Review: Originally released way back in 1978 on a thoroughly obscure seven-inch single, Nina Dunn's sole single, 'If You Want My Love (Do It)' is one of the rarest Canadian disco records around. The team behind the Le Freak label are fans and have delivered this much-needed reissue. The title track (side A) is a righteous slab of funk-fuelled, orchestra-sporting disco built around a typical 'walking bassline', cut-glass strings and a brilliantly sassy, emotion-packed lead vocal from Dunn. Original B-side 'Stay & Dance', meanwhile, is a deeper and more laidback two-step disco affair with warmer horn arrangements, simmering strings and a killer, Clavinet-sporting groove section later in the track. Disco gold all told!
Review: A Skillz and Krafty Kuts are veteran names by now but at one option they were some of the hottest new DJs and producers in the game. They pioneered a breakbeat, cut-up and paste sounds 20 years ago that was high on energy and with plenty of character. Now they look to the roots of the sounds they used to draw from and serve up a new single on Jam City that is all about disco. 'Lit Up' has loose, jumbled drums and funk basslines with some great vocal flourishes up top from Gizelle Smith. A remix on the flip takes things into deeper new soul territory.
Review: Mega-sick big breaks from Brighton's Krafty Kuts, flipping undocumented verses from an earlier collab between the producer and verbalist TC Izlam, 'Ill Type Sound'. Every beat hits with huge plantar weight here, with kicks and reverso-claps rooting themselves in sonic continual soils. The original mix features here too, with twisty scratches, pan pipes and turntablist's kick rolls bringing a distinctively kitsch, jazzy, De Wolfe samply feel. "We got the groove, we got the sound, we got the vibe to make you get down!"
Review: American jazz and gospel singer came up in Chicago and world the local scene - both playing in the clubs, but also as part of an a cappella choir for a number of years. She moved to LA to pursue her dreams in 1962, and the move paid off. She recorded 24 albums and nearly as many EPs right up until the mid nineties. 'Baltimore Oriole' was originally recorded in 1957 but this version is from 1977 . It is a glorious bit of uptempo Afro-Cuban jazz with lush jazz, funk and soul stylings all topped off by a fine vocal.
Review: Two popular tracks from the highly rated and MURO-curated compilation Diggin Victor: Deep Into The Vaults Of Japanese Fusion / AOR are now made available for the first time on their own standout 7". Originally released as a limited item at an anniversary event, these rare gems are magically escapist sounds that blend library music, jazz, soul and Balearic mindsets into a pair of tropical heaters. The Kumi Sasak A-side is a real melodic noodler with meandering bass and a whimsical, carefree spirit as it heads nowhere in particular in hypnotic fashion. Side-B has 'Kimono' by Tetsuo Sakurai, which is a more rhythmic sound with funky bass riffs and 80s broken beats and a lush vocal.
Review: MURO Select presents yet another crucial 7" for Fourth Wave Record Factory for anyone whose ears prick up when it comes to Far Eastern soul, city pop and jazz cause this one has two of Hamada Kingo's urban mellow gems. He was a key figure in 80s city pop and AOR and his iconic track 'Dream Is Alive' from the Earthian image album makes its vinyl debut and is full of The flip side features 'Yokaze,' another standout urban mellow tune that captures the smooth, soulful vibe of his work and is perfect for those close listen bar sessions or the gentle moments early in the evening.
Review: The new joint on Wildcards comes from a hornsman sometimes known as Lucky Brown, sometimes as plain old Joel Ricci. He's done plenty of excellent work in the past, but after a few quiet years he's back in the saddle and this new single really takes the cake. 'A Thing Of Beauty' is a lilting slice of instrumental funk which lets Ricci's playing soar, and it's all rendered with a dusty, red-lining charm which will make it all the hotter in the dance as well as appealing to crate diggers hankering for more hot n' heavy grooves to sample. Speaking of which, the flip 'Drums Of Beauty' gives you breaks for days - B-boys and B-girls take heed.
