Funk | Soul 381 Items

Motown State of Mind is a 7” box set of Motown classics remixed by the legendary golden era Rapper, Hip-Hop Producer, and D.I.T.C. member Lord Finesse. The set not only includes the remixes but also the original tunes.

The complete works, including newly discovered recordings, by South Carolinian funk/soul bandleader James Reese, a jazz-inflected producer as ambitious as he was talented. Trombonist, bandleader, songwriter, arranger and producer James Reese never issued an album with his Progressions band, only a series of 45s – some under his own name, some under that of his collaboraors – out of Spartanburg, South Carolina on his Najma label, from the late 1960s until the mid 1970s. He was as ambitious as he was talented, and his ouevre ranges from brutal, deep soul to sophisticated instrumental ballads to jazz-inflected funk.
Now-Again’s Egon first discovered Reese’s music on a 24 lock-in in Concord, North Carolina’s legendary record and antique clock repository, Ye Olde Clock Shoppe, in 1999. After he tracked down Reese, he officially reissued two of Reese’s songs on his seminal Stones Throw anthology The Funky 16 Corners. He later issued more of Reese’s music on the Now-Again anthology Loving On The Flipside. Sourced from rare 45s and multi-track master tapes, Wait For Me: The Complete Works 1967-1972 presents both issued and recently-rediscovered songs in the full-length format, in a cohesive set that shows the brilliance still arising from the American soul and funk sub-strata. Included among them is a remix of the track “Throwing Stones” from longtime Now-Again associate Kenny Dope. Also comes bundled with an extensive booklet detailing the trajectory of Reese and his band. Download card for WAV files included with the LP.

Only 1 per customer! Limited double blue-colored vinyl LP pressing. Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Grammy-award, multi-platinum artist Jill Scott's debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 is the debut album by the R&B-soul singer-songwriter, originally released in 2000 The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards, whereas "Gettin' in the Way", "A Long Walk", and "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)" were nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. The album has been listed as one of the best albums of the 2000s by Slant Magazine.

“We present our first ‘Untitled’ album to mark a moment in time where we as Black People, and of Black Origin are fighting for our lives. RIP George Floyd and all those who have suffered from police brutality and systemic racism. Change is happening… We are focused.”

Pressed at Optimal.

As with The Gangsters LP in 2018, Albina Music Trust now returns with another buried treasure from Portland’s past: a lost album by The Legendary Beyons. AMT is a unique taxpayer-funded initiative of arts and education non-profit, World Arts Foundation. This initiative serves the underrepresented musician community in Albina, Portland's historically Black neighborhood. For over fifty years, The Legendary Beyons have delighted Portlanders with their music. And now, for the first time, their work has been documented in this high fidelity LP accompanied by a detailed oral history of the group. The album's well-designed booklet features a wide range of archival photography, serving as a period piece for the uninitiated. On the cover of this previously unreleased 1977 album, there's an image that tells you nearly everything you need to know: four Black men, resplendent in custom-tailored suits, are working it with synchronized steps before the rushing falls of Portland’s Fourcourt Fountain. In their joyous faces is written a brotherhood that began when this core of singers—Jeddy Beasley, Thurtis Channel, James Tims, and Ira Hammon—endeavored to harmonize as The Legendary Beyons. The group's presentation in this image reveals the richness of their soulful, Motown-inspired vocal sound. These songs are the culmination of a story that began when these young men began singing in the locker room after basketball games at Jefferson High School. As their reputation grew, The Beyons––with the help of a crack backing band featuring arranger Dan Brewster and The Soul Masters––aspired for greatness in Albina's club scene. A litany of touring acts on the Chitlin Circuit stopped through the area, performing side-by-side with The Beyons: The Whispers, Bloodstone, Blue Magic...the list is deep. But without a local recording industry or sustainable income for gigging Black musicians, The Beyons never released a recording in their heyday. This session represents a seasoned group roughly a decade into their career. It is their only 20th century recording that has survived. These songs, ranging from the jazzed “Dreaming You In My Mind” to the quiet storm of sweet soul ballad “There We Were, Here We Are,” spotlight the group's tightly knit harmonies––pleading, sensual, playful, and romantic. Meanwhile, album single "Love Notes" comes as a burst of energy and "Let's Talk About Love" begets a cosmic intro calling upon Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle to assist in sharing the band's take on a topic called L-o-v-e. To put it simply: put this record on and look inside the jacket. There is a booklet with classic photography and an oral history that provides not only a snapshot of this great group but a well-portioned inquiry into the experiences of Portland's Black musician community in historic Albina––a truly unique project from Albina Music Trust.

