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A mighty run of classic fusion from Stanley Clarke – some of his biggest albums for Columbia Records, packaged here in mini LP-styled sleeves in a 6CD slipcase! The package is a great one – especially given that some of these records aren't easy to find on CD – and it traces the evolution from the more experimental Stanley Clarke of his Columbia debut and Journey To Love albums, into mega-hit status on School Days, more soulful modes on Modern Man, and even features some great Live work too – a great document of the unbridled power that Stanley had when away from the studio! Full albums include Stanley Clarke, Journey To Love, School Days, Modern Man, I Wanna Play For You, and Live 1976/1977 – all packaged together in a box with notes!

Damn soulful work from Erma Franklin – the lesser-known sister of Aretha and Carolyn Franklin, working here on 60s sides cut for the Epic and Shout labels! Most of the material here was only issued as singles back in the day – so the set's an essential full-length overview of Franklin's great work during this time – a few well-known singles, such as the original version of "Piece Of My Heart", mixed with lots of lesser-known gems – making for a deep soul extravaganza all the way through! There's more cuts here than on other sets on Erma from the past – a total of 26 tracks in all – supported by notes and label scans too – and titles that include "Big Boss Man", "Piece Of My Heart", "Don't Wait Too Long", "Never Again", "Detour Ahead", "Pledging My Love", "Don't Blame Me", "Hello Again", "I'm Just Not Ready For Love", "Don't Catch The Dog's Bone", "Open Up Your Soul", "I'm Just Not Ready For Love", "Have You Ever Had The Blues", "Love Is Blind", "Abracadabra", "Never Let Me Go", "Dear Momma", and "Each Night I Cry".

A mind-blowing collection of work from Kaleidoscope – the ultra-hip psych combo who recorded some great work for Epic Records at the end of the 60s! This package not only features all the group's important albums, but also includes a wealth of rare singles too – including some surprising gems recorded for Epic in unusual situations, proof that the label really expected the band to break big at the time! The 3CD package features 45 tracks in all – with titles that include "Egyptian Gardens", "I Found Out", "Little Orphan Nannie", "Please", "Rampe Rampe", "Love Games", "Egyptian Candy", "Lie To Me", "Let The Good Love Flow", "Cuckoo", "Seven-Ate Sweet", "Banjo", "Why Try", "New Blue Ooze", "Lie & Hide", "Sefan", "Chocolate Whale", "Another Lover", "Sneakin In The Ghetto", and "Ballad Of Tommy Udo".

Classic work from Brick – a group who went onto become surprisingly successful during the 70s with a hot Atlanta blend of funky soul and uptempo club grooves. The group has a feel that would be taken up heavily a few years later by LA funk combos – particularly those on the Solar label – and their style of slicking up funky licks into a tightly compressed sound was obviously a bit hit with the kids of their generation, and hip hop sample heads in years to come. This 12 track greatest hits set includes the classic g-funk number "Dusic", plus "Music Magic", "Dazz", "Good High", "Free Happy", "We Don't Wanna Sit Down, We Wanna Get Down", and "Living From The Mind".

A trio of funky electric albums from Stanley Clarke's mid 80s R&B years – 1984's Time Exposure, ''85's Find Out and '86's Hideaway – in a 2CD set! Time Exposure has a lot of 80s electro funk in the mix, particularly Clarke's impeccable bass lines, which are heavy throughout. Titles include "Play The Bass '10", "Heaven Sent You", "Speedball", "Future Shock" and the great title track. Find Out follows somewhat similar territory, an 80s synth funky set with a few surprising twists – including an electro/funk/old school rap cover of "Born In The USA"! Other tracks include "Find Out", "The Sky's The Limit", "Stereotypica" and "Psychedelic". Hideaway makes a move towards more delicate synth soul for Clarke – who assembles an impressive guest list that includes Stanley Jordan, Herbie Hancock and Stewart Copeland. Titles include a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed", plus "My Love, Her Inspiration", "Where Do We Go", "Old Friends" and "When It's Cold Outside".

A wonderful album of mellow soul tracks! The record is Lou Courtney's masterpiece – and it's a jam-packed set filled with great tracks that rank right up there with classic 70s work by artists like Marvin Gaye, Leroy Hutson, or Leon Ware! Leon Pendarvis handled most of the arrangements – and the record's got a wonderfully full soul sound – with a mix of moody keyboard-driven groovers and ballads – all topped by excellent vocals from Lou, miles ahead of any work he did in the early days! The best thing, though, is the songwriting, as these tracks rank right up there with the best underground mellow soul we can think of – sophisticated yet not soppy, filled with soulful lyrics about love and losing it, never giving into cliches of other soul from the time. A real dream of an album – and filled with great tracks like "I Will If You Will", "I'm In Need Of Love", "Just To Let Him Break Your Heart", "Somebody New Is Loving On You", "Just To Let Him Break Your Heart", and "The Common Broken Heart".

A wonderful album from George Duke – and one of our favorite records from his legendary years at Columbia! George Duke's always had plenty of Brazilian elements in his music – but this album really brings them all together – offering up a perfect blend of Duke's keyboards and Cali soul with some key additions from the Rio scene of the time – a mix of singers and musicians who really help round out the sound and authenticate George's ears for Brazilian music! The album was actually recorded down in Rio – and features great contributions from Simone, Milton Nascimento, Roberto Silva, Toninho Horta, and Airto – all working beautifully under Duke's leadership, on cuts that include "Brazilian Love Affair", "Cravo E Canela", "Brazilian Sugar", "Sugarloaf Mountain", "Ao Que Vai Nascer", and "I Need You Now". CD features a single edit of "Brazilian Love Affair".

A sweet bit of modern funk from George Duke – working here in a mode that's definitely tighter and more soul-based than his trippier albums of the early 70s – but also in a groove that's pretty darn sweet! George wonderfully blends together his jazz roots and some of the wider soul styles he'd helped forge on the California scene – keeping things smooth, but never slick – bringing in some nice acoustic percussion alongside the album's overall electric sound. A number of cuts have vocals, and George handled both production and arrangements – on tracks that include the P-Funky "Dukey Stick", an old sample from way back – plus "Movin On", "The Future", "We Give Our Love", and "Percussion Interlude". CD features great additions of the key single – an 8 minute "Dukey Stick (12" single mix)" – plus "Dukey Stick (parts 1 & 2)" from the 7" single!

Bouncy, beat-heavy soul from Five Star – really stepping out strongly on this self-titled set! The music's nothing new, and very familiar to fans of mainstream soul at the time – but the group really serve things up with a stronger edge than on previous releases – handling much of the production and songwriting themselves, often with a catchy, hook-heavy style that reminds us a lot of projects from the Jackson family around the same time. Titles include "Treat Me Like A Lady", "I Can Show You Love", "Hot Love", "Feel Much Better", "I'm Still Waiting", "Don't Stop", and "Lost In You". 2CD set features lots of bonus tracks – including "Act One (7" version)", and a whopping four mixes of "Hot Love", and eleven more mixes of "Treat Me Like A Lady".

Sweet poppy soul from Five Star – moving strongly here on a set that's got lots of early 90s new jack elements – including a fair bit of beats that really work well with the group's trading of male and female vocals! Things are plenty catchy throughout – not the deepest soul you might ever listen to, but the kind of work that definitely shines brighter than most in the mainstream R&B world at the time. Titles include "Come To Me", "Shine", "Love Can't Wait", "Right Over", "The Start Of Forever", "Sentimental", "Save A Place", and "The Love You Bring To Me". CD features 6 bonus tracks – all different mixes of "Shine"!

