Dug from the vaults and exposed, blinking, to 21st century sunshine, comes the first full re-issue of this compilation by Trinidadian-American auteur and cult hero George Harley Semper, who co-wrote seven of the nine tracks featured here.

A multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, agent, publisher, club owner, Hammond-wielding beatnut and general behind-the-scenes motivator for a wealth of soul and R&B recordings from the 1950s on – Donny Hathaway and Jimmy Smith among them – Semper was crucial to funk and hip hop. With this rare gem, originally a limited edition of 100, you can hear and feel why.

Recovered by UK groove explorer Gilles Peterson and released on his new Arc label, a rescue home for oddities and curios, it's a collection bolstered by a cosmic soul revuestyle line up of heavyweight instrumentalists on tunes imbued with singularity of spirit, and moments of indulgence and humour. Four respective lead vocalists, Jimmy Hayes (on the happy, freaky ‘Goody Goody Gumdrops’), Troy Raglin (on the fabulously syrupy ‘Never In My Life’), falsetto wonder Lewis ‘Robinhood’ Flouroy (lifting ‘Let's Live and Let Live’ sky high) Semper himself, fronting The George Semper Orchestra. The latter's ‘Got to Find a Way to Make Some Money’ is all wailing, chorusing, organ-driven gospel heaven. Vintage gold.