Updated remixes of two big Balearic classics on Best Record! "Describing Linda Di Franco is no easy task: a reserved, sometimes elusive artist with a career that is difficult to define. From an early age she was interested in various artistic fields. Working as a DJ in clubs, then on the radio, she took the opportunity to record her first musical demo, Stage, obtaining international recognition which quickly took her to England and to the States, where she recorded her first compositions, My Boss and T.V. Scene. The songs are of great value and achieve unexpected success, also included in The Rise Of The Heart, a milestone in the nascent revolution of club culture, a Balearic classic supported by DJs in love with the indefinable sound of Ibiza. But Linda is extraordinarily ahead of her time and despite the enormous fame has gained with her songs she is already oriented towards a career as a music video director. For this reason the Turin singer-songwriter turns out to be one of the least fruitful artists of her time, while her CV in Hollywood is impressive in various roles which she holds, in addition to that of actress and director, that of impeccable sound technique. Intelligent artist, full of good and positive feelings and certainly also ambitious, but extremely scrupulous by subjecting sounds in cinema to careful review. Yes! The "sound" is an investigative tool for her, a way of understanding art. Linda Di Franco is - willy-nilly - still the undisputed queen of the Balearic sound today. So, she decided to produce Redux, a limited edition album published by Best Record, in which her most intrepid and famous songs are re-proposed in the jazz versions edited by her friends from Turin and Los Angeles. Then she had to give in to the boundless passion of Danilo Braca, the Italian DJ based in New York, who deserves credit for the successful combination of refined and ethereal songs with the disco genre. TV. Scene - Epic Remix, TV. Scene - Costa del Sol Mix and My Boss - Remix are Danilo's pearls, created with the help of excellent international musicians who with more defined and current sounds have added their art to that of Linda."

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Italian leftfield funk heat reissued on Best Record, with artwork by famous cartoonist Jacovitti! The link between music and art has always been constantly renewed! Even when the union between these profound expressions of the soul manifests itself in an eccentric, surreal way, as happened in 1978 withKamasultra a downtempo, vaguely funky that only the courageous record producer, talented musician and conductor Aldo Pagani had the courage to release. Nando De Luca, a Milanese composer and acclaimed jazz musician, who 10 years earlier, had arranged Paolo Conte's Azzurro for Adriano Celentano, accepted the strange recording project as a joke, or rather for fun, strongly influenced, like co-author Roberto Rizzo, by Jacovitti' s cheeky and impertinent artwork. Danilo Braca' s restoration and editing work, well supported by talented musicians, reestablishes the balance between music and art. It is also worth his respect for the two original versions of Kamasultra and Kama Kama just extended for the DJ's work in the club. Then the New York-based Italian DJ - known to his friends as Danyb - performs two robust house-style arrangements, evoking memories and emotions, making this reissue unique and rich. Best Record 's main aim is to make us smile and reflect on the talent of Jacovitti, able to assert his own style without indulging in conformism.

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Gong's Gang , a one-off project for the unique family of true musicians: Giuseppe, Lino, and Rossana Nicolosi; brothers and sisters who knew ''something'' about the Italo-boogie-funk of the early '80s, uncontaminated by the increasingly invasive electronic sound of a yet unappreciated Italo-Disco. Gimme Your Love is a gem, with Rosanna Nicolosi leading the way on vocals and cascading synths and bass blending into an intoxicating mix that should make any funk detective froth with approval. And investigating how it sounds, one discovers a certain similarity to a Charades track; strings sound a bit like Gimme The Funk (written and produced by poet Lotti Golden and Richard Sher both with Chuck Wansley and Kathrine Joyce on Warp 9), mixed in 1982 by John "Jellybean" Benitez, a very close friend of Tony Carrasco, who in 1983 produced, arranged, and mixed 'Gimme Your Love'. The two always kept an eye on each other, even from a distance, staying in touch. However, these assumptions do not detract from this stellar song: whether you prefer the vocal hit or the subtly voiced instrumental, that you can dance at any nighttime party and that absolutely deserves a second chance in the spotlight.

