Funk | Soul Vinyl 895 Items

The Devil Is Loose Gold Vinyl Edition

Release: 1972 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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early release on his own label ... real nice!

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Asha Puthli

LP | 1976 | UK | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

25,99 €*

Thin Line Between Love And Hate

Release: 1976 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Preorder shipping from 2024-09-13

Limited edition of 1000 copies worldwide! We can’t think of many artists that have had as diverse a career and who have been involved in as many different genres of music as Asha Puthli. A musical pioneer who forged a path through 60's psych, free-jazz, pop, rock, disco, and more. Asha's 1976 album 'The Devil Is Loose' is maybe her most well-known record. Featuring the beautiful disco-funk-classic 'Space Talk’, Asha's ethereal soaring vocals take us on a journey that almost mirrors Asha's eclectic career. The track was championed by a wide-range of musical scenes and movements, and over space and time it has been commandeered as their own. You would hear it played by David Mancuso at the now ‘mythical’ underground New York party 'The Loft’, in the most discerning disco nightclubs across the globe, in the Rare Groove scene, and also being sampled by hip-hop heavyweights such as The Notorious B.I.G / P Diddy, and The Pharcyde. The appeal and lifespan of ’Space Talk’ keeps on extending and morphing as new audiences gleefully discover it for the first time - it still sounds as relevant and fresh on the dancefloor today - a sign of a true classic. Here at Mr Bongo we are thrilled to be releasing records by such an iconic musical maverick as Asha, from her roots in India to becoming a globe-trotting artist with a celebrated career in music and acting, whilst always staying true to her art. She has blazed a trail so that others could follow. Whether you are buying this album as a replacement for your worn-out original copy or it's the first time you've heard of Asha Puthli and you're just intrigued and drawn in by the cover, we hope you enjoy this quintessential slice of Asha's world.

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The Persuaders

LP | 1972 | US | Reissue (Win Or Lose)

25,99 €*

Black Sugar II Black Vinyl Edition

Release: 1972 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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sampled by Kid Frost, Heavy D & Arrested Development

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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

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes

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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Expansions HHV Exclusive Transparent Yellow Vinyl Edition

LP | 1975 | UK | Reissue (BGP)

LP | 1972 | EU | Reissue (Cosmic Rock)

Release: 1975 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Limited to 500 copies on transparent yellow vinyl in gatefold sleeve, exclusively available at HHV.

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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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LP | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Supraphon)

Olympic

Jedeme, Jedeme

LP | 1979 | TR | Reissue (Emre Grafson)

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Continuation of the successful reissue series, this time in 1971

Olympic’s third album was the result of personnel and author changes. The co-founder, bassist and lyricist Pavel Chrastina left the band. Jan Hauser took his place at the instrument and Zdenek Rytir added lyrics to Janda’s melodies. The arrangements became more colourful, the stylistic Olympic anchorage was preserved. The shift took place in a looser compositional form, allowing for songs in previously unconventional lengths of over five minutes.

Jiri Stivin was a surprise guest, adding flute and saxophone passages to the rock. From today’s point of view, the biggest hit was “Bon soir, mademoiselle Paris”, but you will also remember “Kdyz jsem bejval tramp” (When I Was a Tramp), “Blaznivej Kiki” (Crazy Kiki), “Elixir” or “Strazce majaku” (The Lighthouse Keeper).

Not only the music has changed, but also the cover art. After Pacak’s recession-era Turtle and pop-art Wolverine, Olympic dressed up in historical cycling, motoring or aviation costumes to feature a stylish collage of Alan Pajer’s photographs on the cover and inside.

Reconstructing the fold-out packaging was extremely difficult this time, as the source photos were confiscated by the StB during the raid. The surprise will be the vinyl sound, newly recorded this year from the original tapes. The extensive editorial notes by O. Zamostny also push this release into the ultimate form of Olympic album reissues.

