Funk | Soul 4364 Items

Limited Edition of 300 on colored vinyl. Only at HHV. One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.

There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t “Feelin’ Bitchy” until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.

Ms. Davis’s unique story, still sadly mostly unknown, is unlike any other in popular music. Betty wrote the song “Uptown” for the Chambers Brothers before marrying Miles Davis in the late ‘60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Jimi Hendrix — personally inspiring the classic album ’Bitches Brew.’

But her songwriting ability was way ahead of its time as well. Betty not only wrote every song she ever recorded and produced every album after her first, but the young woman penned the tunes that got The Commodores signed to Motown. The Detroit label soon came calling, pitching a Motown songwriting deal, which Betty turned down. Motown wanted to own everything. Heading to the UK, Marc Bolan of T. Rex urged the creative dynamo to start writing for herself. A common thread throughout Betty’s career would be her unbending Do-It-Yourself ethic, which made her quickly turn down anyone who didn’t fit with the vision. She would eventually say no to Eric Clapton as her album producer, seeing him as too banal.

In 1973, Davis would finally kick off her cosmic career with an amazingly progressive hard funk and sweet soul self-titled debut. Davis showcased her fiercely unique talent and features such gems as “If I’m In Luck I Might Get Picked Up” and “Game Is My Middle Name.” The album Betty Davis was recorded with Sly & The Family Stone’s rhythm section, sharply produced by Sly Stone drummer Greg Errico, and featured backing vocals from Sylvester and the Pointer Sisters.

One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.

There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t Feelin’ Bitchy until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.

Ms. Davis’s unique story, still sadly mostly unknown, is unlike any other in popular music. Betty wrote the song “Uptown” for the Chambers Brothers before marrying Miles Davis in the late ’60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Ji mi Hendrix — personally inspiring the classic album Bitches Brew.

But her songwriting ability was way ahead of its time as well. Betty not only wrote every song she ever recorded and produced every album after her first, but the young woman penned the tunes that got The Commodores signed to Motown. The Detroit label soon came calling, pitching a Motown songwriting deal, which Betty turned down. Motown wanted to own everything. Heading to the UK, Marc Bolan of T. Rex urged the creative dynamo to start writing for herself. A common thread throughout Betty’s career would be her unbending Do-It-Yourself ethic, which made her quickly turn down anyone who didn’t fit with the vision. She would eventually say no to Eric Cla pton as her album producer, seeing him as too banal.

Her 1974 sophomore album They Say I’m Different features a worthy-of-framing futuristic cover challenging David Bowie’s science fiction funk with real rocking soul-fire, kicked off with the savagely sexual “Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him” (later sampled by Ice Cube). Her follow up is full of classic cuts like “Don’t Call Her No Tramp” and the hilarious, hard, deep funk of “He Was A Big Freak.”

Reuniting the best session musicians Japan had to offer to make an album that would evoke the atmospheres of South Pacific islands, the kind of places Japanese people spend their vacations in. Pacific (1978) is a treat to the ears; its theme of the southern Pacific ocean and its warm cerulean waters relax its listeners with a fusion of city pop, soft jazz, and that good old 1970’s funk while remaining surprisingly fully instrumental throughout all contributions from artists Haruomi Hosono, Shigeru Suzuki, and Tatsuro Yamashita. A true cult LP and an inspiration for a lot of, so called, “vaporware” music.

You know that long hot days are fast approaching when it is Brazilian music that you crave. Thankfully the Scruniversal has got us covered with a second release that is as scorching as the first. It pairs MPB, samba and Latin flair with hard-edged hip-hop and funk stylings across a pair of tunes from Scruscru, each one a different collaboration. The first is alongside Tony Lavrutz and has gorgeous vocals and organic percussion paired with cut-up beats and jazzy keys that will ignite any floor on 'Rave Du Brazil.' It is Los Protos's jazz funk groover 'Primavera' that gets the good vibes going on the flip.

Sault returns with a new album featuring Michael Ofo and Little Simz. NINE will be limited to a short press run of 16,000 units, never to be re-issued again!

Limited to 500 copies on transparent yellow vinyl in gatefold sleeve, exclusively available at HHV.

The debut EP by singer and producer Pale Jay. The first batch of vinyl sold out quick so we had to order a new round. This time with a limited inside out print.

’The Celestial Suite’: a body of work rooted in the unconscious, displaying a deep connection between Pale Jay and his musical guides such as Donny Hathaway, J Dilla and Khruangbin. Pale Jay’s self-produced debut EP ‘The Celestial Suite’ showcases his fragile falsetto floating over dusty beats and serene strings glued together by ageless arrangements.

The international response so far has been positive through and through with tastemakers like Colors, BBC1xtra, BBC 6, BBC Sounds, Diffus, Wordplay Magazine and more showing love for Pale Jay and his soul soaked ballads.

Limited to 200 copies that are - in Germany, Switzerland and Austria - only available to HHV customers.

Fresh NEW album from the Peck

didn't have That on your 2022 bingo Card

recorded in a sauna in secret

all good tunes. that feel Good.

The Ironsides have arrived. Changing Light is the first full-length effort from this masterful group of Bay Area musicians. It melds classic psych-soul sounds with sweeping orchestral arrangements - reminiscent of a cinematic soundtrack from a 60s European film. The Changing Light evokes strong imagery of an open road, a breathtaking view, and scenes of a vast landscape begging to be explored. Cruise up the coast, where sweeping orchestral arrangements rise and fall with the tide. As you head North, the countryside opens to an undeniable groove. Tremolo-soaked guitar tones grow on the vines, and timeless, soulful bass lines flow like wine. In higher altitudes, French horns and trumpets soar like eagles. A river below carries bellowing cello tones through a mountain pass into an expansive canyon. Down in the desert, fuzzed-out electric guitar cuts through the dry heat and leaves the listener thirsty for more. Plot a course, or just turn on the car and drive. Max recommends the latter. "The songs are inspired by landscapes - Each one could mean something to someone and create a completely different meaning for someone else." At the end of a long road, The Ironsides have found the perfect place to begin.

Record Store Day 2023 limited run / regional release limited to 1000 copies.
Soul Jazz Records’ 200% Dynamite! set the benchmark for reggae meets funk compilations that has never been bettered. Out of print for over 15 years this new 2023 edition contains new tracks and is being released in a one-off limited-edition heavyweight red/blue vinyl pressing with a download code, exclusively for Record Store Day 2023.

Jam-packed with reggae tunes that crossed-over to become dancefloor hits such as Tenor Saw’s sound boy anthem ‘Ring the Alarm,’ K.C. White’s classic cut of the seminal ‘No, No, No’ and Augustus Pablo’s ‘Rockers Rock’, 200% Dynamite explores the links between reggae, jazz, funk and soul. Carrying on perfectly from 100% Dynamite, this second compilation continues to trace the history of Jamaican reggae and the influence of American styles such as funk and jazz had on this music.

Featured here are serious funk and rocksteady tunes from the likes of The Skatalites and Johnny Osbourne through to Jamaican jazz from masters such as Tommy McCook and Byron Lee, as well as some serious dub from the likes of Augustus Pablo, King Tubby and Jackie Mittoo. New bonus tracks on this new 2023 edition include seminal dancehall party cuts Sister Nancy’s ‘One Two’ and Chaka Demus and Pliers’ ‘Murder She Wrote’, alongside classic soul to reggae covers including cuts of Marlena Shaw’s ‘Women of the Ghetto’ and Odyssey’s ‘Don’t Tell Me Tell Her’.

“Once again, Soul Jazz goes digging through the reggae vaults and produces another sterling compilation. If you’re looking for a primer on the music of the island, you could do worse than buying every one of the records in this superb compilation series.” --All Music

Long awaited re-issue of Harri Stojka Express’ “What a Funky Night”, originally released in 1983. The Austrian producer/guitarist took everyone by surprise with this huge Boogie-Disco-Funk meteorite, due to his previous releases, which were mostly jazz-rock-fusion orientated records. Previously only pressed in Austria and Spain, Mothers I’d Like To Funk is proud to present to you an official re-issue of this Funk anthem, and the flip side features a marijuana reggae tune

Limited Edition of 300 on colored vinyl. Only at HHV. Betty Davis was a musical maverick with vision. Image, substance, sex, and grit combined with a badass band that could deliver the funk bed backbone to the sultry music between the sheets. After cutting two notorious discs for the Just Sunshine label (Betty Davis and They Say I’m Different), and Nasty Gal for Island Records, Davis went to work on her most personal and expressive record yet. After capturing 10 hard-hitting tracks in 1976 at the remote Studio In The Country (Louisiana), a creative difference with her then label caused the platter to be unexpectedly shelved. Davis would cut one final album and soon retreat from the music business, completely disappearing from the public eye.

Is It Love Or Desire is a little-known gem in the Davis catalogue. Mastered from the original tapes, and untouched for over 30 years, this release features detailed liner notes by Oliver Wang (Soul Sides, Betty Davis and They Say I’m Different re-issue contributor), the originally intended artwork housed in a lavishly packaged digipak, rare photos, archival material, and recent interviews with Davis and her skin-tight band Funk House.

