Funk | Soul 76 Items

Record Store Day 2022 Drop 1 Release. Late arrival.

The Whole Darn Family emerged from Richmond, Virginia in the late 70’s and were managed, produced and promoted by August (Mr.Wiggles) Moon who ran an independent label called Soul International Records from a storefront in Richmond’s Southside District. “Seven Minutes of Funk” has become a cult favorite as it’s been sampled by Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Foxy Brown, Method Man, Biggie Smalls and countless other hip-hop artists. The LP is a gem to find for any top D.J., and a hunted collector’s item.

Vinyl with a light scuff. Cover with creases.

Record has a few hairlines.

On Cleveland’s late ‘60s gospel scene, the BOS label was the refined, professional ying to Boddie’s lo-fi yang, galloping to the fore bearing a torch for Curtis Mayfield’s robe-wearing roots. Founded by gospel impresario James Bullard, BOS is the first chapter in story that includes stints producing major spiritual albums for the Birthright, Roadshow, and Word labels. BOS got its start inside Lester Johnson and Bill Branch’s Way Out concern, running the devotional wing of Cleveland’s largest black-owned record company, and picking up a ton of Way Out’s soulful flavor in the process. Compiled here are BOS’s less traditional moments—12 bridges between FM R&B and AM sermons from a time when those worlds were splitting apart.

Completing the trilogy! The sole album from The Ultimates, You’re My Lady is considered a part of the “Three Beauties”, a reference to the three TSG albums adorned with beautiful women on the cover (the other two are Ricardo Marrero & The Group’s A Taste and The Topics’ Giving Up). With original copies going for over $3,000 on the second hand market you knew it was only a matter of time before we reissued it! This latest reissue sees us combine two of the most killer cuts from a killer album, and combine them on a limited edition 7-inch single! A-side “God And You” is getting its first ever single cut, and contains the kind of sweet singing and groove that’ll get you up and dancing in no time. B-side “Girl I’ve Been Trying To Tell You” is a mid-tempo soul number, and listening to these two combined will truly show you why they were called The Ultimates! This 7-inch single is the first time that soul number “God and You” is being released as a single!

Even in the treasure trove of TSG releases, The Topics’ Giving Up is considered a gem, going for over $3000 on the second hand market. We’ve selected two songs from Giving Up and are releasing them as a limited edition 7” 45rpm single! New York vocal soul group, The Topics’ sole album Giving Up, is sweet, mellow soul from beginning to end. Mid-tempo grooves and some of the tightest vocal harmonies ever put to wax combine in a mellow blast of soul on “God And You” and “At Last It’s Over”. Released in a flipback jacket for the first time ever, this limited edition 7” is perfect for all of you soul fans!

Powerful downtempo ballad with heavy emotions from Louisiana based guitarist Chris McCaa. Originally released as a 7” promo oriented record in 1983, the band had hopes of it leading to bigger projects but most of the pressing probably ended up in someone's basement with very few copies available online. 40 years later, “If I Had To Say Goodbye” is back again to bless your ears at the ending sets of special dancefloors. Featuring a sound that is highly reminiscent Chris Rea's aesthetic, both in terms of vocal and guitar use, yet still breaking new ground in the power ballad department. Now in 12” 45rpm format with an extended edit by Castro on the B-side, remastered at Berlin's finest manmade mastering.

Cover has strong ring wear and a cut corner!

"I cant believe its true" is a great uplifting Modern Soul tune produced, written and published by Gospel music veteran and Coconut record label owner Pastor Dr. Arris D. Wheaton from Dallas, Texas. He's now 77 years old, still kicking and licensing his stuff to respectful little labels like Stream Records. Counting on the vocals of Bobby Patterson’s of Pama and Jetstar labels fame, “I can’t believe it’s true” is a dancefloor destroyer of the highest order with perfect hooks and a production that still leaves you wondering why in the world these guys didn’t become acclaimed music stars as they sure deserved. Creators’ formation included Bobby Patterson (vocals), Andrew Jones (Guitar and background vocals), Timothy McNealy (Tambourine, Trombone, Organ and vocals), Ronnie Brewster (Drums), Robert (bobby) Simpson (Sax, Vocals and Band Leader), Billy ‘Sweet ‘Pea Thomas (Trumpet) and Michael Fugett (Bass and background vocals)

From sweet soul to groovy disco, Spice’s Let There Be Spice had it all! We’ve taken two tracks from that crate digger jewel and issued it as a 7-inch 45rpm single! A-side “The Last Time” features intricate chorus work, and one of the finest vocal performances in the history of underrated vocal performances! B-side “I’m So Glad To Say” is the zenith of modern soul, with staccato rhythm guitar, a gentle bassline, and exhilarating drum patterns making for a perfect mellow groove. Released in a flipback jacket for the first time ever, this limited edition 7” is a must-have for all of you soul fans!

