Funk | Soul 201 Items

One Of The Most Cherished, Iconic Northern Soul Records Of All Time Available On A Nice Looking, Affordable Lookalike Reissue 45

Bayou-born soul sensation, Durand Jones, is bringing his raw
energy to Colemine Records with his debut 45. Jones brings you
two fiery sides of original soul music, pairing soaring vocal work
with dusty drums, slinking guitars and screaming organs.
With a stellar background in gospel, Jones got his start in the
church, singing in the choir of his hometown in rural Louisiana.
When his music career took him to Bloomington, Indiana, he was
selected to join the legendary Indiana University Soul Revue,
and it was through his involvement that he met writer/producer
duo Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein. The three began writing
original soul music, recording themselves straight to tape in the
basements of Bloomington- a process which brings you the gritty
sounds available on Ohio-based Colemine Records CLM-130.
The A-side features “Smile,” a frenetic dance floor single that
darts between post-disco groove and breakneck soul. The flip
side is the heavy hitting instrumental strut “Tuck n Roll,” a single-
take recording featuring the fuzzed out organ of Indications
keyboard player Justin Hubler.

Originally released on Gloria and her husband Walter Whisenhunt’s label Selector Sound as a 7in single, “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” features her soaring vocals
backed by luscious strings, orchestral horns and a searing guitar. On the flip is “Brother Less Than A Man” which sounds like a proto Funkadelic
/Parliament psychedelic funk bomb. Pressed as a 7in single on the House Guests label, it highlights a grittier side of her singing that matches the song’s depth and intensity. Backed by a rhythm section featuring Bootsy Collins and brother Catfish who along with Gloria and her husband founded the label
after leaving James Brown’s band. Look for the similarly titled anthology of Gloria’s ouput on the Selector Sound label to drop later in 2015.

I’m Leavin is a tribute to Etta James, produced by the one and only Nottz (Busta Rhymes, G Unit, Pusha T, Dilla).
Shateish flipping the Etta classic into a updated tale of catching a cheater and the pain that comes along with it.
B side in the instrumental to the tune, giving us a chance to hear how Nottz smashed the beat closely.

Includes instrumental on the flip! Limited to 300 copies!

An explosing boogie funk for your dancefloor with a special guest Joe Bataan on the track 'The Mover'.

Personnel: William “Chicken” Murphy - Guitar, Willie Hall- Drums and Percussions, Robert Goforth - Bass, James Reese - Piano and Trombone, John Lamkin II - Trumpet and Rudolph Riley - Alto and Tenor Sax. A Couple of String Players from the Memphis Symphony. Lead Vocals - Rosalyn Foster.

There has been a constant demand for Mel Williams’ Modern 45 ‘Can It Be Me’ since it was first spun at the Torch all-nighters in the early 70s. Its classic 60s stomping sound has made it a Northern perennial. The flip is the original instrumental of Mary Love’s ‘Lay This Burden Down’ that was pressed by Modern in 1974 for shady UK dealer Simon Soussain. Instrumentals are back in vogue and this is one of the very best.

A branch pruned from West Indian-born Trevor Dandy’s 1970 LP Don’t Cry Little Tree, “Is There Any Love” is the stand out track from our 10th release, Good God: A Gospel Funk Hymnal. Produced by composer Paul Zaza in his basement studio in Toronto’s Etobicoke municipality, the socially turned-on Don’t Cry was intended to be sold to Dandy’s congregation. When Dandy failed to hit his promised sales goal of 2000, most of the pressing was relocated to the dump. “Is There Any Love” has since gone on to be sampled by a plethora of artists, including Kid Cudi, Ghostface Killah, Monsters of Folk, and Common. In 2009 we pressed up 200 copies of a one sided version of Dandy’s signature tune in conjunction with United Record Pressing and gave most of them away. It has since become one of the most in demand 45s Numero has ever issued. This unlimited repressing ups the ante slightly, as we’ve added an identical second “bonus” side for discerning DJs and home hifi enthusiasts alike to add their own cue burns, scuffs, and scratches to.