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Baris Manco

Yeni Bir Gun

LP | 1975 | TR | Reissue (Emre Grafson)

Release: 1979 / TR – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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2019 Re-mastered – 180g black vinyl in gatefold Cover + 2 pages liner notes. It was originally released in 1979 which is (may be) the peak of Baris Manco and his band Kurtalan Ekspres’ musical career. True masterpiece ! It deserves to be a part of your collection. Every track in this LP, open any surprise. While one track is jazz-funk, the next one space rock and a pschedelic song will follow.

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Baris Manco

2023

Nico Gomez And His Afro Percussion Inc

Release: 1975 / TR – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Re-mastered 180g black vinyl, in gatefold cover 12 pages booklet + poster. Originally released in 1975 by the Pioneer of Anatolian Rock, Baris Manco. He was one of the best musician in golden Era of Turkish Rock Scene. The album contains both traditional lyrics and space rock, progressive rock and psychedelic elements. In other words, nice blend of Turkish understanding with western instruments. Simply hypnotic, groovy.

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Ritual Red Vinyl Edition

LP | 1971 | UK | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

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

Release: 1971 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Belgium, not the first place you'd think of when it comes to Latin or Afro funk. Yet one of the greatest records to blend both styles came from the small northern European country, masterminded by Nico Gomez and his Afro Percussion Inc.

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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

Carole King In Concert - Live At The Bbc 1971 Black Friday Record Store Day 2021 Edition

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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Carole King

LP | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Columbia)

LP | 1970 | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Limited to 6550 copies worldwide. Recorded Live for the BBC In Concert Series in 1971, and produced by Series producer Stanley Dorfman, Carole King performs hits from the seminal album Tapestry. Backed by members of Jo Mama (who were featured on the album), including her longtime friend and collaborator Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar on guitar. The setlist includes her songs “I Feel the Earth Move”, “(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman”, “So Far Away” (ft. James Taylor), “It's Too Late”, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and “Up on the Roof.” Never before released on vinyl.

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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 | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

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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Sola

LP | 1978 | EU | Reissue (Mad About)

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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It’s hard not to notice such an unforgettable sleeve, and if the music it protects is half as memorable as the artwork, you know you just have to hear it. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed because yes, this is the majestic 1971 album Un Muñeco De Madera, courtesy of the shadowy Sola, and it sounds exactly as you’d want it to. Originally released on RCA in Mexico, it’s kaleidoscopic Acapulcan-funk. The album’s endless grooves are propelled by softly rocking, quasi-library funk breaks. Vocally, Sola is in step with the 60s French pop-chanteuse style, but of course her lyrics are delivered in sensuous Spanish. Her voice is beautiful. Pillowy soft and tender, it can suddenly explode in mystical anger. These are ten tracks of moody, mysterious vibes that stir the spirit and sooth the soul. The LP was written, arranged and directed by prolific Spanish composer Manuel Alejandro, the man behind an incredible number of now classic Latin love songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s. As for Sola herself, next to nothing is known about the Mexican singer except the occasional whisper heard in only the darkest corners of the annals of music history. It’s said that upon growing disillusioned with the music industry she ended up in a convent of Carmelite Sisters. Fitting perhaps, given that Un Muñeco De Madera is a spiritual wonder of a record. Much-loved single and title-track “Un Muñeco De Madera” opens the album. It introduces us to Sola’s sparkling Latin-funk, bursting with swaggering grooves sewn by tight drums, sweeping strings and lush keys.

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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

Hey Lady / Just To Be With You

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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Elements

7" | 1971 | JP | Reissue (Numero)

Release: 1971 / JP – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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12" | 1976 | US | Reissue (Unidisc)

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)

The Hunter (Drama Suite) / Adventure Story

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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V.A.

LP | 1975 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

LP | 1978 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1975 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Soundtracks

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They Say: “Composite themes and incidental cues for dramatic application”. We say: Well, it’s definitely dramatic. No wonder this LP was mined by a multitude of 70s and 80s crime shows. Much like Beat Incidental, this true gem includes a raft of enjoyable sub-ten second incidental cues alongside satisfyingly stretched out, hard-knocking sleuth-funk. The Hunter (Drama Suite) / Adventure Story is a real library-head’s library album. We’re treated to some of the best works of no less than five different heavyweights of the genre: drummer Brian Bennett, guitarist Clive Hicks (of The Gentle Rain), saxophonist Duncan Lamont, rock bassist Dave Richmond and keyboard session giant Steve Gary! Something of a dream line-up, they each contributed stellar efforts to create one of the most sought-after of the legendary KPM albums.

