Funk | Soul Sale 369 Items

Everybody with a deep knowledge in R&B is confident with the essence of live P-Funk: the costumes, the stagecraft, the dozen-plus musicians. Alongside Sun Ra Arkestra this was pure afro-futurism, longtime before it was of our current language. The so called coming of the Mothership took place in this 1977 live, during the life changing P.Funk Earth Tour. Anyone who’s seen footage of the band at their prime can’t overstate the greatness of their spectacle.

Hannah Macklin’s debut LP ‘Mu’ is a glittering piece of cosmic orchestral neo-soul. Jazz-informed vocals & production merge triphop and prog influences and join the dots between Homegenic era Bjork or Portishead and contemporary artists like Solange. What’s Mu about? Mu is about everything: Songs about heartbreak and parting share the album with songs marveling at the scale of the universe. Mu is a concept from Zen and Chan Buddhism that means: “nothingness” and also, “pure awareness.” The awareness at the source of all things. In Hannah’s words: “There is so much life in every moment. Endless patterns, algorithms and instances repeating and changing and adapting. Spiraling outwards from the source. What source? The source.” In search of the source, Hannah has composed and arranged an undefinable, cinematic album that leads the listener on a winding path through her imagination. Sonically as well as thematically, Mu is an album of extremes and lofty ambitions. Fragile and delicate vocal and violin textures contrast with crunchy noisescapes and brooding synthesizers. Hannah’s commanding voice shares the spotlight with a string section and is backed by spacious production featuring many acoustic instruments. Sonically, producer Nick Herrera has brought a reassuring chunkiness to this unplugged palette, in particular the head nodding drums that anchor Hannah’s celestial musings . Like a film soundtrack or a symphony Mu is best listened to and understood as a whole - it circles back to themes and refrains and re-examines them. Sometimes a song is a song, sometimes it’s a soundscape dreaming of a song. “When making this album, I had a specific concept for how I wanted the music to sound. I don’t mean in terms of genre… it was more of a visceral, sensory concept which I knew I could only realise by allowing myself to experiment and create simultaneously, believing in my rough ideas enough to grow them, to weave them into stories... I have decided to call the album “Mu” to signify the empty chasm I allowed to hold within me whilst these songs were born."

Edbl is back baby! With the unmistakable talent of Yakul’s James Berkeley featured front and center on every song, this album is sure to be the neo-soul album of the year!

With over three full-length albums released over the last two years, South London’s very own edbl is quickly making his way to the top. His latest album sees him collaborate with James Berkeley, the vocalist leading Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards’ 2020 Track Of The Year nominees Yakul! From opener “Just The Same” (featuring “No Pressure” rapper Miller Blue), James’ smooth vocals and edbl’s iconic production go hand-in-hand to create one of contemporary soul’s most exciting albums. This feel good neo-soul album isn’t just for fans of edbl, but is a must-have for all soul fans! With one of our Obi-strips and one Japan-analog exclusive bonus tracks, this record is one you absolutely must not miss!

One of the most influential vocal groups of the 60’s with their original masterpiece, a necessary collection of rare groove and soul ballads. Officially reissued on vinyl after more than 40 years here’s the band fifth album, originally released in 1971 on Little Star Records. Formed in 1958 in Canton, Ohio, and originally consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles. The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with the minor hit "Lonely Drifter" in 1963, but reached their greatest level of success once Gamble & Huff signed them to their Philadelphia International. Super Bad is a raw, deep funk classic. Ranking among their finest work and it is widely regarded as their most complete album.

Recorded in the infamous Stone Castle Studio in Carimate (Como) by the two brothers Alberto & Gianni Tirelli, this is the last album recorded before the passing of Alberto. (Gianni is also known for certain Italo Disco masterpieces such as “Magic Dance” by Loui$.) Amore Mandarino is An act of bold and improvised genius, being entirely recorded in one night with little to no preparation. What resulted will be forever immortalized in your record collection with this exploration of exquisite fraternal expression throughout a multitude of genres. “Marzia Non C'e” is a 6 minute long downtempo dreamy soundtrack to the deepest of summer balearic sunrises. “Dimmi Per Chi” an Italian Reggae not-Reggae excursion served with ultra smooth spoken word lyrics. “Un Colpo Al Cuore” channeling nuances of Italian bastard cousin of Dire Straits in captivating danceable rock form. Arrangement and production standards running high, clearly a product of a golden age in Italian studio recording and session musicianship. Can't go wrong. Includes insert with letter from Gianni to Alberto, R.I.P..

