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The coolest funky 45 package we've seen yet from Peoples Potential – featuring Kurtis Scott's private press low-fi cosmic funk jams "If You Feel It" and "Get Up And Dance" – plus a booklet with a brief bio, black & white photos and the poetry of Curtis Futch Jr, aka Curtis Scott! We’re not sure of the dates of recordings for the tunes – there's an 80s basement funk atmosphere, though, and it serves these jams for the better, in our opinions. Raw funk and vocals highlight "If You Feel It (Get Up And Dance)" (you just might do that), tripped out by some echo – and the cosmic wierdness hits washes over fully on the flip "Uncrowned Champion". They booklet is nicely put together, too!

One of the last albums that King Curtis ever recorded – and an unusual session of mostly blues-based material, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Fest with Champion Jack Dupree! In a way, the setting really unlocks some of Dupree's more jazz-oriented modes – in a group that features Curtis on tenor and alto, Jack on piano and vocals, and rhythm from Cornell Dupree on guitar, Jerry Jemmott on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums! Things start out rootsy, but really take off as the record moves on – and the setting actually gives Curtis a chance to stretch out a lot more than most of his previous recordings for Atlantic. Titles include "Get With It", "Sneaky Pete", "Junker's Blues", "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", and "I'm Having Fun".

Damn! The MASSIVE collaborative album from the dynamic duo of Madlib and J Dilla re-upped – a deluxe 2CD edition packed with bonus tracks, remixes and the much heralded instrumentals! Essentially, Madlib handles the production on the even numbers in the main set with Dilla on the vocals, and the roles are reversed on the odd numbers. Each producer does his own thing, as only he can do it – Madlib brings the funky sampler genius – and Dilla rocks the thumping Detroit hip hop soul crunch. A number of guest rhymers step to the mic, including Talib Kweli, Percee P, Frank-N-Dank & Guilty Simpson, and the flow is seamless. Not only was this one of the best hip hop albums of '03, it also has a dyed-in-the-wool classic production style, and it sounds just as great a few years later! So very highly recommended! Main album tracks include "L.A. To Detroit", "McNasty Filth" with Frank-n-Dank, "Nowadayz", "Champion Sound", "The Red", "Heavy", "Raw S*!t" with Kweli, "The Official", "The Heist", "The Mission", "React" with Quasimodo, "The Exclusive" with Percee P, "Survival Test", "Starz" and "No Games". The hefty list of bonus material includes "Raw Addict", "Pillz", "Da Rawkus" (Sir Bang version), "Heavy" (Chronic mix), "Survival Test" (Rasta dub version), "The Mission" (Stringed Out mix) and many more, plus the Champion Sound Beats – 15 instrumental tracks!!!

Ahhh. . . Nice! Wonderful intelligent, spiritual rhymes, full of Islamic prayer references, blunt antagonist rhymes, a battle with the ugliest of inner demons and broken artist poverty all hugged by catchy bouncing hook filled choruses. And all the production is handled by Ant, a true autuer akin to Pete Rock, now becoming more comfortable with his art with each release: tight organ loops, snapping drums, bright horns and nice upright basslines. "Soulful" is the key adjective here. Tracks include "Star Quality", "Pay Them Back", "Shadows On The Sun", "Forest Whitiker", "Room With A View", "Back Stage Pacin", "Missing Teeth", "Dorian", "Soul Whisper", "Champion", "Prince Charming", and more! Side F to this triple vinyl set has 4 added instrumental versions!

If you read these pages often enough, you'll know that we're big fans of recordings made by American expatriot players while living in Europe during the 60's. The European rhythm sections often bring out new elements of their playing, and the interaction with European soloists hits modes that we sometimes don't hear on American recordings by the same artists. This series of live recordings from Germany in 1963 brings together an array of players that includes Idrees Sulieman, Jimmy Woode, Joe Harris, Don Byas, Bud Powell, and Champion Jack Dupree. The best material is by a group that features Byas, Powell, Woode, and Harris – playing long renditions of two jazz standards, "All The Things You Are" and "I Remember Clifford", in a performance that takes up all of side two.

