Now Again Japan 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Dayton, Ohio's Record Player may have only released one private press 7" in 1979, but their story runs far deeper. Led by Charles Jackson, the band recorded a full suite of material that until now remained locked away, the product of a promising trajectory that was cut short before a major label deal could land. Excavated and restored by Now-Again, these tracks reveal a group entirely in step with the deep disco and street-level funk that defined late-70s Midwest soul. 'Free Your Mind' sets the tone: optimistic, rhythmically tight, and alive with the democratic spirit of funk's second wave. Cuts like 'Your Fantasy' and 'Backup N Funktown' showcase punchy horn charts and low-slung grooves, while 'Magic' and 'Bump-a-rump Ability' lean more playfully into disco and boogie. With bonus tracks like 'Sweetest Thing' and 'Go' rounding out the set, this is a joyous, overdue resurrection of a band that could've-and maybe should've-been. For fans of Edge of Daybreak, Split Decision Band and those tireless Dayton reels, this one's gold.