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A stone classic from the great Gwen Guthrie – a singer who forged some brilliant vocals in the backdrop of other folks' soul sessions – then really exploded forth as a star on her own, with a handful of key albums in the early 80s! This cooker really shows off Guthrie's ear for the clubs – and has this style that's not really 80s groove, not really street soul – but a great blend of both, and put together in ways that seem to prefigure so many other soul styles in years to come – even as far forward as the new jack years. Gwen's strong vocals work perfectly with the arrangements – which have a tightly produced electric sound that could overcome weaker singers, but which only push Gwen into bolder vocals than before! Titles include the classic "Ain't Nothin Goin On But The Rent", plus "I Still Want You", "Stop Holding Back", "Outside In The Rain", "Close To You", and "You Touched My Life". CD also features four bonus tracks – "Save Your Love For Me", a duet with Surface – plus "Close To You (7" mix)", "Ain't Nothin Goin On But The Rent (12" club mix)", and "Outside In The Rain (7" mix)".

Classic work from Gwen Guthrie – a tight batch of keyboard-heavy cuts that sparkles with a strong 80s groove! Deodato's at the helm on production, and he clearly helps direct the sound of the set – giving it some of the sharpness and focus of his other 80s soul productions – and a heavy dose of keyboards that gets back to his own work in the 70s. Gwen's vocals are still the main attraction here, though, and they sound especially great on some of the mellower-thumping tunes with a midtempo groove! Titles include "I Gotta Have You", "Love In Moderation", "Just For You", "Thrill Me", "Feel It No More", "Oh Donny No", and "Put Love In Control".

Early work from Gwen Guthrie – produced by Sly & Robbie, but with a sweet modern soul sound that's got a lot less of their influence than you'd guess! The sound is much more New York than Jamaica – and that's probably due to some great instrumental backing on keyboards by the likes of Harry Whitaker, Bernie Worrell, and Wally Badarou – all massive talents that bring a nice sweet jazzy sound to the best cuts on the record. There's a definite 80s sing-song groove going on – in that not-yet-top-of-the-charts soul sound that you'd hear on the better small urban stations at the time – moving back and forth nicely, in a strong link between the mainstream and the underground clubs! Tracks include "Hopscotch", "Seventh Heaven", "Oh What A Life", "Younger Than Me", and a nice cover of Sly Stone's "Family Affair".

Early work from Gwen Guthrie – produced by Sly & Robbie, but with a sweet modern soul sound that's got a lot less of their influence than you'd guess! The sound is much more New York than Jamaica – and that's probably due to some great instrumental backing on keyboards by the likes of Harry Whitaker, Bernie Worrell, and Wally Badarou – all massive talents that bring a nice sweet jazzy sound to the best cuts on the record. There's a definite 80s sing-song groove going on – in that not-yet-top-of-the-charts soul sound that you'd hear on the better small urban stations at the time – moving back and forth nicely, in a strong link between the mainstream and the underground clubs! Tracks include "Hopscotch", "Seventh Heaven", "Oh What A Life", "Younger Than Me", and a nice cover of Sly Stone's "Family Affair". CD features 3 bonus tracks too – "Padlock (Larry Levan special mix)", "Hopscotch (Larry Levan rmx inst)", and "Peanut Butter (Larry Levan special mix)".

Righteous soul – and the only record ever cut by East Coast – a group led by Larry Blackmon, featuring early vocals by Gwen Guthrie! The style is very hip – a mixture of funk and progressive grooving, all held together with a sound that's young, proud, and which moves easily between influences from a number of different camps. In a way, the group's almost a cross between early Earth Wind & Fire and The Voices Of East Harlem – with a style that's got some nicely soulful jazz elements, but served up with a dose of sweeter soul. Gregory Johnson plays some great keyboards on the set, and titles include "I've Got To Reclaim You", "Something Deep Inside", "Any Thing You Have In Mind", "Miss Gigi", "Keep On Trying", "I Found You", and "You Can't Let It Get You Down".

A brilliant 70s comeback for Ben E King – a record that shows the world that his vocals are still some of the best in soul, long after his early hits – and a massively mature effort that also grooves like a mofo! King's style here is completely different than before – rich, full, and a bit clubby in parts – perfectly put together by maestro Bert DeCoteaux with a smooth-stepping groove that draws a lot from the best Philly work of the 70s – a surprisingly great fit for Ben's wonderful vocals. Gwen Guthrie co-wrote a number of the cuts on the record, too – and also sings a bit of backup – and titles include the seminal "Supernatural Thing", a perennial dancefloor fave that's offered up here in 2 parts – plus "Your Lovin Ain't Good Enough", "Do It In The Name Of Love", "Imagination", "Do You Wanna Do A Thing", and "What Do You Want Me To Do" – and a great version of Sam Dees' "Extra Extra".

A sweet early album from Sister Sledge – a great transformation of an earlier girl soul sound into a fuller, more mature disco mode for the 70s – all served up with a freshness that's quite appealing if you only know their later hits! Production is by Tony Silvester and Bert De Coteaux – and the style is very much in the Philly mode of the time (even though the album was recorded in New York) – a full sound on the more upbeat numbers, but a warm and gentle approach on the mellower numbers – especially some of the great harmony tracks that really stand out in the set! Most titles were co-written by Gwen Guthrie and Patric Grant – but the album also includes tunes by Patrick Adams and Thom Bell & Linda Creed too. Titles include "Circle Of Love", "Give In To Love", "Cross My Heart", "Love Don't You Go Through No Changes On Me", "Don't You Miss Him Now", "Pain Reliever", and "Fireman".

