Various Artists

Stay On The Groove 4 (Freestyle 2008)

Well, here we are now with Volume 4 of the hugely successful Stay on the Groove series. The idea of this was to showcase some of the excellent Funk 45’s that were being released around the world but annoyingly were not turning up anywhere on CD for the non-DJ / Vinly Junkie listener to check out. Kicking off Volume 4 we have one of the best Funk 45’s to be released in the past decade. The Tornadoes featuring Tyra Hammond's “You got me Thinkin’ “ is Sister Funk of the highest order . Next up we have “Hope” from Glen Anthony Henry. Originally from Los Angeles, Glen has collaborated with Dr. Dre, Erykah Badu and many more. “Hope” is taken from Glen’s debut album “Relax and Love”. The Sound Stylistics started out life as a studio project in 2002 for the Library label Bruton. “The Players Theme” was released as a limited edition of 500 copies last year which all sold out in less than 2 hours. The Quantic Soul Orchestra hardly need any introduction . “Panama City” is from his excellent “Tropidelico” album. “Got to lose your Way” by the Haggis Horns could easily pass itself off as a classic Tower of Power track, while Amsterdam based The Soul Snatchers “I Can’t stand it” was recently hailed by Keb Darge as the best new funk recording of the past 12 months and features the vocals of 70’s Dutch Funk legend Jimi BellMartin. DJ Bobesch brings his Deep Funk project to life. All of their records are not available in any record shop and have sold out through word of mouth on vinyl only. We present the killer “Billy’s Popcorn” on CD for the first time here.

Cookin’ on 3 Burners tribute to Keb Darge’s “Bucket” ( as essential part of his rider when he toured Australia apparently ) is a monster groove which is amazing considering there is only three people making this big loud sound. From Japan we have Mr. Comicstore with his uptempo Funk killer ( on CD for the first time again here! ) featuring the vocals of Nicole Willis. “Wait a minute” was Lack of Afro's first single which used a looped break from Simon Allen ( the drummer with the New Mastersounds ). Which brings us to the next track, a lovely Kenny Dope remix of the New Mastersounds “Nervous”, Speedometer’s “Take a chance” is another killer Leigh Gracie original. It is taken from their latest album “Four flights up” which is one of the best Funk albums of the past few years. Charles Bradley and the Dynamites “Killin it’ is featured on a limited edition ( 500 only pressed ) 45 to promote this compilation. On the other side of the 45 we “Turn it up” by Open Souls who are basically the same group as the Tornadoes who started the album off and once again feature the amazing vocals of Tyra Hammond.

Tracklist:

01.) You Got Me Thinkin - The Tornadoes

02.) Hope - Glen Anthony Henry

03.) The Players Thems - The Sound Stylistics

04.) Panama City - Quantic Soul Orchestra

05.) Got To Lose Your Way - The Haggis Horns

06.) I Can't Stand It - The Soul Snatchers

07.) Keb's Bucket - Cookin On 3 Burners

08.) Nervous (Kenny Dope Remix) - NMS

09.) Take A Chance - Speedometer

10.) Are You Ready To Party? - Mr Comicstore

11.) Droppin - Funkshone

12.) Killin It - The Dynamites

13.) Emu Brown - Mike L

14.) Rampage - The Whitefield Brothers

15.) Billy's Popcorn - Brand New Rhythm

16.) Wait A Minute - Lack Of Afro

17.) Turn It Up - Opensouls

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Daptone Records presents

Como Now - The Voices of Panola Co., Mississippi (Daptone 2008)

Deep in the heart of Panola County, Mississippi lies Como, a small rural town where children and grown folks alike have been living and breathing gospel for as long as they can remember. In the summer of 2006, Daptone Records placed a small ad in local papers and on the radio inviting singers to come down to Mt. Mariah Church to record their songs. The result is COMO NOW, a stirring collection of traditional and original a cappella gospel from the voices of Panola County’s own families.

It may seem like a leap for Daptone Records to be releasing an album of a cappella gospel music. Daptone has earned a reputation for creating and proliferating the purest of today’s soul and funk music. Why gospel? And why without any instrumentation? If you put aside the analytical categories of the music critic for a moment, and just listen to the record, the answer becomes simple and clear: this is soulful music.

“When Michael Reilly came to me with his first recordings of the Como Mamas, I remember hearing it and being blown away. Though I’ve been into soul music for a very long time, it has only been in the past few years that I really got deeper into gospel music…and the line from soul to gospel eventually became much clearer to me. Less of an academic lineage than a visceral feeling that I started to get from listening to old records by the Soul Stirrers and the Highway Q.C.’s. Dorothy Love Coates, the Mighty Pilgrim Travelers, The Blind Boys, The Violinaires. They were the same sounds, the same feeling, as I got listening to James Brown, Tina Turner, Lee Fields when they were really wailing. Otis Redding when he was really pleading. Al Green when he was really moaning. Sounds that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The recordings Michael played me gave me the same feeling.”


