Soul — All Formats  

A killer album of soul jazz piano instrumentals – produced by James Brown! The Dee Felice Trio were a groovy combo from Cincinnati, and James Brown took a shine to them at some point in the late 60s. They backed James on one record, but their big moment was this album – which had James producing, and the group grooving nicely on some hard piano jammers! The sound's a lot more stripped-down than usual for James, but the groove is very nice! Includes an excellent funky version of "There Was A Time", a great cover of Marcos Valle's "Crickets Sing For Anamaria", and the tracks "Summer In The City", "In Heat", "Both Sides Now", and "Never". Features 3 bonus tracks too – "Nightingale", "Little Liza Jane", and "There Was A Time (single version)".

Tremendous sounds from Honey Cone – easily one of the most hard-hitting girl groups in soul music – thanks to some funky funky backings on these early 70s tracks! The trio work in a mode that was first forged by female soul groups in the 60s – yet really push things forward with a righteous groove that totally kicks ass – lots of funk at the bottom, burning soul at the core, and soaring vocals that really take off wonderfully throughout! And while there's been plenty of collections of Honey Cone work over the years, this one may well be the best – thanks to a massive 22 track set list, and a really well-chosen batch of tracks that includes "When Will It End", "Want Ads (long version)", "While You're Out Looking For Sugar", "Take Me With You", "If I Can't Fly", "Stay In My Corner", "Woman Can't Live By Bread Alone", "Innocent Til Proven Guilty", "Sitting On A Time Bomb", "Who's It Gonna Be", "Stick Up", and "The Feeling's Gone".

Amazing stuff from bassist Eldee Young and drummer Isaac "Red" Holt! At the time of this release, the pair had already risen to great fame as the rhythm backing for Ramsey Lewis in his first trio – but broke out on their own as a solo act, with a real focus on rhythmic piano grooves! Working here with pianist Hysear Don Walker, the pair attempt to recreate a bit of the rolling soul jazz groove they hit with Ramsey – but they also take a hipper approach, by moving the drums and bass forward in the mix, especially Young's bass, which was capable of amazing funky riffs and elegant whimsical lines. The title cut, "Wack Wack", is one of those 60s instrumental hits we'd put on a par with "Bang Bang" or "Soul Finger" – and the album also includes wonderful versions of jazz and pop hits like "Monday, Monday", "Song for My Father", "Sunny", and "Girl Talk", all of which are completely transformed by the group!

A killer album of soul jazz piano instrumentals – produced by James Brown! The Dee Felice Trio were a groovy combo from Cincinnati, and James Brown took a shine to them at some point in the late 60s. They backed James on one record, but their big moment was this album – which had James producing, and the group grooving nicely on some hard piano jammers! The sound's a lot more stripped-down than usual for James, but the groove is very nice! Includes an excellent funky version of "There Was A Time", a great cover of Marcos Valle's "Crickets Sing For Anamaria", and the tracks "Summer In The City", "In Heat", "Both Sides Now", and "Never". Darn hard to find, too!

The only compilation of 60s female soul trio The Apollas we've ever seen – beautiful tunes with sweet and soulful vocals, big emotions and excellent arrangements – fantastic stuff from the trio, earlier material recorded as The Lovejoys and solo numbers by singer Leola Jiles! We'd love to say we've been fortunate enough to have heard more than a handful of the great Loma and Warner 45s, but that isn't the case – so this compilation from Kent as rewarding for us as just about anything they've put together in recent years – which is really saying something! A number of the tracks are should-be anthems that really allow the girls to sing big – backed by brass and tight arrangements to suit. That said, they're diverse talents, and there's some sweeter girl group styled tunes here that come across just as strongly. Glorious! Titles include "You're Absolutely Right", "Who Would Want Me Now", "Jive Cat", "See The Silver Moon", "Pretty Red Balloons", "I'm Under The Influence Of Love", "Baby I'll Come", "My Soul Concerto" and more from The Apollas proper, plus "He Ain't No Angel" and "Wait 'Round The Corner" by The Lovejoys, "I've Got So Used To Loving You" and "Why I Was Born" by Leola Jiles and more. 25 tracks in all.

A raw raw party from Richard Berry & The Soul Searchers – caught live at HD Hover Century Restaurant, a place so funky, the food must have jumped off the table! The album's a really unusual one, even for the time – as Berry and the group are captured in a live small club setting, in a way that just lets the tunes roll out as if you were catching the group in person – freewheeling, open-ended, and with an extended grooving quality that even surpasses the energy of the best funky 45s of the time! Berry's got a mighty power at the helm – singing, talking, and calling out the tunes with a real sense of funky majesty – while the small combo really jams behind him on percussion and sax, and a trio of lovely ladies come in to help out on the choruses from time to time. The album features a side-long version of "Down Here On The Ground" that's easily the most mindblowing take we've ever heard on the track – as Berry stretches the thing out with Isaac Hayes-like intensity, and really turns the tune on its ear! Other tracks include the heavy-jamming "Wild Berry", plus "Spread Your Love" and "Give Her All The Love I Got".

A 70s Afro Funk classic from Blo – really trippy grooves from this legendary Nigerian trio – and arguably their greatest album ever! Rhythms here are tremendous – not the usual sort of Afro style, and instead tightly focused at the roots, and coming off with this blistering blend that really drives the tunes strongly – jamming, but without ever jamming too much – kind of a steady fire that really sounds great underneath the vocals! The core elements of the trio are augmented by keyboards from Joni Haastrum and Segun Bucknor – each important Afro Funk players in their own right, who both really help add a nice sort of psych element alongside the skittish grooving of the guitar, bass, and drums. Titles include "Blo", "It's Gonna Be A Good Day", "Native Doctor", "Do It You'll Like It", "Atide", and "Whole Lot Of Sh*t".

Deep southern soul from vocalists Chuck Brooks, Joe Wilson and George Soule – a both gritty and and some sweeter material cut at Malaco Studios, mostly in the early-to-mid 70s – with some rare 45 numbers, and others that were never issued at all! The Chuck Brooks tracks are wonderful and show a real range, from funky, stripped down numbers to bigger productions that still have plenty soulful grit to them! The Joe Wilson tunes are just as strong – with a heavy bottom end to the rhythms, organ and vamping soul guitar in the mix, and uniquely emotive vocals from Chuck. The set's closed out by a trio of tunes by George Soule, solid, moody, a mix of soul, a bit of southern rock & pop, and Motown ballad influences. Really incredible stuff! Includes "Loneliness (Is A Friend Of Mine)", "Baby Please Don't Set Me Free", "You Can't Be In Two Places At The Same Time", "Once Up A Love Affair" and more by Chuck Brooks, "(Don't Let Them) Blow Your Mind", "Sweetness", "When A Man Cries", "Our Love Is Strong", "Don't Look Back", "Go On And Live", "Walking Away From True Love" and more by Joe Wilson, "Talking About Love", "The Easiest Think I've Ever Done" and "That's Why I'm A Man" by George Soule. 25 tracks in all!

