Ring The Alarm playlist, 4 July

The Stance Brothers - Resolution blue
Idris Muhammad - Express yourself
Charles Keynard - Reelin' with the feeling
Speedometer - Soul safari
The Dap-Kings - Nervous like me
Scone Cash Players - Canned champagne
The Family Daptone - Hey brother
Willie Mitchell - Sugar T
The Magic Tones - Together we shall overcome
Impressions  -Woman's got soul
Sonny Knight and the Lakers - Sugarman
Darondo - Luscious lady
Roy Ayers - We live on Brooklyn, baby
Edwin Birdsong - Rapper dapper snapper
Funk Fusion Band - Can you feel it
Lord Echo feat Mara TK - Put it in my head
Recloose - Solomon's alive
Boozoo Bajou - Divers (Funky Lowlives mix)
Biggabush - Sousaphunk (Diesler and Bigga remix)
Patato Y Totico - Dilo como yo (Antibalas remix)
Ruts DC - Rhythm collision (RSD remix)
Horace Andy - Cuss cuss (RSD version)
LV - Globetrotting
Cooly G - Love dub
Massive Attack - Risingson (Underdog remix)

Ring The Alarm playlist, 27 June

Lee Oskar - Haunted house (Leftside wobble edit)
Dimenzio - Bamba (the fool)
Paz - Yours is the light
Sun Ra - Where pathways meet
James Blood Ulmer - Jazz is the teacher, funk is the preacher
Dr Tree - Eugino D
Nathan Haines and Joost Langeveld - Avenue dreams
DLT - Poison (Mario Bros remix inst)
Shogun Orchestra - Mifune
The Stance Brothers - Resolution blue
Gene Faith - Love of a woman soul of a man
Virtues - Meditation of the soul
Doris Troy - Just one look
Barbara Acklin - Just aint no love
Sugarman 3  -Pull my cart
Lee Fields and the Expressions - Wish you were here
The Traffic - California love
Omar - Pass it on
Phoenix City Allstars - White riot dub
The Beat - Psychedelic rockers
The Jamaicans - Chain gang
Delroy Wilson - I want justice
Lennie Hibbert - Real hot
Astronauts of Antiquity - Same ground
Freddie Cruger - Running from love
Tony Allen - Ole (Moritz Von Oswald remix)
Manu Dibango - Big blow

Ring The Alarm playlist, 20 June

Ardijah - Which way is up
Odessey One - Dance with me
Michael Boothman and Family Tree -Tabu
Melvin Sparks - Texas twister
Big Mama Thornton - Wade in the water
Ike and Tina Turner - I idolise you
Otis Rush - Homework
Bo Diddley - Black soul
Mantronix - Big band b-boy
Kool G Rap and DJ Polo - It's a demo
Mr Magic and Positive Choice Band - 2001 kazoos
DJ Spinna - Dillagence (one 4 Jay)
DLT - Liquid skies (Ultraneon mix)
Hollie Smith and Mara TK - Lives for living
Barbara Lynn - Money
Darondo - Luscious lady
The Mixtures  -Poochum
Thee Sacred Souls - Give us justice
Vicky Tafoya -  Forever
Lee Fields - Don't give up
Bill Withers - You got the stuff
Roberta Flack - God don't like ugly
Aretha Franklin - I am in love (Cutec edit)
Ralph Weeks and Combo Lulo - Algo muy profundo
Delroy Wilson - Inner city blues
Leon Dinero - If you ask me
Freddie McGregor - Get involved
Jamaica Playboys - Makossa reggae
Lord Echo - Just do you

Thee Sacred Souls single “Give Us Justice”

Great new song from this San Diego outfit on Daptone imprint Penrose Records: "Proceeds from the new Thee Sacred Souls single, “Give Us Justice”, will go to promoting the freedoms, rights, and wellbeing of black people, spread across various organizations which they will continue to research over time, starting with The Movement for Black Lives. Available digitally everywhere."

Ring The Alarm playlist, 13 June

Clarence Reid - I get my kicks
Sid Sidney Wallace and the Belairs - The grinder
Nadine Brown - Leave me alone
Shirley Scott - Get back
Speedometer - Two beat beast
Lee Fields and Sugarman and co - Stand up
Ann Sexton - You're gonna miss me
Tina Turner - Whole lotta love
Nuyorican Soul - Mawtilus
MAW - Zoe
Staff Benda Bilili - Sala mosala
Mulatu - Yegelle tezeta
The Tennors - Ride your donkey
Phyllis Dillon - Woman of the ghetto
Junior Murvin - Give me your love
The In Crowd - Mango walk
Salmonella Dub - Platetechtonics (Groove Corp remix)
Pitch Black -1000 mile drift (International Observer remix)
Madness - Death of a rude boy (Andrew Weatherall remix)
Shannon - Give me tonight (dub version)
Millie Scott - Prisoner of love
Marion Jarvis - Get it
Della Reese - Compared to what
Otis Redding - Sweet Lorene
Lonnie Mack - Memphis