Review: Jay Murphy - Franco-American musician, producer and singer based in Paris - and South African singer songwrite Natalie Nova join forces to give a fresh spin to a classic, reinterpreting a well-loved track with their own unique flair. The original mix oozes with jazz-funk vibes, where Murphy's smooth keyboard work and Nova's soulful vocals combine effortlessly, adding new depth and energy to the timeless track. The groove is rich and inviting, pulling you into its rhythmic charm while still honouring the essence of the original. On the remix, Young Pulse brings his signature style, turning the track into a soulful, funky journey with added layers of warmth and groove. His touch injects an extra dose of funk, transforming it into an irresistible dancefloor-ready tune.
Michael Jackson - "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (Underboss remix) (3:56)
Michael Jackson - "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (2:54)
Marvin Gaye - "I Want You" (Underboss remix) (4:00)
Marvin Gaye - "I Want You" (4:33)
DeBarge - "I Like It" (Soul Synopsis mix) (4:21)
DeBarge - "I Like It" (3:45)
Switch - "There'll Never Be" (Solidified Soul mix) (3:13)
Switch - "There'll Never Be" (3:34)
Eddie Kendricks - "Body Talk" (TBG mix) (4:43)
Eddie Kendricks - "Body Talk" (4:27)
Sisters Love - "Now Is The Time" (The Mack Revisited mix) (3:21)
Sisters Love - "Now Is The Time" (The Mack Revisited mix - instrumental) (3:21)
Jackson 5 - "Tribute Medley" (Underboss remix) (3:58)
Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save" (Medley) (3:09)
Review: This special 7" boxset Motown State of Mind is a collection of Motown classics remixed by the legendary rapper, producer and member of D.I.T.C., Lord Finesse. The first two tracks tackle the one time King of Pop, while the undisputed soul god that is Marvin Gaye then gets some special treatment with an Underboss remix of "I Want You." The smooth grooves continue on DeBarge's "I Like It" (Soul Synopsis mix), which is pure sultry and steamy gold. Elsewhere Eddie Kendricks - "Body Talk" (TBG mix) is a string laced and slow motion disco funk gem and Sister of Love and Jackson 5 also get some careful treatment.
Review: Briefly active in the late 1970s, Solat was a Dutch funk group made up of musicians from Surinam and the Dutch Antilles. They're undoubtedly best remembered by collectors for their 1977 single "Change The World", original copies of which regularly change hands for hundreds of pounds online. Here it gets the reissue treatment courtesy of Mr Bongo. Rich in crunchy Clavinets, tropical guitars, bold group vocals and a touch of steamy disco flavour, "Change The World" is a genuinely life-affirming affair. "Try, Try" meanwhile is an altogether more bass-heavy affair - a Blaxploitation-era slab of disco-funk reminiscent of Mass Production at their most righteous.
Review: You might well have caught wind of Kenny Dope's exhaustive Wild Style Breakbeats box set which came out in 2014. It found the New York legend offering up six 7"s carrying iconic breaks used in seminal hip hop movie Wild Style. Well now you can cop something from that highly sought after box and enjoy it for yourself as the first disc gets its own individual release. On the A side we've got the low slung bass and dusty groove of 'Down By Law', and on the flip it's 'Subway Beat' with a sweet low funk groove. Both should evoke strong memories for anyone versed in the roots of hip hop culture, but regardless they're just kick ass beats you could have a lot fun juggling and blending into other people's music.
Golden Boys - "Segura Na Cintura Dela (O Gaviao)" (2:38)
Silvio Cesar - "Beco Sem Saida" (2:21)
Review: Mr Bongo's essential Brazil 45s series notches up release number 89 via a blast of heavy dancefloor pressure that touches on both Brazilian funk and samba-rock. On the A-side you'll find Golden Boys' 1975 gem 'Segura Na Cintura Dela (O Gaviao)', an irresistible slab of full-throttle, orchestra-sporting, Hammond-heavy samba-funk marked out by strong group vocals and some superb musical arrangements. Over on the flip you'll find another classic from the same producer (Milton Miranda), Silvio Cesar's 1971 carnival masterpiece 'Beco Sem Saida' - an infectious excursion that found fame in the 2000s when Drumagick sampled it on 'Sambarock'.
