Amalia and the Social Lovers newie

Out April 29 on 7"vinyl/digital on Cherries Records, very cool slice of modern boogie funk.

"For their 7th release, Cherries brings a different sound to your speakers, created by the return of ‘the first lady of modern funk’ AMALIA, in collaboration with a new group, straight out of the West Coast underground, SOCIAL LOVERS.

With this release, the Social Lovers sound takes you downstairs to the basement after-hours party, where people dance close into the wee hours of the night.

The A-Side, ‘So Right (feat. AMALIA)’ leads off with an enchanting arpeggiation, while the synth and drums connect with AMALIA’s spacey and soulful vocals to create a lush, warm pillow of funk to your ear drums. AMALIA waxes deep on a lover who is the perfect one, but soon becomes the wrong one, a melodic reminder that we are all looking for something real.

‘Call Me Up’, the B-Side brings Cherries closer to its Chicago roots with an instrumental, soulful house inspired tune, full of percussion and natural ebbs and flows of synth chords and strong melody. Social Lovers’ lush and polished production is showcased here with a brief taste of the smooth street soul sounds that the collective five thrives on, to keep you dancing in the basement ‘til the break of dawn."

Cermakk - Just a touch

From Cherries Records... "For our very first cassette release, we bring you the smooth sounds of Cermakk, the mysterious producer from our very first (out of print) vinyl release, featuring legendary R&B vocalist Doug Shorts.

This limited edition blue audio cassette contains 28 minutes of all original instrumental productions from this Chicago producer, in classic mixtape style. "Just A Touch" exudes the original Cherries sound with smooth & sensual 80s r&b and swing inspired melodies, while complimenting Cermakk's signature "cold & grown" sound of deep and intricate drum patterns, surely to make your head nod.

 Light the candles, pour the bubbles in the bath, and listen to "Just A Touch" of Cermakk. Limited Edition. 100 copies pressed, out now." Listen to snippets below...

Doug Shorts

"Chicago singer/songwriter Doug Shorts has been singing since the late 60s with harmony groups The Visitors and Shades Of Brown, and went on to form his funk outfit Masterplan Inc. Independently, they released two extremely rare 7” singles, now being sought out by many funk music collectors. A large portion of the band’s 70’s previously unreleased recordings will soon be released on UK label Jazzman/Fryers & Chicago label The Numero Group."

Check out the featured article "The Long Game of Soul Singer Doug Shorts" on the musical journey of Doug Shorts & Cherries Records on Chicago's The Reader HERE.

Don't Sleep On My Love is available on 7" & MP3 at www.cherriesrecords.com

Don't sleep

Doug Short. Photo: Ryan Lowry

"After selling out of his first 7” release in just under one week, Cherries Records brings back Doug Shorts for their fifth release with ‘Don’t Sleep On My Love’ b/w ‘Bet I’ll Know The Next Time’.

‘Funkland’, the basement of Doug Shorts’ Southside Chicago home, is the space where he creates his signature raw sound of deep melodies and timeless lyrics in songs of love and life. It was over a decade ago where Doug and fellow Masterplan Inc. member Archie Brooks wrote Bet I’ll Know the Next Time, a self-promise to use the wisdom from past mistakes to better prepare for a second chance at love, as “the world is strange, full of love games”.

With a definitive ‘B’ side Chicago blues/gospel feel, the melodic organ riffs compliment the hard-hitting drum machine beats, creating a modern day inspirational hymn. The midtempo r&b ‘A’ side, Don’t Sleep On My Love, showcases Doug’s cool demeanor and clever word play, warning his love not to take him for granted. ‘Wake up and smell the coffee, ‘cause you can’t do without me. Don’t sleep on my love’.

Shorts has been singing since the late 60s with harmony groups The Visitors and Shades Of Brown, and went on to form his funk outfit Masterplan Inc. Independently, they released two extremely rare 7” singles, now being sought out by many funk music collectors. A large portion of the band’s 70’s previously unreleased recordings will soon be released on UK label Jazzman/Fryers & Chicago label The Numero Group."

There's a great indepth interview with Doug Shorts over at the Chicago Reader, take a look. 

‘Don’t Sleep On My Love’ b/w ‘Bet I’ll Know The Next Time’ will be available on 7" vinyl/MP3 on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013 at www.cherriesrecords.com.