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FORTHCOMING
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Funk Reaction
For The Love Of It
Babbitt's Other Song
It's Changed
When The Night Is Right
All In My Mind
Review: Revered for its infectious grooves and innovative approach, this album embodies the spirit of its era while maintaining a fresh and contemporary appeal. The vinyl reissue of Lonnie Smith's Funk Reaction in 1977 offers a timeless snapshot of jazz-funk, funk, and disco fusion. Lonnie Smith, with his masterful Hammond organ playing and soulful arrangements, leads listeners on a funky journey filled with irresistible rhythms and dynamic melodies. From the infectious title track to the laid-back vibes of For the Love of It, each composition on Funk Reaction showcases Smith's versatility and creativity as a musician. The album's seamless blend of jazz improvisation, funky rhythms, and disco-infused beats creates an irresistible sonic experience that captivates listeners from start to finish. Funk Reaction is a record that every music lover should have in their collection.
… Read morePre-orders at Juno
This vinyl is available for pre-order at Juno, for shipping on the release date. You won’t be charged until the order is despatched.
We'll keep you informed of your order at every stage, and let you know if the release date changes.
If the price of the item drops before it's released, you will pay the lower price, but if it increases, you'll only pay the price you see today.
If you also include in-stock items on your order, they’ll be charged and shipped within 24 hours as usual.est. release 24 May 24 $23.46
(No payment required now - pay when released)
FORTHCOMING
Related releases...
Review: Raúl Gómez's 1977 instrumental album, part of Mr Bongo’s Cuban Classics series, is a mesmerizing blend of orchestral disco, jazz-funk, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Released on Cuba’s Areito label, it showcases Gómez's talents as a composer, producer, and arranger. The record defies categorization, seamlessly transitioning between mood music, library/soundtrack mastery, and cosmic-Latin funk. With the Orquesta EGREM in full force, the album features soaring strings, vibrant horns, and infectious rhythms. Standout tracks like 'Mi Samba Carnaval' and 'Tema De La Sierra' offer breathtaking drum breaks and romantic film music impressions, while '6 Son' delivers a mind-bending psych guitar experience. 'Dacapo' adds Brazilian percussion and scat vocals to the mix, creating a dynamic and energetic Latin shuffle. Instrumental is a great example with Cuba's rich musical heritage thanks to Gómez's exceptional creativity.
… Read morePre-orders at Juno
This vinyl is available for pre-order at Juno, for shipping on the release date. You won’t be charged until the order is despatched.
We'll keep you informed of your order at every stage, and let you know if the release date changes.
If the price of the item drops before it's released, you will pay the lower price, but if it increases, you'll only pay the price you see today.
If you also include in-stock items on your order, they’ll be charged and shipped within 24 hours as usual.est. release 31 May 24 $23.46
(No payment required now - pay when released)
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Mr Bongo Edits Volume 2: Luke Una (12" in debossed sleeve)
Cat: MRB 12061. Rel: 29 Mar 24
Disco/Nu-Disco
Review: 18 months after a fantastic launch instalment courtesy of the mighty Danny Krivit, Mr Bongo's Edits series returns. This time round, it's Manchester legend and 'E Soul Cultura' specialist Luke Una at the controls. On the A-side he handles 'Love Games', an obscure slice of mid-80s South African disco by Thandi Zulu and The Young Five, cannily focusing on the warm, gently funky groove and the track's spacey synth solos. Over on the flip, the Electric Chair co-founder takes on Lionel Pillay's percussion, synth-and-organ classic 'Plum', stretching out the most dancefloor friendly sections before unleashing waves of solos and the original's saucer-eyed, sun-splashed instrumentation.
… Read more in stock $14.08
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Review: Disco Dub Band's "For The Love of Money", a one-off collaboration between producer Davitt Sigerson and reggae musician Mike Dorane, has long been considered something of a classic by those who like their disco to come with a big dose of dub-wise flavour. Here the instrumental O'Jays cover, which originally appeared on the Movers label in 1976, is given the remix treatment by long-time fans Mr Bongo. The superb A-side, in which Dorane's instrumental talents take centre stage, naturally comes accompanied by the frequently played Dub interpretation, a typically wild and bass-heavy affair that sounds like it was mixed "live" in one take in true Lee Perry/King Tubby style. If it's not already in your collection, it should be.
