Soul -- In Stock -- LPs  

Teddy Pendergrass' last album for Philly International -- showcasing a warmer Teddy than ever before -- one who glides along with a majestic, mature approach to his music -- in a way that shows that Pendergrass was as good an interpreter of ballads and mellow cuts as he formerly was of more club-dri... read more

Not a bad little album from Teddy, although not nearly as sublime as his earlier work for Philly International. The record has Pendergrass working with arranger Michael Masser, who also wrote most of the songs on the set (save for one by Luther Vandross) -- and the overall feel is pretty mellow,... read more

Teddy's first album after his legendary car crash in the early 80s -- and a record that has him stepping back into the limelight with a smooth Philly groove! The overall sound is a bit more laidback and mellow -- with not as many clubby groovers as before -- but Teddy's still got the right mix of... read more

One of the most successful albums cut by People's Choice during the 70s -- and a record that shows them making the same progression from funk to disco as other groups of the time, like BT Express. Yet despite the easily imagined disco that the title might indicate, the album's actually got some... read more

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The classic Atlantic LP that turned Esther from a rough-hewn, junkie, juvenile R&B singer into a sensitive interpreter of ballads, standards, and pop tracks. Her version of the Beatles title track is amazing, and she sings it with a fragility and sensitivity that Lennon and McCartney could... read more

Esther's in prime Kudu mode here -- working with jazzy arrangements by David Matthews and Pee Wee Ellis, addinger her raspy vocals to a smoother mix of instruments that creates a perfect counterpoint that took her way past her earlier work! Titles include "Magic's In The Air", "A... read more

Smooth and sophisticated grooving from Esther Phillips -- a record that really has her shaking off the rag-tag and rootsy modes of earlier years, and gliding sweetly into the mainstream! Phillips' vocals are still as soulful and compelling as ever, but the backings are quite full -- penned by Joe... read more

One of our favorite-ever albums from Esther Phillips -- an album that really helped her transform her sound for the 70s! The approach here is a lot more jazzy than before -- served up with a good dose of funk, thanks to arrangements from Pee Wee Ellis -- fresh from his work with James Brown, but... read more

Wilson's second set of "greatest hits" collected by Atlantic -- and with some tasty later work that pushes past the obvious hits of earlier days! The set features 13 numbers in all, most with that hard southern feel that Wilson got while working with producers like Rick Hall, Tommy... read more

A lost treasure of rare soul from the Chicago scene -- the unreleased album by Pieces Of Peace -- a combo with ties both to the late 60s soul of Twinight Records and the early 70s grooves of The Pharoahs! This set was initially recorded by The Pharoahs' Scarab label, but never issued at the time --... read more

Fantastic jazz funk by one of the best bands in the genre! This is probably Pleasure's most sought-after album, and it includes the classic breakbeat cut "Bouncy Lady", which begins with a nice hard drumbreak, and ends the same way! The record has a tight, smooth, soulful feel --... read more

A wonderful album from Pleasure -- one of the few jazz funk bands who actually seemed to get better and better the more they recorded! Unlike some of their contemporaries, who kind of lost their edge when the production got slicker, Pleasure actually picked up more of a beat, and tightened up... read more

One of the few lucky bands to fall under the Kalimba Productions/EWF umbrella, Pockets had a great smooth jazzy soul style that was definitely helped by a proximity to Maurice White. This album's probably their best, and it includes lots of nice moments, like "Come Go With Me", "Noth... read more

A surprisingly excellent record -- a blend of off-kilter vocals, funky fusion, and jazz violin -- also one of Noel Pointer's most soul-based albums, thanks to some great arrangements from Chisoul maestro Richard Evans! The album takes the electric feel of Pointer's 70s work, and gives it a nice... read more

No opera here -- but a really unique early live show by The Pointer Sisters, one that shows the Bay Area quartet to be one of the most diverse soul acts of their generation! The double-length set features the girls singing a mix of older jazz tunes and a few newer tracks -- scatting in vocalese... read more

A great soul harmony trio -- and one with a solid 80s groove! Positive Express recorded this one-off set for a smaller Sugarhill subsidiary in the early 80s -- working in a tradition that goes back to the earlier All Platinum/Stang harmony work of the 70s (the group kicks off the set with a cover... read more

