One of the greatest talents in mainstream soul – recorded live, and sounding wonderful! Raphael Saadiq's been burning on the left side of the R&B mainstream for the past decade or more – really catching our ears with his work with Tony Toni Tone, and living up to his promise even more with his great solo work. But with an artist like this, we're always never sure how much of their talent comes from the studio – which is why it's really great to hear him live! The set's a wonderfully tight one – Raphael working with a live band in front of a tremendously enthusiastic crowd – getting help from famous friends that include D'Angelo, Joi, Ledisi, Goapele, and the rest of Tony Toni Tone. Titles include "Anniversary", "Loving You", "Let's Get Down", "Charlie Ray", "Excuse Me", "Faithful", "Ask Of You", "Just A Man", "Copy Cat", "Missing You", "Still A Man", and "It Never Rains". Plus, this CD features a bonus disc – with 7 more tracks that include "Be Here", "Uptown", "Different Times", "Still Ray", and "Blind Man". CD

A double disc CD & DVD package showcasing one of our favorite souful acts on the contemporary landscape – Nicolay & Phonte's brilliant and ever-evolving Foreign Exchange project! Dear Friends showcases an acoustic concert performed for a private audience –- the great touring lineup that includes Zo!, Sy Smith, and singer/songwriter Jeanne Jolly. From the get go, we've been impressed by both the original songwriting from Foreign Exchange as well as the way they filter diverse influences into their own unique vibe – and this acoustic setting really gets to the heart and soul of it. This is an essential document for fans of the group, but it's also a fine intro if you're just now coming aboard! The live set includes "Fight For Love", "All Roads", "Take Off The Blues", "Lose Your Way", "Greatest Weapon Of All Time", a nice cover of James Taylor's "Something In The Way She Moves", "Laughing At Your Plans", "Daykeeper", "House Of Cards", Zo!'s "Greatest Weapon Of All Time" and "I Wanna Know". Also includes 2 new studio tracks: "Steal Away" feat vocals by Jeanny Jolly and piano by Zo! and "All The Kisses" feat Amber & Paris Strother of KING. CD