Funk | Soul 155 Items

/ Plenty Action 'Soft Touch'

Reissue of the original Soulsville single from Harrisburg, PA. Fantastic, soulful fun ballad & mid-tempo originals.

Truth & Soul is proud to be bringing back a classic two sider that has been long out of print.

everybody needs one copy !

/ Bet Your Lucky Star

Just when you thought it was safe to buy another mash up ep, Aldo Vanucci is back and this time hes keeping it biff baff … Already airplayed by Rob Da Bank and Ali B!

Psych-Funk 101 introduces students to the global phenomenon of psychedelic funk music, and covers the “golden years” of the movement, from approximately 1967 until 1980. This compilation does not focus on American and British bands. Rather it focuses on the bands throughout the Global Village that were influenced by the innovation of American and British bands – that many times one upped the heroes they sought to emulate.
This compilation focuses on bands influenced by James Brown, The Meters, Sly and The Family Stone, Booker T and The MGs and The Bar Kays and unsung rhythmic forces such as drummers Bernard Purdie, Idris Muhammad, Earl Palmer, bassists such Carol Kaye and Jimmy Lewis. It focuses on bands who took that energy and combined it with the flair of psychedelic-rock musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and the ensemble known as Cream – as well as pop-rock acts taken by the experimental side of psychedelia such as The Beatles. But these bands added their own, unique cultural flourishes.
The result is mind-bending. Think about it for a second – what musical forces were greater than that of funk and psychedelic music in the late 60s and early 70s? These forces, combined by bands happy to incorporate folk music and improvisational elements from other musical forms, lead to an amazing body of work still being unearthed by researchers the world over – and still capable of inspiring new investigations into shapes of rhythm.

Limited edition deluxe issue of the sought-after debut of the Now-Again Music Library series! Following his theme for Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, production for Mos Def and his lauded Dr. No’s Oxperiement, producer Oh No takes on the Now-Again catalog. Limited Edition of 500 pieces!

Glass Pyramid hails from Oklahoma City, with their unique blend of country meets 80s synth funk!

Previously unissued recordings!!

All these tunes reek of booze, dames, nostalgia and fighting, blending to the combination of a great Funk cocktail straight from the Philippines … Limited Edition Of 300 Copies!

/ who's gonna

rare 45s and undiscovered masters 1967-1978 feat. Eleanor Rigby, Gloria Lucas, James Carpenter, Elroy Peace, ...

Following a path blazed in Belize and the Bahamas, The Numero Group finds yet another stop on the soul diaspora tour: Dimona, Israel. Between 1975-1981, a group of American ex-pats took their native sounds of Detroit and Chicago and intermingled them with the messages of the Black Hebrew culture. The results are a heavenly mix of spiritual soul and jazz with an undercurrent of gospel psychedelia. Featuring the Soul Messengers, the Spirit Of Israel, Sons Of The Kingdom, and the Tonistics, Soul Messages From Dimona is the only living document of a thriving community at both the center and fringe of the world.

/ Sagittarius Black

/ Ed Royal & DJ Enne remix / shapeshifter / South City Allstars remix

The Blakes, praised by Pitchfork for their "swampy guitars, twitchy rhythms and power pop vocal harmonies", recall the stinging catchiness of early Who, Kinks, and other spitfire rock bands. With the influences of Hank Williams and Brian Wilson hanging from their sleeves, brothers Garnet and Snow Keim busked across America, scribbling songs in hostels and motel bathrooms, en route to Seattle. There they met animalistic, drummer Bob Husak in a local coffee shop, and The Blakes were born. The dynamic threesome hit the road and have been bringing gritty rock and roll to the masses ever since. Mixed and mastered by Martin Feveyear (Kings of Leon, Cornershop, Mudhoney), the band's UK/EU debut has arrived in the form of a limited edition 7" single featuring the raucous growl of "Two Times" and the poppy burst of non-album b-side "Die." Lookout for the full-length in Spring 2008.

Home Schooled, the 16th record in Numero’s library of the lost, looks at the unknown side of the early 70s kid soul revolution. Beyond the Osmonds, the Five Stairsteps, and the Brighter Side of Darkness lay hundreds of aspiring children (or parents) bent on becoming the next Michael. Numero has selected seventeen of our favorites. A detailed and photo stuffed booklet breaks down the history of the phenomena, while the disc straddles the line between historical artifact and wild mix tape.

/ The Brilliant Korners 'three lonely guys'

Ridiculously rare vinyl, superb musicianship, and a Playboy Club are ingredients that make the Don Cunningham Quartet's Something For Everyone album so tasty. Luv N'Haight is proud to preserve and re-issue one of the most collectible, highly sought-after jazz-dance records.

"Bunnies plus food and drink equals good time."Brad Holiday's original liner notes (featured on the back of this album) tell it like it was. Don Cunningham, Marion Miller, John Mixon, and Manny Quintero formed the Don Cunningham Quartet and played ‘The Living Room’ at Hugh Hefner's St. Louis branch of the Playboy Club between 1965 and 1968. Their music was different from that of the jazz mainstays playing in ‘The Penthouse Room’. It was also different from any act in St. Louis at the time.

"Before forming the Quartet, I traveled to Fiji, Australia, the Caribbean and beyond as part of the Johnny Mathis group," explains Cunningham. "On these tours I discovered the "island sound," which was something I'd never been exposed to before. It was enchanting, mysterious and sexual."

