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A mid 70s meeting of two seminal blues talents from the Memphis scene – singer Bobby Blue Bland, and legendary guitarist BB King! The pair were both working for ABC at the time – major label fame after years woodshedding in the indies – and hitting well-deserved fame for their huge talents – still as fresh here as they were a decade before, and unmarred by any studio sanitization in this great live set! The record does an especially good job of bringing together the artists verbally – letting Bobby and BB open up and rap a bit during the songs – yet still having plenty of space to go into their own thing musically, too. Titles include "It's My Own Fault", "I'll Take Care Of You", "I'm Sorry", "3 O'Clock Blues", "Goin Down Slow", and a great long Medley track.

Titles include "Let The Good Times Roll", and lots of medley numbers of classic blues!

Not a retrospective, but an introspective – get it? Anyway, apart from the annoying title, the set's a great collection of Bobby's classic work from the 60s – 24 tracks pulled from his monumental years at Duke, a sublime blend of soul and blues, handled with a skill unmatched by no other singer! Titles include "Road Of Broken Hearted Ruin", "You're Worth It All", "Ask Me Bout Nothing", "Black Night", "If I Hadn't Called You Back", "That Did It", "Touch Of The Blues", "I Smell Trouble", and "Two Steps From The Blues".

Sure it's not his Duke recordings, and sure, the sound's a bit 70s-ish – but Bobby's voice is always fantastic, and he still sounds great in this smooth batch of tracks recorded in LA. Backings were arranged and conducted by Michael Omartian – but it's Bobby's vocals that really make the set shine. Titles include "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City", "The End Of The Road", "I Ain't Gonna Be The Fist To Cry", "Dreamer", "Who's Foolin Who", "Cold Day In Hell", "Lovin On Borrowed Time", and "Yolanda".

The masterpiece! This album is a monumental work in the early soul vein that Bobby pioneered, and did better than anyone else. The arrangements are perfect, and Bobby's rough soulful voice is blended in this amazing way with killer horn arrangements that are far more sophisticated than most stuff that ever came after this, and which never get in the way, but only back up his deep emotion. The album's a motherlode of classics by the man, with "Two Steps From The Blues", "Cry Cry Cry", and "I Pity The Fool".

Forget blues, because Geater Davis is a soul singer through and through – a really incredible southern talent with a deep soul sound that few others can match! Although Davis didn't record nearly as much as his contemporaries, he's got a sound that matches or beats them – a raw, raspy quality that's a bit like Bobby Blue Bland, touched with the depth of feeling we love in James Carr, peppered with elements of other Memphis singers – all produced to perfection with a sound that's as classic as anything on Stax or Goldwax. This excellent collection features all tracks from Geater's rare album Sweet Woman's Love, plus additional singles from the time – all produced by Allen Orange, an overlooked genius in the southern studio scene of the 70s. Titles include "Don't Marry A Fool", "Cry Cry Cry", "I Love You", "I Know My Baby Loves Me", "I Can Hold My Own", "Cold Love (long version)", "I'll Get By", "I'll Play The Blues For You", "Breath Taking Girl", and a killer long take on "For Your Precious Love".

An incredible collection of work from the vastly-overlooked Geater Davis – and a set that definitely lives up to its title! Geater Davis is a tremendous singer from the south – but one who barely ever got his due back in the 70s – even though these recordings for the tiny House Of Orange label are every bit as amazing as work coming out for bigger labels like Stax or Hi Records! Although Davis didn't record nearly as much as his contemporaries, he's got a sound that matches or beats them – a raw, raspy quality that's a bit like Bobby Blue Bland, touched with the depth of feeling we love in James Carr, peppered with elements of other Memphis singers – all produced to perfection with a sound that's got a deep-burning soul that never lets up. This excellent collection features all tracks from Geater's rare album Sweet Woman's Love, plus additional singles from the time – all produced by Allen Orange, an overlooked genius in the southern studio scene of the 70s. Titles include "Don't Marry A Fool", "Cry Cry Cry", "I Love You", "I Know My Baby Loves Me", "I Can Hold My Own", "Cold Love (long version)", "I'll Get By", "I'll Play The Blues For You", "Breath Taking Girl", and a killer long take on "For Your Precious Love".

