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Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. has often been described as “the most successful non-latino Latin musician.” He was a pivotal figure in the expansion of Latin Jazz in the USA, but he also explored rhythms of Africa and the Caribbean in addition to those arriving from Latin America. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1925 to touring Swedish American vaudevillian parents. At age two the family established in California and opened a dance studio. Young Cal soon became a music prodigy, learning piano, drums, vibraphone and every other instrument that would fell in his hands. In the mid ‘50s, after having played drums in the Dave Brubeck Trio, he formed the Cal Tjader Mambo Quintet that produced several successful albums for Fantasy, including the mythical Mambo with Tjader. it was in those years that he met the Afro-Cuban big bands led by Machito and Chico O’Farrill and also Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo, both members of the Tito Puente orchestra by the time. It was obvious that Tjader grew in the Latin sounds, and the album you hold in your hands, originally released in 1958 is a superb prove of the authenticity of his music.

Sales Text (E) A meeting between two jazz giants that became one of the great classics in the Verve catalog. Ben Webster was, without a doubt, one of the most important and influential tenor saxophonists in jazz. “Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson“ features some of his finest, most swinging collaborations with Oscar Peterson, who the saxophonist often stated was his favorite accompanist.

VERVE ACOUSTIC SOUNDS SERIES: Stereo, mastered fully analogue from the original tapes by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, QPR pressing (180 g), firm tip-on gatefold (Stoughton Printing), padded inner sleeve.

An avant-garde masterpiece, a vocal-instrumental suite, a work of collective improvisation, directly addressing the racial and political issues of it’s day, We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite is one of the most important artistic statements of Civil Rights Movement and one of the most groundbreaking jazz albums of all time. Max Roach was already almost a decade into his career as one of the most influential jazz drummers and composers when he teamed up with lyricist Oscar Brown Jr. to collaborate on a piece they planned to perform at the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1963. Recorded just months after the February 1960 Greensboro sit-ins, the album stands as an early musical testament to the burgeoning rage, anger and passion that would take the Civil Rights Movement from its early victory in Montgomery in 1955 into a future that would dramatically alter race relations in the United States.

The second release from the newly launched New York City based jazz label Candid Records, and produced by label co-founder, famed music critic and social activist, Nat Hentoff, the album is a bold statement, focused on civil injustices in black history ranging from slavery to contemporary racial prejudices, and featuring some of the finest jazz musicians ever, including Abbey Lincoln, Coleman Hawkins, Eric Dolphy, Booker Little, and Michael Babatunde Olatunji.

The five movements of the work are organized as a historical progression through African-American history, a shape similar to the one in Duke Ellington’s Black, Brown and Beige. The Freedom Now Suite moves from slavery to Emancipation Day to the contemporary civil-rights struggle and African independence.

The LP includes extraordinary liner notes written by Hentoff himself, giving a context and insight that adds to the experience of hearing these magnificent performances.

The collaborative album 5 Na Bossa was originally released in 1965 on Philips Brazil and featured some of the top player of the genre. If you are into the sound of Nara Leão, Edu Lobo and Tamba Trio this is a magical encounter, bringing together Nara's soft voice, Edu's battering guitar and Tamba's swinging vocals. Featuring classic compositions like ‘Reza’ and ‘Zambi’ this album is a must have for any fans of the latin jazz legacy. The set was recorded live at the Paramount Theater in Sao Paulo.

A follow up to the similarly-titled Conversations With Myself album recorded several years before -- and like that one, a record that has Bill Evans playing "with" himself, via the technology of overdubs! The album's less a solo album, than a duet one -- given that most of the numbers feature Evans working between melody and rhythm on overlapping piano lines -- creating a mini chorus of pianos that sounds totally great, and wonderfully unique! Titles include "Emily", "Yesterdays", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "Funny Man", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "Little Lulu" and "Quiet Now”

Monstrous blue-eyed soul / garage double-sider and a must for any rare groove DJ.
250 copies pressed.

The Orient Express' sole LP from 1969 stands today as an early experiment in world fusion - and a pretty successful one at that, at least artistically. Guitarist Guy Duris is a Frenchman who became enamored with the oud, a classical Arabian guitar. Belgian Bruno Giet is a bass player with a rock background. Iranian Farshid Golesorkhi is an award-winning percussionist in the Persian tradition. As a trio, they only left 35 minutes for posterity, but these minutes are filled with interesting ideas and kitschy songs, all originals.

