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Exact matches: 18
Exact matches1
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Jeff LoftonSilver's Strut ... CD
Jeff Lofton, 2022. Used ... $1.99
With Jeff Lofton on trumpet and flugelhorn, Jake Lampa on tenor saxophone, Andre Hayward on on trombone, Sean Giddings on piano, James Suter on bass, and Brannen Temple on drums with vocals from Mac Macintosh. CD

Exact matches2
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
MetersCissy Strut/Here Comes The Meter Man ... 7-inch
Josie, 1969. Very Good+ ... $23.99
Killer funk from one of the best-ever bands of the genre! "Cissy Strut" has some killer stone cold choppy guitars, with a sound that was imitated often, but never matched! "Here Comes" is a rolling organ-driven groove – bubbling along at a chunky funky pace! 7-inch, Vinyl record
(Label has faint ring wear.)

Exact matches3
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Cloud OneAtmosphere Strut ... CD
Octipi, 1976. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
One of the holy grails of the Spaced Out club music scene! Patrick Adams produced and arranged (and wrote and probably performed) this stunning set of spacey club grooves with a cool electronic feel, and a nice sense of mid to uptempo rhythms. Includes the classic "Atmospheric Strut", one of the moogiest tracks around, plus the classics "Spaced Out" and "Disco Juice". All cuts are great, though, and the album's also got a good soul sound that often gets overlooked, especially on the cut "Doin' It All Night Long". CD
(Out of print.)

Exact matches4
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ MetersCissy Strut – Best Of The Meters (Island pressing) ... LP
Island, Late 60s. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Island compilation of some of the Meter's best sides for the Josie label, including such rare funk goodies as "Tippi Toes", "Live Wire", "Chicken Strut", "Ride Your Pony", "Cissy Strut", "Funky Miracle", "Sophisticated Cissy", and more! Groovy textured cover, and a great batch of tracks from the old days! LP, Vinyl record album
(In the textured cover! Cover has a cut corner.)

Exact matches5
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Cloud OneAtmosphere Strut ... LP
P&P, 1976. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
One of the holy grails of the Spaced Out club music scene! Patrick Adams produced and arranged (and wrote and probably performed) this stunning set of spacey club grooves with a cool electronic feel, and a nice sense of mid to up-tempo rhythms. Includes the classic "Atmospheric Strut", one of the moogiest tracks around, plus the classics "Spaced Out" and "Disco Juice". All cuts are great, though, and the album's also got a good soul sound that often gets overlooked, especially on the cut "Doin' It All Night Long". A great one, and on the rare P&P label! LP, Vinyl record album

Exact matches6
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Cloud OneAtmosphere Strut ... LP
P&P, Late 70s. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
One of the holy grails of the Spaced Out club music scene! Patrick Adams produced and arranged (and wrote and probably performed) this stunning set of spacey club grooves with a cool electronic feel, and a nice sense of mid to uptempo rhythms. Includes the classic "Atmospheric Strut", one of the moogiest tracks around, plus the classics "Spaced Out" and "Disco Juice". All cuts are great, though, and the album's also got a good soul sound that often gets overlooked, especially on the cut "Doin' It All Night Long". A great one, and on the rare P&P label! LP, Vinyl record album
(2000s Scorpio reissue.)

Exact matches7
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Grant Green JrJungle Strut ... CD
Venus (Japan), 1997. Used ... Out Of Stock
The younger Grant Green grooves in ways that would have made his pops proud – recording here in a sweet old school style that features Hammond from either Reuben Wilson or Michael Torsone, plus alto sax from the legendary Eddie Pazant! There's a warm, fluid groove to most tracks – one that hits that same sort of Prestige-era groove referenced in the "Jungle Strut" title – and the hollow-body tones of Green's instrument ring out very nicely next to the organ lines on the set. Titles include "Green Onions", "We Can Fly", "Jungle Strut", "Walk On By", and "When A Man Loves A Woman". CD
(Out of print, includes obi.)

Exact matches8
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Professor's Blues Revue featuring Karen CarrollProfessor Strut ... LP
Delmark, 1990. Sealed ... Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Still sealed with a cutout hole.)

Exact matches9
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Salah Ragab & The Cairo Jazz BandEgypt Strut (2LP pressing – with bonus tracks) ... LP
Strut (UK), 1974. Near Mint- 2LP ... Out Of Stock
Amazing grooves like you've never heard before – seminal sides by Salah Ragab and his Cairo Jazz Band – work done by the percussionist who'd also worked with Sun Ra, but who's even more amazing here on his own! As you can probably guess from their name, the ensemble was an Egyptian one – working in an incredible blend of jazz and more traditional Egyptian-styled sounds – a blend that comes across with all the exotic feel of the pyramids at dawn, but which manages to groove like some of the best funky work from America at the time! Instrumentation includes lot of percussion, heavy piano and horns, and some especially great flute on most tracks – all coming together with a sound that's unlike anything else we've heard before. This collection is the first time that this music has been brought together officially, all with the kind of top-shelf production and packaging we've come to expect from the Art Yard label! Titles include "Ramadan In Space Time", "Neveen", "Kleopatra", "Mervat", and "Oriental Mood". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes inner sleeves and insert.)

Exact matches10
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Rickey WoodardSilver Strut ... CD
Concord, 1996. Used ... Out Of Stock
Rickey Woodard on tenor and alto saxophone, Ray Brown on trumpet, Cedar Walton on piano, Jeff Littleton on bass, and Ralph Penland on drums. CD

Exact matches11
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Young-Holt UnlimitedSoulful Strut ... CD
Brunswick/Solid (Japan), Late 60s. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
A funky soul instrumental classic – all the way through! The team of Eldee Young and Redd Holt first came to prominence with Ramsey Lewis' first Chicago trio, then branched out on their own as a jazz act – but by the time of this set, they'd picked up a hipper, funkier late 60s sort of soul groove – and were working with larger backings and a nice deal of extra bass! The pianist in the group is the super-dope Ken Chaney – a player who uses space as much as he uses notes – providing a cool counterpoint to the funky and jazzy riffing of the Young/Holt bass/drum combo. The album includes the landmark track "Soulful Strut" – with tinkling piano over funky backings mixed with sweetened strings – and other tracks include "Funky Is As Funky Does", "Baby Your Light Is Out", "Who's Making Love", "Ain't There Something Money Can't Buy?", "Be By My Side", and "Please Sunrise". A high point in the Chicago soul scene – with backings by Willie Henderson! CD

Exact matches12
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Young-Holt UnlimitedSoulful Strut ... LP
Brunswick, Late 60s. Very Good- ... Out Of Stock
A funky soul instrumental classic – all the way through! The team of Eldee Young and Redd Holt first came to prominence with Ramsey Lewis' first Chicago trio, then branched out on their own as a jazz act – but by the time of this set, they'd picked up a hipper, funkier late 60s sort of soul groove – and were working with larger backings and a nice deal of extra bass! The pianist in the group is the super-dope Ken Chaney – a player who uses space as much as he uses notes – providing a cool counterpoint to the funky and jazzy riffing of the Young/Holt bass/drum combo. The album includes the landmark track "Soulful Strut" – with tinkling piano over funky backings mixed with sweetened strings – and other tracks include "Funky Is As Funky Does", "Baby Your Light Is Out", "Who's Making Love", "Ain't There Something Money Can't Buy?", "Be By My Side", and "Please Sunrise". A high point in the Chicago soul scene – with backings by Willie Henderson! LP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo pressing. Cover has a spot of wear at the bottom, but looks nice overall.)

Exact matches13
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ VariousDisco Strut Volume 4 ... LP
Disco Strut, Late 1970s/Early 1980s. Near Mint- 2LP ... Out Of Stock
This great series just keeps on getting better and better – serving up the rare disco and club tracks that we can never seem to find, and doing so in a way that's a heck of a lot hipper than the usual disco set! The groove here isn't really straight disco – it's more a mix of funky club, modern soul, and some of the better rhythms that bubbled around in the underground club scene years back – grooves that were way ahead of their time, and which have still continued to sound fresh over the years! The 2LP set features a total of a dozen tracks – nearly all of which would break your bank if you found them on the original vinyl – and titles include "We Want To Play" by Brief Encounter, "Rebel On The Run (rmx)" by Selection, "Let's Get It On (inst)" by Marini, "Remember To Remember" by Rick Holmes, "Never Gonna Let You Go" by Savana, "Feel So Good" by Mac Thornhill, "Slide Into Your Heart" by Time Spectrum, "Summer Groove" by The Joneses, "City Lights (rasta funk)" by Onyx, "Get It On The Ground" by Joe Coleman, "Ooh Wee Baby" by Ron Richardson, and "I Still Feel Like Dancing" by Newstar Band. LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a bump in one corner, but this is a great copy overall.)

Exact matches14
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Manhattan Jazz QuintetFunky Strut ... CD
Sweet Basil, 1991. Used ... Out Of Stock
Not a funky strut in the manner of David Matthews' 70s work for CTI/Kudu Records – but a set that has the pianist bringing a really old school, soul jazz approach to the session – almost trying to go for the 60s modes of players like Horace Silver or Bobby Timmons! As with other Manhattan Jazz Quintet albums, the set really sparkles from the talents of Lew Soloff on trumpet and George Young on tenor – a duo who know how to come together, then break apart with the kind of dynamic, soulful styles of an older Blue Note record – and the rest of the group features Eddie Gomez on bass and Peter Erskine on drums. Titles include "Hot Grits", "Sister Sadie", "Song For My Father", "Foxy Little Thing", and "Funky Strut". CD

Exact matches15
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Salah Ragab & The Cairo Jazz BandEgypt Strut ... LP
Strut (UK), 1974. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
Amazing grooves like you've never heard before – seminal sides by Salah Ragab and his Cairo Jazz Band – work done by the percussionist who'd also worked with Sun Ra, but who's even more amazing here on his own! As you can probably guess from their name, the ensemble was an Egyptian one – working in an incredible blend of jazz and more traditional Egyptian-styled sounds – a blend that comes across with all the exotic feel of the pyramids at dawn, but which manages to groove like some of the best funky work from America at the time! Instrumentation includes lot of percussion, heavy piano and horns, and some especially great flute on most tracks – all coming together with a sound that's unlike anything else we've heard before. This collection is the first time that this music has been brought together officially, all with the kind of top-shelf production and packaging we've come to expect from the Art Yard label! Titles include "Ramadan In Space Time", "Neveen", "Kleopatra", "Mervat", and "Oriental Mood". LP, Vinyl record album

Exact matches16
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Salah Ragab & The Cairo Jazz BandEgypt Strut (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Strut (UK), 1974. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Amazing grooves like you've never heard before – seminal sides by Salah Ragab and his Cairo Jazz Band – work done by the percussionist who'd also worked with Sun Ra, but who's even more amazing here on his own! As you can probably guess from their name, the ensemble was an Egyptian one – working in an incredible blend of jazz and more traditional Egyptian-styled sounds – a blend that comes across with all the exotic feel of the pyramids at dawn, but which manages to groove like some of the best funky work from America at the time! Instrumentation includes lot of percussion, heavy piano and horns, and some especially great flute on most tracks – all coming together with a sound that's unlike anything else we've heard before. This collection is the first time that this music has been brought together officially, all with the kind of top-shelf production and packaging we've come to expect from the Art Yard label! Titles include "Ramadan In Space Time", "Neveen", "Kleopatra", "Mervat", and "Oriental Mood". CD features 8 more bonus tracks from related sessions too! CD

Exact matches17
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Pucho & His Latin Soul BrothersPucho's Descarga (aka Jungle Strut) ... LP
Andale, 1993. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
A great lost album from Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers – not classic vintage, despite the front cover image, but an excellent session from the early 90s that still has Pucho very much at the top of his game! The album's way heavier than some of Pucho's other material from the period – and only got slight circulation under the title Jungle Strut – as a record that really returns to the vibe of early 70s funky Prestige Records –w ith work from the legendary Pazant Brothers on horns, plus Melvin Sparks on guitar, Willie Bivens on vibes, and Bernard Purdie on drums! The sound is great – nice and raw, with a real emphasis on Purdie's funk – and titles include "Strange Thing", "Got Myself A Good Man", "Pucho's Descarga", "Soul Sauce", and "Bang Bang Lulu". LP, Vinyl record album

Exact matches18
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Stray CatsDown Town (Cross That Bridge)/Stray Cat Strut ... 7-inch
Arista (Japan), 1981. Near Mint- (pic cover)... Out Of Stock
... 7-inch, Vinyl record
 
