from the Euro jazz / progressive / fusion scene. It also included collaborations by Michel Fugain and Nicole Croisille.

The album was recorded over a period of three months and the result was released as a very limited private pressing with help from the Futura label. Arranged by Sylvain Krief and Jean-Pierre Mas, “Israel Suite” included a side-long suite on side A and shorter songs on Side B. An incredible mix of vocal / spiritual jazz, funk, progressive, jazz-pop, psych…

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Erol Büyükburc

Hop Dedik

LP | 1977 | US | Reissue (Luv N Haight)

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Years before Baris and even before the fame of Erkin Koray, Erol's flamboyant outfits and spontaneous behaviour brought a youthful, pop-oriented world to Turkish audiences.

Here's his first proper album from 1976.

While not exactly psychedelic, Erol's album shows how far the mix of Anatolian melodies and Western production could reach and you can find here some great examples of Turkish pop spiced with psych, disco and funk.

Includes insert with photos and liner notes by Angela Sawyer.

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Sweet Maya

Starship Commander Wooooo Wooooo

Release: 1977 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Luv N’Haight is proud to re-issue Sweet Maya’s self-titled album. A midwest jazz-funk classic with elements of folk, jazz, soul, funk and rock combining to create a heady blend reminiscent of ‘70s work by French band Cortex and songwriting maestro Terry Callier.
The music of Sweet Maya is an extension of each member. As individuals they bring together diverse backgrounds, as a group they blend it all into a sound that is exciting and full of warmth. The six-piece group of multi-talented instrumentalists has five lead singers, four songwriters and four arrangers. The music that grows from the contact of such persons is evidenced in this album. It is Sweet Maya (the Illusion) that flows through and shapes the many idioms of their music. It is Rob Hayes, Tom Davis, Janice Lakers, John Chamberlin, and Mark Bowen who convey the experience. (excerpt taken from original LP liner notes)

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Mastership

LP | 1981 | AU | Reissue (Left Ear)

Release: 1981 / AU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Born and raised in Kansas City, Omer J. Coleman was musically inclined from an early age. His parents couldn’t afford to buy him a real drum set, so he took up electrical wiring and wood shop instead, which fed his muse in a different direction. The future Commanderbegan working at the Armco Steel Mill when he was 18, and itwas while he was working at the mill that Coleman came up with Starship Commander Wooooo Wooooo. His coworkers built all of his equipment, from lighting and fog machines to big steel eyeglasses. Coleman’s sister, a seamstress, created his outfits. Self-released in1981,“Mastership” isa lost electronic funk classic. Coleman performs in an alien voice that comes not from electronic filtering but from his own natural vocal distortions.It’s an endearing and very personal space-age funk that blends George Clinton and Kraftwerk in a vision of a better and happier world.

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Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow

LP | 1970 | EU | Reissue (Westbound)

LP | 1970 | EU | Reissue (Rhino)

Release: 1970 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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- "Eulogy and Light" sampled by Above the Law for "Black Triangle"

- "Free Your Mind" sampled by JCD and the Dawg lb for "Bon Appetit",
Kris Kross for "Freak da Funk" and
X-Clan for "Earth Bound" & "Shaft's Big Score"

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Curtis Mayfield

Curtis

LP | 1976 | US | Reissue (Lion Productions)

Release: 1970 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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180 gram vinyl, cut from the original masters!

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Aura

Aura (Sativa)

LP | 1973 | US | Reissue (GSF)

Release: 1976 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Aura was a San Francisco Psych-Funk band formed in 1974 which played extensively throughout Northern California and by 1976, the band recorded their first and only album. The original title of the album was meant to be "Sativa", but out of fear that promoting the joys of marijuana would be too controversial, the band omitted the title and just left it as "Aura". Over the ensuing decades, the Aura album has grown in stature to become a major soul/funk collector's item. As a strange side note, it was the producer of underground psychedelic band the Lemon Drops, Reggie Weiss, who wrote the psych-funk title track, 'Sativa' (a parody of The Champs hit song 'Tequila', with water pipe sound effects and blistering guitar leads by former Lemon Drops guitarist, Eddie Weiss) and 'Skyrocket' (with manic fuzz guitar).

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Skull Snaps

LP | 1977 | UK | Reissue (Southbound)

Release: 1973 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Colored Vinyl, one of the tuffest drum breaks ever originates from this LP!

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Millie Jackson

Feelin' Bitchy

12" | 1987 | UK | Reissue (Freestyle)

Release: 1977 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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In the spring of 1977, Millie Jackson was down in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, laying down tracks for what became “Feelin’ Bitchy” with co-producer Brad Shapiro. Released in August 1977, the album reached #4 and #34 in America’s Billboard’s R&B and Hot 100, going gold with over 500,000 copies sold. Jackson’s cover of ‘If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday’ – already a hit for Merle Haggard in March 1977 – also reached #5 R&B and #43 in the Hot 100 in August. Although the album did not chart in the UK, “Feelin’ Bitchy” sold strongly to a dedicated fanbase who had voted her the #1 female singer in the Blues & Soul magazine annual poll. Jackson also performed much of the material on her sold-out UK dates in early 1978.

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Purely Fizzycal

Make A Move

Release: 1987 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Keep On Searching For Love Remstered Ediiton

Scratch

12" | 1984 | UK | Reissue (Soul Jazz)

World Of Ecstasy Remastered Edition

Release: 1984 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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From 1984, Scratch"s "Keep On Searching For Love" features the uplifting vocals of Linda Taylor (who had a successful solo career on Prelude Records) and was produced by Tony Williams for his Master-Funk label. Sounding like a mixture of rare groove anthems like Gwen Mcrae"s "All This Love I"m Giving", Linda Williams" "Elevate Your Mind" and The Emotions" "Best of Your Love", once again with a distinct South London 80s dancefloor attitude, making "Keep On Searching For Love" a modern day soulful bullet! The flipside instrumental "Eastern Lady" comes complete with hypnotic bassline, drum machines, synths and stabbing horn lines.

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Alien Starr

12" | 1985 | UK | Reissue (Soul Jazz)

LP | 1986 | EU | Reissue (Lantern Rec.)

Release: 1985 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Superb slice of super-rare electro funk grooviness originally released as a one-off small-run private-press 12" single out of Ohio, USA in 1985. Complete with vocoders, slap bass, drum machine, hand-claps and "space vocals" this electro boogie funk rarity is the jam! This is a one-off pressing very-limited exact reproduction single, remastered and restored by Soul Jazz Records, and is taken from Soul Jazz Records" recent âÇÿSpace Funk 2 - Afro-Futurist Electro Funk In Space 1976-84âÇÖ. This 12" comes in 4-colour black & white original sleeve design and features both an extended and short version of "Music-A-Lizer" plus two extra tracks "World of Ecstasy" and "Compute

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Linda Di Franco

Rise Of The Heart

LP | 1970 | UK | Reissue (BGP / Flying Dutchman)

Release: 1986 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Fully remastered and licensed, ltd to 500 copies. Just a single album and a bunch of singles, rising star Linda Di Franco debuted in 1985 and left the scene all of a sudden in 1986. Her first album was a combined effort produced by Don Was (Blue Note's Renaissance Music Man and previously leader of post disco combo Was Not Was), a gentle selection of soul-pop ballads and lushy synth arrangements. With leading single 'My Boss' the album shows an ethereal continuum with an excellent rendition of Burt Bacharach 'The Look Of Love'. Recorded in London, Detroit and New York the Rise Of The Heart is definitely a keystone in the rising club culture revolution verging on the more existentialist pop aesthetic. Riyl: Sade, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Carmel, Antena.

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Esther Marrow

Newport News, Virginia

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Strut)

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Esther Marrow began singing professionally in the early 60s. Her big break came in 1965 when she was asked by Duke Ellington to take part in his ground-breaking Concert of Sacred Music at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Marrow toured with the Duke Ellington Band as well as Harry Belafonte and came to the attention of Bob Thiele who recorded and released this debut album on his Flying Dutchman label in 1969.

Musically, it’s a compelling mix of funk and soul, occupying similar terrain to Alice Clark’s great album that was released on Mainstream in 1972. For example, Jesse Stone’s ‘Money Honey’ is given a crunching funk arrangement and is one of three tracks that tempt collectors to pay big money for an original copy; ‘Walk Tall’ and ‘Chains Of Love’ are the other two. ‘Chains Of Love’ was originally recorded in Detroit by J.J. Barnes and became a Northern Soul classic. ‘Walk Tall’ is one of the album’s highlights and features music originally written by pianist Joe Zawinul and performed by Cannonball Adderley, with lyrics by James Rein and Morrow. It has become something of a jazz standard, but no version ever bettered this original track.

Add to the mix the lush string driven power of ‘Peaceful Man’, ‘Mama’ and a tilt at the classic ‘What A Wonderful World’ and you have a truly wonderful album.

Pressed on 180gm vinyl, we have remained faithful to the original pressing replicating the Flying Dutchman label style and gatefold sleeve.