One of the instant classic Wu Tang solo projects – Ghostface Killah's essential, early peak Ironman – and a a record that stands strongly among the best hip hop albums of the its era! Produced by The RZA at a point in which it seemed there was little he could do wrong. An absolute high water mark for Ghostface and the entire Wu Tang empire. This incredible limited edition version from Get On Down really raises the bar for audiophile CD reissues – it's unbelievable! The CD is a 24K gold disc – encased in a heavy duty box – pretty much a full sized cigar box, actually – with a full color 48 page hardcover book inside, with extended artwork, lyrics and additional liner notes. Titles include "Winter Warz", "Daytona 500", "Motherless Child", "Soul Controller", "Wildflower", "Poisonous Darts", "Fish", "Camay", "Black Jesus", "The Faster Blade", "260", "Assassination Day", "Box In Hand", "After The Smoke Is Clear" and "All That I Got Is You".

A surprisingly huge soundtrack from the 60s – thanks partly to the main title theme, which is a variation on the same "Amen" theme that Curtis Mayfield would make big with The Impressions! Most of the record is prime Jerry Goldsmith scoring, though – wonderful instrumentals that have this complicated blend of tones and colors, yet still some folksy undercurrents too – almost a Copeland-like point in Goldsmith's pantheon, with the mix of majesty and humanity that reference implies! Titles include "Homer Returns", "The Roof", "Homer Awakes/Breakfast", "The Contractor", "Out Of Bricks", "Amen", "No Hammer/Return Of The Prodigal", and "Feed The Slaves/Drive To Mass".

The coolest grooves we've ever heard from percussionist Henri Guedon – a really wonderful blend of Latin, Caribbean, and jazz-based influences – all filtered into a very special sound! There's plenty of percussion at the core, but there's also some sweet keyboards too – used sparely, so that the album's not a funky electric one – but in just the right ways to bring in a cool sort of 70s funk touch to the whole record – almost in some of the ways you'd find with Nuyorican funk of the same time! Vocals are great, too – mostly in French – but the instrumental element is what really moves us – and it moves us plenty! Titles include "Brujeira", "Tou Patou Feme", "Guajira Contestation", "Bomba Miscien", "Vulcano", and "Marcel Song".

Man, these guys never seem to miss – and always come up with some great little tunes that snap along in a really compelling way! This album might be easy to overlook in favor of the band's bigger classics, but it's a stone winner all the way through – with a number of tunes that groove on beautifully with tight hooks, skipping beats, warm vocals, and that beautifully compressed production style that always gave Heatwave a sound that slide perfectly into an AM soul radio groove. And sure, there's a few hooks here that feel like they're "borrowed" from some of the bigger hits – but they work wonderfully as a reprise of greatness, and keep us half stepping into the album even more. Titles include "Razzle Dazzle", "Eyeballin'", "Raise A Blaze", "First Day Of Snow", "One Night Tan", "All Talked Out", "Disco", and "Therm Warfare". The Big Break UK remastered edition ahs 5 bonus tracks: "Birthday (7" Version)", "Eyeballin' (US 12" Disco Version)", "One Night Tan (US 7" Version)", "Therm Warfare (UK 7" Version)" and "Birthday" (US 12" Version)".

A killer album of crossover soul from the mid 70s – one that dropped like a bomb when it hit, and gave this UK group a number of big hits in America! Keyboardist Rod Temperton wrote all the tracks on the album – and he's got keen talent for both funky numbers and ballads. If soul stations played album side specials the way that classic rock stations do, side one would be in heavy rotation – as it kicks off with the funky title cut, rolls into the hit "Boogie Nights", cuts to the sample classic "Ain't No Half Steppin" (forever made famous by Big Daddy Kane), and steps into the moody ballad "Always & Forever". It's hard to beat that lineup, but side two does a pretty good job – and includes a similar mix of titles like "Super Soul Sister", "All You Do Is Dial", and "Sho'nuff Must Be Love".

One of the most starkly beautiful recordings in Paul Horn's career – with spiritually resonant, almost spine tingling solo flute and some chants, all recorded in the Taj Majal one day in April of 1968! It's really all about the atmosphere, as it would have to be given the location – with Horn playing of the amazing echo in a completely wonderful way, never feeling anything less than wholly authentic and genuinely inspired! Titles include "Vibrations", "Akasha", "Jumna", "Shah Jahan", "Mantra II/Duality", and "Unity".

Some of Bobbi Humphrey's greatest work of the post-Blue Note years – an album that's filled with soulful fusion tunes throughout, all with a great focus on her funky flute! Bobbi also sings a bit on the set, but in a way that's pretty darn great – wonderfully sweet at times, with a bit of an influence from Minnie Riperton that really warms up the set. Arrangements are by Cleveland Eaton, with a bit of help from Art Jenkins – and production is by Ralph MacDonald, who clearly has a great ear for the blend of jazz and soul that Bobbi's going for on the set. And although Larry Mizell's not on board, some of the cuts here still have that stepping/sliding sort of groove from Bobby's Mizell-produced Blue Note years – a really wonderful sound that's a perfect showcase for her uniquely jazzy talents on the flute! Tracks include "Freestyle", "Home Made Jam", "Sunset Burgundy", "Good Times", "My Destiny", "I Could Love You More", and "If You Want It". This Soulmusic.com edition has 2 bonus tracks: "Home-Made Jam (Extended Version)" and "Sunset Burgundy (Single Version)".

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon". 2CD version is filled with great bonus material – a huge amount of tracks that include "Free", "Song Groove", "I'm So Blue", "Don't Be Messin Round", "Streetwalker", "Fly Away", "Price Of Fame", "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu", "Je Ne Vieux Pas La Fin De Nous", "Bad (Afrojack rmx)", "Speed Demon (Nero rmx)", and "Bad (Afrojack club)".

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon". Second CD is filled with great bonus material – a huge amount of tracks that include "Free", "Song Groove", "I'm So Blue", "Don't Be Messin Round", "Streetwalker", "Fly Away", "Price Of Fame", "Toto Mi Amor Eres Tu", "Je Ne Vieux Pas La Fin De Nous", "Bad (Afrojack rmx)", "Speed Demon (Nero rmx)", and "Bad Afrojack club)". Also features the CD and DVD of Michael Jackson's massive performance at Wembley Stadium in 1988 – part of the Bad world tour,a nd filled with great performances!

Poppy passion from Krystol – a sweet 80s trio with a definite way with a hook! The set's got a well-balanced mainstream sound – one that helps the vocals find a fullness right away, either on the leads or harmonies – both woven together over the top of the tight, beat-heavy grooves! At points, there's almost a retro vibe – as if an older girl trio mode's being revived for a new 80s scene – but with a definite contemporary spin. There's a decidedly commercial appeal to the sound – but Krystol were also never too overplayed back in the day, which makes the album a nice discovery – and a great surprise when you start digging through all the potential singles on the set. Tracks include "Love Attack", "Passion From A Woman", "He's So Jive", "Baby Make Up Your Mind", "Scared Single", and "Precious Precious". CD features bonus tracks too – "Passion From A Woman (ext)", "Passion From A Woman (acapella)", "Passion From A Woman (radio)", "Passion From A Woman (dub)", "Passion From A Woman (7" version)", and "Precious Precious (7" version)".

