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Some of the funkiest female soul ever recorded – the near-complete work of James Brown diva Vicki Anderson, compiled here officially for the first time ever! Vicki was one of the first female singers to work with James – replacing the sweeter style of vocalist Anna King in the James Brown Revue of the late 60s, and setting the stage for better-known hard soul singers Marva Whitney and Lyn Collins in years to come! Vicki recorded some excellent singles with James and the band backing her up – but never actually cut a full LP, which is why this overdue set is so essential. Vicki's got a socking-hard sound that worked equally well with the early funk sound of the James Brown Band of the late 60s, as it did during her later recordings with the JBs and Bobby Byrd. The collection brings together 17 of Vicki's recordings under the James Brown umbrella – including a number that we'd never heard before, some duets with James and Bobby Byrd, and a few of her singles recorded under the name of Myra Barnes. And you can take our word for it that you won't find a better collection of funky female soul – because this one's hard-stepping and massively grooving all the way through! Titles include "Baby Don't You Know", "Message From The Soul Sisters (parts 1 & 2)", "Super Good (parts 1 & 2)", "I'm Too Tough For Mr Big Stuff", "Answer To Mother Popcorn", "I Want To Be In The Land Of Milk & Honey", "Baby Don't You Know", "If You Don't Give Me What I Want (I Gotta Get It Some Other Place)", "Wide Awake In A Dream", "What The World Needs Now Is Love", "I'll Work It Out", "Think", "Don't Throw Your Love In The Garbage Can", and "You're Welcome Stop On By".

Pre funk, perhaps, but mightily storming soul singles from Vicki Anderson – James Brown productions from the mid 60s to the end of the decade – incredible stuff that's been a bit underappreciated in a world of funky compilations, yet no less incredible and even more diversely soulful than the funky stuff! Vicki's 70s funk sides are the stuff of legend, and these 60s recordings, which started around the time she joined the James Brown Revue in the mid 60s are just about as good a selection of period female fronted R&B and soul as we can think of – and a really eye opener if you came on board with Vicki for the 70s sounds and her later work with Bobby Byrd! Includes a pair of duets with James Brown – the proto funk gem "Think" from 1968 and "Let It Be Me" from 1970, which truth be told, has more than a little funk bubbling underneath, and some groovy guitars, strings and brass on top – plus "Here Is My Everything" and "Loving You" with Bobby Byrd. But this is Vicki's showcase all the way, and it's a great one! Titles include "I Love You", "My May", You Send Me", "Wide Awake In A Dream", "All In My Mind", "Tears Of Joy", "No More Heartaches, No More Pain", "In The Land Of Milk And Honey", "The Feeling Is Real", "I'll Work It Out" and more. 23 tracks in all.

A funky treasure trove from Apple & The Three Oranges – a group we hardly know at all, but who really blow us away with the cuts on this collection! The groove is plenty hard right from the get-go – the best of the funky 45 underground of the early 70s – which means that there's more 60s rawness on the record than you'd get from bigger-label funk at the time – as Ed "Apple" Nelson still works here with a mostly underground vibe! Ed plays drums – which are mighty hard on most numbers – and his vocals have this offbeat, off-kilter, over the top quality that almost reminds us a bit of the Hank Ballard/James Brown recordings for late 60s King – particularly in the way that Nelson's completely unbridled with his energy. The whole thing's great – one of the best funky collections we've heard in years – and presented with a rich amount of notes and historical information too. Titles include "Free & Easy (parts 1 & 2)", "Moon Light", "Curse Upon The World", "What Goes Around Comes Around", "Down Home Publicity", "True Love Will Never Die", "Gotta Stand For Something (parts 1 & 2)", and "I'll Give You A Ring". CD features a massive 52 page booklet, too!

A stone classic from Brother James – a wonderful 60s album build around the incredible track "Cold Sweat", served up here in a massive two-part version, and surrounded by a good range of material that really show James in a great variety of styles! The Godfather's vocals burst out nicely with some wonderfully soulful overtones, no matter what the tune – and titles include "Fever", "Good Rockin Tonight", "Back Stabbin", "Mona Lisa", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "Nature Boy" and "I Want To Be Around" – as well as "Cold Sweat (parts 1 & 2)".

A great little album by James Brown – and very different than his other work! He cut this one with the groovy Dee Felice Trio – a jazz-based combo that he recorded on their own for King, on another very rare, very excellent record. The band's in similar form here, although not necessarily as funky – and they do a great job of giving James' vocals a jazzy twist that they don't have on other albums – proving yet again that The Godfather can handle just about any sort of groove that he wants! Features a wonderfully groover version of "Sunny", which moves along very nicely – plus remakes of "There Was A Time" and "Cold Sweat", along with the tracks "Uncle" and "That's Life".

Part two's of two great James Brown tracks! "Gittin' A Little Hipper" is one of our favorite instrumentals from JB late 60's period, and it's got a great rolling groove to it, with a very tasty sax solo by Pee Wee! "Let A Man Come In" is a real stormer from James, and one that you don't see on wax that much. Plus, it's another part 2 – with a rolling open ended groove, and lots of shouting by James!

A great lost album from James Brown – and totally funky! The record's got a super-hip cover that shows James standing in a blue room with three fine foxy ladies, and the words "I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me" are emblazoned across the top – and the whole thing's as super funky as it looks! The record features many obscure King singles from the mid and late 60s, great little tunes that we always enjoy on funky 45s, and which are sewn together into one of the rawer James Brown LPs from the decade. James and the band are playing Vox instruments – as you can tell by the shameless ad on the back cover – and the record has a garagey funk sound that reminds us of the best Desco work by artists like Lee Fields & Joseph Henry. A prize in any funk collection – and with the cuts "The Soul Of JB", "I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (parts 1 & 2)", "Get It Together (parts 1 & 2)", "Funky Soul #1", "Why Did You Take Your Love From Me", and "Baby Baby Baby Baby". Also features the funky hit "There Was A Time" – always a treat!

Quite possibly THE James Brown album of the mid 60s – a solid set of hard-grooving tracks, based around the monster title hit "I Got You (I Feel Good)"! The tune's one of those numbers that has been used a gajillion times over the years in commercials and promos – but which never sounds better than here, on James' original version – one of those cuts that never gets old! The hit's also nicely offset by a number of other more obscure numbers that make the album really worth tracking down – titles that include "I Can't Help It (I Just Do Do Do)", "Good Good Lovin", "I've Got Money", "Three Hearts In A Tangle", "You've Got The Power", and "Love Don't Love Nobody" – all on the rougher side of the JB spectrum.

Quite possibly THE James Brown album of the mid 60s – a solid set of hard-grooving tracks, based around the monster title hit "I Got You (I Feel Good)"! The tune's one of those numbers that has been used a gajillion times over the years in commercials and promos – but which never sounds better than here, on James' original version – one of those cuts that never gets old! The hit's also nicely offset by a number of other more obscure numbers that make the album really worth tracking down – titles that include "I Can't Help It (I Just Do Do Do)", "Good Good Lovin", "I've Got Money", "Three Hearts In A Tangle", "You've Got The Power", and "Love Don't Love Nobody" – all on the rougher side of the JB spectrum.

Both tracks are very nice, and the single is an excellent example of James at his strongest in the 60's. "If I Ruled The World" is a beautiful ballad soul cut, infused with the kind of subtle politics that James used before hitting his more radical days. "I Got The Feelin" has a tight snapping groove that you'll recognize instantly, and which has been the basis for more than one sample over the years.

One of the stranger James Brown albums from the 60s! The record is one of the only vocal albums he cut for the Smash label – and it was issued during a time when James was strangely contracted to two labels – King and Smash. His dual contract situation was that he couldn't record any new original vocal material for Smash – apart from the title track "Out Of Sight", which had already been snuck on the market, and which is a sinister funky track built along the same lines as "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" (not on this album.) Apart from that track, the rest of the material on the record is more traditional R&B and pop stuff – sung by James in a strong soul style. Titles include "Somethin Else", "Nature Boy", "Maybe The Last Time", "I Wanna Be Around", "I Got You", and "Good Rockin Tonight". The liner notes are great, too – with some pretty interesting information on Brown's career, and African-American politics.