A great little album by James Brown – and very different than his other work! He cut this one with the groovy Dee Felice Trio – a jazz-based combo that he recorded on their own for King, on another very rare, very excellent record. The band's in similar form here, although not necessarily as funky – and they do a great job of giving James' vocals a jazzy twist that they don't have on other albums – proving yet again that The Godfather can handle just about any sort of groove that he wants! Features a wonderfully groover version of "Sunny", which moves along very nicely – plus remakes of "There Was A Time" and "Cold Sweat", along with the tracks "Uncle" and "That's Life".

Sweet British harmony soul from this overlooked 70s group – a really wonderful record that continues some of the best mellow group styles of the earlier part of the decade! Dave Collins – of Dave & Ansel Collins fame – is a member of the trio – but the sound here is more in keeping with the best New Jersey group modes than any of his earlier hits – a wonderfully fragile mode that has the voices hanging in air, coming together in sublime late night harmony sounds! A few numbers get slightly more uptempo, but the record's a pretty ballad-heavy one overall – and tracks include "Indebted To You", "Never Lose Never Win", "Why Can't We Be Lovers?", "Think I'll Leave This Song Just Like It Is", "Hogtied", "Chase A Miracle", and "Cold Steel". 2 bonus tracks on this CD version: "This Eternal Flame" from a 1976 single, and the previously unreleased "Make It".

An excellent album from this sublime soul trio! The record's got a nice heavy style – similar to the funky soul that was creeping into the sound of other artists on the Invictus label – and it rumbles along with a nice fuzzy edge that adds a whole new dimension to the incredible vocals of the group. Holland-Dozier-Holland produced, but the real skill here is that of General Johnson and Greg Perry – who wrote all the songs on the album save one – and whose vocal genius really makes the whole thing soar. The album yielded no hits for the group, but still has plenty of great numbers – and with General Johnson's vocals, just about anything would sound great! Cuts include "Bittersweet", "Weary Traveler", "So Glad You're Mine", "Elmo James", "Working On A Building Of Love", and "Men Are Getting Scarce". CD featyures two bonus tracks – "Let Me Down Easy" and "Everybody's Got A Song To Sing".

A trio of funky electric albums from Stanley Clarke's mid 80s R&B years – 1984's Time Exposure, ''85's Find Out and '86's Hideaway – in a 2CD set! Time Exposure has a lot of 80s electro funk in the mix, particularly Clarke's impeccable bass lines, which are heavy throughout. Titles include "Play The Bass '10", "Heaven Sent You", "Speedball", "Future Shock" and the great title track. Find Out follows somewhat similar territory, an 80s synth funky set with a few surprising twists – including an electro/funk/old school rap cover of "Born In The USA"! Other tracks include "Find Out", "The Sky's The Limit", "Stereotypica" and "Psychedelic". Hideaway makes a move towards more delicate synth soul for Clarke – who assembles an impressive guest list that includes Stanley Jordan, Herbie Hancock and Stewart Copeland. Titles include a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed", plus "My Love, Her Inspiration", "Where Do We Go", "Old Friends" and "When It's Cold Outside".

These sides are from the obscure Chicago group Coffee – a club-oriented female trio, in the same vein as First Choice and other famous Philly groups. The tracks have a disco feel and the songs were produced by Clarence Johnson & Riccardo Williams and arranged by Floyd Morris.

The title track of one of the few albums cut by this Chicago dancefloor trio – done in a skipping clubby mode that's not entirely disco, not entirely soul. The track's playful enough to live up to the title – kind of a jaunty groover with nice back/forth action.

Rootsy gospel from The Como Mamas – a tremendous trio of female singers, working here in an all-acapella mode that's completely sublime! The set's an offshoot of the Como Now project done by Daptone a few years ago, and has the same timeless feel – quite a difference from the heavy funk you might normally hear on Daptone, yet equally soulful all the way through! The tunes are spiritual, but served up with more than enough depth to please any fan of secular soul, too – and the lack of any instrumentation, mixed with straightforward production, all makes the record feel like some lost indie label gem from decades ago. Titles include "Nobody's Fault But Mine", "Peace Of Mind", "Thank Him Enough", "God Is Good To Me", "I Know It Was The Blood", "Old Landmark", "Ninety Nine & A Half Won't Do", and "Soon I Will Be Done".

Randy Crawford and Joe Sample – a mighty wonderful combination who've made some great studio sessions together – working here in an even more organic live concert setting! The album's got a stripped-down, back-to-basics approach – Joe just playing acoustic piano and working with a trio – and Randy stepping out in some old school jazz vocals – of the sort she didn't even record in her earlier days! The approach is wonderful – a great reminder that both artists have some mighty deep, soulful roots – and the track list is a good mix of older standards and cool soulful numbers, really recast nicely in this mode. Titles include "Street Life", "Last Night At Danceland", "Every Day I Have The Blues", "Feeling Good", "Tell Me More & Then Some", "Me Myself & I", and "One Day I'll Fly Away".

Delegation really hold onto their groove in this rock-solid second set – an album that burns with vibrant energy right from the start – but all in ways that are really a cut above the usual uptempo soul of the time! Rhythms are a key part of the sound, but it's the trio's vocals that really hold us rapt – a warmly glowing approach to the lyrics, and one that still keeps things plenty soulful, even when tunes are upbeat, catchy, and very firmly aimed at the dancefloor! These guys were never huge at the time, but they've got a near-perfect sound throughout – a sense of funk that rivals some of the large-member ensembles, and a warmth with their vocals that matches some of the solo acts of the period. Titles include the sublime "In Love's Time", which has a great Earth, Wind & Fire kind of groove – plus "Singing", "Feels So Good", "In The Night", "Gonna Keep My Eyes On You", "12th House", "Turn On To City Life", and "I Wantcha Back". Bonus tracks include "Singing (12" special disco mix)", "Singing (single)", and "12th House (single)".

A landmark album in harmony soul – one of those records that pushed the genre to a whole new level! The Delfonics emerge fully formed here as one of the most compelling groups of their time – a tremendous trio with a really unique approach to soul music – one that's heartfelt and heartbreaking, but never too sweet to be cloying or poppy – definitely just the right groove to keep things hip while also cracking the charts! The album's their first full collaboration with legendary producer Thom Bell – and it's got a sound that's summed up perfectly in the quintessential cut "La La Means I Love You" – and which is followed through beautifully on a batch of tracks that includes "Losing You", "Can You Remember", "You're Gone", "I'm Sorry", and "Break Your Promise".

Nasty nasty funk from the great Bo Diddley – one of his rare funky 70s classics for Chess – produced by Johnny Otis with a really tripped-out groove! The album's got an edge that seems to go even farther than some of Bo's other Chess work at the time – and picks up the full-on Otis funky mode by leaning hard on the drums, pulling up the bass, and bringing in a trio of female lovelies to back up Bo on vocals! Gloria Scott's one of the vocalists on the album, and Shuggie Otis even joins in on the funky party with some sweet guitar! But even with all this help, Bo's still the star of the story – and his massive chugging approach to guitar is moving full steam ahead on the set – really ripping a groove through a great batch of original tracks that include "Take It All Off", "I've Had It Hard", "Good Thing", "Bad Trip", "Infatuation", "Bo Diddley-Itis", "Woman", and "Look At Grandma".

