Funk | Soul 440 Items

“The only time you wear a Tuxedo is when it’s time to party.”

So says legendary West Coast player Snoop Dogg on the opening track of “Tuxedo II”. The blessing of the Doggfather is of special importance to Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, whose second album as a duo finds them at the forefront of a new wave of gangster boogie - one that owes as much to G-funk as P-funk.This is the territory of pre- and post-hydraulic low riders: a mélange of Cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant disco that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking the funk.

Bonding over a shared love of Chic, Parliament, and the other signs in the greater funk Zodiac, Mayer Hawthorne (Aquarius) and Jake One (Taurus) were early predictors of the sea changes that American music would undergo in 2016. Their first release of 2015 debuted at #1 on iTunes America’s RnB charts, christened as “Dance Floor Catnip” by the Boston Globe, and “Pure disco-funk hot fire” by Okayplayer. Considering their individual successes (Mayer’s four solo albums, Jake’s production work for the likes of Drake, Future, The Weeknd, and De La Soul) and five Grammy nominations between the two of them, it’s no surprise that their powers combined have yet again yielded a bevy of absolute slappers that are packaged perfectly for dance parties in 2017. The material here, while wholly original, is an exercise in honoring its forebears. “Tuxedo II” recalls the future funk wobble of Zapp, Gap, Jam/ Lewis and Junie Morrison, while nodding lyrically to Mtume, Jodeci and Cameo.The crystallization of the album’s concept comes courtesy of its message of universal love; thanks to the signature combination of soul and pop sensibility that have come to define Mayer’s hooks.

“You gotta do what you love...” says Mayer in a recent interview with Nordstrom’s style blog, one of the many fashion outlets to cover Tuxedo’s rise. After all - the transcendental ritual of the party and the rippling self affirmation of the funk are of one spirit: the spirit of self love...of self expression. “Tuxedo II” is a modern testament to unity and positivity in trying times. It is a reminder that the dance floor will always be there to welcome you, whoever you are.

Two essential disco and soul cuts from Silvia Striplin orginally released in 1980. Produced by Roy Ayers.

A. 'Give Me Your Love' An umptemp disco groover for the more discerning dancefloor. Sylvia’s glorious vocals float over a sumptuous uptempo Roy Ayers tracj. Sampled by Armand Van Helden, Deepdown and Madd Rapper.

B. 'You Can't Turn Me Away' A soul breakbeat classic. Deep downtempo business, this shows Roy Ayers at the height of his powers and Sylvia more than does the track justice. Beautiful!

The instantly recognisable bassline was sampled by Notorious BIG/Junior Mafia on ‘Get Money’. Also sampled by Naughty By Nature and Backstreet Boys.

New Series Reflecting Soul Togeterness' Love For 70s Northern Inspired Crossover & Modern Soul Inc. Loads Of Currently In Demand Dancefloor Fillers

Limited edition for Record Store Day 2017!

Check out this in demand Latin Funk floor fillers from the group that launched the careers of Eddie and Charlie Palmieri, two giants in the field of Latin fueled jazz fusion playing tohether with one of the most prolific players of the day Bernard Purdie, providing the drums appearing here on 7-inch for the first time in full length versions

A limited edition 7” release by MIAMI, both tracks taken from the “PARTY FREAKS” LP. Again DYANMITE CUTS give you never been on 7” release. Including a wonderful re-production of the original sleeve.

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.

One of the most coveted unreleased Low Rider / Soul Ballads. A Huge tune, up there with Darling dears (google that shit). Only released on a Japanese compilation 20 odd years ago without the bands consent (and with some of the channels missing) we bring you the full unreleased Version for the first time. This is a big one for people who know the score.
If that's not enough, we found this rather good unreleased disco gospel number on the master tapes of their Private Press LP sessions (also coming soon) but we had to give the ballad to the A side, roll the windows down and blast it.

Fantasy (Shelter DJ Mix) / Can't Hide Love (MAW Album Mix)

Motown's First Ladies of Funk finally release their vinyl
debut, some 45 years after it was originally scheduled!
As the '70s dawned and Motown relocated to the West Coast, the
era of their honey-toned '60s girl groups came to a resounding
halt. The Sisters Love were the antithesis of the traditional
Motown group and came to the label from A&M, armed with a lot
of funk, sass and attitude.
Paired with some of Motown's finest writers and producers - Hal
Davis, Gloria Jones, Pamela Sawyer, Paul Riser and Willie Hutch
- they got off to a rousing start with the gritty "Mr. Fix-It Man"
and went into high gear for the UK only release "I'm Learning To
Trust My Man".
Motown had them playing arenas with The Jackson Five (probably
not their smartest move!), issued the odd single and scheduled
more but Sisters Love's anticipated breakthrough didn't happen.
In 1980 New York DJ Danny Krivit pressed up an extended
eight-minute re-edit of "Give Me Your Love", an old B-side from a
1973 single! That song was somewhat of an underground classic
but the Krivit mix brought in a whole new legion of fans amongst
the rare groove crowd, both in the US and the UK.
Sisters Love had long been rumored to have recorded a complete
album for the Motown subsidiary MoWest. Get On Down Records
combed the vaults with Motown's help and the result is the
original 10 cut album, plus a bonus cut, "Give Me Your Love."
Although Gwen Berry passed away some years ago, the other
three members of the group - Jeanie Long, Lillie Fort and
Vermettya Royster have all been actively involved in this release.

Includes two bonus tracks.