BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Reissues of 2020
Not only did we see a ton of great new music released in 2020, there was also an abundance of extremely hard-to-find recordings being reissued throughout the year. Similar to how difficult it was to put together the “Favorite Albums” list, it has been just as challenging to dive into all the great reissues, and generate a similar “Favorites” list.
As I was putting together this list, I couldn’t help to think about all the incredible and tireless work that goes into these incredible reissued releases. From researching and hunting down rare recordings, to tracking down the original master tapes or records, and licensing them from the artists or the family of the artists, the work that often goes into these releases is truly remarkable and as someone who benefits from being exposed to this obscure music, I am forever grateful. So shoutout to all the incredible labels that continue to unearth this incredible music for new generations to enjoy and appreciate. It’s truly an amazing craft that deserves a ton of appreciation.
I also wanted to shoutout Now-Again Records, Athens of The North, Analog Africa, Jazzman, Africa Seven, Hot Mule, and others (I know I’m missing many) who are not represented in the list below, however put out many great reissues this past year. I definitely recommend everyone checking out those labels and all their brilliant releases.
Just note, that I did not include any compilations in this list, and will feature my favorite compilations in a separate list.
With that being said, here are BeatCaffeine’s “Favorite Reissues of 2020”.
20. Placebo — ‘Polk / Balek’ 7″
(Matasuna Records)
The German-based Matasuna Records released a number of an incredible 45 releases in 2020, all worthy of this “favorites list”, however I choose to highlight my favorite, which featured two jazz-funk gems by Marc Moulin’s Belgium group Placebo. Both tracks are taken from the group’s 1973, which is definitely one of the greatest jazz-funk albums of all-time. It is also the first time that the track “Polk” has ever been issued on a 45 recording.
19. Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1973 / GSF Records)
(Reissued: 2020 / Mr Bongo)
On Record Store Day back in late August, UK’s Mr Bongo label officially reissued the obscure 1973 soul-funk self-titled album by Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul. This was the only recording ever released by the Washington, D.C. band, and features the massive funk gem “(I’ve Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind”, which even saw regular rotation back-in-the-day on the legendary TV show, Soul Train.
18. Sons Of The Kingdom — ‘Modernization / Hey There’ 7″
(Originally released: 1980 / K.O.G)
(Reissued: 2020 / Pressure Makes Diamonds)
A massive soulful funk 45 reissue from the UK-based label Pressure Makes Diamonds (who have been putting out some incredible reissues as of late). Sons of the Kingdom were part of the 1970’s ‘Black Hebrew’ movement in which black Americans traveled to Israel, primarily from Chicago. Even though this was originally released in 1980, the lyrics of the track “Modernization” definitely resonates even today. Absolutely essential!
17. Pharoah Sanders — ‘Live in Paris (1975)‘
(Transversales Disques)
The French-based label, Transversales Disques, unearthed and put out a previously-never-before-released 1975 live concert of spiritual jazz legend Pharoah Sanders performing at the Grand Auditorium in Paris on November 17, 1975. The incredible live recording features some of the saxophonist’s most notable compositions including “The Creator Has a Master Plan”, “Love Is Here”, “Love Is Everywhere” and others. One of the best live recordings I’ve ever heard from Pharoah on vinyl.
16. Sun Ra — ‘Egypt 1971‘
(Originally released: 1972 / Thoth Intergalactic)
(Reissued: 2020 / Strut)
On the first Record Store Day of 2020, Strut released a massive Sun Ra 5LP box set featuring the 3 previously released albums recorded in Cairo while the band was touring in Egypt. The three recordings are Dark Myth Equation Visitation, Horizon, and Nidhamu. The remaining 2 LPs feature entirely unreleased recordings from the sessions, recorded at the house of Hartmut Geerken in Heliopolis and Ballon Theatre in Cairo. These box sets basically sold out online almost instantly, and the London-based label has gone on to reissue the three previously released recordings individually this past November.
15. Twylyte ’81 — ‘The First Coming’
(Originally released: 1981 / JSR Reords)
(Reissued: 2020 / Favorite Recordings)
In 2020, the Paris-based label Favorite Recordings released both a number of great new releases and reissues. One of those standout recordings was the first ever reissue of Twylyte ’81’s previously under-the-rader soul-jazz gem The First Coming. Featuring the trio of Frank Jones Jr., Alfred Brown Jr. and John Belzaguy, this was the only album ever released by the New Jersey band. On the recording, the group brilliantly fuses together soul, disco, and jazz with the deep and spiritual vocals of band leader, Frank Jones Jr., whose vocals style can sometimes remind of Jon Lucien. The track “Can I Change” is an absolute jazz dance essential!