Classic work from female disco trio Eastbound Expressway – an Ian Levine project done in a mode to rival the great female club trios from Philly – and one that comes off surprisingly well! The work was recorded in UK, but has a style that reminds us a bit of some of the Canadian disco of the time – with long instrumental passages leading into the tunes, nice acoustic percussion bits breaking out in the mix, and vocals that are sort of filtered into the tunes as they roll on – maybe not the best credit to the Eastbound sound vocally, but still a nice way to lay things out! Titles include "Turn Back The Tide", "Better Look Before You Leap", and "Never Let Go".

From a hard soul trio to one of the biggest soul chart acts of the mid 70s, The Emotions had an amazing ride to the top. Although the sisters started out in the field of gospel, then moved through indie labels to cut a few nice raw soul albums for Stax, it was the Chicago soul genius of Maurice White and the growing Earth Wind & Fire empire that pushed the girls over the top. This set features 16 tracks from those big hit years – when the girls were blaring out of radios everywhere, on stations black and white, with groovers like "Best Of My Love", "Don't Ask My Neighbors", and "Boogie Wonderland" – and it also features plenty of album numbers like "Yes I Am", "Key To My Heart", "Rejoice", "Flowers", "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love", and "Love Is Right On".

A soaring classic from The Emotions – thanks to some supreme help from the Earth Wind & Fire side of the soul spectrum! This set has the trio really sounding great – with Kalimba Productions by Maurice White and Charles Stepney – and a good deal of EWF help on the instrumentation as well! The girls break out of the rootsier style used on their earlier Stax recordings, and manage to fit perfectly with the jazzy tinges of the new grooves – and, along with Ramsey Lewis and EWF, the Emotions were part of a hugely successful trinity during the late 70s – one that took the indie soul roots of the Chicago scene and turned it into landmark big business for Columbia Records. The album's got a new approach to female group soul that would go onto shape R&B for years to come – and titles include "Flowers", "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love", "We Go Through Changes", "Special Part", and "You've Got The Right To Know". CD features a bonus single version of "Flowers".

The legendary lost album by Stax/Volt female soul combo the Emotions – officially issued for the first time ever, with a wealth of bonus material! The Songs Of Innocence & Experience album was slated for release in 1972, and for whatever reason, the album didn't come out – leaving a number of the tracks to filter out as singles, and onto other LPs throughout the 70s – and still others to languish in the vaults until now! These cuts have more of a rootsy edge than their later disco era work, with all of those solid trio harmonies and catchy vocal hooks, and arrangements centered on drums, piano, bass and horns – but still with a very clean, lovely sound thanks to the indelible vocals! 23 tracks in all, including "Shouting Out Love", "Gee Whiz", "I Wanna Come Back", "Swearing Out A Warrant", "Baby I'm Through", "Put A Little Love Away", "Innocent", "Somebody Will If You Won't", "Ain't No Sunshine", "I Really Miss You" and lots more!

A treasure trove of southern soul – the complete Kayvette Recordings of Facts Of Life – a really unique trio with a great talent for mellow songs about life, love, and messing around! The work was recorded in Muscle Shoals by Brad Shapiro and Millie Jackson – and it's often got the best qualities of Millie's own mellow work – not the upbeat tracks, but the laidback ones in which she tells a little story with her lyrics. But given the trio nature of the group, there's often some great interplay between the male and female vocals – in a way that reminds us a lot of The Soul Children towards the end of their run at Stax – when they really matured a lot, and used the male/female group format to really expand on older styles of southern soul. Shapiro's production is tight, but never overdone – often letting the vocals cup through the most strongly, even on some cuts that augment the grooves a bit. The 2CD package features both albums by the group – Matter Of Fact and Sometimes – plus material from singles too. 23 tracks in all – including "Sometimes", "Uphill Peace Of Mind", "Caught In The Act Of Getting It On", "Bitter Woman", "Did He Make Love To You", "It's Only A Matter Of Time", "Dr Feelgood", "I'm Way Ahead Of You", "Do You Wanna Make Love", "If You Can Give You Can Get", "Love Is The Final Truth", and "What Would Your Mama Say".

A killer album of southern soul harmony from The Facts Of Life – a trio with one female singer, two guys, and a great sound overall! The album's actually produced by Millie Jackson – and has that great blend of modern and southern modes that she was hitting in her best mid 70s years. The sense of interplay and harmony between the singers is a bit like Soul Children at their height – and the album's also got some warm Muscle Shoals backing that really makes the whole thing come off right! Titles include "Did He Make Love To You", "We Can't Hide It Anymore", "I'm Way Ahead Of You", "This Ain't No Time To Sleep Apart", and "It's Only A Matter Of Time".

Good album by this female-male-female soul trio, with a lot of tracks written and arranged by Van McCoy, with the good New York soul sound that he was laying down with groups like this in the days before he hit the disco. Zulema's on vocals, and she also wrote a few tracks. Cuts include "God Bless The World", "I Worship The Very Ground You Walk On", "Heavy Love", "I Was There", and "We Can Change The World".

One of the best records ever cut by this soulful Philly female trio! The album's one of the first on Salsoul's Gold Mind subsidiary – and it features sparkling club production by the Harris/Baker/Young team – a landmark force not only in Philly disco, but 70s female soul as well – as their backings for groups of this nature are always sensitive to the complexities of the vocals! The record's mostly uptempo – with plenty of soaring tracks that still retain the more soulful sound of the group's early work – and the songwriting's generally tight, a few notches above earlier albums on Warner – showing that their return to the indie fold was a very good move. Titles include the classic "Let No Man Put Asunder" – plus "Doctor Love", "Indian Giver", "Do Me Again", and a great version of Stevie Wonder's "Love Having You Around". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Doctor Love (single)", "Love Having You Around (single)", "Indian Giver (single)", "Doctor Love (12" Tom Moulton mix)", "Let No Man Put Asunder (12" Shep Pettibon mix)", and "Let No Man Put Asunder (12" Frankie Knuckles mix)".

What can we say? We've heard this one a million times, it sold over a million copies – but it's still incredible! The record is Roberta's first, and it features her in a mellow trio format, augmented by some occasional larger arrangements by William Fischer. At most points, though, the sound is incredibly spare – with vocals that are much more soulful than any of Roberta's other records, and a sound that hints at Nina Simone, but which has it's own jazzy groove and deep sense of feeling. Includes the classic funky version of "Compared To What", plus "Angelitos Negros", "Our Ages Our Our Hearts", and "Tryin Times".

Proud and loud female soul from Carolyn Franklin – a singer who's every bit as great as her famous sisters Aretha and Erma – heard here on her second outing for RCA! The album's got a bit more sophistication than the first – a style that's still drenched in Franklin's deep soul roots, but which pushes some wider song styles into the mix – at a level that helps Carolyn keep from being a cliched copy of Aretha. Arrangements are by Sonny Sanders, Wade Marcus, and Bert DeCoteux – and Carolyn's vocals are backed by The Sounds of Soul on a number of cuts – a trio of female singers, but one that's a lot harder-hitting than the Sweet Inspirations over at Atlantic. Titles include "Not On The Outside", "Shattered Pride", "You Really Didn't Mean It", "Right On!", "I Ain't Gonna Love Nobody Else", and "Chain Reaction".

