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Upstairs, a band from Frankfurt, Germany was active from 1977 to 1983. Though considering themselves mainly a rock group, the band incorporated elements of funk, jazz rock and disco into their music. On their rare and privately released debut album “It’s Hard To Get In The Showbiz” from 1980 they created something that could be called Germany’s definite answer to AOR, yet still with an edgy and unique krautrock flavor. The album starts with "Wontcha Try," a track where core songwriter, guitarist and lead singer Helmer Sauer is telling the story about being dismissed from his job: "They tried to tell me in a fucking gentle way, that the time had come to kick me…". Sauer serves more personal, hard-edged lyrics on the album as well. On "Happy Hooker," for example, he tells the story of a working girl in the red light milieu: "The job is as hard that you really can never imagine, she serves for the money, degradin' herself in a way - if you'd know how she's feelin' you wouldn't laugh at all". An empathetic view on the subject of prostitution rarely heard at that time. But aside from the profound lyrics and songwriting, the album has a lot to offer on the groovy side of things. With catchy bass lines, rhythm guitar, Fender Rhodes, Moog synthesizer, Clavinet and swift crisp drumming "It's Hard To Get In The Showbiz" is one of the best examples of late 70s flavored funky rock from Germany. Additional to the aforementioned "Wontcha Try" another DJ delight should be "Make Your Steps On Better Lines" which showcases a superb synth line and disco funk flavors. We also get the slick mellow latinesque AOR grooves of "Get On A Plane" as well as the now-classic "You're Just Yourself", which marks the most soulful track of the LP. As followers of our label are already well aware, "You're Just Yourself" was featured on the compilation, "Boogie On The Mainline – A Collection Of Rare Disco, Funk And Boogie From Germany 1980-1987" from 2018. The band mainly performed locally and never really had ambitions to release their music on a bigger label. Too bad that Upstairs only released this one album. Of course, the highly sought-after original pressing is almost impossible to find nowadays. Therefore, we are proud to finally make this record available again after 40 years for a reasonable, regular LP price. Only 300 copies of the carefully re-mastered repress have been produced, and included is a printed lyrics insert identical to the original. As this is already the 10th release on our label we want to thank you for your support! Stay tuned for more hidden gems unearthed by The Artless Cuckoo.

Dinked 7". Wow, this one's a biggie! Some smoothed out modern Soul for the discerning right here... dig it! Released in 1980 Charles Johnson's "Baby I Cried, Cried, Cried / Never Had A Love So Good" is a formidable double-sider, the A-side is a sweet slow jam where Charles lays it on the line in true grown man's fashion over a slick backdrop that is not a million miles away from some Philly style loving. The B-side is the big one though, a proper modern dancer, lovely production and the band is fully in the pocket. Drop this one and watch the dance light up, real music for the dancefloor! This particular 45 has long been a collectors item, and on a good day it can fetch hundreds on the Soul scene. This is a fully legit reissue, and features the classic golden Alston label artwork. A truly beautiful record, with each side primed to be played at the right time. Don't sleep!

This is another one we have been workin while we are serving time in the Coronavirus State Prison. It is a little beauty that will tick the boxes of every soulie who strives to push the boundaries. Jason here gives his very best, not just writing lyrics but also laying down some great sax lines. HIS vocals and HIS sax are adapting and adopting, making really deep and groovy anything he works on. Remixed by DJ Rocca and mastered by Sam Berdah , an engineer whose mastering services are now a standard part of our production process within all the labels. Remember, its a 7" spinning at 33 rpm, more room for grooves and track lenghts, better sounding quality. Lads, eyes peeled, more of these sounds to come soon on Tesla Groove International Recordings as well, with some great stuff from our artists roster plus a great additional surprise from one of the best Uk Djs and producers ever.

Terre Haute pressing.

2013 numbered Cyan Vinyl Edition.

Premonition or Premonitions (they were known as both) is a new york disco / Soul / Funk group you probably have never heard of, we have an LP coming soon but while we wait in our flats and houses here is a reissue of their rarest (it's all rare) Disco 45 flipped with an Excellent mid-tempo floater which is 100% my bag. Let's face it, you are going to like one of these sides so get it done.

Be With hereby presents aural perfection. Don’t let the title mislead you, “Much Too Much” by Sass has just the right amount of everything, whether you’re talking about the vocal or the instrumental. And that’s as true now as it was when it was originally released back in 1982. In 1981 The Jack Sass Band, as they were known, were still working the NYC club circuit. Along with the likes of Change, The BB & Q Band and High Fashion, they were part of the Little Macho Music phenomenon and that’s how they ended up in an 8 track studio on 7th Avenue near 20th Street, where Little Macho recorded demos.

Green vinyl.

IZIPHO SOUL is thrilled to be commissioned by LEEE JOHN, on a special limited edition 7” single, in conjunction with his multi date THE ART OF LOVE 2020 tour. Before proceedings commence, here is your chance to own a copy! THE ART OF LOVE is a previously unreleased masterpiece (recorded in the mid-nineties) with two very distinct Parts: One, a melodic romantic builder with that unmistakable LEEE JOHN vocal; Part Two, a unique Disco infused workout, where horns and strings abound, and multi percussionist / master conguero SNOWBOY delivers his best shots!
Beautifully packaged in a picture sleeve with the label revealed by a circular cut-out, housed in a resealable bag.

