It may be the music that you come for but album sleeve design has long been something of an artform, being a visual representation of the kind of sounds - or at least the feel of the music - you can expect to hear on the record. Here we take a look at 15 sleeves from 2011 that we especially like the look (and sound) of. Enjoy!
Jazz vocalist/ trumpeter Nicolas Payton has something of a cult following, which can only be enhanced by 'Bitches'. There is quirkiness to 'Bitches', where he combines Jazz, Soul and a (melodic) touch of Broken Beat. 'Truth Or Dare' is case in point 'Togetherness Forgiveness' features N'Dambi alongside Payton on vocals. Cuts like 'Indigo', 'Don't I Love You Good' and 'Love And Faith' have a laid-back feel. The jazzier 'Give Light Live Life Love' is delightful and Cassandra Wilson adds her vocals to the mix on 'You Take Me Places I've Never Been Before'.
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NICHOLAS PAYTON - BY MY SIDE (ILDETH'S BLUES) NICHOLAS PAYTON - SHADES OF HUE NICHOLAS PAYTON - TRUTH OR DARE NICHOLAS PAYTON - TOGETHERNESS FOREVERNESS NICHOLAS PAYTON - YOU ARE THE SPARK NICHOLAS PAYTON - THE SECOND SHOW (ADAM'S PLEA) NICHOLAS PAYTON - FLIP THE SCRIPT NICHOLAS PAYTON - LOVE AND FAITH NICHOLAS PAYTON - DON'T I LOVE YOU GOOD NICHOLAS PAYTON - ISTOLE YOUR IPHONE NICHOLAS PAYTON - YOU TAKE ME PLACES I'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE NICHOLAS PAYTON - GIVE LIGHT LIVE LIF LOVE
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Sharon Jones and The Dap kings have established themselves as the leading retro soul/funk band with an incredible authentic powerhouse sound. ‘Soul Time’ features tracks that have been part of their live shows but have not been on previous albums. The punchy soulful ‘I’m Not Gonna Cry’, beat ballads ‘Longer And Stronger’ and funk power of ‘What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes’ and ‘Genuine’ are great examples of their sound. There’s also a good cover of Shuggie Otis ‘Inspiration Information’. This is a really good album.
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SHARON JONES - LONGER AND STRONGER SHARON JONES - I'M NOT GONNA CRY SHARON JONES - WHEN I COME HOME SHARON JONES - WHAT IF WE ALL STOPPED PAYING TAXES? SHARON JONES - AIN'T NO CHIMNEYS IN THE PROJECTS SHARON JONES - WITHOUT A TRACE SHARON JONES - INSPIRATION INFORMATION
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The Swedish group delivers quirky set of spacey grooves. Keyboard player Foat even plays Harpischord on the sixties sounding ‘Time Piece 1’. ‘Dark Is The Sun’ is recorded in four parts based loosely around a Hammond groove. This is Brian Auger for the 21st Century.
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GREG FOAT - TIME PIECE 1 (HARPSICHORD BUGALU) GREG FOAT - DARK IS THE SUN PART 1 (MAIN THEME) GREG FOAT - DARK IS THE SUN PART 2 (INTERLUDE) GREG FOAT - DARK IS THE SUN PART 3 (REPRISE) GREG FOAT - DARK IS THE SUN PART 4 (HARPSICHORD WALTZ) GREG FOAT - TIME PIECE 2 (EPILOGUE)
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Excellent Latin flavoured Jazz, this album is suited for any Jazz Dance. ‘Mr DG’, ‘Sem Amor’, and ‘The Chief’ are full-on grooves that sizzle. There is more than a nod to Horace Silver’s classic Blue Note work. Try the slower ‘She Who Dares’ and the dreamy vocal of ‘Some Other Wonder’. The horns and percussion are hot.
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MR DG
ANOTHER BROTHER (ALBUM VERSION)
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This selection of tunes by the legendary Booker T focuses on the earthy Memphis sound that Stax personified. He is joined by members of the Roots. Instrumentals like ‘The Vamp’ and ‘Harlem House’ sound not unlike Soulive at their best. For us, however, the standout is the gritty Soul of ‘Representing Memphis’ that features Sharon Jones and Matt Berninger.
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BOOKER T JONES - WALKING PAPERS BOOKER T JONES - PROGRESS FEAT. YIM YAMES OF MY MORNING JACKET BOOKER T JONES - DOWN IN MEMPHIS FEAT. BOOKER T ON VOCALS BOOKER T JONES - EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING BOOKER T JONES - REPRESENTING MEMPHIS FEAT. MATT BERNINGER AND SHARON JONES BOOKER T JONES - THE BRONX FEAT. LOU REED
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UK soul/jazz/folk singer/songwriter Victor Davis changes course of his new album and makes a retro 60’s soul sounding album .The Dimitri from Paris back In The Day Mix of ‘Somebody’ is a killer dancefloor filler.
