Check out this list featuring 50 Original (and earlier reissue) Soul, Funk and Jazz-Funk 45's. There are some quite rare and in demand records listed along with many classics. Many of the records are in either Ex or near mint condition, although there are some VG+ as individually graded. All records are one off's, so please order early to avoid disappointment. Records can be ordered on-line, over the phone on 020 8875 1018 or collected from our shop in Putney Open Mon-Sat 11-6 (closed on bank holiday sun and mon). Happy Diggin Laurence
Grady Tate - Lady Love / Moondance Grady Tate’s cover of the Jon Lucien penned track Lady Love sees its first ever reissue on Expansion, courtesy of Ralph Tee. The original, released on Janus as a promo back in 1974, is an uptempo rendition of Lucien’s tune, a Latin-inflected soul track with a stark percussive backbone that contrasts against sharp orchestral arrangements, soaring strings and a bold horn section, carrying the track towards luxurious musical territories. The incessant pounding of conga drums and deep, crooning vocals make this an ideal summer anthem, a rare and in-demand single which never saw...
Wayne Shorter – Adams Apple (Blue Note) Adams Apple is the tenth album in the solo cannon of saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Recorded in 1966 and released in 1967, the set is a combination of post and hard bop styles of playing, featuring an experienced quartet of Herbie Hancock on Keys, Reginald Workman on bass, Joe Chambers on drums and Shorter on reeds. The album was recorded while Shorter was a prominent member of Miles Davis’ second great quintet—alongside Hancock, an invaluable member of the lineup whose calculated and skillful playing on this date are crucially important factors behind its sound....
There are two Expansion singles this week from Grady Tate and Jerry Bell. Grady's version of Jon Lucien's 'Lady Love' has only ever been available as a mega rare promo 45 and is backed by his great version of the classic 'Moondance'. Jerry Bell's rare groove track 'Tell me You'll Say' is issued on a 45 for the first time. Both singles are available as regular dinked versions and limited edition full centre DJ Copies. --- The latest two in the Blue Note Classic analogue vinyl series are Larry Young 'Unity' and Wayne Shorter 'Adam's Apple' both great Jazz albums. The first five albums...
War released this great album 'The World Is A Ghetto' in late 1972. It was a massive success commercially and the band's only No 1 R&B and pop chart album. 'Cisco Kid' is a classic crossover funky jam, which sold a million copies on the day of release, which still sounds great today 50 years on. 'Where Was You At' is another funky groove with syncopated New Orleans drum line. ' City Country City' is a wonderful 13 minute opus which goes through many changes of pace reflecting the title. It was originally featured in the Blaxploitation film 'The legend...
Step by Step were a 12 piece soul group founded in the Brewery State of Wisconsin—Milwaukee to be precise. The title track off the album, I always Wanted To Be In The Band, became a rare and in demand Modern Soul single which has exchanged hands for large sums of money in recent years. Newer generations will have heard it being played by Mafalda and Floating Points, certainly a track that the Melodies International crew would play at their parties and a lively, upbeat stepper that infuses sweet harmony vocals and chicken pickin’ guitar licks. The album is a lovely...
Theo Croker’s latest offering Love Quantum is enough to challenge expectations and pique the interests of the modern listener. The trumpeter, initially discovered by Dee Dee Bridgewater who went on to nurture him in the mid noughties, has released a slew of experimental Jazz albums in recent years. His take on Jazz is informed by a laundy list of contemporary influences, namely hip-hop, electronica and neo-soul, while he channels the musical lineage and playing power of Jazz. His tenure with Bridgewater as a soloist (trumpet) and his musical background as a producer/beatmaker certainly evidence of these musical characteristics. His music...
Check out this third and final list of original Reggae LPs and comps in the month leading up to the Notting Hill Carnival. There are some very rare and collectable albums here along with a lot of albums at only £10 each. As before most of these records are in Near Mint (Hardly played) condition and the sleeves have average wear for their age, as individually graded. You can combine with other Reggae albums from the same collection here and here to optimize postage costs. Records can be ordered on-line, over the phone on 020 8875 1018 or collected from our shop in Putney open...
Kokoroko have made a superb debut album that combines Afro-beat and new London Jazz to great effect, which will be a great soundscape to the long hot summer. James Taylor Quartet return with another strong album 'Man in the Hot Seat' and Theo Croker has an interesting new album out on CD (pre-order LP for end of September). Terrace Martin has a more hip hop based album 'Drones', and there is a new Alicia Keys and reissue of Aaliayah all on LP. Many of the classic tracks from Slave, Steve Arrington and Aurra are collected on a 3CD Definitive collection. The Eccentric Soul...
London Jazz and Afro stalwarts Kokoroko return to Brownswood Records with their virgin album Could We Be More—following on from a number of feel good singles that enlarged their popularity over the last few years. Their Brownswood debut and pride of place on the 2018 We Out Here compilation, Abusey Junction, became a foundational track for the group, upon which the weight of expectation and calls for them to record a full length studio album—notwithstanding their most recent 12” single Baba Ayoola—grew and grew. After a long awaited period, these calls have finally been answered as the London Octet return...
