Licorice Soul Records

This strictly limited gatefold vinyl LP edition of 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.

The gatefold LP edition includes exclusive additional liner notes not on the CD booklet, a fantastic full colour gatefold and an LP-only insert featuring exclusive contemporary photos! There are only 500 copies of this LP available worldwide and it will not be repressed - many of these copies are already reserved for Europe, the USA and beyond. 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...

Little did Pittsburgh guitarist Larry McGee realise when he recorded this song back in 1976 what a stir it would create thirty years later. A local hit at the time, it was stifled by poor distribution and was largely forgotten until copies started to surface on the soul and funk scene recently. An immediate dancefloor hit due to its punchy production, outstanding musicianship and uplifting vibe, this is a record that has timeless club appeal. This, the first Licorice Soul 12" single, includes four fully remastered tracks - the original version of the song, a bonus beats breaks track for producers and DJs, and two old school disco edits courtesy of top UK DJs Bill Brewster (author of 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life' and 'How To DJ Properly') and Nick Faber (remixes include Kylie and Sugababes).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...

LSD008 features the cream of the cuts from the seriously rare Sounds of the 70’s instrumental album from top-flight UK composer, arranger and producer Tony Hatch. This single showcases the talents of such British session luminaries as Alan Hawkshaw, Herbie Flowers and the Hammond organ of Roger Coulham. We blast back in time to the decade of dancefloor decadence with these self-penned tracks from the Simon Cowell of his day that prove that when it comes to composing and arranging talent, Tony Hatch really is the pick of the pops! 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...

Licorice Soul are delighted to announce the issue of our sixth release, the cult late 1960s classic 'Astro-Sounds From Beyond The Year 2000'. Collectors of weird records, groovy lounge, oddball funk, space age pop, 101 Strings, beats and breaks, and psychedelia (among many other genres) will already know what a fantastic and unsettling album this is! Highly rated by USA's Goldmine collectable record guide, this is one very sought-after album - don't make do with a poor-quality bootleg, hear it pressed crisp and loud for maximum aural excitement! Read more...

During our investigations into the Astro-Sounds album, we were fascinated to discover that the album is composed of overdubs onto an equally sought-after European cult classic from the psych rock vaults, The Animated Egg. The full story is shown on the rear cover of the LP sleeve in the form of a genuine letter dating from 1968 sent by record producer Dick Miller to business partner Al Sherman... buy the album to find out how this came about!

Mastered directly from the original master recordings, this is the first reissue of the entire album to include bonus material from equally sought-after 'Animated Egg' LP. In order for you to draw your own conclusions about how successful each project was, we've included not one, but two bonus tracks from the Animated Egg so you can compare and contrast with the finished 101 Strings project. We hope you enjoy the trip!

The fifth Licorice Soul release features two psychedelic Hammond funk gems drawn from the vaults of proudly independent UK library label Studio G. Originally presented on a promotional EP during the late 1960's, both tracks were subsequently issued as the highlights of the classic Beat Group album. Read more...

Featuring arranger and organist Mike Lease (Freedom) and top UK session guitarist Colin Pincott, we present as groovy a pair of funky freakbeat movers as ever were committed to tape by British library musicians.

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!

Our third release is a double-A-sider featuring tracks from two excellent privately-pressed funk albums originally produced to promote restaurant house bands! Only available at the time to restaurant customers in tiny quantities, these two superb funk tracks are available on 45rpm single for the first time ever!

Representing the USA, Ohio 'bone stalwart Eddie Paolucci brings us a blistering Hammond-fuelled Jim Burns original with wicked brass, while from the UK, Kent multi-instrumentalist Bob Bernard weighs in with a beefy funk take on 1970s standard "Coming Home Baby". Read more...

Drawn from a pair of rare and sought-after UK-only LP's issued in the early 1970's under the name 'Birds n' Brass' on the Rediffusion label, these tracks were created by arranger and composer Keith Roberts, famous for his contributions to Scott Walker's classic albums.

These two tracks are played by many of the top UK session players of the day with vocal contributions by Barbara Moore and include a solo played on one of the most curious keyboard instruments to be found anywhere: the trivox! Read more...

Recorded under a pseudonym by top British sessioneer Ray Davies, featuring The Mohawks' Alan Hawkshaw on Hammond organ and library funk stalwarts Alan Parker on guitar, Herbie Flowers on bass and Alf Bigden on drums, these two classic UK funk tracks are issued here on 45rpm single for the first time! Read more...

Originally recorded for the Boosey & Hawkes library and later issued as The Terry Cavendish Orchestra on a rare 1973 Pye Quadrophonic LP, this release is the first in a series of forgotten gems unearthed by new UK label Licorice Soul.