Funk | Soul 66 Items

Nearly a decade after the first 'Tap Water,' XL Middleton delivers the sequel to what many consider a true classic of the modern funk genre. Weaving between singing, rapping, and the robotic refrains of vocoder, XL's vocals glide over his synth-drenched production, which manages to be simultaneously polished yet grimy. It's a perfect meeting ground for those steeped in the raw, underground approach to hip hop production and the cleaner, more organized ethos of dance music. Whether your jam is 80's boogie, 90's g-funk, or R&B-flavored dance music of any generation, 'Tap Water II' is sure to keep your glass full.

Weldon Irvine's album "The Sisters" is a significant release in his career which is featuring sessions he conducted from the late 1970s onwards, alongside Don Blackman and a young Marcus Miller, among others. P-vine announces the first-ever release of a 7-inch single coupling two exceptionally impressive tracks from that album. On the A-side, you'll find the velvety smooth mellow soul of "Morning Sunrise," known for being sampled by Jay-Z and Drake, showcasing the gentle vocals of Don Blackman. On the B-side, "Think I'll Stay A While," a superb funky tune featuring the powerful vocals of Toni Smith, famous for her vocals on Tom Browne's "Funkin' for Jamaica," synonymous with New York funk, awaits you. Don't miss the limited pressing ep!

Compiled by label founder Dom Ore Miles Away: One is a collection of tracks that spans continents, era and genres. Rooted in soul this compilation features recordings from legendary musical figures side-by-side with perhaps lesser-known soulful gems – all beautifully bought together in one cohesive long player.
Setting the tone is Idris Muhammad's spiritual-jazz recording I'm A Believer before moving into the modern soul and funk selections Miles Away have built their reputation around. We have the crossover-soul rarity Yes It's You by Eugene Smiley, the remarkable foot-to-the-floor soulful dance cut She's So Good by Solid Gold Revue, enduring soul funk explosion No Communication by True Transfusion, the gospel-infused Fantasy Ride by Uneda Dennard & the full length extended version of Superstar by Ruth Waters. Many tracks appearing here for the first time since their original release.
On the second disc the compilation begins to weave a slightly different direction compared to the output from Miles Away thus far. Here you'll find soundtrack and library music cuts from the likes of Czech artist Milan Kymlicka, renowned Argentinian composer Oscar Lopez Ruiz and noted Italian song-writer Paolo Zavallone alias Bimbo E I Milionari (edited by Ric Piccolo). Oddities and curiosities come in the form of Be My Friend by Laine August - an 80s electro-pop gem courtesy of Freeez keysman Andy Stennett. There's the stripped back street-soul-sounding Deeper by Colour and the breezy Latin American sounds of Paulina Virgo's Vale Valor. Finishing the set is Lady Africa Margaret Singana's timeless cover of the Stretch track Why Did You Do It.
Painstakingly researched and officially licensed from the artists, producers and labels that originally put out this wonderful music. In-depth liner notes go into great detail about each artist depicting their histories, stories and music - something which has been at the heart of Miles Away from day one. This music deserves to live on long in the memory!

Groove Culture Bosses Micky More & Andy Tee Provided 2 beautiful jazzy-house djfriendly versions of the Classics 'Gypsy Woman' and 'Special Love'. On Both side everything is played live from the bass to the horns. A Must Have.

The only album by the six-piece soul band led by the four Burton brothers, this album is known as the ultimate rare groove that any collector would want. Originally released in 1976 on the local Chicago label Stage Productions, original copies are rarely found on the second-hand market, and when they are, the selling price is always over Us$1000. The album itself continues to increase in value not only because of its rarity, but also because of its solid sound quality, especially the epic groovy funk ‘Open Soul’, which uses the entire B-side of the record and lasts over 20 minutes.

Freshly following their debut LP, Colemine Records is here to introduce the newest 45 from Thee Sinseers.The A-side, "For You" is a man's devotional message that promises it's the real deal this time. The group's sweet, verbed out harmonies set the stage for Joey Quinoñes' artful croon.The B-side is the instrumental version of their album's closing track, "Sinseerly Yours." Here it's aptly renamed "Si Llorarás" (if you will cry). This tune sends the listener off into the sunset with a gentle lap steel guitar tune reminiscent of Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk."

