Yann V

Welcome to Epsilon Record Co. latest Californian re-releases Two fantastic Modern Crossover 45rpm ORDER NOW! (shipping from Tuesday) https://www.epsilonrecord.com EPS021 Bobby Baker Holy Grail Modern Soul Crossover Vocal & Instrumental Listen: A: “Everything Has Got To Be Alright”(4:07) B: “Everything Has Got To Be Alright” Inst. (4:07) Written by: Dana V Andrews Los Angeles CA / 1980 (official reissue) EPS020 Dana V Andrews Superb Modern Soul Crossover Vocal & Instrumental Listen: A: “Mr Justice”(3:33) B: “Mr Justice” inst. (3:33) Written by: Dana V Andrews Los Angeles CA / 1976 (official reissue)

EPS019 RENALDO DOMINO & THE ORIENTATIONS A: I Love My Girl (2:36) B: I'm Hip To Your Game (2:33) Chicago IL 1967 Buy it now: https://www.epsilonrecord.com Renaldo Domino Chicago Soul Legend Born March 27th 1950) from “The Valley” around 49th & Forestville Renaldo Domino blasted onto the fertile Chicago soul scene of the late 60's with a voice as sweet as sugar and deep grooves that sound just as fresh five decades later. Releasing singles on Mercury subsidiaries Smash and Blue Rock, and later Twinight records, Renaldo’s all-too-brief career has still managed to leave an impact to all those lucky enough to hear it. Domino's Renaldo first record: I Love My Girl & I'm Hip To Your Game, came out in 1967 on the impossible to find Arnell records. I'm Hip To Your Game was later released on Smash in 1969 Renaldo returned to the spotlight in 2007 when the Chicago reissue powerhouse Numero Group put him on the cover of their deluxe box set Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation (which included other greats Syl Johnson, The Notations, and many more). Renaldo’s performing career began to flourish once again with shows around country. In early 2019 Renaldo teamed up with producer Jeremy Kay and arranger JB Flatt and set out to record new tracks that would live up to Renaldo’s great early records. Assembling a crack team of Brooklyn’s best they pulled out all the stops, creating a mix between the lush arrangements of Chicago’s early soul style and the hard-hitting beat of current Brooklyn soul. The new single “No Laggin’ & Draggin’” / “Give Up The Love”, released Feb 2020, is now available on Colemine Records. Backed by The Heavy Sounds, Renaldo’s live performances continue to deliver with passion and precision, making new fans young and old. For booking and other inquiries, contact booking@renaldodomino.com

Two new Stream Records releases announced Armour Gomez - 'Feeling Uptight' and The Ritz Band - 'I Should Have Known' Due for release at the end of February 2023, details below Armour Gomez - Feeling Uptight / The Accent Instrumental Limited Edition Stream Records 7” 250 run (Bundle with The Ritz Band Available) Out End of February 2023 PLEASE NOTE: Integral interview to A. Gomez digital download included Listen to the interview: https://youtu.be/Gw4o6KTsX-A Preorder: https://cannonballsoul.com/streamrecords/ Boy, this Armour Gomez is something. From Vietnam to work 5 years in a coal mine to going underground in Las Vegas to found his own band The Accent, then up to New York to play his wildcard in the main business (to no success, as many other great artists like him), then back to Vegas and hit the road for many years as a musician. Three marriages (remembers me of someone I know very well haha…) until now well in his seventies yet playing everywhere day in day out. FULL INTERVIEW DOWNLOADABLE VIA PREORDER LINK. The Ritz Band “I Should Have Known” Mono b/w Stereo Limited Edition Stream Records 7” 250 run (Bundle with Armour Gomez Available) There have been many versions of the Ritz Band. The Charleston, WV Night Club opened in 1982 and over the years showcased many of the area's top musicians and vocalist. In 1985 club owner Dick Allen had a vision of releasing a single which led to the recording of the only original music ever recorded by one of the many versions of the Ritz band. There were a couple of different versions of the band in 1985 but the musicians listed below is the version of the group that recorded the single "I Should Have Known" featuring Raye Smith on lead vocal, written and produced by Raye Smith and Steve Johnson and recorded and mastered at Chandler Audio in Ashland Kentucky by Studio owner Denny Chandler. Ritz Band Members: Curtis Price Guitar Vocals Jim Florkevich Drums, Vocals Bobby Harrold Alto, Soprano, Alto Sax, Flute, and Vocals Raye Smith Bass, Vocals Steve Johnson Keyboards, Vocals Preorder: https://cannonballsoul.com/streamrecords/

