Soul Love Now - The Black Fire Records Story Vinyl LP 2020
Disc 1:
1) Children of Tomorrow's Dreams - Theatre West
2) Soul Love Now - Oneness of Juju
3) Drummers from Ibadan - Byard Lancaster
4) Doin' the Carvin' for Thabo - Lon Moshe & Southern Freedom Arkestra
5) Nia (Poem: Complete the Circle) - Juju
Disc 2
1) Look at the People - Wayne Davis
2) Third House - Southern Energy Ensemble
3) African Rhythms (Live in Washington DC, 1975) - Oneness of Juju
4) People - Experience Unlimited
Formed by DJ and record producer Jimmy Gray in Richmond, Virginia, and following in the footsteps of other influential black-owned independent labels like Strata-East and Tribe, the foundation of Black Fire coincided with saxophonist James 'Plunky' Branch returning to the city from New York to form Oneness Of Juju. The band's 'African Rhythms' album in 1975 was the perfect fusion of jazz, deep African polyrhythms and empowering lyrics and bassist Muzi Branch, a trained artist, created the first of many Black Fire handillustrated sleeves for the label's debut release.