Family Groove US Vinyl & CDs

Review: 'Funky Soul' - a 1970 single from New Orleans band David Batise & The Gladiators - rose to prominence in the 1990s thanks to its inclusion on several high-profile funk compilations, before finding further success thanks to a Breakestra cover in the early 2000s. Ahead of a new collection of unheard cuts from the southern funk band, Family Groove records has decided to reissue it. In it's A-side 'Part 1' form, the track is a killer instrumental funk workout rich in razor-sharp guitar licks, weighty bass, crunchy drum breaks and hazy horns (the arrangement of which was provided by Isaac Hayes). Arguably even more frantic and energetic is the flipside 'Part 2' take, whose call-and-response vocals were a familiar feature of the band's popular live shows.

Review: North Carolina soul and jazz-funk outfit Brief Encounter have already seen both of their albums, 1977's Introducing... The Brief Encounter, and 1981's We Want To Play, reissued in recent years. In 2021, Family Groove is set to put out an album of unreleased music recorded by the band during the same period. This 45 boasts two of these cuts. First up is 'I Just Wanna Dance', a smooth, jazzy, warm and positive "modern soul" number that sits somewhere between disco-flavoured jazz-funk and the more organic, soulful end of the boogie spectrum. Over on the reverse side you'll find 'Making Love', a more squelchy and synth-heavy but no less soulful affair that contains some superb group harmony vocals.

Review: Although nowhere near as celebrated as some of her contemporaries, Odia Coates was one of the finest vocalists of the disco era. Over a short career, she released two albums and a swathe of singles on labels such as Epic, United Artists and Buddah Records. Family Groove Records has scored something of a coup by uncovering a wealth of unreleased material, most of which will be showcased on a forthcoming album. First, though, there's this teaser single, which boasts a mighty slab of punchy disco-soul. "Chump Change", which boasts slick production, killer horns and classic disco instrumentation, is a fine song about life on the breadline (a theme frequently explored during the period). It's rather surprising that it wasn't released first time around, to be honest, but fair play to Family Groove for making it available now.

Review: Two previously unreleased cuts from 1977, HOWEEFEEL is an earlier version of cult Chicago soul act Davis Import. Emphatic, harmonic and full bodied, quite why "People Of The World" remained unreleased is mind-blowing, it's got every possible hallmark of the late 70s sound and its delivered with raw authenticity and full groove command. "Lookin' For A Love", meanwhile, is way ahead of its time. Hinting at 80s funk elements you'd associate with the likes of Prince, it's a smouldering synth and slap-bass heavy track designed especially for smooching. File in the same essential playlist as Faze-O's "Riding High".

Review: We've had less than two years to recover from the unearthing of Hidden Stash by Athens Of The North when along comes Family Groove with the promise of another lost album from the debauched Chicago funk crew Rasputin's Stash. Entitled Stash it's due in April and the hype starts here with these two beautiful soul funk adventures. "Make Up Your Mind" rides on a sleazy fuzzy groove and peppy horns while "You Are My Everything" hits more of a classic triumphant horn and harmony led vibe not dissimilar to "I See Your Face" on their second album. April can't come soon enough.

Review: After the previous Three Dimension recordings dug out of an Alabama studio by Family Groove, we're more than happy to hear something else from this no-hit-wonder from '83. Two more unreleased gems here, leading in with the Rick James on a shoestring nastiness of "Freak Call" - it's loose and unpolished, but there's so much energy locked up in this jam, it's like it made itself get discovered all this time after it was recorded. "I Want You Back" is the consummate sensitive B side - a sweet soul number for a slow dance after all the freaky business is done with.