It took a little while to get this out but we had to do right by Mr. Ford. Our second collaboration with Rotter and Friends, this rad design by Jess Rotter just about sums up Jim Ford and has some clever references to his (recently reissued by LITA) album Harlan County. How many can you find???
The tee comes in S, M, L, and XL in Men’s and Women’s sizes and two smokin’ colorways. Available for purchase by itself or as a sweet tee/CD or tee/LP combo deal from Light In The Attic and Rotter and Friends. Become an instant fan!
Hello there. Allow us to introduce you to your new favorite record: Jim Ford Harlan County! Recorded in 1969 in Los Angeles, CA, Harlan County is a true gem of the swamp/country-funk tradition. Tony Joe White, Bobby Charles, Charlie Rich…Jim Ford could hang with them all.
Dig the gatefold spread! Stick 'em up!
“Jimmy Ford is the baddest white man on the planet,” said Sly Stone of Jim Ford, and listening to Harlan County today who’s to argue? Needless to say, we’re honored to re-release these ten country-funk gems on CD and 180-gram wax (for the first time) with Ford’s original cover artwork, beautifully re-mastered audio (from the original tapes), extensive liner notes by Kurt Wolff (The Rough Guide to Country Music), and rare photos. These jams are fierce and fuzzed out, ready for the club or just a cruise in your powder blue Ford pickup. See ya out there.
Check all the goodies!
For more info, audio samples and to order Jim Ford Harlan County (LITA 068 – CD | LP) hop on over HERE!
Hey hey lookey what we just got in the mail! Back in print, Betty Davis’ landmark 1973 debut, Betty Davis, and 1974′s They Say I’m Different! Both LPs feature 180-gram wax, deluxe Stoughton old-school “tip-on” sleeves (They Say I’m Different is gatefold) and 4-page insert with rare photos and liner notes by Oliver Wang (Soul Sides). Get on it!
For more info and to order Betty Davis Betty Davis (LITA 026) click HERE!
For more info and to order Betty Davis They Say I’m Different (LITA 027) click HERE!
Thought about holding off on this, but we couldn’t wait to share this awesome news. The gospel truth is we’re just rootin’ tootin’ excited about the release of Jim Ford’s Harlan County on Tuesday, July 26th. And to make this release even more special, check out this little nugget:
That’s right, to celebrate the release of Harlan County we’re collaborating again on a tee with the eternally wise Rotter and Friends. You probably saw and hopefully snagged the Jim Sullivan tee (among their other sick designs). We’re expecting these shirts (offered in two colorways) to be available in early August via LITA-LTD and Rotter and Friends, so keep an eye out! We’ll also be offering some deals when you buy the shirt and LP or CD together. Get ready!
We have our friends over at Favorite Recordings to thank unearthing this jazz-funk gem. The Melton Brothers Band is comprised of identical twin brothers Dale (Piano/Vocals) and Dennis (Bass/Vocals) Melton, Alfie Moss (Lead Vocals/Percussion), Tyrone Wilson (Drums/Vocals) and Bill Allman (washboard/percussion). Their one and only, self-produced album Living in the City was recorded live over the course of three different performances in Delaware and Pennsylvania during the summer of 1978. Alfie and Melton Brother’s Band had been playing together since 1972, which is the era that most of their influence is inherited from. The title track “Living in the City”, is hard to pinpoint, freely utilizing elements of jazz, funk, blues, and soul. But vague genre adjectives don’t really do the track justice.
Alfie’s soaring vocals dance above and below the melody with an astonishing range and self-assured grace that is distinctly reminiscent of the legendary jazz vocalists of her early years. Dale’s keyboard workout instantly sets the warm mood, as Dennis keeps the rhythm and Tyrone supplies the addicting boom-bap that simply makes you want to move. But the message of “Living in the City” is what really hits hard – the lyrics of the chorus meaningfully explain an infinitely complicated mindset in a very humble and inspirational manner.
Unfortunately this album was a promo piece for the studio that The Melton Brothers never got off the ground so the amount produced and distributed was extremely limited. This is the first time forgotten gem has been reissued and the packaging is done right with an old-school “tip-on” sleeve and full color insert. Bam!