Bumping, bouncing soul from Krystol – one of the strongest female groups of the 80s, and one of the few who really helped push the sound further at the time! The groove here is equal parts funk and soul – and has a brashness that a girl act wouldn't have had a decade before – lots of echoes of new rhythms learned from the streets, fused with top-shelf production that helps send the whole thing home strongly! The style is tight, yet never clunky commercial – and Leon Sylvers' production really helps keep a lean quality to most of the tracks. And sure, the costumes on the cover look a bit silly, but the vocals have a lot more depth than you might expect! Titles include "Love Is Like An Itchin In My Heart", "C'Est La Vie", "I Want A Man Who Can Dance", "Hard To Believe", "The Things That Men Do", "Talk Of The Town", and "Shattered Glass". CD features lots of bonus tracks – "Love Is Like An Itchin (long vocal)", "Love Is Like An Itchin (edited)", "Love Is Like An Itchin (ext dub)", "The Things That Men Do (radio)", and "The Things That Men Do (club)".

A late 70s gem from Patti Labelle! Although the album's recorded right in the height of the disco years, Patti's really shining on the mellower cuts – hitting a serious soulful side that shows that her move to a solo act really let her move into more sophisticated material. There are definitely some dance tracks like "Music Is My Life" but the real highlights are mellow tunes like "What'cha Doing To Me" and "You & Me". Other titles include "It's Alright With Me", "Love & Learn", "My Best Was Good Enough", and "Deliver The Funk". This remastered Big Break UK edition includes 3 bonus tracks: single versions of "It's Alright With Me" and "Music Is My Way Of Life", plus an instrumental version of the latter.

Genius jazzy soul from Webster Lewis – one of his amazing late 70s sets for Epic Records! By this point in his career, Lewis had honed his keyboard craft to perfection – and on albums like this one, he laid down some excellent smooth soulful fusion that soared in a righteous way that few other artists of his generation could match! The sound's never cheesy, and has a wonderfully fusion-based bottom that's served up by a range of great players that include Paul Jackson, James Gadson, and Bennie Maupin – and which is topped off by very jazz-sensitive production from Lewis and Herbie Hancock. Most cuts have vocals – some by Lewis himself – and the album includes the monster dancefloor cut "Give Me Some Emotion", plus the cuts "Fire", "Go For It", "You Deserve To Dance", and "The Love You Give To Me".

A jazzy soul masterpiece from Webster Lewis – light years away from the rougher funk he cut at the start of the 70s! The album's beautifully put together – almost perfect at all points, at a level that we'd rank right up there with the best work by Leroy Hutson, Roy Ayers, or other contemporary maestros in the studio. Unlike some of the more commercial artists of his generation – who also came to soul through jazz – Webster doesn't push the hooks too hard, nor try too much for a hit. And instead, he's more than happy to stay in his own righteous space – with a sound that's smooth, but never slick – tight, but not uptight. He's got some great help on the record – including keyboards from Herbie Hancock and Skip Scarborough, guitar from David T Walker, and percussion from Willie Bobo – all of whom keep things cool. Vocals are handled by a number of singers, including Webster himself – and titles include "Bout The Love", "Let Me Be The One", "Love Won't Harm No One", "El Bobo", "Kemo Kemo", "A Quiet Thing", and "Flying High". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "Reach Out" and "Boston".

Classic club from Webster Lewis – and much more of an all-out disco affair than some of his later work! The record introduces Lewis' all-encompassing style – as he writes, arranges, and produces the album at a level that easily matches that of Barry White – who would later emerge as a mentor for Lewis, introducing him as part of the later Love Unlimited Orchestra records. The group here is billed as "Webster Lewis & The Post-Pop Space-Rock Be-Bop Gospel Tabernacle Orchestra & Chorus" – a pretty good way to describe the soaringly full sound of the album – one that's built up from Webster's keyboards with lots of added strings and rhythms, plus occasional backing vocals from a female chorus. Most of the focus here is instrumental, though – filled with great tunes that include "On The Town", "Love Is The Way", "Do It With Style", "Song Of Joy", "Goodnight Baby Girl", "Since I've Been Gone", and "Saturday Night Steppin Out". CD features the bonus track "Let's Do It Again".

A wonderfully well-rounded set from Lil Louis – one of the few early Chicago house artists with enough imagination to break into a wider soul audience and still hold their ears over the course of a full LP! The record's a strongly-crafted batch of tunes that mixes mellow ballads with more house-heavy numbers – all with the sort of organic shifts that Louis virtually pioneered at the time – a move away from simple dancefloor beats into a broader symphony of soul mode that almost evokes earlier maestros of the 70s. The album holds up surprisingly well over the years – thanks to warm production that moves beyond early 90s mainstream soul cliches – and titles include "Club Lonely", "Saved My Life", "You're My Reason", "Dancing In My Sleep", and "New Dance Beat".

Teena Marie steps out strongly on her own – really knocking it out of the park on this initial album for CBS – entirely written, arranged, and produced by Lady T! The grooves are as funky as before, but possibly have a leaner quality overall – a tighter 80s groove approach to the music, yet always with the fully fleshed-out soul that we love in Teena's handling of the vocals. Basslines are mighty nice –more than enough to hook us in on just about every tune – but the ballads are pretty sweet, too! Titles include "Robbery", "Playboy", "Ask Your Momma", "Dear Lover", "Stop The World", "Midnight Magnet", and "Cassanova Brown". CD features 4 bonus tracks – "Playboy (US 12" rmx)", "Fix It (US 12" rmx)", "Fix It (US 12" rmx inst)", and "Midnight Magic (US 12" inst)".

An overlooked set from Melba Moore – an Epic session from the start of the 80s, and one that's served up with a nicely understated groove! There's a bit of disco in the mix, but the sound's never too far over the top – and in a way, Melba's working in the same sophisticated territory as some of the Philly International singers of the same generation – moving past easy club or chart soul, into a well-rounded, fully mature mix of music. Given the great vocals that Moore's always brought to her music, the format is a great way for her to keep on growing – as you'll hear on titles that include "Closer", "Something On Your Mind", "Shame", "Next To You", "Rest Inside My Love", and "Never Gonna Let You Get Away". CD features four bonus tracks – "You Stepped Into My Life (7" mix)", "Pick Me Up I'll Dance (7" mix)", "Burn (special disco mix)", and "Night People (12" mix)".

Proof that the move to soul was actually a great thing for James Mtume – because although the set's miles from his spiritual jazz work of the 70s, it more than makes up for that shift with a sophisticated approach to 80s soul! The group's a small one, with lots of keyboards from Mtume, and a fair bit of bass at the bottom – and lead vocals are by James and Tawatha, who brings a nice sense of female sweetness to the set. The whole thing's got a very seductive slow jam electro feel, and includes standout jams like "You Are My Sunshine", "You, Me, & He", "Prime Time", "Sweet For You and Me", and "C.O.D. (I'll Deliver)", plus the intimate "Sweet For You And Me (Monogamy Mix)" and the jazz funk & old school hip hop hybrid "To Be Or Not To Bop That Is The Question (Whether We Funk Or Not)". This FTG CD edition includes 5 bonus tracks – rare alternate versions and 12" mixes – including extended vocal and instrumental mixes of "COD (I'll Deliver)" extended and dub mixes of "I Simply Like", plus "You, Me And He (Polygamy Mix)" and "You, Me And He (Instrumental Rap)".

Definitely the sort of album to make you feel better – given the tight, soulful sounds of Ndugu Chancler and this Chocolate Jam Company! The album's got roots in jazz – Ndugu's a drummer with work on countless other albums – but also steps out with plenty of soul, too – thanks to vocals from Ndugu, Leo Miller, Josie James, and Maxi Anderson – who often sing together in this warm style that fits perfectly with the grooves in the set! Instrumentation is definitely a cut above the usual session of this type – no surprise, given the jazz and fusion heavyweights in the lineup – and the tunes are catchy and grooving, yet never clunky or commercial at all. The blend is sublime – the sort that's made the record a standout for years – and titles include "Send You My Love", "Space Connection", "Make You Feel Better", "Jungle Journey", "Love Anew", and "Come Into My Life Again". CD features three bonus tracks – "Shadow Dancing (7" version)", "Take Some Time (7" version)", and "Love Anew (7" version)".