A full-on collaborative album from underground mic legend Freddie Foxxx, aka Bumpy Knuckle, and hip hop heavyweight champion producer DJ Premier! Primo and Bumpy Knuckles go way, way back – and KoleXXXion does a pretty solid job of honoring the legacies of both. This is the 2LP acapellas, with nothing but sharp wordplay: Includes "My Thoughts", "BAP (Bumpy And Premier)", "We Are At War", "FYPAU", "D'Lah", "Turn Up The Mic" (DJ Premier remix) feat Nas, "The Key", "Ownit", The Gang Starr Bus", "Greatness", "The Life", "More Levels", "Mic & Gun" and more.

A smoking selection of work from Memphis giant Willie Mitchell – some of the funkiest tracks he ever recorded, stuffed together in one mighty set! Willie's probably best know for his famous studio work for Ann Peebles and Al Green – but on his own, Mitchell can carve out a cooker like nobody's business – in this case with a great ear for the kind of harder instrumental soul sounds you might hear from Stax or Atlantic Records at the start of the 70s! These tunes have a way harder edge than the compressed, smooth sound of Willie's work with singers – and often feature a sharp solo instrument in the lead – such as tenor sax, riffing guitar, or soulful trumpet. Titles include "Breaking Point", "Six To Go", "Poppin", "Pearl Time", "20-75", "Leo's Mood", "The Champion", "Mercy", "That Driving Beat", "30 60 90", "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", and "Big Power House".

A killer from Willie Mitchell – harder, funkier, and a lot more soulful than most of his other records from the 60s! The groove here is sock-soul, and most cuts have a hard and tight funky 45 approach. Willie was really cut loose on this one – freed from his usual standard of recording hits and pop songs, he wrote all the songs on the set – and they're heavy Memphis instrumentals with a sound that's much more like 60s Bar Kays work on Stax! There's a great sax player on the session, too – not named in the notes, unfortunately, but with a sound that really wails on the best tracks. Titles include "Fat Cat", "Pep Talk", "That Driving Beat", "The Champion (parts 1 & 2)", "Nick O Demus", "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright", and "Stone Face".

The Africa Issue of Wax Poetics – with Fela on the front cover and Tony Allen on the back – plus pieces on The Rail Band, Orchestra Baobob, Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo, Soundway's Ghana Special and so much more! You know Wax Poetics is going to go deep, and Issue 39 doesn't disappoint – from the pivotal Afro funk & soul of the cover artists to the Cuban-influenced vibe of Senegal's Orchestra Baobob, the griot sounds of the Rail Band and well beyond – loaded with photographs we've never seen before (always a big draw to Wax Po) – Re:Discovery items on Mams & Hart, Buari's Disco Soccer and more, plus pieces on African vinyl collector Voodoo Frank, Shafiq of Sa-Ra, a Record Rundown of from African rhythms champion DJ Rich Medina and lots more!

A massive record from the days when the Chicago scene was dominated by some important mainstream forces – The Chicago Fest summer music blast at Navy Pier, and The Loop, a major player in FM album rock at the time! This special album for the event features work by Bohemia, The Rage, Champion, Take Me, The Roadside Band, Spit Balls, The Pawnz, and other local groups.

Jump blues, rollicking R&B, proto rock, Northern Soul and otherwise rawly stomping stormers selected by DJ Andy Smith – a cool compilation of late 50s and 60s treasures that you might hear on one of his Jump Up Twist club nights! There's some familiar names in the set list for deep digging fans of any of the above styles, but there are no tracks that come even close to being overplayed, and each one is a winner – cuts by Wynonie Harris, Wynona Carr, Al Ferrier, Toni & The Showmen, Johnny Guitar Watson, Alton Ellis, The Skatalites, Luther Ingram, Mickey Champion, The San Francisco TKOs and more. Titles include "Bloodshot Eyes" by Wynonie Harris, "Ooo Little Girl" by Floyd Dixon, "Tracks To Your Mind" by The Sounds Of Lane, "Ska Beat" by Alton Ellis, "Collie Bud" by Skatalites, "Hit, Git And Split" by Young Jessie, "Make Up Your Mind" by San Francisco TKOs and more. 23 in all.

