The only full album from Johnny Ace – a key figure in the Memphis scene of the 50s, and one of the first great casualties of rock and roll! Johnny was one of the first singers to record for the legendary Duke label, and worked in a mode that helped transform the smoother style of the west ... read moreCD
A classic album from one of our favorite jazz singers ever – a set that really set a whole new standard for a generation! Even at this early stage, Lorez Alexandria was an amazingly accomplished vocalist – as you'll hear on this excellent selection of tunes from the Lester Young ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Incredible early work from Lorez Alexandria – the kind of albums that instantly set her apart from other singers of the 50s, reissued here properly for the first time in years! On This Is Lorez, the singer is working with sublime small combo backings from the group of pianist King Fleming ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Ernestine Allen —
Let It Roll ... CD Tru Sound, Early 60s. Used ...
$3.99
Tasty R&B material, recorded on Prestige's short-lived Tru-Sound subsidiary. Ernestine had some earlier fame under the name Anisteen Allen, and this record's got a similar sound to her late 40s work – with lots of smoky vocals, touched by a warm jazz sensibility that gives the material a ... read moreCD
Maxi Anderson —
Maxi ... CD Blue Note (Japan), 1977. New Copy ...
$10.9913.99
One of the only albums ever cut by Maxi Anderson – a hell of a soul singer who's lent her talents to a number of sessions over the years, but who sounds especially great here in the lead! Anderson's got a vibe that's almost like Minnie Riperton at the time – a warmly glowing approach ... read moreCD
Sure, their name marks them as part of that big world of prepackaged soul groups, and yes, their costumes on the cover may look a bit goofy – but over the years, this debut's got maybe a bit more staying power than some of their contemporaries! There's plenty of hip hop production in the mix ... read moreCD
A funky treasure trove from Apple & The Three Oranges – a group we hardly know at all, but who really blow us away with the cuts on this collection! The groove is plenty hard right from the get-go – the best of the funky 45 underground of the early 70s – which means that ... read moreCD
The first-ever full length collection of work by Calvin Arnold – a killer 60s soul singer and guitarist, and one who cut some classic funky 45s back in the day, but never got a chance to record an album! All the material here came out on the Venture label – a small label, but one that ... read moreCD
PP Arnold —
Kafunta ... CD Immediate/Charly (UK), 1968. New Copy ...
$15.9919.99
A classic set of British soul by PP Arnold – LA native, and a onetime member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue who ended up staying behind in the UK after a mid 60s tour! The album's got a very interesting approach that's quite a bit more sophisticated than the sound of the Ike Turner group ... read moreCD
A well-titled set from one of the greatest soul groups to ever come from Chicago – a sublime quartet who had a way of voicing their tunes that was really head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries! This killer record showcases The Artistics' genius right from the start – ... read moreCD
A really breakout moment for The Artistics – and the start of a really sublime run with the great Brunswick Records! The group had already broken a bit on Okeh a few years before – securing a top spot on the Chicago scene with their bouncy northern soul groove – a love of rhythm ... read moreCD
Cesar Ascarrunz —
Cesar 830 ... CD Flying Dutchman/BGP (UK), 1975. New Copy ...
$8.9914.99
Lost Latin funk from the Bay Area scene of the 70s – and an album that may well blow away better-known work by groups like Malo, Azteca, or El Chicano! The album's near-perfect right from the start – and brings in plenty of New York elements to the groove, thanks to the inclusion of a ... (Latin, Soul)read moreCD
A wonderful selection of work by the team of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson – a batch of tunes that focuses on their tight 80s work for Capitol Records! The pair may be best known from this era for their mega hit "Solid" – but Nick and Valerie changed the face of duet soul ... read moreCD
Excellent work from Ashford & Simpson – with some modern soul groovers that are among the best they ever did! The album includes their original reading of "Top Of The Stairs", a great sexy soul duet that was later done by Collins & Collins – and it's also got a ... read moreCD
(Out of print Warner pressing.)
Ashford & Simpson with Maya Angelou —
Been Found ... CD Hopsack & Silk, 1996. Used ...