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Samuel Jonathan Johnson

My Music

LP | 1970 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

Release: 1978 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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My Music is a stellar spiritual soul / jazz-funk gem, recorded by keyboardist-singer Samuel Jonathan Johnson in 1978. The epitome of a cult classic, it didn’t do much upon its release but steadily found an audience over the decades that followed. It eventually worked its way into the culture, and latterly the wantlists, of wave after wave of soul aficionados. This is music that shares the jazzy R&B DNA of contemporaries like Roy Ayers and is an intoxicating blend of mellow moments and more groove-heavy tracks. Spacey keys and lush production give it a luxurious, enveloping warmth.

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Optimistics

LP | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Be With)

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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The Moments

On Top

Let Me Sing My Song To You

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The Moments’ On Top is a perfect example of symphonic soul. Amongst true heads, this is considered the most valuable of all their albums. Alongside contemporaneous acts from the early 70s - The Chi-lites, The Stylistics, The Delfonics, The Futures, Blue Magic and The Main Ingredient - The Moments exuded all that was compelling about deep, harmony-drenched, string-laden soul. The standout here is undoubtedly “To You with Love", a floating, tender ballad sung by Harry Ray that features the group’s patented handclap-tambourine combo, sweetly repetitive strings, serene guitar and gentle piano. It was famously sampled by J Dilla for “Last Donut Of The Night” - the gut-wrenching finale to his seminal Donuts. Concentrating solely on its sampled history would do The Moments a huge disservice, but its crucial appearance at the climax of Donuts directed fresh generations of pre-disposed soul fans to the absolute canon. Judged entirely on its merit, it’s one of the most heart-breaking songs of any decade and worth the price of admission alone. It’s the sweetest, most goose-bump inducing 3 minutes of aural bliss you’re ever likely to be exposed to. If that wasn’t enough, On Top spawned two minor R&B hits: “All I Have” and “Lucky Me", each featuring Billy Brown’s ice-melting falsetto. Opener “All I Have” is a sumptuous introduction to the album. With melancholic, understated guitar licks, twinkling keys and heartbeat drums, it’s a gem.

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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)

Super Bad Colored Vinyl Edition

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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The O'Jays

LP | 1971 | US | Reissue (Trip)

LP | 1975 | UK | Reissue (Acid Jazz)

Release: 1971 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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180 gram pressing!

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Leroy Hutson

Hutson

Release: 1975 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Atlantic)

Aretha Franklin

Greatest Hits

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1973 | EU | Reissue (Cinedelic)

Franco Chiari

Al Sint

LP | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Hot Casa)

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves, Soundtracks

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Franco Chiari, born in 1927 in Naples, was an eclectic artist who is considered a bit of a wildcard of keyboard instruments: he played the piano, accordion, synthesizer, vibraphone and marimba in both jazz and symphony. For three consecutive years (1957/58/59) he won the National Jazz referendum, was vibraphonist in the national TV Orchestra and participated in numerous important broadcasts. He received many awards in his career, and numerous are the artists who have wanted to play live alongside him, including Lionel Hampton, Stéphane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt, Piero Piccioni, Armando Trovajoli, Lelio Luttazzi, and more.

In this album released in 1973, the most groovy in his career, and now the most wanted from collectors, he rearranges the compositions of Mario Bertolazzi electronically with the use of synthesizer on rhythms ranging from latin beats to funk.

Numbered limited edition with digital downloads included and an amazing cover with splashes of paint, making each copy unique and unrepeatable.