Joe Johnson 'What’s the Matter With You Baby' / 'I Still Love you' Pre-Order Now: Limited Edition Cannonball Classic 7” 250 run + 10TPs Out End of February 2023 'What’s the Matter With You Baby' Listen: 'I Still Love You' Listen: Preorder: https://cannonballsoul.com/cannonballrecords/ You just can’t imagine how many Joe Johnsons soul singers were around on both coasts of the States at the crossing of the sixties and the seventies. And how long it took us to find the right one. Double banger here out of a privately produced Long Player that never had a 7” vinyl to lead to its publication. Until now of course, with that Time Capsule feel as trademark of our flagship record label. Huge thanks to John Browne & Ian Williams for their assistance too!

Welcome to Epsilon Record Co. latest Californian releases Two fantastic singles EPS018 Natural Impulse (previously unissued) A: “Let’s Get Together”(3:10) B: “Let’s Get Together”(extended version 4:34) Written by: Richard P Ramos Bay Area 1976 Listen: EPS017 James Hales A: “Could It Be Joy”(3:12) Arranged by: James Hale / James Pasley / Rasha A Abdur 1982 B: “Cashing in My Memories”(3:40) Written by: James Hale / Nathan Musser Los Angeles California Listen: PRE-ORDER NOW! Release on 20th Dec 2022 (you should get them on time for Christmas) Check out our special Christmas bundles! https://www.epsilonrecord.com/

New single from Henderson & Jones. Back to the studio after 40 years! Listen to both side: here Buy it here: https://www.epsilonrecord.com Henderson & Jones (new release) A side: Picture of Love B side: Can You Feel My Vibes EPS011 EPS011 Epsilon Record Co. 2022 Background: I met Kenneth Henderson and Alfonso Jones almost two years ago after searching for these guys for many years. I proudly re-released two remastered version of I'm Gonna Get Ya on Epsilon EPS003 on February 28, 2021. I have built a real friendship with these two fantastic guys and musicians. It was Alfie & Ken's dream to one day be able to get back in the studio and record more music and who knows one day get back on stage together. So I decided to make it happen and financed the whole project. I booked M.V.P studio (owned by my good friend El Willie aka William Travis from Nobody's Children) in West Palm Beach FL, who organised the entire session and booked studio musicians for this project. Alfie headed to Jacksonville FL to meet Ken for a week of rehearsal and lots of brandy. They travelled to meet El Willie for a one day session and recorded these two amazing tracks. Now their success is in your hands Please show your appreciation and support their brand new music Yann Vatiste Epsilon Record Co.