Dancefloor cookers from the prime Northern Soul years – all instrumental numbers on this sharp compilation on Kent – 45 sides from a labels like Money, Villa, Swan, King, Epic and Warner Brothers! For all the wonderful Kent soul compilations we've gotten our dusty fingers on over the years, it's a wonder they're never been one devoted to instrumentals – until now! Rhythms roll along at a tight tempo, the tight guitars punch it up, some strings soar, and a pounding Northern beat keeps it all stomping! Those core elements are key, but others weave in an out, from hand claps on the beat, to organ grooves, bursts of brass and more. 24 tracks in all: "Double Cookin" by Checkerboard Squares, "Make Me Yours" by Arthur Wright & His Orchestra, "Festival Time" by San Remo Golden Strings", "The Sounds Of Lane" by Tracks To Your Mind, "Champion Pt 1" by Willie Mitchell, "The Guys From Uncle" by The Spy, "Stirrin Up Some Soul" by The Mar-Ketts, "Hey America (Sing Along)" by James Brown, "California Montage" by Young-Holt Unlimited and more.

Iggy's second solo LP proper, and a strange morass of junkie desperation and gutteral white punk funk – a conscious decision to move away from the guitar roar of the Stooges era and closer to the sounds his longtime champion David Bowie was experimenting with at the time, with a little bit of Lou Reed for good measure – but make no mistakes, this is Iggy's show. It's as fascinating as it is impressive on a more visceral level, heavy bass rhythms and keys intergral to the sound, and weary latenight storytelling that trips you out on contact. All tunes co-written by Bowie, who would go on to make a lot of money off "China Girl" a few years into the 80s when the world was more ready for it, plus the classic "Nightclubbing", "Sister Midnight", "Baby", "Dum, Dum Boys", "Tiny Girls" and "Mass Production".

Heady sounds from one of Harlem's hippest indie labels of the 50s – the Red Robin imprint, home to a rich array of blues, R&B, and vocal group numbers! The company had a relatively small roster, but really helped its artists find the right sort of groove – in some cases to flourish at a level they'd never done before, in others to get a great start before moving onto bigger fame elsewhere – but still always at a level that had them giving their best! This 2CD package features three dozen numbers from the 78rpm era – the kind of heavy platters that kept Harlem moving in the years between swing and soul – on cuts that include "Hard Rock" and "The Hammer" by Red Prysock, "Shake Baby Shake" and "Drunk Again" by Champion Jack Dupree, "Juicy Fruit" by Tiny Grimes, "Can't Do Sixty No More" and "Go Back" by The Du Droppers, "Daisy" and "Don't Dog Your Woman" by Brownie McGhee, "Doggin My Heart Around" by Sonny Terry, "Earthquake" by Charlie Singleton, "Bobby's Boogie" by Morris Lane, "The Man I Crave" by Sadie Birch, "I've Got A Feeling" and "Tippin" by The Topps, and "You Didn't Give Me A Chance" by Sandra Grimes.

A full-on collaborative album from underground mic legend Freddie Foxxx, aka Bumpy Knuckle, and hip hop heavyweight champion producer DJ Premier! Primo and Bumpy Knuckles go way, way back – and KoleXXXion does a pretty solid job of honoring the legacies of both. This is the 2LP instrumentals, with nothing but Primo production: Includes "My Thoughts", "BAP (Bumpy And Premier)", "We Are At War", "FYPAU", "D'Lah", "Turn Up The Mic" (DJ Premier remix) feat Nas, "The Key", "Ownit", The Gang Starr Bus", "Greatness", "The Life", "More Levels", "Mic & Gun" and more.

