A gem from that time when the UK sound library scene was dabbling a bit with rockish influences! The mighty Johnny Hawksworth did half the cuts here, along with Peter Reno – and side one features vocal numbers, while side two features instrumentals! LP, Vinyl record album

We're not sure how much research went into the album – but we can definitely say that's got the sound just right – this sublime variation on Italian studio funk, served up here with all the right elements! The record's got an electric slink that would be right at home on the CTI/Kudo labels – but the groove is also more compact, and understated – as befits the Italian sound library origins of the set – still the right kind of jazzy solos, but with a good sense of economy and strong adherence to rhythm throughout! There's loads of great keyboards on the set – used in many nice flavors – and titles include "Splash Down", "Intimate Conversation", "The Taste Of Repeat", "Smooth & Manly", "Rhythm Phasing Blues", and "Sweet Foolishness". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic funky sound library gem – one that begins with this wicked fast drum break over riffing guitar – while Gianni Oddi starts to warm things up with sweet keyboards, and then snakes in a tenor sax solo too! Isabella Sodani provides these sexy vocals that are whispered in the background – leaving plenty of room for the keys and tenor! "Geronimo" is equally cool – with this very offbeat groove that almost sounds like it's dipping into water, and then this cool bassline part that's almost got a "Soul Makossa" vibe – as does the saxophone part that comes into play over the top! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Wild funky grooves – and even crazier than the first volume! The set follows the format of the first, in that tracks are selected by the enigmatic Barry 7 – but the source material is completely different, making for a very unique sound. This time around, Barry's dipped into the rich catalog of Italian soundtrack label CAM – one of Italy's greatest sources of work for film scores, and home to plenty of wonderful tunes over the years! Tracks here are a mad blend of guitars, keyboards, voices, orchestrations, rhythms, electronics, and strange instrumentation – as groovy and cool as they are upbeat and funky. Many of the titles are unfamiliar to our ears, and they sound even better laid back to back in this great-looking package! Titles include "Margaret" by Giuseppe De Luca, "Iniziazone 72" by Ennio Morricone, "Motivi Psichedelici" by Daniele Patucchi, "Sisy" by Giampiero Boneschi, "Rio A Los Angeles" by Giuseppe De Luca, "Dies Irae Psichedelico" by Ennio Morricone, "Saturns Ambush" by Giampiero Boneschi, "Omicidio Per Vocazione" by Stefano Torossi, and "Secondo Rito" by Ennio Morricone. LP, Vinyl record album

Funk from Belgium? Believe it or not, stranger things have happened – and we can promise that if you played these tracks back to back with more familiar grooves from other 70s sources, you'd quickly find that these Belgian grooves are right up there with the best of the bunch! The set's maybe a more sophisticated follow-up to the excellent Funky Chicken collection, which documented some grittier Belgian 70s material a few years back – and this one shows off a wickedly sharp batch of tunes that include funky fusion, sweet sound library numbers, and lots of really inventive cuts that are plenty funk, but often take some great chances too – in ways that almost make us think that the nation's scene was so small that musicians from different genres were often hanging out together, and breaking down lots of musical boundaries in the process! Titles include "Funky Chimes" by Francis Coppieters, "My Chinese Girl Likes Kung Fu Fighting" by The Sumos, "Traveling On Rhythms" by Bud Hunga & His Diplomatic Music, "Pink Movement" by Experience, "Tiger Walk" by The Peter Laine Orchestra, "Faded Lady (inst)" by SSO, "Barabajagal" by The Flying Guitar, "Scratch My Back (parts 1 & 2)" by The Soul Scratchers, "Skylab" by Electronic System III, "Free Way Exit" by Guido Carnagy, "Guess We'd Better Break Up Now" by Etta Cameron, "Give It Up Or Turn It A Loose" by Philip Catherine, "Riff For Peggy" by Roland Thyssen, "We Love The Policemen" by Hearts Of Soul & Shampoo, "Smoke Signal" by Indian Sound Of Blackfoot, "Inner City Blues" by Leslie Kent, "Chewing Gum Delirium" by Free Pop Electronic Concept, "Akkerwinde" by Lieven, "Concerto For Right Foot & Orchestra" by George Hayes & His Philarpopic Orchestra, "Punktowiec" by Skleroptak, and "Soul Melody" by R Dero. (Funky Compilations, Sound Library) CD