Category Archives: Funk

BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2017-PART 10.

Best New Albums Of 2017-Part 10. The Souljazz Orchestra-Under Burning Skies. Label: Strut Records. Fifteen years after The Souljazz Orchestra was founded in Ottawa, Canada, in 2002, they returned with their seventh album Under Burning Skies. It’s without doubt, the finest album of their career, which has been said before. However, with every album they …

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THE REAL SOUND OF MARK GRUSANE.

The Real Sound Of Mark Grusane. Label: BBE.  Eight years ago, on the ’26th’ of January 2010, Mark Grusane made his BBE debut, when he co-compiled The Real Sound Of Chicago with Mike Cole, his partner in Mr. Peabody Records. It was then one of Chicago’s premier record shops, and was the first port of …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 2.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 2. Cromwell-At The Gallop. Label: Got Kinda Lost Records. By 1975, Ireland had a vibrant music scene, and one of its rising stars Cromwell, was about to release its debut album, At The Gallop. It was an album guaranteed to get any party started, and feared an irresistible fusion of …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 3.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 3. Erasmo Carlos-Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 Label: Light In The Attic Records. When Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 was released in 1972, this was the last instalment in a trio of albums that featured Erasmo Carlos at his creative zenith. His bubblegum beginnings seemed a long time ago, and he was …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 4.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 4. Iggy Pop-The Idiot. Label: UMC. When Iggy Pop released his debut solo The Idiot in March 1977, it was a stylistic departure from the former leader of The Stooges. The Idiot seemed to have been influenced by Kraftwerk, James Brown and David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy. As for the title, …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 5.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 5. Melissa Manchester-Home To Myself, Bright Eyes, Melissa and Help Is On The Way. Label: BGO Records. Success didn’t come overnight for Melissa Manchester. She released her debut album Home To Myself in 1973, which was well received by critics, but reached just 156 in the US Billboard 200. In …

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THE BEST REISSUES OF 2017-PART 6.

The Best Reissues Of 2017-Part 6. Radiohead-OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 – 2017. Label: XL Recordings. In June 1997, post rock pioneers Radiohead released the album that transformed their career, and catapulted them to music’s premier league. OK Computer with its abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic range of disparate influences was very different to …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 1.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 1. Every week of the year, dozens of compilations are released by independent and major record labels which makes choosing just a few of the highlights of 2017 no easy task. However, after much consideration I’ve managed to choose The Best Compilations Of 2017. Acetone-1999-2001 Label: Light In The …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 2.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 2. Conrad Schnitzler-Filmmusik 2. Label: Bureau B. Filmmuzik 2, just like Filmmuzik 1, is the perfect starting place for newcomers to the music of Conrad Schnitzler. Both albums are a gateway to the rest of Conrad Schnitzler’s back-catalogue. These compilations will be the first step on a voyage of …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 3.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 3. Innerpeace-Rare and Spiritual Funk and Jazz Gems: The Supreme Sound Of Producer Bob Shad. Label: Wewantsounds. Nowadays, the music Mainstream Records released between 1964 and 1978 is more popular than ever. It seems that with every passing year more people discover the delights of Mainstream Records’ illustrious back-catalogue. …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 4.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 4. Magnetband-Experimenteller Elektronik-Underground DDR 1984-1989.  Label: Bureau B. For anyone with even a passing interest in Eastern European music, then Magnetband-Experimenteller Elektronik-Underground DDR 1984-1989 is essential listening. It documents the five-year period before the reunification of Germany. During this period, artists, musicians, performers and poets became part of the …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 5.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 5 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins-The Planet Sessions.  Label: Ace Records. Inimitable and unique describe the late Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. He was one of the great musical showmen, whose performances were designed to leaving a lasting impression. They always succeeded in doing so. So did his music including the songs on The …

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THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2017 PART 6.

The Best Compilations Of 2017 Part 6. The Monkees-Summer Of Love. Label: Rhino. Even today, The Monkees divides the opinion of many critics and record buyers. Partly that is because of the perception that The Monkees were a manufactured band that was the brainchild of television executives. Despite that, The Monkees went on to enjoy …

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THE BEST BOX SETS OF 2017.

The Best Box Sets Of 2017. Each and every year, hundreds, if not thousands of box sets are released by independent and major record companies, and usually there’s something for every budget. That is also the case on list of the Best Box Sets of 2017, which features box sets that cost £10 right up …

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JOHN MORALES PRESENTS THE M+M MIXES VOLUME IV.

John Morales Presents The M+M Mixes Volume IV. Label: BBE. There aren’t many DJs and remixers that have enjoyed longevity that John Morales has. He’s been DJ-ing since 1975 and has spent the last four decades remixing tracks by the biggest names in music. Some of these names can be found on the latest project …

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MORENA Y CLARA-NO LLORES MAS.

Morena Y Clara-No Llores Más. Label: Pharaway Sounds. As 1973 dawned, a new Spanish flamenco-pop duo Morena y Clara, were about to make their debut at the now legendary tablao restaurant Caripen in Madrid. This was where just Los Grecas had been discovered just a few months previously by producer José Luis de Carlos and …

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GIL SCOTT-HERON-AMERICA’S SOCIAL CONSCIENCE: 1970-1980 THE GOLDEN ERA.

Gil Scott-Heron-America’s Social Conscience: 1970-1980 The Golden Era. After releasing a trio of studio albums on Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman Productions between 1970 and 1972, Gil Scott-Heron signed to Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell’s Strata-East Records. By then, Gil Scott-Heron was well on his way to becoming America’s social conscience. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, …

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MAYNARD FERGUSON-M.F HORN 4 AND 5: LIVE AT JIMMY’S.

Maynard Ferguson-M.F. Horn 4 and 5:Live At Jimmy’s. BGO Records. The first time many jazz fans heard Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, was when he joined the when the twenty-four year old joined Stan Kenton’s new Innovations Orchestra in 1949. This was home for Maynard Ferguson for the next four years and was where he …

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THE ORIGINAL SOUND OF BURKINA FASO.

The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso. Label: Mr. Bongo Records. After the success of Mr. Bongo’s The Original Sound Of Mali compilation, the Brighton-based label recently released a new compilation, The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso which was compiled by David ‘Mr Bongo’ Buttle and Florent Mazzoleni. The Original Sound Of Burkina Faso transports the …

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HABIBI FUNK: AN ECLECTIC SELECTION OF MUSIC FROM THE ARAB WORLD.

Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World. Label: Habibi Funk Germany. Nowadays, hundreds of compilations are released by record companies all around the world, and with one click of a button music fans have access to an eclectic selection of music that forty years ago, wasn’t available to record buyers. Back …

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