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A strange lost chapter of the Gap Band's history – caught between their first harder funk album, and the smoother early 80s albums that made them big chart stars. This one has a sweet loping funk sound, with slight bits of Caribbean rhythms, and lots of processed ensemble vocals in a standard 70s pop funk mode. Titles include "Knuckle Head Funkin", "Not Guilty", "Thinking Of You", "Silly Grin", "Out Of The Blue", and "Little Bit Of Love".

Perhaps the ultimate album for The Gap Band – and sure, it was a hit, but the record still sounds great today, and the constant sampling of some of the record has kept it fresh in the crates for years at years. The band have lost the heavier funk sound of earlier years, and working in a slick 80s groove mode that they both helped to define and put on the charts with the tracks "Oustanding" and "Early In The Morning", both two killer grooves with a complicated instrumental feel, and some wicked harmony vocals over the top. Lonnie Simmons is still producing the band – and other tracks include "Lonely Like Me", "Stay With Me", "Talkin Back", and "You Dropped A Bomb On Me".

A tight groover from The Gap Band – already past the "V" in their classic run of 80s albums, and still very might at the top of their game! The core trio work here with sweet production from Lonnie Simmons – a pairing that continues to set the group up above most of their competition, and give them a groove that goes way past the obvious. Mellow cuts stand out as strongly as upbeat ones – and if anything, the mellow groovers are the best! Titles include "The Sun Don't Shine Everyday", "Weak Spot", "Video Junkie", "Beep A Freak", "Don't You Leave Me", "Disrespect", "I Believe", and "I Found My Baby". CD features bonus tracks – "Beep A Freak (12" long version)", "I Found My Baby (12" club/dance mix)", "Disrespect (12" club mix)", "Beep A Freak (12" special dance mix)", and "I Found My Baby (12" rmx with breakdown)".

Sweet electro funk from The Gap Band – a group who are still grooving strong here, hitting the best of their Total Experience modes! The trio's mighty tight throughout – and their familiar funk is augmented by some electro touches that definitely keep things fresh – and we mean that in the best mid-80s use of the word! A bit of an old school influence comes into the vocals at points – which are spoken as much as sung on some cuts – and as always, The Gap Band really show their strength with the kind of catchy chorus that works great with a bassy groove. Titles include a great ballad reworking of "Going In Circles" – plus the groovers "Lil Red Funkin Hood", "Automatic Brain", "Desire", "Bumpin Gum People", and "I Know We'll Make It". CD features lots of bonus tracks too – "Desire (special 12" rmx)", "Desire (12" dub)", "Going In Circles (12" long version)", "Going In Circles (12" inst with harmonica)", "Automatic Brain (12" club)", and "Automatic Brain (12" rap version)".

Excellent sounds from Charlie Wilson – aka "Uncle Charlie", the former lead singer of The Gap Band! Wilson's great here, and really finds a comfortable space that works well right from the start – never trying to be too young or too contemporary, and instead stretching out in these warm, wonderful lines that are an even deeper take on the best styles from his earlier years – especially on some of the midtempo groovers, which really make the album shine! There's some occasional electric touches on the vocals – not really processing, or auto tuning, but a vibe that recalls the funky power of the Gap Band on some of their old school jams – and Wilson really shows why he's still one of the best male soul singers of his generation – working here with a solid approach that few others could match. Titles include "A Million Ways To Love You", "Turn Off The Lights", "Our Anniversary", "My Love Is All I Have", "Whisper", "Say", and "I Still Have You".

