[ aquarius records — Soul Funk ]

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V/ABritish Hustle(Soul Jazz)cd$ 21.00

V/ABroasted or Fried: Latin Breakbeats, Basslines, and Boogaloo(Harmless)cd$ 19.98

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. You know how everyone thinks they can be a DJ now, right? Maybe one of the unlooked-for benefits of this trend is that there are that many more people sifting through dusty ole record bins in dusty ole record stores worldwide, searching for the good breaks to sample and scratch. And perhaps that explains the sudden number of recent, very tasteful, well-done compilations that have graced the shelves here at Aquarius, comps filled with original source material utilized during or created for the breakbeat era's heyday (mid to late '70s). And hey, now that these amazing tracks are collected in one place on cd or vinyl, we can listen to them in the safety of our own living rooms -- instead of having to brave yuppies and cigarette smoke and $6 drinks to hear perfectly good tunes mangled by DJs of mediocre skills. "Broasted or Fried" is another lovingly executed collection from the UK label Harmless. Wonderful '60s and '70s Latin music largely produced by musicians from New York, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. While mot of these artists produced more purely latin music during their careers, this comp focuses on the influence black music -- jazz, funk, soul-- had on their sounds. With Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Joe Bataan, Kako and his Orchestra, etc. Very extensive, well written liner notes.

V/ACalypsoul 70 - Caribbean Soul & Calypso Crossover 1969-1979(Strut)cd$ 16.98

One of things we were most thankful for musically this year was the reemergence of Strut, the label we fell in love with for their great and deep digging tastes in booty moving obscure dance music from across the globe. Their Disco Not Disco comps are legendary for finding such outsider post-punk and left-field disco jams and they have released such amazing collections of Afrobeat, library music, old school hip-hop, etc. But the label seemed to disappear for the last few years so we were crazy stoked to see them back and on fire once again, with another volume of Disco Not Disco, as well as the awesome Funky Nassau: The Compass Point Story collection, Nigeria 70, Disco Italia, and more! Which brings us to their latest immaculately packaged, well researched and most importantly totally jamming collection of Caribbean soul and funk from 1969-1979. The twenty tracks on here range from very Western influenced classic soul & funk to steel pan fueled jams, reggae tinged burners and loud & proud political anthems. A whole bunch of artists we'd never heard before that we are loving as well as a few AQ favorites sprinkled throughout (Amral's Trinidad Cavaliers Steel Orchestra, Cedric Im Brooks). We're so happy that this great label is strutting their stuff once again!

V/ACan You Dig It? The Music And Politics Of Black Action Films(Soul Jazz)2cd + book$ 23.00

Yes, we can dig it! Soul Jazz hits the jackpot once again with this completely amazing collection of songs from Blaxploitation films during the golden era of 1968-1975. There are a million reasons why this collection is so fucking great. But one critical way, in which this comp has become a defining collection of the sound and culture, is that most collections of Blaxploitation music up to this point only really focused on the camp and kitsch aspects of the movement, when really it was about so much more: true independence, total empowerment, bold political statements, reclamation of culture, off the hook fashion, and music with such real and deep soul, which provided the perfect soundtrack to these revolutionary films. Can You Dig It? does a great job of mixing many amazing ultra obscure tracks some more well known jams, balancing the joy of discovery with the stone cold fact that no matter how many times you hear something from Curtis Mayfield's Superfly it always sounds so damn good. But of course this being Soul Jazz, they dig WAAAAAAY deeper, giving us truly stunning and burning tracks from the likes of Willie Hutch, Martha Reeves, Dennis Coffey, Solomon Burke & Gene Page, Don Julian, Johnny Pate, as well as tracks that somehow slipped under the radar from bigger name folks like James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes. The sequencing and variety and richness in sound is so compelling and wonderfully varied. So often when this is playing for a while in the store people will ask "Is this still that comp?" and when we say yes they shake their heads in astonishment and usually have to get one right away. In fact right after the amazing Yo La Tengo instore performance last weekend, we put this on and all three members of the band at different times came up to us needing to know what it was and of course they bought one right away. Finally someone has done justice to the music of this movement and era, and our ears are in total heaven! The double-cd version comes with an out-of-control informative and visually pleasing 100 page book as well as awesome postcards and stickers. The vinyl versions are split into two volumes and while it's awesome to have these songs on vinyl, the bummer is that the vinyl format doesn't come with the amazing 100 page booklet...

V/ACan You Dig It? The Music And Politics Of Black Action Films - Volume 1(Soul Jazz)2lp$ 24.00

Yes, we can dig it! Soul Jazz hits the jackpot once again with this completely amazing collection of songs from Blaxploitation films during the golden era of 1968-1975. There are a million reasons why this collection is so fucking great. But one critical way, in which this comp has become a defining collection of the sound and culture, is that most collections of Blaxploitation music up to this point only really focused on the camp and kitsch aspects of the movement, when really it was about so much more: true independence, total empowerment, bold political statements, reclamation of culture, off the hook fashion, and music with such real and deep soul, which provided the perfect soundtrack to these revolutionary films. Can You Dig It? does a great job of mixing many amazing ultra obscure tracks some more well known jams, balancing the joy of discovery with the stone cold fact that no matter how many times you hear something from Curtis Mayfield's Superfly it always sounds so damn good. But of course this being Soul Jazz, they dig WAAAAAAY deeper, giving us truly stunning and burning tracks from the likes of Willie Hutch, Martha Reeves, Dennis Coffey, Solomon Burke & Gene Page, Don Julian, Johnny Pate, as well as tracks that somehow slipped under the radar from bigger name folks like James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes. The sequencing and variety and richness in sound is so compelling and wonderfully varied. So often when this is playing for a while in the store people will ask "Is this still that comp?" and when we say yes they shake their heads in astonishment and usually have to get one right away. In fact right after the amazing Yo La Tengo instore performance last weekend, we put this on and all three members of the band at different times came up to us needing to know what it was and of course they bought one right away. Finally someone has done justice to the music of this movement and era, and our ears are in total heaven! The double-cd version comes with an out-of-control informative and visually pleasing 100 page book as well as awesome postcards and stickers. The vinyl versions are split into two volumes and while it's awesome to have these songs on vinyl, the bummer is that the vinyl format doesn't come with the amazing 100 page booklet...

