BE WITH RECORDS - Forced Exposure

$38.50 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 4/22/2022

With the cosmic-disco-drenched Burning Feeling, Steve Moore's high-gloss Lovelock project conjured one of the most slept-on albums of last decade. Chunky, neon-lit synths and crashing, spacey guitars ride chugging Italo basslines and smooth-yet-shuddering drums to thrilling effect. Finally appearing on vinyl for the first time, ten years after its original release. This is the sound of "Big Room Smooth". Be With Records was well aware of Lovelock by way of the rather ace "Don't Turn Away (From My Love)" from the 2008 compilation Cosmic Balearic Beats on Eskimo Recordings. According to Steve "Lovelock is an outlet for me to explore my more pop-oriented ideas, whether it's disco, lounge, soft rock or whatever I try next. When I started the project in 2006, I was listening to a lot of Italo disco so it felt natural to explore those sounds." As well as the spacier end of disco, Steve was also listening to Laura Brannigan, Abba/Frida, S.O.S. Band, Alan Parsons and Jan Hammer at the time. Burning Feeling was written and recorded in Nyack, NY between 2006 and 2008. A couple of tracks made it onto some compilations and, after a few years of failed negotiations, the album eventually came out on CD in 2012 on Internasjonal, the label run by Prins Thomas and Kai Fraeger. The monumental, MDMA-rich title track opens the album and sets the mood. The fizzing, dramatic synth riff refrain intoxicates, before cavernous slo-mo house drums enter the party to devastating effect. It's followed by the hypnotic, prog-Balearic mood piece "The Fog". Dizzying synths never detract from the overall smoothness; this is vital, classy cosmic disco. Pink Floyd-on-pingers languid space-funk makes up "Don't Turn Away (From My Love)". The beautiful, faintly creepy synth-prog of "South Beach Sunrise" closes out the first LP with swathes of lush keys and horns. The synth nexus that is "New Age Of Christ" provides a melodic take on soundtrack Italo. "Maybe Tonight" bubbles up through, swirling into a spiraling blast of sun-kissed, feel-good Balearo-pop. Swarming synth melodies, warm vocals and earnest guitar solos make it one of the album's most immediate hits. The mysterious "Barbara" graces the enormous power-pop-meets-Italo jam "Love Reaction" before closer "Deco District" luxuriates in what Matt Anniss described as a "grandiose combination of poodle-perm campery and rush-inducing arpeggiated synthesizer lines." Steve worked with Be With's audio engineer Simon Francis to remaster Burning Feeling from the original mixes especially for this double vinyl release. Steve also commissioned new artwork from designer Kane Banner.

$38.50 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 1/21/2022

Innercity Griots, the second album from Freestyle Fellowship, is perhaps the essential West Coast left-field rap album of the early '90s. Released in 1993 on 4th & Broadway, it's a towering, progressive hip-hop masterpiece that expanded rap's boundaries through lyrical elevation and production innovation. Their talent was ahead of everybody else by light years. This is pure b-boy jazz. Be With reissue includes "Pure Thought" from the CD version of the album. Freestyle Fellowship were some of the earliest technically dazzling rappers to come out of California. Mikah 9, P.E.A.C.E., Aceyalone and Self Jupiter -- along with DJ Kiilu -- forged their famed lyrical dexterity in the ultra-competitive crucible of the Good Life Cafe. Founded in Leimert Park, South Central LA in December 1989, this earthy health-food store and cafe was where the city's finest microphone fiends would gather to showcase their freestyle skills at the Thursday night open-mic. Innercity Griots has been described as the Rosetta Stone for rap styles. The group's dense, vibrant wordplay and enviable interplay quickly earned the attention and respect of the city's hip-hop underground. Frenetically trading acrobatic rhymes with agility and grace, the Fellowship used their voices as instruments like true virtuosos, spraying improvised raps like a Coltrane sax solo. With the bulk of the album's production handled by The Earthquake Brothers, and Bambawar, Daddy-O, and Edman taking over for some of the tracks, Innercity Griots dances between organic and programmed music, largely forgoing sampling and instead built around live jazz jams. The likes of Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" and Miles Davis's "Black Comedy" were used more as templates for house band The Underground Railroad Band to spiral out from. As Pitchfork noted in their recent 9.0 review of this classic album, "Freestyle Fellowship embodied the style and spirit of jazz on a molecular level. They shared the effortless cool and tough countenance of the great bebop players from the '50s without verging into jazz-rap parody." The unusual approach to the music was matched by the Fellowship's lyrics. Eschewing the tired rap tropes of the time, this multifaceted album instead explores their ruminations on greed and homelessness, weed, sex, survival, insecurity and tribalism. Remastered by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman.

$38.50 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 1/14/2022

Be With Records present a reissue of DJ Quik's Rhythm-Al-Ism, originally released in 1998. DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With his fourth album Rhythm-Al-Ism he created his masterpiece, a perfect hip-hop album. A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He's released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he's also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik's tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton's more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barbecues. Released in 1998 on Profile, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the closest Quik ever got to making a commercial splash. "You'z A Ganxta" and "Hand in Hand" made radio waves across the country and the less radio-friendly tracks like "Medley For A 'V'" were bumping out of car stereos. Combining his soulful, jazzy P-Funk/G-Funk beats with his effortlessly smooth flow, Rhythm-Al-Ism was the quintessential West Coast Party. Squelchy synths, bouncy bass, monstrously knocking drums and freaky keys - this is peaking acidic party-rap, straight out the gate. Dripping with wit and good humor. A real swing to the vibe. Mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry. Original picture sleeve and insert.