Club Internacional unearth more long lost Brasilian grooves from the archives of Rio imprint Top Tape for lovers and collectors around the globe. This edition kicks off with the funk-driven sounds of Melo Do Fricote by Band' Azul. Fusing rapturous vocals, guitar and horns this track originally appeared in 1982 and was the band's only 45 single release. Here it is in its original format at last. The flip side features the much more established artist and celebrated guitarist Octavio Burnier. As one half of Burnier & Cartier he produced one of the most sought after LPs in Brasilian music in 1974, which became like gold dust to collectors of Brasilian music. It was recently reissued by the excellent Mr Bongo to the relief of all lovers of Brasilian sounds. In this later solo track 'Que Nem Sol', Burnier demonstrates his exquisite guitar playing as well as his talents as a composer and singer. A seriously delicious slice of soft boogie funk it was released only on 45 single on the Top Tape label back in 1980, and again has never been repressed. Club Internacional hopes you enjoy bringing these long lost, blissful funk vibes back to life via this limited edition vinyl 45 pressing.

Soul/Disco/Funk single here for the first time ever on vinyl! The independent UK label Six Nine Records Ltd, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, proudly presents Byron Jamez who now makes his debut on the label! Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Jamez has been living and breathing soul music all his life (his mother was an active musician already during the 1970s). Byron Jamez is a multi-talented man; an artist in the music business, an established actor and a master of advanced media skills. What we cherish the most right now is his pillow clenching voice and fantastic music, which definitely make this world much more beautiful. This release contains the brand new and stunning groover “Let’s Get Together” backed with the stepper-esque “Time Machine” on the flipside. Definitely not to be missed as it is a limited UK press with small hole and full colour printed picture cover!

Favorite Recordings proudly presents Recalling You, a dazzling Disco/Jazz-Funk new single EP by our longtime friend and label mate Andre Solomko.

Born in Ukraine and based in Finland for a while, Andre Solomko is a rich and engaging personality, but above all, a talented saxophonist, composer and engineer, with contagious passion. Since they met 7 years ago, Andre and Pascal Rioux’s (founder of Favorite Recordings) collaboration resulted in 3 albums and a couple of singles acclaimed internationally. Primarily known for a sound mixing Jazz-Funk, with European Soundtracks, Pop and Soul influences, Andre Solomko’s skills for composition and production are much wider. Almost 2 years ago, he’s therefore demonstrated his versatility when delivering the hot Disco anthem “Le Premier Disco Sans Toi”.
This first attempt definitely seduced many DJs and collectors, and it seems Andre enjoyed the trip too and decided to embark for it again with “Recalling You”. For this new single, Andre’s idea was to revive two of his past compositions, tailoring brand new glamorous Disco suit and arrangements for it. Backed again by a close team of musicians and the beautiful and charming vocals of Charlotta Kerbs, the new session was recorded live and analog as usual, and then brilliantly mixed in France by Jordan Kouby at Question de Son studios. It ended with what might be Andre Solomko’s best level of productions and sound so far.
To make it short, “I Recall” and “Teasing You” felt in love and had a baby at the nightclub… here comes Recalling You, packed in a 45rpm 12inch vinyl edition and coming with a hot Dub edit by Charles Maurice on B-side.

Disco divas, Funky queens and Glam ladies in 70's and early 80's Taiwan!Due to its extremely complex history, Taiwan in the 70's saw the creation of some incredibly special music in which the sounds coming at the moment from the west collided with the special sensitivity of Taiwanese musicians, creating a delicious mixture you'll need to hear to believe."Taiwan Disco" shines a light on the music created by Taiwanese women during those years (70's and early 80's) to present a mind-blowing collection of songs with sounds ranging from wild Funk to apace Glam, exotic Disco or fuzzed out Soul. Here's the ticket to some crazy Taiwan nights, get those dancing shoes ready, it's time to shake it!Artists:A1. Wu Xiu Zhu A2. Hua Yi Bao A3. Cui Tai Jing A4. Zou Juan JuanA5. Chen Lan Li A6. Wang Xiang Ling SIDE BB1. Tian Lu Lu B2. Liu Guan Lin B3. Wu Xiu Zhu) B4. Luo Yan Li B5. Yu San Shan B6. Zhang Bei Xin

Cover is missing. vinyl is Close to VG+

Here four classic studio experimentations conceived by Harry Thumann former owner and main engineer of Country Lane Studios based in Munich, Germany: the home of the glorious munich-sound during the disco era. Many strong songs where produced here, so this EP represents the evolution in sound during that era mid-seventies early eighties.