One of those bright, charismatic Billy Ocean records from a couple years before his massive pop soul crossover – just a sublime 80s club groover that pumps along at a nice mid tempo clip – a real favorite around these parts! This was Billy's debut for Epic and there's plenty of signposts here of his potential to bust out in a big way commercially – it's hooky and insistent, but still plenty soulful, less steeped in pop gloss and with fewer ballads – lean, danceable soul that holds up very, very well. Also includes "Stay The Night", "Whatever Turns You On", "Don't Say Stop", "Another Day Won't Matter", and "Taking Chances". This Big Break UK remastered edition has 4 bonus tracks: 12 inch versions of "Are You Ready" and "Stay The Night" and single versions of the title track and "Another Day Won't Matter".

Rose Royce are certainly plenty strong at this point in their career – working with a tight modern soul groove on Epic Records – away from their previous placement on the Whitfield label, even though Norman Whitfield's still very actively handling production here! The album does a great job of bringing out some of the group's warmer elements, and also refits their rhythms a bit for the 80s generation – using some jazzier flourishes on the keyboards, which class things up nicely, and push their sound a bit towards some of the best Columbia/Epic soul acts of the time. Keyboards dominate a bit more than before, but in a good way – and titles include "Best Love", "Sometimesy Lady", "Still In Love", "You Blew It", "Talk To Me", "Fire In The Funk" and "Somehow We Made It Through The Rain".

Webster Lewis takes off wonderfully here – finding a completely unique groove that's equal parts club, soul, and fusion! The album's almost as sublime as Roy Ayers' best from the time – and has a similar balance that's perfectly done – a depth of thought that goes way beyond conventional club, and a willingness to bring in lots more complicated elements from various jazz sources. Webster's keyboards are nicely out front in the set – and there's some great vocals by a female chorus who sweeten up the sound nicely, but not in ways that are too commercial or cliched. The whole thing's great – a righteous masterpiece through and through – and tracks include "Hideaway", "There's A Happy Feeling", "Touch My Love", "Believe In Yourself", "Barbara Ann", and "Loving". CD features 4 bonus tracks too "Wee Church", "Japanese Umbrella", "Spirit Of Love", and "Touch My Love (alt mix)".

A treasure trove of rare funk – a massive package that not only includes the legendary Inspiration Information album by Shuggie Otis, but which also adds in four bonus tracks to that classic – plus a full other album of unreleased vintage work! Shuggie Otis is the son of Johnny Otis – the LA R&B maestro who was moving heavily into funk at the end of the 60s – and he has this tripped out, super-dope guitar style that he played to strong effect on Johnny's albums of the late 60s and early 70s, and on his first two solo albums, which were kind of bluesy in tone. But for Inspiration Information, he shocked the world by moving into a stripped-down mode that pairs his guitar with spare drum machine rhythms, flanged-out deeply soulful vocals, and one of the most laidback conceptions of funk you'll ever hear. The album's a landmark – one of those gems that's unlike anything else you can think of, but which will redefine your concept of what you want in a record for years to come. Every track's a winner – and the whole thing's a perfectly unified batch of tunes that includes instant classics like "Inspiration Information", "Island Letter", "Aht Uh Mi Hed", "XL 30", and "Rainy Day" – plus unreleased bonus tracks "Miss Pretty", "Magic", "Things We Like To Do", and "Castle Top Jam". Then – as if that's not enough – the set features incredible rare material from Shuggie – 14 more tracks as the Wings Of Love album, mostly recorded in the late 70s post-Inspiration years, plus a few tracks from later vintage too! The sound is great – the kind of extra bits we've been wanting to hear from Otis for many many years – finally unleashed from the vaults, and showing a style that really echoes the groove that others had copied from him – like The Brothers Johnson and some later contemporaries. There's plenty of great lost nuggets on Wings – and titles include "Trying To Get Close To You", "Give Me Something Good", "Wings Of Love", "Give Me A Chance", "Fireball Of Love", "Fawn", "If You'd Be Mine", "Black Belt Sheriff", and "Destination You".

Post-Labelle solo work from Nona Hendryx – and a set that very much shows that she's the one who brought all the raw funky power to the group! Unlike Patti Labelle's work from the same time, which was getting smoother and classier, Nona's work here is almost in the vein of rock music – working the lead guitar hard in a style that's a bit Betty Davis, but more crossover too – in ways that helped Hendryx gain a huge audience for her groove in the 70s! The core group is super-tight, and also helps Nona with all the arrangements too – a nicely unified set that includes a version of Russ Ballard's "Winning", plus "Everybody Wants To Be Somebody", "Once Again", "Problem", "Will You Be There?", "Leaving Here Today", and "Take A Chance".

Late 80s boogie funk from Cameo guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Singleton & Modern Man, though Charlie himself may very well be this Modern Man, as he also wrote and produced the record – with allstar assistance from his Cameo partners, Peabo Bryson and others! Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained is his first for Epic, in a similar pop funk mode as Cameo's work of the time, though a bit leane and with Charlie's personal touches right out front. Thumping programming, some electro touches and some some blazing guitar by Charlie when the mood strikes! Includes "I Wanna Be With You", and 80s groove cover of "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", "Spending Money", "Over My Head" with Peabo and a nice bit of sax, "Love Machine", "Vain", "Almost Over You" and more.

Ruthless Cali group gangsta from Above the Law – the first and probably their best LP! A benchmark – one of the planks on the bridge between the earlier efforts from NWA, Eazy E and the click and the later Dre & Snoop heyday. Livin' Like Hustlers has a few tracks produced by Dr Dre, and the rest by ATL and Laylaw. Includes "Murder Rap", "Livin Like Hustlers", "Menace To Society", "Just Kickin Lyrics", "Untouchable", "Another Execution", "Freedome Of Speech", "Flow On" and "Ballin".

A surprisingly great album by Booker T – recorded after his Memphis years with The MGs, and his duets with Priscilla – and done in a sweetly mellow style that has Booker emerging as a whole new style of songwriter! As with all the post-MG albums, Booker sings lead vocals on all tracks – in a gently, almost folksy mode that fits beautifully with the compressed production of the set. There's almost a Terry Callier-ish quality to a few of the cuts, and on others, Booker's hitting a cool LA style that's kind of a west coast take on the Memphis vibe – but with a few more rock-based touches. Book plays a bit of organ and some keyboards on the set, and titles include "Jamaica Song", "Mama Stewart", "Flamingo", "Tennessee Voodoo", "Lie To Me", and "Evergreen". CD features lots of bonus tracks too – "Life Is Funky", "Take Me To The River", "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", "Higher & Higher", "Love Is Strange", and "Evergreen (single version)".

A funky concept album from George Duke! Guardians Of The Light is a full-on "musical fantasy" – with the story line laid out in the liner notes, yet still a bit difficult to follow – but we can't fault him for that when it's done in his masterful R&B-fusion-funk approach! George sings on all cuts, but he also gets some stellar vocal assistance from Jeffrey Osborne, Portia Griffin, and Patti Austin. The record also has some surprisingly sweet mellow moments that bring a deeper level of spacey soul to the out-there concept! Titles include "Born To Love You", "You Are The Light", "Reach Out", "Give Me Your Love", "Stand", "Soon", and "Fly Away". 3 bonus tracks on this FTG CD edition: "Reach Out (12" Version)", "Celebrate (Instrumental)" and "Brazilian Love Affair".

