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A bold move forward for Re:Jazz -- a record that's even more cohesive than their first few, and which shows them emerging much more strongly as a group! As before, the approach here has the combo offering soulful jazz versions of tunes from the more popular side of the spectrum -- but unlike before, there's a warmly flowing sense of energy that unites the whole record -- an approach that's often topped by the vocals of Inga Luhning, an expressive singer who really gives the record a good focus -- even though the record also features a bit of guest singing by Alice Russell and Ernesto. There's a sense of power and entitlement to the music here that goes way beyond the earlier releases -- almost as if the band have stopped being tentative about their efforts, and move confidently forward with a sense that their music is really making a difference. Titles include "People Hold On", "Gabrielle", "Finally", "Rock It", "Too Many Holes", "Promised Land", "Back Home", "Not About Me", "Plastic Dreams", "Return To Damara", and "Stewed".

A nice compilation featuring material from some of the most creative artists in the experimental beatmaking and aural mood making artists around -- including Life Force Trio, Flying Lotus, Dimlite, Blank Blue, Daedelus, Kutmah and others! This limited edition compilation from Porter Records includes artists participated in the Dublab Echo Expansion tour of 2007, and features a few previously unreleased tracks. Titles include "Alice! Live At The Natural History Museum" by Life Force Trio, "Set On Satellites" by Adventure Time, "Eyes Closed" (private stash version) by Blank Blue, "Backpack Cavier" by Flying Lotus", "Stealth Mode" by Ras G, "Dnt Fk Sgr" by Daedelus, "Jose's View" b Dimlite, "New Fibrillation" by Andrew Pelker, "Song Song" by Kutmah and more.

A nice compilation featuring material from some of the most creative artists in the experimental beatmaking and aural mood making artists around -- including Life Force Trio, Flying Lotus, Dimlite, Blank Blue, Daedelus, Kutmah and others! This limited edition compilation from Porter Records includes artists participated in the Dublab Echo Expansion tour of 2007, and features a few previously unreleased tracks. Titles include "Alice! Live At The Natural History Museum" by Life Force Trio, "Set On Satellites" by Adventure Time, "Eyes Closed" (private stash version) by Blank Blue, "Backpack Cavier" by Flying Lotus", "Stealth Mode" by Ras G, "Dnt Fk Sgr" by Daedelus, "Jose's View" b Dimlite, "New Fibrillation" by Andrew Pelker, "Song Song" by Kutmah and more.

The smooth jazzy stylings of Bob Baldwin are always a treat to our ears -- a lot more soulful than those of most of his contemporaries in the genre, especially on this new Expansion release, handled with all the quiet care of the label's best titles. There's lots of smooth keyboards on the set -- a mix of electric and acoustic -- and titles include "Freedom Parkway", "Sounds Of Brazil", "Welcome To The Games", "For You", "Yesterday", "Downtown Underground", and "State Of Mind".

A jazz funk masterpiece, and THE record by the legendary Don Blackman -- the only one issued under his own name for many many years, and a famous little set that's been sampled endlessly over the years, and for good reason! The vibe here is one that's barely been matched again -- a blend of 70s fusion, bassy funk, and even tighter riffing -- all put together with a greater depth and sense of soul than most other records of its type. Blackman's a GRP contemporary of Bernard Wright, Tom Browne, and Weldon Irvine -- and there's bits of all their sound in the work here, but somehow Don does it even better -- hitting these grooves, notes, and lines that seem to fall from the heavens -- and which still stand as some of the hippest music of his generation. A record to file proudly next to your copies of Ramp and James Mason -- and like those gems, the kind of record that only happens once in an artists career! Titles include "You Ain't Hip", "Yabba Dabba Do", "Heart's Desire", "Deaf Hook Up Connection", "Never Miss A Thing", and "Holding You Loving You", and "Since You Been Away So Long".

Two killers from Chicago guitarist Bobby Broom -- both recorded near the start of his career! First up is Clean Sweep, killer set from a player who should have been huge -- ultra-sweet guitarist Bobby Broom, a player we'd vote to become the next big heir to the sound of Wes Montgomery or George Benson! This debut set is a wicked mix of jazz and soul -- recorded right at the best stretch of the early GRP label, with a similar blend and sense of depth as the label's initial albums by Don Blackman and Bernard Wright! The core groove focuses strongly on Broom's guitar, but there's also some great vocal numbers too -- and it turns out that Bobby's a surprisingly good singer, too -- with a nicely honest vocal approach that works great alongside his guitar. Arrangements are by Broom, Dave Grusin, and Marcus Miller -- and titles include "No Bad Vibes", "Saturday Night", "Niqui", "Share My Love", "She's My Reason", and "Remember When". Next up is Livin For The Beat is the second LP by this oft-overlooked, but excellent Chicago soul jazz guitarist -- and a record that's quite different than his first! Like the second album by Bernard Wright, fellow labelmate at GRP/Arista, Broom's moving into a mode that's more electro/"street" for this second album -- which means that there's a lot of keyboards and electronic percussion on the set, giving some tracks a proto-breaking kind of sound -- more of a street-level sound than the smoother jazz mode of the first set -- which makes for a really surprising change, and helps keep the record away from mainstream fusion cliches of the time. The best cuts, though, are in a smooth 80s groove mode -- and Broom shows that he's strong on the vocal tip as well as the guitar. Titles include "Let It Go", "Let's Stay Together", "Rubye", "He Said I Love You", "Beat Freak", "Give Me Your Love", and "Magic Johnson".

A smooth vocal set from actor TC Carson, making his debut here in a surprisingly nice set co-produced with Andre Cymone. Andre gives the album a warm and mellow feel, one that's great for TC, as it doesn't push him too much -- and lets him step into the world of soul with an approach that's as soft and gentle as his vocals on the cuts. Titles include "Private Life", "Lordy Please", "Truth", "This Time", "All You Need", "Warm Is The Rain", and "Come Together".

A rare funky soul classic! This one was originally issued on Brunswick in 1974, and it's darn impossible to find in the original, probably because Brunswick was having a great deal of financial trouble at the time. Whatever the case, the record's a great one -- and it's got a tight ensemble funky sound, mixed with some great soulful vocals, and a strong indie soul groove. The band originally came from North Carolina, and they've got a style that's similar to some of the other south coast funk groups that were operating in the 70s in cities like Washington, Richmond, and other points south. Most tracks have deep soulful vocals, but there's some very nice instrumentals too, and the band's got a pretty tight approach to playing. Titles include "Rump Bump", "Loose Hips", "Get Satisfied (parts 1 & 2)", "Loving Explosion", "Give It Up", and "Blood Donors Needed".

Brilliant work from Adriana Evans -- quite possibly her greatest record so far, and that's saying a lot, given how much we've loved everything she's done! There's a perfect, professional vibe to the whole set that's really amazing -- soul music like soul music's supposed to be done -- tight, yet never commercial -- and peppered with these very slight, subtle 60s influences on some of the horn parts and other instrumentation, while still getting bumped along by some modern rhythms at the bottom. The depth to this record is astounding -- and we're even more in love with Adriana's music than ever, and bet you'll be too, after hearing this wonderful album. Titles include "Waiting", "Suddenly", "Midnight", "Let You Get Away", "Weatherman", "El Sol", "Sooner Or Later", "Never Thought", and "Set In Stone".

