Available on vinyl, CD and digital formats: https://orcd.co/carlsmithburnin

Originally released in 1980 on short-lived Oregon label ‘Match Box Recordings’, ‘Burnin’’ is the only album recorded by Portland jazz/funk band Carl Smith And The Natural Gas Company.

At the time of the release of this album, Carl Smith’s band had already been performing for almost two decades, starting out as the ‘Carl Smith Orchestra’ in 1959, fusing 40s and 50s big band styles with rock’n’roll, before gradually morphing into the more compact jazz / funk influenced outfit you can hear on Burnin’.

“Carl had this bright red delivery van he bought from the natural gas company. He got a hold of that thing and that’s how we went on the road. When we’d roll up to the gig they’d see this big van full of musicians and on the outside it said “Natural Gas Co.” Then out comes Carl Smith and it’s all over.” – Lee Bradford (trumpet, flugelhorn)

The orchestra that Carl Smith founded was a Portland institution for about 50 years all-told, becoming an essential training ground for young musicians on the come-up; even the later Grammy-award winning trumpeter Chris Botti passed through at the age of 17 and Jefferson Airplane’s Signe Anderson was a long-time collaborator. It was “hard to find many jazz players around here who haven’t played with the band” said Smith in a 1980 interview with The Oregonian. They performed at festivals, universities, nightclubs, dance studios and even military bases from Portland to Seattle and everywhere in between, opening for Dave Brubeck, Buddy Miles and Johnny Ray among many others.

The story of this album’s recording has gone down in infamy among the remaining band members and Carl Smith’s daughter Carlee (who performed lead vocals on ‘Love Won’t Let Me Go’), all of whom recall a fraught, rushed recording process, led by a producer who had no musical experience and was nothing more than a puppet for the somewhat shady label owners. This led to the album being cut too fast and accidentally pitched up a key, so if you want to hear it as the band intended, pull the pitch control down a little on your turntable.

“Turns out the whole thing was backed by a bunch of farmers from central Oregon who were looking to take a loss… So here we were playing out and selling records. As soon as we were about to hit one thousand copies sold, their plan was to stop promotion so it would die…but we didn’t know that.” – Peter Piazza (trombone, electric violin, euphonium)

Upon its release, the album received airplay on several radio stations across Oregon and Washington, the band were invited to play live on local TV channel KGW, and copies sold out quickly within the local area. Despite the bitter-sweet circumstances around the record, Burnin’ remains a fantastic document of this well-drilled and talented group of players, showcasing original funk, jazz and soul compositions mostly arranged by Larry Dunlap, who went on to become musical director for the Pointer Sisters and write for Cleo Laine during a long and fruitful career in music.

The original label’s intentional sabotage of Burnin’ has made it a rare and sought-after album for vinyl collectors the World over, so we are delighted to reissue it for the first time ever, complete with its original artwork, accompanied by liner notes providing a detailed oral history of the band, as told by several of its original members.

Carl Smith And The Natural Gas Company - Burnin' (Album Sampler)

IZIPHO SOUL are extremely proud to present THE BERNADETTE BASCOM EP on 10” vinyl!
Capturing the years 1979 to 1981, this EP features the sublime I DON’T WANNA LOSE YOUR LOVE, SEATTLE SUNSHINE, the previously unreleased beauty I NEED YOU…, plus an unheard live recording with the legendary STEVE WONDER!

BERNADETTE BASCOM - I NEED YOU

MF Robots unleash the third salvo from upcoming BBE Music album ‘Break The Wall’, a feelgood mid-tempo funk bubbler entitled ‘Good People’.

Underpinned by Jan’s unmistakable rock-solid rhythm section and topped off with Dawn’s life-affirming lyrics, ‘Good People’ delivers yet another tough groove, brought to life by some of the UK’s tightest musicians.

Following up their latest single ‘Good People’ on BBE Music, MF Robots unveil an extended version of the track accompanied by an up-tempo remix by MontaQue Adamson and a brand new ‘Bossy Nova’ version of ‘Mother Funkin’ Robots’ by Jan Kincaid.

Emerging London production duo MontaQue Adamson have both played with MF Robots since their first gig at The Bussey Building and helped write the band’s upcoming album ‘Break The Wall’. Both Alex Montaque (keys) and Naz Adamson (bass) have been staples in the UK music scene for the past 15 years, working with world-renowned artists both on stage and in the studio. Their remix of ‘Good People’ takes the laid back original and sends it into overdrive, with a funky-house interpretation.

Making the most of Dawn Joseph’s powerhouse vocal, Jan Kincaid’s ‘Bossy Nova Refit’ of previous single ‘Mother Funkin’ Robots’ injects an enticing Latin vibe into the cut, with a delightfully old-school synth line providing some light hearted interplay with that superb brass section. Says Jan: “it was a challenge to remix this tune and give it a different personality. I wanted it to be a fun late night, the last few dancers left in the place type of thing.”
An extended of ‘Good People’ is also included in the package, alongside instrumental versions of all three tracks.

