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.

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.

Live street funk at its hottest. Sizzling versions of most of the early singles; plus three vocal cuts from the fabulous Betty Barney, who continued to work with the brothers right through the 1970s.

No-messing funk with whiffs of reefer, hooch and baize.
Eddie and Al Pazant came through with Lionel Hampton and Pucho. These are their locked-down, brassy, smoking, streetwise blends of R&B, soul, latin and jazz, from the late 1960s and early 70s.
Fab.

More lovely funk, Latin jazz and soul, bridging the Dust Yourself Off and Joyous albums. Kicks off with a bumping collaboration with Wayne Henderson and Side Effect, much sampled — and features Ghettos Of The Mind.

Bouncy Lady! The first of their six Fantasy albums via Wayne Henderson’s At Home Productions. Tasty jazz-funk and soul from the Portland crew.