Soul -- In Stock -- LPs  

A great step forward for The Main Ingredient -- a record that's still got all the harmony soul charm of their earlier work for RCA, but with a tighter feel overall -- one that has them moving into the same mature group soul mode as The Manhattans over at Columbia! Production and arrangements are... read more

Funky madness -- and one of the greatest funky instrumental albums ever! This one's so rare that only a few funk collectors have it in their collection -- but it's a totally massive bit of funk that's way more than just plain "rare" (which can sometimes also mean snoozy for collectors!) ... read more

Post-Polygram, but still some nice funkiness from this classic 70s group. The record's got much of the feel of their early 70s work -- with lots of tasty electric keyboards, soulful percussion, and an always-driving groove. Titles include "Disco Lypso", "Honey Butt", "Ratc... read more

Mandrill's first album of funky Latin jazz and soul -- a landmark in crossover styles that still sounds remarkably fresh today! Unlike later records, which feature a tighter funk sound, this one has the band jamming out in a Latin-inflected mode that sounds like some of the best Chicano bands from... read more

A fantastic bit of hard jamming funk from Mandrill -- rougher than later work, with a mix of soul, jazz, and Latin influences, all coming together in a mode that reminds us of early 70s LA groups like War or El Chicano. The best element of the album's the mix of keyboards, bass-driven rhythms, and... read more

Tightly funky grooves from Mandrill -- a record that has them electrifying their sound a bit more than before, and nicely sliding into the ensemble funk style of the late 70s! The move's a similar one to that made by some of their contemporaries -- and Mandrill comes out sounding like the best... read more

Stellar Manhattans from the start of the 80s -- and proof that the group could still hold strong, even at a point when soul music was really changing up around them! The sound is somewhat smoother than before, but never in a throwaway style -- and as you might guess from the title, the record's a... read more

A stone classic from The Manhattans -- still going strong long into the 70s with a classic harmony approach! The title tune sets the whole album up perfectly -- and is the kind of a sad, slow ballad that the group was always perfect at -- a number that grabs you with a compelling title, and... read more

The Manhattans' first album for Columbia -- and a monster LP that showed that there was no turning back for the group! After cutting some seminal indie singles for the Carnival label during the 60s, the group sort of bumped around a bit during the early 70s -- but with the release of this album,... read more

Weird mix of Philly soul production with vocals that have more of a southern soul kind of feel to them. Charles' voice is nice and rich, and the tracks are arranged by Vince Montana & Norman Harris. Includes some nice ballads, and a few uptempo tracks, including a Philly version of Steely Dan'... read more

An insanely wonderful album of Latin percussion -- the only album we've ever seen from Cuban percussionist Lazaro Pla, aka Manteca -- a date recorded in Miami in the 70s, and filled with lots of raw percussion jams! There's a massive amount of bongo work here, mostly in a very spare setting -- but... read more

A great bit of Memphis funk from the 70s! The 60s version of The Mar-Keys was more of a rocking instrumental group -- but the 70s version has a much harder sound, and a lot more of a tendency to funk things up. This album features them running through instrumental versions of a number of older... read more

One of the greatest female soul albums of the end of the 70s -- and the bold-voiced debut of the lovely Teena Marie! Even on this first album, Teena's got a depth that goes way beyond most of her contemporaries -- a brashness that hits hard on the funkier cuts on the record, but also a soft... read more

An excellent album of southern group soul produced by Roy C., and with a feel that's very similar to Roy's great LPs for Mercury. The record sounds a lot more like some gem from an indie label like Hi or Stax than it does the huge and growing Mercury Records imprint -- and the record is one of... read more

Cover has some water damage near the bottom -- a tiny bit of peeling on the front, and some staining on the back.... read more

A real landmark of bad-walking soul -- one of 2 rare albums cut by vocalist Esther Marrow, easily one of the hardest singing sisters of her generation! Esther's got roots in gospel, but she's singing here in a righteous mode that features plenty of funky undercurrents in the backings -- a style... read more