For audio samples and to order The Melton Brothers Band with Ms. Alfie Moss – Livin’ In The City, click yr clicker HERE!
Take My Hand is an essential Canadian private press LP from 1973! Mixing West Coast psych-folk-rock stylings with mellow dreamy acoustics and occasional female backing vocals, this album wears its damaged heart on its sleeve. For you suicidal types, the album also has a couple of great downer tracks with sparse arrangements. Hurts so good! Highlights include: “A Tale Of Raven”, “To Know You”, “Three Hour Ride” and “This Time Around”. Fans of David Wiffen, Kauffman/Caboor Songs From Suicide Bridge and Vernon Wray will dig this.
This CD features fully remastered audio–from the original tapes–and includes 7 previously unreleased bonus tracks! Big thanks to the folks at Regeneration Records for making this rare and collectible album available again.
For audio samples and to order David Sinclair Take My Hand (Regeneration Records) CLICK AWAY!
A few months back, we featured a great new label, Cultures of Soul, and their inaugural release–Stanton Davis’ Ghetto/Mysticism Brighter Days album. Brighter Days is a heavy hitting jazz-funk long player and we’ve been rocking it on the office CD player since we got copies in stock…until now. We just got in the vinyl addition of this great reissue and it is slammin’! They’re doing it right with this version: 150-gram virgin vinyl housed in an old-school tip-on gatefold sleeve with comprehensive liner notes. Very nice!
For audio samples and to order Stanton Davis’ Ghetto/Mysticism Brighter Daysclicketh HERE!
Looky looky what we just got in! Teranga Beat is a new record label based in Senegal that highlights some of the great recordings made in the golden age (late 60s to the mid 80s) of Senegalese/West African music. This, their first release, is a compilation of music created by one of Senegal’s most important and highly respected artists, Idrissa Diop, highlighting his recordings made from 1969 thru 1976.
The extensive liner notes by Teranga Beat’s Adamantios Kafetzis include the back story on ‘IDY’- Diop’s legendary band Sahel and the music scene in Senegal. LP edition is double vinyl and housed in an old-school gatefold jacket. CD package includes a 24 page booklet with liner notes, photos and more. Fans of the excellent releases on Masstropicas and Secret Stash take note.
For more info, audio samples and to order Idrissa Diop Cheikh Tidiane Tall click HERE!
Oh yeah, just two more days until our latest release, Our Live Are Shaped By What We Love: Motown’s Mowest Story 1971-1973, drops! We’ve got some special announcements this week, so be sure to check the blog out daily. For now, run out and pick up the June (#328 with Battles on the cover) issue of The Wire for an excellent review of the anthology:
“[...] an Apollonian synthesis of Soul and Funk, with a dusting of West Coast rock. [...] exquisitely compiled.”
Mark Fisher, The Wire
Rotter & Friends are a NYC-based design team who’s impeccably designed and super limited T-shirts you’ve been seeing for years. Such artists to get their own shirt include: Gene Clark, Neil Young, Captain Beefheart, Link Wray, Christie Mcvie, Tony Joe White, the list goes on and on. Well, we’re super excited and honored to announce the latest Rotter & Friends design/tee–Jim Sullivan“There’s a highway telling me to go”! Here’s what R + F have to say about it:
‘Tis a really big moment in R + F history as we announce our first official collaboration with the great people at Light In The Attic Records paying homage to the late, mysterious, and wonderful Jim Sullivan and his 1969 album: U.F.O.
In addition to this super rare record being a gorgeous collection of hope jams, Jim’s story is a whopper to boot-as he disappeared for good in March of 1975. Some think he got lost in the desert. Some think he fell foul of a local family with alleged mafia ties. Some think he was abducted by aliens. LITA were so blown away by this lil’ masterpiece and recently re-issued it on vinyl/cd/digital.
We are offering the discount combo option of limited edition tee with vinyl as well….”
So dig that! You can order the shirt by itself or as a package deal with our reissue of Jim’s U.F.O.! Men’s and Women’s sizes available. These are super limited, so don’t sleep!