An undisputed groover! The track's a killer uptempo one from James' later years on King – and it's got this amazing beat that snaps along at a full deep stride. Very nice stuff, and the kind of tight grooving that would show up later in his work with the JBs – done here earlier, with a great raw groove.

A slammin' set of heavy R&B numbers from James Brown – combined in here with some other nice tracks from King Records artists of the time! The set almost has the same feeling as some of the James Brown Show albums – in that James is presented with other hard-hitting artists of his time – yet the difference here is that the others are King Records giants in their own right. The album features about 50% material by James – all hard hitters that include "Suds", "Hold It", "Scratch", "Night Train", "Cross Firing", and "Night Flying" – nearly all of which are instrumentals, in the best early King tradition! These are followed up by other tunes, mostly instrumental, from other artists – including "Doin Everything" and "Switch A Roo" by Henry Moore, "Tonk Game" by Hank Marr, "Bushy Tail" by Clifford Scott, "The Wobble" by The Wobblers, and "Just A Little Bit Of Everything" by Herb Hardesty'.

Heavy funk from Rickey Calloway – once a lost 70s artist, but now at the top of our stack, thanks to the efforts of Kenny Dope! "Get It Right" is a totally frenetic little track – one with riffing guitar in the rhythms, played at a level that matches the best grooves of the James Brown Band of the late 60s – and Rickey himself seems to be taking a cue from The Godfather in his scratchy, screaming vocals for the track! A monster all the way through – two-part jamming that never lets up!

Gene Chandler takes on James Brown – doing an amazing job with the Godfather's classic "There Was A Time" – served up at the same frenetic pace as the original! The tune's easily one of the hardest-grooving ever from Chandler, and really gets a new sort of spin from Gene's wonderful vocals too. "Those Were The Good Old Days" is a sweet Chicago swinger – done with that wicked rocking energy that you find in the best Brunswick soul of the time – an even better setting for the Chandler magic to unfold!

Funky funky Hammond – a rare late 60s album from organist Bill Doggett, done with some help from James Brown – and a set that's unlike anything Doggett ever recorded before – or since! There's a blasting groove to the record right from the start – thanks to help from The James Brown Band on the leadoff cut – but even when they drop out, and Doggett's combo goes out on their own, the sound is still amazing – tight, soulful, and very much in a funky 45 style all the way through! Drums are hard, the organ is nice and fluid, and the sound is prime late 60s instrumental funk – a groove that Doggett never managed to reach again, which makes this record a real standout treasure. The album includes the legendary funky break cuts "Honky Tonk" and "Honky Tonk Popcorn", plus lots of other nice groovers, like "A Doozy", "Mad", "Slippin In", and "Corner Pocket".

A clunky title, a so-so cover, a later recording date – and yet, the record's wonderful overall – a surprisingly funky effort from British reedman Bob Downes! The album is Bob's tribute to funky sounds oif the 60s and 70s – and although it includes a few tracks penned by Downes back in the day, the music was recorded in the past decade or so – yet done with a surprisingly classic feel overall – one that really serves the funky style of the music very well! The group is very stripped-down – just a trio with electric bass and keyboards, plus Downes on tenor, alto, flute, soprano sax, and even a bit of vocals – the kind of shouted, James Brown-chorus type – which are processed here to give them a really offbeat sound. The whole thing's pretty great – and you can bet that if this was a small label pressing from the US scene of a few decades back, it would be changing hands for a pretty penny. Titles include "Afro Swing", "Happy Funk", "A Man Without A Woman", "Pow Wow", "Funky Groove", "Hottin Up", "C'Mon Baby", and "You're Funkin Good".

A killer album of soul jazz piano instrumentals – produced by James Brown! The Dee Felice Trio were a groovy combo from Cincinnati, and James Brown took a shine to them at some point in the late 60s. They backed James on one record, but their big moment was this album – which had James producing, and the group grooving nicely on some hard piano jammers! The sound's a lot more stripped-down than usual for James, but the groove is very nice! Includes an excellent funky version of "There Was A Time", a great cover of Marcos Valle's "Crickets Sing For Anamaria", and the tracks "Summer In The City", "In Heat", "Both Sides Now", and "Never". Darn hard to find, too!

A killer album of soul jazz piano instrumentals – produced by James Brown! The Dee Felice Trio were a groovy combo from Cincinnati, and James Brown took a shine to them at some point in the late 60s. They backed James on one record, but their big moment was this album – which had James producing, and the group grooving nicely on some hard piano jammers! The sound's a lot more stripped-down than usual for James, but the groove is very nice! Includes an excellent funky version of "There Was A Time", a great cover of Marcos Valle's "Crickets Sing For Anamaria", and the tracks "Summer In The City", "In Heat", "Both Sides Now", and "Never". Features 3 bonus tracks too – "Nightingale", "Little Liza Jane", and "There Was A Time (single version)".

One of the best new soul records we've heard in years – a tremendous accomplishment for the mighty Lee Fields, and a set that's quite different than any of his other work! We've always loved Lee's funk and deep soul sides, but this album's something new altogether – almost done in the hard-edge, downtempo mode of the east coast harmony scene of the late 60s and early 70s – like some of the best group soul work coming out of New Jersey or Philly, with some super-dope production and instrumentation that's really amazing! The grooves follow strongly in the same laidback style as recent El Michels work – no surprise, given the El Michels connection to the music – with beats that are hard, but slow – and instrumentation that's funky, but in a mellow sort of way. Lee's vocals are as deep as ever – very much trained in the James Brown tradition, but turned here towards a really unique groove that makes us completely reevaluate his talents – an amazing achievement not just for Fields, but also for the whole Truth & Soul/El Michels crew! An instant classic – with tracks that include "My World", "Ladies", "Expressions Theme", "Honey Dove", "Money I$ King", "Love Comes & Goes", "Do You Love Me", and "Last Ride".

Very nice funky stuff! This may be the best single ever by this lost Chicago funk artist. It's got a great hard groove, in a very James Brown way, and raw heavy lyrics in the best funky 45 tradition.

One of the best versions of "Funky Four Corners" we've ever heard! The bass is rattling along at a level so loud and heavy that it's bound to pop the top off your speaker – while Jerry screams and shouts his way through the lyrics in a way that would make James Brown proud, a fact that he even acknowledges when he shouts "Sorry JB!" at one point in the cut! "Soul Lover" is fantastic too – a funky answer song to "Tramp", with a similar hard sock beat, and a hard break at the intro, which is augmented here by conga work! Both cuts are great – and one of the best singles ever by Jerry O!

The funkiest album that Syl Johnson ever recorded – filled with short, tight cuts that play more like a stack of funky 45s than the standard soul album of the time! The record draws from the great run of singles that Syl cut for Twinight Records at the end of the 60s – some of the hardest soul coming out of Chicago at the time, with a gritty feel that's right up there with some of James Brown's best late 60s work – or even better, some of the other obscure acts working in the American underground at the time. A few tunes are familiar from their popularity as classic 45s – but the album's got lots more wonderful numbers that are lesser-known – and all of them are great! Titles include the classic Syl Johnson sample cut "Different Strokes" – plus "Dresses Too Short", "I Can Take Care of Business", "Soul Drippin", "Sorry Bout Dat", "Same Kind Of Thing", and "Come On Sock It To Me".

Classic Quincy Jones from the 60s – a pair of records that really show why his jazz skills were unlike anyone else! Quincy Jones Plays Hip Hits is a very groovy record that was done with a feel that's somewhere in between his Big Band Bossa album and his best 60s soundtrack work! The format is simple – Quincy picks a sweet batch of jazz semi-hits from the early 60s, plays them with a nice mix of soul jazz arrangements, and works with a great ensemble filled with wonderful players – including Roland Kirk, Budd Johnson, Seldon Powell, James Moody, and Jerome Richardson on reeds; Lalo Schifrin and Patti Brown on piano, Jim Hall on guitar, Clark Terry on trumpet, and Melba Liston on trombone – plus lots of great percussion at the bottom, helping bring some Latin energy to the grooves at points. Tunes are familiar, but all given a great Quincy Jones twist – and titles include "Gravy Waltz", "Jive Samba", "Walk On The Wild Side", "Bossa Nova USA", and "Watermelon Man". Golden Boy is a sweet bridge between Quincy's big band recordings and his groovier soundtrack work of the mid 60s – as the record combines straight jazzy grooving with some of the cooler elements of Quincy's soundtrack scores, like stepping strings, wordless voices, and a breathy mellow groove that floats across the disc in a wonderful way! Aiding Quincy in the album are a host of top-line jazz players – including Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Jerome Richardson, and Phil Woods on saxes – plus Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Al Grey on trombone, and Jim Hall on guitar! Although titled after the show Golden Boy, only a few cuts here are from that musical – and the rest include Quincy Jones originals and some cool covers, given the Q twist. Titles include "Seaweed", "The Witching Hour", "Hard Day's Night", "The Sidewinder", and "Theme From Golden Boy", done in 2 versions, both great!

