Syl Johnson ‎ Uptown Shakedown (1979) [2012 Japan]

Many years ago there was a thriving Queen market for silver discs with labels such as Gypsy Eye, Queen Digital Archives and Wardour pumping out many interesting titles each month. These days Wardour produce a couple of titles per year (and not very good ones at that) and both Gypsy Eye and QDA are gone leaving on Tarantura, trolling the vast Mr. Peach tape archive, as the sole provider of great Queen silver titles. Rare Cuts Vol. 1-6 is the releases of a new Queen-dedicated label Master Stroke. Like QDA a decade ago, their initial efforts focus upon collecting upgrades of very common material and mixing up with much more rare tracks…

is the debut album by American soul/disco group , released in 1979 on the Arista label. The lead single was a major crossover hit, topping the R&B chart and peaking at #12 on the pop chart. The follow-up, a respectful and faithful cover of 's 1965 classic , also made the R&B top 5 and the pop top 20. On the back of its hit singles, the album also became a big seller, peaking at #2 R&B and #13 pop.

Like Earth, Wind & Fire and Kool & the Gang before them, Crown Heights Affair artfully bridged the gap between funk and disco, guaranteeing their records new life via sampling by successive generations of rappers and DJs. Originally dubbed New Day Express, the group formed in Brooklyn, NY, in 1967, originally comprising lead vocalist Philip Thomas, guitarist William "Bubba" Anderson, bassist Arnold "Muki" Wilson, keyboardist Stan Johnson, and drummer Raymond "Sugar Ray" Rock. Crown Heights Affair's roster soon expanded to include saxophonist Darryl Gibbs, trumpeter James Baynard, and trombonist Julius Dilligard, Jr.

Welcome reissue of the wonderful and very rare 1979 ‘Butterfly’ LP by Japanese songstress Kimiko Kasai and jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Due to its Japan-only release, this exquisitely-crafted collection of covers never got the recognition it deserved at the time despite inspired performances from Kimiko herself as well as thesupremely talented band of musicians Hancock united for the project, including master drummer Alphonse Mouzon and renowned organist Webster Lewis.

TRICKSTER was founded in Birmingham, UK around 1976 by singer Phil Bates who previously played in Kwil and other local acts (He would release the terrific album 'Power' with the band Atlantic in the '90s). Trickster was signed by Jet Records, the same of ELO, so it isn't strange that after the debut album in 1978 Trickster toured Europe supporting them. For the second LP "Back To Zero" the band turned their sound into a more sophisticated affair adding strong Melodic Rock and AOR elements to their music following the trend arriving from America at the end of the seventies.

The Specials - Specials (1979) {Chrysalis Japan CP28-1027 rel 1988}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 287 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 108 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 27 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1979, 1988 Chrysalis / Toshiba EMI Japan | CP28-1027
Ska / Rocksteady / Reggae / New Wave / Ska Revival

The Specials are still the heavyweight champions of both waves of ska revivals (in the UK and later in the USA). I saw the Specials just before this album was released in 1979 at a Rock Against Racism concert in London's Hyde Park. I was warned by my two British hosts that the Specials would "blow my mind."… but nothing could have prepared me for the inspired anarchy of this young racially mixed Brits playing music that sounded like reggae on steroids. The two manic singers Terry Hall and Neville Staples bounced around the stage and banged their heads together in time to the music.