… Read morePlayed by: Scratchandsniff, JOUTRO MUNDO, Mukatsuku Records Chart, Dr Rubberfunk, JimmyTheTwin, The Allergies, Dicky Trisco, Moodena (Tropical Disco Records), Owain Kimber (Owain K), RUSTAM OSPANOFF., Seamus Haji, Voodoocuts, Sol Power All-Stars, I Love Disco!, Summer Carnival Chart, I Love 45's!, Reggae Mash Ups Tha Dance !, Calamity Jade (Willwork4funk), Admin, 45 Live, LEGO EDIT, Dynamite Cuts
… Read more! low stock $9.12
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Review: Paul Osborne, the mastermind behind Project Gemini, delivers a majestic body of work that seamlessly blends folk rock, psych soundtracks, and hazy cinematic funk. Colours & Light exudes a growing confidence and ease, reflecting Osborne's maturation as an artist. With a more layered and diverse sound, the album shines brightly with Osborne's global influences and collaborations with other musicians. The album's theme, developed through introspective lyrics inspired by insomnia, relationships, and the human condition, is expertly woven into a mesmerizing soundscape. From acid folk to psych-funk, the album incorporates elements from various cultures and scenes, resulting in a kaleidoscopic sonic experience. Overall, Colours & Light is a testament to Project Gemini's artistic growth and ability to create a rich and immersive musical journey that resonates deeply with audiences.
… Read more in stock $21.89
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Cat: MRBLP 273B. Rel: 22 Mar 24
Jazz
Review: Mr. Bongo presents the very latest album from Ana Frango Eletrico, one of the most exciting voices to emerge from Brazil's contemporary new wave. With two critically acclaimed albums and a swathe of award-winning production turns already under their belt, Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua promises to follow in very much the same wake, a ten-track delight of sophisti-disco productions and nimble, fey vocal performances from Eletrico themselves, this LP explores the depths of queer love and romance via some slick and snappy productions.
… Read more in stock $20.34
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Review: Mr Bongo continues to take us deep into the recorded work of Lonnie Smith with the reissue of this 1975 LP from the legendary jazz organist. It's an expansive, daring soul-jazz excursion which embellishes the heavyweight grooves with experimental, discordant tones which reach extraterrestrial heights, not least on the eyes-closed escapism of 'Spirits Free'. While Smith may have turned his hand to smoother sounds at certain points in his career, this is testament to the impact free jazz had on his development through the 70s. Crucially though, the music never derails into pure chaos, and the soulful sentiment of the music shines through even in its wildest stretches.
… Read more in stock $23.46
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Review: O'Donel Levy's sublime Simba album from back in 1974 gets reissued by Mr Bongo and rightly so, beck are it is a masterful fusion of jazz, funk, and soul, that showcases the guitarist's virtuosity and creativity. The whole thing exudes energy and groove from start to finish, with infectious rhythms and tight arrangements and of course Levy's guitar work is mesmerizing, blending intricate melodies with soulful improvisations that captivate the listener. Tracks like 'Bad, Bad Simba' and 'Kilimanjaro Cookout' showcase his ability to blend genres seamlessly, creating a unique sonic landscape that transports the listener to another realm and makes this a timeless classic in the realm of jazz-funk.
… Read more in stock $21.89
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Review: In the early '70s, Cymande made a trio of killer albums that remain stone cold classics to this day. For this reissue 7", Mr Bongo has dipped into two of those albums - 1973's Second Time Around and 74's Promised Heights - and dug out two of the best-loved, most-sampled cuts. On the A you'll find "Fug", a low-slung, bassline-driven party full of killer drum breaks, righteous horn solos and, and conscious lyrics that call for global action against inequality (little, it seems, has changed politically since). It's one of those you should really own, as is the ever more familiar flipside "Brothers On The Slide", which boasts one of the most recognizable grooves in the history of dance music.
… Read more! low stock $9.12
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Review: Given that Gang Starr recently reformed and jazz is now all the rage, it seems fitting that Mr Bongo has decided to reissue the rare 7" version of the group's 1990 masterpiece "Jazz Thing". It's a wholehearted tribute to the greats of jazz - and the role jazz records have in hip-hop's sample culture - that comes in two distinctively different mixes. On the A-side you'll find the "Video Mix", a bouncy and suitably jazzy DJ Premier production that layers Guru's fine rap flows above loose-limbed drums, smoky horn samples and his own super-tight scratches. Turn to side B for the "Movie Mix" - so-called because it was created for a Spike Lee flick - where Guru's vocal rides improvised horns and an entirely different beat crafted from Kool & The Gang samples.
… Read more in stock $13.04
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Review: You might well have caught wind of Kenny Dope's exhaustive Wild Style Breakbeats box set which came out in 2014. It found the New York legend offering up six 7"s carrying iconic breaks used in seminal hip hop movie Wild Style. Well now you can cop something from that highly sought after box and enjoy it for yourself as the first disc gets its own individual release. On the A side we've got the low slung bass and dusty groove of 'Down By Law', and on the flip it's 'Subway Beat' with a sweet low funk groove. Both should evoke strong memories for anyone versed in the roots of hip hop culture, but regardless they're just kick ass beats you could have a lot fun juggling and blending into other people's music.