Never bootlegged, never released, never heard until now, the secret story of this lost album will finally enter the history books and cement this bold soul sisters contributions to music and popular culture. Its time to get down…

Long live Betty Davis!

There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t “Feelin’ Bitchy” until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.

Latest mash up masterpiece from AMERIGO GAZAWAY, the man behind BIZARRE TRIBE, YASIIN GAYE, and FELA SOUL. On this new SOUL MATES project he brings to life an imagined studio session between the high priestess of soul NINA SIMONE and hip hop legend LAURYN HILL. 17 track two LP set in pic sleeve.

Limited edition of 200 copies

Big Crown Records is proud to present the debut full length offering from Les Imprimés, Rêverie. The stirring and ethereal sounds of Les Imprimés have been making fans of anyone who hears them since their first 7" single hit the speakers. Morten Martens is the man behind the band. Born, raised, and working in Kristiansand, Norway, he keeps a low prole while making his heart felt, highly infectious, and unique music. This album is a long time coming for Martens, and it is certain to make him a name to be reckoned with. The first thing you notice listening to Les Imprimés is the high level of musician-ship. Martens plays nearly every instrument on the recordings and handles the production and arranging. He has been making records for decades, winning a Spellemann Award (aka, the Norwegian Grammy) in 2006 for producing a HipHop album, as well as getting nominations across three other genres. While awards and accolades speak to the level of his talent, this new album really shows who he is, an artist on his own terms. Moving away from being a hired gun on the touring scene naturally led him to start doing more studio work. Slowly collecting gear and getting more experi-ence behind the boards, he built his own studio on the island of Odderoya and was making a living playing with and recording other people's music. As the story goes, after those sessions would end, he would work on his own project into the wee hours of the night. From these late night sessions, Les Imprimés was born and Rêverie began to take shape. However, "it wasn't until COVID, when things locked down, that I was really able to nd the time to focus on Les Imprimés" Morten says about creating and leading his own solo project. "It was a scary time. But I knew I had to do something with it." He took the sum of his inuences, combined them with his own vibe and got busy writing the music, playing the instruments, and singing the songs. "It's soul music, but I don't exactly have the soul voice," Morten explains humbly. "But I do it my own way, in a way that's mine. "It is his sound, his fingerprint, his sensibility, that makes his music hard to put in a box. The album showcases both Martens' range and his ability to make a cohesive album. The lead single "Falling Away" starts with a raw drum break and turns into a lushly arranged tune that paints the picture of love when it slips away. On "Still Here" he professes his resilience through life's twists and turns over a thundering track that puts a new spin on the B side ballad genre. Songs like "You" and "Our Love" mix tones from 60s and 70s Soul with arrangement nods to Doo Wop records, while Martens' lyrics and delivery leave you singing the melodies long after they finish. "Love & Flowers" finds Martens in a moment of clarity with a song that ts the niche subgenre of happy break up tunes, the four on the floor track will move the dancefloor or while the message will resonate with anyone who put too much effort into the wrong situation in their lives. However, it is songs like "Muse" and "Chess" that really encapsulate the uniqueness of Les Imprimés as they push the boundaries of genre, one a profession of love for music and the other a cover of an electronic record respectively. Martens' lyrics, emotion, and delivery truly make the whole thing come together and stand out from any of his peers. There's an infectiousness and a pop sensibility in the writing that is done with the utmost class and taste, giving Les Imprimés the rare quality of immediate attraction that only deepens the more you listen.

180 gram audiophile vinyl
Includes insert
Debut album from 2001, produced by Bilal, Dr. Dre, Questlove, Raphael Saadiq, Jay Dee aka Dilla a.o.
Includes the singles "Soul Sista", "Fast Lane" featuring Dr. Dre & Jadakiss, "Reminisce" featuring Mos Def and Common a.o.
For the first time commercially available on vinyl

Hey Joyce (BlackCash & Theo Edit) by Lou Courtney b/w Soupy (BlackCash & Theo Edit) by Maggie Thrett | Galaxy Sound Co. — Gsc45-36 If you know, you know. & I know many of you have been digging for the very rare donut “Hey Joyce” by Lou Courtney. Even if you first heard it back in the day via #CutChemist & #DJShadow, this gem has long been popular amongst #raregroove dancers & dusty-fingered hip-hop DJs/beat-makers. “Hey Joyce” is a rare 1967 single from soul man Lou Courtney. Featuring a rasping, impassioned lead vocal from Courtney, sweet female backing vocals & the kind of semi-stomping beat that's so beloved by Northern Soul heads. In 1991, Main Source sampled it on their track “He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)”. & thanks to the fine folks at @galaxy_sound_company you can cop it all for yourself.

On the flip, we have another lost funk jam, “Soupy” by Maggie Thrett, that has been sampled by #PrincePaul & #DeLaSoul for 1989’s “Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)”. Black Cash & Theo do the track right with a proper edit that'll put smiles on faces all across the dance floor. Like the A-side, “Soupy” is also a fave of Cut Chemist & DJ Shadow, as evidenced by their live sets & sample of it for their 2008 track “Fused Of Course”. As with all GSC45s, another true must-have treat & 45-crate essential.

HHV exclusive edition on Red / White vinyl, limited to 300 copies.

Piper continues their blend of groove-laden synth-pop funk with an LP so cool that the album cover itself depicts snow-covered scenery, yet is so warm to listen to you’ll believe that you’re at an 80’s themed pool party: Gentle Breeze!

Soundway presents a double-sider of raw, West Indian Funk from 1977. Led by King Wellington's 'Shango', the stand-out cut harvested from his Sooner Or Later LP finally gets the 45 treatment it deserves. Inspired by the Shango ritual with its roots in Yoruba culture, traces of Calypso music are driven by hypnotic bass and Wellington's signature vocal, making up a musical blend only found in the Caribbean.

Hidden on the B-side, 'Mystery Music' fronted by Canadian musician Tony Springer, embarks on a dreamy, dynamic and even a touch psychedelic trip. Steel pans coupled with floating horns, electronic keyboard effects, crisp drums and subtle guitar licks cook up a soundscape baked by the Trinidad sun. While original copies climb their way to impossible-to-find status, enthusiasts will be excited to hear this sought after piece of music is available on the 45 format again.

Incredibly sought after (and once bootlegged) sweet modern soul track from Georgia's Tony Troutman. Feel-good grooves, delicious harmonies and joyous vocals make for a recipe that will lift any lacklustre mood. Finally released as an official reissue with original label artwork this super rare record, has been known to change hands for over £800 in the past, with only the top diggers able to hunt down this one. Yellow label version, white sleeve.

HHV exclusive edition on Yellow / White vinyl, limited to 300 copies.

Riding high on the success of Gentle Breeze, PIPER was eager to put out more new material. Keeping the same members and guest musicians, the band used its excitement and forward momentum – aided no doubt by its ever-growing experience and taste for experimentation – to produce its next album, Sunshine Kiz, within the tiny span of six months. And despite seeing no change in personnel for these latest efforts, PIPER’s musicality was constantly evolving.

Perhaps most obviously, Sunshine Kiz showed the band beginning to break away from its signature style. Instrumentals were no longer the focus as more vocal-centric tracks made their way to the fore. Sunshine Kiz turned out to be a “song album,” and its lyric sheet saw a substantial increase in the number of words. A Drumulator replaced the LinnDrums, and the programmed percussion suddenly sounded more natural. Some songs actually featured live drumming, abandoning programmed beats altogether.

It could be said that this all amounted to, at least partially, a return to PIPER’s roots. Or, maybe more accurately, it was something like PIPER circa 1981 filtered through the signature sound the band had forged with their two Breeze albums of 1983. The title track on Sunshine Kiz was released as their second-ever single – their first since “Far Away” from their debut album. And with this new single there even came a music video.

A deep, funk-fuelled Smithstonian double sider, straight outta Memphis. An eerie spiritual soul track ‘Mississippi Mud’ on the A side, paired with an equally low-slung funk number ‘Just Sitting’ on the B. The original changes hands for £250+…so buy or cry! Black label version original black sleeve.

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band return with another set covers bound to get you out of your seat and on your feet. The mysterious German steel pan outt is working on their fourth studio album now and treat us to another must have two-sider to hold us over while they nish it. This one is sure to become another favorite among DJs worldwide. On the A side BRSB take on a huge hit with an eerie cover of Drake's "Hotline Bling". The intro melodica hints at the melody and when the beat drops and the top line plays on the pans all bets are off. The B side is something of a Big Crown family affair as Bacao covers "Murkit Gem" from El Michels Affair's Yeti Season album. The tune lends itself to the pans with its infectious melodies and the way BRSB plays it, it takes on a James Bond spy chase energy that works perfectly.

Two classic Jackie Stoudemire gems, ‘Flying High’ and ‘Guilty’ get a long overdue reissue, the former of which has never been available on vinyl before.