Great lost funky soul material from one of the few non-rap acts on Sugarhill. The group maintain a very strong jazzy club sound -- with a bit of a Wayne Henderson/At Home groove, and a nice polished finish. Some tracks even have a strong positive vibe, and the kind of righteous mellow soul that... read more

One of the deeper soul albums recorded for Cadet -- an obscure record with an ensemble vocal feel -- clearly inspired by gospel, but done for the hipper soul audiences of the time. The whole thing's got a nice righteous feel, and also features a number of covers of popular tunes from the late 60s... read more

Despite the fact that the title track of this one was a huuuuuuuge hit back in the day, this full length album by the group just about never shows up! The album's a nice one, and has lots of tasty harmony soul tracks with production by Van McCoy, who also wrote and arranged the bulk of the... read more

An early 70s classic from Billy Preston -- the kind of record that firmly put him on the mainstream map after years of bumping around in search of a style! The album's much straighter soul than some of Billy's earlier records, but still has a nicely righteous feel overall -- a blend of funky soul,... read more

A collection of Lloyd's biggest hits during his early years -- 15 tracks that have plenty of New Orleans influences, yet which also define that unique quality that made Price one of the stand-along singers of his time! Includes hits like "Stagger Lee", "Personality", "Lady... read more

Here begins the period that Prince went from a fascinating, genre defying hitmaker to an unstoppable cultural force -- bringing a bit of a new wave pop punch to the funky synth soul -- and somehow crafting some of the most irresistible singles of the 80s! We can't imagine anyone being able to... read more

Early work from Prince -- really his first full fledged masterpiece! Prince ushered the 80s in with a mix of recognizable influences, but filtered through his unique sensibility -- taking taught a funk sound, layered vocals, crisp rhythms, ultra catchy songs and that unbridled, unambiguous,... read more

A wild one! After the straight hard funk of some of his earlier recordings as a leader, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie breaks out here in a compelling album of soul jazz tracks done in a number of styles. The approach is sort of big studio funk -- with some cuts that have a harder sound, and... read more

80's compilation of their best hard soul tracks from the 60's, most of which are very elusive on wax these days! The boys sing hard rockin' duo tracks, in the best sort of vein of Sam & Dave, and other male duets from the time. Includes their classic break track "I'm Your Puppet",... read more

Who are these guys? They're actually pretty great -- a jazz rock group with some nice soulful influences, sounding better than you'd expect for such an ensemble. Tracks have a sound that's somewhere in the Blood Sweat & Tears/Chicago vein -- but lighter, with more of a west coast jazzy finish.... read more

One of the least-remembered P-Funk links of the late 70s -- a great little side project from the team of Glenn Goins and Jerome Brailey, and one with heavy, bassy, partyful groove! The style here is almost even tighter than that of Parliament or Funkadelic at the time -- in a similar George... read more

One of the greatest albums of all time -- a masterpiece of moody soul, spacey vocals, and jazzy vibes -- all produced by the legendary Roy Ayers! Ramp take their name from the anagram Roy Ayers Musical Productions -- and in a way, the group's the summation of all the genius that Roy had been... read more

An obscure jazz rock album from the mid 70s -- recorded in Germany, but with vocals in English. Straddling the line between the more mainstream side of prog and some of the more commercial jazzy rock of the time like Chicago, Chase or even a hornless Tower of Power realm, this set is built on... read more

Post-Philly International work from Lou Rawls -- but an album that still features a fair bit of production from Dexter Wansel, in a way that continues the groove from a few years before! The sound's got a smooth, sophisticated feel that works great with Lou's maturing vocals -- and the overall... read more

A repackaged version of the album You're Good For Me -- one of the beautiful records from Lou's late 60's years at Capitol, and one of the ones he made with the great team of H.B. Barnum and David Axelrod. As usual, Barnum turns out some fantastically swinging soul arrangements -- and Axelrod's... read more

One of Lou's classics for Philly International -- a warm mix of smooth soul and adult vocals, handled with some great arrangements by Dexter Wansel and Thom Bell. There's less standout singles on this set than previous Philly records, but Lou's class and quality makes nearly every track come out... read more