… Read more! low stock $10.95
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Review: A vault of formerly unreleased Don Blackman material recently surfaced via the Chicago DJ/producer/digger Marc Davis, who in recent years struck up a relationship with the children of the mysterious New York pianist and songwriter. Now this wealth of jams finally gets released: 40 years' worth of unheard Blackman - cassettes, CDs, discs, reel-to-reels, paperwork, even VHS tapes - inevitably once more reignites the obsessive fan interest in his music, which sprang from its already-mystical cult status in the rare funk and soul-digging world.
… Read more in stock $14.59
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Review: This is a black vinyl version of a reissue that we also have on gold vinyl of Soyuz's '2' album. Originally released in 2019, this album marks a significant phase in the band's evolution, offering a glimpse into the sound that would define their later work while retaining traces of avant-psychedelic-pop influences. Produced during bandleader Alex Chumak's transition from Minsk to Kyiv, the LP reflects the tension between exploration and homesickness. Drawing from influences like Mikita Arlou, Ethiopian jazz, and Italian library music, the album eloquently captures the melancholy of long-distance travel and transience, creating a sonic narrative of emotional flux.
… Read morePlayed by: Charlie bucket/ dancing in space
in stock $20.34
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Review: It's no mean feat to win awards with your debut album, but Bala Desejo did just that when they scored big at the Latin Grammys. As soon as you hit play on Sim Sim Sim you'll understand why, as the Rio de Janeiro band demonstrate their canny blend of 60s tropicalia, 70s psychedelia and MPB. It's pure pleasure music, full of wistful escapism and aching beauty, and in drawing so naturally on the best of Brazilian music culture through the ages, they've made something truly woven into the fabric of their home country. Spearheading a new wave of music and art from Rio de Janeiro, Bala Desejo have everything you could possibly want from a new Brazilian project, and more besides.
… Read morePlayed by: Charlie bucket/ dancing in space
in stock $22.69
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VARIOUS
Hidden Waters: Strange & Sublime Sounds Of Rio De Janeiro (gatefold 2xLP + insert)
Cat: MRBLP 271. Rel: 12 May 23
International
Review: Mr Bongo's latest must-check compilation doesn't mine Brazil's musical heritage, but rather shines a light on what's happening in Rio de Janeiro right now. Hidden Waters was compiled and curated by two Brazilian music specialists - Joe Osborne (founder of the Brazilian Wax website) and Russ Slater (Editor at Large of Sounds and Colors) - and offers up a blend of scene stalwarts and exciting starlets. Musically it's varied, but largely rooted in samba, MPB and other classic Brazilian styles. So, while sun-soaked sounds (sorry) are the order of the day, Osborne and Slater also find room for the fuzzy psychedelia of Ava Rocha, the Stereolab-goes-samba flex of Exercito de Bebes, the low-slung, synth-sporting mutant funk of Thiago Nassif, the spiritual, pastoral-sounding afternoon warmth of Mari Romano and the lilting vocal jazz of Troa. An impeccable, eye-opening collection of quality cuts.'
… Read more in stock $24.25
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Review: Producer, DJ, and revered collector Marc Davis returns to his Chi-Talo series with a much-anticipated second volume. The Chi-Talo series deals in split EPs; each entry draws on an ultra-rare Chicago house gem and an Italian disco record respectively (one for the A and one for the B), re-working both into an enduring dialectal retelling of each city's contemporaneous come-ups in the 1980s and 90s. This time around, we're met with a reconstruction of 'Bass Construction', first heard on the Italo disco album Crazy Colours by New Sound Quartet (1979). Then comes a wonky, handclapping rendition of The Saucer Planes' 'Straight To The Point', the original of which can hardly be found on the net at all, even now. Both are huge but humble versions, marking out the guidelines for yet more editors to come.
… Read more in stock $15.38
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Review: This official reissue of Arthur Verocai's classic self-titled album from 1972 sounds very much like the epitome of a labour of love for Mr Bongo. The press release states the Brighton-based jazz funk archivalists have had this album on top of their reissue hitlist and with the permission of Sir Arthur himself have come through with this official vinyl reissue in newly remastered form from the original Continental master tapes. Do we need to set the scene for this masterclass in long players from Verocai? The ten tracks bristle with sonic fusion, transcending genre to become something more than Brazilian jazz funk across its sublime 29 minutes. Alongside contributing musicians, Verocai invites the listener on a journey through Bossa nova, samba, jazz, MPB, psychedelics and funk. Tip!
