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With George Duke on keyboards, Ralph Garrett on bass, and Oliver Johnson on drums. Titles include "Momadua", "Jive Fernando", and "Blue Monk".

Classic electro production from the Willesden Dodgers on these instrumentals released here as part of Jive's Rhythm Tracks series. Eight 4-5 minute tracks, all named after some of our favorite BPM's – "130", "114", "122", "108", "102", "122", "152", "114".

Some real cage-rattling funk from the Jive Turkeys – combo who come together in a bracingly bold blend of organ, guitar, bass, and drums! There's a real Meters-like simplicity to the groove on "BA" – rompingly soulful, with a loping line we totally love – pitched a bit differently than classic New Orleans funk, but with a very similar spirit! "Chickenfoot" follows suit in a similar way, but with a slightly faster, modder-styled groove – still with plenty of organ and guitar in the lead!

Some real cage-rattling funk from the Jive Turkeys – combo who come together in a bracingly bold blend of organ, guitar, bass, and drums! There's a real Meters-like simplicity to the groove on "BA" – rompingly soulful, with a loping line we totally love – pitched a bit differently than classic New Orleans funk, but with a very similar spirit! "Chickenfoot" follows suit in a similar way, but with a slightly faster, modder-styled groove – still with plenty of organ and guitar in the lead!

Damn funk work from Jive Turkeys – a cooking cut that begins with a super-slick guitar riff, then soars into fast drums, romping Hammond, and totally groovy grooves! "Funky Brewster" begins with some great organ lines – almost as riffing as the guitar – then hits this Meters-like groove that's totally great – almost as rough and raw as one of their classic singles on Josie!

Heavy holiday funk from Ohio's Jive Turkeys! "Get Down Santa" sets up an irresistible, all purpose funky groove with hard hitting drums, organ and a raw rhythm that picks up steam before rolling into interpolations of handful of seasonal favorites. "Funky Jesus" is on the flip, and he could save your soul all year long – a richly grooving organ funk tune for all seasons, really!

Lots of fast, funky organ riffing on "Straight Fire" – a cooking little cut that has lots of bass romping around in the rhythms – and a mighty lean groove that definitely stays the course throughout! "Thumpin" is another great instrumental too – with the drums kicked up a bit more than on the flipside, really pushing hard on the cut's tight blend of bumping bass and heavy Hammond!

Electro/funk instrumentals released here as part of Jive's Rhythm Tracks series. Larry Linn wrote all cuts, and production was handled by the Willesden Dodgers. A lot nicer than some of the other volumes – especially if you dig breakdance grooves! 8 tracks in all, most just entitled with the bpms, ranging from 101 to 129, and one tracks entitled "SMURF".

A very cool collection of work from the South African scene – and almost all of it from the start of the 60s, despite the way the title is listed! Apart from one 1940 track, most of the music here comes from 1960 – a pivotal year when South African music was really growing up – pulling together rootsy elements and inflecting them with some of the key changes happening in the scene in the wake of rich developments in jazz – including big influences from the modernists who would move onto work in Europe and the UK just a few years later. Many numbers here have a leaping, joyous sort of groove – often with a key instrument in the lead voice – such as a tenor, flute, whistle, or trumpet – often upfront in the mix even more than the vocals. Titles include "7 Up Swing" by Abafana Flute Jive, "Nanku" by Doris Mkhize & The Cement Mixers, "Inhliziyo Yam" by Cowboy Superman & His Cowboy Sisters, "Tholi Bare" by Lulu Sibeko & Sedgewick Brothers, "Sophtown Special" by Sophtown Cool Seven, "Kwela Rich" by Richard Nombali, and "Saya Vuma" by Sample Siroqo.

An excellent collection of funky tracks from South Africa – most of them with a slightly different feel than work you'd get on other Afro Funk compilations – and we mean that in a good way, too! Some of the artists are names you'd recognize from later recordings of the big South African crossover years of the 80s and 90s – but they're represented here by harder, edgier cuts from the early days – and mixed up with some more obscure acts, too – which really helps bring a freshness to the set, especially given the interweaving of genres that goes on – as you might guess from the extended sub-title of the CD! Titles include "Sangoma" by Malombo, "Oh Yeh Soweto" by Teaspoon & The Waves, "Intombi Ibhinca Isidwaba" by Phuzushukela, "Kikzelani" by Nelcy Sedibe, "Hula Hoop Jive" by Kataki, "Andromeda" by Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath, "Malume" by Abafakasi, "Baloyi" by Dudu Pukwana & Spear, "Lily's Express" by Gwigwi Mrwebi, "Wozan Mahipi" by Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens, and "Bayeza" by Soul Brothers.