Just in case you were fearing that Lou's late 70s talents were only part of the studio magic of Gamble & Huff, this set proves that Mr Rawls could really sparkle in a spontaneous live setting -- working here with a totally top-shelf set of arrangements that display a really wide range of his... read more

A real breakthrough for Lou -- a set that again paired him with arranger Onzy Matthews, and which even more deeply explored the unique space between jazz, soul, and the blues that became Rawls' prime territory back in the 60s! Matthews' backings are hip and jazzy throughout -- filled with bold... read more

One of the greatest records ever by Lou Rawls -- if only for one cut! That's the amazing "See You When I Get There", which starts with a Fender Rhodes riff over a hard thumping beat -- while Lou does this little monologue about calling his woman at home. Then strings sweep in, the... read more

One of the nice moments from the days when David Axelrod was producing Lou Rawls! The record's a great mix of soul and tight LA production, and features the breakbeat cut "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)". Other nice ones include "Season Of The Witch", "It's You", "I... read more

Some of the tightest funky 70s jamming ever -- a lost gem from Ray & His Musical Court, a group that perfectly fuses JB/Horny Horns funk with beat-heavy Afro-Cuban groove! Ray and the group are one of the more obscure funky combos of the era, and it's a damn shame, because the group's tight-as-... read more

This was Redd's second album after the breakup of the Young-Holt team -- and it's also the tightest. The best cuts have this hard funk sound that features tightly stepping drums by Redd, and a classic choppy groove that's best summed up in the cut "Do It Baby", a favorite with hip... read more

One of Otis Redding's greatest LPs! Unlike some of his others -- which either had some filler, some gimmicks, or were collections of material released after his death -- this one is a totally solid batch of southern soul tracks that ranks with some of the best work to come out of Memphis during... read more

A great lost record from Clarence Reid -- one of the most multi-talented artists on his scene, stepping out here with the depth and sensitivity of some of his best southern soul contemporaries of the 70s! Despite the fact that at the time of the record, Reid was simultaneously recording as the... read more

Funky gospel from the Texas scene of the 70s -- a smoking little set that brings together the best rare tracks by The Relatives, plus some unreleased numbers as well! The groove's so great here, you can really forget the spiritual side of the lyrics -- as most of the music inspires impulses in us... read more

One of numerous records made in tribute to L Ron Hubbard, but don't let that steer you away! Patrick Remy plays most of the music here, with his loads of keyboards augmented by supple drumming from Dominique Pizzinat. Overall the sound is definitely in a late 70s, early 80s synth prog mode, with... read more

A bit late in the game for Rene & Angela, though they're still pumping out some classic 80s groove numbers, with Angela Winbush's flair for great songs. There's a few numbers here that are moving a bit too far into the commercial radio slow jam territory for our tastes, but there's a couple of... read more

Great stuff from Revelation -- one of those "second generation" east coast harmony groups of the 70s, who emerged after the big early 70s wave of hit harmonists, with a style that was equally polished, and perhaps more sophisticated, if less chart-wise than their earlier brethren. The... read more

Easily the best album ever by the Art Reynolds Singers -- a really massive batch of righteous soul tunes, in a style that really set the stage for the Voices Of East Harlem! Like the group's other records, this one features a good mix of gospel-infused soul styles -- but unlike the others, it's... read more

A killer album of modern soul from ex-Dramatics singer LJ Reynolds! The album's in a modern Detroit mode all the way through -- with top-shelf production by Reynolds, Don Davis, and Ronnie McNeir -- and Ronnie, who'd been lost to the industry for a few years, also re-emerges as a writer on the... read more

Late 80's release by this ex-member of The Dramatics, and a pretty great modern soul singer in his own right. The LP's got a good modern soul feel to it, and a small combo backs L.J. up on most of the tracks. Titles include "I Will Always Love You", "Tell Me You Will", "Ol... read more

After Minnie Riperton's heavenly first album on Cadet -- the sublime Come To My Garden -- this one's got to be her most perfectly realized full LP! The album's a sparkling work of jazzy soul, with touches of the heavenly production that Minnie got in years past, and lots of smooth mellow songs... read more

One of those funk classics that was a funk classic even back in the days when nobody was talking about funk classics! Ripple were an obscure little group of southern players, and although they later went onto cut a disco record for Salsoul, this first album is still their most enduring legacy. ... read more

