Dennis Coffey And The Detroit Guitar Band - "Scorpio"
The Jimmy Castor Bunch - "It's Just Begun"
B.T. Express - "Energy Level"
James Brown - "Get On The Good Foot"
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - "Planet Rock"
Manu Dibango - "Soul Makossa"
Esther Williams - "Last Night Changed It All"
The Mohawks - "The Champ"
Herman Kelly & Life - "Dance To The Drummer's Beat"
Spanky Wilson - "Sunshine Of Your Love"
James Brown - "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose"
Candido - "Soulwanco"
Arthur Baker - "Breaker's Revenge"
Manu Dibango - "The Panther"
Abaco Dream - "Life And Death In G & A"
The Jackson 5 - "Dancing Machine"
Mongo Santamaria - "Cloud Nine"
Edwin Starr - "I Just Wanna Do My Thing"
Badder Than Evil - "Hot Wheels"
Johnny Bristol - "Lusty Lady"
Review: With 'breaking' making its debut in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it seems an apt time to go back to where it all began and showcase some of the music that first made break-dancers move in the early years of hip-hop culture. Soul Jazz Records clearly agrees, hence this two-disc retrospective of early 'breaker' favourites curated by Arthur Baker - a man who's productions and remixes soundtracked many dancefloor battles in the early 80s. It's a suitably strong selection all told, with dusty funk, soul and funk-rock favourites (Johnny Bristol, James Brown, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, Spanky Wilson) being joined by disco-funk jams (Herman Kelly and Life), extra-percussive workouts (Manu Dibango, Mongo Santamaria, Candido) and a smattering of key Baker productions (Afrika Bambaata and Soul Sonic Force's 'Planet Rock' and his own infectious 'Breakers Revenge').
Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band - "Scorpio" (4:03)
The Jimmy Castor Bunch - "It's Just Begun" (3:41)
BT Express - "Energy Level" (3:46)
James Brown - "Get On The Good Foot" (4:06)
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - "Planet Rock" (6:26)
Manu Dibango - "Soul Makossa" (4:24)
Esther Williams - "Last Night Changed It All" (4:23)
The Mohawks - "The Champ" (2:38)
Herman Kelly & Life - "Dance To The Drummer's Beat" (4:13)
Spanky Wilson - "Sunshine Of Your Love" (3:40)
James Brown - "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" (6:11)
Candido - "Soulwanco" (4:12)
Arthur Baker - "Breaker's Revenge" (4:53)
Manu Dibango - "The Panther" (2:29)
Abaco Dream - "Life And Death In G & A" (2:19)
The Jackson 5 - "Dancing Machine" (3:29)
Mongo Santamaria - "Cloud Nine" (5:42)
Edwin Starr - "I Just Wanna Do My Thing" (5:18)
Badder Than Evil - "Hot Wheels The Chase" (3:01)
Review: Curated by the legendary producer Arthur Baker, Breakers Revenge is a comprehensive compilation of original funk, soul, Latin, disco and electro tracks from 1970-1984. These tracks, ranging from well-known classics to hidden gems, have become legendary in the world of breakdancing. Featuring seminal tracks like Dennis Coffey's 'Scorpio', The Jimmy Castor Bunch's 'It's Just Begun' and Afrika Bambaataa's groundbreaking 'Planet Rock', this collection embodies the essence of breakdancing culture. The percussive breakdowns and infectious beats of these tracks have not only been the soundtrack to countless block parties and park jams but have also been sampled by numerous hip-hop artists and producers. With extensive liner notes and track-by-track breakdowns, Breakers Revenge is perfect time capsule for fans of breakdancing, hip-hop and music enthusiasts.
Tambores De Enrique Bonne - "Como Arrullos De Palma"
Ricardo Eddy Martinez - "Expresso Ritmico"
Los Papines - "Solo De Tumba Y Bongo"
Grupo Sintesis - "Aqui Estamos"
Los Van Van - "Llegada"
Grupo Raices Nuevas - "Baila Mi Guaguanco"
Luis Carbonell - "La Rumba"
Orquesta Riverside - "En Casa Del Trompo No Bailes"
Juan Formel & Los Van Van - "Llegue, Llegue"
Grupo Los Yoyi - "Tu No Me Puedes Conquistar"
Los Papines - "Para Que Niegas?"
Grupo De Experimentacion Sonora Del ICAIC - "Cuba Va!"
Raul Gomez - "Luces En La Pista"
Los Brito - "El 4-5-6"
Leo Brouwer - "Tema De El Rancheador De La Naturaleza"
Ricardo Eddy Martinez - "La 132"
Los Reyes 73 - "Finalizo Un Amor"
Review: Given that Gilles Peterson and Stuart Baker's Cuba: Music and Revolution - Culture Clash in Havana is one of the standout compilations of 2021, hopes are naturally sky-high for this speedy sequel. Like its predecessor, volume 2 focuses on music and made and released on the Caribbean island between 1975 and '85, this time round largely focusing on rare fusions of salsa, Latin jazz, disco, soul and funk, mostly licensed from records that have never been available outside Cuba. It's another stunning selection all told, with highlights including the heady Cuban disco/salsa fusion of Orquesta Los Van Van, the fiery disco-funk of FA 5, the heavily percussive hedonism of Luis Carobonell and the fuzzy psychedelic rock of Grupo De Experimentacion Sonora Del ICAIC. In a word: essential.
