UK

Groove Line Records are proud to add to their 2015 releases of half-speed mastered re-issue singles with both the extended special disco version and instrumental version of Earth Wind & Fire's 1976 funk bomb Getaway gracing each side of a 180g 12” virgin vinyl disc.Looking to gain on his groups critical and commercial success from the early 1970s EW&F's main man Maurice White brought in the legendary Charles Stepney, who had tutored him at Chicago's Chess Records in the 1960s, as the co-producer and arranger on their incredible 1976 album Spirit, which opened up with the formidable funk track Getaway.Co-written by guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Bernard “Beloyd” Taylor (S.O.U.L.) and songwriter Peter Corbelenky around the theme of escapism and self-fulfilment, the primal urgency of Getaway was the ideal composition for White to record with EW&F. White felt the song's energy and positive, uplifting lyrics matched the attitude and ethos of his group perfectly. As a result EW&F created a funk gem both musically and lyrically perfect for the dance floor.The overwhelming immediacy of the multi-layered, arresting intro/bridge suggests the group had almost been held back in the stalls before being allowed to let rip on this classic recording. The urgency and excitement that envelopes the listener from the very first second is immediately taken up a level by the increasing momentum of the ascending riff which quickly reaches fever pitch by the time the track has only reached eight seconds! EW&F's trademark brass sound then takes centre stage on the first chorus with a punching, staccato horn line while the opening vocals invite you to “...leave today, let's getaway.” Concluding with a twelve note harmony of horns (borrowed' by so many dance floor tracks since) the break neck momentum is maintained in to the first verse which introduces, thanks to arranger Charles Stepney, an even more intricate horn line over a funky, viscous rhythm section before Maurice White, Philip Bailey and Verdine White blend effortlessly to deliver the impassioned vocals. The innate funkiness of the whole group is then exposed in an extended instrumental sequence before the bridge, slightly adapted from the intro, introduces the second chorus and verse. On this pass Stepney then cleverly places a third rousing chorus before the group stretch out on another extended instrumental section before verse three. The intensity is ramped up even more with an otherworldly, two second, stand alone synthesizer part added to the bridge, which heralds the extended chorus outro over which the groups vocalists soar until the track fades. And all of this within just over five minutes.The clever arrangement on this track and the complex musicianship displayed on it become even more apparent with the 3 minute 50 second instrumental version on the B-side where you can lose yourself within the intricate rhythms. On its release in the summer of '76 Getaway topped the Billboard R&B charts for two weeks and crossed over to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to this day puts R&B, Funk & Disco fans old and new under its enduring spell.All Groove Line Records releases are fully licensed and taken from the original master tapes, remastered by Nick Robbins at Sound Mastering, and cut by Matt Colton at Alchemy (Mastering Engineer of the Year 2013) using half-speed mastering for optimum sound quality. All vinyl is heavy weight 180g manufactured by Optimal Media in Germany, one of the world’s finest pressing plants.Groove Line Records cut no corners when making sure that each and every one of our releases has the highest quality performance possible.

Limited 2015 repress.Has printed label rather than stamped label.

Weston's curatorial crusade continues as he unearths more criminally overlooked/under-pressed rarities from the golden ages; "Losing You" comes from Courtial and Errol Knowles outstanding 1976 soul jazz album. The most straight up soul joint from the album, it's an instant sweat-fest with real guts behind both the vocals and instrumentation. Flip for the jazz funk whirlwind that is "Getting Down". Taken from their eponymous, once-super rare ($1500 per copy rare) album (also released in 76), it's an instrumental hurricane led by strings, horns and bombastically swung drums. Powerful. DJ Support from Snowboy,Sadar Bahar,Dom Servini,Faze Action,Pete Jelly Jazz,Flea Market Funk,ParisDJs.com, Marc Hype,Nicola Conte, Volcov and more

Amsterdam native Mr Mendel continues to churn out top notch edits at a steady pace in between crate digging and gigs around the world.This second 12" for Basic Fingers is a welcome follow up to his previous release which featured Fela & Gil.On release no.28 he's dug even deeper than last time and found not one, two or three but four absolute killer songs to take his razor sharp blade to.No messing around, Mr Mendel aims straight for the top with these joyful disco cuts.

Mr Mendel's disco credentials have been growing steadily in stature over the last few years. Here the Dutch boogieman drops two killer jams for the Disco Deviance imprint.Both demonstrate his clean and tidy approach to editing which focuses on the quality of the original source material and a delicate desire to enhance and ease only the very best out of the music he loves so much. As such he owes much to his Chicago mentor and good friend Rahaan whose influence and sound can be detected in these reworks.This is of course a good thing. Enjoy the music! Mr Mendel does.

Originally released on Fermata (Brazil) in 1970, this brilliant - incredibly lengthy titled - album contains incidental songs from three soap operas: 'Assim na Terra Como No Céu', 'Passo dos Ventos' and the most well known 'Irmãos Coragem'.The album contains elements not dissimilar to Incredible Bongo Band, Nico Gomez, classic Blaxploitation OST's and lost library gems. Originals are nigh on impossible to find and we are very proud to be able to reissue it, with replica original artwork and packaging, on Mr Bongo.This is the second Waltel Branco album we have released, the first was 'Meu Balanco', recorded in 1965, released in 1975.

Tala AM (or Tala Andre Marie to give him his full and proper name) was born in Bandjoun in Cameroun in 1950. Talas life initially wasn't easy, he becomes blind at an early age and has lost both his mother and father by the age of 12. He then went on to make his first guitar by hand and form his first band "The Rock Boys" by the age of 17. Shortly after he meets the powerhouse of Camerounian music at the time Manu Dibango, a pivotal moment. With help, he re-locates to Paris and signs a contract with Fiesta Records. The first fruit of those labours is his debut album "Hot Koki".The lead track (and highlight of this compilation) is "Hot Koki" it is a powerhouse of funk guitar, soul and infectious afro rhythms. Fast forward to 1974 and the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The story goes a little something like this... At an accompanying musical event we find James Brown and Tala AM. JB Hears Hot Koki and creates a remarkably similar sounding track "The Hustle" (check it out side by side if you have the time).Fast forward another 40 years. Time to take a look back on the funkier moments of Tala. This is not a "best of" Tala, that has already been done. Want to get into Tala's famous Tchamassi sound or do some "bend skin" beats... well check out the other compilations. Here at Africa Seven (and in this case) we are headed for destination funk. The musical topic inevitably leads us to the 70's and we borrow our super slick source material mainly from the albums Tala made for Fiesta Records from 1973 to 1978.We open up the bombastic brass, swinging basslines and all out groove of Hot Koki (well after a little intro ditty gem). Then its on to the one of the highlights of "Arabia" album "Black Gold". This track swoons groove. Layers of picked and choppy guitar and on point drumming. "Sugar Lump" is next which sticks to the formula of the previous track but adds in catchy vocals.Mining into the cave of delights that is the 1978 "Black Woman" album we then follow up with the driving afro beat grooves and stabby brass of "Gotam" and the boogie flowing grooves of "Black Woman" and the frenetic and driving grooves of "Ma Ka La". We round things off with the stabby clavi-funk of "Nom Te Ma" and the ultimate groovy funk-riff closer (and ear worm) Tcham Tcham.So there you some slices of pure funk from a master. Tala's role of awards and achievements is long and impressive (check his Wikipedia), Knight of Valour of Cameroun, SACEM awards and his opening of a music school in Douala... However.. we feel these musical masterpieces are right up there with his finest achievements.. A true man of music.