Very righteous work from Esther Marrow -- a soul sister who sings with a hell of a lot of power! The set's an overlooked gem in the Fantasy catalog of the 70s, and it's one of only two secular soul albums cut by Marrow -- and quite possibly the best of the bunch, too! Esther's got some great help... read more

A stone cold gem -- the kind of record that's as wonderful as it is rare! Billy Martin's a trumpeter with a heck of a lot of soul -- and he's working here in a sweet funky east coast style -- blowing and singing with a wicked groove that's got lots of funky 45 touches, yet which has also been laid... read more

Percussionist Sabu Martinez is one of the all-time greats of Latin music -- and this record is probably the rarest he ever cut! The album came out of Sweden, where Sabu was residing during the 70s -- enjoying some success as an expatriot jazz player in the European scene. The album mixes Latin... read more

An early collection of singles from one of Motown's first standout vocal groups -- the mighty mighty Marvelettes, one of those groups who put a rough edge on the female trio sound! The set's filled with loads of catchy little numbers that really define the early Motown approach -- and titles... read more

A great little set of Hugh's MGM recordings -- and one that features a nice mix of pop instrumental tracks, and others that have a more sophisticated African Soul sound. Included in this bunch are "Bajabula Bonke (Healing Song) parts 1 & 2", "U-Dwi", "Masquenada (parts... read more

Hugh's first album for Uni -- and one that really lets him open up his groove! The record moves way past the short trumpet instrumental sound of earlier albums -- into a complex groove that mixes Afro soul, LA funk, and loads of nice jazzy bits! The record's got a sound that's nicely messed up --... read more

Great early work from Hugh Masekela! The record features all instrumental tracks -- all short, and with Hugh's funky South African trumpet rolling over the top! The overall sound is a lot less slick than on some of his late 60s hits -- and you can really hear his roots in the South African jazz... read more

An excellent little record from Hugh Masekela -- cut right during that perfect time when he was mixing soul, funk, and just the right amount of jazz to keep things real! The record features some nice electric piano from Joe Sample, and the best cuts have a choppy funky groove. Some cuts have... read more

One of the bigger developments of Barbara Mason's career was her participation in the "answer song" cycle that circulated around Shirley Brown's hit song "Woman To Woman". On this southern-tinged album, Barbara answer's Shirley's hit with the cut "From His Woman To... read more

Massive! This is probably the best-ever album of rollerskating grooves -- and is the most famous entry into a short-lived funk genre that sprung up around the rollerskating craze of the late 70s and early 80s. The rollerskate sound took a tight stepping funk groove from earlier years, and mixed... read more

Sweet grooves from Mass Production -- a great little set that goes way beyond ensemble funk and boogie! The set begins with a slightly mellower, more laidback feel than some of their other records, and that really sets the scene for the rest of the album -- keeping a more well-rounded feel to the... read more

A great later production by Norman Whitfield -- and one that almost returns to the simpler harmony soul of 60s Motown! Masterpiece have a style that's much more fragile and sweet than other groups on the Whitfield label -- which was mostly dedicated to fuller and dancefloor soul. The harmonies... read more

A massive return to form for Maxwell -- his first album in many years, but definitely well worth the wait! The set's supposedly the start of a trilogy -- but hell, we're more than happy to have it all on its own -- a wonderful reminder of the deeply soulful sound that first made us fall in love... read more

The second album by smooth soul singer Maxwell -- and every bit as great as the first! Although the vibe is modern, the sound is quite classic -- with lush warm arrangements that perfectly wrap up Maxwell's sweet and soulful vocals. The record picks up a tradition that was left off by 70s stars... read more

Some of the last work ever from Detroit Soul legend Nathaniel Mayer -- tracks recorded in his hometown with an earthy, back to basics sort of feel! There's a gritty groove here that's different than Nate's classic material, but still pretty great overall -- and although backing is by members of... read more

Pure genius from Curtis Mayfield -- and a record that's got all the righteousness and political power you might guess from the cover! The album burns with a sense of empowerment that's every bit the best strength of Curtom in the 70s -- a sublime blend of heavy soul, funky undercurrents, and far-re... read more