Freshly following their debut LP, Colemine Records is here to introduce the newest 45 from Thee Sinseers.The A-side, "For You" is a man's devotional message that promises it's the real deal this time. The group's sweet, verbed out harmonies set the stage for Joey Quinoñes' artful croon.The B-side is the instrumental version of their album's closing track, "Sinseerly Yours." Here it's aptly renamed "Si Llorarás" (if you will cry). This tune sends the listener off into the sunset with a gentle lap steel guitar tune reminiscent of Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk."

You likely know the Staples Jr. Singers, the family band from Aberdeen, Mississippi, from their first and only record, 1975"s "When Do We Get Paid". They made that record themselves when they were only teenagers. Finally, in a moment they"ve been waiting for most of their lives, the family is back with their sophomore album, "Searching".Recorded in 2023 in West Point, Mississippi, and Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by Ahmed Gallab, aka Sinkane, the first pressing comes with a booklet of photos by Adam Wissing and notes by Anton Spice.

Soul Direction are pleased to announce a new member of the Family “Contempo Soul” series. This label will showcase more contemporary sounding soul from independent artists. Our first offering in conjunction with Kevin Edwards III, and with the help of Dave Thorley. The Keved Project (Feat. Delbert Nelson) – “Life Has Been a Thief” / “Spread Love” – Sdco-1001. Edwards was born in Hamtramck, Michigan in 1959. As a young boy listening to Jimi Hendrix play guitar on Band of Gypsies, he knew he wanted to be a guitar player. By 16 Edwards, was playing in a high school band and at local cabarets. In 1979 Edwards played with Sons, a local jazz band. The group played Top 40s in local venues and eventually opened for the nationally renowned group, Brainstorm, which recorded on the CBS label. Sons and Brainstorm merged in 1980. When Brainstorm broke up in the early '80s Edwards freelanced with several local groups. His career took a turn in 1984 when he began writing and recording his own music. Edwards drew from his experiences and the R & B and jazz classics he'd grown up listening to as his inspiration for writing. Two years later in 1986, Edwards expanded his skills even further when he started producing young local talent. He and a partner produced Rhapsody, a rap group that released several singles on the Giant Record Label. The year 1998 saw the beginning of a new era for Edwards when he and long-time friends Darryl Lee and Greg Nance formed Ground Level. Ground Level enjoyed tremendous success, opening for the Isley Brothers, LL Cool J, Roy Ayers, Ronnie Laws and the funk group Slave. The band received accolades and grew in popularity. In 2003 the band changed its name to Level Rizon, signifying its new status and the fact that they are no longer at "ground level." Level Rizon took a year off of performing to produce That Vibe. With That Vibe Edwards feels he has started a whole new genre of music he calls "NuUrban Soul." He describes NuUrban Soul as a unique blend of jazz-fusion and R & B that has not failed to delight audiences of all walks of life. Kevin has performed with the late Michael Henderson (r/b recording artist known for You are my Starship, Sending a Valentine, Wide Receiver) in 2014. Kevin has also has a certificate in Audio Engineering from the Recording Institute of Detroit, Associates of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from Lawrence Technological University, and Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from ITT Tech. Kevin built, and operates his own recording studio, and is continuously writing and recording new music. Kevin Edwards wants to make real music. "These days you don't hear a whole lot of quality music," said Edwards. "I wanted to make music like we listened to in the '70s. Authentic music with real instruments, not machines with a lot of programming and sampling."

Please see below info for the next release on Les Disques Magnetiques continuing their exploration of the Geneva underground. This time with Sid Spada"s album STELLAGONY. The album"s atmosphere dances between melancholy and the fantasy permitted by hyperpop, drawing from Latin and club sounds. A skillful balance between dark emotions and avant-garde energy is established.

Composer and keyboardist Ricardo Marrero was a prominent figure in the New York Latin music scene during the 1960s and 70s. His debut album was released by TSG Records, and due to the label's characteristics, only a limited number of copies were manufactured. The rarity of the original pressing, coupled with the exceptional quality of its music, has sometimes led it to be dubbed as "the ultimate destination for rare groove collectors." Revered not only by rare groove enthusiasts but also by fans of Latin, bossa nova, funk, and soul, its splendid sound continues to shine as an enduring masterpiece that shows no signs of fading.