Lost soul phenomenon Lewis Taylor's Numb finally arrives on double vinyl! One of UK soul’s most fascinating artists, most enigmatic figures and most under-appreciated talents, Andrew Lewis Taylor is a prodigious multi-instrumentalist and eclectic polymath. He enjoys a fiercely loyal following which, over the years, has included celebrity champions like Bowie, Elton and D'Angelo. Numb is Taylor's sixth album, initially released on his own label Slow Reality (an anagram of his name) and licensed to Be With for this long-awaited physical edition. It captures Taylor's wholly unique, intoxicating take on lush, late-night psychedelic soul music.

Lewis wrote and recorded these 10 brand new tracks after a 17 year break from making music, although the album came together over a two-year period. The years away have done nothing to dull Taylor's unique musical vision. He still astounds. The lyrical themes, however, have shifted. Understandably, more than a decade and a half of soul searching and unflinching self-examination cannot fail to influence this most honest of songwriters, and boy does it show. Numb marks a return to the darker, more mysterious side of his output: "Brian Wilson-channels-Smokey Robinson atmospheres", as Mojo put it recently.

After playing a rapturously received gig at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC in 2006, Lewis unceremoniously walked away from music and disappeared completely. An interview in 2016 shed light on some of the reasons for Taylor’s withdrawal from the business, but there was no hint of a return anytime soon. Then in June 2021, news emerged out of the blue that he was readying new music alongside Sabina Smyth with whom he had worked first time around.

On Numb, Lewis deftly balances stark, soul-bearing lyrics with moody mid-tempo pop-soul sheen. He deals candidly with depression, mental turmoil, even thoughts of suicide - clearly more personal than Taylor's earlier songs. The music is rich, warm and layered, with infectious melodies and hooks that stick with you. A true grower of an LP, it really does reward repeated listens. As Jim Irvin in Mojo reflected, "despite the depths these plumb, it's a curiously uplifting experience, unfurling like a concept album about life's challenges with an optimistic beauty at its heart."

Triumphant dubwise horns ring out yet, almost instantly, “Final Hour” takes on a dark, downbeat vibe. With lyrics that confront (and, seemingly, confound) death head-on, Lewis ensures the groove is still there, the beats still swing and your head still nods, strings glissade. Woven around delicate yet insistent piano and subtle strings over a killer bassline, the title track “Numb” is a good example of the lyrical themes throughout the album. As Taylor reflects, "So removed I feel no pain / And for all I know I could be having the time of my life" with a coda that feels very much in conversation with Brian Wilson's finest harmonies. "Feels So Good" is sophisticated 90s-sounding soul of the highest order. The music and vocals feel simultaneously optimistic and despondent. Downlifting. A neat trick, and one Lewis has been so adept at over the years. "Apathy" is a mini-epic, a symphonic-soul gem which builds and glides and, eventually, soars. “Worried Mind" is another slow-builder, creeping out the gate in a sketchy, discordant fashion before climbing to half-crescendo but never quite breaking free of its disorientating restraint.

The brighter "Please" presents a more hopeful mood, with the refrain "I still believe" ringing out as Lewis harmonises with himself. "Brave Heart" quietly struts from step one, as Lewis's falsetto swaggers over a downtempo backdrop with ace echoey drums, beautiful strings and serene electric guitar. Closing out Side C, "Is It Cool" answers its own (non-) question with a spellbinding five and a half minutes of swoonsome deep soul that oscillates between a restrained, barely-there backdrop and a lushly full musical accompaniment of acoustic and electric guitar and organ over bass and slick drums. The penultimate track "Nearer" is a magical, soul-stirring ballad in which Lewis sings of reaching a sweet salvation and achieving a peace of mind. If the hairs on the back of your neck aren't standing up by the midway point, you might need to check your pulse. Album closer and true tear-jerker "Being Broken" places Lewis's gorgeous voice high in the mix and the wordless falsetto and melodies invite you to ponder what Pet Sounds might sound like if it were refashioned as a dubby 21st Century electronic soul album. Astonishing.