… Read more in stock $22.69
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Review: Many will know Teaspoon & The Waves' incredible 'Oh Yeh Soweto' - a brilliant Afro-disco riff on Lamont Dozier's 'Going Back To My Roots' that has appeared on countless compilations and re-edit releases over the years - but fewer have heard the rest of the tracks on the South African band's incredible 1977 debut album (in part because original copies are rather hard to find). To those people, we'll say this: check out this Mr Bongo reissue right now! Blending Afro-jazz with jazz-funk, soul, deep funk and disco, every single track is a winner, with highlights including the celebratory 'Friday Night', the dazzling, duelling solos and heavy percussion of 'Saturday Express' and the life-affirming brilliance of 'Got Me Tight'.
… Read more in stock $20.85
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Review: Considered one of the essential Brazilian funk records of an era, Sandra Sa's Vale Tudo receives a much deserved reissue here on Mr. Bongo. Originally released in 1983, it was produced by Lincoln Olivetti alongside a who's who of musicians that were central figures on the scene at the time. From the disco boogie of 'Trem Da Central' featuring one amazing brass section, the heartfelt and romantic ballad 'Onda Negra' and the late night boogie-down vibe of 'Guarde Minha Voz' - they are the perfect backdrop for Sa's unique voice which really shines throughout. Although most prolific in the early '80s, Sa continues to work in the music industry to this day.
… Read more in stock $21.89
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Review: Jazz Rock doesn't quite do exactly what it says on the cover - jazz features heavily on this gorgeous record, but of the spiritual kind, and often driven by lush, funky drum playing. It is also a record defined by the distinctive sound of the koto - a traditional Japanese string instrument that lends the record a delicate and beautiful feel. It was recorded in 1973 and sounds both perfectly aged yet utterly fresh and also features bamboo flute playing by Hozan Yamamoto. It's a laidback record, one filled with the joys of spring, but also one that doesn't take itself too seriously and gets upbeat and funky as often as it does tender and pensive.
… Read morePlayed by: Juno Records Staff Picks
in stock $20.85
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Review: For the latest edition in their ongoing series of golden-era hip-hop seven-inch reissues, Mr Bongo is taking us back to 1992 and Positive K's biggest hit - the 500,000-selling ode to unrequited love, "I Got A Man". Lyrically impressive, with the Bronx mic man delivering both male and "female" rap parts (the latter via voice-changing studio trickery), the song owes its success in part to a beat that makes great use of a funky loop from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me", which famously also formed the backbone of Funky Four + 1's early hip-hop classic "That's The Joint". Over on the flip you'll find the hazier and jazzier "SHakin", whose killer beat boasts judicious lifts from tracks by Wade Marcus and the D.O.C. In a word: essential.
… Read more in stock $14.08
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Review: Initially released in South Africa in 1982, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley's sophomore set is now regarded as a boogie-era Highlife classic. Here issued on CD for the very first time via Mr Bongo, the album features the Ghanaian star brilliantly joining the dots between driving disco-funk, jazz-funk, intoxicating slow jams, calypso, dub reggae and his beloved highlife. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, with standouts including heavy percussion jam "Simigwa", the boogie-dub skank of "Adwoa", the down-low grooves of "Walking Down The Street" and the killer disco highlife anthem "It's High Life". Simply essential.
… Read more in stock $21.89
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VARIOUS
Luke Una Presents E Soul Cultura (gatefold 2xLP + insert with obi-strip)
Cat: MRBLP 244. Rel: 06 May 22
Soul
Review: A welcome return to the compilation arena from Luke Una, whose deep record collection and pleasingly open-minded record collection make him a perfect curator. E Soul Cultura has a concept of sorts - the kind of vaguely Balearic but not genre-bound jams that the Sheffield-born, Manchester-based DJ would play to fellow E'd-up party survivors at 5am - but it's the quality of the music on offer that makes the compilation so essential. For proof, check the spiritual space disco shuffle of King Errison's 'Space Queen', the deliciously sub-heavy, post-bleep deep house soul of Sheffield outfit On's cover of 'Southern Freeez', the bruk-up soul of Type Sun's 'The PL', the Brazilian sunshine of Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti's 'Eva' and the deliciously percussive, intergalactic jazz-funk vibes of 'Every Time I See Him' by Metropolis.
… Read more in stock $23.46
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Review: 'Girassol' has long been one of the hardest-to-find gems in Brazilian great Marcos Valle's vast catalogue of sun-drenched musical treats. It was initially recorded and released as a promo-only seven-inch, with copies being handed out to customers of a Brazilian supermarket chain. This, then, marks the track's first ever commercial release. In its' original form (side A), 'Girassol' is a lusciously short, soft-focus affair - a two-minute chunk of laidback, jazz-funk influenced South American boogie bliss with the kind of high production values that you'd expect from Valle during his successful post-disco period. As with the original 7", it comes backed with the slightly more elaborate 'Playback' instrumental mix, where gentle, eyes-closed saxophone solos come to the fore.