Close matches: 60
Close matches19
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Idris Ackamoor & The PyramidsAfro Futuristic Dreams ... CD
Strut (UK), 2023. New Copy ... $13.99 15.99
Bold new work from the legendary Pyramids ensemble – a spiritual jazz group who go back to the 70s, but who've reemerged in recent years with a renewed sense of energy, and a very forward-thinking sound! Leader Idris Ackamoor is still a master of tone and feeling on reeds – including alto and tenor, plus some other instrumentation as well – and he also vocalizes a bit on the record too hitting some righteous expressions that are in the spirit of Leon Thomas or Dwight Trible, mixed along with instrumentation from other players on drums, percussion, keyboards, trumpet, trombone, and guitar. The album's got a beautifully positive vibe – and titles include "Police Dem", "First Peoples", "Afro Futuristic Dreams", "Garland Rose", "Truth To Power", and "Requiem For The Ancestors". CD
Also available Afro Futuristic Dreams ... LP 27.99

Close matches20
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Idris Ackamoor & The PyramidsAfro Futuristic Dreams ... LP
Strut (UK), 2023. New Copy 2LP ... $27.99 29.99
Bold new work from the legendary Pyramids ensemble – a spiritual jazz group who go back to the 70s, but who've reemerged in recent years with a renewed sense of energy, and a very forward-thinking sound! Leader Idris Ackamoor is still a master of tone and feeling on reeds – including alto and tenor, plus some other instrumentation as well – and he also vocalizes a bit on the record too hitting some righteous expressions that are in the spirit of Leon Thomas or Dwight Trible, mixed along with instrumentation from other players on drums, percussion, keyboards, trumpet, trombone, and guitar. The album's got a beautifully positive vibe – and titles include "Police Dem", "First Peoples", "Afro Futuristic Dreams", "Garland Rose", "Truth To Power", and "Requiem For The Ancestors". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Afro Futuristic Dreams ... CD 13.99

Close matches21
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Balka SoundSon Du Balka ... CD
Strut (UK), 1980s. New Copy ... $13.99 14.99
A long-overdue collection of work by Balka Sound – an important 80s group from Brazzaville, and one whose name evokes their style of music – a sound based in folksy roots, but which is updated here with electric guitar and bass, next to lively percussion and really great vocals! The group's lead singer is Nkibi Albert, who has this really enigmatic way of putting across a lyric, especially when a bit of echo is used in the production – and amidst the other instrumentation, he also plays ngonfi as well. The production is great on most of these tracks – not nearly as mainstream as other African sounds from the time, which were rising to meet the global world music market – and titles include "Bia Sala", "Lekou", "Ku Mavula", "Kidilu", "Ah Luisaala", "Nia Nia", "Wa Yiwou", "Mwan Kisana", and "Kwele". CD

Close matches22
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Collective (Idris Ackamoor)Idrissa's Dream ... LP
Strut (UK), 1971. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... $30.99 32.99
A stunning early moment in the long career of reedman Idris Ackamoor – music that predates his famous 70s work with The Pyramids, but which came from the same Ohio scene – an early collective of spiritual jazz players who are captured here in an amazing live performance! Unlike work by The Pyramids, The Collective were never issued on record at the time – yet they've got a tremendously powerful blend of spiritual currents and avant ideas – always skating the line between inside and out, structure and freedom – with work from Ackamoor on alto, Margaux Simmons on flute, Steve Rumboat on French Horn, Lester Knibbs on piano, Greg LaMont Wright on soprano, and Steve Maniscoso on percussion. Titles include "Beginning Roots", "The Shepherd's Tune", "Idrissa's Dream", "Black Queen", and "Veil Of Solitude". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches23
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Wayne DavisWayne Davis ... LP
Black Fire/Strut (UK), 1976. New Copy (reissue)... $14.99 25.99
A wonderful soul album on the Black Fire label – a hip 70s imprint best known for spiritual jazz – stepping out here on a record that has a lot more vocals than their other releases, but which makes for a mighty nice fit! Wayne Davis is wonderful here – singing with the warmth of a Leroy Hutson at times, and some of the more righteous currents of DJ Rogers at others – often with harmony backings that really elevate the tunes, and a jazzy current in some of the instrumentation that ties things strongly back to the other artists on the Black Fire label! One of those groups, Experience Unlimited, lend their horn section for the record – and Davis himself shows off his deeper musical skills by also handling the piano and keyboards on the record. The whole thing is great – and titles include "Morning", "Things See Just Right Now", "Strive On and Be Strong", "The Garden", "Look at the People", and Al Johnson's "Dawn of a New Day". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches24
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Greg Foat & Gigi MasinDolphin ... LP
Strut (UK), 2023. New Copy ... Just Sold Out!
The keyboards of Greg Foat have a really great setting here in a collaboration with Gigi Masin – served up in a style that's maybe more laidback and spacious than before, yet in a way that makes us fall in love with Greg's electric piano lines all over again! Masin's got roots in more ambient sounds, but the record definitely has a jazz approach at the core – plenty of the increasingly sensitive styles that Foat has developed as the years moved on – shifting from an initial role as a guy who could handle vintage keys, to a point where he's really emerged as a more fully-fledged jazz player overall! The blend of keyboards and a larger sonic palette still has plenty of live instrumentation in the mix – different than a project of this sort by an artist like Bugge Wesseltoft – and titles include "London Nights", "Viento Calido", "Your Move", "Sabena", "Leo Theo", "Love Theme", and "Dolphin". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches25
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Orlando Julius with The HeliocentricsJaiyede Afro (clear vinyl pressing) ... LP
Strut (UK), 2014. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... $32.99 34.99
The first new music we've heard in years from Afro Funk giant Orlando Julius – wonderfully paired here with the always-great Heliocentrics! Orlando's definitely in the lead here – singing, playing tenor, and contributing percussion to the overall groove of the group – which leans a bit more towards a 70s African vibe than some of their other releases, yet still retains all their wonderful style of psychedelic funk! Some of the rhythms have an Ethiopian sense of slinkiness, while others hit more of a full-on Nigerian groove – and the whole thing's never forced, never gimmicky, and instead just the right sort of setting for Julius to re-emerge as a true giant of his generation. Titles include "Buje Buje", "Love Thy Neighbor", "Aseni", "Sangodele", "Jaiyede Afro", "Omo Oba Blues", "In The Middle", and "Be Counted". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches26
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Vusi Mahlasela/Norman Zulu/Jive ConnectionFace To Face ... CD
Strut (UK), 2002. New Copy ... $7.99 14.99
A really wonderful collaboration – one that features famous South African singer Vusi Mahlasela working with the Jive Connection combo – a funky Swedish group who backed Mahlasela on many live dates over the years, and who really help his music come across with a lean, classic sort of vibe! This isn't the mainstream music from the SA scene at the start of the 70s – as the instrumentation is live and spontaneous, and never overproduced – a great accompaniment to the raspy charms of Vusi's vocals, which are also delivered in a way that's nicely unfettered too! Norman Zulu also sings a bit on the record – and although the tracks were recorded in 2002, this is the first release of the music – titles that include "Face To Face", "Inkomo", "Umzala", "Prodigal Son", "Push", "Intombi Y Mbali", and "Thulualele". CD

Close matches27
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Bennie Maupin & Adam RudolphSymphonic Tone Poem For Brother Yusef ... LP
Strut (UK), 2022. New Copy Gatefold ... $18.99 29.99
The Yusef here is Yusef Lateef – and reedman Bennie Maupin teams with Adam Rudolph in a set of richly organic numbers that we're guessing Lateef would have really appreciated! There's less "symphonic" and more "tone poem" on the record than the title might imply – as the setting is very intimate, with just a variety of reeds from Maupin, used in sonic territory created by Rudolph – a mix of percussion, electronics, and plenty of effects – but all used gently, and without any sort of bombast – so that the music progresses with a careful unfolding that lets all the best elements find a way to resonate together! The album features one long track, divided into five movements – and Maupin is at his most experimental here, while Rudolph really seems to respectfully address the legendary legacy of his collaborator. LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches28
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Lloyd Miller & The HeliocentricsLloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics (OST) ... CD
Strut (UK), 2010. Used ... $8.99
A gem from the great Lloyd Miller – backed by modern Brit jazz funk maestros The Heliocentrics – and a credit to the legacies of all involved! Miller has worked timeless, hypnotic magic on an array of Middle Eastern and Asian instrumentation throughout his career, here playing piano, Indian santur, clarinet, Chinese sona, sitar, wood flute, oud and more – and this effort stands strongly with his best. He's accompanied by the masterful Malcolm Catto & The Heliocentrics – showing as much depth and versatility as ever in largely acoustic and improvisational setting – and the bottom line is that it's just as wonderful as their work with Mulatu. As much as we've flipped out over the Heliocentrics efforts as headliners to date, it's quite stunning how well they work backing such influential and legendary figures. Essential! Includes "Electricone", "Nava", "Mandala", "Spiritual Jazz", "Bali Bronze", "Modality", "Salendro", "Pari Ru", "Lloyd's Diatribe", "Fantasia" (Pts 1 & 2), "Chahargah", "Sunda Sunset" and more. CD

Close matches29
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mulatu/HeliocentricsInspiration Information Vol 3 ... LP
Strut (UK), 2009. New Copy 2LP ... Just Sold Out!
A stunner of a joint effort from Ethio jazz funk visionary Mulatu Astatke and psych funk genre-busting combo the Heliocentrics – a record we had the highest hopes for and still find wildly above and beyond our loftiest expectations! The collective touch on some classic Mulatu compositions, but the bulk of the material here is brand new, and purely collaborative – if you know the Helioecentrics or you know Mulatu, you can clearly hear what each bring to the table – and it works together brilliantly! There's often a gritty funk bottom end, the best drums and percussion, fat electric bass lines underneath Ethio jazz inspired sax, trumpet, trombone and flute – swirling psychedelic flourishes with theremin and other effects that never take away from the groove. Mulatu's on vibes, percussion, Wurlitzer, drums and keyboards – and his compositions and the Helios trade back and forth throughout the set. There's some additional Ethiopian instrumentation and atmospheric vocals in the mix on some tunes, and more of an astral, avant funk vibe on others, but there's always a brilliant confluence of styles. Bottom line, the album is everything we wanted it to be and more – this will undoubtedly be favorite for years to come! Titles include "Masenqo", "Cha Cha", "Addis Black Widow", "Mulatu", "Blue Nile", "Esketa Dance", "Chik Chikka", "Live From Tiger Lounge", "Chinese New Year", "Phantom Of The Panther", "Dewel"., "Fire In The Zoo", "An Epic Story" and "Anglo Ethio Suite". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches30
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
PyramidsBirth Speed Merging 1976 ... LP
Pyramid/Strut (UK), 1976. New Copy (reissue)... $27.99 29.99
One of the boldest albums ever from this legendary spiritual jazz ensemble – and a set that has them reaching even further heights in their music! There's a bit more focus here than before – tunes that are somewhat shorter, and really hone in on the best elements in the group's sound – the amazing reed lines of Idris Ackamoor, and the building percussion in the grooves – often touched with odd sounds and unusual elements that give the record a similar feel to some of the more percussive Sun Ra albums on Saturn. There's a bit of vocals at points, but really just used to augment the instrumentation – and the album's got the sharply righteous tones you might expect to hear in some of the hippest Strata East work of the period! Titles include "Aomawa", "Black Man & Woman Of The Nile", "Jamaican Carnival", "Birth Speed Merging", and "Reaffirmation". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches31
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Sun RaDiscipline 27-II ... LP
Saturn/Strut (UK), 1973. New Copy (reissue)... $27.99
One of Sun Ra's greatest albums of the 70s – recording during the same sessions that yielded the famous Space Is The Place record for Blue Thumb, and done with a very similar feel – an expansive configuration of the Arkestra in peak form! The range of expression is really incredible – from the spiritual soul jazz of "Pan Afro", to the lightly grooving June Tyson vocals of "Neptune", to the extended suite "Discipline 27-II", a stretched-out spacey number with vocal "dramatizing" by Ra, Tyson, Ruth Wright, and Judith Holton. That track's a particularly great one, with the kind of spiritual resonance behind the spacey approach that rarely comes through as strongly on other albums – but the whole set is wonderful, and judging how reminscient of it some of the best, similarly-minded underground jazz is decades later – the whole thing is an amazing testament to how strong Ra's influence is today. LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches32
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Sun RaIn The Orbit Of Ra ... CD
Strut (UK), 1960s/1970s. Used 2 CDs ... $9.99
A really wonderfully-done collection of work from the legendary Sun Ra – put together by longtime musical partner Marshall Allen, and way way different than the typical mish-mash of tracks you'd find on some of the budget or public domain titles on the market! First off, the track selection is really thoughtful – music that definitely defines the Arkestra in the 60s and 70s, but which also highlights some of its overlooked corners too – pulled together from recordings that appeared on the Saturn, Impulse, and other labels – all curated and remastered by Art Yard, who've done their share of great Ra reissues over the years. Plus, the package features a few unreleased performances as well – and although it would serve as a great introduction to the music of Sun Ra, it's also really perfectly put together for longtime Ra fans as well – given the focus, track selection, and overall quality of the whole thing. The sounds are sublime – maybe one of the best summations of the righteous, cosmic genius of the Arkestra at its best – and titles include "Reflects Motion", "Island In The Sun (extended)", "Somewhere In Space", "The Lady With The Golden Stockings", "Somebody Else's World", "Ancient Aethiopia", "Astro Black", "Have You Heard The Latest News From Neptune", "We Travel The Spaceways", and "Plutonian Nights". 2CD version also includes the never-heard "Trying To Put The Blame On Me". CD

