Back catalogue: Funk

Review: The Jackson 5 were a legendary American pop band consisting of famous musical brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. Managed by their father, Joe Jackson, the group achieved great success in the 1970s and were much loved amongst younger audiences. They had plenty of chart hits and several of them went on to have great solo careers, of course. Their eighth studio album, G.I.T.: Get It Together was released on September 12, 1973, under the Motown label and now gets reissued on limited red vinyl with an insert.

Review: Most people will recognize Brian Jackson as the most important collaborator with Gil Scott-Heron - between them the pair laid down a mesmerising new kind of soul which resonates in its influence and brilliance to this day. Jackson went on to work with scores of legends of Black American music, but this new album is something altogether his own. Working with Daniel Colias from Phenomenal Handclap Band, Jackson revived a long-dormant solo project from the 70s and brought it to fruition in a set of ascendant soul cuts which speak to Jackson's mighty legacy while offering something wholly contemporary. 'All Talk' bursts with jazz funk and boogie flourishes, while 'Path to Macondo / Those Kind of Blues' takes a more introspective trip into Jackson's illustrious musicality. Forget reissue culture for a minute - here's a bonafide legend still doing it in the here and now.

Review: Michael Jackson's Off The Wall remains a pivotal release in his career and a hallmark of late 70s music. Produced by Quincy Jones, this album marks Jackson's transformation into the King of Pop, showcasing a blend of funk, disco and r&b that resonates with an enduring freshness. Tracks like 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' and 'Rock With You' exemplify Jackson's unparalleled ability to merge infectious grooves with sophisticated pop. The Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissue, celebrating its 40th anniversary, captures the album's original vibrancy with precision. This pressing addresses some issues found in previous versions, such as excessive treble and cymbal crunching, but shines with solid bass response and clear midrange. The Apple Music Hi-Res stream offers an even more refined experience, with taut bass and exceptional clarity that highlights Jackson's vocal talent and the album's detailed production. for many, Off The Wall encapsulates Jackson's peak creativity and artistic vision.

Review: Originally released in 1993, this special edition enhances The James Taylor Quartet's legacy with remastered tracks and bonus material. Known for its infectious grooves, soulful melodies and catchy Hammond organ riffs, it captures the energy of London's 90s jazz scene and then some. Featuring standout tracks like 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' the album seamlessly blends jazz, funk and soul and this reissue reaffirms its timeless appeal by introducing new generations to its dynamic sound while offering nostalgia for longtime fans. A cornerstone of modern jazz-funk brilliance.

Review: There's more to US funk god Rick James than just 'Super Freak' and this sprawling retrospective proves it. Across four sides, the Buffalo-born musician's full-spectrum funk is on glorious display i from the righteous bounce of 'You & I' and weed-soaked romance of 'Mary Jane', to the hard-grinding grooves of 'Ghetto Life' and 'Give It To Me Baby'. The hits are all here, but so are deeper cuts like 'She Blew My Mind (69 Times)', 'Cold Blooded' and 'Can't Stop', showing off James's twisted humour, whip-smart arrangements and genre-bending instincts. Highlights like 'Glow', 'Dance Wit Me - Part 1' and the Temptations-featuring 'Standing On The Top' cement his reputation as a psychedelic soul innovator who consistently defied convention. Even the closing Busta Rhymes flip of 'In The Ghetto' feels earned i a nod to his lasting influence on rap and r&b. This isn't just a greatest hits i it's a flex, a time capsule and a reminder that Rick James could outplay, outsing and outfreak almost anyone.

Review: Jay Kay's powerhouse of crossover Brit funk maestros never stayed in one lane, but progressed from album to album without missing a beat. On 2001's A Funk Odyssey, they folded some explicitly floor-focused house and disco ingredients into their soul stew and came up trumps, smashing the hits out while staying true to the elevated musicianship they marked themselves out with in the beginning. There are monster hits like 'Little L' and cheeky bangers aplenty dotted throughout this pearler of an album, and despite how long ago it came out, it hasn't aged a bit.

Review: The wave of Jamiroquai reissues continues apace with a return to their 2005 album Dynamite. After so many knockout albums they just kept it coming with this sixth one, holding fast to the disco house vibe they'd picked up on A Funk Odyssey. Finding a sweet spot between the more organic jazz funk of their earlier work and the floor-focused grooves of their later period, this album is another flawless demonstration of their sharp musical chops and their killer instinct for a stone cold groove. It's not been repressed since it first came out, so you know there will be a lot of fans itching to get their mitts on this slice of superlative funky business from one of the best groups to ever do it.