Pure genius from Curtis Mayfield -- and a record that's got all the righteousness and political power you might guess from the cover! The album burns with a sense of empowerment that's every bit the best strength of Curtom in the 70s -- a sublime blend of heavy soul, funky undercurrents, and far-re... read more

Nicely priced US reissue of this classic! This was Curtis Mayfield's first solo album after leaving the Impressions, and it's a firey album of political soul that shows just how much he was holding back when he was with the group. The tracks are longer, angrier, more experimental, and a lot more... read more

We think this may be his best album ever! Caught live at a small club, with a tight band, Curtis delivers extended, intimate versions of some of his best work, like "We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue" and "Stare and Stare". We can't recommend this highly enough, and there'... read more

A clubbier album than usual from Curtis Mayfield -- a mid 70s attempt to move onto the dancefloor, but a set that's still got the undeniable Mayfield charm! Half the tracks here were done in collaboration with disco maestro Gil Askey -- and these numbers are longer tracks that soar and sway on... read more

A great album that's often overlooked amidst the flurry of early 70s releases on Curtom -- but which stands as one of Mayfield's greatest from the 70s! In fact, we'd say that the album's one that we enjoy putting on more than most -- because the songs are less familiar, and not nearly as played-out... read more

A huge treat -- and one of the best Curtis Mayfield albums you can find! These first few solo albums of his are landmarks, not only of Chicago soul, but of 70's soul in general. There's a perfect mix of heartbreaking vocals, political messages, and tight funky grooves. Includes the tracks "W... read more

Classic early Curtis! These first few solo albums of his are landmarks, not only of Chicago soul, but of 70's soul in general. There's a perfect mix of heartbreaking vocals, political messages, and tight funky grooves. Includes the tracks "We Got to Have Peace", "Underground"... read more

Curtis Mayfield's lasting classic -- and an album that the world will remember forever! Apart from being his hugely successful entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack field, this album's also a monster set of grooves that includes some of Curtis' funkiest work ever -- a record that works as... read more

Curtis Mayfield's lasting classic -- and an album that the world will remember forever! Apart from being his hugely successful entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack field, this album's also a monster set of grooves that includes some of Curtis' funkiest work ever -- a record that works as... read more

A wonderfully wicked album from Curtis Mayfield -- one that's not nearly as famous as his Superfly set, but which is every bit as great! The groove here is lean, mean, and totally righteous -- a bit more stripped-down than some of the rumbling funk of other Curtom efforts, and served up with a... read more

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By this point in his career, Les McCann's moved past straight jazz, and is spending a lot of time on vocals -- sung in a nice raspy style that makes up for what it lacks in technique with a nice dose of soul! The record's got a few cuts that have some good funky riffs -- like the jaunty "Some... read more

Wild electric work from Les -- and a real break from his work of the 60s! Side one of the album features a 26 minute fusion jam called "The Lovers" -- filled with lots of breaks, grooves, and time changes -- and played by a hip ensemble that includes Yusef Lateef, Cornell Dupree, Bernard... read more

One of the best records by this great little modern soul trio who should have gone onto bigger and better things. The session's got a strong mellow groove, typical of some of the non-hit soul coming out of labels like Polydor and Capitol at the end of the 70s -- and tracks include "Stares... read more

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A clear follow-up to "The Hustle" (not on this album), with a number of tracks that come close to the genius of that track, but never quite manage it altogether. Van's on lead vocals, and the record's got some good keyboard work by Paul Griffin, Richard Tee, and Leon Pendarvis. Includes... read more

Seminal 80s groove from 70s Miami soul star Gwen McCrae -- reinventing herself here for the new decade with a totally different sound! The album's best known for the amazing club track "Funky Sensation" -- one of those tracks that crossed over big, and had a huge influence in countless... read more

Gwen McCrae's second LP for Atlantic, and every bit a great batch of modern soul tracks as her first effort for the label! Gwen's come a long way from the heavy southern soul of her roots -- working here with production by Webster Lewis, who also plays keyboards on the set, and takes it into the... read more