Picked up by Tap Records impresario Jeremiah Yisrael, Jackie spent the lion’s share of 1982 in the studio with Yisrael, the prolific Gene Redd and dozens of musicians, including purportedly Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Ten songs were recorded over the course of the year, and two of the standouts are pressed loud and proud on either side of this limited 7 inch. First up the funk-fuelled, slick and stylish disco number ‘Flying High’, pressed for the first time ever to vinyl. ‘Guilty’ takes the B, one of the last songs Gene Redd would ever pen and some of the finest production work in a career that spanned four decades. Disco at its brilliant best. Yellow label version white sleeve.

Formed around the singular talent that was Patti Hamilton, Chicago teen soul trio, The Lovelites, released one album - With Love from The Lovelites - before disbanding. Their sole album, initially a commercial failure, would become a crate digger classic, selling with several-hundred dollar premiums on the second hand market over half a century after its release. And it’s no wonder why - Patti Hamilton’s soulful voice sounds wise beyond her years, and the trio’s angelic harmonies are backed by a full Chicago brass band. With the deft hand of Clarence Johnson (best known for his production of Brighter Side of Darkness) producing, the harmonies are sweet, the band is tight, and the singular voice of Patti Hamilton shines through it all. The first ever reissue of With Love From The Lovelites is available on limited edition vinyl, with an obi-strip, only from P-vine Records.

Since the release of Surprise Chef’s 2022 album, Education & Recreation they have been touring across the US, Europe, and Australia selling out shows and cementing themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Releasing three albums and a string of successful 7” singles since 2019, their output is nothing short of proli¬c and they show no signs of slowing down with the announcement of their new Friendship EP. Friendship is a six song 12” EP that picks up where the last album left off and pushes their sound in new directions as they take on different energies and make them their own. The EP opens with “Rosemary Hemphill”, a gorgeous yet haunting tune that takes the listener through a myriad of musical changes and moods. “Friendship Theme” is a bouncy and energetic number with an infectious and driving topline that is sure to move dance oors around the globe. “Over The Moon” is pure mood music that puts Surprise Chef’s restraint and tasteful use of space front and center while “Spiky Boi” is a frantic upbeat number drenched in percussion and keyboards. With a year of heavy touring plans in front of them in 2023 this EP will bridge the gap while they write and record their next album due out in 2024.

The Ironsides have arrived. Changing Light is the first full-length effort from this masterful group of Bay Area musicians. It melds classic psych-soul sounds with sweeping orchestral arrangements - reminiscent of a cinematic soundtrack from a 60s European film. The Changing Light evokes strong imagery of an open road, a breathtaking view, and scenes of a vast landscape begging to be explored. Cruise up the coast, where sweeping orchestral arrangements rise and fall with the tide. As you head North, the countryside opens to an undeniable groove. Tremolo-soaked guitar tones grow on the vines, and timeless, soulful bass lines flow like wine. In higher altitudes, French horns and trumpets soar like eagles. A river below carries bellowing cello tones through a mountain pass into an expansive canyon. Down in the desert, fuzzed-out electric guitar cuts through the dry heat and leaves the listener thirsty for more. Plot a course, or just turn on the car and drive. Max recommends the latter. "The songs are inspired by landscapes - Each one could mean something to someone and create a completely different meaning for someone else." At the end of a long road, The Ironsides have found the perfect place to begin.

The heaviest of jazz funk grooves from the musical melting pot of New Orleans, The Dome City Rock Orchestra – Quiet Village is a super rare slice of tight-as-you-like talent, that commands prices of over £200 for an original 7 inch, if you can ever find one. Bursting with energy as synthesisers swirl around flutes, bongos dance over drums to create a cosmic whirlwind that enthrals any ear it worms its way into. Orange label version original black sleeve.

Attn.: We did not receive this record in time for RSD, but we will get it this week.

Re-issued and remastered. Genre - Funk/Jazz/Soul/Psyche. 'Life & Love' is the third album from Skinshape (with 'Filoxiny' being his fourth). Written, Recorded and Produced by Will Dorey at the Arch Studio, London, and in his bedroom. Great melting pot of styles and tunes, D.I.Y. Funk Soul Jazz. Recommended if you're into Khruangbin. Skinshape is the project of British musician William Dorey. The sound has roots in many genres but in particular 1960s-0s Funk, Soul, Reggae, Psychedelic Rock, Afrobeat and Folk. Skinshape grew out of a love for old music and the way it sounded. Initially Dorey experimented with samples (especially drum breaks) to create instrumental Hip-Hop/Trip-Hop tracks but then later started to play around with tape machines as a means to create his own 'samples'. This process gave birth to Skinshape with all elements being recorded by Dorey since the first self-titled album released in 2014. Aside from the Skinshape project Dorey was bassist for the band Palace from 2014-2017 and runs a reggae label called Horus Records based in North London.

Attention: the sticker says "incl. booklet", but there's no booklet inside!

Now-Again Records is proud to present "Back From The Brink", the only legitimately licensed collection of the godfather of Iranian psychedelic rock, Kourosh Yaghmaei. Known within the Iranian diaspora simply by his first name, Kourosh’s Pre-Revolution recordings were thought lost after Islamic fundamentalists took control of Iran. They weren’t: Kourosh had protected them – along with key ephemera from the 70’s. Their collection here - spread over a 3-LP - bolstered by Kourosh’s first person recollections of Iran’s 70s rock scene and its death after the Revolution, tells the story of an immensely talented artist’s desire to persevere in the face of terrible adversity.

Limited to 100 copies

Wildfire was a household name in Tropical Island music circles due to their excellent albums and performances throughout Trinidad, Tobago, the Caribbean & US Virgin Islands and French Guadeloupe. In 1962, they started off as ‘The Sparks’ (a well-respected Calypso outfit who released a bunch of successful singles) but with the release of their hit single ‘Come On Down’ from 1975, they exploded into Wildfire.

Wildfire had a very fruitful career and released four top full-length albums and a vast amount of singles before calling it quits. Led by bandleader Oliver Chapman (bass & guitar player, vocalist, arranger, producer and co-writer for the majority of the bands’ songs) and comprised out of high talented musicians, Wildfire was out there with the big boys in the niche they carved out for themselves.

On the album we are presenting you today (Time Is The Answer from 1980) you’ll find the perfect mix of funk, soul and disco, basically the popular sounds of the day, and all tracks are originals. The album is Funky and the production quality can rival with any of their peers and records produced/recorded in the US. The performance of Wildfire on this album is beyond excellent. This release was also the first time the group took control over production and getting their album out in the world. Also included is the hit single ‘Say A Little Prayer For The Children’ which is just one of those songs that will be stuck in your head forever.

Besides virtuoso Oliver Chapman: the talent that was featured on ‘Time Is The Answer’ is exceptional. Anstey Hamilton carries around a rich, noticeable tenor voice. Arthur Byron, who also did vocals on the album, has a beautiful rasping tone that can knock you out anytime he gets into his act. Fitzroy Isaac on keyboards and Donald Leid on drums are the guys that were responsible for keeping the groove tight. Clifford Wilson, like Oliver, had been with the band since the start. He is calm in his approach, he played the bass guitar and sung background vocals, he also chipped in with Oliver whenever they wrote songs together. Finally, we have Cyllan Charles, who was known as the Wildfire voice. Cyllan had been doing most of the lead vocals since he joined the group in 1972, he was the most experienced of all the members, and can really take you to higher heights anytime he gets into doing his thing both on stage and on wax.

“Time is the Answer” by Wildfire is a scarce and increasingly sought-after LP. Filled with hit-bound songs, it comes as no surprise that the album has now become a much-wanted item due to its addictive and original-sounding nature. This is a must-have for any self-respecting record digger!

Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the first ever reissue of this fantastic Island Funk-Soul classic (originally self-released in 1980 on Wild Fire Records) & this is also the first time the album is getting a release outside of Trinidad & Tobago. This rare record (original copies tend to go for large amounts on the secondary market) is now finally back available as a limited 180g vinyl edition. Limited to 100 copies 180g Black ICE Color Vinyl Exclusively FOR HHV

LTD edition orange vinyl with Selector Series picture sleeve and free holographic sticker. Two classics reimagined with a West Coast jazz-funk feel for the first time on a 45. The A side, a rocky fusion version of The Beginning Of The End's ‘Funky Nassau’, and the B side, a psychedelic take on Isaac Hayes' ‘Shaft’. These obscure covers from The Chuck Boris Trio have remained in only the deepest of collector’s bags with the LP going for well over £100, now remastered on either side of a beautifully packaged 7 inch.

