An amazing rare chapter in the career of the legendary Manu Dibango – and a darn funky one as well! This early 70s album was recorded in Paris, right before Manu's huge global "Soul Makossa" hit – and although it was done as an obscure sound library release, it really shows Dibango jumping into all the best funky modes that would soon make him a giant! In face, the whole thing might well be Manu's funkiest record ever – as the tracks have no vocals, and are tight and right on the money – with plenty of heavy drums and massive basslines – plus instrumentation from a very cool lineup of French jazz players that includes Yvan Julien on trumpet and Francois Jenneau on tenor. Manu himself blows lots of funky flute and sax solos – and also plays vibes, piano, and organ – on very groovy instrumentals that include "Iron Wood", "Coconut", "Zoom 2000", "Aphrodite Shake", "Soul Saxes Meeting", "Out Of Score", "Ba-Kuba", and "Groovy Flute". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic guitar work from K Frimpong – and plenty of other fantastic sounds too – all rolled up in his unique blend of Afro funk and high-life – served up here on four nice long tracks! There's vocals on the record, but the guitar and rhythms are what really drive the train – especially in some places as the vocals almost feel like exclamatory passages in response to the sharpness of the instrumentation! Things move pretty darn quickly on most cuts – which makes the guitar work even more amazing, especially in comparison to conventional highlife – on titles that include "Abrubo", "Acheumpomaa", "Ohere A Oda Apakaw Mu", and "Aboagyewaa". LP, Vinyl record album

The sublime first album from K Frimpong – a really unique blend of hi-life and Afro Funk, but served up with all these unusual touches that make the album stand out from even most of the rest of the revolutionary sounds that were coming from Ghana at the time! There's this sense of flow that has each side of the record moving with non-stop energy – and an approach to rhythm that's almost as if the whole thing was moving forward like water – a tide of bass, percussion, riffing guitar, and organ – bubbling, dipping, and chugging in a way that seems completely effortless – while Frimpong urges the group on with his well-inflected vocals and lead guitar! Titles include "Nana Bue Me", "Mofofoo", "Komofo Adu", "Otwie", "Osaw", "M"Anoma", "Moma Yen Sore", and "Susuansu". LP, Vinyl record album

The title proclaims "highlife is back" – but it's also pretty darn funky here, thanks to a strong dose of influence from American soul music! In fact, the highlife quality is a bit more subdued than usual – still some great guitar lines, criss-crossing in nice ways – but the rhythms often bring in clubbier elements, with basslines that bump along the bottom and really keep the tunes moving! The sound is still nice and raw – the group's a relatively small combo – and producer Frimpong Manso gives the whole thing a vibe that's maybe more late 70s overall, save for a few digital touches – especially in comparison to other West African work of the time. Titles include "Ma No Nye Ansa", "Sesa Wosuban", "Asem Da Ye So", "Boafo Ne Nyame", and "Odo Koo Ye Akye". LP, Vinyl record album

Massive music we've never heard before – a really heavy helping of grooves from the Ivory Coast – an African scene that's hardly been tapped by crate diggers and collectors! There's a really fresh feel to the grooves overall – not just the familiar Afro Funk modes, but a nice range of styles that moves between rootsy local numbers through some great crossover styles, through even a few of the African Disco modes that are better known from other scenes! The tracks here are all massively funky – scoured out over the course of a number of different crate-digging trips to the coast – and the package presents the music with great images of the original record covers, too – so that you can still retain some of the feel of the rarity of the work, even though the collection presents things in an easy to handle format. Definitely one for fans of Soundway and Analogue Africa titles – with cuts that include "True Love" by Rato Venance, "Yatchiminou" by Jimmy Hyacinthe, "Kalabuley Woman" by Pierre Antoine, "Mammy Nia" by Nguessan, "Wazi Doble" by Gougoumangou, "Zadie Bobo" by Ernesti Djedje, "Unite" by Moussa Doumbia, "Mon Falou Nan" by Soro N Gana Et L'Orchestre Guilana-na, "Onginwe" by Prince Dgibs, and "Essemon Moupoh" by Jean Guehi. CD

