Curtis Baker & The Bravehearts - "Fried Fish ’n’ Collard Greens" (2:40)
The Native Yinzer - "The Hip Strip" (2:33)
Review: The fourth edition in Original Gravity's Down In The Basement series, which gathers instrumental soul and swing cuts onto worthy 7" slabs, resounding the fervent 1960s decadal gap in which mod reigned supreme. With juleps flowing and kneecaps knocking, Abramo & Nestor bring newfangled electric pianistic swing with 'Dig It!', while a twinned "hit it!" injunction is heard from Floyd James & The GTs on the reissued 'Work That Thang'; James' voice is tubed and speed-delayed to terrific effect, achieving a sprung intonation. Curtis Baker brassifies the bonanza with the lively 'Fried Fish 'n' Collard Greens', while The Native Yinzer's exiting excitation 'The Hip Strip' quilts our ears with a mnemic, down-feathery Hammond-breaks bit.
Review: The Mighty Zaf and Mark GV Taylor are the deep digging pair behind BBE's such loved Americana compilation from 2014. Now they are back unearthing the goods on this tasty 7". Arthur released only one solo album but its was packed with gold. This single is from it and is a pure blue eyed soul with sweet licks from guitarist Dean Devener and whimsical vocals from Maye Cavallaro. Future Force's 'Reincarnation' was originally the B-side of NYC pop and funk outfit Future Force's only ever single. It's a groovy, funk laced and disco tinged roller.
Review: Two more rare grooves purloined from Cultures Of Soul's Brasileiro Treasure Box Of Funk & Soul and delivered on a sweet 45: Celia's "A Hora E Essa" is a steamy Latin funk workout from 72; all horns, cuicas and soft, honeyed vocals. Franco's "Ei, Voce, Psiu!" takes a more US funk idea with Franco's spoken vocals giving off a strong air of bandleader as the band lock down a tight groove beneath. Watch out for samba flip towards the end. Blink and you'll miss it.
Review: Favorite Recordings has previously championed revered and little-known Francophile disco and boogie gems, mostly on dedicated compilations curated by dusty-fingered digger Charles Maurice. This '45' marks the launch of a new series along similar lines, with each release boasting two hard-to-find tracks accompanied by their original cover art (one on the front, the other on the back). On side A you'll find 'Give It Up' by Belgian band Charms, a warming and loved-up chunk of boogie/mid-80s soul brilliance stacked with luscious synth sounds, rubbery bass guitar and eyes-closed male lead vocals. Over on the reverse is France-Lise's 'Pour-moi ca ma', a simply superb slab of French language disco blessed with a killer bassline, funky guitar licks and some suitably heady horns. Tres bon!
Review: Mushroom Pillow is on a proud and so far successful mission to bring back Latin American music from the 60s-80s via its Relatin project. it's all about mixing up the traditional and the modern and putting fresh spins on what went before. Many of the originals they look to have gone unnoticed the first time round and that's the case here as Franc Moody adds his own twist to Elia & Elizabeth's 'Alegria.' His remix is a sympathetic one that gets the hips swinging over fat and funky disco bass and beneath the sunny Latin vocals. He strips them away on the instrumental version on the flip.
Review: Fabulous Performers are a golden age Philadelphia group with a distinctive take on heart aching blue-eyed soul. Never was that more evident that on the two subtle and super sweet sounds offered up on this new double sider from Blackjack. It is a limited edition 45rpm that has artwork made to look like it came from the original era and has been made in cooperation with Reggie Marshall, brother of the late Fabulous man James Marshall. 'Oh How You Hurt Me' is a real heart wrencher with lush falsettos and frankly the flipside 'There She Goes' is just as good.
The Family Daptone - "Hey Brother (Do Unto Others)" (3:52)
Soul Fugue - "The 100 Knights Orchestra" (4:58)
Review: Soul and funk heads won't want to miss this very special seven-inch from the Daptone Records crew, and not just because it's the label's 100th "45". The A-side features an all-star '60s soul cover of the Frightnrs rock-steady cut featuring vocal contributions from Saun and Starr, James Hunter, Lee Fields, Naomi Shelton, Duke Amayo, the Frightnrs and two legends who are no longer with us: Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones. It's a one-off that won't be repeated for obvious reasons, but more importantly it's very, very good. Over on the flip main man Bosco Mann takes charge, conducting and producing "two opposing armies" of woodwind and horn players from the label's expansive musical roster. As you'd expect, it's something of an epic.