$38.50 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 1/14/2022

Be With Records present a reissue of DJ Quik's Safe And Sound, originally released in 1995. Complete with "Tanqueray", the hidden track from the original CD release. DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With 1995's Safe + Sound, he scaled new levels of musical magnificence with his signature new age P-Funk/laconic G-Funk. A quintessential, sun-scorched LA album, this is pretty much essential. A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He's released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he's also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik's tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton's more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barbecues. By the time of his third album DJ Quik was a household name on the West Coast -- California's premier rapper/producer not named Andre Young. Released on Profile in 1995, Safe + Sound was certified gold. Less reliant on samples and more focused on live instruments, it elevated him from producer to fully-fledged composer. This sound -- the quick, winding basslines, tinny high hats, smooth instrumental solos, soulful pipes, and Roger Troutman's talkbox -- defined him. This is an album of full-blown masterpieces. Rich soundscapes and masterfully arranged orchestrations with dense layers of sounds, intricate rhythms, and well-balanced songwriting. Mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry.

$29.50 PREORDER RELEASE DATE: 1/14/2022

2022 repress. Be With Records present a reissue of Willie Hutch's Season For Love, originally released in 1970. A monumental force firmly rooted in the soul canon, Willie Hutch is most notable for recording two of the best Blaxploitation soundtracks, The Mack and Foxy Brown. Yet his legacy is much greater. Outside of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, Hutch was arguably Motown's top male solo artist of the '70s. Prior to his association with Gordy et al, Hutch crafted his opening statements for RCA, two vital LPs. Often-overlooked, his second album Season For Love is a must for all deep soul fans and has been sought-after by collectors of different stripes for decades. Whereas his debut featured thundering, gritty numbers, Hutch treats you to a mellower soul here -- sumptuous, warm and string-led. He compared his approach to that of Otis Redding and there are definite parallels; from the raspy, rough-hewn vocals that tend to roam between sweet and deeply impassioned to the horn-heavy, emphatic sonic backdrops. With flawless originals presented alongside a few well-chosen classics (his stunning cover of "Wichita Lineman" arguably bests the original's splendor), it's easy to see why sample-based musicians have been falling over themselves to plunder from this album. Witness the sweeping strings that grace "The Magic Of Love" and the heartbreaking "Walking On My Love"; the mellifluous guitar work on the contemplative instrumental "The Shortest Distance" and gorgeous single "When A Boy Falls In Love". Whilst the arrangements and playing are subtly jaw-dropping throughout, Hutch's uncontrived voice has a certain warmth to match a Nat "King" Cole and a purity of tone that even recalls the great Sam Cooke. Indeed, a few numbers are almost in a jazz vocal territory reminiscent of artists Lou Rawls. That's not to say that others lack the righteous energy and undeniable groove of Willie's later sound. Remarkably consistent throughout -- a rare commodity for many '70s soul albums -- the lack of one signature song likely hindered its progress. Mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. Original artwork. 180 gram vinyl.

$18.00 IN STOCK

Another Thought was the first collection of Arthur Russell's music to be released after his death in 1992. Released on CD by Point Music in 1993 it marked the beginning of nearly 30 years of work to let the world hear the enormous archive of unreleased recordings Arthur left behind. Be With Records revisits this first compilation. This is the only place where you can hear some of Arthur's most recognizable music, like the title track "Another Thought", "A Little Lost", "This Is How We Walk On The Moon", "Keeping Up" and the woozy disco of "In The Light Of The Miracle" and "My Tiger, My Timing". Though technically a compilation, the whole of Another Thought comes together as a consistent, coherent, wonderful album. Janette Beckman reproduced her iconic photograph of Arthur in his newspaper boat hat for the sleeve. Tom Lee gave permission to include his liner notes from the original CD booklet, together with Arthur's lyrics. Another Thought is absolutely essential for even the most casual Arthur Russell collection. In fact, it's essential for any fan of non-obvious pop music. CD version comes in triple-fold digipack with insert and original liner notes.

$22.50 IN STOCK

The Mighty Soulmates is a towering early '90s project from the legitimate super group of André Cymone (bass player with Prince), St. Paul Peterson (keyboard player in The Time and lead singer in Prince's group The Family), Mic Murphy (of Sass and The System fame) and Gardner Cole (writer, producer and musician probably best known for his work with Madonna). The sound is a majestic blend of sophisticated funk, emotional R&B, new jack swing flava and slick deep soul. These should-be legendary sessions have been almost a secret since they were recorded back in 1993. From all the tracks Mic sent over, Be With Records cherry picked the absolute cream for a tight four-track EP. A mixture of beat ballads and up-tempo non-hits, coming on like Al B Sure! or Babyface take on Shalamar or even The Purple One. The feel-good dancefloor dynamite of "I Wanna Be The One" is the explosive opening track. A piano-driven, groove-laden blast of yearning deep-pop, with perfectly delivered soulful vocals and an unmistakable "early '90s" sound. Indeed, fans of Eddie Chacon's old group will dig this for days. "Back In The Day" has a timeless swing and swagger, the lyrics reminiscing about the halcyon street life of the Soulmates' youth, about Curtis, Superfly and innocent days gone by, about hustling with friends. Yet more spine-tingling vocals over yet another perfectly produced musical backdrop. "Blue Tuesday" is the thrilling pinnacle of the EP, at least for us. It's absolute soulful-pop perfection. A soaring beat ballad full of chiming guitars, gorgeous harmonizing, falsetto backing vocals and a real steppers' groove. Dramatic, purple-hued closer "Private Time" seems to predict the Timbaland-dominated sound of the mid-to-late '90s, all synthetic strings and squelchy, acidic-drum-machine soul. This EP represents the sound of four incredibly soulful, talented, and influential (soul)mates jamming together over one long hot summer and weaving pure sonic magic.

$44.50 IN STOCK

Double-LP version. Gatefold sleeve with insert and original liner notes. Another Thought was the first collection of Arthur Russell's music to be released after his death in 1992. Released on CD by Point Music in 1993 it marked the beginning of nearly 30 years of work to let the world hear the enormous archive of unreleased recordings Arthur left behind. Be With Records revisits this first compilation. This is the only place where you can hear some of Arthur's most recognizable music, like the title track "Another Thought", "A Little Lost", "This Is How We Walk On The Moon", "Keeping Up" and the woozy disco of "In The Light Of The Miracle" and "My Tiger, My Timing". Though technically a compilation, the whole of Another Thought comes together as a consistent, coherent, wonderful album. Janette Beckman reproduced her iconic photograph of Arthur in his newspaper boat hat for the sleeve. Tom Lee gave permission to include his liner notes from the original CD booklet, together with Arthur's lyrics. Another Thought is absolutely essential for even the most casual Arthur Russell collection. In fact, it's essential for any fan of non-obvious pop music.