For its new release, the Parisian crew Discomatin picked a lesser known banger of the boogie era, Maudit DJ by Clara Capri. Produced in Belgium by Jay Alansky with lyrics written by his sidekick Jacques Duvall, this EP brings together an Italo discoesque bassline surrounded by shiny synths and irresistible guitar licks. On top of that, Clara Capri sings with a high-pitched voice. Maudit DJ is a real celebration of the nightlife.
Fortunately, it’s brought here with all 3 versions transferred from the original tape masters: the extended “Version Longue” with its great introduction sounding like strong early house, the shorter “Version 45 Tours” if you’re in a hurry and, last but not least, the instrumental version for those too shy to play the vocals.
But let’s head back to the 80’s: Jay Alansky and Jacques Duvall are having a real success. They just produced famous Belgium female artist Lio’s first hits and have access to Dan Lacksman’s studio in Brussels - member of Telex with Marc Moulin. During this euphoric period, they met Clara Capri, a young Italian girl really crazy about Disco, swearing only by Giorgio Moroder or Chic.
Her two buddies decide to concoct her a real hymn to the dancefloor. For them it sounds like the perfect time, considering the duo always dreamed of being like a shadow production team, just like Motown’s very own Holland-Dozier-Holland. With a great care to the production and the sound and with the best technologies from the era, they managed to create this French dance music attempt, at a moment when nobody was speaking about French Touch.
Thanks to Discomatin, it’s now available to the real connoisseurs with an exclusive insert which contains lyrics, again with fantastic illustrations from french artist Camille de Cussac.

Japanese pressing without OBI

Cover with OBI is close to NM. With insert. Vinyl is close to NM. Original Japanese pressing.

Remastered reissue of a double A-side classic by LAMA a studio project from 1983. Both tracks here are killer electro/italo tracks well worth their weight in gold. Love On The Rocks is a electro-fied cover of Lucio Battisti's original disco smash "Il Veliero."
On the flip we have the dark apocalyptic feel offered by "Nineteen Ninety Three".

It took Mr Raoul K more than three years of work inside and outside the studio to complete his first album for Compost Records. His first goal was to show all the musical influences he came across during his time in Ivory Coast. Ivorian music has incorporated musical traditions and instruments from East-Africa, West-Africa and from Central Africa – a real musical melting pot. To complete 'African Paradigm', Mr Raoul K used lots of the instruments he bought during his trips to Africa - including a Kenyan Mbira and Senegalese talking drums, for example. All instruments you hear on 'African Paradigm' were played the old-fashioned analog way - no synthesized sounds. Mr Raoul K teamed up with vocalists Ahmed Sosso, Lady Parul and Sona Diabate to emphasize his message, because sometimes (only sometimes) words speak louder than music. His second goal was to share his view on Africa through his music, making 'African Paradigm' a political album as well. Mr Raoul K has always used his music as a means of political expression - 'Le Karantkatrieme Peul' dealing with Barack
Obama's presidency, for example. The album's main track, 'African Paradigm', was an epic track with a running time of about 50 minutes. Mr Raoul K thinks of the track as a work in progress. Here he releases two finished parts plus an additional intro. The remaining parts are scheduled for a later release. If you listen closely, you can hear Mr Raoul K painting layer after layer after layer of sound until the whole picture finally appears. Showing a beautiful continent, torn apart by foreign powers, independent by law but still suffering from the burden of being colonialized for cheap labour and raw materials and suffering from inner conflicts and civil wars. The music mirrors this picture. You can hear the sense of urgency, the suffering - different kinds of driving drums, haunting percussion, dancing flutes, irie effects lurking in the shadows... But there are contemplation and hope as well - the hope, that there will be a better future for Africa.

Vinyl with a couple of light scuffs

The story of Change goes back to the 1980 and our introduction to Luther Vandross on their hits “Searching” and “The Glow Of Love”. Next there was the amazing James Robinson with them on “The Very Best In You” and “Miracles” before they joined forces with writers/producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for “Change Of Heart”, “You Are My Melody” and so many more. You know this already! But here in 2019 Expansion are thrilled to bring you two tracks from their new album with extraordinary remixes by Joey Negro and Opolopo. What could go wrong? Both tracks are astonishing, brilliant on the dance floor and presented here on vinyl exclusively for the first time.

This release comes on 140g vinyl. The word masterpiece gets bandied about a lot. Not least by us. But here is a release that truly befits such a lofty title. In 1980, Randy Muller’s Skyy dropped the monumental “Here’s To You”, comfortably one of the greatest dance singles of all time. Released on Salsoul, “Here’s To You” is now exceptionally hard to find in its original form. On this special Be With double-header, we present the sought-after 12″ mix and back it up with the strutting “You Got Me Up”, which has never been on a 12″ before. Naturally, both are cut loud and bumping for devastating dance floor power. A sure-fire classic of the NYC club scene and a true block party rocker, “Here’s To You” beautifully combines sweeping synth-strings, loose cymbal hits and swaggering lyrics delivered with enviable style. But the real hero is *that* bassline. Oh, wait, no, actually, it’s *that* synth refrain halfway through. Harnessing the Oberheim Matrix 12 to emulate a horn section has provided goosebumps on discerning dance floors ever since. As Muller expressed in his 2007 Red Bull Music Academy lecture, “It’s a very special record, it’s positive and has that spontaneous, life-giving spirit in the groove. Everything locks, just pure chemistry.” Like we said, it’s a masterpiece. If that wasn’t enough, over on the B-side is “You Got Me Up”, a real hidden gem from Skyy’s Skyway LP. Also released in 1980, the track is a wonderful showcase of the group’s airtight rhythm section and Muller’s uncanny ear for a groove and a melody.