180 gram pressing

Marvin Gaye at his very best! Two classics from Gaye’s esteemed catalogue, ‘I Wanna Be Where You Are’ and ‘I Want You’ with alternative mixes that have never been on 12 inch before. Plucked from the Deluxe Edition of the spellbinding ‘I Want You’ album that was mixed Kevin Reeves & remastered by Ellen Fitton, these two cuts have always called out for loud and proud pressing on either side of a 12. Up first, ‘I Wanna Be Where You Are’ written by the magical pairing of Leon Ware and Arthur 'T-Boy' Ross with Ware also behind the production controls. An abbreviated cover of Michael Jackson’s hit, it sees Gaye take a brief respite from his usual steamy and sensual swooning to express his love for his family. Jackson would then return the favour, taking influence from Marvin’s 1977 hit ‘Got to Give it Up’ to make ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’. Originally a 1:17 minute segue on the album, the Unedited version clocks in at over 6 minutes, turning it from a transitionary passage to a standalone gem. Extending those delectable grooves, building and breaking with a sun-kissed, funk channelling feeling that washes over like a warm wave. With the 7 inch release trading hands for over £75 on Discogs this ain’t one to miss. On the flip, ‘I Want You’ written by the same duo as the A, with Leon Ware once again on the production and released as part of the same ’76 album. It was an LP that introduced a change in musical styles for Gaye, songs such as this giving him a disco audience thanks to Leon Ware. The Jam-Alternate version leaves Gaye’s vocals till the final section, letting that sweet soaring soundtrack sing to its absolute emotive peak. Sunrise or sunset, this one is not to be used lightly - tears of joy on the dancefloor guaranteed.

Limited orange/black splatter vinyl!Back in 2004, Vampisoul was extremely honoured to play a role in the return to recording of the legendary Joe Bataan, which fully materialized in the acclaimed album "Call My Name", written and produced by Daniel Collás (The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Incarnations). Today, the song that marked the return of Joe Bataan finally makes it into a 7" single for the first time."This whole project grew out of a song called 'Cycles of You', which I had written around 2000-2001 with the guitarist and bassist of my band at the time, Easy. The chord progression and vocal melody really reminded me of Bataan, and it occurred to me that it wouldn't be impossible to get him into the studio to do a guest vocal if we ever recorded it. I had met Bataan a few years before at a small, family-reunion style show at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in my neighbourhood, where he not only still sounded great, but was also gracious and easy to talk to.By the time we got around to recording with Easy, the band was about to break up but we still had the studio booked. We all agreed that we didn't want to continue as a band, but at the same time, it would be a shame to never record what we had been working on. Around this time Bataan was playing out again, so I went to the show to see him and find out if he'd be interested in doing some vocals with us. He was agreeable, so we decided to turn it into a Joe Bataan session and do 'Cycles of You'.When I got the opportunity from Vampisoul to do a full album, I was hoping Bataan and I could write some songs together, but our schedules proved tough to coordinate. I figured the best way to go about it was to do most of the work and just have him come sing on it. I thought this might be a little weird for him, since he is used to writing and producing most of his own records, but he was open to it.The rhythm section was a band called TransLove Airways that I formed in 2002. We got really tight and developed a great sound that was, to me, equal...

Rocafort Records say hello to 2023 with a deep, sultry lilt to usher in the new year. Madrid-based producer, Oscar Martos, offers two wide-hipped tracks that are not rushing to go anywhere – apart from a soft shuffle to the feet and booty.
Both tracks feature the sweet vocals of Cuban singer, Essy, who adds a sexy heat and dreamy languor. 'So Lonely' has a hint of a 90s soul R'n'B hit; not overly produced and left to breathe its groove with instant hook and harmonies. B side, 'Mi Vida' carries a similar imprint, this time with a more pronounced latino/hip-hop sabor. Confident mid-tempo tracks that could easily seal the end of many hot, sweaty nights.
After having worked on a variety of other artists' projects, Martos is finally ready to blow his own trumpet.

After so many emails badgering for a repress, we got 500 for you here, grab em quick!

Undisputedly one of the best, across the board crowd and D.J pleasing rare Disco 45s ever cut to vinyl, two sides of AAA grade party smashers. Cut as loud and Deep as we could manage , this fully licenced 45 won't be around long, it sells itself, don't hang about, no repress.

Betty Davis was a musical maverick with vision. Image, substance, sex, and grit combined with a badass band that could deliver the funk bed backbone to the sultry music between the sheets. After cutting two notorious discs for the Just Sunshine label (Betty Davis and They Say I’m Different), and Nasty Gal for Island Records, Davis went to work on her most personal and expressive record yet. After capturing 10 hard-hitting tracks in 1976 at the remote Studio In The Country (Louisiana), a creative difference with her then label caused the platter to be unexpectedly shelved. Davis would cut one final album and soon retreat from the music business, completely disappearing from the public eye.

Is It Love Or Desire is a little-known gem in the Davis catalog. Mastered from the original tapes, and untouched for over 30 years, this release features detailed liner notes, the originally intended artwork housed in a lavishly packaged digipak, rare photos, archival material, and recent interviews with Davis and her skin-tight band Funk House.

Never bootlegged, never released, never heard until now, the secret story of this lost album will finally enter the history books and cement this bold soul sisters contributions to music and popular culture. Its time to get down…

Long live Betty Davis!

This one is special. All unreleased material. Only one pressing ever. Vulf collectors know the code. This is it.

Some gorgeous soulful boogie tracks right here!! The French Philippe Lecauchois, better known as "Phil Boogie Times" and Claudio Casalini, the factotum of the Italian label Best Record, teamed up with the intention of carrying on their identical passion, being devoted to Boogie, Funk, Soul and " Old School Disco". There couldn't have been a better choice to start this conjunction of passions and sharing of ideals: the first 12inch, produced by Darryl Payne in 1983, sees two precious gems such as "What's the Deal" b/w "Have You for My Love" by the charming ex Salsoul artist, Carol Williams (btbs-12001). The other reissue of Phil and Claudio is 1984's "Come Back Lover" masterfully sung and arranged by Carl Smith (btbs-12002). Listening to these splendid 40-year-old productions again will do good to the hearts of all the followers and fans of true soul music made in the USA. Coming on a limited vinyl edition!

The Rhythm Makers's Soul On Your Side is flawless proto-disco funk. The Bronx-based band - that later went on to form heavyweight disco outfit GQ - originally released this treasure in 1976 and it's long been a hard to find record. It's also rare to find a record this hard. Captivating funk at its rawest, no doubt.

Storming out the gate with the rollicking Loft/Garage staple "Can You Feel It (Part 1)", the listener is immediately put on notice that this LP is just a little bit special. The title track, "Soul On Your Side", is a classic dancer and the basis of GQ's future hit "Disco Nights". But it's perhaps "Zone", a huge Baldelli track, that the record is best known for. Hypnotic psyched-out cosmic-disco / cosmic funk, it's an unrelenting groove that really thrusts the party into hyperdrive. With doses of scintillating Latin and pulsating African rhythms driving the pumping tune, atop an unstoppable bassline and imaginative, soul-slathered keyboard figures, it's basically a full-on funk assault. You might need a lie-down after this.

But there's no let-up on the B-Side, immediately grooving thanks to "Funk-N-You", a laidback glider that just rolls in the sleek style. Gorgeous harmony skills are displayed on "Street Dreamin'". Beautiful and gritty funk, by turns. "You're My Last Girl" is an airy ballad with two leads before the legendary "Monterey" enters the fray. A much-sampled instrumental and heavy disco-funk nugget, it contains an amazing B-Boy drum break making the whole LP worth the price of admission. "Can You Feel It (Part 2)" closes out this spectacular set.

The Rhythm Makers had been gigging around New York City since the late ’60s, having initially come together as Sabu and the Survivors, named after bassist Keith “Sabu” Crier. They eventually - for this album at least! - settled on The Rhythm Makers and cut one record for the small De-Lite subsidiary Vigor. The core lineup featured Crier, keyboardist Herb Lane, drummer Kenny Banks and rhythm guitarist Rahiem Leblanc.

Mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Cicely Balston for Alchemy at AIR Studios with artwork restored at Be With HQ, this new edition should hopefully bring this album into the homes and record boxes of many more people.

Liberated Brother was the debut album from Weldon Irvine, and remains a landmark jazz release from the multi-talented explorer of sound. Originally released in 1972, over the course of eight tracks Irvine weaves through a collage of genre and instrumentation, fusing elements that would come to define his pioneering jazz-funk sound.

The album features Irvine’s early instrumental jazz before his decidedly conversational approach on the follow-up album Time Capsule. The title and opening track 'Liberated Brother,' with its playful Latin arrangements introduces the first half in spritely fashion, and mellows as Irvine's piano sets the mood for “Here’s Where I Came In” - a track where sombre tones feel luxurious, and conscious instrumentation tests the waters, spreading weight evenly across the soundscape. Guitarist Tommy Smith emerges as a singular figure at the start of side B with 'Gloria' - a timeless guitar composition so wholesome with its delicate simplicity, it attests the level of musicianship that keeps Irvine company across these tracks. The two then strike up a jazz-funk partnership on the subsequent “Homey” with their respective keyboards and guitar.

P-vine is thrilled to be reissuing Liberated Brother as a limited edition LP with newly remastered audio, and an iconic Japanese obi strip attached.

