Media Monarchy plays Annie & The Caldwells, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 x Kamasi Washington and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for May 1, 2025. ♬
Tyrannosaurus Rex (T. Rex) – “Ride A White Swan” (Vinyl)
‘Ride A White Swan / Is It Love’
Blue Thumb Records – 9 October 1970
*Tyrannosaurus Rex (T. Rex) – “Ride A White Swan” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_5IQrQ6x04 // https://www.discogs.com/release/8672587-Tyrannosaurus-Rex-Ride-A-White-Swan-Is-It-Love // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_a_White_Swan // https://genius.com/T-rex-ride-a-white-swan-lyrics // “Ride a white swan like the people of the Beltane”! AllMusic says the song, “inadvertently founded glam rock mania” and was right as the band was shortening its name – though this single pressing still has the full name. Produced by Tony Visconti and gifted by Producer Shawn!*
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Raphaelle Thibaut – “Sea Lions of the Galapagos” (Inst.)
‘Disneynature: Sea Lions Of The Galapagos (Original Soundtrack)’
Walt Disney Records – April 22, 2025
*Raphaelle Thibaut – “Sea Lions of the Galapagos” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/z4UU6NUm67Q // https://open.spotify.com/album/7Gj0SSm2x8gYFNfIPSiR6W // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36367119/ // From ‘Disneynature: Sea Lions Of The Galapagos (Original Soundtrack),’ available now via Walt Disney Records.*
Rémi Boubal – “La Persecución” (Inst.)
‘Mexico 86 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’
Plaza Mayor Company – April 23, 2025
*Rémi Boubal – “La Persecución” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/k4_AqlJB5go // https://open.spotify.com/album/3hRoTKyTbEQkOOhjopKywT // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31229255/ // From ‘Mexico 86 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),’ available now via Plaza Mayor Company.*
Harry Sukman – “Opening Credits” (Inst.)
‘The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell (Original Score from the Motion Picture)’
BSX Records – April 11, 2025
*Harry Sukman – “Opening Credits” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/By2vwXaVGIo // https://open.spotify.com/album/4W7xgZ6Z2FytLnbhf1i0eK // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063459/ // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Navy_of_Sgt._O’Farrell // From the 1968 film starring Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller, ‘The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell (Original Score from the Motion Picture),’ available now via BSX Records.*
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Annie & The Caldwells – “Wrong”
‘Can’t Lose My (Soul)’
Luaka Bop – March 21, 2025
*Annie & The Caldwells – “Wrong” https://open.spotify.com/track/31dzCsISBP7bJkIYAAnEWO // https://luakabop.lnk.to/AnnieAndTheCaldwells // https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/26/wherever-he-sends-us-were-willing-to-go-annie-and-the-caldwells-on-god-gospel-and-a-debut-album-40-years-in-the-making // From ‘Can’t Lose My (Soul),’ the just-released album by family band, Annie & The Caldwells. Available now via Luaka Bop.*
The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble – “Makin’ Moves” (Inst.)
‘Gemini’
Colemine Records – March 28, 2025
*The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble – “Makin’ Moves” (Inst.) https://thesurefiresoulensemble.bandcamp.com/track/makin-moves // https://thesurefiresoulensemble.bandcamp.com/album/gemini // From ‘Gemini,’ the just-released album by San Diego collective, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble. Available now via Colemine Records.*
Gina Sicilia – “Twisting the Night Away” (Sam Cooke Cover)
‘Bring It On Home: A Tribute To Sam Cooke’
Blue Élan Records – June 6, 2025
*Gina Sicilia – “Twisting the Night Away” (Sam Cooke Cover) https://gina-sicilia.bandcamp.com/track/twisting-the-night-away // https://gina-sicilia.bandcamp.com/album/bring-it-on-home-a-tribute-to-sam-cooke // From ‘Bring It On Home: A Tribute To Sam Cooke,’ the upcoming album by Nashville-based soul and blues singer, Gina Sicilia. Due on June 6th via Blue Élan Records.*
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Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – “Move” (Keep Moving Version w/Kamasi Washington)
‘Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) Deluxe Edition’
Record Kicks – May 28, 2025
*Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – “Move” (Keep Moving Version w/Kamasi Washington) https://seunkutiegypt80.bandcamp.com/album/move-keep-moving-version // https://seunkutiegypt80.bandcamp.com/album/heavier-yet-deluxe-edition // From ‘Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) Deluxe Edition,’ the upcoming album by Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, due on May 28th via Record Kicks.*
Sam Redmore – “El Camino” (w/Ellie Coleman)
‘El Camino (feat. Ellie Coleman)’
Jalapeno Records – April 25, 2025
*Sam Redmore – “El Camino” (w/Ellie Coleman) https://samredmore.bandcamp.com/track/el-camino-feat-ellie-coleman-2 // The title track of the just-released two-song single by UK-based artist, Sam Redmore. Available now via Jalapeno Records.*
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Isaiah J. Thompson – “VIII. The Prophet”
‘The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry’
Mack Avenue – June 6, 2025
*Isaiah J. Thompson – “VIII. The Prophet” https://isaiahjthompson.bandcamp.com/track/viii-the-prophet // https://isaiahjthompson.bandcamp.com/album/the-book-of-isaiah-modern-jazz-ministry // The lead single to preview ‘The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry,’ the upcoming album by jazz pianist, Isaiah J. Thompson. The ten-song album will be available on vinyl and CD on June 6th via Mack Avenue.*
Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Charlie Brown Theme” (Inst. 2025 Remaster)
‘Jazz Impressions Of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Expanded Edition)’
Craft Recordings – April 11, 2025
*Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Charlie Brown Theme” (Inst. 2025 Remaster) https://vinceguaraldi.bandcamp.com/track/charlie-brown-theme-remastered-2025-2 // https://vinceguaraldi.bandcamp.com/album/jazz-impressions-of-a-boy-named-charlie-brown-expanded-edition // From the just-released 2xCD expanded Edition of the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s 1964 album, ‘Jazz Impressions Of A Boy Named Charlie Brown’. The CD version of the album is available now via Craft Recordings, who also issued an ‘alternate takes’ version of the album on LP for RSD 2025.*
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Shelly Y Nueva Generación – “Mr. Train, Hurry Up” // “I’m Just A Fool”
‘Shelly Y Nueva Generación’
Munster Records – March 21, 2024
*Shelly Y Nueva Generación – “Mr. Train, Hurry Up” / “I’m Just A Fool” https://munsterrecords.bandcamp.com/track/mr-train-hurry-up // https://munsterrecords.bandcamp.com/track/i-m-just-a-fool // From ‘Shelly Y Nueva Generación,’ the 2025 Munster Records compilation album featuring 14 songs by 1960’s Spanish freakbeat band, Shelly Y Nueva Generación.*