Review: Mr Bongo's authoritative Brazilian 7" series continues apace with this delightful gem, featuring the magical talents of Guto on the A-side and Tony Nunes on the flip. Guto's 'Transito Livre' is a sweet slice of MPB (musica popular brasileira) which switches time signatures with flair from verse to chorus. Tony Nunes turns the heat up with 'Por Favor', a 1973 cut which sounds like it could jump right off the turntable with its fiery, funky urgency. Another essential purchase for all those who love hidden nuggets from Brazil's abundant musical history.
Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil45 series continues apace with this 95th entry, which carries two separate sides to keep any Latin-minded DJ very happy indeed. 'Mar Afunda' is a dancefloor delight from Os Novos Crioulos which originally came out on the group's self-titled album on Pirata in 1976. It's shuffling and sublime, sure to get a plethora of ID requests and shimmying moves from the people with their ears tuned in. On the flip we get Supersom TA's 'Brasileira Roxa', a sunny slice of samba fun which originally came out in 1972 and features more cuica flexing than you could ever dream of.
Review: Mr Bongo's crucial Brazil series hits a 94th volume here with vocal and instrumental group Os Carbonos from Sao Paulo. The band had a long and fruitful career that started in the 60s and ran on into the 80s. This offering is a tune from later on in their time and it is a prime slice of Brazilian boogie with funk drums, vamping chords and hip swinging claps all designed to bring the good ties and the sunny vibes. The bass-driven a-side is the one, but the flip from Sandra Sa is a special kind of sentimental soul sound.
Review: Medium Wave Band's 'So Tender' is a smooth, late-night jazz slow jam with sultry, soulful vocals that feel oddly familiar. The B-side, 'Games (Instrumental)' delivers a perfect example of Britfunk and UK jazz-funk with a bass-driven groove reminiscent of Elite Records releases. Surprisingly, this 7" was a private press by the band and not released on a label. The lineup featured Elliot Browne, Ron Lyseight, Andrew Proverbs, Tony Peart, Paul Snook, Linton Levy, and the stunning vocals of Jaki Graham, best known for her hit 'Could It Be I'm Falling in Love.' Only 200 copies were pressed, mainly sold in Birmingham, and so this is a cult classic for many and a welcome reissue.
Review: This 7" reissue revives a true funk gem from Miami-based Cuban rock band Pearly Queen. Featuring the infectious 'Quit Jive' In' and a fiery cover of The Rascals' 'Jungle Walk,' this 1974 release on Sound Triangle Records has long been a sought-after rarity. Introduced to collectors by DJs like Keb Darge and Jazzman Gerald, and later immortalised by DJ Shadow in his Brainfreeze mix, the record oozes groove. 'Quit Jive' In,' penned by Ray Fernandez, is a funk powerhouse, while 'Jungle Walk' brings a cinematic rock-funk flair, perfect for a Tarantino soundtrack.
What You Want To Be? (O Que Voce Que Apostar?) (2:09)
These Are The Songs (Esta E A Cancao) (2:59)
Review: Tim Maia's 1968 debut single, "What You Want To Be", has long been a favourite of dusty-fingered Latin music enthusiasts. Original copies, though, have long been out of the price range of most DJs and collectors. Happily, Mr Bongo has struck a deal to reissue it. The title track is something of a scorching dancefloor-treat - a boogaloo-era slab of Latin funk in which Maia and chums sing in English atop a bustling rhythm track and some seriously heavy horns. B-side "These Are The Songs" is a much more relaxed and laidback, samba-soaked affair, closer in tone to early 1960s U.S soul songs of the sort regularly covered by the Beatles early in the career.
