Curtis Baker & The Bravehearts - "Fried Fish ’n’ Collard Greens" (2:40)
The Native Yinzer - "The Hip Strip" (2:33)
Review: The fourth edition in Original Gravity's Down In The Basement series, which gathers instrumental soul and swing cuts onto worthy 7" slabs, resounding the fervent 1960s decadal gap in which mod reigned supreme. With juleps flowing and kneecaps knocking, Abramo & Nestor bring newfangled electric pianistic swing with 'Dig It!', while a twinned "hit it!" injunction is heard from Floyd James & The GTs on the reissued 'Work That Thang'; James' voice is tubed and speed-delayed to terrific effect, achieving a sprung intonation. Curtis Baker brassifies the bonanza with the lively 'Fried Fish 'n' Collard Greens', while The Native Yinzer's exiting excitation 'The Hip Strip' quilts our ears with a mnemic, down-feathery Hammond-breaks bit.
Review: The third volume of this series delivers an irresistible blend of funk and 60s-inspired grooves. Side-1 kicks off with a surf-rock-infused funk jam packed with energy and retro vibes. Following that, a swinging 60s sound that combining catchy rhythms and pop sensibilities keeps the momentum going. Side-2 shifts gears a groove-heavy track led by a soulful organ that oozes vintage charm. Closing the collection, there is a gem that features smooth, funk-driven melodies, topped off by a standout sax solo and a subtle British flair. This compilation offers a vibrant mix of styles, perfect for fans of classic funk with a modern twist.
Review: Original Gravity strides into 2025 with this electrifying debut release from I Ragazzi. The limited 45 rpm has been crafted by the talented Neil Anderson and the title cut 'Terremoto' on the A-side bursts with funky, soulful energy that promises to keep floors moving and grooving all night long. It has big drums, crashing hits and driving Hammond organ stabs that never let up. On the flip, things get a little more laid back with 'Via Appia' which is led by more great organs, this time with swirling horn sounds and an inviting rhythm.
J Blue - "I Can't Keep Crying Sometimes" (part 1) (3:25)
Original Gravity Allstars - "I Can't Keep Crying Sometimes" (part 2) (4:02)
Review: London imprint Original Gravity keeps the 7" heat coming with a two-part reimagining of the blues standard 'I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes'. J Blue takes the A-side, laying down a smoky, melancholic vocal over a stripped-back hip-hop groove, bringing 60s soul pathos into sharp modern focus. It's the kind of cut that creeps up on you-restrained, ghostly, all mood. On the flip, the Original Gravity Allstars stretch things out dub-style with a Pt. 2 version, turning the track inside out into something moodier, heavier, and bass-led. Another strong entry in the label's ongoing campaign to bridge vintage sonics and contemporary pulse-perfect for deep selectors and collectors alike.
Curtis Baker & The Bravehearts - "Wooly Bully" (2:26)
Review: Across four artists and four versions, Original Gravity present 'Woolly Bully', a woollen repackaging of the longtime Sam Sham & The Pharoahs classic. Laid down in 1964, this terpsichorean prancer kept to a 12-bar blues progression, and made for the first American record to sell a million copies during the storied British Invasion. Its mixture of skiffly British rock and Mexican-American conjunto was an intentional blend, and a succesful one at that. Its enduring impact is now felt in these rollicking cover versions from Junior Dell, Donnoya Drake, Luchito & Nestor Alvarez and Curtis Baker, all roomy, costume vintage retrofits of the original. Listen closely to the lyrics for strange talk of a mythical creature: the original song's lyrics were so strange that some radio stations banned it for fear of popular befuddlement.
Review: It's hard to fault the work of the Original Gravity crew and when the tasteful London label's All Stars assemble it's even more important to take note. It is they who kick off 2025 with a classic funky break that is topped with spoken word samples from an MC at a big fight event (though it's not Michael Buffer, the man behind these famous words, because he has a strict copyright on them). The beats are as fiery as a heavyweight showdown with plenty of punchy horn stabs. On the flip, 'Rumble In The Jungle' is a similar sound that makes just as much impact.
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