All posts by Mick

Jewel Bass

“In And Out Of Love”

Label: Soul4Real Records
Catalogue Number: S4RLP03
Release Date: 20th September 2023
Format: LP

Jewel Bass’ recordings have, over time, developed a global underground following. The fact that Malaco Records used Jewel as a backing singer on so many of their A-Listers recordings (Johnnie Taylor, Latimore, Bobby Bland, Z.Z. Hill, Dorothy Moore, etc.) speaks far more to her talent than I can ever write in 300 words!

Jewel started singing in church but began her career in secular music when a friend approached her to ask if she would replace a singer in his band who was ill. She was only required for one song, and she agreed to do the gig on a one-off basis to help out. It was all that was needed to start her career. She joined the band and went on the road with them.

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Danny Ward & Reality

Label: Jazz Room Records
Catalogue Number: JAZZ027
Release Date: 29th September 2023
Format: LP

Another Holy Grail album from Jazz Room Records with Danny Ward & Reality who were the Go To Funky Jazz Band for College and other Hardcore Funk Party gigs in the Mid to late ’70’s in the Seattle area of the Pacific North West. They didn’t just drop covers of the latest Disco or Top 40 hits though but instead took their audiences on a musical trip through the Funkiest and Jazziest sounds of the day featuring a coterie of Steely Dan inspired covers of cuts made famous by George Benson, Lydia Pense and Coldblood, The Headhunters , Mandrill and many more.

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ONEGRAM

“TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS” / “AEO”

Label: Jazz Room Records
Catalogue Number: JAZZ029
Release Date: September 2023
Format: EP

When we do something Funky at Jazz Room Records you can be sure it’s gonna be a Dancefloor Smashsation! Got TWO Super Dynamic cuts on this Hot Slab of Wax. First track needs no introduction unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock for the last Dancefloor Millenium.

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Heart Soul & Inspiration

“I’m Gonna Love You More” (Parts 1 &2)

Label: Izipho Soul Records
Catalogue Number: ZP98
Release Date: 22nd September 2023
Format: 7’

Mythical band ‘Heart-Soul & Inspiration’ and their band leader, L.A. drummer and producer Vince Howard cut their self-titled (and only) album in 1974 for the Los Angeles-based Viscojon label. The result was an astonishing collection of music filled with playful sexy moans, climaxing grooves and soulful hooks.

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Dwayne Scivally

“Point O f No Return” / “So Good”

Label: Izipho Soul Records
Catalogue Number: ZP97
Release Date: 22nd September 2023
Format: 7’

We are delighted to announce our second 7” release with Nashville smooth soul man Dwayne Scivally.

Prior to his highly respected LPs with French music maestro Thomas G, Dwayne recorded an album in 2016 entitled ‘Stay Until The Morning’. The CD has virtual invisible status, with no sales documented on Discogs.

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Menagerie

Catalogue Number: FRS149
Label: Freestyle Records
Release Date: *29th September 2023
Format: *LP /CD / Digital

Menagerie is the Melbourne-based Jazz ensemble founded by producer, songwriter, guitarist, DJ and recording artist Lance Ferguson, also the driving force behind The Bamboos, Lanu, Rare Groove Spectrum and Machines Always Win.

2 years on from their last full-length Many Worlds, Menagerie are back with The Shores Of Infinity, further expanding their sound out into the music universe, a forward-looking, rhythm-heavy expression of contemporary Jazz that is steeped in the tradition but somehow also defies genre pigeonholing. The title track sees California-based spoken word alchemist Thee Cosmic Poet dropping wisdom over the undulating, hypnotic drums of Felix Bloxsom, before the whole track builds into an epic climax with the incendiary, apocalyptic tenor saxophone work of Phil Noy. Lead single “Kingdom” builds a groove with sinewy bass, phased-out Fender Rhodes and angular horn lines. The second section opens into a syncopated vehicle for the masterful Trumpet of Ross Irwin. Here is contemporary live Jazz-Funk influenced in equal parts by the music of West London’s Broken Beat movement as well as Roy Ayers and Donald Byrd.

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Richard Hartley & Soul Resurrection

“Jesus Makes Me Happy” / “Heart And Soul”

Label: Izipho Soul Records
Catalogue Number: ZP099
Release Date: August 2023
Format: 7’

Izipho Soul Records are thrilled to announce the 7” release of the Modern Gospel Soul Banger Jesus Makes Me Happy by Richard Hartley & Soul Resurrection – Presented on vinyl is ‘The Joyful Exaltation Edit’, this excludes the rap from the original version.