The Clarendonians - "The Tables Gonna Turn" (3:18)
Ken Parker - "When You're Gone" (2:09)
Sound Dimension - "Traveling Home" (3:38)
Errol Dunkley - "Get Up Now" (2:33)
John Holt - "My Heart Is Gone" (2:50)
Freedom Singers & Larry Marshall - "Monkey Man" (2:13)
The Ethiopians - "Let The Light Shine" (2:56)
Im & David - "Money Maker" (2:39)
The Viceroys - "Lose & Gain" (2:37)
Review: Soul Jazz Records continues to trawl through the vast archives of Jamaica's Studio One label and its many offshoots. This time round, they're focusing on uplifting, feel-good rocksteady and soulful reggae cuts from the late 1960s and early '70s. As you'd expect, it's an excellent collection that not only showcases classic cuts and well-worn "riddims", but also obscurities and the sort of rare gems that make reggae collectors go weak at the knees. With such stars as Alton Ellis, John Holt, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, the Heptones and Jackie Mittoo all featured, and exhaustive sleeve notes from reggae scholar Rob Chapman, Rocksteady Got Soul is another essential Studio One compilation from the reliable Soul Jazz Records crew.
Review: Soul Jazz, as always, have got tons of good stuff line-up for Record Store Day 2021. This bumper Funk 70 Box Set is the latest example and is a limited-edition one-off collector's edition with 10 rare and timeless funk gems on five individual bespoke 7" singles. All killer and no filler, this collection features the likes of a rare Detroit funk tune from Jackie Harris, the seminal 'Latin Strut' by Joe Bataan's which arguably helped make Salsoul Records into the force it became, and some excellent New Orleans funk from Eddie Bo, as well as much more.
Tony Grey & The Ozimba Messengers - "You Are The One" (7:22)
Sonny Okosuns - "Oba Erediauwa I" (6:20)
The Wings - "Single Boy" (4:02)
Geraldo Pino - "Power To The People" (5:43)
Original Wings - "Igba Alusi" (7:03)
Don Bruce & The Angels - "Sugar Baby" (6:32)
Geraldo Pino - "Africans Must Unite" (5:51)
Review: Back in 2017, Soul Jazz offered up a superb box set of seven 7" singles featuring a wealth of 1970s Nigerian afro-rock, afro-funk and afro-disco. Since then the box has been changing hands for significant sums online, so they've bowed to pressure and decided to reissue it as a gatefold double album. It features the same combination of tracks from the likes of Geraldo Pino, Tony Grey, The Wings and MFB, though this time they've been included in a different order. For those interested in raw, raucous and life-affirming Nigerian dance music from the period, it should be an essential purchase (providing, of course, they don't already own the previous box set).
Review: This legendary compilation from Soul Jazz has seen many iterations, but now it comes out in its most comprehensive glory to date, with versions on vinyl, CD and cassette in tow this January 2023. Charting the very best and funkiest tracks from the revered reggae musical imprint known as Studio One, greats from Jackie Mitto (covering Booker T & The MGs' 'Hang Em High'), Soul Bros (reinterpreting the James Bond theme tune, '007') and Alton Ellis (with the snappy reggae cut 'It's A Shame') render this a highbrow compilation of rare soundtrack cuts, originals and classics.
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
All The People - "Cramp Your Style" (2:14)
Helene Smith - "You Got To Be A Man" (2:43)
George McCrae - "I Get Lifted" (2:41)
James Knight & The Butlers - "Funky Cat" (4:09)
Gwen McCrae - "90% Of Me Is You" (2:53)
Little Beaver - "Funkadelic Sound" (2:33)
James Knight & The Butlers - "Save Me" (3:09)
Joey Gilmore - "Do It To Me One More Time" (2:30)
Helene Smith - "A Woman Will Do Wrong" (2:36)
James Knight & The Butlers - "Fantasy World" (4:25)
Timmy Thomas - "Funky Me" (2:56)
The New Clarence Reid - "Cadillac Annie" (2:42)
Frank Williams & The Rocketeers - "The Spanish Flyer" (2:08)
Della Humphrey - "Don't Make The Good Girls Go Bad" (2:36)
Frank Williams & The Rocketeers - "You Got To Be A Man" (2:42)
Joey Gilmore - "Somebody Done Took My Baby" (3:28)
Little Beaver - "I Love The Way You Love" (3:11)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
It's time to track back 20 years to one of the true gems from Soul Jazz's heavyweight range of compilations. Miami Funk takes into the beating heart of the late 60s-early 70s scene hovering around Florida's most famous city, and introduces us to some of the hip underground cats who were laying down the sweetest grooves at that time. Some it's rocking, some of it rolls, at times it's sweet and elsewhere it's nasty, but as you'd expect the quality never dips. This one has been long out of print, and now a limited run is making its way back, with this coloured vinyl edition sure to fly out, so don't sleep!