The Quartet's unique blend of exotica, Latin and Brazilian rhythms, jazz and easy listening was a perfect fit for the Playboy Club. "I was influenced by having seen Arthur Lyman, Cal Tjader, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, and Harry Belafonte play live. Not to mention that I was buying all the Les Baxter I could get!" adds Cunningham. The band's sound caught the attention of Bob Webb, a wealthy local businessman. As a friend of piano player Marion Miller he'd learned of the Quartet’s popularity. "I don't want to work, you work, I'll put up the money," Miller recalls Webb 's words. Webb fronted the funds for Miller to create Exclusive records, releasing three albums and two 45rpm singles, including the Something For Everyone LP.

"The music was only sold locally. We never looked up a distributor and we really didn't have a regular record deal," says Miller. Don Cunningham only remembers selling and giving-away the album at Playboy appearances and to a few friends outside of club hours. Only 500 copies were ever printed, some mono, some stereo, it's not known how many of each format.

Of all the tracks on the album "Tabu" has been the biggest hit with the jazz-dance crowd. That track is the reason many collectors have the album on their wants lists. It remains a tune worthy of heavy DJ play. "Something For Everyone" has been at the top of my wants list for about 10 years now. All my other wants I have managed to track down over the years, but to own an original copy of the Don Cunningham album is as illusionary as driving a Rolls Royce," says producer/DJ Rainer Truby of Compost Records. "Not only is it a rare album it is also a good one. "Tabu" to me is the mother of all jazzdance records! A welcome release! I'm curious to check the rest of the LP, but "Tabu" is more than enough of a reason to stroll down to your local record dealer," he adds.

Miller and Cunningham are surprised but obviously very happy with the current interest in the album. Both are still active musicians and hope that this re-issue may stimulate even more work for them. At time of writing Cunningham was on the road with his wife, appearing as The Cunninghams on tour with the Count Basie band. "It's great that the album is being re-issued. There's truly a quality of music on it that has been missed for so long. In a way it's world music - Polynesian, samba, Brazil, jazz, West Indian. It has the energy of Latin and funk records. It's inspired by - but is not really - easy listening, you couldn't exactly sleep in our "Quiet Village!"" says Cunningham.

Andrew Jervis. Ubiquity, February 2003.

15 Heavy Funk Rarities Presented As A Double LP Cold Heat is Eothen “Egon” Alapatt’s a follow-up to the famous Funky 16 Corners set he curated in the early 2000s. And like that one, Cold Heat is overflowing with great bits that had barely (or never) been heard by the rest of the world at large. Egon went through a range of rare singles, masters, and demos and came up with tunes that burn with a brightness that's undeniable. The grooves are all on the harder end of the James Brown Funky People side of the spectrum and some tracks are by names that finally got their due here, thanks to Egon, Now-Again, and some of the other funky forces doing the good work over the years.

The remarkable third act of Mavis Staples’ legendary career has seen the gospel, soul, and civil-rights icon embraced by new generations of fans through her collaborations with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Run The Jewels, Neko Case, and Justin Vernon. And it all began with Have A Little Faith, her independently financed mission to bring her message into the 21st century. After being turned down by other labels unable to see the commercial appeal of this legend’s fresh, genre-busting approach to spiritual music, it was embraced by Alligator Records, who helped Mavis fulfill her dream and relaunch her career. Alligator is proud to release this landmark album on silver vinyl for a 20th Anniversary Edition with a reminiscence letter by Mavis, expanded artwork, and remastered on 2LPs at 45rpm for the best possible sound.

/ i won't stop to cry

A glorious batch of unearthed soul and funk from the early 70s central Ohio scene ... the storming singles of Prix label ... culled from ultra rare 45s plus previous unreleased gems!

Discover the 3rd Album of The emblematic Crew Africanism All Stars led by Bob Sinclair and featuring, among others, Yves Larock, Joachim Garraud, Tony Allen, David Guetta...Includes the Hits "Summer Moon", "Viet Dao REmix" and "Sye Bea"

Discover the second album of the emblematic crew Africanism All Stars led by Bob Sinclar and featuring, among others, Bibi, S.U.M.O, Liquid People and Martin Solveig.Including the hits "Heartbeat", "Wintersong" and "Slave Nation".

Record Kicks presents the 15th anniversary edition of “Return of the Iron Monkey”, the legendary soul jazz album from British Supergroup Trio Valore that features Steve White (The Style Council) on drums, Damon Minchella (Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, Richard Ashcroft) on bass and Seamus Beaghen (Madness, Desmond Dekker, Tom Jones) on Hammond organ. The album originally released in October 2008, rapidly reached a cult status amongst mod jazz, soul jazz and rare groove fans and the vinyl is sold out for a long time now. The 15th Edition reissue will be released on November 17th on limited edition Crystal Clear LP and digital deluxe edition with two bonus tracks “Put Em Down (Muro Di Gomma mix)” originally appeared as B side of “Rehab” 45 and a cover of Roy Budd’s classic “Get Carter”.

For the first time on vinyl!

* A masterpiece containing many of the monumental songs of 90's Japanese R&B * Produced by CAGNET/Daisuke Hinata
An R&B unit consisting of Saki, Izumi, and Marley who made their debut from the original soundtrack of the blockbuster drama 'Long Vacation,' which left a mark in TV history with the highest audience rating of 36.7%, starring Takuya Kimura, Tomoko Yamaguchi, and Yutaka Takenouchi. , Section-S's first album is the long-awaited first LP! A masterpiece containing many of the monumental songs of 90's Japanese R&B. Produced by CAGNET/Daisuke Hinata. Released in 1996.