One of the greatest albums ever from the mighty Al Hibbler – a record that's filled with subtle power and deeper soul – and which really has Al working at the height of his vocal talents! Although Hibbler recorded often before this in the 50s, this session seems to have a specially magic feel – the kind of album in which all elements gel together perfectly – almost to Al's career what Two Steps From The Blues was to Bobby Bland. And like that other classic, there's a mix here of jazz and blues that's really unique – instantly timeless, and still quite powerful today. Titles include "Tell Me", "Travelin Light", "Dedicated To You", "You Will Be Mine", "Song Of The Wanderer", "If I Knew You Were There", and "The Blues Came Falling Down".

The title's a bit misleading – as the set's not exactly the stuff of hits – but it is a wicked collection of material that ZZ Hill recorded for United Artists Records in the early 70s – sublime southern soul, finally getting its due in this reissue package! Hill's style here owes a lot to some of the Memphis singers of the 60s – especially Otis Redding and Bobby Blue Bland, both of whom would be welcome references here – although ZZ's also stepping out strongly with his own bad self as well – putting in a bit more punch, and hipping things up for a 70s market that had southern soul audiences stretching way up north and out west too. There's also none of the blues modes that Hill adopted in later years – which is great if you've only heard his Malaco dates – and titles include "Bad Mouth & Gossip", "I Created A Monster", "I Don't Need Half A Love", "Ain't Nothing You Can Do", "Am I Groovin You", "Look What You've Done", "That Ain't The Way You Make Love", "Snap Your Fingers", "Can I Get A Witness", and "Dream Don't Let Me Down".

There's some bigger arrangements here than you'd usually get on a BB King album of the 60s – but they're used in a really great way that makes the album one of our favorites by King from his years at ABC! Johnny Pate arranged and produced, and he gives the whole thing a Chicago soul punch that's mighty nice – a mix of blues and soul that's not unlike some of the best Bobby Blue Bland work at Duke a few years before – and a blend that's really a lot like some of the best indie soul coming out of Chicago's west side in the late 60s too. The album's a killer all the way through, and it's great to hear BB in such a setting – on cuts that include "Dance With Me", "Heartbreaker", "I'm Not Wanted Anymore", "Having My Say", "That's Wrong Mama", "Now That You've Lost Me", "Until I Found You", and "Worried Dream".

Compilation put together by the GRT label in the mid 70s, who owned the chess/cadet group of labels, so it's heavy on the Chicago sound. There's a few cuts from ABC records too, like the Impressions "It's All Right" and Bobby Bland's "Turn On Your Love Light", but basically the track listing reads like the playlist from WVON or WBEE from the early 70s, loads of heavy hitting South Side R&B and soul numbers: the Dells "Stay In My Corner", Gene Chandler "I Fooled You This Time", Fontella Bass "Rescue Me", Pigmeat Markham "Here Comes the Judge" and Ramsey Lewis' "Wade in the Water" and 18 more!

The blueprint of a generation – a set that brings together a huge amount of rare singles from the start of the 60s – most of which helped form the groove for years to come! The set's got a great early soul feel – tracks that show a genre still in formation – as bits of R&B, vocal jazz, blues, and other styles are pulled together in the new groove of the time – not yet as upbeat as the Northern Soul you'd know from a few years later – but definitely cooking with a similar sort of energy. There's plenty of numbers here to appeal to a mambo soul crowd – and titles include "You Ain't So Such A Much" by Blanche Thomas, "Feelin Kind A Lonesome" by Willie J Charles, "She Knocks Me Out" by Harold Burrage, "My Heart's On Fire" by Billy Bland, "Good Enough" by Bobby Guy, "He's The One That Rings My Bell" by Sherri Taylor, "I Think I Love You" by Helen Troy, "Little Annie" by Anna Bell Caesar, and "You Don't Have To Go" by Sam Myers.