Close matches33
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Sun RaLanquidity ... LP
Philly Jazz/Strut (UK), 1978. New Copy (reissue)... $29.99 30.99
An amazing album from Sun Ra – a set that's got some of the same soulful focus as Space Is The Place, and a really surprising sense of groove on many moments! The record's actually a bit funky – if you can believe it – and was recorded with electric keyboards, bass, and guitar (played by the mysterious Disco Kid) – at the studios of Bob Blank, at a time when he was really able to capture the many strands of music that would come together in a performance, then find just the right way to put them over on record! The album was originally dismissed by many Sun Ra fans for being a funk sell-out album – but over the years, it's become a prized album for its cosmic sense of soul and great focus of the group's more far-reaching ideas – and at some level, it's probably the sound that most people imagine the Arkestra to have when they're first starting out, rather than the more avant material that dominates most of their catalog. The whole thing is wonderful – and titles include "That's How I Feel", "Where Pathways Meet", "Twin Stars of Thence", and "There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)". LP, Vinyl record album
(Remastered edition – with a very cool foil-styled cover!)

Close matches34
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Sun RaOf Abstract Dreams ... CD
Strut (UK), Mid 70s. Used ... Just Sold Out!
A fantastic album from Sun Ra and the Arkestra – one that we'd rank right up there with our favorites on the Saturn Records label! The work here has never been issued, and it's extremely beautiful, too – pulled from a few just-discovered studio sessions done after the group was parting ways with Impulse Records, and mostly recording in a live environment! There's an intimacy to these studio tracks that's a nice difference from some of the more freewheeling live work of the period – moments that almost hearken back to the exotic jazz of the earliest Saturn years of the group, mixed with some other currents that seem to point the way towards the excellent Horo Records material to come – especially in the way Ra is phrasing things on his piano. Most groups are relatively small, and titles include the lovely "Island In The Sun" with Marshall Allen on some great flute; a studio take on "Unmask The Batman", better known from live sets, and a playful tune that hints at the group's work on the Dan & Dale Batman album in the 60s; a spiritual stormer "I'll Wait For You", with great piano from Ra and an excellent tenor solo from John Gilmore; and a take on "New Dawn" with work by Marshall Allen on alto, Elo Umoe on bass clarinet, and Danny Ray Thompson on baritone. CD

Close matches35
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Sun Ra & OthersSingles – The Definitive 45s Collection Vol 2 – 1962 to 1991 (3LP set – with download) ... LP
Strut (UK), 1960s/1970s/1980s/Early 90s. New Copy 3LP Gatefold ... $36.99 37.99
A whole new side of the talents of Sun Ra – especially if you only know the longer-style jams on some of his albums from the 60s and 70s! From the very start of his career, Ra was every bit as interested in issuing music on 45s as he was on albums – and in fact, at some of the more desperate times, the 7" single turned out to be a very affordable format to try out new ideas – including some great projects with other artists! The array of work presented here is stunning – as the set includes some very up-close and personal moments with Ra on record, plus some tight jazzy tracks from the Arkestra, surprising vocal group material designed to crack the R&B market, and some especially cool projects with other singers too. The package is put together with very detailed notes on all the singles – and while the bulk of this material comes from the key Arkestra years of the late 50s through the early 80s, there's also a few tracks from other dates too – including a handful of songs that were only issued as 45s in later years. This limited part 2 of the vinyl set features wonderful tracks from later years – including "The Blue Set", "Space Loneliness", "State Street", "Love In Outer Space", "Mayan Temple", "Quest", "Rough House Blues", "Journey To Saturn", "Blues On Planet Mars", "The Bridge", "Rocket #9", "The Perfect Man", "Outer Space Plateau", "Extensions", "Orbitration In Blue", "A Blue One", "Big City Blue", "I'm Gonna Unmask The Batman", "Saturn Moon", "Disco 2021", "Sometimes I'm Happy", "I Am The Instrument", "Cosmic Drama", "Nuclear War", "Hell #1", and "Cosmo-Extensions" – plus the tracks "Tell Her To Come On Home" and "I'm Making Believe" by Little Mack. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes bonus download.)

Close matches36
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Sun Ra ArkestraLiving Sky ... CD
Strut (UK), 2022. New Copy ... $11.99 12.99
Really fantastic work from the continuing version of Sun Ra's Arkestra led by Marshall Allen – and an album of rich sophistication that definitely shows the mature version of the group really finding their own sense of voice and spirit! There's a laidback take to the music that partly recalls some of the modes that the Arkestra had in their earlier days, when they were exploring some exotica currents mixed with more avant jazz inclinations – although the expression of the sound here is more focused and majestic, with slight string touches blending in with instrumentation of a more jazz-based mode – handled by Marshall Allen on alto and kora, Knoel Scott on tenor and baritone, Michael Ray and Cecil Brooks on trumpets, Dave Davis on trombone, Farid Barron on piano, Dave Hotep on guitar, and Tara Middleton on some mighty nice flute and violin. There's a richness to the sound that comes from all the other players involved in the proceedings – and titles include "Day Of The Living Sky", "Firefly", "Wish Upon A Star", "Chopin", "Marshall's Groove", and "Somebody Else's Idea". CD

Close matches37
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Lori VambeSpace Time Dreamtime – The Four Dimensional Music Of Lori Vambe ... CD
Drumony/Strut (UK), 1982. New Copy ... $13.99 14.99
Very cool music from UK experimentalist Lori Vambe – an artist who works here on two very percussive albums that were issued on his own label back in the 80s, but with a style that's really unlike anything else we can think of! The music has a bit more punch than the "dreamtime" title might make you expect – but it's also not all drums, either – as instead Vambe has a way of using a variety of other instruments, including the stringed instrument on the cover, in a way that pulsates rhythmically with the percussion – all with a spare and haunting sound that's maybe a bit like some sort of post-punk expansion on the early ideas of Moondog! The set features the two full albums Drumgita Solo and Drumland Dreamland – the latter of which has a slightly fuller instrumental palette – and titles include "Un Minuto (Two)", "Going Home Boogie (One)", "Strumelody", "Drumsong (Three)", "Ydolemurd", and "Hum Drum Dring (Two)". CD

Close matches38
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
VariousDetroit Artists Workshop – Community, Jazz, & Art In The Motor City 1965 to 1981 ... CD
Strut (UK), Late 60s/1970s. New Copy ... $13.99 14.99
John Sinclair's got his name on the cover, but the real genius on the record comes from the artists within – a mix of talents from the Detroit underground of the 60s and 70s, and some important visitors too – all stepping out here in a set of live recordings that are issued for the first time ever! The material is wonderful – some of it at the level of the Strata Records efforts of Detroit artists, others as a way of hearing some bigger names in a nicely personal, local setting – maybe a bit like the Left Bank recordings from the Baltimore scene in the late 60s. As usual, Strut have done a wonderful job with the whole package – and titles include "Blackjack" and "Cristo Redentor" by Donald Byrd, "Cheeba" and "Help Me Get Away" by Lyman Woodard, "Water Torture" by Bennie Maupin, "Three Flowers" by Charles Moore, "Bees" by Ron English with Lyman Woodard, "Passion Dance" by Teddy Harris, and "Effi" and "The Promise" by the Detroit Contemporary Four, a group that features a young Stanley Cowell on piano! CD

Close matches39
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
VariousDisco (Not Disco) – Left Field Disco Classics From The New York Underground (3LP set) ... LP
Strut (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. New Copy 3LPs (reissue)... $37.99 39.99
A really wonderful collection – an important re-investigation of the unusual mix of sounds and styles on the New York scene in the years after disco – a time when funk, punk, hip hop, and art were all colliding at once – providing a really fresh antidote to the staid sounds of Studio 54! The "disco" in the title should be taken lightly – as these cuts didn't play at the slick uptown dance spots – but were instead the soundtrack for the cool spots happening downtown, as the previous loft culture morphed into clubs, in this very special blend of the energy of CBGB and the underground soulful dancefloors. The set list is filled with classics from this time – and titles include "Cavern" by Liquid Liquid, "Tell You Today (voc)" by Loose Joints, "Walking On Thin Ice (re-edit)" by Yoko Ono, "Over & Over" by Material, "Spasticus Autisticus (version)" by Ian Dury & The Seven Seas Players, "Kiss Me Again (original edit)" by Dinosaur, "Move" by Nicky Siano, "School Bell/Tree House" by Indian Ocean, "I Walk" by Don Cherry, "Voices Inside My Head" by Common Sense, and "Wheel Me Out" by Was Not Was. LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches40
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
VariousSenza Decoro – Liebe & Anarchia In Switzerland 1980 to 1990 ... LP
Strut (UK), 1980s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... $31.99 33.99
A brilliant batch of electronic, cold wave, and post-punk tracks – all drawn from the farther reaches of the Swiss underground of the 80s – a scene that was far more secret than those in the UK, Germany, or other European hotbeds of electronic experimentation! We'd heard only a few of these groups before – and back in the day, we were constantly searching for Euro electronic and new wave records – and the work that Strut have done to put the whole thing together is wonderful, as these rare gems are also illuminated with detailed notes that really shine a light on the darker corners of this sonic scene. Titles include "Anfang" by Mittageisen, "Le Jour L'Ennui" by Aboriginal Voices, "Boat Song" by Lilliput, "Asho II" by Bells Of Kyoto, "Labyrinth" by Jurg Nutz, "Basic Ground Without Voice" by Konx, "Soyledir" by Cafe Turk, "Nightmare" by Unknownmix, "Arbeiter" by Schamanen Circel, and "Glettscher" by El Deux. LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches41
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
VariousSofrito – International Soundclash ... LP
Strut (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ... $69.99 79.99
No soundclash here – as the grooves are all right on the money, and fit perfectly together throughout – a blinding blend of tropical-styled sounds that really lives up to the promise of the package! Sofrito have outdone themselves here – and come up with the kinds of tracks we'd never have found in a million years of digging – mostly vintage numbers from the late 70s and early 80s tropical scene – mixed with a few contemporary numbers that seem to have an equally classic sort of vibe! The package is an instant global grooves party right from the start – and titles include "O Ti Yo" by Midnight Groovers, "Cumbia Y Tambo" by La Pesada, "Ebolo" by Bell'A Njoh, "Vibrations Groove" by Lord Shorty & Vibrations International, ""Mwekuru Muthao" by Melodica Teens Band, "La Zorra Y El Perol" by Grupo Canalon De Tinbiqui, and "The Path (Sofrito edit)" by Concept Neuf. LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches42
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Malombo Jazz MakersMalombo Jazz Makers Vol 2 ... LP
Gallo/Strut (UK), 1971. New Copy (reissue)... Temporarily Out Of Stock
The image on the cover really gets at the feel of the set – as the instrumentation here features simply percussion, electric guitar, and flute – all used in really inventive, highly rhythmic ways! There's a lilting groove to the set that recalls earlier rhythms from the South African scene – but the use of guitar and phrasing of the flute are also showing a stronger influence from jazz – maybe not the modern modes of a group like The Blue Notes, yet still a key cultural shift that really makes the album a legendary one from the scene at the time! Titles include "Soul Of Africa", "Jolly Journey", "Malombi Walk", "Sibathathu", "Abbey's Body", "Umkhosi", "Ngivulele", and "Emoubane". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches43
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Malombo Jazz MakersMalompo Jazz ... LP
Gallotone/Strut (UK), 1966. New Copy (reissue)... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A really early experiment in mixing South African styles with jazz – a set that's maybe more strongly on some of Township modes of the years before than a few of the other key modern projects of the time! Instrumentation often has pennywhistle in the lead on solos, used in a way a funky flute might on an American jazz set – and the rhythms often have raw hand percussion, mixed with warmer riffing currents on electric guitar – creating this sense of balance that gives the whole record a hell of a lot of charm! The sound is nice and lean, in a really great way – and titles include "Abbey's Mood", "Lousy Fever", "A Tribute To Birds", "Blues After Lunch", "Grab This For Me", "Root Of Africa", "Vuma Mbari", and "Jikeleza". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches44
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ PyramidsAomawa – The 70s Recordings (4CD set) ... CD
Strut (UK), Mid 70s. New Copy 4CD ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A full three albums by the legendary Pyramids – all packaged together in one complete set, with an unreleased bonus album too! The Pyramids recorded three key records during the 70s – each of them an underground classic, all served up in a wonderful bit of spiritual soul jazz with a really cosmic feel! The group are heavy on percussion and reeds – blending congas and assorted other percussion instruments with soprano sax, alto, and flute – all in a captivating sound that builds up nicely over the course of the album's two long tracks! The music is very organic – never too forced, nor never too far out – and there's a majestic quality to the whole thing, one that really lives up to the group's name and image on the cover. And although the ensemble hail from Ohio – hardly a spot you'd peg for spiritual jazz in the 70s – they're a key link between the early 70s avant movements in Chicago and St Louis, some of the hip grooves in Detroit's Tribe Records scene, and the growing loft jazz movement in New York. The reeds are especially nice – alto sax from Idris Ackamoor and flute from Margo Ackamoor – and all other group members play percussion, and vocalize too – singing along with some of the tunes in chanting, chorus formation, which adds an even further element of soul to the mix. Includes the full albums Lalibela, King Of Kings, and Birth Speed Merging – plus the rare album Live At KQED, recorded by the group in 1975! Great package – features the full albums, plus a 32 page booklet of new notes and rare photos! CD

