Columbia Vinyl & CDs

Review: "Irreplaceable" is a mid tempo track and the second single to be taken from Beyonce's stunning new solo album "B-Day". 12" includes album and instrumental versions of 'Irreplaceable', plus Freemasons Club Mix edit of "Ring The Alarm"

Review: Finally, after many versions of this record circulating, here's the official! Beyonce drops this club smash with support from Jay Z. One of the biggest songs and newly claimed Diva for the summer of 2003!

Review: This extra EP came as part of a follow-up box set released in the November of the same year that David Bowie released The Next Day, his post-ironic album that cemented the starman's return to the limelight after a mild heart attack in 2004. Almost a decade of recovery and recording went into the album; this tidbit of outtakes and rarities from the album features everything from a collaboration with Steve Reich and James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) to a new version of 'I'd Rather Be High'.

Review: For the first time on green vinyl, cinematic funk and r&b singer Boz Scaggs gives us the Lowdown. One of the breakthrough hits from his 1976 album Silk Degrees, Scaggs' stylised, night-flighty sound is put on full blast here. Co-written by Scaggs and keyboardist David Paich (Toto), the record's unburdened and frolicking feel acts to disguise its subject matter: Scaggs' intention is double-sided, with the lyrics warning the listener about an unreliable, buttery figure, whose romantic trickery warrants an urgent briefing (hence "lowdown"). A twist arrives at the point of the chorus, when we realise that said bullshit artist might just be Boz himself. Well, we can't quite believe it. Are all us romantics loving a lie, to some extent?

Review: Herbie Hancock has been responsible for many era-defining records over the years - "Rockit" being a particularly good example - but few of his compositions have been quite as game changing as "Chameleon". First featured on 1973 album "Head Hunters", the 15-minute epic was revolutionary in a number of ways, not least in its use of a killer 12-note bassline, "percussive" style guitar parts and loose-limbed funk beat. It remains one of the greatest jazz-funk moments of all time, as this timely reissue proves. This time round, it comes accompanied by another "Head Hunters" classic - Hancock's groovy, synth-laden re-recording of his own 1962 composition "Watermelon Man". Two stone cold classics for the price of one: what's not to like?

Review: Two out-and-out rarities from Hancock's Columbia-era output. Strictly the sole preserve of DJ promo back in 79/80, the clue is in the title 'special' disco remixes. Smooth, soulful and arranged with such style, every element of Herbie's essential ingredients is brought to the fore in its own time with its own space. "Stars In Your Eyes" swoons with a soulful ballad feel while "Saturday Night" pumps and jumps with party-pulling allure. Simply essential.

Review: Your man Calvin Harris popped up with a pretty slick 12" featuring three remixes of his prodigal "We'll Be Coming Back". The original is a twisted, club-rooted pop track with the voice of Harris himself, of course. Michael Woods gives it a euro-house, ringing them big piano keys like there's no tomorrow! On the flip, Jacob Plant is all about the electro and it's not hard to imagine this track on a sunny day, blasting through endless car radios. Killsonik also dose his thing but it involved the word dub and features some heavy steps - you get the picture!

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Best known amongst house heads for being the source of the lilting orchestral sample in Pepe Bradock's "Deep Burnt", Freddie Hubbard's 1979 version of "Little Sunflower" is a soul-jazz classic and a half. Since the full version of Hubbard's vocal re-make (the trumpeter first recorded an instrumental take in 1968) only ever appeared on a hard-to-find promo 12", this Record Store Day reissue should be an essential purchase. It remains a gentle, breezy and sunset-ready jazz-dance gem, with Hubbard's emotion-rich vocals and mazy trumpet solos riding Latin-tinged percussion, elastic double bass and some suitably jammed-out jazz pianos. In other words, it's the kind of life-affirming treat that's capable of spreading sunshine on even the cloudiest day.

Review: Best known amongst house heads for being the source of the lilting orchestral sample in Pepe Bradock's "Deep Burnt", Freddie Hubbard's 1979 version of "Little Sunflower" is a soul-jazz classic and a half. Since the full version of Hubbard's vocal re-make (the trumpeter first recorded an instrumental take in 1968) only ever appeared on a hard-to-find promo 12", this Record Store Day reissue should be an essential purchase. It remains a gentle, breezy and sunset-ready jazz-dance gem, with Hubbard's emotion-rich vocals and mazy trumpet solos riding Latin-tinged percussion, elastic double bass and some suitably jammed-out jazz pianos. In other words, it's the kind of life-affirming treat that's capable of spreading sunshine on even the cloudiest day.

