cut me loose

push

the soulciety funk family "yellow" [compilation]
1993 / soulciety records
listen :: download


lifted from the first soulciety compilation - a great, diverse series of funk, jazz and hip hop. I'll post a few more from this supreme album in future weeks. enjoy!

dorado

blue mitchell

pulp fusion: return to the tough side [compilation]
1998 / harmless
listen :: download


had to keep with the trumpet theme. and well, the dorado theme. here's a long, hot serve from the incomparable blue mitchell. originally from the classic 1973 album graffiti blues.

it's a cool world

cool world ensemble

dorado: a compilation - volume 3
1994 / dorado
listen :: download


a bit of a long lay off - some time between posts. got some great stuff queued up so stay tuned. to recommence the goodness, a nice jazzy trumpet track from the delightfully obscure dorado label.

spock with a beard

palmskin productions

mo'wax: royalties overdue
1994 / mowax
listen :: download


mowax were responsible for some pretty awesome sounds in the 90s, and this track is no exception....trippy jazz with cap'n kirk samples...has the whole galaxy gone crazy?

watermelon man

sirius b

snowboy presents: the true jazz dance sessions
2000 / ocho
listen :: download


another selection from snowboy's jazz dance sessions - a fresh take on the herbie hancock classic. sirius b are a brazilian jazz/dance outfit released on the supremely cool italian irma label.

caravan

dionne warwick

snowboy presents: the true jazz dance sessions
2000 / ocho
listen :: download


snowboy is a uk-based percussionist and dj with a solid afro-cuban flavour. a surprising cover by miss warwick, up-tempo and latin-loco.

i don't need this trouble

natural self featuring alice russell

i don't need this trouble e.p.
2006 / breakin bread
listen :: download


natural self is a producer of some pretty kick arse funk and hip hop, his sound distinctively atmospheric, with hard drums and crazy percussion. the awesome alice russell applies the vocals on this great, break-beatin' funk soul treat!

rebel radio [smalltown djs mix]

smalltown djs

hai karate allstar remix series: funk
2006 / hai karate
listen :: download


this canadian label has some great records and remixes. for more, check out smalltown djs myspace. the above track is a fresh hot cup of hip hop, afro blend.

what's your problem? [martin brew remix]

players

what's your problem?
2005 / discotheque
listen :: download


there's a crazy xylophone or something in the background on this track, that flows nicely with the laid back groove and kelly dickson's soulful vocals.

roots

fk1000

unknown
? / white
listen :: download


fk1000 is a collaboration between fort knox five and ursula 1000. from what i've heard of fk5 they are worth digging for - unfortunately not that prolific. this is a catchy hip hop track with a bit of dancefloor sensibility.

the robot

jimmy green

old 45
? / wand
listen :: download


i don't know anything about this track or jimmy green - but i do know it's funky soul with sound effects. buried in one of the mixes on andy votel's music to watch girls cry, which you can check out here.

your love is too much

gene harris & the 3 sounds
gene harris & the 3 sounds
1971 / blue note
listen :: download



another gene harris selection; the maestro delivers the funky stuff on piano, backed by sizzling bass and percussion. enjoy!

simple song (grand phabao mix)

the procussions

parisdjs release
2006 / -
listen :: download


i've recently discovered this l.a. hip hop outfit - the laid back old school vibe is right up my alley. the track is a fine dose of reggae/hip hop, with lots of percussion - courtesy of grand phabao. check out the album 5 sparrows for 2 cents, and a great live mix here.

blacker [94eq mix]

the ballistic brothers

the ballistic brothers vs the eccentric afros (volume 2)
1994 / delancy street
listen :: download


the ballistic brothers were ashley beedle, rocky and diesel. their sound was jazz-influenced dance, not quite acid jazz, with great samples and a hip hop feel. the "vs eccentric afros" compilations were in particular very innovative and supremely cruisy. listen out for the gil scott-heron sample.

bulldozer

moog

big beats (compilation)
1997 / ?
listen :: download


great chunky bass in this hip hop groove from the big beats compilation. i can't find the original album - a collection of detroit or east coast hip hop instrumentals. solid.

going down for the last time

ronnie keaton

keb darge's legendary deep funk vol 1 (compilation)
1997 / bbe
listen :: download


another killer funk-soul cut where i don't know anything about the artist. this track is lifted off the supremely funky keb darge's legendary deep funk, a series of compilations unearthing awesome and obscure 45s. well worth checking out.

i who have nothing (am somebody)

ray frazier and the shades of madness

old 45
? / stanton
listen :: download


not much info can be found on ray frazier - nevertheless what an awesome funk track. the label, stanton, was run out of california, and features one of atleast two recordings by this artist. cheers to a.k. over at soulshower for background on the label.