Simon Francis’s vinyl mastering spreads out the ten tracks over a double LP so, as ever, nothing is compromised. And as usual, the records have been cut by Cicely Balston at Air Studios and pressed at Record Industry. Turn it up and let the Lewis Taylor sound envelop you.

180g remastered reissue

The soft, mellow vibe of ‘Softboi’ is reminiscent of Khruangbin’s worldly funk, Mac Demarco, and Alice Phoebe Lou, and perfectly suits the summer mood. This album showcases an international approach with contributions from Parisian singer-songwriter Claudi Isaki, Swiss-German singer OG Florin and Brazilian Pedro Mizutani on three tracks. The result is an eclectic blend of dreamy lo-fi-pop, nu-jazz and indie soul with rich production that will take you on a lovely sonic journey. Escape the hustle and bustle of the outside world by pressing play. ‘Softboi’ is a perfect album for lazy, hazy summer days. - Twisted Soul Music / CF Smith Two bonus songs on the vinyl version, not available digitally.

The Hammond Organ is lead singer on this soulful and orchestral journey about industrial decay and the death of the steel town. Deep from the rusted steel mills of Youngstown, Ohio, we bring you the much-anticipated reissue of the melting debut from the Scone Cash Players. It's the same organist that brought you the screaming organ on all those Daptone favorites from The Sugarman Three. Scone was behind that organ bench on the modern classics as follows. "Sugar's Boogaloo", "Soul Donkey", "Pure Cane Sugar", and "What the World Needs Now." Adam Scone entered the studio on Dunham Street in Brooklyn. He was wearing a blue Adidas jumpsuit. The studio had just opened. At the helm were his old compadres from The Dap-Kings. Namely Thomas Brenneck, Eric Kalb, Homer Steinweiss and lan Hendrickson-Smith. They make up the "Bliss Machine" behind Scones's groove. It was a truly rare moment to catch these masters of music and taste in between tours of Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley. Tommy put the mics around. Scone powered up the organ. The analog tape machine turned and turned until they couldn't turn anymore. These songs were recorded. We worked all day and all night. Tears were shed. Espresso was made. There was beer on tap. 3 days of life were taken to make this album. We will never get them back. They were distilled to 40 minutes of pure emotion. It's a tale of woe. It's a tale of leaving art for responsibility. It's a farewell to an era. It's a journey that the Hammond B3 organ wasn't accustomed to. You can't compare this album to any other organ record. Don't expect to hear what you want. Free your mind. Be open. Your world is going to feel the heat of the BLAST FURNACE! It never quite feels how you want it to. Don't get burned...FOR FANS OF: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, New Mastersounds, Soulive, Jimmy Smith, Khruangbin

November 5th, 2018 would have been Charles Bradley’s 70th birthday. In celebration of his extraordinary life, Daptone imprint Dunham Records is proud to announce the release of his fourth and final album, Black Velvet.

Black Velvet is a celebration of Charles Bradley, lovingly assembled by his friends and family at Dunham/Daptone Records. Though chronologically the material spans Charles' entire career, this is no anthology, greatest hits or other shallow rehashing of the songs that already made him famous. Rather, this album is a profound exploration through the less-travelled corners of the soulful universe that Charles and his longtime producer, co-writer and friend Tommy "TNT" Brenneck created in the studio together over their decade-long partnership. It features new songs recorded during the sessions from each of his three albums, heard here for the very first time in all their scorching glory: "Can't Fight the Feeling," "Fly Little Girl" and the heart-wrenching single "I Feel a Change", hard core rarities like his funk-bomb duet with LaRose Jackson, "Luv Jones," the psychedelic groover, "(I Hope You Find) The Good Life" and the ever-illusive alternate full band electric version of "Victim of Love", sought-after covers of Nirvana's "Stay Away," Neal Young's "Heart of Gold" and Rodriguez's "Slip Away", and the title track "Black Velvet," a stirring Menahan Street Band instrumental to which Charles was never able to cut a vocal.