… Read morein stock $6.77
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Review: Eight years on from its previous reissue (that time courtesy of Analog Africa's "Limited Dance Edition" series), Mr Bongo is offering up a fresh, licensed re-press of Rob's eponymous 1977 Afro-funk masterpiece. If you missed out in 2011, the set is definitely worth picking up because it's rock solid heat from start to finish. Check, for example, the heavily percussive Afro-beat/Afro-funk fusion of "Funky Rob Way", the flanged funk guitars and heavy brass action of "Boogie On", the jazz guitars and loved-up vocals of "Your Kiss Stole Me Away" and the William Onyeabor-does-James-Brown heaviness of closing cut "More".
… Read more in stock $21.89
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Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil45 series continues apace with this 95th entry, which carries two separate sides to keep any Latin-minded DJ very happy indeed. 'Mar Afunda' is a dancefloor delight from Os Novos Crioulos which originally came out on the group's self-titled album on Pirata in 1976. It's shuffling and sublime, sure to get a plethora of ID requests and shimmying moves from the people with their ears tuned in. On the flip we get Supersom TA's 'Brasileira Roxa', a sunny slice of samba fun which originally came out in 1972 and features more cuica flexing than you could ever dream of.
… Read more in stock $9.37
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Review: Mr Bongo's crucial Brazil series hits a 94th volume here with vocal and instrumental group Os Carbonos from Sao Paulo. The band had a long and fruitful career that started in the 60s and ran on into the 80s. This offering is a tune from later on in their time and it is a prime slice of Brazilian boogie with funk drums, vamping chords and hip swinging claps all designed to bring the good ties and the sunny vibes. The bass-driven a-side is the one, but the flip from Sandra Sa is a special kind of sentimental soul sound.
… Read morePlayed by: I Love 45's!, Dynamite Cuts
in stock $9.37
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Review: Mr Bongo's launch their new Cuban Classic Series with this reissue of a sought-after, psychedelic funk masterpiece: Yoyi. A fusion of traditional Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms meets disco, jazz, and funk, with hints of 70s soundtrack productions, this much-loved cult album by Grupo Los Yoyi hears nine predominantly instrumental tracks. Together, they were originally released in 1977 on Areito Records, a sublabel of the state-owned label Egrem, it has become one of the rarest (even in Cuba) yet in-demand albums to be procured by the label. It is the sole album from Grupo Los Yoyi and was composed, orchestrated, and produced by the mysterious, Jorge Soler Leo.
… Read more in stock $24.25
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Review: Soyuz follows up their 2022 debut Force Of The Wind with a stark but subdued reissue of their second album, Ii, released three years earlier in 2019. The album captures a pivotal evolution in the band's career, the recordings giving a snapshot of what would become their sound on Force Of The Wind, yet with echoes of avant-psychedelic-pop footprints from yester years. Produced at a time when bandleader Alex Chumak had moved from Minsk to Kyiv, torn between the need to try something new and the homesickness it brought about, Ii nicely captures the slow burn of homesickness extended across a long bouts of travel and transience, through stylistic recollections of Mikita Arlou, Ethiopian jazz and Italian library music.
… Read more in stock $23.46
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Review: Before she made a name for herself with a string of killer disco, jazz-funk and fusion records in the late '70s and early '80s, Dee Dee Bridgewater was a rising star on the global jazz underground. This period of her career is best exemplified by 1974 debut album "Afro Blue", a fine vocal jazz album recorded in Tokyo with a backing band made up of husband Cecil (a top trumpeter) and high-quality Japanese session musicians. As this reissue proves, the album has lost none of its allure. There's much to set the pulse racing throughout, from the breezy soul-jazz shuffle of opener "Afro Blue" and the emotive "Blues Medley", to the superb slowed-down jazz cover of "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and blissful "People Make The World Go Round".
… Read more! low stock $21.89
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Cat: BRZ 45089. Rel: 20 Jul 21
Funk
Review: Mr Bongo's essential Brazil 45s series notches up release number 89 via a blast of heavy dancefloor pressure that touches on both Brazilian funk and samba-rock. On the A-side you'll find Golden Boys' 1975 gem 'Segura Na Cintura Dela (O Gaviao)', an irresistible slab of full-throttle, orchestra-sporting, Hammond-heavy samba-funk marked out by strong group vocals and some superb musical arrangements. Over on the flip you'll find another classic from the same producer (Milton Miranda), Silvio Cesar's 1971 carnival masterpiece 'Beco Sem Saida' - an infectious excursion that found fame in the 2000s when Drumagick sampled it on 'Sambarock'.