$2.99
... CD
(Out of print, digipak has marks and light edgewear.)
Atlantic Starr —
Radiant ... CD A&M/Vinyl Masterpiece (Netherlands), 1980. New Copy ...
$11.9919.99
Radiant grooves indeed from Atlantic Starr – a group who really make things sparkle throughout this magnificent set! The group are at the height of their powers here – skirting a perfect line between mainstream soul and upbeat club – never falling too much into one style or the ... read moreCD
Don't let the pot reference on the cover put you off, or give you the wrong sort of idea about the record – as the whole thing's tight, sharp, and pretty darn groovy – a wicked batch of blue-eyed soul from the Bay Area scene of the mid 70s, served up at a level that's not too far from ... (Rock, Soul)read moreCD
Donald Austin —
Crazy Legs ... CD Eastbound/Westbound (UK), 1973. New Copy ...
Just Sold Out!
A sweet little album of funky instrumental guitar! The record's one of the most obscure on the Westbound label – and it features guitar player Donald Austin going to town on 13 short little cuts with a tripped-out funky groove – sometimes fuzzy, usually funky, and always with that ... read moreCD
(Comes in a great little cardboard slipcase – replicating the old LP sleeve!)
AWB's first for Atlantic – and a nice slice of funk that proves that they can mix it up with the best groups of the 70s! The record's got plenty of sweet electric keyboards over smooth funky basslines – and as the years go by, the band's white boy vocals don't sound nearly as bad as we ... read moreCD
The mighty debut album from the Average White Band – Show Your Hand – a set that was originally issued in the US as Put It Where You Want It, with a slightly different placement than their later hits! Average White Band are most clearly associated with Atlantic Records during the 70s ... read moreCD
It's like a dream come true – 13 previously unissued recordings by Roy Ayers, all from the height of his glory years on Polydor! Roy's work from this time is some of our favorite ever – a burning blend of jazz, soul, and funk – handled with impeccable charm, and a level of soul ... read moreCD
It's like a dream come true – 13 previously unissued recordings by Roy Ayers, all from the height of his glory years on Polydor! Roy's work from this time is some of our favorite ever – a burning blend of jazz, soul, and funk – handled with impeccable charm, and a level of soul ... read moreCD
Two Latin funk classics – back to back in a single set! First up is the self-titled Azteca album – a crowning moment for the west coast Latin scene in the 70s – a wonderful Bay Area set that brings together some of the best talents working on that scene at the time! The set's ... (Latin, Soul)read moreCD
Rare Bacharach galore – an assortment of under-reissued tracks all penned by the mighty Burt – most of which are from the heyday of 60s uptown soul! Despite the 1952 in the date range on the title, almost all the tunes here are from the mid 60s – that time when Bacharach was ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
A trio of solo albums from Phillip Bailey – presented here with bonus material too! First up is Continuation – an 80s soul classic from Philip Bailey – stepping out here from Earth Wind & Fire in a set that has him sparkling strongly as a solo act! The vocals still have that ... read moreCD
The pinnacle of classy crossover soul at the end of the 80s – and a landmark album that's probably still helping Anita pay her bills! The feel is mellow and laidback without being too cheesy or too adult contemporary – drawing from mellow soul traditions of the 70s, and filtering it ... read moreCD
Anita Baker —
Songstress ... CD Beverly Glen/Elektra, 1983. Used ...
$5.99
From the female singer in the obscure group Chapter 8, Anita went onto become one of the biggest selling soul music acts during the 80s – and this album's her first effort as a solo act. The record's a smooth sophisticated batch of soul tunes, with lots of nice jazzy touches, and a classy ... read moreCD
Fantastic solo work from Ginger Baker – a musician who only seemed to get better and better the farther he moved away from Cream and Blind Faith! A set like this really gives Ginger a chance to open up and explore all the many musical currents that were grabbing his interests – served ... (Rock, Soul)read moreCD
Bessie Smith by LaVern Baker – a great blend of modes that really comes off great! Instead of sounding like a throwback blues album, the set comes across with a nice degree of contemporary class – thanks in part to a jazzy presentation that's a bit different than some of Baker's other ... read moreCD
Sexy is right! Hank may have been a half-pint wonder, but he had a voice that was like no other – high and raspy, but with a fierce growl that made you instantly take notice. Plus, his thuggish aproach to vocals really put a bit into the vicious R&B tunes that he cut with The ... read moreCD
Some of our favorite work ever from the legendary Hank Ballard – a key figure in early R&B, and a singer who cut some big hits with his group The Midnighters – but one who also continued to do some wonderful work for King Records long after his hits – most of which is included ... read moreCD
