Funk scorchers from the house band at FAME in 1969. Freeman Brown, Jesse Boyce, Clayton Ivey, Junior Lowe… Knockout sevens like Grits And Gravy and Turn My Chicken Loose — equal parts Meters, MGs, JBs — with a heap of top-notch stuff out here for the first time.

This Mizell Brothers production from 1975 is surely their masterwork. No hanging about on the grid — the sublime opener Tell Me What To Do flies like a Byrd; followed by the bonafide Loft classic Los Conquistadores Chocolates, a psychedelic, heads-down floor-filler which hit big at Ron Hardy’s Chicago Music Box as well as in NYC. Fantasy was a Paradise Garage staple; and Shifting Gears is here, too — a seriously funky breaks and block party anthem, heavily sampled by classic hip hop. It’s a must… not least in the form of this 40th anniversary LP edition, with six previously unissued tracks — five tasty new numbers and a skeletal version of ‘Can’t We Smile?’

This guitarist was a long-time mainstay of the B.B. King band.
His one single for Kent Records came in 1973, in its last days.
The A-side is a driving James Brown-style funk dancer, with tumbling horns; featuring Johnny Adams. That’s organist Earl Foster igniting the flip.

Soul, Politics, Spirituality & Racially Encoded Girl-Boy Gun Porno In Jazz, 1967-2019.

Quality dancers, proto-disco and ballads from Janice Barnett, flopping for Fantasy in 1976 — including the sweet slowie Goody Two Shoes, and the floor-filler I Told You So, evergreen with Beach and Northern fans.

Superbad from start to finish, this survey of the Cincinnati label in the after-shock of Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag. Almighty James Brown productions (or knock-offs) like Honky Tonk Popcorn, Unwind Yourself and Fever. That Coasters to close… bim.

Magnificent, smoking sister-funk, both sides. ‘What is wrong with the men / Trying to do us in.’ Produced by West Coast legend Miles Grayson.

From 1964, this tribute to Miles Davis is the great vibes player’s crowning glory (even including his contribution to Roger Troutman’s Unlimited album). A swinging, modal classic, massive on the Dingwalls jazz-dance scene.

Thrilling rarities from Stax and Goldwax — funky scorchers like The Hawg; hard takes on Ticket To Ride and Tramp; Isaac Hayes’ debut 45; Willie Cobbs’ You Don’t Love Me (which Dawn Penn did over as No, No, No).

Wicked, stinging sister-funk self-penned by the mighty soul singer, before more celebrated sojourns at Atlantic and Columbia. The flip is previously unreleased; also terrific.

With Virgil Jones, Clarence Thomas, Melvin Sparks, Jimmy Lewis, Buddy Caldwell and Harold Mabern. Roars out of the traps with a low-slung Express Yourself; then Joe Dukes’ Soulful Drums; then a cooking Super Bad.

The Uruguayans’ first, best Milestone album — Airto producing, Hermeto Pascoal guesting, with the jazz-dance bomb African Bird. A buzzing, seamless blend of jazz-fusion flash with diverse rootical influences.