Various
French Disco Boogie Sounds (1975-1984)

Bruno “Patchworks” Hovart is definitely a name to remember if you’re interested in today’s groove music scene. After playing as a bassist and guitarist for various bands, he started producing in the mid-nineties and has kept on mixing today’s technologies with the raw spirits of Disco, Funk, Soul & Jazz music’s golden years since then.Following the trail of success left by his projects such as Mr President, Uptown Funk Empire, The Dynamics or Metropolitan Jazz Affair, Patchworks proved his musical ubiquity album after album and unexpectedly stroke in various genres.Teaming up again with label Favorite Recordings for this new solo effort, he transforms himself into Patchworks Galactic Project, inviting us for a fantastic musical trip called “Space”: a special project influenced by the 20th century's myth about travelling, exploring, living, and even loving in Space! This release is also his first album under the name Patchworks.From David Bowie's “Space Oddity”, to Jean Pierre Massiera's works at Studio Antibes, through Air’s discography, Patrick Adams’ “Cloud One”, or “La Planete Sauvage” by Alain Goraguer, this album follows a long time tradition of cosmic cinematic music!

Favorite Recordings proudly presents this new official single reissue of “Feel So Good Inside”, by Lamar Thomas. A killer deep-disco and very rare collectable single, fully coordinated for reissue by French respected DJ and Tropical rare-groove specialist, Waxist Selecta.Lamar Thomas is an American singer, composer and producer who made a short solo career in the 70s, and then formed the duo Thomas & Taylor. He has also penned few songs for Johnny Bristol, Garland Green, Nancy Wilson, Maynard Ferguson, or Johnnie Taylor among others.In 1980, he recorded this 2 tracks single for MCA Records, who released it on a 7inch left almost unnoticed at that time. 30 years later, this brilliant disco production has become a classic rare-groove title for a few DJs and diggers, with among them, French collector and DJ, Waxist Selecta (aKa Julien Minarro). Schooled about this rarity by DJ Klas (aKa Josh Goldman), he then made it a real favorite in his various DJ sets. Curious to learn more about this forgotten piece, he also liaised with Lamar through the web, and discovered that all the masters had burned in a California fire at Universal.As Julien already worked on an upcoming reissue project with Pascal Rioux and Favorite Recordings (more details in 2015), he offered him and Lamar to arrange a proper official reissue and produce a new master from his own vinyl copy. Coming out in a 12inch version built for dancefloors, the package also includes a great extended mix by Waxist.

Favorite Recordings proudly presents an exclusive eponymous LP by Brazilian singer and composer George Sauma Jr., originally produced in 1985. Imagine a never-marketed release on which you’d hear not only the beautiful and genuine George’s songs but also the work from two figures of the Brazilian Music Golden Age: Arthur Verocai and Junior Mendes! A much-needed album for all Brazilian connoisseurs. Back in the days, George Sauma Jr. was a young artist from Rio de Janeiro, learning on his side how to play chords and compose songs since he was 10. Still at the university, he’s influenced by Brazilian artists like Cassiano or Tim Maia, deeply fascinated by the arrangements and the “levada” (the groove) of all these new Brazilian songs. Simple and romantic music that resonated to his soul and creativity.Around 1985, the story took an unexpected turn. George tells: “Dna Deyse Lucidy, the mother of Junior Mendes was a candidate for deputy and went to my father’s company to advertise. When I saw her, I shouted, “I’m a big fan of your son!” ” Of course, she could not praise more the work of her son. On her advises, George went to his studio on Rua Siqueria Campos at Copacabana. Junior loved the project and sent him to Arthur Verocai to improve the arrangements. Without money, the decision was taken to record everything at Junior Mendes’ studio on an 8-channel mixer. It was a small set-up but the emotions were there! George surely had other plans for some of his songs but without the budget, they ended up doing everything the best they could. And they did very fine with a top-notch team of musicians: Paulo Black on Drums, Arthur Verocai on Guitar, Ricardo Do Canto on Bass and Helvius Vilela on Keyboards.Leaving the studio with the tapes, George tried to knock doors of international labels, but none did even dare to give him an answer. With less than 1000 copies pressed back in the days and without any distributor or label behind him, he went with proud to record stores, but received nothing than a strong reality check regarding the difficulties for a young Brazilian artist to achieve something on the saturated market of the 80s. Even for free, record stores didn’t want it. In the end, he ended up giving copies to friends and families, knowing deep inside that the songs were good! George tells: “I decided to leave, calm and conscious. I’ve still made three more albums, however on tapes, as it was more affordable. This time, just for my pleasure…”. Thirty-five years after, it’s with great emotion that this first album by George Sauma Jr. is now made available as Vinyl LP with its original offset printed innersleeve & CD.

Between the end of the 70's and the early 80's, a new sound appeared in London and its surroundings, a unique mix of Funk, Jazz-Funk and Disco labelled as Britfunk. Characterized by its raw energy that can put the needle In The Red, this up-tempo sound was a match for the UK's dancers and Jazz-Funk clubs. This first release by French label Chuwanaga features some of the most exciting, rare and powerful tracks from that era compiled by the Parisian DJ and activist Saint-James, with bands such as Equa, Potion, Inch by Inch, Congress, Index and Spookey. It features also an insert with an in-depth focus on this musical era.These young British musicians were equally inspired by the American Jazz-Funk productions and by Dub music and Reggae pushed by the Afro-Caribbean community who were at the heart of Britfunk’s development. They gave Funk a unique British flavor. However, more than just a music genre or an enclosed expression of black Britishness, it was part of a genuine musical and social movement with its own dedicated labels, fashion sense and most importantly its own set of values that fueled the whole scene. Britfunk built itself within a multicultural evolution: black people, white people, straight and queer, all dancing in the same room to the same loud sound.

After a 3rd album recorded between Detroit and Nashville, LAFAYETTE, the duo Nathalie Loriot and Franck Hedin, decided to dedicate to their 60's style "side project", THE SHUFFLES. An unceasing dream had been exciting them for a long time; Compose, produce and record an album of pure, classic 60's soul, with a sharp backing band, backing vocals and guest singers.The Studio Mercredi 9, one of the temples of the vintage sound in Paris, would be the place chosen for the recording. Analog mixer, 24 tape tracks, ribbon microphones, tube preamps and plate reverb, and Fred Carrayol, a sound engineer and studio creator, are the guarantors of the rough sound the duo is looking for. As for the musicians, they had to have strong musical personalities, essential for live tape recording: Daniel Marsala, guitarist, Olivier Ferrarin, drums, Stéphane Benguigui, bass, aka the gang des Niçois, Fabrice Colombani on the tambourine and a guest of choice, Camille Bazbaz playing the piano and the Hammond organ.3 days later the 12 tracks were taped. The following sessions took place at Gum Studio with engineer-mixer Etienne Colin, another old accomplice of the duo. And for the vocal part, the finest of Parisian Soul Gospel scene were invited: Kandie, Felicia, Josephine Spector aka Nathalie Loriot, Mike Louvila, François Valade and Kevin Davy White.The vocal performances are full of sincerity and energy, respectful to the illustrious legends of the genre. The shadow of the legendary Motown, Fame, Stax, Hi Records or Atlantic albums hang over the 12 tracks of this album, a vibrant tribute to the golden age of soul.