The Pretenders were the Carnival label’s main act throughout the 70s and up to 1980. By 1977 producer Joe Evans was embracing the disco era and recorded them on the excellent Kenneth Ruffin song, ‘Just Be Yourself’. Its furious yet solid rhythm and catchy title-line has captivated soul dancers for many years, making the originals expensive and very hard to find now. The flip was their final release, an updated and disco-slanted version of Lee Williams & the Cymbals’ ballad.

Straight up sweet cinematic soul from Seattle, WA via THE DIP!! Sweet horns, dirty drums, and a tight rhythm section makes for a fantastic debut 45 for Colemine. For fans of Daptone’s much-sampled Menahan Street Band. Hailing from Seattle, The Dip is an electrifying seven-piece ensemble that melds vintage rhythm and blues and modern pop with impeccably crafted, 60's-steeped soul.

Killer Al Green-like soul from SF!!

This 45rpm single anticipates the new full-length album by Alex Puddu, a real specialist in
the field of groovy imaginary soundtracks with a strong ‘70s vibe. The title of this 7’’ is “The
Bull”, and it’s the most representative track from the upcoming record “In the Eye of the
Cat”, which undoubtedly is one of Puddu’ s best and cohesive works to date.
As Nils Markvardsen (editor of the film magazine eXtase and film festival curator) says in
his liner notes featured on the album, “The Bull” confronts you with some intense flute and
a killer groove and here it’s easy to imagine a mob of armed gangsters robbing a bank in
an Italian crime film/poliziottesco!
As a B-side we have “Sequenza Erotica” (Erotic Sequence), an unreleased track that can
only be found on this 7’’, spreading that sexy cinematic feeling typical of Puddu’s production
(see for example his “Golden Age of Danish Pornography” series).
As for “In the Eye of the Cat”, Nils Markvardsen also defines it as a reference to the Italian
giallo film genre of the 1960s and 70s. These lurid murder mysteries/thrillers, featuring
black gloved killers lurking in the dark, gorgeous young ladies being chased and artistic displays
of blood and cruelty, usually had horrifying and imaginative film titles, in many cases
with the words; eye(s), black, blood, death, killer and the name of an animal of some sort
thrown in the mix. [...] A nice homage to giallo maestro Dario Argento from fellow Roman
Alex Puddu.
The North African influence on the percussion can be found throughout the album; it has
that groovy, vibrant 70s vibe. The varied selection of instruments (organ, flute, moog, bongos,
cello, violin, drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars etc.) blend flawlessly into each
other and make this

Billy Hawks’ second album "Heavy Soul" is an organ-heavy mod R&B masterpiece. It included club classic ‘O'Baby (I Believe I'm Losing You)’, as well as three other floor-fillers; ‘You've Been A Bad Girl’, ‘Whip It On Me’' and ‘What More Can I Do?’.

The beautifully packaged EP is designed in the London Records / Decca style and showcases the two known photographs of Billy. These were provided by the organ-playing singer's brother Leroy in 2014. Until this point almost nothing was known about Billy.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, he based himself in Philadelphia and his trio worked up and down the Eastern seaboard. He was discovered playing in one of the endless clubs and lounges that existed at the time and made his first album for Prestige, “The New Genius Of The Blues”, in 1966; “Heavy Soul” followed a year later.

Produced by Cal Lampley at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, both ‘You've Been A Bad Girl’ and ‘What More Can I Do’ are appearing on 7- inch for the first time.

Another AOTN outing into Deep Soul Space. You might recognise this track as Mayer Hawthorne's did respectable cover a few year back, as heads (Mayer included) have been on this record for years. The New holidays Massive 'Maybe So Maybe No' is part of a strange club, some records only ever turn up in beat to shit, I would like to think this is because they are good but there seems no good reason collectors can fathom. There are many Notable members of this club, Belita Woods - Magic Corner, Pure Pleasure - By My Side and this record here. Not only is 'Maybe So' a total banger but our minty new pressing from the masters is as good as it will ever sound. Grown up soul.