V/ACan You Dig It? The Music And Politics Of Black Action Films - Volume 2(Soul Jazz)2lp$ 24.00

Yes, we can dig it! Soul Jazz hits the jackpot once again with this completely amazing collection of songs from Blaxploitation films during the golden era of 1968-1975. There are a million reasons why this collection is so fucking great. But one critical way, in which this comp has become a defining collection of the sound and culture, is that most collections of Blaxploitation music up to this point only really focused on the camp and kitsch aspects of the movement, when really it was about so much more: true independence, total empowerment, bold political statements, reclamation of culture, off the hook fashion, and music with such real and deep soul, which provided the perfect soundtrack to these revolutionary films. Can You Dig It? does a great job of mixing many amazing ultra obscure tracks some more well known jams, balancing the joy of discovery with the stone cold fact that no matter how many times you hear something from Curtis Mayfield's Superfly it always sounds so damn good. But of course this being Soul Jazz, they dig WAAAAAAY deeper, giving us truly stunning and burning tracks from the likes of Willie Hutch, Martha Reeves, Dennis Coffey, Solomon Burke & Gene Page, Don Julian, Johnny Pate, as well as tracks that somehow slipped under the radar from bigger name folks like James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes. The sequencing and variety and richness in sound is so compelling and wonderfully varied. So often when this is playing for a while in the store people will ask "Is this still that comp?" and when we say yes they shake their heads in astonishment and usually have to get one right away. In fact right after the amazing Yo La Tengo instore performance last weekend, we put this on and all three members of the band at different times came up to us needing to know what it was and of course they bought one right away. Finally someone has done justice to the music of this movement and era, and our ears are in total heaven! The double-cd version comes with an out-of-control informative and visually pleasing 100 page book as well as awesome postcards and stickers. The vinyl versions are split into two volumes and while it's awesome to have these songs on vinyl, the bummer is that the vinyl format doesn't come with the amazing 100 page booklet...

V/ACarolina Funk: First in Funk: 1968-77(Jazzman)cd$ 15.98

We know, we know... at this point you're probably as skeptical as we are of yet another compilation of ultra-rare, super heavy funk 45s from the dustiest corners of small-town USA, but believe us when we say that the crate diggers behind UK reissue label Jazzman have outdone themselves with this look at the undiscovered funk gems of North and South Carolina. You might recall how excited we here at aQ were about the Florida Funk compilation from last year and this installment is every bit as satisfying. You'll hear a wide range of styles represented on this collection, from straight up deep funk to tracks that touch on psych, jazz and smooth soul -- 22 tracks in all of fuzzed out guitars, horn hits, break beats, flute solos, shouts, wails, and powerfully soulful vocals. However, where Jazzman really stands out from other reissue labels is in the meticulously assembled liner notes that accompany the record. You'll learn not only about the songs and artists themselves, but also information about the different parts of the Carolinas from which they came. It's a lovingly assembled package of songs, stories, background info, label scans and rare photographs on par with any of the reissue comps to come from Soul Jazz or Numero (and that's saying something!). We've been spinning this one a lot in the store as of late, and it's been the perfect way to heat up these grey February days. So good!

V/AChange The Beat: The Celluloid Records Story 1979-1987(Strut / Celluloid)2cd$ 17.98

Celluloid was always one of those prolific kitchen sink labels that you were never sure you could trust. Operating between the late seventies and late eighties, their releases were often hit and miss, mainly because they never consistently focused on any particular genre, gravitating bravely instead towards dynamically urban niche markets (no-wave, punk, hip-hop, future dub and eighties afro-beat) when most of the music industry at the time basked in a mainstream top-40 wasteland of monocultural white MTV blandness. Where else would you find a label with such diverse acts as Fab 5 Freddy, Snakefinger and Ginger Baker? Thankfully, the fine folks at Strut separate the wheat from the chaff and give us a killer introductory comp of the label's best and most obscure moments, serving as a historical record of this unique musical time. Founded by Jean Georgakarakos, a French record shop owner who co-founded the BYG record label and managed at one time the bands Magma and Gong, Celluloid was born from a move to New York and recognizing a need to release socially resistant music that was growing in popularity at underground clubs and parties, but couldn't be heard on the radio or bought at record stores. Noticing trends in New York that were also happening in Europe, Celluloid released new wave music from French acts Mathematiques Moderne and Nini Raviolette as well as Americans, James Chance and Suicide, but eventually moved to hip hop and dub with Afrikka Bambata and Bill Laswell's Material. Laswell often produced most of the later releases especially as the label expanded into dub and African musical territory. The label folded as the mainstream finally caught up with them. MTV finally got on the hip hop train, and more DIY labels were sprouting after the rise of college rock, leading the way towards grunge and alternative rock. Though they weren't always consistent, Celluloid was pretty influential in opening up new genres of music to a much wider audience. Here are all of the artists represented: Shockabilly, Massacre, Ferdinand, Mathematiques Moderne, Thomas Leer & Robert Rental, Snakefinger, Winston Edwards & Blackbeard, Lightin' Rod (with a posthumous appearance by Jimi Hendrix!), Future 2000 feat. The Clash, Timezone, Deadline, Bobongo Stars, Toure Kunda, Nini Raviolette, Modern Guy, Sapho, Ginger Baker, Last Exit, Mandingo Feat. Foday Musa Suso & Herbie Hancock, Manu Dibango, Material, D. St., B Side with Bernard Fowler, Fab 5 Freddy and The Last Poets. Wow!

V/ACherrystones Hidden Charms(Family)cd$ 19.98

DJ Garret Goddard (aka Cherrystones) is back, having dug up another disc's worth of totally rad '60s/'70s psychedelic rarities. His previous compilation entitled Cherrystones Rocks was an excellent, eccentric collection of freaky fun mostly from bands we'd never encountered before. Cherrystones Hidden Charms focuses a bit more on funkier, groovier fare (psychefunk says the sticker on the front), and also delves into realms of obscurity unknown to us. Sure, you'll likely recognize names like Ennio Morricone and The Shadows and Shocking Blue and Cher (yes, Cher!) but what about Mashmakhan, Shadow Mann, Dynastie Crisis, Roosevelt Fountain (And The Pens Of Rhythm) and Bugsy?? Wow. He's been diggin' all right. And it's (almost) all killer, no filler. I mean, we've got our faves: the garagey fuzz mania of Die Anderen's "Neurotic Reaction" (which would also have fit nicely on Cherrystones Rocks) is a discovery worth the price of this disc alone, we think, and we're also partial to the surprising grunt of The Shadows' "Scotch On the Socks". And if you dig the genre of what might be termed "stripper music" you'll find a bunch of acid-burlesque treats on here as well! As with the first comp, Cherrystones/Goddard provides blurbs in the liner notes about each band which is always appreciated. Again, awesome.

