All Categories — All Formats  

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 pair of mid 70s classics from Heawave – Too Hot To Handle & Central Heating – in a 2CD set with bonus tracks! Too Hot To Handle is a killer album of crossover soul – 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". The CD includes 4 bonus tracks: alternate versions of "Boogie Nights", plus "Special Offer" and "Slip Your Disc To This". Central Heating is another 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", "Send Out For Sunshine", "Mind Blowing Decisions, "The Groove Line", "Central Heating", "Leavin For A Dream" and more. 2 bonus tracks: remixes of "Mind Blowing Decisions" and "The Groove Line".

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".

Funky instrumental hip hop from Es-K and "Sixfingerz on this limited double A-side single on Cold Busted! "Heatwave" by Es-K is stormer with unstoppable drums, jazzy soul sax and organ in the mix. Side AA features "The Props" by Sixfingerz – with a bit of a funky fusion vibe to it – and it's another one with a nice and heavy beat.

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 wicked little collection that really lives up to its name – a set that's filled with warmth and good energy throughout – not to mention a great array of overlooked soul tracks too! Most of the numbers here are lesser-known gems from the late 70s and early 80s – upbeat, but not in a disco way – and usually somewhere in a space between modern soul and boogie, which works perfectly for the positive vibes of the tunes! There's a soaring feel that definitely takes off from an Earth Wind & Fire sort of style – and although most of the artists here are familiar, you'll really be surprised at the tracks chosen for the set. Titles include "Love Vibes" by The Emotions, "Something On Your Mind" by Melba Moore, "Razzle Dazzle" by Heatwave, "Better Things" by Sylvia St James, "Riding" by Michael Henderson, "Can You See Where I'm Coming From" by Instant Funk, "All In The Way You Get Down" by Ray Parker Jr & Raydio, "Sweet Fire" by Mighty Fire, "Here I Am" by Dynasty, "No One" by Flakes, "Love Is Such A Crazy Thing" by The Spinners, "Wonderful" by GQ, and "When I'm Dancin" by Lenny Williams.

More hit magic from the Brothers Johnson – still working with Quincy Jones at this point, and virtually setting up the blueprint for jazzy soul in the 80s! Backings are by an all-star team, and Rod Temperton's helping out Quincy with arrangements – going for that snapping groove approach he worked to best effect with Heatwave. The sound is tight, but never too slick – and The Brothers keep a nice funky undercurrent on the bottom of most tracks. Titles include "Smilin On Ya", "You Make Me Wanna Wiggle", "Light Up The Night", "Stomp", "This Had To Be", and "Closer To The One You Love".

Soulful 80s work from Bob James – a record that features him working a bit with Rod Temperton of Heatwave, in a style that's got a few more soul-based modes than before! Temperton wrote half of the tracks on the record – the tighter, catchier ones that often use a bit of backing vocals alongside Bob's keyboards – in a style that nicely breaks the mold a bit from the CTI years, and helps slide his smoother jazz groove into crossover R&B territory. And while you might wince at such a thought, James is actually better suited than most to do this sort of thing – as his sense of presence on the keys is still quite strong, and his traditional feeling for space still keeps the tunes nicely lean overall. Titles include "Sign Of The Times", "Love Power", "Unicorn", "Enchanted Forest", "Steamin Feelin", and "Hypnotique".

Leave it to Soul Jazz to assemble another fine selection of grooves, bringing together a great batch of slick, jazz-inflected British disco tracks! It's the mid 70s and disco's four on the floor beat is starting to invade every part of the world, including the UK. The set's a wonderful cross section of songs, with nice less-heard nuggets by groups that hit it big in the charts like Heatwave's "Put The Word Out" and Imagination's "Burning Up", to loft classics like Atmosfear's "Dancing In Outerspace" and smooth soulful cuts like the Real Thing's "Children Of The Ghetto/Stanhope Street". A baker's dozen of crisp, modern jazz funk is included, with Soul Jazz's great attention to detail in every aspect of the package, including a nice set of liner notes that really puts everything in perspective. Other tracks include Hi Tension "British Hustle", the Olympic Runners "Solar Heat", Kandidate "What Are You Gonna Do?", a pre-Arthur Baker track from Freeez, "Southern Freeez", Central Line "Don't Tell Me", Gonzalez's fusion-y "Saocco", Light Of The World "London Town", Beggar & Co "Somebody Help Me Out" and FbI's "Talking About Love" with a few nice disco breaks in it!

Includes tracks by Bloodstone, the Chi Lites, Teddy Pendergrass, the Delfonics, the O'Jays, Heatwave, Natalie Cole, LTD, and many more – 34 tracks in all!