King Tubby Meets Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators - "King Tubby Dub" (3:07)
Chaka Demus & Pliers - "Murder She Wrote" (4:07)
Johnny Osbourne - "Ready Or Not" (3:19)
Jackie Mittoo - "Earthquake" (3:26)
Sandra Reid - "Don't Tell Me Tell Her" (5:57)
The Skatalites Meet King Tubby - "Herb Man Dub" (3:18)
Kim Harriott - "Woman Of The Ghetto" (5:06)
Review: The mighty Soul Jazz has done it again with this compilation - it features four sides of irresistible ska, soul, rocksteady, funk and dub that traces the history of Jamaican reggae and how American styles like funk and jazz had on it. The record is bursting at the seams with gold from crossover tunes like Tenor Saw's 'Ring the Alarm' to K.C.White's classic 'No, No, No' and Augustus Pablo's always iconic 'Rockers Rock'. Soul Jazz has done all the hard work in digging here so you don't have to.
Review: We're always going to be here for a new compilation series from Soul Jazz Records and Space Funk - Afro Futurist Electro Funk In Space 1976-84 is as good as it gets - even the artwork is killer. This second edition in the series is another twist trip to outer space on body-popping Afro grooves and obscure space funk that was all originally put out on small indie labels in the US between 70s and 80s. Plenty of these bionic joins still sound super fresh and they come from a host of artists you might not have heard of including Alien Starr, Maggatron, Tribe, Rich Cason and the Galactic Orchestra. Strap in, it's quite the ride.
Gwen McCrae - "All This Love That I'm Giving" (3:52)
Beginning Of The End - "Monkey Tamarind" (3:33)
Latimore - "I Get Lifted" (4:38)
Raw Soul Express - "Burn The Candle" (2:36)
Chocolateclay - "Free (I'll Always Be)" (4:35)
Betty Wright - "I Love The Way You Love" (3:00)
Little Beaver - "Concrete Jungle" (4:51)
Jimmy 'Bo' Horne - "Clean Up Man" (2:33)
Timmy Thomas - "Africano" (4:29)
Charles Allen - "Winterman" (3:15)
T-Connection - "Do What Ya Wanna Do" (7:03)
Robert Moore - "Jimmie Bo Charlie" (2:14)
Milton Wright - "Keep It Up" (4:10)
Clarence Reid - "Ten Tons Of Dynamite" (2:32)
Timmy Thomas - "Why Can't We Live Together" (4:36)
Little Beaver - "We Three" (4:06)
Paulette Reaves - "Do It Again" (5:32)
Lynn Williams - "Kisses, Kisses, Kisses" (2:20)
Review: Soul Jazz Records' new Miami Sound 2 is a superlative collection of 70s soul, funk, disco and boogie featuring tracks from legendary artists such as Betty Wright, Timmy Thomas, Gwen McRae, Milton Wright, T-Connection and many more, all released on the mighty TK Records musical empire based in Miami, Florida. Centring on the curatorial efforts of TK Records founder Henry Stone, who is credited by Soul Jazz as one of the tastemaking pioneers of boogie, after the early ferments of gritty funk and soul formed out of the arrival of disco in the mid-70s. This compilation snaps up a distinct, unforgettable moment in the pivot from disco into soul, with essential tracks from Betty Wright, to Timmy Thomas, to Raw Soul Express, to T Connection all in tow.
Akin Richards & The Executives - "Afrikana Disco" (6:25)
Tee Mac - "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" (5:40)
Joni Haastrup - "Greetings" (6:14)
Don Bruce & The Angels - "Ocheche (Happy Song)" (5:51)
Benis Cletin - "Get Up & Dance" (5:37)
Colomach - "Enoviyin" (5:02)
Joni Haastrup - "Do The Funkro" (4:04)
Tee Mac - "Living Everyday" (feat Marjorie Barnes) (5:19)
Arakatula - "Mr Been To" (4:01)
Angela Starr - "Disco Dancing" (5:30)
Joni Haastrup - "Wake Up Your Mind" (5:58)
Jimmy Sherry & The Musik Agents - "Nwaeze" (7:00)
Benis Cletin - "Soul Fever" (5:02)
Arakatula - "Wake Up Africa" (3:19)
Review: Another work of Soul Jazz curatorial gold: Nigeria Soul Fever is a detailed gatefold trip into one of Nigeria's richest chapters in music. Heavy trade restrictions allowed them to develop their own style without too much US or European influence and the result is an array of national talent who largely remained legends within their own borders. The range is mesmerizing; the sinewy synth and playground vocal Q&A of Benis Cletin's "Get Up & Dance", the ballroom disco soul of Tee Mac's "Living Everyday", the soulful afrofunk folk of Jimmy Sherry's "Nwaeze", the gut-punching power of Arakatula's album finale "Wake Up Africa". This is a treasure trove of unreleased gems that capture a truly unique time.
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