A highly collectible, 1978 one-away by a group of high school friends in St Louis, featured on the recent Private Wax compilation. ‘A fantastic example of the Modern Soul sound which bridged the gap between Northern and Disco, introducing synthesisers alongside incredibly tight vocal harmonies and lush instrumental arrangements.’
Kaboom!
Flashing the black spot of Niney at his deadliest — Zorro, merciless avenger of the oppressed, re-stoking the furnace of his Westbound Train, but wheeling around and blazing eastwards…
And that’s only a secret-weapon version of None Shall Escape The Judgement on the other side, with Owen Grey at the mic.
Raging Tubbys fire.
The superb bebop pianist versioning the Jackson 5 — from his Greasy Kid Stuff LP in 1970, with Idris Muhammad, Lee Morgan, Hubert Laws and Buster Williams.
Sister Janie by Funk Inc on the flip — with James Brown’s Sex Machine its point of departure.
Charged, gritty, soulful pop yeh yeh from 1968-71, with backing by Malaysian legends like The Rhythm Boys, The Wanderers, The Flamingoes and The Falcons.
With a full-size, eight-page, colour booklet containing detailed biographical notes and Othman’s own rare photos.
Ace, driving digi from 1989. Classic JA vocal-trio singing by Dervin Dawes and spars, with expert backing by the Firehouse Crew, full throttle at Music Works.
Still tears the place up.
The marvellous Art Ensemble Of Chicago drummer, solo and duetting with cornettist Olu Dara in 1977-8 — ‘with extreme intimacy, sometimes exploring the sonority of his kit, sometimes extrapolating on a beat… alongside Dara, one of the great figures of the loft era and a wonderfully polymath musician [and Nas’ dad to boot]... stretching all the way out on the three dedications to Lester Bowie.’