Tracklist:

1.) When the Gates Swing Open

2.) It's Alright

3.) I Can See So Much

4.) Jesus Builds a Fence Around Me

5.) Trouble in My Way

6.) If It Had Not Been for Jesus

7.) If It Wasn't for the Lord

8.) New Burying Ground

9.) God's Unchanging Hand

10.) I Can't Afford to Let My Saviour Down

11.) Talk with Jesus

12.) Lil' Old Church House

13.) Send Me I'll Go

14.) Help Me to Carry On

15.) Move Upstairs

16.) Somebody Here Needs You Lord

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Brownout

Homenage (Freestyle 2008)

Named one of Austin, Texas' 'Best Live Acts' by the Austin Chronicle, Brownout perform the nastiest Latin funk music around today. This band of "party rocking legends" was resurrected from the same tequila soaked border town explosion that originated the highly acclaimed Latin powerhouse Grupo Fantasma. Fresh from the worldwide release of their first 7" single on the UK's prestigious Freestyle Records, the band has made waves internationally amongst DJ's, tastemakers and good music fans alike. Brownout is an 8 piece ensemble complete with 2 guitars, bass, no nonsense Latin percussion and the "Best Horn Section" 2 years in a row at the Austin Music Awards. Throwback but not copycat retro, their music is timeless and honest, keeping the spirit of 70s afro-latin and funk music alive while honoring their South Texas roots. "Homenaje," Spanish for homage, is the debut album release from the Grupo Fantasma side-project (who recently supported none other than Prince on his recent UK tour) and gives more than a mere nod to late '70s Latin-funk acts like Joe Bataan and Santana. From the Fela Kuti style Afro-beat of "Con El Brownout" and "Chema's Contraband" to the smoldering neo-soul of "You Already Are" and the incendiary cover of Manu Dibango’s “African Battle”, the nearly all-instrumental album avoids stagnation by switching gears rapidly between tracks. "Homenaje" vacillates between the languid groove of songs such as "They Should Know," which sounds like a forgotten track from the Beastie Boys' "Check Your Head" and powerful crowd-movers like the CD's title track. Built upon a familiar piano montuno and the deft percussion of drummer Johnny Lopez and conga player Sweet Lou, "Homenaje" echoes the funkiest material of the output of the Fania label in the 70s and the gorgeous "You Already Are" channels Carlos Santana into a brooding funk masterpeice. Melding these influences into an original diasporic sound is the album's triumph.




Tracklist:

01.) Brown Wind And Fire
02.) Homenage
03.) Laredo 77
04.) African Battle
05.) Con El Brownout No Se Juega
06.) Latin Asscape
07.) Barretta
08.) Chema's Contraband
09.) They Don't Know
10.) The Sexican
11.) El Narco
12.) You Already Are
13.) Chafa Khan


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The Grits

The Grits (Freestyle 2008)

Hailing from Brighton, The Grits emerge with their own take on raw, rare and grimy instrumental funk. Their journey began in 2005 with guitarist Stuart “Countryboy” Carter and Nick “The Organiser” Harris. Bassist James and drummer Johnny were recruited soon after, marking the birth of one seriously slick funk four piece. Their self titled debut includes a superb cover of The Soul Drifters “Funky Soul Brother”, as well as “Boom Boom”, the sold out 45 released on Freestyle and its B side ‘Jan Jan’ - an instant raw funk classic championed by Radio 2’s Mark Lamarr and Radio 6 funkster Craig Charles. With their roots firmly steeped in classic funk, The Grits add their own slant with trashy guitars, crunchy drums and deep bass. Add to this super-modulated Moog, a bag of percussion and their trademark guttural vocal grunts and you have a live show that never fails to work their live audiences into a funk frenzy. On record, The Grits manage to keep the rawness alive, whilst upping the stakes sonically with modular analogue synths, piano, harmonica and even a huge metal cabinet played with a stick!

Pure funk gold! Enjoy!