Close matches45
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Sun RaLanquidity (2CD version – with bonus album) ... CD
Philly Jazz/Strut (UK), 1978. Used 2 CDs ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
An amazing album from Sun Ra – a set that's got some of the same soulful focus as Space Is The Place, and a really surprising sense of groove on many moments! The record's actually a bit funky – if you can believe it – and was recorded with electric keyboards, bass, and guitar (played by the mysterious Disco Kid) – at the studios of Bob Blank, at a time when he was really able to capture the many strands of music that would come together in a performance, then find just the right way to put them over on record! The album was originally dismissed by many Sun Ra fans for being a funk sell-out album – but over the years, it's become a prized album for its cosmic sense of soul and great focus of the group's more far-reaching ideas – and at some level, it's probably the sound that most people imagine the Arkestra to have when they're first starting out, rather than the more avant material that dominates most of their catalog. The whole thing is wonderful – and titles include "That's How I Feel", "Where Pathways Meet", "Twin Stars of Thence", and "There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)". Fantastic 2CD version – which includes both the commercial release, and the other mix of the record that Ra issued on Saturn – plus a great booklet of notes. CD
Also available Lanquidity ... LP 29.99

Close matches46
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Sun RaLanquidity (2CD version – with bonus album) ... CD
Philly Jazz/Strut (UK), 1978. New Copy 2 CDs ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
An amazing album from Sun Ra – a set that's got some of the same soulful focus as Space Is The Place, and a really surprising sense of groove on many moments! The record's actually a bit funky – if you can believe it – and was recorded with electric keyboards, bass, and guitar (played by the mysterious Disco Kid) – at the studios of Bob Blank, at a time when he was really able to capture the many strands of music that would come together in a performance, then find just the right way to put them over on record! The album was originally dismissed by many Sun Ra fans for being a funk sell-out album – but over the years, it's become a prized album for its cosmic sense of soul and great focus of the group's more far-reaching ideas – and at some level, it's probably the sound that most people imagine the Arkestra to have when they're first starting out, rather than the more avant material that dominates most of their catalog. The whole thing is wonderful – and titles include "That's How I Feel", "Where Pathways Meet", "Twin Stars of Thence", and "There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)". Fantastic 2CD version – which includes both the commercial release, and the other mix of the record that Ra issued on Saturn – plus a great booklet of notes. CD
Also available Lanquidity ... LP 29.99

Close matches47
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Sun RaTo Those Of Earth & Other Worlds – Presented By Gilles Peterson ... CD
Strut (UK), Late 50s/1960s/1970s/Early 80s. Used 2 CDs ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A really beautiful collection of rare tracks from Sun Ra – put together by the mighty Gilles Peterson, who we've trusted for years to give us some of the most soulful, cosmic music on this planet! Gilles has a wonderful ear for a certain strand of sounds from Ra and the Arkestra – their more spacey, more spiritual moments – which are strung together in this wicked double-length collection – which also includes a few tracks never issued before! The inside is as beautiful as the cover, and the whole thing's got copious notes on the music – including some track-by-track details that never showed up on some of the original records. 2CD set features 34 tracks in all – with titles that include "When There Is No Sun", "Spontaneous Simplicity", "Love In Outer Space (voc)", "On Jupiter, "We Travel the Spaceways", "Sleeping Beauty", "Mystery Mr Ra", "Blackman", "The All Of Everything", "The World Of Africa", "They Plan To Leave", "Children Of The Sun", "Dreaming", "Black Sky & Blue Moon", "Enlightenment", and "India". CD

Close matches48
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Sun Ra ArkestraSwirling ... CD
Strut (UK), 2020. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Sun Ra left the planet a few decades ago, but his Arkestra has been going strong – really carrying the torch that the great one kept burning – and stepping out here in their first studio album in 20 years! The record is really something special – that core Sun Ra spirit, but taken in righteous territory that shows just how much the group has evolved in his absence – still with alto saxophonist Marshall Allen as the leader, but a combination of classic Arkestra members and younger musicians who have really helped continue that legacy of mentorship and spiritual exploration that was always the greater mission of the ensemble. The production is great – never too commercial, and handled brilliantly to capture the spirit of the group at their most expressive – with a lineup that also features Knoel Scott on alto, James Stewart on tenor and flute, Michael Ray and Cecil Brooks on trumpets, Vincent Chancey on French horn, Farid Barron on piano, Dave Hotep on guitar, Akatunde and Elso Nascimento on percussion, and Tara Middleton on vocals and violin. Titles include "Sea Of Darkness/Darkness", "Swirling", "Seductive Fantasy", "Sunology", "Door Of The Cosmos/Shy", "Satellites Are Spinning/Lights On A Satellite", "Infinity/I'll Wait For You", and "Angels & Demons At Play". CD

Close matches49
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Risco ConnectionRisco Version (3LP set) ... LP
Strut (UK), Late 1970s. Near Mint- 3LP ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A great little set that brings together the short but fantastic legacy of Risco Connection – a late 70s project led by Studio One drummer Joe Isaacs, after moving from Kingston and setting up shop on the scene in Toronto! Joe calls on plenty of his older roots in early reggae, but also serves up cuts that have a strong nod towards contemporary club – slowing down the rhythms from the pace of disco, but also not really working in a reggae groove either – and instead coming up with a really unique hybrid of both – one that's peppered by vocals from a variety of different singers, often has nice keyboard touches in a moogy/spacey style, and which also features dubby reworkings of most of the tunes too! As usual, Strut do a great job of putting together the material with nicely detailed notes – and titles include two versions each of "It's My House", "Good Times", "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now", and "Sitting In The Park" – plus "I'm Caught Up", "Argument", "Stopping", "Bringing Out The Sunshine", "Risco Music", and "Reggae Music". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes insert.)

Close matches50
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Lori VambeSpace Time Dreamtime – The Four Dimensional Music Of Lori Vambe (Drumland Dreamland/Drumgita Solo) ... LP
Drumony/Strut (UK), 1982. New Copy 2LP ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Very cool music from UK experimentalist Lori Vambe – an artist who works here on two very percussive albums that were issued on his own label back in the 80s, but with a style that's really unlike anything else we can think of! The music has a bit more punch than the "dreamtime" title might make you expect – but it's also not all drums, either – as instead Vambe has a way of using a variety of other instruments, including the stringed instrument on the cover, in a way that pulsates rhythmically with the percussion – all with a spare and haunting sound that's maybe a bit like some sort of post-punk expansion on the early ideas of Moondog! The set features the two full albums Drumgita Solo and Drumland Dreamland – the latter of which has a slightly fuller instrumental palette – and titles include "Un Minuto (Two)", "Going Home Boogie (One)", "Strumelody", "Drumsong (Three)", "Ydolemurd", and "Hum Drum Dring (Two)". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Space Time Dreamtime – The Four Dimensional Music Of Lori Vambe ... CD 13.99

Close matches51
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ VariousSenza Decoro – Liebe & Anarchia In Switzerland 1980 to 1990 ... CD
Strut (UK), 1980s. New Copy ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A brilliant batch of electronic, cold wave, and post-punk tracks – all drawn from the farther reaches of the Swiss underground of the 80s – a scene that was far more secret than those in the UK, Germany, or other European hotbeds of electronic experimentation! We'd heard only a few of these groups before – and back in the day, we were constantly searching for Euro electronic and new wave records – and the work that Strut have done to put the whole thing together is wonderful, as these rare gems are also illuminated with detailed notes that really shine a light on the darker corners of this sonic scene. Titles include "Anfang" by Mittageisen, "Le Jour L'Ennui" by Aboriginal Voices, "Boat Song" by Lilliput, "Asho II" by Bells Of Kyoto, "Labyrinth" by Jurg Nutz, "Basic Ground Without Voice" by Konx, "Soyledir" by Cafe Turk, "Nightmare" by Unknownmix, "Arbeiter" by Schamanen Circel, and "Glettscher" by El Deux. CD
Also available Senza Decoro – Liebe & Anarchia In Switzerland 1980 to 1990 ... LP 31.99

Close matches52
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De CotonouCotonou Club ... LP
Strut (UK), 2011. Near Mint- 2LP ... Out Of Stock
The first record in years from these Afro Funk giants – but don't hold it against them, as the whole thing's pretty darn wonderful! There's a rich, vibrant sound here that really lives up to the group's legacy from years back – and production is right on the money to keep things right – recorded in Paris with a relatively stripped-down quality – just right for bringing all the tight rhythms of the set right to the foreground, without any overdone mass market cliches to hold things back! Even the appearances of a few famous guest stars can't get in the way of the energy of the Orchestre – and this new album should be more than proof that the originators are still alive and well. Titles include "Pardon", "Von Vo Nono", "Oce", "Koumi Dede", "Tegbe", "Lion Is Burning", "Ne Te Fache Pas", and "Gbeti Madjro". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches53
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Sun RaIn The Orbit Of Ra (plus bonus CDs) ... LP
Strut (UK), 1960s/1970s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
A really wonderfully-done collection of work from the legendary Sun Ra – put together by longtime musical partner Marshall Allen, and way way different than the typical mish-mash of tracks you'd find on some of the budget or public domain titles on the market! First off, the track selection is really thoughtful – music that definitely defines the Arkestra in the 60s and 70s, but which also highlights some of its overlooked corners too – pulled together from recordings that appeared on the Saturn, Impulse, and other labels – all curated and remastered by Art Yard, who've done their share of great Ra reissues over the years. Plus, the package features a few unreleased performances as well – and although it would serve as a great introduction to the music of Sun Ra, it's also really perfectly put together for longtime Ra fans as well – given the focus, track selection, and overall quality of the whole thing. The sounds are sublime – maybe one of the best summations of the righteous, cosmic genius of the Arkestra at its best – and titles include "Reflects Motion", "Island In The Sun (extended)", "Somewhere In Space", "The Lady With The Golden Stockings", "Somebody Else's World", "Ancient Aethiopia", "Astro Black", "Have You Heard The Latest News From Neptune", "We Travel The Spaceways", and "Plutonian Nights". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes bonus CDs – with all the content on the 2CD set – an extra 8 tracks, including the never-heard "Trying To Put The Blame On Me"!)
Also available In The Orbit Of Ra ... CD 9.99

Close matches54
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ VariousDisques Debs International Vol 1 – An Island Story – Biguine, Afro Latin & Musique Antillaise – 1960 to 1972 ... LP
Strut (UK), 1960s/Early 70s. Very Good+ 2LP ... Out Of Stock
A fantastic look at the groundbreaking sounds of the Disques Debs label – one of the most important companies producing music in the French Caribbean – and an imprint whose impact was strongly felt on the other side of the Atlantic as well! The core of these grooves is that compelling biguine rhythm that flowed from Guadeloupe – almost a mix of Latin and jazz, but with a different sort of vibe of its own – which was then interwoven with elements from Cuban, European, and African styles amidst the initial decade or so of recordings on this set! Debs had strong ties with Paris, and a bit with the West African scene – and their recorded legacy almost follows old colonial paths, but in reverse – creating this wonderful criss-crossing of cultures amidst their grooves. The package is wonderful – loads of vintage photos and great notes in the best Strut Records way – and titles include "Douce Kombass" by Henri Debs Quintet, "Mr Morin" by Joseph Lacides, "Lan Mise" by Geno Exilie, "Feeling Happy" by Cyril Dias Et Son Orchestre, "Ces P'Tits Je T'Aime" by Daniel Forestal Et Sa Guitare, "Assez Fait Cancan" by Guy Conquette, "Stanislas" by Eric Virgal, "Meringue Mondey" by Remy Mondey, "Si I Bon Di I Bon" by Le Ry-Co Jazz, "Salvana" by Dolor Et Les Diables Du Rhythme, and "Van Van" by Henri Guedon Et Les Contesta. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes insert.)

