Category Archives: Record Labels

‘Open your eyes’ / ‘Where’s your smile’

Label: North Board Street Records – Catalog: NBS004 – Release: May 2021 – Format: 7’

Cynthia formerly of Cynthia and the Imaginations gives us truly superb 5 minutes of pure soul from the heart, showcasing her out stand out vocals. A beautiful modern soul ballad that you will playing on rotation for sure.

Arenita formerly of the Lollipops gives us a modern soul masterpiece and without doubt a future classic. Written by Girty/Walker and produced by Don Davis all three great friends, with Tony Green on drums, Ruby Robinson on keyboard with Cecil Womack arranging.

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Bobby Barnes

‘Super high on your love’ / ‘I´ve had my share (of loving you)’

Label: Soul4Real Records – Catalog: S4R14 – Release Date: May 2021 – Format: 7’

Two previously unreleased tracks from the vaults of Raina Records. Produced and arranged by Lewis Carroll. “I´ve Had My Share (Of Loving You)” is an unheard version from 1984 and “Super High On Your Love” a lost recording from 1977.

The Tom – Emmanuel and Ron Experience

ACIDJAZZ

‘Why (the knower)’ / ‘When you lose your groove’

Label: Acid Jazz Records Catalog: AJX580S Release Date: 7th May 2021 Format: 7’

John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Eric Dolphy, Duke Ellington and Art Blakey all feature in the story of percussionist and bandleader Emmanuel K Rahim, who had previously been known as Juan Adalbert. This somewhat obscure musician built up a substantial body of work in the 1960s and early 70s before moving to Denmark for the second chapter in his life.

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FUNK INVESTIGATORS

Alberto Zanini (preface by Antonio Bacciocchi, translated by Mark Windle)

In addition to the story of a professional rebirth in difficult circumstances, this book contains everything you could ask for in a modern on the road adventure between present times and distant past. You will read words like Funk, Motown, and Philly, or artist’s names like Lonnie Liston Smith, Gil Scott Heron and The Drifters. You will meet unknown artists, wonderful characters, ordinary and unique at the same time; instruments from another era such as the Revox, magnetic tapes, Sound Burgers and ribbon microphones. Yes, there is music, but there are also Art, History, Metropolitan Ghettos, Emotions and even the Italian American mafia, in a tasty cocktail from which it is impossible to separate.

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Preservation Project 010 Unknown Artist

‘How do you do what you do’/‘Tell me’

Label: The Preservation Project – Catalog: PP010 – Release Date: 9th April 2021 – Format: 7’

Thick and funky as the swamps of Louisiana, PP-010 is a double-sider with plenty of Soul. Both sides of this wicked 7″ are credited to an Unknown Artist. Signs point to this being Dennis Landry, but we just can’t confirm this as we go to press. “How Do You Do What You Do” on Side A is a Funk number with a hot pants intro bubbling bass, and a funky breakdown. Lots of fun, and super danceable. Although it’s hard to pick a side on this 7″, the ballad “Tell Me” may just be the winner. This track has it all – starting slow and building, falsetto, screaming and wailing, and heartfelt lyrics about trying to convince a woman to love the singer and not another man.

MARVIN SMITH

‘There must be peace for me’ / ‘I never thought I’d be losing you’ 

Label: Hit & Run Records – Catalog: HR1528 – Release Date: Out Now – Format: 7’

The 2nd of our 2 45s of Marvin’s unreleased 70s Chicago productions. ‘A’ side here is the very in-demand side, previously known only by the Richard Searling acetate which has built quite a reputation over the last 30 years; the flip is Marvin’s brilliant and better original version of the Major Lance 45 on Soul.

 

Label: BIG-AC Records – Catalog: BIGAC011 – Release: 26th March 2021 – Format: 7’

Influenced by the “Crossover Soul” period of the late 60’s and early 70’s, ‘Thinkin’ About You’ clicks into gear from the off, with bold brass and a funky bassline paving the way for Carmy’s stunning vocal.

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SONIA ROSS

‘Let me be free’ / Don’t go breaking my heart’ 

Label: Hit & Run Records – Catalog: HR1527 – Release Date: Out Now – Format: 7’

A coupling here of 2 ultra rare and brilliant dance tracks from Atlanta Ga.1969s ‘Let me be free’ is possibly the rarest Tragar 45 with reputedly only 100 being pressed to fulfil a contractual obligation; the flip was originally recorded in 1968 and destined for a Tragar release but delayed as considered too sensual for a Southern audience and released one year later.