A killer collection of grooves from Harvey Averne – one of the most soulful forces in Latin music at the end of the 60s – finally given his due in this wonderful set! The package pulls together grooves from three of Harvey's classic albums – Harvey Averne Dozen, Brotherhood, and... read more
Great stuff from Eryka Badu – sweet, mellow, soulful, and with a very righteous vibe! The record's got some impeccable production – and the best cuts have a stripped-down groove that mixes keyboards and vocals in a way that's similar to recent work by D'Angelo and Jill Scott. Eryka's... read more
Ron Banks —
Truly Bad ... CD
Columbia/FTG,
1983. Used ....
$11.99
One of the original Dramatics, singer Ron Banks strikes out here on his own – a slept on gem from the early 80s! The set's in a similar modern soul mode to LJ Reynolds, who also worked with him in the group, and was having a bit of a solo career of his own at the time. It's got sort of a D-T... read more
Walter Beasley —
Midnight Love ... CD
Shanachie,
2003. Used ....
$5.99Just Sold Out!
Although James' early 70's ouvre is often cited as his best funky stuff, he made some darn nice tracks at the end of the 70's, as this swell 2CD set hopes to prove! The package compiles some of the best work that James did during the disco era – and although a few of the tracks have an... read more
A massively soulful album from legendary producer Patrick Adams – and a key transitional set that bridges his earlier work on the east coast harmony scene, and his later club classics for P&P! Caress have a sweetly breaking vocal style that's simply wonderful – as great as any of... read more
Con Funk Shun —
Secrets ... CD
Polygram/Rebound,
1977. Used ....
$12.99
A great early album from Con Funk Shun – a mix of funkier tunes and some excellent smooth modern ones in step with the mellower work by Cameo or Maze – done with more soaringly emotional sounds that moves beyond their peers! A love for earlier 70s styles might be what pushes Secrets... read more
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose were one of a handful of early 70s groups – like Chairmen Of The Board or 100 Proof Aged In Soul – who had a sound that was incredibly hard to peg. There were bits of southern rawness in the vocals, but the overall approach also had plenty of... read more
It's easy to survive the 80s when you've got an army of future-suit cats behind you – and given the groove here, it's clear that Andre Cymone was doing way more than just surviving back in the day! The set's a super-tight batch of 80s grooves – with a sharp sound that comes from lots... read more
D'Angelo —
Voodoo ... CD
Virgin,
2000. Used ....
$3.99
Sweet and gritty soul from D'Angelo – who takes a huge step into deeper territory on Voodoo – and it's one of the most monumental records of its time! On one level, Voodoo works as a nicely stripped-down session with a very classic soul feel. Gone are the overzealous flourishes that... read more
Genius work from William De Vaughn – recorded years after his classic "Be Thankful" album, and with a different, modern soul feel – but equally great in its own sort of way! The album came 6 years after De Vaughn's classic crossover hit of the mid 70s – and it's got the... read more
Will Downing —
Today ... CD
Will Downing,
2012. Used ....
$4.99Just Sold Out!
The warm soul sound of today – courtesy of the legendary Will Downing! The set's the second in Downing's trilogy of soulful expression EPs, and it's got a wicked sound that's even better than the Yesterday volume – all original tunes by Will, co-written with Chris "Big Dog"... read more
Will Downing —
Tomorrow ... CD
Will Downing,
2012. Used ....
$4.99Just Sold Out!
Will Downing, the next chapter – quite possibly the greatest entry in his trilogy of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow albums – and filled with fresh grooves that really let Will take off strongly! The vocals are sublime (could we expect anything less from Downing?) – and the... read more
Funky dancefloor material – with production by Norman Whitfield, and vocals by Yvonne "Taka Boom" Brumbach. The groove is somewhere near the vein of late Undisputed Truth – and although the group is wearing these silly costumes on the front the album's less disco than you... read more
Genius, pure genius! It was hard for Earth, Wind & Fire to go wrong at this point – and the album's a stellar blend of jazz, funk, and soul, all done in that perfect style they'd hit by the mid 70s. And even though this one was a monster album, of the type that you see in everyone's... read more
Incredible stuff – a never-issued funky soul record from the 70s – but one that you'll proudly stack next to your rare classics from Ramp, 24-Carat Black, and James Mason! Like work by all three of those acts, this early set by Father's Children is massive righteous – filled with... read more