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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)

Funkadelic

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

Candi Staton

LP | 1970 | UK | Reissue (Ace)

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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Candi Staton

I'm Just A Prisoner

He Gave Me Nothing To Lose

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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With Candi Staton hitting the UK to play the Love Supreme festival over the weekend of 30th June/2nd July, Ace records is delighted to reissue her debut LP, which has been out-of-print on vinyl for decades. "I'm Just A Prisoner" was released in 1970 and remains a definitive slice of Southern soul. Recorded at Rick Hall's legendary FAME studio in Muscle Shoals, "I'm Just A Prisoner" pulled together five tracks - 'I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Young Man's Fool)', 'I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')', 'Evidence', 'You Don't Love Me No More' and 'Sweet Feeling' - that had appeared as A and B-sides on early singles issued in 1969 and 1970. These were augmented by another five tracks recorded specifically for the album; 'Someone You Use', 'Get It When I Want It', 'Do Your Duty', 'That's How Strong My Love Is' and 'Another Man's Woman, Another Woman's Man'. Like Southern fried chicken, this music is essential food for your ears. This new edition includes an inner sleeve featuring a new interview with Candi conducted by Ace Records' Ian Shirley about this magical stage of her career as well as photos from the period.

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The Clark Sisters

LP | 1979 | UK | Reissue (Westbound)

LP | 1975 | UK | Reissue (Westbound)

Release: 1979 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The Clark Sisters' fourth album for Westbound's Sound Of Gospel label is the one that pushed them firmly towards the crossover market. Whilst there was traditional soul-based gospel fare on tracks like 'My Cup Runneth Over' they hustled onto the dance floor on disco-influenced gems like 'My Life Is Complete With Jesus' and 'Everything Is Gonna Be Alright'. The Clark Sisters were one of the great gospel groups and also part of a great gospel dynasty. Their mother was the great Mattie Moss Clark, and their uncle was Bill Moss. Written, produced and arranged by core member Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, the album features instrumental contributions from famous Detroit soul names such as Melvin Davis and the Counts' Leroy Emmanuel. Although the Clark Sisters are one of the biggest-selling gospel groups of all time, this is the first time "He Gave Me Nothing To Lose" has been reissued since it was originally released in 1979. It's time to go back to church via the dancefloor.

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Junie

When We Do

LP | 1975 | UK | Reissue (Westbound)

Release: 1975 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Never before reissued debut album by hit-making member of the Ohio Players Junie Morrison - the first of his much-sampled Westbound recordings. Junie is best known today as Funkadelic's late 70s keyboard player who wrote their worldwide hit 'One Nation Under A Groove'. "When We Do" was released on his departure from the Ohio Players, who decided to leave Westbound after the success of 'Funky Worm'. "When We Do" features Junie's unique mix of funk and soul, including the classic 'Tight Rope' and the title track as sampled by Lyrics Born. Junie, who died in 2017, was celebrated by Solange Knowles and Andre 3000 of Outkast on the track 'Junie' on her "A Seat At The Table" album from 2016. "When We Do" is reissued on vinyl for the first time since it's 1975 original release.

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Junie

Freeze

It Hurts So Good Black Vinyl Edition

Release: 1975 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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In the wake of their hit, 'Funky Worm', the Ohio Players quit Westbound Records and keyboard and vocal wizard Junie quit the Ohio Players. He immediately set out on a solo career that was less commercial than his erstwhile colleagues, but musically intriguing. He recorded three solo albums for Westbound, with "Freeze" being the immediate follow up to his debut "When We Do". Recorded at the world-famous Ardent Studio in Memphis, it saw Junie play every instrument, from a traditional rhythm section to a barrage of the latest synthesizer technology. The result was an avant-funk masterpiece that ranged from the sublime 'Not As Good As You Should' to the wild 'Granny's Funky Rolls Royce' which reprised the worm character and was later sampled by DJ Shadow. Junie would later join Funkadelic, originating their biggest international hit, 'One Nation Under A Groove', and touring the world. He died in 2017, a year after Solange and Andre 3000 from Outkast lauded him on the track 'Junie' from Solange's Grammy winning album "A Seat At The Table". The album is reissued in a facsimile of it's original cover, and is reissued for the first time ever

