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A great collection of deep soul work by singer Doris Duke – one of the lesser-remembered talents from her day, but an emotive diva who could sing with the best from Memphis or Muscle Shoals. The set features 12 tracks produced by Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Willams (who also arranged and plays on the record) – many in a classic Ann Sexton mode that have Doris singing in kind of a sophisticated deep soul mode. Titles include "I Don't Care Anymore", "He's Gone", "To The Other Woman (I'm The Other Woman)", "Divorce Decree", "We're More Than Strangers", and "The Feeling Is Right".

One of the greatest albums ever for Blue Note – and the only album recorded by tenor player Tina Brooks that was issued during his lifetime! The album's nearly perfect – and features Brooks' edgey tenor set in an all star group that includes Duke Jordan on piano, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. Brooks had blown on other Blue Note sessions before, but here, working as a leader, his sound is tremendous – vaguely to the left of center of some of his other tenor counterparts on the label, but with an equally impeccable approach to soul and rhythm. Titles include "Miss Hazel", "Good Old Soul", "Up Tight's Creek", and "Theme For Doris".

Ahhh . . . Great stuff! This Millie Jackson's tremendous debut album – and the work here is completely different from later records that have her more in a bitchy mode! Here, Millie's a heartbroken southern diva – right in the vein of Ann Sexton, Doris Duke, or Shirley Brown – and even though the arrangements are done north of the Mason/Dixon line (in New York by Bert DeCoteaux, and in DC by Tony Camillo), the record feels like it was lifted off the pressing plant in Muscle Shoals or Jackson! Titles include "I Ain't Giving Up", "I Miss You Baby", "Ask Me What You Want", "My Man, A Sweet Man", "I Just Can't Stand It", and "Strange Things". CD version features a whopping 11 bonus tracks – many of which were never issued before – and titles include the MGM numbers "My Heart Took A Licking" and "A Little Bit Of Something", plus "Ask Me What You Want (unedited master)", "Untrue Men", "I Don't Wanna Talk About It", "Strange Things (alt mix)", "My Man A Sweet Man (unedited master)", and "You're The Joy Of My Life (alt take)".

We don't know much about CM Lord, and this record's the only one we've ever seen from her, but she's got a nice deep soul voice, and the record's a great mix of southern-styled vocals and smoother LA backing. There's some slight country soul tinges to the cuts, but the best parts of the album feature CM opening up in a strong deep soul mode that's a bit like Doris Duke or Candi Staton. All the tracks are originals, and titles include "Steal Your Love Away", "Moody Woman", "The Peace", "Lovin' You Is So Easy", and "All I Need Is Your Sweet Love".