Review: Freddie Hubbard's 1979 version of 'Little Sunflower' is a soul-jazz classic. Since the full version of Hubbard's vocal re-make (the trumpeter first recorded an instrumental take in 1968) only ever appeared on a hard-to-find promo 12", this Record Store Day reissue should be an essential purchase. It remains a gentle, breezy and sunset-ready jazz-dance gem, with Hubbard's emotion-rich vocals and mazy trumpet solos riding Latin-tinged percussion, elastic double bass and some suitably jammed-out jazz pianos.

Review: Another gem from the archives of Des Moines' favourite son: Samuel Jonathan Johnson - gets a much needed official reissue here. Johnson came from a family of musicians who were originally based in the Midwest. When he was six years old, the family moved to New York City, where he played for several churches and quickly gained notoriety as one of the city's finest musicians. His LP My Music was released in Europe to modest acclaim, but never received recognition back home. Disappointed in the outcome, he went into early retirement as a recording artist and began to work with local bands in the New York area. The 12" mix featured here of "You" combines the original funk riffs, captivating string arrangements and uplifting piano with a squelchy lead synth - which elevates the track to a whole new level. The aforementioned "My Music" on the B side is now a favourite with the diggers - spiritual soul from the one and only Samuel Jonathan Johnson.

Review: Despite being something of a confirmed jazz-funk classic, Hubert Laws' "Family" was never released on a 12" single first time around. Curiously, the full version - contained on the A-side of this edition - only ever appeared on the veteran flautist's 1980 album of the same name. It remains, particularly in its original stereo mix form, a superb summer breeze of a jam, with a loved-up female vocal and punchy orchestration riding a sumptuous mid-tempo groove rich in rubbery slap bass and lolloping drumbeats. On the flipside you'll find the more obscure Mono Version, which interestingly feels a little weightier at the bottom end whilst allowing Laws' superb flute solos space to breathe.

Review: Lonnie Liston Smith made a lot of rather good records in the 1970s and '80s, though few are quite as heavy, intergalactic and intoxicating as "Space Princess". Initially recorded and released in 1978 as the opening track of his jazz-funk focused "Exotic Mysteries" album, the track - a suitably cosmic workout of epic proportions - quickly became a firm dancefloor favourite at both the Loft and Paradise Garage in New York thanks to its extended, Latin-tinged percussion breaks. Here the original DJ promo 12" gets the reissue treatment, with the peerless classic being accompanied by fellow "Exotic Mysteries" cut "Quiet Moments" - a gentle, samba-soaked shuffle through sunrise-ready jazz-funk bliss.

Review: In case you somehow missed it. Leo Generator is the new alias from Calvin Harris. It's a project he has said was inspired by underground artist Paul Woolford's Special Request moniker - a place Woolford cut loose and served up a dizzying array of old school sounds but with a modern twist. On this new one, The Internet's Steve Lacy features and the results are soaring, powerful vocal dance music for festival main stages and mainstream radio play. Mark Broom offers a more soulful and throwback house version, Solardo bring the acid on their remix and MK layers in some of his trademark New York drums and dubby undercurrents.

Review: By the time "Touch Me In The Morning" was mailed out to American DJs in 1979, Marlena Shaw has long since established herself as one of soul music's greatest voices. "Touch Me In The Morning" was merely a promo-only affair, remixed from the shorter "Take A Bite" album version - but it did become something of a dancefloor anthem in certain underground clubs. Here, the sought-after 12" is given a replica reissue, with the stomping, string-drenched title track being accompanied by exactly the same B-side cuts as the '79 pressing.

Review: Splendor were a very short lived outfit - '70s funk/soul group including Billy Nunn, Robert "Bobby" Nunn, Sascha Meeks and Richard Shaw. "Take Me To Your Disco" and "Special Lady" were released in 1979 as the first single from the group's eponymous and only LP. It represents a heyday of disco - a zeitgeist where big budgets made for some amazing and seminal productions. With the likes of Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind and Fire fame) and the legendary Tommy Vicari on production duties - you can really hear the magic on these ones.