These sides from 1970s band Smith & Gordera are prototypical for the "Sounds Like Santana" genre coined at the Friends of Sound record store in Austin, TX years ago. Heavy Latin Rock fusion on these tracks with just a pinch of Jazz thrown in for good measure.

"Evil Deeds" starts right into it the moment the needle hits the groove on your turntable - heavy organ, percussion, shakers, and guitar all greet your ears. Moving into the track you get the typical shredding guitar solo, organ solo, and a sax solo, for good measure.

"Time and Space" starts with a nod to the classic Dave Brubeck "Take Five" and continues on an adventure into a more psychedelic groove and more of a Rock vibe. Time changes and tempo shifts and big solos round out the side.

These sides from 1970s band Smith & Gordera are prototypical for the "Sounds Like Santana" genre coined at the Friends of Sound record store in Austin, TX years ago. Heavy Latin Rock fusion on these tracks with just a pinch of Jazz thrown in for good measure.

"Evil Deeds" starts right into it the moment the needle hits the groove on your turntable - heavy organ, percussion, shakers, and guitar all greet your ears. Moving into the track you get the typical shredding guitar solo, organ solo, and a sax solo, for good measure.

"Time and Space" starts with a nod to the classic Dave Brubeck "Take Five" and continues on an adventure into a more psychedelic groove and more of a Rock vibe. Time changes and tempo shifts and big solos round out the side.

You might think that a certain bad-hair-having, shit-talking presidential candidate is obnoxious, but there’s one man who would definitely be more dangerous in the White House: Dolemite. Traffic Entertainment Group is proud to reissue this hilarious and downright filthy album to celebrate the mud-slinging we’ll all beexperiencing this fall. And, of course, to remind the world of Rudy Ray Moore’s unique comedic genius. Originally released in 1972 in the middle of the disaster now known as the Nixon Years, the album is filled to the brim with Moore’s bawdy but debatably insightful takes on politics, sex and American society, funneled through the lens of his most famous persona, Dolemite. As it warns on the cover: “Rated XXX: For Adults Only.” And they aren’t kidding. The album’s lengthy first cut, “Campaign Speech,” is worth the price of admission alone. Ranting for ten minutes straight, Moore lets it all hang out, with every bit of profanity he can muster. It’s certainly interesting to hear some of his words more than four decades later. “I’m not promising you a chicken in every pot,” he bellows, in his trademark raspy scowl. “I’m not promising you a God-damn thing. If I am elected, I promise to legalize prostitution, marijuana, stealing, and every other motherfuckin’ thing you want to do.” Making fun of Nixon, George McGovern and Spiro Agnew, he continues, “We’re still waiting for that 40 acres and that motherfucking mule.” Towards the end, he brings forth a metaphor that, interestingly, would come true in the year of Moore’s passing, 2008: “The next thing I’ma do, I’m gonna move on my first act. I’m gonna get me 2,000 raggedy-ass painters, and paint the motherfucking White House black!” The rest of the album’s 13 songs are equally loud, offensive, funny and even – when the audience isn’t expecting it – serious. With a live soul group grooving behind him and a live audience yelling support along the way, he gives his fans what they want on cuts like “Dance Of The Freaks,” “Long Island Duck,” “Farting Contest” and “Chester & Mr. Dillon.”Released on black vinyl with its eye-catching original front and back artwork, it’s a great way to relive the comedic bravery and brashness of a truly unique man, Rudy Ray Moore.

US original.
Sleeve has cut corner and edge wear.
LP has surface marks.

Daniel Martin-Mccormick, Formerly Ital, Now Relaxer, Returns To Planet Mu With His New Album 'Concealer'. The Album Drifts Towards Hyper Digital Sounds And Marks Daniel's Return To Using A Computer With Hardware. Combining The Ultra-Artifice Of The Digital And Its Glossy, Pure Surface Qualities, Daniel Comments That It "Gives The Sounds This Sickly, Shiny Dimensionality Which Is Un-Human. This Decoupling From The Human-Ness Of Sound Means The Sounds Can Speak In Their Own Special Way. Of Course, All Sounds Can Speak In Their Way, But A Vivid, Digital, Melty Synth Speaks In A Way That Feels More Autonomous, Or Less Tied To Historical/Encultured Musical Gestures. It Hovers In The Air And Melts And Glides. It's A Little Gross." His Return To Planet Mu Has Been Long Overdue. The New Record Is An Expansion And Development Of The Ultra-Artificial, Hybrid Digital Contortions Of His Previous Material. Welcome Back.

Record is warped but still enjoyable!

