Licorice Soul Records

OUT NOW ON LP AND CD! Another thin layer of dust has settled on the record racks of time since the first volume of Working Man's Soul was released in 2006, where we at Licorice Soul first rescued a plethora of forgotten funky gems from within the grooves of privately-pressed Road Albums of the 1960s and '70s. Now, dear listener, we are proud to present herewith the second volume of selections from the forgotten, yet funky, world of the night club performer of yesteryear, proving that the world of cabaret music is a rich seam that is still a very long way from being picked clean of groovy goodness. Read more...

OUT NOW ON LP AND CD! Another thin layer of dust has settled on the record racks of time since the first volume of Working Man's Soul was released in 2006, where we at Licorice Soul first rescued a plethora of forgotten funky gems from within the grooves of privately-pressed Road Albums of the 1960s and '70s. Now, dear listener, we are proud to present herewith the second volume of selections from the forgotten, yet funky, world of the night club performer of yesteryear, proving that the world of cabaret music is a rich seam that is still a very long way from being picked clean of groovy goodness. Read more...

Working Man's Soul celebrates the forgotten world of British cabaret performers from the 1960s and 1970s and selects the cream of the cuts only previously available on privately pressed records. Manufactured by the artists themselves in miniscule quantities, these records were sold at live performances at Social Clubs, Miners' Welfare Clubs and Working Man's Clubs across the UK. Some of the artists went on to become household names; some went back to the day job; others made a successful and lucrative, albeit understated, career of playing three sets a night, six nights a week.

This selection covers everything from soul, funk and jazz to rock and easy listening; the common theme is of music recorded and performed to celebrate the good times and the end of the working week. Read more...

Our latest single reissue features two perennial Mod dancefloor favourites taken from the super-rare UK-only Loot soundtrack album. Showcasing the vocal talents of Steve Ellis (of Sixties pop sensation 'The Love Affair') alongside the inspired, funky arrangements of legendary British producer Keith Mansfield, this single features the cream of the UK's session musicians - drummer Clem Cattini, bassist Herbie Flowers, singers Madeline Bell and Doris Troy and the one and only Big Jim Sullivan on guitar!

The impossible-to-find original CBS Loot's The Root single now commands serious money and this is the first time that club favourite The Undertaker Song (with organist Alan Hawkshaw) has ever been released on 45!

LSD012 celebrates the work of Jack Price, one of the men most responsible for bringing Reggae to the masses during the later 1960s and early 1970s. With releases on his own Sioux Records and numerous independently produced albums and singles spread between many popular mainstream labels, Jack Price pushed Reggae onto major labels and into British high street shops for the first time, paving the way for others to follow. This single brings together a pair of tracks released under different names and at different times for different labels, but both were laid down by the mixed band of British and Jamaican session players used by Price during the turn of the 1970s, including such soon to be famous names as Peter Frampton, Kenny Jones, Andy Bown and Bob Downes. Read more...

Our latest album reissue includes wicked cover versions of all James Brown's funkiest numbers. Played by a killer 20-piece band featuring musicians from cult mid-1970s funk bands Mainstreet and David, these are no ordinary cover versions. Massive drums, fat bass and killer percussion drive a powerful horn section and fantastic vocal performances. It's packed with breaks and beats and works hard on any dancefloor too - people say it's the best funk album that James Brown never made! Originally issued in 1976, this is a rare and very sought-after album with original copies now fetching over 100 bucks. Playlisted by DJs such as Coldcut, this album is in massive demand as it's totally in the pocket from start to finish. Just check this track listing: Cold Sweat, Fatwood, Coldblooded, My Thang, Mother Popcorn, Sex Machine, Out Of Sight, Superbad Superslick, Ain't It Funky and It's A Man's World - every track's a killer! Read more...

LSD009 features the cream of the cuts from the seriously rare Proud Mary album from top-flight German composer, arranger and producer Stephan Sulke. In 1971 a budding young German jazz/pop musician called Stephan Sulke released an album on an ultra-obscure French label that remained relatively unnoticed over the decades until recently rediscovered by Licorice Soul. Now available for the first time on 45, our latest release draws two excellent tracks from this lost gem, offering you a slice each of fine femme folk-funk and Euro beatpop that are light, breezy and summery and at the same time hard-edged and funky. Featuring French session guitarist supremo Pierre Cavalli alongside a gypsy drummer, vocals on these tracks are provided by Mary, a strong British singer who was touring Germany with a British rock band in 1969 when discovered by Stephan Sulke.Read more...

LSD007 features two fantastic femme-funk belters courtesy of the lovely Carol Lee Scott, better known as Grotbags The Witch from cult kids' TV show 'Rod Hull & Emu'. Prior to her extensive TV work, Carol had a successful career as a singer on the international cabaret circuit. LSD007 comprises two tracks from Carol's privately-pressed 'In Time' album, only available at her concerts during the early 1970s. 'Little Bit Of Love' and 'You Gotta Believe' were originally demo'd for release as a single on a major label under the name 'Cuddles' but were never issued. Here, for the first time ever, we present these two crackers on 45 as originally intended! Read more...

July 2010: BACK IN STOCK: very few copies available! This release has a uniquely British sound that combines the best players of traditional English medieval instrumentation with a fantastic funky 60s pop sound. The Rountable were a studio band comprising the Early Music Consort's David Munrow and Christopher Hogwood alongside the best UK jazz session musicians of the day, including Don Lusher, Kenny Clare and Kenny Baker. Read more...

Originally conceived by legendary producer Ken Barnes (Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Harry Roche Constellation), this project features not one but two drummers, Hammond organ, harpsichord, sackbut, crumhorn, and a whole wimple's worth of groove!