V/ACherrystones Rocks(Lo)cd$ 10.98

A very original, wonderfully varied collection of uber-rare international "psych and progressive gems" of the '60s and early '70s presented by Lo Recordings, who've always brought us the cool cutting edge modern electronica. Lo has previously also delved into the past for library music / acid funk compilations...now they go waaaay out with these bizarro rock tracks, picked by British hip hop DJ Garreth Goddard (who records as Cherrystones for the Twisted Nerve label). Obscure artists on here indeed -- we had previously only heard Brazil's Rita Lee (of Os Mutantes) and Detroit R&B hard rockers Frijid Pink (with "Crying Shame", one of their best songs). Garreth's obsessive crate-digging has paid dividends here, making this the kind of comp you've got to get 'cause you'll never find these records OR reissues. It's all groovy, psychedelic, crazed stuff. Some other names: Taiconderoga, Black Cat Bones, Klaus Doldinger, Niagara, Breakout, Mecki Mark Men, Sunbirds, The Mogol, and more. Veering from free-jazz inspired horn soloing to heavy fuzz guitar riffs to spoken beat poetry, the stuff on here is all over the place yet is freaky, funky, fried fun that really seems to belong together -- kudos to the DJ. Awesome.

V/AChicago Soul(Soul Jazz)cd$ 21.00

Soul Jazz are really the king of comps now, and this latest is another excellent entry in their catalog, subtitled "Electric Blues, Funk & Soul: The New Sound Of Chicago In The 1960s". Everything here was originally released on Chess -- presumably you've heard of Chess Records, the Chicago "black music" label that was home to Muddy Waters, Etta James, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley and others... You hear from all of those big names here, but also other '60s greats of lesser fame (Dorothy Ashby, The Stereos, Phil Upchurch, Eve Barnum, The Soulful Strings, etc.). That decade was an exciting time for music everywhere of course but Chess was one of the it labels, releasing tons of now classic electric blues, urban jazz, soulful singers, and even some psychedelic r&b. Packaged in a slipcover with a big ol' book of text and photos for your edification, whilst yr ears enjoy the Chicago soul sounds.

V/ACold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities 1968 - 1974 Volume 1(Now-Again)2lp$ 19.98

V/ACold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities: 19(Stones Throw / Now-Again)cd$ 15.98

Man, this is some gritty '70s funk. Or should I say gritt-ay? Really, the grit to the tracks is from the remastering transfer of these old songs but in spite of it, they're all totally listenable cause they are so so SO good. I mean, THESE ARE PURE FUNK SONGS: no cheese, no glamour, just amazing songwriting, awesome musicianship, great ideas, tons of soul, and just full-on soul n' funk jammin'. F'ing awesome! Contains rare and never-before-heard tracks by many artists including Carleen and The Groovers, Kashmere Stage Band, Soul Seven and Ebony Rhythm Band (their track "Drugs Ain't Cool" from their Soul Heart Transplant disc recently reissued by Now-Again), all of which were remastered from old 45's and aging master tapes. Packaged with a pretty extensive 28 page archival booklet, and the cd features a handful of bonus tracks. Now, we have to say that the first time we heard this it didn't make such a huge impression, but after a few listens we realized that this was a seriously amazing compilation of PURE funk and funky soul songs. We can't stress enough how awesome these tracks are. Give it a few listens and you'll see what we mean.

V/ACold Heat: Heavy Funk Rarities: 1968-1974 Vol. 1(Stones Throw / Now-Again)cd$ 14.98

Man, this is some gritty '70s funk. Or should I say gritt-ay? Really, the grit to the tracks is from the remastering transfer of these old songs but in spite of it, they're all totally listenable cause they are so so SO good. I mean, THESE ARE PURE FUNK SONGS: no cheese, no glamour, just amazing songwriting, awesome musicianship, great ideas, tons of soul, and just full-on soul n' funk jammin'. F'ing awesome! Contains rare and never-before-heard tracks by many artists including Carleen and The Groovers, Kashmere Stage Band, Soul Seven and Ebony Rhythm Band (their track "Drugs Ain't Cool" from their Soul Heart Transplant disc recently reissued by Now-Again), all of which were remastered from old 45's and aging master tapes. Packaged with a pretty extensive 28 page archival booklet, and the cd features a handful of bonus tracks. Now, we have to say that the first time we heard this it didn't make such a huge impression, but after a few listens we realized that this was a seriously amazing compilation of PURE funk and funky soul songs. We can't stress enough how awesome these tracks are. Give it a few listens and you'll see what we mean.

V/ACountry Funk 1969-1975(Light In The Attic)2lp$ 26.00

V/ACult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay(Numero)cd$ 16.98

The Numero Group strike gold again with another great lost soul collection. This time it's the second in their Cult Cargo series. The first one, Belize Boil Up quickly became an AQ favorite. This time out they have extracted the sounds of Bahaman soul mostly around the early-mid '70s. Much Goombay music as it was called, captured the sound of the island with touches of Caribbean influence as well as the equally sun soaked golden Miami sound. All the tracks here are killers, with backbeats that would sound at home on Studio One and breaks that still sound so damn fresh now. Some of these bands were playing hotels and poolsides and backyards and that undeniable charm resonates throughout the collection. Some nods to the past for sure, soaking up the sweetness and warmth of doo-wop, but at the same time, these tunes begin to walk in funkier shoes, capturing that raw beautiful essence of how soul should sound. Dripping with warmth and sparkling with color, somewhere between doo-wop and funk, with the island's tropical warm wind keeping everything flowing and fresh!

V/ADarker than Blue: Soul from Jamdown 1973-1980(Blood and Fire )cd$ 14.98

Soulful, funky reggae trax from Jam-aica circa the mid to late seventies. Most of the cuts here are covers of R&B or funk hits, stuff originally by Curtis Mayfield, Kool & The Gang, War, Bobby Bland, Isley Brothers, and others -- even Randy Newman (by way of

V/ADirty Laundry - The Soul Of Black Country(Trikont)2lp$ 31.00

V/ADis-Jointed(Dis-Joint)cd$ 14.98

About a year ago we wrote about a 12" split of a couple of Wackie's tracks that were both amazing in their own ways. The A-Side was Horace Andy's "Musical Episode", an extended 12" mix which is probably one of the best disco mixes we'd ever heard and the B-Side was an absolutely bizarre extended mix called the "Wack Rap" from 1979 and featuring some completely off kilter impersonations of the Sugarhill Gang. Well, Dis-Joint records, the fellas who released that 12", have put together a nice compilation of tracks featuring the aforementioned along with several singles -- new and old -- that their label has released. Now the vinyl-ly challenged can also join in on the enjoyment of these two tracks and then some. There's quite a few rare tracks here, including an instrumental mix of Ronnie Gee's "Raptivity" from 1980, Zap Pow's reggae homage to Kool & The Gang "Lottery Spin" recorded at Dynamic Sounds way back in 1976, plus some new dance floor cuts inspired from the old school by the likes of DJs Cool Chris & Romanowski, Ben Cook & Deep Fuzz, Dub Diablo and more.

