A key album in the legendary 80s run of Shalamar – and a set that gets a tremendous amount out of a very stripped-down sound! The sound of Shalamar builds from a bit of bass, some snapping drums, waves of keyboards, and especially great vocals – warm and sweet, but never too commercial – despite the hit status of an album like this. If anything, the group have a style that's a bit more relaxed and personal than some of their contemporaries on the Solar Records scene at the time – one that matches the friendly title, and unassuming cover image of the set. Titles include "A Night To Remember", "Playing To Win", "Friends", "On Top Of The World", "Help Me", "There It Is", "I Can Make You Feel Good", and "I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know". CD features 5 bonus tracks – "Night To Remember (UK 12")", "There It Is (UK 12" ext rmx)", "Friends (UK 12" ext)", "Night To Remember (M&M mix)", and "Night To Remember (M&M inst)". CD

Super-sharp work from Shalamar – a set that was cut at the start of the 80s, but which already seems to set the tone for so many other records to come! The album's a shining jewel in the Solar Records catalog – and shows that strong style that helped the label bridge the soul and the pop charts with work like this – thanks in part to some great production work from Leon Sylvers too! The vocal interplay is wonderful – making already-catchy tunes sound even catchier – and the whole thing comes together even more with the tight electro rhythms that hold the groove together at the bottom – on titles that include "Full Of Fire", "Attention To My Baby", "Work It Out", "Some Things Never Change", "Somewhere There's A Love", "Make That Move", "This Is For The Lover In You", and "The Pop Along Kid". LP, Vinyl record album

A definite bit of Big Fun from Shalamar – totally tight and very much at the top of their game – making the transition from disco modes to leaner 80s groove, thanks to lots of great production and songwriting help from Leon Sylvers! Sylvers was really emerging as one of the key forces on Solar Records at the time – and he does a great job here of shaping the trio's strong vocals – which includes work by Howard Hewett and Jody Watley – both of whom are right at home on the album's groovers. Titles include their classic "The Second Time Around", plus "Girl", "The Right Time For Us", "Right In The Socket", and "Take Me to The River". LP, Vinyl record album

A key album in the legendary 80s run of Shalamar – and a set that gets a tremendous amount out of a very stripped-down sound! The sound of Shalamar builds from a bit of bass, some snapping drums, waves of keyboards, and especially great vocals – warm and sweet, but never too commercial – despite the hit status of an album like this. If anything, the group have a style that's a bit more relaxed and personal than some of their contemporaries on the Solar Records scene at the time – one that matches the friendly title, and unassuming cover image of the set. Titles include "A Night To Remember", "Playing To Win", "Friends", "On Top Of The World", "Help Me", "There It Is", "I Can Make You Feel Good", and "I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know". LP, Vinyl record album

Lots of funky early 80s jammies on this one, 10 tracks in all. Includes "Attention To My Baby", "Take That To The Bank", "Second Time Around", "Sweeter As The Days Go By", "Make That Move", "This Is For The Lover In You", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

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! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Super-sharp work from Shalamar – a set that was cut at the start of the 80s, but which already seems to set the tone for so many other records to come! The album's a shining jewel in the Solar Records catalog – and shows that strong style that helped the label bridge the soul and the pop charts with work like this – thanks in part to some great production work from Leon Sylvers too! The vocal interplay is wonderful – making already-catchy tunes sound even catchier – and the whole thing comes together even more with the tight electro rhythms that hold the groove together at the bottom – on titles that include "Full Of Fire", "Attention To My Baby", "Work It Out", "Some Things Never Change", "Somewhere There's A Love", "Make That Move", "This Is For The Lover In You", and "The Pop Along Kid". CD features bonus single mixes of "Full Of Fire", "Make That Move", and "This Is For The Lover In You". CD

The debut album from Jody Watley – an instant hit that became one of the biggest soul albums of the mid 80s! Jody stepped out from soul group Shalamar to work with producer Andre Cymone on a this set of tracks that set the blueprint for slick soul at the time – still very much in the bass and keys mode of Shalamar and other chart-topping acts of a few years back, but with more space for strong vocals in the lead. Titles include "Looking For A New Love", "Still A Thrill", "Some Kind Of Lover", "For The Girls", "Love Injection", "Do It To The Beat", "Don't You Want Me", "Most Of All", and "Learn To Say No", a duet with George Michael. LP, Vinyl record album

Like finding a time machine – one that takes you back to the glory days of the New York club scene at the end of the 70s! Much has been written about Larry Levan – the genius DJ behind the Paradise Garage, and a leading force in club music who pulled the genre from the ashes of disco cliches and cold pre-programmed throwaway tracks. Levan not only had an ear for picking the most soulful tunes of the underground, buy he also had an extremely good talent for putting tracks together – a talent that got him plenty of work as a remixer in the early 80s, but which is also heard here exactly as you'd have heard it at the Paradise Garage back in 1979! The set is a magical document – a live mix performed by Levan at the Paradise, recorded with excellent sound, and spread over 2 CDs! Levan comes up with killer groovers we've never heard, and other monsters that we'd forgotten about, and which sound even better in this stunning mix of music. Titles include "It's Magic" by Damon Harris, "Put Your Body In It" by Stephanie Mills, "By The Way You Dance" by Bunny Sigler, "Right In The Socket" by Shalamar, "Here We Go Again" by Peoples Choice, "Bad Mouthin" by Motown Sounds, "Let Yourself Go" by The Supremes, "Angel In My Pocket" by Change, "Smack Dab In The Middle" by Janice McClain, "Sun Sun Sun" by Jacki, and "Erucu" by Jermain Jackson". 20 tracks in all – and all expertly mixed! (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD

Includes tracks by Odyssey, Sal Soul Orchestra, Shalamar, Major Harris, Evelyn Champagne King, Vicki Sue Robinson, and Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. LP, Vinyl record album

This great little series gets even better – as it breaks past the early 80s focus of previous volumes, to include some great 70s gems as well! As before, the focus is less disco than you'd expect – more uptempo soul, which includes some 70s mellow movers and early 80s boogie tracks – all brought together with a great ear for a mostly under-discovered cut! The package features 20 tunes in all – and titles include "Don't You Wanna Make Love" by Carl Carlton, "Do You Really Love Me" by Bryan Loren, "Let's Start The Dance (rmx)" by Bohannon with Perri Johnson, "Friends" by Shalamar, "Keep On Doin Whatcha Doin (12" long version)" by Ty Karim & George Griffin, "Don't Stop" by Asso, "Taj Mahal" by Paulina DaCosta, "Wet My Whistle" by Midnight Star, "Pack Up Your Things & Get Out Of My Life" by TC Curtis, "Way Out" by Dynasty, "Dreamin" by Loleatta Holloway, "Let Love Shine" by Skyy, "Now I'm Fine" by Grey & Hanks, "Make It Up To Me In Love" by Odia Coates, "Half The Day's Gone" by Kenny Lynch, "Stand Up" by Delegation, and "Single Handed" by Haywoode. (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD

Includes 64 tracks by Carl Douglas, Brass Construction, Dan Hartman, Heatwave, Three Degrees, Positive Force, Chic, The O'Jays, Gwen McRae, Shalamar, Anita Ward, Taste Of Honey, Sister Sledge, and more! (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD