(Note: This item is not for sale online until noon on Saturday, June 12. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning Saturday, June 12. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after noon on June 12 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

Incredibly funky work from Manu Dibango – a set that's easily as great as his classic Soul Makossa album – but which is a lot more obscure overall! The work's got a fiercely-jamming quality all the way through – lots of rumbling percussion at the bottom, and also a bit of keyboards as well – served up in a heady brew that turns out to be a perfect setting for Dibango's sharp-edged reeds! The record's got a few especially great break tracks, but all numbers are pretty darn great too – filled with more funky changes, flaring horns, and 70s-styled grooves than you might ever hope to find in a single album! Tracks include "Black Beauty", "Soul Fiesta", "The Panther", "Africadelic", "Moving Waves", "Afro Soul", "Wa Wa", "Percussion Storm", "Monkey Beat", and "Oriental Sunset". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky gem from reedman Manu Dibango – a set recorded hot on the heels of his huge Soul Makossa hit, and done with a similar blend of African roots and 70s funk! The main focus here is on the instrumentation – not just Manu's saxophone lines, but also some great keyboards too – and some especially nice guitar that both riffs along with the rhythms, then takes off on solo moments that often have some cool processing that makes the sound nice and flangey! The production is a bit tighter than before, but that only seems to sharpen up all the elements even more – making for a massive groove that rolls all the way through cuts that include "Big Blow", "Baobab Sun 7", "Afrovision", "Aloko Party", and "Dakar Streets". CD

A funky gem from reedman Manu Dibango – a set recorded hot on the heels of his huge Soul Makossa hit, and done with a similar blend of African roots and 70s funk! The main focus here is on the instrumentation – not just Manu's saxophone lines, but also some great keyboards too – and some especially nice guitar that both riffs along with the rhythms, then takes off on solo moments that often have some cool processing that makes the sound nice and flangey! The production is a bit tighter than before, but that only seems to sharpen up all the elements even more – making for a massive groove that rolls all the way through cuts that include "Big Blow", "Baobab Sun 7", "Afrovision", "Aloko Party", and "Dakar Streets". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great shift in setting for legendary reedman Manu Dibango – an album recorded in Jamaica with production from Geoffrey Chung – who helps the saxophonist find a whole new groove for his soulful style! The album's from a moment where many were flocking to Kingston to record with top-shelf talents – but there's something about this record that's better than most of that generation, possibly because right from the start, Manu always had a way of taking regional sounds and finding a much stronger global focus! Players include Sly and Robbie on rhythms, plus Ansel Collins and Clive Hunt on keyboards, Barry Rogers on trombone, Mikey Mao Chung on guitar, and surprisingly, Jon Faddis and Randy Brecker on trumpets. 2LP set features 12 tracks from the sessions – and titles include "Reggae Makossa", "Choc N Soul", "Night Jet", "Bona Sango", "Kumbele Style", "Tek Time", "Goro City", "Frozen Soul", "Doctor Bird", and "Full Up". LP, Vinyl record album

An album of Manu Dibango's that was released after his big hit "Soul Makossa", but which was actually recorded before, in a very heavy Afro Funk mode! Manu plays organ and piano, as well as his usual soprano sax, and the tracks include "Weya", "Tom Tom", "Pepe Soup", "Senga", "Moni", "Essimo", and "Mwasa Makossa". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great project from the legendary saxophonist Manu Dibango – a set that's almost a return to more rootsy territory after his more upbeat grooves of the 80s – even though Manu was always a bit more of a hybrid player overall! The set was originally issued in two different volumes, and was an effort by Dibango to chart the different sounds and styles of the African continent – working with top shelf musicians in a variety of modes – all instrumental, a mix of electric and acoustic, and often with plenty of jazzy elements in the mix! The album is a great overlooked chapter in Manu's career – proof that he kept on evolving, way past his initial hits – still a great saxophonist, branching out here past the sound of his native Cameroon. Titles include "Pavane Pour Melodie", "Longe Lese", "Missiya", "Miango", "Aloko Party", "Oh Koh", "Diana Lama", "Panafrican Jam", and "Parfum Des Iles". CD

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

By the mid 70s, the New York Latin scene was boomin' so large it could easily fill venues like Yankee Stadium – as you'll hear on this excellent live set from the Fania All-Stars, a monster record that easily ranks with the best live Latin sides of the time – like Eddie Palmieri at Sing Sing, the Tico-Alegre All Stars at Carnegie Hall, or Mongo Santamaria at Yankee Stadium! Tracks are nice and long – a real mix of soul and Latin, with slight funk and electric touches – and players include Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Bobby Valentin, Mongo Santamaria, Ricardo Ray, and Roberto Roena. Vocals are by a host of singers that include Santos Colon, Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, and Celia Cruz. Manu Dibango also joins the group for the track "Congo Bongo", a great long number in which he does a hot little solo! Other tracks include "Bemba Colora", "Hermandad Fania", and "Echate Pa'Lla". CD