V/ADisco Deutschland Disco(Marina)cd$ 16.98

Oh how we've adored the Germans' take on various musical styles over the years, and we're not just talking about their obvious kosmiche krautrock brilliance. No, it's German musicmakers' handling of the more unexpected genres that have deepened our love affair tenfold. The hip '60s kitten heeled go-go pop of the In-Kraut compilations? The spaghetti (er, sauerkraut?) westerns of the Wig Wam Weste(r)n Weisse Wolfe collections? Yes and yes! Those two genres are unquestionably more commonly associated with French chanteuses and American cowboys, so the unmistakable German inflections that surface always make for a delightful twist on the familiar. Now Marina Records, who brought us those In-Kraut comps, takes it (or is it retakes it?) to the dancefloor with this compilation of German disco and funk music circa 1975 thru 1980. They're not messin' around. This is straight-up boogie wonderland business. Awesome. Some highlights include the 8+ minute Supermax track, a lowdown I'm so sexy unstoppable groover... the Giorgio Moroder studio band Munich Machine's classic "Get On The Funk Train"... and a disco-era hit from In-Kraut alumnus Peter Thomas and his Sound Orchestra... among 15 other mainly killer, glitterball dazzlers. Now, if the weird thing is, this isn't really that weird. Heck disco's even back "in" now. Don't go expecting krautrocky craziness, instead just get yer dancing shoes on and yer ass in gear. Seriously, this has been getting spun in the store by AQ staffers just as much or more than anything else lately, and when it's on we've been getting our work done with just a little more groove. Includes a 14-page booklet of informative liner notes, with such interestin' tidbits as that Berry Lipman's track "Sex World" was used as the theme song for an American porno film, but originated as an instrumental from the German sci-fi TV series Star Maidens...

V/ADisco Not Disco (3)(Strut)cd$ 16.98

Strut is back! After releasing 2 amazing comps of the finest in underground leftfield disco and post-punk dance rarities, Strut called it a day. This was heartbreaking news as we were hoping Strut would become a stalwart reissue label like Soul Jazz or Numero Group. Miraculously, they have defied the odds and with the help of K7! and risen once again, hopefully to stay around for awhile. And with their return comes this third volume from the always exciting Disco Not Disco series. Billed as Post Punk, Electro and Leftfield Disco classics from 1974-1986, the bulk of the cuts are heavier on the eighties side with classic tracks from Shriekback, Quango Quango, Material and Konk. But also with rare leaps into Belgian and German territory with Liaisons Dangereuses, Kazino and Gina X performance (which due to an 11th hour dispute may or may not really be a Yellow Magic Orchestra track). Vivien Goldman and Delta 5 represent classic late seventies British post-punk while a Kid Creole remix of James White and The Blacks "Contort Yourself" offers a breezier twist on the New York scene favorite. The proto-disco fusion groove of Isotope is the earliest and our least loved track, but the white hot store favorite status goes to A Number Of Names' "Sharivari" and The Pop Group spin off project, Maximum Joy's minimal dub winddown "Silent Street / Silent Dub". So Killer! Strut's essential comps do not stay in print for very long so don't miss out on the first of 2008's awesome party jams!

V/ADisco Not Disco 2(Strut)cd$ 17.98

As you probably know, the first volume of Strut's Disco Not Disco compilation has been a big hit here at AQ, with customers and staff alike. Well, we're happy to report that volume 2 is also great. It's a look back at the early days of *underground* disco

V/ADon't Stop: Recording Tap(Numero Group)cd$ 16.98

The Numero Group goes digging deep once again and come up for air with some mighty fine disco and proto-hip-hop jams from the super obscure vaults of an early '80s NY label called Tap. From start to finish this lavishly packaged collection offers up helping after helping of killer grooves and funky jams, from that magical era where funk and disco were the seeds that would blossom into the hip-hop scene that would soon blow up bigtime. While names like Jackie Stoudemire, Magnetism, Arnie Love & The Lovettes and Fabulous 3 MC's might not have become household names, after listening to their tracks on this comp you will be wishing you could get your hands on more of their goods. Every time we put this on we start to have fantasies about being in NY during this era and blasting these songs on a playground while we do some double dutch and then catch ESG playing a show in the Bronx, and afterwards heading to the Paradise Garage where we dance the night away with Larry Levan. This is going to go right up their with The Third Unheard, Big Apple Rappin and the new Funky Nassau collection as one of our favorite party perfect comps of all time. And of course there's a massive booklet with liner notes detailing the full of the story of the Tap label and all the trouble and adventures it took to actually get these amazing sounds into the world. We are so glad they did!

V/ADown & Out: The Sad Soul of the Black South(Trikont)cd$ 15.98

THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SORRY. We're proud to be carrying the very hard to find German label Trikont, who have amassed an incredibly diverse selection of cds featuring music from all over the world. This WONDRFUL compilation collects the warm soul music of the American south, featuring Percy Mayfield, Betty Lavette, Virgil Griffin, Sam Dees, etc. The liner notes set the stage: "Nowhere will a romance be longed for that desperately, nowhere are the comforting powers of love known that well. And still: Soul can do more. Who ever has dared to go beyond the shallowness of radioformatted sounds and has ventured deeper, will soon have discovered stains, all kinds of interesting dirt and spiritual undertones that connect the gutter with heaven. You can get addicted to Soul painfully. You will realize it when the long forgotten voices of ecstasy, irrationality and despair strike back."

V/ADr. Boogie Presents: Wasawasa(Sub Rosa)cd$ 16.98

V/ADusty Fingers Vol. 1(Strictly Break)cd$ 15.98

The Dusty Fingers comps, brought to you by the Strictly Break folks, are very strong, utterly delightful compilations of tracks from such a wide variety of genres that it brings a smile to my face just to see them in one place! And yes, the tracks totally work together as great compilation cds, and the welcome effect of the different tracks side by side is a fresh perspective on the music. Very spacy stuff, some easy listening psych material, with each track featuring killer rhythms that'll appeal to the DJ in you. Vol. 1 features everyone from Ferrante & Teicher to Amon Duul, David Axelrod, Donovan, Les Baxter, Annette Peacock, and the Small Faces. No liner notes to speak of, just a copyright and year of original release (almost all '70s), plus an assurance that all tracks are legally licensed. Mastered from original tapes with very clean results. Highly recommended!