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LodoLand is an album performed, arranged, mixed, mastered and produced by Roberto Lodola. DJ and producer since 1982, Lodola is a pioneer of the afro, funky disco, balearic, electronic and world music sound. He alternates his performances between Italy and Ibiza, where he promotes a unique and personal style, rich in influences and contaminations that the White Island -- the capital of electronic music -- has deeply etched into his musical identity. A blend of styles and cultures that could be defined as afro balearic. Vocals on Marley Eh by Rae, vocals on Manda Toto by Sofiya Nzau, and Weya by Jelani. Percussion on Faith In You by George Aghedo.

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Block Sistem is yet another curious entity from the labyrinth archives of Italo-Disco. Originally released in 1983 on Rabbit Records, this gorgeous, richly produced slice of synthesizer acrobatics was a certifiable hit back in the day. As such, it's been fetching monstrous prices on the second hand market, but once again diggers can rejoice thanks to Best Record, who have done the right thing and dusted this rare gem down for a shimmering new release. that have kept the sanctity of the original record intact - with a vocal mix on the A side and the instrumental on the B side - but this time around there's some utterly fresh artwork adorning the release. In true Best Record style. Not one to miss!

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Steve Kahn & Co. are yet another of those curios of the early 80s that Best Record have dug out, dusted down, spruced up and repressed for your eclectic party pleasure. "Got To Have Your Lovin" is a pure feel good jam at every turn - it's got a very natural, live band sound mixed by the legendary Tee Scott that especially makes the aqueous bass playing shine through. Whether you plump for the vocal or the instrumental, this is the kind of record that could set a wedding party on fire as much as a serious heads-down disco funk session. You'll no doubt get a lot of mileage out of this one, and have a great time in the process.

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"Here's another worthy reissue of a Diggers classic, which had an excellent opportunity for rediscovery with a Dimitri From Paris compilation and is now being offered to us again in a rare exception to the usual hyper-obscure Italo Disco archive finds by Best Record. In fact Claudio Casalini, opting this time for "You're My Number 1" by Radiance and Andrea Stone, gets everything a boogie jam should be, from the liquid funk of the bass line to the snap of the drums. The original is fantastic, but the extended dub version on the B-side is absolutely not to be overlooked. It's impossible to stay on the ground when this pearl comes out even for those who don't know that it was mixed by the legendary team at M&M Productions with the participation of John Morales, an undisputed champion in mixing."

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Reissue of in-demand Italo title, with accompanying edits by Hysteric. "For the much-requested 12'' reissue of Roaring Mosquitoes, Best Record followed the hint by a die-hard German researcher and esteemed DJ of 'hidden musical treasures' Frinda Di Lanco. Further enriching this reissue - masterfully remastered by Dom Scuteri - with two of his splendid edits is the Australian DJ-producer George Hysteric, one of the world's leading authorities and a leading figure in Italo Disco. The juxtaposition of the two songs performed with grit and physicality by Agostina Casalino and her cousin Antonietta Casalino (aka Roaring Mosquitoes) highlights two aesthetically and rhythmically similar approaches, albeit with different roots and inspirations. "You Aren't With Me" has the merit of not wanting to reinvent the genre, but exploits the familiarity of pop-dance forms, obtaining an immediate catchiness. The piece stands out for its linearity while reworking melodic mechanisms typical of the 80s new wave: short instrumental intro, well-defined verse-chorus, obsessive repetition of melodic hooks that make it an immediate and "dragging" song on the dance floor. The arrangement focuses on a solid electronic drum groove, sinuous basslines, clean guitar riffs, "cutting" keyboards and the use of the chorus typical of the Italo Disco of those years. Some passages recall the melodic line and rhythmic progression of "Tonight... Crazy Night", an intriguing song that the Canadian artist Dorine Hollier created in 1984 at the Titania Studios in Rome with Pierluigi Giombini. Even with "Ah Ah Ah Ah" which features a vibrant and cheerful sound there's a playful use of citation for some idea that Diego Pepe took from a Micky & Joyce track. It evokes the "space disco" spirit of Jean-Pierre Massiera and the influence of the French scene of 1979: polyphonic synthetic strings, echo effects on electronic hi-hats and a vaguely futuristic atmosphere, but with an even more captivating sound revitalized with more scratchy modern touches and compressed basslines. A mix of vintage and contemporary that enhance its charm."