Review: Ralph Lamb and his confrere Andy Ross are The Family Fortune. They serve up their own unique twists on sounds you would expect from James Brown with classic dance floor vibes and powerful vocals from the one and only Jessica Darling. This fresh new slice of funk gold comes on tasty 7" via the Skyline label. Both tracks are super short but super sweet. Up first is 'Andy Cafe '68' (part 1) with its prickly drumming, big horn work and playful swing. Flip it over and 'Andy Cafe '68 (part 2)' works the chords more but aside from that carries on where part one left off. Two tidy bits of funk of ever we did hear them.
Review: Working with its sister label OST Recordings, Acid Jazz releases a new version of 'Family Tree' by Family Tree, on a smart-looking label based on the look of the original's Ananda label. For the first time since 1975, this new reissue comes with the Kevin Beamish Disco version and a shorter disco mix, as was initially compiled. Handcrafted by 'I Specialize In Love' hitmaker Sharon Brown and her group Family Tree, this eponymous disco-funk sheller is an unpolished study of musicianship above overproduction; the drums are dynamic and dry, lending ample space to Sharon's nostalgic familial reminiscences.
Review: Rooted in the musical vibrancy of New Orleans, The Family Underground was led by Roland Treaudo and Manuel Herrera Jr and transcended cultural boundaries with their fusion of Baptist and Hispanic influences. Their legendary Sunday residency at Whitey's Devil's Den was consistently packed beyond its 400-person capacity and showcased Manuel's piano prowess and Roland's magnetic stage presence. For over 250 consecutive weeks, the band's electrifying performances continued into the early hours without promotion, drawing crowds far and wide. Amidst relentless touring, their limited studio time birthed timeless classics 'Everybody Knows' and 'For The Love Of You' which now arrive on this special 7" for Record Store Day.
Review: Miami's Far Produce are fresh faces, but their sound is full of respect for times past, building on classic soul jazz by bringing it a modern instrumental twist. Led by two Studio City, CA natives - Addison Rifkind on guitar and Michael Duffy on drums - Fat Produce deliver a veritable cornucopia of fruits and groceries to chew on here. 7" A-sider 'Sticky Beets' turns our inners red, as we're led to imagine chowing down on the perfect beetroot yield and the funky euphoria that inevitably follows ingestion of such a delicacy. B-sider 'Son!', meanwhile, draws on an amalgamation of several Bay Area-inspired grooves - Duffy is a walking rhythmic encyclopaedia - set against an improvised, on-the-fly groove first laid down by Rifkind, whose hook-worthiness is unmistakable here.
Review: Originally hailing from Washington DC, Father's Children were one of the capital's most promising funk outfits in the late 70s. This new 7" reissue on South Street Soul revives two prized tracks from their Mercury Records era, produced by Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders. 'Hollywood Dreaming' is a breezy, rolling slice of mellow soul-funkithe sort of elegant groove that turns up on late-night radio, all gentle clavs and cruising vocals. Flip it and 'Shine On' turns up the energy, driven by a snapping slap bassline, crisp brass jabs and a slick group vocal arrangement. Both cuts originally appeared on their 1979 LP, but the original 45 has long been a holy grail for collectorsifetching triple digits. This reissue not only preserves the format but delivers on fidelity and style, giving DJs and heads alike a long-awaited chance to spin these Washington-grown grooves without fear of shelling out a fortune.