A stellar batch of soulful tunes from Adriana Evans -- several numbers from her Walking With The Night album! "Weatherman" is here in both an extended mix and the album version, a timeless soul anthem that's might be one of our favorite Adriana tunes ever, just enough of a classic soul feel for warmth and resonance, but feeling fresh. "Surrender" is a groover given a jazzy soul feel. "Walking With The Night" is another gem, while "Waiting" and "Never Thought" further indicate that the full length might turn out to be her best to date!

Smooth modern soul from the 80s -- recorded in 1987 for Epic, but never issued until now. Rosie's produced by Patrick Moten, in a mode that's similar to his work with Anita Baker or Gerald Albright -- and it's a surprise that the album wasn't issued at the time, given its strong hit soul sound. Moten brings the same care to the recording as he does with other work -- allowing the vocalist unfettered presence amidst some more modern R&B grooves. Titles include "Crazy", "Why", "Overnight Success", "Trying To Get Over You", "In A Jam", and "No Sweeter Love".

Sweet, laidback modern soul from Gianna -- warm, sophisticated, and with some jazzy touches -- produced by Kendall Duffie of Kloud 9, and with a sound that's floats nicely in that kind of easygoing mode! Gianna hails from Texas, but she has a universal style, with a casual, elegant sound -- with subtle studio crafted beats and keys mixed with more jazzy elements in the sax, piano and keys. It's all smoothed out just enough. Solid modern soul from Expansion Records! Titles include "My Everything", "In You", "Maybe I Can Be", "Legacy", "Something True", "Things That I Do", "Beautiful", "Picking Up The Pieces", "Tool The Last Train", "Time And Tide", "One Step Closer" and more.

Nothing medicinal here, at least not in the way we remember as kids -- nothing bitter or off-putting, as Preston Glass has a sound that's every bit as smooth as his name! Preston's a producer with a few decades of mainstream soul and jazz work under his belt -- famous recordings with big name artists that you'd certainly recognize. But here, he's really getting back to basics -- working in more of a stripped-down, homegrown mode that really sounds great -- more of an indie-soul sort of style, although still with plenty of the warmth and professionalism you'd expect from Glass' resume. A number of big talents help out on the set -- including Maurice White, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Ali Woodson, Wilton Felder, and Larry Graham -- and Glass does a great job of integrating all of these talents together, which makes for a really unified sound overall. Titles include "Blackberry", "Groove Injection", "Calming The Beast", "Panic Button", "Everybody Let's Dance", "Ready To Mend The Breaks", "Burn It", "Without The Music", "Music As Medicine", and "Love Will Get Us Through The Times".

Sweet funky jazz from the 70s! Gonzalez were an obscure UK combo -- probably known a lot better over in England, but pretty darn hard to find over here in America -- and they've got a tight style that reminds us of some of the more well-produced jazz funk coming out on labels like Blue Note or Blue Thumb during the mid 70s. Some cuts have vocals, but most of the record's instrumental -- and it's filled with great guitars, and some excellent sax work that goes way past the usual funky tenor line! The groove's a nicely sophisticated blend of jazz funk and modern soul -- with the kind of groove that you might expect to hear on some of the Capitol Rare compilations. The CD brings together cuts from the group's first album Gonzalez, plus a few more from the album Our Only Weapon Is Our Music. Titles include "Pack It Up", "Funky Frith Street", "Saoco", "Ahwai Five-O", "Rissoled", and "Adelanto Nightride". Very nice -- and the kind of group we love to discover!

A great pair from a great pair -- two Grey & Hanks albums for RCA, back to back on a single CD! First up is You Fooled Me -- a great little debut album from the team of Len Ron Hanks and Zane Grey -- songwriters who'd scored earlier in the 70s with tracks for Jerry Butler and LTD, but who also strike up a pretty strong groove on their own! The pair are from Chicago, but are recording in LA -- and their sound here follows almost the same move as Earth Wind & Fire's when they hit the west coast, adding smoother production to a tight ensemble funk approach, compressing the groove up a bit, for a more soulful sound. No surprise, then, that the record features EWF horns by Don Myrick, Louis Satterfield, and Rahmlee on many cuts -- and although vocals are by Grey, but he's pretty heavily supported by backing singers on most cuts. Titles include "You Fooled Me", "Never Let You Down", "Way Out To Get In", "How Can You Live Without Love", and "Gotta Put Something In". Prime Time is the sweet second set from the team of Hanks & Grey -- their last album for RCA, and a wonderful follow-up to the first! As before, the groove is totally top-shelf -- well-written, well-produced, and definitely at the head of the modern soul pack of the time! The pair have a bit more of a boogie bounce at the bottom than before, yet still always keep things cool -- and definitely show their roots strongly from the more sophisticated corners of the Chicago soul scene -- especially the best male vocalists of their 70s generation. Titles include "Love's In Command", "For The People", "Single Girls", "We Need More", and "Since I Found You".

Rare work by the late Phyllis Hyman -- a killer collection of obscure sides from some of the best projects of her career, plus some additional titles that have never been issued before! In a world of endless "best of" collections of Phyllis' work, this set is a real gem -- a package that truly understands the beauty of her music, and offers up obscure tracks to please longtime fans, but with a quality level that's equally great as -- if not better than -- any of her well-known studio LPs! The album's a dream come true to our ears -- smooth, jazzy, sophisticated soul -- sung by Phyllis in a timeless style, with help from a host of great jazz artists. Unreleased titles include "If You Ever Change Your Mind", "Hottest Love Around", "Don't Tell Me Tell Her (new version)", "Do You Love Him (fast version)", and "In Between The Heartaches" -- and other tracks include "Love Surrounds Us Everywhere", "I'll Be Around", and "In Search Of My Heart", all with McCoy Tyner; "Sacred Kind Of Love", with Grover Washington; "Springs Arrival" with Jon Lucien; and "Everything I Have Is Good", with Pharoah Sanders & Norman Connors. The set's completed by tracks that include "Sleep On It", "Magic Mona", "Soon Come Again (extended)", and "Be One" -- all from hard to find non-LP sources!

Wonderful work from Kloud 9 -- one of the classiest soul acts around, and one of the few who really know how to make the male duo style work! The mix of vocals here is totally great -- a smooth, fluid approach that slinks around the gentle rhythms of the set nicely, but never in ways that have a cliched sort of sensuality. Instead, these guys are continuously positive -- really pushing forward a nice groove with a great sort of energy that makes them stand out from the pack. Titles include "Everything That I Need", "Appreciation", "Never Give It Up", "Step", "Love's Just Better With You", "Can't Hold This Love", "Enjoy The Ride", and "Duffie's Theme". CD also features the bonus track "Love's Just Better With You (The Realm voc rmx)".

A killer collection of cuts from Kloud 9 -- easily one of the classiest soul duos going today, represented here with a host of the best tracks from recent albums, plus some hard to find bonus cuts as well! Kloud 9 have a depth rooted in gospel, mixed with some of the warmer styles of the Neo Soul generation -- a beautiful blend that's kept their music real over the years, and which comes through tireless work by the team of Kendall and Kelvis Duffie. The set features two tracks done with Incognito -- "Promise" and "Everything Is Good 2Nite" -- plus "Can't Be Love", which features Mitchell Jones -- and the tracks "If You Ever", "With Me", "Gimme Gimme Gimme", "Off The Wall", "Dance Awhile", "Priority", "Happy", "So Many Reasons (RP's club mix)", and "Everything Is Good 2Nite (Ski Oakenful dance mix)".