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"Non Rompere" is a dark, decidedly experimental song from the disco era, a style embraced in the second half of the 70s by Amanda Lear and then in the early 80s by Italian showgirls such as Nadia Cassini, Patrizia Pellegrino, Pamela Prati, who considered disco-music the most transgressive genre of the time (which later often became ''trash''). G.Bri, namely Vanna Brosio, a seductive actress and TV presenter, follows this trend with an equally bold approach, making use of the shameless lyrics of Cristiano Malgioglio (Cristiano Facile) and the arrangement and orchestral direction of Beppe Cantarelli, one of the key figures of Italian music in the world (with over 100 million records sold). The record production of ''Non Rompere', longed for by followers for decades, nevertheless needs to be enriched. Dave Mathmos takes care of it, choosing to keep the original version intact and faithful to his style he creates two alternative versions: the ''Remix'' oriented towards High Energy, replacing the rock guitar with synthesizers that evoke the sounds of artists such as Giorgio Moroder and Patrick Cowley; the "Italo Dub", draws on the roots of Italo-Disco, highlighting the melodies of the chorus and adding another layer of melodic depth, all through the use of synthesizers (Additional instruments used: Linndrum drum machine, Roland TR-707 drum machine, Moog V - Synth, Jupiter 8V - Synth, Diva - Synth). This approach shows once again the talent of the Italian-Australian DJ in fusing and reinventing the genre, while preserving the energy and innovation, characteristics of the Italian Disco music scene of that time.



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With the reissue of ''Magic" the circle of the works originally published by Eyes Records and composed in the earliest 80s by Celso Valli is completed: Future State, Blue Gas and now precisely Five Sinners !!! Best Record thus creates ''the triplet'' of the Italo-Disco operas made by the immense musician from Bologna, who used various nicknames at that time - as the trend of the main Italian arrangers - feeling 'a certain shame' in making commercial pieces, songs that were danced in the discos. He hid under dozens of pseudonyms (Adal-Scandy, Azoto, Bulldog Lama, Sandon, Super Band....) ''Magic'' and ''Precious Lies'' kept hidden, almost buried for over 40 years (but with many followers abroad) now shine their own light! Indeed. To further enrich this latest vinyl production by Claudio Casalini there is - in addition to the successful artwork of graphic designer Nerina Fernandez - the new captivating version of ''Magic'' (timing 6'20'') skillfully remixed by the talented Italian-Australian DJ-producer Dave Mathmos. In short, a 12-inch reissue not to be missed for both collectors and club DJs.

