Soul — In Stock — LPs  

A great back-to-basics set for the Sweet Inspirations – now working here as the trio of Estelle Brown, Myrna Smith, and Sylvia Shamwell – and working with David Porter in a strongly Memphis mode! The arrangements on the set are a bit more ambitious than usual for Stax at the time... read more

Heavenly soul from the lovely Sweet Inspirations! The record was the group's first secular album for Atlantic – after recording one gospel album, and doing the backings on a number of fine Aretha Franklin sessions – and it's a gem of a female soul record, with the same classic sound... read more

A landmark soul album – and one of the first to break that acoustic-based Soul II Soul sound back into the American market. In a late 80s market of weak tinny soul albums, this one stood out as a deep rich wonderful gem, with a solid classic sound that's still pretty darn nice in any decade!... read more

Titles include "Heart Repair Man", "Taking Over", "Take It To The Top", "Reach Out", "PS", and "I'm Getting Over".... read more

The first album by The Sylvers – a hard soulful band made up of youngsters from LA, but who had a lot more going on than some of the other kiddie-soul bands of the early 70s! The group's a sextet at this point, with four male voices and two female ones – coming across as a sweet blend... read more

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A great little set from Sylvester – 3 sides recorded live in San Francisco, one more recorded in the studio! All the sides have a complicated approach to the groove – larger orchestrations that really show Syl pushing his conception of soul to the max, sounding really wonderful, and... read more

An overlooked gem from Sylvester's years on Fantasy Records – a set that has him working strongly with soul maestro Harvey Fuqua, in a really great blend of disco and more laidback modes! There's a balance here that's like early Luther at his best – a way of being proudly poised, yet... read more

Sylvester's definitely heading for the sound he would embrace more in the 80s – working here with more electronic-driven rhythms, in a stretched-out clubby mode that's more in keeping with the style of Giorgio Moroder than his earlier work for Fantasy. Given his great vocals, though, Syl... read more

Syreeta's a bit past the point of her early genius here – still singing in that warm and sweet style we love so much, but working with Jermaine Jackson, in a setting that's sometimes a bit too cold for her magic to fully take place. Overall, the album's got a few nice numbers – and is... read more

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Grady's most obscure album – and one that's got much more of a jazzy tip than his other ones. Richard Tee plays electric piano, and the band includes Billy Butler, George Coleman, and Ron Carter – all of whom do their best to keep things hip, and not fall into some of the schmaltzier... read more

Although Howard Tate's work on Verve has gotten a lot of acclaim – thanks to an excellent CD reissue – this later album for Atlantic still remains in the ranks of soul obscurities. The album's perhaps not as great as Tate's Verve work – in that the arrangements don't fit as hand-i... read more

A wicked little set from singer Debbie Taylor – a vocalist who really only shone brightly for this one album – but who's left more than enough of a soul legacy with its greatness! The record's an important early effort from Patrick Adams – and it's cut with a rough-edged style... read more

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A landmark album from Johnnie Taylor – a set that not only gave his career a giant boost, but which also helped shift southern soul into hip new territory in the late 70s! The music's a great change from Taylor's previous work at Stax – and the set features warm production from Don... read more

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A great little album of modern soul, cut by Johnnie Taylor years after his early raw Stax recordings, and about half a decade after his hit with "Disco Lady". The record's a surprising treat, and has Johnnie singing with smooth slick arrangements, in a warm mellow style, given a nice... read more

Sweet, smooth, and bluesy – perhaps not as hard as some of Johnnie's earlier Stax work, but with an increasing sophistication that really shows his development as a soul singer. The record's a good bridge into Johnnie's modern soul work at Columbia – and it's got arrangements by Wade... read more

Smoother Johnnie Taylor than in earlier years – gearing up for the shift to Columbia a few years later, with backings recorded in both Detroit and Muscle Shoals. Johnnie's vocals are still fantastic – and the album sports the great hit "Cheaper To Keep Her" – but that's... read more

A tightly funky set from The Temptations – a record that has the group still standing strong in the post-Norman Whitfield years – working here with producer Jeffrey Bowen in a groove that's almost got some P-Funk touches at times! Things are somewhat polished, but still in the best... read more

During the late 60s, the Temptations career really started to take off – and the group emerged to become a landmark vocal ensemble with a groundbreaking effect on the history of soul and funk. Working with Norman Whitfield, they forged a righteous heavy soul sound that was quite different... read more

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A tasty live set, with a smoking raw groove that you don't always get on Joe's studio albums! The crowd really goes wild for Joe – and with only some small group backing behind him, he's got nothing left to do but go over the top with his vocals! As proof of that, the record includes the... read more