Probably the biggest album ever from the brother/sister team of Katreese and Jerry Barnes – working here as Juicy, in a sweet smooth 80s groove style that's mighty nice! Deodato produced the album, and it's similar to some of the other soul material he was handling in the 80s – slick and sparkling, but with a sweet jazzy touch that keeps things a lot more real than on other soul albums from the time. The Barnes siblings handle all vocals and instruments – and the record has a sweet poppy duet style that's perhaps a bit dated, but also kind of due for a revival. Features the group's great slow jam hit "Sugar Free", with lots of excellent bass pedal jamming – plus "Stay With Me", "Slow Dancing", "It Takes Two", and "Nobody But You". CD features some nice 12" bonus tracks – including "Sugar Free (Deo/super dance mix)", "Nobody But You (Deo rmx)", "Bad Boy (dub)", "Sugar Free (Deo/radio rmx)", and "Nobody But You (Deo dub)".

A pair of post Philly International gems from Lou Rawls on Epic – Now Is The Time from '82 and Close Company from '84 – in a single set! Now Is The Time is a solid soul effort from Lou, still working wonders here in the early 80s on a record that stands the test of time surprisingly well! The production doesn't overdo it with period production flourishes, with some sweeping arrangements on some numbers and more of an easygoing vibe on others. Titles include "Kiss Me One More Time", "Let Me Show You How", "Ain't That Love Baby", "This Love" and "Back To You". Close Company features a fair bit of production from Dexter Wansel, in a way that continues the groove from a few years before! The sound's got a smooth, sophisticated feel that works great with Lou's maturing vocals – and the overall feel is right up there with the best classy soul coming out on Epic at the time – work that's really stood the test of the time because it never gave in too much to commercial trends. Titles include "Close Company", "All Time Lover", "In The Middle Of The Night", "Pretty Eyes", "Forever I Do", "Ready Or Not", and "Say It Again". 17 tracks in all on the CD.

A jazz rock classic that still sounds pretty darn tasty today – forged on the heels of Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears, but with a sound that's leaner and meaner! The group's led by trumpeter Bill Chase – hence their name – and features lead vocals by GG Shinn and Terry Richards, both in a style that's got the same blue-eyed jazz soul overtones as that used by the groups mentioned above. The real strength of the tracks, though, is their jazzy backings – horn-heavy, as you'd expect, and hitting some great riffs and licks on the album's side-long title "suite", which features many instrumental passages. Titles include "Hades", "Aphrodite (parts 1 & 2)", "Zeus", "Poseidon", "Cronus", "It Won't Be Long", "I Can Feel It", and "Night".

The second album by Heatwave – and a great effort that's almost as perfectly sublime as the first! Despite their UK origin, these guys really give American late 70s soul a run for its money – hitting in a sweetly compressed sound that fuses the vocals, keyboards, and grooves together wonderfully! The album hits equally well on all burners – with some key mellow cuts, and a few funkier upbeat numbers. Titles include loads of classics – like "Mind Blowing Decisions", "Star Of A Story", "Groove Line", "Send Out For Sunshine", and "Leavin For A Dream".

A killer for the Joneses – probably their strongest album all the way through, thanks to some great production and arrangements by Bobby Eli! This one's got the group taking the fragile harmony style of their earlier records, and filtering it through the Philly powerhouse groove to create a stronger, more high-stepping sound. A good mix of uptempo groovers and a few mellower tracks, and titles include "Who Loves You", "In Love Again", "Groovin' On Ya" , "Music To My Ears", and "Rat Race".

A stunning solo effort – Teena's second on Epic, and proof that she could still put out the goods on her own! Don't worry about the absence of Rick James here – as things are mighty tight, and right on the money – that wicked blend of funk and soul that got Lady T a great start right out of the box – still undeniably one of the most powerful one-woman moments in soul music! Teena wrote, arranged, and produced the whole thing – and tracks include "Light", "Jammin", "Out On A Limb", "Alibi", "Youngblood", "Lovergirl", and "My Dear Mr. Gaye". CD also features 5 bonus tracks – "Lover Girl (US single)", "Lovergirl (US 12" dance mix)", "Lovergirl (US single inst)", "Jammin (dance – long)", and "Out On A Limb (12" single edit)".

An overlooked set from Melba Moore – an Epic session from the start of the 80s, and one that's served up with a nicely understated groove! There's a bit of disco in the mix, but the sound's never too far over the top – and in a way, Melba's working in the same sophisticated territory as some of the Philly International singers of the same generation – moving past easy club or chart soul, into a well-rounded, fully mature mix of music. Given the great vocals that Moore's always brought to her music, the format is a great way for her to keep on growing – as you'll hear on titles that include "Closer", "Something On Your Mind", "Shame", "Next To You", "Rest Inside My Love", and "Never Gonna Let You Get Away".

Sweet funky work from Mtume – a set that's nicely heavy on the keyboards, and which really set a new standard in 80s groove at the time! The keyboards are great, and the basslines are too – and Mtume's jazz roots are still nicely in place here – bringing a bit more sophistication to the tunes than some of his contemporaries, and keeping things catchy and swinging throughout. The set's one of the mighty Mtume/Lucas productions of the time – and titles include the groovy "Juicy Fruit", plus "Hips", "Would You Like To Fool Around", "Green Light", "Hip Dip Skippedabeat", and "Ready For Your Love".

A late 70s classic from jazzy funk master George Duke! Master Of The Game is an excellent mix of jazz, smooth soul, and Latin riffing – really a perfect blend of styles that shows not only how far George's sound had progressed throughout the 70s, it also charts the development of the California scene during the late 70s. George has musical help from Ray Obeido, Roland Bautista, and Sheila E – plus vocals by Lynn Davis, Josie James, and Napoleon Brock. The tracks have a smooth sound that works perfectly with Duke's best keyboard approaches – subduing his tenency to "rock out" a bit, but bringing forward his classic ability to hit a stone mellow groove. Titles include "I Want You For Myself", "Every Little Step I Take", "Look What You Find", "I Love You More", "Dog Man", and "Games". This Soulmusic.com edition includes 2 bonus tracks: "I Want You For Myself (US Single Edit) and "Every Little Step I Take (US Single Edit)".

Can opens up a bit with Unlimited Edition – expanding upon their earlier Limited Edition compilation – fleshing out that set of archival Can errata into a sprawling, boundless 70+ minute set of brilliant, yet largely unused genius from the group's earlier archives! Can is legendary for constructing their greatest studio material out of freewheeling studio experimentation, so it stands to reason that there was a whole heck of a lot of worthy material left out. Boy, was there ever! It's got bits from both the Mooney and Suzuki periods, as well as spacious Can instrumental material. It's made up largely of brief bits that didn't find their way into a whole piece, but there's some longer numbers, too – and one epic: the 17+ minute "Cutaway". Titles icnlde "Gomorrha", "Doko E", "The Anpress And The Ukraine Song", "TV Spot", "Mother Upduff", "Connection", "Fall Of Another Year", "Transcendental Express", "Ibis", "Blue Bag (Inside Paper)", "Musette", "EFS No. 10", "I'm Too Leise" and more.