Ring The Alarm playlist, May 30

Salmonella Dub - Problems (Sonsine remix)
Unitone Hifi - Listen or ya dead
DLT feat Mighty Asterix - One love (remix)
Ladi6 - Give me the light
Feelstyle - Leave it at that
Benny Tones feat Mara TK - On my way
Myele Manzanza - Big deal (Mark de Clive Lowe remix)
Isaac Aesili - Use your mind
Breaks Co-op - Let your hair down
Billy TK and Powerhouse - Move on up
Jay Epae - The creep
Maori HiFive - Poi poi
Yandall Sisters - Watch out boy
Tyra and the Tornadoes  -You got me thinkin'
Houseparty - Dangerous love (radio mix)
Ardijah - Watching U
Newmatics - Riot squad
The Yoots - Me he manu rere
Mephisto Jones - Chocolate hot sauce
King Kapisi - Subcranium feeling (inst)
Video Kid - Dawnskate 88 (Jet Jaugar remix)
Sulata - Never
Urban Disturbance - Robert Jane
Rhythm and Business - Deep groove (love theme)
Low Key meets Kevvy Kev - Defrag
Hallelujah Picassos - Salvadore (Dub Asylum vs Pains People remix)
Lord Echo - Street knowledge
Nathan Haines feat Sani Sagala - Lady J (video mix)
Dub Aslyum - How bizarre

Ring The Alarm playlist, May 23

Shannon - Do you wanna get away (dub version)
Jocelyn Brown - Hands off
Luther Vandross - She loves me back
Aural Exciters - Spooks in space
Aurra - Make up your mind (inst)
Tom Tom Club - Genius of love (extended version)
Marty Acuna - Dance, dance, dance
Lancelot Layne - Yo tink it sorf?
Amral's Trinidad Cavaliers Steel Orchestra - 90% of me is you
Ramsey Lewis - Do you wanna (Mr Scruff remix)
Nina Simone - Take care of business (Pilooski remix)
Poets of Rhythm  -Rhodesian girl
Alison Durbin - It's your thing
Gene Faith - Family man
Bob Marshall and the A/Cs - Big ladies man
Beat Bronco Organ Trio - Easy baby
Tubbs - T's groove
Sabres of Paradise - Ballad of Nicky McGuire
Massive Attack vs Mad Professor - Bumper ball dub
African Head Charge - Beri version
Mere Mortalz feat U-Brown - Dis a boom
Herbs - French letter (dub version)
The Yoots - E papa waiari
DLT feat the Mighty Asterix -Return of the Lion King
Submariner - Generation to generation

Bandé-Gamboa: Revamping rare gems from Cabo Verde and Guinéa​-​Bissau

From Heavenly Sweetness: "Bandé-Gamboa is a project made up of two All-Star bands, created to reinterpret extremely rare or unreleased tracks from Guinéa-Bissau and Cape Verde, a project explicitly dedicated to the living memory of Amílcar Cabral, the intellectual force and strategist behind the independence of both countries, whose dream was to have them forever united.

The project was created by executive producer/DJ/digger Francisco “Fininho” Sousa and produced by Guts, with the aim of bringing to light musical compositions that either never had success despite their potential, or were never released at all.

The band comprises of only outstanding musicians from both Guinéa-Bissau and Cape Verde, mixing older and younger generations. The tracks from Cape Verde focus mainly on stretching the possibilities of musical languages within Funaná, and the tracks from Guinéa-Bissau are a modern take on traditional rhythm Gumbé, rarely seen in stages worldwide.

The album 'Horizonte - Revamping Rare Gems From Guinéa-Bissau and Cape Verde' is in-between a compilation and a band recording, joining the knowledge of decade-long research on the music of both countries with the talent and creativity of world-class musicians."

