London-based independent record label Kalita is known for specialising in unearthing and re-releasing great music that deserves to be heard by all. They focus mainly on soul, disco, and West African sounds from around the world that they love and believe others will love as well. Kalita Records prides itself on two things: the quality of its musical output, and its focus on the musicians behind each release. Alongside a beautifully presented outer sleeve, their releases are often accompanied by liner notes, photographs and interviews with the artists, thus creating a far more interesting package all around.

Some of our personal highlights from the label’s impressive back catalogue include ‘If You Need Me, Call Me’ by Emerson, ‘Looking Up: The Complete Works’ by Carrie Cleveland, and ‘Getting Next To You’ by Randolph Baker to name just three. 

We got in touch with Kalita’s founder, Chris Webb, to see if he would be interested in putting together a mix for our Off The Record series - one that showcases the overall “sound of Kalita”. Check out the full feature & interview - bit.ly/3cmWY4H

Feature & Interview

Off The Record Mix Series 27: Kalita Records

Nelski - Body pop (original mix)

1
D.K
Keyboard Study
2
Jackie McLean
Gotta Get A Piece of Your Soul
3
Washed Out
Floating By (Mndsn Remix)
4
The Imaginations
Talk About the World
5
Jorge Ben
Rio Bablilonia
6
KiNK
Peter Piet Piete
7
Equiknoxx
Melodic Badness
8
Shait
Warm Chaos
9
Errorsmith
Retired Low Level Internal Server
10
Harmonic 313
Bazooka Riddim
11
Zazou, Bikaye & Cyl
Lamuka
12
Osunlade
Cyclone
13
Kapote
Salvation (FYI Chris Remix)
14
Kaidi Tatham
Super Lion
15
Air
Run
16
Afriqua
Aleph
17
Beat Spacek
Ring Di Alarm
18
DJ Central
Basil (Version Intégrale Club)
19
Lone
Arc
20
Samo DJ
Mannen Fran Mallorca
21
No Smoke
Koro Koro
22
Martyn
Latte Complexion
23
Martyn
KJFYE3024
24
Jowaa
Banku Dade
25
Forest Drive Mix
Static
26
DMX Krew
7777 013
27
Mike Dunn
We R Tuesday Nights Vol 4
28
Marc King
Equality
29
NST Cophies
Bian Kou

Sean OD - Nov 2017

Kalita Records is an independent record label based in London, UK, specialising in unearthing and re-releasing great music that deserves to be heard by all. In this mix, founder, Chris Webb brings us a whole host of Ghanaian highlife! Enjoy!

Meet Me There Mix #008 - Kalita Records

Chris Webb, avid collector of African and US disco was in the store to introduce his Kalita Records label, and more!

Kalita is a record label based in London, UK, specialising in unearthing and re-releasing disco, funk and soul from across the world, including the USA, the Caribbean and West-Africa.

This is the fifth recording in a series of (themed) Rush Hour in-store broadcasts, recorded on March 14th, 2018. After a live broadcast to Facebook, the music lands on Soundcloud for playback.

Store Broadcast 005 |  African and US disco with Kalita Records

Full .wav file - condition E+ with slight ring wear. Sales 45

Debra Anderson - Funny How We Change Places

Kalita Records specialises in unearthing and re-releasing music that deserves to be heard. Over the past two years they've already unleashed a treasure trove of material, including recent releases from Sophisticated Ladies and Randolph Baker. You can check them at kalitarecords.co.uk. And they work as closely with the artists as possible to tell their story and the story behind their music. We're so proud to air a straight afro mix from label head Chris Webb on this show. It features tracks from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, and the Congo - some named, and a few mysteries as well. Harmony rounds things out with some bubblin' cuts. Transport yourself. 

*Intro*
*Chris Webb (Kalita Records)*
Ere Yon - Julie Coker [NEMI] 
Unknown 
Unknown 
Unknown 
Akoko Ba - Gyedu Blay Ambolley [Sunrise] 
Unknown
Unknown 
Unknown 
Mada Meho So - Thomas Frempong [Asona] 
Mmre-Dane - Wofa Akwabena Akwaboa [Afrodisia]
*Harmony*
L.N.S - Guppies [1080p]
Seven Davis Jr - Me Myself and I [Secret Angels]
Mogwaa - My Hood, My People [Clique Records] 
Chongo - Sempre em meu coração [Cosmic Compositions]
Oro - Sasa [NG Records]
Grupo Controle Digital - Vital “O Marginal” [Soundway Records]
Crashers - Flight To Jamaica (Cool Runnings) [Emotional Rescue]
Zazou Bikaye - My Shoes [Crammed Discs]
Benedek & Tom Noble - Airflowz [Superior Elevation]
RAF - Self-Control (Special Maxi Version) [Carrere]
Don Cherry - Kick (Ft Brion Gysin) [WEWANTSOUNDS]

