7"

Two monumental South African groove-beauties for the latest installment of the Afro Funk Gems series from Mukatsuku. First up is a trip back to 1970, just three years after Letta Mbulu escaped apartheid and moved the US (and fifteen years before she collaborated with Michael Jackson on "Librarian Girl") the horn-laded, feel-good "Mahlalela" came from her third album and was licenced by Tamla Motown in South Africa too for a rare as hen's teeth 45. Flip for an edit from Mr Mukatsuku himself as he breaks down Dick Khoza and the Pelican Club house band's politically charged "Chapita". Stunning.

Claudia - GarraRich, sweet, orchestral bossa nova/MPB from the excellent Claudia, another of our favourite artists and featured several times in this series. Taken from her 'Você, Claúdia, Você' LP released in 1971 by Odeon Brazil.Os Tres Morais - Freio DynamicoUptempo, cinematic, vocal MPB/Jazz with muted trumpets, pinging bass guitar strings and even a little bit of fuzz for good measure! Os Tres Morais we’re two brothers and a sister, Jane Vincentina, Sidney and Roberto do Espírito Santo. They formed in 1963. 'Freio Dynamico' is taken from the groups self-titled LP on Odeon 1971.

Noelita - SambalancaQuirky, upbeat samba, originally released in 1973 on Copacabana. Organ and horn lines bubble under the drum groove and percussion. Taken from her only LP 'Quando Me Sinto Só' released in 1975. Sought after and expensive in it's original form.Doris Monteiro - E Isso AiThe instantly recognisable, original version of the classic and much covered 'E Isso Ai'. Beautiful laid back samba/MPB, drenched in horns and percussion. Taken from her 1971 Odeon LP. This is the second time the hugely prolific Doris Monteiro has featured in our Brazil 45's series, previously with 'Se Vocé Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear' on number 9.

In the 70's one of the most Unique Texas band Emerged on the Scene, 'Tortilla Factory ' whilst primarily in the Texas Chicano scene they produced a couple of funk bangers dispersed amongst their many eclectic LPs, the band was renowned for their high calibre is Musicianship and whilst the might now be not typical of their sound they still bring it to the table better than some straight funk bands. Big shout out to Alfredo Guerrero for making this happen. I no longer have to drag around the LPs.

Two gold standard musical compositions I won't insult by labelling with a genre. 'Truth is the key' is one of my favourite tracks period, the Arp solo just does it for me in every way. The vocal will be familiar as Irene Datcher also sang on the James Mason LP (who also features on these tracks) . 'Dreamflower' should need no introduction, famously Sampled by Erykah Badu's 'Didn't Cha Know ' and many others. This is a sublime landscape is notable for Ryo Kawasaki's dreamy guitar work, Stone cold classic. Both sides surprisingly have never graced the 7" format until now , absolutely essential 45.

'll be honest, I had forgotten about Samuel Jonathan Johnson until i heard Theo Parrish play it recently. I used to spin the LP years ago but my copy got lost or beat. Soon as I heard it I made a call and sorted out the 45, just an amazing solid Groove on Sweet Love, you cant help but feel it. The flip 'Reasons, is the other great track from the same Columbia LP 'My Music' . First time on 45 for both of these, once they are gone that is it. Disco Essential!

Another personal mission was to reissue this legit so here we are STRICTLY 500 ONLY, NO REPRESS. Barbara Masons 'You Better Stop It' is a perfect peace of crossover perfection. Probably slightly disregarded on the Northern Soul Scene dancefloor wise recently although undoubtedly appreciated by many). The early 2000s Deepfunk scene and Euro Soul scene embraced this record tricky rhythm and rightly so Barbara Mason's vocal smashes it. When I used to do a regular Tuesday night in Edinburgh it was requested second only to Fredrick Hymes III. If you're not feeling this, quitOn the flip we got Barbara Mason's classic slowy 'Do I Love You' one for the heads or Lowrider team. First time on 7" for this huge LP spin, stone cold classic.