Reissued on vinyl for the first time! A milestone of the Black music movement, originally released on Vault in 1969. The debut album of Elaine Brown was arranged by piano player amd composer Horace Tapscott, conducting the Californian Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. A true political manifesto, the album is an accurate meeting between black poetry and spiritual jazz. After her debut Elaine went to release an eponymous second album on Motown. Elaine Brown is an African American activist and a former leader of the Black Panther Party – Minister of Information and Chairman.

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Finally a proper re-issue of this stone cold soul-reggae classic. The record was originally published in 1993, but the first session dates back to 1979. It was around this time that Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (of The Wailers and Soul Syndicate fame) approached the singer with the idea of re-making some Curtis Mayfield songs. ‘We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue’ was the first track generated during the meeting, followed after a couple of years by ‘Move On Up’. Devon Russell's birthplace and date are as much a mystery as the gaping holes in his recording career. He began with the Tartans, a mid-'60s rock steady vocal group comprised of himself, Prince Lincoln Thompson, Linbergh "Preps" Lewis and Cedric Myton; they disbanded after their 1967 hit "Dance All Night" (Federal Records). It is no mystery Jamaicans loved Motown soul, but this tribute was an epiphany on its own. With a crew comprised of eclectic master drummer Sly Dunbar, the album was completed at the Leggo Studios in Kingston, Jamaica with The Firehouse Crew on board. A mission accomplished ten years after the first foundation stone was laid. We recently heard Devon Russell ‘Move On Up’ and ‘We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue’ on the amazing Soul jazz compilation Disco Reggae Rockers, now you have the whole package !

Tracklist:

A1 Love To The People 3:48
A2 Wild And Free 3:58
A3 Darker Than Blue 3:55
A4 Move On Up 3:52
A5 Keep On Moving 3:35
B1 Never Too Much Love 3:28
B2 Songs On Sirene 3:48
B3 Makings Of You 3:52
B4 I'm Still Waiting 3:56
B5 Give Me Your Love 4:32

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Repress!

What a beauty here. A proper re-issue of Minnie Riperton debut album on GRT, originally licensed in 1970. Her name came to prominence with the highly influential Chicago band Rotary Connection, forerunners of the rock & soul crossover. In addition to their own recordings, including their 1967 debut album Rotary Connection, the band is notable as the backing band for Muddy Waters on his 1968 psychedelic blues album Electric Mud. Standing on her own, Minnie cut a series of sublime albums moving in a more soulful way. Opening track ‘Les Fleurs’ is a shiny cover of Ramsey Lewis – who is musical assistant and contributor here – classic number penned in 1968, literally a cornerstone for contemporary hip-hop and r&b being sampled by the likes of Jurassic 5 feat. Nelly Furtado, Damu the Fudgemunk, Dr. Octagon and Cut Chemist among others. Produced by Charles Stepney (already in with Rotary Connection and subsequently behind the desk with Earth Wind & Fire), the album benefits from is lushy orchestral arrangements, pushing the vocal duties of Minnie even forward (her five-octave vocal range, enabled her to sing in ‘whistle register’ nevertheless). The jazzy soft-pop feel overall will mark comparison with Stevie Wonder, Riperton’s future employer/mentor.

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Fully licensed ! Ltd to 500 copies. Singer and guitarist Ram John Holder was born in. 1939 in Georgetown, British Guiana, then moved to Cincinnati in 1954, and to the East Coast to work as folk blues singer in the early 1960s. In 1963, he took residency in England where he recorded several albums. Released in 1969 Black London Blues is surely is masterpiece. A socio-political manifesto the album chronicles the trials and tribulations that were the result of being a black-immigrant in London, and it contains all the pathos and pain one can imagine. Self-conscious, as concept albums often are, the record is almost like an audio A-Z or pub guide. It’s funky and represents his own black experience. It is a must have for all the blues revivalist out there, a record to rank along the lines of early Mike Cooper and american stalwarts like Eugene McDaniels or Sixto Rodriguez !

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Carol Woods was born in Jamaica, New York in 1943. She was deeply influenced by her grandfather, a Pentecostal minister, and her mother Marion Jones, which led her to become lead singer with the local church choir. A necessary soulful album long out of print. Recorded in London and published on Ember (British label formed in the early 1960s by club owner and promoter Jeffrey S. Kruger, owner of the Flamingo Club, London) in 1971, ‘Out Of the Woods’ is still a shiny gem on its own. The four tracks on her singles were included and the rhythm section backing tracks for the remainder were put down by Beau Ray Fleming (well known for his studio work with Mandrill) in New York. Ember’s producer, Mike Berry, then added Carol’s vocals and the horn section. Woods vocals are full and rich and the record has a sort of post-Supremes vibe with an obvious seventies approach. Since that time Carol has found success in stage musicals, such as One Mo Time where she took over the role of Big Bertha Williams, the hard drinking Vaudeville star. She has also appeared in movies, including Eddie Murphy ‘Raw’ where she played Eddie’s aunt.

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LIMITED EDITION FOR JUNE’S RSD – UK harmony soul group Chain Reaction recorded their only album ‘Indebted To You’ for Gull Records in 1977. The band consisted of Bruce Ruffin, Dave Collins and Bobby Davis. It includes their popular version of Lamont Dozier’s classic ‘Why Can’t We Be Lovers’, the sweet soul single ‘’Never Lose Never Win’ and the non album single ‘This Eternal Flame’. Rare groove alert: The electric funk of ‘Hogtied’ is the top of the crème here, with a bass line reminiscent of Aaron Neville ‘Hercules’, a sumptuous clavinet and a majestic wah-wah guitar.

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– Soul singer Betty Harris – mainly known for her Jubilee and Sansu recordings – was born in 1939 in Orlando, Florida. As a teenager she worked as a mate for Big Maybelle who encouraged her to start singing. First recording was released in 1962, her major hit was a cover of Solomon Burke’s “Cry To Me” in 1963. Taken at a slower pace, Harris’ rendition turned the song into a Billboard Hot 100 number 23 hit and soon became a deep soul classic. A total of three further singles including a reissue of “Cry to Me” were released on Jubilee with “His Kiss”, which was released on January 4, 1964, another deep soul ballad, reaching the lower part of the Billboard Pop and R&B charts. In 1964, Betty Harris switched record labels to Sansu, a New Orleans label, where she was produced by Allen Toussaint. Her recordings with Sansu produced ten singles and Toussaint raw yet sophisticated Southern soul arrangements behind Harris’ rich, distinctive vocal, are considered prime specimens of the classic soul era. Soul Perfection, originally licensed on UK label Action in 1969 , was in fact a collection of her previous works on Sansu, a rare groove affair rapidly in demand between a crowd of obsessive fans all over the world. Harris retired from performing in 1970 to raise a family and made an occasional return in 2007 with the album Intuition.

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Gaston Bogaert aka Tito Madinez (percussion) was the leader of this Belgian band often mistaken for an Afro-american combo, due to their music and unmistakable aesthetics. Released in 1972 on local Blue Elephant imprint, their self-titled album is still regarded as a rare groove bonafide bin, able to make it even in the States. Featuring the talents of Kari Kenton (vocals) from Cuba; Victor Ingeveldt (saxophone) a Dutchman from Liege, Charlie Lots (trumpet), Christian Marc (piano), Henri Breyre (guitar and backing vocals) and Bill Raymond (bass guitar) Chakachas were soon labeled as the continental answer to US Latin funk champions. Full of exciting dance parts and dj friendly breaks, Chakachas is still worth your feverish attention.

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