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".

Two great ones from The Main Ingredient -- back to back on a single CD! First up is I Only Have Eyes For You, a great later album from the Main Ingredient -- professional, polished, and filled with wonderful harmony vocals! Maestro Patrick Adams arranged and produced the set -- and he gives the record a really wonderful sound that's light years from his indie club work of the early 70s -- a tight approach to vocal group soul that still lets the harmonies shine wonderfully, but which also takes them into more mature, sophisticated territory. Cuba Gooding's returned to the group, and his beautiful vocals are a very welcome (re)addition to their sound -- and the album's got some key midtempo groovers that stand with some of the group's best work. Titles include "Party People", "Only", "Evening of Love", "Just Once", "All Because of You", "Rediscover Me", and a great modern soul remake of "I Only Have Eyes For You". Next up is Shame On The World -- an album from 6 years earlier, but a great step forward for The Main Ingredient -- a record that's still got all the harmony soul charm of their earlier work for RCA, but with a tighter feel overall -- one that has them moving into the same mature group soul mode as The Manhattans over at Columbia! Production and arrangements are by Cuba Gooding and Luther Simmons of the group, with some help from Rene Hall on arrangements too -- and the sound is polished, but never slick -- a tightening up of the early 70s group soul sound, but in ways that sparkle even more than before! Titles include "Shame On The World", "Let Me Prove My Love To You", "Over You", "Old Greyhound", "Jamaica", "Put Your Love In My Hands", and "Lillian". CD also features the bonus track "Spoiled".

Two Arista gems from Mandrill -- back to back on a brilliant CD! New Worlds is a bit smoother than some of the group's earlier work, but still plenty darn great -- and in a way, there's a warmer, more soulful vibe going on here that really opens things up! The album kicks off with the incredible modern soul cut "Too Late" -- a killer blend of jazzy soul with some slightly southern touches -- all hung around these warmly crackling vocals you'd never have expected from the group in years past! Other cuts are a bit more funk-directed -- often in that late 70s mainstream mode with plenty of bass at the bottom, almost in a pre-boogie sort of groove. Cuts include the modern soul classic "Too Late" -- plus "Having A Love Attack", "When You Smile", "Mean Streets", "Stay Tonight", and "It's So Easy Lovin' You". Getting In The Mood is surprisingly wonderful later work from Mandrill -- really stretching out in their style, but in a warmly soulful way! By this point in their career, Mandrill had come a long way from the proto-spiritual/Latin/funk sound of earlier days -- but surprisingly, they'd actually matured into a pretty darn sweet harmony soul band, with plenty of spacey elements from the old days, tied into their more modern production style. Sure, pure funk fans might wince at this album -- but it's a great record from a modern soul perspective, with plenty of great soulful numbers. Titles include "When you Shake", "Getting In The Mood", "My Kind Of Girl", "Feeling Good", "Love Made Me Over", and "Coming Home".

Amazing! This is one of the greatest lost fusion albums ever -- and every track is a masterpiece! The album was originally cut for the tiny Chiaroscuro label in 1977 -- and it's got a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of. Strident jazz riffs meet souful female vocals; soaring keyboard lines spiral out over tight funky drumming; and the whole thing grooves mightily with a production style that's incredibly well-handled. This album's a must for fans of spiritual soulful jazz -- like the classic 70s work of Roy Ayers and Leroy Hutson -- but it's also got a unique voice that's totally its own, and totally compelling. Titles include the breakbeat classic "Funny Girl", the monster groover "Sweet Power Your Embrace", the funky "Slick City", and the massive "Free" -- but every cut's a winner. This is the kind of album that makes us proud to be in business!

Overlooked Columbia Records work from Jackie Moore -- two great albums on a single CD! First up is I'm On My Way -- a real standout album from Jackie, and a noteworthy comeback after some mellower southern soul recordings in the mid 70s! Jackie's recording here in a style that worked extremely well for Columbia at the time -- who had also done successful "southern/modern soul" experiments with the likes of Johnny Taylor and Betty Wright, two of the more leading lights in the Columbia soul stable in the late 70s. Jackie's teamed up with the Philly talents of Bobby Eli, who produced the album, and did most of the arrangements -- apart from a few tracks by Norman Harris or Jack Faith -- and there's a modern soul glow to the record that really marks a new shift in Moore's music -- a style that still has her going deep on the vocals, while stepping out in some warmer Philly rhythms. Titles include "This Time, Baby", "Wrapped Up In Your Lovin", "I'm On My Way", "Can You Tell Me Why", and "Let's Go Somewhere & Make Love". With Your Love is a killer from Jackie Moore -- later work, with a smooth modern feel that's quite different than her first recordings! The album has Jackie getting a tight dose of Philly soul from Bobby Eli -- who produced and arranged the album at Sigma Sound, and who also wrote a number of tracks on the album. The record's got the feel of some of Jean Carn's work from the time -- a great approach, given the deep soul style of Jackie's vocals -- and titles include "Just To Be With You", "Helpless", "Walk Away From Love", "With Your Love", "Don't Knock My Love", and a killer remake of "Love Won't Let Me Wait".

Modern soul -- with a fair bit of 80s groove arrangements, keyboards, and bass pedal riffing. Titles include "One Love", "Turn To Me", "Stay If You Wanna", "Think Before You Do", and "Take It To Heart".

At last! Someone's finally gone and put together a real collection of Marlena Shaw's fantastic jazzy soul work! Sure, there's been other compilations out on the market -- but this one's the real deal, and spans her years at Chess/Cadet, Blue Note, and Columbia -- years that saw Marlena emerging to become one of the greatest smooth soul singers of all time! The set begins with the oft-sampled cuts "Woman Of The Ghetto" and "California Soul" -- both righteous classics in their own right. The groove then moves onto the excellent "Liberation Conversation", and other smoother material, like "This Feeling's Good", "Loving You Was Like A Party", "Feel Like Making Love", "Without You In My Life", and "Yu Ma/Go Away Little Boy", which features one of the greatest monologues on record! Also includes a version of Al Johnson's "Back For More", and "Could It Be You", a duet with Phil Upchurch.

Massive massive work from Starship Orchestra -- a trio of talents from the Norman Connors universe, but one who get some heavy help in the studio from arrangers Bobby Lyle, McKinley Jackson, and Jerry Peters! There's a real Aquarian Dream sound at play here -- all the best energy of Connors' soulful years of the mid 70s, fused into a jazzier vibe overall -- played to perfection, yet without any commercial touches at all -- a really amazing thing for a major label album of the time! We've loved this record for years, and easily rank it right up there with the most sophisticated grooves of the time -- like the best from Roy Ayers or Leroy Hutson, with some echoes of James Mason's wonderful album too. One cut has lead vocals from Joe Saulter -- and other players include Lyle and Peters on keyboards, Wah Wah Watson and Paul Jackson on guitars, Don Myrick on saxes, and Louis Satterfield and George Bohannon on trombones. The whole thing's perfect -- and titles include "You're A Star", "The Genie", "All Those Things", "Serious Business", and "New York New York".

