A celebration of the exceptional music that can occur in the most out of the way places.
The debut album by Morris Day's band, The Time. Written & produced with, and performed almost entirely by Prince with vocals from Day.
Already established as consistent hit-makers and dynamic live performers, Atlantic Starr – formed in 1976 in upstate New York, with a nucleus of three brothers, Jonathan, David and Wayne Lewis – were riding the quest of a wave of success in 1986 with the pop/R&B single “Secret Lovers” from the certified-gold LP “As The Band Turns” for A&M Records. The record’s success occurred just as the group – slimmed down from its original nine-member line-up to a quintet included the Lewis brothers, longtime member Joseph ‘Joey’ Phillips and new female lead singer, Barbara Weathers – had negotiated a new recording contract with Warner Brothers Records.
“Freedom Is Love” is the debut album from Kansas City’s newest soul juggernaut, The Freedom Affair. The album explores themes of love, heartache, empowerment, and togetherness through a varying landscape of hard-hitting funk, luscious soul, and everything in between. The Freedom Affair is a unique collective featuring 3 powerhouse female vocalists in front of a dynamic 6-piece band. On “Freedom Is Love”, each of the ladies get their time to shine individually, but the magic is on full display when all 3 come together in unison and harmony, symbolically embodying the messages that they sing about. The album was recorded and produced by Chris Hazelton, utilizing the best of vintage and new recording technologies to create an authentic experience, befitting of a soul record that would have been relevant 50 years ago as much as it will be 50 years from now.
I Got A Message: Hollywood 1968-1970 is a brand-new compilation album from funk legends Dyke & The Blazers. This collection features a range of songs from the band's time in Los Angeles - some of their last recordings before front man Arlester Christian's tragic death. The 21-track album features 16 previously unreleased recordings and includes their biggest hit "Let A Woman Be A Woman - Let A Man Be A Man," which has been sampled by many generations to follow - most notably by Tupac Shakur.
Down On Funky Broadway: Phoenix (1966-1967) is a brand new compilation album from funk legends Dyke & The Blazers. The 20-track album includes songs from previous releases, including their biggest hit "Funky Broadway," as well as five previously unreleased cuts. While Dyke & The Blazers didn't invent funk - they certainly brought it to fruition during these years.
Compilers Ady Croasdell & Dean Rudland’s third CD collection spotlighting the sort of R&B and club soul the original 60s mods could have been danced to – if only they’d had the chance.
The doo wop, gospel, blues, girl group and ballad scenes of Los Angeles fused to make it one major soul city.
With her 1994 breakthrough sophomore album My Life, Mary J. Blige secured herself the title of Queen of Hip-Hop Soul when she delivered the R&B classic. The album, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019, is getting a deluxe reissue on November 20 via Geffen/UMe.
Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions, who kept us going during the lockdown with their Sunday Service concert series, are coming out with a Christmas album. It's A Soulful Christmas – out on December 4 – not only offers consolation, but especially cosiness for Christmas. That happens with soul, gospel and pop in various shades. In doing so, a bridge is built between the Christian Christmas with the birth of Jesus and the American interpretation of it with Santa Claus and presents under the tree. Everything contributes to an ultimate Christmas experience. Or as Michelle puts it: “It's a record that takes you through the Christmas season and beyond with a lot of soul.”
Widely and rightly regarded as one of the best ever soul and funk bands, the now legendary Average White Band tore-up the rule book and conquered the US, UK and International charts with a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. AWB’s repertoire has been a source of inspiration and influence for many R&B acts and they are one of the most sampled bands in history, remaining relevant today, continuing to reach new generations of younger audiences. Snoop Dogg, Fatboy Slim, Ice Cube, Puff Daddy, TLC, Rick Ross, will.i.am and Mark Ronson amongst countless others, have all borrowed sections of their grooves. Cover To Cover / Soul To Soul, is a collection showcasing their take on classic recordings, both Soul and otherwise and demonstrates why they were totally embraced as an authentic R&B band in the USA. Cover To Cover…. also includes for the first time on vinyl, their 2017 recording of The Isley Brothers ‘Harvest For The World’, which was produced by and features Chris Jasper. Average White Band remain highly influential and this collection, shows why they have remained so powerfully important.
Big Break Records is proud to present Delegation’s The Promise Of Love. Featuring the alternative tracks chosen for the US release and all the non-album single sides from that period, as well as comprehensive liner notes from Christian John Wikane incorporating new interviews with Bailey and Gold, this is essential listening for all Soul, Disco and Pop fans.
With a history 50+ years in the making, Tower of Power has been a funk institution since 1968, knocking out hits like “What is Hip,” “So Very Hard to Go,” “This Time It’s Real” and “You’re Still a Young Man" while lending their soulful sound to collaborations with Santana, the Grateful Dead, Elton, Huey Lewis, Justin Timberlake and everyone in-between. "50 Years of Funk & Soul - Live at the Fox Theater" captures their storied career with no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming funk and soul hits to sold out audiences in 2018. Available as a 3-LP set, 2-CD/1-DVD package, standalone DVD and digital audio configuration, these historic performances include alumni special guests Chester Thompson, Lenny Pickett, Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia, Bruce Conte and Ray Greene.
Producer extraordinaire John Morales returns to BBE Music, celebrating the life and work of R&B / soul legend Teena Marie with a double album full of brand new remixes, lovingly crafted from the original studio tapes, entitled ‘Love Songs & Funky Beats’.
UMC and Island are reissuing Amy Winehouse At The BBC, originally released as a box set in 2012, and now available as a 3LP and 3CD. As the original product was predominantly a DVD release, this will be the first time that the two discs 'A Tribute To Amy Winehouse by Jools Holland' and 'BBC One Sessions Live at Porchester Hall' are available as audio-only and so a high proportion of the tracks will be new to DSPs, plus it is the first time the tracks are available on vinyl. The set features tracks from Later with Jools across the years, notably Amy's first performance on the show in 2003 with 'Stronger Than Me', as well as two performances from the Mercury Prize - Take The Box in 2004 and Love Is A Losing Game in 2007.
