VA / Soul Jazz Records Presents - STUDIO ONE FUNK [Clear vinyl edition]

Format: Coloured Vinyl 2LP 
Catalogue No.: SJRLP97C2
Barcode: 5026328700977
Release Date: 05 Jun 2026
Genre: Reggae Funk

 Soul Jazz Records celebrate 25 years of working in partnership with Studio One with brand new editions of five of their best-selling classic Studio One collections, released as special edition one-off pressing coloured double vinyl editions.
 ‘STUDIO ONE FUNK’ is made up of rare and unreleased reggae funk from the vaults of Studio One. Ever since the birth of funk in America, the sound has been an ever-present ingredient in the melting pot of Studio One’s musical output.
 The music here is a combination of originals and USA soul and funk covers. Jackie Mittoo shows his appreciation for Booker T and The MGs, the studio group at Memphis’s famous Stax Records, with a previously unreleased version of ‘Hang ‘Em High’. Booker T’s super-funky ‘Melting Pot’ is also covered by the little-known Underground Vegetables.
 Other covers include Isaac Hayes’ classic ‘Shaft’ by Cedric Brooks - another unreleased gem, straight from the master tapes. Motown gets a look in with Alton’s stripped-down version of the Spinners classic ‘It’s A Shame’, written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta. James Brown is checked with the J.B.’s-inspired rare groove of Lee Arab’s ‘Now’. Lloyd Williams similarly does a fine Kingston-style version of the hardest working man in showbusiness on ‘Reggae Feet’.
 Version-wise, we have ‘Idleberg’, Cedric Brooks’ tough instrumental cut to Horace Andy’s seminal ‘Skylarking’. Pablove Black’s cut of Sidewalk Doctor (aka Poco Tempo) is one of a handful of Studio One releases featuring Augustus Pablo’s trademark instrument, the melodica, played by Black himself.  Add to these original cuts from Studio One’s heavyweight session players, including Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Eric
Frater, Richard Ace, Vin Gordon and more and you have one of the finest selections of reggae and funk you will ever hear.  Pressed onto Clear double vinyl.
 “An absolute treasure trove for the collector as well as being great for the ears and feet. Jackie Mittoo’s ‘Hang ‘Em High’ is worth the price of the album on its own.” - Echoes
 “A superb collection that shows how much many Jamaican musicians were influenced by the heavy funk belting out of American studios from the early Seventies onwards.” - Touch

Tracklisting
Cedric Im Brooks – Shaft
Alton Ellis – African Descendants
Pablove Black – Poco Tempo
Lloyd Williams – Reggae Feet
Jackie Mittoo – Hang ‘Em High
Cedric Im Brooks – Idleberg
Prince Francis – Beat Down Babylon
Lee Arab – Now
Soul Bros – 007
Prince Moonie – See A Man’s Face
Im and Sound Dimension – Love Jah
Leroy Sibbles – Do Your Thing
The Sharks – Music Answer
Underground Vegetables – Melting Pot
Devon Russell – You Found Heaven
Vin Gordon – Steady Beat
Alton Ellis – It’s A Shame
Roy Richards – Another Day
Delroy Wilson – Funky Broadway