V/ADusty Fingers Vol. 2(Strictly Break)cd$ 15.98

The Dusty Fingers comps, brought to you by the Strictly Break folks, are very strong, very delightful compilations of tracks from such a wide variety of genres that it brings a smile to my face just to see them in one place! And yes, the tracks totally work together as great compilation cds. Each track features killer rhythms that'll appeal to the DJ in you. (Speaking of which, the Harvey Averne track on this volume appealed to Terry Riley so much that he remixed it for his amazing "You're No Good" all-night performance in 1967--see elsewhere on this list.) Vol. 2 is jazzier than the easy-listening first volume, with Bola Sete, Les McCann, and funky bits from the soundtrack to Gator! No liner notes to speak of, just a copyright and year of original release (almost all '70s), plus an assurance that all tracks are legally licensed. Mastered from original tapes with very clean results.

V/AEccentric Breaks & Beats(Numbero)cd$ 14.98

The Numero Group's Eccentric Soul series has long unearthed some of the best obscure regional soul sides no one has ever heard before, many of them up there with being our most favorite soul compilations, so we were both excited and a bit dubious to discover that someone (the mysteriously monikered Shoes) had made a re-edit mix using nothing but samples from Numero's many soul reissues and released it on a label called "Numbero". Hmmm. Check out the cheesy late '80s/ early '90s throwback cover, a tongue and cheek tribute to those Ultimate Breaks and Beats compilations that always had skeletons blinged out in hip hop gear or a DJing octopus on the covers. This one features a skull-headed crate digger with a blinged out Numero label medallion swinging around his neck with various Eccentric Soul albums lined up on the back wall. While we had been questioning the possible legalities of such a release, we managed to get the story straight from Numero Group head honcho, Ken Shipley, who in a bizarre instance of synchronicity, happened to show up in the store one night just as we put this compilation on. Apparently, the record showed up at the Numero offices housed in an old saw blade sleeve. From the opening riff taken from The Home Schooled compilation, Shipley instantly recognized the sample, and the many hundreds following it (he says he has identified all the samples except for a few drum and percussion tracks that he couldn't be certain were from the original sources or added in). Using the manufacturing ID number on the vinyl (the same manufacturer Numero uses) he managed to locate the perpetrator and instead of trying to fight it legally, decided to release it himself. Smart move, because like Dilla, Oh No, Onra and Madlib, this is one of the best re-edit mixes we've heard, taking small snippets of various soul pieces (vocal snippets, horn riffs, rhythm guitars etc.) and weaving them seamlessly in something altogether new. And there is no DJ grandstanding, scratching or self-promotion you sometimes find in DJ mixes, just a killer fluid mix of sonic soul ear-candy from beginning to end. A glorious well thought through undertaking that you can instantly recognize as a labor of love! Note on the track listing: there are 13 titled songs but the cd only reads as two tracks and since the tracks are all woven together, it's hard to tell which part is called what, so we just made long excerpts for the sound samples. Awesome!!!!!

V/AEccentric Soul : The Capsoul Label(Numero Group)cd$ 16.98

In the early 70s, the Capsoul label suffered a similar fate as Stax Records out of Memphis. Great small label, amazing artists, amazing songs -- but in the midst of a Motown big-hit explosion. Founded by Bill Moss in Columbus, Ohio, Capsoul produced some incredible soul and funk music. Musically, Moss had all the ingredients of a great label (he even wrote some of their hits) but his timing in the industry couldn't have been worse. As it was at this time, Motown had just moved to Los Angeles and was quickly growing to gigantic proportions. Sadly, Capsoul went out of business only five years after starting up. Even more sadly, when it did, all master tapes were destroyed. So the songs on this comp are actually taken from 45's gathered by the folks at Numero Group through various sources, including Ebay! Meticulously transferred, they sound totally awesome. The 19 funk and soul treasures are beautifully packaged and feature a couple cool studio photos. Extensive liner notes detail a bit of the label, its artists and historical context.

V/AEccentric Soul : The Deep City Label(Numero Group)cd$ 17.98

Without a doubt the Numero Group is becoming one of our favorite labels over the last few years. Releasing such tasty reissues with classy and informative packaging, a distinct aesthetic and most importantly amazing sounds that deserve to be heard! This time out they have excavated a lost treasure down in Florida. The short lived Deep City label put out a slew of totally rich 45's that unfortunately never made their way much past the confines of Florida. The core of the Deep City label were three high school teachers and former marching band members Willie Clarke, Johnny Pearsall, and Arnold Albury. They began recording in small studios with local artists like Clarence Reid (who some of you might know later would be known as Blowfly) and a then preteen Betty Wright. The sound that emerged was so gut hitting, soul wrenching, and totally right on. The warmth in these recordings makes you lament where soul music has gone in the last few decades, getting it so wrong with its slick glossy overproduction. Fans of the recent Searching For Soul comp on Luv N' Haight make sure you check this out as it's just as strong an offering as that amazing comp. If you are a big soul affieciando you might remember a few of the artists on this comp from the Soul Jazz comp Miami Sound a few years back but none of these tracks have been reissued until now and wow do these songs hit the spot. Highly Recommended!

V/AEccentric Soul: A RBG Production(Numero Group)cd$ 16.98

V/AEccentric Soul: Capitol City Soul(Numero Group)2lp$ 23.00

V/AEccentric Soul: Mighty Mike Lenaburg(Numero Group)cd$ 17.98

By now there's almost no point in writing much about the incredible Eccentric Soul series on the Numero Group label every single record seems to speak for itself, LOUD AND PROUD!. One after another, lost pots of gold (should've-been-gold-records, that is) are constantly unearthed, dusted off and presented to us for maximum grooving. If there was any question as to how deep Numero have been digging, the answer becomes evident with this most recent outing, which compiles amazing soul recordings from the not so soulfully hip city of Phoenix, Arizona, recorded during the 60's and 70's. Being that I (Irwin) grew up in Phoenix, this release proved just how deep and far these guys will go for their lost soul. As anyone who has lived in Phoenix over the last quarter century can tell you, any relics or history of a soul scene going on in the valley of the sun are pretty much non-existent. Luckily when Mike Lenaburg lived in Phoenix he had his finger on the pulse of the city's soul scene and managed to produce some totally scorching tracks from folks like Michael Liggins, We The People, and the Soul Blenders. Names that never got the same kind of glory that their rock 'n roll Phoenix counterparts like Alice Cooper did. But even so, these guys were responsible for some of the richest and liveliest sounding recordings to ever come out of Phoenix. As a high school kid I spent many of my waking hours in vinyl stores all over the city eavesdropping on the classic vinyl store employees and regulars talking for hours about the good old days, when there was a world of rich and vibrant soul music happening all over the place. I had no idea who those artists were and the one time I got the courage to interrupt and ask if I could see one of the records they all laughed and told me good luck since they were all pressed in such small runs that anyone who had one wasn't EVER going to give it up. So for years I could only imagine what these soul sounds from the desert sounded like but now I get to hear them for real, we all do, and they blow away anything I could have dreamed of. Phoenix, a goldmine for soul!!?? Who would have ever known. Thanks again Numero Group!

