Young, Tough And Terrible

 

[Funkadelic Album T-Shirts Available Here] 

Released in 1970, Funkadelic’s self-titled debut was a radical collision of psychedelic rock, gospel, blues, and soul. The record arrived as a chaotic, genre-defying statement that redefined the possibilities of music. Where Motown aimed for polish and crossover appeal, Funkadelic dove headfirst into distortion, improvisation, and spiritual ambiguity, offering a sound as gritty and unpredictable as the era itself. Backed by a ferocious young band — including Eddie Hazel, Billy Bass Nelson, Tawl Ross, Tiki Fulwood, and Mickey Atkins — the album rejected convention in favor of raw groove and existential noise.

As part of Org Music’s Westbound Records reissue series, this edition restores the album’s full cosmic impact across multiple formats. The all analog double LP, mastered at 45RPM directly from tape by Dave Gardner at DSG Mastering, offers the highest fidelity to date. Gardner and restoration specialist Catherine Vericolli archived and restored the original master tapes at 54 Sound Studios in Ferndale, Michigan, with assistance from in-house engineer Nick King. Read more about that process here.  A single LP edition, cut from high-resolution tape transfers, is also available, alongside CD, cassette, and digital formats.

The release will be distributed worldwide.

 

Tracklist:

1. Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?
2. I Bet You
3. Music For My Mother
4. I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody’s Got a Thing
5. Good Old Music
6. Qualify & Satisfy
7. What is Soul

Mastering & Restoration: Dave Gardner, DSG Mastering
Original Master Tape Archival & Restoration: Catherine Vericolli
Additional Engineering And Indispensable Assistance: Nick King

Billie Holiday is captured live at Storyville in Boston in 1951 and 1953. The discreet recordings capture Lady Day in prime emotive voice. On most selections she is accompanied by the Carl Drinkard Trio, but six others find her joined by Buster Harding’s Trio; the great tenor Stan Getz sits in on three of these numbers. Previously out of press for over 25 years, this historic recording has now been remastered and pressed on audiophile-grade vinyl at Pallas Group in Germany.

 

Tracklist:

A1 I Cover The Waterfront
A2 Too Marvelous For Words
A3 I Love You Porgy
A4 Them There Eyes
A5 Willow Weep For Me
A6 I Only Have Eyes For You
A7 You Go To My Head
B1 He's Funny That Way
B2 Billie Blues
B3 Miss Brown To You
B4 Lover Come Back To Me
B5 Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do
B6 You're Driving Me Crazy

Pleasure is the 1972 record from Detroit funk pioneers the Ohio Players. Immediately returning to the studio after the initial success of their debut album, Pain, this would become the most influential album of their career. Massive chart success came with this record, propelled by the song "Funky Worm," which went on to become one of the most sampled songs in Hip Hop history.

Working with the original Westbound Records master tapes at the iconic 54 Sound studio in Detroit, these legendary recordings have been remastered by award winning engineer Dave Gardner with restoration and tape transfers by archival specialist Catherine Vericolli, and additional engineering assistance from in-house 54 Sound engineer Nick King.

The vinyl comes housed in a reverse-board printed gatefold jacket, complete with a fold-out poster of photographer Joel Brodsky's iconic cover photo. 

TRACKLIST
A1 Pleasure
A2 Laid It
A3 Pride And Vanity
A4 Walt's First Trip
B1 Varee Is Love
B2 Walked Away From You
B3 Paint Me
B4 Funky Worm
B5 Our Love Has Died

The Chi-Lites’ third album, "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People”, finds the group tapping into the social consciousness movement of the early ‘70s, presumably influenced by contemporaries like Sly & the Family Stone and fellow Chicagoan Curtis Mayfield. They had one of sweetest voices in soul music with Eugene Record, but their 1971 release showed a different side of the band, both in terms of lyrical content and production on tracks like "We Are Neighbors”. Ironically, the biggest single on the album was "Have You Seen Her?”, a sweet soul ballad which topped the R&B charts. "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People” was the best album the Chi-Lites ever released, and it’s finally coming back to vinyl for the first time in decades. The music sounds better than ever on this 180gram audiophile-grade vinyl pressing, mastered from original analog tapes.

TRACKLISTING
A1 Yes I'm Ready (If I Don't Get To Go)
A2 We Are Neighbors
A3 I Want To Pay You Back (For Loving Me)
A4 Have You Seen Her
A5 (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People
B1 Love Uprising
B2 Troubles A' Comin'
B3 You Got Me Walkin'
B4 What Do I Wish For

In 1971, after dropping “Fabulous” from their moniker, The Counts delivered their first full-length platter for Westbound. What’s Up Front That-Counts is indisputably one of the funkiest albums of all time. The conga-led grooves, impassioned vocals and strutting in-the-pocket arrangements are as infectious as they are groovy. This seminal, forward-thinking album is an indispensable soundtrack perfectly reflecting the decade that followed, and is one of the brightest jewels in the Westbound crown. Included in this release are 3 bonus tracks that were previously unissued.

Working with the original Westbound Records master tapes at the iconic 54 Sound studio in Detroit, these legendary recordings have been remastered by award winning engineer Dave Gardner with restoration and tape transfers by archival specialist Catherine Vericolli, and additional engineering assistance from in-house 54 Sound engineer Nick King.

Officially out November 10, 2023

TRACKLIST
A1 What's Up Front That-Counts
A2 Rhythm Changes
A3 Thinking Single
A4 Why Not Start All Over Again
B1 Pack Of Lies
B2 Bills
B3 Rhythm Changes Reprise*
B4 Shortsville*
B5 I Know Why*
*previously unissued