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Wayne Davis

LP | 1974 | UK | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Strut present the first ever reissue of an essential lost classic from the Black Fire catalogue, Wayne Davis’ powerful self-titled gospel-soul album from 1976.

An accomplished vocalist and keyboard player, Davis had studied in Washington D.C. and had worked with Roberta Flack and she subsequently secured him a recording deal with Atlantic Records; he released the A View From Another Place album in 1973 and Roberta contributed electric piano to one of the tracks. Davis was then dropped from the label and his subsequent album was released by Jimmy Gray on Black Fire. Produced by Jimmy Watkins and Bias Studios manager, Bob Dawson, the album line-up featured the celebrated poet and flautist Wanda Robinson and the horn section from legendary D.C. go-go pioneers Experience Unlimited. Wayne later returned the favour, appearing as a vocalist on Experience Unlimited’s seminal Free Yourself album.

This first international reissue of the album features new sleeve notes including band member interviews and original illustrated artwork by Muzi Branch. Audio was transferred from the original tapes by the album’s engineer, Bob Dawson, and was remastered by The Carvery.

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Tom Brock

I Love You More And More

Release: 1974 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Asha Puthli Record Store Day 2020 Edition

Asha Puthli

LP | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

2LP | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Vinyl Lovers)

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Record Store Day 2020 Release.

180gm Colored Vinyl of her seminal album which includes cover versions of songs by John Lennon, JJ Cale, Bill Withers, George Harrison and Jimmh Webb.

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Marvin Gaye

Let's Get It On

LP | 1972 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Back in print with revised price ! Two 180-gram LPs with 15 bonus tracks from the deluxe CD edition. Despite his huge success with his 1971 political concept album What's Going On, Marvin Gaye left social concerns behind for those of a more intimate nature with this 1973 album. Let's Get It On album broke new ground, gaining its place in history as one of the most sexual albums ever recorded, laying the basis for every slow jam ever after, and making Gaye both socially concerned and sexy -- a potent commercial combination.

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The Sylvers

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1972 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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* Record Store Day Europe / UK 2019 Exclusive Release
* Beautiful funk-soul album produced by Jerry Butler, Keg Johnson and Michael Viner, written by Leon Sylvers III.
* The Sylvers were a family group from Los Angeles with chart hits including ‘Fools Paradise’, ‘Boogie Fever’, ‘Hot Line’ and ‘High School Dance’
* Sampled by J Dilla, Jazzanova, Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dog and many more.

Beautiful funk-soul album produced by Jerry Butler, Keg Johnson and Michael Viner, written by Leon Sylvers III. The Sylvers were a family group from Los Angeles who were very successful during the 70s and into the early 80s, with chart hits – deep into pop-disco territory by then! – including ‘Fools Paradise’, ‘Boogie Fever’, ‘Hot Line’ and ‘High School Dance’. No less than 9 of the 10 brothers and sisters of the family made up the group, often referred to as a Southern version of the Jackson 5. Sampled by J Dilla, Jazzanova, Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dogg and many more.

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Spaceark

Spaceark Is

LP | 1970 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The second album from SpaceArk. More brilliant self-released, private-press jazz/soul from 1976 Los Angeles. ‘SpaceArk Is’ came out on Color World records in 1976, on a limited run of about 5,000 copies. It followed their self-titled debut (also available now on Mr Bongo) on the same original label, the year before.
For a handful of years in the Seventies, SpaceArk was one of the most promising and electrifying bands in Southern California. Although their music was far greater than the sum of its parts, those parts made for a very original style. R&b, soul, rock, pop, jazz, classical … it all came together in blissful stream of intricate compositions that swept up crowds from US military bases to Northern Soul clubs around the UK.
SpaceArk wrote and performed more than 100 songs during their time together. Most of them were not recorded and are now either lost or forgotten.
Official Mr Bongo reissue with liner notes by Amar Patel. Licensed direct from Peter Silberg.

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Celia

LP | 1981 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1970 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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MRBLP188 Beautiful debut album from the incredible, Célia. Conducted & arranged by Arthur Verocai and Rogério Duprat; featuring songs by Lo Borges, Antonio Adolfo and Joyce amongst others. Célia recorded four self-titled albums for Continental between 1971 and 1977, ‘Amor’ in 1982 plus several more before she sadly passed away late in 2017, aged 70. This is her debut album from 1970. Célia was a Brazilian vocalist who worked frequently with master arranger-composer Arthur Verocai in her early years and many other heavyweights over the course of her extensive career. Joyce was particularly supportive in the making of this album, writing the beautiful “Abrace Paul McCartney” and her husband at the time, Nelson Ângelo, recorded some of the songs.
Features an exclusive insert of a translated interview with Celia, completed in 2011 in her hometown of São Paulo. Focusing, in particular on her recording work with Arthur Verocai, it showcases her wonderful sense of humour and how she was embracing her new legion of fans, particularly in the world of hip hop. Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed from Warner Music.

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Atmosfear

En Trance

Togetherness Is Always A Good Venture - Tambourine Party Volume 2

Release: 1981 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Official reissue of the only full-length LP from Brit-funk masters, Atmosfear. Love for Atmosfear was born out of the underground UK dance scene of the early 1980s; from nightclubs, pirate radio shows and soul weekenders. A localised scene that went on to have a global influence. The band’s most notable track ‘Dancing in Outer Space’ – included here on the CD version as a bonus – is a certified classic. It was a chart hit in the UK and was also championed Stateside in clubs such as the mythic ‘Paradise Garage’ and 'The Loft' by the likes of Larry Levan and David Mancuso. An instantly recognisable anthem that is just as fresh today as it was when it was first released. Originally released in 1981 via Elite / MCA records, ‘En Trance’ is a joyous album that arguably represents the pinnacle of the Brit-funk sound. The band consisted of bassist, and keyboardist Lester J. Batchelor, drummer Ray Johnson, guitarist Andy Sojka, saxophonist Stewart Cawthorne, singer and guitarist Tony Antonio and producer Jerry Pike. The album captures the excitement of these
exceptional players demonstrating utmost originality in the studio. More Atmosfear and Elite Records reissues are available/coming soon on Mr Bongo, including ‘Xtra Special’ and ‘Dancing In Outer Space’ on 12”.
Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed from Chemical Discs.
!

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Super Elcados

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Official Mr Bongo reissue of the ultra-rare album by ‘Super Elcados’. A fusion of heavyweight Nigerian funk, soul & disco, originally released by EMI Nigeria in 1976.
The ‘Super Elcados’ (and ’Elcados’ on other recordings) recorded three albums in the mid and late-70’s, this is their first. It was followed by ‘This World Is Full Of Injustice’ and ‘What Ever You Need’.
Licensed from Geoffrey Johnson (Elcados), courtesy of PMG, with special thanks to Dave Hill for his help!

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Jackson Sisters

LP | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Officially reissued at last! Considered by many to be a genuine ‘holy grail’ of soul & funk. Featuring ‘Miracles’ as sampled by Public Enemy, Basement Jaxx, Arrested Development and many more. Originally from Compton, Los Angeles, the Jackson Sisters were one-hit wonders who briefly shone and made some noise in the early 1970s before quickly fading into obscurity. Their only US chart entry was 'I Believe In Miracles,' a funky slice of bubblegum soul with a catchy, sing-along chorus released on the Prophesy label that briefly saw them make the lower reaches of the R&B charts in September 1973.
Even though the sisters ceased performing together in 1975, their greatest tune, 'I Believe In Miracles' began to live a charmed life. In 1988, the song was resurrected as part of the UK 'Rare Groove' scene which resulted in it denting the bottom end of the UK pop charts (it peaked at No. 72). British vocal group, The Pasadenas, cut their own version of the tune in 1989, and a year later, Public Enemy sampled 'Miracles' for their track, 'Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man.’ Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed courtesy of Universal Music Group Limited. Liner notes by Charles Waring.

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Foster Sylvers

LP | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Brilliant funk-soul from 1973. Written by Leon Sylvers III, produced by a heavyweight line-up comprising Jerry Butler, Keg Johnson and Michael Viner. As with the majority of The Sylvers music from this period, the album has been heavily sampled. ‘Misdemeanour’ is a truly classic break and has been utilised by Madlib, Big Daddy Kane, Rodney P, The D.O.C, Pete Rock and many more. Danny Krivit edited the track in 2007, adding an acappella version on the front – still a big record with DJ’s. The Sylvers were a family from Los Angeles who were very successful during the 70’s and into the early 80’s, with chart hits – deep into pop-disco territory by then! – including ‘Boogie Fever’, ‘Hot Line’ and ‘High School Dance’. Official Mr Bongo reissue. Replica original artwork. Licensed from Pride Inc. 2006.!