Qur'an Shaheed is a 28 year-old pianist, poet, singer and songwriter from Pasadena, California. She began playing piano at the age of 4 under the teachings of her mother, Sharon Shaheed and grandmother Monique Simpson. Her father is Nolan Shaheed (previously Nolan Smith), a decorated session trumpeter who was Marvin Gaye's bandleader for some time in the 70's. In 2017 Qur'an met Los Angeles producer and keyboardist Jesse Justice. The two clicked and got to work quickly. This freshman release from Qur'an is a culmination of personal growth and discovery, almost three years in the making. Throughout, they explore their own musical limits by pushing themselves and each other, resulting in a unique and honest project. The musicians who appear on this album are young and incredibly talented artists from LA including: Mekala Session, Devin Daniels, and Aaron & Lawrence Shaw (Black Nile) and more. Qur'an has collaborated with Koreatown Oddity & The Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (of which her father Nolan Shaheed is also a member). She is also the keyboardist for Jimetta Rose's gospel choir "The Voices of Creation". Her focus now is collaborating with various artists and releasing music in the spirit of uplifting and uniting people.

Limited to 300 copies.

Piper continues their blend of groove-laden synth-pop funk with an LP so cool that the album cover itself depicts snow-covered scenery, yet is so warm to listen to you’ll believe that you’re at an 80’s themed pool party: Gentle Breeze!

Limited to 500 copies worldwide.

The solo project of Patrick Paige II, the bass player in the Grammy nominated band The Internet presents If I Fail Are We Still Cool? via Forward and Up Entertainment and Fat Possum.

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.

After 3 years of captivating audiences with their unique blend of soul, jazz, and undertones of hip-hop, Minneapolis-based Nooky Jones are finally releasing their debut self-titled album via Young And Foolish Records. A truly cohesive collection of love stories and music that takes listeners to beautiful places alongside deeply provocative characters, the album is a much-needed artistic expression of self for vocalist/frontman Cameron Kinghorn.

In early 2014, Kinghorn was working mostly as a trumpet player and singing in cover bands around town when he caught the eye of local trumpet player Adam Meckler, who tapped him to front a new project he was starting with drummer Reid Kennedy. That new project would eventually become Nooky Jones, and it would be Kinghorn’s first real foray into this type of artistic expression.

Produced over the course of 15 months at RiverRock Studios in the band’s hometown of Minneapolis, their debut album relies on each musician’s unique style as a critical part of the overall sound. Atop airtight yet comfortably loose drum and bass grooves often reminiscent of 90s R&B and Hip-Hop, layers of harmonically complex piano, organ, and Fender Rhodes create a lushness associated with jazz that rarely integrates into pop music so tastefully. Adding flairs of excitement throughout, the horns bring their powerful chops to the forefront when appropriate without ever stepping on the vocals, which float effortlessly from deep sultry textures to a silky smooth falsetto on par with the best soul crooners in the business. A non-stop rollercoaster of emotions, the album masterfully draws the listener in with slow burns that eventually boil over, only to be brought back down and start over again.

Dynamite cuts 45s series is proud to release two Jazz gems by the wonderful Nanette Natal – she ain’t shy! What a voice!

“It’s Over” b/w “Love Signs both taken from the mega rare private press and incredibly hard to find LP “My song of something”. Both were part of the original Jazz dance vibe in the 90s.

This release will be in two parts; black vinyl x400 and a limited x100 numbered Red vinyl

A – “It’s Over’” starting off mellow, with her sillky smooth voice which segways into a beautiful up-tempo vocal jazz groove, with driving bass and drums. Nanette’s vocals are so pure and fresh; easily unleashing superb vocal power. If you like vocal Jazz this is a must-have; first time on 7” for the collection.

B – “Love signs” – Is another vocal Jazz dance classic. You can’t not tap those feet…Both massive 90s Jazz club tracks. which show the smooth, dynamic vocal power that Nanette has.

US original.
Sleeve has water damage and storage wear.

Welcome to Masters Series - for people who understand that some things just can't be tamed. (Read: these are scratchy, poppy, and rough recordings from busted acetates. Click the listen tab to preview quality. These are cleaned up as best we can get them - if that's not going to work for you, don't order!)

For the third installment of our Master Series we present This Is Me by Mark Bluford. A heavy slice of early 70s Psychedelic Deep Funk from the Bay Area. Hard to miss the massive wah-wah guitar leads, but the arrangement is pretty complex with piano, bass, and strings backing the earnest vocals.

There are breaks on both sides, parts one and two. The first break is a string break, very unique to a Funk record. But, somehow this fits for a Bay Area Funk record. The break in part two is one of the heaviest drum breaks no one has heard in 50 years.

A very limited special upgrade option for this release: choose to get Ms-003 in a one of a kind, hand-painted sleeve by the legendary McBoing Boing. Only 12 completely unique sleeves were hand painted by the man himself, and one of those 12 is staying right here in our HQ. So there are now only 11 out there! (Yes, the vinyl comes with the sleeve.)

Big thanks to Dr. Scott Bulleit for digging this acetate out of a flea market and contributing it to the Preservation Project! This is a sure shot, don't miss out on this limited run!

Italian new-Soul act that was formed for the occasion of a Curtis Mayfield Tribute (1 year of his death) in spring 2001. All members previous played in The Orobians, The Cosmics, and The Crashmen Vinyl version of the 2004 released CD.

