Jazz Room Records Reissues Onward International’s “Foot In The Door”

Onward International — Foot In The Door, Jazz Room Records

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Jazz Room Records Reissues Onward International’s “Foot In The Door”

A BeatCaffeine favorite, Jazz Room Records—run by legendary DJ Paul Murphy—returns with a massive 10″ reissue of Onward International’s Foot in the Door EP. Originally released in 1983 on Murphy’s then-label, Paladin Records, this jazz-dance classic retains its potent dancefloor appeal, making the reissue, without a doubt, one of the must-own records of 2026.

A foundational release among the UK’s acid-jazz scene, “Foot in the Door” still remains a classic to this day. Recorded in a single night at the same studio where Sade made Diamond Life, the session brought together top London musicians who would later appear on Working Week’s seminal debut, Working Nights. The title came from the band’s eventual breakthrough: after shopping the master around London, they finally found a record label (Paladin Records) willing to open its door.

Beyond the title track, “Samba Doo Bonnay” blends Airto-style batucada rhythms with Brazilian boogie, while Roberto Pla’s “21st Floor Mambo” rounds out the EP with an irresistible helping of mambo jazz.

Championed on compilations, bootlegged, and rediscovered by a new generation of DJs, original 12″ copies of this three-track fusion of Brit-funk and early acid jazz has become increasingly elusive and expensive. This timely reissue puts the music back where it belongs: on turntables and dancefloors.