Funky 45's — Recently Added

ZZ Hill sounds a bit more upbeat here than usual, but in a really great way – offering up his own take on the Betty Swann tune with a wonderfully raspy vocal that fills the tune full of honest charm! "Love Is Gonna Get You" is done here in a rare "brass version" by Peggy ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

We don't know Joe Burrell at all – but he really sounds great here on "There Was A Time" – not the tune that James Brown made big, but instead a very different number – served up with a jazzy flourish, thanks to the orchestrations of Kae Williams! Pookie Hudson is a ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

The magnificent voice of Tommy Hunt is in a perfect setting here – stepping strings over a great uptown soul groove – cool and classy, but also pretty darn catchy – putting Hunt in the same sort of territory as Chuck Jackson or Jerry Butler on their best mid 60s groovers! The cut ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Maxine Brown takes on a tune by Otis Redding – which means that "Baby Cakes" has a harder, heavier groove than some of her other tunes – almost a Memphis sort of bite, with some burning organ vamping underneath the vocals! "One In A Million" is here in a rare ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Funky nuggets from one of the coolest kid groups of the 70s! "Only One Can Win" has this great jagged rhythm that's nicely complicated, but also straightforwardly groovy – perfect for the sweet vocals of the group! "Fools Paradise" has a very famous sample at the start ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two sweet funky tracks from Braen & Raskovich – a mysterious studio duo that features some extra-heavy drums from Giuliano Sorgini! The drums alone here are great – but they're also topped by a weir spooky keyboard that's billed as a "Hammond C3" on the cover – ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

There's lots of cool keyboards on "Mais Kriola" – moogy bits, clavinet, and maybe more too – all wrapped together in this mix of funk and Brazilian fusion, in a way that reminds us a bit of early Azymuth – but with more soulful vocals! "Maita" is one of the ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A contemporary gospel group, but one that reminds us of those really cool spiritual acts from the New York scene at the 70s – when gospel styles were blending with soul, and coming up with a very righteous new style in the process! "He's On Time" is upbeat, funky, and fantastic ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Funky drums and some mighty nice horns – a real killer from Black Market Brass, and maybe one of their most intense tracks to date! There's almost an Afro Funk vibe here, but the style is even more freewheeling – fast grooves and horns that are incredibly deft, but also have lots of ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A killer jam from Orgone – like a lost funky gem from the immediate post disco/nascent boogie funk years! Don't worry, "Don't' Stop" is not a indie funk version of the Fleetwood Mac tune, but a tight little tune with a killer bassline, tight drums, and some great soul vocals ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A totally cool little Japanese soundtrack from the 60s – done for a film that features a bunch of younger teens who head out the beach – and which is scored with music that perfectly fits the mood! There's a really great range of 60s film modes going on here – as some tunes ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A sweet modern soul stepper – a cut that's been lost for years, and is definitely one of those rare gems worth discovering! "What More Can I Say" has this jazzy vibe that comes from sweet guitar stepping over the midtempo groove – while a warm vocal group harmonizes with ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A fresh take on one of the Rickey Calloway classics from years back – snapping drums and full-on funk – a completely heavy-hitting number that rivals the best James Brown work of the early 70s! The track's a smoking cooker that never lets up – from the first rattletrap on the ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A debut solo single by Cochemea Gastelum of the Dap-Kings – one that feature some mighty nice Varitone sax on "Song Of Happiness" – kind of a snakey soul jazz number with a great late 60s Eddie Harris vibe! "Stranded In Space" has more great Varitone – ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A sweet rocksteady groove from Nico Collins & The Soul Chance – a contemporary group who share a lot with Jr Thomas & The Volcanos – both a love of older Jamaican modes, and their placement on Colemine Records! Nico's got a sweeter vocal approach than Jr – which really ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Sweet soul from a contemporary group – one who work with just the right blend of falsetto and funky on "This Is My Story"! "Blue Light" is even more laidback – with a lightly-tripping groove and guitar line that feel lifted right from the east coast sweet soul scene ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A very cool mix of music – served up here on a soundtrack that's almost like having an audio version of a movie! The songs are all relatively short, and are the mix of jazz and lighter melodies that you might find in an early 60s Italian soundtrack – perfect music for the bittersweet ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A totally cool Japanese soundtrack from the 60s – one that's as much of a jazz album as it is a film score! The group features saxes from Sadao Watanabe and trumpet from Terumasa Hino – part of a lineup that would already make the music sound great on paper, although it's even better ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Tuxedo work here with Zapp – but at level that has the Troutman legacy very much back in full form! The basslines, rhythms, and vocoder bits are very much like you'd hear from the group in their early 80s prime – maybe just warmed up a bit with the undeniable Tuxedo love of a good hook ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A loud, proud tune from Ruby Velle – and one that's also got some great backing vocals from a trio that includes the lovely Chantae Cann! The track's got this almost-dark edge, and feels like one of the more powerful tracks we've ever heard from Ruby – and it's backed here by "Love ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two great cuts from the Pride Records label – both hip and funky! "Whatever's Fair" is one of the best-remembered numbers from the Infinity recordings with Billy Butler – work that's got all the soaring soul of his 60s Chicago work, but a more righteous vibe too! "Simple ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A walloping blast of Aussie Hammond soul from Cooking On 3 Burners! "Warning" cooks for sure, with flavored with raw drums some bold and sultry vocals by guest singer Kaiit. Jump about is hard charging instrumental stormer on the other side. 7-inch, Vinyl record

A nice smooth house track from Strictly Rhythm's salad days, with a nicely bouncing bassline – and one that was HUGE here in Chicago! There's this really moody keyboard line at the start – before the beats pump up and the vocals really get fantastic! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A mighty nice track from Louie Vega – one that begins with this snapping, crackling beats, intercut with a wicked moody bassline – as soulful vocals kind of explode over the top! 7-inch, Vinyl record

An undeniable acid house classic with enough bouncing 909 bassline and 808 handclaps to keep you moving all night long! One of the essential mid 80s Trax releases. 7-inch, Vinyl record

A soulful classic from Chicago! "Move Your Body" is a wonderful house tune – one with a warmer groove than usual, and vocals that really drive the track in a great way alongside the relentless and infectious piano line. Mixed by Chicago legend Ron Hardy, this track needs no ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A sweet couple modern soul tunes by The Sentiments! "What's So Good About Saying Goodbye" has production vibe that reminds us a bit of Adrian Younge's productions, the way it gives a nod to echoey old school atmosphere, but it's ultimately got a contemporary vibe. Good stuff! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A nice little Afro Funk style jam from The So-Ons – representing the LA, with an early for African percussion & rhythms! "Tej" cooks over a steady rhythm, horns and a really nice spindly guitar groove. "Short Shrift" carries a similar path of the other side, but the ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Maybe some of the most explosive steel drum sounds you'll ever hope to hear – but that's what we've always expected from the mighty Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band! "Xxplosive" is funky, but in a nice slow-stepping way – with the bassline really carving out the groove, as ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

The cover's a bit unusual for a single by El Michels Affair, and the music is too – especially given that group here work with singer Piya Malik – whose entrancing vocals really bring a new sound to their groove! "Unathi" has some elements that are in the familiar El Michel's ... 7-inch, Vinyl record