Bunch of new stuff from Mississippi Records. Some are in already; others are expected in October. We will bringing copies of each of these but if you want them guaranteed, you should pre-order them by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) me.

Various - Last Time Around LP
Part three in Mississippi Records series exploring the rawest side of gospel music (Part one being the "Life is a Problem" compilation & part two being the "Oh graveyard, you can't hold me always" compilation) Moving ballads sit side by side with incredibly rocking crunchy guitar workouts. The recordings span the 1950's through to the 80's...but the sound is timeless & consistently soulful like you won't believe. Artists include Precious Bryant, Isaiah Owens, The Hickory Bottom Harmoneers, Boyd Rivers, The Straight Street Holiness Group & many more. We are very proud of this one. Housed in an old school "tip on" sleeve. (October)

Here's Precious Bryant:


Ural Thomas - Push em' Up/ Deep Within My Heart 7"
The third volume in our "North Portland Music Series".....two great soul songs by local legend Ural Thomas recorded in 1960. " Push em, Up" is an upbeat soul stomper for the dance floor. "Deep Within' My heart" is a pretty ballad with tight harmonies & lots of groove. Ural is an under-appreciated musician who toured opening for Otis Redding back in the day, had James Brown plagiarize his style, played in countless bands in Portland & Seattle, built a house out of debris salvaged from the Willamette river, mentored countless kids in the neighbourhood, & probably wrestled an alligator or two. Proof that unsung heros live right in our backyard. Housed in a thick old school "tip on" sleeve. (October)


Ural Thomas - Fade Away/Smile 7"
The fourth volume in our "North Portland Music Series"....a most unusual record. Ural recorded this in his house with a bunch of neighbourhood kids back in 1970. "Fade Away" is reminiscent of the "bad trip' portion of Sly & The family Stones' "There's A Riot Goin' On". A lazy funk riff is accompanied by droney vocal incantations & kids blowing into sawed off bed posts as if they were trumpets! It really happened. "Smile" is a more straightforward simple ballad wherein Ural sends a positive message out to the world. Ural self pressed 300 copies of this way back when just to prove to the kids accompanying him on it that they can do anything they want if they put there minds to it. It's message rings true today. Housed in a thick old school "tip on" sleeve with a liner note sheet included. (October)

Don't know Thomas? Listen now:



Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground 2xLP
The complete works of Blind Willie Johnson (minus alternate takes of two songs) on one album for the first time! The most powerful gospel blues musician of all time growls & moans through 29 amazing songs. Great duets, ballads & rockers. At times tough & at times tender slide guitar playing that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Not for the faint of heart . Beautiful clear transfers heard for the first time on vinyl. A one time pressing not to be missed. Housed in a gatefold old school "tip on" sleeve. (October)

Wonderful, soulful blues:




Georgia Sea Island Singers - Join the Band LP
The latest in our series featuring music from the Alan Lomax archives. The Georgia Sea Island Singers were a vocal group of unparalleled depth. Some beautiful sorrowful a capella songs, some raucous stompin' & shoutin' sessions & even a couple tracks accompanied by a drum & fife band along with a banjo player. Altogether a nice mix of material recorded in the homes & churches of this small community by Alan Lomax between 1959 & 1962. This LP features 3 never before released tracks, an insert with liner notes by Nathan Salsburg & photographs & its all housed in an old school "tip on" sleeve. (October)

"Dig that fife player, man!"
"Dreamy!"


Here are the most recent releases from MR. Limited copies are now in the store for sale:

Mahmoud Ahmed - Jeguol Naw Betwa LP
Reissue of a 1978 self released LP by one of the greatest Ethiopian vocalists of all time. Recorded at the end of the 'golden age' of Ethiopian urban music, Mahmoud is in top form belting out transcendent intense vocals over the Ibex Bands' hypnotic soulful sound. As good as it gets & as close to universally perfect music as ever has been made. Old school thick "tip on" sleeve. Beautifully remastered by Timothy Stollenwerk.

Listen:


Michael Hurley - Fatboy Spring LP
A full LP of never before released Hurley recordings from 1972 - 73! Great early versions of classic Hurley songs such as Automatic Slim & the fatboys, Drivin' Wheel, Ghost woman Blues, Watchin' the Show & The Portland Water. Hurley is backed up by "The Fatboys" - not the rotund hip hop crew from the film "Disorderlies" but rather a bunch of not so fat nice guys in Vermont who played mostly for the local dairy farmers. (Later they were known as "Sheriff Mocus & the Deranged Cowboys") A laid back countryish album sure to please the hardcore Hurley fan & casual listener too. Deep & breezy. Cover painting by Michael. A co-release with our friends label in San Francisco - Secret Seven.

Rail Band - Orchestre Rail-Band de Bamako LP
Reissued for the first time, the legendary Malian Rail Band's classic 1970 debut LP. Based out of the Buffet Bar of the Station Hotel in Bamako, the band was sponsored by the Ministry of Information. Swirling afro-latin guitars & horns. Malian folk songs modernized & played by some of the country's finest musicians including Tidani Kone & Salif Keita.

Various - Street Music Of Yogyakarta LP + 7"
In 1978 Jack Body recorded an amazing amount of street musicians in Java. His ear was geared not just towards traditional folk forms of music but also to all the new hybrids of pop street music. Here we find a mix of his recordings that really cannot be classified easily. Influences on the music include Bollywood soundtracks, American rock & pop, Javanese traditional songs & modern gamelan music. All these recordings were made in the street so you can hear babies crying, car horns & food frying throughout. Raw folk music by & for the people, this is the real deal. There was too much good music to fit on an LP, so we've included a free bonus 7" 33 RPM EP of material. Comes in an old school "tip on" sleeve. Includes a booklet with liner notes by Jack Body. A truly unique record filled with beautiful & stirring sounds.

Various - Fanafody: A Collection of Recordings and Photography from Madagasikara Volume II LP
The second volume of recordings in our series of Madagascar music. From the archives of Montreal recordist, Charlie Brooks. While containing some similar artists as volume one, Fanafody focuses more on his second trip through the island during 2002 featuring violin players and throat breathing singers. Includes extensive photography and liner notes booklet.