Charly Vinyl & CDs

Review: By now, most know the story of 94 East. The Minneapolis band was founded in 1975 by Pepe Wille, and included amongst its' members a precocious teenager called Prince Rogers Nelson. They made over an album's worth of recordings in 1977, which remained something of a secret until Willie released them in the mid '80s to capitalize on Prince's solo success. Here, these pioneering recordings are once again made public in tribute to the sadly departed Purple One. What's so remarkable about them isn't their high quality - you'd expect that given Prince's involvement - but rather how they sound like prototypes of the distinctive "purple funk" sound that the legendary artist later made his own. The album also includes "If You Feel Like Dancin", which is arguably one of the finest "proto-house" records ever made.

Review: Levanna, known as the "Northern Soul Girl," continues to captivate the soul scene with the second chapter of her Northern Soul journey. This new release shows her talent as a music curator due to her taste, bringing her infectious energy and deep passion for rare soul to a carefully curated collection of dance floor favorites. Drawing from the legendary Charly vaults, Levanna has assembled 16 tracks that pay homage to the young soul rebels of Britain. The album features an eclectic mix of gems like The Sonatas' 'Going On Down The Road,' The Bobbettes' 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet,' and Benny Spellman's heartfelt 'This Is For You My Love, Each track is a testament to Levanna's keen ear for discovering and sharing timeless soul music. With her magnetic personality, Levanna elevates these tracks, creating an irresistible collection that encourages people to look more into the spirit of Northern Soul.

Review: Formed in Rome way back in 1966, Musica Elettronica Viva are something of an enigma: an avant-garde collective whose exact line-up is shrouded in mystery (it changed over the years by all accounts but confirming who founded the group has proved difficult) and whose released works tend towards the experimental and undeniably out-there. The Sound Pool was recorded in 1979 and surfaced on vinyl a year later. It's an undeniably odd but defiantly impressive four-part work that blends tape loops, avant-garde noise, distant drumming, discording free-jazz horns and pots-and-pans percussion. It sounds like it was recorded live, in a gigantic, reverb-heavy room, and is as experimental and avant-garde as they come. An under-celebrated classic of its type.

Review: The historic Live Floating Anarchy 1977 album from Planet Gong captures Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, and the classic 70s Here & Now line-up during their 1977 Floating Anarchy tour. This transitional project blends Allen's Canterbury Gong sound with his prog-punk era, creating a wild, spacey psychedelic jam. Recorded live, the album features anarchic rhythms and the distinct vocals of Allen and Smyth, driven by Here & Now's subversive style. Essential for Daevid Allen fans, space-rock lovers and Gong collectors, this album remains a unique piece of Gong's evolving legacy.

Review: Kafunta was the second album PP Arnold released on Immediate and the last. It didn't reach the highs of the first one but remains a dramatic soul album that was defined by a tension between the singer and her label, whose founder Andrew Loog Oldham was in charge of produciton. His dream of establishing Arnold as a crossover commercial star was at odds with her own vocal talents as she fought to stay in her own unique r&b lane. Sometimes that conflict results in greatness like on 'Angel of the Morning'. 'God Only Knows' is also a highlight with its tight, tense, rousing marriage of trumpets and drums, making for real drama.