One man rockabilly firebrand and Chicken Walkin' madman Hasil Adkins – done justice once more by his longtime champions at Norton Records! The title is as cheeky nod to the Velvets, but Hasil ain't no NYC art scenester, nope – he might be the true king of rock and roll, stumping out raggedly brilliant rockabilly wierdness all by his lonesome (for the most part...a fella named Sanford Stovers sings some on "Turn My Coat Tails Loose") at his home in West Virginia from the late 50s to mid 60s. Includes "Roll Roll Train", "Woke Up This Morning", "Donnio Boogie", "Donnio Shuffle", "Lonely Graveyard", "Somebody Help Me" and more.

No splashdown here – as Breakwater are every bit as soaringly soulful as they were on their debut set! The groove here is that perfect blend of jazz and soul that only a few groups in the 70s really got right – maybe Pleasure, or The Blackbyrds – and most certainly Breakwater, who were one of the reigning champions of the scene! Rhythms are often upbeat, but not in a disco or club-oriented way – and the instrumentation is tight, but never slick or smooth – always nicely funky with a nice little crackle, even on the mellow cuts – in a way that's opened up this album to new audiences for many years. This set's got a nice bit of moog that wasn't on the group's first – used almost in Mizell-like to further enhance the sound – and titles include the classics "Say You Love Me Girl", "Let Love In", "Time", and "The One In My Dreams". Great stuff, and with a really beautiful vibe!

50 brings the leaders of the '07 record sales marathon to Curtis – including Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls – plus G-Unit standbys Young Buck & Tony Yayo, and his longtime champions Dr Dre & Eminem. Titles include "My Gun Go Off", "I'll Still Kill" feat Akon, "Come & Go" feat Dr Dre, "Ayo Technology" feat Justin Timberlake, "Movin' On Up", "Straight To The Bank", "Amusement Park", "Fully Loaded Clip", "Follow My Lead" feat Robin Thicke, "Peep Show" feat Eminem, "All Of Me" feat Mary J Blige, "Touch The Sky" with Tony Yayo and more.

Funky funky solo work from Joni Haastrup – an artist who's also known for his work in Monomono, and who sounds equally great on his own! Joni's got this tight approach that wraps together Nigerian grooves of the 70s scene, and some bolder soul star energy that would be right at home in the US – a kind of powerhouse approach that really sends these tunes home beautifully! The lyrics are in English, which really helps broaden the appeal of the cuts – and the production has these cool compressed elements that are partly like the more psych-inspired modes of other Afro Funk groups, and partly those of the UK soul scene of the 70s. We've never heard a record exactly like this, and the whole thing's a truly memorable treasure from this key moment in African music. Cuts include "Watch Out", "Do The Funkro", "Greetings", "Free My People", "Wake Up Your Mind", and "Champions & Superstars".

Funky funky solo work from Joni Haastrup – an artist who's also known for his work in Monomono, and who sounds equally great on his own! Joni's got this tight approach that wraps together Nigerian grooves of the 70s scene, and some bolder soul star energy that would be right at home in the US – a kind of powerhouse approach that really sends these tunes home beautifully! The lyrics are in English, which really helps broaden the appeal of the cuts – and the production has these cool compressed elements that are partly like the more psych-inspired modes of other Afro Funk groups, and partly those of the UK soul scene of the 70s. We've never heard a record exactly like this, and the whole thing's a truly memorable treasure from this key moment in African music. Cuts include "Watch Out", "Do The Funkro", "Greetings", "Free My People", "Wake Up Your Mind", and "Champions & Superstars".

It always feels like we're waiting a long time for a new record from Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – but it's always well worth the wait! This time around, they've found a way to focus their energies even more than before – still sticking strongly in the horn-heavy groove that we love, but also opening things up a bit more on the rhythm tip, too – and going for production that, if anything, makes them sound even more earnest, honest, and spontaneous than before! The record really preserves the live energy that makes the group so compelling – that razor sharp criss-crossing of jazz traditions and styles – steeped in a Chicago legacy that includes Sun Ra and Phil Cohran, but coming across with a hell of a lot more groove than either of them too. Titles include "Touch The Sky", "Kryptonite", "Pluto", "Black Boy", "World Champions", and "Starfighter".

