Name: Hardlee by Rusetafari
Duration: 3 min 19 s
Description: Hardlee by Rusetafari. From the Retro Loop EP. Published 2024 by Rusetafari Records.

In the late seventies and early eighties, while living in self-imposed exile in Los Angeles, Brazilian maestro Marcos Valle formed a close musical partnership with North American soul legend and producer extraordinaire Leon Ware. 

Valle & Ware’s collaborations resulted in some of the most celebrated songs from their respective oeuvres. Among others, they wrote “Rockin’ You Eternally” and “Baby Don't Stop Me” (the latter co-written with Laudir De Oliveira from the band Chicago), from Ware’s 1981 album, and the disco boogie work-out hit “Estrelar” from Valle’s self-titled 1983 album.

In 1979, together in an LA Studio, Valle and Ware recorded a demo which would remain unfinished for 44 years, as Valle recalls:

“This demo tape Leon and I recorded… I found the tape on a shelf in my house, it must have been there for over forty years! I showed it to Daniel [Maunick]. He really loved it and we decided to develop the song for my new album. The demo had the groove, most of the instrumentation and Leon’s vocal. But the lyrics weren’t finished...” 

In 2024, with the help of Maunick’s studio wizardry, Valle restored and sampled the original demo track, adding Portuguese lyrics alongside Leon’s vocal hook, as well as extra keyboards and percussion. 

Traversing time and space in a way that might not have been possible before the emergence of new technologies, Maunick utilised AI stem-separation to remove the placeholder vocal ad-libs, which Valle replaced with his new lyrics. 

With the original music treated with the care and reverence it deserves, this stirring soul masterpiece, conceived over four decades prior, retains all the visceral sensuality and authenticity of the golden era from which it emerged.
 
Leon Ware passed away in 2017, leaving behind a phenomenal body of work, including the countless hits he produced for other artists including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye. 

Reflecting on his partnership with Leon Ware, Marcos Valle reminisces: 

“To be honest, it was love at first sight… As a partner, as a musician and as a friend. Immediately Leon and I knew that we had to write something together - it was very natural. It was a lovely partnership that I value very, very, very much. I miss him a lot, and I’m so happy that we have this new song together.”

With a new album entitled Túnel Acústico coming this year and tours across Europe and America, the octogenarian epicurean maestro Marcos Valle shows no signs of slowing.

Marcos Valle’s “Feels So Good (Feat. Leon Ware)” will be available as a limited edition (500 units), vinyl-only 7” release, exclusively from Far Out Recordings from the 2nd August 2024.

Credits:
Vocals: Leon Ware
Vocals & Keys: Marcos Valle
Additional Vocals: Patricia Alvi
Percussion: Ian Moreira
Additional Percussion & FX: Daniel Maunick
 
Produced & Arranged By Daniel Maunick
Co-produced & Arranged By Marcos Valle & Leon Ware
Executive Producer: Joe Davis
Mixed by Daniel Maunick @ The Sugar Shack, Carluke, Scotland
Mastered by Caspar Sutton Jones @ Gearbox Records
Artwork and Design: Alessandro Renaldin

Marcos Valle & Leon Ware - Feels So Good (SNIPPET)

Hardlee by Rusetafari. From the Retro Loop EP. Published 2024 by Rusetafari Records.

Hardlee

Mixtape from Oct. 16th 1994

Here's my edit of the iconic Letta Mbulu's timeless groove, 'Hamba Nam We'. Letta's story and music have inspired me greatly and this flip is a small tribute to her grand legacy.

A portion of Bandcamp proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit 'Surfers Not Street Children', supporting youth empowerment in South Africa.

Thanks for listening and for your continued support.
- Hendo

Mix & Master by: Rob Darke of Darke Studios

Letta Mbulu - Hamba Nam We (Hendo Froth Edit)

Sample: Alexander O'Neal Feat Cerrelle - Never Knew Love Like This

In My Lane

New 7" single track of Dogg Master : "Delicious"
Available now 
www.doggmaster.com

Release on July 7th 2017

Vinyl 7" Color disk blue
PVC sleeve with sticker

Side A : Delicious Original version 
Side B : Delicious Instrumental version 
+ Digital Bonus Track - "Delicious - Extended version"

Limited edition of 300 copies

Produced, performed & mixed by Dogg Master
Lyrics by Hernandez Ruth
Additionnal keyboard by Busta Brown
Guitar by Halim
Background vocals by Cecilia
Mastered by Hic Box

More Bounce Records (2017)

Delicious

Delicious (Sample) 7"

Listen, Enjoy & Share - Free Download!

https://paulcart.bandcamp.com/track/underworld-2-months-off-paul-cart-edit

UNDERWORLD - 2 Months Off (Paul Cart Edit) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Zernell (@grimyedits) started DJing as a young teenager during the early days of the Chicago house scene. Inspirations from Farley and the Hot Mix 5 and Ron Hardy at the Music Box helped to shape his style and taste in music. Zernell’s style focuses on house, disco and acid trax to shape his mixes. His extensive collection of rare vinyl in these genres inspired him to start Grimy Edits and its sister label Grimy Trax. Alongside touring as a DJ and running his imprints, Zernell is the co-founder of the Crate Diggers Record Fair and after-party series, a worldwide program of free marketplaces and events owned by Discogs that promote vinyl culture and the diverse community of buyers, sellers, collectors and DJs.

Originally broadcast on redbullradio.com on October 31st 2017. Choice Mix is Red Bull Radio’s home for mixes from some of the world’s most forward-thinking DJs. Unconstrained by location or genre, each Choice Mix spotlights a unique artist from the global underground whose style is pushing music forward. 

Engineered by Joe Hazan and Ryan Woodhall

Choice Mix: Zernell

lil groovy flip
@selam_sound on errything

steelo edit

I've been a bedroom DJ, producer, and vinyl junkie since the late 90s. My main passion is R&B produced from around '81 to '83, but I also love disco, house, techno, and sample-based rap music.

Hardlee

Rusetafari

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