Nicholas Bicycle is Nick Bike when in music mode and his next ride takes him deep into the world of the Queen of Soul. Once there he turns out a pair of crucial remixes that will slip right into the upper echelons of your collection. Up first is his take on Aretha's tramp classic 'A Lil Respect' which comes on strong with more heavy and floor-ready drums. Flip it over and you will find 'A Step Too Far Away' which goes from early evening soul to a nice early evening stepper to get the crowd in the groove.

“There are many facets to Misha Panfilov's music. As a music lover himself, reflecting on his extensive catalog reveals numerous references in his harmonic palette, making it challenging to fully encapsulate. This septet's formation embodies his unique sound on this, their second album “To The Mesosphere And Beyond." The music is imbued with optimism, featuring airy, soothing space-age voicings reminiscent of Terry Riley and Raymond Scott, all revolving around jazz. The integration of the unconventional to the genre—such as lap steel guitar, inspired by cosmic country music--serves as an endless wellspring for new musical expressions, and assists Misha in exploring fresh schemes.
The alburn represents the culmination of a remarkable two-week creative marathon. During this period, the band rehearsed and delivered two dynamic live performances at Paavli Kultuurivabrik in Talinn and Fasching in Stockholm. Drawing inspiration from these shows, Misha swiftly composed new musical pieces within two days at a country retreat, bringing the septet together once more for a spontaneous two-day recording session. Remarkably, the entire album creation process spanned merely four days. The urgency arose because the drummer, Leonid Galaganov, had a flight scheduled back to the States-where he resides immediately after the late-night recording session. Despite the time pressure, they successfully managed to beat the clock and hit just the right notes!
On the first day of the studio recording, an unexpected incident unfolded as Misha and bassist Monika Erdman were en route to the studio with a cargo of musical instruments-an untimely tire blowout. However, fear not! Even though Misha lacked prior experience in roadside repairs and driving skills, he rose to the occasion, handling the tire change with the same grace that permeates his music.
Overflowing with anticipation, Volodja Brodsky made his way to the studio with his newly acquired Korg electronic piano, only to face the setback of realizing it lacked a necessary European adapter. Consequently, on the initial recording day, he had to improvise with a peculiar and inexpensive Bontempl organ, imparting the track "Mesosphere" with its distinctive charm. This organ remained partially open most of the time due to the need for constant tuning. Fortunately, on the following day, Volodja managed to acquire the adapter, enabling him to utlize his electronic piano fully on "New Orbits" and partially on "Mesosphere"
Both compositions on this album are structured into four vignettes, transporting listeners beyond temporal and spatial boundaries. "Mesosphere" begins with Misha's distinctive lap steel guitar motif, progressing with intricately layered melodies from the brass section. Volodja Brodsky introduces a minimalist organ melody that effortiessly lifts the listener’s thoughts to ethereal heights. Misha later transitions to an acoustic rhythm guitar to introduce a Brazilan musical aesthetic. Sasha Petrov enters with a heartfelt tenor saxophone solo, weaving poignant melodies through the air. The music briefly pauses before ascending to new peaks with a soul-stirring trumpet solo by Kino Toshiki, radiating with energizing fervor. Volodja returns with a stripped-down bossa nova melody, setting the stage for a rhythmic swell as Sasha and Kino engage in a mellifluous and heartening solo dialogue, accompanied by lush flute embellishments from Ilja Gussarov. Ilja's flute work is delicate yet authoritative, steering the musical narrative skillfuly as the track traverses its graceful path. As the composition nears its conclusion, Ilja shows his improvisational finesse while the primary theme lingers, gradually dissolving into infinity.
"New Orbits” opens with yet another of Misha's unmistakable and captivating chant-like melodies, drawing the listener in with its allure. Volodja Brodsky seamlessly merges his musicality with Monica Erdman on bass and Leonid Galaganov on drums, creating an enchanting harmony that channels the spirit of Getachew Merkuria. Misha's willingness to break free from genre constraints is boldly displayed once more. Sasha Petrov ignites the music with an impassio-nate and searing saxophone solo before returning to its earlier gentler, more subtle sound. The groove then takes an unexpected turn, transitioning into a more stripped-down sound, with Leonid and Monika establishing a head-nod-ding rhythm. The track delves into a mysterious, psychedelic realm, with Ilja Gussarov's captivating flute taking center stage, heightened by Volodja’s interstellar synthesizer sounds. The Septet envelops the listener in a Don Cherry-esque mantra, as if performing an incantation to commune with the earth spirit. Misha's excellent mixing skills shine as he gently guides the listener from a transcendent state back to the odyssey of exploring new orbits and venturing beyond.” -RRGEMS RECORDS, March 2024

