A great single from Lena – a funky remake of the Beatles' "Rocky Raccoon" – done with a sweet vamping sort of groove, and some nice guitar from Gabor Szabo! "Watch What Happens" is taken at a nice stepping pace – again with some sweet guitar! 7-inch, Vinyl record
An excellent soul single! "Send My Baby Back" is a real killer – with a great hook, excellent vocals, and tight production by Lonnie Hewitt, known also to the world as one of Cal Tjader's funkier piano players! "Where's My Baby" is pretty darn great, too – and is ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A great mellow groover from Willie – lifted from his Ode To My Lady LP, and offered up here in a two-sided promo single! The track's got a very similar beatbox groove feel to Little Beaver's single of the same name – but also features some very nice vocals by Willie. 7-inch, Vinyl record
A funky killer from The Imperial Showband – maybe the best tune we've ever heard from the group! Tommy Tate is on vocals, but even before he comes into the mix the cut burns with this excellent funky vibe – snapping drums and burning organ that are made even better by Tate's raspy ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
An incredible track by The Impressions! Although it's hard to believe it now, "We're A Winner" was actually banned from radio in Chicago when it came out – because the track's politics were too strong, and the message of pride was deemed inappropriate for the mainstream stations! ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
"Smell The Funk" is a great track – one that begins with a voice saying "ooooooo-wee!", then hits a tight, hard hard hard funky vamp! The track's got some lyrics, but it's really dominated by tight drums, guitar, and the vamping group! "Party Man" is mellower, ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Two funky club classics from Salsoul – back to back on a sweet 7" single! "The Funk Is On" has some heavy guitar coming down right on the beat – in this way that's almost an old school break, but a bit fuller – especially when the vocals come into the mix, although ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Classic Isley Brothers – and a track that's way better than it should be! The group takes the CSN snoozer "Love the One You're With", and they turn it into a very strident soul groover, with lots of great musical elements that hint at the direction they would take later in the 70s. ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A classic JBs single – with a non-LP b-side! "Gimme Some More" is a stone classic by the group – a proud and stomping funk song, with a catchy refrain that starts from the first beat, and which really wails as the tune goes on! "Rabbit" is a rare one with an ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A couple of the only cuts we've ever heard by Walter Jenkins and a should-be classic Funky 45! "Back In My Life" has a great sound that's stripped down on the instrumental tip – a tight little bass, drums, guitar and horns backdrop – but it really soars in the vocal realm, ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
The Jive Turkeys do "The Reggie" here – a quick-stepping groove that mixes these sweet skittish drums with a bold horn section, tight guitar, and some mighty nice Hammond! The tune bumps along quickly and only gains energy towards the end – a flurry of instrumental power with ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
One of the greatest Curtom singles ever – and it wasn't even on Curtom! Patti Jo sings a sublime Curtis Mayfield number here – working with production from Mayfield and arrangements by Rich Tufo – a wonderful blend of righteous funky soul and strings that's more in the Curtom ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A stunning mix of talents that brings the heavenly piano and guitar of Antonio Carlos Jobim into play with the lush, but light arrangements of Claus Ogerman – a swirling mix of post-bossa loveliness that redefines Jobim's sound, and opens up new avenues for exploration in sound! The ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A sweet Afro Funk single produced by Karl Hector – of Malcouns fame – and a groove that has the same sort of retro vibe as their great work! The tune's stark and spare – with snapping drums, fuzzy guitar, and keyboards carrying most of the instrumentation – and lead lyrics ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
The best single yet from modern Afro Funk mastermind JJ Whitefield (Whitefield Brothers, Karl Hector & The Malcouns, Rodinia and more) and his storming combo Johnny! "I'm Gone" has fuzzy guitar groove that gives it sound that crosses over nicely into psychedelia without compromizing ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
(Includes download code for this single and more in the series!)