Bar-Kays —
48 Hours ... CD Basix, 1994. Used ...
$18.9922.99
A sweet set of soundtrack funk – from a film named after one of our favorite streets in Chicago! Although the record's got an approach that's perhaps a bit tighter and smoother than anything going down on Stony in the late 70s, it does manage to share a good deal of styles with the Chi-soul ... read moreCD
Dean Barlow —
Solo Years ... CD Lescay, Late 50s/Early 60s. Used ...
$4.99
Includes "Hi Ya Honey", "As God Is My Judge", "Truthfully", "My Life Is Empty Without You", "Can't Stand It Anymore", "True Love" and more – 26 tracks in all! CD
The only album ever by The Barrino Brothers – a stellar early 70s harmony group, and one who could sing with the best of the east coast scene of the time! The whole set's got a feel that's very much in the best mode of groups like The Modulations, Soul Generation, and even The O'Jays – ... read moreCD
Nathan Bartell —
Nathan Bartell ... CD Athens Of The North (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. New Copy ...
$6.9916.99
Fantastic funky soul from a very mysterious figure – Georgia's Nathan Bartell, a singer with a deep soul style, and an under-exposed legacy that mostly involves a few indie label singles, and countless work in the smaller clubs of his state! The blend of music here is a bit different than ... read moreCD
Seminal work from the lovely Basia – and an album that's a wonderful hybrid of jazz, soul, and pop – all put together at a level that really goes beyond most of her contemporaries! There's a vibe here that's almost like Swing Out Sister at their best – catchy, but never cloying ... read moreCD
Joe Bataan working in a pronounced dancefloor soul mode! While the legendary Bataan was no stranger to the fusion of Latin, soul and funk, this some of the most club soul oriented sounds from Joe we've ever heard – and the sessions are seeing official release for the first time ever! The ... (Latin, Soul)read moreCD
Jon Batiste —
We Are ... CD Verve, 2021. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
Jon Batiste is looking mighty righteous on the cover, and he's sounding mighty righteous within – imbued with a new spirit of consciousness from the events of 2020, which brings a whole new sort of focus to his music – and makes for an album that's every bit a soul set as it is a jazz ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
These guys may not be the baddest boys of the industry – they'd have to go a long way to reach that title – but they definitely do a good job of bringing a touch of attitude to the world of harmony soul – blending hip hop inspiration with old school formation, in a style that's ... read moreCD
Sweetly soaring disco from the legendary Celi Bee – easily one of our favorite disco divas of the late 70s! This album's got a slightly lighter feel than some of Celi's other work – a bit less drama at times, but still plenty of full-on clubby rhythms – thanks to arrangements ... read moreCD
Celi Bee —
Blow My Mind ... CD TK/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1979. New Copy ...
$7.9915.99
Celi Bee picks up a few 80s touches for this album – mixing her usual disco groove with some slight Eruo electro touches – adding in a nice dose of darkness to the set! Celi's still got an undeniably strong talent for a catchy tune – the kind of vibe that first made us fall in ... read moreCD
Celi Bee —
Greatest Hits ... CD Get Disconnected, Late 70s. New Copy ...