Soaring vocals from Angela Clemmons – a set that really has an amazing range, and a depth of sound that goes way past the usual from Epic Records at the time! Angela's got a way of stretching out right from the start – inflecting the lyrics with a rich power that easily matches or beats some of her bigger-name contemporaries at the time – and which really help give an extra something special to the record. Production is by Paul Leka, and a number of songs were written by Michael Brown – and the pair really help give the whole thing a personal feel, and keep the set from being just another run of the mill mainstream soul album from the early 80s. Titles include "Giving It Away", "Fill You Up", "Uneasy", "When You're Through I'll Be Waiting", "Mine", and "Sure Thing". CD features two bonus tracks – "Out Here On My Own (7" mix)", and "Give Me Just A Little More Time (12" mix)".

Finally a strong full-length from Nu-Mark – the myriad strengths of which were amply hinted up via the epic 10" series that led up to it – and an album that packs plenty of diverse, timeless beatcraft and stellar guests on the mic! Nu-Mark's got a sharp, crisp edge with his beats – one that really seems to set a new sort of fire without ever being too overly-aware of its own style – often with these soulful undercurrents that help his music reach way past the usual, too! Vocals and rhymes are by a great batch of A-list talents – including Aloe Blacc, Charles Bradley, Bumpy Knuckles, Ernie Hines, Large Professor, J-Live, and Tiron – and one cut even features some sweet funky touches from Quantic. This deluxe CD edition features the album Disc 1. Disc 2 is a CD-ROM – featuring the instrumentals and acapella versions of most tracks, plus some bonus beats – with 32t tracks in all! tour and in-studio photos, the cover images from the Broken Sunlight 10-inch series and more! Disc 3 is a DVD – featuring the mini-film/video Nu-Conduit with live and behind the scenes footage. Amazing! Titles include "Oya Indebure", "Tropicalifornia", "Tough Break", "Feel The Way About It", "Vengeance Is Mine", "Dumpin Em All", "Our Generation (re-edit)", "When You Sleep", "Never Be Wrong", "Times Is Rough", and "Tonight".

Two incredibly groovy records that will completely redefine your expectations for religious music – both put together by the Rev Nick Freund! Montgomery Chapel is an incredibly dark album that's way more acid folk than anything else – recorded by a group named The Search Party, and served up with spare acoustic guitar, trippy electric, and this etherel organ that really makes the whole thing feel like an acid trip right from the start – as do the lyrics, which are often sung by a female singer who sounds like Grace Slick really trying to push even farther past the darkness of "White Rabbit"! A few tunes are upbeat, but most are very slow and sad – almost Wicker Man in mood – with titles that include "The News Is You", "All But This", "Renee Child", "Speak To Me", "When He Calls", and "The Decidedly Short Epic Of Mr Alvira". The second album is titled after a creepy line from the Bible – Each One Heard In His Own Language About The Marvels Of God – quoted later by Aphrodite's Child on their 666 album, and presented here at the start of the record by the St Pius X Seminary Choir, in ways that oddly have the same sort of eerie undercurrents! The set's more of a straight vocal affair, but with plenty of folksy undertones – and there's also an undeniable sense of darkness that completely undercuts any brighter spirit of faith. Titles include "Who is This Man", "Get Together", "Come Children Hear Me", and "Mass For The Secular City". 2CD set features great notes, in the usual Lion style – plus a dozen more bonus tracks too!

Truth in album titles from Manuel Goettsching – inventive soundscapes from the Ash Ra Tempel founder – played entirely on electric guitar, though it's all about hypnotic layering and effects. It's amazing stuff, evolving guitar notes manipulated into the studio. "Echo Waves" is a 17+ minute, uber-hypnotic piece that's another case of material living up to the title, one that reminds us a bit of some of Tangerine Dream's soundtrack work of a decade later. "Quasarsphere" is atmospheric and spacey, a shorter piece. "Pluralis" is the 20+ minute epic closer, very much akin to "Echo Waves".

Rare work from British easy maestro Ron Goodwin – one of England's most important orchestral talents of the 50s and 60s! Disc one of the set features Goodwin's instrumental singles of the 50s – many of which were done in a style that's similar to some of Les Baxter's pre-exotica work for Capitol. Like Baxter, Goodwin came from a more traditional style of mood music, but was also willing to work in farther-reaching modes – and would pick up traces of some of the more ambitious easy styles of his time. The second disc features Goodwin's soundtrack work of later years – much of which was done in highly dramatic styles that often supported historical narratives, war stories, and other films of an epic nature. Together, the 2CD set makes for a great look at Goodwin's oft-neglected work – and is packaged with a great set of notes and a huge amount of tracks! Titles include "Concetta", "Red Cloak", "The Melba Waltz", "Messenger Boy", "Jet Journey", "Tropical Mirage", "Josita", "Wagon Train", "Aces High", "Departure", "Frenzy", "Decline & Fall", "Cafe Royal Waltz", "Return My Love", and "When Eagles Dare". 53 tracks in all!

The often cinematic sounds of Jaga Jazzist, given an extra orchestral sweep – working beautifully well with the Britten Sinfonia chamber orchestra! It's a match made in jazzy, proggy, soundtracky heaven. Jaga Jazzist has a sprawling sound even at their core – with soul jazz, prog and contemporary club sounds delivered in a way that's brilliantly unique to the group – so surely stands to reason that they could adapt quite brilliantly in a grander concert environment. Well, it's even greater than you'd expect! The guitar, vibes, percussion, horns, synth and piano of Jaga Jazzist is complemented beautifully by Britten Sinfonia's strings, flutes, clarinets, bassoon and additional horns and percussion. Includes the slow-building, epic 15+ minute opener "One-Armed Bandit", plus sweet symphonic takes on "Kitty Wu", "Prungen", "For All You Happy People", "Toccata", "Bananfluer Overalt", "Music! Dance! Drama!" and "Oslo Skyline". Recorded at Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo and at the Baribican in London in fall and summer 2012.

The stellar and rare Roscoe Mitchell recordings from the early years of the AACM – with all of the material from Nessa's mid 70s release as Old/Quartet – plus an incredible second disc featuring additional material that we've only seen in Nessa's great Art Ensemble 1967/68 box set! All tracks were recorded in 1967 by Roscoe's Art Ensemble quartet that included Lester Bowie on trumpet and flugelhorn, Malachi Favors on bass, and Philip Wilson on drums – one of the first truly mature groups to emerge from the bubbling cauldron of the Chicago mid 60s avant garde. Mitchell plays alto, soprano, clarinet and flute – and this is one heck of a showcase of these players at an early creative peak! Disc one features the Old/Quartet material, with "Old", the half hour + "Quartet No 2", and "Solo". The second disc includes 2 epic length numbers: "Trio (Oh Susanna)" and "Quartet No 1", plus the shorter, but 4-part "Theme Statements" and "Tats-Matoes (Rehearsal)".

A great later score from Riz Ortolani – and one that shows off the best talents for reaching out to time and place he developed in the 60s! The film's a WWII narrative – but Ortolani's music is often a lot more than you'd expect – occasionally scene-setting in its construction, yet with a more modern filmic aspect that carries a feel that's almost more epic than the images on the screen! The gentle theme is especially haunting – with some nice sensual overtones – and titles include "From Hell To Victory", "Accounts To Render", "Paris 1945", "Fabienne Theme", "Nicole Theme", "Hearts In Suspense", and "Toward The Victory".

Late work by jazz drum giant Buddy Rich – captured in a surprisingly energetic, firey, and sometimes funky mode at Ronnie Scott's Club in 1980! Buddy really pulled off some bright, buoyant, funk influenced work in the 70s and this set finds him at the tail end of that groove – playing with a pretty big group that includes Ernie Vantrease on piano, Wayne Pedziwiatr on bass, Ando Fusco, Jack Leibowitz, Steave Marcus and Kenny Hitchcock on saxes, Bob Coassin on lead trumpet, Roger Homefield on lead trombone, and others. Titles include "Intro/Beulah Witch", "Grand Concourse", "Blues A La 88", "Saturday Night", "Slow Funk" and the epic, 15+ minute closer "Good News".

