UK

Limited 2015 repress.Has printed label rather than stamped label.

Weston's curatorial crusade continues as he unearths more criminally overlooked/under-pressed rarities from the golden ages; "Losing You" comes from Courtial and Errol Knowles outstanding 1976 soul jazz album. The most straight up soul joint from the album, it's an instant sweat-fest with real guts behind both the vocals and instrumentation. Flip for the jazz funk whirlwind that is "Getting Down". Taken from their eponymous, once-super rare ($1500 per copy rare) album (also released in 76), it's an instrumental hurricane led by strings, horns and bombastically swung drums. Powerful. DJ Support from Snowboy,Sadar Bahar,Dom Servini,Faze Action,Pete Jelly Jazz,Flea Market Funk,ParisDJs.com, Marc Hype,Nicola Conte, Volcov and more

Amsterdam native Mr Mendel continues to churn out top notch edits at a steady pace in between crate digging and gigs around the world.This second 12" for Basic Fingers is a welcome follow up to his previous release which featured Fela & Gil.On release no.28 he's dug even deeper than last time and found not one, two or three but four absolute killer songs to take his razor sharp blade to.No messing around, Mr Mendel aims straight for the top with these joyful disco cuts.

Mr Mendel's disco credentials have been growing steadily in stature over the last few years. Here the Dutch boogieman drops two killer jams for the Disco Deviance imprint.Both demonstrate his clean and tidy approach to editing which focuses on the quality of the original source material and a delicate desire to enhance and ease only the very best out of the music he loves so much. As such he owes much to his Chicago mentor and good friend Rahaan whose influence and sound can be detected in these reworks.This is of course a good thing. Enjoy the music! Mr Mendel does.

Originally released on Fermata (Brazil) in 1970, this brilliant - incredibly lengthy titled - album contains incidental songs from three soap operas: 'Assim na Terra Como No Céu', 'Passo dos Ventos' and the most well known 'Irmãos Coragem'.The album contains elements not dissimilar to Incredible Bongo Band, Nico Gomez, classic Blaxploitation OST's and lost library gems. Originals are nigh on impossible to find and we are very proud to be able to reissue it, with replica original artwork and packaging, on Mr Bongo.This is the second Waltel Branco album we have released, the first was 'Meu Balanco', recorded in 1965, released in 1975.

Tala AM (or Tala Andre Marie to give him his full and proper name) was born in Bandjoun in Cameroun in 1950. Talas life initially wasn't easy, he becomes blind at an early age and has lost both his mother and father by the age of 12. He then went on to make his first guitar by hand and form his first band "The Rock Boys" by the age of 17. Shortly after he meets the powerhouse of Camerounian music at the time Manu Dibango, a pivotal moment. With help, he re-locates to Paris and signs a contract with Fiesta Records. The first fruit of those labours is his debut album "Hot Koki".The lead track (and highlight of this compilation) is "Hot Koki" it is a powerhouse of funk guitar, soul and infectious afro rhythms. Fast forward to 1974 and the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The story goes a little something like this... At an accompanying musical event we find James Brown and Tala AM. JB Hears Hot Koki and creates a remarkably similar sounding track "The Hustle" (check it out side by side if you have the time).Fast forward another 40 years. Time to take a look back on the funkier moments of Tala. This is not a "best of" Tala, that has already been done. Want to get into Tala's famous Tchamassi sound or do some "bend skin" beats... well check out the other compilations. Here at Africa Seven (and in this case) we are headed for destination funk. The musical topic inevitably leads us to the 70's and we borrow our super slick source material mainly from the albums Tala made for Fiesta Records from 1973 to 1978.We open up the bombastic brass, swinging basslines and all out groove of Hot Koki (well after a little intro ditty gem). Then its on to the one of the highlights of "Arabia" album "Black Gold". This track swoons groove. Layers of picked and choppy guitar and on point drumming. "Sugar Lump" is next which sticks to the formula of the previous track but adds in catchy vocals.Mining into the cave of delights that is the 1978 "Black Woman" album we then follow up with the driving afro beat grooves and stabby brass of "Gotam" and the boogie flowing grooves of "Black Woman" and the frenetic and driving grooves of "Ma Ka La". We round things off with the stabby clavi-funk of "Nom Te Ma" and the ultimate groovy funk-riff closer (and ear worm) Tcham Tcham.So there you some slices of pure funk from a master. Tala's role of awards and achievements is long and impressive (check his Wikipedia), Knight of Valour of Cameroun, SACEM awards and his opening of a music school in Douala... However.. we feel these musical masterpieces are right up there with his finest achievements.. A true man of music.

Utterly magnificent, sublimely soulful survey of the Gospel Roots label, subsidiary of the mighty TK Records at the height of the Miami Sound.A&R was co-ordinated by Gospel legends Ira Tucker — from the Dixie Hummingbirds — and Ralph Bass, veteran producer with Savoy, King and Chess. The label was run by Timmy Thomas, who had recently smashed with Why Can’t We Live Together, for another TK spin-off, Glades. Operations were overseen by Henry Stone himself, unlikely King of Disco, who had recorded a young Ray Charles, and pushed forward James Brown. They drew in artists from all over the US, from St. Louis, Columbus, Memphis, Brooklyn, Cabrini Green in Chicago: unknowns like Camille Doughty, reluctant to jeopardise her job at GM (‘Generous Motors’) in Detroit, and huge-sellers like the revered Brooklyn All Stars, who started out on Peacock in 1958.Choral belters, deep ballads, harmony quartets, epic city-blues, gritty funk, powerhouse female soul… Killer-diller Philly like a scorching version of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ Wake Up Everybody; and Jean Austin’s raw Spirit Free, co-written by Ronnie Dyson, produced by Jesse James at Future Gold. Chicago Sound like The Fantastic Family Aires — named after the family’s furniture store on North Cicero, but reminiscent of the Staple Singers at their best — through to the full-blown glory of The Fountain Of Life Joy Choir, led by Marvin Yancy from The Independents, and featuring Natalie Cole… Singers like Versie Mae Gibson, from the Jordans, by rights up there with Irma, Etta and Ree… Bangers 100%-guaranteed to find their way into Theo Parrish sets; and mortal delirium for the prissiest of soul and gospel purists.Beautifully presented, with a 12”-square, full-colour, sixteen-page booklet of photos and original artwork — and truly outstanding notes, including insightful new interviews across the board; mastered at Abbey Road.

Seven Davis Jr recruits two close friends and kindred spirits to rework cuts from his debut album Universes: house music titans Karizma (aka Kaytronik) and Osunlade (aka Yoruba Soul). Basement Boy Karizma takes on "Sunday Morning" delivering a high octane "Ruff Kut" dub and a choppier Baltimore Club tinged "Love Break" dub. On the flip, Osunlade gives "Welcome Back" his trademark exquisite touch.