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Sylvers

The Sylvers II

Did You Give The World Some Love Today Baby Black Vinyl Edition

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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This is masterpiece. And we mean it. Beautiful, golden-era soul written by Leon Sylvers III, produced by Jerry Butler and Keg Johnson. The Sylvers were a family from Los Angeles who were very successful during the 70’s and into the early 80’s, with chart hits – deep into pop-disco territory by then! – including ‘Boogie Fever’, ‘Hot Line’ and ‘High School Dance’. This is the groups second album, from 1973, and is one of their strongest. Opening with the awesome mid-tempo ‘We Can Make It If We Try’ the record moves
through funk, boogie and deep soul moods, finishing on a hazy, acapella version of The Beatles ‘Yesterday’. The Sylvers always provide a goldmine of samples. This album has been flipped by Madlib (for MF DOOM), Homeboy Sandman, 50 Cent, Ghostface Killah, Black Milk, Roc Marciano, David Banner & 9th Wonder and more. Official Mr Bongo reissue. Replica original artwork. Licensed from Pride Inc. 2006.

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Doris

LP | 1970 | UK | Reissue (EMI)

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Fusion Folk Jazz classic from Scandinavia, sampled by Madlib for Quasimoto's "Closer" with MF Doom. Tip!

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Standing on the verge of getting it on

LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Westbound)

LP | 1977 | EU | Reissue (Hot Casa)

Release: 1974 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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- "Sexy Ways" sampled by Fu-Schnickens for "Props"

- "I'll Stay" sampled by Crucial Conflict for "Hay",
De la Soul for "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa" and
K-Solo for "Long Live the Fugitive"

- "Standing on the Verge of Getting it On" sampled by Ice Cube for "Endangered Species" and
Sons of Bazerk for "Part One"

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Francis The Great

Ravissante Baby

LP | 1974 | UK | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1977 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Rare funk & Avant-Garde soul from a seven years old kid singer featuring the best of French and Cameroonian musicians diaspora, recorded in Paris in 1977.

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Incredible Bongo Band

The Return Of …

Un'estate Di Sesso Colored Vinyl Edition

Release: 1974 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Re-released for the 1st time since 1974!

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Angeleri

12" | 1983 | EU | Reissue (Maledetta Discoteca)

Love Ain't Nothin' But A Business Goin' On

Release: 1983 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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After over 40 years and with great pride we bring to light in the formidable Maxi 45 single format another great little gem hidden in the vast panorama of Italian disco.

Author, painter, poet and all-round musician, Luciano Angeleri collaborated on the project with enthusiasm and exceptional enthusiasm. With his inimitable humor he gave us many laughs and beautiful reflections on an unparalleled golden age. Thank you so much Luciano!

The Pink Colored Vinyl in Limited Edition, in addition to the two hits "Un' Estate di Sesso" and "Donna", offers two modern versions on the B-Side: Lance with a jaunty Re-Edit and our Marta Paradise with a real King -Work with a retro futuristic flavour.

May the Italian Summer be with you…

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Junior Parker

LP | 1974 | WW | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

LP | 1978 | EU | Reissue (Futuribile)

Release: 1974 / WW – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, sees an outing for a much-loved and heavily sampled funk/soul/blues album by Junior Parker. Originally issued under the title The Outside Man on Capitol Records in 1970 with an alternative cover, this reissue replicates the Groove Merchant release titled Love Ain't Nothin' But A Business Goin' On featuring the car cover released in 1971.

The Mississippi-born, Memphis-based blues singer, harmonica player and songwriter Junior Parker (aka Little Junior Parker) had a stellar career in music. Since the early 1950s he released records on labels such as Duke, Mercury, United Artists Records and more. Sadly though, Parker died at the young age of 39 during surgery on November 18, 1971.

Originally released under the alternate title a year before his untimely death, Love Ain't Nothin' But a Business Goin' On is drenched in Parker’s trademark buttery vocals and soulful grooves, swaggering between smokey blues, raw funk outings and orchestrated soul ballads (with sublime arrangements by Horace Ott).

The album also features three Beatles cover versions in the form of ‘Taxman’, ‘Lady Madonna’ and ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’. For 'Taxman', Parker completely reinterprets the song taking into a New Orleans funk realm, a sample of which was used as the main hook line on Cypress Hill's classic 'I Wanna Get High'. Elsewhere, 'Tomorrow Never Knows' is flipped into a tripped-out, psychedelic soul-swamp blues ballad, whilst 'Lady Madonna' is given a funky blues makeover.

As shown with Cypress Hill’s use of ‘Taxman’, since the ‘70s Parker’s legacy has been immortalised for future generations through the deep well of samples that his music has become a source of. Tracks from Love Ain't Nothin' But a Business Goin' On have been sampled by some of the biggest names out there, such as A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Shadow and De La Soul.

A seriously smooth album oozing with soul and emotion from a Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Junior Parker’s Love Ain't Nothin' But A Business Goin' On is a superb example of the early ‘70s crossover funk/soul sound.

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Eva Eva Eva

Love Me Please Forever

LP | 1970 | EU (Endless Happiness)

Release: 1978 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Pink colorations and disco pop confections abound on Eva Eva Eva’s self titled 1978 LP, which is the newest reissue on Futuribile in collaboration with Peer-Southern Productions. The LP possess a stunning sense of eclecticism and depth, with dazzling displays of diva dynamism proceeding over a range of textures and moods…shimmering disco, rustic blues, cinematic exotica, ripping rock’n’roll, and candy dipped funk and soul, with touches of cosmic synth occasionally accenting the mix. And sitting deep on the B-side is a wonderful Italian language version of “Stayin’ Alive.”

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James Taylor

Sweet Baby James

Release: 1970 / EU

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1970 | US | Reissue (Wax Trader)

Natural Four

Good Vibes

Release: 1970 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Billy Foster & Audio Record Store Day 2023 Edition

Billy Foster & Audio

LP | 1983 | UK | Reissue (Equistar)

Release: 1983 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Once dubbed the Magic City, by 1983 Gary, Indiana, had fallen on hard times. Over the previous decade the steel capital of America hemorrhaged half its population, including the Jackson 5, and changed its distinction to America’s murder capital. Lost in this transition was Billy Foster & Audio’s, joyfully beaming, self-titled disco-jazz LP. Recorded under the watchful eye of Bill McQueen, Foster and his band serve up a culmination of his musical experiences, utilizing his jazz training on the piano-forward ‘Sometimes’ and employing his synthesizer pop finesse on ‘I Need Your Love’.

Hoping to plant his flag in Gary’s musical canon, Foster issued the LP via his own Equistar imprint, distributing the release as far as a tank of gas could carry him. Two follow ups appeared in ’86 and ’89, but by that point Gary was in deep decline. Audio disbanded in 1993, the year Gary claimed its murder capital distinction. Original picture sleeve, remastered, LTD Edition 180g vinyl press.

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Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow Blue Vinyl Edition

LP | 1970 | UK | Reissue (Westbound)

LP | 1980 | EU | Reissue (Strut)

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Also from 1970 is Funkadelic’s second LP.

In a thick card gatefold sleeve with 180g blue vinyl pressing

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Patrice Rushen

Posh

LP | 1981 | UK | Reissue (Expansion)

Release: 1980 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The landmark 1980 album, representing a period of consolidation for Patrice Rushen. Her studio reputation as a go-to pianist and arranger among other artists and musicians was well established and was growing exponentially. Although never originally planning a career as a solo artist, she had built this side of her work through three Prestige albums and two sophisticated soul and disco albums for Elektra, 'Patrice' and 'Pizzazz'. "I was lucky to have a group of musicians that I knew well by the time of these recording sessions," remembers Patrice. "I had my pick of really incredible players because of all of the studio work I was doing. I also played with Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason and others almost on a weekly basis at The Baked Potato club in L.A." Tracks include the singles 'Don't Blame Me', 'Look Up!' and 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. "'Never Gonna Give You Up' came out of playing ideas at home. Bassist Freddie Washington was living with my family while he tried to get a foothold in L.A.'s music scene and that groove came out of those jams. With 'The Dream', I had been listening to Minnie Riperton's 'Come To My Garden', one of my favourite albums. With Charles Stepney's arrangements, I saw that he didn't have to use large instrumentation to be orchestral in his approach. So, 'The Dream' was a homage to that kind of writing." "After 'Posh', we had a much better idea from the performance side what was important in our music and that informed my next album, 'Straight From The Heart'. We took a little break after 'Posh' was released, although I was still writing and working regularly on scores for film and TV. That had always been my main focus in my music."