$29.00 NOT IN STOCK

Be With Records present a reissue of Ian Carr's Nucleus' Roots, originally released on Vertigo in 1973. From the wild cover to the iconic breakbeats, Roots is thick, funky-prog jazz-rock heaven. Genius trumpeter and visionary composer Ian Carr was a true pioneer and saw the potential in fusing the worlds of jazz with rock, just as Miles Davis and The Tony Williams Lifetime did in the US. In late 1969, following the demise of the Rendell-Carr quintet, and tiring of British jazz, Carr assembled the legendary Nucleus. Under bandleader Carr, Nucleus existed as a fluid line-up of inventive, skilled musicians. Working together with producer Fritz Fryer and engineer Roger Wake, the seven compositions by Carr, Brian Smith and Dave MacRae that make up Roots flirt with perfection, and Nucleus at that time made up of the cream of 1970s UK jazz with Brian Smith on tenor saxophones and flutes, Dave MacRae on piano and electric piano, Jocelyn Pitchen on guitar, Roger Sutton on bass, both Clive Thacker and Aureo De Souza on drums and percussion, Joy Yates delivering the vocals and of course Carr on trumpet. The title track is a low-slung, doped-out heist-funk. It was sampled by Madlib for Lootpack and Quasimoto's "Loop Digga". The soothing vocal fusion delight of "Images" follows. Meticulously constructed, with gorgeous flute work from Brian Smith, with Joy Yates' silky vocals and Dave MacRae's Rhodes never sounding better. The cool, driving "Caliban" closes out the first side. Originally the third movement in a four-part commission to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday it stands up on its own, all robust rhythms and blended brass. Keyboard color and Carr's trumpet are splashed across the funk drums and basslines (and there's even some bamboo flute). Side two opens with the short, thrilling samba of "Wapatiti". Next up, "Capricorn" forms a smoothed-out, jazzy constellation. Mellow and dreamy, its twinkling percussion and languid horns slowly build the vibe before head-nod drums and a killer bassline enter the fray. With a distinct heaviness that Black Sabbath would've envied, "Odokamona" is a venomous slice of riff-soaked jazz metal, elevated by Carr's wah-wah horns. The album closes with MacRae's exceptionally cosmic "Southern Roots And Celebration". Very much in conversation with Weather Report, it opens as a languorous, spiritual jazz of chiming keys and serene guitar that turns slowly, gorgeously into a mid-paced, brass-laced banger. Keith Davis's cover art for Roots is an acid-tinged airbrush dystopian/utopian living-room party scene. Remastered by Simon Francis from the original Vertigo master tapes. Cut by Pete Norman.

$36.50 IN STOCK

Be With Records present a reissue of Lewis Taylor's self-titled album, originally released in 1996. D'Angelo lost his shit over it. Aaliyah's third favorite track of all time is on it. David Bowie rocked up with it to a TV interview, declaring it "the most exciting sound of contemporary soul music." In 1996, Lewis Taylor released his self-titled masterpiece. An effortless blend of neo-soul, sophisticated pop, smart grooves and laid-back white funk, it enjoyed rapturous reviews from critics and music legends alike. But the album never managed to make an impact and given what was likely a token vinyl release at the time, the original records have long since been near-impossible to find. Lewis Taylor's impeccable influences created a dazzling sonic palette: the LP as a whole suggests the visionary brilliance of Prince; the vocal stylings evoke the yearning power of Marvin Gaye; the effortless guitar playing shares the virtuosity of Jimi Hendrix; the haunting tones conjure Tricky; the innovative production and engineering invite comparisons to studio mavericks like Todd Rundgren and Brian Eno; the multi-layered, complex harmonies flash on Pet Sounds-era Brian Wilson; the dark, drama is reminiscent of both Scott Walker and Stevie Wonder; the complex arrangements create textures and moods with the feel of Shuggie Otis on Inspiration Information; the bold experimentation is akin to progressive artists like Faust and Tangerine Dream; the atmosphere is in conversation with Jeff Buckley's Grace. Sabina Smyth gets an executive producer credit on the original sleeve, but in fact she worked with Lewis on the production and arrangements, did a lot of the backing vocals and she co-wrote "Track", "Song", "Lucky", and "Damn" with Lewis. Together they created an exquisite and sensually-charged record, with a freshness to the writing that makes the songs catchy, melodic-yet-deep and sometimes even funky. The music is predominantly guitar-led and a mixture of organs and synths, live drum loops and electronic percussion make for a sort of modern soul backing orchestra. On the surface the album is gorgeously laidback, but beneath the lush, sometimes slick, production there's a murkiness in the seriously gritty funk/hip-hop instrumentation. This sprawling psychedelic soul opus really is a forgotten should-be-classic. Cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry.