80s groove from the Ingram Family – a record that features the core vocals of Ron Aikens and Galaxy, plus plenty of great backing funk from the Ingrams! The style here is a great mix of boogie, street soul, and bits of electro – with a style that's a bit like Aleem from the same period, but a bit funkier overall. Ron's lead vocals can be nice and sweet on the mellower tracks, and on the funkier ones the rest of the trio come in and chant with the chorus in a sweet ensemble mode. There's also plenty of great keyboards in the mix too – some with great squishy and splashy bits that really make the tunes sound great! Butch Ingram produced, and titles include "We're Here To Rock You", "You Got It", "Party", "Spend Some Time", "Come Let Me Love You", and "Give Your Dog A Bone".

A tight groover from The Gap Band – already past the "V" in their classic run of 80s albums, and still very might at the top of their game! The core trio work here with sweet production from Lonnie Simmons – a pairing that continues to set the group up above most of their competition, and give them a groove that goes way past the obvious. Mellow cuts stand out as strongly as upbeat ones – and if anything, the mellow groovers are the best! Titles include "The Sun Don't Shine Everyday", "Weak Spot", "Video Junkie", "Beep A Freak", "Don't You Leave Me", "Disrespect", "I Believe", and "I Found My Baby". CD features bonus tracks – "Beep A Freak (12" long version)", "I Found My Baby (12" club/dance mix)", "Disrespect (12" club mix)", "Beep A Freak (12" special dance mix)", and "I Found My Baby (12" rmx with breakdown)".

A long-overdue collection of work by this sublime Ohio soul group of the 60s – a trio of lovely ladies with a really tremendous sound! Gigi & The Charmaines are hardly the girl group cliche you might think from their sweet name and the image on the cover – and on most of the numbers here, they're hard-rolling at a pace that's somewhere between the best Detroit Northern Soul of the time, and some of the sweeter female soul that was coming out of Chicago at the end of the 60s. Ace have really outdone themselves with the collection – and bring together the group's singles on the Columbia, Date, and Fraternity labels – as well as some other key sides that have them performing vocals on records by other artists in the lead! CD features a whopping 28 tracks in all, plus a full set of notes – with titles that include "Guilty", "Poor Unfortunate Me", "Eternally", "Girl Crazy", "If You Ever", "I Idolize You", "Rockin Old Man", "On The Wagon", "What Kind Of Girl Do You Think I Am", "All You Gotta Do", "GI Joe", "I Can't Go On This Way", and "I Don't Want To Lose Him" – plus "I'm So Satisfied" with Max Falcon, "Lucy Miloo" with Kenny Smith, "Baby Please Don't Go" with Carl Edmonson, and "Baby What's Wrong" with Lonnie Mack.

Post-Motown magic from the team of Holland-Dozier-Holland – a killer collection of their initial work for the Invictus label, including some of Lamont Dozier's greatest solo material! The set is smoking all the way through – a real high-point in 70s soul, with cuts that have gone onto be underground classics over the years – the kind of music we started Dusty Groove just to help promote! Lamont's vocals are tremendous, and even the instrumental tracks cook brilliantly too – thanks to a sharp punch that the trio never had this well back at Motown – kind of a 70s refinement of their previous groove, with a sound that's completely sublime all the way through. Titles include "Can't Get Enough", "New Breed Kinda Woman", "I'm So Glad", "Super Woman", "Where Did We Go Wrong", "Lady By Day", "Don't Leave Me Starving For Your Love (parts 1 & 2)", and both vocal and instrumental versions of the killer "Don't Leave Me".

The last Honey Cone album for Hot Wax Records – and a set that's still very much at the top of their game! As with other artists from the Holland-Dozier-Holland stable of hits in the 70s, Honey Cone have a massive amount of force behind their groove – so much so, the record might still be great even if the vocals were nothing special – but fortunately, the trio of Edna Wright, Shellie Clark, and Carolyn Willis bring plenty to the table too – a great sense of individual soul and all-together harmonies! Titles include "Who's Lovin You", "Stay In My Corner", "I Lost My Rainbow", "Ace In The Hole", "Sittin' On a Time Bomb", and "A Woman's Prayer". CD features great bonus tracks too – "It's Better To Have Loved & Lost", "Ace In The Hole (single version)", "If I Can't Fly", "Somebody Is Always Messing UP My Good Thing", and "The Truth Will Come Out".

A brilliant early set from Honey Cone – and a perfect illustration of the way the trio really moved past simple girl group modes of the 60s! There's a bold, proud, righteous tone to the record right from the start – thanks to these soaringly soulful vocals from the girls, and these fuzzy arrangements from Tony Camillo – who seems to borrow a bit from the more righteous modes of Norman Whitfield at Motown, then give things a bit more of a girl soul twist! The combination is amazing, and the album's rock-solid all the way through – filled with great original tunes that really keep a unified feel throughout – and titles include "Are You Man Enough", "Take Me With You", "Girls It Ain't Easy", "While You're Out Looking For Sugar", "The Feeling's Gone", "Sunday Morning People", and "Take My Love".

Four albums, plus bonus tracks – a massive collection of work from the lovely Honey Cone trio! First up is Take Me With You – a record that has them taking the girl group sound of 60s Philly, and start to forge it with some of the fuller arrangements that would transform the genre in the disco era. Tony Camillo handled all the arrangements – in a mode that's less clubby than the girls' later work, but still with that Hot Wax groove firmly in place! Titles include "Are You Man Enough", "Take Me With You", "Girls It Ain't Easy", and "Take My Love" – plus a few groovy covers! Next is Sweet Replies – the second album by Honey Cone, and the one that broke them out of the box! The record includes the huge hit "Want Ads" – a pre-disco cut that pointed the way towards future female soul groups of the mid 70s. Other tracks are in a mode that bridges earlier 60s girl group sounds and later 70s disco ones – and titles include "Deaf, Blind, Paralyzed", "Sunday Morning People", "My Mind's On Leaving", "We Belong Together", and "Blessed Be Our Love". On Soulful Tapestry, the trio of Edna Wright, Shellie Clark, and Carolyn Willis are at the height of their 70s powers – soaring forth in a massive trio mode, one that really rewrites the sound of girl group soul for the 70s! There's a bouncy, upbeat groove to the record – kind of a pre-disco approach, but one that's still strongly rooted in the best Detroit soul mode of the Holland-Dozier-Holland team too! Tracks include "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show", "Want Ads", "All the Kings Horses", and "How Does It Feel". Love Peace & Soul is the last Honey Cone album for Hot Wax Records – and a set that's still very much at the top of their game! As with other artists from the Holland-Dozier-Holland stable of hits in the 70s, Honey Cone have a massive amount of force behind their groove – so much so, the record might still be great even if the vocals were nothing special – but fortunately, the trio of Edna Wright, Shellie Clark, and Carolyn Willis bring plenty to the table too – a great sense of individual soul and all-together harmonies! Titles include "Who's Lovin You", "Stay In My Corner", "I Lost My Rainbow", "Ace In The Hole", "Sittin' On a Time Bomb", and "A Woman's Prayer". CD features 7 more bonus tracks too – including "The Truth With Come Out", "Somebody Is Always Messing UP A Good Thing", "Want Ads (unedited)", and "If I Can't Fly".