Still in shrink but opened. Vinyl is close to NM. Original US pressing. Tiny corner wear.

Limited Edition 12" of the classic balearic disco burner : Turn Me Loose originally produced in 1983 by Peter Micioni (Traks, Mike Francis, Amii Stewart). Containing here the full extended version of 14 minutes on the side A plus the SIRS CUT on the flip side!
Being one of the main players of the german dance scene Daniel Klein became the 1st German Resident DJ in Ibiza at the famous Space Club, and supported by DJ Harvey who named SIRS as one of the most promising Producers, and so he is featuring mostly all releases from SIRS since the very beginning.

Volume three in the Mr Bongo Record club series. Another showcase of recent vinyl finds and favourites from our DJ sets and radio shows. This is an extra special one however, as it lands in 2019, the year that we celebrate 30 years since it all began way back in 1989.
In celebration of the 30 years of Mr Bongo, 2019 will see a host of exciting events and even more releases. We take over Brighton Dome on the opening weekend of the Brighton Festival in May, an in-store takeover at Rough Trade East, in July a week long ‘Album Club’ at Spiritland, more at RAPPCATS in LA, record fairs in Utrecht and New York, alongside the digging (and no doubt surfing!) trips to Brazil, India, Australia, Portugal and France…
We’re releasing brand new music from punk-reggae superstars, The Skints; the previously undiscovered 25-year old master composer & arranger, Kit Sebastian; and crossover UK hip hop live show dons, Jungle Brown, this year.
Compiled by David Buttle and Gareth Stephens, assisted by Graham Luckhurst and Gary Johnson.

Since 2019 the collective of Parisian partygoers, Pardonnez-Nous, have decided to launch their own label. Just like their parties, their goal is to shine a light on dancing music.
Constantly looking for new tracks to enlighten the dancefloors, their outings are in line with the vision of deejaying defended by its founders. Finding forgotten pieces that are the geneses of dance music and mixing them with more contemporary sounds. Re-editions, edits, remixes or original productions the label doesn’t just stick to one style but aspires to represent all the music of partying!
Mexico, Peru, Surinam, and of course Sweden: in 1986, musicians from around the world responded to the Swedish composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Torbjörn Langborn’s invitation. His idea was to bring together the two groups he played with: a jazz quintet, and his salsa ensemble.
The cocktail was explosive: after several days recording at the Humlan studio in Stockholm, Torbjörn Langborn & the Feel Life Orchestra produced an eponymous album, combining, in Langborn’s words, “disco and funk with congas and Batá percussions.” The B side was a three-part gem nearly seven minutes long titled “Feel Life”, where he gives free rein to his talent as a jazz pianist. Thirty years later, we asked the famous remixer Dimitri from Paris to express is talent to produce a new version of this classic music track. "Pardonnez-nous", here it is.

Since 2019 the collective of Parisian partygoers, Pardonnez-Nous, have decided to launch their own label. Just like their parties, their goal is to shine a light on dancing music.
Constantly looking for new tracks to enlighten the dancefloors, their outings are in line with the vision of deejaying defended by its founders. Finding forgotten pieces that are the geneses of dance music and mixing them with more contemporary sounds. Re-editions, edits, remixes or original productions the label doesn’t just stick to one style but aspires to represent all the music of partying!
For its 1st release, the label strike hard and unearthed a quite surprising hidden track by one of the most famous band from the French Islands.
La Compagnie Créole: born in 1975, this mythical band known by all the francophones will be remembered by future generations, thanks to all those super hits spread over the course of 23 albums, mixing music from the Antilles, Guyane and popular tunes from the French metropole.
Amongst all those classics, making people dance in all the French ballrooms, one stands out: A.I.É, written by Daniel Vangarde in 1987, his Creole lyrics and melodies have won over the entire francophone diaspora, as well as the rest of Europe and North America.
From then on, in 1988, a NY DJ, known by the name of Larry Levan, produced a remix of this track for the soundtrack of the film Sweet Lies. A mix not released, which remained relatively unknown up to this point. “Pardonnez-Nous” (Excuse us), but here it is.

Vinyl with some hairlines.

Hailing from Florida, The Tropics were one of the finest 60s garage bands. Their memorable concerts are still remembered today by the lucky ones who saw them at the time. Between 1965 and 1969, they recorded some explosive and now legendary 45s which are prime examples of garage-rock, teen-beat, folk-rock and proto-psych sounds. Here you’ll find most of those 45 sides along with some rare, previously unreleased on vinyl tracks. Including the classic “As time’s gone” (covered by The Fuzztones) and many more.
Remastered sound in mono, insert with detailed liner notes by Jeremy Cargill (Ugly Things) and rare photos.
“In 1965 The Tropics were the biggest band in Florida…simple as that. I watched them in awe” Tom Petty

