Melvin Sparks If You Want My Love / Get Down With The Get Down

Championed by turntablist whizz, Mr Thing, this killer soulful floater by guitarist Melvin Sparks never fails to summon up curiosity from the dance floor. And so it was for the bossmen at Rocafort Records who first heard it at Lausanne's Holy Groove festival in 2015 and couldn't resist the need to know "what's this track?". Upon finding the original LP on Westbound Records, they knew it was time to give it the 45 Rocafort treatment.

The jazz conoscenti will be familiar with the bluesy Grant Green-inspired guitar sound of Melvin Sparks. He lent his hand to legendary soul artists such as Jackie Wilson & Marvin Gaye, and also to the funky jazzers like Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith and Charles Earland to name but a few. After a releasing some handsome albums on Prestige, he dabbled in the more commercial soul style of the time which led to the Melvin Sparks '75 LP - then considered rather bland and unremarkable by the critics.

Thankfully tastes have changed - the handclapping, two-stepping 70s modern soul groove is back with a vengeance and collectable as ever. Pushed along by some punchy horns, nifty guitar work and catchy vocals by Jimmy Scott, 'If you want my love' exudes pure dance floor joy. The whistle-popping 'B' side, 'Get down with the get down' winks in the direction of the racey Blaxploitation soundtrack and also has feet tapping.

All in all, it's a win-win groovy situation that deserves a place in everyone's 45 box.