Soul — CDs  

Seminal work from the post-Clyde McPhatter version of The Drifters – a sublime batch of singles that really showcase all that's great from the second chapter of the group! The set's way more than a "best of" – as it was the only full album to feature most of these cuts – and together, they really illustrate the excellent changes the group had made – including their alliance with the Leiber & Stoller team, and their great use of exotic rhythms and instrumentation! Some cuts still echo earlier R&B, while others have plenty of cool Latin elements in the mix too – a rhythm that really works well for the vocals of Ben E King's lead with the group. Titles include "Sweets For My Sweet", "There Goes My Baby", "Stranger On The Shore", "Save The Last Dance For Me", "When My Little Girl Is Smiling", "Ruby Baby", "True Love True Love","Another Night With The Boys", "What To Do", "Mexican Divorce", and "Room Full Of Tears".

Seminal Atlantic Records work from The Clovers – one of those groups who were already great on their own, but then really took off once they hit the label! There's a rawness to these sides that rivals the early Drifters at their best – the Clyde McPhatter years of that group – with vocal interplay that virtually invents the group harmony sound for years to come, mixed with raw rhythms that often feature lots of The Clovers' trademark guitar from Bill Harris! Easily one of the top 10 group soul albums of the 50s – with tracks that include "Love Love Love", "I Played The Fool", "Devil Or Angel", "Little Mama", "Crawlin", "Here Goes A Fool", "Lovey Dovey, "Yes It's You", "Ting A Ling", and "Hey Miss Fanny".

Rave-up soul treasures from the late 50s through the 60s – one of the best compilations we've seen from Outta Sight! Age Of Northern Soul pulls together great material that blends Northern Soul, Popcorn and R&B – all of it pretty wonderful It's got lesser-remembered tunes from famous names that sound as glorious in our ears as some of the more beloved hits – including Etta James, Jimmy Ruffin, The Temptations and The O'Jays – as well as some great stuff from singers and groups most known to collectors. It's also jam packed with songs – 27 in all! Titles include "Seven Day Fool" by Etta James, "Don't Feel Sorry For Me" by Jimmy Ruffin, "Don't Mess With My Man" by Irma Thomas, "Mr Johnny Q" by The Bobbettes, "Oh My Soul" by Garlon Davis, "The Day Will Come" by Freddie Gorman, "Faded Letter" by Satintones, "Hard Times" by Royal Jokers, "Romance Without Finance" by The Temptations, "Heard Hearted Woman" by Eddie Burns, "Drip Drop" by The Drifters, "It Keeps Raining" by Fats Domino and many more.

An excellent batch of 25 groovers, all hand-picked from the Atlantic soul catalog with a selection that moves waaaaay past the big ol' hits! This is the kind of stuff that we die to find on funky 45s – only if we're lucky! Titles include "Walking Up A One Way Street" by Willie Tee, "At The Club" by The Drifters, "It Ain't What You Got" by Jimmy Hughes, "Help Me Get The Feeling" by Ray Sharpe, "Some Other Guy" by Richie Barrett, "I'm Gonna Run Away From You" by Tami Lynn, "Que Sera Sera" by The High Keys, "Keep Lookin" by Solomon Burke, and the amazing "Some Kind Of Wonderful" by Soul Brothers Six, a monster track that is worth the price of the CD alone!

An amazing collection of music – put together ostensibly as a tribute to Excelsior label owner Otis Rene – but also a wonderful document of the wealth of wonderful sounds on the LA scene of the 40s and early 50s! The set is especially notable in that it includes rare early recordings by artists who'd flourish later on bigger labels like Capitol, Liberty, and Atlantic – yet heard here at the start of their careers, and already sounding wonderful – coming up with those unique hybrids of musical modes that made LA sounds some of the most compelling of the time – jump blues, smooth vocal R&B, and more – often pointing the way towards musical growth to come in the 60s. Despite the label's small status, its productions were all top-shelf – very polished, and well put-together – as you'll hear on this batch of 44 tracks that includes the titles "Pitchin Up A Boogie" and "All For You" by Nat King Cole, "Synthetic Joe" and "Groovin High" by Gerald Wilson, "Thursday Blues" and "I've Got To Have You That's All" by Jimmy Rushing, "Jeff Hi Stomp" and "Volcano" by Johnny Otis, "John The Revelator" by Luvenia Nash Singers, "Mobile" by Otis Rene, "I'm Still Crazy" and "Ribbely Bop" by The Drifters, "Strange Land Blues" by The Hollywood Flames, "Huckle Boogie" by Preston Love, "Crazy Baby" and "Think It Over" by Phil Flowers, "You Better Change Your Way" by Charles Brown, and "At Least You Could Save Me A Dream" by Herb Jeffries.

A cheesy cover, but a really wonderful little compilation – a set that's filled with obscure righteous soul tunes from the 70s, including some lesser-known cuts by bigger name acts of the time! The vibe here is really wonderful – definitely the kind of kicked-back soul you might listen to on a Sunday afternoon – not as uptight as tracks for the clubs the night before, and rolling out with a sound that's warm and mellow, but still with a bit of groove at the bottom. Most numbers are of mid 70s vintage – sparkling with a good deal of class and sophistication – and titles include "Sunshine" by Pulse, "Ain't No Need" by Ralph Graham, "You Put A Hurting On Me" by Mary Mundy, "No Rebate On Love" by The Dramatics, "I Just Want To Love You" by Toby Kang, "Don't Trick Me Treat Me" by The Dells, "Sorry" by Grace Jones, "Yes You Need Love" by Anthony White, "Don't You Know I Love You" by Major Lance, "It's All Over" by The Presidents, "A Nice Feeling" by Caroline Crawford, and "Pour Your Little Heart Out" by The Drifters.

Atlantic soul live – recorded in a great grassroots setting! The performance comes from the Uptown Theater in Philly – as important to that city as The Apollo was to New York – and features a host of key Atlantic Records talents from the 60s, really hitting some hard and heavy notes in the live setting – with a bit of MC introduction at the start from Jimmy Bishop! There's a few great surprises here – artists you don't normally associate with Atlantic – and titles include "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl" by Patty & The Emblems, "Can't You Hear The Beat" by The Carltons, "My Girl Sloopy" and "The Watusi" by The Vibrations – plus "Under The Boardwalk" and "On Broadway" by The Drifters, "Down The Aisle" by Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells, and "I'm Gonna Cry" and "If You Need Me" by Wilson Pickett.

Nothing but great songs from the team of Gerry Goffin & Carole King – the third volume of greatness from the pivotal 60s songwriters to be put together by our friends at Ace UK – with several of the bigger hits for good measure, but strongly focused on lesser-remembered jewels that are just as deserving! Goffin & King's stratospheric success is a testament to both their immeasurable craft and the adaptability. The latter is key, as a wildly diverse roster either hit big of should have done so with these absolutely great songs – The Drifters, Chiffons, Freddie Scott, The Byrds, The Monkees, Rick Nelson, Tony Orlando, Lesley Gore, The Tokens, Dee Dee Sharpe. Soul, rock, pop or a combination thereof – Goffin & King's reach is amazing! 26 tracks: "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons, "Hey Girl" by Freddie Scott, "Sweet Young Thing" by The Monkees, "Soul Waltzin'" by Big Dee Irwin, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by Bunny Sigler, "Chains" by The Everly Brothers, "Can't Stop Talking About You" by Tobin Matthews, "Take Good Care Of My Baby" by Dion, "Goin' Back" by The Byrds, "Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)" by The Cookies and more.