Salah Ragab and The Cairo Jazz Band Egypt Strut / Kahn El-Khaleely

The title track 'The Sky Is A Sea of Darkness When There is No Sun To Light The Way' wasrecorded in 1978 with Luqman Ali (drums); Sun Ra (keyboards); John Gilmore (tenor saxophone, percussion); and Michael Ray (trumpet, percussion). Whilst the b-side 'Somewhere in Space' is a previously unreleased 'alien' vocal version, recorded in 1957.

In this album Sun Ra blends elements of free jazz, off-key synth explorations, and experimental theatre into an other-worldly concoction that doesn’t crop up anywhere else in the Arkestra’s massive discography.

Although Sun Ra wouldn’t have called Earth home, there were a couple of cities that proved to have considerable significance on him and his music, and Philadelphia was one of the places that he really felt in his element. The vitality you can hear on Antique Blacks is a testament to the unique energy of the community around The Foxhole Cafe in Philly.

Legendary session recorded in Milan in 1978, this quartet recording gives John Gilmore, Michael Ray and Luqman Ali the space to improvise and solo more extensively than with the full Arkestra. The result is an astounding synergy of individual virtuosity and group interplay, but it's the man himself who arguably steals the show with the rhythmic atmospherics of "Dance Of The Cosmo Aliens".

Following their 'Salah Ragab And The Cairo Jazz Band Present Egyptian Jazz' LP, Art Yard bring us another two tracks of stunning Egyptian jazz - both previously unreleased. Recorded in Heliopolis, Cairo circa 1973, both sides of this 45 offer up a distinctly north African take on traditional jazz sounds. "A Tribute To Sun Ra" comes across like some long lost Moondog track, full of snaketime percussion and Egyptian horns. Backed with "Latin In Cairo" a curious mix energetic, calypso / Cuban melody. Limited to 500 copies. 

 NEW LTD. 300 copies (2nd Press, blue label)

Only available EXCLUSIVELY to customers at Soul Jazz Records/Sounds of the Universe.

All time party classic KILLER New Orleans Funk 45 - Professor Longhair's massive Big Chief.

Exact-replica bespoke New Orleans funk 45 BOMB.

THIS 7-inch can ONLY be bought directly here from Soul Jazz Records or Sounds of the Universe websites and shop. 

Top draw Hawaiian disco boogie gem re-issued by the brilliant Athens Of The North - fairly obscure stuff but what tune - pure fire!

Snaketime Series is one of the earliest and rarest of Moondog’s recordings, originally released in 1956. “Snaketime” is what Moondog himself referred to as his unique sense of time in music, what he called “a slithery rhythm”. And indeed, almost nobody else was making music as unique as this in the 1950s, drawing influence from city sounds, and working on many of his own instrumental invitations, Snaketime Series is truly cutting edge American avant-garde. Reissued on 180 gram LP with deluxe jacket, and a download card.

Impossibly rare highlights from the acclaimed ‘Stand Up, People’ compilation of rare pop songs by Roma Gypsy musicians from Tito’s socialist Yugoslavia, 1960-1980.

“Combing rootsy Gypsy Folk rhythms with the new influences of Bollywood film music, Turkish psychedelia and British and American Pop-Rock.” 

Two killer versions of the rocksteady classic by The Three Tops with a rare soul version on the flip with Phyllis Dillon on the flip. One of four new 7" only Treasure Isle reissues. Limited..

Fantastic, mind-blowing, awesome new collection of killer Studio One dancehall and proto-dancehall!

Featured here is a new collection spanning Studio One’s dancehall period – singers and deejays on classic Studio One rhythms, studio and electronic wizadry from the Brentford Road headquarters, lots of rare 12” singles, all effortlessly brought together to nice up the dance.

When Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd first ruled the dancehalls of Kingston in the 1950s, fighting off the soundsystem competition of Duke Reid, King Edwards and others, few could imagine how far the reign of Studio One would last. 

But the emergence of  ‘Dancehall’ as a distinct style of reggae at the end of the 1970s, as upstart competing producers began recording vocalists and deejays performing over replayed classic Studio One rhythms, in many ways made the influence of Clement Dodd’s vision more omnipotent than ever before (and lasting to this day).

Not surprisingly, Clement Dodd’s creativity and business acumen made him quick to respond to this musical phenomenon – and he soon began voicing the new stable of Studio One singers and deejays, such as Sugar Minott and Lone Ranger, over original classic Studio One rhythms recorded in the late 1960s – to produce some of the most innovative, time-bending and creative music of his career.

This album comes as CD with slipcase, super-loud, super-heavy triple vinyl album with free download code and as a digital download.

Absolute killer vocal cut from Stranger Cole over the rhythm made famous by U Roy "Tom Drunk" with rare organ cut on the flip. Don't Sleep...

7" taken from the Greg Caz and Deano Sounds compiled box set- The Brasileiro Treasure Box Of Funk & Soul. The stunning 45s from this set will now be available for individual sale. The series kicks off with Toni Tornado's 1972 single Bochechuda...Check it!!!!

Only available EXCLUSIVELY to customers at Soul Jazz Records/Sounds of the Universe.

Stone-cold CLASSIC two-step funky soul bomb!

Soul Jazz Records/Sounds of the Universe launches its SOUL 7-inch series in fine style with this FANTASTIC SUPER-RARE £150+ double sider.

THIS 7-inch can ONLY be bought directly here from Soul Jazz Records or Sounds of the Universe websites and shop.

EXCLUSIVE NEW 45rpm - ONLY available direct from Soul Jazz Records or Sounds of the Universe.

