2023 repress

Format Notes: 140g vinyl, remastered from the original tapes

Territories:
Worldwide no restrictions

Track List:

A1 : Flying High (3:35)
A2 : Going Home (2:46)
A3 : Walking In The Dark (4:42)
A4 : Fighting For Life (3:37)
A5 : Feeling Tense (4:05)

B1 : Running Fast (4:42)
B2 : Loving Tenderly (3:27)
B3 : Fearing Much (3:35)
B4 : Being Friendly (2:54)
B5 : Having Fun (4:00)

Release Notes:

More than once Jay Richford and Gary Stevan’s Feelings has been described as the greatest library record ever released. Of course Be With can’t be seen to be playing favourites, but we have to admit, it’s pretty good. Insanely rare and immensely sought-after, it’s a tough funk, street jazz masterpiece coveted for many years by collectors of all musical genres.

Since its original release on Italian label Carosello in 1974, Feelings has appeared on several labels with different sleeves and even under a different artist. Indeed cult library label Conroy put it out in one of their iconic red sleeves in 1976 and yes, Feelings has indeed had more than one modern re-issue since these “original” releases. But a record this special deserves to be kept in press and we think it deserves the Be With treatment.

No, Jay Richford and Gary Stevan aren’t two of the most Italian sounding names. As the story goes these were the pseudonyms adopted by Stefano Torossi and Giancarlo Gazzani who wrote the album but couldn’t use their real names on the original release for legal reasons. But Stefano Torossi himself later both clarified and confused the tale further by explaining that Feelings was the work of four people not just Gazzani and himself. Fellow composers and musicians Sandro Brugnolini and Puccio Roelens also worked on the album and as Torossi himself explained “we all worked together”, with all four gents “dividing the royalties in equal parts… that’s the story.” Right, so, with that all sorted out let’s get back to talking about the music. And what music it is.

Long hailed as a holy grail of library music, Feelings is the epitome of the sort of cinematic orchestral jazzy funk that is “that 70s library music sound”. Infectiously funky, deliciously melodic and with impeccible, elegant production, this record is the showcase for a stunning set of compositions and arrangements and with performances that are nothing short of virtuoso.

The record’s first side lifts off with “Flying High”, soaring brilliant and shimmering. Funk licks, menacing strings and swaggering horns combine for an ice-cold intro groove that Isaac Hayes would surely have envied, before the steady-paced drums deliver the slo-mo TKO. The string-drenched cop-funk of “Going Home” raises the tempo. All funky quick-fire bass lines and killer electric guitar soloing. A real thriller.

“Walking In The Dark” positively drips in blaxploitation-funk drama strings and horn struts, all laced with delicate drums, velvet piano and more filthy wah-wah. “Fighting For Life” is another funk-fuelled workout built around an effortlessly relentless drum track that refuses to give up until even the stiffest-necked head is nodding.

The loping, open drum break that guides the much-loved “Feeling Tense” through its early stages would be good enough on its own. The heavy bass gloss, swirling strings and ominous horns that follow take things to the next level.

The second side opens with another favourite “Running Fast”, and the track does precisely that. This is one fine rollicking chase theme underpinned by frenetic (yet funky) Fender Rhodes and skipping bass and drums. Those sweeping strings are a gorgeous extra. It’s a deliciously feel-good groove that sets the heart racing.

“Loving Tenderly” envelops us in warm, velvety night-time vibes with easy listening horns and slinky strings dialing up the seduction. Definitely one for the lithe lovers out there. The pace picks up on the electrifying “Fearing Much” where strings dart around deep bass, buzzing guitars and another funky drum break. The lush, melancholic “Being Friendly” is another easy beauty, all warm Rhodes and strings. Majestic stuff that puts an aural arm around you. The climactic “Having Fun” rides a pulsating, bass-heavy drum break with snatches of a funky guitar refrain, some luxurious keys, sweeping strings and triumphant horns. Sensational.

“Feelings” is a profoundly appropriate title for such an emotionally funky and genuinely affecting record. Groove-laden bass, irrepressible horns, sweet flute lines, warm Rhodes, lush string arrangements, blaxploitation-styled wah-wah guitars and so, so much more make this one of the finest instrumental soul LPs of the 70s, if not of all time.

The audio for this re-issue of Feelings comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman. The same care has been taken by the Be With team to restore that glorious original Carosello sleeve. Feelings is almost too good to be true. Feels good all over.
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12”, green transparent vinyl

Tracklist
A1 Müde Augen
A2 Reign
B1 Aphrodite Mad
B2 Oviraptor
B3 Fangs of Gold

Info:
Imagine…
You find yourself wandering through a deep forest. What do you see? What do you smell? Does it have any
certain sounds?
Suddenly you are remembering, you are here to find something, something important - but what was it? You can’t
put your finger on it and dismiss the thought. You decide to walk on when all of a sudden you are hearing these
sounds and the closer you get, the clearer the sounds become.
Hammering war drums and pulsating instruments are synthesizing into music. It sounds threatening, but
somehow you feel invited. An inner voice is telling you to get closer and see for yourself. You are feeling curious
and the urge to go where the music is coming from.
Then there it is: In the middle of this wilderness, right in front of your eyes, you see a massive temple complex.
Multiple mysterious entities are dancing around gold-crested pillars and enormous blazing torches on pedestals
are enlightening the nightfall, while blue smoke rises from the fire to the sky at twilight.
The participants of the dance seem to be in trance. In the upper levels, on vast balconies decorated with the finest
carvings, some of them are hammering the drums and playing instruments you have never seen before.
There is not much time to observe the spectacle in front of your eyes.
“We have awaited you.” you hear a kind voice say as you gently get taken by the hand to be accompanied to join
the dance ceremony. Questions are racing through your mind but right when you are about to ask them you are
getting soaked in by the shamanic rhythms.
In an instant you find yourself in a trance-like stage, too. Your mind is bending, the boundaries of your body are
starting to transcend. You seem to be swimming through an eternal ocean of nothingness - but this nothingness
seems to be the source of everything.
And there, in this ocean of nothingness, you find it - to realize it was yours all along…
Your thoughts are getting calm.
You’re at bliss.
Enjoy the trip!
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Tracklist

A1. Sue Me
A2. License To Vibe feat. ‘Em
B1. Chicken Bone
B2. 16 Red

Release info:

Sometimes you go to take a step back to go forward. What sounds like a Ferris Bueller quote and can be as easily applied as a seatbelt, also holds true for the long over-due and outright return of Tiger & Woods. Four tracks that are as classic as they are catchy and as simple as the monochrome label that carries their titles. Drawing conclusions from an extended period as a DJ team and before going back to their esteemed and critically acclaimed live set, it’s all made for dance floors and with their conductors in mind. Going back to their roots, it marks the start of a series with raw takes and an authentic aesthetic. The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.
Sue Me and License To Vibe (featuring long-time collaborator ’Em) sound like they were ripped straight from an unreleased Editainment reel. On the other side, Chicken Bone and 16 Red are even straighter on the DJ tip: turning French House Italian. Powerful and punchy. No samples were harmed during the filming of this record!

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Genre: Techno


Tracklist 12":
A1 Dying & Barakat – From Where I Am
A2 Dying & Barakat – The Storytellers
B1 Dying & Barakat – Emotional Souls
B2 Dying & Barakat – No Place In Time




Short Info:

Dubby, detroit inspirated floating techno EP

Mastering & lacquer cut by Kassian Troyer at Dubplates & Mastering Berlin
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