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It's difficult to ''label'' the songs of this authoritative and necessary official reissue (after the shameful fake of 10 years ago). ''Zombi'' and ''In the Land of the Zombi'' are two electro disco-funks from 1979, therefore from three years before was born the ''Italo-Disco'' style, certainly more powerful, aggressive and more electronic than the ''Made in Italy'' disco style of the 2nd half of the 70s (Fratelli La Bionda, Pino Presti, Claudio Simonetti, Celso Valli and others.). The creation of the original 7" by Salvatore Ida, great musician and bandleader - to whom this excellent reissue is dedicated - was a sort of game for the authors of the two pieces: Federico Ida and Massimo Ida, were protagonists 4 years before of the Italian progressive rock scene with the sister Silvana Ida, Marcello Surace and Franco Vinci thanks to the immeasurable and acclaimed album ''Apoteosi''. So The Zombies were destined to pair with another easy '79 joke by the Ida brothers: ''Let's Go'' and ''Mustang'' by Sandwich, also reissued on 12inch by Best Record Italy. The Zombies comes out with the original artwork of the time, but in a full embossed picture sleeve and released in the classic black vinyl and on red vinyl with black shades (limited edition with red copies numbered manually (1/250: 2/250 and so on...) What else to add except that: the two long versions of ''Zombi'' and ''In the Land of the Zombi'' were re-edited by Massimo Berardi, always diligent and active, as well as tidy and aware of where he was putting his hands, are fundamental in order to complete this 12" fully remastered by Dom Scuteri.

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Valuable reissue of slow Italo classic! Roberto Onofri, since he was a teenager, has developed his own culture independently. Whatever he liked to do, he immediately embodied it, instantly identifying with what he was passionate about. However, one certainly cannot expect the sixteen-year-old and self-taught disc jockey to be ready as a composer for his first time in a recording studio. He became an author, arranger and performer shortly after, but for his first experience on vinyl he had to resort to a cover, as many did to get noticed and have the limelight on him. There was no mistake in choosing 'Living with Passion'' by the Canadian band Moral Support, but only how to write the title of the piece on the album cover!!! At the time, not all Italian printers knew English well, which is why Italo Disco soon became sadly famous for the huge blunders that were written. It was love at first sight for Roberto, who played the song written and produced by Richard Cranford and Sandro Durante every night in the disco. There were some imperfections due to inexperience, but the electronics, more and more imperious and overwhelming, won over everything, effectively decreeing the beginning of a new musical style. The Italian one. Dave Mathmos did well to have the same passion as Onofri and his DJ Program Band, developing an excellent version that gave new life to the piece from 40 years ago, reprinted by Best Record in two different and limited editions, in black vinyl and in green vinyl with black shades. Both editions come out with the artwork and credits in relief and with the image of the very young DJ Onofri immortalized next to a drum kit with the microphone in his hand, ready as always to make people jump and have fun.

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Baricentro is an Italian funk-rock band founded in 1976 by two brothers Francesco and Vanni Boccuzzi; after the release of two albums in mid seventies (Sconcerto and Trusciant) for the major record company EMI; they recorded in 1983 the single ''Tittle Tattle'' representing a clear innovation in sound from their past, without believing that would receive a positive response in the New York City underground music scene and soon becoming a Paradise Garage and Loft classic. Best Record Italy today came out with this special reissue-project as a Limited Edition Ep, remastered from the original master tapes and containing for the first time all the versions from 1983 and 84 including the unreleased dub that was previously available as an acetate cut only for deejay play.

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"Just Like a Doorknob" is very serious boogie funk written in 1983 by Claudette Washington and Dennis Bell who were also the original producers. Superb electronic disco track with huge vibes that are devastating when they hit the scene. The piece has become an Italo-Boogie classic. It has a sumptuous groovy synth bass with a fantastic piano accompaniment, the vocal version has a very American style. This precious reissue masterfully remastered by Dom Scuteri for Best Record also includes an unreleased instrumental dub version and finally a picture sleeve with captivating artwork.