Nate Smith
Joe Dart
Cory Wong
Mark Lettieri

Jack Stratton — producer, mixer
Caleb Parker — engineer

Khruangbin has always been multilingual, weaving far-flung musical languages like East Asian surf-rock, Persian funk, and Jamaican dub into mellifluous harmony. But on its third album, it's finally speaking out loud. Mordechai features vocals prominently on nearly every song, a first for the mostly instrumental band. It's a shift that rewards the risk, reorienting Khruangbin's transportive sound toward a new sense of emotional directness, without losing the spirit of nomadic wandering that's always defined it. And it all started with them coming home. By the summer of 2019, the Houston group_bassist Laura Lee Ochoa, guitarist Mark Speer, drummer DJ Johnson_had been on tour for nearly three-and-ahalf years, playing to audiences across North and South America, Europe, and southeast Asia behind its acclaimed albums The Universe Smiles Upon You and Con Todo El Mundo. They returned to their farmhouse studio in Burton, Texas, ready to begin work on their third album. But they were also determined to slow down, to take their time and luxuriate in building something together. Musically, the band's ever-restless ear saw it pulling reference points from Pakistan, Korea, and West Africa, incorporating strains of Indian chanting boxes and Congolese syncopated guitar. But more than anything, the album became a celebration of Houston, the eclectic city that had nurtured them, and a cultural nexus where you can check out country and zydeco, trap rap, or avant-garde opera on any given night. In those years away from home, Khruangbin's members often felt like they were swimming underwater, unsure of where they were going, or why they were going there. But Mordechai leads them gently back to the surface, allowing them to take a breath, look around, and find itself again. It is a snapshot taken along a larger journey_a moment all the more beautiful for its impermanence. And it's a memory to revisit again and again, speaking to us now more clearly than ever.

Driving anywhere in Texas can cost you half a day, easy. For example, it'll take you over four hours just to get from R&B singer Leon Bridges' hometown of Fort Worth down to Houston, where the psychedelic wanderers in Khruangbin hail from. The state is vast, crisscrossed with rugged expanses of road flanked by limestone cliffs and granite mountains, forests of pine and mesquite, miles of desert or acres of sprawling grassland, all depending on what part you're in. And it's all baking under the Texas Sun that lends its name to Bridges and Khruangbin's new collaborative EP. "Big sky country, that's what they call Texas," Khruangbin bassist Laura Lee says. "The horizon line goes all the way from one side to another without interruption. There's something really comforting about that." On Texas Sun, these two members of the state's musical vanguard meet up somewhere in the middle of that scene, in the mythical nexus of Texas' past, present, and future-a dreamy badlands where genres blur as seamlessly as the terrain. It calls equally to the cowboys boot-scooting at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, the chopped-and-screwed hip-hop fans rattling slabs on the southside of Houston, the art-school kids dropping acid in Austin, the cross-cultural progeny who grew up on listening to both mariachi and post-hardcore out on the Mexican borders of El Paso. All of these things, overlapping in a multicolored melange, purple hues as vivid and unpredictable as one of the state's rightfully celebrated sunsets. A journey through homesick reminiscences, backseat romances, and late-night contemplations, the kind of record made for listening with the windows down and the road humming softly beneath you. Like the highways that inspired it, Texas Sun is guaranteed to get you where you're going-especially if you're in no particular hurry to get there.

The impact of Weldon Irvine’s music across a wealth of genres cannot be overstated with his piano playing and compositions regularly handed down through generations, and influencing new waves of musicians. Artists like Q-Tip and Mos Def are noted admirers of the jazz-funk artist, and the distinct sounds of Irvine can be heard in the tapestry of the 90s sound via samples appearing in key records of the jazz hip-hop movement and beyond.

Time Capsule was originally released in 1973, and is keen to strike up a conversation with the listener as social commentary and poetic reflections signpost the way through its otherworldly jazz. Early tracks like 'Feelin’ Mellow' see a contemplative Weldon brew a satisfying blend of soul with lovingly warm vocal harmonies and gliding instrumentation. In contrast, other windows into the mind of Weldon like the meandering 'Watergate - Don’t Bug Me!,' are as much a virtuoso display of his bouncing creativity, as a charting of the rocky political climate at the time.

P-vine is thrilled to be releasing Time Capsule as a limited edition LP with a newly remastered audio, and an iconic Japanese obi strip attached.

In 2021, Eddie Chacon and John Carroll Kirby decamped to Ibiza for two weeks. There, they rented the island’s only Fender Rhodes from one of the local rave crews. John posted it against the plaster walls and concrete floors of their temporary home, which was set into a green hillside overlooking a beach called Siesta. As they worked on Sundown, Pharoah Sanders’s “Greeting to Saud” was a daily listen. Instead of emulating its sound, Eddie absorbed its deeper lesson – that simplicity wins out over virtuosity every time.

They wrote the first half of Sundown during that Ibiza stay and finished it at 64 Sound Studios in Los Angeles, where they both live. Joining Eddie on vocals and John on production and keys were Logan Hone (flutes and saxophones) Elizabeth Lea (trombone), Will Logan (drums) and David Leach (percussion). “It feels like we’re building our dream house,” says Eddie. “With Pleasure, Joy, and Happiness, we poured the foundation and now we’re expanding into new rooms.”

Mama's Gun is the second studio album by American neo soul singer Erykah Badu. It was recorded between 1999 and 2000 at Electric Lady Studios in New York and released on November 21, 2000, by Motown Records. A neo soul album, Mama's Gun incorporates funk, soul, and jazz styles. It has confessional lyrics by Badu, which cover themes of insecurity, social issues and personal relationships. The album has been viewed by critics as a female companion to neo soul artist D'Angelo's second album Voodoo (2000), which features a similar musical style and direction. The album contains the single "Bag Lady", a top 10 Billboard hit, nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and for Best R&B Song.

Limited to 200 copies

HHV is happy to bring this awesome rendition of William DeVaughns classic "Be Thankful for What You've Got" by Sunsay & The Soul Surfers on red vinyl.

Finally, back on wax!
Double purple colored vinyl LP pressing. This is the first of a three-part series of acclaimed records by Erykah Badu where she explores a post-Civil Rights landscape in which African Americans have been left to sort out how to have a cultural identity as part of a nation that had, up until very recently, been a dedicated adversary. Originally released in 2008, it features the singles "Soldier," "The Healer," and "Honey."

“We present our first ‘Untitled’ album to mark a moment in time where we as Black People, and of Black Origin are fighting for our lives. RIP George Floyd and all those who have suffered from police brutality and systemic racism. Change is happening… We are focused.”

Pressed at Optimal.

Dynamite Cuts has unleashed perhaps one of the greatest, if not, the greatest, summer time soul classics. The legendary Roy Ayers has written many gems over the years, loads of club and dance tracks and some killer down tempo songs but, one stands up above all the rest. It's been issued as a 7" before, back in 1975 and now sells for big bucks - if you're lucky enough to find one.

A - "Everybody loves the sunshine" - I would say needs no introduction, just check youtube 11.5 million people can't be wrong, it's simple, timeless and oh sooo needed to be on 7" again!

B - "Lonesome Cowboy" First time on 7" vinyl. This mid-tempo vocal funk vibe, includes a classic old school ultimate breaks and beats sample and is one for the DJs.



Don't Miss out!!45 rpm 7"

Label & Cat No. Dynamite Cuts - Dynam7094

Del Jones, a poet, and proto-rapper, recorded Court is Closed in 1973. It was underground Philadelphia’s response to Amiri Baraka’s and Gil Scott-Heron’s indictments of the Black American experience - a call to action not just for his city, but for the nation. The set includes an oversized 10 page booklet by Jeremy Cargill, with contributions by Now-Again founder Eothen “Egon” Alapatt which delves into Jones’ music, milieu and life as an author, activist and orator, shining a light not only on his prescient awareness of hip-hop, but also on the struggles he confronted, and his urgent, current mandate. Court is Closed, equal parts psychedelic rock and deep funk, had a limited release of 500 copies and was rarely heard before Jones overdubbed horns on the album, remixed and augmented it with additional music, and issued it as the better-known Positive Vibes. Here we present both versions of the album on the 23rd release in the deluxe Now-Again Reserve Edition series. Jones’ story, and that of his family, is like his music: a loud, vital voice long silenced. Understanding it now is not just a visceral musical experience, but an essential dissection of racism and classism in America.

Record Store Day 2023 limited release with regional focus limited to 1000 copies. Soul Jazz Records’ new Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul: Gospel, Funk and Soul at the Crossroads 1971-83 is a one-off limited-edition heavyweight red vinyl pressing + download code exclusively for Record Store Day 2023.

The album draws upon the extensive links between Black American Gospel music and Soul music, showing how the sensibilities of gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Andraé Crouch and others crossed over into secular soul music during this period.
Many of the most successful soul artists – from Aretha Franklin to Al Green, The Staples Singers to Sam Cooke – all drew upon their upbringing in the church for their musical inspiration. This album discusses how important the links between the Black church and Soul music were in creating Soul, and spotlights some of the many important (and also little-known) Gospel artists who walked this line between sacred music and soul, funk and disco in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul shows how sacred Gospel music was at home with Stevie Wonder and Blaxploitation-style funk and produced music celebrated both in New York’s underground discos (The Paradise Garage, Studio 54, etc) and later sampled by the likes of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Mary J Blige.