Amazing sounds from one of the all-time greats – the legendary Little Willie John – not only a key inspiration to James Brown, but one of the formative forces in soul music at the start of the 60s! The material here was cut by King Records at the height of its R&B years, but it also stretches forth towards something new, too – a deeper, more expressive sound that really blows us out of the water, even all these decades later – vocals that are incredible, and virtually a blueprint for the style that would come to be known as deep soul in later years. The package brings together all of Little Willie John's hit singles for King, but also features the much more obscure b-sides too – making it an essential document of these legendary years – with a whopping 32 tracks that include "Now You Know", "Flamingo", "Spring Fever", "I'm Sorry", "My Nerves", "Do Something For Me", "Leave My Kitten Alone", "Let Nobody Love You", "Fever", "Tell It Like It Is", "Letter From My Darling", "Don't Leave Me Dear", "Right There", and "All Around The World".

One of the last great funk albums from King Records! People Are Together was cut in the early 70s, but it's done with a crackling sharp sound that's very much in the mode of the best late 60s James Brown albums for the label! Mickey Murray is from Augusta, GA – James Brown's hometown – and his approach is similar to James' at times, but it's also got more of a southern funk groove too – a bit like the great combination you'll hear in Lee Fields' music, which is a perfect fit for the album's raw, rootsy production! The record includes a great funky cut called "The Buzzard", plus other nice ones like "Explosive Population", "People Are Together", "Going Back To Alabama", "Fat Gal", and "I Wanna See My Baby".

One of the last great funk albums from King Records – a set recorded in the early 70s, but done with a crackling sharp sound that's like the best late 60s James Brown albums for the label! Mickey Murray is from Augusta, GA – James Brown's hometown – and his approach is similar to James' at times, but it's also got more of a southern funk groove too – a bit like the great combination you'll hear in Lee Fields' music, which is a perfect fit for the album's raw, rootsy production! The record includes a great funky cut called "The Buzzard", plus other nice ones like "Explosive Population", "People Are Together", "Going Back To Alabama", "Fat Gal", and "I Wanna See My Baby".

They left a blank in the title, so we'll never know what it is they witnessed – but that's alright with us, because Osaka Monoaurail's so goshdarn funky, we can always forgive them for their weird choice of titles! The group's a real standout in the international deep funk underground – as they play with an intensity to match the James Brown Band of the late 60s King years – really ripping along the rhythms with incredible tightness, and making their 9 piece lineup of horns, organ, percussion, and guitar burn with a really classic funky power! Vocalist Ryo Nakata has a weirdly raspy style that makes him one of the most striking singers in funk today – no copycat modes at all, and a rough and ready vocal approach that only adds even more weight to the groove of the group. CD features a blistering live performance that runs for nearly 80 minutes – 24 tracks in all, partying seamlessly next to one another in a mix of classics and original tunes. Titles include "Back & Alive 77", "The Coming Back", "Jam 1976", "Double Up Now", "New New Type Thing", "Whatever You Do", "Thankful", "What It Is What It Was", and "Theme From Shaft".

Damn, we love these guys! And this time around, Osaka Monaurail sound harder and heavier than ever – very much back in their best 70s JBs mode – after a recent foray into 60s soul! The rhythms are incredibly tight – razor-sharp, with a forcefulness that few other funky combos can match – that hard-ripping groove you're usually only likely to find on the best James Brown productions from back in the day. Instrumental passages are at the forefront, too – which means a bit less vocals from group leader Ryo Nakata, although we still always love his unique funky soul approach when he does come into the mix. Titles include "Endemism", "Work Song", "Hung Up", "Andrias Japonicus", "Stop Doggin Me Around", "Syrinxology" and "The Archipelago". 11 tracks on the CD.

Damn, we love these guys! And this time around, Osaka Monaurail sound harder and heavier than ever – very much back in their best 70s JBs mode – after a recent foray into 60s soul! The rhythms are incredibly tight – razor-sharp, with a forcefulness that few other funky combos can match – that hard-ripping groove you're usually only likely to find on the best James Brown productions from back in the day. Instrumental passages are at the forefront, too – which means a bit less vocals from group leader Ryo Nakata, although we still always love his unique funky soul approach when he does come into the mix. Titles include "Endemism", "Work Song", "Syrinxology", "Andrias Japonicus", "Stop Doggin Me Around", "Mother Popcorn" and "The Archipelago". 10 tracks on the vinyl version.

Damn, we love these guys! And this time around, Osaka Monaurail sound harder and heavier than ever – very much back in their best 70s JBs mode – after a recent foray into 60s soul! The rhythms are incredibly tight – razor-sharp, with a forcefulness that few other funky combos can match – that hard-ripping groove you're usually only likely to find on the best James Brown productions from back in the day. Instrumental passages are at the forefront, too – which means a bit less vocals from group leader Ryo Nakata, although we still always love his unique funky soul approach when he does come into the mix. Titles include "Endemism", "Work Song", "Hung Up", "Andrias Japonicus", "Stop Doggin Me Around", and "The Archipelago".

Hard to take it slow with the Shaolin Temple Defenders – given that these guys are one of the tightest funky combos working in the European scene! The set smokes right from the get-go – quick rhythms, bold horns, and burning Hammond – all to set a groove for deeply soulful lead vocals from the Lion Of Bordeaux – a singer with a sound that hearkens back to some of the legendary James Brown divas of the late 60s and early 70s! Pierre Petit plays some great guitar – setting an edge and casting out the rhythms at the same time – and titles include "The Duty", "Lonely Walker", "Mr Dandy", "Back On My Memories", "Take It Slow", "Growing Up", and "Starting Anew".

Funky funky female soul! Marva Whitney was one of the greatest singers in the James Brown stable of stars during the late 60s – and she sang with a hard raw style worth of The Godfather himself! Brother James produced and wrote a good part of this classic album – and the record is one of the greatest JB albums of all time! Nearly every cut's a winner – like the sample classic "Unwind Yourself", which has a crazy corkscrew sax line, or the massive two-part remake of the Isley's "It's Your Thing" (titled "It's My Thing"), or the slowly funky "Get Out Of My Life", or the massive duet with Bobby Byrd "You Got To Have A Job", or the classic instrumental "In The Middle". It's all great – and the album's one of the best funk records you could buy!

A wonderfully expanded version of this classic of funky funky female soul! Marva Whitney was one of the greatest singers in the James Brown stable of stars during the late 60s – and she sang with a hard raw style worth of The Godfather himself! Brother James produced and wrote a good part of this classic album – and the record is one of the greatest JB albums of all time! Nearly every cut's a winner – like the sample classic "Unwind Yourself", which has a crazy corkscrew sax line, or the massive two-part remake of the Isley's "It's Your Thing" (titled "It's My Thing"), or the slowly funky "Get Out Of My Life", or the massive duet with Bobby Byrd "You Got To Have A Job", or the classic instrumental "In The Middle". This reissue is an expanded version, and it features a very excellent batch of tracks that were previously only issued as funky 45s! Tracks include "Sunny", "I Made A Mistake Because It's Only You (parts 1 & 2)", "You Got To Have A Job", "Shades Of (inst)", "I'm Tired I'm Tired I'm Tired", "This Girl's In Love With You", "He's The One", "Unwind Yourself", "What Kind Of Man", "Things Got To Get Better", "It's My Thing (parts 1 & 2)", and "Get Out Of My Life". 18 cuts in all.