Official reissue of the only full-length LP from Brit-funk masters, Atmosfear. Love for Atmosfear was born out of the underground UK dance scene of the early 1980s; from nightclubs, pirate radio shows and soul weekenders. A localised scene that went on to have a global influence. The band’s most notable track ‘Dancing in Outer Space’ – included here on the CD version as a bonus – is a certified classic. It was a chart hit in the UK and was also championed Stateside in clubs such as the mythic ‘Paradise Garage’ and 'The Loft' by the likes of Larry Levan and David Mancuso. An instantly recognisable anthem that is just as fresh today as it was when it was first released. Originally released in 1981 via Elite / MCA records, ‘En Trance’ is a joyous album that arguably represents the pinnacle of the Brit-funk sound. The band consisted of bassist, and keyboardist Lester J. Batchelor, drummer Ray Johnson, guitarist Andy Sojka, saxophonist Stewart Cawthorne, singer and guitarist Tony Antonio and producer Jerry Pike. The album captures the excitement of these
exceptional players demonstrating utmost originality in the studio. More Atmosfear and Elite Records reissues are available/coming soon on Mr Bongo, including ‘Xtra Special’ and ‘Dancing In Outer Space’ on 12”.
Official Mr Bongo reissue. Licensed from Chemical Discs.
!

A classic slice of Philadelphia funk from People's Choice, officially remastered and reissued for 2018.
‘Here We Go Again' is a definitive, feel-good disco stomper combining a full frontal bassline, infectious keys and staccato guitar licks that effortlessly build and build throughout the track. Cries of 'Here We Go Again' ring out at it's peak epitomising the feeling that this groove could last forever.
Keeping up that perpetual good time groove the B side houses the mighty 'Jam, Jam, Jam (All Night Long)'. A track doused in the funk, from the rugged vocals to the addictive hooks, it'll worm it's way into your head for weeks.

First Time Out is a cosmic soul transmission from Nigeria’s own Diana Ross, Theadora Ifudu. The arty co-host of hit TV program, ‘The Bar Beach Show’ hooked up with the guys from Monomono to created an album that is sultry, sexy and effortlessly cool. It’s a smoky, New York Soul Club on wax. A graduate of the New York film school, Ifudu considered herself an artiste, and the opening track, ‘Hello There!’ Is arresting in its cinematic scope and intriguing strangeness. After briefly channelling Miriam Makes in ‘Gbata Ngwa’, she moves into full diva mode. ‘(When Will It Be) Right Time’ features vocal runs that Mariah Carey would be proud of and ‘That Man’ has a smoky, jazz club vibe. It’s easy to imagine Theadora, under a single spotlight, dazzling in a sparkling figure-hugging crowd, holding a hard-to-please New York audience in her thrall. At times funky, laidback and smooth, the greatest compliment that can be paid to First Time Out is that it sounds international. The musicianship is first class, the vocals faultless and the mood super smooth. Theadora Ifudu, the self-proclaimed ‘moon watcher, ragdoll and artiste’, created an Afro soul masterpiece for the ages. - Peter Moore

41Funk Crew and Bay area legend MAX KANE teams up with one of the Bay's rising star's and one of most versatile musical talents TRAILER LIMON, combining their superpowers to put their stamp on the next wave of modern Funk with "EGO DEATH". MAX KANE rolls out a masterful arrangement that commands your attention and has us walking in rhythm with drums that slap, a rubber bassline with a boogaloo bounce and laser lead synths lighting up the path for TRAILER LIMON to complete the sonic funk baptism with his flawless voice and even more powerful message. This might be the opening single for any funk night trying to achieve and complete FULL FUNKALATION!

After transformation comes pure love and that's exactly what EAST LIBERTY QUARTERS delivers with "MIDS" a beautiful arrangement with their classic delicate abilities that shine light and open up the horizon to pure sonic bliss. After a short break this masterful trio returns with a enchanting and hypnotic groove that builds up with ice cold synth arrangements and then bodies you with warm basslines sewed together with flawless drums. MIDS way through you realize you have fully left planet earth and you are now on the EAST LIBERTY QUARTERS MOTHERSHIP, enjoy the glide!

Charly Kingson, (ps. for Charlie Kingue Soppo) is a legend of afro-funk who managed to shake the entire continent up with his infamous 1978 LP, Born In Africa. Often forgotten when conversations turn to Afro-dance, and the likes of Tony Allen or Fela Kuti, he has been an incredible source of inspiration to many musicians exploring the funkier side of jazz-dance, and this album itself goes way beyond any traditional notion of tropical discotheque. "Born In African" itself is a funky groover for the dancefloor and here is the original 1982 Remix, made by Dutch legendary percussionist Eddie Conard available again, featuring “Nimele Bolo” on the flip-side. Released in 1982 on Ariola/Fleet, but also pressed on the original Fleet label. The latter (remarkably with identical catalog-number) never saw daylight. But, we got them all! All in all, this hard to find 12” (at Discogs copies on the Ariola/Fleet label go for around 250 euro) was recently re-discovered, and now you can finally enjoy it again.