One of those funk classics that was a funk classic even back in the days when nobody was talking about funk classics! Ripple were an obscure little group of southern players, and although they later went onto cut a disco record for Salsoul, this first album is still their most enduring legacy. ... read more

Possibly not as righteous as you might expect from the title or queen images on the cover -- but a pretty nice little album nonetheless, and maybe the best so far from the Ritchie Family! The trio are working with disco maestro Jacques Morali here -- and side one features the extended "African... read more

An obscure classic from the Latin Soul generation -- the standout set recorded by the young Chollo Rivera and his strangely-named group The Latin Drives! The set's got equal parts soul and equal parts Latin -- in a way that's similar to some of Joe Bataan's albums for Fania from the same time --... read more

Funky sax from the 70s New Orleans scene -- one of the few records we've ever seen from James Rivers, and a stone cooker to rival the depth of some of the best soul saxmen up north! James cut the session in collaboration with Senator Jones, who gives the record a nicely cracking style that keeps... read more

RJ's latest groove has plenty of electro touches -- those bubbling, burning keyboards that always made the group sound great -- almost a key link between the street soul and mainstream scenes of the 80s! Tracks are mostly funky and choppy -- produced with a bit more tightness than an earlier... read more

An excellent album of super-dope guitar riffing -- laid down over funky arrangements by Monk Higgins, in kind of a slick LA early 70s style. The group features work by Paul Humphrey, Joe Sample, and Wilton Felder -- but the real star is Freddy, whose complicated lines on the guitar stand up there... read more

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Smokey's a little bit off course here -- heading into a range of mellow pop soul styles that are clearly inspired by artists who were inspired by Smokey's own majestic solo turn in the 70s -- but who never manage to match his quality. And since Smokey's taking inspiration from the uninspired,... read more

Time flies, but Smokey Robinson keeps things cool -- laidback and mellow, and very much in the mode of his best solo work from earlier years -- with a subtle glow in the backings that has us thinking "quiet storm" all over again! Given Robinson's rep, it would have been easy to just... read more

One of the earliest full albums from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles -- a wonderful batch of original tunes done with some raw early Motown production! Smokey's vocals are very much in the high range here -- soaring with the group's lively harmonies, who really give the album a full sound in... read more

An obscure little funk album by this Australian group from the mid 70s. From what we've been told, the Johnny Rocco band had quite a reputation at the time -- and you can hear how they might be crowd pleasers on the album's mix of styles that would definitely be big with any sort of group in the... read more

One of a handful of enigmatic albums cut in the early 70s by Sixto Rodriguez -- a Latin-tinged singer with a style that's a bit like that of Jose Feliciano, but trippier, and with more rock and folk touches! This set's probably his best one -- thanks to arrangements and production by Dennis Coffey... read more

An amazing second set from Sixto Rodriguez -- recorded in the legendary Landsdowne Studios in London, with a groove that's a great extension from his debut! All of Rodriguez's best elements are in place here -- his folksy guitar, personal lyrical style, and surprisingly biting approach to a... read more

There's many facets of Roger -- and they're all pretty darn funky! From this vantage point, all we can think of is that Roger Troutman must have had some sort of crystal ball to see into the hip hop sampling future -- either that, or he was busy cooking up west coast gangster funk drones in some... read more

Classic work from the great DJ Rogers -- with a soaring, sweeping, righteous soul feel that reminds us of Rance Allen at his best, or of some of the smooth work of Lamont Dozier from the same time. DJ wrote, arranged, and produced all the tracks on this album, and the cuts have a slight nod... read more

Rose Royce are certainly plenty strong at this point in their career -- working with a tight modern soul groove on Epic Records -- away from their previous placement on the Whitfield label, even though Norman Whitfield's still very actively handling production here! The album does a great job of... read more

A landmark record for Diana -- her first solo effort after leaving the Supremes, and a well-conceived batch of tracks produced by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson! The album's got a warm, mature approach that really separates the work from Diana's earlier girl group past -- as Ashford &... read more

Diana and the ladies recorded live at London's Talk Of The Town nitespot -- with arrangements conducted by Jimmy Garrett, and a set of tracks that includes a number of medleys of standards and late 60s pop tunes. Titles include "Mame", "Reflections", "In & Out Of... read more