An excellent bit of lost funky piano and a tough album to find! Larry Willis was mostly a jazz pianist, and he's best known to the world for his work on Jackie McLean's Blue Note albums of the 60's. Here, though, he's playing in a hard-hitting funky group, with nice hard drums on a lot of tracks – and backing by electric guitar and trumpet, for a groovy groovy sound. The album's got a great breakbeat version of "Hard To Handle", and sweet covers of Andre Williams' "Funky Judge" and James Brown's "Lickin' Stick". Very nice stuff, and with a few other cuts that have a groovy jazzy piano sound!

The funky foundations of rap – and one of the best, most focused compilations of its kind we've ever stocked! You can truthfully call the treasure trove of funk singles here "pre-rap". Every track is a direct precursor. We mean that on the vocal tip – and also for the heavy funk bass and drums on the bottom end. We've seen some similar sets that go back to the 50s and even earlier – with jump jivin' R&B that originally planted the seeds – but this one focuses squarely on the late 60s and 70s material that most directly fertilized all rap to come! It also largely eschews the righteous and political precursors of the Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron school, for party funk proto rappers such as Pigmeat Markam, Bill "Butter Ball" Crane, Blowfly and others – but there's some socially aware cuts here, too. Great stuff with a just a couple of well-known numbers and many more funky rarities! 16 in all: "We Got The Number" by Pigmeat Markham, "Butterballs" by Butterball, "Get On The Good Foot" by James Brown, "Sesame Street" by Blowfly, "Smoke My Pipe" by AJ Rowe, "Snake Hips" by Timmy Rogers, "Everybody Says" by Billy Dee & Sugar Bear, "Do You Have A Good Woman" by Rufus Beacham and more.

The funky foundations of rap – and one of the best, most focused compilations of its kind we've ever stocked! You can truthfully call the treasure trove of funk singles here "pre-rap". Every track is a direct precursor. We mean that on the vocal tip – and also for the heavy funk bass and drums on the bottom end. We've seen some similar sets that go back to the 50s and even earlier – with jump jivin' R&B that originally planted the seeds – but this one focuses squarely on the late 60s and 70s material that most directly fertilized all rap to come! It also largely eschews the righteous and political precursors of the Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron school, for party funk proto rappers such as Pigmeat Markam, Bill "Butter Ball" Crane, Blowfly and others – but there's some socially aware cuts here, too. Great stuff with a just a couple of well-known numbers and many more funky rarities! 16 in all: "We Got The Number" by Pigmeat Markham, "Butterballs" by Butterball, "Get On The Good Foot" by James Brown, "Sesame Street" by Blowfly, "Smoke My Pipe" by AJ Rowe, "Snake Hips" by Timmy Rogers, "Everybody Says" by Billy Dee & Sugar Bear, "Do You Have A Good Woman" by Rufus Beacham and more.

Possibly the best-ever collection of blacksploitation grooves we've ever seen – a really comprehensive package that not only manages to cover the classics, but which also digs deep enough to come up with lots of fresh bits too! The set really sets a new level for the Soul Jazz label – and is carried off with enough authority towards Black Action films as the label's legendary efforts towards a host of less mainstream genres – truly an achievement for the label's crew, not to mention a heavier bonus for our funky listening pleasure! There's way more here than just a slapped-together batch of tunes from the early 70s – as the set's very carefully put together to showcase a wide range of sounds, along with notes that really get at the social and political power of both the music and the films. 2CD package features a massive color booklet inside the slipcase – and features 34 tracks that include "Shaft In Africa" by Johnny Pate, "Down & Out In New York City" by James Brown, "Wilford's Gone" by The Blackbyrds, "Run Fay Run" by Isaac Hayes, "Theme From Black Belt Jones" by Dennis Coffey, "Willie Chase" by JJ Johnson, "T Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, "Charley" by Don Costa, "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" by Willie Hutch, "Blacula" by Gene Page, "Theme From Cleopatra Jones" by Joe Simon, "Pursuit Of The Pimpmobile" by Isaac Hayes, "Sweetback's Theme" by Earth Wind & Fire, "Aragon" by Roy Ayers, "Strung Out" by Gordon Staples, "Easin In" by Edwin Starr, "The Bus" by Solomon Burke & Gene Page, "Make A Resolution" by The Impressions, "Ed & Digger" by Cotton Comes To Harlem, "Las Vegas Strut" by Jack Ashford, "Lay It On Your Head" by Don Julian, and "Zombie March" by Nat Dove & The Devils.

A killer compilation of late 50s and early 60s songs that were covered and popularized by British pop legend Cliff Richard – and Cliff not only heard them here first, but the man has impeccable taste! This is a stellar set of proto rock, pop and soul – with completely great, if lesser-remembered treasures by superstars and relative cult faves alike – including Bobby Helms, proto rock era Conway Twitty, Gene Vincent, Ruth Brown, Peggy Lee, Bobby Vee, Sonny James, Johnny Otis, Little Stevie Wonder and many more! Includes "Schoolboy Crush" by Bobby Helms, "I'll Try" by Conway Twitty, "Save My Soul" by Jack Scott with The Chantones, "The Night Is So Lovely" by Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, "Somebody Touched Me" by Ruth Brown, "Tough Enough" by Johnny Otis & Orchestra with The Jayos, "D In Love" by Curtis Lee, "I'm Looking Out The Window" by Peggy Lee, "The Minute You're Gone" by Sonny James, It's All Over" by The Everly Brothers and more. 24 tracks in all.

Rare raw funk from the late 60s & early 70s – singles dug from the regional US scenes for the most part (plus a stellar number from funky funky Trinidad) – incredible numbers from Guitar Ray, Don Ray & Hobbit, James Polk & The Brothers, The Herculoids, TD & Jimmy James 3, Soul Dukes and more! Feeling Nice was compiled by deep digging collectors and DJs Tobias Kirmayer and Daniel Wanders – and it's outstanding stuff that we're being introduced to for the first time in many cases. Classic level funky soul from acts that didn't get over nearly as big as they should have. Includes "Funky Pete Pts 1 & 2" by Guitar Ray, "James Brown Boo-Ga-Loo" by James In The Incredible Showmen, "Feeling Nice" by Clarence Curvan (the title honor goes to our man from Trinidad), "Back Door Jeannye" by James Polk & The Brothers, "Get Back" by The Herculoids, "Jalapeno Pep" by TD & Jimmy James 3, "Wine For The Party" by Sonrize, "Dance Party Pts 1 & 2" by JC & The Soul Angels and more 12 in all.

A host of wonderful work produced by James Brown – most of it by a range of different singers, and one by The Godfather himself! The collection brings together some of the earliest James Brown productions – mid 60s tracks recorded for King and Smash Records, most of which aren't nearly as well known as later JB productions for the People and Polydor labels! As with that later work, all the grooves here are right in the same territory that James was hitting himself – upbeat, funky, and stone out of sight soul – all with plenty of rough edges, and backings from the same tight core of musicians that were helping out Brown on his recordings. The package is a real treasure – and is a great complement to the James Brown Singles collections from the Hip-O Select label – proof that even in these early days, James was clearly the hardest working man in show business – given all his time in the studio with other artists! 22 tracks in all – including "I Found Out" and "I'll Keep Pressing On" by Bobby Byrd, "That's When I Cry" and "If You Don't Think" by Anna King, "I Don't Care" and "Unexplainable" by Dizzy Jones, "Got No Excuse" and "If You Don't Work You Can't Eat" by James Crawford, "Do You Really Want To Rescue Me (part 1)" by Elsie Mae, "Lookie Lookie Lookie" by The Jewells, "Wide Awake In A Dream" and "Nobody Cares" by Vicki Anderson, "Devil's Den" by The Poets, "It Hurts To Be In Love" by Yvonne Fair, "That's The Spirit" by Rev Willingham, "Faith" by The Five Royales, "I Cried" by Tammy Montgomery, "Soul Food (parts 1 & 2)" by Al Brisco Clark, and "New Breed (The Boo Ga Loo) (part 1)" by James Brown.