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Millie Jackson

LP | 1973 | UK | Reissue (Southbound)

Stage Two Yellow 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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Pat Thomas

LP | 1976 | US | Reissue (Tidal Waves)

24,49 €* 34,99 € -30%

Billy Foster & Audio Record Store Day 2023 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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Billy Foster & Audio

LP | 1983 | UK | Reissue (Equistar)

Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow Blue Vinyl Edition

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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Funkadelic

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 | 1974 | EU | Reissue (Bear Family Productions)

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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Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Dreamer

LP | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Bear Family Productions)

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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Geater Davis

Sweet Woman's Love

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

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Soul/blues singer/songwriter Vernon ’Geater’ Davis (1946 – 1984) was born in Kountze, Texas. When record producer Allen Orange heard Geater and another singer, Reuben Bell, perform he decided to record both in Birmingham, Alabama. It was the start of his own record label in 1970, ’House of Orange’. One of the label’s first releases was Sweet Woman’s Love by Geater Davis which went up to #45 on the Billboard R&B charts. His follow-up releases did not follow-up on the initial success.

After House of Orange closed its doors in 1972, Geater went on to record for several smaller independant record labels like 77, Ace, and MT, and he contiinued to write or at least, co-write his own songs. With the exception of Your Heart Is So Cold in 1973 which reached #64 on the Billboard R&B charts, his records did not sell particularly well. But Geater toured extensively on the chitlin circuits for a soul and blues audience. He died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas in 1984. He was barely 38 years old.

Geater Davis never achieved major succes and stardom. This vinyl re-issue of the legendary House of Orange LPS-6000 should put the limelight on one of the most talented soul singers from the South.

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The Braen's Machine

Temi Ritmici E Dinamici

LP+CD | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Schema)

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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Piero Umiliani

Synthi Time

LP | 1970 | UK | Reissue (Kent)

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The most ‘avant-garde’ Umiliani can
be found here, with excellent examples of a Maestro exploring new sounds and the future of the music.

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Preston Love

Omaha Bar-B-Q

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Underdog)

Janko Nilovic

Super America

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

Release: 1976 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Remastered for the 2014 season!

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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

We Shall See Him As He Is Record Store Day 2024 Edition

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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The Family Tree

LP | 1979 | UK | Reissue (Cheri)

Timeless Black Vinyl Edtion

Release: 1979 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Cheri Records is excited to unveil the reissue of The Family Tree's spiritual disco rarity, 'We Shall See Him As He Is.' Originally released in 1979, this gospel-disco gem has transcended time to become a sought-after treasure in the realm of soulful digging treats, paying homage to the vibrant gospel disco scene of Baltimore. With an original copy fetching prices exceeding $300. We present the opportunity to own this gospel rarity including the tracks 'Psalm 150' and a killer disco version of Stevie Wonder’s 'As' on a heavyweight vinyl album. Remastered and presented with the original striking album cover, this release is a special edition for Record Store Day, a testament to the enduring impact of The Family Tree's gospel disco masterpiece.

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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 | 1986 | EU | Reissue (Lantern Rec.)

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 | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Soulgramma)

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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Carol Woods

Out Of The Woods

Indebted To You Record Store Day 2022 Edition

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Fully licensed ! 180 gr. vinyl Carol Woods was born in Jamaica, New York in 1943. She was deeply influenced by her grandfather, a Pentecostal minister, and her mother Marion Jones, which led her to become lead singer with the local church choir. A necessary soulful album long out of print. Recorded in London and published on Ember (british label formed in the early 1960s by club owner and promoter Jeffrey S. Kruger, owner of the Flamingo Club, London) in 1971, ‘Out Of the Woods’ is still a shiny gem on its own. The four tracks on her singles were included and the rhythm section backing tracks for the remainder were put down by Beau Ray Fleming (well known for his studio work with Mandrill) in New York. Ember s producer, Mike Berry, then added Carol s vocals and the horn section. Woods‘ vocals are full and rich and the record has a sort of post-Supremes vibe with an obvious seventies approach. Since that time Carol has found success in stage musicals, such as One Mo Time where she took over the role of Big Bertha Williams, the hard drinking Vaudeville star. She has also appeared in movies, including Eddie Murphy ‘Raw’ where she played Eddie s aunt.