80s harmony soul from Imagination – a group who always managed to sound pretty great, despite the silly costumes they chose for their album covers! The general groove here is mostly in a catchy midtempo mode – with lots of snapping basslines and synth percussion, nicely offset by the trio's harmony vocals and the hook-heavy lyrics of the tunes! There's a number of nice mellow groovers on the set – including "All Night Loving", "Heart N Soul", and "One More Love" – and the album also features a long version of their hit "Just An Illusion".

80s harmony soul from Imagination – a group who always managed to sound pretty great, despite the silly costumes they chose for their album covers! The general groove here is mostly in a catchy midtempo mode – with lots of snapping basslines and synth percussion, nicely offset by the trio's harmony vocals and the hook-heavy lyrics of the tunes! There's a number of nice mellow groovers on the set – including "All Night Loving", "Heart N Soul", and "One More Love" – and the album also features a long version of their hit "Just An Illusion".

Righteous late 60s soul from The Impressions – the group's last album with Curtis Mayfield in the lineup! The sound here follows heavily from the Young Mods and This Is My Country years – a heavier take on the trio's soul stylings than their work over at ABC in the mid 60s – pushed into more heady political territory, yet still informed with an unmatched approach to harmony soul. Arrangements are by Riley Hampton and Gary Slabo, and they've got some great psychedelic soul touches that are a perfect precursor to Curtis Mayfield's solo work to follow on Curtom – a great groove that steps out wonderfully with an undercurrent of funk in the mix. Henry Gibson plays some great congas on the set – again hinting at the Mayfield sound to come – and titles include "Check Out Your Mind", "Madam Mary", "We Must Be In Love", "Only You", "Say You Love Me", "Turn On To Me", "Do You Wanna Win", and "You're Really Something Sadie".

A massive amount of Isley Brothers material recorded for Motown – almost more than we ever knew the trio recorded for the label! The 2CD set is filled with hard-hitting gems from these seminal years for the Isleys – a key time when they were turning their rough-edged groove towards some tighter soul ends – really setting the stage for their 70s breakout on T-Neck Records! There's a few familiar classics here, mixed with a motherlode of lesser-known gems – a whopping 52 tracks in all, including some rare mono and stereo mixes too. Titles include "Good Things", "Little Miss Sweetness", "Ain't That Real Satisfaction", "It Moves Me To Tears", "Take Some Time Out For Love", "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love", "Seek & You Shall Find", "Whispers", "One Too Many Heartaches", "It's Out Of The Question", "Save Me From This Misery", "Put Yourself In My Place", "Nowhere To Run", "I Hear A Symphony", "Take Me In Your Arms", "My Love Is Your Love", "How Sweet It Is", "Leaving Here", "Greetings", and lots lots more!

The only album we've ever seen from Khemistry – but a heck of a sweet little set, and one that's always been dear to our hearts! The trio features two gals and one guy, all working with a great sing-song approach on the vocals – and a snapping 80s groove on the rhythms! There's a warmth here that you don't always find in sets of this type – a simple, straightforward feel that keeps the whole album humming along nicely – even through some of the mellower numbers. Production is never too commercial, and the instrumentation's never too electric – and the album's got a simple charm that's kept it a favorite on rare soul lists for decades. Titles include "Can You Feel My Love", "There's No Me Without You", "I Can't Lose With The Stuff I Use", "Sucker For The Boogie", "I Got A Feeling", and "Walking Papers".

It's definitely winning time for Klique – as the trio grooves here with a lean, clean sound that's totally great! Despite the silly jumpsuits on the cover, the group actually have a pretty nice sound in the grooves – one that's kind of a poppy approach to the boogie, filled with plenty of nice hooks and riffing rhythms – all laid out with production that never gets too cluttered or cliched! The sound is simple, but that's it's strongest suit – and the album's got a nice focused quality overall. Titles include "Love's Dance", "It's Winning Time", "From Now On", "Better Times", "So In Love With You", "I Think You Know", "Middle Of A Slow Dance", and "You Brought My Love To Life".

Poppy passion from Krystol – a sweet 80s trio with a definite way with a hook! The set's got a well-balanced mainstream sound – one that helps the vocals find a fullness right away, either on the leads or harmonies – both woven together over the top of the tight, beat-heavy grooves! At points, there's almost a retro vibe – as if an older girl trio mode's being revived for a new 80s scene – but with a definite contemporary spin. There's a decidedly commercial appeal to the sound – but Krystol were also never too overplayed back in the day, which makes the album a nice discovery – and a great surprise when you start digging through all the potential singles on the set. Tracks include "Love Attack", "Passion From A Woman", "He's So Jive", "Baby Make Up Your Mind", "Scared Single", and "Precious Precious". CD features bonus tracks too – "Passion From A Woman (ext)", "Passion From A Woman (acapella)", "Passion From A Woman (radio)", "Passion From A Woman (dub)", "Passion From A Woman (7" version)", and "Precious Precious (7" version)".

A stone classic in the genre of bad-rapping female soul – and one of the key albums cut by the trio of Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash! The arrangements and production are handled by David Rubinson, who gives the set a nicely polished feel that gets a bit past some of the slight cliches that had been creeping into the girls work – a style that shows them equally well skilled at mellower numbers than at the funkier rockier tunes that were their more familiar stock in trade. Titles include "Come Into My Life", "A Man In A Trenchcoat (Voodoo)", "Get You Something New", "Going Down Makes Me Shiver", "Gypsy Moths", and "Who's Watching The Watcher?".

A 70s crossover classic, and the album the put LaBelle over the top! The mighty Allen Toussaint is at the helm for this first Epic album to feature the trio of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash – and he really helps the group find an amazing new sound after their somewhat rougher, rootsier efforts for Warner Brothers! The new groove has plenty of Toussaint's New Orleans rhythms in the mix – but the overall sound is a bit smoother too – kind of a classy, clubby take on the Crescent City sound – one that still sounds wonderful after all these years. Most tunes have a vamping rhythm and lots of great electric piano – and titles include the massive hit "Lady Marmalade", the great title track "Nightbirds" – and "Space Children", "All Girl Band", "You Turn Me On", "What Can I Do For You?", and "It Took A Long Time".