Rare funk from one of the greatest labels in the business! King Records is known to many for its classic work with singers like James Brown, Hank Ballard, and Wynonie Harris – but during the later years of the label, they also pressed up a great amount of excellent funky 45s, including many that are some of the rarest you'll ever try to find. This 24 track set is the first to really try to document King's rich funk legacy – and it's got some amazing tracks that blend together raw southern soul, hard northern rhythms, and sweet James Brown-produced grooves. Any one of these tunes would set you back at least $50 on a single – not just because they're rare, but because they're some of the best funk cuts ever recorded. Titles include "Mr Tuff Stuff" by Toby King, "Gold Walk" by The Presidents, "Butter Your Popcorn" by Hank Ballard, "Your Thing Ain't No Good Without My Thing" by Marie Queenie Lyons, "Down Home Girl" by The Coasters, "Don't Get Funky" by Gloria Walker, "Funky Lady (parts 1 & 2)" by Soul East, "From The Back Side (parts 1 & 2)" by The Sons Of Funk, "Camelot Time" by J Hines & The Fellows, and "Papa's Got The Wagon" by Gloria Walker.

Rare soul from the legendary King Records – hand-picked by Mr Fine Wine, with a special ear for sharp-edged R&B grooves! Most of the work here is from the same early soul stretch as James Brown's initial work for King – and recorded with an equally raw sound overall – heavy rhythms, powerful instrumentation, and amazing vocals that really stretch out with a bold sound for the new generation! A few of the cuts here are by familiar names, and others are lesser-knowns from the rich King catalog – all wrapped together in a big batch of tracks that's filled with the kind of rare gems that Fine Wine's know for – both as a collector and a DJ. Titles include "Old Faithful & True Love" by Earl King, "She's Mine" by Joe Tex, "Mama Needs Your Lovin Baby" by Linda Hopkins, "Cozy's Mambo" by Cozy Cole, "The Jumpin Bean" by The Mystics, "Harem Girl" by Red Prysock, "I Won't Have It" by The King Pins, "One Buffalo" by Jimmy Peterson, "Thanks Mr Postman" by Bobby King, "Solid Rock" by Eli Pauling & The Royalton, "Nothing But Good" by Hank Ballard, and "Take Your Fine Frame Home" by Billy Gayles.

Rare soul from the legendary King Records – hand-picked by Mr Fine Wine, with a special ear for sharp-edged R&B grooves! Most of the work here is from the same early soul stretch as James Brown's initial work for King – and recorded with an equally raw sound overall – heavy rhythms, powerful instrumentation, and amazing vocals that really stretch out with a bold sound for the new generation! A few of the cuts here are by familiar names, and others are lesser-knowns from the rich King catalog – all wrapped together in a big batch of tracks that's filled with the kind of rare gems that Fine Wine's know for – both as a collector and a DJ. Titles include "Old Faithful & True Love" by Earl King, "She's Mine" by Joe Tex, "Mama Needs Your Lovin Baby" by Linda Hopkins, "Cozy's Mambo" by Cozy Cole, "The Jumpin Bean" by The Mystics, "Harem Girl" by Red Prysock, "I Won't Have It" by The King Pins, "One Buffalo" by Jimmy Peterson, "Thanks Mr Postman" by Bobby King, "Solid Rock" by Eli Pauling & The Royalton, "Nothing But Good" by Hank Ballard, and "Take Your Fine Frame Home" by Billy Gayles. Totally great limited package – 20 tracks on 10 funky 45s – all packaged in a mighty cool box!

Mighty recordings from the funk years of King Records – amazing grooves that follow the initial inspiration that James Brown gave to the label – but take things into wild new territory too! The late 60s & early 70s were kind of a strange and tumultuous time at the longtime Cincinnati operation – which was adapting to the changes in funk, soul and R&B music that James Brown almost single-handedly ushered in – at King and throughout the entire culture! What's most impressive here, beyond the exceptional quality of each song and performer, is the diversity – as the set's not all front-to-back JB-style funk – and also features some funked up bluesy soul, strains of gospel, the convincing move towards funk from veterans such as Hank Ballard & Bill Doggett – all topped off with righteous storytelling, sweet female soul leads, and some amazing grooves down at the bottom! Titles include "Getting Down (With Hoss)" by Kastle, "Love's Sweet Water" by Barbara Burton And The Messengers, "Baby Don't You Know" by The Brownettes, "Clay Tyson (Man On The Moon)" by Clay Tyson, "Cool Jerk" by The Coasters, "The Boo Boo Song" by King Coleman, "Unwind Yourself" by Hank Ballard, "Steal Away" by Leon Austin, "Peter Rabbit" by The Presidents, "Lookin For A Woman" by Robert Moore, "Push & Shove" by Willy Wiley, "Ball Of Fire" by Connie Austin, "Sad But True" by Elaine Armstrong, and "You Keep Me Hanging On" by Bonnie & Sheila.

Heavy heavy funk from the Louisiana scene of the late 60s and 1970s – and a great collection that really gets past the dominance of the New Orleans sound! The set moves way past the Crescent City to uncover a wealth of great bits recorded in smaller studios located in Shreveport, Lake Charles, and a variety of tiny scenes in the southwest side of Louisiana – and the result is a great batch of tunes with a really gritty, down-n-dirty sound! There's a wealth of great funky styles in the set – including James Brown-inspired jammers, southern soul burners, and some other great modes that show that Louisiana's got a heck of a lot more to offer than just New Orleans funk. Titles include work from the Anla, Murco, Soul International, Goldband, and Tic Toc labels – a total of 22 cuts that include "Soul Time" by Ernest Thomas, "Soul Feeling (parts 1 & 2)" by Eddy G Giles, "Soul Brothers Testify (part 1)" by Chester Randles Soul Senders, "Soul Power" by Abraham & The Casanovas, "Put It On" by Count Rockin Sidney with The Dukes, "Fix It" by Clifton White & His Royal Knights, "Miss Hard To Get" by Dennis Landry, "No Sad Times" by Johnny Truit, "Black Water Gold" by African Music Machine, and "I Got A Groove" by JJ Callier.

Heavy heavy funk from the Louisiana scene of the late 60s and 1970s – and a great collection that really gets past the dominance of the New Orleans sound! The set moves way past the Crescent City to uncover a wealth of great bits recorded in smaller studios located in Shreveport, Lake Charles, and a variety of tiny scenes in the southwest side of Louisiana – and the result is a great batch of tunes with a really gritty, down-n-dirty sound! There's a wealth of great funky styles in the set – including James Brown-inspired jammers, southern soul burners, and some other great modes that show that Louisiana's got a heck of a lot more to offer than just New Orleans funk. Titles include work from the Anla, Murco, Soul International, Goldband, and Tic Toc labels – a total of 22 cuts that include "Soul Time" by Ernest Thomas, "Soul Feeling (parts 1 & 2)" by Eddy G Giles, "Soul Brothers Testify (part 1)" by Chester Randles Soul Senders, "Soul Power" by Abraham & The Casanovas, "Put It On" by Count Rockin Sidney with The Dukes, "Fix It" by Clifton White & His Royal Knights, "Miss Hard To Get" by Dennis Landry, "No Sad Times" by Johnny Truit, "Black Water Gold" by African Music Machine, and "I Got A Groove" by JJ Callier.

DJ Muro's digging James Brown – and we're digging the massive way he mixes together the music! The set's way more than another James Brown compilation – and instead, it feels more like a love letter to The Godfather – served up in music made by James himself, and some of his key sidemen too – all mixed together by Muro in these short blasts of funk and soul that bristle with energy throughout! The whole thing's got way more care than the usual mixtape – as Muro's been training his ears on JB nuggets for years, so knows just the right makes to cut and make a change – managing to get through bits of 43 tracks in just the course of 73 minutes. Includes work from "The Boss", "Down & Out In New York City", "Baby Here I Come", "Blues & Pants", "Nose Job", "A Talk With The News", "Funky Drummer", "Hot Pants Road", "Can Mind", "I Got Ants In My Pants", "The Drunk", "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose", and "Funky President".

"Prisoner Of Love" is a version of the 50s pop hit – done by James in a style that's still pretty raw, despite the string-heavy backings! I've Got To Change" is in a similar style – James singing in a "Please Please Please" mode, with The Flames behind him in a raw harmony sound!