Tremendous soul from a massively overlooked label – the GWP imprint on the New York scene of the late 60s – home to a wealth of rare soul nuggets, just waiting to be discovered! The package is wonderful through and through – a great mix of male and female soul work, some with a sweet groove, some with a funkier undercurrent – all top-shelf productions all the way through, kind of a hipper update of the earlier uptown sound of New York – taken into even more sophisticated territory for the 70s! Vocals are superb, and the arrangements are ultra-cool – handled by Larry Banks, George Kerr, Teacho Wilshire, and Ed Bland. The package offers up full notes, and some great images too – and titles include "Here It Comes" and "Detour" by The Persians, "Without Your Love" by Bobby Penn, "My Life Is No Better" by Larry Banks & Jaibi, "Go Away" by The Hesitations, "Never Gonna Let Him Know" by Debbie Taylor, "So Much In Love" by The Exceptions, "You Got Me" by Jaibi, "Don't Let Your Mind Go Wild" by Benny Gordon, "Happiest Girl In The World" by Plus 4, "Stop" by Debbie Taylor, "I Don't Care What He's Done" by The Devonnes, "All In My Mind" by Benny Gordon, "Changes" by Lilly Fields, and "You Hit Me" by Alice Clark.

The story of one of the most legendary soul clubs in the UK – home to the great wave of Northern Soul enthusiasm that burst big in the 60s – plus a fair bit of hanky panky as well! This collection shows a decidedly raw side of the club's roots – American soul from the 60s, plus a fair bit of R&B as well – a groove that's rougher than you might find on other Northern Soul collections – which often tend towards some of the tighter Detroit productions of the period. The CD features a whopping 28 tracks in all – with lots of tracks from Chicago and the Motor City – and the package is a cool book-style one, with 24 pages of full-color images and photos, plus notes as well. Titles include "Road Runner" by Bo Diddley, "Good Times" by Gene Chandler, "Turn On Your Lovelight" by Bobby Blue Bland, "Do The 45" by The Sharpees, "Get Down With It" by Bobby Marchan, "I Spy For The FBI" by Jamo Thomas, "And Get Away" by The Esquires, "I Can't See Your Love" by The Ballads, "Searchin" by Alvin Robinson, and "You Shot Me Through The Grease" by Alvin Cash.

Our favorite volume so far in Kent's tribute to the legendary UK Sue label – and a great little collection that's overflowing with soulful tracks from the 60s! The premise is a bit obscure to most American listeners – as the CD brings together tracks that were licensed to UK indie Sue Records, for English release in the 60s – but the music more than speaks for itself, no matter what the setting! Sue did a mighty fine job of moving past the hits, and brought a heck of a lot of great American indie soul over the Atlantic back in its day – as you'll hear in this fab 25 track set that includes the cuts "Gimme Gimme" by ZZ Hill, "Don't Mess With My Man" by Irma Thomas, "Stronger" by Thelma Jones, "Crying Days Are Over" by The Kelly Brothers, "What Did You Tell This Girl Of Mine" by OV Wright, "Believe In Me" by Jerry Butler, "That Did It" by Bobby Bland, "Incense" by the Anglos, "Your Red Wagon" by Donnie Elbert, and "Before It's Too Late" by Jackie Day.