Review: The Incredible Bongo Band were a loose studio collective interpreting classics of the day in their own inimitable percussive fashion .They are of course most famous for their ultimate b-boy classic version of "Apache". This particular 7" however features two Incredible Bongo Band cuts that have not previously featured on any albums. "The Riot" is a frenetic drum workout and has been championed by the likes of the Chemical Brothers. "Ohkey Dokey (Part 2)" takes on a somewhat more subdued hue in comparison, but has some dope funky clavinet in the mix. Well worth checking.
Review: Most experts agree that Archie Shepp's 1972 album "Attica Blues" is one of the finest soul-jazz LPs ever made - a politically-charged affair that just gets better with every listen. This tidy seven-inch single from Mr Bongo offers up two of the album's standout moments. On the A-side you'll find the title track, a swirling, down-low mixture of belted-out female chorus vocals, surging orchestration, Blaxploitation style bottom end and an impassioned lead vocal from Henry Hull. Flipside cut "Quiet Dawn" sees Waheeda Massey take lead vocals over a more obviously jazz-centric backing track rich in wild sax solos from the effervescent Shepp. Like the A-side, it's simply essential.
Review: We'll never tire of the incredible Brazil45 series on Mr Bongo, which has provided an authoritative window into the rich history of 60s and 70s grooves from South America. Here's a missing joint from the series which took some time to come to fruition - a split release featuring Brazilian Boys on the A side and Rubinho E Mauro Assumpcao on the B. 'Super Herois' is an obscure slice of off-kilter, psych tinged funk from 1975 that has the kind of individual sound which could find favour with a lot of different DJs. 'Tudo Ai' has a more recognisable samba shuffle, but much like the A side there's a subtle twist in the sound which leans towards blues rock and jazz, locking down on the rhythm and creating a low-key party starter in its own unique way.
Review: Smoke Inc are a favourite for soul reissuers and once again they find themselves the subject of a loving repress by the kind folks over at Mr. Bongo. 'Waitin' For Love' remains to be one of their most sought-after songs on wax, flaunting the sweet balladry of the band's brains Roy Schmall and Stanford Terry, and topped off with an ecstatic flute solo. It was originally released on the band's own self-titled imprint, but now it seems destined to transcend its make-do origins; these new, pristine reissues wait avidly for your mitts on 'em.
Review: Hilton Felton's 'Be Bop Boogie' is a delightful classic from the man originally from Norfolk, Virginia. The jazz organ player worked with the likes of Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers as well as Eva Cassidy at points in his career, and his debut solo album from which this is taken is impossible to find these days. This rare groove jazz funk nugget was recorded in the same place as 'The Bottle' by Gil Scott heron and uses all of its seven minute play time to really get deep under your skin. On the flip is part 2, a rare Japanese 7" edition from 2011.
Give Me The Sunshine (extended UK 7" Grapevine RED 3 mix) (4:40)
Review: Leo's Sunshipp is an iconic rare groove record that gets a reissue here on Expansion. The special Record Store Day 2021 limited and hand-numbered 7" offers up two different versions, both of which are primed and ready to add at least 10 degrees of heat to even the sunniest DJ set. The original US 7" mix is languid and long legged, laidback and in a hurry to go nowhere fast. The soaring strings and steamy vocal, tumbling perc and distant horns capture a lazy afternoon soaking up some rays. The extended UK 7" Grapevine RED 3 mix ups the ante a little for slightly more energetic moves.
Review: Cicero 'Corey' Blake was a big name on the Chicago soul scene of the 60s. He himself actually hailed from Jackson, Mississippi and became most well known for the superb reissue 7" presented here. It was recorded in 1975 having been written by Phillip Mitchell and in the years since has become a real modern soul room classic that never fails to detonate any crowd all over the world. It will cost you upwards of a money for an original copy if you can find one and here it is pressed up with the original Sam Dees tune 'Your Love Is Like A Boomerang' on the flip. Essential soul for real heads.
