Back catalogue: Funk

Review: 

Milton Wright's perfect deep Soul classic "Keep It Up" has always been a top shelf record, everything about it is almost flawless! Whether it's Milton's silky vocal delivery, the incessant guitar driven back beat or the total space Funk vibe of his omnipresent ARP-2600 synthesizer this record has it all. Originally released on TK Disco's more Soul and Funk orientated Alston label which was home to many legendary artists and records, this 1975 sunshine classic never fails to make people move. A classic rare groove indeed. "The Silence That You Keep" takes up side-B, a jazzy, flute driven love song that again features Milton's perfect voice and some fantastic arrangement. A real gem of a record, with the original 45 changing hands for over L100 a time in used condition.

This is the first time "Keep It Up" has been re-issued in it's original 45 rpm format with the original Alston label artwork. It's been re-mastered, re-pressed and made available again with the permission of TK Disco / Alston Records, Miami Florida, USA.

Review: Recently, Athens of the North has spent much time digging through the archives of Henry Stone's Miami-based disco and funk empire, which included a studio, distribution business and a multitude of labels. Here, they issue a couple of alternate versions of tracks by Florida disco-funk mainstay Milton Wright. "The Science That You Keep (First Version)" comes free of the synthesizer lines that were such a feature of the previously released take. As a result, it's an altogether tighter, more groove-based deep disco outing, with Wright's vocal sounding particularly good. Flipside "Po Man (First Version)" is similarly stripped-back, with sweet guitar licks and an undulating bassline wrapping themselves around a hazy disco-funk groove and Wright's decidedly psychedelic vocal.

Review: It's 20 up for Positive Pay For Japan, who have got a wealth of funky 7"s out this month alone. It comes from Milton Wright, a big presence on the Miami soul scene throughout the 1970s. He was one of the many siblings in the Wright family alongside Betty, Phillip, Charles and Jeanette and also served as a justice on the Boston Municipal Court from 1998 to 2004. This 45 serves up 'Let's Take A Break,' a slow motion and deeply funky number with poignant bass notes and Milton's stylish vocals up top next to plenty of big horns. The party picks up with 'You Like To Dance,' a brighter tune with a positive vibration.

Review: Milton Wright's perfect deep Soul classic "Keep It Up" has always been a top shelf record, everything about it is almost flawless! Whether it's Milton's silky vocal delivery, the incessant guitar driven back beat or the total space Funk vibe of his omnipresent ARP-2600 synthesizer this record has it all. Originally released on TK Disco's more Soul and Funk orientated Alston label which was home to many legendary artists and records, this 1975 sunshine classic never fails to make people move. A classic rare groove indeed. "The Silence That You Keep" takes up side-B, a jazzy, flute driven love song that again features Milton's perfect voice and some fantastic arrangement. A real gem of a record, with the original 45 changing hands for over L100 a time in used condition.

Review: Classic soulful feelgood funk from Milton Wright reissued from Japan in an artworked sleeve. Essential !

Review: Japanese turntablist, crate-digger and producer Ryuhei The Man has been on fine form of late, offering up fresh revisions of some seriously dope old soul, disco and jazz-funk releases. Here he continues the trend by delivering a neat "45 Edit" of Miami Soul man Milton Wright's 1977 track "Be With Me". His version tightens things up a little, moving from groove-based sections before introducing Wright's superb vocals and the sing-along chorus. He's also been busy on the EQs, too, effectively re-mastering it a touch to suit modern dancefloors. You'll find Wright's breezy original - all glistening guitars, hazy horns and jaunty bass guitar - in full on the flipside.

Review: Many will be familiar with Milton Wright's Friends & Buddies album, a much-sampled Miami soul classic that's been in demand since its' release in 1975. Intriguingly, that version of the album was Wright's second version; the first slipped out in limited numbers on promo before the master tapes were destroyed in a fire, forcing the artist to re-record it. This, then, is the first release of Wright's original version, rescued from permanent obscurity by Athens of the North. Notably folksier, looser and breezier than the version we've all come to know and love, Original Friends & Buddies sounds more like Terry Callier than Wright's later output. Happily, he tells the whole story himself in the excellent sleeve notes.

Review: Many will be familiar with Milton Wright's Friends & Buddies album, a much-sampled Miami soul classic that's been in demand since its' release in 1975. Intriguingly, that version of the album was Wright's second version; the first slipped out in limited numbers on promo before the master tapes were destroyed in a fire, forcing the artist to re-record it. This, then, is the first release of Wright's original version, rescued from permanent obscurity by Athens of the North. Notably folksier, looser and breezier than the version we've all come to know and love, Original Friends & Buddies sounds more like Terry Callier than Wright's later output. Happily, he tells the whole story himself in the excellent sleeve notes.