Tracklist:

01.) Ug Ug Aah

02.) Tramp

03.) Boom Boom

04.) Chickin Pi

05.) It Aint Easy Being Greasy

06.) Jan Jan

07.) Hamhock

08.) Crazy Legs

09.) Funky Soul Brother

10.) No Mans Land

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Menahan Street Band

Make The Road By Walking (Dunham 2008)

The Menahan Street Band is a collaboration of musicians from Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (Dave Guy, Homer Steinweiss, Fernando Velez, Bosco Mann), El Michels Affair (Leon Michels, Toby Pazner), Antibalas (Nick Movshon, Aaron Johnson) and The Budos Band (Mike Deller, Daniel Fodder), brought together by musician/producer Thomas Brenneck (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Budos Band, Amy Winehouse) to record hits in the bedroom of his Menahan St. apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn. With influences reaching beyond the funk/soul/afrobeat architecture of their other projects into the more ethereal realms of Curtis Mayfield and Mulatu Astatke, the Menahan Street Band creates a unique new instrumental soul sound that is as raw as it is lush. Their debut album, Make the Road by Walking will be released on Dunham Records, Brenneck’s new imprint of Daptone Records, a joint venture devoted to bringing the Menahan Street sound from Brenneck’s bedroom out into the world. The album is marked by eerily quirky arrangements, featuring vibes, horns, piano, organ, percussion and even a strange bling sound that Brenneck creates by tuning and plucking the strings of his guitar on the wrong side of the bridge. However, it is not the textures themselves that make the new sound of Menahan Street so exciting, but rather the way the sounds are incorporated into the heavy rhythms and bold melodies of the compositions.

Tracklist:

01.) Make the Road by Walking

02.) Tired of Fighting

03.) Home Again!

04.) Montego Sunset

05.) Karina

06.) The Traitor

07.) The Contender

08.) Birds

09.) Esma

10.) Going the Distance

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The Bamboos

Side-Stepper (Tru Thoughts 2008)

The Bamboos are Australia's masters of raw, old school Funk breaks and super-heavy Soul. Led by Guitarist Lance Ferguson (AKA Lanu), other members include Kylie Auldist (Vocals), Dustin Mclean/Ben Grayson (Hammond Organ), Danny Farrugia (Drums), Yuri Pavlinov (Bass), Anton Delecca (Sax/Flute) and Ross Irwin (Trumpet). The Bamboos formed in 2001 and released the 7" single 'Eel Oil/Blackfoot', earning them international acclaim from the likes of Snowboy, Mr Scruff, Jazzanova, Patrick Forge and Russ Dewbury. Their next release 'Tighten Up/Voodoo Doll' was picked up by Kenny Dope (Masters At Work) and Keb Darge (Legendary Deep Funk) for their U.S-based imprint Kay-Dee Records. Making their home at Tru Thoughts records (home to Quantic and Alice Russell) in 2005, The Bamboos debut album ‘Step it Up’ was released jointly by Tru Thoughts and Ubiquity Records (US). In 2004 and 2005 The Bamboos toured Australia and New Zealand alongside Quantic and Alice Russell to universal acclaim. In 2006 and 2007 The Bamboos toured Europe and the U.K, bringing their unmistakable sound to venues including The Jazz Café in London and countries including Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Belgium. The Bamboos live shows have evolved into non-stop mixtape-style throw-downs that draw the links between Hip Hop, Soul, Funk and old-school Breaks. The Bamboos have performed at events including Meredith Music Festival, Falls Festival, The West Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Golden Plains, The Adelaide Festival, The St Kilda Festival, The Sydney Festival, Trop Fest and have appeared on the ABC TV Show ‘Sunday Arts’ The Bamboos music has been featured in high rating TV Shows such as ‘Greys Anatomy’ (US) and ‘Ugly Betty’ (US) The last Bamboos album ‘Rawville’ was described by IDJ magazine (UK) as ‘Arguably the best Funk album of the modern era…” Out through U.K’s Tru Thoughts, it was JBHiFi, Radio National and 3PBS FM’s ‘album of the week’ upon release in May 2007. It was in ABC Australia’s Top 5 Albums for 2007

Tracklist:

01.) Nightsport
02.) Tears Cried feat. Kylie Auldist
03.) Now That You Are Mine feat. Kylie Auldist
04.) King Of The Rodeo feat. Megan Washington
05.) Funky Buttercup
06.) Can't Help Myself feat. TY
07.) One Man Entourage
08.) Make It Real feat. Kylie Auldist
09.) Move On feat. Paul MacInnes
10.) The Side Stepper
11.) Amen Brother

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Mr. Confuse

Feel The Fire (Légère Recordings 2008)

