Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: P-Vine Japan does great work once more here by bringing back into print some hugely sought-after sounds from the blues and r&b world. The first release in their new series revives Larry Davis' 1969 Kent Records single, which was originally written by Sherwood Fleming. The A-side, 'For 5 Long Years' delivers a gritty mid-tempo funk-blues groove while the B-side, 'I've Been Hurt So Many Times' (a classic subject for a blues tune) channels Willie Cobbs' signature sound. These will be familiar to anyone who has danced at a Northern Soul event and cannot be slept on.

Review: Danielle Nicole shares her debut album on Forty Below: The Love You Bleed. From its earliest recording sessions, Nicole knew this one would be different; for the first time, the whole twelve-track repertoire is about falling in love, not the fallout of it. Produced by Tony Braunagel (Taj Mahal, Eric Burdon, Robert Cray) and mixed by John Porter (B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Bryan Ferry), The Love You Bleed is an album-length sentimental ballad; full of love, loss, will, determination, and every residual ingredient of love. But that's not to say the album doesn't get sour with it; while lead single 'Make Love' is about consciously pushing past pain - choosing love, family, and community in life's difficult moments - 'How Did We Get To Goodbye' hits the listener quicker with its raw and twinging lyrics, documenting a soured love that bears no hero or villain, and asking how one might reach such a place of disrepair without even knowing it.

Review: Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., better known as Dr. John, left an indelible mark on the music world with his unique blend of New Orleans R&B, blues, jazz, funk and rock. As a teenage prodigy, he cut his teeth as a songwriter, arranger, and producer for Ace Records before becoming a sought-after studio musician in Los Angeles during the 1960s. His debut album Gris Gris in 1968 catapulted him into the spotlight as Dr. John The Night Tripper, captivating audiences with its mystical allure. Hits like 'Iko Iko' and 'Right Place Wrong Time' solidified his place in music history, earning him six Grammy awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya: Singles 1968-1974 collects his early singles from his influential years with Atco/Atlantic, offering 26 tracks of pure musical medicine. The iconic 'Such A Night,' alone makes this compilation is essential for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike. With liner notes from Gene Sculatti, it serves as a perfect entry point into the timeless world of Dr. John's music and a nostalgic journey through his classic Atco/Atlantic albums.