K-MAXX :: LOVE IS COMING OVER ME :: VINYL

Vinyl LP Coming soon to Soundboutique/Sweater Funk records. Be on the look out for our NEXT event Featuring K-Maxx November 19th. See below for further event information.


K-Maxx - Love Is Comin' by K-MaxxMusic

RODNEY FRANKLIN :: BAY AREA SOUL

Bay Area Soul... Rodney Franklin is better known for his mellow jazzed out soul tunes, but this track "Don't Wanna Let You Go" is one you can play and feel. Not for the Dance Floor!

RODNEY FRANKLIN - DON'T WANT TO LET YOU GO

THE PENDLETONS

New release from our boys "The Pendletons" This one is different from their previous release, with more of a electronic feel. On some next level funk ish. Please support and tell a friend.

Price of Poison by The Pendletons

AZTECA :: LATIN SOUL

COLD FIRE :: BAY AREA FUNK

MY good friends Tommy Siquiero hooked me up with this bad ass bay area 45 from "Cold Fire" out of San Francisco. I don't have much information on this tune, but I can assure you that this modern soul funk record definitely has the Groove. Love the Horns on this cut... Please share your knowledge if you have information on this band.



COLD FIRE - BADDER THEN BAD 1977

SUAVECITO :: ART SHOW

Do you ever find yourself reminiscing about the good old days when the homies couldn't wait for it to be the weekend to take their rides out for a cruise with their rucas, and danced the night away to oldies but goodies? We know we do!!! And speaking of rucas, this show is dedicated to ...the backbone of every man in the barrio, Las Chicanitas!!! We dig your style!!!

Cruise on by, chill with the homeboys and homegirls, listen to some oldies, and check out the beautiful arte from these firme Chicano artist...

Art work by:

El Angel www.puesorale.blogspot.com
Rio Yañez www.rioyanez.com
Felipe Vazquez www.newark-califaz.com
Jaime Salazar www.myspace.com/dowithease

Live screen printing by: Franklin Cartagena

Curated by: Mayra Ramirez www.hellabreezys.blogspot.com

We hope you can make it... we promise you some good times!!!
Stay Firme and Keep It Suavecito!!!

BAY AREA SOUL - THE NATURAL FOUR

I was going through a bunch of 45's and recorded a few to share this week. This 45 is special to me because it was my POP's record and now its mine, plus The Natural Four is from Oakland California. Great record with great lyrics. Enjoy

THE NATURAL FOUR - WHY SHOULD WE STOP NOW

The original members, from Oakland, California, U.S.A., were:

Chris James
Allen Richardson
John January
and AI Bowden

This group first recorded in 1968 on a small local label called Boola-Boola.

From there they went to ABC Records, and reached the national charts in 1969 with 'Why Should We Stop Now' (number 31 R & B).

In 1970, they achieved some success with the single 'I Thought You Were Mine' for the ABC label and taken from the album 'Good Vibes'.
The group was unable to repeat their success.

Before breaking up in 1971, they recorded an unnoticed single for Bay Area producer Ron Carson that was released on Chess Records.

Chris James organized a new group:
Darryl Canady
Steve 'Strip' Striplin
Ollan Christopher James
and Delmos Whitney

BAY AREA BOOGIE & MODERN SOUL

Monster modern soul boogie lp private production out of Vallejo CA . very rare and essential to any serious collectors.

I'M FEELING SUPER NICE TODAY. THIS IS WHAT 320 EURO OR 400 BUCKS SOUNDS LIKE. EASY... BIG UPS TO ALL MY CREW WHO PICKED THIS UP AND PLAY THE ORIGINAL WAX.

TWILIGHT - DANCE WITH ME 1986

BAY AREA (OAKLAND) SOUL

Natural Four began their quest for stardom in Oakland, CA, in the mid-'60s, landing their first deal with a local outfit called Boola Boola Records. Initially, they had two 1969 releases on Boola Boola -- "You Did This for Me" and "Why Should We Stop Now" -- that did well in the San Francisco/Oakland area. ABC Records took over distribution and pushed "Why Should We Stop Now" to number 31 R&B in 1969. At this junction the group consisted of lead singer Chris James, Allen Richardson, John January, and Al Bowden.

Three more releases followed on ABC: "The Same Thing in Mind," an old Boola Boola track named "I Thought You Were Mine," and a remake of the Temptations' "Message From a Black Man." Nothing approached even the minimal success of "Why Should We Stop Now," and their relationship with ABC ended on a sour note.

In 1971, they did a one-off single for Chess Records ("Give a Little Love"), after which Chris James completely overhauled the Natural Four. By 1972, Richardson, January, and Bowden were out and in came Darryl Cannady, Steve Sriplin, and Delmos Whitney. They signed with Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label and released "Things Will Be Better" in 1972; it flopped, as did their second Curtom release, "Eddie You Should Know Better" (a remake from Mayfield's Superfly album). The third Curtom release was the charmer "Can This Be Real," which soared to number ten on the R&B charts in 1973 and cracked the pop Top 40. Its successor, "Love That Really Counts" (1974), was too similar to "Can This Be Real" to be taken seriously: same melody, different lyrics.

Leroy Hutson, the first replacement for Curtis Mayfield in the Impressions, produced the Natural Four on Curtom for several promising releases, but four flops followed during 1975-1976: "Heaven Right Here on Earth," "Love's So Wonderful," "It's the Music," and "Free." Curtom released three LPs by the Natural Four: The Natural Four, Heaven Right Here on Earth, and Nightchaser. The Natural Four certainly deserved better; they had a crisp, smooth lead singer in Chris James, who had a tenor similar to the Spinners' Bobbie Smith but heavier and more melodious. The group had no writers of substance though, and were usually at the mercy of producers and songwriters. Still, the Natural Four voiced some of the sweetest harmony ever laid down.

NATURAL FOUR - I THOUGHT YOU WERE MINE