Funk | Soul 323 Items

Little Barrie And Malcolm Catto Team Up For Seven Tracks Of Breaks And Sci-Fi Fuzz For Maverick Producer Madlib's Label

Quatermass Seven, the meeting of minds between guitarist Barrie Cadogan, bassist Lewis Wharton and drummer Malcolm Catto represents a re-birth of sorts for Little Barrie, with these their first recordings since 2017’s Death Express and the untimely passing of their gifted drummer and friend Virgil Howe. As Lewis explains, the sessions played a part in the healing process, a way to re-connect through music without any intentions to necessarily come away with a finished record. “It was good to get in the studio again after such a long break especially as we didn’t go in with any agenda or expectations,” he explains. There was no preconceptions that we would make a new Little Barrie record, it was just an opportunity to work on some things Barrie had written for fun with zero pressure.” With most tracks recorded live with minimal overdubs, and produced by Malcolm at his Quatermass studios, The Heliocentrics’ main man brings new flavour to the band’s rhythm section by blending his power behind the drum kit and his expansive skills behind the mixing desk to take Little Barrie’s music forward into new territories. Recorded on Catto’s treasure trove of analogue gear, and mastered onto ¼” tape, the overall effect is guitar, bass and drums finding a sweet spot where genres collide, delivering a record that takes the influences of the past and pushes them towards somewhere more contemporary. “I definitely hear in Barrie’s songs a lot of common musical ground’” explains Malcolm. “It felt like a great thing to do, work with Malcolm while we’re figuring out what we wanna do,” Barrie concludes, “let’s just go in and do some playing and see what happens, and we came out with more than we ever intended.” Quatermass Seven delivers a dark, deep and expansive set of grooves, layered with frazzled and flawless guitar and flowing melodies, as well as pointing toward a future of exciting new musical opportunities. “Still here, so fine, just a little darker state of mind” sings Cadogan on ‘Steel Drum’, words which sum up hope in times of uncertainty, whilst unintentionally offering a perfect description of Quartermass Seven.

A permanent fixture in the world of Rhythm and Soul, James Hunter follows up five critically acclaimed albums with his latest recording, Whatever It Takes, for New York City’s renowned label, Daptone Records. At the height of his famed recording career, Hunter and Daptone co-founder and producer Bosco Mann recorded an elegantly crafted collection of 10 originals that are evermore poignant and compelling than the singer’s previous works. The James Hunter Six and Mann recorded Whatever It Takes straight to tape at Daptone's Penrose Studios in Riverside, California.

The first Brit to sign to Daptone Records, Hunter is revered by critics both in his native UK and stateside, with MOJO touting Hunter as “The UK’s greatest soul singer” and the Los Angeles Times praising his “extraordinary soul voice.” Of his prior recordings, Rolling Stone called his U.S. debut People Gonna Talk, “a treat not to miss” and his second album “unbelievably awesome,” while The New York Times noted of The Hard Way, Hunter’s “tight, slithery groove” and “sweet growl.” Hunter’s accolades include milestones of reaching #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, a GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Traditional Blues Album”, years as a singer touring and recording with Van Morrison, and many TV appearances on Conan, Later…with Jools Holland, and other late night TV shows.

Subsequent to his acclaim as one of today’s renowned soul singers, Hunter’s restless genius penning emotive and captivating works results in his best written compositions to date on Whatever It Takes.

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

20 tracks with famous breaks by Isaac Hayes, Emotions, Syl Johnson, Blackbyrds, Cannonball Adderley, S.O.U.L., ...

BEHOLD! The inaugural long player from Wick Records - The Mystery Lights! In an era when the city kvetches that there are no good NYC bands, when half of the music scene has split for sunny California, the Mystery Lights are an anomaly. Not only did these bold young men reverse the direction - optimistically migrating east against the tide from the west coast, but they also immersed themselves in the action and diversity of New York City. Organically unfolding over the nights, months and years, the Lights' sound has evolved into a fuzz-fueled, hopped-up 21st Century take on '60s garage pebbles, and artful '70s punk, that is all their own.

If you've ever seen the Mystery Lights live, then you've experienced the otherworldly energy and conviction they exude on stage, compelling their rabid fans to emphatically entwine themselves into an electrified mob. This album is a testament to that. Recorded at The Daptone House Of Soul by (Grammy Award winning) engineer, Wayne Gordon - shortly after their debut single sold out - it marries the Lights' youthful, visceral energy with seasoned song-craft and musicianship far beyond their years.

