Vocalists — LPs  

Playful pop from Mina – a great Italian singer who made some really wonderful records from the late 50s onward! This early set is a real gem – a sprightly mix of larger arrangements with rock and pop inflections – all served up in this optimistic blend that really fits the mood of Rome after the initial postwar period! You can really feel Italian pop culture coming into its own here – and the tunes have a charm that's undeniable – and a compelling quality that comes through right away. Titles include "La Verita", "E Vero", "Whisky", "My Crazy Baby", "Nessuno", "Folle Banderuola", "Piangere Un Po", and "La Luna Ed Il Cowboy".

One of the deepest soul sets from Esther Phillips' 70s years on Kudu Records – a set with some nicely gritty grooves and a surprisingly earthy feel at times – especially when compared to some of her other albums of the time! Backings are by James Brown's old reedman, Pee Wee Ellis – and although there's some of the usual Kudu electric funk in the mix, there's also some deeper soul elements too – a vibe that's often a bit laidback and open, almost more Atlantic Records at points – which is a mighty good fit for Esther's wonderful voice! As usual for Kudu, the players are an all-star lineup – one that includes Richard Tee on keyboards, George Benson on guitar, Maceo Parker on tenor, and Bernard Purdie and Billy Cobham on drums – and Don Sebesky's also on deck a bit, to sweeten a few tracks up with light strings. The album's got a great version of Bill Withers' "Use Me" that features a tasty break in the intro – and other titles include a great version of "Alone Again (Naturally)", plus the cuts "Let's Move & Groove", "Cherry Red", "Let Me In Your Life", and "You & Me Together".