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Sylvia Striplin

Give Me Your Love

Release: 1981 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Bear Family Productions)

Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Dreamer

LP+CD | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Schema)

Release: 1974 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Bobby ’Blue’ Bland
Bobby ’Blue’ Bland (1930 – 2013) was one of the leading US-American Blues, R&B and Soul entertainers. He knew how to combine the intensity of Gospel music with the expression of the Blues. His voice sounded as he wanted to bear witness to one's resolve but he was able to let his voice sound soft, sometimes cool but always culitvated so he could also reach the fans of Frank Sinatra and Nat ’King’ Cole with tremendous success. He formed his remarkable style of singing out of many different influences, characteristic and remained solely reserved for Bobby ’Blue’ Bland.
Duke-Label & ABC Dunhill
Blands voice was always the center of attention. After his huge successes during the 1950s and 1960s for the Duke label, he moved to ABC Dunhill when Duke was sold. He could reach a wider white audience in the early 1970s with his two LPs, ’His California Album’ and ’Dreamer’, plus productions together with B.B. King. ’

Dreamer’ was the record company's trial to produce an album in California with the cool Soul appeal of the city of Los Angeles. As a timeless Soul and Blues classic the album 'Dreamer' contains the in recent years often sampled track Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City, one of the musical back bones to one of the favorites by Jay Z. The whole album is a wonderful soundtrack for those lonely nights alone and blue in a sleazy joint trying to forget a lost love in a bottle of bourbon.
Dreamer
’Dreamer’ is the warm velvet cover against cold loneliness with so many great songs like I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me) and Whose Foolin’ Who?, the bluesy Cold Day In Hell, Lovin’ On Borrowed Time and When You Come To The End Of Your Road. I Ain’t Gonna Be The First To Cry has indeed the lyrical quality of The Thrill Is Gone. The production by Steve Barri and Michael Omartian sounds full and ponderous.

The accompanying musicians, guitarists Dean Parks and Larry Carlton, bassist Wilton Felder and drummer Ed Green, ranked as being part in the cream of L.A.'s studio musicians. When ’Dreamer’ was first issued in 1974 a controversial discussion started regarding the production and the arrangements containing a brass section and strings. But now, forty years later, the LP album counts as one of the great masterpieces of its genre and the songs became standards in the repertoires of many Soul and Blues performers. Newly remastered with its original gatefold cover jacket the first real reissue on vinyl after 43 years comes from Bear Family Records!
Grammy® as a lifetime achievement award in 1997
Bobby ’Blue’ Bland was inducted into the ’Blues Hall of Fame’ in 1981 and 11 years later the induction into the ’Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame’ followed. He received a Grammy® as a lifetime achievement award in 1997.
1-LP, 180 gram Vinyl-LP, 10 tracks

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The Braen's Machine

Temi Ritmici E Dinamici

LP | 1970 | UK | Reissue (Kent)

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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“Temi ritmici e dinamici” offers brighter, less psychedelic atmospheres, leaving room to beat sounds,
to a swinging rhythm section, to the Hammond organ and even to moog and synthesizers. Despite a
lighter and an almost purely entertaining context, the album also allows for experimentation, as can be
heard in the two songs that close both sides: “Esercizi Ginnici” and “Aspetti Grotteschi”.

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Preston Love

Omaha Bar-B-Q

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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2LP | 1987 | US | Reissue (Awesome Tapes From Africa)

Dur-Dur Band

Volume 5

LP | 1973 | US | Reissue (Numero Group)

Release: 1987 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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4th strike on Awesome Tapes From Africa, another stunner! The classic Somali band's 1987 recording captures some of the incredible sounds happening in Mogadishu during that era.

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The Family Circle

Familiy Circle

LP | 1974 | UK | Reissue (Selector Series)

Release: 1973 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Family Circle’s 1973 LP draws a tight ring around the most beguiling soul tropes of its era, with its full house of ambitious players and hook-laden originals. Newark, New Jersey’s Simmons siblings—George, James, Mary, Don, and David—rallied around journeyman arranger George Andrews and business maven/producer Randy Irwin, whose industry ties brought studio luminaries into the Simmons orbit: session guitar giant Cornell Dupree, guitarist/songwriter Billy Vera, and the inimitable Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on drums. Charles Simmons’ “Well Runs Dry” dipped several toes into Jackson 5-saturated waters, while “I Hope You Really Love Me” stayed together with the Al Green ethos. Where the bowling, basketball, and karate-obsessed Simmons fivesome was hitching to—thumbs unfurled and dressed to impress in Central Park on Family Circle’s back cover—is anyone’s guess, but their sparkling, layered sound, gospel-honed vocal chops, and instantly relatable melodies should’ve dropped them off on everybody’s turntable. Give Family Circle a lift, drive ‘em around awhile.

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Gloria Scott

What Am I Gonna Do

Timeless Black Vinyl Edtion

Release: 1974 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Gloria Scott’s ‘What Am I Gonna Do’ is considered by many as one of the greatest soul records of all time. A masterpiece produced by Barry White, that oozes class, lush instrumentation and the remarkle vocal talent and emotive delivery of Ms Scott.

From the impecable opener ‘What Am I Gonna Do’ through to the Modern Soul scenes favourite, ‘(A Case Of) Too Much Love Makin’, nearly every cut on the LP is a classic.

An extremely rare LP since it’s release in 1974, with original copies changing hands for over £100. Now 50 years on it has been officially licenced & lovingly reissued by the Selector Series label and arguably an LP every Soul fan needs in their collection.

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Robert Cotter

LP | 1980 | EU | Reissue (Best Record Italy)

Timeless Red Vinyl Edtion

Release: 1980 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Worthy re-issue of Robert Cotter's second late 70's soul album! Comprising five songs, with four of them being quite lengthy and well-structured for the dance floor, was entirely recorded in the United States by top-notch American musicians. "Timeless", a fresh and lively expression of late 70s soul music, was recorded at the Sundragon Studio in New York. This studio was home to legendary bands such as Talking Heads and Ramones, as well as a few 'disco studio groups' like Andrea True Connection, Tony Valor Sound Orchestra, and Camouflage, who recorded songs that later became considerable hits. For this reason, it's believed that the positive outcome of the album can be partially attributed to Ned Liben, an eclectic New York musician and co-founder of the studio in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, served as an exhaustive interlocutor for any artistic and technical needs. He was also the arranger of "Rock Me With Your Love", the most significant song on the album. Ned's successful mission was to capture the maximum timbral fidelity of Robert Cotter's voice using appropriate recording techniques, assisted by Michael George Ewing, a talented engineer who had previously worked on similar projects with well-known artists like Carol Williams, Maryann Farra & Satin Soul, Touch and Tony Valor. In fact, the piece features original and melodious lines, coupled with an excellent steady rhythm, spanning approximately 8 minutes and 30 seconds - in short, "a delightful sound for every beat." This ensured that the performance of the young singer-songwriter from New Jersey was faithfully reproduced without neglecting the overall musical landscape. The other four songs, arranged by Ben Lazzaroni with the same musicians as the first piece, are no exception. Best Record also delivered on the promise to Robert's older brother, Karl Potter, a powerful percussionist transplanted to Rome, for whom the roman label produced "Sweet & Salty Cha-Cha-Cha" (12", 1986). Robert Cotter, an artist about whom almost nothing has been written, is poised to gain recognition once word spreads about his album, which has been entirely remastered by Dom Scuteri and features a more congenial tracklist. This album is destined to be truly 'timeless', ready to captivate audiences around the world. Even the new cover artwork, created by Nerina Fernandez, pays homage to an artist who, despite expressing himself with elegance and simplicity, radiates energy and exudes love. "Timeless" is an inevitable revelation for anyone who missed it at the time, and for the next 40-plus years, it will remain an absolute must-listen for Robert Cotter's many fans, leaving them all in awe. In addition to the reissue on the classic glossy black vinyl, a strictly limited edition on red vinyl will be released exclusively by Clone Distribution.

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Robert Cotter

LP | 1980 | EU | Reissue (Best Record Italy)

It's Just A Matter Of Time

Release: 1980 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Bobby Patterson

LP | 1972 | US | Reissue (Wax Trader)

Release: 1972 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Rock & Indie

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LP | 1981 | EU | Reissue (Miss You)

I Tirelli

Amore Mandarino

24,29 €* 26,99 € -10%

Stage Two Yellow Vinyl Edition

Release: 1981 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Reggae & Dancehall

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Recorded in the infamous Stone Castle Studio in Carimate (Como) by the two brothers Alberto & Gianni Tirelli, this is the last album recorded before the passing of Alberto. (Gianni is also known for certain Italo Disco masterpieces such as “Magic Dance” by Loui$.) Amore Mandarino is An act of bold and improvised genius, being entirely recorded in one night with little to no preparation. What resulted will be forever immortalized in your record collection with this exploration of exquisite fraternal expression throughout a multitude of genres. “Marzia Non C'e” is a 6 minute long downtempo dreamy soundtrack to the deepest of summer balearic sunrises. “Dimmi Per Chi” an Italian Reggae not-Reggae excursion served with ultra smooth spoken word lyrics. “Un Colpo Al Cuore” channeling nuances of Italian bastard cousin of Dire Straits in captivating danceable rock form. Arrangement and production standards running high, clearly a product of a golden age in Italian studio recording and session musicianship. Can't go wrong. Includes insert with letter from Gianni to Alberto, R.I.P..