Limited edition vinyl!
Finally opening up the garage after 8 months of deep winter, Chandeliers are hopping in the black Chrysler LeBaron convertible, and rumbling down Western Ave to a bubbling, dark and sensual soundtrack called "High Diamond". A gothic synth-funk house beat pumps the blood of this diamond, brooding and mood-altering, evoking a feeling that there is something menacing going on just blocks away, but for now, we are here, and we will dance. The flip side "Snake Bomb", is a wicked, reptilian instrumental, where the promises of our new snake democracy lies in the power of those with their hands on the synthesizers and drum machines. With a trapped-out drum kit pushing us into the future, and industrial metallic synth bombs being hurled over our newly shed skins lying on the sand next to us, "Snake Bomb" spins us at 45 revolutions per minute into some distant but oddly familiar past, when we were still trying to escape from our lizard leaders.

New single by legendary Brazilian singer DI MELO, 40 years after his classic self-titled Samba-Soul LP. Performed and produced by French brilliant combo COTONETE, this single and collaboration will be followed by a full album early 2019.
Florian Pelissier speaks about the project: “On tour in Brazil with Cotonete, we had a few days off in Sao Paulo and I really hoped to make a collaboration with an important artist or band from the Brazilian funk scene. We had thought of Marcos Valle, Meta Meta or Ed Motta... but Rafaela Prestes our Brazilian "sound ingineer/genious" told me: "I worked for the return of Di Melo in Rio 2 years ago. He rocks, he’s adorable and he lives in Sao Paulo, here’s his number, he would be perfect for Cotonete."
No sooner said than done. I'm a huge fan of Di Melo and had already tried to contact him for Cotonete 6 years ago. The next day, on a Sunday, he arrives at our house with Jo, his wife, and Gabi, his daughter. He takes the guitar in front of us in the kitchen, and gives us a private show of 3 hours… we cried the tears of joy.
He had 400 original songs never recorded, a gold mine. On the same night, we started working the arrangements for 2 days, followed by a rehearsal and two small gigs in Sao Paulo. Immediately after, we recorded in the magical Epsilon B studio. All with the participation of Gabi, his 10-year-old daughter, and future star.
This album is the summary of this moment, of these 5 days of madness spent together between “the best band in the world” and the legend Roberto Di Melo… Simple, beautiful, Brazilian-French, human music…”

Born in Cameroon, Vicky began banging the drums at the age of 9. By 13 he had moved onto bass and within a couple of years he was playing every night from 10pm to 5am in the Castel Douala Cabaret. At the age of 19 Vicky moved to Paris to study Banking and Commerce and cram in even more music. He took classes at Épinay-sur-Seine Conservatoire music school and it was here that he met Bandmates of his Dikalo project.

Word spreads and he soon becomes one of the most sought after bass players in the Afro arena. His session work features on many scenes stars, Manu Dibango, Eko Tala AM, Kemayo, Sammy Massamba, Toto Guillaume and many more. A chance meeting with the Gibson brothers also see him play on two of their hit albums. In the 80's Vicky moved to the US for spell and excels as a session bassist and touring musician.

We pick up the story in 1981. With his stature as a musician and bass player riding high he takes a detour to Nigeria to record with the Afrodisia label in Lagos. The "Thank U Mamma" album is the result. It is repressed for the first time, here in 2018 on the revitalised Afrodisia label.

Musical proceedings open up with the heartfelt ode to his mother "Thank U Mamma", smooth pop meets afrobeat boogie. "Marina Drive" slows things down with its smoldering jazz. Side Two opens with "Its Not Serious" a catchy vocal number underpinned with funky guitars and striding basslines. "Stormy Rain" is lazy guitar jazz swansong. We close off the album with the ever so funky "You". Slick funk grooves powered along with a dose of slap bass. As a side note Vicky actually plays left handed but with a "upside down" right handed bass. This upside-down precursor making his effortless slap playing even more impressive.

Limited edition vinyl!
Only one copy per customer!
Being totally infected in the mid Seventies by the new possibilities analog synthesizers were offering in sound and studio production, Leston Paul became the pioneer in electronic music production in the early Eighties in Trinidad. Leston Paul is one of the most in-demand music producers and arrangers in the Carribeans. It is said that he has worked as a producer on more than twenty thousand recordings.
In 1983 Leston Paul felt the time was right to record his debut album, 'The Arrival' which was done at K.H. Studios in Port of Spain. His obsession with synthesizers led to a heavy use of electronic instruments like an Oberheim synth, a Roland bass machine, a Roland drum machine and a Simmons Digital Clap Machine on this record. Most of the instruments were played by Leston himself. On vocals he used well known singers like Charmaine Forde, Nadie La Fond, Carl & Carol Jacobs, Joanne Wilson and Peter Britto.
Due to lack of proper distribution sales weren't very good. This circumstance makes this record very rare today and sought after.
Leston was introduced to Kool & The Gang's background vocalist Barbara Hernandez by his friend Jeff Medina. Leston had started to write and record All Nite Tonight in Trinidad and brought the song to New York. At the Millford Plaza Hotel Hernandez and Paul finalized the song and decided to re-record the track at the Sound Lab Studio. Kool & The Gang were playing a gig the same day of the recording session in New York and Leston managed to get them into the sudio to record the horn section.
Barabara Hernandez took Leston to Kool & The Gang's home studio in New Jersey and was very impressed by the sound quality they were able to produce and decided to adopt this model in Trinidad. While working on the recording of Arrow's 'Hot Hot Hot' album in New York in 1982 he had his first encounter with an Apple Macintosh computer being used in a studio and was deeply impressed. From the money he made from the production of Arrow's album he bought a Tascam eight-track recorder and an Apple Macintosh computer.
In the bedroom of his apartment in St. Augustine he set up the first home recording studio in Trinidad. Here he produced his next album 'Keys To The City' in 1987, which was completely done on a computer and showcases the potential of electronic music production. The track Everyday Life is very popular among djs and electronic music enthusiasts.