The Lowdown Band is an African American funk and soul group that gained popularity in the early 1980s with their hit single "Music Is The Answer". Formed in San Diego, Ca in the late 1970s, the band was comprised of musicians from both the East and West Coasts of the United States. The track was an immediate hit and peaked at #72 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and #20 on the US R&B chart. It also achieved success overseas, reaching #61 on the UK Singles Chart.

Lost soul phenomenon Lewis Taylor's Numb finally arrives on double vinyl! One of UK soul’s most fascinating artists, most enigmatic figures and most under-appreciated talents, Andrew Lewis Taylor is a prodigious multi-instrumentalist and eclectic polymath. He enjoys a fiercely loyal following which, over the years, has included celebrity champions like Bowie, Elton and D'Angelo. Numb is Taylor's sixth album, initially released on his own label Slow Reality (an anagram of his name) and licensed to Be With for this long-awaited physical edition. It captures Taylor's wholly unique, intoxicating take on lush, late-night psychedelic soul music.

Lewis wrote and recorded these 10 brand new tracks after a 17 year break from making music, although the album came together over a two-year period. The years away have done nothing to dull Taylor's unique musical vision. He still astounds. The lyrical themes, however, have shifted. Understandably, more than a decade and a half of soul searching and unflinching self-examination cannot fail to influence this most honest of songwriters, and boy does it show. Numb marks a return to the darker, more mysterious side of his output: "Brian Wilson-channels-Smokey Robinson atmospheres", as Mojo put it recently.

After playing a rapturously received gig at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC in 2006, Lewis unceremoniously walked away from music and disappeared completely. An interview in 2016 shed light on some of the reasons for Taylor’s withdrawal from the business, but there was no hint of a return anytime soon. Then in June 2021, news emerged out of the blue that he was readying new music alongside Sabina Smyth with whom he had worked first time around.

On Numb, Lewis deftly balances stark, soul-bearing lyrics with moody mid-tempo pop-soul sheen. He deals candidly with depression, mental turmoil, even thoughts of suicide - clearly more personal than Taylor's earlier songs. The music is rich, warm and layered, with infectious melodies and hooks that stick with you. A true grower of an LP, it really does reward repeated listens. As Jim Irvin in Mojo reflected, "despite the depths these plumb, it's a curiously uplifting experience, unfurling like a concept album about life's challenges with an optimistic beauty at its heart."

Triumphant dubwise horns ring out yet, almost instantly, “Final Hour” takes on a dark, downbeat vibe. With lyrics that confront (and, seemingly, confound) death head-on, Lewis ensures the groove is still there, the beats still swing and your head still nods, strings glissade. Woven around delicate yet insistent piano and subtle strings over a killer bassline, the title track “Numb” is a good example of the lyrical themes throughout the album. As Taylor reflects, "So removed I feel no pain / And for all I know I could be having the time of my life" with a coda that feels very much in conversation with Brian Wilson's finest harmonies. "Feels So Good" is sophisticated 90s-sounding soul of the highest order. The music and vocals feel simultaneously optimistic and despondent. Downlifting. A neat trick, and one Lewis has been so adept at over the years. "Apathy" is a mini-epic, a symphonic-soul gem which builds and glides and, eventually, soars. “Worried Mind" is another slow-builder, creeping out the gate in a sketchy, discordant fashion before climbing to half-crescendo but never quite breaking free of its disorientating restraint.

The brighter "Please" presents a more hopeful mood, with the refrain "I still believe" ringing out as Lewis harmonises with himself. "Brave Heart" quietly struts from step one, as Lewis's falsetto swaggers over a downtempo backdrop with ace echoey drums, beautiful strings and serene electric guitar. Closing out Side C, "Is It Cool" answers its own (non-) question with a spellbinding five and a half minutes of swoonsome deep soul that oscillates between a restrained, barely-there backdrop and a lushly full musical accompaniment of acoustic and electric guitar and organ over bass and slick drums. The penultimate track "Nearer" is a magical, soul-stirring ballad in which Lewis sings of reaching a sweet salvation and achieving a peace of mind. If the hairs on the back of your neck aren't standing up by the midway point, you might need to check your pulse. Album closer and true tear-jerker "Being Broken" places Lewis's gorgeous voice high in the mix and the wordless falsetto and melodies invite you to ponder what Pet Sounds might sound like if it were refashioned as a dubby 21st Century electronic soul album. Astonishing.

Simon Francis’s vinyl mastering spreads out the ten tracks over a double LP so, as ever, nothing is compromised. And as usual, the records have been cut by Cicely Balston at Air Studios and pressed at Record Industry. Turn it up and let the Lewis Taylor sound envelop you.