Review: With a streak of hits reaching back to the early 90s, chart-topping Brit funk phenomenon Jamiroquai have plenty to celebrate. In 2006 they decided to remind everyone how much heat they've gifted to the world with High Times, a definitive overview of the singles that thrust them onto prime time radio and beyond. Now that compilation makes its way to vinyl for the first time, giving us the chance to spin such classics as 'Too Young To Die', 'Virtual Insanity' and 'Canned Heat' to our hearts' content - all killer, no filler.

Review: With a streak of hits reaching back to the early 90s, chart-topping Brit funk phenomenon Jamiroquai have plenty to celebrate. In 2006 they decided to remind everyone how much heat they've gifted to the world with High Times, a definitive overview of the singles that thrust them onto prime time radio and beyond. Now that compilation makes its way to vinyl for the first time, giving us the chance to spin such classics as 'Too Young To Die', 'Virtual Insanity' and 'Canned Heat' to our hearts content - all killer, no filler. This edition has been pressed up on green marbled vinyl and comes with insert and a slipmat, making it a must-have for collectors and die-hard fans alike.

Review: Making its debut release on vibrant neon green 12" vinyl for Record Store Day 2024, this release from Sony spotlights Jamiroquai's dazzling 2006 BBC live session, recorded at Maida Vale for radio legend Ken Bruce. It features all of the funk one's most epic tunes such as the perma-hit 'Cosmic Girl', the infectious 'Canned Heat' and the superb opener 'Runaway'. A great album, a great new pressing, a great one to snap up for when you need some colourful cosmic uplifting in your life.

Review: Jamiroquai's The Return Of The Space Cowboy celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special reissue on "moon grey" vinyl. This edition includes Michael Gray's 2024 Good Vibe Zone edit of 'Space Cowboy', available on a physical release for the first time. The redesigned packaging, featuring foil accents, enhances the original album's iconic cover. Released in 1994, The Return Of The Space Cowboy solidified Jamiroquai's place in music, following their successful debut Emergency On Planet Earth. Fans praised its blend of jazz, funk, and soul, The album achieved platinum status in the UK, France, and Japan, and its single 'Space Cowboy' became a hit, topping the U.S. Billboard Dance charts. Musically, the album toned down its predecessor's "acid" influences in favor of funk and jazz, with tracks like 'Half The Man' and 'Stillness In Time' having a more mature sound. Political themes, such as on 'Manifest Destiny', highlighted the band's growth, addressing issues of racial injustice and homelessness. Timeless and genre-defying, The Return Of The Space Cowboy remains a classic, with its influence felt in artists like Missy Elliott and Tupac Shakur, who sampled its tracks. This reissue commemorates its enduring legacy.

Review: The Late Night Tales series is an absolute bastion of late-night parties back at yours after a heavy club session, or maybe even on a Sunday morning to welcome you to a day of being hungover. Everyone who is everyone had made their entry over the years and used the chance to show off a different side to their sound and that is just what cosmic disco funkster Jamiroquai did when he stopped up. Now his fine choices get pressed up to four sides of vinyl for this fine reissue.

Review: It's always worth checking the reissues offered up by Jazz Room Records, not least because there are few people more knowledgeable on the dancefloor friendly end of jazz than boss man Paul Murphy. Predictably, he's scored another coup here by securing the rights to reissue Jazzberry Patch's 1977 debut - a private-press jazz-funk gem that's long been a "holy grail" amongst collectors. Joined by virtuoso organist Mike Longo (who supplies liner notes) and a handful of guest percussionists, the Californian trio lay down a series of effortlessly funky, percussive and solo-rich workouts that should delight jazz-funk fans everywhere. The piece de resistance is undoubtedly the epic title track, which grooves, bobs and weaves over 20 mesmerising minutes.

Review: Broc Recordz is proud to announce Puzzled, the latest album by the legendary JJ Whitefield. Across 13 tracks, you'll surely immerse yourself in the enigmatic universe of this master of funk and psychedelism, on which you'll just as surely discover all facets of this musician from Munich, ranging from raw funk to krautrock. Whitefield is an iconic figure in his local music scene, having played an essential role in diverse projects such as the mastermind behind Poets Of Rhythm, Karl Hector, the Whitefield Brothers and in the recent careers of Ebo Taylor, Embryo and Witch. Puzzled is the perfect opportunity to delve into his musical world.