… Read morePlayed by: Fabietto Delgado (Ankle Release)
in stock $9.12
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Dora Morelenbaum - "Japao"
New York Community Choir - "I'll Keep My Light In My Window" (12" mix)
General Lee - "Pleasure"
The Drive - "Africa Bossa"
Chiemi Eri - "Okosa-Bushi"
Manny Corchado & His Orchestra - "Pow-Wow"
Sven Wunder - "Easy Going"
Dina Ogon - "Bakom Glaset"
Vee Gees - "Talkin"
Mave & Dave - "Do You Really Want My Love"
Hazel Scott & The Braza Brasi - "Ye-Me-Le"
Inês Soares - "Um Amor Para Toda A Vida"
Haréton Salvanini - "Estrada"
Copa 7 - "Copa Sete No Samba"
Mirna - "A Volta"
Dina Ogon - "Tombola 94"
Unknown Artists - "I Do You Love"
Ash Soul, Inc - "I Do Love You"
Ponderosa Twins Plus One - "Bound"
Matty - "Blood"
Shira Small - "Eternal Life"
Review: Those tireless diggers at Mr Bongo have been at it again and now return with Record Club Volume Six, another selection driven by the love of "hearing old tracks for the first time or diving into the most upfront selections keeps the fires burning and passions alight." This collection is another treasure trove of superb sounds that takes in all manner of much loved classics from across the world and places like Canada, Sweden, Brazil, Japan, Portugal and Trinidad and Tobago. Everything from psych-pop songs to spine tinging gospel features, some of it on vinyl for the first time ever.
… Read more in stock $24.25
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Review: British trumpeter and bandleader Ian Carr put out his most revered album in 1972. Its iconic fusion of jazz and rock has become a sought after rarity. Featured musicians include members of bands like Nucleus, Brian Auger's band, Soft Machine and Stan Tracy Group, and they all help lend the record a psychedelic, proggy aesthetic, with swirling melodies making for moody but funky tunes. Tracks like 'Mayday' put expressive solos and complex arrangements front and centre, while 'Suspension' is a more laidback joint for sinking into. The gorgeous meandering lilt of 'Summer Rain' is our personal favourite.
… Read morePlayed by: Juno Recommends Jazz
in stock $21.89
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Review: Late, great Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki is behind this classic bit of jazz-funk fusion from 1976. It was recorded originally in New York and now gets a reissue form the hard working Mr Bongo crew. It is a record that has picked dup cult status over the years for those looking for samples and has been pillaged by everyone from Diamond D, Puff Daddy, and Kool G Rap. Playing on the sessions were drummer Jimmy Young as well as rhythm guitarist Hugh McCracken and bassist Stu Woods who all help bring every track to life.
… Read more in stock $24.25
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Review: Briefly active in the late 1970s, Solat was a Dutch funk group made up of musicians from Surinam and the Dutch Antilles. They're undoubtedly best remembered by collectors for their 1977 single "Change The World", original copies of which regularly change hands for hundreds of pounds online. Here it gets the reissue treatment courtesy of Mr Bongo. Rich in crunchy Clavinets, tropical guitars, bold group vocals and a touch of steamy disco flavour, "Change The World" is a genuinely life-affirming affair. "Try, Try" meanwhile is an altogether more bass-heavy affair - a Blaxploitation-era slab of disco-funk reminiscent of Mass Production at their most righteous.
… Read more in stock $11.21
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LUKE UNA / VARIOUS
E Soul Cultura Volume 2 (gatefold 2xLP + zine + insert with obi-strip)
Cat: MRBLP 268. Rel: 09 Jun 23
Soul
Review: With some of the best DJs and selectors, there is a certain mysterious sound or underlying feeling which unites the music they play, regardless of genre, year or tempo. British DJ, producer and music maestro Luke Una is a master of telling a story through music and this compilation is a perfect example of his musical alchemy in action. The second volume in his E Soul Cultura series, Una's intriguingly woven pattern of new, old, rare and under-discovered music from around the world became the soundtrack to rejuvenated positivity and won him favour with record outlets.
The compilation isn't just peacocking his crate diving ability, but it's a sonical narrative that engages the ebbs and flows of salsa, nu-disco, psych rock and Balearic. It's a grab bag of sounds, and each one is as intriguing and groovy as the last. Here's to a hopeful trilogy.