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VICTOR DAVIES - BE YOUR MAN
VICTOR DAVIES - I WANT YOU BACK VICTOR DAVIES - WASTING MY TIME VICTOR DAVIES - WORDS & A SONG VICTOR DAVIES - SOMEBODY (DIMITRI FROM PARIS BACK IN THE DAY REMIX)
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Betty Wright is a Soul legend. Teaming her up with the Roots band on ‘Betty Wright The Movie’ is an inspired fusion as it brings a contemporary feel to her classic soul sound. ‘Old Songs’ starts the album in old school vibe, as does the TK sounding ‘Real Woman’. The catchy ‘Look Around’ – hints of Angie Stone – is another gem. Joss Stone joins Ms Wright on ‘Whisper In The Wind’ whilst she duets with Lenny Williams on ‘Baby Come Back’. There are too many great tracks to mention them all, as this consistent album is Betty’s best in ages.
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BETTY WRIGHT - REAL WOMAN (FEAT. SNOOP DOGG) BETTY WRIGHT - IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME (DON'T CHANGE THE PLAY) BETTY WRIGHT - GRAPES ON A VINE (FEAT. LIL WAYNE) BETTY WRIGHT - LOOK AROUND (BE A MAN) BETTY WRIGHT - HOLLYWOULD (FEAT. THE MESSENGER) BETTY WRIGHT - WHISPER IN THE WIND (FEAT. JOSS STONE) BETTY WRIGHT - BABY COME BACK (FEAT. LENNY WILLIAMS) |
Charles Bradley has one of those great raw and gruff soulful voices (ala Bobby Byrd) bringing his
decades of singing experiences into his debut album, released on Daptone. 'The World (Is Going up In
Flames)' is an outstanding track with a semi-funky midtempo beat and punchy horns, pure magic.
'Telephone Song' is slightly slower but also powerful, and the more uptempo 'Golden Rule' has social
lyrics. The beat ballads 'I Believe In Your love', 'Lovin You Baby' 'How long' and 'Heartaches and Pain'
show the power of Charles voice. This Excellent albums brings back the rawness and excitement of late
60's Soul and will appeal to those who dug the lee Fields album from last year. |
CHARLES BRADLEY - THE WORLD (IS GOING UP IN FLAMES) CHARLES BRADLEY - THE TELEPHONE SONG CHARLES BRADLEY - I BELIEVE IN YOUR LOVE CHARLES BRADLEY - TROUBLE IN THE LAND CHARLES BRADLEY - LOVIN' YOU BABY CHARLES BRADLEY - NO TIME FOR DREAMING CHARLES BRADLEY - IN YOU (I FOUND A LOVE) CHARLES BRADLEY - WHY IS IT SO HARD? CHARLES BRADLEY - SINCE OUR LAST GOODBYE CHARLES BRADLEY - HEARTACHES AND PAIN
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The third album from San Francisco house producer Miguel Migs. "Outside The Skyline" includes an array of vocal talent Evelyn 'Champagne' King, Meshell Ndegeocello, Lisa Shaw, Aya and Bebel Gilberto. Add an old school house feel with a slick polished production all of this leading to a quality soul dance album. Stand outs include 'Tonight feat Meshell Ndegecello, Breakdown feat Lisa Shaw and Don't Stop feat Aya. If you liked the Naked Music releases form the 90s this is one for you.
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MIGUEL MIGS - LIFE (FEAT HALF PINT – MIGS INTRO DUB) MIGUEL MIGS - TONIGHT (FEAT MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO) MIGUEL MIGS - BREAKDOWN (FEAT LISA SHAW) MIGUEL MIGS - EVERYBODY (FEAT EVELYN CHAMPAGNE KING) MIGUEL MIGS - THE DISTANCE (FEAT AYA) MIGUEL MIGS - LIFE (FEAT HALF PINT) MIGUEL MIGS - CLOSE YOUR EYES (FEAT MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO) MIGUEL MIGS - THEY DON'T KNOW (FEAT FREDDIE MCGREGOR) MIGUEL MIGS - ZUZU (FEAT BEBEL GILBERTO) MIGUEL MIGS - CHANGIN' (FEAT SONNY J MASON) MIGUEL MIGS - DON'T STOP (FEAT AYA) MIGUEL MIGS - LOSE CONTROL (FEAT LISA SHAW) MIGUEL MIGS - GETAWAY (FEAT GORG LEVIN)
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20 of the best Soulful house tracks from Blaze and their productions. inc ‘How deep Is Your Love’, and tracks by Amira, Cassio Ware and Black rascals.