A great lost bit of funk – and a pretty mysterious record, too! The record came out hot on the heels of Manu Dibango's big original version of "Soul Makossa" – and while it's got a groove that definitely leans towards Afro Funk, it's also got plenty of Caribbean touches too – a wicked blend of funk and island styles that's almost like The Beginning Of The End at some of the best moments – but with a touch of New York underground as well! We've never been entirely sure if the group wasn't just a Winley Records studio project – maybe The Rimshots under another name – but whatever the case, the record's a damn funky classic – filled with lots of original-sounding grooves that make the whole thing well worth tracking down. Titles include a version of "Soul Makossa", with a groove that's harder than the original – plus "Skin N Soul", "Good Groove", "Mozambique" and the extended "Bahamas Melody". LP, Vinyl record album

No charity needed here – as reedman Eji Oyewole's got a wealth of talent on his own! Eji's a musician with roots in the 60s Nigerian scene, but left to follow a personal path through Europe and the US, where he picked up some wonderfully funky styles which are then brought home to create this completely cooking late 70s album! The style's different than other big Afro Funk names of the time – like Fela Kuti or Manu Dibango – but shares a similar sense of flowing, open grooves – and Eji's ability to act strongly as both a lead vocalist, and a soaring soloist on tenor, soprano, and flute! Rhythms are damn funky at the core – with almost a blacksploitation vibe at times – and the tracks are all quite long, with most of the real "voice" coming from the saxes, which speak volumes on their solos. Titles include "Gele Odun (Oil Boom)", "Lagos Complex Highways", "Unity In Africa", and "Charity Begins At Home". CD

A beautiful little record, and one that seems to take all the African-inspired elements in the music of Randy Weston – and push them even farther than Randy did on his own recordings of the 60s and 70s! The group's headed up by Cheikh Tidiane Seck, not to be confused with Weston's contemporary on the French scene of years back – Chiekh Tidian Fall – and Seck is a great pianist whose talents are spread equally between Fender Rhodes, moog, Hammond, and acoustic piano – in a lineup that also has Yizih Yode on tenor, Mohamed Hafsi on bass, Marque Gilmore on drums, and Adama Dembele on percussion! The rhythms explode beautifully, and differently on each new track – and the album's a perfect fusion of rootsy rhythms and jazz – served up with help from Manu Dibango on one track, and Abd Al Malik on another. Titles include both acoustic piano and Rhodes readings of "Ganawa (Blue Moses)" – plus "African Cookbook", "In Memory Of", "Tanja", "Niger Mambo", and "Timbuktu" – plus the Seck original "Mr Randy". CD

We've had some great trips on Africa Airways in recent years – and this sweet fourth set proves once again that the fun lies in the journey, not the destination! As before, the cuts here share a lot more with American funk than you might think – especially the tight late 70s style with lots of basslines at the bottom, and some warmly jazzy currents in the instrumentation – which often serve to provide a superb setting for the vocals over the top – sometimes just sing-song chorus bits, but merged perfectly with the grooves! Tracks here come from French labels like Fiesta and Sonodisc, and there's definitely some of that criss-crossing between West African and Parisian modes going on – on titles that include "Sun Explosion" by Manu Dibango, "Nassa Nassa" by Uta Bella, "Nimele Bolo" by Charly Kingson, "Africain" by Momo Joseph, "Biram" by Kemayo & K-System, "Soul Magabe" by Pierre Didy Tchakounte, "Funny Saga" by The Monsters, and "Tinini Yanana" by Jake Sollo. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Femi Kuti, Dennis Ferrer, DJ Food, Masters At Work, Les Barons, Hugh Masekela, Fela Kuti, Peter King, Manu Dibango, Dackin Dakino & more. CD