One of our favorite series ever of modern soul material -- done back in the 90s, when nobody else was willing to dig for tracks these smooth and groovy! There's a great blend of material here -- from mellow soul to jazzy funk, with a few bits of early 80s club as well -- in a way, the collection's a great illustration of the way that soul like this was kept alive in British soul crowds, even at a time when other folks around the world weren't rating it as strongly! Titles include "Love Love Love" by Donny Hathaway, "I Can't Forget About You" by Ronn Matlock, "Say You Will" by Osamu Kitajima, "I Can't Tell You" by New Horizon, "Fragile Handle With Care" by Sam Dees, "Ripe For The Pickin" by The Trumains, "Come Into My Life Again" by Ndugu & The Chocolate Jam Co, "Good Times" by Rosie Gaines, "Keep On Doin" by Glenn Jones, "I'm Not Ready" by Ujima, and "Overdose Of Joy" by Eugene Record.

Sublime soul all the way through -- a tremendous set of modern and mellow cuts from the end of the 70s and start of the 80s -- all put together with a really beautiful feel! There's a perfect balance here -- between mainstream and underground, laidback and grooving -- the classiest sort of soul from the time, and work that's light years away from both disco dancefloors and chart-oriented cuts. Expansion Records' Ralph Tee put the package together, and his approach here really takes us back to the time when the label first started catching our ear with their subtle, sophisticated approach to soul. Many tracks here haven't been reissued before, and even those that have sound wonderful in the company of the rest. Titles include "If You're Ready" by Beau Williams, "Let's Go All The Way" by Gayle Adams, "The Good Side Of Love" by Ronnie McNeir, "We're In Ecstasy" by Hubert Laws, "Evening Of Love" by Main Ingredient, "It's Alright With Me" by Patti Labelle, "Say You Love Me Girl" by Breakwater, "Never Had A Love Like This Before (inst)" by Tavares, "Here We Go Again (parts 1 & 2)" by Isley Brothers, "I Want To Be Where You Are" by Ronnie Dyson, "Can You Find The Time" by Champaign, "How Do You Take Your Love" by Major Harris, and "What About My Love" by Damaris Carbaugh.

The Soul Togetherness series is going strong -- well into its 7th year of release, and still serving up some of the deepest club tracks and underground soul around! Soul Togetherness present modern tracks, but they come out of the same spirit of the Northern Soul scene of the 70s -- with a boundary-less quest in pursuit of the perfect groove, and a taste for newly serving up crucially overlooked tracks to a very eager audience! Most tracks here are from recent years, but have a more classic sense of club in their construction -- with lots of soulful vocals, warm rhythms, and a near-classic approach to the groove! Titles include "Let's Groove" by Funky Company, "Oh" by Janita, "Lord (Bah Samba mix)" by Alexander O'Neal, "I Feel Love" by Leo Mendez Group, "Walkafteru" by Aura Jackson, "First Sight" by Peter Hadar, "Here We Go Again (bump mix)" by Aretha Franklin, "Ain't For Free" by Trace, "Rhythm Of Love" by Jersey Street, "Keep On Keepin On" by Unified Tribe, "Where Has The Love Gone" by Steve Harvey with KK, "Something Bout Cha" by Millie Jackson, and "Do You Love Somebody" by Luther Ingram.

A great collection from the Soul Togetherness scene -- a name that can always be trusted to deliver a smoothly grooving tune! Most of the work here is contemporary, but the set includes a few classics too -- key cuts that help support the older-styled vibe that's present in the newer cuts here -- an approach to soul music that echoes some of the best American work of the late 70s/early 80s modern years -- that smooth-without-slick approach that we've always loved so much. Titles include "Let The Love" by Bennson, "Amazing" by Reel People, "Tonight" by Peo with Mirjam, "Woman In Love" by Sophia Nelson, "Caught Up In A Whirlwind" by Richard Stepp, "When Love Comes Calling" by George Gbenson, "Cuz It's You Girl" by James Walsh Gypsy Band, "What Have I Got To Lose" by Jean Wells, "My People" by Teddy Pendergrass, "B Side Of Love" by Gina Foster, and "Adore U" by Sherree Brown.

A great collection from the Soul Togetherness scene -- a name that can always be trusted to deliver a smoothly grooving tune! Most of the work here is contemporary, but the set includes a few classics too -- key cuts that help support the older-styled vibe that's present in the newer cuts here -- an approach to soul music that echoes some of the best American work of the late 70s/early 80s modern years -- that smooth-without-slick approach that we've always loved so much. Titles include "Let The Love" by Bennson, "Amazing" by Reel People, "Tonight" by Peo with Mirjam, "Woman In Love" by Sophia Nelson, "Caught Up In A Whirlwind" by Richard Stepp, "When Love Comes Calling" by George Gbenson, "Cuz It's You Girl" by James Walsh Gypsy Band, "What Have I Got To Lose" by Jean Wells, "My People" by Teddy Pendergrass, "B Side Of Love" by Gina Foster, and "Adore U" by Sherree Brown.

A soul series we've been loving for a decade -- and for good reason too! Soul Togetherness sets always have a great way of mixing contemporary soul with some sweet older tracks -- particularly the sort from the modern soul years of the early 80s -- when jazzy riffs and sophisticated arrangements were really coming into play -- all elements that are carried on nicely by the 21st Century artists represented in the collection! The vibe here is totally great -- all the depth we love in 70s soul, mixed with a freshness that makes for way more than just a classic sound -- wicked throughout, with cuts that include "My Dream Came True" by Root Soul, "Time Of Your Life" by Tyrone Lee, "Only One I Need To Love" by Tavares, "Seasons" by Jonny Montana with Claude Baine, "2nd Opinion" by Victor Haynes, "This Time" by The Impressions, "Music Of Life" by Paprika Soul, "Was She Worth It" by Jovonnie, "Wish Of A Fool" by Seven with Omar, and "Lover's Touch" by Chaka Khan.

A tremendous follow up to the first Spirit Of Philadelphia collection -- released many years after that seminal set, and with an even farther-reaching selection of music! The first Spirit set focused on the best mellow and midtempo soul efforts of the Philly International label -- but this one expands the groove even more to show the wide influence that Gamble & Huff had on the sound of Philly soul on other labels -- especially the major labels, who'd begun following the indie lead in their productions by the mid 70s. There's a fair bit of work here by bigger names at the time, but all of it's got a stone Philly sound -- and is either work by artists who first sprung out of the Philly scene directly, or others from different points around the country, and who'd made a trip to Philly in the 70s to record in a hipper groove! Titles include "Do You Remember Yesterday" by New York City, "Falling In Love With You" by Jimmy Ruffin, "It's Not What You Got" by Eddie Kendricks, "We Got Love" by Ben E King, "Don't Take Your Love" by The Whispers, "Can't Accept The Fact" by Gateway, "Straighten It Out" by Anglo-Saxon Brown, "Midnight Lady" by David Morris, "You Make Me Feel So Good Baby" by The Temprees, "It's Love" by The Persuaders, "In Love Again" by The Joneses, "Let's Go All The Way Down" by Brenda & The Tabulations, "Walk Away From Love" by Jackie Moore, "I Don't Have Time To Worry" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, and "That's What Love Does" by Vince Montana & The Philly Sound Orchestra.