Motown's second pairing of its two biggest groups of the late 60s -- a massive 7-voiced meeting in soul music, with results that are surprisingly great! Frank Wilson produced the whole set, and he does a good job of keeping all players in check -- never letting the whole thing get too gimmicky,... read more

One of Diana's big cinematic moments of the 70s -- and a record that's better than we remember! The theme of the film -- "Mahogany" -- was covered so many times during the 70s that it's easy to forget how great it is -- a sad, slow tune with a meandering vocal that's quite different from... read more

A massively beautiful piece of work by "the new Rotary Connection" -- a version of this groundbreaking Chicago soul ensemble which featured Phil Upchurch, Henry Gibson, and Charles Stepney -- the cream of the Chicago production scene! Minnie Riperton's still in the band on vocals, and... read more

10 classic Motown tracks from the lead singer of the Temps: "Walk Away From Love", "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", "Everything's Coming Up Love", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", "You're My Piece Of... read more

Warm and wonderful soul from David Ruffin -- key proof that the singer could keep on going strong, long after his earlier fame at Motown! The record's got a new sense of sophistication that really breaks David into new territory -- a style that's nicely different than the backings Ruffin got from... read more

Great later work from Rufus -- working here without Chaka Khan on vocals, but sounding even jazzier as a result! There almost seems to be more emphasis on the instrumentation than before -- and the album's got a warmly funky groove that definitely carries on the 70s Rufus tradition, but cleans... read more

One of the archetypal funky soul bands of the 70s -- and a group whose impact is still being felt today! Of course, one of the reasons for that is Chaka Khan's incredible vocals -- caught here at a prime early point, and very nicely set against some warm electric keyboards and tight groovy guitars.... read more

Sure, you've heard a lot of these cuts a million times -- but honestly, it's still great to hear Rufus and Chaka, whatever the setting! The set dips back into the ABC recordings by the group, and features tracks from the years 1974 to 1979. Titles include "You Got The Love", "Sweet... read more

Rufus and Chaka grooving strong -- produced by Quincy Jones in a smooth jazzy modern mode that keeps the fire burning, restraining Chaka a bit in her diva mode, which lets her fit perfectly with the group's tight funky instrumentation! The album's got some standouts, but all the tracks are really... read more

A stone cold classic, and probably the best record Rufus or Chaka ever did! By this point, they've honed their soul style into a nice jazzy groove, and Chaka's voice is in total control -- without too much pyrotechnics, and with a nice mellow sound. Includes the classic hit "Hollywood",... read more

An under-appreciated gem by Rufus -- the group's last album before Chaka left to depart on her successful early 80s solo career -- and a nice one nonetheless! There's a trace of 80s groove in the mix -- especially on the bass and percussion -- but these elements are handled with all the warmth and... read more

A great set from Patrice Rushen -- very different than her later R&B work from the 80s! The record's her first, and at the time, Patrice was much more of a jazz artist -- working here with a cool west coast set of players (Joe Henderson on tenor, Hadley Caliman on alto and soprano, and Oscar... read more

A great set from Patrice Rushen -- very different than her later R&B work from the 80s! The record's her first, and at the time, Patrice was much more of a jazz artist -- working here with a cool west coast set of players (Joe Henderson on tenor, Hadley Caliman on alto and soprano, and Oscar... read more

Music beyond description -- a unique blend of disco, funk, avant garde, and dub -- the wonderful world of the late Arthur Russell! Russell was a bass player by trade, but he was schooled in both classical and Eastern music forms -- and brought an incredibly fresh vision to his work in New York in... read more

A beautiful late 70s effort from Brenda Russell, who seems to have been left by the wayside, perhaps because her wonderful almost Free Soul approach to modern, sophisticated, mellow grooves never quite fit into the commercial radio soul realm, or the slow jam scene, though it veered close enough to... read more

An obscure group with a very strange name -- but a great little harmony soul record from Chicago! The band are very much in a classic 70s mode -- and deliver some wonderful ballad material that's right up there with the best obscure east coast work from the early part of the decade. The cover... read more