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Pat Thomas

LP | 1976 | US | Reissue (Tidal Waves)

24,49 €* 34,99 € -30%

Black Sugar II Black Vinyl Edition

Release: 1976 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The legendary Ghanaian singer-producer Pat Thomas needs little introduction, he is a globally recognized vocalist and songwriter, famed for both his solo works and that with the highlife bands The Blue Monks, Broadway-Stargazers Dance Band, The Satellites, The Sweet Beans, Marijata, The Kwashibu Area Band and The Uhuru Dance Band. Between 1974 and 2019, he issued more than two dozen recordings offering a unique take on highlife, funk, reggae, soul and Afro-beat/pop. Pat Thomas' work was sampled many times and continues to be featured on compilations by renowned reissue-labels across the globe.

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Black Sugar

LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Discos Monterey)

LP | 1988 | EU | Reissue (Arabusta)

Release: 1974 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Rock & Indie

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Released in 1974 with a "quadraphonic" sound. Brilliant songs by a cohesive band that knew how to materialize a memorable and original fusion project at an international level.

If Latin funk exists, it's thanks to pioneering bands like Black Sugar, a Peruvian group created in the early seventies that recorded two fundamental albums for the Afro-American and Latin genre. A pair of albums that are now re-released by the Valencian label Discos Monterey with the usual sound and visual quality to which we are accustomed. The roots of this band come from the Far-Fen (syllables for Farfisa and Fender), formed in the late sixties by guitarist Víctor "Coco" Salazar and Miguel "Chino" Figueroa on keyboards. One night they were spontaneously joined by the sensational voice of Carlos "Pacho" Mejía. In the seventies, in the Peruvian capital there was a shortage of "white" sugar and the darker cane sugar was consumed. Hence the group's name. Peru was in the midst of a dictatorship and the military were against music that did not come from Peruvian folklore.

Rock and roll with foreign roots languished due to the imposition of the established power, and Black Sugar emerged, whose main skill was to mix, with enormous passion and fascinating ability, Latin sounds and the funk that came from the United States.

The result is two memorable albums, with a large part of their own songs and most of them composed by Pacho. The first, with an eponymous title, was released in 1971 by Sono Radio, whose musical director Jaime Delgado Aparicio was in charge of the fiery arrangements with generous brass and energetic percussion. Released with the credits in English, they managed to break into the Top Ten of the Miami charts with the song "Too Late". They even received an offer to record their next album in the United States, but decided to stay in their country. That second album was released in 1974 with a "quadraphonic" sound, taking advantage of the label's magnificent studios. From the mid-seventies onwards the desertions began and it would not be until 2010 that the project would be recovered with some historical and younger musicians.

To listen to Black Sugar is to go back to the Peruvian night of the seventies with fiery music, full of sensuality and rhythm. Brilliant songs by a cohesive band that knew how to materialize a memorable fusion project, very original and at an international level. Two unique albums reissued by Monterey that will delight all lovers of Afro-Latin sounds and good music in general. Alex Magic Pop

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Pluto Shervington

Rhythm Of The City

LP | 1972 | EU | Reissue (Cosmic Rock)

Release: 1988 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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* First ever official reissue * LP includes insert featuring lyrics and liner notes with artist bio and album story * Pressed on black vinyl

Rhythm Of The City

The time was 1988, and urban life in Miami was at its apex. After having moved from Jamaica to The Magic City in the summer of 1977, Pluto saw the future. Rhythm Of The City fully expresses this forward thrust, where technology, nightlife, love and urban vibes mingle in an exciting vision of a past future. Recorded at Earthman Studio in Miami, and produced by Geoffrey Chung, the album overthrows the normal rules of reggae, mixing it together with funk, soul and disco, and giving birth to what Pluto himself describes as urban reggae folklore.

Pluto Shervington

Leighton “Pluto” Shervington was born in Kingston, Jamaica on August 13th 1950. Determined to be a musician for as long as he remembers, Pluto built his very first guitar with his own hands, and in 1966, at the age of sixteen, joined his first band: The Presidents. After The Presidents came The Hurricanes, and in 1968 he became a member of the showband Tomorrow’s Children.

After releasing hits like I Man Bitter, Ram Goat Liver, Dat, Your Honour and I Man Born Ya, Pluto climbed the charts, both in Jamaica and overseas, and established his solo career, selling tens of thousands of copies with every album release. In 1972 he founded Sound Associates Limited, a recording studio which provided radio, TV and advertising agencies with original jingles produced on a sixteen-track reel to reel recorder and a twenty-four-track mixing board which Pluto had bought from Byron Lee.

In 1977, due to political shifts in Jamaica, Pluto moved to Miami, where he formed Pluto & Co. The band played regularly for eighteen years at Sunday’s On The Bay in Key Biscayne, Florida, and in June 1982 toured throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. In August 1984, Pluto returned to Jamaica on tour, performing at the Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay. Through the years, Pluto continued his musical career between the United States and Jamaica, and is yet to stop experimenting and exploring what he can do with reggae music.

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Mer-Da (Black Merda)

Long Burn The Fire

Release: 1972 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Rock & Indie

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Back in stock ! Once there was Black Merda, such a funny a name if you happen to have any Italian heritage. To be true, that was meant as Black Murder, but something went wrong along the way. For their second album the proto black rock band changed his name, turning simply into Mer-da. Long Burn The Fire was their last effort ever, soon came darkness and all of a sudden the group disbanded, before being praised in the early 2000 as forerunner of a young black generation. Officially a funk combo the band shared more than a moment with The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Geroge Clinton Funkadelic. Their acid-fuzz numbers brought similarities with early 70’s psychedelic nomads, while some vocal harmonies had a more contemporary late-'60s soul vibe. Coming from Detroit rock city, they became sort of a local legend, now you know why !

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The Jazz Clan

Dediction

LP | 1973 | UK | Reissue

The Showmen Blue Vinyl Edtion

Release: 1973 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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One of the rarest and most sought after South African recordings of the early 1970s, available again for the first time since its original South African release – the swinging township groove of The Jazz Clan’s 1973 debut LP, Dedication

Die-hard fans of South African jazz speak about The Jazz Clan in hushed tones. One of the dozens of South African groups who styled themselves as ‘jazz dignitaries’ – like the Jazz Giants, the Jazz Ambassadors, or the Jazz Ministers, for instance – their two widely separated studio albums for Gallo (Dedications and Makwenkwe, released in 1973 and 1976 respectively) are extremely hard to find, and were never repressed after their initial runs. Until now their work has graced neither re-release nor compilation. But they were no also-rans. They may have left a small recorded footprint, but it was an impressive one, epitomised by their hard-swinging 1973 debut, Dedication – a tough, swinging soul-jazz set with distinct African touches which is counted by those in the know as among the best South African jazz recordings of the era.

Once you dig down into the history of the group, this is no surprise: the players that comprised the Jazz Clan were veterans. And they thought big – their first incarnation during the 1960s had been as a 16-piece, and they had held down a residency at one of Nelson Mandela’s regular haunts, the Planet Hotel in Fordsburg. The original leader, drummer Gordon ‘Micky’ Mfandu, had been a regular on the Johannesburg jazz scene since the early 1960s and had recorded with figures including Gideon Nxumalo, and the famous Blue Notes; along with bassist Mongezi Velelo he had also been a member of the revered Soul Giants unit. Baritone player Cornelius Khumalo had also played with Chris McGregor and the Blue Notes in the pit band of the musical play Mr Paljas, and had also recorded with township legend Zakes Nkosi. Also in the line-up, and handling most writing duties on this disc, was the great trumpeter Peter Segona – a quicksilver hornsman, Segona later sought exile in Europe, where he played with musical luminaries across the continent including Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, Cymande, and Manu Dibango.

By the 1970s Mfandu was dead, murdered in Soweto, and the group had consolidated as a septet – the late drummer is memorialised here on closer ‘Micky’. South African jazz was moving toward electrified funk and bump, and the new township style of Dollar Brand was just around the corner. But Dedication captures the acoustic jazz sound of the early 1970s in its pomp – a handful of tightly wound songs jostling for space, blending uptempo soul-jazz sensibilities with Latin influences and pronounced township jazz accents, the latter especially audible in Dimpie Tshabalala’s piano vamps, Jeff Mpete’s pattering hi-hat emphases, and the unmistakably South African swagger and dip of the horns on cuts like ‘Rabothata’. It is music on the brink of a transition, looking ahead but still dedicated to the sound of the golden years, and it could have been made nowhere else on earth but in Soweto.'

Transferred from the master tapes by Gallo in South Africa. Mastered for release by D&M. Pressed at Pallas. Fully licensed from Gallo South Africa.

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The Showmen

LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (RCA)

Release: 1974 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Rock & Indie

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Baris Manco & Kurtalan Ekspres

Sözüm Meclisten Disari

LP | 1981 | TR | Reissue (Emre Grafson)

LP | 1980 | EU | Reissue (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald)

Release: 1981 / TR – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Rock & Indie

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2019 Re-mastered, 180g black vinyl in gatefold cover. It was originally released in 1981. May be the last impressive album of Baris Manco and his band Kurtalan Ekspres which is giving a respect to 1970’s Golden Era of Turkish Rock. The album consists of funk and progressive rock elements from track to track just like their previous release. Hypnotic, cool and clear sound, will make this LP as a reference album.