Having previously produced for many UK Hip Hop artists under the moniker LG, and as the bass player for The Cromagnon Band - Len’s first solo album is a funk enthused experimentation that weaves an ethereal path through jazz, break beats, folk, hip-hop and otherworldly flavours. Across the 11 track LP, the organic instrumentation sits in tandem with synthesized moments as Len’s musicianship shines through. Drafting in musical collaborators such as Oge for lead vocals on the sublime single ‘We Are Here’, Bert Page (The Cromagnon Band), Nathan ‘Flutebox’ Lee, his past cohort Biscuit (The Speakers Corner Quartet) and many more, the album takes you on a journey through Len’s musical influences while at the same time delivering something that you’ve never heard before. Like a half-developed polaroid picture or a memory faded through age, At Mothers Feet feels like the mind’s eye squinting for clarity, and leaving us unsure if these are our lived experiences or those from a past life

The illustrious, London-based duo Kit Sebastian, aka Kit Martin and Merve Erdem, return with a limited edition 7” single. It features ’L’addio’, a breakbeat driven, sultry ballad, and ‘Hayat’, a hazy, psychedelic scorcher that delves into the band’s Turkish and Azerbaijan influences.

‘L’addio’ saw the band perfecting their production and orchestration, with strings, horns and double bass, and an Italian synth found in a French dump. The music was greatly influenced by Italian soundtracks and Italian female singers, such as Mina or Rita Pavone. The track announces itself with a break that is guaranteed to get samplers twitching. The tone of the melody and lyrics is heartfelt and aching. It has a beautiful, intimate sadness like the closing scenes to a love affair, and it exquisitely rides over the slow, psych-funk-dramatic backing track. The lyrics are inspired by a flat opposite Merve's window that's occupied by drug addicts, with many guests coming in and out every night. Merve elaborated “Being both neighbours and strangers, and with the boredom of a post-tour everyday domestic life and a pinch of urban voyeurism, it was hard not to wonder what was happening in that flat. The words imagine an addict before her/his golden shot as if it's a love relationship between them that comes to an end.”

Having spent much of 2022 touring and writing, ‘Hayat’ was the first original composition the band recorded since their October 2021 album, ‘Melodi’. Here we see them weaving a psychedelic tapestry of Mugham melodies, organ-driven grooves, and jazz-pop harmonies in classic Kit Sebastian fashion. Recorded to Fostex 1/4” tape, the essence of the production is perfectly balanced between being brand new and retro, which is a feat very hard to pull off.

‘Hayat’ is sung in Turkish and the title translates as ‘Life’ in English. The song examines our desire to find one's place in the world and the provisionality of existence. Merve's searching lyrics ask “Where are you? Where is the universe?”. Her vocal delivery perfectly reflects the lyrical focus, its texture is probing and ethereal, almost as if sung from looking above us.

Original US pressing.

Sealed copy with slightly stuffed and a small bent corner.

US original. Includes original inner sleeve.

Sticker on cover. Small writing on back cover.

Cover and label with small writing.
Includes original inner sleeve.

Limited vinyl edition!

Although best known in the global music world for his four years (1984-1988) as the music director and bandleader for Whitney Houston, John’s tenure in the soul music field began when he was a member (with his brother Edmund ‘Butch’ Simmons) of The Reflections, a New York City-based quartet who toured from 1972-1975 as the backing group for the legendary Melba Moore. In 1975, The Reflections had a Top 10 R&B hit with “Three Steps From True Love.”

In 1978, John began touring with Stephanie Mills, at the same time collaborating with Phillip Ballou, a member of another New York-based vocal group, Revelation and UK soul music journalist David Nathan (who he met when Nathan did an interview with The Reflections for Britain’s “Blues & Soul” magazine in 1975). The trio wrote a number of songs for Ballou’s demo as a solo artist and while nothing transpired in that regard, John recorded his own version of one of the tunes, “Ain’t Nothing Like The Love” for a small independent Michigan label, Sabrina Records in 1981. John had worked with Cissy Houston at New Hope Baptist Church in New Jersey where she was the minister of music was asked by her to do some initial promotional dates with her daughter Whitney after Arista Records released her first single in 1984; he continued doing world tours with Houston until he passed away at the age of 45 in March 1989.

The Ballou sessions (held mostly in Montclair, New Jersey) expanded into recording dates for both Nathan and Simmons. None of the original recordings were released commercially – until now. In the wake of the interest among rare groove collectors in John’s version of “Ain’t Nothing Like The Love,” Nathan – himself a recording artist since 2003 – has uncovered the tapes of all the material he, Phllip and John recorded in 1978 and 1979.

Gaining its first-ever release now on Nefer Records via Super Disco Edits is the coupling of John’s solo composition, the upbeat gospel-infused “Safe” and the midtempo, “I Wanna Be Closer,” another one of the songs also recorded (and thus far unissued by both Ballou and Nathan).