A massive bit of Miami soul -- maybe one of the greatest albums to come out of that city's scene in the 70s! Gwen McCrae's never sounded better than on this set -- a wonderful record that takes the rootsy style of her earlier singles, and mixes them with a warmly bubbling groove that's pure Miami... read more

A monster album that's gone onto influence a generation -- but which was barely recognized at the time! Singer Eugene McDaniels had scored big with some pop hits in the 60s under the name Gene McDaniels -- but here, he steps out in a righteous batch of offbeat funk tunes -- filled with politics,... read more

After cutting pop soul records under the name Gene McDaniels during the 60s, brother Eugene went back to using his full name, and got very heavily duty righteous on us! This classic album recorded for Atlantic is a mix of rock and soul that features a strong political message that's probably best... read more

After cutting pop soul records under the name Gene McDaniels during the 60s, brother Eugene went back to using his full name, and got very heavily duty righteous on us! This classic album recorded for Atlantic is a mix of rock and soul that features a strong political message that's probably best... read more

After cutting pop soul records under the name Gene McDaniels during the 60s, brother Eugene went back to using his full name, and got very heavily duty righteous on us! This classic album recorded for Atlantic is a mix of rock and soul that features a strong political message that's probably best... read more

The second album by this monster Philly duo -- a powerhouse songwriting team for Gamble & Huff, breaking out as a pretty good act on their own! The album features the great follow-up to their first hit ("Ain't No Stoppin Us Now"), the fast grooving "I Heard It In A Love... read more

Sweet funky blues from the team of Junior Parker and Jimmy McGriff -- sounding better here maybe than on any of their other albums! Junior's got a sweet approach to the lyrics that grooves nicely with Jimmy's Hammond -- and the set's got some full and soulful arrangements by Horace Ott that really... read more

Wonderful work from the great Ellen McIllwaine! Ellen's certainly not a soul artist -- but she's got a particularly soulful approach to folk rock, one that's made her a favorite of groovers worldwide in the past 10 years, thanks to a big push from Gilles Peterson, and the club scene in Tokyo and... read more

Spacey disco, very much in the same mode as work by Alec Constandinos from the same time. No surprise, then, that the group does a cover of Alec's "Accidental Lover" -- complete with strings, keyboards, and sex sounds -- and they also do a pretty smooth club take on Jean Michel Jarre's... read more

Sweet modern southern soul by The Meadows -- recorded at Muscle Shoals with a warm harmony sound that's better than you'd expect from the date. The album features a nice version of Leon Ware's "I'll Be Your Sunshine", plus the funky cut "Wheels", and the originals "Body... read more

A non-Philly International, non-Teddy LP for the group -- but still recorded in the City of Brotherly Love, with a classic 70's sound that's pretty similar to their work with Gamble & Huff. Titles include "Hostage", "He Loves You And I Do Too", "Stay Together",... read more

Teddy Pendergrass and crew get a bit more political than on earlier releases, and adopt the righteous bubbling soul groove that had put the O'Jays over the top a few years earlier -- with incredible results! The title cut -- "Wake Up Everybody" -- would prove to be a great example of the... read more

A pretty decent soul album from The Memphis Horns -- a lot more than just a bunch of horns getting funky. The album has some nice little vocal numbers -- and DJ Rogers, Lani Groves, Denice Williams, and James Gilstrap all sing on the record. Best up is "Just For Your Love", a smooth... read more

The legendary Memphis Horns are still funking things up nicely on this one -- and they've got a lot of strong help from the likes of Jim Gilstrap, David T Walker, Michael McDonald, and others. Sonny Burke handled all the arrangements -- and the album's got a great smooth modern soul sound that... read more

Sweet slightly funky soul, recorded by Mercury at Muscle Shoals, and with the more baroque production that Stax was using on its Enterprise label. Includes the tracks "Black Woman", "Take A Walk Down My Street", " The Bridge We Cross Over", "Love Is Taking... read more

Nice! US reissue of one of the better post-Josie albums by the Meters, with a groove that's a little New Orleans, and a little 70's funky soul. Not all cuts are great, but there's some nice funky tracks on here that make this one worth having, and which keep it from being a disappointment, like... read more