Rose in the Dark 12" Deluxe Vinyl with artwork.

The album, produced by Flying Lotus and Thundercat, features musical contributions from Ty Dolla $ign, Childish Gambino, Lil B, Kamasi Washington, Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, BADBADNOTGOOD, Louis Cole and Zack Fox.

“It Is What It Is” follows his game-changing third album “Drunk” (2017). That record completed his transition from virtuoso bassist to bonafide star and cemented his reputation as a unique voice that transcends genre. “This album is about love, loss, life and the ups and downs that come with that,” Bruner says about “It Is What It Is”. “It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, but at different points in life you come across places that you don’t necessarily understand… some things just aren’t meant to be understood.”

In a career spanning over 50 years James Brown became known as a progenitor of funk music and influencing the development of many other genres. All his hit songs, hidden gems and collaborations are now bundled on 'Collected'. It contains 29 songs, including music from his early days with the Famous Flames, the J.B.'s and a wide collection of tracks from his solo career. Brown began his career as a gospel singer and joined a rhythm and blues vocal group, the Famous Flames, as the lead singer in the 1950s. Later on he formed his own band and released successful singles as 'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag', 'I Got You (I Feel Good)' and 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World'. While developing the funk to a new level he created the J.B.'s, with which he scored hits like 'Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine' and 'The Payback'. Brown was inducted into 1st class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. During the years he gained different honorific nicknames including 'Godfather of Soul', 'Mr. Dynamite', and 'Soul Brother No.1'. James Brown Collected includes an insert with liner notes, photo's and credits. The release is available as a pressing on 'Stone Cold' black vinyl.

Originally released in 2014. Ikebe Shakedown’s powerful instrumental soul takes “big unison horns, slinky bass lines, tight little guitar licks—and blends them with tasty grooves culled from '70s-style horn-driven funk (WNYC Soundcheck).” The Brooklyn-based collective is set to follow up their well-received self-titled debut album with the heavier, more mature sound of their second full-length Stone By Stone. The self-produced album was recorded at the famed “House of Soul” Daptone Studios in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Notes bassist Vince Chiarito, "Thinking of all the great music that has come out of the Daptone Studio really pushed us to refine our songs and grow as a band. It was really inspiring to record there." The band adds that, “Stone By Stone is a much more layered and arranged album. The self-titled debut captured the raw energy of us playing live and the new record is much more of a studio effort. Psychedelic textures weave in and out of the grooves while the horn section offers an explosive response. The songs are heavy and danceable and show our moodier, more melodic side.” The seven-piece band—named after a favorite Nigerian boogie record and pronounced “ee-KAY-bay”—formed in 2008 and has developed a mighty horn section anchored by tight, deep-pocketed grooves. Following 2009’s debut EP Hard Steppin', the band released their self-titled debut full-length LP on Ubiquity Records in 2011 that Okayplayer called “an adventurous trip through time” and “one of the best releases of the year.” Their music has also been featured on a number of television shows and commercials including HBO's Eastbound and Down, Mini Cooper and Vans.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the C.M.R label, the third instalment of Groove Sessions is here. In 7 tracks, CHINESE MAN revives the sound that made them such a success. Classic hip-hop with South African rapper TUMI on "Once Upon A Time", or piano and mariachi trumpets on "Scatter" with rapper Ex-I.DELUXE offers 2 productions in line with the success of "The Deluxe Family Show" and the label also invites its new signings. S.O.A.P and TAIWAN MC invite Indian singer Tritha for a broken beat track combining electro bass and ragga flow.The mysterious Tomapam and LeYan invite OfNazareth on the track "Rosita", and Cyph4 on the track "A.M. Horrorscope", one of the label's best-known voices, on a track mixing traditional Turkish music and Hip Hop beat.