V/AEccentric Soul: Smart's Palace(Numero Group)cd$ 16.98

This time out the mighty Eccentric Soul series focuses on the dingy and delightful venue Smart's Palace, located in Witchita, Kansas which during the years of 1963-1975 was ground zero for all the best sweaty, sensual and romping soul being played around that town. While the club did get a few big names in their time, both James Brown and Aretha Franklin once played there, its bread and butter were the nationally unknown but completely talented soul artists located in the tragically underrated scene going on down in Kansas. The man behind Smart's Palace was Dick Smart who not only ran the club but also played music himself, promoted most of the shows AND ran his own label. In true DIY fashion he helped cultivate one of the richest soul scenes around, totally overflowing with true but untapped talent. This has got to be the sexiest, sweatiest, most romantic, sultry and sexual set of songs that has come out of the Eccentric Soul series yet. So many amazing voices on here, some as smooth as butter, others as commanding as a drill sergeant of love. Fans of folks like Eddie Kendricks, Al Green, and Curtis Mayfield will find so much to dig as as the new to us artists here like Baby Neal, Fred Williams and Kenneth Car offer up songs that we could listen to over and over and still get down and dirty with their raw yet flawless true soul grooves.

V/AEccentric Soul: The Bandit Label(Numero Group)cd$ 16.98

If you've ever read any Iceberg Slim (Afro-Noir books), set in 70's south side Chicago, you'll get a pretty good feel for Bandit Label's founder, Arrow Brown. Keeping a harem of his "daughters", Brown ruled over his consortium with an iron-fist while striving for, what he imagined to be, a ghetto entertainment conglomerate. Much ghetto-glamorous drama ensued in the Bandit compound during its years of operation. Though no real "hits" emerged, this compilation is a document of the undeniably real soul that existed in the hearts of his artists. While you'll find some truly moving demos here (they had acted as rehearsal tapes), many songs have some pretty scrappy vocals that are also absolutely endearing. So despite the rich tales spun from real events at the Bandit studio, we're left with true soul-driven songs in this chapter of the beautifully packaged Eccentric Soul series. Well allriigghhhtttah!

V/AEccentric Soul: The Big Mack Label(Numero Group)cd$ 17.98

Our love affair with The Numero Group is still running hot and heavy. Can they do no wrong? Looks like it with the most recent outing in their "Eccentric Soul" series where they dig deep to find forgotten and obscure regional soul labels and share the found treasures with all of our ears. And we thank them tenfold cause every time they do it we are exposed to such rich songs that begin making their way on every mix we make. This time out it's the other side of running a soul label in a town like Detroit. With Motown pretty much holding a monopoly on the sound and market labels like Big Mack had a really hard time breaking through. If Motown was for millionaires the Big Mack label was truly a label for the people. In fact they even advertised in the Detroit Free Press offering anyone off the streets a chance to record a one-off track for under fifteen bucks. And then you could go down the street and get your songs pressed on its own 45. This is soul deep in the garage bursting with sincerity and flare. We keep hoping that with all these great soul reissues by Numero Group and Soul Jazz and Luv n Haight someone will get the good insight to start making soul records with this same kind of raw stripped down production. Highly recommended!

V/AEccentric Soul: The Dynamic Label(Numero Group)2lp$ 23.00

V/AEccentric Soul: The Nickel & Penny Labels(Numero Group)cd$ 16.98

V/AEccentric Soul: The Outskirts Of Deep City(Numero Group)cd$ 17.98

At this point the Numero Group's Eccentric Soul series is no longer any sort of secret. The world couldn't help but take notice of the amazing job the label has done at digging deep into uncharted and forgotten regional labels and scenes from the heyday of soul and funk. So now, we usually don't have to turn people on to the series but instead we're often asked -which- of the Eccentric Soul comps is our favorite. A very tough question as they have yet to release a dud. But there are two of the releases so far that are a step or two above the rest in their golden soul perfection. The collection from The Big Mack label out of Detroit and Florida's Deep City label, a collection that we still listen to all the time. So we were quite excited when we found out that Numero was going to mine even further into the Deep City vaults with a follow up collection from the amazing Florida label. Apparently Numero Group got their hands on a box of lost Deep City master tapes so seven of those tracks are on here as well as killer tracks from some of the other Miami labels putting out sizzling soul 45's back in the day. Every song we've ever heard from Helene Smith fills us with chills of excitement and she has two more on this collection, alongside amazing songs from a young Betty Wright, Lynn Willliams, Clarence Reid, The Rollers, etc. Anyone who has been taken by the spell of Miami soul needs to get this immediately and in fact this could very well become our new favorite of all the amazing Eccentric Soul releases. So damn pleasing!

V/AEccentric Soul: The Outskirts of Deep City(Numero)lp$ 17.98

Now On Vinyl!! At this point the Numero Group's Eccentric Soul series is no longer any sort of secret. The world couldn't help but take notice of the amazing job the label has done at digging deep into uncharted and forgotten regional labels and scenes from the heyday of soul and funk. So now, we usually don't have to turn people on to the series but instead we're often asked -which- of the Eccentric Soul comps is our favorite. A very tough question as they have yet to release a dud. But there are two of the releases so far that are a step or two above the rest in their golden soul perfection. The collection from The Big Mack label out of Detroit and Florida's Deep City label, a collection that we still listen to all the time. So we were quite excited when we found out that Numero was going to mine even further into the Deep City vaults with a follow up collection from the amazing Florida label. Apparently Numero Group got their hands on a box of lost Deep City master tapes so seven of those tracks are on here as well as killer tracks from some of the other Miami labels putting out sizzling soul 45's back in the day. Every song we've ever heard from Helene Smith fills us with chills of excitement and she has two more on this collection, alongside amazing songs from a young Betty Wright, Lynn Willliams, Clarence Reid, The Rollers, etc. Anyone who has been taken by the spell of Miami soul needs to get this immediately and in fact this could very well become our new favorite of all the amazing Eccentric Soul releases. So damn pleasing!