Sublime soul from the mighty Laura Lee – one of the best deep soul singers of the 70s, even though she recorded with the mostly-northern team of Holland Dozier Holland! The set shows that the trio really knew how to change it up after leaving Motown – and although Lee had recorded for Chess in the 60s, she really finds her groove here – mixing southern soul with a dose of 70s funk – all of which really stands out from most of her contemporaries! Laura's voice is sweet and dusky, in the mode of some of the best underground singers of her day – but also rises above the rest, thanks crack arrangements by HB Barnum and Eugene Moore – who mix strings and soul into a stellar blend of styles! Titles include the breakbeat classic "Crums Off The Table", which begins with some great hard drums – plus the cuts "Every Little Bit Hurts", "I Can't Make It Alone", "Mirror Of Your Soul", and "I Need It Just As Bad As You". Features a bonus unedited version of "I Need It Just As Bad As You".

A beautiful batch of gospel work from Shirley Ann Lee – a vocalist who originally worked the spiritual circuit in a trio with Candi Staton! The album's an unusual one – put together partly as a way of promoting Shirley's music to a larger audience – which means it's got a few spoken bits that kind of introduce her with cool musical backings, then roll into the songs themselves – which are often a very bluesy version of gospel – recorded with earthy instrumentation that really brings out the deep soul in her vocals! There's a nicely offbeat quality to the record – and in addition to 6 rare singles, the set also features 10 more that have never been issued before. Titles include "All I Have To Depend On", "There's A Light", "How Can I Lose", "Someday", "Stay On Your Knees", "Get Back", "I've Got To Make It", and "Blessed Quietness".

A near-lost Philly disco album – recorded at Sigma Sound, but released on Casablanca at the end of the 70s – one that was almost buried under the weight of the label's collapse at the time! There's a style here that borrows bits from some of Casablanca's more mainstream artists – focusing strongly on the hooks of the tunes, and putting the female vocals upfront – but still swirling around in some mighty club arrangements from the Sigma team. Loose Change themselves are a trio in the Philly mode of First Choice or Three Degrees – and titles include "Rising Cost Of Love", "Straight From The Heart", "Darling, That's Me", "Babe", and "I Wanna Hold On To You". A total gem! This Big Break UK remastered edition has 3 bonus tracks: "You Never Done It Like That", "My Place Or Your Place" and "Straight From The Heart (Single Version)".

The second album from UK soul trio Loose Ends and the one that really helped them breakthrough! Like their previous album, So Where Are You was produced by Philly producer Nick Martinelli, but this one finds the group tightening up the groove into a more focused modern soul style – mid 80s period production. Dancefloor friendly, but with a focus on the tight focus on the traded male & female lead vocals and really strong songwriting – co-written by the group. Includes "Magic Touch", "A New Horizon", "So Where Are You?", "Golden Years", "Silent Talking", "Hangin' On A String", "Give It All You Got", "The Sweetest Pain" and more. This Soulmusic.com CD edition includes 5 bonus track – including a version of "Magic Touch" featuring Roy Ayers on vibes! Others include "Hangin' On A String (The Twilight Firm All Night Mix)", "Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles Club Mix)", "Golden Years (UK 12" Single Mix).

Long lost soul from Love Apple – the only known recordings made by the female vocal trio in the late 70s – rehearsal takes made with the legendary Lou Ragland! Love Apple is Lily Pearson, Annette Warren and Avetta Henry – working here with Cleveland soul mainstay Ragland, who was at the time hoping to move further into the production realm. The ladies shared lead vocal and songwriting, and as you'll hear on these loose rehearsal sessions, talent and potential for greatness was limitless. Backed loosely by guitar, drums and piano, with lots of space for them to work on the vocals – which are natural, sweet and soulful. Researcher and compiler Jon Kirby's notes tell the story of the unrealized potential of group nicely. The instrumentation is raw, but the versatile voices are more than worthy of discovery, even if it's a few decades late! Includes "Man On The Side", "Call Me When You Want Me", "Guess I Always Knew", "There's No Answer Without You", "The Changing Times" and "What Will Tomorrow Bring". Rare fruit from the Boddie Recording Company archives.

A tremendous little record from Love Peace & Happiness – a great vocal trio from the early 70s, and one who really shine with this overlooked gem for RCA! The trio were part of the New Birth/Nite Liters universe that producer Harvey Fuqua brought to the label at the time – and they've got a hip sound that's right up there with the other two groups – with whom they were very intimately involved – working here with arrangements from Fuqua that are almost his contribution to post-Motown sounds in the 70s, the way that Holland-Dozier-Holland were working at Invictus. Ann Bogan really soars with righteous leads in the group – and gets equal support from brothers Leslie and Melvin Wilson – who really help underscore some of the bolder elements of the music – especially on the funkier cuts. Titles include "I Don't Want To Do Wrong", "Lonesome Lonely & Alone", "Don't Knock My Love", "If I Owned The World", "You Can't Cheat the Cheater", "Stay", "Mind", and "You've Chosen Me". Great reissue – with excellent sound and very detailed notes!

Freaky spandex and a mighty nice groove – a record that sounds a lot better than you might guess from the group's outfits on the cover! Magic Lady are a trio of funky females – grooving in a style that's a bit like the Brides Of Funkenstein, but a lot more stripped-down – an 80s-tuned sound that's heavy on basslines and keyboards, and which vamps along tightly in clubby arrangements from producer Michael Stokes, who also plays keyboards on the album alongside Greg Phillinganes. The whole thing's got a nicely polished sound that's almost in the Kleeer mode, especially on the mellower and more midtempo numbers – and tracks include "When We Love", "Freaky", "Hold Tight", "Give It Up", "Shake", "Get Off", and "Red Hot Stuff".

A short set, but a great one too – filled with some of the best-remembered numbers from the early years of The Main Ingredient – all recorded during that early 70s stretch when they were one of the hottest groups going! The mix of falsetto lead and deeper harmonies here is great – and the production is often stark and simple, although a bit more polished than the indie styles that were often the group's main competition – yet never in ways that marred the fragile emotion of the trio. Titles include "Make It With You", "I'm So Proud", "Spinning Around", "Everybody Plays The Fool", "You've Got To Take It", "Girl Blue", "The Girl I Left Behind", "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely", and their amazing cover of "Where Where You When I Needed You".

A killer set from a group that never lets us down – stepping out here in a sound that's more modern, more mature than their hit work of the 70s – yet still filled with all the sublime harmony soul we'd expect from the trio of Tony Silvester, Cuba Gooding, and Luther Simmons! Wade Marcus did all the arrangements – really showing his strengths on the album's mellow cuts, which are our favorites here – although the upbeat cuts still also step out in that best 80s groove mode that RCA was exploring at the time – made even better by the strong vocals of the trio! The record's got a classic sound that goes way past its cover image – and titles include "Think Positive", "What Can A Miracle Do", "With You", "Makes No Difference To Me", and "Ready For Love".

Some of the greatest work ever by The Main Ingredient – a selection of their singles for RCA records from the late 60s and early 70s – but one that goes way past just the hits, in order to fully trace the evolution of their heavenly vocal style! The trio started out as an already-great harmony act in the late 60s – a group who were even sweeter and more soaring than some of their contemporaries – making them perfectly placed to move into some of the more righteous harmony modes of the 70s – including some surprising turns towards more righteous, political material. The 22 track package is the greatest we've ever seen on the group – 15 pages of deeply detailed notes, in true Ace/Kent mode – plus singles that include three by The Insiders, "I'm Better Off Without You", "If You Had A Heart", and "I'm Just A Man" – as well as Main Ingredient singles that include "Black Seeds Keep On Growing", "California My Way", "Magic Shoes", "Everybody Plays The Fool", "You've Got To Take It If You Want It", "Girl Blue", "Happiness Is Just Around The Bend", "I Was Born To Lose You", "Brotherly Love", "You've Been My Inspiration", "I'm So Proud", "Spinning Around", "I'm Leaving This Time", "Rolling Down A Mountainside", "The Gold Old Days", and "Shame On The World".