A dream come true – Minnie's first two solo albums for Epic, back to back on one CD! Perfect Angel was one of THE albums that helped define the sound of female soul in the 70s – a record that moves past the baroque soul of Minnie's early years with Rotary Connection and Charles Stepney – and hits a mix of mellow compressed LA styles and slicker funkier numbers that do the same thing for her Chicago-trained vocals that Rufus' backing did for that of Chaka Khan. Of course, it helps that she's got some superbly sensitive writing and arranging help by husband Richard Rudolph – and Stevie Wonder's definitely lurking in the background, too. Includes Minnie's huge crossover hit "Loving You", a perfect showcase for her beautiful 5 octave voice, plus the tracks "Our Lives", "Every Time He Comes Around", "Perfect Angel", and "Reasons". Adventures In Paradise is even better – and may well be Minnie's greatest album ever! The album's a sparkling work of jazzy soul, with touches of the heavenly production that Minnie got in years past, and lots of smooth mellow songs that are perfectly suited to her other-worldly voice. Includes the massive track "Baby, This Love I Have" – a slow funk number that's be sampled many times over the years – plus the spacey tunes "Minnie's Lament", "Inside My Love", and "Alone In Brewster Bay", remade from Minnie's first LP! 19 tracks in all – and an essential CD for any fan of 70s soul!

The score to RZA's major motion picture directorial debut (and just how cool is it to be writing that)!– Whatever the creative and/or financial fate of the movie Man With The Iron Fists, RZA's score with collaborator Howard Drossin is a classic! You already know that RZA is a genuine student of Hong Kong and Hollywood martial arts music and movies – and if you don't know this, he's also a hell of a soundtrack composer! His work for Ghost Dog is one of our favorite hip hop-based soundtracks ever made – and Man With The Iron Fists lives up to that legacy. It's a bigger, more grandly-composed soundtrack than Ghost Dog – with tense strings and an epic, Hollywood-ready sweep – but it still feels totally and truthfully like a RZA record! Collaborator Drossin has worked on some great action scores over the past decade and he proves to be an excellent partner. Includes an "Opening Titles" makeover of the Wu classic "Shame On A N***a", plus "Jungle Village", "Emperor's Gold", "The Brothel", "Rodent Fight", "Alley Fight", "Snake Charmer", "Shipwrecked", "The Temple Monks", "Face Off", "The Man With The Iron Fists", "The Last Battle", "All Iron And No Rust" and more.

A second unearthed gem from pianist Horace Tapscott at the Lighthouse club in 1979 – very sharp stuff featuring a solid group of Nimbus players! Volume 2 was recorded on October 11, appropriately the night after the set featured on Lighthouse 79 Vol 1, with Tapscott leading the way, and setting up a groove with on the piano, while the group pounces when ready The players are Reggie Bullen on trumpet, Gary Bias on alto, Roberto Miranda and David Bryant on bass, and George Goldsmith on drums. It's an impeccable balance of subtle, slow building melodicism and sharp, emphatic group play & soloing! Totally great stuff, and absolutely worth a second helping. Titles include "Acirfa", "Niger's Theme", the epic "Stella By Starlight", "Lush Life" (at 6+ minutes, the only number in the set that runs less than 10 minutes) and "Inspiration Of Silence".

Dancefloor cookers from the prime Northern Soul years – all instrumental numbers on this sharp compilation on Kent – 45 sides from a labels like Money, Villa, Swan, King, Epic and Warner Brothers! For all the wonderful Kent soul compilations we've gotten our dusty fingers on over the years, it's a wonder they're never been one devoted to instrumentals – until now! Rhythms roll along at a tight tempo, the tight guitars punch it up, some strings soar, and a pounding Northern beat keeps it all stomping! Those core elements are key, but others weave in an out, from hand claps on the beat, to organ grooves, bursts of brass and more. 24 tracks in all: "Double Cookin" by Checkerboard Squares, "Make Me Yours" by Arthur Wright & His Orchestra, "Festival Time" by San Remo Golden Strings", "The Sounds Of Lane" by Tracks To Your Mind, "Champion Pt 1" by Willie Mitchell, "The Guys From Uncle" by The Spy, "Stirrin Up Some Soul" by The Mar-Ketts, "Hey America (Sing Along)" by James Brown, "California Montage" by Young-Holt Unlimited and more.

Officially sanctioned live material from Ginger Baker's archives – jamming hard in 1976 with his African Friends in Berlin – including Fela & Tony Allen! Baker lived and worked in Nigeria as far back as the early 70s, as famously documented in the classic Fela/Ginger Baker Live set from 1971 – and the friends found themselves together in Germany for this 1978 recording, with players including members of the Anikulapo Kuti family, Leke Benson, Nwokoma Ikem and others. Includes an epic 2 part jam, the 22 minute "Drum/Percussion Jam Part 1" and the 11 minute "Drum/Percussion Jam Part 2".

Unbelievably beautiful work – and possibly the greatest album ever from the mighty Walter Jackson! Jackson was one of the best singers to come out of the Chicago soul scene of the 60s, and his Okeh recordings are a perfect example of the city's sophisticated approach to Iceman soul – as perfected by Walter, Jerry Butler, and (later) Garland Green. The arrangements are by Riley Hampton, and they have a cold fragile beauty that lingers somewhere between a Scott Walker album and Riley's earlier work with Lorez Alexandria – and the no-filler selection of songs is one of Jackson's best ever– a range of work that really show his deep talents, and his maturing approach to a tune – proud, powerful, and a new level of adult sophistication in soul. Titles include the amazing title cut "Speak Her Name" – plus "Corner In The Sun", "My One Chance To Make It", "It's An Uphill Climb To The Bottom", and "Not You". This expanded CD makes the original album ever better – and adds in a full batch of 10 bonus tracks – some of which are unissued, others of which are rare singles from Jackson's later Okeh years, plus rare Epic sides. Bonus titles include "No Butterflies", "Ad Lib", "The Look Of Love", "The Bed", "Forget The Girl", "My Ship Is Coming In", "Road To Ruin", and "Just One Smile".

Nobody fills a dancefloor like Philly – especially with a batch of 70s groovers this great! The set's a really well-chosen batch of classics from the City Of Brotherly Love – one that features a few hits and lots more overlooked nuggets from the Gamble & Huff universe on Philly International – plus some even more obscure bits from labels like Buddah or Epic – showing that there was lots of great Philly work going on in the 70s! The package was put together by Ralph Tee – the man who gave us the sublime Philadelphia Uncovered collections – and the set features 16 titles that include "I Just Can't Goodbye" by Philly Devotions, "I'll Always Love My Mama" by The Intruders, "Do You Like The Way I Love" by The Ebonys, "People Power" by Billy Paul, "Party Time Man" by The Futures, "Can't Accept The Fact" by Gateway, "Falling In Love With You" by Jimmy Ruffin, "Midnight Lady" by David Morris Jr, "Words Without Love" by City Limits, "All I Need" by Anacostia, "Make It Last" by Barbara Mason & The Futures, "Your Love Has Me Locked Up" by The Modulations, and "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.