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These three songs by Kasso re-edited and mixed by John Jellybean Benitez between 1981 and 1982 represent a musical bridge that allows us to move from Europe to North America easily, but only if equipped with roller skates. JJBB with his skillful work in those early 80s was able to open new paths to Italo-Disco by fusing it with other styles, thus leaving an indelible mark on musical culture and the evolution of various genres. "Key West", so happy and melodic, is an extraordinary piece of music that has become a classic of the underground house music scene of New York and Chicago, contributing among other things to building freestyle music in the early 80s along with pieces like "Dirty Talk", "The Mexican", "Rapture", etc. it could be heard at night in East New York, Brooklyn, anywhere on any Saturday circa 1983. Also "Walkman", one of the best instrumental dance songs, could also be heard in every handball court and schoolyard in Brooklyn and Queens as it embodied the vibe of gritty New York at the time, but it also became a staple in Chicago during WBMX 102.7. it was fm Hot Mix 5, which influenced house music. This song and countless other pieces have crossed and transcended trends such as uprocking, roller skating break dancing, webo dancing. "Kasso", which in addition to the title of the third song of this splendid reissue published by Best Record, is also the pseudonym of the fairy Claudio Simonetti. This piece actually is a classic Jazz funk, not disco, which is to be enjoyed and to dance, dance, dance, takes us back to the Funhouse and the unique way of mixing music, sometimes with brutal, energetic, stimulating changes of rhythm, of Jellybean Benitez, who as always blessed every track he touched with his talent.

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Tunnel was made in Naples in 1978 by Giorgio Verdelli and Danilo Rustici only on 7inch and it was the theme song for two RAI radio programs. Going through the names of the musicians we begin with the inimitable voice and the splendid guitars of Danilo Rustici, then passing through the saxophones of Enzo Avitabile we arrive at the keyboards of Joe Amoruso, musician-arranger who left a great void with his untimely death. For Joe, who crossed his experience with Premiata Forneria Marconi, Zucchero, Vasco Rossi, Mauro Pagani and was part of that 'dream team' of Pino Daniele - made up of technically extraordinary musicians, but above all gifted with an inimitable sound - this one-off project represented his recording debut. 'Tunnel Lights' and 'Speed Up' have been brought to light by Dario Di Pace and Claudio Casalini, two visionaries who believe that Neapolitan music is a sonic mixture of ancient and modern musical registers even if it sometimes develops a conflict between tradition and modernity as the recovery of popular tradition is strongly opposed to the push for innovation. This therefore is the reason for a 12" reissue in which the evocative original songs - from almost 50 years ago - are reflected in the new versions created by a bevy of talented DJ-arrangers including Massimo Berardi (with the bassist Luca Andreozzi) and by the industrious and passionate Francisco & Malkuth (ed: Francesco De Bellis and Cosimo 'Cosmo' Mandorino in disguise) in turn assisted by other zealous musicians and dee-jays - including the very good and always very collaborative Raffaele Arcella - who took part in a remix of this EP with enormous fervor The 12" reissue of Tunnel was released both on the classic black vinyl and in the very limited red vinyl version, in order to reflect the lips of the extravagant cover, a graphic work by another brilliant and multifaceted artist: Lino Vairetti, legendary singer of the historic prog rock band Osanna. The envelope developed by Best Record is embossed (front and back cover) to further enhance the passion that Neapolitan musicians have always had in knowing how to combine their roots with all the other musical genres of the world.

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Randy Wiper is only known for this highly sought-after 100% pure Italo-Disco song from 1984, but the reason why he hasn't published anything else is that the artist embarked on a career as a film actor immediately after. The beginning of the song "I'd Like To Know" could be divided into three, the pattern of which is repeated in the subsequent instrumental parts, the piece possesses the sidereal energy of space disco. When it seems that we will leave the planet on board a shuttle, the soloist's voice enters, full of personality, it is that of Marcello Arcangeli and has the gift of inflections that sometimes recall that of Roy Orbison, at other times that of David Bowie. What remains most imprinted on the listener is the romantic part of the ballad, highlighted by the piano and passion. Finally there is the chorus which sounds exclamatory, imploring, but at the same time casual and danceable. Through a unique theme, that of a rare piece like "I'd Like To Know", we explore space, the heart, the disco.

