A really romping single from the lesser-known Connie Austin – a cut that's as funky as is soulful, with a set of backings that comes down right on the money, while a little conga line kicks things right back over the top! The approach allows Connie's vocals to really soar – giving the whole thing an unexpectedly righteous vibe! Charles Spurling steps out on the flipside – a storming Northern Soul number recorded in the 60s, but which appears here on a 45 for the first time ever! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two rare KPM sound library grooves – back to back on a single piece of wax! "Name Of The Game" is fantastic – slow funk, but super-heavy – with measured drums that space things out as keyboards really take their time to build up the mood, before serving up a mighty sweet solo in the middle! The drums break nicely by their own at one point too – and "Confunktion" has a similar slow funk start, then really builds with frenetic energy on the drums – almost a proggish take on funk at times! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Great 70s harmonies from Classic Example – soaring here over a tune that has so much warmth and charm, it's hard to believe it's about a breakup! The track has these horns that cascade along with the vocals – and this lilting vibe that's completely compelling right away! "I Found Me A Girl" is slower and bluer – perfect sweet soul material, at a level that lets the group hit a more heartbreaking mode! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

An obscure later track from the Detroit scene – done by Motor City maestro Dave Hamilton in a mellow, midtempo groove that seems perfect for the slinky vocal approach of Jackie Dee! Jackie's got a slightly breathy style that seems influenced a bit by Sylvia – as does her sexy approach – and the flipside is an instrumental by Dave, done even funkier than the vocal cut – with a cool flanged guitar layered down into the mix! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Later work by General Crook – very different than his funkier sides of the 60s, but still pretty darn great! "Best Years Of My Life" is a wonderful ballad cut – strings gently gliding as Crook's rich vocals come into deliver a sweet and sad lyric. "Testification" is more electric – with funky clavinet at the beginning, and a flanged-out approach on the vocals. 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Rock, Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record

The Hytones have a really warm style of vocals here – harmony soul, but with a special sort of appeal that's hard to put our finger on – yet which comes through right from the minute you first hear the track – a perfect accompaniment to its very catchy groove! "Good News" is equally great – a super-snapping groove with an undercurrent of vibes – and an even more deep-soul styled set of vocals from the group! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A gem of a cut from Ty Karim – one of those singers who should have been huge, especially with a vocal presentation like this! Ty manages to soar on the upbeat groove, but has a special sort of crackle that really sends the lyric home – proud and fragile at the same time, in a way that's very unique! That quality also comes through in "All At Once" – a tune with a cool stepping sort of groove, which pushes Karim's vocal range even more as the tune overflows with soulful power! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

There's nothing blues-like about this great little cut from 1979 – one that has Warren Raye singing deep soul vocals over a slow-stepping groove with some warm modern soul production – very much in that warmer shift in southern soul that was taking place on labels like Malaco in the latter half of the 70s – a quality that's carried through on the flipside – an excellent cut that wasn't even issued back in the day! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A super-rare sound library gem from the Italian scene – a wonderful tune that's got this midtempo bassline that steps along in a very groovy way – easygoing, but funky too – as harp, strings, and some mighty nice flute come into the mix to warm things up! "Since I Lost You" is a new cut – but one that seeks to recall the spirit of Sorgini's original – a bit more contemporary in production, but with all these very similar elements and a mighty nice groove! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two nice funky instrumentals by the studio band for this obscure Chicago funk label! "It's Your Thing" is the famous Isleys track, and itgrooves as nicely as any cover of the track. "The Dud" has some nice weird instrumental moments, with horns chugging over equally chugging bass and drums. 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Killer James Brown! This late King classic is done up in 3 parts – and weren't there only 2 parts on the LP? Even more of a reason to buy this funky 45. It's so hot, it goes all the way to part 3! That third part is the super-duper killer – done in a fast funk style that's so incredible you'll be hard pressed to believe that the group's actually playing the instruments without help from tapes or overdubs – and James shouts along with the whole thing, driving the tune into a frenzy! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A funky holy grail – one of the rarest of the rare, and the only album ever cut by funky guitarist Carl "Sherlock" Holmes! Carl's work on the guitar is incredible – fast riffing and jazzy, with a style that's dirtier and messier than some of his 70s jazz funk contemporaries, but which also lays back on a few tracks so that Carl can deliver a sweetly soulful vocal. The album's a real blend of styles, all handled pretty darn well – and this special 2 x 7" single version features the best cuts – "It Ain't Right", "Black Bag", "Investigation", and "Think It Over". 7-inch, Vinyl record

Nothing halting about this killer cut – a fuzzy, funky number that has lots of tripped-out guitar over heavy drums – and some phase-shifting chromatic element in the mix that may be processed vibes, or something far more mysterious! "Euler Spiral" is equally heady, but a very different number – a slow, spacey groove that takes its funk very slow – almost like some of the cool Johnny Harris instrumentals from years back! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Fantastic early funk from The Commodores – two great tracks on a limited pic sleeve funky 45! "Assembly Line" has a famous break that was big in the old school scene – but is also this massive cut with a really full-on feel that's completely different than any of the group's later hits! "Gonna Blow" is wonderfully wicked too – with a sharp bassline and percussion, and a groove that's almost more like funky fusion than Motown soul! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two incredible tracks from keyboardist Wolfang Dauner – both a mad mix of funky jazz and psychedelic elements! "Sun Is Rising" has this very groovy, almost joyous sort of vibe – odd vocals mixed with a hip sitar line and some very cool percussion next to the drums! "Day In The Life" is taken with the Beatles' lyrics intact, but sung in this really unusual flat-toned mode – and mixed with funky drums, and some great guitar from Sigi Schwab! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great return to form for the legendary Sidney Barnes – known best as a onetime member of both Rotary Connection and the P-Funk universe – but working here with great small combo backing from the Speedometer combo! "Best Thing" is an original by Barnes – sung in this sweet raspy style that gets great support from the funky group – who even thrown in a sweet Hammond solo in the middle! The flipside is a remake of Nolan Porter's "If I Could Only Be Sure" – a midtempo burner that has Sidney sounding even better on vocals! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A killer French soundtrack from the start of the 70s – four very groovy cuts that were used in the film Jeu De Dames, a movie that also circulated under the more titillating title of Sex Revolution! The music is full of freak and fuzz – Hammond organ, great guitar lines, and plenty of romping mod rhythms that feel more like late 60s French grooves than work from 1973 – all given the sorts of very cool production touches that you'd expect from bigger giants of the field, like Michel Colombier and Alan Goraguer! Titles include "Les Velos", "Le Viol", "Drole De Jeu De Dames", and "La Recherche". 7-inch, Vinyl record