A really messed-up blend of soul, rock, and blues – done in a style that's very much in keeping with the genre-busting Fillmore scene of the late 60s! Maximillian are a trio who run through Hendrix-like guitars, deep soul styled vocals, and bluesy riffing – often in the course of the same number – and the album's produced and arranged by Teddy Vann with a really wonderful approach that keeps things from getting too sloppy, and which propels the record forward without falling into the kind of traps that you'd get from other groups of this nature. Titles include "Moby's House", "The Road Rat", "Naked Ape", "Kickin 9 to 5", "Scar On My Memory", and "Little Amazon".

A sweet disco circus from Metropolis – one of the many studio groovers from 70s disco maestro Thor Baldursson – who handles all the arrangements on the set! The great Tom Moulton produced with Thor – and gives the record a rich, clubby, disco feel that's mighty nice – and vocals are by The Sweethearts trio – which features Barbara Ingram in the lineup! There's some surprisingly great tracks on the set – tunes that have a deeper soul than some of Thor's other projects, and which evenly balance out the grooves with a few more laidback moments – making for a really well-rounded album on Salsoul. Titles include "Here's To You", "New York Is My Kind Of Town", "I Love NY", "Was That All", and "Go Get It". CD features bonus tracks – "I Love New York (original Tom Moulton 12" long mix)" and "I Love New York (original Tom Moulton 12" short mix)".

A poppy record, but a great one too – and a surprisingly enduring pleasure from the Streetwise scene of the 80s! This is the album that started it all – the wave of younger groups that would come into play in 80s soul strongly by the latter half of the decade – New Edition with its now-classic lineup that includes a young Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, and the Bell, Biv, Devoe trio! The album's really the brainchild of producer Maurice Starr, who's also working here with a fair bit of help from Michael Jonzun and a bit of guidance from Arthur Baker – all of whom serve up tunes that are sweet and catchy, and which are almost an 80s update of the sound of the Jackson 5 or Five Stairsteps from a decade before – given a hipper, more streetsoul undercurrent. Titles include "She Gives Me A Bang", "Pass The Beat", "Ooh Baby", "Popcorn Love", "Candy Girl", "Should Never Have Told Me", and "Gimme Your Love".

Mellow O'Jays galore – a great set of some of the group's more mature ballads from later years – served up with a harmony sound that's mighty darn nice! The trio really sparkle here – taking on subjects with the all-adult approach that made them last a lot longer than most of their Philly contemporaries – really sounding wonderful here on slow jams that include "Serious Hold On Me", "Emotionally Yours", "Closer To You", "Rainbow", "Fading", "If I Find Love Again", "Somebody Else Will", "Keep On Lovin Me", and "Don't Let Me Down".

A landmark album for the O'Jays – a set that moved them from the indie ranks to 70s megasoulstatus! After years of bumping around on a variety of labels, and in a variety of styles, the group really exploded with this wonderful set – an album that has them soaring along in the righteous Philly groove of the early 70s – a sound that turned out to be a perfect foil for the trio's sublime, yet earthy harmonies. Arrangements are by some fo the best of the core Philly scene – Thom Bell, Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, and Bobby Martin – and the album's overflowing with great tunes that completely redefine the sound of group soul in the 70s! Includes megahits "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train" – plus "Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People", "When The World's At Peace", "Time To Get Down", "Who Am I" and more!

An excellent early album from Billy that has him singing in a mixed jazz and soul vein, with a sound that's similar to some of Nina Simone's great live albums from the time! Billy's singing with a small piano trio, and his voice is rich and soulful in a way that you don't always get on his later recordings. The set's nearly all covers, but Billy's interpretations are fantastic, and he turns the tracks into something completely different than you're used to – in the same way that Nina Simone and Isaac Hayes were doing at the time with contemporary hits. Tracks include "Bluesette", "That's Life", "Feelin' Good", "Just In Time", and the Kenny Gamble original, "Missing You".

A smooth jazzy classic from Pieces Of A Dream – and a real standout from the early 80s scene! The core trio of Curtis Harmon on drums, James Lloyd on keys, and Cedric Napoleon on bass are produced by Grover Washington with a fuller feel than usual – taking the piano trio approach of earlier jazz years, and updating it nicely for the 80s groove sound! Washington plays a bit of sax on the set, but the main groove is still from the keys in the trio – sounding especially sweet on the album's wonderful version of Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me A Bedtime Story"! Other titles include "Imagine This", "The Shadow Of Your Smile", "It's Time For Love", "Fo Fi Fo", and "It's Getting Hot In Here".

A huge crossover moment for The Pointer Sisters – thanks to their mega-hit version of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire", which helped sell about a gazillion copies of the record! The sound of that hit pretty much sums up the overall style of the album – as the trio delivers a number of smooth mainstream takes on 70s numbers by other soul and rock artists – all produced with a tight, guitar-driven groove by Richard Perry. Titles include "Fire", "Everybody Is A Star", "Hypnotized", "Come & Get Your Love", "Happiness", "Angry Eyes", and "Echoes Of Love" – plus the trio's take on the Steely Dan cut "Dirty Work", a personal favorite of ours! Includes 3 bonus tracks – "Love Is Like A Rolling Stone", "Nothing But A Heartache", and "Happiness (12" disco)".

Some serious slammin from The Pointer Sisters – still going strong here, near the end of an amazing run of records done with producer Richard Perry! The late 80s vibe is definitely in place – as the beats are a lot more upfront than previously for the trio – a bumpin, thumping approach to the groove that really lives up to the title – and which serves to be a perfect way to emphasize the hook-heavy approach to soul that was always the Sisters' strongest suit. The album's filled with crossover gems – and titles include "Shut Up & Dance", "He Turned Me Out", "Flirtatious", "I'm In Love", "My Life (rmx)", "Pride", "I Will Be There", and "Moonlight Dancing". CD features 5 bonus tracks – including "Translation (rmx)", "I'm In Love (single)", "He Turned Me Out (ext radio)", "Be There (12" ext)", and "He Turned Me Out (ext dance mix)".

A surprisingly pleasing little set from The Pointer Sisters – a lot more soul than pop, and really held together with some solid production and songwriting! Despite the hit cut "He's So Shy", with its over-heard catchy chorus, the rest of the album has the trio moving in a somewhat sophisticated territory – almost taking some cues from The Jones Girls at points, especially on the mellower moments. Sid Sharp handled most of the larger arrangements, which dip, turn, and groove nicely – and most numbers feature one of the sisters stepping into the lead, with support from the others. Big Break UK remastered edition includes "Could I Be Dreaming", "He's So Shy", "The Love Too Good To Last", "Special Things", "Where Did The Time Go", "Evil", "Save This Night For Love" and the bonus track "Movin' On".