Here are two big Northern tracks on the funkier edge that are already hugely popular with forward-thinking DJs and dancers. Gruff-voiced Eddie Parker’s ‘Body Chains’ is a very different take on the Prodigal release with an added girl chorus and some appropriate and effective metal chains added by Jack Ashford for percussion. The Pace-Setters’ politically motivated ‘Push On Jesse Jackson’ has crossed over to the main Northern Soul dancefloors and this extended version from a five minutes plus master tape will cause a major stir for dancers and DJs alike.

New Tune By The Lead Voice Of Legendary Philly Group The Jones Girls, Currently Being Heralded As One Of The Best New Soul Records Of The Year With Inspirational Lyrics And An Irresistible Street Soul Groove

With their full length getting wrapped up now, Big Crown Records is proud to present the
debut single from Finland’s own Bobby Oroza.
Side A, This Love is already an underground classic, and has been a huge hit with the
sweet soul crowd since it’s original release last year on Timmion Records. Produced by
Cold Diamond & Mink and recorded at Timmion Studios in Helsinki, Finland, this team has
clearly got the magic. With its tough drums, maverick guitar work, in the cut bass, and
Bobby’s calm yet pleading monotone vocals, this is one hell of a song and an absolute must
have for Soul collectors.
Side B is the never before heard and very well executed homage to Sunny & The Sunliners
classic song, Should I Take You Home. Bobby takes the task of covering a near perfect
tune and does it justice by making it their own while never losing sight of the magic that
makes Sunny’s original so sublime. This is going to take the sweet soul crowd by storm and
is a perfect follow up to the already beloved,This Love. Another Big Crown Sure shot.

Two quality New Orleans tunes from 1971, topside is an all-time great Northern Soul classic, flipside Is a currently in demand gritty "Heavy Soul" tune!

Driving up tempo 1969 Funk mover for the dancefloor available for the first time on a well-mastered 7", previously only available on LP b/w classic Brownstone label instrumental version!

Mr Fields is back with a funk burner sure to light up every dance floor it
plays to. There couldn’t be a better time for an optimistic anthem from the
seasoned wisdom of Lee. The Expressions tearing this track apart with
driving horns and guitars over monster drums and the slick arrangements
we have all come to love them for. Leon Michels & Tommy Brenneck’s
production bringing together some of the finest players doing it today with
Lee’s inimitable voice reminding and encouraging us to get together and
make some changes, changes that are ours to make.
Another Big Crown sureshot.

Big Crown Records is proud to present Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band’s new 45, “Scorpio” b/w “8th Wonder”. Coming after the smashing success of their debut full length “55” they drop 2 B-Boy classics back to back on this tough two sider that comes in a beautifully illustrated picture sleeve.
The A side “Scorpio” is a killer cover of the Dennis Coffey breakbeat staple. BRSB turn up the tempo a touch on the original doing the tune justice with crushing drums they have become known for. This is sure to be in every breakbeat enthusiasts box. The B side features the non album cut, BRSB’s cover of The Sugarhill Gang’s 8th Wonder, a tune that lends itself to pans like it was written for them. Another dance floor winner sure to be in DJs sets the world over shortly.

Favorite Recordings presents this single reissue released by SOL Discos, a new sub-label launched as a partnership between Pascal Rioux and DJ Waxist. Following their recent collaboration on projects like Lamar Thomas’ single and Caribbean Disco Boogie Sounds’ compilation reissues, Favorite Recordings offered the French DJ to become the coordinator and A&R of a new imprint aiming to reissue rare and forgotten music with a Tropical and Disco flavor: “Sunshine Music”…

Today, SOL Discos is delighted to introduce its very first release, with this official 7" reissue of Hiram & Direct. Initially recorded and released in Detroit (Michigan), it has been a hard to find record since then, with only a little number of known copies floating around and changing hands within the Soul collectors / DJ scene.