Produced entirely by Norman Whitfield, The Temptations’s "Puzzle People" takes the next step along the path that Cloud Nine started, and takes the Detroit band further away from a classic soul sound, and more towards the realm of psychedelic soul. Although a few ballads, including “Running Away (Ain’t Gonna Help You),” are still present, the album is primarily composed of Sly & the Family Stone/James Brownderived proto-funk tracks such as the lead single “Don’t Let the Joneses Get You Down,” and the number-one Billboard Pop hit “I Can’t Get Next to You.” Also included are psychedelic-styled covers (recorded with distorted guitars, clavinets, and spacy reverb and sound effects) of contemporary songs such as The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing,” The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” and Roger Miller’s “Little Green Apples.” "Puzzle People" was released on the same day (September 23, 1969) as "Together", a duets album of covers by The Temptations and label mates Diana Ross & the Supremes. It peaked into the Top 5 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and spent fifteen weeks at number one on the R&B Albums chart.

Vinyl LP pressing.

Limited to 1000 copies!

To celebrate the 15th birthday of our first ever vinyl reissue, we did a new edition of this spiritual Jazz classic on cult label Srata East.

New vinyl mastering and lacquers done by the great Frank Merritt at The Carvery (London).
Mastered to and from 1/4” tape for added warmth and character.
Tape layback to disc; direct analogue lacquer cut from 1/4” tape using pure analogue signal path. Studer A80 preview to Neumann VMS70.

180g black vinyl.

New scans of the original artwork . Exact replica of the original cover.
Printed on deluxe Tip-on sleeve. Heavy cardboard;

The definitive edition of this incredible album by drummer John Betsch and his Society.
A must have for any spiritual jazz fan.

Bandleader Johnny Pacheco had bigger plans for Celia and for his celebrated Fania/Vaya label's 1974 release. His idea of creating the consummate conjunto recording lacked one vital ingredient. An exciting partner to lead the ensemble. That person was Celia Cruz. And the well-renowned Celia & Johnny sound was created. At completion, Johnny knew that he had produced the ultimate "salsa" album. Available on 180g black vinyl in gatefold tip-on jacket and featuring all-analog mastering from the original tapes.

Biggest Tip! Limited Edition LP. Deluxe 180-Gram Reissue. Special Gatefold Edition Including Original Artwork. Few will need introduction to the work of Pharoah Sanders. He is a titan with few equivalents in histories of free and spiritual jazz. The creator of some of the most important and singular records in these fields, Sanders, who was once described by Ornette Coleman as “probably the best tenor player in the world”, is equally noted for his work with artists like John Coltrane, as a member of his groundbreaking final quintet, Alice Coltrane, Leon Thomas, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Sun Ra, often rendering a remarkable influence over the results.

The instantly recognisable, Northern / Modern Soul crossover, Rare Pleasure – Let Me Down Easy, featuring the entrancing Sandy Barber on lead vocals, gets a much-welcomed official reissue on 7 Inch. A classic in it’s own right, alongside being expertly sampled by David Morales for the house anthem ‘Needin’ U’, original’s trade hands for £100+ so an official reissue is long overdue. Limited Red Vinyl version in a tasty South Street Disco Sleeve.

Format Notes:

2024 first time vinyl reissue, Seasick Steve in a previous "funky AOR" life(!), 140g vinyl

Track List:

A1 The Light Of The Mind
A2 Hey! Hey! What You Doin To Me
A3 Take Strength
A4 The Lady Of The Sea
A5 All My Life

B1 You're The Only One Girl
B2 At Least We Got Love
B3 All Love's Children
B4 Get Out In The Sun
B5 Golden Hues
B6 I Meditate Each Day

Release Notes:

Steve Leach's Balearic beach-funk beast Ocean Potion, recorded with the Crystal Grass Orchestra is an absolutely ace, Ned Doheny-adjacent funky AOR / blue-eyed soul BBQ classic from 1976.

Who is Steve Leach, you ask? None other than Seasick Steve in a previous life! A French-only release on Philips, it's a hugely immediate, pop-funk firecracker. It features a wonderfully lush, full orchestral sound throughout, underpinning Steve's gorgeous voice and an army of brilliant backing vocalists.

The supporting cast is phenomenal and is arguably the salient reason this is such a fantastic record. We're talking legendary players from the French scene (think Arpadys, Voyage, Kongas, CCPP, Giant, Swing Family) such as Don Ray with his arranger-conductor hat on as well as synths, Marc Chantereau on percussion, Slim Pezin on guitar, André Ceccarelli on drums, Christian Padovan on bass and Pierre Halation on flute.

