Organic Grooves 584 Items

It was 1968 when Fania Records President, Jerry Masucci, received a phone call from conguero George Guzman, inviting Jerry to listen to his band. Jerry turned the project over to Harvey Averne, who later reported to Jerry that the band was “out of sight” and suggested that Masucci sign them up. A short time later, things became complicated for George and his band. First of all, the lead singer was drafted into the military, leaving George high and dry. By the time a replacement was found, George learned that his trumpet player was leaving to join another orchestra, so the search was on for his replacement. One problem led to another and before you knew it several months had gone by before George was finally ready to enter the studio and begin recording. Thanks to George and Harvey’s perseverance, “Introducing George Guzman” was released in time for George to join the fray of Boogaloo bands that had brightened up the night scene in New York City in 1968. - Bobby Marin

His grandmother is purported to have transported objects using her spiritual powers and it is said that she sometimes floated through the room. Her grandson Malcolm Rebenneck was fully aware of his unique features when he appeared under the name of Dr. John, a voodoo healer in the 19th century, and was the first person to transcend from pitch-black spheres to psychedelic music as its high priest, so to speak.
In the seven magical musical numbers of "Gris-gris", the root doctor conjures up a potent mixture of creole melodies, primeval heathen sounds, a pinch of mardi-gras and New Orleans jazz and even undreamt-of sounds. "Gumbo Ya Ya", a dragging procession with archaic sing-song, shows that suggestive Afro sounds are what rule in this album. And to play with them, to soften them here and there, or to enhance them with dance-like expression and voices from afar ("Danse Fambeaux") is all part of the programme in this collection of artistic treasures. In between raspy sounds there are flattering, intimate tones such as the springy, gentle and forward-looking "Croker Courtbullion".
The equation Witchcraft = Masterwork certainly applies to this unrivalled album, which is listed at No. 143 in the 500 Greatest Albums of all Time by the magazine Rolling Stone.

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. More information under www.pure-analogue.com.
All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.

Recording: 1967 at Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles
Production: Harold Battiste

Aaron Thebeaux "T-Bone" Walker was all but destined for performance from the start. After all both of his parents were musicians, who taught him how to play guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin, and piano. He was even an early protege of Blind Lemon Jefferson, who was a friend of the family, and often came over to dinner. Walker began performing blues music during the late 1920s and early 1930s, cutting his first singles, while performing as a sideman across the country, often performing alongside Blind Lemon Jefferson himself, as well as contemporaries like Douglas Fernell, Big Jim Wynn, and Charlie Christian. By the 1940s, Walker had begun to perform more frequently as a solo act, recruiting his own backing band, and being among the first to adapt a guitar technique that would change the course of music history: electric amplification.Were it not for Walker leading the charge and pioneering the electric blues sound, contemporary music might have been very different. His sound help set the stage for essential Chicago Blues artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon, while providing key influence to the likes of B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, and innumerable others.

180 gram vinyl!

Recorded in May 1968 at Lila Eule in Bremen, here's one of the most important albums from Europe's entire free jazz history, reissued on wax in the Cien Fuegos series!

Saxophonist Eddie Harris – a favorite sample staple of jazz-leaning hip-hop producers of the ‘90s – was a very busy man in the 1960s, releasing albums at a brisk pace since his first as a leader in 1961. By the late ‘60s he had fully hit his stride, as both a performer and an innovator.
A case in point is heard very clearly on this gem from Harris’ expansive catalog – 1968’s Plug Me In, which features his pioneering use of the Varitone saxophone effects processor unit (first heard on his 1967 album, The Tender Storm). The effect, used on “It’s Crazy” and “Ballad (For My Love),” never gets in the way, but gives the proceedings a feeling of “the next.” 1968 saw jazz entering a new era, influenced by electronic advances as well as the soul music dominating the pop charts of the day. Plug Me In slid perfectly into the vanguard of the day.
There is a soulful warmth to the proceedings on this classic LP, starting with album opener “Live Right Now,” which builds and swirls to a beautiful crescendo, with notes ricocheting back and forth amongst a top level crew of players including Jodie Christian, Chuck Rainey and Richard Smith. “Lovely Is Today” and “It’s Crazy” also feature waves of sunshiney brass and group interplay, alongside album ballads like “Winter Meeting” and “Ballad (For My Love).”
Eddie Harris’ catalog can be daunting, considering his impressive input throughout the 60s and 70s, but there’s a reason fans old and new come back to Plug Me In again and again. Innovation and soul is a combination that never fails, and this reissue is destined to bring more fans into the fold.