Musically speaking, the reissue has been switching tracks sides from the original release, putting the focus on “Love Flight” as the A side. Indeed, “Love Flight” has some strong dancefloor potential for any DJ into underground Disco & Modern Soul. Just listen to those synths! On the B side, you will find a different vibe with “Turn It Around”, an excellent ballad with beautiful vocals & harmonies. In the end, both tracks have nothing to envy to some of the best Soul classics.

It’s with great pleasure and honors that SOL Discos and Waxist make this little known gem more accessible to today's music’ enthusiasts, through this legit reissue!

Parisian DJ & producer’s duo, Cléon & Jazzy Pidjay, are back as Last Bongo In Paris, with a hot new 12inch filled with Latin & Brazilian soul-funk vibes... With raw drums, heavy breaks and jazzy flavor, these 5 tracks EP should quickly become a hit for all groovers and dancefloors!!
Cléon & Jazzy Pidjay have been united through their love of music and hip-hop culture for a while. DJ Cleon is one of the finest producer in France for breakdance battle music, also respected as a fine wax digger, mixing all kinds of music together, such as disco, funk, soul, jazz, breakbeat, hip-hop and more old and new records.
Alongside his mate Jazzy Pidjay and his great production and mixing’ skills, they give a new dancefloor life to hidden and forgotten musical treasures, through funky uptempo tracks.

Rare Unknown 1968 Single By The Cult-Southern Soul Legend Which Works Perfect On Mod/sixties Dancefloors Through It's Hammond B-3 Organ Groove b/w Sublime Crossover Tune Previously Only Availble On A Japanese Album From 1979 For The First Time Available Here On 7" Vinyl Format!

Detroit vocalist Billy Garner recorded a trio of killer funk titles for Dave Hamilton in the late 60s, this is the final one to make it to a BGP 45. It is a relentless groove and its original release on New Day is very hard to find. As a special treat it comes with a special New Day label.

In Demand Floorpackin' Early Soul/R'n'B/Popcorn/Mod Tune Self-Written By The Artist b/w Fantastic Texas Uptempo R'n'B Mover Which Is A Driving Version Of The Bobby Bland Classic!

Finally back! This weird piece of estonian music reached silly prices on discogs already - better make sure not to miss it again!

Brass Horizon only ever had one effort put out onto vinyl. The much sought after "We want to play" on the Minda Mark label. Currently commanding big bucks on the collector’s scene. The single also made it onto Keb Darge's Deep Funk LP. Now Super Disco Edits has dug deep again, and unearthed some killer tracks by the band. Brass Horizon were heavily into the Bay Area sound of the mid 70's and especially Tower of Power. The first recording to come to light from these dusty sessions is this one off studio mic take, introducing the band. Fully 6 mins long, we have trimmed it down, so it gets a 45 release. Part 1&2. polish your headspin hat, and hear all the components of the band, horns, keyboards, and last but not least a big arse drum break!! Beware you b-boys out there!

Louisiana-based singer Camille “Lil” Bob was one of the most successful R&B stars of southern Louisiana. His recordings for Goldband, La Louisianne and ANLA are the highest quality soul and funk.
These sides have caused a storm on discerning dancefloors. ‘Stop’ is an incendiary cover of the Howard Tate number, whilst our flip is a 100 miles-per-hour slice of hardcore funk.

Exact replica repress!! George gave us his orginal metal stampers and we were able to press a limited run of these before the plate broke! Best sound quality here.. don't miss this sought after modern soul masterpice. Perfect for all the still clubbing moms on the dancefloor.

In demand New Orleans R'n'B/Soul floorshaker which is very in demand on the mod scene b/w tune heavily sampled by the likes of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist and others through its heavy drums!