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!

Not classic disco – but a wealth of 80s soul – packed into a double-length set that's overflowing with R&B gems from the years beyond disco! Most tunes are still pretty clubby – not in an underground way, but with some of the styles of the more important soul modes of the time – those ways of hitting a groove with plenty of midtempo rhythms, sweet stepping moments, and even a bit of boogie too! Titles include "Middle Of The Night" by Body, "Passion From A Woman" by Krystol, "In The Dark" by Roy Ayers, "Rock Steady" by The Whispers, "Ain't Nothin Goin On But The Rent" by Gwen Guthrie, "Don't Let Go Of Me" by Mike & Brenda Sutton, "If You Can Do It I Can Too" by Meli'Sa Morgan, "Strip This Heart" by John Adams, "Back To Love" by Evelyn King, and "Falling In Love" by Sybil.

Seminal club tracks from the start of the 80s – a dozen great boogie numbers pulled together for the second installment in this excellent series! The package is really the cream of the crop from the era, and the set mixes together a few minor hits with other lesser-known numbers for a really fresh array of music – the kind of collection that goes way past the obvious, and which is bound to re-illuminate your understanding of dancefloor grooves from the time. Titles include "Share The Night" by World Premier, "Our Hearts Will Aways Shine" by Ozone, "Bizzaare" by Rhyze, "You Need A Change Of Mind" by Brooklyn Express, "Can't Get Away" by Carol Williams, "Seventh Heaven (Larry Levan rmx)" by Gwen Guthrie, "Still In Love" by Rose Royce, "Help Is On The Way" by The Whatnauts, "Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn, "This Time Baby" by Jackie Moore, and "Stay Tonite" by Mandrill.

A second set of recordings made by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway – recorded, we think, in earlier years, but issued at the end of the 70s, after Donny's untimely passing. The set was co-produced by Eric Mercury and Flack – and is really more of an album by Roberta, with some added vocals by Donny – plus guest vocal appearances by Luther Vandross, Gwen Guthrie, and Eleanore Mills, and even Mercury, who sings a bit on one track. Titles include "Stay With Me", "Don't Make Me Wait Too Long", "God Don't Like Ugly", "Only Heaven Can Wait", and "Disguises".

The Dude at the height of his powers – serving up a smooth blend of soul and jazz that set the standard for an entire generation! As with some of his other 70s albums, Quincy's working here with a host of great talents that make the record sizzle – guests that include Hubert Laws, Herbie Hancock, Patti Austin, Luther Vandross, Gwen Guthrie, Eric Gale, and others – all of whom put their egos aside, and bring their best bits to the table working under Quincy's guidance! The album includes a great version of "Superwoman", plus the tracks "Tell Me A Bedtime Story", "Love Me By Name", and "Love, I Never Had it So Good".

A pair of great pair of records from electric fusion violinist Noel Pointer – Phantazia from '77 and Hold On from '78 – in a 2CD set! Like others of the 70s generation, Pointer plays the violin in a way that's clearly heavily influenced by keyboards of the time – electric in amplification, and worked in a mode that uses the instrument to create waves of sound that flow out amongst the tighter fusion rhythms of the set. Dave Grusin arranged and produced the Phantazia set – in his best lean soulful mode of the time – and other players include Earl Klugh, Ralph MacDonald, Steve Gadd, and Grusin himself. Titles include "Mirabella", "Night Song", "Living For The City", "Phantazia", and "Wafaring Stranger". Hold On was recorded in a smooth, soulful mode – and once again has Pointer working with Grusin! Noel's sweet work on electric violin is set up nicely with keyboards from Dave, guitar from Eric Gale, drums from Steve Gadd, and percussion from Ralph MacDonald. Noel sings a bit on the set, but even better are the vocals from Patti Austin, Gwen Guthrie, Yolanda McCullough, and others – who flesh out the backgrounds on some tunes. Titles include "Staying With You", "Movin In", "Superwoman", "Stardust Lady", "Hold On", and the extended "Roots Suite", based on Quincy Jones music for the show!

Post-Atlantic work from Robin Kenyatta – but an album that follows in a very similar mode! This date was done for the Wolf subsidiary of TK Records, but it's got a very hip New York groove – one that's almost even more righteous than some of Robin's earlier work, with some excellent arrangements from Arthur Jenkins – who's managed to fill the set with a great sense of soul! Kenyatta's alto and soprano sax are set up with keyboards from Jenkins and Richard Tee, plus bass, guitar, percussion, and some great backing vocals at points – used sparingly, but in ways that almost remind us of Oneness Of Juju at some of their smoother moments. Kenyatta's reeds have a Plunky-like feel too – more inside than the Juju work of the mid 70s, but pointing towards Plunky's smoother sounds to come. Given that the vocal group features Gwen Guthrie, Vivian Cherry, and Patti Austin, you can bet they sound pretty sweet – and titles on the set include "Love Me", "Oh Oh Oh", "You", "Bluebird", and "Of Life & Love".