With these snakes behind the scenes, it remains a mystery how Ocean Potion is so relatively unknown. Hopefully, this long overdue reissue rectifies this and puts a stop to people dropping $200 on it.

Triumphant, horn-forward opener "The Light Of The Mind" has that uniquely Ned Doheny fidgety funk feel with a fantastically irresistible chorus and great harmonies. Just magic. The insouciant, swaggering "Hey! Hey! What You Doin To Me" is straight up white-hot feel-good funk with by turns sweeping and stabbing strings and a neck-snapping break. Crucial. Coming off like something off The Beach Boy's Surf's Up or Holland (including a sneaky "reason to live" reference that surely nods to "The Trader") is the brilliantly ominous, driving wall of sound of "Take Strength". Cavernous drums, urgent strings and a staggeringly good vocal performance make this a real highlight amongst an album of highlights. The blissful folk-funk of "The Lady Of The Sea" is a real naked heartbreaker, melancholic vibes and a beautiful flute line complementing each other perfectly. Side A closes out with "All My Life", a groovy island-funk white-reggae-tinged lilter which just about lands the right side of acceptable.

Side B opens with the gorgeous "You're The Only One Girl" before the propulsive Philly soul of "At Least We Got Love" elegantly glides into focus. Pulsing beats and piano working with that irresistible orchestra of grass. Glacial ballad "All Love's Children" has a deep New Orleans soul feel that truly soars whilst the breezy "Get Out In The Sun" owes a debt to "Crocodile Rock". It's pure pop for now people and wouldn't have been out of place on a late 70s Nick Lowe effort. Deep late-period Beach Boys gem "Golden Hues" is another heavy melancholic down lifter that really beguiles before the real reason you're all here. Pastoral closer "I Meditate Each Day" is just beautiful, and likely the reason this reissue is giving you that special feeling. Another gorgeous flute-led, folk-funk groover, it featured in a memorable mix from the Creme2laCreme crew (Raphael Top-Secret, Jerome Qpchan and Antoine Kogut) live on Red Light Radio over a decade ago and has been top of many heads' wants list never since. Just mellow out.

As ever, the audio for Ocean Potion has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve featuring a topless Steve reclining next to his piano on a flatbed truck on the beach (of course?!) has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.

HHV Exclusive Coloured Vinyl Edition limited to 100 copies.

The second album by Kio Amachree in Afro Boogie Funk style recorded in Lagos Nigerian in early 80s. Limited Edition.

Alicia Myers - I Want To Thank You & Don't Stop What You're Doin' are staple classics and for the first time since their initial release in 1981 are together on one piece of vinyl. A serious double header!

Both tracks are produced by Kevin ‘Mr Groove’ McCord, heralded as Dam Funk’s favourite producers and one of the founding members of Al Hudson & The Soul Partners & One Way before going on to contribute to hundreds of r&b, funk, disco, and boogie dancefloor movers in the ’70s and ’80s.

At the height of his career he produced his One Way band members, Alicia Myers debut solo album, Alicia featuring both tracks on this release. I Want To Thank You, a certified classic that never fails to elicit a joyous reaction anytime it’s played & Don't Stop What You're Doin' famously sampled by J Dilla for ‘What It’s All About’ by Slum Village feat. Busta Rhymes on the legendary ‘Fantastic Vol.2’ album.

Another fully licenced and remastered essential release from the South Street family!

CULT boogie funk release from ROBBIE M & The Midnight Express Show Band and the first 12" reissue project from Washington DC's Peoples Potential Unlimited.. Includes the extended club version, instrumental by tom noble, and the 1983 original 7" version hidden on the B Side.

Playful Italo-Disco project by Florentine Marzio Benelli, originally released in 1984. "Life Is Now" delivers a number of what seem to be almost very important life-teachings over a rather sloppy beat. The hi hats, although very present also make it clear "Spanish Crash" is in no rush to get anywhere any time soon, sounding almost off beat. What strikes the listener even more than the smudges of highly valuable advice in some form of English language is the creative usage of what might have been some of the latest studio recording toys to reach Italy in 1984, an array of rather unorthodox synthy effects, vocoders, trippy delays all topped off with imposing guitar riffs for good measure. Very much sounding like what could be the soundtrack to a bootleg Disney comic strip on acid. Castro's "Paella Crash" shifts the original lazy gear into a dubbier, high BPM, striped down version of the original that is more club oriented.