Close matches55
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Balka SoundSon Du Balka ... LP
Strut (UK), 1980s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
A long-overdue collection of work by Balka Sound – an important 80s group from Brazzaville, and one whose name evokes their style of music – a sound based in folksy roots, but which is updated here with electric guitar and bass, next to lively percussion and really great vocals! The group's lead singer is Nkibi Albert, who has this really enigmatic way of putting across a lyric, especially when a bit of echo is used in the production – and amidst the other instrumentation, he also plays ngonfi as well. The production is great on most of these tracks – not nearly as mainstream as other African sounds from the time, which were rising to meet the global world music market – and titles include "Bia Sala", "Lekou", "Ku Mavula", "Kidilu", "Ah Luisaala", "Nia Nia", "Wa Yiwou", "Mwan Kisana", and "Kwele". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Son Du Balka ... CD 13.99

Close matches56
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Beginning Of The EndFunky Nassau – The Definitive Collection (Beginning Of The End/Funky Nassau/bonus tracks) ... CD
Alston/Strut (UK), Mid 70s. New Copy 2 CDs ... Out Of Stock
A great collection – the rare two albums by Beginning Of The End, plus bonus tracks too! First up is the classic Funky Nassau – s monster bit of funk that's unlike anything else we can think of! Beginning Of The End hailed from The Bahamas, but don't hold that against them – because instead of being a Caribbean cliche, they took the best part of the island rhythms, and used them to forge an incredible approach to funk! They've got a choppy sound that's the result of some incredibly dexterous guitar, bass, and drums – and which you'll recognize instantly from their one-time hit "Funky Nassau", a killer funk track that never gets old, no matter how many bands cover it over the years! That gem kicks off the album, which then rolls into the monster funky "part 2", which is even better! Other titles are equally wonderful – and include "Come Down", "Surrey Ride", "Monkey Tamarind", and "In The Deep". Essential – and one that you'll be spinning for years! Next is the self-titled Beginning Of The End set – one of the rarest funky records of all time – the hard-to-find second album by Beginning Of The End! This West Indian combo hit it big with their first album on Alston, but this second set, for some strange reason, never really got distributed – which is a damn shame, because it's every bit as funky as their first! The uniquely choppy rhythms of the group's first album are every bit as great here as on the first set – and if anything, the band's instrumentation is even better, especially on the guitar, which is wickedly tight, and played with a super-dope flanged-out approach on the solos. Vocals are great too, maybe even more soulful than before, especially on the album's few midtempo cuts – and the album's a must-have for any fan of the group's funky sound! Titles include "That's What I Get", "Super Woman", "Bluestrain", "Jump In The Water", "Falling Apart At The Seams", and "Trip To Nowhere". CD also features two cuts from 45s – the extra-funky "Fishman", and their Christmas classic "Gee Whiz It's Christmas". Great package – with very detailed notes! CD

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✨✧ Greg Foat & Gigi MasinDolphin ... CD
Strut (UK), 2023. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
The keyboards of Greg Foat have a really great setting here in a collaboration with Gigi Masin – served up in a style that's maybe more laidback and spacious than before, yet in a way that makes us fall in love with Greg's electric piano lines all over again! Masin's got roots in more ambient sounds, but the record definitely has a jazz approach at the core – plenty of the increasingly sensitive styles that Foat has developed as the years moved on – shifting from an initial role as a guy who could handle vintage keys, to a point where he's really emerged as a more fully-fledged jazz player overall! The blend of keyboards and a larger sonic palette still has plenty of live instrumentation in the mix – different than a project of this sort by an artist like Bugge Wesseltoft – and titles include "London Nights", "Viento Calido", "Your Move", "Sabena", "Leo Theo", "Love Theme", and "Dolphin". CD

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✨✧ Lafayette Afro-Rock BandDarkest Light – The Best Of The Lafayette Afro-Rock Band ... CD
Strut (UK), Mid/Late 70s. Used ... Out Of Stock
The definitive batch of tracks by one of the 70s' most famous funk ensembles ever! The Lafayette Afro Rock Band were a bunch of Americans, relocated in Paris, who mixed that city's strong African music traditions with their own American funk and soul leanings. The result was an incredible sound that included lots of heavy percussion, fuzzy guitar, and the very cool "magic bag" sound that was half vocoder/half keyboard! This compilation of tracks features the band at all of their incarnations – from the early group Ice, to the middle group Lafayette Afro Rock Band, to the later group Ice, to the backup on albums by Mal Waldron, Crispy & Co, and Dr.Beezar. The notes are impeccable, and even if you've got some of our other reissues by the group, this one has tracks that have never been out before – and it's got amazing notes that totally show the whole history of the group, and which give a full (and complicated!) discography! A beautiful package, and essential for groove hounds of all varieties. Sure, some tracks on this cross over with the other reissues – but this one contains the legendary "Darkest Light" sample (used by Public Enemy to great fame!), plus "Soul Frankenstein", "The Gap (instrumental)", "Conga", "Malik", "Soul Makossa", "Scorpion Flower", "Heels & Soles", "Nicky", and lots more! CD

Close matches59
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✨✧ Nubiyan TwistFreedom Fables ... LP
Strut (UK), 2021. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
Nubiyan Twist really open up their sound here – in part by opening the door to a rich array of guest singers and instrumentalists – a lineup that includes Cherise, Pat Thomas, Soweto Kinch, Ria Moran, and Nick Richards – all artists who help bring a different personal flavor to each track, helping to expand the mix of contemporary soul and global elements that we loved on the last record by the group! The vibe is very much in the best contemporary London mode – right down to the rhythms, which are continuously shifting and fresh – on titles that include "Keeper", "Buckle Up", "Morning Light", "Tittle Tattle", "24/7", "Wipe Away Tears", "if I Know", and "Ma Wonka". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches60
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✨✧ PyramidsKing Of Kings ... LP
Pyramid/Strut (UK), 1974. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
Incredible music from The Pyramids – an obscure Midwestern combo who made some pretty amazing records in the early 70s! There's a heavy dose of spirituality in the mix here – a vibe that rivals some of the best albums of the time on Strata East, but with a freer sound overall – elements of the AACM Chicago scene, or some of the hipper grooves coming out of St Louis – particularly in the way the band builds up energy on the longer tracks. The reeds are especially nice – alto sax from Idris Ackamoor and flute from Margo Ackamoor – and all other group members play percussion, and vocalize too – singing along with some of the tunes in chanting, chorus formation, which adds an even further element of soul to the mix. Rhythms range from hard-driving to completely hypnotic – and titles include "Nsorama", "My Africa", "Mogho Naba", and "Queen Of The Spirits". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches61
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✨✧ PyramidsLalibela ... LP
Pyramid/Strut (UK), 1973. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
The first of three albums issued by The Pyramids – a wonderful bit of spiritual soul jazz with a really cosmic feel! The group are heavy on percussion and reeds – blending congas and assorted other percussion instruments with soprano sax, alto, and flute – all in a captivating sound that builds up nicely over the course of the album's two long tracks! The music is very organic – never too forced, nor never too far out – and there's a majestic quality to the whole thing, one that really lives up to the group's name and image on the cover. And although the ensemble hail from Ohio – hardly a spot you'd peg for spiritual jazz in the 70s – they're a key link between the early 70s avant movements in Chicago and St Louis, some of the hip grooves in Detroit's Tribe Records scene, and the growing loft jazz movement in New York. The title track – "Lalibela" – spans a side and a half of the record, and it's followed by the 16 minute tune "Indigo". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches62
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✨✧ Risco ConnectionRisco Version ... CD
Strut (UK), Late 70s. New Copy 2CD ... Out Of Stock
A great little set that brings together the short but fantastic legacy of Risco Connection – a late 70s project led by Studio One drummer Joe Isaacs, after moving from Kingston and setting up shop on the scene in Toronto! Joe calls on plenty of his older roots in early reggae, but also serves up cuts that have a strong nod towards contemporary club – slowing down the rhythms from the pace of disco, but also not really working in a reggae groove either – and instead coming up with a really unique hybrid of both – one that's peppered by vocals from a variety of different singers, often has nice keyboard touches in a moogy/spacey style, and which also features dubby reworkings of most of the tunes too! As usual, Strut do a great job of putting together the material with nicely detailed notes – and titles include two versions each of "It's My House", "Good Times", "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now", and "Sitting In The Park" – plus "I'm Caught Up", "Argument", "Stopping", "Bringing Out The Sunshine", "Risco Music", and "Reggae Music". CD

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✨✧ Patrice RushenFeels So Real – The Complete Elektra Recordings 1978 to 1984 (Patrice/Pizzazz/Posh/Straight From The Heart/Now/bonus tracks) (5CD set) ... CD
Elektra/Strut (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. New Copy 5CDs ... Out Of Stock
A really great collection – five full albums from keyboard giant Patrice Rushen, plus bonus tracks too! First up is Patrice – her first album for Elektra, and a stunning blend of funky jazz and soul! The record really has Patrice stepping out from her earlier years at Prestige – working in some surprisingly great vocals next to tight lines on Fender Rhodes, synth, and clavinet, handled with a smooth and soulful quality that's wonderful all the way through – a blend of soul and jazz that few other players could do this well – no matter how many others tried to copy her style over the years! Rhythms are as hard and heavy as on the Prestige years, and the keyboards have a great sort of focus too – just the right mix of jazz to offset the vocals – which themselves are a wonderful discovery. The whole album's a gem – and tracks include the great funky classic "Hang It Up", plus "Changes (In Your Life)", "When I Found You", "Play", "Didn't You Know?", and "Music Of The Earth". Pizzazz is one of the records that not only helped break her out of the jazz funk ghetto, and right into the mainstream – but a set that also had a pretty profound influence on the progression of soul in the early 80s! Rushen sings as well as plays keyboards – and really pushes the use of jazzy elements that would take R&B to the next level – almost inventing the 80s groove sound in the process! The whole thing's a totally sweet mix of funk and soul, tightened up to get everything in the door at the same time – and titles include "Givin It Up Is Givin Up", "Call On Me", "Haven't You Heard", and "Let The Music Take Me". Posh is an all-out, all-access affair – a great way for anyone to get into the grooves of the mighty Patrice Rushen! Patrice is at the height of her powers here – equally magic on keyboards and vocals, and coming up with groove after groove in a sublime blend of 70s jazz funk and Minnie Riperton-esque soul! The whole album's a winner – real magic that never gets old, and the kind of LP that makes you understand why you'll find Patrice's records in just about any soul collection from the time! Tracks include "I Need Your Love", "Time Will Tell", "The Dream", "Never Gonna Give You Up", and "Don't Blame Me". Straight From The Heart is one of those albums that completely cemented her standing in the world of jazz, funk, and soul – and a wonderful summation of everything she'd done in the years before! The young Patrice was already a breakout keyboardist on the west coast scene of the mid 70s – turning out great work on her own, and adding her talents to plenty of others – but here, she emerges as a soaring soul star in her own right – a talent who's really worked her way up, with a quality level that's head and shoulders above most of her peers! Rushen produced the set with Charles Mims, and there's a righteous blend of jazz and soul that's at the level of Minnie Riperton, so that even the catchiest cuts come off with a sense of sophistication and warmth that's so different than so much other 80s soul and fusion. Titles include the classic "Forget Me Nots", plus "Number One", "I Was Tired Of Being Alone", "Where There Is Love", "Breakout", "If Only", and "Remind Me". The album Now is a masterpiece of 80s groove with lots of jazzy touches! The keyboard sound has evolved a bit here – compressed with more electronic percussion than on Patrice's earlier records, but still done with a degree of soul that sets it apart from work by most of her contemporaries – and the music has this warm flow that really sets Rushen apart from the rest – a sublime mix of soul, funk, and fusion that holds together perfectly throughout! Titles include "Gotta Find It", "Gone With The Night", "My Love's Not Going Anywhere", "High In Me", "To Each His Own", "Heartache Heartbreak", and "Feels So Real". 5CD set features bonus tracks from original 12" singles – and other remixes too! CD

