Format Notes:

First ever vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl.

Territories:
Worldwide no restrictions

Track List:

A1 She's Gone 4:54
A2 Party Town 5:00
A3 Keep Doin' It 5:22
A4 Stay With Me 3:20

B1 Anyway You Want 3:25
B2 Sing A Love Song 3:16
B3 Love's In Your Corner 4:34
B4 Mr. C 4:23

Norman Connors' Mr. C is a masterclass in sophisticated modern funk and boogie-infused soul that was way ahead of its time. Originally released in 1981, the album finds the renowned jazz drummer/producer at a creative crossroads, boldly diving deep into street-level boogie-funk without losing his soulful, jazzy touch. What once might have puzzled jazz purists now delights soul/funk aficionados; it has quietly become a cult favourite and now, nearly 45 years later, Mr. C sounds fresher than ever. Brimming with infectious heavy funk, lush arrangements and soul-stirring performances, it's an album that flirts with perfection, ensuring its enduring significance in the boogie/jazz-funk-soul canon.

From its opening moments, Mr. C makes one thing clear: this is Norman Connors at his funkiest. The majority of the album is a straight-up party: think dancefloor-ready beats complemented by punchy horn riffs and slick early-80s boogie vibes. There’s heavy use of synths and drum-machines, demonstrating Connors' gleeful embrace of contemporary funk trends. Each track shines in uniquely thrilling fashion, showcasing Connors’ versatility and happy knack for blending genres whilst crafting unforgettable melodies.

Irresistible thumper “She’s Gone” opens the album with a dyno-Rhodes electric piano groove and a seriously thick boogie-funk rhythm. Lush string accents and horn stabs weave through the funky bassline, while the vocals (handled by a young Beau Williams) soar with gospel-tinged emotion. Over four decades later, it endures as a masterpiece. Living up to its name, the shimmering “Party Town” brings deep Electro-Funk Energy by layering bubbling synth bass and shiny lead synth lines. The groove is downright addictive, a brisk, brass-kissed jam that implores you to move. Up next, the sophisticated funk of “Keep Doin’ It” is a low-slung post-disco glider, propelled by a sleek vibe, leaning into the late-night boogie sound. Funky guitar, tight drumming (with Connors’ jazz-honed chops in the pocket) and smooth vocals urge you to “keep doin'” whatever it is that's working. “Stay with Me” works a bit of island flavour into the mix, riding a thick Caribbean groove complete with tropical percussion and an upbeat tempo that could almost be calypsoul. The fusion of Caribbean rhythm elements into an R&B context demonstrates Connors’ willingness to experiment with global sounds while keeping things soulful and danceable.

Side B opens with the sassy funk-deluxe workout, "Anyway You Want" dripping with that soulful strut. Bringing a real quiet storm swagger, “Sing a Love Song” slows the tempo ever so slightly into a sexy, swaying jazz-funk gem, featuring a young Glenn Jones on lead vocals. The arrangement is elegant, built on warm keys and an undeniable groove. The celestial “Love’s In Your Corner” is all about soulful uplift. Featuring the legendary Jean Carn's powerhouse vocals soaring over a brass-kissed driving funk, it's an R&B burner. The refined, jazzy instrumental “Mr. C” is a slinky, smooth, funk-filled mid-tempo groove, with sax and warm keys gliding effortlessly. Connors combines jazzy arrangements into the post-disco/boogie framework one last time, and the result is sublime. It’s sophisticated and cool and, as a finale, “Mr. C” wraps up the album in classy style.

On release, Mr. C flew under the radar but time has been exceptionally kind to this record. DJs, collectors and soul connoisseurs alike have since rediscovered its magic. As ever, this crucial reissue has been lovingly remastered by Simon Francis, cut by engineer of the year Cicely Balston at Abbey Road Studios and pressed to perfection by Record Industry in Holland. Norman Connors was something truly extra. He was a visionary. And Mr. C is proof.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore

Smokey colour vinyl 3LP with obi-strip

TRACKLIST:

Holiday Roberta Jean Machine I Need You So Much Runaway I'm Doing Fine Shades Of Jae Riley's Song Back At Bakers (On Livernois) Mahogani 9000 Black Mahogani


LP FORMAT DETAILS: Smokey colour vinyl 3LP with obi-strip

LISTEN LINK: https://open.spotify.com/album/224OuhZ1LThmaYGhD8ikq6?si=HPDOersESUmohYgJABHYnA


OVERVIEW:

It’s been over 20 years since Kenny Dixon Jr., better known as Moodymann, released Black Mahogani—an album rich in atmosphere and emotion, offering a quintessential journey through deep house, soul, and jazz. Timeless yet modern, it’s an immersive and emotionally resonant experience that reflects the singular character of Detroit’s deep musical heritage. Originally released in 2004, Black Mahogani is arguably one of Moodymann’s most revered and sought-after works. It completes the puzzle laid out by his rare and elusive KDJ 12” releases from the mid to late '90s. With the help of Detroit legends like the late Amp Fiddler, Roberta Sweed, and Norma Jean Bell, Dixon infused his analog soundscapes and samples with a new organic warmth—expanding the deep house genre while simultaneously paying homage to 1970s soul and cinematic soundtracks. Dixon’s masterful control of tension—knowing exactly when to hold back and when to let go—makes Black Mahogani an enduring masterpiece. It's not just a landmark in electronic music, but a definitive statement in 21st-century Black American music.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore

NO Returns!
Tranquil Elephantizer are an electronic/house collective formed out of South London in
the early 1990s. They have released tracks on Matrix, Definitive, Language, Primal,
Wicked, Futureboogie, THC, Red Laser, and have upcoming tracks slated for
Mysticisms, Shaboom and Techno House Connoisseurs. Now based in San Francisco,
they blend classic acid house with dub, percussive freestyle jazz and electro.

A1 – “SFO”
A nod to San Francisco, where the project is based, “SFO” opens with a laid-back, jazzy-house groove at around 124 BPM. It melds warm chords, punchy bass, and mellow percussion into a groove that feels like cruising over the Golden Gate at sunset—a chilled yet enveloping start to the EP .

A2 – “Bamba Gascoigne”
Clocking in around 124 BPM, this track layers playful Fela Kuti tinged, acid-inflected synth lines over dancefloor-ready beats. It’s title—an intriguing mash-up referencing 70’s pop culture—matches the track’s slightly cheeky, curious energy, offering a more upbeat, head-nodding turn.


B1 – “Worker”
Clocking at 124 BPM, “Worker” leans into deeper, dub-tinged vibes. Repetitive percussion loops lock in with a driving bassline, and nimble Rhodes solos, creating a hypnotic groove that conjures the steady pulse of nighttime shifts… ideal for the after-hours session.


B2 – “Transamerica”
At roughly 124 BPM, this closing track journeys into more melodic, atmospheric territory. It layers driving 808, shimmering synths, subtle acid-flavored textures, evoking a late-night road trip—open roads, starry skies, and epic scale.







?? Summary



Tranquil Elephantizer crafts a tight, four-track EP that balances jazzy house warmth with acid house’s inquisitive edge. The overall flavor is both celebratory and introspective, anchored in rhythmic grooves but floating on cosmic synth embellishments.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.netMore