Review: On the latest edition of their excellent Soul Essentials series, Outta Sight has decided to bring together two versions of 'Ordinary Joe', a seemingly perennial favourite written by the late, great Terry Callier. His celebrated 1972 recording - all bold, sing-along choruses, organ stabs, jangling piano and lolloping grooves - breezes its way across side A, while Jerry Butler's earlier version, laid to tape in 1970, sits on side B. His version is much more expansive and musically detailed than Callier's take, with superb production from Gamble & Huff and some brilliant orchestral arrangements courtesy of Donny Hathaway. Both versions are, or course, incredible.
Johnny King & Fatback Band - "Keep On Brother Keep On" (2:05)
Review: Bill Curtis' Fatback Band is known around the world for its soul and disco hits but their roots actually lay in funk. They were one of the most impressive outfits around in that particular genre and so they have, for those who are willing to dig deep enough, plenty of rare funk gems to call upon from their earliest days. Here we get a couple of them with 'Dance Girl' - the last tune they released in 1974 before signing to Event/Spring. It was a real classic at block parties back in the day and on the flip is a tune that will cost you over L1000 if you can find an original, namely 'Keep On Brother Keep On' - the group's second single on Curtis BC Projects II label.
Review: There is currently only one copy of this on Discogs and it is listed at a rather eye watering L1200. Thankfully this reissue means you can own an undeniably brilliant tune for a much more reasonable price. It is a seminal New Orleans joint from the main man Eddie Bo who made it for the hugely popular group The Explosions. Juanita Brooks is the powerhouse soul sister who provides the vocals and on the other side is something just as good - a deep soul gem to warm you to your core.
Nuit De Fievre (Pellegrino Nottata Stellata remix) (5:08)
Review: Be Strong Be Free's 7" series is on fire this year and now comes back with a third instalment. It is 'Nuit De Fievre' and it comes from label owner Gratts, aka the "Belgian down under," who revisits disco's golden era by assembling a stellar studio team starring the Moody Mae band in the company of Reinhard Vanbergen on violin and Jaj from Paris on vocals. What they cook up in return is elegant boogie and disco that will chime well with fans of Dimitri From Paris. The B-side features Pellegrino's jazz-funk rendition, adding Mediterranean flair straight from Vesuvius. Both sides promise deliciously uplifting grooves for any disco enthusiast.
Review: 'Foolish Man Part 1' and 'Part 2' by The Huck Daniels Co is one of several 45rpms the BGP label is dropping at the moment and weirdly many of them are also in two parts. This one features guitarist Daniels who was a key part of the B.B. King band ahead of later setting in Los Angeles and becoming a respected leader in his own right. He wrote just one for Kent Records and that was in 1973 as the label headed into its final days. 'Part 1' on the A-side is a driving funk cut aimed squarely at the club and heavy on inspiration from James Brown and the version on the flip levels up with organ playing from Earl Foster.
Review: Teddy Powell and Zee Desmondes are The Jack Moves, a contemporary disco and hip hop outfit who here link with unknown newbies The People Of Newark and Larry Hamm for this tidy new 7" on Star Creature. 'Horror Games' has a squelchy synth bass line that carries the loose drum work and bustling methane of background vocals and found sounds. A lead singer takes charge up top as various chatting crowds play out in the background. It's a busy tune that also comes as an instrumental for those who prefer the focus to be on the well crafted drums and bass.
Review: The Jackson Sisters are next up on the latest 45 from Tower Vinyl, which has in recent times done a superb job of serving up some timeless and effective vintage soul sounds from across different niches and eras. This one kicks off with the well high energy sound of 'Miracles' with its big vocals, bigger drums and raw horns that are well known to cinema goers everywhere. 'Boy You're Dynamite' is a more raw and emotive sound with a striped back rhythm but superbly gut wrenching vocal deliveries.
Menahan Street Band - "How Did I Get Here?" (2:40)
Review: The superbly classy Daptone label comes on strong with another perfect formed 7" of retro soul. This time, the label's in house crew Menahan Street Band provide their famously authentic grooves, with big horns, rolling licks and drawn out leads on 'How Did I Get Here?' which on the a-side has vocals from LaRose Jackson. Soaring high and filled with rich soul, it's another timeless tune. On the flip is the instrumental. It's a story telling tune with some cosmic synth work and nice old school tambourines for an old/new fusion that gets you movin'.
Review: Americans Hank Jacobs and Don Malone cooked up a bona fide political soul anthem when they crafted 'The World Needs Changin' back in 1970. It is now hard to find so naturally these days it fetches a very handsome fee on second hand markets so has rightly been reissued here by BGP. The a-side is a tune that cuts deep, with pained vocals over a simple but devastating soul rhythm. On the flip is another gem in the form of 'Getting On Down' making this a crucial cut.