april funky 15 - "jungle groove"

new musak in the jukebox ... enjoy!

thelma jones / mr. fix it man
spanky wilson / sunshine of your love
titus turner / can you dig it
robert parker / hip-huggin
ray charles / baby it's cold outside
paul anker / smells like teen spirit
terry clark / el blues latino
john scott / mas que nada
omar feat angie stone / stylin
tone-loc / wild thing (remixed)

salt n pepa / push it (remixed)
bluezeum / can i get that funk
blackalicious / make u feel that way
sugar billy / supa dupa love part 1
timmie rodgers / super soul brother
james brown / it's a new day

download mp3 mix

download tracks here

who is he (and what is he to you?)

gladys knight and the pips

standing ovation
1971 / motown
listen :: download


funky soul sistah at her best, covering the bill withers classic.

fever

patti drew

blue note trip - saturday night (compilation)
1968 / blue note
listen :: download


what is it about blue note tonight? brilliant version of the ol' standard (there's also a great elvis version on the funky 15 jukebox). not sure where the original recording of this track comes from, but definitely check out blue note trip [saturday night/sunday morning], which has this and many more from the great jazz label. also keep an eye out for the upcoming patti drew compilation, workin' on a groovy thing.

sookie sookie

grant green

alive
1970 / blue note
listen :: download


another blue note joint (in fact, lou donaldson introduced grant green to the label), green is one of the great, unsung jazz guitarists. i love everything about this track - the sprinkling of latin percussion, the keyboard and sax solos, the howls of delight by the musicians as they get their groove on. awesome.

everything i do gohn be funky (from now on)

lou donaldson

everything i do is funky
1970 / blue note
listen :: download


i regard this as donaldson's best album, accompanied with the usual funky suspects idris muhammed, melvin sparks, lonnie smith and blue mitchell. one of the great jazz alto saxophonists, I found this quote by him...aww brother, yes - i dig...hope you enjoy the track.

"I don't care what kind of style a group plays as long as they settle into a groove where the rhythm keeps building instead of changing around. It's like the way an African hits a drum. He hits it a certain way, and after a period of time, you feel it more than you did when he first started. He's playing the same thing, but the quality is different -- it's settled into a groove. It's like settin' tobacco in a pipe. You put some heat on it and make it expand. After a while, it's there. It's tight."

fire eater

rusty bryant

fire eater
1971 / prestige
listen :: download


rusty bryant had his best moments with funk-soul-jazz numbers in the late 60s and early 70s. this is a great jazz track, and showcases the tenor saxophonist hittin' it hard. enjoy!

super duper love (are you diggin on me?)

sugar billy (willie garner)

old 45
1974 / fast track
listen :: download


i recently heard the joss stone cover of this track, and was instantly hooked - it's such a bright, sunny soul number. this original version is an equally great chunk of funk/soul. hope y'all having a good easter.

i only have eyes for you

the flamingos

flamingo serenade
1959 / end records
listen :: download


after reminiscing with a friend, i had to go diggin for this doo wap treat. though not the original (that was dick powell in 1934), i think it's the best version - a veritable soul classic. so lay back, close your eyes, and think ponytails, diners and old chevrolets...

low rider

war

why can't we be friends?
1975 / avenue records
listen :: download


an old-skool favorite of mine...i love this track. it's been sampled quite a bit, most notably by the beasties on "slow ride" from licensed to ill. it also features in the cinematic cheech & chong classic, up in smoke. ah yeah.

remember [live]

ben harper and the innocent criminals

faded e.p.
1993 / ?
listen :: download


an early ben harper cover of an older jimi hendrix tune. juan's bass solo in the middle of this track has to be heard - sooo wicked. for jadeypoo.

going home

black grass

black grass
2003 / catskills records
listen :: download


a chilled, downtempo groove from the black grass crew. I keep on encountering mixes by these guys, all supremly funky. this album is killer, and definitely check out their myspace for some awesome mixes.

if this ain't love (don't know what is)

nicole willis and the soul investigators

keep reachin up
2006 / timmion
listen :: download


I think I got it right this time ;). i'm diving into brooklyn born, finland living soul sistah nicole willis. the album is nicely polished and this track is killer. great article about her and the band here and another one here. cheers to bobbalin' hot ... mama feel good!.

bud makes me wiser

ex-press

the definitive article
1994 / yellow
listen :: download


uk rapper ex-press was released on the french label yellow productions back in '94; i can't find much info at all about him, but "the definitive article" is a solid hip hop release.