$29.00 IN STOCK

Maston's Darkland is a breezy collection of the material from the Tulips (BEWITH 087LP) sessions that didn't make it on to the original LP. Originally a digital-only release for those in the know in the autumn of 2018, after re-issuing Tulips in 2020 it made too much sense for Be With to give Darkland a vinyl release. Like Tulips, Darkland was recorded mostly in Hoorn, in the Netherlands, between 2015-2017 during downtime from Frank's touring duties with Jacco Gardner's band. Bits were also done in Los Angeles on some extended trips back home. The collection plays like an alternate view of Maston's instant modern classic Tulips; a companion piece to the LP proper with similar mixture of shorter themes and more full-length tracks. Darkland opens with its ornate 39 second title-track before striding into "Tulips", that full-length title-track that never was. It's a real head-nod, percussive-rich electric piano stunner that would've been a comfortable standout on the album proper. But now this "downlifting" gem is given ample room to shine on this record. The funky organ-led bass and drums workout "Immaculate Conception" will keep your neck gently snapping while MPC fiends go reaching for their sampler. "Love Theme No 3" cuts a breathtakingly stylish vibra-slapped swathe through the middle of the opening side before we're startled by the pronounced bass and twinkling percussion of "The Owl In Daylight". Charming digi-drums underpin the wonky synth (quiet-)banger "Innovative Patterns" which has a lovely melodic switch-up in the final third before the tempo (and hairs on your neck) rise on the faintly creepy yet imminently groovy "Osiris". The gorgeously soft-focus "Groove Experiment No 3" closes out the first half in slo-mo wonderment. The lushly melancholic "Raincloud" ushers in side B before the emotionally-stirring "Phonic" taps at the door, coming on like the long lost sister to Pet Sounds' "Let's Go Away For A While". Next up, the swooning beauty "Love Theme No 2" keenly sways in front of you, growing ever more insistent and hypnotic. The too-short "Italian Summer" conjures the same flirtatious imagery as the title hints at whilst "Endless" is a fascinating "piano-pella" alternative version to "Rain Dance" from Tulips. "Wonder Theme" has a nostalgic, exotic 60s swing and album closer "Willow" is a hushed, campfire folk gem. The gently circular strumming is just magical. Mastered by Simon Francis.

$29.00 IN STOCK

They say: "Exploring the wide range of moods and sounds produced by percussion." Be With Records say: "MPCs at the ready because this does exactly what it says on the tin, to devastating effect." Originally released in 1979, Percussion Spectrum was produced by the legendary percussionists Barry Morgan and Ray Cooper. With dope beats taking in diverse styles, from funk and soul and jazz through to Latin, Brazilian, samba and Afro-Cuban, this is an amazing sample source filled with killer drum-breaks and percussion flares. This library LP is a mix of short themes of single beats, short breaks and some longer, more fully-formed DJ-friendly tracks. Of all the 34 tracks Be With's favorites include opener "Impulsion", a percussive masterclass with drum upon drum making it feel like a neat prototype to the percussive underscores of Peter Lüdemann and Pit Troja's eternal The Now Generation LP. And the dramatic "Fast Action" is exactly that, racing along on a rapid roll of congas, cymbal crashes and throbbing kicks. "The Chaser" is classic library cop-funk with dilapidated drum figures, and the outrageously funky "Heat On" is the perfect accompaniment to your wild action sequences. A real highlight is "Runaway", and not just because it sounds like nothing else on the record. Here are drums and percussion in that tight funk style that just cries out to be sampled. "Percussion Power" is an extended, near three-minute suite of funky drum solo after funky drum solo that just aches to be looped. "Shivers" is a tense, apprehensive underscore with shock stabs that builds to a climax whilst "Drums On Parade" is a showcase of head-nod drums and cymbals in march time. "Samba Street" is riotous, authentically drawn samba that sounds like it's been beamed straight in from Rio in full flow. The simple, innocent "Child's Themes" (all five of them) provide a nice, sweet respite from all the funk. Nursery sounds tinged with only a touch of melancholy. The gentle marimba solo of "Tropical Peace" only adds to the sense of serenity we get from the relatively calm second side. The album closes out with a veritable toolkit of tom toms, snare drum rolls, timpani, vibraphones and chiming bells. Percussion Spectrum is a joyous collection of sounds, as bright, beaming and downright funky as the vibrant cover. Original analog tapes remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. 180 gram vinyl.

$29.00 IN STOCK

They say: "New directions in contemporary scoring." Be With Records say: "Contempo is one of the best full album listens in the KPM 1000 library." Succinct smoking soul, super tight breaks and string-drenched sleaze composed by the library master, Keith Mansfield. Many library records are a game of two halves and Contempo is certainly one of those. The first side cooks on a high funk breaks flame whilst the flip is something altogether more tranquil, yet no less groovy. It lays back with dreamier, post-coital grooves. Rugged funk opener "The Fix" confidently displays its low-slung languid grooves with heavy drums, horns, and bass. The punchy "What's Cooking" follows and has a lighter, more whimsical touch. But the drums still roll and the clavs wiggle in fascinating opposition to those horns. The dark and moody intro to "Cut To Music" gives way to a more inclusive, relaxed funk that's all irresistible bass and stabbing horns. The mid-tempo "Man Alive" signals the time to really get down. Closing out the A side, fresh guitar licks drip all over the slick drums of "Funky Footage", with a New Orleans piano vibe coming on to really light a fire. The B side is more smoothed out, with beautifully arranged, sweeping strings, sax solos aplenty, and a real '70s soundtrack feel. The super sleek and sexy jazz funk of "Breezin'" is as light and magical as you'd hope. An open-air masterpiece, its indulgent sound is just a taster of the sophisticated funk to follow. The elegant, romantic feels of "Good Vibrations" is a string-drenched, wah-wah fueled ode to living your best life. Whilst it keeps a very West Coast feel, the blaxploitation strut is certainly more Blackbyrds than Brian Wilson. "Sun Goddess" will blow your mind with the sensuous sound of glorious horns and beautiful keys. The luxurious "Love De Luxe" and its horizontal grooves have been much sampled, but here it proves that it doesn't need any help to get you in an intimate mood. Closer "Snake Hips" is a cool mid-pace slouch. Originally released in 1976 but, like the very best KPM records, wonderfully timeless, Contempo is a rare example of a library record that is a genuinely great listen from start to finish. Reissued from the original analog tapes and remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. 180 gram vinyl.