"Prisoner Of Love" is a version of the 50s pop hit – done by James in a style that's still pretty raw, despite the string-heavy backings! "Choo Choo" is a honking instrumental, with a tight R&B groove!

Live material from a Village Gate performance that included the leading lights of the East Village free scene in the 60s – John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Grachan Moncur, and Archie Shepp! The set's a great counterpart to some of the full artist releases on Impulse at the time – and features key material that's not out there elsewhere! A really standout track is from a unique group that never got much recording time – one featuring Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Charles Tolliver on trumpet, James Spaulding on alto, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – on a killer version of Monk's "Brilliant Corners". Other titles include an Alber Ayler-led version of "Holy Ghost", a Grachan Moncur reading of "Blue Free" with Hutcherson on vibes, a Coltrane quartet take of "Nature Boy", and Archie Shepp doing "Hambone" in a group with Marion Brown on alto and Virgil Jones on trumpet.

One of the greatest Blue Note funky jazz sets of the late 60s – an all-out soul fest headed up by funky Lou Donaldson, and featuring some incredible work on drums from Idris Muhammad – who was still calling himself Leo Morris at this point! Muhammad's work on the drums is fantastic – not just in the snap-funk mode of some of his oft-sampled Blue Note classics, but also hitting these nicely changed-up rhythms that dance along with a free sense of joy, love, and life – one that seems to open Lou up even more than before! Other players on the set are great too – and include a young Charles Earland on organ, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, and Jimmy Ponder on guitar – cooking up some incredible licks that fill in the spaces between the grooves with a wash of soulful colors! Titles include a great version of the James Brown Classic "Say It Loud", plus the originals "Snake Bone" and "Brother Soul" – and surprisingly great takes on "Summertime" and "Caravan"!

One of the last great funk albums from King Records – a set recorded in the early 70s, but done with a crackling sharp sound that's like the best late 60s James Brown albums for the label! Mickey Murray is from Augusta, GA – James Brown's hometown – and his approach is similar to James' at times, but it's also got more of a southern funk groove too – a bit like the great combination you'll hear in Lee Fields' music, which is a perfect fit for the album's raw, rootsy production! The record includes a great funky cut called "The Buzzard", plus other nice ones like "Explosive Population", "People Are Together", "Going Back To Alabama", "Fat Gal", and "I Wanna See My Baby".

Funky funky female soul! Marva Whitney was one of the greatest singers in the James Brown stable of stars during the late 60s – and she sang with a hard raw style worth of The Godfather himself! Brother James produced and wrote a good part of this classic album – and the record is one of the greatest JB albums of all time! Nearly every cut's a winner – like the sample classic "Unwind Yourself", which has a crazy corkscrew sax line, or the massive two-part remake of the Isley's "It's Your Thing" (titled "It's My Thing"), or the slowly funky "Get Out Of My Life", or the massive duet with Bobby Byrd "You Got To Have A Job", or the classic instrumental "In The Middle". It's all great – and the album's one of the best funk records you could buy!

Possibly the best-ever collection of blacksploitation grooves we've ever seen – a really comprehensive package that not only manages to cover the classics, but which also digs deep enough to come up with lots of fresh bits too! The set really sets a new level for the Soul Jazz label – and is carried off with enough authority towards Black Action films as the label's legendary efforts towards a host of less mainstream genres – truly an achievement for the label's crew, not to mention a heavier bonus for our funky listening pleasure! There's way more here than just a slapped-together batch of tunes from the early 70s – as the set's very carefully put together to showcase a wide range of sounds, along with notes that really get at the social and political power of both the music and the films. Vinyl volume 1 features an insert with notes – and tracks that include "Shaft In Africa" by Johnny Pate, "Down & Out In New York City" by James Brown, "Wilford's Gone" by The Blackbyrds, "Run Fay Run" by Isaac Hayes, "Theme From Black Belt Jones" by Dennis Coffey, "Willie Chase" by JJ Johnson, "T Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, "Charley" by Don Costa, "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" by Willie Hutch, and "Blacula" by Gene Page.

Mindblowing work from the legendary Hank Ballard – a set cut years after his initial fame with The Midnighters, when he was working with James Brown in some very hip, funky, territory! James produced the record, and penned most of the tunes – and he does a really great job of bringing out the nasty, sinister qualities in Hank's vocals – sharper here than even in the 50s R&B era, and perfectly suited for the mix of politics and personal themes in the tunes! Backings are by the James Brown Band of the late 60s – and the whole thing's one of the funkiest albums The Godfather ever had a hand in! CD features the full original album, plus 6 more bonus singles – with tunes that include "How You Gonna Get Respect", "Funky Soul Train", "Unwind Yourself", "Blackenized", "From The Love Side", "Butter Your Popcorn", "Come In Wit It", "With Your Sweet Lovin Self", "Which Way Should I Turn", "You're So Sexy", "Woman Is A Man's Best Friend", and funky remakes of "Annie Had A Baby", "Teardrops On Your Letter", and "Finger Poppin Time".

This is the kind of killer hard soul material that made James' late 60s years so incredible! "There Was a Time" is one of our favorite-ever tracks by him, and it's got a massive kind of soulful energy that's sometimes missing from other tracks at the time. "I Can't Stand Myself" is a winner, too, and features James wailing hard in a pure unbridled soulful moment!

Getting plenty of soul here – in a two-part funk track that's got this monstrous bassline – one that dips deep deep deep, and sets the groove for blasting horns, and Aalon's James Brown-like screaming vocals! Mighty nice – with a helluva punch!

Not Rickey Calloway at all – but just The Dap Kings, stepping out in an instrumental reading of the tune! The track's a stone smoker right out of the James Brown generation of the late 60s – really wicked drums at the bottom, which step out in this snapping breakdown near the end of part 1 – setting a fire that's picked up beautifully on part 2! Proof that the Kings are always great – even away from Daptone!

One of the greatest Blue Note funky jazz sets of the late 60s – an all-out soul fest headed up by funky Lou Donaldson, and featuring some incredible work on drums from Idris Muhammad – who was still calling himself Leo Morris at this point! Muhammad's work on the drums is fantastic – not just in the snap-funk mode of some of his oft-sampled Blue Note classics, but also hitting these nicely changed-up rhythms that dance along with a free sense of joy, love, and life – one that seems to open Lou up even more than before! Other players on the set are great too – and include a young Charles Earland on organ, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, and Jimmy Ponder on guitar – cooking up some incredible licks that fill in the spaces between the grooves with a wash of soulful colors! Titles include a great version of the James Brown Classic "Say It Loud", plus the originals "Snake Bone" and "Brother Soul" – and surprisingly great takes on "Summertime" and "Caravan"!

One of the best new soul records we've heard in years – a tremendous accomplishment for the mighty Lee Fields, and a set that's quite different than any of his other work! We've always loved Lee's funk and deep soul sides, but this album's something new altogether – almost done in the hard-edge, downtempo mode of the east coast harmony scene of the late 60s and early 70s – like some of the best group soul work coming out of New Jersey or Philly, with some super-dope production and instrumentation that's really amazing! The grooves follow strongly in the same laidback style as recent El Michels work – no surprise, given the El Michels connection to the music – with beats that are hard, but slow – and instrumentation that's funky, but in a mellow sort of way. Lee's vocals are as deep as ever – very much trained in the James Brown tradition, but turned here towards a really unique groove that makes us completely reevaluate his talents – an amazing achievement not just for Fields, but also for the whole Truth & Soul/El Michels crew! An instant classic – with tracks that include "My World", "Ladies", "Expressions Theme", "Honey Dove", "Money I$ King", "Love Comes & Goes", "Do You Love Me", and "Last Ride".

Sublime soul from Anna King – a James Brown-produced sock-soul diva who predated Marva Whitney and Lyn Collins! "Get These Memories" is done in a wonderful way – tight snapping drums underneath, and some really hard-wailing raw vocals from Anna over the top – making the tune sound like you've never heard it before! "If Somebody Told You" is a slower blusier number – one that has Anna really going over the top on vocals – blowing away Etta James, Fontella Bass, and all other comers!