All time-killer New Orleans heavyweight funk bomb on loud 7" single!

Betty Harris's seminal vocals, The Meters’ Leo Nocentelli and George Porter Jr + the incredible James Black on drums. They don't get much better than this!

THIS 7-inch can ONLY be bought directly here from Soul Jazz Records or Sounds of the Universe websites and shop. It is a very limited 500-copies pressing and you need to buy it now!

See all the EXCLUSIVE 45s titles only available here!

NEW LTD. 300 copies (3rd Press, green label)

Only available EXCLUSIVELY to customers at Soul Jazz Records/Sounds of the Universe.

Yes it's true! New Orleans bomb *3!!!

With original pressings going at over £500 (and our own original 'yellow label' pressing going at £75!) we though we'd give you a chance if you didn't get it the first time around to grab one of the hippest soul/funk tunes ever made!

THIS 7-inch can ONLY be bought directly here from Soul Jazz Records or Sounds of the Universe websites and shop. 

Released on Saturn in 1965, but recorded four or five years earlier, this is often considered the first of Ra's 'outside' recordings, with a definitive Sun Ra designed sleeve and classic Arkestra personnel: John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Pat Patrick, Ronnie Boykins et al

Superb double header from Jamaican Trombone legend Vin Gordon, two killer late 70s roots instrumentals with "Split Second" & "Enforcement"

One of three new releases on new label Rightrack Records, great start!

Even more platters that matter from the island of Jamaica !

Wayne Smith's classic "Sleng Teng", Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam", Byron Lee, Augustus Pablo, Lee Perry, ultra rare Jackie Mittoo and Shark Wilson tracks and many more !

If you've got 100% and 200% then simply buy 300% for more listening pleasure. And if you haven't got 100% or 200% then why haven't you? Third installment in the immensely popular Dynamite series and, as you'd expect, it's packed with top tunes from the cream of Jamaica's producers and artists. Here you'll find super heavy reggae funk from the likes of Shark Wilson, Randy's Allstars, Lee Perry and Jackie Mittoo (whose track 'Jackie's Theme' has never previously been released), ska from Toots and The Maytals and Prince Buster, rocksteady from Byron Lee and Hopeton Lewis, classic dancehall killers from Wayne Smith and Sister Nancy, roots from Johnny Clarke and Augustus Pablo, calypso from Lloyd Price and a sweet reggae version of Al Green's soul classic 'Here I Am Baby'. "It's all here! Ska, Rocksteady, Funk, Dub.

"As high quality as it gets" Q

"NO. 2 COMPILATION OF THE YEAR. A third slicing of vintage reggae, ska and rocksteady from the brilliant Soul Jazz, ranking highly in our faves of 99" TIME OUT

"NO. 4 COMPILATION OF THE YEAR" NME

"Who'd have thought a Ska and Reggae mix would become one of the most acclaimed compilations of the year" MIXMAG

"Absolutely fantastic quality compilation series" SELECT

wicked rocksteady tune from desmond dekker here issued on original label with very rare version on the b-side.

Deep instrumental roots music recorded in Kingston between 1992 - 2002 by the Swiss duo Restless Mashaits, 1st time on vinyl..check "King Of Kings" "Africa" featuring Flabba Holt, Dean Fraser, Deadly Headly. Recommended

Great twisted funky reggae cut from 1975 recorded at his studio " Black Ark" now wash your face!!

Check other Black Art label releases now in stock...

Mystical magical mid-sixties album from cult Saturnian jazz hero Sun Ra!

Featuring a classic cast of Arkestra muscians including Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, and Ronnie Boykins, this is one of the last truly great 1960s Sun Ra abums to be re-issued and it really shows how his move to New York got his creative juices going and helped him lead the Arkestra in this loose-limbed, adventurous astral music!

As a prelude to our massive new double album (2CD, Two volumes of 2xLP) Sounds of The Universe: Art + Sound 2012-2015

released next week on Soul Jazz Records

We bring you this WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE VINYL ETCHED RAS G 12" EP to customers of Sounds Of The Universe/Soul Jazz Records. You can only buy this direct from us here at Soul Jazz Records or Sounds of the Universe.

These three tracks will be appearing on the 2CD but NOT on the LPs - this is your only chance to buy these tracks on vinyl!  This single is the new extremely limited 300 copies 180-gm vinyl the tenth in our unique and highly sought-after and collectible Art +Sound 12" set of releases.

INSTANT COLLECTORS ITEMS - these sell out fast!

ALL PREVIOUS Art + Sound 12"S ARE SOLD OUT & DELETED!

We welcome Los Angeles's Ras G to our 'Art + Sound' series, who weighs in with a trio of low-slung, pneumatic beat instrumentals!

Opening, 'Deep Space Nine' drips sci-fi FX over a buzzing moog and a lumbering rhythm. The choral 'Gloom Steez' follows with ultramarine, hymnal swirls around some more of Ras G's trademark boom-bap; while the dense, jazzy, blue-notes of 'Taste This' close this killer 12".

The single features beautiful etched, afro-egyptological theme from London based artist, BARKA. 

You can also pre-order the massive forthcoming Sounds of the Universe album now here

Featuring Arkestra stawarts John Gilmore (tenor sax) and June Tyson (vocals). 

Brand new material from Hailu Mergia on Philophon since deserved interest in his haunting, ethio-jazz was sparked by the excellent ATFA releases! 

a wicked version of his "strange things" tune but early reggae cut with "on the town" on the flip. nice clean repress.

Tuff roots rocker from 1978 repressed here with killer dub version as featured on rare  "Dub Conference in London" album around the same time