Sweet silky harmony soul from the trio of Harry Ray, Billy Brown, and Al Goodman – the group's first album under a new name – after some previous indie work as The Moments! The album's got the group really stepping up with a rich new sound – drawing on all the best elements of their New Jersey roots, but hitting harmonies that are even more sublime – and put together perfectly by Lou Toby's arrangements. This debut from the trio's a real classic – proof that the indie group soul sound can make it to the big time – and although the lyrics are a bit off-beat, but that's always part of the charm of the group. Titles include "The Way It Should Be", "Inside Of You", "Treat Her Right", "Deja Vu", "Another Day", and "Special Lady".

Bouncing bass, snapping rhythms, and plenty of full on groovers from the Reddings trio – a set that has their vocals tightly wrapped around rhythms that are heavy on the boogie and mainstream funk modes of the time! Bass is handled by Dexter Redding, and is pretty upfront in the mix on most numbers – guiding the groove, and cutting things up strongly – except on a few of the mellower ballads. Titles include "Come In Out The Rain", "It's Friday Night", "Remote Control", "Doin It", "I Want It", "The Awakening", and "Lady Be My Lovesong".

What can we say? We've heard this one a million times, it sold over a million copies – but it's still incredible! The record is Roberta's first, and it features her in a mellow trio format, augmented by some occasional larger arrangements by William Fischer. At most points, though, the sound is incredibly spare – with vocals that are much more soulful than any of Roberta's other records, and a sound that hints at Nina Simone, but which has it's own jazzy groove and deep sense of feeling. Includes the classic funky version of "Compared To What", plus "Angelitos Negros", "Our Ages Our Our Hearts", and "Tryin Times".

Funky club genius from the mighty George Clinton – and one of his best-ever albums of female soul! Parlet are a female disco trio – formed in the mode of Three Degrees or First Choice, but working in a much heavier P-Funk styled sound! The approach is really striking – as the girls' sweet vocals come into play with some killer extended grooves performed by Bootsy, Bernie Worrell, Garry Shider, and the rest of the P-Funk crew! Tracks are long, with an instantly compelling dancefloor groove – and titles include "Ridin High", "No Rump To Bump", "Booty Snatchers", and "Don't Ever Stop".

Classic funky disco material from George Clinton and the trio of lovelies that recorded under the name Parlet. The backing's by the rest of the P-Funk empire – with arrangements by Bernie Worrell and Fred Wesley. Titles include "Mr. Melody Man", "Cookie Jar", and "Pleasure Principle".

The complete Hi Records recordings of Quiet Elegance – a great 70s soul female trio, formed by two former members of The Glories, and one of Martha & The Vandellas, who recorded for Hi with Willie Mitchell handling some of their best recordings! The girls have a style that's similar to Willie's work with Al Green on the first batch of tunes – and which then opens into more of an Emotions-like style on later tracks – all the while sticking to a strong female harmony sound that never falls into the cloying style of other girl groups of the time. This is great stuff – the kind of lost soul that needs further discovering – something that's easy to do, given the set's great notes, and inclusion of rare bonus tracks. Titles include "I Need Love", "I'm Afraid Of Losing You", "Mama Said", "I Need Love", "You've Got My Mind Messed Up", "Roots Of Love", "After You", "How's Your Love Life?", and "Tired Of Being Alone".

A sweet bouncy groover – one of the rare albums of modern soul cut by the group Delegation! The group in this incarnation are a trio – Ray Patterson, Ricky Bailey, and Bruce Dunbar on vocals – stripped-down harmonically, a perfect fit for the album's groove-heavy arrangements. The album's got the same warm finish, with a touch of jazz, that you might find in some of the Arista modern soul albums from the same era – infused with a bit more of a club approach on a few of the more uptempo cuts. Titles include "Blue Girl", "Heartache No 9", "One More Step To Take", "Sho Nuff Sold On You", "Darlin", "You & I", "Stand Up", and "Put A Little Love On Me". CD features lots of bonus tracks – "Heartache No 9 (12" special rmx version)", "Put A Little Love On Me (12" long)", "You & I (single)", "Heartach No 9 (single)", and "Put A Little Love On Me (single)".

An Isley Jasper Isley 3-fer – the '84, '85 & '87's Broadway's Closer To Sunset Boulevard, Caravan Of Love and Different Drummer – in a single set! Broadway was the first breakaway effort from the trio of Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, and Marvin Isley – a set that's got an even leaner groove than some of the Isley Brothers material from years before! The group really hit their stride right away – stepping out in a sweet array of funky rhythms that have some definite 80s touches on the beats, yet which still share all the best Isleys elements overall! Guitar parts are especially sharp – that carved in soul sound that showed up in most Isleys projects from the early 70s onwards – and the vocals have a great sense of warmth and soul, especially on the mellower tunes in the set, which turn down some of the more hook-heavy rhythms heard on other tracks. Titles include "Serve You Right", "Sex Drive", "Love Is Gonna Last Forever", "Kiss & Tell", "I Can't Get Over Losin You", "Look The Other Way", "Break This Chain", and "Broadway's Closer Than Sunset Blvd". Ernie and Marvin Isley team up with Chris Jasper and for Caravan, and more fully reinventing their for the 80s! The record features the wonderful "Caravan Of Love", a soulful spiritual tune that's kind of to 80s soul what The Impressions "People Get Ready" was to 60s soul! Different Drummer was the last album by this configuration of the group, taking on different modes, with some soul gems in the mix. Titles include "Dancing Around The World", "High Heel Syndrome", "Liberation" and more. Includes "Different Drummer", "Do It Right", "Blue Rose", "8th Wonder Of The World" and more.

Great early grooves from Shalamar – recorded at a time when the trio was really grooving at their best! The a-side here – "Take That To The Bank" – an amazingly warm little groove, complete with keyboards that flow nicely next to the rhythms, and these great vocal parts that trade back and forth with a wonderfully soulful feel! There's a nice jazzy undercurrent too – and the tune is one that never gets old!

A smash hit from Silver Convention – thanks to the dark pop disco hit "Get Up & Boogie", the leadoff tune on this surprisingly strong set! The strength of the album really comes from the masterful blend of strings, beats, and piano from arranger/producer/keyboardist Silvester Levay – who manages to keep a lot of space in the grooves, and create a sense of darkness in places you wouldn't expect – almost a coldness that predates the European dancefloor sound of the 80s, barely warmed up at all by the trio of ladies singing lead vocals. Titles include "Get Up & Boogie", "Play Me Like A Yo Yo", "No No Joe", "Old Wine In New Bottles", "Thank You Mr DJ", and "You Turned Me On By You Can't Turn Me Off".

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 – and feature added strings and horns on many numbers, plus core backings by the Ebony Web group. The sound is rootsy at times, and spiritual at others – and titles include "Emergency", "Why Marry", "Wishes & Dishes", "Pity Yourself", and "Slipped & Tripped".