Out 12 June on CD/2xLP/digital

Ring The Alarm playlist, May 16

Tenor Saw and Buju Banton - Ring the alarm quick
Born Jamericans - Boom shak a tak
Damian Marley - Move!
Johnny Osbourne - Budy bye (Kenny Dope remix)
Clarence Reid - Masterpiece (Kenny Dope edit)
Soul Severes - I got it
Speedometer - Soul safari
Darondo - Do you really love me
Sharon Jones and the Dapkings  -New shoes
Cliff Nobles - My love is getting stronger
Ann Sexton - You've been gone too long
Marvin Gaye - Can I get a witness
Stevie Wonder - Contract on love
Stevie Wonder - As
Cherelle with Alexander O'Neal - Saturday love
Extra T's - E.T. boogie
Ballare - Dancing (Peter Mac edit)
Jose James - Black magic (Joy Orbison remix)
Fat Freddy's Drop - Mother mother (Theo Parrish translation)
Phase 5 - Box juice
Jack Costanzo - Green onions
Manny Corchado - Chicken and booze
Willie Bobo - La descarga del Bobo (MAW remix)
Tony Allen - N.E.P.A
Manu Dibango - Weya

Kiwi Animals: Future/ Primitive Aotearoa compilation coming

Official blurb: ‘Kiwi Animals’ is a personal catalog of local oddities; affectionately recasting the 1980’s New Zealand Top 40 in a parallel universe of misfit pop, gonzo-tronics & voodoo-waves.

Channeling South Pacific gothic sensibilities and edge of world melancholia, the album highlights unexpected electronic tangents from iconic NZ groups Blam Blam Blam & Headless Chickens.

It dredges the C-90 revelations of art avante-gardists’ Drone & Kim Blackburn, along with the bittersweet pop of Rupert & Norma O’Malley. There’s the infectious minimal wave of Ballare and a reprised dance suite from Tom Ludvigson & Graeme Gash.

The furthest depths of Flying Nun’s catalog are also plundered - a brilliant earworm from Stiff Herbert and a mysterious Roger Knox birthday promo. Mining the various disparate seams of a local indie label awakening, ‘Kiwi Animals’ congeals with future/primitive ingenuity and an underlying Antipodean pop mischievousness…

release Early May pending DJ Covid & her infectious beats..." on digital/vinyl from Strangelove

Tracklisting:
1. Kim Blackburn - Lizards in love
2. The Kiwi Animal - Woman & Man Have Balance
3. Rupert - Soul Brothers 
4. Stiff Herbert - I Could Hit the Ceiling
5. Drone - Nothing Dominant
6. Norma O'Malley - Some Tame Gazelle
7. Headless Chickens - Throwback
8. Blam Blam Blam - Respect 03:43
9. Roger Knox - Whole Weird World
10. Tom Ludvigson & Graeme Gash - Uallang Jnr
11. Ballare - Dancing

Golden Dalvanius 12"

Coming for RSD in June now...

"Dalvanius & The Fascinations – Voodoo Lady First up on the A side is Dalvanius & The Fascinations phenomenal track, Voodoo Lady. On first release this track started life as the B-side of the lead track “Checkmate on Love” but later moved to the A side with a slightly longer Disco Version at 5.55. This version is more recently starting to appear in collectors want lists and on auction sites around the world. The vibe is disco, the energy is high and the vocals are soaring from Dalvanius’s backing singers, The Fascinations. Try this one around midnight on any dancefloor. It’s a winner.

AA, Golden Harvest – I Need Your Love On the flip is Golden Harvest with their AOR-Disco anthem, I Need Your Love. Both Ali and Micky agreed that this was an easy inclusion in the series as it’s one of those tracks that once you hear it, you won’t get it out of your head. One of those tracks for premium dancefloor moments of joy and hands in the air excitement. This one started life on the independent NZ label Impact in 1977 and later in 1978 got the Warner Bros treatment for neighbouring Australia and was later to be included on their only album Golden Harvest – Golden Harvest. 

Record Store Day 2020 sees the inaugural release from RE:WARM Records 001. A label concentrating on unearthing and releasing music that curators, Ali Tillett & Micky Browne are passionate about and intend on reintroducing to a whole new generation of music lovers, DJs and collectors.

The guys have worked tirelessly over the last 18 months to put together a schedule of releases that would give a good cross section of their own personal collections and also some long out of print private pressings, rare 7”s and albums that have become more and more difficult to get hold of for collectors and music lovers alike.

All forthcoming music on RE:WARM Records has been officially licenced and released with the artist’s consent and comes lovingly repackaged with new artwork, photographs and information about the artists and the original release. Expect music from dancefloors around the world, from all eras in a Kaleidoscope of cultural fusion and genres.

Music to love and treasure, non disposable. Music you will return to again and again. Music that never loses its emotive power and retains its energy on every play. We hope you love what we have in store for you over the coming months and years."

Thee Sacred Souls - new video

Daptone's Gabe Roth aka Bosco Mann has kicked off a new sub label called Penrose Records, dropping a series of sweet soul singles, here's the video for one of them, spot the lowriders. The vinyl has been delayed but the digital is out now.