The Sophomore Album From Canadian Duo Ghost Twin Brings Pop Hooks, Romantic Ballads, Heavy Anthems And Club Stompers.Four Years After Ghost Twin's Debut For Artoffact Records, The Winnipeg, Canada-Based Duo Returns With Love Songs For End Times, An Album That Promises To Bring Some Much Needed Cathartic Release Through A Prism Of Pop Hooks, Romantic Ballads, Heavy Anthems And Club Stompers. Ghost Twin Explores The Darkness Of Nostalgia On The New Album, Due Out On Artoffact On June 4th, An Approach That Signals A Turning Point For The Band. Karen And Jaimz Asmundson, Longtime Artistic Collaborators And Husband-And-Wife, Take Turns Crooning Fatalistic Lyrics As Elements Of 80s Synthpop, Industrial, German Techno, French House, And A Knack For Writing Earworms, Competing For Your Attention.

It’s not often that a cover version of a stone Soul Classic gets the approval of the cognoscenti. It’s even more unusual when that cover is itself a “lost and found” in-demander. The story starts with Beloyd “Get Into Your Life” released on a single on the 20th Century label. This 1970s Modern Soul masterpiece commands £200 a time, but more importantly is one of those records that sets your pulse racing and your spirits soaring.. Moving on - 7 years ago UK songwriter and record producer Vince Garcia - the creator of those Drizabone anthems “Real Love”, “Pressure” and “Brightest Star” - woke up one day and decided to end his self imposed exile from making music. He was persuaded to add a cover version to the album of self-composed songs he set about making - and “Get Into Your Life” perfectly suited vocalist Vince Durrell. The album was duly completed and despite being acclaimed by the select few lucky enough to hear it as an instant timeless classic somehow never got released. A few of the tracks, including “Get Into Your Life) filtered out to leading UK Souk DJs and created a huge buzz and demand. Now, Soul Intention are delighted to be able to announce the album is finally set for release this summer, it’s no longer “lost”, and has been well and truly “found”. As a taster “Get Into Your Life” has been remastered and following massive pre-release plays on specialist radio is finally released. The biggest Modern Soul collectable release of 2021? You decide...

Promo copy with b/w labels! Cover has a small cut out and a small bent corner!

Surrender Is The Debut Full Length From DJ, Producer, And Songwriter Endgame. Stepping Out For The First Time As A Vocalist, And Lyricist, Surrender Is His Most Ambitious And Vulnerable Work To Date; A Striking Statement Of Intent, With Moments Of Beauty And Brutality. Endgame Has Carved An Iconoclastic Niche In Club Culture. Breaking Into The Scene As Co-Founder Of The Legendary Collective Bala Club, And Resident Of The Radical Club-Night Endless. Whilst Continuing Almost A Decade Hosting His Infamous Nts Radio Show (And Now Label) Precious Metals, He Has Forged A Path Against The Tide Of Formulaic Club Music. A Visionary DJ And Producer, Surrender Sees Endgame Continue This Trajectory, With A Project That Both Amplifies The Ferocious Club Constructions He's Known For, Whilst Making Space To Open Up Wounded Memories And With Sombre Unfeigned Requiems. Having Previously Released Records On Hyperdub, Ptp, Golden Mist And Infinite Machine, Endgame's First Release On His Own Precious Metals Imprint, Is Him At His Most Reflective. Surrender Is A Deeply Personal Record, About Loss And Finding Meaning In Despair. Death Is A Prevailing Theme, With The Passing Of His Father A Totemic Subject. The Recollection Of His Father's Torturous Final Moments Leaves Him To Mournfully Contemplate Temporality. Using This Sense Of Anguish, He Blurs Reality-Creating A World Where Angels And Demons Are Among Us In A Decaying Cityscape; Akin To The Work Of Todd Mcfarlane. The Opener Faithless, Propels Us Into This World, With The Slow Build Of Industrial Precision Amidst The Sombre Build Of Harsh Melodic Synths. We Descend Deeper Into This Vision With Barbed Heart, Featuring A Defining Vocal From Scene Staple And Long Time Collaborator Yayoyanoh, As 808's And Skittering Hi Hats Ricochet Off One Another Beneath His Bass Driven Vocal. No Heroes Continues Our Journey Into The Unknown With A Chaotic Rush Of Acidic Riffs, Pounding Percussion, And A Reference To The Brutalist Anthem From Hardcore Punk Band Converge (Where The Track...

Dylan Chambers is a talented soul singer from Arlington, Texas, with a vintage style, who moved to LA at the age of 18 to start his music career, where he updated 60s~70s soul music with a modern formula and a unique pop style. Her name gradually became known as a vocalist.

Vinyl has scuffs and scratches and plays with crackles and background sounds.
Cover has slight storage wear and a few small tears on the front.

Legendary songwriter, producer and remixer Dee Majek (aka KEJAM) in collaboration with IZIPHO SOUL are proud to present a magical collection of songs!
Packaged in two volumes entitled ‘Creating Majek’. The first offering is a double 45 pack containing the cream of Kejam’s earlier work, whilst ‘Creating Majek 2’ brings us bang up to date with two 2019 U.K Soul Chart hits.