Bill Summers & Summers Heat - "Don't Fade Away" (4:10)
Review: This rare groove reissue by Expansion Records looks back on the best work of New Orleans percussionist Bill Summers, whose efforts lent revolutions to the latin jazz styles of the early 80s. These are choice bits taken from disparate points in his career; 'Come Into My Life' is a sultry, subtle, slow slice of emotive soul recorded with Earth Wind & Fire's Skip Scarborough. 'Don't Fade Away', meanwhile, features the backing band Summers Heat, and raises the stakes with a striking vocal feature from Leo Miller.
Review: Michigan-via-Ohio gospel group Rance Allen have been going for decades, and thanks to Expansion Records, two of their best known tunes now have a chance at relistenership. 'I Feel Like Going' on barely saw a resurfacing on YouTube, but just one listen and we're sure... this is a shockingly important slice of wax, with slapping electronic disco-soul production embedding sax, viola and castanets in what ought to be considered a criminally undersought pair of dance opals. A modern soul masterclass.
Review: A veritable wall of soul sound comes from Pleasure, the Portland, Oregon band whose works were sampled by the likes of LL Cool J and Michael Jackson. 'We Have So Much' is an example of mega-falsettoing, climactic funk, urgently laying home the fact that 'it's now or never', and that, baby, 'it's time to talk about it'. Meanwhile the B-side cut, 'Joyous', meanwhile, hears the aftermath of said relationship's end. A gem from Sherman Davis and co.
Review: Rhythm, blues and funk outfit The Blackbyrds were formed in Washington, D.C. in 1973, and as we have noted numerous times over at Juno, their music hardly saw the light of day around the time, save for a re-formation in 2012 after renewed interest brought their music back to light. The Washington fusion group were initially mentored by trumpeter Donald Byrd, but their sound came to differ from his sultry and slow tones, working in a more melancholic yet upbeat style, and flowery trumepeteering to boot. This 7" comes in stunning new vinyl quality, showing off a further two lost instrumentals, 'Rock Creek Park' and 'Gut Level'.
Review: The Blackbyrds' 'Reggins' is an instrumental jazz-funk masterpiece that originally hardly saw the light of day around the time of the group's formation in the early 1970s. The Washington fusion group were initially mentored by trumpeter Donald Byrd, but their sound came to differ from his sultry and slow tones, working in a more melancholic yet upbeat style, and flowery trumepeteering to boot. This 7" comes in stunning new vinyl quality, with unmatchable audiophile sound lent to two of their best instrumentals.
You Can't Turn Me Away (Produced By Roy Ayers) (4:32)
Review: Sylvia Striplin has been heavily sampled by all manner of artists over the years. Here one of her biggest hits 'Give Me Your Love' is presented on a 7". The A-side is the one with its big funky licks, low-slung bass line and celebratory riffs all finished off with the glorious vocal itself.
Review: The latest in the 'Superfunkanova' series hears Woody Bianchi unearth little-heard-before rarities in the genre, with two rather naive and lo-fi but ultimately delightful songs peeking through the fold. The deep-friend strings of 'Calif Curl Calif Gurl' by the Together Band helms up the A-side, while the inflammable, instrumental soul mass that is 'Firebolts Hustle' by The Firebolts comes hits us like a Flaming Moe on the B.
Review: Destination 78/79: Expansion take us deep into the illustrious back cat of revered boogaloo fusionist Willie Bobo for two of his many fiery delights. Side A is his feel-heavy cult instrumental take on Ronnie Laws' disco classic "Always There" while Side B throws us into the heart of his 1979 album Bobo with gutsy raw soul power (and just a few cheeky funk slap bass twangs for good measure) Two stone cold classics together for the first time on 45.
Review: First released way back in 1980 on the album of the same name, 'Coming To You Live' is one of the most beloved dancefloor jams in the sprawling catalogue of sorely missed soul-jazz organist Charles Earland. Here reissued on seven-inch (and therefore presented in edited form), the track blurs the boundaries between Latin-tinged disco and jazz-funk - all heady female group vocals, heady horns, spacey Herbie Hancock synths and infectious grooves. Over on the flip you'll find original B-side 'Street Themes', a breezier, similarly Latin-tinged jazz-funk cut that features some sensational keys-playing from Earland. In a word: essential.
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