Favorite Recordings

Since the release of his first album in 2013, Lucas Arruda has quickly established himself as one of the most talented young artist and composer from Brazil. His music is filled with fusion style, mixing influences and elements from his Latin musical background, with his genuine admiration for Jazz, Soul and Funk music.In spring 2015, it was also not surprising to find Lucas Arruda back with a new LP called SOLAR, receiving great supports and feedbacks from international medias and tastemakers. One of the highlight of SOLAR was the track “Melt the Night”, on which Lucas asked legendary producer Leon Ware for his help, reminding his collaborations in the 80s with Marcos Valle, when they perfectly merged together the sophisticated Boogie and AOR touch from California, with the blazing sense of rhythm from Brazil.Willing to enlighten even more this timeless song, which could easily be produced in the early-mid 80s, Favorite Recordings decided to give it a brand new suit and found the perfect tailor with Nu-Funk raising producer, XL Middleton. Part of the modern-funk movement and based in Pasadena, XL has released volumes of work, the sound of which embodies the party feel, bringing music back to where it was before it found its way into upscale clubs, while at the same time mixing it with a futuristic brand of funk inspired by legends such as George Clinton, Roger Troutman, or Morris Day.The result is a stunning remix, bringing “Melt the Night” into a futuristic Boogie-Funk world with massive basslines and heavy beats!! This great vinyl 12inch comes with Original and Instrumental Versions on the B-Side, to finalize a perfect package for DJs and diggers.

Favorite Recordings proudly presents this new official single reissue of “Glow of Love”, by Dave Baker. A scorching Caribbean-Disco version of the classic anthem by Change and Luther Vandross produced and released in 1980 on Black Jack Records.Black Jack was a UK based reggae label active between 1978 and 1982 and ran by Jamaican singer and producer Danny Ray. After recording for MCA Records and Trojan Records in the early 1970s, he later set up Black Jack label, producing mostly his own music and a few others singers such as Christine White and Shirley James.During these short 4 years of activity, Danny Ray and Black Jack also produced a few isolated singles by more famous Jamaican singers like Winston Francis or Jackie Edwards. Amongst them was also this hot lovers-rock version of “Glow of Love” by the great Dave Baker, famous member of The Techniques and half of the duo Dave & Ansell Collins.Pursuing his collaboration with Favorite Recordings and the recent reissue of Lamar Thomas single (FVR099), this very rare record is coordinated for reissue by French DJ and collector Waxist.Remastered from the master tape in its original 12inch version for the occasion, the vinyl single package also includes an exclusive extended Dub version finely edited by Waxist.

After the Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds compilation, Favorite Recordings follows-up with the concept, this time focusing on its homeland language. Digging into the mysterious Charles Maurice’s vinyl collection, the label and the DJ extracted 10 amazing hidden dancefloor hits, all produced between 1975 and 1984 within the French music scene.In the late 70s, like most part of the world, France was deeply touched by the influence of American music. The Disco sound therefore quickly reached the French Pop charts, and as always, a creative and prolific independent scene emerged in the shadow of this trend, with quite unequal results, but also some obscure real classics.Helped by a close connoisseur friend, DJ and collector Charles Maurice presents a fine selection of what he thinks represent best the amazing energy and quality of this specific movement and period. With 10 rare titles, he draws a perfect picture of the different styles and productions you could find in French record stores at that time;On one hand, tracks by Overdrive, Marché Noir, Didier Makaga or France-Lise, were mostly composed and produced by underground artists and labels from the French Caribbean and African community, and also filled with the raw spirit and power of this Tropical stamping. On the other hand, tracks by Beckie Bell, Kelly, Le Club, or Bernard Guyvan, were all released by major French labels such as Trëma, Carrere, Disques Vogue, or Pathé Marconi, and created by confirmed independent producers, acting not only in France, but also in Canada and the US.For example, Philippe “Honeyman” Renaux was the founder of Clever label and has credits for Grace Jones, Sheila & B. Devotion, or Gino Soccio to name a few. Canadian composer and producer George Thurston is internationally known as Boule Noire, with his worldwide success “Aimer d’amour”. And Pierre “Berjot” Jaubert was part of the famous Lafayette Afro-Rock Band, before becoming a prolific producer who revealed the Disco diva Chantal Curtis among others, collaborated on recordings for Motown or Tom Moulton, and even scooted the lead singer of Vladimir Cosma’s most famous hit, “La Boom”.With all this talent and “savoir-faire”, each of these 10 forgotten songs had nothing to be ashamed of compared to some majors’ Disco hits and productions, but unfortunately didn’t get the same fate. Today, Favorite Recordings and Charles Maurice are very proud to shed some light again on these gems, and hopefully offer them a new life on your turntable.

2 years after the release of his first solo album, Favorite Recordings proudly presents SOLAR, second album by acclaimed Brazilian composer Lucas Arruda.Lucas Arruda’s born in 1983, in a Brazilian state called Espírito Santo, near Rio de Janeiro. Coming from a musical family (his dad and older brother are musicians) he started playing and listening to music very young. At the age of 13, he was also playing professionally already. After studying electric guitar and playing in various bands, Lucas passion quickly turned into Rhodes and keyboards, expanding his musical range of skills.At the same time he started his own home-studio and a real musical career in Brazil, playing and producing for various projects with his older brother Thiago, and gaining great local support from people like Ed Motta, William Magalhães (Banda Black Rio), Robert Lamm (Chicago) or Hyldon (Brazilian soul legend).In 2012, Fabricio Di Monaco (from Modo Solar) introduced Lucas’ music to Favorite Recordings’ head honcho, Pascal Rioux, who was immediately seduced by Lucas’ demos and talent. One year after, Favorite Recordings released Lucas Arruda’s first solo album titled Sambadi, and received great supports from many international DJs and media, who all acclaimed Lucas’ natural skills for composition and arrangement.Following this successful first effort, here comes SOLAR, new and second solo album by Lucas Arruda. Pursuing the sound established with Sambadi, this new project is again fully composed by Lucas, and filled with his fusion style, mixing influences and elements from his Latin musical background, with his genuine admiration for Jazz, Soul and Funk music; On “Melt the Night” for example, Lucas asked legendary producer Leon Ware for his help, reminding his collaborations in the 80s with Marcos Valle, when they perfectly merged together the sophisticated Boogie and AOR touch from California, with the blazing sense of rhythm from Brazil. For “Uma Onda”, he invites Alex Malheiros, bassist of the famous Jazz band Azymuth, for a splendid tribute to their specific fusion sound and influence on the Brazilian music scene. Finally the song “Agua”, co-written with his longtime friend Fabricio Di Monaco, is a beautiful ballad which illustrates perfectly Lucas’ passion for Soul music stars such as Stevie Wonder or Curtis Mayfield.On top of these great collaborations and a few more surprises, SOLAR also differs from its predecessor by a lot more elaborated production process, offering an authentic and warm sound, faithful to Lucas’ heroes and inspirations. Mostly recorded at Sala A Studio in Brazil, many drums parts were also taken at the fully analog Ambience Studios in Finland, by label mate drummer Jarkko Lepisto. The entire mix was also done in Finland on a Neve 8108 console from 1978, and under the direction of Andre Solomko and Petri Asiala, using only analogic technology and a Studer master tape to record the final pre-master.The result is a timeless album, which should definitely established Lucas Arruda as one of the greatest and most talented Brazilian musicians these days.SOLAR will be released as a deluxe gatefold double LP and limited CD edition on May 4th 2015.