$10.9916.99
More a retrospective of Celi Bee's best disco work than a true greatest hits collection – but plenty darn great nonetheless, given her flair for a catchy, kitschy club tune! Celi's definitely one of the campiest talents of her generation – but she's also plenty darn comfortable in that ... read moreCD
An incredible run of music from one of the grooviest soul groups of all time – a combo who started out down in the Texas scene with some very upbeat dancing soul singles in the 60s, who then moved to work in the Philly studios in the 70s, where they really opened up their groove! The set ... read moreCD
William Bell was one of the singers who first helped the Stax label get going at the start of the 60s – but during the second chapter of Stax, when they broke from Atlantic, his contributions were maybe even more amazing – as his voice had matured wonderfully, and he was able to handle ... read moreCD
William Bell was one of the first great soul singers to record for the legendary Stax Records in Memphis – an artist who really helped set the tone for deep soul singles to come from the likes of Otis Redding and Johnnie Taylor – and one whose early work is still some of the best he ... read moreCD
Jessie Belvin's often talked about in reverent tones as a bridge between a number of different styles of 50's R&B and vocal soul, but it's not until you hear a great compilation like this one that you realize how fantastic his stuff really is. This excellent Ace set compiles tracks from his ... read moreCD
Raucous, rumbling and hard-charging Chess rhythms, rock and roll by Chuck Berry – his legendary After School Session – and possibly his greatest album ever! It features not only some of Chuck Berry's most famous material, but some of the best early rock songs, period –particularly ... read moreCD
A double-helping of Chuck Berry brilliance from his early years on Chess Records – music that always has way way more to offer than you might think! Sure, some of Chuck's hits are very familiar – and sure, the man could later be a bit of a parody of himself – but there's no ... read moreCD
Two classic Chess albums from Chuck Berry – issued here on a single CD! First up is One Dozen Berrys – the fresh fruits of the labors of a young Chuck Berry – heard here at his raw, early best! The sound here is stunning – a version of Chuck that gets way past any oldies ... read moreCD
Two classic Chess albums from Chuck Berry – issued here on a single CD! First up is One Dozen Berrys – the fresh fruits of the labors of a young Chuck Berry – heard here at his raw, early best! The sound here is stunning – a version of Chuck that gets way past any oldies ... read moreCD
Big Maybelle's got a new bag – and we like it! This tasty set was cut for the tiny Rojac label in between Maybelle's earlier years at Savoy and later albums on Brunswick – and it's got a swinging, 60s mod sort of style that's pretty darn groovy, baby! The arrangements are by Bob Gallo ... read moreCD
(In a very cool Japanese-styled, LP-like cardboard sleeve cover!)
A great set that may well be Big Maybelle's best record ever – really rare work that's quite different than her famous work of the 50s! The set was recorded in the Criteria studios in Miami – and it's got a cool southern soul sound that's part Bobby Blue Bland bluesy soul, and part ... read moreCD
(In a very cool Japanese-styled, LP-like cardboard sleeve cover!)
Billion Dollar Band —
Billion Dollar Band ... CD Good Sounds/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1977. New Copy ...
$12.9915.99
One of the coolest records to come from the TK Records Miami soul empire of the 70s – and one of the few that was ever issued on their tiny Good Sounds subsidiary! We know little about the group, but the approach here is great – kind of all the strengths of the usual TK/Criteria ... read moreCD
Jo Bisso —
Love Somebody ... CD Marlin/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1977. New Copy ...
$12.9915.99
Disco grooves, but with a definite difference – given that Jo Bisso had previously worked on the Parisian club scene, and brings a special flourish to this American album from the late 70s! Jo sings lead vocals on the side-long "Love Somebody" – a tune that builds strongly as ... read moreCD
Bill Black's Combo —
Hi Masters ... CD Hi Records/Demon (UK), Late 50s/1960s. Used ...
$3.99
Fantastic ballad soul from one of the greatest groups from the east coast 70s scene! Black Ivory may not have scored as big as some of their contemporaries on the charts – but to fans of harmony soul, they'll always be kings, and this record is the sort that forever gave them keys to the ... read moreCD
Epic harmony soul by this excellent sweet soul group! Black Ivory were just kids when they recorded this session – but they had a sophistication that pushed them way past any of their contemporaries on the east coast scene. The band are very lucky to have the talents of the great Patrick ... read moreCD
Some of the sharpest, jazziest funk you'll ever hope to hear – a smoking collection of the legendary 70s work by The Blackbyrds on Fantasy Records! The group started as a jazz combo under Donald Byrd's supervision – right at a time when Byrd was making his own fantastic funky records ... read moreCD
Don Blackman —
Don Blackman ... CD Arista/Expansion (UK), 1982. New Copy ...
