Sault – 5

Since 2019, Sault have released 14 albums. Although my hot take is it’s all a little pretentious and quantity doesn’t mean quality. Currently embroiled in a legal battle with Little Simz for not repaying a hefty loan, I can see why she may be miffed to see the ongoing output and no repayment. Their first album 5 is by far still my favourite of theirs, mixing ESG sounds, soul / neo soul and disco.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #sault #soul

Northern Soul - The Soundtrack

Some years ago my friends introduced me to Northern Soul through local Northern Soul dance nights in the winter time. I didn’t have a clue what Northern Soul was. I thought soul music was just soul music. Something clicked in my brain after my first night and I’d go monthly and dance my little feet off.

This is the soundtrack to the 2014 film. I don’t have Northern Soul record money so this is a good mix of tunes. I popped this on whilst doing my Saturday Cleaning. It was a bop.

#Vinyl #records #nowplaying #nowspinning #NorthernSoul #soul

Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving

I had no idea this album was a massive pop chart hit. No shame in that. Credit where credit due.

Some tracks do sound very polished but it's a good, short breezy, sunny morning listen. Sometimes you need that.

The standout track for me, and the one that made me listen to the full album, was the non single A Couple of Minutes. Beautiful.

Coffee shop pop? Maybe. But I'm here for it.

#Oliviadean #soul #neosoul #Vinyl
#records #nowplaying #nowspinning

Sister Sledge – We Are Family

Another pick up from today. I do love a girl group and I’ve been meaning to grab a copy. This one was cheap, bit worn and the the cover is falling apart but it plays ok. He's The Greatest Dancer has to be up there with some of the best intros IMHO. When I hear them sing about Fiorucci my mind goes to the 90’s angel T-shirts that were all the rage. To be honest I didn’t realise the brand still existed until I looked it up whilst playing this.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl # records music #SisterSledge #NileRodgers #BernardEdwards #soul #disco

Diana Ross - The Boss

Last year at a house warming, my friend was pumping Diana Ross. In that same week my hairdresser salon was also spinning some Ross. Gosh it was good. It prompted me to go through her solo albums as I'd only ever considered her as a singles artist. I picked this up at Rocktherapy Records last weekend. A store I use to frequent a lot in my early uni days but not so much now. This album is probably my favourite of my back catalogue listens.

I did my best kitchen sock slides whilst dancing to this. Ru Paul would have been horrified at my lip sync.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #DianaRoss #disco #soul

Jalen Ngonda - Come Around and Love Me

I sit here and type this with my new specs on and oof everything is so sharp.

I've been on a Daptone tip of late. I passed on this release when it came out and the Aust tour. I think I was looking for something faster and funkier then although I really enjoyed the 2024 single Anyone in Love. There was a period (it's still happening) where every coffee shop and store was saturated with smooth neo soul and new chill jazz sounds. It was all getting a bit nauseating. Anyway, it's bloody cold and raining outside and this is a beautiful Saturday morning album filling the house with the warm Daptone sounds. On initial listen I hadn't appreciated how diverse and rich his voice is. The album has a very Marvin Gaye / Motown sound - as demonstrated by the cover! It also put my cats to sleep.

#JalenNgonda #nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #daptone #soul

Swamp Dogg - Rat On

Continuing the rat theme unintentionally.

I only know two people who like Swamp Dogg and they both have impeccable music taste. After a night out my friend was spinning records in their dining area and showed me this - "you haven't heard of Swamp Dogg" they exclaimed. They chucked this on. Loved it. I Kissed Your Face still gets me. And the clarinet in that is next level. I thought this album cover was hilarious. I still do. This album is still politically on point.

A good Sunday evening record. It ought to be listened to whilst chilling on the couch but it also made a good folding laundry soundtrack

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records
#SwampDogg #RatOn #soul #funk

The Mighty Imperials - Thunder Chicken

This is actually my partners record. This was on the Soundtrack to one of the video games they'd play when we lived in our tiny 60s flat. This cover is both amazing and terrifying cos I don't like chickens. Another great daptone record. More like the metres on this one.

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #daptone #soul #RnB #funk

Ike & Tina Turner River Deep-Mountain High

Every Saturday night my family would do a roast dinner. Without fail between 4-6pm Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush or Billy Joel would be pumping on the giant 70s speakers my dad had. These were the sounds when mum was cooking. Sometimes Dad would be off from work and he'd get the roast ready and have the run of the stereo. He would usually play Ike and Tina. I'd slide around in my socks dancing.