Review: This classic Japanese funk tune has long been adored by erudite boogie, 80s funk and soul fans in Japan but also more internationally, and for the first time here it is now available as a 7" single. Produced by Toshiki Kadomatsu, the release includes one track each from the Jadoes albums It's Friday from 1986 and Free Drink in 1987, both of which are considered iconic in the Japanese boogie canon. 'Summer Lady' is full of glossy 80s drums and sparking melodies that bring unbridled joy and 'Friday Night' is a little more paired back but the stepping drums and male-female vocal interaction is a thing of beauty.
Review: The legendary James Taylor Quartet will soon return with a much anticipated new full length but before that they offer a glimpse not what to expect from it with new single 'Hung Up On You.' Taylor himself has explained that 'Hung Up On You' was left over from a writing session from his other band The Prisoners and that it was "interesting to see how my JTQ guys, usually funk players, took to this approach." It channels the gritty punk and new wave essence of Medway to deliver a fast-paced rock'n'roll anthem that passionately rants about an enduring, unreciprocated love.
Review: The fantastic James Taylor Quartet delivers a punk-infused track with a powerhouse chorus here that channels the energy of Taylor's time with The Prisoners when supporting The Ramones during their 1986 UK tour. Of that time he has said The Ramones were "incredible-watching their three-hour sets every night at 21 had a huge impact on me. It took until I was 60 to find a way to act on that inspiration." Though The James Taylor Quartet has always had a punky rock 'n' roll vibe in their live shows, this feels fresh and like a new discovery, despite the influence always being present on some level.
Review: 'Miss Your Life' is a punky new wave track that was originally penned as a poem before evolving into a song. It critiques British apathy, complacency, and a pervasive sense of powerlessness and pessimism that we can all relate to. The song itself serves as a rallying cry to resist and take action before it's too late. The James Taylor Quartet's guitarist Mark, typically known for his more intricate parts, nails the punky intro with precision and the track captures this outfit's defiant spirit and youthful energy while also blending joy and rebellion as they revisit their adolescent years with a powerful message.
Review: The new joint on Wildcards comes from a hornsman sometimes known as Lucky Brown, sometimes as plain old Joel Ricci. He's done plenty of excellent work in the past, but after a few quiet years he's back in the saddle and this new single really takes the cake. 'A Thing Of Beauty' is a lilting slice of instrumental funk which lets Ricci's playing soar, and it's all rendered with a dusty, red-lining charm which will make it all the hotter in the dance as well as appealing to crate diggers hankering for more hot n' heavy grooves to sample. Speaking of which, the flip 'Drums Of Beauty' gives you breaks for days - B-boys and B-girls take heed.
Review: Athens of the North is continually one of our favourite labels here at Juno HQ. The Edinburgh based outlet's tireless mission to unearth forgotten gems or shine a light on deserving tracks that may have been overlooked cannot be faulted. This time out Christopher Jay's 'What Do You want Me To Do' from 1987 gets served up on its own 45rpm. It is a glorious bit of disco boogie with a rugged broken beat, funk in the bass and soul in the buttery vocal. On the flip is a subtle edit that hits just as sweet a spot and it comes with a nice picture sleeve, too.
Shake Your Money Maker (New Super Heavy Funk edit - part 1) (2:37)
Shake Your Money Maker (New Super Heavy Funk edit - part 2) (2:37)
Review: Only 300 copies of this tantalising 7" single from the esteemed Soopastole Edits label are available, so act quickly to secure yours because they all sold out fast back in 2016 upon original release. As usual, Soopasoul, a regular on Jalepeno Records, is at the helm, deftly wielding his scalpel to craft two scorching interpretations of a lesser-known gem from the 'Sex Machine' sessions. On side A, 'Shake Your Money Maker (Part 1)' showcases Maceo Parker's electrifying saxophone solos soaring over Soopasoul's tightened-up version of the JB's infectious groove. Flip to the B-side for more saxophone magic and a groove that delves into the original track's percussive sections, delivering irresistible hip-swinging and toe-tapping thrills.
Review: The tenth release on Fantasy Love takes us back to the Spring of 1978 and Miami Sound Studios, where Aaron McCarthy Junior AKA Jelly had been lending a hand with the recording of Herman Kelly's now celebrated album, 'Percussion Explosion'. 'Everybody Needs Lovin, Now's the Time' was demo'd for that album but never completed; instead, McCarthy joined forces with producer Thomas Fundora to record a tweaked version, featuring his own lead vocals, which was then released on the latter's obscure, small-run label. Here reissued for the first time, the track is a pleasingly celebratory slab of Miami soul that comes backed by 'Hey Look at Me', a sugary, eyes-closed love ballad with similarly fine Floridian instrumentation.