… Read moreThe compilation isn't just peacocking his crate diving ability, but it's a sonical narrative that engages the ebbs and flows of salsa, nu-disco, psych rock and Balearic. It's a grab bag of sounds, and each one is as intriguing and groovy as the last. Here's to a hopeful trilogy.
in stock $25.82
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Cat: MRBLP 281. Rel: 13 Oct 23
International
Review: The Brazilian composer, pianist and producer, Mario Castro Neves, and his group Samba S. A.'s self-titled album from 1967 oozes with class. It possesses that archetypal 60s bossa nova, jazz, samba sound; up there with Sergio Mendes at his finest, Tambo Trio or Milton Banana - a breezy ride that touches on easy listening at times, but still held together with a cool swagger. Biba and Thais Do Amaral's vocals are on point, with a relaxed delivery that compliments the tracks with the sublime beauty a la vocal groups such as Quarteto Em Cy. Also appearing on the record is bassist extraordinaire Novelli, who worked with Milton Nascimento, Nelson Angelo E Joyce, Airto and many of the greats of Brazilian music of the time.
… Read morePlayed by: Juno Recommends International
in stock $22.69
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Review: Minas' 'Num Dia Azul' is a sublime slice of private-press bossa nova meets jazzy MPB perfection. Warm and bubbling with youthful spirit, the music is simultaneously loose in swagger, yet slick and tight. The album was originally released in 1983 and reflects the great music coming out of Rio at the time, yet 'Num Dia Azul' wasn't recorded in Rio, but actually in the USA. Adding to its later obscurity, hundreds of copies were also destroyed in a house fire. They say cream always rises to the top; later in the 2010s, the word amongst collectors and DJs was spreading about this mythical under-the-radar recording.
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Review: Having previously re-issued the hard-to-find 45 of Black Sheep's 1991 anthem 'Strobelite Honey', Mr Bongo has now decided to issue the first ever seven-inch pressing of one of the duo's earlier singles, 'Flavor of the Month'. It's a breezy, boom-bap affair in which the duo exchange verses over a beat crafted from choice samples of records by Joe Farrell, Bubble Gum Machine and, most famously, Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass. It comes backed with original flipside 'Butt in the Meantime', a slacker, jazzier and more laid-back affair notable for a superb piano hook, hazy bass and a tight electric piano riff.
… Read more in stock $14.08
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Review: For their latest deep dive into forgotten and sought-after African music, Mr Bongo has secured the rights to reissue Togolese singer Akofa Akoussah's eponymous 1976 debut album. Akoussah was already something of a scene veteran when she recorded the set for Paris-based Sonafric, having made her vinyl debut in Togo 11 years earlier. The set remains something of a classic, with Akoussah variously delivering sweet vocals over local rhythms and guitars, bass, horns and Moog synth parts that showcase her Western funk and soul influences. There are some suitably heavy dancefloor workouts throughout (not least superb opener "Tango") as well as more laidback and stripped-back cuts. Curiously, the echo-laden production makes it sound like it was recorded in the mid '60s rather than the 1970s, but that's no criticism; it just adds an extra edge of intoxicating fuzziness.
… Read more in stock $21.89
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Review: First released back in 1977, Trio Mocoto's second eponymous album has long been a favorite with collectors of "MPB" - the most Brazilian of popular music styles. Thanks to the dusty-fingered diggers at Mr Bongo, the album is now available again on wax for the first time since 1980 (and, of course, for a fraction of the cost of an original copy). Like many of the greatest MPB albums of the period, the album's ten tracks brilliantly blend elements of samba, string-laden easy listening, soul, jazz-funk and fusion, with the band's strong group vocals and luscious instrumentation guaranteeing a warm, sun-kissed vibe throughout.
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Review: Skull Snaps' eponymous 1973 debut album has long been regarded as one of funk's greatest albums, not to mention one of the most sampled of all time. Many of the set's killer drum breaks have been recycled on hip-hop and dance records over the years, including those by the Prodigy, the Pharcyde, Gang Starr, DJ Shadow, Pete Rock and CL Smooth. Thanks to a fresh studio remaster, the album sounds heavier than ever on this licensed Mr Bongo reissue. Highlights include opening stomper "My Hang Up Is You", the sweet and relaxed "Didn't I Do It To You", the head nodding "Bus Stop" bounce of "It's A New Day" and the driving soul brilliance of "I'm Your Pimp".
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Review: Over the years, Cesar Mariano and Cia's 1977 set "Sao Paolo Brasil" has achieved cult status, with dusty-fingered diggers regularly proclaiming it one of the finest jazz-funk/fusion albums of the period (a fact confirmed by the high prices that original vinyl copies often change hands for online). Remarkably, this timely Mr Bongo reissue marks the first time the set has been released outside of its native South America. Rich in glistening jazz guitars, fizzing, Azymuth-style organ riffs, spacey synths, warm bass and skittish drums, the album's eight tracks bristle with breeziness, subtle samba motifs, sumptuous dancefloor grooves, sunny downtempo workouts and effervescent arrangements. In a word: essential.