Two albums back to back from Carl Anderson -- an overlooked singer from the early 80s, finally getting his due! Absence Without Love is a wicked little set from Anderson -- a singer who first found fame on the state, later sung in a spiritual world, but does an especially great job here! Anderson's got some really mighty pipes on the date -- a vocal approach that's bold, robust, and plenty proud -- stepping out with a bit more strength than some of his mainstream contemporaries in the early 80s -- almost at a level that's in Luther Vandross territory, and we mean that in a good way. Production is by Richard Rudolph, who brings in the hip mix of sophisticated soul and jazz touches he used while working with Minnie Riperton in the 70s -- especially near the end of her too-short life -- and titles include the nice groover "Buttercup", plus "C'est La Vie", "Fooled Myself Again", "Lose That Girl", "Amour", and "AWOL" -- which features guest work from Teena Marie. On & On is a sweet second set from 80s singer Carl Anderson -- a date that's got poise, class, and a heck of a lot of soul! Although a mainstream effort, there's a nice sort of depth to the record -- one that shows that Columbia wasn't pitching Anderson as much towards a crossover artist as they were some of their other mid 80s acts -- instead, letting him really hang back and do his own thing -- in a warmly-swinging mode that still holds up beautifully over the years! The record's a real standout in 80s mainstream male soul -- and thanks is certainly due to producer/arrangers John Skip Anderson and Steve Williams, who carefully avoid the commercial side of the spectrum. Titles include "Don't Make Me Wait", "Try", "Keep It Alive", "On & On", "Lately", and "Time To Win".

Sweet jazzy work from Ray Gaskins -- saxophonist, keyboard player, and a surprisingly great singer too -- working here in a smooth little set that gives him a chance to show off every side of his talents! Ray plays a good deal of the instruments on the record himself, overdubbed with a cool sort of groove -- and he also gets help from a core rhythm combo too, as well as some hip guest work from Roy Ayers on vibes and Jocelyn Brown on vocals, each of whom guest on a track apiece. The best numbers here have a smooth-stepping groove that's really great -- much more stripped-down than the usual mainstream work of this type, and with an undeniably soulful groove that's right up there with other great work on the Expansion label. Titles include "Butterfly", "Lullabye", "Ashes To Ashes", "Ray's Strut", "Crystal Clear", "Down Home", "Shady Lane", and "Summertime".

The first truly great compilation of work by Willie Hutch -- one of the hippest artists in 70s soul! Willie's work for Motown during the 70s was tremendous, not only did he write and perform 2 of the best blacksploitation soundtracks -- Foxy Brown and The Mack -- but he also recorded some killer work on his own singles and albums for the label, most of which has never been properly reissued. Willie was the master of the super-dope mellow groove, and this compilation is filled with tracks of that nature -- sly funky little gems that bubble with sex, soul, and a slightly wicked feel. And sure, Willie had a few weak moments, but none of them are on this set -- as the compilation's got 18 tracks, all of them winners! Trust us, it's one of the best soul sets you'll buy this year -- filled with gems like "California My Way", "Easy Does It", "Love Me Back", "I'm Gonna Give You Respect", "I Can Sho Give You Love", "Lucky To Be Loved By You", "Talk To Me", "Give Me Some Of That Good Old Love", "Don't You Let Nobody Tell You How To Do Your Thing", "Try It You'll Like It", and "Brothers Gonna Work It Out".

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)".

Easily the greatest album ever from brothers John and Billy Valentine -- a seminal 80s groove classic, produced with a sweet jazzy touch from keyboardist Bobby Lyle! The record's a real standout from the time -- a solid soul effort that still manages strong dancefloor appeal -- thanks to a range of midtempo numbers that still resonate strongly in the modern steppers era. Strongest among these tracks is the pair's classic "Money's Too Tight To Mention" -- offered up here in both instrumental and vocal versions that are better than the later remake by Gwen Guthrie. But the whole album is plenty great too, and features sophisticated vocals that move in the same early 80s territory explored by Leon Ware or Lamont Dozier! Titles include "Money's Too Tight To Mention", "Just Another Love Song", "Just Let Me Be Close To You", "This Kind Of Love", and "I'll Make You Happy" -- plus 2 "overture" tracks that make the whole thing come off like a long suite of soul!

2010 a modern soul odyssey -- and a fresh entry Luxury Soul series from Expansion UK -- a nice compilation series (and the best annual one we can think of) featuring 3CDs of music for a great price! It's filled with laidback soul, some pretty new and others from past years -- which really works to highlight the timeless Expansion soul groove. Features Kloud 9, Steve The Scotsman Harvey, Jkames Day, Ray Gaskins, Keni Burke, Byron Woods, Jiva, The Emotions, Sam Bostic and many more on 3CDs! Titles include "Hooked On You" by Gianna, "All That Matters" by Kloud 9, "Happy On Hold" by James Day, "Will You Be My Lady" by James Day, "Won't Give Up' by Domu presents Pete Simpson, "Zodiac Sign" by Sam Bostic, "El Bobo" by Noel Elmowy, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" by Jabari Grover and many more.

A soul series we've been loving for a decade -- and for good reason too! Soul Togetherness sets always have a great way of mixing contemporary soul with some sweet older tracks -- particularly the sort from the modern soul years of the early 80s -- when jazzy riffs and sophisticated arrangements were really coming into play -- all elements that are carried on nicely by the 21st Century artists represented in the collection! The vibe here is totally great -- all the depth we love in 70s soul, mixed with a freshness that makes for way more than just a classic sound -- wicked throughout, with cuts that include "My Dream Came True" by Root Soul, "Time Of Your Life" by Tyrone Lee, "Only One I Need To Love" by Tavares, "Seasons" by Jonny Montana with Claude Baine, "2nd Opinion" by Victor Haynes, "This Time" by The Impressions, "Music Of Life" by Paprika Soul, "Was She Worth It" by Jovonnie, "Wish Of A Fool" by Seven with Omar, and "Lover's Touch" by Chaka Khan.

Smooth modern duets from one of our favorite ladies in soul music! Jean Carne's a heck of a singer -- with a career that stretches back to early soul jazz recordings with (then) husband Doug Carn, to solo recordings on Philly International in the late 70s, to appearances on records by other artists -- sessions from the 70s, 80s, and 90s in which Jean lent her vocals to a wealth of great recordings! This great collection focuses on work in that category -- uncollected sides from a three decade period, brought together in one album that shows just how great Jean can sound when she's singing with other artists. Many of these titles are quite hard to find otherwise, and haven't even shown up on other collections of Jean's work -- and tracks include "Good Thng Goin On" with Billy Paul, "Holdin On" and "Dreams Of Tomorrow" with Dexter Wansel, "Keep In Touch" and "The Look Of Love" with Grover Washington Jr, "Lean On Me" with Nathan Heathman, "If You Don't Know Me By Now" with The Temptations, "Love Is Beautiful" with Universe, "Star Flower" with Lonnie Liston Smith, "Let's Stay Together" with Bobby M, "I'm Back For More" with Al Johnson, "You Might Be Surprised" with Roy Ayers, "Mother Of The Future" with Norman Connors, and "Valentine Love" with Michael Henderson. Also features the bonus solo track "Trust Me" -- never on CD before!