Review: What we gonna do right here is go back, way back. You already recognise that refrain, don't you? That's because it is one of the most sampled refrains in dance music history. Now it gets pressed up on to 7" for this year's Record Store day as a 7" double header featuring two of the most impossibly huge hits from the Jimmy Castor Bunch, namely the million-plus selling 'Troglodyte', and on the reverse, 'It's Just Begun'. A true funk masterpiece that made its mark lighting up parties in the Bronx in the 70's before it set a fire under those who went on to create hip-hop's earliest blueprint, it remains a classic to this day.
Review: More scorching hot soul sounds here from Original Gravity who look to Jodie and Floyd James and the GTs for their latest dose of 7" goodness. Jodie is in powerful form on the a-side as she delivers an empowering vocal over fast paced and chested-puffed drums that will steamroller all in their wake. This soul anthem has class and depth with some slick guitar solos and big horn energy. Floyd James & The GTs step up on the flip side with 'Johnnie's Blues' which is full of Hammond organ chords and 60s guitar riffs.
Review: Greg Jolly's 1981 jam 'It's Getting Sweeter' is the subject of this new tidy reissue on US label Enjoy. It's a real deep funk classic that has a lo-fi feel and vocals full of love and passion from both the male lead and the sweet female backers. The chords and drums are gently persuasive and it's a great way to ease yourself into an evening. This 45rpm is backed with 'Love Is' which picks up the pace and has a more funky and propulsive beat with acrobatic falsettos up top finishing it in style.
Review: Authentic soul business from Bloomington newbies The Indications brought to you by the good people at Colemine Records. Teaming up with Durand Jones for the A-side, "Smile" is a powerful preachy cut that digs deep into the classic funk mentality while sitting neatly upside the grills of Aloe Blacc or Gnarls Barkley. "Tuck N Roll", meanwhile, is a Meters-level slice of smouldering instrumental funk with big cymbal splashes and a blissful balance of Rhodes and guitar. Spotless.
Review: The King Casuals and were founded in 1962 by the late great Jimi Hendrix and after the guitarist's death, he was in the late sixties replaced by Johnny Jones. He leads them in stomping and high energy fashion and here on the a-side is his interpretation of the Hendrix classic 'Purple Haze.' It's got all the things you need to get steamy on the dance floor and it always used to shake the floor at Wigan Casino. Gene Chandler is a bonafide Northern Soul legend who is well known to fans of the genre and his 'There Was a Time' is a real raw gem on the flip.
Review: Daptone recently released a killer collection of archival cover versions by in-house band the Dap-Kings and their sadly departed lead singer Sharon Jones. One of the headline attractions on that set, the band's righteous, call-to-arms soul version of Woody Guthrie's folk anthem 'This Land Is Our Land', is also featured on this must-have reissue of a "45" that first dropped in 2004. It's superb, but even better is A-side 'What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?', a floor-friendly conscious soul/funk crossover written and recorded at the height of the second Gulf War with Iraq. As usual, Jones' impeccable lead vocal is supported brilliantly by the band's fiery instrumentation and Bosco Mann's fuzzy, sixties-style production.
Judson Moore & The Al Tog Staff - "Everybody Push & Pull" (3:11)
Review: Soul Junction revisits the Scot-Tees Capri master tapes here to unveil two previously unreleased tracks. First is 'My Sweet Polly' by The Scott Brothers, a late 60s dance tune inspired by Howard Scott's former girlfriend. Coupled with this is a studio version of Judson Moore's "Everybody Push & Pull," a crossover hit influenced by Rufus Thomas. The Scott Brothers evolved from the 'Elpeccios' in 1958 to the Scott Brothers Band in 1963 and were instrumental in Chicago's music scene. Their label, Capri Records, produced hits like 'We Like Girls' and worked with legends like Garland Green. Judson Moore was a veteran singer who thrived under their mentorship and went on to leave a lasting legacy.
Southside Movement - "I'm So Glad That I've Got You" (3:28)
Review: In the early 80s, Chicago-based funk band Southside Movement teamed up with soul singer Jackie Ross who was already well known for her work with Chess and Brunswick. Though this collaboration produced incredible music, it was largely forgotten since only a few test pressings existed so it never spread too far. However, in 2023, P-VINE reissued their only full-length album on vinyl for the first time and now, the standout track from their partnership, 'You Are The One That I Need' comes on its own special 7" which is the first time it has been available in this format. It's a wonderful and previously long-lost collaboration that is well deserving of your attention.
Jorge Ben - "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" (2:36)
Review: Mr Bongo's Brazil 45s series gets its rock on with two hairy grooves, both of which have enjoyed the sampler's crafty knives over the years. First up, Tom Ze's "Jimmy Renda-se" rolls with an oily sleazy groove that's peppered by a playful lyrical rhythm that transcends language barriers. Ben's "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" joins the dots between Samba and very light Rock with all the signatures that made Mr Ben the legend he remains to this day with big vocal harmonies and infectious textures of Brazilian percussion.
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