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Chain Reaction

12" | 1975 | EU | Reissue (Soulgramma)

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Strut)

Release: 1975 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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In 1975, singers Bruce Ruffin, Bobby Davis and Dave Collins - the latter of reggae duo Dave & Ansel Collins - came together to form Chain Reaction, a short-lived UK harmony soul group who recorded their only album ‘Indebted To You’ for Gull in 1977. This sought after session includes their popular version of Lamont Dozier ‘Why Can’t We Be Lovers’, the sweet soul single ‘’Never Lose Never Win’ and the non album single ‘This Eternal Flame’. Rare groove alert: The electric funk of ‘Hogtied’ is the top of the crème here, with a bass line reminiscent of Aaron Neville ‘Hercules’, a sumptuous clavinet and a majestic wah-wah guitar.

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Wayne Davis

LP | 1983 | 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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Sandra Sa

Vale Tudo

Release: 1983 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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LP | 1974 | UK | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Tom Brock

I Love You More And More

Release: 1974 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The Devil Is Loose Black Vinyl Edition

Asha Puthli

LP | 1976 | UK | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

What's Going On Green Vinyl Edition

Release: 1976 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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We can’t think of many artists that have had as diverse a career and who have been involved in as many different genres of music as Asha Puthli. A musical pioneer who forged a path through 60's psych, free-jazz, pop, rock, disco, and more. Asha's 1976 album 'The Devil Is Loose' is maybe her most well-known record. Featuring the beautiful disco-funk-classic 'Space Talk’, Asha's ethereal soaring vocals take us on a journey that almost mirrors Asha's eclectic career. The track was championed by a wide-range of musical scenes and movements, and over space and time it has been commandeered as their own. You would hear it played by David Mancuso at the now ‘mythical’ underground New York party 'The Loft’, in the most discerning disco nightclubs across the globe, in the Rare Groove scene, and also being sampled by hip-hop heavyweights such as The Notorious B.I.G / P Diddy, and The Pharcyde. The appeal and lifespan of ’Space Talk’ keeps on extending and morphing as new audiences gleefully discover it for the first time - it still sounds as relevant and fresh on the dancefloor today - a sign of a true classic. Here at Mr Bongo we are thrilled to be releasing records by such an iconic musical maverick as Asha, from her roots in India to becoming a globe-trotting artist with a celebrated career in music and acting, whilst always staying true to her art. She has blazed a trail so that others could follow. Whether you are buying this album as a replacement for your worn-out original copy or it's the first time you've heard of Asha Puthli and you're just intrigued and drawn in by the cover, we hope you enjoy this quintessential slice of Asha's world.

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Marvin Gaye

LP | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Vinyl Lovers)

Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Originally released in 1971. "What's Going On is not only Marvin Gaye's masterpiece, it's the most important and passionate record to come out of soul music, delivered by one of its finest voices, a man finally free to speak his mind and so move from R&B sex symbol to true recording artist. With What's Going On, Gaye meditated on what had happened to the American dream of the past -- as it related to urban decay, environmental woes, military turbulence, police brutality, unemployment, and poverty. These feelings had been bubbling up between 1967 and 1970, during which he felt increasingly caged by Motown's behind-the-times hit machine and restrained from expressing himself seriously through his music. Finally, late in 1970, Gaye decided to record a song that the Four Tops' Obie Benson had brought him, 'What's Going On.' When Berry Gordy decided not to issue the single, deeming it uncommercial, Gaye refused to record any more material until he relented. Confirmed by its tremendous commercial success in January 1971, he recorded the rest of the album over ten days in March, and Motown released it in late May. Besides cementing Marvin Gaye as one of the most important artists in pop music, What's Going On was far and away the best full-length to issue from the singles-dominated Motown factory, and arguably the best soul album of all time." John Bush, AllMusic

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Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul Record Store Day 2020 Edition

Asha Puthli Record Store Day 2020 Edition

Release: 1973 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Record Store Day 2020 Release.