Promo copy with white labels

Original US Terre Haute pressing.

Nigeria’s Kingsley Bucknor’s ‘Just U and Me’ LP gets the long-awaited reissue treatment from Melbourne’s Left Ear Records. After cutting his teeth playing with Fela in the 70’s and releasing two afrobeat LP’s Kingsley travelled the globe before finding himself in London, it’s here that he laid down 6 distinctive electro-funk tunes inspired by African rhythms and music he’d heard through his travels in the States and in Europe. Originally issued on Kinglsley’s own KAB records in ’85 and according to Kingsley the release was well received at the time, but due to constraints of international marketing the record remained mostly unknown outside of his homeland. Fast-forward to 2017 and the stage is set for a new global audience to appreciate the distinct sound of KB.

Schenkelspreizer returns with their next chapter Büchsenöffner Vol. 6.
Fall is here to Spreiz!

long overdue reissue with rock city pioneer Billy Jones.. here's what he had to say about his crew.

...in the early 80's Billy Jones was the lead guitarist for an outstanding group of touring musicians who called themselves 'The Incredible Rock City Band'. They performed on military installations all over the United States for the U.S. Dept. of MWR for more than ten years during the 80's and 90's. ...I'm sure that there are many veterans out there who remember seeing this band at NCO and Officer's clubs back in the day.

'The Incredible Rock City Band' members :
Justice "Jay" Little ...drums/vocal
Karl "Drac" Lane ...bass/vocal/keyboards/guitar
Morris "Mo" Moore ...percussion/vocal/synthesizer
Jerry Herd ...mini-moog/trumpet/keyboards/vocal
James "Whimpy" Cross ...sax/vocal/keyboards
Jerrold Lewis ...vocal/keyboards/bass
Billy Jones ...guitar/vocal

Here’s one very rare early 80’s soul and boogie LP, as clean original copies now fetch well over $500, if you can find it... This brand new and first official reissue ever contains the now classic modern soul dancer ‘Not About That (Show Me Some Respect)’ alongside some very attractive ballad material for the more dedicated soul fans. The elusive Van Jones from Pughsville, VA continued to record - as he did since 1976 - several 7” and 12” singles into the decade. But this highly sought after album from 1981 is widely considered as the definitive moment in his short though fruitful recording career. - Marc Janssen

Prime are delighted to announce the long-awaited OFFICIAL 12 inch re-release of probably the most revered Paradise Garage anthem of all time - M.F.S.B. feat The Three Degrees and the now legendary "Love Is The Message".

Originally released in 1973, "Love Is The Message" has sustained dance-floors across the world ever since and here we present the full original 11.28 mix from Tom Moulton which is always a £25-30 record if you've ever been lucky enough to find a mint one and copies of the rarer U.S. 12" with the long mix are like gold!

Worry no more as the quality on this 12" is from the best master and 100% sanctioned by Sony Music.

On the flip we are proud to re-release "T.S.O.P. (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" aka the official Soul Train theme, using Tom Moulton's full original 5.42 mix. Another piece of significant dance-floor history.

As double-siders go, it really doesn't get any better than this. There is already high-demand from lots of DJs needing to replace their battered copies so accept no substitute. This is the real deal.

Continuing our policy of re-issuing some classic double-siders and even some previously 'never released on 12"' titles, it's give us pleasure to unveil a pure double-sided 'must-have'!

Topside is Melba's Philly anthem, the bubbling McFadden and Whitehead penned and produced "Standing Right Here" which put Melba on a more credible path after her early hits and is now an underground anthem. Mint original copies of the U.S. 12" are currently around the £20-30 mark.

Stick with the real deal from the original masters! The flipside has NEVER BEEN RELEASED ON 12" BEFORE.

Yes, Melba's stunning version of the Curtis Mayfield penned classic "Make Me Believe In You" (originally done by Patti Jo) finally gets it debut release on 12" vinyl - the full 7.03 album version.

Official reissue of one of the hardest to find albums by the Afro Soul maestro, a pure Afro Funk spiritual grail from 1978!
Born in 1943 in Ikole-Ekiti in Ondo State, Nigeria, Orlando Julius Ekemode (“Orlando was really a nickname, taken from the Nigerian actor, Orlando Martins“) had started in music from an early age, becoming the school drummer and learning flute, bugle and other instruments at St Peters Anglican School in Ikole-Ekiti. Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he is credited as one of the first musicians to fuse US R&B into traditional highlife music, creating his own influential Afrobeat sound during the mid-‘60s.
From his time playing in the USA during the 1970s onwards, he is credited with bringing African music to a broader audience and famously co-composed the song “Going Back To My Roots” with Lamont Dozier. In 1978, Orlando Julius Ekemode decided to produce himself this amazing session, originally recorded between Maryland and West Virginia (USA) and released in limited quantity in Nigeria by the obscure label Jungle Records. 6 stunning Afro-Funk monster tracks, recorded by 8 musicians based in Oakland.
Fully licensed with the artist and remastered by The Carvery. Essential!