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Unity

“The Other Side of You” / “Going To A Carnival”

Label: Soul-Direction Records
Catalogue Number: SD018
Release Date: 4th August 2023
Format: 7’

Following on from the enormous success of the first two releases by The Decisions on Soul Direction and courtesy of Fred White and the Decisions we give you another double sided masterpiece from master tapes kindly provided by the band.
The 5 young men who formed The Decisions, originally started their own Record Label – York Records in the late 60s and recorded two releases on the label which to this day are still very sought after amongst soul collectors. They then went onto record for Sussex Records in the early 70s. The Los Angeles-based label founded by Clarence Avant and distributed by Buddah Records.

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U.S.A – Across The Pond With Don E. Brown

Updated 22/07/23

The Exportations (aka Living Proof)
In the early 80’s Anthony Pilgrim, Bernard Gibson, Ernestine Johnson, Rick Gibson, Willie Gibson, from Detroit, Michigan released a couple of singles at VIR-RO Records. One minor hit was “Find Another Day”. The group consisted of the three brothers, Gibson and two other singers. In the mid-1980s, they changed their Name to “Living Proof” and released another album and a handful of Singles.

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Joe Graham / John Edwards

‘Higher Than High’ / ‘It’s Got To Be The Real Thing For Me This Time’

Label: Kent-City Records
Catalogue Number: CITY 087
Release Date: 25th August 2023
Format: 7’

The recent find of four Joe Graham recordings in the GRC/Aware tapes has shown there was much more to Joe’s talents than the southern soul of his 60s Chant recordings and the synthesiser, electro pop he recorded for various Atlanta labels in the 80s. ‘Higher Than High’ is a soulful disco number featuring a relentless beat. The track already has a strong following, thanks to advance plays in Europe and the UK from DJ Dave Thorley. This track, along with three other numbers, were recorded around 1976 for the GRC stable – just as the company was floundering so badly that the songs were left as unmixed multi-track tapes. Now mixed the demand for this one will be high.

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Kinsman Dazz Band

“Ghetto Preacher” / “Saved”

Label: Creative-Soul Records
Catalogue Number: CS-1004
Release Date: October 2023
Format: 7’

Michael J. Calhoun has accomplished greatness in music for over 30 years. He was influenced by such luminaries as B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, The Beatles and Motown, and of course his Cleveland soul brother and early days mentor, the legendary Lou Ragland. Michael’s career launched as a founding member, singer, composer and guitarist of ‘Kinsman Dazz’.

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Tommy Rodgers

“United Hearts of America” / “Pass The Word”

“Give Me My Freedom” / “Tell It To The Wind”

Label: MD Records
Catalogue Number: MD122/ MD123
Release Date: July 2023
Format: 7’

Well, here we are now bringing out on two releases from the great Tommy Rodgers, a name many will know from his own musical prowess and that of his Brewster Crew association amongst others. These releases will each hold a never-before released A side backed with alt recordings of a released track. As usual they are remastered for today’s vinyl production methods by the great JJ at Goldenmastering, to bring the recordings back to life.

Next up we have ‘United hearts of America’ backed with ‘Pass the word’. United Hearts is a powerful call to action song that captures the sentiment of time, seeking harmony and unity following the Detroit riots. Backing up this is the powerhouse of ‘Pass the word’ that just ignites as the needle flicks out of the ‘run in’ to the music.

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Mantis

“Love Was Born For Me” / “Do We Have Love”

This is a sensational previously unissued double sider from 1976.Do We Have Love is a beautiful sweet soul side with killer vocal from Rocky Whitaker. Click on play and put on your dancing shoes!

Label: Epsilon Record Co.
Catalogue Number: EPS023
Release Date: 20th July 2023
Format: 7’

MANTIS:
Was made up of college buddies. They had all been in a Dartmouth College sponsored traveling band called the Green Dream made up of students in a class taught by Robert Northern … aka “Brother Ahh”. After graduation they much to the chagrin of their parents, decided to take their shot at stardom. They never achieved stardom but I got something better… the friendship of 5 guys who act like brothers that has lasted 50 years…they still Zoom once a month.

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The Society Hill Orchestra Ft. Kat Fontaine & Benny Barksdale, Jr.

Label: Society Hill / EMG
Release Date: July 2023
Format: Digita

Hailing from the small city of Chester, PA on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Kathleen Fontaine-Prattis (affectionately dubbed “Kat” by family and friends) exhibited extraordinary talent as a singer at an early age. As a teenager, Kat began performing and recording with a host of local artists. It was not long before she was sought out by countless musicians, singers and producers that revolved around Philadelphia at the time. As the Sound Of Philadelphia and the recording empire created by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff grew, so did the experience and reputation of Fontaine. By then, she earned her place on a very short list of the area’s top voices. Kat quickly moved up the ranks of Philadelphia’s booming music scene.

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TMF

TMF isn’t a Tribute Band… THEY ARE THE BAND! These gentlemen with the exception of lead vocalist, Chris Walker toured and recorded with the man himself for the last two decades and beyond. Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing… TMF “The Music Forever”

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