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Alphonse Mouzon

By All Means

Release: 1980 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1977 | EU (Survival Research)

West Coast Revival

Christmas Card Colored Vinyl Edition

Release: 1977 / EU

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Seattle-born preacher’s son Luther James Rabb played sax with Jimi Hendrix in the Velvetones and after forming popular horns-based rock act Ballin’ Jack, moved to Los Angeles, where soul harmony trio West Coast Revival was born. Early singles for United Artists were produced by Howard Scott and Lonnie Jordan of War, and their sole LP, released in 1977, is an exceedingly rare soul-funk gem, with solid vocal harmony, hard funk breaks, and a touch of sophisticated strings. ‘My Mind Is At Ease’ is a breakbeat special and ‘Feelin’ Allright’ rides a meaty bass groove, both underlining the War connection; our edition comes with bonus love song ‘Beautiful Girl,’ an early single B-side. Overall, this is prime soul-funk with uncommon elements, ripe for rediscovery by all discerning funk fans.

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The Temptations

LP | 1970 | EU | Reissue (Island)

Release: 1970 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1983 | EU | Reissue (Mad About)

Popcorn

Prime Choice

LP | 1970 | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1983 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Rare Modern Soul/Funk private press LP from Miami! Almost impossible to find an original copy of this 1983 Modern Funk Soul Boogie masterpiece.

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Willie Hutch

Season For Love

LP | 1976 | UK | Reissue (Matsuli Music)

Release: 1970 / Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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A monumental force firmly rooted in the soul canon, Willie Hutch is most notable for recording two of the best Blaxploitation soundtracks, The Mack and Foxy Brown. Yet his legacy is much greater. Outside of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, Hutch was arguably Motown's top male solo artist of the 70s. Prior to his association with Gordy et al, Hutch crafted his opening statements for RCA, two vital LPs that Be With Records is honoured to present today. Often-overlooked, his second album Season For Love (1970) is a must for all deep soul fans and has been sought-after by collectors of different stripes for decades. Whereas his debut featured thundering, gritty numbers, Hutch treats us to a mellower soul here - sumptuous, warm and string-led. He compared his approach to that of Otis Redding and there are definite parallels; from the raspy, rough-hewn vocals that tend to roam between sweet and deeply impassioned to the horn-heavy, emphatic sonic backdrops.

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Harari (The Beaters)

Rufaro

LP | 1978 | EU | Reissue (Mad About)

Release: 1976 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Top reissue of their in demand 1976 LP by the super group. Includes the long jam ''Oya Kai'', keeps on going.. Also holds their known tune ''Musikana'', killer groove. Alec Khaoli, Selby Ntuli and Sipho Mabuse with their first album as Harari made a great debut channeling a raw energie following up their LP as the beaters. The Beaters – Harari was released in 1975. After changing their name, Harari went into the studio late in 1976 to record their follow-up, Rufaro / Happiness. In 1976 they were voted South Africa’s top instrumental group and were in high demand at concert venues across the country. Comprising former schoolmates guitarist and singer Selby Ntuli, bassist Alec Khaoli, lead guitarist Monty Ndimande and drummer Sipho Mabuse, the group had come a long way from playing American-styled instrumental soul in the late sixties to delivering two Afro-rock masterpieces. Before these two albums the Beaters had been disciples of ‘Soweto Soul’ – an explosion of township bands drawing on American soul and inspired by the assertive image of Stax and Motown’s Black artists. The Beaters supported Percy Sledge on his 1970 South African tour (and later Timmy Thomas, Brook Benton and Wilson Pickett). But their watershed moment was their three month tour of Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) where they were inspired by the strengthening independence struggle and musicians such as Thomas Mapfumo who were turning to African influences. On their return, the neat Nehru jackets that had been the band’s earliest stage wear were replaced by dashikis and Afros. “In Harari we rediscovered our African-ness, the infectious rhythms and music of the continent. We came back home inspired! We were overhauling ourselves into dashiki-clad musicians who were Black Power saluting and so on.” Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, talking of the band’s time spent on tour in the (then) Rhodesian township from where they took their name. As well as expressing confident African politics, Alec Khaoli recalled, they pioneered by demonstrating that such messages could also be carried by “...happy music. During apartheid times we made people laugh and dance when things weren’t looking good.” The two albums capture the band on the cusp of this transition. One the first album Harari, Inhlupeko Iphelile, Push It On and Thiba Kamoo immediately signal the new Afro-centric fusion of rock, funk and indigenous influences. Amercian soul pop is not forgotten with Love, Love, Love and, helped along by Kippie Moeketsi and Pat Matshikiza a bump-jive workout What’s Happening concludes the album. The second album Rufaro pushes the African identity and fusion further, with key tracks Oya Kai (Where are you going?), Musikana and Uzulu whilst the more pop-styled Rufaro and Afro-Gas point to where Harari were headed to in years to come. The popularity and sales generated by these two classic albums saw them signed by Gallo and release just two more albums with the original line-up before the untimely death of Selby Ntuli in 1978. Whilst they went on to greater success, even landing a song in the US Billboard Disco Hot 100 in 1982, it was never the same again. “Harari’s music still speaks directly to one of my goals as a younger artist: to express myself as an African without pretending that I don’t have all these other musical elements – classical, jazz, house – inside me.” (Thandi Ntuli, niece of Selby Ntuli).

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Jay Days

Between The Swells

LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1978 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Killer AOR Rarity. Highly recommended ! Jay Days' only album presents eight killer funky AOR sounds and blue eyed soul tracks. Rarely surfaced in the collectors' market but now the album is finally reissue on vinyl. A band formation with mysterious session men who support JAY Days of slack guitar vocal, gentle electric piano with jazzy rock, blue-eyed soulful medium mellow, female chorus with mystic groove. It contains Hawaiian-style acoustics and dense performances unique to the Private Press. It is a hidden AOR masterpiece where you can feel the tropical atmosphere of the street along with the wind of the West Coast.

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J.R. Bailey

Just Me 'N' You

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1974 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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A dramatic, string-drenched epic, James Ralph Bailey’s Just Me ’N’ You has been a sought-after soul masterpiece for decades. A lush suite of beautiful songs, it was conceived as a concept album; a sophisticated paean to love. Originally released by MAM Records in 1974, Just Me ’N’ You is a breathtaking jazzy soul album. It’s similar in style to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On - particularly the performances, orchestrations and chord progressions - but dealing with a different universal subject matter. If What’s Going On was about romance instead of politics, it would sound like this.

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Junie

Suzie Super Groupie

LP | 1988 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison released his third solo LP, Suzie Super Groupie, in 1976. A slick, smooth and soulful record, it’s a genre-melting tour de force with rich elements of proto-boogie, funk and jazz. In short, this is yet another essential album reissue from Be With.

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Linda Majika

Don't Treat Me So Bad

12" | 1976 | US | Reissue (Unidisc)

Release: 1988 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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2020 re-issue, 140g vinyl, remastered from the original tapes Track List. Linda “Babe” Majika’s insanely brilliant Don’t Treat Me So Bad is a tight six tracks of blistering electro-flavoured bubblegum and synth-drizzled solar-powered machine-funk. It has become increasingly hard to find, with copies currently moving for over £200. But this is definitely a case of eye-watering price equalling heart-thumping quality. Once of the Hot Soul Singers, Don’t Treat Me So Bad was Linda’s debut LP as a solo artist. It was produced by Ace Mbuyisa of boogie-funk maestros Freeway and was originally released on Umkhonto Records in South Africa in 1988. The enormous “Let’s Make A Deal” is probably the best known track here, and it’s definitely the best one if you ask us. Linda’s vocals drip with attitude over warm, breezy synths and an urgent, edgy electro beat to create a timeless club-ready bomb that sounds as fresh as ever.

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Van McCoy

The Hustle

LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1976 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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/ love is the answer / soul cha cha

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V.A.

Breath Of Danger

The All American Powerhouse

Release: 1974 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Soundtracks

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They Say: “A selection of suspense underscores and drama blackcloths which vary in intensity and cover a wide range of suspense and drama situations”. We say: A breaky, funky library great masquerading as a horror score. Oh, and the cover art is amazing. Breath Of Danger was originally released in 1974, and rounded up a killer ensemble cast of library legends including Alan Hawkshaw, Brian Bennett, Alan Parker, David Lindup, Kenny Salmon, Barry Morgan and Ray Cooper.

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V.A.

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

LP | 1970 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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They Say: “Driving brass and sax ensemble over funky rhythm section, playing tracks of various feel and style”. We say: From the Lincoln Continental that memorably adorns the cover to the tranquil funk contained within, this glowing ode to the grooving force of 70s American soul music is ice cool all over. With brilliant contributions from the Three Key Alans™ (Hawkshaw, Parker, Tew) as well as Mike Moran, Les Hurdle and Keith Roberts, this is driving music for only the vibiest cats. Originally released in 1976, The All American Powerhouse is one of the very best of the Themes library releases. It’s killer. A feast of dramatic jazz, horizontal, melodic funk and bouncing sunshine-y West-Coast feels throughout, there also lurks an intense injection of the Blaxploitation sound. Understandable, given the subject matter and year it was released.