Gaston —
Gaston ... CD
Chocolate Cholly's,
1982. Used ....
$8.99
A mix of post disco soul sophistication and laidback funky numbers from Gaston – a welcome approach from the early 80s era – a time when too many contemporary soul acts moved towards a more overly polished vibe! Gaston's self-titled LP is just polished enough – with a bright... read more
All classics – with 15 cuts that include "The Ghetto", "Where Is The Love", "Giving Up", "Someday We'll Be Free", "To Be Young Gifted & Black", "This Christmas", "You've Got A Friend", "Back Together Again",... read more
Landmark club grooves from the great Loleatta Holloway! Loleatta is mixing up the sound a bit here – working with a variety of arrangers and producers that include Bobby Womack, Norman Harris, Dan Hartman, and Tom Washington – but the overall sound is strong and clear, as dedicated to... read more
Gladys Knight pays tribute to a range of singers who came before her – Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and others – all the while earning our respect for her new inflections of these classics! The style here is less "torch revival" than you'd expect –... read more
A nicely-done overview of the best work of South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela – featuring tracks from his groundbreaking years at the Chisa, Uni, and Blue Thumb labels! The tracks bring together South African rhythms with a buoyant, celebratory approach to soul jazz – cut by... read more
A massive return to form for Maxwell – his first album in many years, but definitely well worth the wait! The set's supposedly the start of a trilogy – but hell, we're more than happy to have it all on its own – a wonderful reminder of the deeply soulful sound that first made us... read more
A collection of classics from Frankie Beverly and Maze – 10 tracks that perfectly sum up the mellow-grooving genius of the group at their best! The set brings together hits and key album cuts from the core Maze albums on Capitol! Titles include "Southern Girl", "Golden Time... read more
We never tire of this one – and we think it's a landmark soul LP that forever changed the face of soul music! Teddy Pendergrass is in perfect form, and he really gets into it on the album's 2 incredible long tracks – "I Miss You", and "Be For Real" – both with... read more
Soaring soul from Stephanie Mills – one of the lady's all-time hits, and for good reason too! The album really gives Stephanie's great voice a lot of focus – an upbeat, uptempo groove that sets her firmly on the dancefloor, but always with a touch of class – and a lot more depth... read more
An amazingly soulful set of folk tunes from the late 60s – the only album we've ever seen from singer Jerry Moore, and a real rarity from the ESP label! Moore's got a style that's somewhere between Terry Callier and Tim Buckley – earthy and acoustic one minute, but stepping out with... read more
One of the best new soul records we've heard in years! An independently produced first effort – filled with rich warm jazzy production, and a sweet mellow soul sound that brings to mind some of our favorite records of the old days. N'Dambi has an incredible voice – and although she... read more
Rene & Angela —
Wall To Wall ... CD
Capitol (France),
1981. Used ....
$24.99
Wall To Wall grooves from the team of Angela Winbush and Bobby Watson – easily one of the duo's best records ever, and a masterpiece of jazzy 80s groove! The sound here is clean, lean, and very bouncy on the bottom – that best blend of keyboard riffs and jazzier basslines that Capitol... read more
Tracks include "Moment With Minnie", "Perfect Angel", "Memory Lane", "Lovin You", "Here We Go", "Inside My Love", "Love & Friend (live)", "You Take My Breath Away", "Woman Of Heart & Mind" and "Adv... read more
Nice 17 track compilation of Minnie's classic work for Capitol! The selection is excellent, and the CD features most of the stuff you'd ever want to have by her, including "Perfect Angel", "Memory Lane", "Lovin You", "Stick Together", "Inside My... read more
Savoir-Flair —
Savoir-Flair ... CD
Soultex,
1983. Used ....
$9.99Just Sold Out!
Classy grooves from the Texas scene of the early 80s – a lost little album of modern soul, boogie, and bits of jazz! Savoir-Flair are headed by Roger Boykin – a keyboardist who'd recorded in a straighter jazz mode on other records, but who turns his talents here towards that great... read more
A brilliant return to form for Marlena Shaw – one of the first albums in years to truly capture her wonderful sound from years back! The album's a simple, no-nonsense set that has Marlena singing with a small combo that includes some great piano and Fender Rhodes from David Hazeltine –... read more
Essential! When this one came out at the end of the 80's, it not only restored our faith in modern soul music, but it also drew the world's attention to the rich rich talents that had been bubbling under in London's mid 80's rare groove scene. The record's a classic, and most of the tracks still... read more
Lean, mid 80s pop soul and funk from Tease – funky and nicely thumping work from a group that features singer and songwriter Kipper Jones! Kipper would go on to bigger and brighter prospects as a hit songwriter for other artists, but, both of Tease's self-titled sets in the 80s – this... read more
This beautiful LP was released by Stax in the early 70's, but somehow got lost in the shuffle between all the Isaac Hayes LPs. Fortunately, it was rediscovered by the international groove community about 10 years ago, and it's been at the top of everyone's playlist (and want list) ever since! ... read more
Mary Wells has come a long way from Motown by the time of this sweet early 80s set – really changing up her style to go for a mature, sophisticated groove – that best side of modern soul at the time, put together with superb production by the great Greg Perry! The sound is warm, and... read more
Barry White —
Icon ... CD
Mercury/A&M,
1970s/1980s/1990s. Used ....
$4.99
A bit smoother and more focused than some of Stevie's earlier work from the 70s – perhaps because he'd been having some chart success with his slicker numbers, but still a pretty groundbreaking batch of grooves that must have been awesome to hear when it first came out! The record includes... read more
Bury your love deep, deep down with ?uestlove – a soundtrack compilation of strangely sweet soul misery – and the superior sequel to the Babies Makin' Babies set on BBE! This time ?uestlove programs a number of 70s soul tunes, some relatively rare, which provide the bittersweet sounds... read more
Excellent lost modern soul from Philly – most of it recorded during the early 80s, when the bigger labels were losing their groove, and the torch was passed onto some of the city's smaller imprints. The set's got a nice mix of mellow modern soul and 80s dancefloor groovers – and all... read more
A great look at The Sound Of Brooklyn label from the early 80s – a massive imprint that showed that the eastern borough was one of the funkiest scenes in New York at the time! There's a tightness here that most likely comes from the small roster of artists, and shared production tracks that... read more
Plenty of fusion here – a heady brew of jazz, funk, and soul – all put together with a nice sense of tightness that really makes the grooves sparkle! The package is heavy on gems from the Fantasy Records catalog of the 70s – cuts that really define the newly sophisticated sound... read more
A long-overdue collection that dips into the huge disco legacy of the New York-based De-Lite label (and related imprints Red Coach and Vigor) – most famously home to Kool & The Gang, but also the home of a lot of other good east coast groups, most of whom were important in those key mid... read more
A sweet little set of classic 70s Philly – one of the best collections of work by the team of Gamble & Huff we've ever seen! There's nothing too obscure or offbeat here – and instead, the collection focuses mostly on the massive crossover tracks produced by the pair back in the day... read more