"It is our distinct pleasure to present Penrose, a new imprint poised to usher in a whole new era of soulful sounds. Founded by Daptone Records' own Bosco Mann after building a new recording studio in his hometown of Riverside, California,

Penrose will showcase the most exciting acts emerging on the blossoming SoCal souldies scene today. For its inaugural release, the label offers up five singles by five exciting new artists: Thee Sacred Souls from San Diego; Jason Joshua from Miami; East L.A. mainstays Thee Sinseers, and The Altons; and Altadena veterans, Los Yesterdays.

What better way to christen Daptone’s fledgling imprint Penrose Records than with “Can I Call You Rose?,” a sumptuous and serendipitously titled mid-tempo premier by San Diego’s blossoming young soul serenaders, Thee Sacred Souls. Stepping off the stage after their very first club date, Josh, Sal, and Alex were tugged aside by producer Bosco Mann whose seasoned ears had been tickled by their set. Backs were patted, hands were shook, and three days later heads were bobbing in Mann’s Riverside studio, as the Souls laid their first notes to tape.
Penrose Records Volume 1: The release date for the 45s from Thee Sacred Souls, Thee Sinseers, Jason Joshua, The Altons, and Los Yesterdays has been moved to June 19th, but you can listen to all 10 songs via this digital compilation now."

Ring The Alarm playlist, March 21

Gary Bartz and NTU Troop - Celestial blues
Bill Doggett - Pimento
James Bown - Aint it funky now pt1
Honeydrippers - Impeach the President
Betty Everett - Take me
Paul Humphrey and his Cool Aid Chemists - Detroit
Willie Hightower - Walk a mile in my shoes
Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels - Jenny takes a ride
The Winstons - Amen, brother
Ray Charles - You're just about to lose your clown
Ollie and the Nightingales - Girl you make my heart sing
Booker T and the MGs - Can't be still
William Bell and Judy Clay - Loveitis
Mar-Keys - Philly dog
Sam and Dave - Wrap it up
Carla Thomas - Something good
Rufus Thomas - 6-3-8
The Newcomers - Pin the tail on the donkey
The Barkays - Copy kat
The Dramatics - Get up and get down
The Emotions - Boss love maker
Eddie Floyd - Under my nose
Jean Knight - Carry on
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas - Lovey dovey
Johnnie Taylor - I am somebody pt1
Booker T and the MGs- Soul limbo
Sharon Jones and the Dapkings - I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
El Michels Affair - Tearz
Lady Wray - Come on in
Jerry Butler - I'm a telling you
Bobby Bland - I'm so tired
Jan Bradley - Mama didn't lie
Bobby Moore - Hey Mr DJ
Isley Brothers - Fight the power pt1
Parliament - Up on the down stroke
Prince - Housequake (7 minutes mo quake)

New Speedometer

Official blurb: 'Our Kind of Movement' is Speedometer's 5th album release for Freestyle (excluding two compilations of archive releases) and sees Vanessa Jamie and Najwa Ezzaher join James Junior on vocal duties.

On this album, the band re-explore their own diverse influences combining the heritage of Latin Funk in 'Funky Amigo', Afro Beat on 'Abuja Sunrise', Indian Psychedelic on 'Kashmir', the Northern Soul on 'We gave up too soon'.

There is, of course, a hefty dose of new heavyweight funk and soul tunes, as you would expect.

After 20 years of making funky music, this LP brings their experiences all together on one record whilst keeping the funk groove at its heart.

Over the years, Speedometer have worked with a host of US funk legends including Joe Quarterman, Eddie Bo, Marva Whitney, Martha High, Sharon Jones, James Bell (Highlighters), Lee Fields, Billy Wooten and Robert Moore. All were blown away by Speedometer's authenticity and dedication to faithfully creating that original soul-funk sound."

Out April 3 on Freetsyle Records on LP/CD/digital

Ring The Alarm playlist, March 14

Beats On Canvas - Doki (DJ Vadim remix)
Nextmen vs Joe Dukie - The drop
Jean Jaques Perrey and Luke Vibert  -Ye olde beatbox
Talvin Singh feat Amar - Jaan
Umod - Love divine
Erykah Badu - Love
The O'Jays - For the love of money
Bill Withers - You got the stuff
Roy Ayers - Love will bring us together
Kokolo - The magnificent seven
Dele Sosimi - E go betta (dub)
Ikebe Shakedown - Tame the beats
Lightning head - Afro spot
Issa Bagayogo - Dibi
Chaka Khan - Too much love
Archie Bell and the Drells - Tighten up
Barbara Acklin - Just aint no love
Gene Chandler - No peace, no satisfaction
Shirley Ellis - Soul time
Fontella Bass and Bobby McClure - Don't mess up a good thing
Sharon Cash - Heighty hi
Merry Clayton - Whatever
Aretha Franklin - Won't be long
Len Barry - Bullseye
Gene Faith - Family man