14. Roland Haynes – ‘2nd Wave’
(Originally released: 1975 / Black Jazz Records)
(Reissued: 2020 / Real Gone Music)
Many of the releases from the now legendary Black Jazz label were made available again in 2020, however Real Gone Music arguably reissued the hardest of the releases to find in Roland Haynes 1975 jazz-funk gem 2nd Wave. Also featuring fellow keyboardist Kirk Lightsey (see record #2 on this list!), bassist Henry “The Skipper” Franklin and drummer Carl Burnett this six-track recording features a cosmic blend of spacey dual keyboard jazz grooves backed by a funky rhythm section.
13. Mandisa — ‘Summer Love / Love Dream’
(Originally released: 1981 / El-Leo Records)
(Reissued: 2020 / Discs of Fun and Love)
The London-based reissue label Discs of Fun and Love is quickly making a strong name for themselves with some incredible and worthy seven-inch soul reissues. Their third release features the obscure 1981 funky soulful gem “Summer Love,” written and produced by illustrious jazz musician Prince Billy Mahdi Wright, and sang by Maggie “Mandisa” Epting. A funky feel-good crossover essential, I expect to hear this 45 in many of next summer’s DJ sets.
12. Syncro Jazz — ‘Live’
(Originally released: 1982 / Poitou)
(Reissued: 2020 / Mad About Records)
Portugese-based label Mad About Records was responsible for many of the best reissues of 2020. Right now, there is hard to think of another label that is putting the same quality of previously rare releases. One of those albums was Syncro Jazz’s extremely obscure 1982 live album featuring legendary Brazilian saxophonist Nestico Aguiar, and his sister, pianist Lilu. Originally released on the small independent label Poitou, the live album is a strong blend of deep hypnotic modal and spiritual jazz melodies combined with Brazilian-jazz influences and rhythms.
11. Ziad Rahbani — ‘Abu Ali’
(Originally released: 1978 / Zida)
(Reissued: 2020 / Wewantsounds)
Following the success and high-demand of the special 2019 Record Store Day yellow vinyl edition of Ziad Rahbani’s rare 1978 epic disco masterpiece twelve Abu Ali, the Paris-based label reissued the album again in 2020 on standard black vinyl. Fully remastered, this features one of the greatest tracks from the legendary Lebanese composer. A must-own reissue for collectors and fans of Arabic-influenced rare groove and disco.
10. Tino Contreras — ‘Musica Infinita’
(Originally released: 1978 / Centro De La Cultura Pre-Americana, A.C.)
(Reissued: 2020 / Arc Records)
Early this year, Gilles Peterson launched a new reissue label Arc Records, focusing on rare and interesting records from his collection. The first release was the experimental jazz recording Musica Infinita by Mexican drummer and composer Tino Contreras. Originally issued back in 1978 on a small independent label, the three-track record is incredibly unique, blending together Mexico’s experimental traditions with psychedelic grooves, cosmic jazz fusion, Latin rhythms, and haunting tones, as if the worlds of Sun Ra Arkestra and David Axelrod collided into one sound. This reissue led to a brilliant new recording, titled La Noche de los Dioses, Contreras did for Gilles’ other label Brownswood. Both albums are worth checking out!
9. 24-Carat Black — ‘III’
(Numero Group)
Numero Group has unearthed and released what looks to be the final demo material ever recorded from the now legendary seventies-era soul group 24-Carat Black, simply titled III. Based out of Ohio, 24-Carat Black were collective led by highly-accomplished producer, arranger and songwriter Dale Warren, who released a now considered “holy grail” album in 1973, titled Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth. This never-before-released material is a bit more stripped down in overall production, however definitely captures the same funky soul foundation that made the group’s debut a masterpiece.
8. Manfredo Fest — ‘Brazilian Dorian Dream’
(Originally released: 1976 / T&M Productions)
(Reissued: 2020 / Far Out Recordings)
Run by Joe Davis, London’s Far Out Recordings has been responsible for some of the best Brazilian reissues for over 20 years. In 2020, the label had another strong year featuring a number of incredible releases. One of those records was Brazilian keyboard player and composer Manfredo Fest’s hard-to-find 1976 jazz funk masterpiece Brazilian Dorian Dream. Arguably his greatest recording, this brilliant seven-track album brings together Brazilian rhythms with funky electric jazz fusion grooves, spacey atmospheric synths, and complementary vocal melodies chants.