$29.00 IN STOCK

They say: "Contemporary scores for visual effect." Be With Records say: "Synth-heavy, low-slung space-funk masterpiece." The creator of the romping tunes that became the iconic themes to the BBC's Grandstand program and their televised Wimbledon Tennis Championship coverage, Keith Mansfield was perhaps KPM's most prolific artist from the mid-1960s right the way through the 1980s. As well as the sort of pop orchestral sound that is all over these classic library records, he could also turn his hand to raw, edgy rock and funk. Quentin Tarantino has included some of Keith's work on the soundtracks to Kill Bill and Grindhouse (2007). Mansfield's Vivid Underscores from 1977 is a sample freak's wet dream. "High Velocity" sets the tone with its aggressive horns, wah-wah guitars, funky baseline and wobbly synth refrain. "Crash Course" -- Stetsasonic horn refrain? Beautiful -- jazzy chase-funk, amazing warm keys, percussion, and funky horns -- all action. The more restrained "Matter Of Urgency" is an utterly amazing, brass-heavy underscore. The grandiose, uplifting "Dawn Of Aquarius" still sounds like the future with its tense, thundering drums, killer bassline and swirling synths. Version II loses the drums and percussion but is no less startling. "Staying Power" closes the first side with a relentless, pounding groove. "Trucking Company" is a pacey, synth-and-string masterpiece and its accompanying parts mess with the formula to great effect. "Hot Cargo" and "Espionage" are both tense spy-funk themes par excellence. "Interplay" is a quiet killer, with flutes over a glistening piano refrain just waiting to be looped. "Omen" is a mini-drama masterpiece, one only Mansfield could create. Even though it is a mix of short themes in-and-amongst longer, full-length tracks, Vivid Underscores is still thoroughly listenable from start to finish. Original analog tapes remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis. 180 gram vinyl.

$19.50 IN STOCK

Two seminal 12" mixes of a pair of enormous tracks from The Whispers. Both boogie/street-funk flavored, these sought-after versions have never been paired on the same record before. Side A features the notorious anthem "Keep On Lovin' Me" (the one with *that* life affirming video) whilst over on the flip you'll find the outstanding, semi-slept-on "Turn Me Out". Freshly re-pressed for 2021.

$29.00 IN STOCK

Be With Records present a reissue of Jorge López Ruiz's El Grito (Suite Para Orquesta De Jazz), eternal Argentinian magic released on CBS in 1967. One of the most sought-after South American jazz LPs. Living in Buenos Aires in the '60s, driven by creative impulse and rage Jorge López Ruiz used music as his platform to protest the Argentine military dictatorship. A young López Ruiz had appeared on a television panel alongside writer, politician and philosopher Arturo Jauretche, criticizing the Onganía dictatorship. Jauretche told López Ruiz "Now say it with music". This was the deep inhale that lead to El Grito, literally "The Scream". El Grito was banned not long after it was released and the majority of original copies were unceremoniously destroyed. A rare record for over 50 years, El Grito (Suite Para Orquesta De Jazz) is a showcase for Jorge López Ruiz's skills as a composer and arranger as he leads a virtuoso orchestra of the likes of Mario Cosentino (alto sax), Baby López Furst (piano), Pichi Mazzei (drums), Gustavo Bergalli (trumpet), Oscar López Ruiz (guitar), Arturo Schneider (flute), and Jorge López Ruiz himself plays double bass on the fourth and fifth movements. As the album's sub-title explains, the album is a jazz orchestra concept suite. Five movements, to be heard as a whole, that end where they begin. "El Grito" grabs you by the lapels and refuses to let go. Raw then controlled, it's by turns stabbing then soothing, with rage weaved in and out of the elegant styles. With a tense introduction and a patient build, in "M.A.B. Amor" a gentle sax sweeps in to lift everything up to meet the serene piano and soft drums. Elegantly paced, it moves back and forth between deep contemplation and a more urgent call and response between strings and horns. "Hasta El Cielo, Sin Nubes, Con Todas Las Estrellas (Up To The Sky, No Clouds, With All The Stars)" a relatively brief mid-tempo piece featuring López Ruiz's insistent bass notes high in the mix, and again blending the sublime with the emotive with its wild horns and tight rhythm section. It's followed by "Tendré El Mundo (I Will Have The World)" which also leads with hypnotic bass, but this time swifter, driven by crashing drums, rapid horn conversations and effortlessly cool piano flourishes. Rounding out the suite, "De Nuevo El Grito" is a stylish closer. Whilst López Ruiz's bass shifts the track along, the horns and piano are more restrained, yet no less stunning. Remastered from original audio, mastering by Simon Francis. Cut by Pete Norman.

$29.00 IN STOCK

Repressed. Be With Records present a reissue of Mother Freedom Band's Cutting The Chord, originally released in 1977. Mother Freedom Band's Cutting The Chord is a funky modern soul classic. It's both a criminally under-appreciated album, a sweet disco-funk groover. Produced by the great Al Goodman from The Moments and originally released in 1977, Cutting The Chord seems to be one of the lesser known releases on the curious, and often great All Platinum label. Other than a 7" of a couple of these tracks, the only thing that the band seem to have released is this album, and what an album it is. Unbeatable soul-funk of the highest quality. The album bursts open with "Love Will Stay In Your Corner", a soulful dancer that reliably slays any funk set. It's followed by the lithe disco funk "Flick Of The Wrist" that's all bubbling baselines and elegant horns. The groovy, horn-enhanced sweet soul of "Gotta Get It Back" is equal parts heartbreaker/hip-shaker and the acidic organs on "Mr Brother" are an experiment in synth soul. Perhaps the group's best-known track, "Beautiful Summer's Day" is pure piano-driven paradise soul. A tropical birdsong intro sets the scene of a warm, perfect sunshine day and the lead vocal soars over the lush, clean production. The brilliantly-named "(Assistants Rag) When You're Hot, You're Hot" opens side two. Another huge highlight, it's a laid-back, power-funk workout that sounds incredibly modern, like something off the last D'Angelo record. The horn-heavy, clav-stabbing-stomper "We Like To Boogie" keeps things fast and funky before the airy, heavenly harmony soul of "Come On Home" mellows us all out. Things pick up again with "Touch Me", and you might recognize its addictive elements sampled in Jay-Z's Kanye West-produced "A Star Was Born". The magical, reggae-tinged, gospel-influenced "Sweet Love" closes out this assured, classy set. It can be said that Cutting The Chord is a rare example of a funk-soul LP which is killer from start-to-finish. Sure, there are the stand-out bombs, but the whole thing is a complete and varied album of feel-good vibes held together by its fluid horns, tight, tight rhythm section and beautiful vocals. Mastered for vinyl from the original analog tapes by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and artwork restored at Be With HQ.