Another nice one from Sade -- perhaps not as edgey as some of her earlier work, recorded in a slightly smoother style, but still quite nice to our ears -- as Sade's always been a pleasure, no matter what the setting! Includes the nicely grooving "Nothing Can Come Between Us", plus "T... read more

Philly classics for the Holidays! The legendary Christmas Jolllies set by the Salsoul Orchestra was one of the label's biggest-selling albums -- originally recorded in 1976, and pressed again and again over the years -- and eventually remixed even stronger in the early 90s. Vince Montana is at... read more

The second Christmas Jolllies set by the Salsoul Orchestra, but unlike the first volume, which was under the guidance of Vince Montana, this second volume has Patrick Adams at the helm! The sound is kind of a disco Christmas if you can imagine that, with nicely grooving versions of "Joyful... read more

Amazing funky jazz from the 70s -- a completely rare little set recorded in the Bay Area scene of the time -- featuring hip trumpet work from Woody Shaw, and lots of cool keyboards from Patrick Gleeson! The feel here is somewhere in the territory of work that Gleeson did with Herbie Hancock in the... read more

Jorge Santana's working here with Allen Toussaint -- but in a set that's sometimes a fair bit different than some of the straighter New Orleans productions of the 70s! There's definitely a few grooves in the mix -- but these are often a bit more upbeat, and almost clubby at times -- a great... read more

Prelude disco at its best -- a soulful side from the team of Jesse Boyce and Moses Dillard, formerly of the southern soul scene, and working here in an uptempo Hotlanta mode with lots of nice soul touches. Players on the set include Clayton Ivey on Fender Rhodes, Roger Clark on drums, and Dillard... read more

Jazz, blues, rock, and soul collide -- in one of Merl's messed-up sets for Fantasy, recorded with a wealth of players that show the true crossover spirit of the Bay Area scene. Merl's on keyboards, and joining him are Jerry Garcia, Tom Fogerty, Bill Vitt, The Hawkins Singers, and "a fifth of... read more

One of the greatest soul records of all time -- and an album that we'd never part with! Gloria Scott only ever recorded this one full LP -- but that's more than enough, as the whole thing's a masterpiece -- produced by Barry White with the best of his 70s approach, and featuring songs written by... read more

The only standout set ever recorded by Rena -- and a mighty club burner that's headed up by the production team of James Mtume and Reggie Lucas! The set's got that warm Mtume glow throughout -- upbeat and uptempo, yet filled with soul -- and done in a mode that brings some sweet jazzy class into a... read more

An oft-overlooked jazzy gem from Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson -- and a beautifully swinging session that has Gil toning it down a bit, and working into a nicely musical groove that gets past the heavy politics of earlier years! The record's a great showcase for the more upbeat side of Gil's... read more

A 70s soul classic -- and the closest that Gil Scott-Heron ever came to having a hit! The album's best known for its anthemic classic "Johannesburg" -- one of the first popular tunes to really push the cause of a free South Africa -- but the whole album's a winner, filled with some... read more

Gil Scott-Heron's first album -- and his angriest! Unlike some of Gil's other albums -- which have a sweet jazzy vibe and a mix of mellow soul styles -- this one's a lot rawer, and features Gil rapping loud over very heavy percussion backing. All the work is his own, and the album's a showcase... read more

Beautiful gatefold reissue of this classic! We've heard it a million times, but it still sends us soaring (in fact, we're listening to it right now). The most fantastic mix of Gil's poetry and his beautiful spiritual jazz sound. The title cut alone is worth any price, and is one of the best... read more

An excellent album that brings together cuts from Gil Scott-Heron's first 3 albums on Flying Dutchman! The stuff on here is legendary -- and is a great mixture of jazzy soul songs and righteous political poetry and protest. Gil's never been better than on these recordings -- and the track list on... read more

A beautiful jazzy classic, and perhaps Gil Scott-Heron's most perfectly realized album ever! The record has a completely sophisticated jazzy approach -- one that's miles ahead from even Gil's previous work on Flying Dutchman, and which shows him to be one of the most distinctive and emotive... read more

A cheapo knockoff disco album -- but still pretty nice, and served up with some jazzier touches in the mix! Given the low budget of the production, the approach here is more funky fusion than anything else -- played by the Second Wind combo with lots of clavinet and electric piano, plus bits of... read more