Review: This is a historically significant album now gaining deserved recognition with this anniversary reissue. Born George Folurunsho Johnson in Nigeria in 1916, Ginger's Yoruba heritage shaped his music and by the late 1940s, he had moved to London and was busy collaborating with British jazz icons like Ronnie Scott, Phil Seaman and Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists. A pioneering figure, Ginger recorded some of Britain's first African music releases and mentored a young Fela Kuti and became a cornerstone of the African and West Indian musical community. By the 1960s, Ginger's mastery of Afro-Cuban percussion cemented his legacy across genres and performances, including the Notting Hill Carnival, and this album shows why he was such a singular artist.

Review: A definitive master of jazz, soul and pop sounds across the decades, Quincy Jones pulled off another gem with this genre-defying collection. It highlights an unparalleled level of musical craftsmanship where the arrangements are lush and use orchestral instruments, funky rhythms and smooth vocals to create a timeless sound. Standout tracks like 'What's Going On?' and 'Theme From The Anderson Tapes' showcase Jones' ability to merge complex jazz harmonies with commercial appeal. He also balances upbeat tracks with introspective, slower tunes with the result reflecting Quincy's deep influence on the music of the last half-century.

Review: Daptone brings you the amazing album, '100 Days 100 Nights' from the soul sister Sharon Jones alongside The Dap Kings.

Review: Female vocalist Sharon Jones continues to fly the flag for raw femme funk with her fifth album for US label Daptone, ably assisted by the labels in-house band - The Dap Kings. The new record is a collection of rare tracks and B-Sides going back as far as 2002. The only new track appears to be the Motown-esque "New Shoes", which, like the rest of the album, could be mistaken as a lost soul classic.

Review: Selva Discos continues its committed exploration of rare and exquisite Brazilian gems with this true labour of love from two of the funkiest dudes to emerge from Latin America in the 80s. Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti originally only released one album of fusion funk together in 1982, but now the Selva team and the artists have worked together to unearth more material from the pair spanning 82 through to 87. These five tracks have never been released, making them essential listening for the legions of Brazilian music devotees, not to mention those on an eternal quest for the slickest boogie joints.

Review: Insane boogie fire from Rio circa 82; both Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti were already decorated before they joined forces, but this one took both of their reputations and amplified them beyond expectation. Their one and only album, it's loaded with soul and funk from every corner of Brazil's sexy city and brought together with beautiful attention to detail; the gradual vocal breakdowns, rude synths and lavish instrumental sections, key cuts such as the Wonder-level "Aleluia", the jazz slides and glides of "Pret-A-Porter" and the sexy 80s electro boogie "Squash" will still completely flip any party 35 years later. Stunning.

Review: Behind the unassuming monotone cover of Colours, Judy Bailey's 1976 electric soul-jazz masterpiece, lies a richly textured, spirited recording that defies its minimalist presentation. A central figure in Australian jazz for over 70 years, pianist and composer Bailey captured the shifting jazz landscape of mid-70s Australia with Colours, a pivotal album in the country's transition from semi-acoustic jazz to electric jazz-funk. Often compared to the smooth production of Creed Taylor's CTI label, Colours features crisp drums, processed bass, and soul-jazz arrangements akin to those heard on Bob James and Joe Farrell albums, while also incorporating influences from the sensual vocals of Flora Purim and the lively flute work of Hubert Laws. Bailey's fusion of these elements with her own signature style creates a warm, sophisticated atmosphere. Tracks like the funky 'Fall Down Dead', the Latin-tinged 'Toledo', the vibrant 'Colours of My Dream' and the expansive 'The Eleven Eight Song' showcase her ability to blend genres seamlessly. With contributions from saxophonist and flutist Ken James, the album's grooves are both refined and raw, adding to its timeless appeal. Now reissued by The Roundtable, this seminal Australian jazz recording is available on vinyl in a replica gatefold sleeve, allowing new listeners to experience its vibrant energy firsthand.

Review: If you're not familiar with the 1973 American-Philippine action movie Savage! then join the club. Distributed through Roger Corman's New World Pictures, the Cirio H. Santiago production was one of around 40 that the Hollywood legend worked on at far lower costs in the Asian island nation compared with back in the US. A somewhat exploitative business model taking advantage of lower wages in a developing country, the story also used more than a few totems of the Blaxploitation canon to tell the tale of a criminal who winds up getting caught up in a revolution to overthrow a military government. Heavy stuff dealt with in a pulp fiction style, the score reflects this - funk filled guitar licks, slap bass and woodwind hooks. Hip hop selectors take note, then, there's plenty to play with here.