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Francesco Puccioni "born genius" in Florence, Mike Francis "becomes legend" in Rome. Deeply inspired in his adolescence by the emerging movements of North American soul, country and West Coast music and by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and James Taylor, Francesco began to compose refined songs with radiant energy every day. From the first acoustic gestures performed with the guitar, always keeping compositional creativity and improvisation under his arm, he enters the unexplored waters of Italian disco music. This slow and inexorable transformation allowed him to create in 1981 with the Metropole group (with Al Festa and Claudio Giusti, all still in their twenties) the international disco hit "Miss Manhattan", a true piece of proto-Italo-Disco! A year later the young Florentine singer-songwriter wrote two evocative soul-disco songs produced by Paul & Peter Micioni, published by Best Record and performed by a certain Mike Francis (!). This is the birth of the stage name which will forever accompany the musician who became a fundamental reference of the experimental Italo-Disco "scene", then soon recognized worldwide. This coveted 12" vinyl reissue comes out with the same Best Record commercial cover as 40 years ago and with the same 'red sticker'. And finally we have the juicy reissue of "Nightime Lady" and the more appetizing and danceable "Love Has Found", both perfectly remastered by Dom Scuteri, excellent in obtaining an impeccable sound recording, even eliminating some imperceptible defects of the original master tape. Therefore a super reissue (in limited edition) to listen to everywhere with the smart phone and to dance with joy and elegance at any type of party..

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Strut Records proudly presents the official reissue of Hidden Fire Volumes 1 & 2, the final album released by Sun Ra on his El Saturn label in 1988.


Listen: listen.k7.com/1c1cafdc-38a4-416b-bd99-1070d9c14e3d
Tracklist:
A1. Retrospect - This World Is Not My Home
A2. Hidden Fire Improvisation
B1/B2. Hidden Fire Blues

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From the crypts of Parisian funk obscurity comes the long-lost Halloween holy grail, Disco Frankenstein from Ice AKA Lafayette Afro Rock Band. A teasing album of horror-disco oddities, pressed on blood-stained black-red vinyl LP. Our special edition release for Halloween 2025

Listen: listen.k7.com/32fce7b1-89fd-4e25-8964-d3f42aea14dc


Tracklist:

A1. City Beast - Ice
A2. Disco Vampire - Ice
A3. Godzilla
A4. Creature From The Freak Lagoon
A5. Disco Frankenstein

B1. Dr Beezar "Soul Frankenstein"
B2. Zeke The Zombie
B3. Vampire Blob
B4. Igor's Reggae
B5. She Devil

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Ajomasé is the groundbreaking debut album by legendary Nigerian percussionist Gasper Lawal. Originally released in 1980 on his own label CAP, Strut are proud to now bring this unique album back to the racks.

Listen: listen.k7.com/63a1f322-4080-4795-8995-5acdf8777083


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Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, we present the only solo album saxophonist Ramon Morris recorded as a bandleader. Having cut his teeth playing with the iconic band Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and working with other jazz greats, including Reuben Wilson, Shirley Scott, Rashied Ali Quintet, and Woody Shaw, 1973 saw Ramon take the step into solo territory. The resulting album Sweet Sister Funk became a certified classic and a landmark showcase of the cherished ‘70s jazz-funk sound, later sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, The Alchemist and DJ Shadow.

Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.

A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you’ll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of ‘70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz.

Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris.

Housed in a tip-on sleeve.