A great little funky single from Franck Biyong – part of his continuing evolution and growth as one of the leading lights in the contemporary Afro Funk underground – an artist who's really moved past some of the slavish styles of years behind! Franck adds in both live drums and rhythm programs here – chanting out the vocals with Cristina Violle alongside him in the lead – while keyboardist Florian Pellissier and a jazzy combo keep things moving in the back! All three vocal mixes of the tune are great, but the club mix may well be the best – although the whole four track single works together almost as a mini suite based on the music! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Fierce funk from 70s Brazil – tracks that easily challenge the same heavy vibe you'd know from American work in the funky 45 underground of the time, or even some of the bigger jazz funk releases of the decade! The artists here aren't inspired by the sound of bossa nova – and instead take keen inspiration from the American world of jazz and soul – which they then mix with occasional instrumental touches of their own region, and often use some wonderfully trippy production to put a really unique spin on the music! So even though these tracks are filled with heavy drums, riffing guitars, and killer keyboards – they've got a special sound that really sets them apart from the American music that first gave them inspiration – all of which makes for an incredibly fresh approach to funky styles. Titles include "Sultana" by Aquarius Band, "Eu Quero Levar Voce Pra Casa" by Ed Lincoln, "The King's Bounce" by Free Sound Orchestra, "Tio Macro" by Dom Salvador, "Kool & The Gang" by Cry Babies, "Metropole" by Cesar Mariano & CIA, "Rush" by Free Sound Orchestra, "Assalto" by Ze Rodrix, "Mr Funky Samba" by Banda Black Rio, and "Tipo Africa" by Brazil Very Happy Band. Also includes "Big Splash" by Som Orlando Silveira, "Ju Ju Man" by Hot Stuff Band, "Batucada Tropical" by Jose Prates, "Bridge" by We, "The Name Of The Game" by Os Tremendoes, and "Papa Jimmy" by Guilherme Coutinho. CD

The freaky hair on the cover might be a tipoff to the sound of the set – but the great Lalomie Washburn also has a depth to her music that you might not expect! The album is Washburn's only full set as a lead act – but one that comes after a good stretch of the 60s and 70s working in other groups, and contributing some key songs to Chaka Khan & Rufus – a legacy that has Lalomie emerging here as a fully-formed soul singer who should have been huge! Washburn's look on the cover recalls another funky female talent – the great Maxayn, who was a friend and supporter of Lalomie – and in some way, the groove here is a bit like that on Maxayn's albums from the decade – although with a warmer, tighter, more soul-focused sound – thanks to great instrumental backings from maestro Gene Page! Things are still plenty funky throughout, although sometimes in a clubbier way too – and titles include the badass "Man Power", plus "Freaky Strangeness", "Give Me Love With The Music", "What's Love", and "My Love Is Hot (Caliente)". LP, Vinyl record album

Jorma Kaukonen on heavy guitar and lead vocals – with Jack Casady on bass, Sammy Piazza on drums and percussion, and Papa John Creach on violin and vocals! LP, Vinyl record album

A huge disco cash-in moment of the 70s – but a great one too, and a strong illustration of the power that Casablanca Records had in both the clubs and charts at the time! The movie and record were both a bit over-pressed upon release, but they nonetheless stand as a great snapshot of the way that funky soul had taken over the clubs during the disco generation – giving showcase to a whole host of new young artists, and exposing lots of mainstream listeners to soul music at a level they wouldn't have touched a few years before! Donna Summer was one of Casablanca's big acts at the time – and she really dominates the record with her classic rendition of "Last Dance", plus tracks "With Your Love" and a disco remake of "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus". Both other cuts are strong too – and include "Lovin, Livin, & Givin" by Diana Ross, "Too Hot Ta Trot" by The Commodores, "Disco Queen" by Paul Jabara, "Leatherman's Theme" by Wright Bros Flying Machine, "Floyd's Theme" by Natural Juices, and "Find My Way" by Cameo. LP, Vinyl record album

Brooklyn Dreams recorded in Munich and LA, but the album's got a surprisingly soulful club feel that almost matches its New York reference! Teutonic disco maestro Thor Baldursson handled the arrangements on the record, and we were a bit suspicious about it at first – but apart from a few colder electric keyboard parts, the main groove here focuses on the vocals of the male trio – and they trade leads and harmonize in a way that's clearly inspired by lots of east coast groups from earlier years. Titles include "Hot Lovin", "Too Much For The Lady", "Take Me Back", "Your Love's So Good To Me", "Love Love's Desire", and "One & Only". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic double-live set from Kiss – issued almost hot on the heels of their Kiss Alive album, and equally great! The group are at the height of their 70s power here – searing through versions of "Detroit Rock City", "I Stole Your Love", "Beth", "God Of Thunder", "Calling Dr Love", "Christine Sixteen", "Hard Luck Woman", "Makin Love", "Love Gun", "King Of The Night Time World", "Ladies Room", "Any Way You want It", "Larger Than Life", and "Shout It Out Loud". CD

Loads of classics – including "Calling Dr Love", "Love Gun", "Hotter Than Hell", "God Of Thunder", "Deuce", "Detroit Rock City", "Beth", "Black Diamond", "Rock & Roll All Nite", and "Rock Bottom". LP, Vinyl record album

Cool picture disc of the Motor Booty album, with a photo of George Clinton water skiing on two dolphins on one side, and a sketch of him fighting a bird on the other. Housed in a sleeve that lists the tracks on the album, but which doesn't have the same pop-up landscape as the non-pic disc version. Very cool. LP, Vinyl record album