For Fans of Aasha Puthli, Grace Jones, Minnie Ripperton, The Supremes, Love Apple, Liquid Liquid, ESG. Say She She's debut 45 features "Forget Me Not," an homage to New York City's Guerilla Girls and to all the women's rights and protest movements who have paved the way for change. Doused in the funkiest rhythm section and bursting at the seams with harmonies, the song is a psychedelic siren's call to disrupt and dismantle male dominated spaces. "Blow My Mind" is the fiery and seductive B-side. A song about returning to reignite the fire of a former flame you still carry the torch for - even after all these years. The impassioned and sultry cries "Mayday in my heyday, crying out for you to save me!" teeter between youthful yearning and blazing independence. Let the dreamscape bridges guide you to climactic Hindi riffs, accented with operatic cries, that will lift you yonder.

LImited to 100 copies on bone colored vinyl. Only at HHV.

Houston’s reputation for developing first-class jazz acts is well-established, as a stream of young players has been distinguishing themselves for decades…among those musicians and mentors who stood tallest, Bubbha Thomas was no exception (and a major key-player) in this long tradition of talent.

Before becoming an artist and educator, Bubbha Thomas (born 1937) was a Fourth Ward kid who grew up in a music-filled household. In High School, he divided his time between music & basketball (he excelled at both) and studied with jazz legend Conrad “Prof” Johnson. “Prof” would later bring jazz glory to Texas with the Kashmere Stage Band, the group of teenagers who would win the “Best High School Stage Band In The Nation” prize in Mobile, Alabama in 1972 and who were anthologized in 2006 on Now-Again’s ‘Thunder Soul’ (which led to the 2010 Jamie Foxx documentary of the same name).

After finishing college, Bubbha got drafted in the service (he was a Korean War veteran) and would return to Houston in the early 1960s where he found work as a session drummer for the Duke and Peacock labels. Thomas drummed on recordings by O.V. Wright, Buddy Ace and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. He was playing his own stuff and backing luminaries such as R&B singer Chuck Jackson and homegrown legends like Lightnin’ Hopkins. Bubbha Thomas also teamed up with some of his equally legendary peers (like guitarist Melvin Sparks & organist Leon Spencer) and eventually established his own group, the Jazz Merchants.

Bubbha learned every style that was thrown at him and he played straight-ahead jazz with renowned artists before the political and social upheaval of the late 1960s led him to a path first charted by Coltrane and Sun Ra…the result of these newfound influences was the incredible spiritual jazz ensemble ‘The Lightmen’, who released four incredible recordings in the 1970s. Their first album ‘Free As You wanna be’ predates the deep-set, maverick jazz issued by the likes of Tribe and Strata East and is a harbinger of some of the best in the 1970s jazz underground. The Lightmen albums eventually fell out of print until 2017 when the Now-Again record label brought them back into circulation and generated new interest in Bubbha Thomas’ work.

Thomas had a storied career as a drummer and bandleader, but perhaps his most enduring work is that as a founder of Houston’s Summer Jazz Workshop, a remarkable program that nurtured upcoming talent for generations…we can’t begin to count the number of young people who benefitted from the exposure to music-arts because of Bubbha Thomas and what he meant to the Houston music community. In his career he earned five Grammy nominations and authored a pair of books. Next to this he was also a writer/editor for several local newspapers, ran one of the first Houston African American Television shows and he hosted a radio program on KYOK. Impressive to say the least!

Bubbha Thomas passed away in March 2020 at the age of 82. It was obvious he was a principled, fiery & wise person…and any anger he felt at America’s (and the world’s) injustices he met with music, intellect, activism and unity!

Next to his work with ‘’The Lightmen’’, Bubbha also released the fantastic (solo) album ‘Life & Times’ in 1985. ‘Life & Times’ (which we are proudly presenting you today) is particularly interesting to boogie-enthusiasts because of its high doses of funky twerks, solid grooves, crazy synth work, soulful vocals and excellent drum-beats courtesy of Mr. Thomas himself. You’ll quickly find yourself shaking hips the moment the needle hits the first track! The whole album is backed by a fantastic cast of all-star players and includes Howard Harris (Ruth Copeland), Dwight Sills (Bobby Lyle – TLC), Jerry McPherson (Donna Summer), Leo Polk (Kashmere Stage Band), John Gordon (Strata-East) and Jackie Simley (Queen Latifah – Lionel Richie). All of the above makes this LP an essential purchase for any self-respecting fan and collector.

Tidal Waves Music now proudly presents the FIRST ever vinyl reissue of this fantastic album (originally released in 1985 on Lightin’ Records). This rare record (original copies tend to go for large amounts on the secondary market) is now finally back available as a limited 180g vinyl edition complete with the original artwork.

Back in 2013 we took ourselves on a discographic adventure without really knowing what we were doing! Who would have thought that 10 years later, we'd be releasing our 50th 45 RPM record?
As luck would have it, we are happy to announce our new release, in collab with one of the flagship bands from today's funk scene, Germany's own "Mighty Mocambos", who have been delivering their instrumental groove and Caribbean vibes via their alter ego, "Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band" across Europe for more than fifteen years.
So, what better way to immortalize the raw and intense live sound that they're famous for than releasing a record on our favourite format?
Two sides recorded live on tape during the "Queen 16 B-Girl battle" in Berlin in 2022. Somewhat reminiscent of Can's "Vitamin C", the A side "International Cypher" has an oriental funk feel thanks to the use of the sharp sound of an electric Phin (Thai guitar), while thestraight up percussive funk instrumental "Queen 16 theme" pays tribute to the B-Girls onlyfestival, of which the soundtrackwas designed for the occasion.

This 45 features two new artists from the ever-expanding Colemine universe: Pale Jay, a budding artist, and Steve Okonski (as Okonski) of Durand Jones and the Indications. The A-side is a collaboration between the two artists. By The Lake is a Neo Soul flip of the Okonski piano tune that's poignant and upbeat at the same time. The lyrics come from a conversation that Pale Jay had recently with a close friend who was pondering moving to a new city to pursue a budding love affair, but ultimately chose to stay put because they had not overcome an old heart break. When he heard Okinski's song, Runner Up, from his upcoming album, he immediately latched onto the lingering feeling of speaking to his friend and wrote By The Lake in the next thirty minutes after chopping up Okonski's piano samples. The B-side, Runner Up, features the original track by Okonski. Recorded at the Colemine HQ in Loveland, OH, Runner Up exhibits a triumphant yet melancholic melody in the piano that leads to a more reserved Bsection driven by the drums and bass of Aaron Frazer and Michael Isvara "Ish" Montgomery.

A must have double sider from Harvey Scales & The Seven Seas, containing two of the rarest tracks from their much sought after back catalogue. Originals have sold for eye watering sums of over £1700 in the past, attaining to its rarity but also the sheer quality of the music pressed into its grooves. ‘Trying To Survive’ is one of the great social-consciousness anthems and a slice of pure lyrical genius, whilst ‘Bump Your Thang’ hits with a heavy funk workout, channelling James Brown-esque energy in Chicago shoes. Red label version original black sleeve.

Two of the finest tracks from Lance Ferguson's Rare Groove Spectrum Vol. 1, the stellar takes on EW&F's Brazilian Rhyme and James Mason's Sweet Power Your Embrace, have been picked up for this limited Japanese 7" edition courtesy of Jet Set Records - and a ridiculously strong pairing it is too. Cut loud to 7" wax and served in a polybag with Japanese insert. We've not got many of these so get in quick!

This album is inspired by bits and pieces of Ethio-Jazz, Afrobeat, Highlife Spiritual Jazz and dusty funk 45’s. It’s where I’m at now and what has kept this mortal vehicle fueled. I tend to take different paths each musical outing but this one is for the long haul, the one for the blue highways and forgotten byways. It’s the one to get lost to. It’s about the journey, not the destination." Tommy Guerrero continues pushing the boundaries while upholding his San Francisco Bay heritage. Starting from the Bones Brigade skate team in the '80s, he’s made movie appearances, designed for Levi's in Japan, Vans shoes worldwide and Sutro eyewear among others, signed a skateboard contract with Converse, co-founded Real Skateboards and 40’s Clothing, is art director for Krooked Skateboarding, and found time to be a prolific recording artist.

15 newly remastered tracks. Great psychedelic brazilian soul!

Reverse board LP Sleeve with Insert and Digital Download Card included.

The Allergies are back to…'Tear The Place Up'! This brand-new full-length album is bursting with their trademark explosive energy. Across each dynamite track they mash up feel-good hip-hop flavours with club bubbling styles, dynamite soul selections, and a whole heap of expertly chopped sample sources and powerhouse vocal performances. A diverse range of collaborators include the likes of Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde) Andy Cooper, Marietta Smith, Dele Sosimi and Joe Lickshot whilst the music is built up from hundreds of funky and forgotten wax samples, dope drums, and slick cuts, resulting in a collection of punchy and powerful beat-based tracks that span multiple genres.