Charles was truly a transcendent singer who led a remarkable life, overcoming unimaginable adversity to achieve great success and international acclaim very late in his life. What was really special about him and made him different from everybody else in the world was how he understood his pain as a cry for universal love and humanity. He felt that if he loved enough—if we all loved each other enough—we could take away the world’s pain and sadness. That is why he jumped off the stage and literally tried to hug everybody he could. It's why he took such great care of a mother that had abandoned him. It's why he sang and danced like a lunatic. It's why he screamed like an eagle. And that's why we love him.

Black Velvet is a celebration of his life, and is destined to join Charles' first three albums alongside the cannon of essential soul records for the ages.
The new album is comprised of ten tracks the singer laid down in the years before his death, taken from different recording sessions over the years.

Limited to 100 copies. JPQ (Jimmy Person Quintet) was a short-lived soul & funk band from the Greensboro, North Carolina area who released just one album in 1983. Their only album (Quintessence) would become a much sought-after private pressed holy grail within the record collecting community.

Jimmy Person started performing as a singer/guitarist in the early 70’s in Greensboro…after appearing at several local events and multiple appearances on Wfmy-tv, he was approached to perform regularly at a restaurant (named Sammy’s) that featured live music. By the mid 70’s Jimmy began working with his sister (Rhoda Randolph) and his then wife (Marilyn Person) both featuring as background singers. Other skilled musicians began to sit in on Jimmy’s performances…starting with Charles Carlton (guitar), followed by Cirt Gill (bass guitar) and then finally by Larry Clay (drums). The group gained quick popularity and played to a regular packed house. After Talib Din (keyboards) joined…JPQ was now complete!

Offers for gigs started coming in fast and the group began giving regular performances at a larger restaurant named Huck’s. With a fast growing fanbase, the group started evolving beyond just being Person’s “backup band” to a serious outfit with strong lead-vocals by Jimmy, Larry, and Cirt. The group started traveling to perform at dances, wedding receptions, concerts, clubs, and outdoor jazz events. The group performed as an opening act for many national artists from the likes of Melba Moore, Archie Bell and The Spinners as their popularity increased. JPQ is still remembered today for their memorable live performances in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia!

JPQ’s first recording was, “Have A Little Faith in Me” released as a 45 single. The 7inch got radio airplay on stations in North Carolina and this then led to the production of the “Quintessence” album (released on Jam-A-Ditty Records in 1983). The name of the label was a reference to Cirt’s father who was a radio pioneer (and the first Black DJ at Wgbg Radio) from 1949 to 1960. He was known on the air as ‘Jam-A-Ditty’.

After JPQ disbanded in the mid 80’s, members went their own way… Cirt Gill started his work as a band director in the Guilford County School system where he directed marching bands & jazz bands at different schools and in numerous concerts/performances. He has been busy teaching academic music production, playing in regional bands (that were opening acts for major artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Millie Jackson, Bobby Womack, The Isley Brothers, etc.) and has performed on tours both at home as abroad (from Iceland to Japan). In 1985 Gill was cast as the ‘Juke Joint Musician’ by Quincy Jones to star in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film ‘The Color Purple’ and got the chance to work with Whoopi Goldberg, Laurence Fishburne & Oprah Winfrey.

JPQ was a true example of a bright light burning out way too quickly, thankfully we are left with the unique (and very rare) document that is their “Quintessence” album. The entire album is filled with sexy (yet strong) vocals, groovy bass lines & even cosmic/bluesy guitar touches …one can clearly hear the influences of artists like George Benson, The Crusaders, as well as several Motown acts like Marvin Gaye softly slipping in. If you like your tracks either slow, sexy and groovy or prefer them fast paced and more experimental…look no further, “Quintessence” has it all. This is THE perfect combination of slick soul, timeless funk, smooth jazz and melancholic R&B.

Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the first ever vinyl reissue of this fantastic private pressed North Carolina soul/funk album (originally released in 1983 on Jam-A-Ditty Records). This rare record (original copies tend to go for large amounts on the secondary market) is now finally back available as a limited vinyl edition complete with the original artwork and insert. Limited to 100 copies 180g Brown Vinyl (available exclusively from HHV Records).