Rare groove

Rare groove refers to a niche of funk, soul, and jazz-funk records that are rare, obscure, or out-of-print, often sought after by collectors and DJs. The term was coined in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when DJs like Norman Jay and others began digging through crates of old records to find tracks that were not commercially successful but had a distinctive groove. These records were often originally released in small quantities or on independent labels, making them hard to find. The term 'rare groove' was popularized by the UK magazine Blues & Soul and the radio show 'Rare Groove' on London's KISS FM, which helped define the genre's canon.

Rare groove is characterized by its emphasis on rhythm and groove, often featuring prominent basslines, tight drum breaks, and horn sections. The music spans a range of styles, from the raw energy of deep funk to the sophisticated arrangements of jazz-funk. Many rare groove tracks were originally B-sides or album cuts that were overlooked at the time of release but later became prized by DJs for their dancefloor appeal. The genre has had a profound influence on hip-hop, with producers sampling rare groove records for beats, and on house music, where DJs incorporated rare groove tracks into their sets. The term also spawned a subculture of record collecting, with rare groove records fetching high prices at auctions and online marketplaces.

Several artists and labels are central to the rare groove canon. Artists such as James Brown, The Meters, and Roy Ayers are often cited as foundational, but the genre also includes lesser-known acts like The Blackbyrds, Donald Byrd, and Lonnie Liston Smith. Independent labels like Sussex, Blue Note, and CTI Records released many tracks that later became rare groove staples. The genre also includes obscure regional releases from labels like the Detroit-based Eastbound Records and the New Orleans-based Sansu Enterprises. DJs like Norman Jay, Gilles Peterson, and Keb Darge were instrumental in unearthing and popularizing these records, and their compilations have helped preserve the genre's legacy.

Beyond the well-known tracks, rare groove includes a wealth of obscure and surprising sub-genres. For instance, 'rare groove' also encompasses Latin-tinged funk and soul, such as the work of Joe Bataan and Ray Barretto, which were popular in New York's Latin quarters. Additionally, the genre has a significant overlap with 'northern soul', a British movement focused on rare American soul records, though rare groove tends to be more jazz-influenced. Some rare groove records were originally released in tiny pressings, sometimes as few as 500 copies, making them extremely rare. The term has also been applied to reissues and compilations, with labels like BBE and Strut Records releasing curated collections. The influence of rare groove extends to modern artists like J Dilla and Madlib, who have sampled rare groove records extensively.

Deep funk

A subgenre of funk characterized by raw, stripped-down rhythms and often obscure recordings.

Jazz-funk

A genre that blends jazz improvisation with funk rhythms, popular in the 1970s.

Northern soul

A British music scene focused on rare American soul records, often with a fast tempo.