Secret Stash Records

If you live in Minneapolis, perhaps you’ve seen copies of the Twin Cities Funk & Soul newspaper floating around. Maybe you don’t live here, but you saw a copy on the counter of your local record shop. In case anyone is wondering, that newspaper serves as the liner notes for the compilation coming out this week. There is a copy stuffed inside every LP package. The CD pressing also includes a slightly truncated version of it (we literally couldn’t make it all fit in a digipack!).

We look at it this way, you can’t own history. The musicians, promoters, club owners, photographers, journalists, etc… they’re the ones who did all the incredible work. All we did was write it down. It’s long past due that these folks get their story told and we want as many people as possible to hear it. If someone doesn’t have the money on hand to purchase the LP or CD, that shouldn’t stop them from having access to the stories contained in this newspaper. To ensure this is always the case, we’ve put a free PDF copy of the newspaper online so anyone anywhere with an internet connection can view it for free.

If you’d like a free hard copy of it, please send an email to info[at]secretstashrecords.com and we’ll hook you up.

We are so excited to kick off Twin Cities Funk & Soul Week starting Sunday night. Make sure to tune into 89.3 The Current at 6pm CST to their Local Show program this week featuring Secret Stash Records and The Valdons with the Twin Cities Funk & Soul All-Stars. Here’s a video sneak preview.

It’s really happening people!!

Big shout out to all who came out to the Pazy and the Black Hippies listening Party at the King and I Thai Lounge. Was awesome to see Adriana and Tony from one of our favorite Minneapolis bands, Malamanya come down. Definitely check them out when you get a minute. We’re really excited to see them Tueday night opening for Antibalas at First Avenue!

Moving and grooving right along here at Secret Stash Records HQ the Twin Cities Funk & Soul All-Stars have begun rehearsals and we thought we’d give you a little sneak peek. We’ve moved out our office chairs to make room for extra funkiness in the make-shift practice space to get the tunes down right and tight for the big release show in September.

our friend, the excellent photographer Ben Clark snapped some sweet pics for us as well.

Everyone is super pumped to play this music again and all the liner notes and packaging are looking incredible for the big record to be released next month. We have more big news for you next week that we know will blow your minds as much as it is ours. We can’t wait to let you know just how funky it’s going to get around here.

Do not sleep on getting your tickets to the big release party September 22 at the Cedar Cultural Center.

Just in from our friends at Burlesque of North America here’s a sneak preview of the limited edition screen printed jackets for the upcoming reissue of Pazy and the Black Hippies Wa Ho Ha.

Soon to be die-cut and hand assembled this pre-sale only pressing on green vinyl are almost sold out.

Place your order for the limited edition vinyl and order a limited run of the special Pazy and the Black Hippies t-shirt. Once they are gone they are gone!

It’s finally time to break the news here at Secret Stash Records about something we’ve been working on for nearly a year. We have been freaking out about finally being able to unveil the cover and give you the lowdown on our biggest release to date!

Tuesday, September 25 marks the official release of Twin Cities Funk & Soul: Lost R&B Grooves from Minneapolis/St. Paul 1964-1979, a 2xLP/CD Compilation of sweet-soul and raw funk from a long line of singers and musicians that defined Twin Cities funkiness pre-Prince.

Twin Cities Funk and Soul: Lost R&B Grooves from Minneapolis/Saint Paul 1964-1979 is the first of its kind and uncovers the music that laid the ground work for the “Minneapolis Sound”. The soulful voices of Maurice McKinnies, Wanda Davis and Jackie Harris, who’s singles have been long sought after on the collector’s market, are gathered in one place along with breakworthy R&B and psychedelic funk from Twin Cities bands including Prophets of Peace, Willie and the Bumblebees and The Lewis Connection. Plus the sweet soul of Wee Willie Walker, The Valdons and Dave Brady and the Stars make for an incredible package of music and original photos from that era.

To celebrate on Saturday, September 22, we will be hosting an album release party at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis featuring the Twin Cities Funk & Soul All-Stars. Amazingly we’ve got Willie Walker, Maurice Jacox, members of Prophets of Peace, Willie and the Bees, Band of Thieves, The Exciters, The Champions and for the first time in decades, Wanda Davis and the reunited Valdons all on one stage! This promises to be a landmark event for deep soul enthusiasts and Minnesota music fans.

Ticket are on sale now at the Cedar Cultural Center.