180 gram vinyl!

The Delfonics were a trio consisting of brothers William Hart, Wilbert Hart, and Randy Cain and had lush, high-pitched, male vocal harmonies typical of the Philly Soul sound.
In 1997, songs from the Delfonics were heavily featured in the Quentin Tarantino movie Jackie Brown, thus gaining more popularity to a new, younger crowd.

Labeled “the Nureyev of the guitar” by jazz critic Leonard Feather, Gabor Szabo was at his creative peak at the end of the 60s, when he recorded his masterpiece “Bacchanal”. Szabo’s 60s quintet, featuring guitarist Jimmy Stewart, is on top
form here with another of his unique collections of both jazz and pop hits. His restrained use of feedback at just the right moments shows Szabo was willing to open up to new sounds yet he keeps a tight grip on his signature sound throughout these eight cuts.

Arrangements by Gary McFarland Recorded at Western Recording, Los Angeles
August 6th, 7th and 9th, 1968

Krishnanda is an album in the truest sense of the word – a spiritual, psychedelic Brazilian masterpiece from start to finish – celebrated by everyone from Seu Jorge and Kassin to Floating Points, Madlib and DJ Nuts. These days, originals change hands for thousands of dollars.

Pedro dos Santos, born in Rio in 1919, was a percussionist virtuoso, composer and inventor of instruments that apparently included oddities such as the ‘Tamba’ (electrified bamboo drum) and the mouth berimbau whistle. Nicknamed Perdo ‘Sorongo’ after the rhythm he invented, that features throughout ‘Krishnanda’. A highly spiritual man who was regarded as a philosopher by many.

He worked with greats including Baden Powell, Elis Regina, Maria Bethany, Elza Soares, Sebastião Tapajós, Roberto Ribeiro, Milton Nascimento, Clara Nunes, Paul Simon and Arthur Verocai, playing on his legendary self-titled LP. In the same vein as Verocai and his self-titled LP, ‘Krishnanda’ was Pedro’s chance to shine with his own, and only, solo recording.

Krishnanda was produced by Hélcio Milito, the drummer of Tamba Trio, and arranged by conductor Joppa Lins, and originally released in 1968 on CBS (Brasil). Musically, the album touches folk, samba, afro-brazilian and psychedelia plus added effects, with a lyrical depth and diversity to match; themes including morality, perception, existence and ego.

Despite the genius of the record and the influence that it had on musicians at the time of release, it disappeared into obscurity. We first discovered the record around 2003, through a friend Julio Dui. Around that time Brazilian funk and bossa was the flavour of the day, so didn’t catch our ear immediately, however it continued improve with age and now we consider it to be one of the best albums ever made, regardless of genre or origin.

The Mr Bongo reissue is produced as a replica original LP / audio master by Ricardo Garcier at Magic Master (Rio de Janeiro) / artwork restored by Andrew Edwards, from the original copy borrowed from Julio Dui – thank you, sir!

180 Gram 45RPM Audiophile Vinyl, Numbered Limited-Edition

Sly & the Family Stone came into their own with their second album, Dance to the Music, released in 1968. It contains the Top Ten hit single of the same name. "Dance to the Music" peaked at #8 in The Billboard Hot 100, and reached 9th place in the R&B Singles of 1968. The song propelled Sly & The Family Stone into the stratosphere. This seminal album helped lay the groundwork for the development of Funk music.

180g vinyl.

Nuff Said! Is an album by Jazz singer/ pianist/ songwriter Nina Simone. In 1969, the album was placed on peak 44 in R&B Albums Chart. The album received an Emmy nomination and featured one of Nina's biggest hits in Europe: "Ain't Got No, I Got Life".

180g Vinyl.

'Tell Mama' is the eighth studio album by American singer Etta James. The album was originally released in 1968 on Cadet Records and was produced by Rick Hall.

Limited to 500 copies!