Close matches64
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✨✧ Patrice RushenPizzazz (2LP version – with bonus tracks) ... LP
Elektra/Strut (UK), 1979. New Copy 2LP (reissue)... Out Of Stock
Brilliant work from Patrice Rushen – one of the records that not only helped break her out of the jazz funk ghetto, and right into the mainstream – but a set that also had a pretty profound influence on the progression of soul in the early 80s! Rushen sings as well as plays keyboards – and really pushes the use of jazzy elements that would take R&B to the next level – almost inventing the 80s groove sound in the process! The whole thing's a totally sweet mix of funk and soul, tightened up to get everything in the door at the same time – and titles include "Givin It Up Is Givin Up", "Call On Me", "Haven't You Heard", and "Let The Music Take Me". 2LP version features bonus tracks – "Haven't You Heard (12" mix)", "Let The Music Take Me (12" mix)", and "Givin It Up Is Givin Up (inst)". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches65
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✨✧ VariousBlock Party Breaks 2 – Tough Original Breaks, Hard Funk, & 70s Funky Rock (compiled by DJ Pogo) ... CD
Strut (UK), 1970s. Used ... Out Of Stock
Strut again pushes the envelope with this tasty collection of funky tunes! The breakbeat genre's been mined extensively over the past few years by other labels, but this one's got some killer grooves that really haven't shown up on other reissues – including many famous tunes that you'll spot instantly from the drums, guitar, or bass that have been lifted by hip hoppers. Titles include "Instant Whip" by The Tremeloes, "Catch A Groove" by Juice, "Sesso Matto" by Sesso Matto, "Come Dancing" by Jeff Beck, "Shootin The Grease" by Jesse Gresham, "Hot Pants" by The 20th Century, "Tell Me How Do You Feel" by Lee Michaels, "Scratchin" by Magic Disco Machine, "Amen Brother" by The Winstons, "Upstairs On Boston Road (part 1)" by Sammy Gordon & The Hip Huggers, and "Happy Soul (With A Hook)" by Dave Cortez & The Moon People. CD

Close matches66
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✨✧ VariousIn The Christmas Groove ... CD
Strut (UK), 1970s. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
One of the coolest Christmas compilations you could ever hope to own – but you probably guessed that already, from the cover image that pays tribute to a classic set from James Brown! The JB image is certainly well placed – as most of the tracks here are deeply funky Holiday tunes – the kind of gritty seasonal ditties that were only ever issued as funky 45s back in the day – and most really only on a local level, too! Strut's really outdone themselves with this excellent collection – as it features a fair bit of Christmas rarities we've never heard before, but which are totally wonderful – all-new tunes, not common Christmas cover versions – played and performed with a hell of a soulful feel throughout. Knock that ol' Bing Crosby record off the turntable, and give this one plenty of spins this December – and dammit, the music's so great, you may well find yourself playing the collection well into the New Year too! Titles include "Boogaloo Santa Claus" by JD McDonald, "Angel's Christmas" by Wild Honey, "Black Christmas" by Harlem Children's Chorus, "Getting Down For Xmas" by Milly & Silly, "Soul Santa" by Funk Machine, "Funky Funky Christmas" by Electric Jungle, "Christmas Present Blues" by Jimmy Reed, "Santa's Got A Bag Of Soul" by Soul Saints Orchestra, "Christmas Morning (Sean Bonniwell edit)" by Zebra, "Let's Get It Together This Christmas" by Harvey Averne, "Auld Lang Syne" by Black On White Affair, and "The New Year" by Jimmy Jules & The Nuclear Soul System. CD

Close matches67
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✨✧ VariousSoul Sok Sega – Sega Sounds From Mauritius 1973 to 1979 ... LP
Strut (UK), Mid 70s. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
Amazing music you've probably never heard before – all from the tiny island of Mauritius in the 70s, and served up in a stunning mix of funk, blues, and soul! The grooves here are very offbeat – with rhythms that belie the island's location in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, mixed with more contemporary touches on electric guitar, bass, and keyboards – set to lyrics that are often sung in French, usually with these haunting changes and oddly melancholy modes – all of which makes for music that's every bit as emotively powerful as it is downright groovy! Strut Records have always turned us on to new and unusual sounds – but this time around, they've really done something special – and the collection is one of our favorite releases ever from the long-running label. Titles include "Afro Mauricien" by Georges Jean Louis, "Mo Mari Fini Alle" by Catherine Velienne, "Elida" by Michel Legris, "Mone Lasser Dire Toi" by Harold Berty, "Bhai Aboo" by Claudio, "Mo Parrain" by Christophe, "Manuel Bitor" by John Kenneth Nelson, "Eliza" by Georgie Joi, and "Soul Sock Sega" by Ti L'Afrique. LP, Vinyl record album

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✨✧ BreakestraDusk Til Dawn ... CD
Strut, 2009. Used ... Out Of Stock
Killer work from leading lights of the neo classic funk scene – the mighty Breakestra – their debut for Strut Records and some of the best work they've ever done! Music Man Miles & the crew knock us out each time, and the 4 years between the stellar Hit The Floor LP and this one was worth the wait. The funky undercurrent is the common connective tissue, with deep soul sounds in the mix, too, with multi instrumentalist Miles on lead vocals on a number of tunes, Mix Master Wolf doing his thing on others, plus guests Afrodyte, Chali 2na and the late DJ Dusk – and some tight instrumentals. They run the gamut from stripped down JBs style feverishness, to gritty jazz funk, Latin percussion, and beyond. Breakestra helped kick start the underground funk scene back in the late 90s, and they're as strong as ever a decade later! Titles include "Need A Little Love", "Dark Clouds Rain Soul", "Come On Over" feat Afrodyete, "Back At The Boathouse", "Get It Right", "Show You The Way", "Me & Michelle". "Posed To Be" feat Chali 2na, Mixmaster Wolf & DJ Dusk, "Joyful Noise", "Lowdown Stank", "Set The Sun" and more. CD

Close matches69
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✨✧ FlockFlock ... LP
Strut (UK), 2022. New Copy 2LP ... Out Of Stock
A really great lineup of musicians from the London scene – coming together here in a mix of modes that's both electric and acoustic, jazz and more global-based – all with the far-reaching sounds you might expect from their previous work in groups like Collocutor or Comet Is Coming! There's a freshness here that's wonderful, right from the very first note – players with a jazz sensibility, but who've also drunk up all the criss-crossing modes that have been bubbling up in London in recent years – pushing past conventional rhythms and instrumental placements, and creating an intensity that takes their music to audiences who might never have listened to mainstream jazz! Players include Tamar Osborn on bass clarinet, flute, and soprano sax; Bex Burch on vibes, electronics, and percussion; Danalogue on Fender Rhodes and other keyboards; Al MacSween on prepared and conventional piano; and Sarathy Korwar on drums and tablas – and all the players seem to handle a wide variety of other instruments as well. Titles include "Prepare To Let Go", "Sounds Welcome", "Expand", "It's Complicated", "Murmuration", "How Many Are One", "Bold Dream", and "My Resonance". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches70
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✨✧ Juju (Oneness of Juju)Live At 131 Prince Street (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Black Fire/Strut (UK), 1973. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
A much-needed slice of work from Juju – the group who later transformed into spiritual funk ensemble Oneness Of Juju! Juju only recorded two full albums in the early 70s, so this unissued live set is a key addition to their catalog – and the whole thing's got this bold quality that's much more jazz-based, and often more avant than the group's later work – more in line with work in the tradition of the AACM, or some of the earliest loft jazz talents. No surprise, the set was recorded at Ornette Coleman's space on the lower east side in the early 70s – with the mighty Plunky Nakbinde on saxes and flute, sounding a lot more searing than any of his records from the 80s onward – plus Babatunde on percussion, Lon Moshe on vibes and flute, and Al-Hammel Rasul on keyboards. There's a bit of vocalizations, and lots of percussion from group members too – and the sound is very spiritual, with touches of more percussive Afro-centric playing. Includes a great version of Eddie Palmieri's "Azucar Para Ti", plus "At Least We Have A Horizon Now", and "Live Mozambique". Includes unreleased tracks "Thembi" and "Rosalie/Juju's Door". CD

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✨✧ Vusi Mahlasela/Norman Zulu/Jive ConnectionFace To Face ... LP
Strut (UK), 2002. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
A really wonderful collaboration – one that features famous South African singer Vusi Mahlasela working with the Jive Connection combo – a funky Swedish group who backed Mahlasela on many live dates over the years, and who really help his music come across with a lean, classic sort of vibe! This isn't the mainstream music from the SA scene at the start of the 70s – as the instrumentation is live and spontaneous, and never overproduced – a great accompaniment to the raspy charms of Vusi's vocals, which are also delivered in a way that's nicely unfettered too! Norman Zulu also sings a bit on the record – and although the tracks were recorded in 2002, this is the first release of the music – titles that include "Face To Face", "Inkomo", "Umzala", "Prodigal Son", "Push", "Intombi Y Mbali", and "Thulualele". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Face To Face ... CD 7.99

Close matches72
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✨✧ NashenasLife Is A Heavy Burden – Ghazals & Poetry From Afghanistan ... LP
Strut (UK), 1970s. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Hauntingly beautiful work from Nashenas – a singer whose name literally translates as "unknown" – although that may not be the case after this well-done collection gets his music out to the western market! Nashenas was something of a minor star in his own sphere – these tracks were recorded in Afghanistan, but also issued by the Royal label in Iran – and there's a really universal sense of spirit in the music, even if you can't understand the lyrics – as Nashenas sings with a subtle, but powerfully emotive quality over spare backings that include tablas, harmonium, and some other elements you might know from Indian music. The vibe is very much in keeping with the titles of the tunes – and tunes include "O Beloved The Sorrow Of Your Love Destroyed Me", "Flower Had A Thorn", "I Am Happy Alone", "Your Sorrow Is Killing Me", "The Author Of Destiny", and "Life Is A Heavy Burden". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches73
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✨✧ OfegeTry & Love ... LP
Strut (UK), 1973. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
A blistering set of Afro-Funk from the 70s – the debut of Ofege, a band of high school students at the time! There's a really trippy sound to the set, as the guitars figure strongly in the groove, and are often recorded with some slightly psychedelic touches – similar to Blo or some of the other headier groups of this generation. Wah wah lines often mix in with straighter fuzzed-out solos – all driven strongly together by quick-snapping drums – and vocals are by a young-voiced singer who brings some sweet soul touches to the English-language lyrics – a nice contrast to the heavier sounds of the guitars! Titles include "Nobody Fails", "It's Not Easy", "Ofege", "You Say No", "Lead Me On", and "Try & Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches74
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✨✧ Sun Ra ArkestraLiving Sky (180 gram pressing) ... LP
Strut (UK), 2022. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
Really fantastic work from the continuing version of Sun Ra's Arkestra led by Marshall Allen – and an album of rich sophistication that definitely shows the mature version of the group really finding their own sense of voice and spirit! There's a laidback take to the music that partly recalls some of the modes that the Arkestra had in their earlier days, when they were exploring some exotica currents mixed with more avant jazz inclinations – although the expression of the sound here is more focused and majestic, with slight string touches blending in with instrumentation of a more jazz-based mode – handled by Marshall Allen on alto and kora, Knoel Scott on tenor and baritone, Michael Ray and Cecil Brooks on trumpets, Dave Davis on trombone, Farid Barron on piano, Dave Hotep on guitar, and Tara Middleton on some mighty nice flute and violin. There's a richness to the sound that comes from all the other players involved in the proceedings – and titles include "Day Of The Living Sky", "Firefly", "Wish Upon A Star", "Chopin", "Marshall's Groove", and "Somebody Else's Idea". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Living Sky ... CD 11.99

