Japan’s Ministers of Superheavy Funk

OSAKA MONAURAIL

to release

’25th Anniversary Singles Collection’

for November Australian Tour

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Japan’s hottest funk outfit Osaka Monaurail have announced a unique Australian release – a “25th Anniversary Singles Collection” – to coincide with their Australian tour next month. The 15 track collection brings together a career-spanning collection of originals and covers and includes tracks with Marva Whitney, Martha Hight and Shirley Davis. The album will be released on CD and via digital platforms on Public Opinion Music on November 16.

The collection features liner notes from Melbourne soul guru Chris Gill of Northside Records and 3RRR fame. Sez Chris: “One of my favourite bands in the world, OSAKA MONAURAIL, are coming back down under!  They are funky to the core – the HARD core. Taking their funk cues from the boss, James Brown, this band adhere to an understanding that this music is for moving, this music is for shaking, this music is for the dance floor! And they’ve been serving up funky soul for over 25 years!”

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With 7 studio albums, 2 live albums and an every-growing reputation as a must-see live act, Osaka Monaurail are Japan’s premiere funk orchestra, and, as the late Marva Whitney once described them, “one of the hottest funk bands on the planet.” They have been recording and touring together for more than 25 years and have thrilled audiences across Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia with their dynamic show in over a decade of international touring. They have played the biggest festivals in the world and the tightest clubs on the planet and brought the dance-floor to volcanic like eruptions everywhere they go!

They’ve toured Australia twice – 2013 and 2014 – thrilling club goers as well as knocking out larger crowds at the Sydney Festival, WOMADelaide and Meredith Music Festival.

Formed out of Osaka University’s jazz society in 1992, Osaka Monaurail took James Brown’s funk template as ‘the gold standard’ for a rhythm combo and named themselves after the 1975 Funk classic “J.B.’s Monaurail”. They appropriated even the miss-spelling and set out to be the ‘new ministers of super heavy funk’ for future generations.

Now, having toured with funk icons and James Brown associates Marva Whitney, Fred Wesley and Martha High, as well as producing and backing solo albums for Whitney and High, they are on a mission to capture the energy, sound and excitement of funk’s heyday and beyond, a sound that is as free as it is organised and disciplined. Expect to see a high energy nine-piece band with sharp suits, organised steps, trumpets twirling in formation and the dynamic showmanship of charismatic singer and director Ryo Nakata. And expect to hear world-class, authentic, heavy funk.

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OSAKA MONAURAIL

‘25th ANNIVERSARY SINGLES COLLECTION’

1. DOUBLE-UP, NOW   4:05
(R. Nakata – K. Hiraishi)
Originally released on RD Records RDBV-021, August 2004

2. QUICKSAND   4:37
(R. Nakata – S. Riddick)
Original single release on P-Vine PLP-6094, April 2007

3. FRUIT BASKET (2014)
(R. Nakata – D. Nakamura – S. Mukai – D. Hayami –
K. Yamagata – Y. Ikeda – S. Kimura – M. Schmidt)
Originally released SHOUT-280, August 2014

4. ARCHIPELAGO (2011)
(R. Nakata – D. Hayami – Y. Ikeda)
Original single release UNIQUE UNIQ-191, November 2011

5. SUPERSHINE NUMBER NINE   2:32
(A. Badale – A. Elias)
Original single release OUR Lable OUR45-005, November 2008

6. GET READY   2:56
(W. Robinson)
Originally released on UNIQUE UNIQ-152, November 2008

7. HUNG UP    4:27
(L. Jones – M. Schmidt)
Original single release on UNIQUE UNIQ-171, 2011

8. MIND POWER, Pts 1&2     6:52
(C. Bobbit – J. Brown – F. Wesley)
Original single release on RD Records RDBV-022, November 2004

9. HOT PANTS, Pts 1&2     5:01
(J. Brown)
Originally released in two part singles RDBV-023&024, April 2005

10. PICK UP THE PIECES ONE BY ONE, Pts 1&2     5:01
(J. Brown – J. Starks – C. Bobbit – F. Wesley)
Same as “Hot Pants”

11. IT’S HER THING (Marva Whitney)    2:49
(K. Hiraishi)
Original single release SHOUT-1001, March 2007

12. I AM WHAT I AM feat. Marva Whitney) Pts 1&2
(M. Whitney – M. Schmidt – K. Hiraishi – R. Nakata)
Originally released RDBV-025, June 2006

13. OH WHAT A FEELING feat. Martha High     5:29
(J. Quarterman)
Originally released on RECORD KICKS RKX-067, 2017

14. NO TROUBLE ON THE MOUNTAIN feat. Shirley Davis     3:14
(L. Cook)
Original single release UNIQ-191, November 2011

15. JUST TO BE FREE,  Pt. 1    3:42
(R. Nakata)
Originally released RDBV-014, June 2001

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‘25th ANNIVERSARY
SINGLES COLLECTION’
on Public Opinion Music
will be available at all shows
and in-store November 15.

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David Roy Williams Presents

OSAKA MONAURAIL

AUSTRALIA 2018

Thursday November 15th The Triffid, Brisbane
For tickets visit

Friday November 16th & Saturday 17th November
Mullum Music Festival, Mullumbimby
For Tickets visit

Sunday November 18th The Factory, Sydney
For tickets visit

Tuesday November 20th Caravan Club, Melbourne
For tickets visit

Wednesday November 21st Prince of Wales, St Kilda
For tickets visit

Thursday November 22nd The Nightcat, Fitzroy
For tickets visit

Friday & Saturday November 23rd
& 24th Queenscliff Music Festival
For tickets visit

Sunday November 25th The Gov, Adelaide
For tickets visit

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For More Info Visit HERE 

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Follow OSAKA MONAURAIL
Website

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AMNPLIFY – DB