Review: It's been nearly ten years since the first release of Orlando Julius and The Heliocentrics' first ever collaborative album, Jaiyede Afro, which did thorough justice to the creative possibilities of Nigerian Afrobeat that arguably haven't been represented so well since Fela Kuti's last releases. Deft rhythms, and loosely-laid-down layers of guitar and horn, ride over each other like harmonious, health-giving backings for life across this short statement of nine tracks. Now reissued via Strut, we're reminded of its spiritual mood of tricky electronics and wahhing ambiences, as it slowly expands outwards into a holistic psychedelia, more than the some of its easily discernible parts.

Review: Funk icon Junie Morrison recorded his first ever live album at Dooleys back in 1976 and Regrooved Records presents it to us here on just 100 copies of gatefold blue vinyl. The Funky Worm - Live at Dooley's is a unique recording that occurred during Junie's mid-70s Westbound solo period. It has only just been recently discovered and is a real treasure trove of funk gold. There are eight tracks in all, one of which is a high impact medley of tunes which make for a potent brew of funk with hard hitting drums.

Review: Junie Morrison was a member of both Ohio Players and Parliament-Funkadelic, and on many occasions he carried the torches of these pioneering ensembles into his own, solo live settings. The Funky Worm: Live At Dooley's 1976 captures Morrison's performance at Dooley's club in Columbus, Ohio in 1976, where he played songs from his solo albums like 'The Funky Worm', 'Super J' and 'Suzie Thundertussy'. There's an incredible medley with what sounds like a keytar on there, as well as beautiful versions of 'Fopp' and 'Super J', capturing Morrison's sweaty, many-octaved input on the mic and guitar.

Review: A fresh live album by Walter Morrison aka. Junie Morrison, one of the most outspoken former members of Ohio Players and Parliament-Funkadelic. Recordings from Morrison's solo performance at Dooley's in Lansing, Michigan appear on this opus, in which a medley of tunes first recorded for his then latest solo album, Freeze, come among a rip-roaring sandwich of wholly original live funk jams for the bread, and an array of covers - that of Aretha Franklin's 'Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby)', Diana Ross's 'Surrender', and The Temptations' 'Shakey Ground' - making up the condiments.

Review: Ekoya is the fourth album from Jupiter & Okwess and it marks a new chapter in their sound as they embrace Congolese funk, rock, Afropop and Latin influences. This record was conceived during a South American tour and recorded in Mexico so reflects a cross-cultural fusion that's deeply rooted in African history and features collaborations with artists like Flavia Coelho and Mare Advertencia. Along the way, the music tackles themes of change, resilience and the global challenges we face so tracks like 'Selele' and 'Orgillo' fuse political commentary with big rhythms. Through a great mix of languages, rich instrumentation and powerful messages, Ekoya is a wonderfully worldly celebration.

Review: Broc Recordz's Cosmos Giants album is a celestial creation that stems from a monumental collaboration between Janko Nilovic, JJ Whitefield from Poets of Rhythm, and Igor Zhukovsky of the Soul Surfers. Together, they've sculpted a sonic world where genres meld seamlessly and offer a transformative auditory experience where funk, psyche, and soul all inform a jazz underbelly. The ensuing musical odyssey rather defies easy categorisation that is all about immersion in meticulously crafted tracks. From the laidback vibes of 'Inner Space' to the eerie and celestial melodies of '(Wind From) Mount Everest' this is a high-class record.

Review: Amerigo's The Big Payback series finds him bring together some fantasy all stars for his "J.B. and The Soul Mates" tribute concept. Here, James Brown's music is reworked, edited and chopped together with the work of hip hop giant Notorious BIG. It results in speaker blasting, floor filling, ass wiggling jams that mash up all the most iconic verses and choruses from each singer with their most recognisable guitar riffs, drum breaks and samples. It's a colourful collage that is as fun as it is funky.

Review: Southside Movement was a Chicago funk band that was busy during the mid 70s releasing a total of three albums between 1973 and 1975 on Wand and 20th Century Records. They also collaborated with the lush tones of soul singer and fellow Chicagoan Jackie Ross on records for Chess and Brunswick that have long since been forgotten. Until now, that is, because P-VINE has put together this great reissue of the music that was only released in limited test presses back in the day, and has added to it some previously unreleased tracks. The standout here is 'You Are The One That I Need' with its tropical funky vibes.