Big Crown Records presents the second single “Smiling” from Lady Wray’s “Queen Alone” album. The single is an instant feel good anthem, “Smiling” finds Lady Wray reminding us to keep our heads up and keep a smile on our faces through whatever life deals us. With production from Leon Michels and Thomas Brenneck that rides the line between bubblegum pop and lo fi tough grit, Nicole lays out with a voice as encouraging as the lyrics she is singing. Listeners will be hard pressed not to find themselves singing along after the first listen. A proper good vibe tune guaranteed to move dance floors the world over. The B-side “Make Me Over” is a lushly scored tale of letting your guard down and letting the one who loves you take care of you when you are down and out. A relatable tale of having expensive taste and empty pockets, Nicole finds herself asking for a little help so she can get a break from being strapped for cash promising to take care of her man as soon as her check comes in.

For the fourth edition, the duo left behind their perennial favorite, Trinidad and Tobago, and headed for Jamaica and Brazil, trekked across South America to Peru, navigated across the Pacific to Japan, down to Australia, and then set sail for South Africa, went overland up to Tunisia, and finally put down their bags in France.
Along their perambulations around the globe, they handpicked a number of rare and often unique pearls that they found, at times in damaged shells, at others barely surviving in abused, large record collections. Guts and Mambo patiently selected these tracks with the intent of creating a vinyl barrier reef, an atoll of sound safe from the rising tide of noise pollution that the music industry spews forth every summer.

The 2016 edition once again treats listeners to an incredible diversity of styles and ambiences, ranging from jazz-funk to samba-rock, disco, soul, and reggae. Because in the end, the geographic origin matters little. Even if the golden triangle of Brazil, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago remains the largest supplier, “Beach Diggin’” is above all a way of being, a way of living the moment and life in general to the fullest. Permanent coolitude on the BPM, fast or slow, an epicureanism that is equally at ease whether its produced with a sense of Amazonian luxuriousness or the sparse comfort of a deserted beach, a reserve of a few degrees of heat to put on the turntable when it gets cold outside.
So, it’s not surprising that tracks from Eastern Europe, North Africa, or the US have quickly received their stamp of approval. In this fourth compilation, just as in the previous three, the rule remains: “Beach Diggin’” still is a state of mind.

Big Crown Records is proud to present the first single from El Michels Affair's forthcoming full length "Return To The 37th Chamber".

West Coast singer Lynn Varnado is known for her northern soul masterpiece ‘Wash And Wear Love’. The record is so expensive that its flip, ‘Tell Me What Is Wrong With The Men’, rarely gets the exposure it truly deserves.
To make this release irresistible we have added the sister funk masterpiece ‘Staying At Home Like A Woman’, which makes its 7” debut here.

Two of the classic floor fillers from the Acid Jazz age released on 7” single for the very first time. Pianist Mabern’s take on the Jackson 5’s US #1 is propelled on a non-stop rhythm courtesy of Idris Muhammad and fiery trumpet from Lee Morgan.

‘Sister Janie’, clearly influenced by James Brown’s ‘Sex Machine’, is as funky as jazz ever got. This Indianapolis group show why they are so highly rated by DJs everywhere. A 33 1/3 rpm release.

Top Originally Unissued Killer Sixties Northern Soul Mover Outta Philadelphia For Upfront Deejays Which Is Taking No Prisoners!

/ She Loves Me So

Here is the second lot of songs from the reels the SDE crew found last year. Its almost criminal to think these two beautifully crafted soul songs, where musicians have put all their time and efforts into, were shelved because so called executives thought them "ahead of their time". Essential!

After recording various psych soul and funk tracks on the Whiz record label, The Real Thing carried on after leaving the label to record more studio cuts with musician and producer Stu Gardner. Here they let it rip with an incredible fast version of James Browns "Give it up, turnit loose" and they left in that all important secret ingredient of a lovely long drum break. Stu Gardner himself took to the microphone on this track, with various background vocals and screams, and did the vocals for the amazing b-side "It's A Family Thang"!