Review: Originally released in 1979, this is a highly sought-after gem due a reissue to bring its soulful, classic charms back into the spotlight, complete with the original B-side. The opening track, 'Hollywood Dreaming', is a smooth, catchy piece that expertly blends a funky rhythm with a rich horn section and excellent vocals. The infectious melody and creative arrangement make it a standout in the band's catalog. It's a track that embodies the essence of late '70s soul and funk while still feeling fresh and timeless. 'Shine On' delivers a late-night disco groove, heavily influenced by the genre's rise during the era. Its funky bassline and smooth rhythm provide a perfect soundtrack for dancefloors and intimate settings alike. The track oozes with soulful energy, showcasing the band's ability to seamlessly merge funk and disco influences into a cohesive sound. Father's Children, formed in Washington, D.C., originally as a doo-wop group, evolved into a funk and soul powerhouse by the late 70s. It is certainly bittersweet to hold this piece of music in your hand - and especially without having to take out a second mortgage.
Review: Starting out as a group called The Dreams, Washington DC's Father's Children hit their stride in 1972, recording some early sessions before hitting the road around America. Unfortunately their career never quite gathered momentum despite releasing an album in 1979, but fortunately the masters from their early days were preserved and finally unearthed for a 2011 reissue on Numero. It's from this reissue that two of their finest early singles are pulled for this perfect soul nugget on Soul Direction, the slow and funky 'Everybody's Got A Problem' and the joyous, dreamy 'In Shallah'.
Review: Hilton Felton's 'Be Bop Boogie' is a delightful classic from the man originally from Norfolk, Virginia. The jazz organ player worked with the likes of Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers as well as Eva Cassidy at points in his career, and his debut solo album from which this is taken is impossible to find these days. This rare groove jazz funk nugget was recorded in the same place as 'The Bottle' by Gil Scott heron and uses all of its seven minute play time to really get deep under your skin. On the flip is part 2, a rare Japanese 7" edition from 2011.
Review: Keyboardist Hilton Felton's 'The Power Of Love (It's In My Heart)' has never been available on standalone 7", until now. It has been newly remastered for the occasion and finds the talented Felton at his best as he lays down his signature mellow grooves. For proof look no further than the groovy soul of 'The Power Of Love (It's In My Heart)' has Angela Winbush as a youth on vocals and features great musical depth, while s 'The Power Of Love (It's In My Heart)', which has never been released as a single, and 'Spreading Fever (Part 1)' is as smooth as they come with its silky and seductive lead sax.
Review: In cahoots with legendary Japanese record store Jet Set, Freestyle Records has decided to offer-up a 45 featuring two tidy cuts from Lance Ferguson's Rare Groove Spectrum 2 album, a second set of inspired cover versions from the multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and producer. On side A the Melbourne-based musician gives his take on Azymuth classic 'Veo Sobre O Horizonte', re-imaging it as a starry, vintage synth-laden shuffle through sun-baked South American jazz-funk complete with woozy horns, Herbie Hancock keyes and eyes-closed female vocalizations. On the reverse Ferguson turns his hand to Carly Simon's 'Why', adding gorgeous horn solos and sunset-ready flourishes to a faithful re-recording of the reggae-influenced number's familiar groove.
Review: Jamaican singers Sonia Ferguson and Tyrone David recorded 'Use To Be My Dread' in the late 70s for producer Bunny Lee. A lovers' rock gem, Ferguson's vocals are rhythmically deft, and Bunny Lee's production is glitzy and dynamic, adding to its sense of serene and playful humour. The song concerns a former lover who has changed for the worse, though, despite this change, Ferguson regards this person as akin to a dreadlock, a permanent lock of hair and an enduring part of her being. Though it was originally released as a single on the Attack label, it has since become a sought-after collector's item, and so thoroughly deserves this reissue via Rock A Shaka.
Review: Lee delivers two powerhouse performances from his album Sentimental Fool. 'Two Jobs' channels the conviction of James Brown with Bobby Bland's swing, showcasing Lee's command and swagger. The track's deep piano intro and frantic shuffle captivate listeners with a sound few can replicate. On 'Save Your Tears for Someone New,' Lee delivers a masterclass in rhythm and soul, his ferociously soulful voice shining in this dark r&b ballad. With each note, Lee proves why he's considered one of the best soul singers alive, leaving listeners wanting more.