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Asha Puthli

Hozan Yamamoto With Sharps & Flats

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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Beautiful Bamboo-Flute

LP | 1971 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

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

Release: 1971 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Seminal Japanese jazz album from 1971. Journeys through jazz fusion, soul and big band moods. Impossible to obtain in its original format these days. Official Mr Bongo reissue.

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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 | 1971 | US | Reissue (8th)

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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Violinaires

Groovin' With Jesus

LP | 1976 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1971 / US – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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A group that at one point had
Wilson Pickett among their ranks, The
Violinaires have been a staple of gospel
music since the 1950s. During this time
the group cut over 25 full-length albums
blending spiritual themes and zeal
direct from their churches with a secular
soul sound. 1973's Groovin' With Jesus
is one such album, which found The
Violinaires toying with Aretha
Franklin-style gospel-funk. Features
soulful covers of tracks by Galt
MacDermot, George Harrison, and
various others, with a distinctly
religious twist.

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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

War For Ground (Édition Spéciale)

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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Momo Joseph

LP | 1983 | EU | Reissue (Africa Seven)

LP | 1975 | EU | Reissue (Mr Bongo)

Release: 1983 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Africa Seven's next installment returns to Cameroon with a special edition version of Momo Joseph's in-demand LP, "War For Ground", with three extra tracks. Momo may be better known for his work as an actor, having featured in such titles as "La Haine" (1995) and "The African" (1983), but his small foray into music is definitely memorable as he lays it out in true Afro-Boogie style. Apart from two singles, "War For Ground" represents Momo's only other body of work, and only studio album which was self-released in 1983. With this "Edition Speciale" reissue we provide you all the originals from "War For Ground" remastered alongside his party-time classic "Cameroon Airline", "Love Africa Soul" and his lesser known tack "Oh Momo".

The A-side starts with "Africain", which also featured on our compilation "Africa Airways Four". Glistening synth lines work it out over the top of romantic guitars, while the continual and hypnotic vocal chant of "Africa" tells you exactly where this music is coming from and what it means. The tempo creeps up a bit with "N'Gon Le Bek" which again takes advantage of driving guitar lines, this time facing off with the horn section. The last cut on the A-Side is "Out Side No Fine", which flows great after the previous two, keeping up the same aesthetic with a bit more of a tropical feel to it.

The B-side kicks off with the title track "War For Ground". In this one Momo starts off rather melancholic before things end more triumphantly with the backing vocals and horn section again providing much of the driving force. The final two tracks on this record make up the "Edition Speciale" element of this reissue. "Love Africa Soul", taken from Momo's 1980 single of the same name, at first seems to be one of the more straight forward disco led tracks on this release until an ecstatic synth line breaks things up in a forward thinking break down before a trademark Momo groove kicks back in. The other track featured on that single was"Cameroun Airlines", a bonafied afro-disco classic. Next we delved into the vault and unearthed a recording session for "Oh Momo", this never released version of the track reflects a slightly different side of the signer, with a more afrobeat feel.

This "Edition Speciale" version of "War For Ground" offers a thorough observation of Momo Joseph's work as a musician and looks to help shine a light on Momo's career and musical genius.

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Spaceark

Togetherness Is Always A Good Venture - Tambourine Party Volume 2

Release: 1975 / EU – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Brilliant self-released, private-press jazz/soul LP from 1975, recorded at Sunset Sound studios in LA.

This is the super-rare debut album from SpaceArk, a band of brothers on an interstellar voyage to discover “electrifying new sounds”.

It’s another one of those private press treasures – a dynamic group of talents seizing the moment and making magic in an astounding 12-hour turnaround at the legendary Sunset Sound studios.

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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

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

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)

Standing on the verge of getting it on

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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Funkadelic

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)