A sweet late 70s set from The Three Degrees – who've moved on over to CBS/Epic after their hot streak at Philly International – with a bit more of an expansive sound than usual! They're still working in a core Philly mode with recording at Sigma Sound and arrangements by Richard Rome... read more

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A later bit of Philly disco – recorded at Sigma Sound studios with really soaring production from Tom Moulton – and some surprising help on a number of tracks from a young Arthur Baker! The style here has that Instant Funk sort of groove – a bit more bass at the bottom than... read more

A strange little record – instrumental tunes arranged as a "symphony for soul", and mostly comprised of late 60s soul numbers! The whole thing was put together by Mort Garson – known better for his later moog work, but still sounding pretty nice here with some cool twists on... read more

The groove's getting a bit smoother than on some of the group's early funk classics, but T of P still come across quite well on the set – working in their trademark blend of jazz, funk, and soul. Arrangements are by funky keyboardist Charles Thompson and trumpeter Greg Adams – and... read more

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Ed Townsend, the great soul composer and producer responsible for many big hits over the years, put together this album with some younger generation family members and an outside ringer. The result is a great album of modern group soul with a cool mellow soul vibe that's similar to some of the... read more

A great batch of uptempo east coast soul from the Trammps – one of the tightest units working in the late 70s – a group that's marked from eternity by the enormity of their huge hit "Disco Inferno" – with a wonderful overall sound that's runs much deeper! This album is... read more

A landmark album from The Trammps – and a record that broke the group firmly out of the Philly ghetto, yet still carried all the best touches of the Sigma scene! Sure, the title track was a super-huge hit – thanks to a plug in Saturday Night Fever – but the record itself is... read more

One of the most dancefloor-oriented efforts from the Trammps – and that's saying a lot, given the sound of their other records! This set brings the beats up a bit more than before – almost a boogie groove, or an 80s-styled sound at points – but still with strong roots in the... read more

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Backings by a small combo that features Von Freeman on tenor sax!... read more

A great bit of funk from this obscure 70s combo – the first of their many good albums, and with a sound that's rougher and rawer than the others. The band's grooving in a pretty slow mode here – without the uptempo club tracks of later years – and they've got a style that's a mix... read more

The first album from guitarist John Tropea – ace 70s session guitarist, but a surprisingly great leader and arranger in his own right too! Tropea's working here in a vibe that's clearly influence by the CTI sound – smooth but funky fusion – laid down in prime studio conditions,... read more

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They may be one-album wonders – but Trussel were a strong group who cut this enduring soul classic at a fortunate time when Elektra was really trying to break into the modern soul market. The record's got a nice midtempo jazzy groove, augmented by production by Fred Wesley, and a sound that... read more

Sweet vocals, great grooves, and a wonderful overlooked album, a real heavy hitter that stands with some of the best major label soul of the time! Truth are the duo of Leo Green and Larry Hancock – both singers with a talent for hitting notes that are sometimes sweet, sometimes jazzy, and... read more

Livin' the "Bon Bon Vie", with this classic uptempo groover from T.S. Monk! You'd hardly guess that this guy was Thelonious Monk's son – but who cares about his roots when the album grooves so hard? This Monk plays drums, not piano, but the best tracks on the record have a tight... read more

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One of the greatest steel band records ever – and a hip hop sample classic from way back! Sure, there were other hip steel bands back in the 70s – but nobody else ever got as far as 20th Century – ending up on a major label, cutting some key funky covers, and crossing over with... read more

An obscure Motown group from the end of the 70s – 21st Creation had a strident uptempo group sound that reminds us of some of the more successful disco hits of Tavares from the same time. The arrangements are mostly club-oriented – handled by Willie Hutch, Gene Page, and Harold Johnson... read more

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A killer side project from Roy Ayers – recorded right around the same time as the Ramp album, but with a different feel over all – proof that the Ayers empire was really exploding at the end of the 70s! The vibe here is quite similar to some of Roy's own albums over at Polydor –... read more

An unstoppable groove from The Undisputed Truth – a group who worked with Norman Whitfield in the same psychedelic soul territory as The Temptations – and who arguably got the sound across even better than them! This set's not as much of a bit hit as the group's other records from the... read more

A perfect example groove that got The Undisputed Truth big hit fame in the early 70s – sort of a rumbling funk, full-on approach, using male/female vocals in kind of a "wall of soul" approach. Includes the huge hit "Smiling Faces Sometimes", plus lots of covers of cool... read more

Plenty of darkness here from Phil Upchurch – those great tones and notes he worked so well back in the 70s – all with that near-perfect quality that made him one of the most in-demand players of his day! The style here is a bit different than some of Phil's previous work in Chicago... read more

An incredible album from one of the greatest talents on the Chicago soul scene of the late 60s – guitarist Phil Upchurch, a player with an amazing sound! Phil could work in worlds that were equal parts soul and psychedelia – making his guitar a perfect accompaniment for the best... read more