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Optimistics

Let Me Sing My Song To You

Release: 1970 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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This is some serious top shelf material out of Baltimore and a certified masterclass in sweet symphonic soul. Optimistics was originally released in 1970 on Turbo and it’s every bit as essential as The Chi-Lites, The Delfonics and The Moments yet nowhere near as known. Those original copies are ridiculously rare and, of course, the prices are equally ridiculous. Optimistics is a killer LP throughout, beloved of discerning hip-hop producers worldwide and routinely championed by the legendary Pete Rock. The genius George Kerr has handled the production on what is an album of beautiful, naïve soul for mind and body. It’s bursting with goodness and, like the best of its genre, it radiates a heart-breaking ambience that cuts right to the core.

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Larry Jon Wilson

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Alan Parker & Madeline Bell

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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He can break your heart with a voice like a cannonball.” - Kris Kristofferson. Larry Jon Wilson came to the party late. When he arrived in Nashville, country soul pioneer Tony Joe White had already made six albums. Townes Van Zandt had made seven, Mickey Newbury eight. Kristofferson, the accepted High Priest of the New Nashville, had made five. Larry Jon, by the time he arrived, had spent ten years in corporate America. He did not start playing guitar until the age of 30, but five years later he released his debut, New Beginnings (1975) and followed it just a year later with Let Me Sing My Song To You, both on Monument Records. A revelation among the hipsters and critics of Nashville, the LPs ensured Larry Jon was immediately embraced as part of the mid-70s “outlaw country movement” that eschewed slick production in favour of a raw, gritty approach.

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The Voice Of Soul

LP | 1976 | UK | Reissue (Be With)

LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Hot Casa)

Release: 1976 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Veteran library musician Alan Parker recorded with session vocalist Madeline Bell for his Themes International Music label and the result was 1976’s The Voice of Soul.

The sensational uptempo dancer “That’s What Friends Are For” is probably the most well known track on the record, and is a big hit on the rare groove scene, but it is by no means an anomaly. The Voice of Soul is essentially a perfect, sophisticated soul album with heaps of swagger and sass from beginning to end. Its once generic-sounding title is now deservedly definitive.

And the whole LP oozes sex. It oozes sex so much that it could have soundtracked a period porn film. Indeed, parts of it did. “Love Is All” and “You’ve Got What It Takes” both featured on the infamously banned Pretty Peaches from the same year.

As is usual with library records, The Voice of Soul was hard to get even when it was first released. It’s next to impossible now. So here’s your opportunity to own what is in our opinion one of the finest rare soul LPs of the late 70s, and a superb example of Madeline Bell’s superlative vocal talents.

But that’s not the whole story. As well as pitching the record as “a varied selection of modern female vocal features which are equally suitable for background or radio programme usage”, the original release notes go on to explain that “the corresponding backing tracks are issued on TIM 1022 The Sound of Soul. Therefore it is possible to edit from vocal to instrumental version and vica versa where commentary or scene changes occur.”

So yes, all of the backing tracks from The Voice of Soul were released as The Sound of Soul, and we couldn’t re-issue one without re-issuing the other.

As with all ten re-issues, the audio for The Voice of Soul comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We’ve taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity.

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Keni Okulolo

Talkin' Bass

LP | 1976 | UK | Reissue (Rhino)

Release: 1974 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Reissue of an ultra-rare Afro-Funk album by KENI OKULOLO.

First and rare album from the famous bass player and band leader of MONOMONO Nigerian band. 3 amazing tracks recorded in 1974 at EMI studio, taken from his ultra-rare and so hard to find Talkin' bass experience masterpiece album plus an extra track that we decided with the artist to include here. His funky gem “Funky People” was produced during the famous “Mixed Grill” sessions in Lagos.

Fully Licenced with one of a few living Nigerian musicians with roots in both traditional village music and funky West-African popular genres, five times voted Nigeria's best bassist by the Nigerian Association of Music journalists. The original album is so hard to find and cost more than thousand euros, so don’t hesitate to listen to this remastered Afro-Soul gem.

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George Benson

Breezin'

Release: 1976 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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2LP | 1972 | EU | Reissue (Westbound)

America eats its young

LP | 1976 | US | Reissue (Cat)

Release: 1972 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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- "Loose Booty" sampled by EPMD for "Who's Booty?"

- "Joyful Process" sampled by CPO for "Gangsta Melody",
Eazy-E for "Eazy-Duz-It" and
Smokin Suckas with Logic for "Uncle Tom Artist"

- "I Call My Baby Pussycat" sampled by De La Soul for "Area"

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Gwen McCrae

Something So Right

LP | 1980 | EU | Reissue (Rhino)

Release: 1976 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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- "I've Got Nothing to Lose but the Blues" sampled by Royal Flush for "Iced Down Medallions"

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Prince

Dirty Mind

Release: 1980 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Impeach The President Clear Vinyl Edition

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The Honey Drippers

7" | 1974 | UK | Reissue (Alaga U.S.)

Release: 1974 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Preorder shipping from 2024-08-02

LP | 1972 | UK | Reissue (Kent Soul / Fame)

Candi Staton

It Hurts So Good Black Vinyl Edition

Release: 1972 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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In 1972, Rick Hall moved distribution of his Fame label from Capitol to United Artists. This was to give his label more heft internationally as well as Stateside. The first single from this new agreement was Candi Staton’s ‘In The Ghetto’ which was released in May 1972. Not only did the single do well, but Staton received a personal note from Elvis Presley telling her how much he had enjoyed her version of the songs.

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Millie Jackson

LP | 1973 | UK | Reissue (Southbound)

Life & Times Bone Colored Vinyl Edition

Release: 1973 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Millie Jackson’s first single was released on the MGM label in 1969 but her career took off when she signed to Spring where she teamed up with producer Raeford Gerald.

The single ‘A Child Of God (It’s Hard To Believe)’/ ‘You’re The Joy Of My Life’ was a Top 30 R&B hit and ‘Ask Me What You Want’/‘I Just Can’t Stand It’, ‘My Man, A Sweet Man’/‘I Gotta Get Away From My Own Self’ and ‘I Miss You Baby’/‘I Ain’t Giving Up’ not only did more damage on the R&B chart but also entered the Hot 100.

All four singles appeared on her debut LP “Millie Jackson”, issued on Spring in 1972.

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Bubbha Thomas

LP | 1985 | US | Reissue (Tidal Waves Music)

25,59 €* 31,99 € -20%

Pop Music Black Vinyl Edition

Release: 1985 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LImited to 100 copies on bone colored vinyl. Only at HHV.

Houston’s reputation for developing first-class jazz acts is well-established, as a stream of young players has been distinguishing themselves for decades…among those musicians and mentors who stood tallest, Bubbha Thomas was no exception (and a major key-player) in this long tradition of talent.

Before becoming an artist and educator, Bubbha Thomas (born 1937) was a Fourth Ward kid who grew up in a music-filled household. In High School, he divided his time between music & basketball (he excelled at both) and studied with jazz legend Conrad “Prof” Johnson. “Prof” would later bring jazz glory to Texas with the Kashmere Stage Band, the group of teenagers who would win the “Best High School Stage Band In The Nation” prize in Mobile, Alabama in 1972 and who were anthologized in 2006 on Now-Again’s ‘Thunder Soul’ (which led to the 2010 Jamie Foxx documentary of the same name).

After finishing college, Bubbha got drafted in the service (he was a Korean War veteran) and would return to Houston in the early 1960s where he found work as a session drummer for the Duke and Peacock labels. Thomas drummed on recordings by O.V. Wright, Buddy Ace and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. He was playing his own stuff and backing luminaries such as R&B singer Chuck Jackson and homegrown legends like Lightnin’ Hopkins. Bubbha Thomas also teamed up with some of his equally legendary peers (like guitarist Melvin Sparks & organist Leon Spencer) and eventually established his own group, the Jazz Merchants.

Bubbha learned every style that was thrown at him and he played straight-ahead jazz with renowned artists before the political and social upheaval of the late 1960s led him to a path first charted by Coltrane and Sun Ra…the result of these newfound influences was the incredible spiritual jazz ensemble ‘The Lightmen’, who released four incredible recordings in the 1970s. Their first album ‘Free As You wanna be’ predates the deep-set, maverick jazz issued by the likes of Tribe and Strata East and is a harbinger of some of the best in the 1970s jazz underground. The Lightmen albums eventually fell out of print until 2017 when the Now-Again record label brought them back into circulation and generated new interest in Bubbha Thomas’ work.

Thomas had a storied career as a drummer and bandleader, but perhaps his most enduring work is that as a founder of Houston’s Summer Jazz Workshop, a remarkable program that nurtured upcoming talent for generations…we can’t begin to count the number of young people who benefitted from the exposure to music-arts because of Bubbha Thomas and what he meant to the Houston music community. In his career he earned five Grammy nominations and authored a pair of books. Next to this he was also a writer/editor for several local newspapers, ran one of the first Houston African American Television shows and he hosted a radio program on KYOK. Impressive to say the least!

