Back Catalog Excursions - July 2012

Been looking for this record forever! Bobbi Humphrey's "Baby Don't You Know" is a soulful disco boogie killer produced by none other than jazz legend Roy Ayers on his own Uno Melodic label (the same label that gave us those classic Sylvia Striplin joints). Most people know Bobbi for her excellent Blue Note work with the Mizell Bros, but this track is her finest dancefloor moment IMO. The original is a very rare find (and will cost you a pretty penny too), so definitely not mad at these quality reissues with convincingly reproduced labels. Easy Recommendation. 

• music label: Uno Melodic 

reviewed by snackmaster 07/2011

Let's get one thing straight - I hate Turntable Lab. They suck. They dig through your crates, pick the hottest shit, order it - and sell it to every fucking geek in Kansas. With that said, I gotta give it up to Bozo Meko, cause this record is the shit. I was probably wearing Spidey Man undies and pissin in my bed when this shit came out, but I gotta review it. Word is that Mark the 45 King did all this edits on here, but I'm not positive. The A side is just "The Bridge Is Over": 3 mixes, who cares. Flip it over for the real. "Brazillian Rhyme," the classic, gets edited and extended, making it one of the top 5 feel-good party songs of all time. I swear by this shit. Next is the classic Take 6 "Spread Love" remixed with those infamous drums. Finally, we get a re-edit of Mandrill's "Fence Walk," a dope cut that gets too wild to mix if you play the original, here walla re-edited for easier mixing. I can't say enough about how essential this record is (sorry no crap about other Bozo releases and how rare they are).

• music label: Bozo Meko / 1988

reviewed by roc 08/2005

First time vinyl reissue of Deerhoof's 2004 album on the occasion of their latest album Deerhoof vs. Evil. The 11 tracks are conceptually based on the namesake character featured on the cover. From what I gather, the character is a psychotic milk man that lures beings into his fantasy world. Whatever the story, this album bursts with Deerhoof's typical volume, zeal, and creativity. Check the title track, "Desaparecere, C, Milking, Dream Wanderer's Tune," and "Song Of Sorn." Limited pressing of 1000 on colored 180g vinyl. 

• music label: Polyvinyl 

reviewed by the mgmnt 07/2011

Ultra-rare DJ promo pressing (MW 063 DJ). Single sided. Limited stock.

• music label: Mo Wax / 1996

reviewed by the mgmnt 01/2009

Donny Hathaway's "The Ghetto" gets a proper 12" repress here. The track was lifted from Donny's 1970 classic Everything Is Everything and has proven to be a tried and true soul anthem with a slight latino touch (can picture the Lowriders bumpin' this). On the flip is the heartfelt ballad "A Song For You" that really showcases Donny's amazing vocal chords.

• music label: ATCO

reviewed by Von Bee 06/2011 

Number three from Keep It Cheap is a split 12" from label boss Eric "Dr. Dunks" Duncan and UK disco head "Foolish" Felix Dickinson. Dunks' side reworks Modern Romance's '82 post-punk jam "Best Years Of Our Lives," looping up and re-arranging the best elements of the groove for extended dancefloor pleasure. Mix this in with the Clash, Delta 5, or ESG and watch the floor go off. The flipside slows down the tempo on some wrong speed avant disco business with Dickinson's "Beef" edit for the weirdo set. As usual, these are super limited so don't sleep! 

• music label: Keep It Cheap / 2011

reviewed by snackmaster 02/2011

Fiery single from Eli Escobar featuring Nomi Ruiz on Wurst Music! Eli's sophisticated NY disco/house style is once again showcased in "Desire," with Nomi's (Jessica 6, Hercules and Love Affair) vocals really giving the track a big dose of sex appeal. Accompanying the single is a remix by fellow New Yorkers Nick Chacona & Roy Dank (aka Beg To Differ), who put a sleek dub spin on the original. Recommended. 

• music label: Wurst / 2011

reviewed by nakinboots 07/2011

As the name implies, these jeans ain't for saggin! The Manorexics are from Enjoi's slim fit series and feature 12oz-cotton-stretch-overdye-denim construction, 6 pockets (with a pocket "inside" the back right pocket), creases on the front pockets and back leg opening, and custom panda rivets for the coin pocket. Super comfortable. Perfect for chillin or ripping the street with friends. A bestseller.

"Black Cinderella" is the tune of Errol Dunkley's career (and he's got a heap if you go looking), a melancholy number that's been versioned a hundred times, but never sounded as good as the mind melter here. It's not the kind of track that's gonna stick on your wall immediately, and not necessarily one for the dance either, but there is something truly timeless and beautiful about the submarine sadness here. The rhythm is like your face on a slow cheese grater while Erroll drives spikes into your ears with his sharp pleading. Ah, pleasure.

• music label: Studio One

reviewed by the mgmnt 05/2005

Is this a re-issue of some hidden gold nugget protest funk on acid, or just the new Erykah Badu single? Is this the best extended interlude you've never heard, or a current album title track made up of free form musical ideas sewn together with silken strands of guitars, horns and handclaps? Is this a Reason loop with a funk drum kit plug-in, or is that Roy Ayers on the production credits on an album also featuring beats by Madlib and SA RA? It's all legit and she continues to defy. "Amerykahn Promise" continues Ms. Badu's explosive return with more high quality music of substance for our deprived ears. I recommend listening to this over and over again or putting on the instrumental and dancing to it with a couple of friends who have some flavor. Between Erykah, Georgia Anne Muldrow, J*Davey and Jay Electronica (watch for big things from this dude, Ak-Boogs put me on to him recently) I'm seeing an exciting future for soulful music again. I'm not talking about, wow it's nice to hear these smooth sounds while I work on my Macbook in the cafe soulful. I'm talking about climbing out of the pollution of an almost swept under the rug post-Katrina levee breach catastrophe and wanting to say some shit about it soulful. With all of this Badu material flying out of the Lab recently and Barack locking down the nomination, I have to wonder if some tide is turning. Is real change on the way? And if so, dare I call it "change we can believe in?" Shout to Michelle Obama.