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Repressed. Be With Records present a reissue of Sola's Un Muñeco De Madera, originally released in 1971. Originally released on RCA in Mexico, it's kaleidoscopic Acapulcan-funk. The album's endless grooves are propelled by softly rocking, quasi-library funk breaks. Vocally, Sola is in step with the '60s French pop-chanteuse style, but of course her lyrics are delivered in sensuous Spanish. Her voice is beautiful. Pillowy soft and tender, it can suddenly explode in mystical anger. These are ten tracks of moody, mysterious vibes that stir the spirit and sooth the soul. The LP was written, arranged, and directed by prolific Spanish composer Manuel Alejandro, the man behind an incredible number of now classic Latin love songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. As for Sola herself, next to nothing is known about the Mexican singer except the occasional whisper heard in only the darkest corners of the annals of music history. It's said that upon growing disillusioned with the music industry she ended up in a convent of Carmelite Sisters. Fitting perhaps, given that Un Muñeco De Madera is a spiritual wonder of a record. Much-loved single and title-track "Un Muñeco De Madera" opens the album. It introduces us to Sola's sparkling Latin-funk, bursting with swaggering grooves sewn by tight drums, sweeping strings and lush keys. It's followed by the serene but melancholic bossa groove of "Oye Mamá, Oye Papá" and the strings and guitar of "He Bajado Al Infierno" that hold up vocals reaching for an eternal truth. With full-on soundtrack-y feels, the rolling keys underpinning the Morricone-esque soundscape of "En Ellos Creo" will give you goosebumps. The gorgeous "Soy Rebelde" ("I'm Rebellious"), sets its gentle, piano-led delivery in delicate contrast to the lyrical sentiment. Perhaps Sola's most well-known track, the exotic bossa of "Tabu, Tabu", is a formidable groove. Elegant bongos, prominent bass, delicate acoustics, and a persistent flute blend with Sola's unique voice; sinuous, sassy, and forceful at the same time. The stunning "La Última Palabra", while not literally the album's last word, is nevertheless a stirring statement of strutting Latin soul, with more musical ideas packed into this one song than the entirety of most long-players. If you hadn't decided already, the final two tracks that are the funk-fueled "Bada-Bada-Ba" and the horn-heavy percussive masterclass "Únete A Mi" will leave you in no doubt that this is one very special record. Mastered by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman. Remastered from the original tapes.

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When a synth master like Steve Moore joins forces with the legendary KPM, magic must materialize. And so it does with Analog Sensitivity: cinematic, enigmatic synth scapes to both haunt and heal. New York-based multi-instrumentalist/producer/film composer Steve Moore is probably best known for his synthesizer and bass guitar work as Zombi, together with Anthony Paterra. But he is also part of Miracle and Titan as well as being a prolific solo artist releasing music as Gianni Rossi, Lovelock, and under his own name. Rather than being commissioned by KPM, Analog Sensitivity comes from music Steve was recording sporadically and tinkering with for over three years during the downtime between his film projects. After Jon Tye invited him to play on the Ocean Moon project for KPM, Steve realized that the hallowed library label might be the perfect home for what he had been working on. Finishing production in late 2019 in Albany, NY, he came up with the track sequencing and suddenly, he had an album: Analog Sensitivity. The LP opens with the dystopian electronic minimalism of "Eldborg", its dark synth bass unfolding to ominous synth pads, shadowy sustains, and glistening arpeggios. "At The Edge Of Perception" brings an unsettling retro-future of edgy analog leads and desolate FX. The sound of a robotic core tears through the sparse textures of the enigmatic "Rose Of Charon". A chilling breeze blows through a persistent, hypnotic synth sequence on "Time Freeze". Title track "Analog Sensitivity" is a sparkling transcendental synth scape of melody, drones, and celestial synth. The brooding "Behind The Waterfall" winds down the first side, building subtle strings and a desolate sound beneath its haunting organ. "Mirror Mountain" ushers in side two, its woozy bass and arpeggio unfolding to envelop the muffled, muted echoes of its organic leads. "Syzygy" emerges you in bubbling sequences, airiness, and ambient electric guitar tones. It's followed by the cinematic minimalism of "Pentagram Of Venus" and its trickling FX. The wind swirls through the otherworldly "Of Dust Thou Art" kicking up clouds of unsettling, plodding synth sequences leading to the uneasy atmosphere of "Message From The Beast". Closing track "Urge Surfing" is as cool a climax as you'd hope from something so brilliantly titled, riding along hushed waves of brooding electronics. Mastering by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman, pressed in the Netherlands by Record Industry.

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Repressed! Be With Records present a reissue of Jay Richford and Gary Stevan's Feelings, originally released in 1974. Since its original release on Italian label Carosello in 1974, Richford and Stevan's Feelings has been described as the greatest library record ever released more than once. It's a tough funk, street jazz masterpiece coveted for many years by collectors of all musical genres. As the story goes, these were the pseudonyms adopted by Stefano Torossi and Giancarlo Gazzani who wrote the album but couldn't use their real names on the original release for legal reasons. But Torossi himself later both clarified and confused the tale further by explaining that fellow composers and musicians Sandro Brugnolini and Puccio Roelens also worked on Feelings. Infectiously funky, deliciously melodic and with impeccable, elegant production, Feelings record is the showcase for a stunning set of compositions and arrangements and with performances that are nothing short of virtuoso. The record's first side lifts off with "Flying High", soaring brilliant and shimmering with funk licks, menacing strings, and swaggering horns. The string-drenched cop-funk of "Going Home" raises the tempo with quick-fire bass lines and killer electric guitar. "Walking In The Dark" positively drips in blaxploitation-funk drama strings and horn struts, all laced with delicate drums, velvet piano, and more filthy wah-wah. "Fighting For Life" is another funk-fueled workout built around an effortlessly relentless drum track. The loping, open drum break that guides the much-loved "Feeling Tense" is filled out by heavy bass gloss, swirling strings, and ominous horns. "Running Fast" is a fine rollicking chase theme underpinned by frenetic (yet funky) Fender Rhodes and skipping bass and drums. "Loving Tenderly" envelops you in warm, velvety night-time vibes with easy listening horns and slinky strings. The pace picks up on the electrifying "Fearing Much" where strings dart around deep bass, buzzing guitars, and another funky drum break. The lush, melancholic "Being Friendly" is another easy beauty, all warm Rhodes and strings. The climactic "Having Fun" rides a pulsating, bass-heavy drum break with snatches of a funky guitar refrain, some luxurious keys, sweeping strings, and triumphant horns. Groove-laden bass, irrepressible horns, sweet flute lines, warm Rhodes, lush string arrangements, blaxploitation-styled wah-wah guitars and more make Feelings one of the finest instrumental soul LPs of the '70s, if not of all time. Remastered for vinyl by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman. Remastered from the original tapes.

