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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 $23.34
(No payment required now - pay when released)
FORTHCOMING
Related releases...
Review: A decade ago, German brothers Frank and Christian Berman created a genuinely overlooked masterpiece: an album that combined classic vocal and instrumental performances from soul, jazz and funk performers (extracted from multi-track tapes of the original recordings) with new Brazilian-flavoured backing tracks featuring some of Brazil's most famous and storied musicians. The album, credited to Studio Rio, kicked off with this: a shuffling, samba-fired version of Bill Withers' classic 'Lovely Day' that's arguably even sunnier and more positive than the great man's original soul recording. It's a genuinely brilliant version, all told, and one that sounds like a summer festival and end-of-night anthem in the making. Mr Bongo thinks so - hence this must-have 7" single that pairs the vocal version with a previously unreleased instrumental take.
… Read morePlayed by: Charlie bucket/ dancing in space
Pre-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 26 Apr 24 $15.30
(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 $14.00
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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 $9.07
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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 $23.34
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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 $23.34
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Review: Over the last 12 months Mr Bongo has provided hip-hop heads with a ton of classic, golden-era rap reissues. Here they deliver another, as the title track from the crew's brilliant 1993 LP "'93 Until Infinity" returns on "45", complete with facsimile artwork. The track is undoubtedly one of their best - a jaunty, club-friendly affair in which Taja, Opio, A-Plus and Phesto exchange fluent, loose-limbed rhymes over a brilliantly positive (and slightly) jazzy beat crafted from a Grand Central Station break and selected samples of Billy Cobham's "Heather". The fine A-side vocal version comes accompanied by an essential instrumental take, in which A-Plus's brilliant boom-bap beat gets a much deserved chance to shine.
… Read morePlayed by: Gu / Our Label Records, I Love Hip Hop
in stock $14.00
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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 $20.22
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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 $14.00
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Review: The name Francisco Tenorio Cerqueira Junior, or simply Tenorio Jr, has always been clouded in mystery. Not only did the renowned Brazilian pianist pass away under dubious circumstances in Argentina back in 1976, but he also put out a surprisingly limited number of albums throughout his short-lived career. Having said that, these are all very valid reasons for why his music remains among the most coveted of items in the jazz scene. Embalo is his only album under the Tenorio Jr name, but its 1964 release is still as fresh today as it was back in a cloud of psych-driven hedonism that permeated all arts scenes back then. Fun and uplifting throughout, the album will satisfy both the jazz traditionalists and those with a slightly more left field taste. The percussion driving the arrangements isn't exactly something to ignore either, with its typical South American flair infusing sublimely into Tenorio's own excellence behind the keyboard. This is an important album which has helped to define a whole generation of later Brazilian musicians, and we recommend you to make it part of your life. It's an essential piece of history.
… Read more in stock $21.77
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Cat: MRB 7202. Rel: 21 Jan 22
Funk
Review: Minoru Muraoka is a master of the traditional Japanese bamboo flute known as a shakuhachi. His flair on the instrument combined with his knowledge of breakbeat jazz and Japanese folkloric music results in stunning sounds such as 'The Positive and the Negative' from his 1970 album Bamboo. It has been championed by the likes of DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist so has true cult status. Snap up this reissue to enjoy its original charm, as well as a new reinterpretation of the track by Melbourne's Surprise Chef. The flip the whimsy of the a-side into a more mystic and beat driven jam packed with tropical charm.
… Read more in stock $10.89
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Cat: MRB 12054. Rel: 22 Oct 21
Funk
Review: Here's a pleasant surprise: a fresh set of remixes of killer cuts from the back catalogue of Melbourne-based band Surprise Chef, whose hard-to-pigeonhole take on cinematic soul contains numerous nods to classic jazz-funk and Brit-funk jams. Masters at Work give their take on 'Crayfish Caper', first joining the dots between Afro-beat, jazz-funk and West London style bruk on the 'Nuyorican Broken' mix, before delivering two house-style revisions - the squelchy, synth-bass-propelled 'Masters at Work Mix' and the tougher, more percussive 'MAW Dub'. The EP's other interpretations come from Harvey Sutherland, whose 'Weird Flex 12" and 'Weird Flex' revisions of 'New Ferrari' add the band's jazz-funk instrumentation and spacey synths to a warming, off-kilter deep house groove.