It's now getting cool and I think I'm getting a cold so my partner is making Congee for tea. It seemed fitting to pop this one on this evening.

Picked this up from Clarity's secondhand section cheep when they first opened.

Ironically, we watched the 1981 film Possession last night. Gosh that was hard work but perhaps still lingering noting this Phil Spector / Ike and Tina a choice. 

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #Ike&TinaTurner
 #soul #R'n'B #60s

Thee Sacred Souls - Self Titled

Tiktok ruined this band for me initially. I couldn't hear the track Can I Call You Rose without thinking of Tiktok aesthetic apartments and that whole vibe. Some time and space helped me reappreciate how stunning this album is. I mean they are on Daptone so it's gotta be good right? I unfortunately wasn't able to see them during their recent tour in 2024.

I've been watching a tone of Amoeba What's In My Bag and I really enjoyed their segment youtu.be/EcIOQ_PGMds?si=MMAJM8…

#nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records #TheeSacredSouls #daptone
#soul #neosoul #daptoneRecords

Teena Marie - Wild and Peaceful

Picked this up yesterday at the paradise loft sale. The hour I was there, I was only one of two women browsing and the other appeared to be looking to kill time whilst their partner looked. It's not an uncommon experience. But yesterday was a weird bro vibe. I hate that about record culture sometimes. Possibly the eve of the election put me in a mood.

I've noticed many DJ copies seem to still have the plastic on them. Normally I take it off. But I love the stickers on this. Google tells me this might have come from Strawberries Records in New England.

A well known album by two power houses. I don't need to say much more. Side two is a debbie downer like me yesterday. Thankfully the first half is killer and so was the election result.    

#soul #funk #disco #TeenaMarie #rickjames #nowplaying #nowspinning #vinyl #records

Rita and Sakura - Hitmakers

After meeting in a club in the late 60s in Malaysia, Rita and Sukura became much-loved Singapore A-Go-Go queens.

I first discovered them when I picked up a couple of records from the old Licorice Pie shop. I'd spin them often on our radio show. Their album covers always look cool as fuck.

This is my second purchase from the smokelovers fair. I bought it from the same guy who sold me the Lijadu Sisters few years ago. He remembered selling me that apparently. He was stoked I was buying this and I knew them. We talked about how he'd bought the local Australian Broadcasting Corporation's vinyl Asian music collection (oof) and there were two copies of this. Was a great record buying chat.

This album is their first record and appears to be a collection of singles. The first song made me question the album title and my purchase but thankfully it picks up on the second track.

#Ritaandsakura #vinyl #records #nowplaying #nowspinning #soul #beat #60s #60sgirlgroup #Singapore

Patrice Rushen - Pizzazz

I've been trying to find a second-hand copy of her soul disco album in the wild for a few years with no luck. I didn't think it would be a particularly hard record to track down. I was thrilled to find a copy at the smokelovers record fair last weekend. 

It's now left me with a dilemma where to put this. She's known as a jazz pianist and R&B. My records are sorted by genre and I have her early jazz works in jazz. My partner tells me this is why genre sorting fails. This is why our records are not combined. 

I've written about Patrice Rushen before - powerhouse and way underappreciated etc. Just go read the wiki about this album and what some men thought at the time. Ugh. This copy is a first pressing and has a cut out in the corner. Makes me sad it wasn't a hit or dead stock in it's day. 

#patricerushen #vinyl #records #nowplaying #nowspinning #soul #funk 

Formed in 1983 in Gabon, Central Africa by jazz pianist and composer Frédéric Gassita this was the four piece's only release. Apparently it took 12 months to record at a swanky studio and the sound quality shows. The six tracks contain a mix of synths, boogie style, and funky bass lines. I love the front cover and the cute spelling error. This is the 2019 repress on the French label BeauMonde. I remember I was working in the CBD when this came out and was drawn to it instantly. After listening on line I power walked on my lunch break to Transition Records to pick up a copy.

#Gabon #Gabonese #soul #funk #boogie #vinyl #records #nowplaying #nowspinning

Darando - Let My People Go

Some tunes for a slow morning after birthday celebrations. Lots has been written about Darando and how he was rediscovered. Now famous for Didn't I, there are also other great tracks on this compilation of works and previously unreleased material.

We were sitting in a pizza place Wednesday night aptly named Thin Slizzy, and Didn't I came on. Maybe it was because I was full of carbs, or good holiday vibes, but hearing this on their big stereo was stunning. I went and got the album the next day before getting on the plane.

#vinyl #nowplaying #nowspinning #darando #didn'tI #funk #soul