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".

An instant soul classic from singer Frank McComb -- awash in warm touches that take us back to the classic 70s work of Donnie Hathaway and Stevie Wonder -- but done with a sound that clearly Frank's own! The instrumentation is enough to make us love the record -- with lots of Fender Rhodes, mellow basslines, and sweet jazzy touches on flute and sax -- but Frank follows up the grooves with some incredible vocals, stepping forth with a warmth and confidence that are immediately apparent, but which are also nicely offset by a personal, intimate quality on the mellower tunes. Titles include "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Shine", "Never Letting Go", "Do You Remember Love", "Fools""Action Speaks Louder Than Words", "Cupid's Arrow" & "Better Off Without You".

An amazing look at the music of Leon Ware -- one of our favorite soul artists of the 70s! Leon's got a warmly mellow style that's totally great -- heard most famously in collaboration with Marvin Gaye on the classic I Want You album, but equally noteworthy on Leon's own records -- and on a host of other projects he's done with top-shelf soul artists over the years! A good number of those projects are collected here -- the cream of the crop of Ware-associated cuts from the 70s and early 80s -- tunes penned, produced, arranged, or even featuring Leon himself -- all brought together here in a really wonderful little collection. Each track is a treasure, and the whole thing is a sublime mellow soul masterpiece -- filled with musical moments that sound even better in the company of each other -- pulled from other records, and rewoven here in a new tapestry that stands as a rich tribute to Ware's mighty talents. Titles include "Everywhere Inside Me" by Norman Connors, "I Don't Know" by Syreeta, "You Do The Right Things" by Al Wilson, "Point Of View" by Rockie Robbins, "No Tricks" by Chuck Jackson, "I Can't Keep Holding Back" by Shadow, "Trust Your Heart (ext 12" mix)" by Bobby Womack, "Just Don't Make It Hurt" by Krystol, "I Came To Love You" by Booker T, "I Can Dream" by Themal Jones, "You Make Me Wanna Love Again" by Vesta Williams, "I Know It's You" by Donny Hathaway, "Can You Feel What I'm Saying" by Minnie Riperton, "Looking Up To You" by Michael Wycoff, "Thank You Early Bird" by Jerry Butler, and the tracks "What's Your World" and "Girl Girl Girl" by Leon Ware himself!

Simply the best Philly 70s collection we've heard -- ever! This one goes way past the hits, and moves into work from a variety of labels -- not just the famous tunes on Philly International, but all of the Philly-produced gems that were coming out from other sources and other singers during the 1970s -- a decade when the Philly sound had a golden touch that could transform the work of any singer into pure genius! The tracks on the set are really well thought-out -- a sampling of work from a variety of different artists that you might not think to associate with the Philly groove at first glance, plus others who had their only really truly strong success through a brief link with the City of Brotherly Love. 18 tunes in all -- and all of them warm clubby grooves with a perfectly smooth feel! Titles include "Look On The Good Side" by The Invitations, "Make It Last" by Barbara Mason & The Futures, "Good For The Gander" by Jermaine Jackson, "Stay With Me" by The Futures, "Who Loves You" by The Joneses, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Touch Of Class, "Hurt So Bad" by The Philly Devotions, "Will You Be Mine" by The Whispers, "Now OR Never" by Little Dooley, "One More Time" by Dianne Steinberg, "Where It's Warm" by Revelation, and "A Little Bit Or Love" by Charen Cotton.

Two Arista winners from Angela Bofill -- back to back on a single CD! Too Tough has Angela working strongly with Narada Michael Walden -- who helps Bofill on production and songwriting for part of the album, and really helps bring a nicely solid feel to the set! The tunes are more in an 80s soul mode than before for Angie, but never too commercial overall -- still with that sense of depth in the background that's always made Bofill one of the more sophisticated singers of her soul generation. Titles include "Too Tough", "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", "I Can See It In Your Eyes", "Accept Me", "Rainbow Inside My Heart", "Love You Too Much", "Is This A Dream", "You Could Come Take Me Home", and "Song For A Rainy Day". Teaser further cements Angela Bofill's relationship with Narada Michael Walden -- as Walden produced almost every track in the set, and does a fair bit of songwriting too! The style is electric 80s soul, with a fair bit of keyboards and beats in the mix -- but as usual with Bofill, there's an undeniable sense of warmth to the music that's totally great. Titles include "Still A Thrill", "You're A Special Part Of Me", "Gotta Make It Up To You", "Crazy For Him", "I'm On Your Side", "Call Of The Wild", and "Special Delivery".

The long-overdue release of Inside My Love -- a sublime little set recorded by Trina Broussard in the late 90s -- originally planned for the So-So Def label, but never properly issued at the time! The album's years ahead of most soul of the time -- a great precursor to the Neo Soul explosion that major labels would finally get behind in the 21st Century, but which still left them scratching their heads back in the 90s -- and failing to get music this great out to the market. Thankfully, Expansion have helped fix a decade-old mistake -- and they're letting Trina's warmly soulful sound sparkle beautifully with this well-done reissue. Broussard's got a wonderfully classy approach to her music -- one that's been appreciated in subsequent releases, but which comes through even more clearly here -- a great sense of poise that's almost classic in a Phyllis Hyman sort of way. Titles include "Losing My Mind", "Why Do I Feel So Sad", "All I Need Is You", "All Night Long", "Not Around", "Remember Me", "Sailing", "Say You Really Love", and "Inside My Love". CD also features the bonus track "It's Not Really Christmas".

A wonderful overview of contemporary female soul -- none of it commercial, and nearly all of it from the mighty Expansion family of labels -- home to some of the hippest Neo Soul around! Work here is from both American and overseas sources, and although a few tracks are issued under the name of a male artist, they also feature a female singer taking on a key lead vocal for the cut. 2CDs and 30 tracks in all, with titles that include "Stay With Me" by Steve Harvey with N'Dambi, "Joy From That" by Tonia Smith, "Same As I Ever Was" by Adriana Evans, "That's What Love Can Do" by Yvonne Shelton, "Love Will Get Us Through The Times" by Preston Glass with Latoya London, "Closure" by Maysa Leak, "Shine" by Aja, "Let's Not Lose" by Kloud 9 with Karen Bernod, "Good News" by Noel Elmowy with Erana Mei Leef, "Is It Love" by Brigette, "Out Of Luck" by Jackie Campbell, "Sensual Loving" by Nicole Jackson, "Blew My Cool" by Eleana Young, "Vanilla Tree" by Gwendolyn Joy, and "I Can't Let You Go" by Steve Harvey with Ledisi.