Review: Following on from their release of Graham Collier's outstanding performance from Stockholm Jazz Days in 1969, thoughtfully curated label My Only Desire turn their attention to Brit Jazz with a new series of 7" records shining a light on less-heralded talents. Kevin Figes is a saxophonist, flutist and composer who has previously played with the likes of Keith Tippett and released an album on Pig Records in 2021. Here, he's playing with a full band line-up including Riaan Vosloo on bass, Tony Orrell on drums, Jim Blomfield on piano, Raphael Clarkson on trombone and Peter Judge on trumpet. The two pieces - one composed by Elton Dean and the other by the aforementioned Tippett - are a fine tribute to the legacy of British jazz.
Review: Shirley Finney's 1979 debut album "Pray Again" has recently become something of a sought-after set amongst collectors of disco-era gospel soul. Original copies of the LP are expensive and hard to come by, so Rain & Shine has decided to stick two of the set's most admired tracks on one 7-inch single. "Pray Again" is rather wonderful, with Finney delivering a strong, heartfelt vocal above a backing track rich in sustained organ chords, jangling pianos and clipped guitars. "Give Your Best To The Master", meanwhile, is a more up-tempo and stomping gospel-disco affair that benefits greatly from some stellar choral backing vocals. It sounds like the sort of thing that Tony Humphries may have championed at Zanzibar in New Jersey back in the day.
Review: San Franciscan soul crooner and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Finnegan shares the 7" vinyl edition of his 2023 single 'Leave You Alone', following on from its original cassette and digital release. A lo-fi testament to unrequited love, moving on and giving in, regaling a love story from the femme perspective and recalling the soulful themes of singer Bettye Swann. This time, the record also comes backed by a B-sider, 'Thom's Hartbreak', is a sonic thank you letter to Thom Bell & William Hart, two names synonymous with the 60s-70s Philly Sound.
Review: For fans of classic soul like Lee Fields and Bobby Oroza, Kelly Finnigan's latest 45 is a pure delight. On the A-side, an upbeat Northern soul-inspired track from A Lover Was Born pulses with raw emotionisyncopated guitars and brass-powered intensity back Finnigan's story of a love in crisis. The B-side adds a bonus cut, evoking the 60s soul vibe of Stax Records with a deep, minor-key groove. Here, gospel-tinged harmonies and moody horns underscore Finnigan's heartache, capturing a timeless feel with modern passion.
Review: Hot on the heels of his acclaimed sophomore album A Lover Was Born, Kelly Finnigan makes a quick return with this soul-packed 7". The A-side, 'Get A Hold Of Yourself,' is a Northern soul-inspired stomper that channels the raw emotion of Memphis soul with heavy drums, syncopated guitars, bold horns and Finnigan's impassioned vocals. It tells the story of a rocky relationship where emotional strain disrupts physical connection then the B-side is a fresh bonus cut from the A Lover Was Born sessions inspired by Barbara & The Browns' Stax classic 'Hurts Me So Much'. It's a moody groove with gospel-infused vocals.
Review: First Timers is a destined collaboration between two accomplished producers Andreas Stevens (aka DJ Greyboy) and Brian Ellis. Setting out to create timeless music using only the finest vintage hardware gear, they've conjured a stunning debut bridging a gap between funk and AOR/Soft Rock. First Timers unleash onto the world a 45 housing the working man's anthem 'Three Day Weekend' and Stone City-inspired 'Out The Sheath'. Both tracks feature live horn arrangements by the Black Thor Horn Section, an attribute as rare as the vintage synths and drum machines used to craft these tunes.
Review: Famed for his classic slinky soul disco 1981 bomb "Don't Send Me Away" and his tenure in the Delphonics live band, Garfield Fleming returns to vinyl after almost 40 years thanks to Cordial. And he does so with brand new material. Taken from his eponymous six track mini album "Ain't Nothing Too Good For My Woman" is a shiny 80s soul gem with stacks of space for Garfield's signature soaring vocals and the purring female backing vocals while "Hustlin'" gets a lean strip-back to bare guitars, flutes and Fleming's naked vocals. What a comeback.
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