V/AEccentric Soul: The Prix Label(Numero)cd$ 17.98

The Numero Group's "Eccentric Soul" series lives up to its name with this new entry, lucky number seven in the series, which also lives up to the high expectations all its bumpin' predecessors have created for it -- Capsoul, Bandit, Deep City, all the rest, some better liked here than others but all pretty great when you get down to it... and get down to it is what you will, what this shit's all about. Long lost soul/funk/r&b gems from back in the day, regional obscurities that never had the breakout hit they deserved. Dunno why such soul men as Eddie Ray and Marion Black, heard here, didn't become stars. Wasn't for lack of talent. Ranging from Stax style soul, to chicken scratch geetar funk in a right-on JB's vein, and even to some funked psychedelic instrumental wailing, this disc features 19 killer tracks, eight of them previously unreleased (demos and even finished masters recently discovered at an estate sale!), recorded circa 1969-1973 for the obscure Columbus, Ohio based label Prix. Yes, more amazing stuff from the same town that supported the Capsoul label documented on the very first Numero Eccentric Soul comp. If you like soul and funk from the era, you owe it to yourself to take a listen, and then you'll owe thanks to Numero for digging these tracks up. A great comp in a great series.

V/AEccentric Soul: The Young Disciples(Numero Group)cd$ 16.98

By the late 1960's East St Louis, Illinois had seen better days. Hit hard by poverty, crime, drug addiction and gang activity, it was really important for teens to have a safe place to hang out, and a positive outlet for creativity. No one understood this better then Allen Murray, a seasoned musician from the area who was semi-famous for his past work with the likes of Ray Charles and Ike Turner. He started a really inventive program at The Southside Community Center, where youth could come and sing and play music in his program called The Young Disciples. With an amazing stable of musicians and fresh new voices on the mic, most for the first time, he really created an amazing musical world while also offering salvation to so many teens in East St Louis. What's even more remarkable is how damn good the music they made was. This was not some sort of amateur hour soul, in fact before we even knew the whole back story to this record we just thought it was another amazing lost soul label getting the primetime Eccentric Soul series attention it deserved. These songs are just dripping with warmth, soul and unfiltered funk. Another total winner from the Numero Group and such a cool program that Murray developed, we only wish it was being used as a template in cities across the country today!

V/AEccentric Soul: Tragar & Note Labels(Numero)2cd$ 31.00

There hasn't been a dud yet in the Numero Group's superb and ever ongoing Eccentric Soul series and this latest two disc offering is no exception, in fact it might find itself a special spot near the Big Mack and Deep City collections as one of our favorites so far! This time out they dig up gems from two woefully obscure labels out of Atlanta in the late '60s. While there are some uptempo shakers sprinkled amongst the tracks on these two discs, what's swept us off our feet is the totally devastating heart broken soul that just drips with honesty and warmth. We just can't get enough of it. And it's the ladies who really shine the brightest on this collection, we now want to get our hands on everything and anything that Eula Cooper, Franciene Thomas and Sonia Ross have ever released. The kind of richly orchestrated soul that sounds so perfect when you're alone in your living room with the lights dimmed, a cocktail to lessen the pain of a broken heart and these songs to let you wallow with class, yet still enough uptempo tracks to let you cut a rug when your tears take a break. So great!

V/AEccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation(Numero)2cd$ 27.00

The Numero Group has helped spawn a much needed revival and rediscovery of lost soul from the 60's and 70's, showing the world that there was much more amazing music beyond the Motown monopoly. Amazing soul records were being released everywhere by all sorts of small independent labels. We'll never ever tire of really good soul done juuuuust right and once again the Numero Group has hit the bulls eye. This collection focuses on the Chicago label Twinight. The label began with the name Twilight but soon found out another label with the same name existed so they changed one letter and thus became Twinight which would prove to be an appropriate moniker for the label, as most of the records they released were only played during the wee hours of broadcasting day often referred to as the twinight hours. The label was known primarily for its one star Syl Johnson but this collection digs even deeper and exposes the music and the artists who never had big hits but who produced some classic soul burners. This collection isn't as flashy or outright catchy as some of the past Eccentric Soul collections but it's that great kind of tasty soul that heats up nice and slow and keeps you coming back for more. Another fantastic collection of lost soul treasures!

V/AEnjoy The Experience : Homemade Records 1958-1992(Now & Again)2cd$ 19.98

This past record store day, we were super excited about this amazing book by Johan Kugelberg, "Enjoy the Experience: Homemade Records 1958-1992", a hefty, 508-page tome that thoroughly chronicles the history and obsessions of one of the largely misunderstood and under-appreciated niches of recorded music, the "vanity record" - also known as "private press recordings" - also known as outsider weirdness! With that book came a download coupon for an amazing compilation of some of the artists included in the book, and now that compilation has been released by Now & Again on double cd and vinyl and it's both super amazing and completely bonkers in all the best ways. It includes some old faves like Arcesia, whose operatically crooned "White Panther" some might recall from the American edition of the Love Peace & Poetry psych series; the love damaged soul-punk balladeer Gary Wilson (who can forget that line at the end of his song "6.4 = Makeout"? "She's a real groovy girl and she's got red LIPS! She's Real! She's Real!! SHE'S REAL!!!!"? Well, not us anyway), and Florida lounge maestro, Michael Farneti, whose Good Morning Kisses lp we featured on one of our Outsiders & Eccentrics In-between lists. But there are plenty of new-to-us goodies, including one of our new faves, Medico Doktor Vibes, whose Caribbean-inflected witch doctor bedroom funk recorded in LA in 1979 will soon be reissued by local label Companion Records sometime in the near future. As per the Now & Again sound, there are plenty of outsider funk, soul and disco rarities, some naive lounge, burnt out yacht rock, creepy exotica and country pop and just plain weird sounds - like 33 1/3 whose jungle themed "Monkey Bridge" would make any Kid Creole & The Coconuts fan smile. Here's the rest of the line-up: Vinny Roma, Steven David Heitkotter, Joe E., Ray Harlowe & Gyp Fox, Russ Saul, Jade, Boa, Circuit Rider, Dennis The Fox, Bob Harrison, Gary Schneider, The Muzzy Band, The Invaders, Carol-Leigh & Hank Mindlin. Fun freaky shit!

V/AExplosivos: Deep Soul From The Latin Heat(Vampi Soul)cd$ 16.98

As we approach fall, we find ourselves desperately hanging on to summer sun and celebrating summer fun. Nothing better than the sounds of cha-cha-cha's done just right to keep that feeling alive. Party songs you can trust, bugaloo that makes you move. And this cd version of a now out of print 7" box set of Latin soul and groove from a special heyday of this movement spanning the years 1966-1969 totally hits the spot. Mostly centered around neighborhoods in Harlem and other areas of NYC, a new generation of Latino youth were soaking up the sounds of raw R'n'B, incorporating elements of black culture and adding a definitely distinctive Latin element to the mix. If you've been digging the great Eccentric Soul comps that we've fallen for, this is another great '60s soul comp to add to your collection, and this one's got something most of those collections don't...intoxicating Latin spice!