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BLAZE - DO YOU REMEMBER HOUSE BLAZE - IF YOU SHOULD NEED A FRIEND
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21st century Boogaloo, this perfect music for the dance, especially ‘Sol El Ray’, ‘Combolo’, ‘El Banto’ and ‘Lugos Boogaloo’.
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RAY LUGO - SOY EL REY
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Reel People have established themselves as one of the Uk's premier soul bands, and this album will only further enchance their reputation. 'Golden lady' ft Tony Momrelle.is a great cover of Stevie's classic, the more uptempo 'Star' also featuring Tony is a brilliant uptempo brassy dancer, Tony also scores on the mid tempo 'Tell me Why. Darien another great vocalist shines on the percussive uptempo 'Sure' Choklate sings on another dancer 'The Tea'. All round feel good album taking us in Spring in a positive vibe.
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REEL PEOPLE - LOVE IT REEL PEOPLE - THE GALACTICA SUITE REEL PEOPLE - NIGHTS IN AFRICA
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This is the new album from the guitar legend Dennis Coffey who graced many of Motown’s biggest hits as part of the Funk Brothers. Dennis Coffey new set has that early 70’s sound that he used on his early albums recorded for the Sussex label. There are several great cuts including a version of Wilson Pickett’s ‘Don’t Knock My Love’, the Funk of ‘’Miss Millie’ featuring Kings Go Forth plus the slower and heavier ‘Plutonius’. Check also the bassline of ‘Knockabout’. |
DENNIS COFFEY - 7TH GALAXY DENNIS COFFEY - DON'T KNOCK MY LOVE FEAT. FANNY FRANKLIN DENNIS COFFEY - ALL YOUR GOODIES ARE GONE FEAT. MAYER HAWTHORNE DENNIS COFFEY - I BET YOU FEAT. MICK COLLINS (DIRTBOMBS) AND RACHEL NAGY (DETROIT COBRAS) DENNIS COFFEY - SOMEBODY'S BEEN SLEEPING FEAT. LISA KEKAULA DENNIS COFFEY - ONLY GOOD FOR CONVERSATION FEAT. PAOLO NUTINI DENNIS COFFEY - SPACE TRAVELLER DENNIS COFFEY - DON'T KNOCK MY LOVE (PART 2)
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Diverse album with African and many genres of dance music influences. The broken beat/soul track ‘Little Better’ featuring Heidi Vogel is very strong, and she also scores on the jazzier ‘’Green Concrete’. ‘Something Simple’ ft Leon Williams is a jazz based mid tempo groove.
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T ROY - LITTLE BETTER (FEAT HEIDI VOGEL) T ROY - SOMETHING SIMPLE (FEAT LEON WILLIAMS) T ROY - AFRO SPIRIT (FEAT BUMI THOMAS) T ROY - AFRO SUCHI (BUSHMEAT) (FEAT RICK BLK) T ROY - SO DEM DEY (FEAT WANLOV THE KUBOLOR) T ROY - MOVE TO THE LIGHT (ALBUM EDIT) T ROY - SHOE SHINE BOY (FEAT IFE & NOMAD) T ROY - GREEN CONCRETE (FEAT HEIDI VOGEL) T ROY - MANYEKENI (CITY OF GOLD) (NO TRUST) T ROY - NIGGITIVTY (FEAT VOICE, RAWALITY & T ROY - BONUS TRACK),
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This interesting album from Canadian Slim Moore and Mar-Kays has a very Isaac Hayes/Blaxploitation feel to it. Slim's deep gritty soulful vocals are superb against a fully orchestrated funky backdrop. The funky soul 'Cityscape' , 'Reaching High', 'How Long' and 'Steppin All Over Me' are energetic and authentic. But it is on the more mid tempo 'Riverside Drive' , 'Just Can't Get Ahead' and cover of 'Is It Because I'm Black' that Slim's voice really excels. The instrumental 'Cool Breeze' is also great.
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SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - CITYSCAPE SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - HOW LONG SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - JUST CAN'T GET AHEAD SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - IS IT BECAUSE I'M BLACK SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - MAR-KAYS THEME SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - REACHIN' HIGHER SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - RIVERSIDE DRIVE SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - STEPPIN' ALL OVER ME SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - HELP ME NOW SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - GET BACK HOME SLIM MOORE & THE MAR-KAYS - COOL BREEZE
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MR DG
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SAGE PAY…IMPROVED SERVICE AND SECURITY