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In 1974 Mazzotti recorded her first album Ninguem Vai Me Segurar (1974), enlisting the in-demand arrangement talents of Azymuth’s original keyboard maestro Jose Roberto Bertrami who co-wrote several of the tracks and plays organ, piano and synthesizers on the album. It also features Azymuth’s bassist Alex Malheiros and percussionist Ariovaldo Contestini, with Romildo Santos who produced the album on drums. Recorded in Estudio Haway around the same time Azymuth recorded their debut album there, it’s no wonder the samba jazz-funk pioneer’s distinctive aesthetic is present throughout, and Mazzotti’s sensational compositions are made even more beautiful for it. An artist as imaginative and unique as Ana Mazzotti doesn’t come around often. Dubbed a “super-musician” by fellow Brazilian virtuoso Hermeto Pascoal, Mazzotti’s short but rich musical career culminated in just two studio albums: Ninguem Vai Me Segurar (1974), and Ana Mazzotti (1977). Outside circles of Brazilian funk aficionados, these two gems of spellbinding samba-jazz, lysergic funk and trippy bossa have remained relatively obscure. This was partly as a result of Mazzotti’s premature death (she lost her battle with cancer in her mid-thirties), but also due to financial restraints and the prejudice she faced as a female songwriter in a fundamentally sexist society.

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Following Mr Bongo’s reissue of Studio Rio’s exquisite Brazilian-infused take on Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day’, which was one of the standout hits from last summer, we shine a light on another of their superb remakes. Masterminded and produced by the German, Grammy award-winning Berman Brothers, and using the same all-star cast behind the Bill Withers’ reinterpretation, they put a joyous Brazilian twist on the Marvin Gaye classic 'Sexual Healing'. Rich in positivity and a pure end-of-the-night classic, this is another surefire winner to light up any occasion.

A project born out of Christian & Frank Berman's, aka the Berman Brothers, passion for Brazilian music, they had wondered what some of the all-time classic US soul songs would sound like if they had been recorded in Rio de Janeiro with the best Brazilian musicians. “The idea took root in the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro. Beyond the city’s main carnival, countless neighbourhood block parties pulse with live samba drumming, colourful costumes, and a joyful mix of freedom, music, and cultural expression. The goal was to capture this spirit and channel it into Gaye’s timeless hit,” explain the Berman Brothers.

Heading to Rio in 2013, the brothers assembled a select team of top-level Brazilian musicians including many sidemen to one of Brazil’s most influential composers, Tom Jobim. They brought in Torcuato Mariano, renowned for his work with Djavan and Gilberto Gil, to arrange the songs, drawing inspiration from classic '60s / '70s Brazilian samba recordings for this new remake. Another addition was Pretinho da Serrinha, one of Brazil’s most acclaimed samba musicians, who worked with Seu Jorge, Caetano Veloso, and Lulu Santos. His masterful percussion and cavaquinho playing gave the track its irresistible summer energy.

Having spoken to Sony about their idea, they were given access to the multitrack tapes, meaning they could present Marvin’s original vocal take with this reimagined Brazilian flavour. “Our goal was to create an authentic samba recording to accompany Marvin Gaye’s vocal performance. We wanted to honour the original while creating something fresh – hoping people would feel as if the song had been recorded this way from the very beginning”.

Remoulding Gaye's iconic lovers’ anthem from 1982, the brothers flipped ‘Sexual Healing’ into a joy-filled, smouldering samba-driven beauty. It’s a breezy, light-hearted remake, with Marvin's sublime soul delivery sitting perfectly amidst the shuffling cavaquinho and cuica groove. Uplifting horn stabs, building melodies, and heartfelt harmonies elevate the song to an ecstatic climax.

Now pressed to 45 for the first time, with the instrumental on the B-side, this single is the perfect cut to ignite the party or as that feel-good closer that will send everyone home on a high.

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For their third album on Bongo Joe, Madalitso Band takes a new direction. After two records capturing the raw intensity of their live performances, the Malawian duo ventures for the first time into the possibilities of the studio — without ever compromising their signature style or energy.

Tracklist
1.1Anafera Chiboda
1.2Princess Wanga
1.3Ma Gitala
1.4Chemwa
1.5Mwadala
1.6La Bwino
1.7Zili Komweko
1.8Po Lankhula

https://soundcloud.com/bongojoerecordshop/sets/madalitso-ma-gitala/s-dlmjG2f1CmG?si=40a40cd7755b440f818d09595ab4746d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More