Talib Kweli & producer Hi Tek reunite as Reflection Eternal – a solid return to from one of the most championed underground duos of the late 90s – still sharp and vital at the end of 00s! Titles include "RPM's", "City Playgrounds", "Back Again" feat RES, "Strangers (Paranoid)" feat Bun B, "In This World", "Got Work", "Midnight Hour" feat Estelle, "Just Begun" feat Jay Electronica, J Cole & Mos Def, "Long Hot Summer", "Get Loose" feat Chester French, "So Good", "Ends" feat Bilal and more.

By this point in his career, Sonny hardly needed a tune up in his style – but the album's a great one from his post-Prestige years, and a real back-to-basics effort that recalls the genius of his work on Roost! The format is straight and simple – Stitt's tenor and alto fronting a quartet that includes Barry Harris, Sam Jones, and Alan Dawson – all playing in a way that puts Sonny in command on all tracks, blowing with an amazing tone that makes us want to throw away all his funk, organ, and electric outings, and just concentrate on these straight acoustic sides. Stitt has a way of blowing the reed like he's got his whole mouth moving into the sax – an earthy, human, and personal feel that first came out strongly in his work during the late 50s, but which has grown even more by this point – even if you couldn't hear the development on other sets. And given our love of funk and electric sides, we're honestly surprised we find ourselves championing a record like this from the early 70s – but it's a great one, and not to be missed if you remotely dig Stitt! Titles include "Tune Up", "Idaho", "Just Friends", "Groovin High", and "Blues For Prez & Bird".

Rare soul from Minneapolis – a surprisingly great source for grooves in the years before Prince and Morris Day! Turns out, the Twin Cities were already funky, way before the Purple One came into being – as you'll hear in this wealth of rare singles from the late 60s on up through the 70s – all of them mighty darn soulful, and most of them pretty dang funky as well! The wealth of work is really surprisingly – with strong echoes of styles going on in the Chicago and Detroit scenes at the time, but maybe even more surprising, given that Minneapolis/St Paul didn't have nearly the same amount of resources. The package is easily one of the best ever done by the Secret Stash label – a set that really ups the level of their reissues – with a motherlode of killer cuts that include "Love Me Leave Me" by The Valdons, "Sweet Smell Of Perfume" by Maurice McKinnies & The Champions, "Work Your Flapper (part 1)" by Jackie Harris & The Champions, "She's A Whole Lot's A Woman" by Mojo & His Chi 4, "I Ain't Gonna Cheat On You No More" by Willie Walker, "Save Me" by Wanda Davis, "Saxophone Disco" by Morris Wilson, "Honey From The Bee" by Willie & The Bumblebees, "The Max" by Prophets Of Peace, "Get Up" by The Lewis Connection, and "Rusty McDusty" by Morris Wilson.

A batch of late recordings by proto rock shackshacker Hasil Adkins – and one of the sweetest vinyl releases yet on Nero's Neptune – who are proving to be one more important labels out there championing obscure, rural guitar heroes! Hasil strived to top Elvis in the late 50s and early 60s with an inimitable style of primitivist rock, but he actually ended up inspiring thousands of garage rockers, punks and rockabillies instead, thanks to ramshackle home recordings and wild-eyed lyricism. He was still making some wild music later in life, but the later stuff is also oddly sweet. Near the end, Hasil found love, and these recordings were inspired by just that – and it includes a 24-page color illustration booklet by Amy Krueger – who loved Hasil back, and inspired these songs. It's quite faithful in sound and style to his killer early recordings – but he ain't aiming to start dance crazes about chickens anymore! If you dig any of his earlier work, we can't recommend this one highly enough! Titles include "Got A Girl In Minnesota", "Endlessly", "I'm Lonely Tonight Little Amy", "Evening Shadow Road", "Play Pretty", "I Dreamt About Amy Last Night", "Bacon & Eggs" and "How Much I Love You".