$16.9919.99
A jazz funk masterpiece, and THE record by the legendary Don Blackman – the only one issued under his own name for many many years, and a famous little set that's been sampled endlessly over the years, and for good reason! The vibe here is one that's barely been matched again – a blend ... read moreCD
(Remastered edition – completely new version taken from the original source master tapes!)
Four fantastic albums from Bobby Bland – all brought together in a single package for the first time! First up is Come Fly With Me – great work from Bobby Blue Bland – one of the few artists to rise up at the end of the 50s, and still find a way to chart their own path forward in ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
Blowfly —
Butterfly ... CD Weird World/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Mid 70s. New Copy ...
$8.9915.99
The raunchy one is at it again – serving up funky, filthy, and funny parodies of 70s soul and pop songs with more than enough bad language to make even the most street hip hopper turn red! The band is nice and tight on most of the tracks, grooving hard with a funky wah-wah sound underneath ... read moreCD
Eddie Bo —
Hole In It ... CD Soulciety/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Mid 90s. New Copy ...
$14.9919.99
A funky update from New Orleans soul legend Eddie Bo – a set recorded during a brief by great period of funk revival albums by the Soulciety label in Germany – the same imprint who brought back Fred Wesley and Bobby Byrd for some excellent records at the same time! There's a bit less ... read moreCD
A great collection of funky New Orleans genius from the legendary Eddie Bo – an artist who made music in many different modes over the years in Nola, but who comes across here with a sound that's definitely in the funkiest side of his spectrum! There's lots of cuts on the collection that ... read moreCD
Eddie Bo cut plenty of classic funk on the New Orleans scene, back in the day – and this set has Eddie returning to some of the glories of those years – thanks to help from the Soulciety label, at a time when they were doing plenty to revive older soul styles of the 60s and 70s! The ... read moreCD
A killer little soundtrack – and one that's quite different than the usual blacksploitation set, but still pretty funky overall! The film Black Girl was a surprisingly sensitive movie directed by Ossie Davis in the early 70s – not as much about action as it was about the everyday life, ... read moreCD
The first-ever full length set of work from Howard Bomar – a singer who only issued a few rare 45s back in the 60s, yet kept on making music for years! From the very first tune, you'll hear that Bomar has a fantastic voice – that sort of searching, searing style that you'd hear from ... read moreCD
Later work from New Orleans legend James Booker – but a set that may well be one of his greatest records ever – a real back to basics effort recorded with a hands-off approach that almost makes you feel like you're catching Booker in some small club down off the Quarter! James plays ... read moreCD
The second comeback effort from Booker T Jones for Anti-! All around, it's a more sharply-honed and classics-steeped set than its solid, but more southern rock-inflected predecessor – one the finds the Stax organ titan backed by co-producers ?uestlove & Rob Schnapf, Dennis Coffey and ... read moreCD
What can we say? Booker T and crew are always tops in our book – and this album's as strong a batch of their classic singles as you'll ever find! Book's organ is the sound of a generation, and Steve Cropper's sinister vamping on guitar gives even the poppier tracks a hard edge that still ... read moreCD
The Beatles had Abbey Road – and Booker T & The MGs had McLemore Ave, the main street running outside the Stax studios, and a fitting title for the album that has them playing tunes from The Beatles' incredible Abbey Road album. If you've ever thought that Abbey Road was a soft-rock ... read moreCD
A great little record from Booker T and group – often overlooked amidst the range between Green Onions and Melting Pot, but a very strong album of soulful Memphis instrumentals all the way through! Book's organ is bubbling hot, and the band's tight rhythm style works in a perfect laid-back ... read moreCD
Bovel —
Changes ... CD Athens Of The North (UK), Mid 1990s. New Copy ...
$13.9915.99
Obscure British soul from Bovel – a Manchester singer from the mid 90s, and one who's got a vibe that's very different than the more popular London soul of the same time! Bovel clearly came up through the underground, and embraces a host of important musical currents here – while also ... read moreCD
Toni Braxton —
Secrets ... CD LaFace, 1996. Used ...