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Excellent work from The Valentine Brothers – and a pretty big album for the group on A&M. The best tracks have a smooth modern soul sound – stepping along nicely at a catchy groove, with the Brothers' sweet harmonies interacting wonderfully, kind of in a late O'Jays mode, with a... read more

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Wild wicked funky stuff, from the man who gave the world Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song, and his son Mario! Melvin's wearing cornrows and a shirt that says "Rated X By An All-White Jury" on the front – and the grooves on the album have the same sort of confrontational vibe. Doug... read more

The only record from this group that would sort of morph into Apollonia 6, pretty much just one of many Prince vehicles during the 80s. As you'd hope from a Prince side project, the tracks here bubble with his new wave/pop/funk crossover, though really the hit "Nasty Girl" is pretty much... read more

The second US album from Euro disco outfit Voyage – a group who manage to bring in some nice progressive and jazzy elements to the mix! There's almost a jamming rock-gone-disco approach to a few of the best numbers – thanks to a strong use of heavy guitars and keyboards, and a real... read more

A standout classic of the French disco scene of the 70s – and a record that found a perfect way to bridge the gap between spacier grooves and tighter rhythms for the mainstream! The 70s French scene was often known for plenty of great keyboards – kind of an offshoot of earlier prog,... read more

At some level, we have to admit, we've always been a shade disappointed in this record, no matter how many times we go back to it. It must be that the music doesn't quite live up to what the Efram Wolff cover image implies is within, and perhaps it's that Walker hasn't fully brought himself up to... read more

Dexter Wansel keeps up the space jazz funk groove that was begun on Life On Mars – with those fat, thumping bass lines, elastic lead guitar, atmospheric soul vocals and loads and loads of keys – spatial work on Rhodes, Moogs and ARPs! It's all done in a funky style not always heard on... read more

A repackaging of tracks put together in the late 70s, collecting some of War's "jazzier" moments. Although it was War's more succinct, funkier numbers and singles that we dug most about the band at first, it's these numbers where the group opens up a bit more that they really shine, if... read more

A monster from start to finish – not only the greatest album from War, but maybe one of the greatest mainstream funk albums of all time! The set's got a really unique groove – one that so many others tried to copy, but which was forged here first – in a wicked LA blend of Chicano... read more

One of THE disco hits of the 70s – a set that spawned not only a huge hit single for Anita Ward, but which also firmly pushed the Miami scene over the top! The record's a wonderful mix of modes – served up with stone southern soul production from Frederick Knight, but also given plenty... read more

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Excellent work from Baby Washington – a lot more obscure than her recordings for Sue, and a lot more together too, in a certain kind of way! The set was arranged, conducted, and produced by Henry Glover – who gives Baby a sophisticated uptown soul sort of feel, but still manages to... read more

Tripped-out funk from Johnny – very much in his "I Got To Ta Ta Ya Baby" mode, with the guitar skipping around keyboards in a mellow Bay Area kind of way! Johnny's gone way way past his bluesy roots here – into a sublime blend of soul and funk that's all crafted with just the... read more

An excellent selection of Johnny Guitar Watson's wonderful mid 70s numbers, combining a laid back, funky approach with some more sophisticated arrangements and production touches. Most of the tracks have a mellow mid tempo feel, with some a nice spacey vibe and Watson's bluesy phrasing. 10 tracks... read more

Gina Watson and Alfred Beasley sport a very new wave look on the cover of this one – and the album, although mostly a soul set, certainly echoes with some of the crossover touches that worked big at the time – heavier guitars, a harder sound in the rhythms, and lyrics that are a bit... read more

Mad mad funk, and the fantastic second LP by the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – the group that proved to everyone that LA could be just as funky as any other city in the 60s! The record draws strongly from the group's indie roots in the funky 45 scene – and the album's filled with... read more

A modern soul gem produced by Lenny White! Though White lends a touch of jazzy sophistication to the set, it's a straight up dose of mainstream modern soul, with great ensemble vocals and crisp production over tight songs that should have landed Wax at the top of the radio. Somehow though they... read more

A tight little ensemble soul group from Chicago – with an approach that's clearly influenced by Earth, Wind, & Fire, although the group also seems to be trying for more of a pop easy soul sound at times. Funky 45 artists Lonell Dantzler is on keyboards and Finis Henderson on vocals... read more

Great smooth soul from Wee Gee – a wonderful little record from the dawn of the 80s! The album's a great one, thanks largely to Vernon Bullock, who wrote, arranged, and produced with that uptempo modern style that he brought to his best work of the 70s. The soaring title track is a 10+... read more