You might know "Soul Makossa" – the worldwide hit by Manu Dibango that was covered by many folks, and sampled heavily in later years too – but this set takes a look at the deeper scene behind that famous groove, through a host of wickedly funky tracks from the late 70s scene in Cameroon! The tracks here are all upbeat, and not afraid to pick up a few influences from disco when they want – but they've also got a more loose, open sort of vibe – a wonderful flow that seems to set the scene for just about anything to happen over the course of the longer songs! Instrumentation and vocals are equally important here – especially the basslines and guitars – and the style of the work starts out in Dibango territory, but soon moves past into a range of very cool modes. As usual with Analogue Africa, the whole thing's way more than just a batch of songs, too – as the notes are huge, and really get at the special feeling of the scene – a world that we've never seen opened up this well. Titles include "More Love" by Pat Ndoye, "Mininga Meyong Mese" by Nkodo Si-Tony, "Ye Medjuie" by Emmanuel Kahe & Jeanette Kemonge, "Pop Makossa Invasion" by Dream Stars, "Nen Lambo" by Bill Loko, "Yaounde Girls" by Mystic Djim & The Spirits, "Nogon Engap" by Olinga Gaston, "Mussoloki" by Bernard Ntone, and "M'Ongele M'Am" by Eko. CD

A great Arthur Baker and John Robie electro remake of Manu Dibango's funky global classic, with The Awesome Foursome! 12-inch, Vinyl record

An outstanding compilation that should do for African funk what the Nu Yorica set did for Latin grooves. Harmless have put together a double-length set of 13 rare hard cuts from the 70's, including many classics that you might know, but which sound superb in this tight setting. With "Hail the King" by Wali & The Afro Caravan, "African Battle" by Manu Dibango, "Megaton" by Veccio, "Netsanet" by Mulatu Astaqe, "Malik" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band, "Ajo" by Peter King, "African Rhythms" by Oneness Of Juju, and lots lots more! CD

Music from the Stylistics, Stevie Wonder, Cymande, Sly & The Family Stone, the Jackson 5, James Brown, Manu DiBango, thew Delfonics, the Staple Singers, Eddie Palmieri, Isaac Hayes, Johnny Nash, and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. CD

By the mid 70s, the New York Latin scene was boomin' so large it could easily fill venues like Yankee Stadium – as you'll hear on this excellent live set from the Fania All-Stars, a monster record that easily ranks with the best live Latin sides of the time – like Eddie Palmieri at Sing Sing, the Tico-Alegre All Stars at Carnegie Hall, or Mongo Santamaria at Yankee Stadium! Tracks are nice and long – a real mix of soul and Latin, with slight funk and electric touches – and players include Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Bobby Valentin, Mongo Santamaria, Ricardo Ray, and Roberto Roena. Vocals are by a host of singers that include Santos Colon, Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, and Celia Cruz – and Manu Dibango also joins the group for the track "Congo Bongo", a great long number in which he does a hot little solo! Other tracks include "Bemba Colora", "Hermandad Fania", "Echate Pa'Lla", "Pueblo Latino", "Mi Gente", and "Soy Guajiro". LP, Vinyl record album

Massively funky – and even better than volume one! It's rare when a compilation series outdoes itself on the second volume, but this second volume of the groundbreaking Africa Funk series goes even farther than volume one – and serves up an amazing batch of rare funky African tunes that are even rarer than the first ones! You'll recognize a few of the names, and maybe even have one or two of the tracks – but the overall set is incredible, and features many rare tunes that we've never heard before, all woven together in a rich tapestry of grooves that unlocks a funky history that's lain dormant for years! Titles include "Handsome Boy" by The Rwenzori's, "Nsambei" by Vecchio, "Ku Ka Maria" by Buari, "Nefertiti" by Wisdom, "Big Blow" by Manu Dibango, "Uprising (parts 1 & 2)" by Antibalas & Jojo Quo, "NEPA" by TonyAllen, "Anikana-O" by Kongas, "I Feel Funky" by Matata, and "Roforofo Fight" by Fela! CD

A killer album of Afro Funk – with a very unusual origin! In the wake of Manu Dibango's big hit (and some kind of failure to register the copyright), many many versions of "Soul Makossa" were recorded and released, some good, some bad. This album is a good example of that situation – kind of a quickie project issued by Mainstream Records to cash in on the hit – but it's also an amazing bit of lost funk, and a record that's lasted for years in the hearts of beatheads! The group's a studio combo headed by Richard Fritz – and includes funky drummer Paul Humphrey, organist Charles Kynard, and guitarist David T Walker – all players we can trust to keep things groovy. The record does include a version of "Soul Makossa" that's pretty great – but even better is the breakbeat classic "House Of The Rising Funk", apparently the same version of the track that was issued on a 45 under the name The Chubukos. Other nice ones include "Kissing My Love", "Hot Mud", "Get It", "Hot Doggin", and "Let Me Do My Thing". CD