A later one by The Meters, and a record that shows signs of their morphing into the Neville Brothers, but still a darn good batch of New Orleans funk, although with less of the spare hard scratchy sound as their early records. Allen Toussaint produced, and the group has a nice guitar heavy sound. ... read more

One of the greatest albums ever in the history of funk -- the first album by The Meters, and virtually the blueprint for countless funk records to come! The album's bubbling over with classics -- all hard-hitting instrumentals played by the group in an effortlessly tight style, produced to... read more

One of the greatest albums ever in the history of funk -- the first album by The Meters, and virtually the blueprint for countless funk records to come! The album's bubbling over with classics -- all hard-hitting instrumentals played by the group in an effortlessly tight style, produced to... read more

Brilliantly funky! This is the greatest album they cut for Warner Brothers -- and it's one of the few that ever really approaches the genius of their early work for Josie. The record features the incredible breakbeat cut "Just Kissed My Baby" -- worth the price of the album alone --... read more

The rarest Meters record ever! This is one of the 3 classic funky albums they cut for the Josie label in their early years -- and it's about as hard and heavy and funky as you could get! The group's trademark scratchy guitar funk sound is firmly in place, and the rhythm section is nice, tight,... read more

Some of the best Philly instrumental material ever recorded -- and a nice compilation that features cuts that we hardly ever see on the original LPs anymore! Includes the group's nice nice version of "Freddie's Dead", plus their hit version of "Philadelphia Freedom", and the... read more

Groundbreaking, and a killer piece of Philly groove! The record was the first to feature the MFSB backing group as a solo act. This large conglomeration of studio players had graced some of the first big Philly hits in the 70s, but here they break out on their own in a remarkable set of pre-disco... read more

Stormin' bit of uptempo club stuff, with material that was recorded in Paris and Philly, and production by Pierre Jaubert and Tom Moulton. 4 long cuts, including "Magic Love", "Hold Me, Squeeze Me", and "Can't You Feel It".... read more

One of THE psychedelic funk masterpieces of the early 70s -- a guitar-heavy set with a very fuzzed up feel -- one that's halfway between the work of Fugi and some of the best early sides on Westbound Records! But more than just guitar-heavy funk, Midnight Movers also have a fair bit of a groove --... read more

A popping party classic from the 1980s -- filled with plenty of catchy electro numbers, all served up in a sublime blend of pop and soul! The Calloway brothers are at the height of their powers here -- and the album strikes a perfect balance between mainstream soul and percolated electronics --... read more

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The times are changing, and so too do the Mighty Clouds, switching labels to Epic, and teaming up with Frank Wilson and James Cleveland for another soulful set that's got one foot firmly in the secular world and the other deeply planted on the church's side! Includes "What About The... read more

Super-heavy funk from late great Desco Records scene! The Mighty Imperials were one of the best funky 45 groups to record for mighty deep funk Desco label -- and their first album never properly saw the light of day, thanks to some pressing and distribution messups before the demise of the company.... read more

One of the most soulful sets ever recorded by the Buddy Miles Group -- a really searing set of live performances from 1971, often done in a way that has the band stretching out and jamming heavily! The core group seems a bit bigger than usual -- with a lineup that includes guitar and organ... read more

80s electro soul from Marcus Miller -- nicely grooving in a mix of beats, keyboards, and vocals -- all handled by Marcus himself! As with his other work from the decade, there's a jazzy flair to much of the record -- a style that goes a bit deeper than just the simple soul that you might guess... read more

Better days, indeed -- as the set takes us back to our favorite club sounds of the late 70s -- thanks to careful crafting from maestro Al Kent! The album's got a solid, soulful approach that's totally great -- a return to a time when making dance music involved a full range of instrumentation --... read more

An 80s quiet storm classic from Stephanie Mills -- one of her best-remembered sides from the time, and a real hit-making set of ballads and mellow numbers! The title track's a great remake of Gladys Knight's classic of the same name -- updated with some nice 80s production touches that modernize... read more