A legendary pairing of two key 60s pop talents – the soulful sounds of Ike & Tina Turner, and the soaring production styles of Phil Spector! The album's quite different than some of the grittier Turner projects of the time – lots of full orchestrations and strings, mixed with the rougher rhythms you'd usually hear from Ike – a blend that's surprisingly great, and helps push Tina's vocals into wonderfully mature territory – a bit like the mix of deep soul and class that you'd get from Etta James on mid-60s Chess Records! The album's a feather in the cap of both Spector and Turner – and titles include "River Deep Mountain High", "I Idolize You", "A Love Like Yours", "Such A Fool For You", "I'll Never Need More Than This", "A Fool In Love", and "Hold On Baby". Weird cover, too – with photography by Dennis Hopper!

A deep deep selection of work from these very formative years of Muddy Waters – recordings that really have him taking off tremendously – and moving strongly towards the superstardom that would follow in the 60s and 70s! Muddy sings more than plays guitar here – and you can really hear that shift in his vocals – as he's even more expressive and soulful than before – not just singing along with his bluesy groove, but pushing forward with a punch that really blows away his earlier work. Instrumentation on most numbers is by a small combo – with Chicago luminaries who include Little Walter or James Cotton on harmonica, Otis Spann on piano, Pat Hare on guitar, and AC Reed on tenor sax – and the set features a total of 49 tracks that also includes live material and a few unreleased numbers too. Titles include "I Got My Brand On You (live)", "Love Affair", "Mopper's Blues", "Walking Thru The Park", "Mean Mistreater", "Meanest Woman", "I Got My Brand On You", "Messin With The Man", "Five Long Years", "Twenty Four Hours", "Down By The Deep Blue Sea", and "Little Brown Bird".

A heavily funky and far reaching collection of tunes written by the Godfather – eclectic 60s & 70s material from all over the globe – each with a unique approach, but perfectly connected in their displays of JB's boundless funky spirit! The set includes a few tracks familiar to global deep funk diggers – but the majority of the tunes are quite fresh to our ears, and all of it's excellent, anyway. A tight Italian take on the sound from the Showman, brassy fury from the University Of Illinois Jazz Band, Latin funk from Rabbits & Carrots, a group harmonies approach from The Impalas, and much more! Includes "I Feel Good" by Os Incriveis, "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" by Jr & The Preludes, "Lickin' Stick" by Soul Sounds, "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose" and "Sex Machine" by Rabbits & Carrots, "Super Bad" by Kashmere Stage Band, "Think About It" by Esquires Now, "There Was A Time/Cold Sweat (Medley)" by Victor Olaiya & International All Stars, "Soul" by Impalas, "Get On The Good Foot" Harrison High School, "Mother Popcorn" by Les Watson & The Panthers and more! 19 tracks in all.

A funky treasure trove from Apple & The Three Oranges – a group we hardly know at all, but who really blow us away with the cuts on this collection! The groove is plenty hard right from the get-go – the best of the funky 45 underground of the early 70s – which means that there's more 60s rawness on the record than you'd get from bigger-label funk at the time – as Ed "Apple" Nelson still works here with a mostly underground vibe! Ed plays drums – which are mighty hard on most numbers – and his vocals have this offbeat, off-kilter, over the top quality that almost reminds us a bit of the Hank Ballard/James Brown recordings for late 60s King – particularly in the way that Nelson's completely unbridled with his energy. The whole thing's great – one of the best funky collections we've heard in years – and presented with a rich amount of notes and historical information too. Titles include "Free & Easy (parts 1 & 2)", "Moon Light", "Curse Upon The World", "What Goes Around Comes Around", "Down Home Publicity", "True Love Will Never Die", "Gotta Stand For Something (parts 1 & 2)", and "I'll Give You A Ring". Features a great 16 page booklet with extensive liner notes and photos!

Rare mid 60s soul from Jimmy James & The Vagabonds! This great little EP on Acid Jazz features material that Jimmy cut in 1967 – and it's seeing release for the first time ever! His Vagabonds on these sessions include Herb Prestige and John Roberts – drummer and bass player for The Ram Jam Band – plus guitarist Dave Tedstone and organ groover Art Regis of The Squires. Includes "She's Looking Good", "Aunt Dora's Soul Shack", "Soul Sister, Brown Sugar" and "Why (Must I)".

Rare raw funk from the late 60s & early 70s – singles dug from the regional US scenes for the most part (plus a stellar number from funky funky Trinidad) – incredible numbers from Guitar Ray, Don Ray & Hobbit, James Polk & The Brothers, The Herculoids, TD & Jimmy James 3, Soul Dukes and more! Feeling Nice was compiled by deep digging collectors and DJs Tobias Kirmayer and Daniel Wanders – and it's outstanding stuff that we're being introduced to for the first time in many cases. Classic level funky soul from acts that didn't get over nearly as big as they should have. Includes "Funky Pete Pts 1 & 2" by Guitar Ray, "James Brown Boo-Ga-Loo" by James In The Incredible Showmen, "Feeling Nice" by Clarence Curvan (the title honor goes to our man from Trinidad), "Back Door Jeannye" by James Polk & The Brothers, "Get Back" by The Herculoids, "Jalapeno Pep" by TD & Jimmy James 3, "Wine For The Party" by Sonrize, "Dance Party Pts 1 & 2" by JC & The Soul Angels and more 12 in all.

Think funk music has to be old to be good? Think again – as Keb Darge takes you on a tour of some of the best funk you'll ever find on one CD, and it's all by current groups! Nobody knows more about old funk than Keb – as his work as a DJ, collector, and compiler have been keeping the music alive for years. But Keb's also open minded enough to realize that there's a heck of a lot of new groups that have been inspired by the classic grooves of the late 60s and early 70s – and who share his love for totally authentic funky tracks that are perfect in every way, top to bottom with dirty, heavy, messed-up funk! The set brings together 14 recent tracks from the deep funk underground – killer cuts that were issued as rare 7" singles, plus a few previously unissued numbers, all with the sock-hard finish of classic work by James Brown or The Meters – and with the added bonus that these are groups that you could actually get up, go out, and see in a club! Tracks include the previously unissued tracks "Wait Up" by Speedometer and "The Badger" by Connie Price & The Keystones – plus "Texas Rumble" by The Imaginary Visions, "Forty First Street Breakdown" by Naomi Davis, "One Note Brown" by The New Mastersounds, "Got To Be The Way It Is" by Sharon Jones, "Who's The King" by Joseph Henry, "The Matador" by The Mighty Imperials, "GT" by The New Mastersounds, "Funky So & So" by The Sugarman Three, and "Blow Your Top (part 1)" by The Soul Destroyers.

One of Quincy Jones' best for Mercury Records in the 60s – a very groovy record that was done with a feel that's somewhere in between his Big Band Bossa album and his best 60s soundtrack work! The format is simple – Quincy picks a sweet batch of jazz semi-hits from the early 60s, plays them with a nice mix of soul jazz arrangements, and works with a great ensemble filled with wonderful players – including Roland Kirk, Budd Johnson, Seldon Powell, James Moody, and Jerome Richardson on reeds; Lalo Schifrin and Patti Brown on piano, Jim Hall on guitar, Clark Terry on trumpet, and Melba Liston on trombone – plus lots of great percussion at the bottom, helping bring some Latin energy to the grooves at points. Tunes are familiar, but all given a great Quincy Jones twist – and titles include "Gravy Waltz", "Jive Samba", "Walk On The Wild Side", "Bossa Nova USA", and "Watermelon Man".

They certainly got the title right on this one – because the groove is heavy heavy heavy, and the set is one of the funkiest African collections we've ever stocked! Geraldo Pino's often credited as the man who inspired part of the Fela sound of the 70s – and Pino was one of the first Africans to pick up the styles that James Brown was forging in the 60s, and recast them into a longer, more jamming mode that would eventually form the sound of Afro Funk. This set's the first collection we've ever seen of Pino's work – and it's a long-overdue set that adds a whole new chapter to the history of Afro Funk! Many tunes have skittish electric piano and organ riffing along with heavier percussion and guitar – in a way that creates a really unusual groove, and one that grabs our ears instantly! 12 tracks in all – including "Afro Soco Soul Live", "Let Them Talk", "Heavy Heavy Heavy", "Africans Must Unite", "Shake Hands", "Power To The People", "Let's Have A Party", "Right In The Centre", "On The Spot", and "Black Woman Experience".