About MF Robots:
Collaborating for the first time while recording and performing with one of the UK’s most commercially successful Acid Jazz bands The Brand New Heavies in 2013, founder / drummer Jan Kincaid and vocalist Dawn Joseph discovered immediate musical chemistry and began writing songs together right away. They soon left the band to concentrate on their own work, starting MF Robots (Music For Robots) and releasing an eponymous debut in 2018. The duo quickly morphed into a band as they found themselves in-demand at venues and festivals all over Europe, and haven’t looked back since.

MF Robots - Good People (MontaQue Adamson Extended Remix)

Buy the album here: https://orcd.co/teenamarie

Producer extraordinaire John Morales returns to BBE Music, celebrating the life and work of R&B / soul legend Teena Marie with a double album full of brand new remixes, lovingly crafted from the original studio tapes, entitled ‘Love Songs & Funky Beats’.

“Teena is somewhat underrated, and people don’t really know much about her.” Says Morales. “I set out to immerse people in her music and represent what she really did. That meant for me a dive into more than her R&B hits, to dig into her ballads and dance cuts. People know she was talented. I don’t really think they really knew the depth of her abilities, her complete confidence to take it upon herself to do everything – singing, producing, arranging, songwriting. Teena Marie was the total package.”

John Morales had the pleasure of mixing many of Teena Marie’s original records over the years, so it felt natural to dig into the archives and select his favourite cuts to rework, extend and subtly update in his own distinctive style. While by no means a definitive collection of Lady Tee’s expansive musical catalogue, ‘Love Songs & Funky Beats’ represents a fitting tribute to a multifaceted and important voice in popular music, by one of the most storied mix engineers and remixers of our age.

Jumping into the music industry deep end in 1979 with a three-year mentorship from Berry Gordy & Rick James at Motown, Teena Marie then spent seven fertile years with Epic, which yielded her greatest commercial successes (including the classic album ‘Starchild’). After founding an independent label ‘Sarai’, Marie took a ten-year hiatus which ended in 2004 in a deal with hip hop label Cash Money Records; a less unlikely partnership than some might assume, given that Teena was one of the first ‘mainstream’ artists to perform a rap verse, on 1981’s ‘Square Biz’.

Teena Marie Brockert forged a unique path through the industry, an artist in-charge of her own destiny, influencing (and heavily sampled by) both the hip hop and R&B sounds of the 90’s and early 2000’s. Her 1982 lawsuit against Motown records resulted in “The Brockert Initiative”, which has benefitted literally thousands of other artists by making it illegal for record companies to ‘shelve’ artists by keeping them under contract without releasing their material. She continued to tour regularly and deliver commercially successful, expertly sculpted music, right up until her untimely passing in 2010.

Teena Marie - Chains (John Morales M+M Mix)

BBE Music presents a brand new remix of the 1982 Rim & Kasa classic, ‘Love Me For Real’, created by the L.A. duo of Denise Love Hewett and Yung Spielburg.

Former New Yorker, now Los Angeles based DJ Denise Love Hewett joined forces with fellow NYC export, musician, and producer Yung Spielburg for the rework of ‘Love Me For Real’, having heard the track on the soundtrack to the 2019 movie ‘Big Time Adolescence’.

“My ears are always ticking for songs to add to my sets to keep them fresh” says Hewett. “I heard it in a film soundtrack and loved it! I started playing it but had an urge to rework some components for a club setting. I called up Lenny (Spielburg) to collaborate on the remix and between both of our visions, we found our way to this awesome result.”

Adding rock-solid House drum patterns and updating the song’s production aesthetic for modern dancefloors, Hewett and Spielberg’s version makes great use of the swirling synths, catchy vocals and unique Latin Afro-Disco vibe which has made ‘Love Me For Real’ an international hit since its 2015 BBE reissue.

Rim Kwaku Obeng - Love Me for Real (Denise Love Hewett Extended Remix)

Uh! Don’t ring me twice (uh-uh)
Swipe, swipe, lies on the line.
Static buzzin’ in my spine (whoo!)
Yeah, I feel it every time.

I’m not your plan, not your weekend game,
Middle-finger storm with a funky name.
Wanna message? Wanna drop that line?
Actin’ like I said “come spend my time.”

See-through, see-through (hah!)
Fake moves, fake groove (yeah!)

Who brings the snacks when the party drops? (uh!)
Who leaves the chat when the tension pops? (yeah!)
Who cleans the mess when the mood runs dry? (funk!)
Who hits the mute when the small talk dies? (woo!)

You beg like a script that you never learn,
“No big deal” but you crash and burn.
Every line you spin, every hint you send,
See-through, see-through—funk don’t pretend!

(One, two, three, four!)

Bought a mattress the week we matched (hah!)
Should’ve unmatched, should’ve ghosted fast.
I was bored, would’ve kissed the wall,
Now I’m layin’ flat in a stranger’s hall.

Ghost it quick! (Ghost it quick!)
Ghost it one, two (Ghost it one, two!)
I don’t play (I don’t play!)
I don’t call you! (Nah nah nah!)

Who brings the snacks when the party drops? (say what?)
Who leaves the chat when the tension pops? (uh!)
Who brings the snacks when the party drops? (ooh yeah)
Who leaves the chat when the tension pops? (uh-huh, uh-huh!)

See-through, fake groove,
See-through, fake groove…
Ghost it quick, ghost it quick, ghost it one, two…

The Snacks (Funk Boogie reload)

Spreading a little HSR love around the globe once again . . . . .Enjoy!



Produced & Arranged By The Gruv Manics Project & Gigi Frassanito for Soulbridge @Soulbridge Studio Novoli (LE) Italy
All Vocals Written by Gigi Frassanito
Lead Vocals By Ms Onyie
Background Vocals by Ms Onyie

Mixed & Mastered by Gigi Frassanito @Soulbridge Studio Novoli (LE) Italy

for license :hsrrecords@europe.com

www.housestationradio.com

Soulbridge & The Gruv Manics Project  Feat. Ms Onyie - Your Love PROMO OUT 12 - 07 - 2019

03 Fascinating

A belated birthday dedication to the one and only Nina Simone! Admittedly it took me a little while to fully get into Nina's records, even the well-known ones, but these days I always find something new and beautiful I hadn't noticed before on each one. Her eclectic song selection and style is so unique, there is nothing like it. The selections here are just a few of my favorites. Hope you enjoy.

Special thank-you to Alan Levine and Ruth and Judith, who generously donated their copies of Nina's records to me in recent years.

March 3 2021

Subscribe on iTunes

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 158 (Nina Simone Dedication)

Welcome to our second release from the wonderful Roz Ryan. Roz pretty much a household name with voice overs, acting and some memorable soul releases on Volt,Mirage, & 7th Galaxy records.  "Life after love" is a glorious 2 step song that she recorded with Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey in 1980 that has lay until today previously unissued.
Out in June on www.superdiscoedits.bigcartel.com

Roz Ryan Life After love-1980 previously unissued soul-7th Galaxy

Welcome to our second release from the wonderful Roz Ryan. Roz pretty much a household name with voice overs, acting and some memorable soul releases on Volt,Mirage, & 7th Galaxy records. "Sky High" is a funky disco number, but half way through check out the incredible break.  Recorded with Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey in 1980 that previously unissued until today
Out in June on www.superdiscoedits.bigcartel.com

Roz Ryan Sky High-previously unissued soul funk-1980-7th Galaxy

Join the BBE Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/yfBFX

Founded in 1996 by Peter Adarkwah, Barely Breaking Even (BBE Music) started life as a London club night, taking its name from the eponymous Disco record by the Universal Robot Band.

The label grew from the vibrant early 90's club scene with its first release, Stop & Listen compiled by Dr Bob Jones in 1996, opening the door to iconic series' such as All Back To Mine & Late Nite Tales.

A tonne of releases followed, ranging from Disco to Funk, Jazz to House. In the year 2000, the label celebrated Masters at Work's 10th Anniversary with a mighty box set that featured near 80 tracks.

A year later BBE Music spawned the Beat Generation Series of artist albums, notably introducing J Dilla (Welcome 2 Detroit) & a young Will.I.Am's first solo outing, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Madlib & DJ Spinna, all of whom contributed to this seminal set of long players.

A quarter of a century and well over 500 titles later, having worked with Mark Ronson, Roy Ayers, Questlove, Hugh Masekela, DJ Premier, Dimitri from Paris, Joey Negro, Kon, RZA, Laurent Garnier, Black Coffee, DJ Shadow, David Rodigan and John Morales among many others, BBE Music looks to the future, celebrating its rich heritage while continuing to release a bounty of fresh titles.

The label’s most recent projects include an expansive reissue series from pioneering Nigerian label Tabansi, new imprint ‘Batakari’ in association with Boddhi Satva and the critically acclaimed ‘J Jazz’ Japanese Jazz multi-album project, not to mention the recent landmark 500th label release: a brand new version of 'Barely Breaking Even', featuring Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Louie Vega.

In 2021 BBE Music is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the label is offering up some special projects, from the 20th Anniversary edition of J Dilla’s ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’, through David Bowie tribute album ‘Modern Love’, to a special new ‘Worldwide’ compilation from old friend Gilles Peterson. BBE Music will also be looking to the future with more exciting original artist projects, plus merch collaborations events and more...

MF Robots - Good People (MontaQue Adamson Extended Remix)

BBE Music

Related tracks