A beautiful little record, and one that seems to take all the African-inspired elements in the music of Randy Weston – and push them even farther than Randy did on his own recordings of the 60s and 70s! The group's headed up by Cheikh Tidiane Seck, not to be confused with Weston's contemporary on the French scene of years back – Chiekh Tidian Fall – and Seck is a great pianist whose talents are spread equally between Fender Rhodes, moog, Hammond, and acoustic piano – in a lineup that also has Yizih Yode on tenor, Mohamed Hafsi on bass, Marque Gilmore on drums, and Adama Dembele on percussion! The rhythms explode beautifully, and differently on each new track – and the album's a perfect fusion of rootsy rhythms and jazz – served up with help from Manu Dibango on one track, and Abd Al Malik on another. Titles include both acoustic piano and Rhodes readings of "Ganawa (Blue Moses)" – plus "African Cookbook", "In Memory Of", "Tanja", "Niger Mambo", and "Timbuktu" – plus the Seck original "Mr Randy". LP, Vinyl record album

A long-overdue collection of work – one that really gets at the unusual appearance of Latin rhythms on the African scene of the postwar years! Latin sounds from Africa are nothing new, but they're one of those things that's always taken for granted, too – kind of assumed in most discussions of the rhythms from the 60s onward, but never explained as fully as might be needed! Given the already-great grooves going down on the continent for generations, it's surprising that African musicians might pick up styles from Cuba and the Caribbean – yet due to the vagaries of global cultural circulation, that's exactly what happened – and the music has never been the same ever since. This really well-done package offers up a range of tracks from the 50s through the 70s – showing some of the earliest African extrapolations of Latin styles – clearly enforcing the "Afro" in Afro-Cuban rhythms – then moving onto some later grooves that offer up some funkier styles too. The work's a bridge between the ethnographic sets on Honest Jons, and some of the tighter grooves you might find on a Soul Jazz collection – a wonderful blend of music, packaged beautifully too. Titles include "A Moins Que Namikosa" by Orchestra OK Jazz, "Rampa Rampa" by Orchestre Yaya Mas, "Quiero Wapacha" by Charles Lembe, "Ven Y Ven Y Ven" by Orchestre OK Jazz, "Vamos A Bailar" by Rio Band, "Guantanamo" by Laba Sosseh, "On Verra Ca" by Orchestre Baobab, "Mi Guajeo" by Orchestre N'Guewel, "N'Niyo" by Amara Toure, "Il N'Est Jamais Trop Tard" by Pierre Tchana & Orchestre Poly Rhythmo, "Africa Boogaloo" by Le Grande Kalle with Don Gonzalo & Manu Dibango, and "Adigbedoto" by Gnonnas Pedro. LP, Vinyl record album

They got the "sizzlers" in the title right – and the set actually goes past just disco – as it brings together a nice range of upbeat and groovy tunes from the 70s – with a few surprises along the way! Titles include "Boogie Nights" by Heatwave, "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango, "Car Wash" by Rose Royce, "Adventures In Paradise" by Minnie Riperton, "Love's Theme" by Love Unlimited Orchestra, "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real" by Sylvester, "Fire" by Ohio Players, "Get Up Offa That Thing" by James Brown, "Let's Start The Dance" by Bohannon, "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston, "I Need A Man" by Grace Jones, "Can You Feel The Force" by The Real Thing, "Casanova" by Coffee, and "Got To Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye. LP, Vinyl record album

You might know "Soul Makossa" – the worldwide hit by Manu Dibango that was covered by many folks, and sampled heavily in later years too – but this set takes a look at the deeper scene behind that famous groove, through a host of wickedly funky tracks from the late 70s scene in Cameroon! The tracks here are all upbeat, and not afraid to pick up a few influences from disco when they want – but they've also got a more loose, open sort of vibe – a wonderful flow that seems to set the scene for just about anything to happen over the course of the longer songs! Instrumentation and vocals are equally important here – especially the basslines and guitars – and the style of the work starts out in Dibango territory, but soon moves past into a range of very cool modes. As usual with Analogue Africa, the whole thing's way more than just a batch of songs, too – as the notes are huge, and really get at the special feeling of the scene – a world that we've never seen opened up this well. Titles include "More Love" by Pat Ndoye, "Mininga Meyong Mese" by Nkodo Si-Tony, "Ye Medjuie" by Emmanuel Kahe & Jeanette Kemonge, "Pop Makossa Invasion" by Dream Stars, "Nen Lambo" by Bill Loko, "Yaounde Girls" by Mystic Djim & The Spirits, "Nogon Engap" by Olinga Gaston, "Mussoloki" by Bernard Ntone, and "M'Ongele M'Am" by Eko. LP, Vinyl record album