This 12-inch vinyl, officially licensed by Sony, features a superb remix by Mike Maurro, who masterfully reworks the stems. On the B side, you'll find the original version. Since its release in 1982, "Looking Up To You" has cemented its status as a modern soul anthem, co-written by Leon Ware and Zane Grey (of Grey & Hanks) and produced by Webster Lewis, all titans in the genre. Heavily sampled since it’s original release, notably by artists like Zhane ("Hey Mr. DJ") and Ortega Cartel ("Miami Vice").

Maurice White, the founder and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire and an undisputed soul legend, left us in 2016, leaving behind a treasure trove of unreleased recordings. Teaming up with producer and singer-songwriter Preston Glass, Maurice White's hidden gems come to light in the form of the collection "Manifestation." Although he only officially released one solo album during his lifetime, it turns out that he had recorded numerous wonderful tracks. The third volume of Maurice White's collection of unreleased demo material focuses on songs that actively tackle the sound approach typical of the 1990s. It is a work that demonstrates not only his appeal as a musician, but also his great sense of smell as a sound creator or producer.

Maurice White, the founder and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire and an undisputed soul legend, left us in 2016, leaving behind a treasure trove of unreleased recordings. Teaming up with producer and singer-songwriter Preston Glass, Maurice White's hidden gems come to light in the form of the collection "Manifestation." Although he only officially released one solo album during his lifetime, it turns out that he had recorded numerous wonderful tracks. The second volume of the unreleased demo recordings by Maurice White compiled songs with pop melodies from his archives that were never released to the public. Three bonus tracks from the version released on Omnivore Recordings are also included on this release. The songs are like diamonds in the rough, proving that his talent as a songwriter had not withered even his late career.

Legendary Japanese guitarist Masaki Matsubara’s two solo albums will be reissued on Pure Virgin Vinyl by Canyon/agharta label, which is known worldwide for its “city Pop” works in recent years! Scheduled for release on August 3rd 2024! A City POP classic album “sniper” featuring vocals of popular AOR singer Jesse Barish, known as the composer of Marty Balin’s hit single “Hearts”, which was also a worldwide hit tune. “Painted Woman” includes the popular song “Silly Crush”, features Eric Tagg of Lee Ritenour band on vocal, which has been played 2.5 million times on Spotify (as of March 2024) and is enjoyed by listeners worldwide, including in L.A. and Jakarta, Bangkok, Santiago, Seoul, etc.

This riotous, psychedelic Latin funk anthem, taken from Martín Buscaglia's 2006 classic album "El evangelio según mi jardinero", sees its very much requested first time on a 7". To celebrate this, and thinking about the AA side, we decided to ask Bosq for a remix.
When we approached him, he said "This track is wild, I love it!" and he started to make his thing. When he finished it, he told us, "I resisted the temptation to bump it up closer to 120 bpm – the world needs more midtempo dancefloor treats!". We couldn't agree more on the midtempo bit, but especially we couldn't be more chuffed with the remix. Bosq has added his magic and a tad of cumbia feel as well and the result is way more than a treat, it's an everyone-smiling-on-the-dancefloor kind of track.

GED Soul is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated reissue of the legendary debut album from Magic In Threes. Out of print for over a decade, this atmospheric 2011 library funk gem has become somewhat of a rarity, fetching absurd prices in the second-hand market. The 2024 reissue has undergone exquisite remastering by Jukka Sarapää from Timmion Cutting and is pressed onto premium black vinyl. Don’t sleep on the chance to own this iconic GED Soul album on wax.

