Funk / Reissue Recommendations February 2012

Review: Lavern Baker was one of the ruling queens of Rhythm & Blues throughout the 1950s, a singer who had all the necessary requirements to be an R&B diva - a knockout voice, oodles of charm and feminine sass to spare. "Love Me Right" is an uptempo, swinging R&B number with big riffs and an irresistible vocal performance. "Tiny Tim" on the flip is a slinkier affair with jangly guitar and baritone sax riffs - well worth checking out.

Review: Japan-based Originals are purveyors of the finest hard-to-find funk, soul and hip-hop, and 2012 was another biggie for them! This time we got Steve Parks giving us the title track, a tranquil boogie thang, ready to make your hips swirl and your heart soar. Masta Ace drops his "Talkin' What I Feel" on the flip, and if you don't know, get to know...

Review: New European 45s label Pepite launches in style with Le Coeur Au Bout Des Doigts, a double dose of neck snapping edit treatments from new French talent SJ. First up, the title track - considered by thems that know to be a 1967 pop soul classic from compatriot Jacqueline Taieb - is given the SJ breaks re touch, whilst retaining enough of the originals smoky horn charm. On the flip SJ reworks a Dick Hyman cover version of Mr James Brown with the resultant effort a flanged out bass heavy electronic version that will please the B Boys no end.

Review: 4 Hero don Mark Mac's side project Visioneers gets a worthy vinyl reissue as part of the 15 years of BBE celebrations with this limited edition 45. "The World Is Yours" is a take on the Nas classic which originally (in this version) came out in 2002 on the Omniverse label. The flipside "It's Simple" turned up on the Dirty Old Hip-Hop album for BBE four years later. The Omniverse label was highly collectable at the time, so this will be a welcome release for those who missed the original 45 or just love the 7 inch format. Both tracks are a sweet hip-hop tinged instrumental ride with nice keys and jazzy vibes. Hot!

Review: Imagenes drop their new single, a two track Latin edition 7" doused in 70's Salsa, Latin funk and boogaloo. The infectious "My Barrio" features UK Neo Soul singer Andre Espeut and Salsa vocalist Elpido from Columbia for a South American influenced addition to the Los Charly's Orchestra canon. On the flip "Jumping With Symphony Sid" (originally composed by Joe Bataan) is a catchy boogaloo jam with additional handclaps, shouts, trumpet stabs, a repetitive Latino piano refrain and some obligatory timbales!

Review: Two liquid dynamite psychedelic soul stormers taken from late last year's Lost Treasure From 1974 album from California funk band Gold. This single on the fantastic and consistently fine Soul 7/Jazzman vinyl-only imprint has a new version of one of the album's highlights, with "What About The Child" presented here in a slightly different arrangement, although it retains the soul-drenched tight funk arrangement, wonderful backing vocals and sweeping strings. "People Will Be People" is a more mid tempo affair with memorable lyrics and a classy arrangement that will have true soul lovers swooning! Only 500 copies.