The Mystery Lights are living proof that vital contemporary music, in this case real-deal rock 'n roll, can still be dreamed, constructed, and thankfully recorded in the Empire City.

18 tracks

A vinyl-only 14-track collection of the Cincinnati trio’s best Fraternity recordings.

sampled by ATCQ, Das Efx, ...

sampled by Stetsasonic, Smif-N-Wessun, Public Enemy, ...

... 22 dirty grooves from the deep south

We have been releasing Dave Hamilton tracks on CD since 1998; several Kent and BGP singles have followed, but this is our first vinyl album. Finnish company Timmion have released individual LPs by Little Ann and O.C. Tolbert but this is the first various artists collection.

‘What Can I Do’ by Little Ann starts the LP. It was the “unknown artist” acetate, played as Rose Valentine in the latter days of Wigan Casino, that turned it into a legendary disc. It is followed by two Topper singles which found great favour on the Northern Soul scene in the 2000s: Tobi Lark’s ‘Sweep It Out In The Shed’ and Dottie & Millie’s ‘Taking About My Baby’. Big voiced O.C. Tolbert contributes with ‘I’m Shooting High’, mid-tempo 60s soul perfection, and ‘You Got Me Turned Around’, the definitive take on that ‘Sweep It Out In The Shed’ backing track.

Dave Hamilton’s acts were often obscure and records by James Lately and the Ravins are now so scarce they must have sold in tens rather than hundreds. They now reach four-figure prices, which is reflected in the quality.

Like Little Ann, Danny Cobus is only known through unreleased tracks found in the vaults. His ‘The Two Of Us’ is a fabulous piece of music, now revered. Tobi Lark was the class act of the small set-up; her ‘Challenge My Love’ is a highlight of Dave Hamilton’s writing and production.

Chico & Buddy were originally members of the Tokays but threw their lot in with the highly respected Dave Hamilton. ‘You Don’t Miss Your Water’ is a catchy late 60s dancer with just a hint of funk that has made it very popular. J.T. Rhythm’s ‘My Sweet Baby’ is the epitome of mid 60s effortless midtempo soul infused with a memorable melody. Dave’s vocals were at best charismatic and rightly confined to the call and response of tracks such as the catchy ‘Shoop Doop’: fortunately he excelled elsewhere.

"Automatic Soul, like my previously compiled Late Night Tales Music For Pleasure, is based very much on a sound. It's a sound that I feel has been overlooked: 80s R&B-infused music, with drum machines, synths and invariably brilliant vocals. It’s formed the bedrock of my rare groove sets for all the years I’ve played. It’s not the most fashionable, but to me it’s the perfect marriage of technology and soul, hence the title for this album, Automatic Soul. There are plenty of songs I could have included, and no doubt some that I shouldn’t, but I’ve tried to represent what’s best to me from this era. It’s not a classic Late Night Tales. It’s a pretty personal journey, which I hope some of you might be willing to share." Tom Findlay Groove Armada September 2014.

The Staples Jr. Singers were part of a vanguard of soul gospel artists in the 1970s that broke from tradition to testify with the groove. They found their inspiration in the secular music they heard on the radio, and wrote songs that were nothing but stone cold soul.

"A Joyful Sound" is a future soul classic with all the elements of a classic R&B record, but simply with a joyful holiday lean. With an all-star supporting cast of who's who from the contemporary soul scene this record is truly a family affair with Kelly at the wheel. Featuring members of Durand Jones & The Indications, The Dap-Kings, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Monophonics, Thee Sinseers, Orgone, Ikebe Shakedown, Jason Joshua & The Beholders, The True Loves, Neal Francis, Jungle Fire, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Ben Pirani, The Jive Turkeys, The Harlem Gospel Travelers, Rudy De Anda, Alanna Royale, and more! Inspired by records like Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift For You" and Rotary Connection's "Peace" this album will be a record that will appeal not only to lovers of holiday music, but lovers of Soul music in general!

This is Kelly Finnigan's third full-album production in just under two years, including his debut LP "The Tales People Tell" and Monophonics' most recent effort "It's Only Us". He is rapidly establishing himself as a key producer, songwriter, and performer in the current soul scene.