Killer blend of raw funk and fuzzy guitar from Johnny! – spearheaded by neo-classic funk heavy J Whitefield! Whitefield's is a key contemporary funk player to say the least – busting regional and stylistic boundaries with Poets Of Rhythm, Karl Hector & The Malcouns, Whitefield ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Great heavy drums kick this one off – kind of a slow break that really sets a dark mood for the tune, which Durand Jones follows up with vocals that may well be some of his most righteous to date! The flipside's a bit earthier, and has more rasp in Durand's vocals – which try for ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
"Smile" has this nicely heavy bottom – drums that almost come on with the power of a contemporary beat, which really underscores the deep soul vocals of Durand Jones – a singer with almost a Lee Fields approach to the music! "Tuck N Roll" is funky too – but ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
One of the greatest singles on the legendary Loma label – and a killer early cut from Linda Jones! "Hypnotized" has great raw vocals, a very catchy hook, and a loud instrumental groove that's just great. George Kerr produced – but the cut's a lot harder than his later stuff. ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A very cool remake of this cut from Sharon Jones – produced by Ticklah here with a sweetly dubby vibe! "How Long" still has plenty of soul here, but it also takes on a bit of a Kingston groove too – stepping along with a 60s rocksteady vibe that supports Sharon's vocals ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Sharon Jones does a wonderful job with this classic – getting some hard funky backings from The Dap-Kings, and soaring out over the top with the best reading of the lyric we've ever heard! There's a tasty sax solo in the middle of the track – and the instrumental flipside offers even ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A killer – and one of those tunes you'd swear you heard back in the day – but which is even greater given that it's a contemporary recording! There's a bursting power to "Comencemos" that almost feels like "Jungle Boogie"-era Kool & The Gang – a way of ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Fast guitar steps out quick on "Firewalker" – setting a groove that's followed by fast congas and some heavy riffing horns – all burning together with just the right sort of intensity you'd guess from the group's name! "Chalupa" continues with a sweet tropical ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Heavy rhythms and furiously funky percussion from Jungle Fire! NUSAU starts off with nice and raw before upping the instrumentation and intensity, finding a heated, but nicely gelled ballance with the horn section. "La Kossa" once again nails the Afro-Latin percussion vibe, but has more ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
That's The Way I Like It is one of KC's Miami funk classics which needs no introduction – except to say that hearing it these days, we're surprised at how funky it sounds compared to our memories of it's history on AM radio! 7-inch, Vinyl record
Forget the a-side, which is a dreamy instrumental, because the b-side's the real winner! "8th Wonder" is a nice groovy instrumental – with some hard drums at the beginning, and with King playing varitone in a nice mod fuzzed out style! 7-inch, Vinyl record
Two rare slices of Nairobi funk – back to back on a great 45! "Gkinumanze" is a fast-moving number with horns riffing over the top of a bass-wrapped rhythm – one that's complex, but completely infectious – topped by lyrics at the start, then this very unusual guitar (?) ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A funky snapping single from Lady Wray – one that's got a vamping guitar alongside the drums – almost in a modern update of a "Fever" sort of groove – which opens into deeper territory as the lady steps up and belts out the lyric! "Guilty" has a slower-breaking ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Rare female funk from Philly – a tune by a trio of three great singers who really blow away most of the competition! This isn't girl group soul, but instead some serious bad sister funk – as the vocals really have to compete with the hard funky drums at the core of the tune – ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
(Limited funky 45 pressing – in a great package, too!)
"Here Comes The Judge" is a great rollicking bit of funky soul from Shorty – and it's got a nice groove that works extremely well with the oft-played "judge" routine! 7-inch, Vinyl record
An exciting couple of cuts from Chicago Latin cumbia, soul, ska and all around genre-defying combo Los Vicios De Papa! "Victima" keeps a solid, soulful rhythm underneath raw, almost hip hop inspired vocals and some really great horns. "Esperanza" has some amped up ska style, ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Two sweet jazzy dancers from Johnny Lytle – both very heavy on vibes! "Selim" builds up the groove nicely, almost in a "Milestones" sort of way – and in addition to Johnny's strong vibes, there's some mighty soulful piano in the mix as well! "The Man" is ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Kind of an old school mix of funky breaks, a famous vocal sample, and rhymes from the group – used in a great way in between the "Devil made me do it" line from Flip Wilson – which is dropped in as the hook! The flipside's got a similar vibe, too – almost a 45 King ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A mariachi group, but one with a real difference – as these young ladies are intent on taking their music into a great new direction – one that still respects its roots, but also finds a way to thrive with the energy of a younger generation! Guitars, horns, and violins all share equal ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
The tenor of the times is in the title of this one – as "Riot" is a darker number than some of Hugh's other hits, but no less funky, with a brace of trumpets blaring over the top, and chunky beats that have that great scatter shot sound of his Uni work! "Mace" is a ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Mato remakes of two great 70s soundtrack cuts – both nice and funky! "T" is from Trouble Man – and done here in a sweet style that mixes in melodica lines with a funky rhythm and tight horns – and "Enter The Dragon" gets a cool Kingston kick in the rhythms, ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
2 sides of the funky soul sound of Toronto's Wanye McGhie in the early 70s! "Love Is The Answer" have a more tightly snapping funk sound than you might from the tender hearted title, with really commanding vocals by McGhie – backed by a great group including members of The ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A standout groover from Jimmy's years at Sue! "Kiko" is a monster – humping, thumping, and bumping its way along – Jimmy wailing over the top on organ, while the band does a super-vamp underneath like some sort of funky caterpillar! "Jumpin" is a decent enough ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A smooth mellow number lifted from Ronnie's Love's Comin Down album on Motown – a catchy track with a slow stepping groove, featuring Ronnie's vocals layered all over each other, and some swirling harmony production to keep things right! 7-inch, Vinyl record
Classic sounds on 45rpm 7 inch singles -- Northern soul, deep soul, funk, breaks, rare groove, sample tracks, modern soul, and jazz!
Joe Hinton —
Funny/