Promo report

UK Radio
Vamonos - BBC 6 Music x5, Wwfm x2, Jazz FM, Radio X Manchester, Radio X (xfm), Kane FM, BBC Radio Wales x7, Delite Radio x6, All FM
Hypnotise – BBC 6 Music x2, BBC Radio Wales x3, Hoxton FM x6, Solar Radio, Soho Radio x3, Delite Radio
Sometimes I Wonder – BBC 6 Music x4, Jazz FM (playlist – 30+ plays), Soho Radio x7, BBC Radio Wales x5, Solar Radio x3, Mi-Soul, Jazz FM x2, Delite Radio x4
Treat You Right – BBC Radio Wales x3, BBC 6 Music x2, Soho Radio x3, Solar Radio, Jazz FM, Mi-Soul, Delite Radio x2, Radio X, Radio X (Manchester)
Reconcile (feat. Charles Morgan) – Jazz FM Playlisted (w/c 23/01/23), BBC Radio 6 Music
God Walked Down – BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales x2, Delite Radio, Slack City
Push Right Through – BBC 6 Music

International Radio
Australia Radio –
Hypnotise - 2ser x18, Kiss FM
Sometimes I Wonder – Triple R x2, 4zzz FM (4 Triple Z), 2ser x15
Treat You Right – 2ser x16
God Walked Down – 2ser x11
Belgium Radio –
Sometimes I Wonder – Radio Premiere x3
Canada Radio
Hypnotise – Ckrl
Sometimes I Wonder – Cjum-fm
Czech Republic Radio
Vamonos - Radio 1 x7
Hypnotise – Radio 1 x5
Sometimes I Wonder – Radio 1 x8
Treat You Right – Radio 1 x4
God Walked Down – Radio 1 x4
France Radio
Vamonos – France Inter
Hypnotise - Raje
Sometimes I Wonder – FIP x4, Radio Campus Lille, Raje x51, RCV, Sun x9, Canal B x9
Treat You Right – SUN x12, RCV x4, C Lab, Raje, Prun x9, Canal B x18, Prun x4, Radio Campus Brest x8, Radio Campus Orléans x2
Reconcile – France Inter
God Walked Down – FIP, Hot Radio, Radio Beton x4, Frequence Mutine x2, FIP autor du groove
Stanky Funk - Raje
Germany Radio –
Vamonos - Hit Radio Ohr x3, Radio Z
Hypnotise – Radio Z x2
Sometimes I Wonder – Radio Z x4
Treat You Right – Byte FM x9
God Walked Down – N-joy, NDR Blue
Stanky Funk – Radio Z
Greece Radio
Vamonos - Kosmos Radio x2
Treat You Right – Kosmos Radio
Italy Radio
Vamonos - Controradio Firenze x4
Hypnotise – Radio m2o, Controradio Firenze
Israel Radio
God Walked Down – KZ Radio Israel
Lithuania Radio Sometimes I Wonder – LRT Opus
Treat You Right – LRT Opus x4
Mexico Radio
Treat You Right – Xhof-fm [Reactor 105.7] x13
New Zealand Radio
Sometimes I Wonder – RNZ National
Portugal Radio
Vamonos - Sbsr FM x2
Hypnotise – RTP Antena 3
Sometimes I Wonder – RTP Antena 3 x63 (Playlist)
God Walked Down – RTP Antena 3 x51
Poland Radio
Vamonos - Polskie Radio Czwórka x50
Hypnotise – Radio Kampus FM
Sometimes I Wonder – Polskie Radio Czworka, Radio Kampus FM
Slovakia Radio
Sometimes I Wonder – RTV Radio FM x2
Spain Radio
Vamonos - Radio 3
Hypnotise – Radio 3
Sometimes I Wonder – Radio 3 x2, iCatFM x4
Switzerland Radio
Vamonos – Radio Vostok
Sometimes I Wonder – Rete Tre x2, RTS Couleur 3
Treat You Right – RTS Couleur 3 x66, Rete Tre, Rabe x4
USA Radio
Vamonos - Radio Wilwaukee: Wyms x2, Kxci x11, KXT
Hypnotise – Kglt x6, Kxci x7
Sometimes I Wonder – Kcrw x4, Kxci x11, Kglt, Wxpn-fm
Treat You Right – Kcrw x3, Kxci x7
God Walked Down – Wbez-fm x2, Kxci x4

Press
Vamonos - Monkeyboxing, Life Support Machine, Beat Corner Blog
Hypnotise – Life Support Machine
Sometimes I Wonder - Monkeyboxing

Reconcile - Rolling Stone Magazine (France), Wordplay Magazine, Tinnitist, Monkeyboxing, New KG.com, Les Oreilles

Reissued for the first time in over 40 years, Show the World is an unrated and realitvely unknown soul / reggae ablum from the caribbean. Having recently been sampled by Benny The Butcher, collectors and producers are starting to pay attention to what has been an overlooked gem until now. With the album ranging from sweet soul that sounds like it could have been released on Motown in its prime, to funky numbers that could be played in clubs, to reggae that could stand alongside some of the Studio 1 releases, this is sure to please many. No filler.

"Following my recent phone call with Prof. Benson, I left him to continue his 92nd birthday celebrations with his family. We'd talked about his life, his music, his achievements. Throughout our conversation it struck me what a kind, humble and pleasant man he was. I felt that I was in the presence of greatness – not the egotistical greatness that emanates so often from high achievers, but that of someone who had simply won at life.

""I was a music teacher. I wasn't trying to make a record to compete, I was trying to make a record so the students would have something to remember the experience that we had... I was doing it for the kids.""

It was 1973 that Prof. James Benson had self-funded his private press LP for the benefit of the teenage musicians he tutored at Cal Poly, California. The album was a momentous achievement for him and his young protegees, something they were all proud of, and rightly so. Taking inspiration from their recent trip to Africa and blended with the radical jazz associated with the young minds of early '70s black America, the Gow-Dow Experience is a unique foray into the enthusiastic mindset of up-and-coming jazz musicians, as encouraged by their mentor Prof. Benson.

We present the album as it was released in 1973 with a heavyweight tip-on jacket and 180g vinyl or on CD. We also include an insert with liner notes and photos provided courtesy of Prof Benson. The LP and CD come with 4 additional tracks taken from the recording session. Until now these tracks have never been heard since the day they were recorded - believe me, they're worth the wait!

Made with love from Jazzman - because we love to dig deeper!"

A new vinyl double album release from legendary band Soulive. This is the first ever vinyl release of their sophomore souljazz / funk classic ‘Turn It Out’ featuring John Scofield, Oteil Burbridge and Sam Kinniger. The Soulive trio blend the sensational melodic guitar of Eric Krasno with the virtuoso Jimmy Smith influenced organ playing of Neal Evans, with tight funky grooves guided by Alan Evans on the drums. The album is remastered by Alan Evans, together with new artwork and unseen photos from the recording session.

Key Selling Points:

-This is the classic, best selling album of Soulive. Now available on Vinyl for the very first time, together with remastered audio and new album artwork and unseen photos. -Heavyweight 2xlp, available in Classic Black and Orange Color Vinyl. -Soulive are the godfathers of the funk/soul jam band scene in the USA with many albums under their belt and collaborators with the likes of Dave Matthews and Chaka Khan.

Reeling is Say She She's latest emboldened declaration to fight dystopia. Written as an incantation from Mother Earth to the masses to join the rising against the calamitous forces of unfettered capitalism that has left our seas and skies grappling. With soaring harmonics and perfectly in sync voices, the She She's lead the charge to "Kick the Door Down, Smash the ceiling_ Leave `em Reeling." The B-side, 'Don't You Dare Stop,' is a passionate sonnet written about a former flame who once whispered the words_Don't You Dare Stop. Brimming with a yearning so amorous it burns everything to the ground with scorching hot vocals and breathy high tones.

Dynamite cuts is proud to cross over to the amazing sound and world of Library music. Muisc that can capture a feeling and mode in a single note and groove. This selection is from the German Library series Sound Music Albums, These tracks are taken from volume 11 in the series, the Original album sells for £150 plus

Yellow vinyl reissue of the third volume of the 1997 "The Mood Mosaic" series. Contains the unforgettable French Kiss by Lil Louis, a 7 minute version.

With the release of their self-titled debut album in 1972, Cymande emerged as innovators of the black British music scene. Taking influences from their Guyanese and Jamaican roots, the band fused reggae bass lines, Afro-tinged Nyabinghi percussion, psychedelic touches, and American-style funk into a unique sound they’ve since dubbed as “Nyah-rock.” While they were embraced in the US, back home they were largely ignored and soon forgotten by a music business beset by prejudice against homegrown black talent.

Cymande split in 1975 after releasing three albums in quick succession, but their music lived on as successive generations of artists and fans found and embraced their songs. Their far-reaching influence can be heard in the countless samples taken from their music over the last four decades, from pioneering DJs like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, to De La Soul, The Wu-Tang Clan, Gang Starr, Epmd, Sugar Hill Gang, Fatboy Slim, and The Fugees -- to name a few. They stand today as one of the most revered and sampled bands in the history of Hip Hop, House, and Dance.

On Dec 16th, Partisan Records will reissue Cymande’s seminal debut, newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios and available for the very first time on translucent, orange crush vinyl. Cymande features several of the band’s best known - and oft-sampled - classics like “Dove,” “The Message” and more.