Optimal pressing.
The fourth album by Sault scored 97/100 at Metacritic and is the most beloved album at HHVs Supreme 100 of 2020 list, chosen by 150 journalists, musicians, label makers and record collectors.

Eddie Chacon experienced proper, peak-nineties acclaim in the soul duo Charles and Eddie: they scored a global No. 1 in 1992 with “Would I Lie To You,” appeared three times on Top of the Pops, and featured on soundtracks from True Romance to Super Mario Bros.. Their crooning style was clearly pop-ready, but undeniably reverent: the pair first met when Eddie noticed Charles carrying a vinyl copy of Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man” on a New York subway train.

By that time, Chacon had already been navigating music in interesting ways, all the way back to his teen garage rock band with the late Cliff Burton (Metallica) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More). In the late ’80s, he released a full-length on Uncle Luke from 2 Live Crew’s label and signed to Columbia as a solo act. He was a working artist, always popping up in unexpected places: through the course of his career, Chacon would write, sing, or produce ten Top 40 hits around the globe.

In the words of Mac DeMarco: “Eddie Chacon is planet earth’s number one musician. Yesterday, today, and forever.”

Years ago, Chacon retired from music for a second calling as a fashion photographer and creative director. In an interview at the time, he said, “I was fortunate to have a 35-year music career and felt that there wasn't that much more for me to say or achieve.” Very thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Private experiments, far from the major-label center he once frequented, began to feel urgent and new. “There’s nothing more exciting for me than getting to start from the beginning again,” he says today.

“Pleasure, Joy and Happiness” will be available July of 2020 on the boutique Los Angeles-based label Day End Records. This is a thoughtfully considered album of quiet, confident R&B: it doesn't jump out at you, but rather gets in you. Produced by John Carroll Kirby, the like-minded artist and collaborator with Frank Ocean and Solange Knowles, it features restrained percussion from Kanye West’s Sunday Service drummer Lamar Carter. Celestial soul as a break from chaos, these are quietly challenging songs as timeless as they are contemporary.

“What a rare and cool challenge it was for me to help Eddie re-emerge after a long hiatus,” says John Carroll Kirby. “I was excited to produce a record for him that captured the chill, laid-back wisdom and easy vocal mastery he has that you don’t see that much these days.”

Lead single “My Mind Is Out of Its Mind” finds a deep groove to try and contain spiraling heartbreak, while the sweet and wobbly “Trouble” balances the delightful near whisper of the title track “Pleasure, Joy and Happiness.” But even the project’s lightest moments feel sincere and mature. Altogether: a truly unifying release, coming from a man who's earned the right to share such a regal, romantic sound.

“I used to think to myself,” Chacon says, “if I ever make a record again, I’d want it to be a record you’d have to be my age to make.”

A deep journey into the secret history of the second half of the 70’s Italian soundtracks, focusing on sounds that were designed for cityscape chases, high-tension scenes, erotic nights, haunting and dream-like sequences. A collection of stunning jazz-funk, cinematic prog and urban disco, unveiling rare or unreleased tracks composed by some of the hip names of the Italian Scene: Alessandro Alessandroni, Pippo Caruso (performed by Goblin), Stelvio Cipriani, Guido & Maurizio De Angelis, Bixio-Frizzi-Tempera, Gianni Oddi, Carlo Savina, Alessandro Blonksteiner, Franco Godi, Sergio Chiti & Gian Paolo Montori. Artwork by Luca Barcellona.

Record Store Day 2020 Release.
Limitation: 1000 copies.

Timeless Legend are Jackie Hogg, Allen B. Burney, Donald Harmon, and Michael Harmon from Columbus, Ohio. Their music is among the most elusive on the rare funk / soul scene with I Was Born To Love You a huge crossover club anthem and with ‘timeless’ appeal. The Synchronised album from 1980 is iconic and one of the rarest ‘rare grooves’ and original copies currently sell for over £1,000 a copy.