Reissue of JB's wildest album, with a crazy cover that shows him running away from the devil, and great gatefold inner photo with him standing amidst a bunch of declarations of "Hell". The record was originally a double album filled with lots of different styles from James' funky bag. Nicer bits include "My Thang", "Hell", and "A Man Has To Go Back To The Crossroads" – but the real highlight is the epic 13 minute version of "Papa Don't Take No Mess", as tight and jamming as any cut from Doin' It to Death or The Payback!

Excellent early work from Giorgio Moroder – recorded in the pre-disco years, with a trippy rock style that mixes electronics and some surprisingly soulful guitar work! The overall style is almost a prog take on the beat group sound with some poppy touches – a cool blend that was shared briefly by other European groups of the time, before they stretched out and got a bit more trippy. The album's got some nice moogy touches, tight drums by Keith Forsey, and even a bit of keyboards from Max Gregor Jr. Most tracks have vocals, but also kick off with a strong foot instrumentally – making for some great rock break moments that are worth the album alone, even though the full songs are pretty nice too! Titles include the epic "Tears", "Lord Release Me", "Watch Your Step", "Pauline", "Son Of My Father", "Automation", "London Traffic", "Spanish Disaster", and "Underdog". CD features lots of bonus tracks too – including "Today's A Tomorrow", "Everybody Join Hands", "I'm Free Now", "Non Ci Sto", "Take It Shake It Break My Heart", and "Underdog (mono)".

Minnie Riperton's first album for Epic – and the record that broke her from a hip Chicago underground artist into one of the seventies' biggest soul divas! The record moves past the baroque soul of Minnie's early years with Rotary Connection and Charles Stepney – and hits a mix of mellow compressed LA styles and slicker funkier numbers that do the same thing for her Chicago-trained vocals that Rufus' backing did for that of Chaka Khan. Of course, it helps that she's got some superbly sensitive writing and arranging help by husband Richard Rudolph – and Stevie Wonder's definitely lurking in the background, too. Includes Minnie's huge crossover hit "Loving You", a perfect showcase for her beautiful 5 octave voice, plus the tracks "Our Lives", "Every Time He Comes Around", "Perfect Angel", and "Reasons".

One of the more far out-sounding records we've heard on Far Out Records – a wild one from Rio's Dos Cafundos! It's a sometimes funky, sometimes noisy, but always evolving sound – with raw tropical funk mixed with diverse strains of noise rock and jazz, a la Zorn and Zappa. It's never predictable, even if they proudly wear myriad influences on their sleeves! It's got lots of great acoustic and electric guitar work, plus heavy drums and percussion, flutes, violin and more in the mix. There's a lot going on here that would make the group sound right at home on Ipecac Records as much as they do on Far Out – but the Brazilian roots are still very strong! Includes "Coriza", "Disse Me Disse". "Tupraca", "Carnica (O Barao Da Birosca)", "Carranca", "Un -Berum" and the 5-part epic title track.

A long-overdue look at the mighty mid 60s work of The Falcons – a group who are usually only covered during their early doo wop years, but who went onto do some tremendous group soul as well! The work here features many of the group's excellent recordings for the Big Wheel label with vocalist Sonny Munro in the lead – a really great singer who more than carries on the strong traditions started in the group by earlier singers who include Eddie Floyd and Wilson Pickett! The Big Wheel work is really great – often a bit Northern and upbeat, but with a very deep vocal style overall that's totally great. Added to the set is some additional material that Sonny Munro cut in later years – showing him to be an equally great solo act, working in some more sophisticated modern soul modes – briefly recording for Epic in the 70s, but represented here on some previously unissued tracks from the time. CD also features two tremendous Falcons-backed cuts on Big Wheel with singer Sandy Hollis in the lead – "I'm Tempted" and "Tables Will Turn" – plus the cuts "Good Good Feeling", "Standing On Guard", "Love You Like You Never Been Loved", "I Can't Help It", "Love Love Love", "In Time For The Blues", and "Standing On Guard" by The Falcons – as well as "Don't Leave Me Alone", "On The Other Side Of Pride", "Why Do I Let You Do The Things You Do", and "I'm Tired Of Being Your Play Thing" by Sonny Munro.

A sprawling collection of the film music of Muarice Jarre – from the stunning, epic scale sounds of Lawrence Of Arabia and Dr Zhivago to far more delicate material for smaller scale classics and lesser remembered work – score work from more 5 decades on an impeccably curated 4CD collection! Includes themes bits of score from eclectic roster of films, with music that's diverse to suit each masterfully – and it also includes bonus tracks with unused bits of music that have been unheard until now! Includes music from Lawrence Of Arabia, Dr Zhivago, Topaz, Is Paris Burning, Jesus Of Nazareth, The MacKintosh Man, The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean, Mandingo, Grand Prix, Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome, Passage To India, Fatal Attraction, Gorillas In The Mist, Jacob's Ladder and many more – with bonus tracks featuring rare and unreleased, if not pretty much unheard work for Jennifer 8, The River Wild and more. Comes in a nice, book-like long box with a 44-page booklet. 5 hours of music on 4CDs!

The sensuous soul gem from Barbara Mason – a sweetly soulful groover all the way – one of her strongest albums of the 70s! Give Me Your Love earns our love from the open second, and it features the great title hit, a reworking of Curtis Mayfield's "Give Me Your Love", which was arranged by Curtis himself – along with the equally great "You Can Be With The One You Don't Love". Vince Montana did most of the other arrangements, and you can see traces of Barbara's move into clubland later in the decade – but this one's more about lush, deeply soulful sounds. Leon Huff is on piano and keys, the tunes have incredible backing vocals with Barbara Ingram, Bunny Sigler, Kenny Gamble and others in the chorus – but this is Barbara's show all the way, emoting soulful magic out front! Tracks include "Let Me In Your Life", "Bed and Board", "Who Will You Hurt Next", and "You Can Be With the One You Don't Love" – and the album's one of her strongest all the way through. CD version comes with the bonus, shorter version epic groover "Yes, I'm Ready".

The rare Space Probe sent out to the cosmos by Sun Ra in the mid 70s – with material recorded from the early 60s onward – the heart of it being Sun Ra's first ever recordings on a moog synthesizer in 1969, and it's one heck of a trip! This excellent edition on Art Yard includes the material from the original Saturn release – the epic, nearly 18 minute interstellar trip that is the title track – with Sun Ra crafting hallucinatory moog magic throughout it. He shifts gears on "Earth Primitive Earth" (the complete version), an earlier recording, as much influenced by ancient sounds as futuristic ones, with hand drums for the beat and bass clarinet by John Gilmore. The closing "Conversion Of JP" is the other holdover from the earlier Space Probe LP and it's another gem steeped in primitivism, believed to feature Marshall Allen on flute (sure sounds like him to us). Art Yard includes some really incredible unissued material here from sessions that produced the Secrets Of The Sun and When Sun Comes Out sets – titles including "Solar Symbols II", "Dance Of The Wind", "Recollections Of There" and "Destiny". Other players include James Jacson on log drums, Nimrod Hunt on hand drums and vocalist Thea Barbara.

Sweeping work from composer Carlo Rustichelli and Bruno Nicolai – the string-heavy tension of Probabilita' Zero – epic work for a soundtrack to a film in which Henry Silva takes on the Nazis! Powerful, action-packed stuff with pounded piano chords and densely-layered strings, but not without its more melodic flourishes. Includes "Probabilia' Zero", "Albi Di Fuoco", "Una Pausa Di Vita", "Sulla Strada Del Ritorno", "Fine Del Massacro", "Attesa Nel Buio", "Silenzio Nella Notte". "I Passi Del Traditore", "Rocordi Di Guerra" and more from the original album – plus a big batch of previously unreleased bonus tracks. 32 tracks in all.