7. Jaman — ‘Sweet Heritage’
(Originally released: 1974 / Mark Records)
(Reissued: 2020 / Outernational Sounds)
London’s Outernational Sounds released some of the most essential reissues throughout 2020. One of those incredible releases was the 1974 Latin-tinged spiritual jazz masterpiece from Buffalo, New York pianist Jaman, titled Sweet Heritage. Despite being a regular among both the Buffalo and Manhattan club scenes, this was the only album he ever recorded. Originally pressed in tiny quantities by the Mark Records custom service, and issued with a stock landscape cover, Sweet Heritage featured the regular Jaman group playing a mixture of covers and originals. Prior to this reissue, the pianist didn’t even have a copy for himself. Now thanks to Outernational Sounds new generations of jazz fans can enjoy this timeless music.
6. Marcy Luarks & Classic Touch — ‘Electric Murder’
(Originally released: 1983 / Dine-O-Mite Records)
(Reissed: 2020 / Kalita Records)
Another highlight from the year’s first Record Store Day in late August, London’s Kalita Records reissued for the first time, Marcy Luarks & Classic Touch’s 1983 mythical American-Nigerian Afro boogie gem Electric Murder. Considered a “holy grail” this previously impossible-to-find album fuses together cosmic hypnotic melodies with Afro-funk, disco and funky “ESG-like” post-punk grooves. A massive reissue release primed for the dancefloor!
5. Ade Olatunji & The Positive Force — ‘Oracy’
(Originally released: 1977 / Pamoja Records)
(Reissued: 2020 / Rain&Shine)
Since 2017, New Zealand’s Rain&Shine have been reissuing many incredible rare modern soul, disco, jazz, and gospel recordings. One of those releases was The Positive Force & Ade Olatunji’s 1977 almost-impossible-to-find spiritual jazz masterpiece Oracy. Originally the recording was self-released in a very small quantity by the Detroit ensemble, this seminal recording combines beautiful spiritual and modal melodies, African-influenced percussion grooves, and horn solos with vocal chants, and socially-conscious spoken word poetry from Ade Olatunji.
4. Guilherme Coutinho E O Grupo Stalo — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1978 / Erla)
(Reissued: 2020 / Mad About Records)
Another of the many essential reissues from Mad About Records this past year was the highly-obscure 1978 experimental Brazilian album by Guilherme Coutinho and his ensemble Grupo Stalo. After a complicated and long journey to hunt down an original source of the lo-fi tropicalia funk recording, the Portuguese label was able to do some restoration work to both the audio and artwork, eventually releasing what arguably is an even better version of the timeless masterpiece.
3. Admas — ‘Sons of Ethiopia’
(Originally released: 1984 / African Heritage Records)
(Reissued: 2020 / Frederiksberg Records)
New York based Frederiksberg Records reissued, for the first time, the highly obscure and adventurously eclectic 1984 instrumental album from Ethiopian-rooted group Admas, titled Sons of Ethiopia. Emerging from the community of Ethiopian exiles in the Washington, DC area that fled their native country to escape the violence of the decade-long Derg regime, this group flips Ethiopian pop music upside down on this seven-track album. Way ahead of it’s time, the recording blends together a unique mix of lo-fi electronic beats and synths, samba and Latin style rhythms, reggae grooves, African highlife influenced melodies, and cosmic atmospheric tones.
2. Kirk Lightsey and Rudolph Johnson with the All Stars — ‘Habiba’
(Originally released: 1974 / Gallo)
(Reissued: 2020 / Outernational Sounds)
For the second record on this list from Outernational Sounds, the London-based label made available for the first time outside of South Africa, one of the most sought-after and obscure international jazz recordings in Kirk Lightsey and Rudolph Johnson with the All Stars’ 1974 funky spiritual jazz holy-grail Habiba. A masterful recording, that became quickly out of print upon its initial original release on South African’s famous Gallo imprint label, the three track recording dives into post-Coltrane spiritual grooves on the 21-minute title track “Habiba”, to head-nodding jazz-funk flipside track “Here It Is”, and the minor key waltz “Fresh Air”.
- Family of Swede — ‘Set You Free (Long Version)’ 12″
(Cordial Recordings)
Earlier in the year, London’s Cordial Recordings put out a full-length album featuring previously unreleased material recorded in the 70s from an Oakland based funk and soul group Family of Swede, titled Family Album. Due to high demand and heavy rotation from Gilles Peterson and others, the long version of the brilliant soul track “Set You Free”, which was originally only included on the CD version, was finally made available as a twelve-inch single. Coming in at just under twelve minutes long, this timeless track takes listeners on an epic sonic journey, blending together uplifting gospel-like vocals with cosmic soul and psychedelic grooves. On the flip, the record includes two more solid tracks in the uptempo funk jam “Mellow”, and the feel-good cut “Life”.If there is only one selection that you purchase from this list, this absolutely must be that record.
BeatCaffeine 2020 Favorites Lists:
Favorite Albums of 2020
Favorite EP Releases of 2020
Favorite Tracks of 2020
Favorite Compilations of 2020
Favorite Reissues of 2020