Stephanie Mills in fine formation here -- working with the team of James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, who helped the lady reach the heights of her career in the early 80s! The sound here is catchy and contemporary, but hardly ever too commercial -- just relaxed and grooving, in a mode that lets... read more

Smokey and the gang hit the stage with a good set of live material that has them performing longer versions of tracks before a very pumped up crowd. Tracks include "I've Been Good To You", "Way Over There", "You've Really Got A Hold On Me", "Mighty Good... read more

An incredible album from The Miracles -- truly the Renaissance that's promised in the title, and proof that they could do amazing things away from Smokey! Of course, they've got a heck of a lot of great help on this set -- from some of Motown's best, like Willie Hutch, Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren... read more

Willie Mitchell blows soulful trumpet with the Hi Records rhythm team chuggin' along slowly behind him. There's the usual pop stuff, plus two good originals, "30 60 90" and "Big Power House". Also with versions of "Who's Makin Love" and "Take Five".... read more

Very different stuff from Willie Mitchell's work on Hi Records -- but also very nice! The record's a sweet smooth jazzy one -- with a sound that's kind of like some of the more R&B jazz on labels like Elektra or Blue Note during the late 70s. The tracks are primarily instrumental, but there's... read more

Killer funky organ -- and 100% Dynamite! Jackie Mittoo is one of the all-time great organists -- as essential to Jamaica as Booker T was to Memphis, or Jimmy McGriff was to New York. He's legendary these days as the player who completely transformed the Hammond sound with his unique Jamaican... read more

One of the greatest east coast vocal group albums from the seventies, and still a sought-after classic! The band's an East Coast sweet soul vocal group, with a deep soul feel and some heartbreaking vocals that hit the upper reaches of the harmony style -- and they've got a super-dope look and... read more

One of the heaviest albums ever made -- and a monstrous bit of organ funk that never gets old! The Mohawks were a one-off studio group led by arranger/keyboardist Alan Hawkshaw (the "hawk" in the Mohawk name), and they're working here in a mad London mix of beat group grooving, soul jazz... read more

Beautiful! This is one of The Moments' best albums from the early 70s, and it's a masterpiece of east coast group soul in the best New Jersey tradition! The trio of Ray, Goodman, and Brown sing together with perfect harmonies, and the production has a raw edge that makes their voices sound even... read more

Beautiful! This is one of The Moments' best albums from the early 70s, and it's a masterpiece of east coast group soul in the best New Jersey tradition! The trio of Ray, Goodman, and Brown sing together with perfect harmonies, and the production has a raw edge that makes their voices sound even... read more

Excellent album that Harvey Fuqua put together with his old band during the time that he had emerged as a successful soul producer at RCA working with bands like The Nite Liters and The New Birth. The album features the group reprising some of their classic doo wop tracks, and giving them a 70's... read more

Great early work from Melba Moore -- recorded at a time when she was winning big accolades for her work on stage as a parody of Diana Ross in Hair -- but stepping out here as a hell of a great soul singer on her own! The tunes have a groove that's a bit more complicated than the usual soul work of... read more

An early 80s classic from Melba Moore -- best known for one of her biggest hits, "Love's Comin' At Ya", an enduring number that's got an irresistible groove! Like many of Melba's other albums, this one's fairly mainstream radio-friendly pop soul, but still a solid effort overall -- with... read more

An early 80s set from Melba Moore -- recorded at a time when she was really coming into her own! Read My Lips has Melba working nicely with some tight Capitol soul backings -- often a bit heavy on the beats, but in a way that guides the tunes strongly from the bottom, and lets Melba's vocals... read more

The tenth album in Rudy Ray Moore's classic 70s run for Kent Records -- and every bit as raunchy as the first! Rudy's energy at this point is amazing -- a never-ending stream of social commentary, street language, and bad-rapping braggadocio -- set to some rough-edged rhythms that make for a live... read more

Classic stuff -- Rudy's first album, and a fitting launch to his famous career of party records and live club performances! The cover's got Rudy in front of a nude black model, laying back on the couch, and encouraging him to do the thing that's implied by the title -- but the record itself is far... read more