A warm, easygoing and sprawling 2CD set from the Expansion and Jazz FM team – the third and best yet in their Funky Sensation series – with both hits and relatively underappreciated numbers! It's wonderful stuff all the way – and well chosen by Mike Vitti & Ralph Tee – with full-length treasures by Roy Ayers, Rick James, Cameo, Rene & Angela, Willie Hutch, Dazz Band, Charles Earland, Teen Marie and The Gap Band to name but a few. What we love about the Funky Sensation series is the sort of informal, unfussy vibe. It's not so much about shining a lot on particular labels, producers or well-defined scene – and very much about simply putting together some sensationally funky, jazzy and soulful music, nearly all of it from the mid 70s to early 80s, together in a generous double-sized set! 26 tracks on 2CDs – and over 150 minutes of music. Includes "Running Away" by Roy Ayers, "Circles" by Atlantic Starr, "Now That We Found Love" by Third World, "So Fine" by Howard Johnson, "Man Power" by Lalomie Washburn, "I Believe In Miracles" by The Jackson Sisters, "I Need Your Lovin'" by Teena Marie, "I'l Be Good" by Rene & Angela, "Get It Up For Love" by Tata Vega, "Outstanding" by The Gap Band, "Let The Music Play" by Charles Earland and many more.

A fantastic funky follow-up to the first Mr Thing compilation from BBE – and a set that's equally filled with rare and soulful grooves! If we didn't know better, we'd swear he went into our crates and pilfered our own record collections – because the package contains plenty of overlooked cuts that we've loved for years, but which have never gotten their due – and not even all of them are from totally obscure pressings or small indie labels – just the kind of records that people pass over sometimes, because they don't know how great they sound! There's lots and lots and lots of deeply funky numbers on the collection – and the package really takes us back to the glory days when BBE compilations were always turning us onto something new – especially during the Keb Darge glory days. 2CD set features one mixed disc, one unmixed – with titles that include "Back Ground Music" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Searching For Soul" by Jake Wade & The Soul Searchers, "ABC" by Hot Butter & Soul, "Spooky Do" by Dick Walter, "The Horse" by Val Merral's Orchestra, "It's Just Begun" by Hot City Bump Band, "Sally" by Frank Pleyer Big Band, "Love Is Just A Word" by Johnny Griffith Inc, "Can't Stop Talkin" by Art & Ron, "Family Affair" by The Generation Gap, "Gacek" by Jerzy Milian, "Rockin Chair" by John L Watson with White Mouse, "Pink Panther" by Alan Tew, "Twinkle Stars Boo Galoo (live)" by Oscar Harris & The Twinkle Stars, "The Message" by Tinga Stewart, and "Pru Urebu" by The Rias Orchestra.

An important and overlooked British ensemble of the late 60s – a group who were contemporaries of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble and AMM, but who never fully received the same sort of attention! The People Band have a relatively loose approach to improvisation – one that's sometimes a bit warmer and more personal than some of their UK contemporaries – definitely driven by freedom, but also still hanging onto an inherent sense of soul that almost recalls the AACM a bit more than anything else. As with a group like the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, the players switch up instruments a fair bit – really trading sounds and notes in a spontaneously creative way – with Mel Davis on piano, trombone, and cello; Terry Day on drums and alto sax; Lyn Dobson on tenor; Mike Figgis on flugelhorn and acoustic guitar; Frank Flowers on bass; Russell Hardy on piano and keyboards; Eddie Edem on congas and trumpet; Terry Holman on bass and one string thingaphone; and George Khan on tenor and flute. Titles include "Home Trio", "Conduction", "Skip To Part 3", and "Conduction 3". CD features the full album originally issued on the Transatlantic label, plus a few bonus tracks.

A fab collection that's casting light on one of the neglected eras in soul reissues, the cusp of the 80s, with an emphasis on great, soulful disco numbers. All the tracks here have a nice pumping 4/4 beat underneath, but the tempos on most numbers sit nicely in the middle, building a set of great 80s boogie numbers, roller skating soul and sophisticated club tracks that fill in some gaps in your 12" collection! There's a number of styles represented, with some nice moogy bits on a few tracks and soaring strings on others, but every cut's a gem, 12 of them in all, with Charme "Georgy Porgy", Harvey Mason "Groovin You", Melba Moore "Standing Right Here", Vaughn Mason "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll", Young & co "I Like What You're Doing to Me", Dunn Pearson "Groove On Down", "New Jersey Connection "Love Don't Come Easy", James Perry "April Lady", Garfield Fleming "Don't Send Me Away", Goldie Alexander "Show You My Love", Hipnotic "Are You Lonely" and the Circle City Band "Magic".