These two Leon Thomas cuts have become increasingly sought after by DJs in recent years. So, we’re delighted to pair both full-length versions on this 33rpm 7”.For his 1973 Flying Dutchman LP “Full Circle” Thomas teamed up with top New York session players like Pee Wee Ellis, Joe Farrell and Neal Creque. The latter composed the apocalyptic funky jazz of ‘It’s My Life I’m Fighting For’. Running for ten minutes it’s a classic. A.IT’S MY LIFE I’M FIGHTING FOR – Leon ThomasB.SHAPE YOUR MIND TO DIE – Leon Thomas

The Pacific Northwest musician John Greekoriginally released "I'm Hot For Your Body" as alimited private press 12" single in 1979 - rumorsabound that only 100 copies were ever made,though much about this record feels apocryphal.Across six minutes of sordid, primal disco-blues,Mr. Greek slowly yields to the power of desire,chasing swirling string synths around a room likethey're ghosts, dousing everything in flange andguitar solos like they're lighter fluid. It's terrifying.It's funky. It's undeniable.With permission from Mr. Greek's estate,we've remastered the original and presented italongside a even-more-unhinged and journeyingversion from Velvet Season & The Hearts OfGold, the duo of Gerry Rooney (co-founder of thelegendary Black Cock edits label) and Joel Martin(of Quiet Village).Not for the faint of heart, this.

Straight Outta Soul N Palms, soulful re-edits for the more discerning ear.

Edwin Starr was a Northern Soul hero, noted for his Ric Tic and Gordy/Tamla Motown recordings in the mid to late 60s.He is best known for his international chart topper 'War' a Vietnam War protest song from 1970. These two sides are from the same album 'War And Peace' .'Time' has been one of Edwin's most in demand Northern Soul dancers for many decades and certain issues of original copies have sold for over £250. In more recent times the flipside ' Running Back And Forth' has been played and is demand on the Northern Soul/Crossover Soul scene making this a great value 45 with two brilliant tracks in demand in their own right, which epitomise the era.

This rare take on the Bobby Caldwell classic will bring latin warmth to any dancefloor. Por Amor was the title track from the first Itty release in 2021, after many requests for a repress it’s finally out again – now on a 7” with a new Comb dub version on the flip!

Transparent Green Vinyl.Introducing Cold Diamond & Mink's latest offering on Timmion Records: an instrumental soul album that strips away the vocals from their collaboration with Jonny Benavidez "My Echo, Shadow and Me".The instrumental version of the well-received Daptone release unveils a rich tapestry of soulful melodies and captivating rhythms that speak volumes on their own.With each track, Cold Diamond & Mink invite listeners on a trip through deep and uncompromising soul terrain. From the haunting ballads such as the previously unheard instrumental of "Your Last Song" to the infectious grooves of the early single releases "Tell Me That You Love Me", their instrumental mastery shines through stringing the songs together into a well-rounded album experience.This album is more than just a collection of songs - it's a proof point of Cold Diamond & Mink's skill in composing and arranging with feeling and authenticity. Whether you're lost in introspection or grooving to the beat, this instrumental soul record offers a unique listening experience that will leave you wanting more.

Introducing Cold Diamond & Mink's latest offering on Timmion Records: an instrumental soul album that strips away the vocals from their collaboration with Jonny Benavidez "My Echo, Shadow and Me".The instrumental version of the well-received Daptone release unveils a rich tapestry of soulful melodies and captivating rhythms that speak volumes on their own.With each track, Cold Diamond & Mink invite listeners on a trip through deep and uncompromising soul terrain. From the haunting ballads such as the previously unheard instrumental of "Your Last Song" to the infectious grooves of the early single releases "Tell Me That You Love Me", their instrumental mastery shines through stringing the songs together into a well-rounded album experience.This album is more than just a collection of songs - it's a proof point of Cold Diamond & Mink's skill in composing and arranging with feeling and authenticity. Whether you're lost in introspection or grooving to the beat, this instrumental soul record offers a unique listening experience that will leave you wanting more.