After Nu Guinea’s LP, Nuova Napoli, and Napoli Segreta first compilation, NG RECORDS follows up with an exploration into the unknown groovy side of Naples by releasing Napoli Segreta Vol.2.
Famiglia Discocristiana, DNApoli and Nu Guinea team up again selecting more tracks from their archives, for a new compilation containing 9 mysterious Neapolitan tracks, found in the most hidden corners of remote flea markets around the Vesuvius.
But forget classical Neapolitan songs, "'O Sole Mio" or "Luna Rossa"... Forget about what you expect to find once you land in town… oh and also forget about Google Maps. Take a dodgy local guide, keep your eyes open, and follow it to enter the secret downtown, the underground, the routes that no satellite can detect, but beware there is no easy way out.
Napoli Segreta Vol.2 is a musical journey into the sonic landscapes of Naples that you have never heard of before. A variety of genres merging soul, disco, funk, blues, new wave, afro-beat and boogie, including lyrics in Neapolitan urban slang, instrumental tracks with progressive flavour, and also some unexpected covers.

Since the release of the Sentimental Fool, Lee Fields has been touring relentlessly, playing to capacity crowds all across the US & EY with the drive and determination of an artist a fraction of his age. The fruits of which have culmi-nated in his song "Forever" being featured in 2023's top rated Super Bowl commercial, further solidifying Lee as the king of soul. In keeping with the momentum it is our pleasure to announce the release of his brand new single "Waiting on the Sidelines". Written by Thomas 'tnt' Brenneck (msb, Charles Bradley, Diamond West Records) this beat-ballad grooves low and slow, giving Lee ample room to unleash a heart-breakingly soulful display of vocal acrobatics - an absolute must-have for fans of the Penrose sound. On the flip you'll find "You Can Count On Me", an in demand, upbeat moover previously only available on a limited edition 12" EP. Now bow to the king!

Repress! Rare underground cult classic Running The Mardi Gras by Boco. Those lucky enough to find an original copy are paying upwards of $1000.00 for this truly unique psych rock / funk gem on 45.From the title to the sound to the cryptic lyrics "Running the Mardi Gras" seems to confirm all the mystique that surrounds the southern Louisiana Bayous and Cajun culture. This record is a family affair. It started one morning when one Mr. Latour, the father of the group, was shaving in the mirror and a song struck him. It was to be about Mardi Gras, not the beaded revelry of New Orleans familiar to most, but the traditions of rural Louisiana, where one would "run the Mardi Gras," going house to house getting home cooking from the neighbors. He would sing the song every day in the car and the children of the family soaked up the spirit of the song.Playing and performing was just part of life for the family. Mr. Latour had bought studio equipment for his children to record on, which he kept in their house. Growing up in the shadow of New Orleans, the Latour children listened to the sounds of Funk and R&B that came in on the radio, which was the biggest influence on the family projects' sound. Together the four Latour children, with the eponymous Boco Latour on lead vocals, and a couple of local musicians recorded "Running the Mardi Gras" in the Latour home. Feeling that they really had something, the makeshift band decided to record a b-side. The guitarist had a song he had been working on and they recorded what would become "Smile" as well. The two songs were pressed under the Laughing Eye label, nothing more than the heading under which the Latour family released their music, and mostly sold the 45 at gigs around southern Louisiana. The recorded output under Laughing Eye was understandably limited, but locals still remember well Boco's powerful voice from her shows in clubs around the bayous. Boco and George Latour still live around Baton Rouge and continue to make music and play in the area.

French-Caribbean singer, bassist and producer Adi Oasis fuses soul, funk and R&B to form her own distinctive, retro-futurist sound
Adi Oasis released her solo debut album under the name Adeline in 2018
Pressed on black double vinyl

Her single “Whisper My Name” was featured in a stunning Colors debut in early 2021, and she has garnered critical praise from press including Vogue to Rolling Stone, Wonderland, Line of Best Fit, Afropunk and many others.

Now the artist formerly known as Adeline is releasing Lotus Glow, her first album as Adi Oasis, and her first recording ever to be released on vinyl! The double disc collection will feature 13 new songs (plus 2 interludes) that represent Adi’s most personal – and political – music to date. The album also features several guest artists, including the critically acclaimed Jamila Woods on the debut single, “Red to Violet”, now spinning on radio stations around the globe, with a sumptuous video directed by Simone Holland (@Simonedirects).

Adi has collaborated with the likes of Masego, Blue Lab Beats, Chet Faker, the Shapeshifters, Pastel, Wax Tailor, Jean Tonique and others. Writing and producing under the moniker Nightshade with her musical partner Morgan Wiley (Midnight Magic, Jessica 6), her production credits also include the sun-drenched summer jam “Mango” for Atlantic Records artist Kamauu, a duet with Adi that also features her playing bass.

Two stone cold classics right here from the Roy Ayers masterminded Ramp, taken from the holy grail album Come Into Knowledge. Sampled the world over, influentially positive and as prized as they get, South Street’s new sub-label South Street Soul couldn’t have picked a more perfect double header to reissue as their inaugural release. Although the Ramp acronym Roy Ayers Music Productions bared Ayers’ name, he did not perform with the Ohio band instead writing, arranging and producing the tracks alongside Edwin Birdsong and also William Allen. Drafting in some of the best session musicians in the game, from vocalists Sibel Thrasher and Sharon Matthews, The Spinners drummer John Manuel, guitarist Landy Shores and Cincinnati bass maestro Nate White, the result was pure ethereal excellence. Rare groove at its finest ‘Daylight’ is one of the standout cuts from Ramp’s only album - soulful, sumptuous and laced with a celestial touch that takes this track to another realm of conscious. A track that was famously sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for their hit ‘Bonita Applebum’ and J Dilla’s remix of Common – Come Close. On the B side, a Roy Ayer’s masterpiece 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine' given the Ramp revamp, an end of the night masterpiece, a hazed-out dreamer - just downright blissful grooves from start to finish. Ready-made to ride out into the sunset with.

Betty Davis was a musical maverick with vision. Image, substance, sex, and grit combined with a badass band that could deliver the funk bed backbone to the sultry music between the sheets. After cutting two notorious discs for the Just Sunshine label (Betty Davis and They Say I’m Different), and Nasty Gal for Island Records, Davis went to work on her most personal and expressive record yet. After capturing 10 hard-hitting tracks in 1976 at the remote Studio In The Country (Louisiana), a creative difference with her then label caused the platter to be unexpectedly shelved. Davis would cut one final album and soon retreat from the music business, completely disappearing from the public eye.

Is It Love Or Desire is a little-known gem in the Davis catalog. Mastered from the original tapes, and untouched for over 30 years, this release features detailed liner notes, the originally intended artwork housed in a lavishly packaged digipak, rare photos, archival material, and recent interviews with Davis and her skin-tight band Funk House.

Never bootlegged, never released, never heard until now, the secret story of this lost album will finally enter the history books and cement this bold soul sisters contributions to music and popular culture. Its time to get down…

Long live Betty Davis!

On "Prism" The Orb"s pulsating discography grows ever more huge, with their 18th album, and 3rd helmed by core duo Alex Paterson and Michael Rendall. Despite the connotations of its title, here they continue to rollick freely without inhibition across ambient, house and dub, but also tangent into poetry, pop, full-blown drum "n" bass and actual reggae.The LP features electronic musicians David Harrow (whose CV includes Anne Clarke, Psychic TV, Razormaid, Adrian Sherwood and Andy Weatherall) and Gaudi (whose credits include Max Romeo, Capleton, Johnny Clarke and Desmond Dekker). Other guests include Orb regular Youth, violinist Violeta Vicci, Kompakt records alumnus Leonardo Fresco, Metamono man Jono Podmore, Guitarist and Alex"s old schoolchum David Lofts, plus vocalists Eric Von Skywalker, Andy Cain and Rachel D"arcy.

Harry Whitaker is a piano player, producer and arranger who at the age of 26 recorded Black Renaissance "Body, Mind, and Spirit," a holy grail amongst collectors of soul-jazz and rare groove, and an album so rare it's virtually a myth to many. Made up of two long tracks that periodically build and release for forty minutes over two sides of an LP it's an improvised masterpiece combining Afrocentric spiritual soul, jazz, poetry, amazing solos, a tasty bass line or two and more than a fair share of funky beats. It's also one of the earliest jazz albums to feature rapping. "I called the project Black Renaissance because that is what I wanted to see happen - especially in music. I describe it as Dixieland circa 1976 - by the end of the songs everyone is playing together." Given its rarity, when asked if he was surprised that people knew about the album Whitaker jokes "I've told enough people about it over the years! Now they can actually hear it. It was a record before its time. It's not a commercial release - I think of it as classical. You can call it jazz, but it's free, it's got African roots, it's for people who dig that sound.” Harry Whitaker has enjoyed a successful career as a producer, arranger and composer, cutting his teeth on the best of the Roy Ayers Ubiquity releases and making a living working closely with Roberta Flack - as her musical director, even playing on her big Eugene McDaniels' written hit "I Feel Like Makin' Love." Black Renaissance "Body, Mind, and Spirit," was his first attempt at a project where he wrote and composed the music and played keys on both tracks.