Funky 45's — Recently Added

Rare material from the legendary Ramp – two tracks produced by Roy Ayers after the group's classic first album – issued here on a limited 7" single! "Old One Two" sounds like something that would have been right at home on Come Into Knowledge – a bumping groover ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Lost work from Gloria Taylor – singer who's best known for indie sides in the 60s, but who sounds completely fantastic here on a one-off single for Columbia! "Deep Inside You" has this unusual flow – almost stop/start in energy, but with Taylor really soaring out on her ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

There's a slight Meters groove in the background of "Zodiac" – the way that the bassline and drums work together – but the front space of the cut's also got this unusual spoken bit, with J-Zone bad-rapping quickly, in a style that's very unusual for a funk track! The approach ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A crackling cut from the great Bussin album by Devin Morrison – served up here with a sweet instrumental take too! The beats are lean and the bass is heavy – this slow-stepping cosmic flow that's drenched in soul – at a level that almost makes Devin's slightly disorted vocals one ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A rare funky cut from the studios of Detroit wizard Dave Hamilton – a two-part monster that deals with the evils of drugs – and which has an almost Westbound Records-like mix of soulful vocals, fuzzy guitars, and heavy funk! The production is amazing – almost beating George ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A warm little groove from Kindred The Family Soul – one with a bubbling rhythm and light riffing guitar that almost takes us back to "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" – and which has a mix of spoken and lead vocals that almost evoke the same vibe! "Magic ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two funky nuggets from New Mastersounds – each with a special guest! Vocalist Lamar Williams Jr joins the group on "Shake It" – a tune that's almost got a Meters-like starkness to the groove that gets things going – but which takes on a bit more fullness from the vocals ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Beaty, bassy, and pretty darn electric – a great set of tracks that definitely looks at the world of 80s groove with the best vision hindsight has to offer! That is – the music is full of all the best elements of the electro soul generation – but served up without any of the ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Beaty, bassy, and pretty darn electric – a great set of tracks that definitely looks at the world of 80s groove with the best vision hindsight has to offer! That is – the music is full of all the best elements of the electro soul generation – but served up without any of the ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A sweet little number with a sunny California vibe – equal parts rock and soul, with a guitar line that fades in to echo the waves of the surf – while Rudy De Anda delivers a vocal over romping drums! "Los Canarios" is slower, with plenty of echoey guitar tripping over slow ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two of the grooviest tracks from the score to L'Allenatore Nel Pallone – both issued here on a limited 45! "Mundialito" has a Braziliany groove at the bottom, with lots of cuica next to percussion – but the overall rhythm is more leaping and Italian, and a chorus does all ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great slinky groove for the vocals of Irene Nonis – a tune co-written with Nicola Conte, who produced and also plays guitar on the cut! The track's got an easygoing vibe – with congas under keyboards, almost feeling like a sweet-stepping 70s tune! "Night Stuff" is maybe ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Syl Foreman really belts it out of the park on "Before I Leave You" – a tune that's almost got Syl popping the microphone levels into the red, as he romps along with the jaunty guitar and organ in the groove! The tune's a bit deep soul, but funkier – and the drums really go ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Heavenly soul cut by Mike James Kirkland and his early soul group The Censations! "There Is Nothing" is a beautiful sweet soul ballad, with excellent harmonies – and "Don't Mess" is more of an uptempo number, with a good groove, and tight deep soul harmonies by Mike, as ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Hanz Mambo lives up to the watery sound of his previous single with "Mer Baltique" – a dreamy little instrumental that has lots of echoey guitar over a slowly-loping groove – complete with some very nice watery effects in the middle! "Breaking Wave" is slower and ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

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

James Carr may not have cut the famous version of "These Arms Of Mine" – but he does a superb job here on the classic – really hitting the tune with his best deep soul energy, and maybe even a bit more sadness than on the Otis Redding hit! "Let's Face Facts" is ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

An unreleased gem by a 60s group that have a very soulful take on the party rock style – really mixing together garagey elements and bluesy inspirations – a bit like some of the cooler Texas combos of the time! "Big Big Polly" has vocals that are more offbeat vocalizations ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Sweet girl pop from Bernadette Carroll! "Laughing On The Outside" is the kind of weepy gem that might have been recorded by Joanie Sommers – but handled here with a nicely indie vibe that has spare strings moving nicely next to Bernadette's blue-tinged vocals, and a nice spoken bit ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

El Michels and Wu-Tang – always a wonderful combination, as you'll hear on this fantastic funky 45! The group take on "Shadowboxin" and strip it right down to its roots – just bassline, slow-stepping drums, and a wicked bit of organ – completely different without any ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A pair of incredible late 60s gems from Barbara Lynn – together on a funky 45! "I'm A Good Woman" is one of Barbara Lynn's greatest tunes ever – a hard soul groover with a massive bottom beat – guitar riffing with the rhythms, and some totally righteous vocals from ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Sublime 80s mellow from Michael Wycoff – a great track lifted from his classic Love Conquers All album, and a tune that never gets old! The track glides in beautifully on some sweet keyboards that have a lot of 70s warmth – and Wycoff's voice, while smooth, also crackles with an honest ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Candy & The Kisses come on with a great Northern soul stormer here – the wonderful "Are You Trying To Get Rid Of Me" – a song penned by the trio of Jo Armstead, Nick Ashford, and the young Valerie Simpson! Ashford & Simpson also handled "Mr Creator" – ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

"Afrotheme" is a groove that definitely earns its name – as it's a fast-moving funky instrumental with a great bassline and lots of quick conga – then layered with riffing wah wah guitar, at a level that makes it feel like some lost "chase" theme from a ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Very different work than usual for arranger/composer Jean Claude Vannier – not a slinky sexy soundtrack, but instead an all-acoustic set that features some fantastic jazzy touches – including work from saxophonist Philippe Mate, and vibes and percussion from Bernard Lubat! The 7" ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A pair of standouts from Sly5thAve's breezy, lightly orchestral takes on classic Dr Dre productions! "Still DRE" is one of the sweetest jams of all, taking flight on soulful stings, piano and flute, leading into terser, tighter grooves anchored by funky drums. Jimetta Rose's vocal and ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Some of the rawest work we've ever heard from saxophonist Timo Lassy – blowing here with just the drums of Teppo Makynen for accompaniment! "Zomp" has the drums breaking with almost an old school vibe, but a bit more complex – as is Timo's solo, which shows a knowledge of the ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two previously-unissued soul tracks – both making their vinyl debut! "I'm Just Passing Time" is sublime harmony soul from Melvin Hicks & The Versatiles – a tune with a slow but hard drum beat at the bottom – which paces things out as the harmonies soar to the skies ... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great early gem from Lee Moses – recorded for the Musicor label, and with a sound that's maybe even more put-together than some of Lee's later work! Those raw, raspy Moses vocals are still very much in place – but they're backed with this great combination of jangly guitar, rough ... 7-inch, Vinyl record