Unlimited（坂本昌行 , 森田剛 , 三宅健）

This vocal quartet originally started life as an extension of jazz band the Hi-Lo’s. From that prominent '50s band came Don Shelton, who decided to form Singers Unlimited after the Hi-Lo’s broke up in 1964. After retreating to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked on a series of television commercials, he enlisted fellow Hi-Lo’s veteran Gene Puerling of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to join him in the city in 1967. The group was formed along with Len Dresslar and Bonnie Herman, with the express intention of recording commercials in the doo wop/vocal group idiom. Shelton’s connections in the industry ensured the group was able to exploit the market successfully, and lucrative work rolled in. However, the 30-second snatches of songs hardly satisfied their artistic ambitions, and when they found themselves with studio time left over after one session, they recorded a take on the Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill." Through visiting jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, the demo of the a cappella recording was passed to MPS Records in Germany.

A great combo from Mannheim, Germany, also known as Joy & The Hit Kids. They were mixing jazz-rock, krautrock, funk, soul, pop and psychedelic rock, with Hans W. Herkenne (drums, percussion), Albin Metz (trumpet, bass), Roland Heck (organ, piano, vibes, marimba, percussion, vocals), Dieter Kindl (bass, guitar, percussion), Gerd Köthe (saxophone, flute), Klaus Nagel (guitar, woodwind, percussion, flute) and Hans Lingenfelder (guitar). Led by extraordinary vocal skills of female singer Joy Fleming, the band released their debut 'Overground'in 1970 (released under the name 'Turbulence' in UK and 'Joy Unlimited' in the US). Their second album, 'Schmetterlinge' (which means 'Butterflies' in German) along with the debut is the most representative band's material, and certainly worth checking.

A great combo from Mannheim, Germany, also known as Joy & The Hit Kids. They were mixing jazz-rock, krautrock, funk, soul, pop and psychedelic rock, with Hans W. Herkenne (drums, percussion), Albin Metz (trumpet, bass), Roland Heck (organ, piano, vibes, marimba, percussion, vocals), Dieter Kindl (bass, guitar, percussion), Gerd Köthe (saxophone, flute), Klaus Nagel (guitar, woodwind, percussion, flute) and Hans Lingenfelder (guitar). Led by extraordinary vocal skills of female singer Joy Fleming, the band released their debut 'Overground'in 1970 (released under the name 'Turbulence' in UK and 'Joy Unlimited' in the US). Their second album, 'Schmetterlinge' (which means 'Butterflies' in German) along with the debut is the most representative band's material, and certainly worth checking.

This guitar duo, which performs frequently on the European jazz scene, involves a pair of Sweden's best jazz guitarists. Ulf Wakenius can claim ownership of a prestigious throne in the international jazz guitar kingdom. Since 1997, he has been guitarist in the Oscar Peterson Quartet, which at least suggests a passing knowledge of every chord substitution known to mankind. He follows in the footsteps of such legends as Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, and Joe Pass. The other member of the Swedish Guitars Unlimited is Peter Almqvist, and while he can't boast of gigging with Oscar Peterson, he has recorded with pianist Horace Parlan which actually is preferable to many jazz fans. The group has performed for several decades, building from the initial sensational fan base that was created when the guitarists first combined forces in 1980 in their picturesque hometown on the Gota river…

This guitar duo, which performs frequently on the European jazz scene, involves a pair of Sweden's best jazz guitarists. Ulf Wakenius can claim ownership of a prestigious throne in the international jazz guitar kingdom. Since 1997, he has been guitarist in the Oscar Peterson Quartet, which at least suggests a passing knowledge of every chord substitution known to mankind. He follows in the footsteps of such legends as Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, and Joe Pass. The other member of the Swedish Guitars Unlimited is Peter Almqvist, and while he can't boast of gigging with Oscar Peterson, he has recorded with pianist Horace Parlan which actually is preferable to many jazz fans. The group has performed for several decades, building from the initial sensational fan base that was created when the guitarists first combined forces in 1980 in their picturesque hometown on the Gota river…

Lost classic for the collectors of Italian Library Funk: One of the most sought after cult LPs on the tiny Devega label from Milan, produced in 1972 for license purposes only. The German progressive band Joy Unlimited plays a terrific mixture of funk 'n'soul , jazz, psych rock and Latin moods, with clever arrangements and perfect grooves. 12 excellently produced soundtracks for an imaginary film of the counterculture, including many cool DJ spins like "Parabolica", "Soul Gravy", "Jamara" or "Blue Box", spiced with killer breaks & electronic effects. First CD release of this album, carefully remastered and with the original cover design.