Strut presents the definitive reissues of two all-time classic Caribbean soul and funk albums, The Beginning Of The End’s ‘Funky Nassau’ (1971) and ‘Beginning Of The End’ (1976).
Emerging from Nassau in the Bahamas in 1971, the band was formed around the Munnings brothers (Ray, Leroy and Frank) and the first song they recorded, ‘Funky Nassau’, became a No. 1 Billboard R’n’B hit, selling over a million copies. “We wanted to create something new,” remembers Ray Munnings, “something that was truly Bahamian. We loved funk but wanted to include elements of junkanoo, the indigenous music of The Bahamas.” An album was written within a week and recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami. “We brought in more Bahamian themes, like ‘Monkey Tamarind’, a wild fruit that grows there.”
By the time of their second album in 1976, the band was managed by Don Taylor, also Bob Marley’s manager. “Don took us to Byron Lee’s studio in Jamaica and used Teddy Randazzo (Little Anthony & The Imperials) to direct the sessions,” recalls Munnings. “He gave us more of an uptempo jazz funk sound with Chicago-style horns.” The album led to a run of incredible bad luck. Booked to support Marvin Gaye’s ’What’s Goin’ On’ tour, the US Musicians Union stepped in and ordered a US group to fill the slot. They were then added onto a major Bob Marley tour in 1976 before he injured his foot, cancelling all dates.
These definitive official reissues of ‘Funky Nassau’ and ‘Beginning Of The End’ are remastered by The Carvery from original tapes and feature full length tracks from the studio sessions. Both albums feature a history of the albums and the band by vocalist Ray Munnings, alongside rare photos. ‘Beginning Of The End’ appears on loud-press 2LP for the first time.

Introducing "Alone Together", Viken Arman"s debut album - a kaleidoscope of influences, building abridge between the masterful beats of J Dilla, the hypnotic grooves of Ricardo Villalobos, the Free Jazz spirit of Sun Ra and the aura of French House.This 9-track opus presents a sophisticated composition, combining intricate layers and unique sampling techniques to blend familiar elements of House music with unexpected twists and warm grooves. Subtle whispers of old Armenian records add a nostalgic undertone that gracefully echoes the past of the artist.

"Gospel music has often followed the prominent trends in secular music, probably in the hope of widening its audience by giving the subject matter a sprinkling of cool. In the 60s it happened with R&B and then funk-flavoured gospel, the 70s brought sweet-soul crossovers, and by 1975 the sounds of early disco had started to permeate the genre. This compilation brings together overlooked gospel gems that have their production rooted in disco and boogie, the sound of the early 80s that followed in disco's wake. It's only recently that this music has begun to be appreciated by fans outside of its original target market, and I'm glad to help it finally reach a wider audience."

David began his music career in 1994 as a member of the Ballistic Brothers, together with Ashley Beedle and Rocky & Diesel of X-Press 2. In 1994 he co-founded the Nuphonic record label, where he managed the creative aspects on almost a hundred releases, with artists including Faze Action, Norman Jay, Andrew Weatherall, Maurice Fulton and David Mancuso. In addition to the record label, Nuphonic also produced the Sony award winning London Xpress radio show for Xfm, which led to various club nights.

David has also acted as a music consultant to several record companies, one of these being Soul Jazz records, who he produced a series of successful albums for - in 2004 the 'World of Arthur Russell' and more then the acclaimed 'Soul Gospel' series. He was also production consultant for Auralux, the London based reggae reissue record label, where he worked with Lee Perry, King Jammys, Sly & Robbie and Linval Thompson.

He continues to work on personal projects such as Rootikal, the monthly roots reggae Night, and has a number of reissue and compilation projects currently in production. He is also currently overseeing the production of a book and an accompanying touring exhibition that will showcase Bill Bernstein's photographs of New York nightlife in the late 70s.

ZZK Records presents TORNA, a new series of releases exploring electronic music from a Latin American perspective. With these DJ-level vinyl editions (12" and 45 RPM), we're aiming for the global dancefloor, bringing fresh and challenging tracks. The name is inspired by the concept of "La Torna," an economic institution formed by indigenous Atacama Lickan-Antay, Aymara and Diaguita peoples (in territories now occupied by Argentina, Bolivia and Chile), involving working together for the common good, for the benefit of the whole community. Just as we decided to found ZZK Records in 2007 at the height of the crisis in the recording industry, releasing Latin American electronic material on vinyl records of 7 to 9 minutes per side (in some cases with just two tracks) is also a leap of confidence today. This is our humble contribution in synergy with the community of music artists and fans, who we hope to keep running into on the dancefloors of the world. Colombian-born, Argentina-based producer Hermetics heads up the first release, setting the tone for the series with two fresh and challenging tracks, aiming for the global dancefloor.

Reisue pressed at GZ Media, CZ.

RIDE"s Andy Bell, recording under his electronic alter ego GLOK, and the producer and Insult to Injury label boss Timothy Clerkin have joined forces for Alliance, a brand new seven-track album released by Bytes.