V/AFire In My Bones: Raw + Rare + Other-Worldly African-American Gospel [1944-2007](Tompkins Square)3cd$ 30.00

Maybe you think you'd already have to be pretty into gospel music to purchase a 3cd set like this? But, when you're through listening to all three of these discs (for the first and certainly not the last) time, you'll DEFINITELY be into gospel music. Of course it helps that, as the subtitle states, this is gospel music of the "raw" and "other-worldly" variety, compiled by Yeti magazine's Mike McGonigal. And moreover, you need to realize, if you don't know already, that the relationship of gospel to secular music - soul, blues, R&B - is strong. Even (especially) rock n' roll has gospel roots. In fact, if you think gospel is some sort of goody two shoes churchy hymn singing lameness, take a listen to this and think again. There's powerful stuff here, stuff that's BADASS. Beautiful too, but let's stick to badass for the moment. Seriously, try your favorite hipster garage rock combo against Elder Beck's astonishing 1956 "Rock and Roll Sermon" and see who wins. Answer, the garage rockers will repent and sell their guitars - not 'cause they've found the Lord, but 'cause Elder Beck would obviously blow them off stage with his performance. That track in particular represents one of the brilliant ironies of this collection, 'cause whilst railing against the evils of rock n' roll music, Elder Beck manages rock harder than just about anyone, EVER. It's almost kinda difficult to believe that he and his congregation weren't aware of this fact, and were simply secretly enjoying a chance to really go wild under the guise of "gospel". Certainly the guitar player is getting into it. Whatever the case, it's amazing, as are so many other tracks on here. With three jam-packed discs (80 tracks total!), there's really too many gems here for us to even begin to mention 'em all. There's some other early rockers, lots of groovy funkiness from the '70s that could make even the blackest heart want to join in with the praising, low-down busted-up blues guitar workouts played by old old men, all sorts of impassioned testifying that could constitute a new definition of "emo", and (not surprising, considering Satan is so often the subject, along with his opposite) plenty of eerie atmosphere and weirdness, often augmented by the relatively dusty and distorted nature of some of these recordings. There's a few names here that some may know from other recent reissues on Mississippi and CaseQuarter among others, like Isaiah Owens, Abner Jay, Bishop Perry Tillis, and Rev. Utah Smith. And plenty more that you'll be happy to get to know, 'cause unless you're a gospel collector its doubtful you do. Here's a dozen, just for starters: Rev. Lonnie Farris, Elder Roma Wilson & Family, Madison County Senior Center Singers, Singing Son Of Zion (Brother Shelby Bransford, Jr.), Little Ax & The Golden Echoes, Madam Ira Mae Littlejohn, Fannie Bell Chapman, Hickory Bottom Harmoneers, Ray Branch & His Guitar, Napolian Strickland, Precious Bryant, Mississippi Nightingales... It's a diverse collection for sure, covering all sorts of gospel traditions, and serves as a survey of all the amazing post-war black gospel music that you probably haven't heard before. Providing some food for your mind as well as your soul, the thick, illustrated cd booklet in this nicely-packaged set provides some notes on each track, but it's the music that's really gonna speak to you. Despite our love of black metal, comps like this remind us that the Devil does NOT have all the best tunes. As McGonigal states in his liner notes, the music represented here is "among the most vibrant, playful, beautiful and emotionally charged music in the world." We can only but agree.

V/AFlorida Funk: Funk 45's from the Alligator State 1968-1975(Jazzman)cd$ 15.98

There has not been a shortage of amazing soul reissues recently and we sure as heck aren't complaining. But we gotta say that the two new comps of golden era soul and funk we're listing this time out are two absolute must haves for vintage soul and funk lovers! You'll hear about the great "Super Cool California Soul 2" comp elsewhere on this list but right now let's focus on this hot collection of deep hitting, soul wrenching, body moving, Florida fried funk! An amazing collection of songs pulled from rare and mostly impossible to find 45's from funk artists all across Florida during the prime-time funk years of 1968-1975. While lots of soul comps throw around the word Funk with careless abandon we find many of them to be way more old school soul and even doo-wop sounding where this is for sure some 100 percent fortified FUNK! Fuzzy guitars, breakbeats that would make any hip-hop producer drool and all sorts of in your face attitude! Everytime we play this (which has pretty much been daily since we've gotten it in) someone in the store comes to check out what we're playing and says something along the lines of "Damn, this is good!" and we couldn't agree more!

V/AFragments From A Work In Progress(4AD)12"$ 16.98

Of the hundred of Record Store Day special releases, we got as many copies of as many titles as we could, sold out of most of them, but a few we managed to get enough to list for out of town folks who might not have a local record store do visit on that oh so sacred of record nerd days, one of which is this, a super cool 5 track sampler, featuring new music from some names that most loyal aQ list readers will recognize right away: Blonde Redhead, Ariel Pink, Gang Gang Dance, The Big Pink, Tune Yards. Most of these tracks will show up on forthcoming full lengths from these groups, but 4 of the 5 are different versions, demos, rough early versions, definitely worth it for fans of any of these groups. It's weird enough that Ariel Pink is signed to 4AD, but with this first taste of the upcoming record, we hear a whole new side of AP and his gang, not nearly as lo-fi, or twisted, instead, loping, groovy, almost funky basslines, shuffling skeletal rhythms, reverbed guitars, and deep crooned almost gothic sounding vox, a sort of creepy broody ballad, but fear not, it does get pretty damaged by the end, all crumbling FX drenched psychedelic free-eak out meltdown, can't wait to hear more. Blonde Redhead offer up a demo for a song from their new record, their first music in 3+ years, lush, woozy, electronic, warm and organic, less indie sounding, way more 'adult', like the most accessible Bjork tracks, still really dark and mysterious and beautiful, shimmery and dreamy, just more restrained and mature. The Gang Gang Dance track, their first music for 4AD is awesome, a sprawling, super spare, stripped down dubscape, thick warbly bass, clipped samples, disembodied vocals, hazy and softly psychedelic, but really mesmerizing and beautiful. The Tune Yards track is super soulful world music sounding demo, groovy and lovely, with crunchy looped samples, shimmery blurred acoustic guitars, sweet vocals, gradually growing more and more distorted. Cool. And finally, a previously unreleased track from The Big Pink, all washed out and druggy, total Spacemen 3 / Jesus And Mary Chain vibe, buzzy guitars, buried barely there rhythms, reverbed and echoey and woozily hypnotic. We have a bunch of these left, but once they're gone we won't be able to get more, so grab one while you can...

V/AFreakOff(Harmless)cd$ 21.00

A followup to the recent Broasted or Fried compilation released on the dependable UK label Harmless, FreakOff again collects "Latin breakbeats, basslines, and boogaloo" recorded from 1963 to '73, made predominantly by Puerto Rican Hispanics living in NYC,