… Read morePlayed by: Fradinho, Patrick Luca (Island Issues), Rocco Universal, Mark Forshaw, Roual Galloway, Vincent Inc, Replika | Common Mode, Pete Haigh, Sol Power All-Stars, Juno Recommends Funk, Luke Solomon, JKriv (Razor-N-Tape), DJ ROCCA, Charlie bucket/ dancing in space, Miles Away Recs, Stephane Attias, LEGO EDIT
… Read more in stock $12.18
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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 $14.51
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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 $21.77
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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 $24.12
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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 $20.74
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Review: Mr Bongo continue to churn out top-quality re-edits and here they enlist Danny Krivit aka. Mr. K, the New York producer who has longstandingly helped prop up the dance scene there since the early 1960s. Krivit is responsible for perhaps some of the earliest and most significant disco and funk edits on Earth, so we're more than happy to hear these new ones out, in which he lends his ear to two mambi from Latin extraordinaires Sabu Martinez and Nico Gomez. Percussive clanks and boxy slaps abound on this audiophiles' charm.
… Read more in stock $14.51
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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 $15.30
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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.
… Read more in stock $11.40
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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 in stock $21.77
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Review: First featured on Nas' peerless 1994 album "Illmatic" - a classic that really should be in your collection - "The World Is Yours" is a classic Pete Rock production that has never appeared on a seven-inch single before. Mr Bongo has decided to set the record straight, pairing the album version, which includes some of Nas' most potent lyrics, delivered in fine style as you'd expect, with an instrumental take that showcases Pete Rock's brilliant beat and tight, on-point scratches. It's a deliciously baggy beat all told, with sampled pianos and subtle jazz lifts combining cannily to create a suitably laidback, golden-era groove.
… Read more in stock $12.97
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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 $25.68
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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 $21.77
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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 $20.74
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Review: Banda Black Rio were and still are an incredibly influential jazz-dance band from Brazil. Their three albums have been in any serious digger's back since then and, more recently, they've seen a renewed interest thanks to iconic British collectors and DJs such as Gilles Peterson and the rest of the London fusion crew. Maria Fumaca's tracks are the perfect balance between funk, jazz and disco, blending all three in one perfect shape for both the dancers and the armchair listeners. Tunes like "Na Baixa Do Sepateiro" focus on drums and hypnotic guitar solos, while others like "Caminho Da Roca" go deeper into the jazz end of the spectrum but still retain enough Brazilian tropical flare to make them an absolute pleasure on the dancefloors. A much recommended reissue, and one that would have cost you a fortune up until now. Mr Bongo in the place.
… Read more in stock $22.56
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Review: The Incredible Bongo Band were a loose studio collective interpreting classics of the day in their own inimitable percussive fashion .They are of course most famous for their ultimate b-boy classic version of "Apache". This particular 7" however features two Incredible Bongo Band cuts that have not previously featured on any albums. "The Riot" is a frenetic drum workout and has been championed by the likes of the Chemical Brothers. "Ohkey Dokey (Part 2)" takes on a somewhat more subdued hue in comparison, but has some dope funky clavinet in the mix. Well worth checking.
… Read more in stock $9.07
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Review: Vocally-led by child sensation, Foster Sylvers, The Sylvers family grew into their own throughout the 70s, and 1973's The Sylvers II really instilled their sound as the gold standard fo funk music. We're talking about a family of kids who were all incredible musicians, truly offering the world a heartfelt performance, whichever aesthetic they were going for. Mr Bongo has delivered the goods once again with this reissue, and we are totally stoked about the fact that we are receiving the sort of funk and soul which still has not been experienced by everyone. It is about the mystique, it is about the charm, and it's most certainly high time for some soothing soul direct from the source - oh, and check that bassline on the magnetic "Handle It". Recommended.
