
DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS
PAUL PENA - PAUL PENA PAUL PENA
Different Strokes For Different Folks are delighted to release the first ever vinyl reissue of Paul Pena's sought-after self-titled album, first released in 1972.
This really is an exceptional album, in parts sounding like a 1970 era Hendrix (think posthumous LP 'The Cry of Love'), but also seeming to take influence from artists such as Allen Toussaint, Richie Havens and Terry Callier. Click the link below to listen, this really is worth a moment of your time.
Incorporating a range of influences and genres, the album is an astonishing blend of strident bluesy funk, mid-tempo piano ballads, revolutionary soul and acoustic gospel hymns, all held together by Pena's deep, rich vocals and high- class songwriting. Opener, 'Woke Up This Morning' flips the well-worn blues expression into an uplifting, country soul anthem and it's immediately followed by the dirty funk of 'I'm Gonna Make It Alright' which comes on like a prime-time Meters. 'The River' shifts down a gear, locking down a mid tempo piano ballad in the vein of 'Exile'-era Stones. Throw in the politicised soul of 'Something To Make You Happy' and the gorgeous, string laden gospel of 'Lullaby' and you have a record that truly and authentically lives and breathes a variety of genres to stunning effect.
Born in Massachusetts in 1950 and blind due to congenital glaucoma by the age of 20, Pena moved to San Francisco in 1971 having become an established performer, guitarist and songwriter. Later in the decade his song 'Jet Airliner' became a huge hit for Steve Miller Band and he regularly played live with legends such as John Lee Hooker, and B.B King. He also taught himself Tuvan throat singing to such as degree he was invited to the country to perform at an international symposium and contest; a pilgrimage that was brought to life in the Oscar nominated documentary, 'Genghis Blues' in 1999. It was then, shortly after his move West Coast, that he recorded this, his debut and self-titled record.
Reissued for the first ever time on vinyl, Different Strokes For Different Folks is delighted to release another highly sought after classic. For fans of Curtis Mayfield, Terry Callier and Bill Withers, 'Paul Pena' is a true classic album neglected for decades.
Track List
2. I'm Gonna Make It Alright
3. The River
4. One For The Lonely
5. Something To Make You Happy
6. My Adorable One
7. When I'm Gone
8. Lullaby
Pickup available at Cambridge
Usually ready in 24 hours. Unless it's a Pre-Order
Product information
Shipping
We aim to keep postage costs as low as possible while making sure your records arrive safely. All orders are packed securely using Defenda MusicMax stiff cardboard mailers, with plenty of “FRAGILE” tape, to provide the best protection in transit.
Shipping costs are calculated automatically at checkout based on the weight and destination of your order, along with packaging materials.
We send most orders via Royal Mail tracked services. For larger or heavier orders, we may use a courier service or split your order into multiple parcels to ensure it arrives safely and efficiently.
Pre-orders
Any items ordered alongside a pre-order item will be held back and posted alongside your pre-order. If you’d like them sent individually, please make separate orders.
On the subject of pre-orders, please note than release dates can change (sometimes not until the scheduled release date). Please keep an eye on our website
Returns
Returns Procedure
If you wish to cancel or return an order, you need to notify us by email (quoting your order number), and wait for us to get back to you before returning goods.
We will email you with instructions and a returns reference number. When returning items to us, you will need to take reasonable care to ensure they are not damaged in transit and that they are labelled clearly with the correct address & reference number (as provided by us) :
Relevant Record Café,
260 Mill Road
Cambridge,
CB1 3NF.
We reserve the right to not process returns sent to us without prior permission.
It’s your responsibility to retain possession and to take reasonable care of the goods in the period prior to return and until you send them back to us.
Your Right To Cancel An Order
Your right to cancel your order starts from the moment you place the order, and ends 14 days from the time you receive your order.
Non-Faulty Products
If you wish to return a product because it’s unwanted or it was ordered in error, please follow the returns procedure (see above).
We’ll happily accept a return as long as the product is still in its original shrink-wrapped packaging and is completely undamaged. You have 14 days from when you receive your order to notify us that you wish to return your order.
By opening a sealed product in any way (or using any digital download code accompanying your order), you waive your right to cancel or return your order.
Obviously we’d rather offer you store credit (in the form of a gift card), but if you’d prefer a refund, we promise to get this sorted within 14 days of receiving your return.
Please take care when ordering!
Faulty Products
If you believe you have purchased a faulty or damaged record, please follow the returns procedure (see above).
Once we receive your record, it will be tested by a member of staff in store.
If your record is deemed as faulty, you will be entitled to a refund, swap or store credit (to the same value as your initial purchase).
If this record is not deemed as faulty, we will not cover any additional postage and packaging costs incurred by either you or us, and we will not be able to offer you a refund, store credit or swap.
Basically, please be absolutely certain the record you have purchased is faulty before following the returns procedure. If possible, we suggest testing the record on different turntables and weighting the tone arm differently.
Steepletone and Crosley Record Players
After having several “faulty” records returned to us (that in actuality had nothing wrong with them), we cannot guarantee that any records we sell will play correctly Crosley or Steepletone branded record players.