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Right on, right on – as Maxine Weldon gets a hip kind of edge from arranger Artie Butler – always a welcome addition on any session! The album's Maxine's first, and may well be her best – thanks to Artie's tight use of soulful backings – often supported by rolling basslines... read more

After Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker came head to head with James Brown in the mid 70s, they broke off and formed the Horny Horns contingent – a tight funky backing section that's featured on a number of late 70s funk sessions, and which also recorded some extremely nice numbers on their own! ... read more

You came a long way from Motown baby! This is Kim's weird, oddly patriotic (and slightly reactionary) album with Marty Paich arrangements of tracks like "The House I Live In", "This Is My Country", and "This is America". Also with tracks like "Exodus" and... read more

Fantastic Norman Harris production makes this one of the best-ever efforts from The Whispers at this time! Norman put together the incredible "Living Together (In Sin)", and plays some excellent guitar on the track – and he takes the sweet west coast harmonies of The Whispers into... read more

Not as sublime as some of the group's earlier efforts, but still with a strong harmony sound that keeps things moving nicely ahead. The arrangements are in a smooth soul mode – still uptempo on a number of tracks, in the same style that they were using with the Philly crew. The difference... read more

Can't get enough of Barry White at this key point in his career – a time when he was stepping from the shadows as one of the most sensuous soul stars of the 70s! The album's a near-perfect effort throughout – a great blend of the soaring strings and funkier rhythms that always made... read more

While not as huge a hit as some of his other 70s efforts, this is still a solid LP from White as the 70s were winding down. His signature sweeping soul style is fully in place, and the rich production complements the slower get-your-groove-on ballads nicely. Includes "Your Sweetness Is My... read more

Barry White was always the victim of his own success – in that he cut so many excellent records early on, that folks always over look the great stuff he did in later years. This 1979 album is a perfect example of Barry's greatness in this respect – as it's still totally on the money,... read more

Sheet music – as in the sheets of a bed, get it? Well, if you can't, the cover image has a picture of a bed with sheets that have musical notes on them, just so you get the hint. Despite that cheesy joke, though, the album's a great batch of tracks from Barry – who's grown nicely here... read more

The only solo album ever recorded by Maurice White – an upbeat and soulful set that's right up there with his best 80s work in Earth Wind & Fire! Like that group at the time, White's hitting a rhythmic side that's more electronic at points – letting beats and keyboard bits stand in... read more

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Totally great work from Deniece Williams – still mostly free from the tinny pop of later years, and done in a solidly soulful style at Sigma Sound, with arrangements and production from the mighty Thom Bell! The groove is almost an update of 70s Philly, with traces of the maturing mellow... read more

A seminal set in the career of Deniece Williams – a set that really helped her find the voice she'd use more strongly in the 80s, but one that still holds onto all the best strongly soul styles of her earlier work! There's a catchy bounce here that's quite compelling – but the overall... read more

A pretty great album in which Larry revisits some of his earlier hits from the late 50s – redoing them in versions that have a bit more 60s soul in the mix, in keeping with his shift to the Okeh label! Overall, the sound's still pretty hard hitting – very R&B inspired, and perfect... read more

One of the hippest gospel albums recorded by Atlantic – and in many ways, more of a secular set than other sides by Marion Williams. The album was co-produced by Roberta Flack, and features a core group of players that includes David Spinozza on guitar, Keith Jarrett or Ray Bryant on piano,... read more

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A wonderful early album from soul singer Al Wilson – a well-crafted mix of modes that really stands out in late 60s pop – and which showed that Al was quite different than most of his contemporaries! The album's got some very hip production by Johnny Rivers – who was really... read more

A classic bit of LA crossover soul, with the huge hit "Show & Tell" that broke Al Wilson from being a strange showy performer into a brief standard on 70s AM radio. Arrangements are by H.B. Barnum, so you can expect a nice bit of soul in with Al's more theatrical performance style... read more

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A post-Supremes disco effort from Mary Wilson – but one that comes off relatively well, especially considering how a session like this could flop if done poorly! Mary's getting some top-shelf help on the album – Hal Davis on production, Art Wright on arrangements, and a set of original... read more

A real sweet soul gem from Nancy! The record has her working with arrangements and production by Gene and Billy Page – who give the record a great smooth 70s soul finish, and a feel that's a lot more unified than some of her other efforts from the decade. Nancy sings some great versions of... read more

The fourth album from Bill Withers and an overlooked gem recorded for Sussex – and a great bit of funky soulful stuff in the best Withers tradition – a record that's sadly kind of withered in relative obscurity for far too many years! The soul in Withers voice is in as fine of form as... read more

An incredible set from Bill Withers – a record that's part of his "second chapter" of 70s soul, when he was working for Columbia Records, and dropping a bit of the acoustic vibe of his start – yet still sounding completely sublime, and head and shoulders above most of his... read more