An incredible collection of work from the vastly-overlooked Geater Davis – and a set that definitely lives up to its title! Geater Davis is a tremendous singer from the south – but one who barely ever got his due back in the 70s – even though these recordings for the tiny House Of Orange label are every bit as amazing as work coming out for bigger labels like Stax or Hi Records! Although Davis didn't record nearly as much as his contemporaries, he's got a sound that matches or beats them – a raw, raspy quality that's a bit like Bobby Blue Bland, touched with the depth of feeling we love in James Carr, peppered with elements of other Memphis singers – all produced to perfection with a sound that's got a deep-burning soul that never lets up. This excellent collection features all tracks from Geater's rare album Sweet Woman's Love, plus additional singles from the time – all produced by Allen Orange, an overlooked genius in the southern studio scene of the 70s. Titles include "Don't Marry A Fool", "Cry Cry Cry", "I Love You", "I Know My Baby Loves Me", "I Can Hold My Own", "Cold Love (long version)", "I'll Get By", "I'll Play The Blues For You", "Breath Taking Girl", and a killer long take on "For Your Precious Love".

A classic Chicago crossover of blues and soul – a wonderful album from Little Milton, and one that's cut with some of the same sophisticated overtones as work by Bobby "Blue" Bland at the time! The backings here are superb – arranged by Phil Wright and James Carter with a fair bit of larger, jazzier horns – which stand in nice contrast to Milton's rougher-edged vocals – all in a blend that's completely sublime! The rhythms echo a fair bit of the Chicago soul modes of the time – nicely stepping along with a really slinky groove – and titles include some great originals, like "Ain't No Big Deal On You", "Life Is Like That", "Can't Hold Back The Tears", and "We're Gonna Make It".

A bit of soul, a bit of blues, and a rock-solid sound that's outta sight all the way through! Clay Hammond is a hell of a southern soul singer – one with a range that's sometimes as great as Bobby Blue Bland, and a sweetness that almost echoes an earlier generation of Sam Cooke – while still taking things into some nice deeper soul territory too! The backings here are often nice and tight – never overly polished, but with a focus that really suits Clay's great vocals – and really sets him apart from some of the other singers of this nature at the time. CD features a whopping 25 tracks in all – and titles include "The Good Side Of My Girl", "Take Your Time", "My Jealous Girl", "I'll Make Up To You", "You Messed Up My Mind", "I Got A Letter This Morning", "Ain't That The Way", "Suzy Do It Better Than You", and "You Threw Out Your Lifeline".

Raw southern soul from Hermon Hitson – a howler in the tradition of Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Otis Clay and Bobby Bland! This collection of singles originally cut for Atco, Minit and other smaller labels is bit of a sprawl – from the early 60s on through the mid 70s – which is great, because it gives you a real feel for Hitson's depth! The earlier tracks rock in the Pickett, Bland school of invigorating soul shouters, but as the years progressed Hitson adapted with some occasional ballads and strains of funk – all of it compellingly raw! 21 tracks in all: "You Are Too Much For The Human Heart", "I Got That Will", "Show Me Some Sign", "Bad Girl", "Georgia Grind". "Why Is It Taking So Long", "Where Can I Find My Baby", "Please", "Been So Long", "Sweeter", "A Dream I Had (I Love Her)", "They Kept On Laughin'" and more – including a few unreleased gems!

BB King at his late 60s best – working here in the company of producers Johnny Pate and Quincy Jones, and serving up a great blend of blues and soul in the process! The set's less a "best of", than a collection of ABC work that doesn't seem to be on the other full albums of the time – mostly produced by Johnny Pate, with those great Chicago soul touches that helped his work with King really cross new boundaries – and finally give BB the kind of full, forceful approach that Bobby Blue Bland had been getting for years. The Quincy Jones cuts are two from the soundtrack to For Love Of Ivy – both pretty groovy, with a socking soul punch – and titles on the full album include "Tired Of Your Jive", "Don't Answer The Door", "The BB Jones", "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss", "All Over Again", "I Don't Want You Cutting Off Your Hair", "Sweet Sixteen", "Meet My Happiness", and "You Put It On Me". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Waitin On You", "Messy But Good", "Stop Leading Me On (single)", "Never Trust A Woman (single)", "Sloppy Drunk (single)", "Rockin Awhile", "Night Life", "Help The Poor (single)", and "How Blue Can You Get (single)".