… Read more in stock $21.77
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Review: Back in 1976, legendary highlife artist Pat Thomas decided to throw his weight behind Ghanian three-piece Marjarita. Thanks to his patronage, they made quite an impact with their debut album (Pat Thomas Introduces Marjita), before striking gold with their killer follow-up, This is Marjita. Since then, the album has become something of a "holy grail" for Afro-funk collectors, with copies changing hands for astonishing sums of money. Happily, Mr Bongo has decided to license and reissue it. The album contains four superb workouts: the hard funk brilliance of "Break Through", the organ-heavy Afrobeat fuzziness of "No Condition is Permanent", the reggae-influenced wonder of "I Walk Alone" and the superior highlife of "We Live in Peace".
… Read more in stock $18.15
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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 $21.77
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Review: A 7" is all about having a perfect nugget of music on the most compact of wax, and here Mr Bongo pick out two of the best cuts from one of the greatest crews to touch the mic. EPMD were on their finest form when they dropped Unfinished Business in 1989, doubling down on the runaway success of their debut Strictly Business, and here we get two of the album's hottest joints for your instant gratification. 'The Big Payback' piles the funk on heavy, keeping it moody in the low end for EPMD to do their thing over the top, while original opening track 'So Wat Cha Sayin' nestles on the B side with one of the wildest rub downs Erick and Parrish ever committed to record. Truly essential hip hop from the golden era.
… Read more in stock $12.97
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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 $13.23
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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 $23.34
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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.
… Read more in stock $21.77
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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 $11.15
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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".
… Read more in stock $21.77
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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.
… Read more in stock $21.77
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Review: Mr Bongo is back with more stone cold hip hop. This one comes from 1991 and is a reissue of a UK only 7" from Black Sheep. The single was always a curio and remained in the shadows of the more catchy and commercially successful 'The Choice is Yours' but it does have a great hook and tumble-down charm to the production. Dres is the MC bringing the character and plenty of carefully dug out samples make this one standout above many of its peers. An original copy of this will set you back a fancy few quid so when you also add in the break fuelled remix on the flip you have an essential little pick up.
… Read morePlayed by: I Love Hip Hop, Dynamite Cuts
in stock $14.00
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Cat: MRBLP 263. Rel: 16 Jun 23
Jazz
Review: Brazillian music boffins Mr Bongo have pressed up the 1978 self-titled classic from Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo so those who want a piece of this mythical classic no longer have to get a mortgage to do so. It's a stunning mix of lo-fi and laidback tropicalia, jazz, funk and MPB with a signature sun-kissed sound that will melt you into your sun lounger on a lazy afternoon. This one is incredibly hard to find even in Brazil and marked a high water mark for band leader and keyboard player Guilherme Coutinho. He was only 41 when he died in 1983 but his legacy lives on with this album which is distinct from many others of the time with its alluring vocal deliveries and charming arrangements.
… Read more in stock $21.77
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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 $24.12
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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 $11.40
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MICHE / VARIOUS
With Love: Volume 1 Compiled By Miche (gatefold 2xLP + insert)
Cat: MRBLP 260. Rel: 23 Sep 22
Soul
Review: Mr. Bongo continues in their mission to peddle the feel-good, compiling rare Brazilian, gospel, modern soul and jazz fusion music, all with a bent towards ecstatic dance. Not taking itself too seriously yet still dipping one toe in the mystical and romantic, our favorites from the comp include 'Don't Need No Fortune Teller' and the patient 'Waiting For Love', all compiled by Mr. Bongo director and former Spiritland programmer Miche.
… Read more in stock $24.12
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MICHE / VARIOUS
With Love: Volume 1 Compiled By Miche (limited gatefold transparent yellow vinyl 2xLP)
Cat: MRBLP 260TY. Rel: 23 Sep 22
Soul
Review: Mr Bongo mint a new compilation series, With Love, by welcoming Miche into the fold. This dynamic force within the diggers landscape certainly has some authority in pulling a compilation together, being the music programmer for London's Spiritland venues and spending an unreasonable amount of time around learned folk and the deepest cuts in their bags. Embarking on a personal quest to contact all concerned artists and clear licensing for some truly forgotten, hidden gems, Miche poured his heart and soul into this compilation spanning gospel, jazz-fusion, Brazilian grooves and much more besides.
… Read more in stock $27.48
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Review: When a new instalment in Mr Bongo's Record Club series lands, it's always worth checking. Featuring selections from different members of the Brighton-based label's dusty-fingered staff, each volume is packed to the rafters with sought-after and little-known gems in a variety of interconnected styes. This fifth edition is naturally packed to the rafters with righteous fare, with the many highlights including (but not limited to) the suspenseful instrumental disco of John Barry Moore's 'Abertura De Os Inocentes', the dubbed-out, jazz-funk-flecked proto-Balearica of Yasuaki Shimizu's 'Karachi', the funky grooves and glassy-eyed soul vocals of Mave & Dave's 'You Are Delicious' and the driving, dub-flecked reggae-disco hedonism of 'Rise Up (Discomix)' by Tyrone Evans. In a word: essential.
… Read morePlayed by: Ex-Friendly (Truth & Lies Music), Admin
in stock $21.77
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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 in stock $9.07
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Review: There can be few hip-hop heads who don't know Eric B & Rakim's "I Know You Got Soul", a Bobby Byrd and Funkadelic-sampling beast from 1987 that remains one of rap's most recognizable moments. The rap from Rakim is iconic, but it's the Eric B beat behind - all loose-but-heavy, snare-heavy beats, recognizable guitar licks and chorus-style blasts of Bobby Byrd vocals- that makes the track such a club-ready hip-hop classic. Here it gets the reissue treatment on "45" courtesy of Mr Bongo, with the duo's brilliant vocal version being joined on the flip by the overlooked, delay-laden "Dub Mix". For those who covet alternate versions of classic cuts, this instrumental revision is a must.
… Read more in stock $13.23
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Review: Mr Bongo come through once more with a first UK issue of this slice of hip-hop history. It is the lead single from Main Source's Breaking Atoms album and is one of two such 45s the Brighton label, shop and archivists are putting out. Undisputed rap classic 'Looking At The Front Door' goes first and ride son nice loose drums with oft sampled bass and off course some fine MC work. On the flip is another gem, 'Let Roger Do His Thing', which is darker, more hard hitting and with some DJ scratching for extra streetwise sagger.
… Read more in stock $14.00
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Review: Brazilian funk and MPB master Tim Maia was brilliant at making music, but less good at coming up with titles for his many great albums. Plenty of them come under his own name - often suffixed by a year - and in all there were 30 albums right up to the year he died in 1998. This self-titled one Mr Bongo is now reissuing on limited apple red and brown vinyl. It packs a real punch and exudes real heat across 12 tracks that fuse his sung-spoken lyrics and funky rhythms with sunny strings and jazzy melodies. Slower songs like 'Sem Voce' are for the romancing hours while plenty of others are pure dancers.
… Read morePlayed by: Craig Charles Funk And Soul, DJ ROCCA
in stock $24.12
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Review: Tim Maia's 1968 debut single, "What You Want To Be", has long been a favourite of dusty-fingered Latin music enthusiasts. Original copies, though, have long been out of the price range of most DJs and collectors. Happily, Mr Bongo has struck a deal to reissue it. The title track is something of a scorching dancefloor-treat - a boogaloo-era slab of Latin funk in which Maia and chums sing in English atop a bustling rhythm track and some seriously heavy horns. B-side "These Are The Songs" is a much more relaxed and laidback, samba-soaked affair, closer in tone to early 1960s U.S soul songs of the sort regularly covered by the Beatles early in the career.
… Read more in stock $9.07
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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 $21.77
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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 $6.85