$1.99
The second smash hit record in a row by Toni Braxton, and one of biggest and best of the mid 90s – the secret was out by this point to say the least! If the pressure was high to match the sales and creative strengths of the self-titled solo debut, Toni, composer/producer Babyface and ... read moreCD
The smash first solo album from Toni Braxton – a set that not only catapulted the singer to worldwide fame, but also earned the LaFace production team another big feather in their cap! The set's got a nicely deep vibe that's a few steps beyond some of the more mainstream pop of the time ... read moreCD
An obscure bit of boogie from Brief Encounter – a southern soul group known best for their mid 70s sides for the Sound Stage Seven label, stepping out here in a completely different 80s groove! Most tracks are upbeat and dancefloor funky – plenty of bass on the bottom and some sweet ... read moreCD
Brit Funk Association —
Ancestral Voices ... CD Expansion (UK), 2023. New Copy ...
$18.9921.99
That's almost an Earth Wind & Fire-styled image on the cover – and the Brit Funk Association definitely live up to the spirit of that scene – which is maybe no surprise, given that group members have a legacy that goes way back for many years on the UK soul scene! There's a warmth ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
Julius Brockington —
United Chair ... CD Today/Octave (Japan), 1973. New Copy ...
$18.9922.99
Keyboardist Julius Brockington really takes off here – in a style that's not quite funk, not quite jazz – and which has some of the unique sophisticated changes that Gene Harris was bringing to his Blue Note records in the mid 70s! Like Gene, Julius already has a strong background on ... read moreCD
Hadda Brooks —
Femme Fatale ... CD Ace (UK), Mid 50s. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
The lovely and soulful Hadda Brooks was one of the great talents on the LA scene of the postwar years – a vocalist and pianist with a style that blended blues and jazz, in a manner that was like some of her male counterparts on the scene at the time, such as Nat King Cole or Charles Brown. ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
A sweet funky set from the New Jersey 70s soul empire of the Stang/Turbo/All-Platinum family of labels – the kind of record that came out with little fanfare at the time, but which has a razor sharp groove all the way through! The set features plenty of wonderful work on keyboards – ... read moreCD
A classic set of clubby soul from the All-Platinum New Jersey soul empire of the 70s – the third album from a group who started in funk territory a few years before, but who've definitely sharpened up their groove for the dancefloors here! Brother To Brother are a great example of a group ... read moreCD
James Brown —
Bodyheat ... CD Polydor (Japan), 1976. New Copy ...
$10.9913.99
An enduring classic from James Brown – quite possibly the strongest of his late 70s albums, and a record that nicely balances the harder funk of the early part of the decade with a more sophisticated style that almost gets slightly jazzy at times! The vocals are planted strongly at the top ... read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
Although James' early 70's ouvre is often cited as his best funky stuff, he made some darn nice tracks at the end of the 70's, as this swell 2CD set hopes to prove! The package compiles some of the best work that James did during the disco era – and although a few of the tracks have an ... read moreCD
(Sealed copy!)
James Brown —
Family Affair ... CD Brownstone/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Early 90s. New Copy ...
$16.9919.99
A rare chapter of James Brown's career – material recorded for producer Henry Stone in the early 90s – at a time when James himself was without a major record contract! Most of these tracks were recorded by Stone, but unissued for years – which is a bit of a surprise, as the ... read moreCD
James Brown screams at the beginning of the record – "I'm Back! I'm Back!" – which is his proclamation that he was ready to take on a whole new generation of funk music – grooving with a new sound that was guaranteed to hit as big as it did in earlier years! The ... read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
James Brown really opens up on this early 70s classic – really showing the world the amazing groove he was crafting with his band – who were let loose to jam in the studio, spinning out some really long grooves – which were then cut down to make this sweet little record! The ... read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
One of the greatest albums ever from James Brown – even if it wasn't issued during his classic run of funk records in the early 70s! Yet the material here is all from that time – recorded by Polydor when James and the JBs were completely kicking ass in the studio – turning out ... read moreCD