Killer funky James Brown work from Hank! Both cuts were part of his brief comeback period with The Godfather – and they're both nice and funky. "I'm Back" has virtually the same groove as "There Was a Time", but more of a live sound. "Come On" has hard drums, and very punctuated rhythm bits. Very nice!

James Brown, proud and loud – a smoking 60s album that provides a great link between his earlier styles and his freer roots – with a brilliant blend of funk, soul, and a touch of raw R&B! Given the power of The Godfather at this point, there's no denying that even the older cuts have a punch that few others could match – making for a record that feels mighty darn unified, despite the stretch of time between a few of the recordings. Titles include the funky gems "Ain't That a Groove (pts 1 & 2)", "The Scratch", "Is It Yes or Is It No", and James' great version of "The Bells" that's always been one of our favorites – plus Just You & Me", "I Love You Yes I Do", "Come Over Here", and "I Don't Mind". The cover also comes with an "autographed" photo of James on the back with the text "James Brown Fans – Frame This 8 x 10 Picture" – and an image that says "Soul Brother #1 Is Peeking At You Thru The Key Hole"!

A definite mother from James Brown – the kind of all-funky album that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match! If you've ever doubted the sheer raw power of James at the end of the 60s, the first few notes of this one will definitely make you a convert – and the stretched-out grooves as the album rolls on will pull you even further into the fold. Most tracks roll on with that improvised studio jamming style that James was hitting at the time – a pre-JBs mode that's not as long as later years, but which still makes you feel that there probably was plenty more recorded on the dates that didn't make it into the two-part versions of the tracks! And although James is singing on most numbers, the real focus is more on the band – hitting hard, vamping sharp, and grooving massively under shouted calls and directions from Brown. Titles include two great instrumentals – "Popcorn With a Feeling" and "Top of the Stack" – plus "Little Groove Maker Me (parts 1 & 2)", "Mother Popcorn (parts 1 & 2)", "Mashed Potato Popcorn (parts 1 & 2)", "Any Day Now", "You're Still Out Of Sight", and "I'm Shook" – as well as the great mellower number "If I Ruled The World" – redone here as an African-American anthem of pride and power!

Fast, frenetic funk – a romping 60s take on "James Brown's Boogaloo" – done at a level that's even rawer than the original from The Godfather himself! The guitar moves super-fast – cutting the tune with a razor-sharp rhythm that's then peppered with burning organ lines – plus a bit of heavy tenor on one of the versions here!

An excellent set by BB King – one of his best from the 60s, and a smoking live set recorded at Chicago's legendary Regal Theatre! The enthusiasm at the venue shows that BB's Memphis-honed style is a perfect fit for the electrified Chicago sound of the 60s – and the recording really brings out some wonderful responses from the audience – making the record a blues equivalent of James Brown's famous Live At The Apollo set! The record features introductions by Chicago DJs Pervis Spann and E Rodney Jones – and tracks include "Every Day", "Please Love Me", "Worry Worry", "Woke Up This Morning", "Help The Poor", and "You Upset Me Baby".

Modern funky Latin Soul from Spanglish Fly! "Think" is a cover of the old school R&B staple best remembered for the killer James Brown version from the early 60s – masterfully remodeled here as a fresh live Latin Soul with vocals by Erica Ramos and a great mix of Latin percussion and horns. "Let My People Bugalu" on the flip is just as great, a lively boogaloo from the NYC combo.

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.

Totally cool compilation that brings together a huge amount of hard to find sides that feature some of the great female soul singers that have worked with James Brown over the years. The set's divided into 2 discs – one for the 60's, and one for the 70's – and includes a huge amount of stuff we almost never see, by singers like Anna King, Bea Ford, Yvonne Fair, Tammy Montgomery (Tammi Terrell), Vicki Anderson, Marva Whitney, Shirley Jean, Kay Robinson, and of course, Lyn Collins. And don't worry about already having most of this stuff, because there's a huge amount of tracks on here that you probably don't have. Plus, there's a good set of notes, with lots of details, and a whopping total of 46 cuts in all!

A killer new Holiday soul single from Daptone – an instant classic that stands right up there with James Brown's legendary Christmas material from the 60s! "World Of Love" is a very righteous little soul tune – slow-building and hard-burning, with a message of togetherness that's worth spreading all year long! "Stoned Soul Christmas" is more upbeat and funky – a remake of the classic "Stoned Soul Picnic", but done here with much funkier instrumentation, and new Holiday lyrics from Binky!

"Can You Feel It" is a nice little instrumental from James – organ, horns, and guitar, all vamping slow, with a late night soul jazz groove that's pretty mellow and wonderful! "These Foolish Things" is his version of the old standard – done vocally, with dreamy ballad backings, but raw soul vocals right up front.

Two very unusual numbers from James! His version of "I Loves You Porgy" is a great one, with a fantastic monologue that takes up nearly half the track, and which starts it off on a great note. "Yours & Mine" is a weird instrumental – with a mix of strings and vibes that's very different for James!

A definite mother from James Brown – the kind of all-funky album that few of his contemporaries could ever hope to match! If you've ever doubted the sheer raw power of James at the end of the 60s, the first few notes of this one will definitely make you a convert – and the stretched-out grooves as the album rolls on will pull you even further into the fold. Most tracks roll on with that improvised studio jamming style that James was hitting at the time – a pre-JBs mode that's not as long as later years, but which still makes you feel that there probably was plenty more recorded on the dates that didn't make it into the two-part versions of the tracks! And although James is singing on most numbers, the real focus is more on the band – hitting hard, vamping sharp, and grooving massively under shouted calls and directions from Brown. Titles include two great instrumentals – "Popcorn With a Feeling" and "Top of the Stack" – plus "Little Groove Maker Me (parts 1 & 2)", "Mother Popcorn (parts 1 & 2)", "Mashed Potato Popcorn (parts 1 & 2)", "Any Day Now", "You're Still Out Of Sight", and "I'm Shook" – as well as the great mellower number "If I Ruled The World" – redone here as an African-American anthem of pride and power!

A great single, and one that's often overlooked! "It's A New Day" is a killer funk number, and it's delivered here with some nice choppy guitar, and a good vocal by James that's an answer to Women's Lib! And the flipside features James doing Ray Charles' old standard - but get this: the performance is lifted from the Playboy After Hours show, and you can actually hear Hugh Hefner introducing James at the beginning! Plus, it's a darn good version, too!

Modern funky Latin Soul from Spanglish Fly! "Think" is a cover of the old school R&B staple best remembered for the killer James Brown version from the early 60s – masterfully remodeled here as a fresh live Latin Soul with vocals by Erica Ramos and a great mix of Latin percussion and horns. "Let My People Bugalu" on the flip is just as great, a lively boogaloo from the NYC combo.

A killer – and the kind of single you'd dig through crates of vintage wax to find – yet never come up with one this good! Will Sessions serves up a groove that's every bit as sharp as the James Brown Band at their late 60s best – and Rickey Calloway does a great job of reminding us he's the main heir of the Godfather's legacy with his super-sharp vocals! The whole tune's a corker – and even with two parts, we still wish the track went on for another 20 minutes!

An excellent compilation of rare funky jazz tunes – issued here supposedly as a lost soundtrack, but really just a collection of tunes from other sources, all with a nice soundtrack-y jazz feel! There's a few familiar names here, but most of the material is from rare European and American indie jazz LPs, and sound library sources of late 60s/early 70s vintage, with a nice mix of electric and acoustic playing. Titles include "Troublemaker" by John Cameron, "Voodoo Love Dance" by Melvyn Price, "Do Whatever Sets You Free" by Gus Giordano, "Chili Mac" by Preston Love, "La Folla" by Solar Plexus, "A New Generation" by Oscar Brown Jr & Jean Pace, "Dancer" by Gregory Charles Royal, "Zazueira" by Meta Roos, and "Jody's Freeze" by James Reese & The Progressors.