Al Massrieen: Disco, Funk and modernized Arabic Pop from Egypt

In the beginning of Habibi Funk, our search was focussed on vinyl records. Around a year ago though, we got to the point where we realized that it became substantially harder to discover music, that we enjoyed and hadn’t heard before. It became apparent that it was time to start looking for other formats. Cassette tapes were the obvious alternative. These were introduced in the arabic world around the late 1970s. In some countries they took over a bit earlier, in others a bit later, but eventually they pushed the vinyl format out of the market in the 1980s. In Egypt this trend already even started in the late 1970s.

Al Massrieen was one of the first bands I learned about once I discovered the tape format for myself. They were really popular in Egypt in the 1970s and the more of their music I found on either tapes or Arabic pirate mp3 sites, the more I was becoming a fan. Only very few bands from the region can match the band’s versatility as well as their strive for innovation. Hany Shenoda is the man behind the Al Massrieen band. He is a reknown figure of the Egyptian music scene and has worked with everyone from Abdel Halim Hafez to Mohamed Mounir. Al Massrieen was his attempt to introduce his ideas of modernizing Egyptian music, heavily encouraged by Naguib Mahfouz (Egypt's only winner of the Nobel Price for literature) after discussing his ideas with him.
Al Massrieen's sound goes from lush disco like “Sah” to psych rock like “Horreya” or incredible jazz fused pop on songs such as “Edba Mn Gded”. I was shocked to realize the band seemed to be hardly known outside Egypt, even though I feel they're at least on the same level as Ahmed Fakroun. An relative obscurity which I largely attribute to the fact that their releases never have been pressed on vinyl (apart from a Greece best of LP which wasn’t a strong compilation of the group’s songs). One way or another it felt like this band and especially their composer, band leader and overall brain Hany Shenoda was in need to get some recognition outside of Egypt. The release is fully licensed from the band and comes with an extensive booklet with liner notes, interviews and unseen photos.

The two glorious 80s Boogie tracks written and produced by Roy Ayers here on 7” for the very first time, originally released back to back on 12” single with copies exchanging hands for over £400, this was also much sampled on the Hip Hop scene.

Vinylmania: As classic disco came bounding through the late ’70s and into the electronically orientated sounds of the ’80s, New York was one of the undisputed frontiers for the latest developments in dance music culture, nightclubs and the art of DJ-ing. At the center of this seminal time for vinyl culture was a store called Vinylmania, set up by Charlie Grappone in the heart of Greenwich Village, Manhattan, just as the culture of 12-inch singles and promo copies was taking hold. From supplying Levan, Tony Humphries and many more with the latest imports to championing the emergence of house music in the mid-’80s, Grappone and his staff played a significant role in New York’s own dance music story. Through the ’90s and up until closing in 2007, Vinylmania was a store that catered to DJs from across the complex mixture of racial, social and sexual demographics that made up New York and its legendary nightlife. Man Friday: As the NYC Peech Boys came to an end, Man Friday became Larry Levan’s newest production project. Fronted by Kofi Morny and Brodie Williams, their debut single “Love Honey, Love heartache” was released by Vinyl Mania in 1986 with Larry Levan at the helm of the mix. Love Money: In the spirit of most dance music borrowing elements from other sources,
“Love Honey” was heavily inspired by another Paradise Garage & Loft classic from 1980 and its remix in 1981 by UK Outfit Funk Masters / TW Funkmasters. A dubbed out track big in the Jazz-Funk scene in the UK, it became a hit among underground Deejays in Both NYC & Chicago. Love Honey: No matter what list you look at. ‘Love Honey’ is always attached to Larry Levan’s tenure at the Paradise Garage. All the elements of a Garage Track are here; Dub Echoes, Synth Basslines, Percussions that linger, FX -that one can only dream of hearing on a Richard Long System- and an Organ, because after all, they say the Garage was like going to Church.

Second 2016 release from Disco Modernism, Milan! This is a collection of unreleased
tracks from the solo project of Stefano Tirone, formerly a member of State Of Art and Der
Blaue Reiter and later known as S-Tone Inc.
In 1982 he started experimenting with electronic dance music using analogue keyboards
and drum machines and here is a selection of these experiments.
Among the tracks, “Yes or no” is the instrumental demo that led to the influential Italo
classic “Yes no family” by Jock Hattle.
“Another place in the sun” features Fred Ventura on lead vocals and “No time of no
emotion” is a vocal track with the distinctive sound of Roland 808 drum machine and TB
303 bassline. Four more instrumental tracks complete the session, a couple of which with
a slightly post new wave attitude.
The release is strictly limited to 300