Sleeve with lamination creases and large writing on the front cover.

The concept behind ‘Cowboys & Africans’ is that all humans originate from Africa (at one point in history) so as laymen, we are all ‘Africans’. The ‘Cowboys’ reference is to the people in positions of power, who take advantage of the everyday person (or those they have power over). The songs challenge how we see ourselves in today’s society. The message is quite simple – be proud of who you are, your friends, family and fellow humans. Stand up for what you believe in and have the con dence not to be bullied by peer pressure or general opinion

Limited edition of 200 copies on golden vinyl.

Reissued for the first time in over 40 years, Show the World is an unrated and relatively unknown soul / reggae album from the Caribbean. Having recently been sampled by Benny The Butcher, collectors and producers are starting to pay attention to what has been an overlooked gem until now. With the album ranging from sweet soul that sounds like it could have been released on Motown in its prime, to funky numbers that could be played in clubs, to reggae that could stand alongside some of the Studio 1 releases, this is sure to please many. No filler.

Ship to Shore is proud to announce the release of Symphony by Blue Peppers, on vinyl for the first time!

Originally released in Japan in 2021 as CD only, and not distributed outside of its home country, Symphony is a love-letter to soft rock, using City Pop and Shibuya as a strong foundation and then building from there a solid, immersive experience of rock, soul and pop that will carry you away to lands undreamed of. Imagine Piper fused with Toto in Tokyo on the doorway to Keio University!

The album, mastered masterfully by Richard Dodd (mastering engineer for such artists as The Black Keys, Iron & Wine, Neil Young and Sturgill Simpson), was never pressed onto wax when originally released… until now! Available on “Marine City” blue vinyl, fans of unique Japanese City Pop / Rock Fusion will not want to miss out on this!

The Badge Époque Ensemble return to Telephone Explosion Records with a new LP, Clouds of Joy. Featuring three vocal-led compositions, three instrumentals and three choral arrangements, this new album presents the Ensemble’s most ambitious, mature and engaging material to date. Clouds represents a shift from the group’s previous sonic excursions into the worlds of vintage soundtrack grooves and early electric jazz towards a more era-ambiguous, complex and all-encompassing approach to arrangement & production.

Undergoing a major shift of consciousness upon learning that he was expecting twins, BÉE leader Maximilian ‘Twig’ Turnbull found the spark to initiate the album within his reflections upon the nature of human joy. This shift in mindset also helped shape the record from an operational standpoint: Turnbull stepped away from his fixture on keys, leaving all of the musical performance on this record to his cast of collaborators. With Max assuming a more “directorial” approach to production and arrangement à la Barry White, David Axelrod, or Fagen & Becker, this album finds the Badge Époque Ensemble in its most collaborative mode to date. Vocalists Dorothea Paas, James Bailey and guitarist Chris Bezant all have co-writing credits here with Bezant contributing significantly to three compositions, including the album’s title track. The album was mixed collaboratively as well, as another joint effort between Turnbull, Steve Chahley and Tony Price, a trio who have teamed up behind the mixing desk for all previous BÉE albums, as well as U.S. Girls’ Heavy Light LP.

For the most part, the Ensemble on this record is made up of names familiar to anyone following the Badge cosmology: drummer Jay Anderson, bassist Gio Rosati, flautist Alia O’Brien, saxophonist Karen Ng, percussionist Ed Squires and guitarist Chris Bezant, with the new addition of young jazz pianist Edwin De Goeij, a perfect surrogate for Turnbull’s ideas on keys. (This in-demand collection of musicians represent a scattering of key cogs from a clutch of other premium Canadian exports; The Weather Station, Andy Shauf, U.S. Girls & Marker Starling). Clouds’ emphasis on the sound of the human voice finds its perfect outlet in vocal arrangements by labelmate Dorothea Paas and a return from lead vocalist James Baley. Their contributions find compliment by a choir composed of session vocalists, (including singers from Bernice and Bonjay) who come together to provide a series of show-stopping harmonic acrobatics.

Familiar Badge motifs are present through this album’s nine tracks: extended sections of dusty drum & conga breaks, swirling saxophone and flute flourishes, fleet-fingered guitar excursions, hazy Rhodes chords and lashing Clavinet stabs, but where Clouds excels is in its ability to weave tremendous vocal performances and choral arrangements into its dense tapestry of sound. The lilting melodies and multidimensional harmonies on tracks “Conspiring With Nature” and “All Same 2 Each, Each Same 2 All” bear the hallmarks of late sixties baroque AM-radio pop, while James Baley’s ecstatic, Stevie-esque lead vocal performance on “Zodiac” could light up the midnight sky, turning a nearly eight minute jazz-funk instrumental odyssey into a sure-shot dancefloor hit. Lyrically, Turnbull’s interest in an aphoristic spiritual mysticism condenses reflections on the complexity of human emotion into bold, succinct phrases, a quality most clearly communicated on the album’s three choral pieces, “The Greatest Joy”, “Let Breath Be The Sum”, and “Joy Flows” (upon first hearing these works Turnbull’s partner Meg Remy remarked that they sounded like “radio hits on the planet Dune”).