Close matches75
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✨✧ Sun Ra/Salah RagabSun Ra Arkestra Meets Salah Ragab In Egypt – Plus The Cairo Jazz Band ... LP
Praxis/Strut (UK), 1983. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
Really unique recordings from the Sun Ra Arkestra – material recorded in Egypt in 1983 – juxtaposed with sessions from percussionist Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band! The work here has much more of a "jazz meets world" sound than some of Ra's other recordings – and most tracks are extremely melodic and rhythmic – in a way that mixes Eastern instrumentation and themes with some of the more familiar Arkestra modes – a sound that takes the Sun Ra groove one step further, and which sounds totally sublime! Highlights include the groover "Egypt Strut", the flute-heavy "Oriental Mood", and beautiful "Dawn". Really great stuff – and a key glimpse at this rare slice of Ra's career! LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches76
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✨✧ Patrice RushenNow (2LP version – with bonus tracks) ... LP
Elektra/Strut (UK), 1984. New Copy 2LP (reissue)... Out Of Stock
Sweet sounds from the lovely lady – one of Patrice Rushen's last truly great albums, and a masterpiece of 80s groove with lots of jazzy touches! The keyboard sound has evolved a bit here – compressed with more electronic percussion than on Patrice's earlier records, but still done with a degree of soul that sets it apart from work by most of her contemporaries – and the music has this warm flow that really sets Rushen apart from the rest – a sublime mix of soul, funk, and fusion that holds together perfectly throughout! Titles include "Gotta Find It", "Gone With The Night", "My Love's Not Going Anywhere", "High In Me", "To Each His Own", "Heartache Heartbreak", and "Feels So Real". 2LP version features bonus tracks – "Get Off (12" mix)", "Get Off (inst)", "Feels So Real (edit)", and "Feels So Real (dub)". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches77
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✨✧ Patrice RushenPosh ... LP
Elektra/Strut (UK), 1980. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
Nothing posh about this one – as the album's an all-out, all-access affair – a great way for anyone to get into the grooves of the mighty Patrice Rushen! Patrice is at the height of her powers here – equally magic on keyboards and vocals, and coming up with groove after groove in a sublime blend of 70s jazz funk and Minnie Riperton-esque soul! The whole album's a winner – real magic that never gets old, and the kind of LP that makes you understand why you'll find Patrice's records in just about any soul collection from the time! Tracks include "I Need Your Love", "Time Will Tell", "The Dream", "Never Gonna Give You Up", and "Don't Blame Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Close matches78
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✨✧ VariousDetroit Artists Workshop – Community, Jazz, & Art In The Motor City 1965 to 1981 ... LP
Strut (UK), Late 60s/1970s. New Copy 2LP ... Out Of Stock
John Sinclair's got his name on the cover, but the real genius on the record comes from the artists within – a mix of talents from the Detroit underground of the 60s and 70s, and some important visitors too – all stepping out here in a set of live recordings that are issued for the first time ever! The material is wonderful – some of it at the level of the Strata Records efforts of Detroit artists, others as a way of hearing some bigger names in a nicely personal, local setting – maybe a bit like the Left Bank recordings from the Baltimore scene in the late 60s. As usual, Strut have done a wonderful job with the whole package – and titles include "Blackjack" and "Cristo Redentor" by Donald Byrd, "Cheeba" and "Help Me Get Away" by Lyman Woodard, "Water Torture" by Bennie Maupin, "Three Flowers" by Charles Moore, "Bees" by Ron English with Lyman Woodard, "Passion Dance" by Teddy Harris, and "Effi" and "The Promise" by the Detroit Contemporary Four, a group that features a young Stanley Cowell on piano! LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Detroit Artists Workshop – Community, Jazz, & Art In The Motor City 1965 to 1981 ... CD 13.99
 
Possible matches: 103
Possible matches79
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Gene AmmonsBoss Is Back (Boss Is Back/Brother Jug) ... CD
Prestige, 1969. Used ... $12.99
A sweet double-length set – one that features two classic Prestige albums from Gene Ammons! Boss Is Back is a great comeback for tenor legend Gene Ammons – not just in a musical sense, but also because Jug had spent most of the past few years in prison – as part of the usual trumped-up drug charges that were filed against musicians at the time! At the time of this album, Ammons had not recorded since a very successful flurry of sides recorded in 1961, done for a number of labels, and issued slowly during his time off the recording market – a precursor to this fantastic return to form, which has Gene hitting more of a jazz funk mode, in the best Prestige style at the end of the 60s! Case in point is the presence of Bernard Purdie on drums on a number of cuts – in a lineup that also features some organ from Sonny Phillips, piano from Junior Mance, and electric bass from Bob Bushnell – plus congas from Candido for a nice extra kick! Titles include the funky cuts "Tastin' the Jug" and "Jungle Boss" – plus "Madame Queen" and "Feeling Good". Brother Jug is a great bit of jazz funk from tenor genius Gene Ammons – really reinventing himself here after some time off the scene in the 60s! The set has Gene picking up a great groove with help from Billy Butler on guitar and Sonny Phillips on organ – and the great Bernard Pretty Purdie is also on drums, and kicks it nice and lean on the great groover "Jungle Strut"! The album also features a nice version of "Son of A Preacher Man", plus "Ger-ru", which features Junior Mance on piano. CD
(1994 pressing, spine has a cutout notch.)

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Louis Armstrong & Earl HinesLouis Armstrong Story Vol 3 – Louis Armstrong & Earl Hines ... LP
Columbia, 1928. Near Mint- ... $14.99
Titles include "Basin Street", "Weather Bird", "End Blues", "Two Deuces", "Sugar Foot Strut", "Muggles", and more! LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono 2 Eye pressing. Cover has light wear and aging.)

Possible matches81
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George BensonLivin' Inside Your Love ... LP
Warner, 1977. Very Good 2LP Gatefold ... $1.99
Includes "Hey Girl", "Nassau Day", "Livin Inside Your Love", "Welcome Into My World", "Before You Go", "Unchained Melody", "Love Ballad", "Prelude To Fall", and "Soulful Strut". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light ringwear and a light stained spot in back.)

Possible matches82
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✨✧ Charlie ChristianIntroduction To Charlie Christian – His Best Recordings 1939 to 1941 ... CD
Best Of Jazz (France), Late 30s/Early 40s. Used ... $3.99
Includes the songs "Haven't Named It Yet", "Seven Come Eleven", "Honeysuckle Rose", "AC-DC Current", "Shivers", "All Star Strut", "Till Tom Special", "Gone With "What" Wind", "The Sheik of Araby", "Boy Meets Goy", "Good Enough to Keep (Air Mail Special)", "Charlie's Dream", "Wholly Cats", "Royal Garden Blues", and more. CD
(Out of print.)

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Cloud OneSpaced Out – The Best Of Cloud One ... CD
P&P, Late 70s. New Copy 2 CDs ... $6.99 15.98
Classic work from the legendary P&P Records label – created by one of the "P" talents who gave them their name – studio genius Patrick Adams, who mostly works here on his own under the name of Cloud One! Adams already had great success working with east coast soul groups in the first half of the 70s – and as Cloud One, he really finds his way around the more cutting-edge styles of the time – mixing bits of funk with bits of disco, and often adding in these cool electronic elements that really helped define the P&P sound! Many cuts have cool moogy keyboards, and some spacey elements along the edges – done with a lot more soul than some of the Euro space disco recordings of the same time – with much more of a tie to the New York underground that was Adams' main milieu. Titles include the classics "Spaced Out" and "Atmosphere Strut" – plus "Jump Jump Jump", "Stomp Your Feet & Dance", "Disco Juice", "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By", "Patty Duke", "Happy Music", "Doin It All Night", and "Flyin High". CD

Possible matches84
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Steve CropperWith A Little Help From My Friends (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Stax/Omnivore, 1969. New Copy ... $14.99 16.99
An obscure bit of late 60s Stax! Steve Cropper's working away from the MG's here, in a mode that's slightly similar, but which has his guitar upfront in the mix on a batch of Memphis-style instrumentals – kind of his own take on the groove he was laying down with Booker T, but with a lot less organ in the mix! There's no mad funk on the album, but the whole thing's pretty darn nice – and is proof that Cropper was the key element in more than just a bit of the Stax sound at the time – a really strong artist who could more than stand on his own. Titles include "Crop Dustin", "Land Of 1000 Dances", "Rattlesnake", "Funky Broadway", and "Boogaloo Down Broadway". CD features all sorts of unissued bonus tracks – including "You Don't Know", "I'm Going Home", "Soulful Strut", "Grazing In The Grass", and alternate takes of four more tunes on the album! CD
Also available
With A Little Help From My Friends ... LP 19.99
With A Little Help From My Friends ... LP 21.99

Possible matches85
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Jack DeJohnette's Special EditionAlbum Album ... LP
ECM, 1984. Near Mint- Gatefold ... $14.99
A record that really dives deep with a rich mix of creative rhythms and inventive horn lines! The album still has Jack DeJohnette staying true to his more avant roots – working with tenor from David Murray, alto and soprano sax from John Purcell, baritone and tuba from Howard Johnson, and bass from Rufus Reid – a lineup that's a bit bigger than on other Special Edition albums, and which is used to fill in even more colors and deeper elements than before. Some of the tunes are wonderfully vivid in approach – and titles include "Festival", "Third World Anthem", "Zoot Suite", "Ahmad The Terrible", and "New Orleans Strut". LP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing. Cover has light wear.)

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DeodatoArtistry ... LP
MCA, 1974. Near Mint- ... $4.99
A live set from Deodato – but one that's very much in the mode of his best CTI studio sessions – with soaring, over the top keyboard work that's totally great – backed by some tightly compressed guitar, bass, and drums, with just enough funk in the mix to keep things interesting! As with other Deodato records from the time, there's a mix of moods here that comes together nicely – a range that goes past his easy hits, and shows Deodato to be one of the hippest, most soulful keyboard talents of his generation. Titles include a great version of "Super Strut" that grooves for over 8 minutes, and which has some firey guitar that really competes with Deodato's work on the keys – and other tracks include "Farewell To A Friend", "Pavane For A Dead Princess", "Rio Sangre", and "Jivin". LP, Vinyl record album
(Early 80s blue label MCA pressing. Cover has some ringwear, edge wear, and is bent a bit at the corners.)

Possible matches87
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DeodatoDeodato 2 ... CD
CTI, 1973. Used ... $5.99
Funky keyboards galore – and one of the greatest records ever from this legendary Brazilian jazz talent! The album follows nicely off Deodato's Prelude classic for CTI – and like that one, this set's built on long-flowing tunes that rise and fall with a wonderful sense of rhythm – a sublime electric piano groove that's quite different than anything Deodato recorded before – and possibly never realized this perfectly again after his CTI years. Other players include Stanley Clarke on bass, Billy Cobham on drums, and Hubert Laws on flute – and titles include the massive Latin funk track "Super Strut", plus the tunes "Pavane For A Dead Princess", "Skyscrapers", and a great version of "Nights In White Satin". Plus, this CD reissue features 3 bonus tracks – "Venus", "Do It Again", and "Latin Flute"! CD
(Sealed copy!)
Also available Deodato 2 ... LP 7.99

Possible matches88
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DeodatoDeodato 2 ... LP
CTI, 1973. Very Good+ Gatefold ... $7.99
Funky keyboards galore – and one of the greatest records ever from this legendary Brazilian jazz talent! The album follows nicely off Deodato's Prelude classic for CTI – and like that one, this set's built on long-flowing tunes that rise and fall with a wonderful sense of rhythm – a sublime electric piano groove that's quite different than anything Deodato recorded before – and possibly never realized this perfectly again after his CTI years. Other players include Stanley Clarke on bass, Billy Cobham on drums, and Hubert Laws on flute – and titles include the massive Latin funk track "Super Strut", plus the tunes "Pavane For A Dead Princess", "Skyscrapers", and a great version of "Nights In White Satin". LP, Vinyl record album
(Quadrophonic pressing. Cover has some surface wear and a few small spots of gloss separation.)
Also available Deodato 2 ... CD 5.99

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DeodatoNight Cruiser/Happy Hour (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Warner/Robinsongs (UK), 1980/1982. New Copy ... $12.99 16.99
A pair of early 80s gems from this Brazilian keyboard legend – back to back on a single CD! Night Cruiser is a key record in Deodato's move from funky jazz in the 70s to modern soul in the 80s – and one that showcases the best of his talents in both genres! The approach here is more tightly arranged and produced than that of his earlier CTI sides – but in a mode that's still plenty nice to our ears – as Deodato's uncanny sense of rhythm and timing is still very firmly in place, making the set way way more than just a smooth jazz album – and pushing it strongly into the realm of soulful spacey fusion! There's some really great tracks on the set – like the amazing "Skatin", a sweet keyboard number that's a perfect roller skating jam (in case you couldn't guess from the title) – plus "Love Magic", "Uncle Funk", "East Side Strut", and "Night Cruiser". Happy Hour is a classic from Deodato's soul-based years with a nice little R&B-inspired groove! Happy Hour was done at a time when Deodato was really getting into a lot of modern soul production and arranging work with other groups – and here, he tries his hand wonderfully at the style himself – transforming his 70s jazz funk groove into a tightly snapping 80s soul approach! Most tracks on the set feature vocals – by singers who include Kelly Barretto, Eban Kelly, and Candi Staton – but the instrumentation behind them is still plenty jazzy too, thanks to some nice work by Deodato on Fender Rhodes, mini moog, Arp, and other keyboards. Titles include "I Never Get Enough", "Keep On Movin", "Happy Hour", "Just This One Night", "Tears Of A Clown", "Sweet Magic", and "Keep It In The Family". CD features two bonus tracks – "Uncle Funk (7" mix)" and "Keep On Movin (7" mix)". CD

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DeodatoWhirlwinds ... LP
MCA, 1974. Near Mint- Gatefold ... $6.99
Sweet keyboard soul from Deodato – a set that steps off nicely from the strengths of his big hits on CTI, hitting a similarly flowing groove that's really great! The instrumentation here is a bit more expanded than before, but never in a way that buries the keyboards – and Deodato's right out front on a range of electric keys that get some great support from John Tropea's finely-honed work on guitar! Titles include "Havana Strut", "Whirlwinds", "West 42nd Street", and a nice cover of Steely Dan's "Do It Again". And heck, even the album's version of Glen Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" manages to come off like a funk tune! LP, Vinyl record album
(Original black label pressing – A great copy.)