A classic bit of Afro Funk – one that paired the growing groove of Fela with the focused sound of Ginger Baker – the ex-Cream drummer who'd been championing Fela's cause on the UK scene! The sound of the set is great – well on a par with Fela's best work of the time, and perhaps even a bit better – given the extra drive that Baker brings to the session. Tracks are all long, yet a bit more focused than usual – and titles include "Ye Ye De Smell", "Black Man's Cry", and "Let's Start".

By this point in his career, Sonny hardly needed a tune up in his style – but the album's a great one from his post-Prestige years, and a real back-to-basics effort that recalls the genius of his work on Roost! The format is straight and simple – Stitt's tenor and alto fronting a quartet that includes Barry Harris, Sam Jones, and Alan Dawson – all playing in a way that puts Sonny in command on all tracks, blowing with an amazing tone that makes us want to throw away all his funk, organ, and electric outings, and just concentrate on these straight acoustic sides. Stitt has a way of blowing the reed like he's got his whole mouth moving into the sax – an earthy, human, and personal feel that first came out strongly in his work during the late 50s, but which has grown even more by this point – even if you couldn't hear the development on other sets. And given our love of funk and electric sides, we're honestly surprised we find ourselves championing a record like this from the early 70s – but it's a great one, and not to be missed if you remotely dig Stitt! Titles include "Tune Up", "Idaho", "Just Friends", "Groovin High", and "Blues For Prez & Bird".

It always feels like we're waiting a long time for a new record from Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – but it's always well worth the wait! This time around, they've found a way to focus their energies even more than before – still sticking strongly in the horn-heavy groove that we love, but also opening things up a bit more on the rhythm tip, too – and going for production that, if anything, makes them sound even more earnest, honest, and spontaneous than before! The record really preserves the live energy that makes the group so compelling – that razor sharp criss-crossing of jazz traditions and styles – steeped in a Chicago legacy that includes Sun Ra and Phil Cohran, but coming across with a hell of a lot more groove than either of them too. Titles include "Touch The Sky", "Kryptonite", "Pluto", "Black Boy", "World Champions", and "Starfighter".

The bugged sci fi maestro MF Doom's mid 00s masterpiece – tied up and unavailable for a couple years – and a straight up tie with Madvilliany for the championship title of best Doom-related LP since his immortal debut! As you'd guess from the title, this album has a running theme with food, each title funnier than the last, but stays fresh throughout the 15 tracks thanks to tight production, masterfully spliced samples, and a verbal flow that's cooked and spiced to some kind of freakish perfection. The great "Hoe Cakes" single gets served early in set, and it sets the tone for a truly strong album. "Boss like King Koopa. . .". Includes "Beef Rap", "Potholderz" with Count Bass D, "One Beer" produced by Madlib, "Poo Poo Platter", "Fillet-O-Rapper", "Gumbo", "Fig Leaf Bi Carbonate", "Kon Queso" produced by PNS, "Vomitspit", "Kookies" and more.

Rare soul from Minneapolis – a surprisingly great source for grooves in the years before Prince and Morris Day! Turns out, the Twin Cities were already funky, way before the Purple One came into being – as you'll hear in this wealth of rare singles from the late 60s on up through the 70s – all of them mighty darn soulful, and most of them pretty dang funky as well! The wealth of work is really surprisingly – with strong echoes of styles going on in the Chicago and Detroit scenes at the time, but maybe even more surprising, given that Minneapolis/St Paul didn't have nearly the same amount of resources. The package is easily one of the best ever done by the Secret Stash label – a set that really ups the level of their reissues – with a motherlode of killer cuts that include "Love Me Leave Me" by The Valdons, "Sweet Smell Of Perfume" by Maurice McKinnies & The Champions, "Work Your Flapper (part 1)" by Jackie Harris & The Champions, "She's A Whole Lot's A Woman" by Mojo & His Chi 4, "I Ain't Gonna Cheat On You No More" by Willie Walker, "Save Me" by Wanda Davis, "Saxophone Disco" by Morris Wilson, "Honey From The Bee" by Willie & The Bumblebees, "The Max" by Prophets Of Peace, "Get Up" by The Lewis Connection, and "Rusty McDusty" by Morris Wilson.