Clouds of Joy comes serendipitously as catalog number Ter0100 - the hundredth release for Telephone Explosion, the rapidly burgeoning Toronto label. It is the group’s third proper full length of five total releases for the imprint in only 4 years. It represents the Ensemble’s most fully realized presentation of a founding vision to create music as human, organic and alive as it is synthesized, produced and designed; music that transcends the notion of linear time, pulling in influences and ideas from the past and taking them far into the future.

Cover has a cut-out.

140g cardinal red vinyl (exclusive)

- Gatefold sleeve
- Printed inner sleeve
- Black printed jute bag
- Arlo Park's friendship bracelet
- A2 poster
- A5 print (exclusively signed)

Limited to 200 copies.
Antonio L. Newton AKA Tony Newton (born 1948) is a multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, MI who began his professional career at the age of thirteen, playing bass guitar with blues legends like John Lee Hooker and T-Bone Walker. Discovered by Motown executive Hank Cosby while playing the Detroit blues circuit at the age of 18, he became the touring bassist with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles on the famed 1965 European ‘Motown Review’ tour. Within two years, Newton became the Miracles’ musical director.

Tony Newton also toured and recorded with other Motown artists such as The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5…and countless others. Earning the nickname “the Baby Funk Brother” he left his trademark of solid, hard-driving and deftly clever grooves on such timeless hits as “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Stop In The Name Of Love,” “Nowhere to Run,” “ABC,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” and many others. Next to his impressive body of work for Motown, Newton can be heard on several hit singles from labels like Invictus-Hotwax and Stax. Later, Newton gained recognition as a member of both the acclaimed jazz-rock fusion group: The New Tony Williams Lifetime (headed by Miles Davis’ drummer Tony Williams) and the British hard rock group: G-Force (with veteran guitarist Gary Moore).

Tony Newton also recorded several solo albums during his impressive career, including the two total classics: ‘Mysticism & Romance’ (1978) and ‘Novaphonia’ (1987).

On the album, we are presenting you today (Novaphonia from 1987) the listener is treated to something Unique (and this is not an overstatement). Newton really puts the ‘multi’ into multi-instrumentalist, playing the synthesizers, the electric bass and the drum machine. Experimental is the keyword here, sounds vary from psych/trance (almost like a soundtrack from a space movie), to funk, fusion, rock, R&B, soul and jazz. Novaphonia has both elements of Tony Newton’s impressive musical past and his vision for the future.

Spacious synths, unusual instruments and an all-around cosmic approach make this an ‘out of this world’ and Very intriguing album. Resonant, sonically rich, sonorous, colorful, mind-expanding sounds are what one should expect from the 20th century Novaphonic sound developed to its greatest extent. These harmonies are innately pleasing to the human ear, mind and nervous system.

Explore new musical frontiers intended to catapult the listener towards new dimensions…this is an album that just begs for a special place in your record collection!

Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the first-ever vinyl reissue of ‘Novaphonia’ since its release in 1987. This rare & private pressed album (original copies tend to go for large amounts on the secondary market) is now finally back available as a limited 180g vinyl edition (500 copies) complete with the original artwork.

Record Kicks presents "Yours Truly", the new album by Bordeaux's "Soulboy", Mr. Alexis Evans. Like fine Red Wine, "Soulboy" Alexis Evans gets better with Age. The best evidence of this is his brand new album "Yours Truly", set for release on February 3rd, 2023 on LP, CD and digital via Milan-based label Record Kicks. Produced and mixed by Louis-Marin Renaud (Lou Doillon, Theo Lawrence, Desmond Myers), "Yours Truly" is the third studio album by Bordeaux-based singer-songwriter Alexis Evans and sees the light 4 years after his previous LP "I've Come A Long Way", defined "Soul album of The Year" by Rolling Stone France. "Yours Truly" consists of 12 brilliantly soulful cuts that take direct inspiration from 60's & 70's classic soul music adding a sound that is firmly rooted in the new millennium. Anticipated by the first single "Mr Right On Time", the album was recorded between Bordeaux and Nantes during 2021 and beginning of 2022. The idea behind the new album was to find a unique sound, mixing classic 60's & 70's soul music with more contemporary influences such as hip hop beats, jazz, reggae, and Caribbean sounds. To do that, Alexis paired up with producer Louis-Marin Renaud, known for his work with French-English singer, actress and model Lou Doillon and country-soul rising star Theo Lawrence, who took part in the arrangements and mixed the album. "All instruments were recorded live, some titles were completely live and others got modified, cut, sampled, depending on the tunes in a kind of beatmaking way. It was a very fun and fulfilling project that will sound awesome on stage for sure," explains Alexis. Lyrically, the album could be described as soulful everyday rhymes.