The title's a bit clunky, but the grooves are wonderfully smooth -- a great assortment of hard to find tracks from recent years, all brought together in one totally wicked set! The cuts here are pulled from a variety of sources -- Japanese-only CDs, previously unreleased sessions, and now out of print albums -- all with a warmly contemporary vibe, but one that's steeped in older soul modes from the 70s and early 80s. Many of the artists here are familiar, but they're represented by tracks you probably don't have in your collection -- tunes that are definitely "desirables", both for their quality and rarity! Titles include "Bad Company" by Luther Vandross, "Dance" by Sara Devine, "Tell Me" by Tiffany, "For You" by Jack Herrera, "It's Good To Be Loved" by Ronee Martin, "For Goodness Sake" by K Fox, "Cloud 9 (DJ Spinna rmx)" by Donnie, "Dreamin Of One" by Trina Broussard, "Where Did We Go Wrong (so right mix)" by Incognito, "Days Like This (black sand mix)" by Kenny Lattimore, "No Matter What I'll Do" by Donald McCollum, and "Can't Get Over You" by Brigette McWilliams.

80s-styled soul from Cool Million -- a contemporary duo, but one with a great ear for the classic sounds of the past! There's a fair bit of keyboard and bassline interplay on the set -- very much in the best spirit of the 80s groove generation, especially some of the less hit-oriented work of the time. Most tunes are upbeat, and would fit well on the dancefloor -- yet still also have a great degree of soul as well, thanks to vocals from a range of guest singers, and some keyboards that bring in occasional jazzy bits too! Singers include Donald McCollum, Nathalie Dorra, Laura Jackson, Diane Marsh, CJ Anthony, and others -- and titles include "Going Out Tonight", "Damn Beautiful", "Pullin Me Back", "Naughty Girl", "Closer", "Everything Ain't Everything", "Musiq", "Make Me Yours", and "It's Too Late".

Great soul from maestro James Day -- working here with a variety of different singers to realize his well-crafted groove! The set's got the perfect balance of mainstream and underground that you'll find on other albums from the Expansion label -- polished enough to take it past the indie hinterland, yet still quite far from chart soul -- and really put together with a classic undercurrent too. Guests on the record include Mikelyn Roderick, Jeff Ramsey, Ian Martin, Tim Owens, Karen Bernod, Gavin Christopher, and Audrey Wheeler -- and titles include "Skin You're In", "Natural Thing", "Speak Love", "Happy On Hold", "Sponsored By Love", "Stormy", "Outta The Funk", and "Love Makes (Luxury Soul mix)".

Wonderful solo work from Billy Griffin -- the man who headed The Miracles after Smokey Robinson left the group -- heard here on a string of classic 80s sides for Columbia Records! Billy's got a sound that's almost as sweet as Smokey at his best -- but a groove that's a bit deeper overall, and which really came into its own on records like Respect and Systematic -- both of which were heavy on keyboards and electric rhythms. The set includes the best numbers from both of those albums, plus a few tracks from Be With Me -- and a few more pulled from Griffin's later album Like Water, as well as a few earlier Miracles recordings -- all tied nicely together in a 16 track retrospective of his talents! Titles include "Hold Me Tighter In The Rain", "Understand", "Systematic", "Serious", "Olivia", "Believe It Or Not", "All The Way To Love", "Don't Ask Me To Be Friends", "So Many Ways", "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", "Be With Me", "Spy For Brotherhood", "Love Machine", and "2nd Day Love Story".

Rare and unreleased soul gems from the 70s & 80s -- with loads of mellow jams and sophisticated string-laden bits -- hard-to-find and previously unreleased work from Revelation, Dynamic Superiors, Angela Bofill, Special Delivery, Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves and many more! The set was compiled by David Nathan -- who digs deep for lesser known album tracks and unreleased tunes, with a couple of classic minded (comparably) contemporary tunes, but a whole lot of rare grooves from the mid 70s through the early 80s! 16 tracks in all: "Get Ready For This" by Revelation, "Face The Music" by Dynamic Superiors, "Three Steps From True Love" by Reflections, "Make Every Day Count" by New York Community Choir, "All The Reasons Why" by Angela Bofill, "Love Strong Enough To Move Mountains" by Martha Reeves, "Sailing" by Trina Brousard, "It's You That I Need" by Enchantment, "Closer The The End" by Mtume, "Hold On" by Gladys Knight & The Pips and more.

Enough luxury for a prince -- at a price even a pauper can afford! This overstuffed 3CD set is filled with great bits from the wide catalog of Expansion Records -- home to some of the hippest Neo Soul work of the past few decades, and also known as one of the few labels who can really respect an older soul artist, and bring them back to their true talents! There's a whopping 35 tracks on the set -- and the material isn't bargain-bin stuff -- but top-shelf gems that represent the best of Expansion's work over the past few years. Titles include "Tomorrow's Not Promised" by Frank McComb, "You Got Me" by Leza, "Daydreamer" by Jiva, "Oxygen" by Billy Griffin, "I'll Be Around" by Jibari Grover, "Promise Me" by Nicolas Bearde, "Sunny Day" by Men-nefer, "It's Alright" by Keni Burke, "My Choice" by Otis & Shugg, "Love" by Carmen Rogers, "Can You See The Son" by Don Blackman, "I'm In Love With You" by Philippe, "Scat World" by Maysa with Ledisi, "Never Knew Love Like This" by Stephanie Mills, and "Make It Through The Night" by Alyson Williams.

The 2009 entry in the Luxury Soul series -- a great batch of collections that offer some great music at a real bargain! The 3CD set is overflowing with smooth soul gems -- work issued by the Expansion label family over the past decade or so -- mostly contemporary numbers, but also featuring a few bits from the 70s and 80s too! Expansion's a name we've trusted for many years -- and their sound is always right on the money -- a fresh change from chart soul, and proof that deeper work is always out there in the underground, if you know where to look. Titles include "Everybody Let's Dance" by Preston Glass, "Weak" by Billy Griffin, "This Dedication" by Keni Burke, "On & On" by Howard Hewett, "Help Me" by Gwendolyn Joy, "Never Again" by Billy Valentine, "Be My Lady" by Rockie Robbins, "Someday (Yam Who mix)" by Diplomats Of Soul, "Say Goodbye" by Phillippe, "Can We Pretend" by Nicolas Bearde, "Only In My Dreams" by Frank McComb, "Girl I Need A Little Time" by Byron Woods, "Welcome To The Human Race" by Freda Payne, "Before You" by Adriana Evans, "Never Give It Up" by Kloud 9, "Still Missing U" by Sam Bostic, "Confessions Of A Man" by Jiva, and "Seasons" by Jabari Grover. 35 tracks on 3CDs -- at a really great price!

One of the best records that Chico Hamilton cut during the 50s -- and one that features Eric Dolphy, who was with Chico's group for a short while! The record's got the quintet (which also includes the excellent Dennis Budimir on guitar) fronting larger string arrangements by Fred Katz (no longer their cellist, but still a key force here) -- and the approach is a great expansion on the earlier styles that Chico forged for Pacific Jazz. The strings here are never sleepy, and instead have a dark and modern feel overall -- similar to Ralph Burns' best work of the time, but a bit more restrained -- and Eric Dolphy's reed work really keeps things interesting, with sharp-edged notes give most of the tracks a fair bit of depth. Titles include "Modes", "Strange", "Don's Delight", "Andante", "Fair Weather", "Something To Live For", and "Pottsville USA".