The latest Streams are entering the pressing facilities as we speak, so we are proud to present something a little more exotic than usual. Both the following new instalments are sprinkled with that latin flavour you all have a thing for, but bear a completely different story. ------ Bermudas’ finest CBLL038 - Leon Cook “Steppin in” b/w “The Last One to Know” Limited edition 250 copies - out Late November 2022 20 Test Pressings available as usual. Immediate digital download link included in receipt. Listen to Side A: Listen to Side B: Preorder: https://cannonballsoul.com/cannonballrecords/ A brief introduction to the sound. Almost all the islands east of the Americas developed a love for ballad singing in the 60s often via listening to doo wop and soul tracks from their own and occasionally US radio stations. This sort of music was interspersed with all sorts of varieties of jump up music from calypso, and later soca and so on. The dominant form of music though was the sound of Jamaica, starting with ska, through rock steady (the soul beat), and this particularly applies for those islands which were closer to the continent. But what about the Bermudas? Although its music is generally considered part of the Caribbean heritage, they are way more north and lost in the Atlantic Ocean than any other caribbean country thus they have been under many different influences due to being in the middle of oceanic routes between Europe and The New World. You could listen to some great Calypso imported from Trinidad and Tobago as well as bagpipe music Irish and Scottish soldiers imported during layovers on the 18th and 19th centuries. A big role was played by Soul Music aswell, pushed by the many Canadians and Portuguese residing on the islands and investing a lot in the entertinament industry (like they did in all the Caribbean after all). It’s the case of Leon Cook who came out with a brilliant Long Player by the title of “Cookin’ with Leon” out of which we licensed the brilliant “Steppin’ in” for a first-ever-relase on a 7” backed by the later ballad “The Last One To Know”. The album was produced by Eddy De Mello, a white portugese business man (radio plugger, event manager, music producer) based on Hamilton, Bermuda, who had put together a mix of white and black musicians and went to the pressing plant under his Edmar Records label. Cook has worked with Sonny Stitt, Jack McDuff, Clark Terry, Hank Marr, and numerous other jazz stars, and traveled with bands led by Richard “Groove” Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, and Rusty Bryant. “I think every musician should have the experience of being on the road with a teacher, like I was,” Cook said. “They taught me not only about music but about life. And playing jazz is a lifelong thing. It's something that teaches you not only how to play your instrument but it teaches you how to be a person.” ------ Flute extraordinare (rhythm flute, not too melodic mind!) TSL018 - Gillespie and Co. Featuring Dolly James ”Keep on Doin’ What you’re Doin” b/w Alberto’s Groove version Limited edition 250 copies - out Late November 2022 20 Test Pressings available as usual. Immediate digital download link incuded in receipt. Listen to Side A (original band): Listen to Side B (Alberto’s Groove): Preorders: https://cannonballsoul.com/teslagroove/ Not that Gloucester’s finest Andrew Gillespie needs any introduction, yet we need to talk a little about Dolly James, the great singer featured in this song. Dolly and Andrew met at a local recording/rehearsal studio in 2012 or 2013 where Dolly was rehearsing with her then band Soular UK. Andrew joined them on congas/percussion for a one off gig in Cheltenham and wasted no time in asking Dolly do the vocals for a song that he had just written (Keep On Doin’ What Your Doin’) which was influenced by the Salsoul records disco sound and may take on that style. Andrew Gillespie started off recording as The Aries Vibration (one self released 45) in 2009 then Gillespie & Co (various 45 releases), La Glosta Nostra (one 45 release) as well as doing session musician work for labels from California to Switzerland and UK. Dolly has had a long and successful career as backing singer for the likes of Matt Bianco, Van Morrison, Mick Hucknall and many others. Tesla’s very own Alberto has additionally produced the flipside to a 4 to the floor version you will want to blast out of your impeccable sound systems.

Out now! Epsilon 016 BLACK SMOKE BAND: I'LL KEEP SEARCHING / GET'N OFF - EPSILON RECORD CO. The Black Smoke Band were comprised of five members Norwell McNeill on lead vocals (and songwriting duties) Bobby Moore on bass guitarJames Jacobs on lead guitar Joe McLaughlin on keyboards Ronnie Brewington on drums. Joe was also the man behind the band’s resources, financing both the musical kit and studio time.All of the members hail from the town of Dunn, North Carolina - a state which has gifted us some amazing soul music from the 1960’s, 1970’s and beyond. All of the members of the group began recording music prior to the band’s two releases, before they met and formed as teenagers playing local bars, dance halls and night clubs. They gigged with other local acts. Both of the band’s releases were recorded in 1977 at Arthur Smith’s Studios in Charlotte - and both released on the group’s own label, Black Smoke Productions. ‘Starting my Life All Over Again’ was the first of two releases, a beautiful sweet soul effort, that really showcases Norwell’s earnest, soulful vocals. The flip is a solid funk cut called ’Skateboard’. ‘I’ll Keep Searching’ b/w ‘Get n Off’ was the second and sadly final release from the group - but what a record it is! A moody, funky, and compelling arrangement that eschewed the ubiquitous disco sound of the period and created a gritty masterpiece for lovers of hard edged soul music. Norwell’s gruff, captivating vocal and some stellar guitar work were all laid over a tight, rolling beat accompanied by strong horn stabs. The pleading, emotional dynamics of the record work brilliantly with its strutting, insistent pace. Delivering both emotionally and musically it was to be the group’s swan song, but left ample evidence of the talent that lay within them as a band. Eventually the group decided to go their separate ways in 1978, although that was not the end of their musical careers, with all of the members continuing to perform in and around North Carolina for many years. Ronnie sadly passed away, but the other four original members of the group are still actively making music, with Norwell and Bobby remaining in regular contact today. Bobby played with Kool & The Gang for a brief spell, alongside other well known acts. Joe continues to run his own studio, and has a large back catalogue of previously unheard material recorded both before and after the Black Smoke years. That is the story of the Black Smoke Band in 1977. Although short lived, the group have provided soul fans across the UK and beyond with two fabulous singles, considered by many to be shining examples of the musical talent that coursed through America’s suburbs and communities during the golden age of soul and funk music. A rich vein of talent which remains largely undiscovered even now... Buy it here: https://www.epsilonrecord.com