The soulful instrumental mastery of Cold Diamond & Mink takes center stage in this release that versions two essential tracks from their collaboration with the singer Jonny Benavidez. Both songs are lifted from the album My Echo, Shadow and Me that the group recorded together with the golden-voiced Chicano soul brother for New York's Daptone Records.On the A-side, you get to immerse yourself in the enchanting crossover soul beats of "My Echo, Shadow and Me", the instrumental rendition complementing the previous gems by Benavidez and the band on Timmion Records. Flipping the record exposes another soulful groover in "Playing The Fool" that showcases Cold Diamond & Mink's love for iconic `60s and `70s indie soul by groups like The T.S.U. Toronadoes and The Commands.The whole My Echo, Shadow and Me LP is getting an instrumental treatment on Timmion, and this single shows that even without the vocals Jonny Benavidez's strong influences from Texas Chicano soul shine through loud and clear.

One of the prominent growing voices in Timmion Record'sroster, singer Emilia Sisco blesses your turntable withanother deep soul ballad. Joining hands with ColdDiamond & Mink, Emilia pours a generous helping of deepsoul magic into "Let Me In", gliding over the southerntinged beat with melodic grace.It's almost impossible to remain ambivalent to Emilia'stalent when the spine-tingling chorus with its clever twistsrolls in. The bittersweet love song's timeless feel poursover the listener like the flooding Mississippi, anthemic butunderstated. Flipping the single, we get to revisit Emilia'sprevious single "Love Can Carry Me" but this time ininstrumental mode, titled as "Way Past Midnight". It's notjust a vocal strip down, but this time Cold Diamond & Minkhas equipped the track with a jazzy Grant Green styledlead guitar. Tasty.You would have to be a cold-blooded robot not to feelsomething from this soulful double sider. Forget the dancefloors and bedrooms for a minute, these songs are the bestfertilizer for your personal mind garden.

When it comes to musical performance, Charlie Bereal has done it all. Over the course of his 20+ year career, he's performed with and written for some of the greatest Hip Hop and R&B artists of our time (JAY-Z, Aaliyah, Snoop Dogg, and Missy Elliot to name a few).Now, he's shifting gears to focus on his career as a solo artist. On 5/10/2024, Charlie will re-release his second full-length record entitled 11-11-11 via Karma Chief and Colemine Records.Originally released in 2019, 11-11-11 was recorded over the course of a few casual hangs in Los Angeles. Charlie invited his friends Jairus Mosey and Raphael Saadig to join him in the studio and the trio started to jam. "We were just recording for fun - it wasn't for a specific project at first. Afterward, I listened back and decided to turn the best parts into individual songs." This flexible approach combined with Charlie's masterful production resulted in a soulful, psychedelic blend of original R&B. Think Sly and the Family Stone or Funkadelic.Charlie was born in Los Angeles and raised in Pasadena, CA. Musical talent runs in his family. He started performing at his grandfather's church at a very young age. "My grandfather was a pastor, and my dad was a preacher," he explained. "I started playing in the church band when I was 10, and I was drumming even earlier than that." When he was 16, Charlie and his brother Kenneth started making music professionally. He still works on music with his cousins on a regular basis. "I come from a very talented family. I can count at least seven family members who play professionally these days."Beyond the re-release of his second record, Charlie plans to record another album at Colemine's studio in Ohio. Stay tuned for more original music from this Grammy nominated legend.

The Average Guys emerged during the golden age of R&B in the 1990s, a period that saw the rise of renowned R&B groups. Their only album release has since become highly sought after among collectors due to its rarity. Now, the elusive masterpiece "First Come, First Served" is being released for the first time on vinyl by P-vine.

Released in 1995, this album boasts production by Chad Hugo, a member of The Neptunes, the producer duo responsible for countless hits alongside Pharrell Williams. Tracks like "Ride" (a5), produced by Hugo, and "So Good" (b2), featuring a pre-debut Missy Elliott, showcase a musical quality that deserves more recognition. This album's value extends beyond its rarity; it's a work that should be appreciated for its musical merit as well.

Berlin"s pre-eminent vocal ensemble, "A Song For You" pioneers a new wave of choral music with their debut album "Home". A Song For You, are a groundbreaking vocal ensemble, uniting over 50 artists from all over the world, led by the visionary collaboration of Noah Slee and Dhanesh Jayaselan. The collective defies any form of categorisation, sitting in a sonic realm somewhere between Neo Soul, R&B and Gospel. A Song For You celebrates the rich tapestry of Berlin"s musical landscape while providing a critical platform for underrepresented voices.