A really great live set from Re:Jazz -- one that's got an even more soulful feel than some of their previous studio work! The performance features a small core group -- acoustic piano from group leader Matthias Vogt, mixed with guitar, bass, and drums -- plus a range of saxes and flute from Oliver Leicht, whose contributions here really deepen the sound! The lovely Inga Luhning sings on a number of tracks -- with a warmly soulful feel that's great, and much more unified than the mix of singers you might have heard on the earliest projects from the group -- continuing the great sound she brought forth on the Expansion record. Re:Jazz have moved way past their initial gimmick by this point -- and the album has them working as a really tight ensemble who mix together jazz and soul for a contemporary audience -- recorded here with a beautifully crisp feel. Titles include "Cupid & Orlando", "Style", "Keep On Movin", "All Over", "Written In The Stars", "Can You Live", "Torch Of Freedom", and "People Hold On". Also features a bonus DVD, in PAL format -- with a 90 minute documentary "Re:Jazz In Japan" -- plus 30 minutes of bonus material that show the group recording with Alice Russell!

There's plenty of soul in smooth jazz, if you know where to look -- and fortunately, the folks at Jazz FM turned to Expansion Records for this collection -- home to a wealth of smooth jazzy grooves over the years! The package features loads of great contemporary tracks -- both jazzy soul and soulful jazz -- plus a few older numbers too, but the kind of cuts that fit in nicely to the warm modern groove of the set. 2CD package features 30 tracks that include "You Won't Make Me Cry" by Victor Haynes, "Caveman Boogie" by Lesette Wilson, "Cupid's Arrow" by Frank McComb, "All For Love" by Adriana Evans, "Only For You" by Noel Elmowy, "Samba For Dais" by The Jazz Steppers, "Galveston Bay" by Lonnie Hill, "Superwoman" by George Duke with Eric Benet, "Grateful" by Maysa, "Duffie's Theme" by Kloud 9, "Will You Be My Lady" by Damon Cooper, "Stone Cold Heart" by Incognito, "I Can't Help Myself" by Chris Standring, "Rescue Me" by Angela Johnson, "Company" by Niteflyte, and "I Can't Let You Go" by Ledisi.

Another wonderful project from the all-encompassing world of Madlib! This sweet little EP features work by Malik Flavors -- keyboardist for Yesterday's New Quintet, working here in a very similar vein! The album's got a sound that's almost a stripped-down take on the YNQ groove -- spare percussion and basslines, cut down to the absolute core of a 70s jazz funk groove -- messed up in some very nice ways by the production and arrangements, and sprinkled heavily with great keyboard work from Flavors himself! Instrumentation includes moog, Arp, organ, fuzz bass, and guitar -- and titles include "Dayscape", "Many Thoughts", "Mind Expansion", "Serenade For A Fast Lady", and "Early Dawn".

A landmark live set from The Who -- a record that offers the group with a blistering intensity that blows away all their other studio albums of the time! Although offered during the Who's Tommy-era expansion into broader themes and more complicated instrumentation, the album's a real return to basics -- and features a guitar-heavy version of the group performing a number of older rock n roll classics like "Summertime Blues", "Shakin All Over", and "Young Man Blues" -- plus really extended jamming takes on their own "My Generation" and "Magic Bus", and a searing 2 minute take on "Substitute" that's probably everything you ever need to know about The Jam!

A great follow-up to the first volume in this series -- and one that shows the evolution of the Spanish groove in great ways since the 70s! The last collection featured older work, but this one's almost all contemporary -- yet most of the groups here more than live up to the funk promised in the title -- drawing on older elements and styles to come up with some plenty fresh grooves! And the music's not just straight deep funk either -- but a mix of small combo grooving, dancefloor modes, and plenty of Latin flourishes -- the hip Spanish touches that made the first volume so great. Most cuts are by current Spanish artists, but they're often remixed by other artists too -- furthering the global expansion of the original Chili Funk groove! Titles include "Mundo Uaka (Toy Selectah 09 rmx)" by Gertrudis, "Nuestro Ayer (Makala rmx)" by Rabbit Rumba, "Bailame (Carraquelas rmx)" by Barrio Negro, "Ni Mas Ni Menos" by Mantecao Y Su Combo De Rumba Moderna, "El Pan Y Los Dientes" by Los Fulanos with Chaco, "Polonio (Lack Of Afro rmx)" by Los Manolos, "A Final De Mes (NSM/PSM rmx)" by Pantanito, and "La Flaca (Palov & Mishkin mix)" by Papawa. CD features 2 bonus tracks too!

The Soul Lounge is back again -- serving up a hell of a lot of great music, all at a ridiculously low price! The package is overflowing with contemporary soul cuts from both sides of the Atlantic -- great material from UK labels Dome and Expansion -- both companies we've really come to trust for Neo Soul goodness over the years! As with previous volumes, this one features 3 CDs and 40 tracks in all -- great stuff as an overview of the best of the underground -- or an essential way to augment your collection with some well-selected bits from favorite albums. Titles include "Change For Me (Joey Negro mix)" by Eric Roberson, "Stop Breaking My Heart" by Rahsaan Patterson, "Life" by Hil St Soul, "Radio" by Heston, "Wonderful" by Brenda Boykin, "When You Call My Name" by Frank McComb, "Salt Sea" by Julie Dexter & Khari Simmons, "Get Something" by Andreus, "Sweet Baby" by George Duke, "Friend Of Mine" by Cooly's Hot Box, "Calma (Louie Vega mix)" by Bah Samba, "Home To You (Ethan White rmx)" by Tortured Soul, "Perfect Love" by Full Flava with Alison Limerick, "Break Up 2 Make Up" by Sam Bostic, "The Traveller (part 2)" by Haggis Horns, and "Pastime Paradise" by Sunlightsquare.

RCA best of from the late 70's, featuring a number of cuts that were on earlier Flying Dutchman records by Lonnie! The whole set's a motherlode of spacey spiritual grooves, with 8 great tracks: "Expansions", "Love Beams", "A Song Of Love", "Meditations", "Voodoo Woman", "Space Lady", "Starlight & You" and "Sunbeams".

Quite possibly the most celebrated album ever from keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith -- a groove-heavy classic that's burned up many a dancefloor in its day, yet also a record that features some great mellow moments as well! The title track "Expansions" is virtually a blueprint for the migration of the cosmic jazz sound onto the dancefloor -- a tune that's as funky as it is righteous -- but other cuts on the album slow down the pace a bit too, and show off the mellower, more introspectively spiritual side that's always made Lonnie way more than just a funky jazz artist. Easily the best place to start in the all-great Lonnie Liston Smith catalog -- and featuring tracks that include "Expansions", "Summer Days", "Desert Nights", "Shadows", "My Love", "Peace", and "Voodoo Woman".

Quite possibly the most celebrated album ever from keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith -- a groove-heavy classic that's burned up many a dancefloor in its day, yet also a record that features some great mellow moments as well! The title track "Expansions" is virtually a blueprint for the migration of the cosmic jazz sound onto the dancefloor -- a tune that's as funky as it is righteous -- but other cuts on the album slow down the pace a bit too, and show off the mellower, more introspectively spiritual side that's always made Lonnie way more than just a funky jazz artist. Easily the best place to start in the all-great Lonnie Liston Smith catalog -- and featuring tracks that include "Expansions", "Summer Days", "Desert Nights", "Shadows", "My Love", "Peace", and "Voodoo Woman".