Mr Confuse is a producer & DJ from Hannover/Germany. He is a record collector since 1993 and started DJing in 1999. After years of DJing and party promoting he started also producing music in 2004. In early 2005 he founded a producer team called Breakout. He came up with the idea of reworking the 80s classic “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambaataa transforming it into a heavy funk tune. The tune was released on 7” and shortly after on 12” including also a jazzy version of “Planet Rock” regarding to the massive international attention in 2006/2007. In early 2007 the Breakout project split. In summer 2007 Breakout’s final 7” The Funky Goofball/Lyve Wire was released. 2007 remained a busy year. Mr. Confuse released three MixCDs (Catch The Beat, Confunktion and Brazilian Cuts) with different musical focus, followed by several compilation releases of his productions. In September 2008 Mr. Confuse full length solo album "Feel The Fire" was released on DLP, CD and digital. The album includes 14 songs. Two of the album songs are Cover versions of Debbie Deb’s Freestyle Classics “Lookout Weekend” and “When I Hear Music” in a heavy seventies Funk style. Lookout Weekend was also released as 12” Vinyl including Vocal, Instrumental, Accapella, Lack of Afro Remix and a Remix of the album song Groovin’ On The Spot by Mash & Munkee.

You got to check this incredible sound, i love this sound so much!

Tracklist:

01.) Hurricane Jane (Introduction)

02.) Lookout Weekend

03.) Going Somewhere

04.) Balkan Funk

05.) It's Just A Blues

06.) Do It Right Now

07.) Lay It Down

08.) Feel The Fire

09.) En Movimiento

10.) Groovin' On The Spot

11.) The Groove Merchant

12.) When I Hear Music

13.) Imovel

14.) The Arrrgh Theme (Outroduction)

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MFSB Muthafunkinsonofabitch

The Truth Behind The Philli Legend (Funkadelphia 2008)

Precise details as to the origins of these 16 instrumental tracks are thin on the ground. None of them are actually credited to MFSB (although the CD as a whole is), and while a few are noted as having been recorded in 1968, 1969, or 1973, over half the cuts are undated. The liner notes -- which actually only consist of five extended quotes from figures involved with MFSB -- aren't much help, although they do scatter hints that these cuts represent MFSB recording under pseudonyms. So an educated guess would presume that these tracks -- credited to no less than twelve separate artists, including such colorful names as Electric Indian (whose "Keem-O-Sabe," a Top Twenty hit in 1969, is the only well known item here), French Connection, Race Street Chinatown Band, and Brothers of Hope, and such mundane handles as Sam Reed Band -- are in fact MFSB recording under different names in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some celebrated figures are involved in the production and songwriting, including Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Len Barry, but the specifics of their involvement aren't fully spelled out. But while the lack of background information is frustrating, the music itself is pretty cool. This is indeed the sound of Philadelphia soul turning into funk, but rawer and closer to the bone than most of the famous recordings on which MFSB were the backing players (and certainly rawer than MFSB's own hit recordings). All of the instrumental elements of the Philly soul sound are here: tight grooves, funky guitars, neat riffs, and overlays of jazzy vibraphones. It sounds earthier than much famous Philly soul of the era, though, in part because most of the tracks aren't decorated with horns or soothing strings, putting the most cutting ingredients in relief. That's particularly true of some of the guitar work, which sometimes goes into nifty wah-wah, and at others (especially on Hidden Cost's "Bo Did It") even verges on what sounds like Cream/Yardbirds-influenced hard rock lines. It's true that much of this does sound like promising backing tracks waiting for vocal overdubs, and that none of them (except "Keem-O-Sabe") particularly sound like they're instrumental-only hits waiting to happen. Yet this incompleteness is also part of what makes this obscure release interesting, allowing us to dig the root of the Philly sound without the sweeteners in a pretty unadulterated state. Much of it's indeed funky as a, well, mutha, and no doubt it will eventually be plundered by twenty-first century samplers looking for something that few competitors are even aware exist.

Tracklist:

01.) Interpretations - Trippin'
02.) Brothers Of Hope - Nickol Nickol
03.) Interpretations - Jason Pew Mosso (Part Two)
04.) Hidden Cost - Bo Did It (Long Version)
05.) Hidden Cost - Vibrations (Long Version)
06.) Daley Diggers - I Can Dig It
07.) Sam Reed Band - Ambassador'S Theme
08.) Sam Reed Band - Jimmy Bishop Theme
09.) Alliance - Cupid'S Holding
10.) Cupit - Squeeze Your Knees
11.) Race Street Chinatown Band - Egg Foo Wa Wa
12.) Electric Indian - Keem O Sabe
13.) French Connection - Monte Carlo
14.) Electric Indian - My Cherie Amour
15.) Pat & The Blenders - Just Because (Instrumental)
16.) Ando Orchestra - Ando'S Theme



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Daptone Records

7-Inch Singles Collection Vol.1

How many times have you been at a swinging soul party and overheard someone say, "I'd really love to taste some of those soulful and delicious Daptone cuts that are only available on 45's, but I don't have a record player"? I know what you're thinking: if only I had a dime for every time! Well now a dime (or two) is all it will cost your phonographically impaired friends to download one of these exclusive cuts to play on their own MP5-BOX. You heard right, the considerate folks at Daptone have compiled the entirety of their infamous 45' catalog onto a series of download only albums. Finally, you too can own tracks that have previously only been available to DJ's and vinyl junkies.