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Review: Originally released in 1975, "Back To Rhythm" is one of the crowning glories of Akira Ishikawa's glittering career. The Japanese drummer turned his hand to countless wonderful records over his career, but this one was surely one of the best. Mr Bongo seem to think so, and they're giving it a proper reissue treatment. There are funk breaks galore embedded in this joyously upbeat, irresistibly groovy sound, where the horns parp with clarity and the guitar licks cartwheel through airy mixes. Managing to be both fulsome and loud without coming over too heavy, Ishikawa's sprightly take on instrumental funk has never sounded better than on this release.
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Review: Mr Bongo serves up the new collaboration here from Mandaworld (bereft known as Amanda Hicks) and partner Matthew Tavares, who is Matty of the much loved jazz outfit BADBADNOTGOOD. The pair have a magical musical synergy that really shines through here as they interweave and uplift one another. 'Warm You' is a real classic that fits in the canon of timeless ballads. It is a dreamy pop song doused in oodles of reverberating guitars and mellow shoegaze vibes that evokes a world of nostalgic feelings. 'Spoonfeed' is just as warm and lush but a little more subdued.
… Read morein stock $6.88
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Review: Although it was originally released at the height of hip-house mania (1988 to be exact), EPMD's 'I'm Housin' is not a rap-sporting house record. It is, though, a bona-fide club classic, with E Double E and PMD trading verses atop a rolling, dancefloor-friendly groove built from elements of Aretha Franklin's 1971 soul classic 'Rock Steady'. All these years on, it still sounds fresh - as this Mr Bongo reissue of the rare 1989 UK seven-inch version proves. In a word: essential.
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Review: Mr Bongo has already reissued a swathe of classic albums and singles from legendary hip-hop duo EPMD, whose place in the pantheon of rap greats has long been assured. Here they continue to mine the duo's catalogue, delivering a new edition of the pair's 1987 debut single (which, it should be noted, has long been hard to find on "45"). 'It's My Thing' remains a classic hip-hop club cut, with flowing rhymes rising above a backing track rich in raw drum machine hits, aquatic p-funk bass and sampled snatches of a smooth, disco-era soul number. Flipside 'You're a Customer' is a more sparse and stripped back affair, with slightly faster-paced raps riding stuttering beats and a squelchy synth bassline.
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Review: Mr Bongo's EPMD reissue series continues with a fresh pressing of one of the NYC duo's most significant and best-loved singles, 1988's 'You Gots To Chill'. Predating much of the West Coast G-funk material that later covered similar sonic ground, it sees the duo delivering some of their rap verses over a beat crafted from samples of Zapp's P-funk classic 'More Bounce To The Ounce' and Kool & The Gang party classic 'Jungle Boogie'. This time round, it comes backed by another EPMD classic from the same period: the mid-tempo, JB's-sampling head-nodder that is 'Let The Funk Flow'. That's never appeared on a single before, making this "45" even more desirable.
… Read morePlayed by: Juno Recommends Hip Hop/R&B, Osmose
in stock $13.04
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Review: We'll never tire of the incredible Brazil45 series on Mr Bongo, which has provided an authoritative window into the rich history of 60s and 70s grooves from South America. Here's a missing joint from the series which took some time to come to fruition - a split release featuring Brazilian Boys on the A side and Rubinho E Mauro Assumpcao on the B. 'Super Herois' is an obscure slice of off-kilter, psych tinged funk from 1975 that has the kind of individual sound which could find favour with a lot of different DJs. 'Tudo Ai' has a more recognisable samba shuffle, but much like the A side there's a subtle twist in the sound which leans towards blues rock and jazz, locking down on the rhythm and creating a low-key party starter in its own unique way.
… Read morePlayed by: Juno Recommends International
in stock $11.46
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Review: Mr Bongo's crate-digging compilation series - described by the imprint as a "chance to champion tracks we've been playing in our sets" - returns and, predictably, this second volume is every bit as good as its predecessor. Naturally, there's a fair amount of Brazilian and African gems present, as well as a wealth of little-known disco, soul and funk cuts that will have DJs scrambling to find copies of the original 12" or 7" singles. Highlights are plentiful and include - but are not limited to - the punchy disco-funk of Dee Edwards' "Put Your Funk on the Line", the South African bubblegum brilliance of Kiru Stars, the sun-soaked peak-time samba of Tomu Dito and the Meters-go-to-Nigeria vibes of "Harari" by the Beaters. And that's just for starters.
… Read more in stock $21.89