• music label: Universal Motown / 2008

reviewed by Telekinetic Kat 06/2008

I love ESG but I'll never play that track "UFO" out. Mixtape material maybe, but unless I'm on some Louie Vega in Japan shit that's staying home on the shelves. "Moody" on the other hand, bumps in all the right places, with the bumbumbum bass and traintrack drums perfectly complementing Renee Scroggins' singing style. House party and club DJs will want the excellent re-edit here cause it's extended in 2 key areas: an extra 4 bars in the intro, and the break after "like this!" is drawn out too. As for the B-side by Level 42 "Starchild" I've never heard of it before (somewhere in the distance, ROC yells "it's a classic!"), but they were a jazz-funk group from the early 80s who did the disco/R&B thing, so you know Lloydski and Antonia are already humming it to and from the bathroom. Plays at 45.

• music label: Rate X / 1982

reviewed by the Woodman 10/2005

Domino drops some cool remix action for Fourtet from Caribou and Jon Hopkins on this 12". "Angel Echoes" comes from Kieran Hebden's There Is Love In You album and here Caribou keeps the vibe of the original intact while injecting some solid bumps for the dancefloor. The track organically grows and builds for over 8 and half minutes, giving you plenty of time to work it in your set. On the flip, John Hopkins takes a more subtle and soothing approach on his remix, perfect for more introspective headphone moments.

• music label: Domino / 2010

reviewed by snackmaster 07/2010

There's not much to say about a record like this. If you like James Brown, it is a serious no-brainer. This double LP set was recorded live at the Apollo and captures James and the band in absolute top form. The original record just straight up does not exist clean. Personally, I like having crackles and shit, but I'm sure I'm an anomaly.  The version of "I Can't Stand It" on this? Audible sweat. The energy on "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" is so palpable that it increases heart rates. Crowd noise becomes musical accompaniment. And when he rips into "Hot Pants" and the crowd goes completely apeshit singing along every word? Forget it. There's so much more too, just a masterful performance by everybody involved- checkout "Escape-ism" and "Soul Power" too. Even though dude may be a maniacal wife-abusing crack fiend these days, you know crack is the new coke anyway. Get this before the horse usurps it. These James Brown records are always going to be absolute classics. Seriously, fuck a funk 45. Features full color gatefold sleeve.  

• music label: Polydor / 1972

reviewed by Bob Bannister 01/2007

If you need any more proof that JB is a genius, listen to this album. We all know that he's the Godfather of funk, but did you know he could rock out? This is a James Brown rock record. Not your typical rock, but a funk infused rock with all the changing complexities JB is known for. The way rock should have been and a way that no alcoholic, blow drying hair monkey could ever achieve. JB can't take all the credit though cause he enlists the help of producer David Matthews of CTI fame. Together they create a unique album that experimentation-wise ranks up there with "Damn Right." One moment the sound is rock, then the excess quickly slides off into funk. Checkout "Can Mind" which breaks into a severly funky moment sampled by Brand Nubians on "All For One." Look for similar breakdowns in "You Mother You, Sho is Funky Down Here, and Bob Scoward." But don't miss out on the straight up rock moments. "Just Enough Room For Storage" is a hard hitting electric guitar track comparable to the sound of Jimi. So dope, ATCQ lifted a hook for "Lyrics to Go." The first time I ever heard this LP, I was amazed and it still gets me that JB was able to pull it off. Also one of my favorite covers.

•  music label: Polydor / 1971

reviewed by the mgmnt 10/2005

LA's Ramona Gonzalez is back as Nite Jewel with her second 12" on Italians Do It Better. "Want You Back" is the follow-up to "What Did He Say" and gives us more of that lo-fi, fuzzy disco vibe her work seems to exude. The production on the title track is upbeat and groovy with lots of twinkly synth sprinkles and fat funky bass that carry her uber-reverbed vocals through space. On the flip is "All Out Of Order" in both Spanish and English versions, another hazy trip to Nite Jewel's left field world of slo-mo synthesizer disco.

• music label: Italians Do It Better / 2009

reviewed by snackmaster 08/2009

Genius! Art imitating hectic, post-its-everywhere life. Squint your eyes and you can see the graphic spelling out "STAPLE". 100% cotton, standard fit.

Official joints from DFA's rising disco/house duo Still Going aka new disco superstars Eric Duncan (Rub N Tug) and Olivier Spencer (House of House). Standard fit, 100% cotton.

Vaughn Mason's Bounce Skate Roll, along with P-Funk and Zapp, was integral in the formation of bounce sound. Later to influence the g-funk movement and samplers everywhere, it's odd to see how this silly song has become so influential. Not to mention that it can still devastate dancefloors. Play it on a club system and the bass pumps like gay house. In addition to the well-known part 1 of this track, you also get the badass part 2 on the flip. Number 2 is my pick, a lesson in variation, constantly rearranging the playful elements. Gotta love that crisp break. The sound here is excellent, almost better than the original Brunswick 12. As a added bonus you also get the new wave gone dance classic Once In a Lifetime by the Talking Heads. DJs in NY discovered the power of this track years ago, and it's become a staple club track ever since. Also included is the instrumental bonus beats of Once In A Lifetime which I'm pretty sure is available only on this 12. An easy buy. 

• music label: white

reviewed by the mgmnt 10/2005