Tracklist:

1.) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Got A Thing On My Mind, Pt. 1

2.) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Got A Thing On My Mind, Pt. 2

3.) Lee Fields & the Dap-Kings - Give Me A Chance, Pt. 1

4.) Lee Fields & the Dap-Kings - Give Me A Chance, Pt. 2

5.) The Sugarman 3 - Funky So-and-So, Pt.1

6.) The Sugarman 3 - Funky So-and-So, Pt. 2

7.) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Make It Good To Me

8.) The Dap-Kings - Casella Walk

9.) Charles Bradley and Sugarman & Co. - Take It As It Come Pt. 1

10.) Charles Bradley and Sugarman & Co. - Take it… Pt. 2

11.) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Got To Be The Way It Is, Pt.2

12.) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Got To Be The Way It Is, Pt.2

13.) Naomi Davis - Promised Land, Pt. 1

14.) The Sugarman 3 - Promised Land (Instrumental)

15.) The Company - La Culebra, Pt. 1

16.) The Company - La Culebra, Pt. 2

17.) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - What Have You Done For Me Lately? Pt. 1

18.) Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - What Have You Done For Me Lately? Pt. 2

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7-Inch Singles Collection Vol.2

You’ve been licking ‘round the bottom of the Soul bowl lately, scrounging for every bit and morsel you can find. And now this! Our second volume of Daptone cuts that have never been digitized before. All the 45 only jams that your hipper friends with record players have been so smarmy about for so long. I’m sure you would have bought them on vinyl if your apartment wasn’t so small, right? Or maybe you already did, but want these handy digital ones so you can listen to them on your telephone when you’re not near enough to your dear old turntable. Either way, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Volume two of Daptone’s 7” Singles Collection. And don’t forget, singles are for couples too!

Tracklist:

1.) The Matador - The Mighty Imperials

2.) Now That I’m Gone - Charles Bradley & The Bullets

3.) Can’t Stop Thinking About You - Charles Bradley

4.) Could Have Been - Lee Fields

5.) You Don’t Know What You Mean (To a Lover Like Me) - Lee Fields & The Sugarman 3

6.) How Long Do I Have To Wait For You (Instrumental) - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

7.) This Love Ain’t Big Enough for the Two of Us - Charles Bradley & The Bullets

8.) (She’s Got) Twilight Eyes - Charles Bradley & The Bullets

9.) I Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Is In - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

10.) Stand Up - Lee Fields and The Sugarman 3

11.) Stand Up Pt. II - Lee Fields and Sugarman 3

12.) Nervous Like Me - The Dap-Kings

13.) Che Che Cole - Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra

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Lettuce

Rage! (Velour Recordings 2008)

The seven-person all-star collective known as Lettuce has been around since 1992, with its members branching off into successful standalone projects (Soulive, Rustic Overtones, et al), but never straying far from the project that started it all. "Rage", the band's third album, sees the collective reaching back to pay homage to the funk gods (EWF, James Brown, Tower of Power, the Meters, P-Funk, etc), while retaining the band's meticulous hip-hop tinged phrasing, melody and progressions. The compositions all follow a similar formula: riffs and breakbeats setting up the solos, bridges and/or hooks, and though there are times when the songs traverse the borders of funk-by-numbers monotony, the band's chemistry shines through time and again as a saving grace. One can tell the boys are having fun and this is proved true every time a glimmer of their monstrous theory knowledge and improv talent surfaces. But, this project is not meant to clone those aspects so strongly established in Lettuce's first two albums. "Rage" was made to groove in the pocket, and it does. Fiercely.

Check their sound on MySpace!



Tracklist:

01.) Blast Off
02.) Sam Huffs Flying Raging Machine
03.) Move On Up feat. Dwele
04.) King Of The Burgs
05.) Need To Understand
06.) The Last Suppit
07.) Dizzer
08.) Makin My Way Back Home
09.) Salute
10.) Speake E.Z.
11.) Express Yourself
12.) Relax
13.) By Any Shmeeans Necessary
14.) Mr. Yance


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