Bubbha Thomas passed away in March 2020 at the age of 82. It was obvious he was a principled, fiery & wise person…and any anger he felt at America’s (and the world’s) injustices he met with music, intellect, activism and unity!

Next to his work with ‘’The Lightmen’’, Bubbha also released the fantastic (solo) album ‘Life & Times’ in 1985. ‘Life & Times’ (which we are proudly presenting you today) is particularly interesting to boogie-enthusiasts because of its high doses of funky twerks, solid grooves, crazy synth work, soulful vocals and excellent drum-beats courtesy of Mr. Thomas himself. You’ll quickly find yourself shaking hips the moment the needle hits the first track! The whole album is backed by a fantastic cast of all-star players and includes Howard Harris (Ruth Copeland), Dwight Sills (Bobby Lyle – TLC), Jerry McPherson (Donna Summer), Leo Polk (Kashmere Stage Band), John Gordon (Strata-East) and Jackie Simley (Queen Latifah – Lionel Richie). All of the above makes this LP an essential purchase for any self-respecting fan and collector.

Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the FIRST ever vinyl reissue of this fantastic album (originally released in 1985 on Lightin’ Records). This rare record (original copies tend to go for large amounts on the secondary market) is now finally back available as a limited 180g vinyl edition complete with the original artwork.

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Structure

LP | 1970 | EU | Reissue (Sommor)

LP | 1972 | EU | Reissue (Guerssen)

Release: 1970 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Cool library-styled French album from 1970. Psychedelic, proggy jazz-funk with Brazilian/Bossa touches! Groovy flute by Bernard Wystraëte plus heavy bass, drums (by André Ceccarelli), violin, occasional fuzz-wah guitar and Urszula Dudziak-like scat vocals. In 1970, the AFA label asked flautist Bernard Wystraëte to register a “pop” album after the worldwide impact of progressive bands like Aphrodite’s Child and Jethro Tull. Bernard recruited some of his friends who were professional musicians and Structure was born. He wrote a collection of songs influenced by progressive rock, jazz and Brazilian music. The “Pop Music” album was recorded live in the studio to give a “live show” feel. It was released later that year housed in a superb psychedelic sleeve. The band even toured across France and several countries at the same time that Bernard and other Structure members started backing famous French singer Marie Laforêt live. After the good reception given to the album, another label asked Bernard to record a Structure 45. “Dilatation” / “Scale” was released under a new line-up. Both tracks of this 45 are included as bonus tracks on the Digital Download version and the CD.

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Dakila

LP | 1972 | EU | Reissue (Rhino)

Release: 1972 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Rock & Indie

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Dakila (a Filipino word meaning Greatness) emerged from the melting pot of musical fusions that originated in the San Francisco Bay Area of the late 60s. They often could be seen playing at Bill Graham's Fillmore West, SF Winterland and all the major clubs in the SF Bay Area and festivals.

Singing in Tagalog, Spanish and English, Dakila was the first Filipino-American band signed to a major label. Their sole album from 1972 combined their Filipino heritage with Latin Rock, psychedelia / acid-rock and afro-funk. The result was an explosive, hot jamming sound full of congas/percussion, Hammond, dual fuzz guitar, fuzz-bass…

This, the first ever official reissue, features corrected pitch (the original was speeded up by the producers against the band’s will) and a 4-page color insert with detailed liner notes.

*50th Anniversary Reissue

*One of the hidden gems from the original Latin-Rock movement

Riyl: Santana, El Chicano, Barrabás, Chango, Malo, Mandrill…

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War

The World Is A Ghetto

Release: 1972 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1980 | EU | Reissue (Petit Cherie)

Marlon Hunter

It's Summer

Courtial With Errol Knowles

Release: 1980 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Rare soul/funk album out of Oakland, CA. Featuring Marlon Hunter along with the Group The Standards Of Living. Six songs full of jazz/funk groove and Modern Soul atmospheres. First time released in 1980 as a private press this rare pearl represents a must have for diggers, djs and collectors

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Don't You Think It's Time

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Mad About)

Akuma Ga Kitarite Fue Wo Fuku

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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First time worldwide reissue on 180 gram vinyl with original 6 pages insert book with lyrics. Cult LP including rare groove classics like “Losing You”, “Don’t You Think It’s Time” or “Love Nevermore” Released in 1976 on Pipeline, a small label from Woodside, California.

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Hozan Yamamoto & Yu Imai

LP | 1978 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

F.B.I. / Talkin' Bout Love / Love Love Love / Bad Deal Green Vinyl Edition

Release: 1978 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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We've got a bit of an obsession with Hozan Yamamoto here at Mr Bongo! A legend of Japanese jazz, he is rightly regarded as a true master and was recognised as a "living national treasure" by the Japanese government in 2002. Over five decades he pushed the genre into new directions, absorbing fusion, funk, spiritual jazz and many other sounds, resulting in a discography studded with gems of rare beauty. Exploring his back catalogue has taken us on an engrossing journey that now sees us reissuing another work from this ground-breaking musician.

Though not translating perfectly into English 'Akuma Ga Kitarite Fue Wo Fuku', (kitarite has not been a modern expression in Japanese) roughly means 'The Devil Comes Playing The Flute' / 'The Devil Is Coming While Blowing The Whistle' or 'Devils Flute’. It is the original soundtrack to Kôsei Saitô’s 1979 mystery and suspense movie, ‘Devil’s Flute’. The film is based on a story by the famous author, Seishi Yokomizo, and is centred around a much-loved fictional Japanese detective, Kosuke Kindaichi. A Japanese Sherlock Holmes that has been popular for generations.

Hozan Yamamoto was invited to compose the soundtrack directly by the producer of the film, Haruki Kadokawa. Mr Kadokawa also hired keyboard player and producer Yu Imai as assistant producer on the project, resulting in a stunning cosmic, breaks and beats-laden, funk, disco soundtrack extravaganza.

When it comes to the soundtrack and the technology of the time, Hozan Yamamoto and Yu Imai got inventive, tripped out, funked up, and experimented, creating a quirky soundtrack masterpiece that needed to be heard more outside of Japan. Differing from the more traditional Japanese music orientation of some of his other albums such as 'Beautiful Bamboo-Flute' (also released on Mr Bongo) the album showcases a number of genres, from lush atmospheric incidental music to disco and funk grooves, experimental nuggets, drum and flute workouts, to neo-classical and more.

A special record that showcases the further depths of this wonderful musician's talents.

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F.B.I.

2x7" | 1977 | UK | Reissue (Dynamite Cuts)

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Demon)

Release: 1977 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Dynamite Cuts 45s series is proud to release another double-pack; loaded with jazz funk 7” wonders. F.B.I. (Funk Band Inc) was the UK’s original Jazz-funk band. Four tracks from this timeless LP are now on 7” for the first time. Originally released in 1977, this LP is now massive with the collectors, and is in the ‘must-have’ category. The incredible ‘Bad Deal’ (my personal favorite), and, yes, the outstanding, “Talkin about love”, are both on there. This Dynamite Cuts release is a gatefold edition; with some previously unseen photos of the band. Unmissable

Dynam7090

A – “fbi” – Funk breaks and anthemic rare groove vocal club classic. B – “Talkin’ about love” – Amazing vocal Mid-tempo and uplift funk n soul gem. This is a dream to have on a 7” vinyl

Dynam7091

A – “Love Love Love” – Classic soul version cut of the JR Baily sweetness, Essential for soul lovers and music collectors B – “Bad Deal” – Mid-tempo vocal Jazz-funk n soul groove, my favorite track.

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Jackie Wilson

Nobody But You

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Demon)

Brown Sugar

Featuring Clydie King

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1977 | US | Reissue (Demon)

Windy City

Let Me Ride

Release: 1977 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Hugo In Wonder-Land Record Store Day 2020 Edition

Hugo Montenegro

LP | 1974 | US | Reissue (Nature Sounds)

Paul Dupont & His Orchestra

Release: 1974 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Record Store Day 2020 Release.
Limitation: 1200 copies.

"You have taken what I write, play, and sing about to an even higher level of expression. "
-Stevie Wonder

Hugo Montenegro was a prolific composer and orchestra leader, best known for crafting dynamic film and television soundtracks throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In addition to original compositions, the New York native also recorded many unique interpretations of contemporary work by other artists. In 1974, Montenegro released Hugo In Wonder-Land, his take on the catalog of music icon Stevie Wonder. The album is entirely instrumental, offering a brand new perspective on Wonder’s acclaimed originals. Montenegro’s lush arrangements and Moog-heavy electronic elements make for a genre-bending classic that Stevie Wonder himself has championed. After years out of print, Hugo In Wonder-Land is now back on limited-edition vinyl.

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Tapestry

LP | 1977 | EU | Reissue (Farfalla)