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Ocean Moon is a solo project from Jon Tye of Seahawks. A long-time explorer of the sounds of spaciousness, having released the ambient classic LP iO in 1994 as MLO, Crystal Harmonics is a document of Jon's latest discoveries. Island Visions (BEWITH 077LP), the recent collection of music from Seahawks for KPM, touched on the deeper, more spatial side of music and led to Jon exploring this territory in greater depth, again for KPM, under his Ocean Moon alter ego. This time he brought along some of today's most visionary musicians: Jon Brooks (The Advisory Circle, Ghostbox) for his intuitive melodic mastery, Seaming To (Graham Massey's Toolshed) for her extraordinary vocal talents, Steve Moore (Zombi) for his sophisticated and inventive rhythmic sensibility, and Richard Norris (The Grid) for his sensitive and deeply resonant ambience. The initial recordings were made at The Centre Of Sound in Cornwall, with the collaborators various contributions coming from London, Derbyshire and the US. The supremely serene electronic flute and bells of "Crystal Drift" ease you into the journey and you take the next steps with "Rainbow Ripples" as it gently folds space with arpeggiated synth swells and delicate machine beats. Light vocal tones, bells, and breath FX on "And Breathe" keep you going, accompanied by synth drones and billows of electric piano. You travel through the synth-space-surf haze of "Lost Oceans", with soft bass and warm ambience, to reach the "New Infinity" of revolving melody, spacious pads, and light electronic beats. The celestial tone floats of "White Mirror" close out the first side. Temple bells ring out to running water flowing together with deep resonant vocal tones as the second side opens with "Peace Bells". "Revolving and Evolving" follows, a tranquil electronic meadow of lush pastoral synth tones where you rest for a while for "Mountain Dreaming", a light rhythmic dance of zither and birdsong. The undulating "Forest Motion" ripples with synth arpeggios, dreamy Solina strings and percussive modular electronics before allowing the crackling ambience and Cantonese whispers of "Sleep Golden" to wash over you. Finally, you find yourself on "The Long Path", its warm temple ambience of drones and chants guiding you home. Crystal Harmonics is inspired by four particular albums from KPM's catalog: There's The Electronic Light Orchestra by Adrian Wagner (1975) and then Temple Of The Stars, Breath Of Life, and finally Keith Mansfield's Circles, these last three coming from KPM's mid-1980s run of modern classical/new age gems. Mastered by Simon Francis, cut by the legendary Pete Norman.

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Be With Records present a reissue of Junie's Suzie Super Groupie, originally released in 1976. Walter "Junie" Morrison released his third solo LP, Suzie Super Groupie, in 1976. A slick, smooth and soulful record, it's a genre-melting tour de force with rich elements of proto-boogie, funk, and jazz. The sublime "Suzie Thundertussy" was brilliantly sampled by Madlib for Kanye West's "No More Parties In LA". The track opens with a sinuous synth and combines Junie's storytelling abilities with an emphatic vocal style and funky arrangements. The powerful bass and sinister chords create an undeniable groove, and the explosive chorus is full of ambition and joy. "If You Love Him" is a great, mid-tempo soul song. With a swinging jazz-infused middle-eight, it demonstrates Junie was much more than a mercurial funkateer. The laconic groove of "What Am I Gonna Do" recalls Fresh-era Sly Stone, whilst the frantic "Super Groupie" showcases his sharp imagination and sense of fun. The lyrics range from humorous to dirty, all fueled by an infectious groove and tight horn arrangements. The P-Funk of B-side opener "Surrender" bounces and sparkles, with a strutting Junie backed by great harmony vocals and joyous horns. "Suzie" is a sleek, softer affair albeit with a disco pulse; a beautiful combination of bright, funky horns, fluid basslines and vigorous rhythms. "Stone Face Joe" is another character song, this time one that chugs along on a sweet boogie rhythm. The closing piece, "Spirit", is an extended funk-rock jam. A nod to Jimi Hendrix, it creates a live concert sound, complete with screaming crowd and fuzzy vocals. Junie made his name as the lead singer and keyboardist of the Ohio Players. As the mastermind behind "Pain", "Pleasure", "Ecstasy", and the oft-sampled "Funky Worm", he was beloved by countless musicians, not least Prince. As co-writer of some of Funkadelic's seminal works -- "One Nation Under A Groove", "(Not Just) Knee Deep" -- his standing as one of the structural fathers of funk is undisputed. In late 2016, Solange's A Seat At The Table featured a track called "Junie", a tribute to the freedom he created in music. In February 2017, Junie died, aged just 62. With records as mighty as Suzie Super Groupie, his legacy will live forever.