Ep.109 w/ Chris Webb (Kalita Records // UK) & Harmony (FP DJs // NZ)

Sons Of Slum were reputed to be Chicago's finest live band of the 1970s with a collection of great songs that have remained unreleased until we signed a contract to release their second recorded album on vinyl/CDs in 2019. Their first album, which was never released as well, sits in the vaults of Capital Records. 'Music Is Message' and 'Show Me Tell Me' is the first single from the album. I hope that you enjoy these as much as we do.

Sons Of Slum - Music Is Message / Show Me Tell Me

@kalitarecords reissue a mythical 1988 boogie record full of previously unreleased music.

Read more & buy: http://www.stampthewax.com/2019/04/11/premiere-emerson-sending-all-my-love-out-demo-version/
Listen on Youtube: http://bit.ly/Emerson-Love

Listen on Youtube

Emerson - Sending All My Love Out (Demo Version)(STW Premiere)

1. Bolarin - Abuja
2. Nkono Teles - Martin Street Special
3. - - -
4. Rick Asikpo - Gruuv on
5. Dan uwa ka nemi naka - Miki watson & His Fulani Stars of Nigeria
6. Unkown
7. Unknown
8. Julie Coker - Ere Yon
9. Anderson Paak - Saviers Road
10. Julie Coker - Re Hese
11. Julie Coker - Iyo-Re
12. Julie Coker - Gossiper Scandal Monger
13. Julie Coker - Sogio
14. Julie Coker - Its All For You

Kalita Records with Julie Coker - June 2019

A very bittersweet release is out today. The incredible @Oliverdollar - John's Church remixes including a stunning @CASSIUSOFFICIAL remix. The whole music community has been united in their shock & grief about Zdar's passing. We truly lost a genius. 🖤

Following his stellar Classic Music Company debut, Oliver Dollar now releases ‘John's Church’, one of the standout tracks from the ‘Another Day Another Dollar’, in the form of two brand new remixes. Produced in collaboration with esteemed German producer Nils Ohrmann, the original track was a steamy, hard-hitting and gospel tinged house track destined for the dancefloor. Opening this release is production maestro Mousse T., who works his magic on the track with his funk-drenched Disco Shizzle Remix, loaded with a pumping bassline and his signature charismatic style. Up next, French duo and underground heavyweights Cassius deliver a deep, adrenaline fuelled cut for those peak-of-the-night moments. As would be expected from these two legendary producers, this release is a masterclass in soulful dancefloor dynamite, no matter which mix you listen to.

Download & Stream

Oliver Dollar Featuring Nils Ohrmann ‘John's Church’ (Cassius Remix)

London-based label @kalitarecords reissue a rare Bahamian boogie jam.

Read More & Buy: http://www.stampthewax.com/2019/07/31/premiere-stirling-march-under-cover-lover-instrumental-mix/

Stirling March - Under Cover Lover (Instrumental) (STW Premiere)

1. Stirling March - Under Cover Lover
2. Unknown - Unknown
3. Unknown - Unknown
4. CK Mann - Ghana Mba
5. Wilson Boateng - Asew Watchman
6. Jeannette N'diaye - Makom Ma Boeb
7. Unknown - Unknown
8. Unknown - Unknown
9. The continentals - Im Ready To Get Down
10. C.S.T Amankwah - Ye Wo Ayiemu
11. Unknown - Unknown
12. Dutch Benglos - Shabi-di-ba-do
13. K.Gyasi - Manso Nnye
14. Teacher & His Africana - Wo Tan Me Anya Den
15. J. Romain & D. Gengoul - Oui Cherie
16. Unknown - Unknown
17. Unknown - Unknown
18. Okukuaseku's No 2 Band - Awe Me Yie
19. Unknown - Unknown

Kalita Records with Volta 45 - August 2019

Kalita are happy to announce the first ever 12” reissue of Henry Turner Jr.'s hugely sought-after 1980 disco single, 'Music', backed by the first ever re-release of his 1984 boogie single 'Forever Us'. So elusive and in-demand, the former routinely commands four-figure sums on the rare occasion that a copy surfaces for collectors and DJs to scramble over. The latter is equally as great, commanding three-figure sums and demonstrating clearly America's development by the mid-1980s away from disco and towards the boogie craze. In addition, here Kalita accompany the release with a never-before-seen press photo of Henry's band Crystal and interview-based liner notes.

Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Crystal band consisted of Henry on guitar with local musicians Ranches Hall on keyboards and vocals and Ricky Broomfield on drums. By the tail end of the 1970s, Crystal had settled themselves into the local music scene, and performed at many nearby venues including The Golden Palace, Derringers', The J Club, and for numerous fraternities and sororities of nearby universities.

By 1980, the band were ready to record their first single, 'Music', in the hope that it would be a radio hit. As Henry explains, “we were driven performers and 'Music' was the perfect tool to get us radio play”. They decided to pay to lay down and press their music at Soundsmith Recording Studio, which had the ability to not only record but to also manufacture and release their music on the studio's own eponymously- named label. Only five hundred copies of the record were pressed, distributed by the band themselves, meaning that today, copies almost never turn up for sale. A fantastic disco track, upon release the band deservedly succeeded in their original aim, and it was a radio hit in Baton Rouge.

Within four years of 'Music's' release, Ranches Hall had left the band, reducing it to two core members – Henry and Ricky. However, still eager for success, the now-slimmed down Crystal band recorded 'Forever Us' over a couple of days as a follow-up single to 'Music', laying down their instruments at the local Sound Trax Studio, produced by Henry himself. In contrast to the number of additional session musicians that had performed on their first record, here only Henry and Ricky contributed, playing all the instruments and providing the vocals themselves. On release, the record received notable success, not only in the US but also across the pond on the UK scene.

Since then, Henry has continued to release both his and other musicians' music on his own Hit City label, as well as developing his musical style and cementing himself in at the core of the Baton Rouge music scene.

We hope that this timely re-release helps to make such great pieces of music accessible and affordable to all once more.

Music

Buy all

Henry Turner's Crystal Band - Music

Exclusive Sebjak & Fahlberg '4Ever She May Live (DJ Koze Edit)'

Scandinavian producers Sebastian Jak and Alexander Fahlberg, short Sebjak and Fahlberg, team up again to deliver one of ADE's most talked about tunes, '4Ever She May Live', that comes in a DJ Koze Edit and has been played out by various luminaries. After EPs on Jonas Rathmann's Element Series, Sebjak's own label Bibliotheque Records or MoBlack Records, the Stockholm based producers return to the latter bringing Hamburg's finest DJ Koze along who turns the original take into an almost nine minute lasting journey by implementing filters to emphasize the raw euphoric club experience. The extraordinary producer who basically turns or can adjust any given track to a catchy musical piece again shows his musical genius stretching the basic melodic loop to an audible unmistakable maximum, or just the right amount of bars to give the vocal its moments to unfold in-between. After his rework of Gerry Read's 'It'll All Be Over', which was a summer's festival season favorite, on Pampa, DJ Koze now comes in with a more raw, more dark but equally danceable tune for the autumn/ winter run.

Sebjak & Fahlberg's single '4Ever She May Live' will be released on MoBlack Records.

Artist & label information:
Sebjak: www.facebook.com/SEBJAKofficial // @sebjak // www.instagram.com/sebjakofficial
Fahlberg: www.facebook.com/fahlbergmusic // @fahlbergmusic // www.instagram.com/fahlbergmusic
DJ Koze: www.facebook.com/djkoze // @dj-koze-official // www.instagram.com/djkozeofficial
MoBlack/ MoBlack Records: www.facebook.com/moblackrecords // @moblack-records // www.instagram.com/moblackrecords

Visit & follow Torture the Artist at:
www.torturetheartist.net
www.facebook.com/torturetheartist
www.instagram.com/torture_the_artist
www.twitter.com/TorturingArt

4Ever She May Live

More exclusive music

EXCLUSIVE: Sebjak & Fahlberg - 4Ever She May Live (DJ Koze Edit) [MoBlack Records]

Music to make you dance. We unearth forgotten musical gems for music lovers to enjoy once again.

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- Facebook.com/kalitarecords
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Henry Turner's Crystal Band - Music

Kalita Records

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