Possible matches91
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Gentlemen & Their LadiesParty Time ... LP
Jean, 1974. Near Mint- ... $29.99
A classic underground funk set from the 70s – and a record that definitely lives up to the party time promised in the title! The group have a really festive approach to funk – still as hard-hitting and sharp-edged as other indie contemporaries – but willing to open up and push things with a live sort of energy too – a vibe that's a bit like a funkier take on Jr Walker & The All-Stars – especially given the strong use of tenor on the tunes! The set's got two very long jamming numbers – "Party Bump (parts 1 & 2)" and "One More Time (parts 1 & 2)" – and other titles are all pretty nice too – including "You're Gonna Need", "Now Generation", and "Party Strut". Produced by George Kerr, arranged by Bert Keyes, and even the version of "Amazing Grace" comes out pretty nice too! LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing – a nice copy!)

Possible matches92
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JJ Johnson/Martha ReevesWillie Dynamite (2 x 7" single) ... 7-inch
MCA, 1974. New Copy (pic cover)... $19.99 24.99 About March 15, 2024 (delayed)
One of the greatest soundtracks of the blacksploitation era – served up with some incredible grooves from maestro JJ Johnson! The album's got a non-stop, hard-hitting groove that ranks it with the best of its time – and which is arguably even better, because most of the record isn't nearly as well known as Shaft, Superfly, or other classics. Martha Reeves sings some of the deepest vocals of her career on the great title track "Willie D" – an old sample cut that you're sure to recognize – and the instrumental tunes are even better, filled with great percussion and jazzy flourishes from JJ – in a style that really keeps things interesting! This 2 x 7" single set features the cuts "Willie D", "Willie Chase", "Keep On Moving On", and "Parade Strut". 7-inch, Vinyl record

Possible matches93
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Ramsey LewisFunky Serenity/Golden Hits/Solar Wind/Sun Goddess ... CD
Columbia/BGO (UK), Early 70s. New Copy 2CD ... $14.99 19.99
A quadruple-header from Ramsey Lewis – four albums from his great 70s electric period on Columbia Records! First up is Funky Serenity – sweet electric funk from Ramsey Lewis! The album's one of his best from the 70s – and it's got Ramsey on Fender Rhodes, electric harpsichord, and other keyboards, grooving away in an open-ended 70s mode that still retains all the heavy soul of his classic work for Chess. Morris Jennings adds in some very nice percussion with his drum work, and Cleveland Eaton's on funky bass, giving the set a strong bottom groove. Features the sublime sample cut "My Love For You", a great version of "Knights In White Satin" that's done with a weird spacey groove, plus the tracks "Kufany Mapenzi (Making Love)", "Serene Funk", "What It Is!", and "Dreams". Golden Hits isn't a "best of", but instead has Ramsey and his funky mid 70s trio with Morris Jennings and Cleveland Eaton revisiting some of his best loved material from the Cadet years, but with the groovy Rhodes and wah wah sound that we dig so much about his CBS recordings. Unlike some of the other records from this period, the group's nice and stripped down, just the electric piano, bass and drums, so the groove's nice and wide open, Ramsey and company popping along with the sanctified soulful vibe of his 60s work, but updating their sound with some nice electric touches. 9 numbers in all: "Hang On Sloopy", "Blues For The Night Owl", "Hi-Heel Sneakers", "Carmen", "Delilah", "Wade In The Water", "Slippin' Into Darkness", "Somethin' You Got", and "The In Crowd". Solar Wind was cut smack dab in the middle of Ramsey's glory days at Columbia Records – with great production help and work on bass from the mighty Cleveland Eaton! The style is nice and lean, with just some occasional fuller touches – and Ramsey plays plenty of Fender Rhodes, in addition to bits of Arp and moog too – in a setting that's mostly trio, with a few guest players stepping into the mix from track to track! There's a nice degree of fuzz at points, thanks to added help from Steve Cropper – and titles include a great funky version of "Summer Breeze", plus "Solar Wind", "Come Down In Time", "Love for A Day", "Hummingbird", "Jamaican Marketplace", and "Sweet & Tender You". Sun Goddess is one of our favorite Ramsey Lewis albums ever – and a perfect summation of the genius that was brewing on the Chicago scene in the late 60s and early 70s! The album has Ramsey working strongly with Earth Wind & Fire – no surprise, given his close ties to Maurice White, who was the drummer in Ramsey's trio before starting his own group – and the shared relationship both artists had with producer Charles Stepney! The three were all key parts of the late 60s sound at Chess Records – but here, they've brought the same soulful energy to Columbia – working in a wider, more mature groove for the 70s – one that has Lewis' wicked Fender Rhodes lines stretching out strongly over tight, compressed, funky lines from EWF! The centerpiece of the set is the massive 7 minute "Sun Goddess", but there's lots of other nice ones like "Living For The City", "Gemini Rising", and "Jungle Strut". Funky, electric, and sublimely wonderful all the way through! CD

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Jackie McLeanNew Soil (with bonus track) ... CD
Blue Note, 1959. Used ... Just Sold Out!
If you ever needed a record to re-remind you of the genius of Jackie McLean, this Blue Note classic may well be it! At first glance, the session appears to be the usual sort of date – a quintet outing, with help from Donald Byrd on trumpet, Walter Davis on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – yet as with all of McLean's best moments on records, the album explodes with freshly creative energy from the start – getting way past any easy expectation in the way it sets up the groove and delivers the sound! Jackie's tone is amazing – very modern at times, yet with all the soul of hardbop – and although the rhythms are relatively straight, there's always a slight setting-free at points – that pre-new thing groove that McLean further explored on records like Capuchin Swing or Fickle Sonance. The sound is amazing throughout – and titles are all originals by McLean and Davis – great gems that include "Davis Cup", "Sweet Cakes", "Hip Strut", "Minor Apprehension", and "Greasy". Plus, this CD reissue has one extra bonus track – the unreleased "Formidable", written by Walter Davis. CD
(Out of print, late 80s pressing.)

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MetersMeters (red vinyl pressing) ... LP
Josie/Jackpot, Late 60s. New Copy (reissue)... $27.99 31.99
One of the greatest albums ever in the history of funk – the first album by The Meters, and virtually the blueprint for countless funky records to come! The set marked a key moment when energy from the funky 45 underground of 7" singles was able to step forward into the space of a full LP – yet all without losing any of the intensity of the smaller format at all – with an all-killer, no-filler approach that makes the whole thing burn all the way through! The album's bubbling over with classics – all hard-hitting instrumentals played by the group in an effortlessly tight style, produced to perfection by Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn in their classic 60s New Orleans style. A blinding masterpiece of bass, drums, and scratchy guitar – with tracks that include "Cardova", "Cissy Strut", "Sophisticated Cissy", "Here Comes The Meter Man", "Ease Back", "Ann", "6V6 La", and "Live Wire". LP, Vinyl record album

Possible matches96
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MetersOriginal Funk Masters ... LP
Josie/Instant (UK), Late 1960s. Very Good+ ... $24.99
A heavy load of funk from one of the greatest funk groups of all time! The set brings together original early Sansu/Josie recordings by The Meters – from that magical point when they were redefining the sound of instrumental soul with these lean, mighty killers from the New Orleans scene! Titles include "Funky Miracle", "Look A Py Py", "Tippi Toes", "Cissy Strut", "Chicken Strut", "Live Wire", "Here Comes The Metermen", "Message From The Meters", "Ride Your Pony", and lots more! LP, Vinyl record album
(Vinyl has a short click on one track, but is great overall.)

Possible matches97
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MetersStruttin' (blue vinyl pressing) ... LP
Josie, 1970. New Copy (reissue)... $27.99 31.99
The Meters are struttin plenty here – stepping out with those hard, tight New Orleans grooves that practically changed the way funk sounded in the 60s – and which had a huge impact on the sound of so many other groups in the decade to come! The approach here is wonderfully lean – whomping rhythms, bubbling Hammond organ, and scratchy guitar work – all used in a nicely spare, understated way – very different than the fuller New Orleans sound of their later records – and very much the kind of energy of the funky 45 underground! The whole thing is fantastic – all great cuts, all the way through – given sharp edges through the production work of Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn, on titles that include "Same Old Thing", "Joog", "Chicken Strut", "Liver Splash", "Hand Clapping Song", "Hey Last Minute", "Tippi-Toes", and "Ride Your Pony". A bucket of breaks in every track! LP, Vinyl record album

Possible matches98
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MetersVery Best Of The Meters ... CD
Rhino, 1970s. Used ... $4.99
Includes the songs "Cissy Strut", "Live Wire", "Sophisticated Cissy", "Look-Ka Py Py", "Pungee", "Tippi-Toes", "Soul Island", "Cabbage Alley", "People Say", "Hey Pocky A-Way", "Just Kissed My Baby", "Jungle Man", "Out In The Country", "Fire On The Bayou", "They All Ask'd For You", and "Trick Bag". CD

Possible matches99
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Walter MurphyFifth Of Beethoven ... LP
Private Stock, 1976. Near Mint- ... $4.99
A huge crossover album of the 70s – one that took an east coast disco groove, and introduced influences from a wide variety of classical themes – best summed up in the title hit "A Fifth Of Beethoven", which was a surprisingly successful radio tune at the time! The effort's a strange one, but was part of a larger movement at the time that was introducing many older musical modes – such as standards or showtunes – onto the dancefloor in an effort to give the less underground clubgoers something to sink their teeth into. And while the approach seemed like a bit of a gimmick, it was also probably inspired by Deodato's big hit with "Zarathustra" and a few other classical themes – echoed here by Murphy's great keyboard work on a few other numbers. The album features the classical tracks "Flight 76", "Night Fall", "Fifth Of Beethoven", and "Russian Dressing" – plus the non-classical Murphy originals "California Strut" (with vocals by Angie Bofil), "Be Your Own Best Friend", "Suite Love Symphony", and "Midnight Express". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has bent a bit on the bottom corners.)

Possible matches100
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New BirthVery Best of New Birth ... CD
RCA, Early 70s. Used ... $16.99
A surprisingly well-thought out set of tracks that is perhaps the only ever time someone at RCA did a good job with a soul reissue! The filled-to-the brim compilation features 16 tracks from the legendary New Birth Inc. collective that also included the funky combo The Nite Liters and the vocal group Love, Peace, & Happiness – all of whom recorded together under the aegis of ex-Moonglow Harvey Fuqua during his production stint at RCA in the early 70s. The combination of different groups and styles makes for a very lively batch of 70's soul and funk tracks – and the set features both classics and overlooked obscure material, all nicely remastered, and packaged with a great set of notes. Titles include "Got To Get A Knutt", "K Jee", "Comin From All Ends", "Afro Strut", "Wild Flower", "Keep On Doin It", and "I Can Understand It". CD
(Out of print, small cutout hole through case.)
 
 
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