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Be With Records reissue Caiphus Semenya's Listen To The Wind, originally released in 1982. Caiphus Semenya, AKA Mr Letta Mbulu, is a South African legend, and Listen To The Wind, his iconic debut album, is simply a superb modern-soul/boogie album. Now a revered composer, musician, and arranger, Caiphus left apartheid South Africa in the '60s for self-imposed exile in Southern California together with his wife, Letta Mbulu. Settling in Los Angeles he started working with the likes of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and other exiled and semi-exiled South African artists, as well as, of course, his wife Letta. Caiphus also found himself working with and composing for a broad range of jazz and pop artists, including Lou Rawls, Nina Simone, and Cannonball Adderley. His facility with both jazz and African forms served him well. His LA stay was also the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with Quincy Jones, the fruits of which can be tasted in Caiphus's African compositions for the scores to Roots (1977) and Spielberg's adaptation of The Color Purple (1985). Listen To The Wind is a deeply impressive synthesis of early '80s US production and instrumentation together with his traditional South African musical roots. There are elements of boogie, soul, funk, and jazz, all shot through with pan-African flavor, and moving effortlessly from up-tempo floor fillers to more meditative, slower soulful tracks. Produced by Caiphus himself, he makes full use of a stellar line-up of session musicians including Nathan East, Michael Stanton, Sonny Burke, and Paulinho DaCosta. And of course, there are Letta's show-stopping vocals. Opener "Angelina" is a breezy, feel-good SA boogie-funk classic, harmonic and horn heavy. It's followed by the gentle reggae lilt of "Play With Fire". A real melodic slo-mo delight, carried by the tropical vibes and, above all else, by the extraordinary performance of Caiphus himself and his backing singers. Closing out side one, the spectacular "Umoya" is driven by triumphant horns and slick bass, with proto-Graceland vibes. Caiphus trades verses with the unmistakable tones of Letta, and it sounds divine. Elegantly firing up side two is perhaps the album's best-known track. "Without You" is a heavenly slice of modern soul, smooth strutting, disco-fied funk with that unmistakably South African sound. "Ziph'inkomo" is a soul-soothing, swooning epic. The irresistible groove of frantic, percussive workout "Gumba Boogie" closes out what must surely be one of the greatest artistic statements of the 1980s. Mastered by Simon Francis. Faithfully restored cover art.

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Be With Records reissue Caiphus Semenya's Streams Today... Rivers Tomorrow, originally released in 1984. Caiphus Semenya, AKA Mr Letta Mbulu, is a South African legend, and Listen To The Wind, his second solo album, is perfect. Now a revered composer, musician, and arranger, Caiphus left apartheid South Africa in the '60s for self-imposed exile in Southern California together with his wife, Letta Mbulu. Settling in Los Angeles he started working with the likes of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and other exiled and semi-exiled South African artists, as well as, of course, his wife Letta. Caiphus also found himself working with and composing for a broad range of jazz and pop artists, including Lou Rawls, Nina Simone, and Cannonball Adderley. His facility with both jazz and African forms served him well. His LA stay was also the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with Quincy Jones, the fruits of which can be tasted in Caiphus's African compositions for the scores to Roots (1977) and Spielberg's adaptation of The Color Purple (1985). Streams Today... Rivers Tomorrow is not just a musical masterpiece, it is also the soundtrack to the life of many South Africans. It fuses US-heavy sounds of boogie, disco, and funk with Afrobeat and traditional African elements. Jabu Nkosi handles keyboards on the album, with synths by Caiphus and Craig Harris. Sipho Gumede is on bass and Condry Ziqubu is on guitars. The Afro-Cuban grooves of "Mamase" continues where Listen To The Wind (BEWITH 084LP) left off, another horn-heavy call-and-response ode to a positive life. It's followed by "Aida," with gleeful, dayglow keys and synths on the right side of mid-80s sleaze are accompanied by a killer bassline, slick, skipping drums, and proud horns. The tempo is taken down a few notches for the powerful "Nomalanga" and the lamentations of a heartbroken man who must leave his wife Nomalanga and their children to join the fight against apartheid. Breezy drums and contemplative keys act as a backdrop for the stunning backing vocal harmonies in the intro of "Moshanyana". "Dial Your Number" is an up-tempo English-language boogie-funk workout, complete with mid-song cutaway to a random telephone call. The brilliant "Matswale" was a hit in South Africa in the mid-80s -- it is some damn fine breezy, beautiful, emotional pop. The ferocious "Ndi-Kulindile," with hard-edged, electro-influenced drum patterns and a bouncing, elastic bassline is something of a departure from the album's sound. Mastered by Simon Francis.

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Be With Records present a reissue of JR Bailey's Just Me 'N' You, originally released in 1974. A dramatic, string-drenched epic, James Ralph Bailey's Just Me 'N' You has been a sought-after soul masterpiece for decades. A lush suite of beautiful songs, it was conceived as a concept album; a sophisticated paean to love. Originally released by MAM Records in 1974, Just Me 'N' You is a breathtaking jazzy soul album. It's similar in style to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On (1971) -- particularly the performances, orchestrations, and chord progressions -- but dealing with a different universal subject matter. If What's Going On was about romance instead of politics, it would sound like this. Fans of Marvin, Leon Ware, Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, and Willie Hutch will love this record. An underrated gem -- it's got to be one of the best soul albums of all time. The original productions were made on a basic home tape machine and enhanced with strings, rhythmic overdubs, and a variety of other instrumentation. These are beautiful arrangements of strings and jazzy horns. Rhythm guitars and bouncy bass serve as the groove foundation, congas provide a Latin feel whilst the vibraphone and harmonica add color. And then of course there's JR's voice. His style recalls Hathaway, with a delivery akin to Marvin at the time. As he scats and sings, accompanying himself in sweet harmonies, there is still a rawness of pain and longing in his voice, the rawness familiar to all deep soul. Just Me 'N' You is no mere collection of songs. The tender, smooth tunes flow perfectly together into a fluid, single artistic statement. This is one where it's hard to pick out any standouts. You may have heard the soaring title track before, maybe on Gilles Peterson's Digs America compilation. The opening track "After Hours" sounds as fresh now as it ever was and segues beautifully into the majestic "Heaven On Earth". Recorded by Hathaway the previous year, Bailey's original of "Love Love Love" is incredible and arguably the definitive version. The powerful, dreamy, sax-and-harmony-laced "All Strung Out Over You" has echoes of the Chi-Lites, it's that good. Mastered by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman.