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One of the coolest sets the Numero Group has ever released – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given their already-mighty catalog! Although the label issued a previous dip into the enigmatic Boddie Recording company of Cleveland, this massive package brings together a whopping 57 tracks from the Boddie studios and related labels – many of which have never been reissued before, even by Numero – and all of which offer up a mindblowing microcosm of the American scene in the 60s and 70s – a wealth of rare funk, soul, psych, gospel, and more – all of it the kind of gritty material that 45 collectors die for! But just as cool as the music is the package itself – a heavy box with a flap that fits around five LPs, two booklets, flyer reproductions, and even a Boddie greeting card! There's loads of rare photos, band information, studio details, and more – billed by Numero as a "self-contained record industry" in one box. Musically, the whole thing's right on par with other Numero releases – maybe even above them, given the wide range and depth of the collection – and artists include Bo & The Metros, Inter Circle, King James Version, Ricky Hodges, Jackie Russell, Angela Alexander, Frankie Pighee, Chantells, AC Jones, Harvey Hall, Headlines, Modern Detergents, Penny North, JC Akins, Little Anthony Mitchell, Gospel Fabulators, Royal Kings, Corinthian Singers, Brother Bill, Victory 5, and many more.

Long lost soul from Love Apple – the only known recordings made by the female vocal trio in the late 70s – rehearsal takes made with the legendary Lou Ragland! Love Apple is Lily Pearson, Annette Warren and Avetta Henry – working here with Cleveland soul mainstay Ragland, who was at the time hoping to move further into the production realm. The ladies shared lead vocal and songwriting, and as you'll hear on these loose rehearsal sessions, talent and potential for greatness was limitless. Backed loosely by guitar, drums and piano, with lots of space for them to work on the vocals – which are natural, sweet and soulful. Researcher and compiler Jon Kirby's notes tell the story of the unrealized potential of group nicely. The instrumentation is raw, but the versatile voices are more than worthy of discovery, even if it's a few decades late! Includes "Man On The Side", "Call Me When You Want Me", "Guess I Always Knew", "There's No Answer Without You", "The Changing Times" and "What Will Tomorrow Bring". Rare fruit from the Boddie Recording Company archives.