Soul — In Stock — LPs  

Another one of those overstuffed Motown 70s Anthologies – this time featuring 3LPs worth of Temptations classics, with tracks recorded between 1964 and 1972. The album follows the group right up to their move to ABC, and includes classics like "Cloud Nine", "Just My... read more

A masterpiece in psychedelic soul from The Temptations – perhaps the most perfectly realized album from their years working with Norman Whitfield! The set's awash in that bottom-heavy, rumbling funk mode that Whitfield brought to the group at the end of the 60s – served up in bold... read more

A late 60s Motown classic – with a deep heavy soul sound that mixed psychedelic elements into a rolling righteous groove – with a style that was perfect for the political tenor of the times! The formula worked extremely well for The Temps, and shifted them from being just a regular... read more

A classic set of psychedelic soul from this fantastic 60s group! The record is one of the groundbreaking albums the Temps cut with producer Norman Whitfield – and it's a landmark session that perfectly showcases what Whitfield's full-on, guitar-heavy, bassy-bottom style could do for the... read more

Sublime work from the Temptations – still recording here with Norman Whitfield, who's really opening up his bag on most of the record – and taking the group into expansive territory that was barely hinted at in their early work! The album's got some incredible tracks in the Whitfield... 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

A fantastic record, and one of our most treasured Latin Soul albums from the late 60s! Ray Terrace leads a totally sharp little Latin combo through a host of originals and soulful covers, and the real highlight of the record is Willie Torres, who sings English vocals in a very deep soulful style... read more

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 crowning achievement for Rufus Thomas – a set that bubbles over with funky intensity, and one of the last great albums he ever recorded for Stax! The funky Rufus mode is still in full full swing here – with loads of tunes that have the word "funky" in the title –... 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

Excellent work from New Orleans soul legend Allen Toussaint – and a set that may well be his funkiest album ever! The set features 12 tracks from the early 70s – a time when Toussaint was mixing a bit of funk into the heavy soul mix that he'd had from his early days in the Crescent... 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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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

Long lost post disco soul from Trilark! Trilark keeps the tight, smoothed out and soaring groove of the late 70s club soul into the mix here, a really sweet and gleamingly funky batch. Every song here's got a great hook – if the early 80s era was a bit more forgiving to groups that carried... 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

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An amazing musical discovery – the lost second album from 24 Carat Black – recorded right after the band's legendary debut for Stax Records, but unissued for over 30 years! All the righteous styles of the group's famous Ghetto Misfortune's Wealth classic are fully in place here –... 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

A very sweet little album by this great Motown group! The record was produced by Norman Whitfield, and it's a perfect example of the rumbling funky soul sound that he was developing at the time – a mixture of heavy bass, rumbling percussion, fuzzy guitars, and a stone righteous sound that... 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

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

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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Fierce funky instrumentals from Motown keyboardist Earl Van Dyke – a set that's overflowing with great original tracks, plus some sweet funky covers too! The style here is quite different than Earl's previous work – and quite different from most of Motown too – with a hard-edged... read more

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

Amazing work from The Voices Of East Harlem – a group with roots in gospel, but working here in a wonderfully soaring secular soul style – complete with arrangements and production from the legendary Leroy Hutson! The style here is similar to some of Leroy's best work, and that of his... read more

The landmark first album by this legendary 70s soul group – and one with a feel that's much different than their later work! The style here is much more strongly righteous than their sweeter soul of the mid 70s – with a pronounced gospel influence that focuses most strongly on the... read more

A masterpiece of sweet group soul! This was the first secular record cut by The Voices Of East Harlem – a group who'd had an earlier gospel-tinged album on Elektra, but who are soaring out here in a brilliant mix of righteous mainstream soul styles – courtesy of the Curtom power team... 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

A landmark album of electric piano grooves from Hysear Don Walker – the keyboardist on some of Young-Holt Unlimited's best albums! This album's much more in a jazz vein than some of the Young-Holt titles – with Walker playing electric keys on slower funky numbers that burn along at a... 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

Later work from T-Bone, but very much in the style of his best R&B work! The album features small group backings that do the best to bring out the jazzier side of T-Bone's style – one that was a direct influence on countless jazz funk guitarists in later years – and players include... 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

A smooth smooth classic from Grover! Titles include "Winelight", "Let It Flow", "In The Name Of Love", "Take Me There", "Just The Two Of Us", and "Make Me A Memory (Sad Samba)".... read more

The funk-tinged, pyschedelic soul album from Muddy Waters – one that irritated many a blues purist in its day – but it's finally reaching its earned status as a leftfield gem! You know, in the immediate years after this one (and similar funky blues albums on Chess/Cadet) was released,... read more

A classic full album that brings together some of Muddy Waters' earliest recordings for Chess – a great collection of early singles recorded in Chicago between 1950 and 1954 – most originally issued on 78rpm singles, and beautifully presented in this set! The work's relatively spare... read more

A rich collection of Muddy Waters' famous work for Chess Records – put together in the 70s, but featuring tracks from his earliest days in the studio, up through the key electric years of the 60s! The package pulls together some real gems – including work with Little Walter and James... 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

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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

A rare bit of hardcore poetry by the Watts Prophets – the legendary LA group who were kind of a west coast answer to the Last Poets! The group have a sound that's as striking as the best early work by The Last Poets – a hard-hitting blend of poetry, rhythms, and righteous energy –... 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

Very nice spacey soul from the late 70s Columbus, Ohio scene by Norman Whiteside's Wee – a mindblowing mix of jazz funk sophistication, harmony vocals and electric keyboard led psychedelic soul! Whiteside started Wee after the dissolution of Capsoul Records, where he was an important... 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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An incredible slice of Chicago blues – and maybe one of the most important contributions Delmark ever made to the Windy City scene! The album captures Junior Wells in all his rough and raw brilliance – working in territory that's quite similar to the Chess Records vibe of the early 60s... 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

Heavenly harmony soul! This is the 3rd album by this famous east coast vocal group – and it's completely impossible to find in the original (which makes the reissue even more essential!) The record has a great mix of heavy soul tracks – like "Only People Can Save The World"... 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

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

Barry White's entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack genre – and it's a doozy! The record's filled with lots of tight little instrumental grooves, produced in the hard edged Love Unlimited Orchestra way – with tight funky drums at the bottom, snapping snare in the middle, and sharp... 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

Funky funky female soul! Marva Whitney was one of the greatest singers in the James Brown stable of stars during the late 60s – and she sang with a hard raw style worth of The Godfather himself! Brother James produced and wrote a good part of this classic album – and the record is one... 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

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Raw blues from Sonny Boy Williamson – harmonica, guitar, and some rough drumming underneath the vocals – all in a mode that has plenty of early Chess Records grit! And despite the "down and out" title and cover image, Sonny's got a heck of a lot of punch here – an... read more

An excellent bit of lost funky piano and a tough album to find! Larry Willis was mostly a jazz pianist, and he's best known to the world for his work on Jackie McLean's Blue Note albums of the 60's. Here, though, he's playing in a hard-hitting funky group, with nice hard drums on a lot of tracks... 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

Monster funk from Hammond hero Reuben Wilson – an album of hard-burning, bad-walking tunes that are a fair bit different than most of his other work! Although Wilson recorded some pretty traditional organ jazz for the Blue Note and Groove Merchant labels, this album has him working with his... 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