Joe blows it strong and mellow – in this spare swinging group that includes Frank Wess on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. Tracks are warm and unpressured, more in a Verve mode than a Prestige one – and titles include "Wednesday's Blues", "Jive At Five", "Taps Miller", and "Cuein The Blues".

Joe blows it strong and mellow – in this spare swinging group that includes Frank Wess on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. Tracks are warm and unpressured, more in a Verve mode than a Prestige one – and titles include "Wednesday's Blues", "Jive At Five", "Taps Miller", and "Cuein The Blues".

Titles include the sublime "My True Story" – plus "When I Was Single", "Never Never", "Hurry Back", "Johnny Never Knew", "Rain", "These Golden Rings", and "Hully Gully Callin Time".

Funky club with jazzy touches – all served up in a stripped-down mode that takes us back to some of our favorite dancefloor experiments of the 90s! The groove here is somewhere in the house-y side of the Acid Jazz scene of early 90s London, or mid-decade work from the Tokyo club jazz crowd, or even a bit like "Hot Music" from Soho – a tune that would be a great comparison for the sound of this sweet little set! Rhythms are built from lots of sampled live jazz passages – so there's an acoustic warmth throughout, even when things are processed – and there's enough live jazz instrumentation to keep a spontaneous feel in the music as well. Titles include "Karabine", "Get A Wiggle On", "Voodoo Juju", "Black Milk", "Hip To The Jive", and "Solitaire".

Collector's disc manufactured for Colgate-Palmolive.

Akiyele revisits the same territory as his hit, "Put It In Your Mouth".

Remix by Ali Shaheed Muhammed and Beetle for A Tribe Called Quest.

Two cuts from the Edutainment LP. KRS asks "Who Protects Us From You?" over spare dancehall sythesizers and on "Why Is That" KRS applies his exegesis of the Pentateuch to today's educational system with a dope piano line.

Damn great work from Raheem DeVaughn – the full promise of his soulful sojourn in the underground mixtape scene! Raheem first got his start laying down vocals over beats and other folks' tracks on self-crafted CDs that changed hands covertly in the east coast scene – and that experience gave him plenty of time to grow and mature, quietly developing his sound to a point where he can really burst forth with power on a record like this! There's still a bit of the old mixtape feel going on here – a range of older musical influences that inform Raheem's tunes – and a personal, almost casual approach that has DeVaughn speaking intros to some tracks, almost as if he's spinning them out with a personal, conversational style. Yet the production is also much better than before too – quite warm, with some great beats and keys in the mix – proof that stepping out of the underground can often be a good thing for a soul artist. Titles include "Customer", "Hello Love", "Woman", "Love Drug", "Friday", "Can We Try Again", "Empty", "Four Letter Word", and "Woman I Desire". Includes guest appearances from Floetry, Big Boi, and Malik Yusef.

An infectious batch of soul tunes from Raheem DeVaughn – his long overdue debut for Jive Records! Raheem stands apart from many in the mainstream soul and neo soul, not because he wears his influences so proudly on his sleeve, but in the way he wears them. Raheem's soul style is born of love for singers from Marvin Gaye, to Prince, to D'Angelo, to the Isleys and beyond – but his approach to songcraft and recording is born of hip hop and mixtapes – in which he can appropriate a given groove into his own tunes. The album's full of peaks and valleys, and the peaks are worth the the climb! Tracks include "The Love Experience", the Kenny Dope-produced "Guess Who Loves You More", "Who", "Where I Stand", "Breathe", "You", "Sweet Tooth", "Ask Yourself", "Believe", "Is It Possible", "Catch 22", "You", "Cadillac", "Green Leaves" and more!

With LL Cool J.

Keith Murray's finest moment, introducing the word to his mic skills, the most complex of the Def Squad MC's. Erick Sermon provides the bottom heavy east coast funk style on the beat side. Includes the single that got everyone open on Keith "The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World", plus "Get Lifted", "Dip Dip Di", "Take It To the Streetz", "Herb Is Pumpin'", "Sychosymatic", "How's That", "Escapism", "Bom Bom Zee", "Danger", "Straight Loonie" and more.

With Keith Murray.

29 tracks in all, with quite a few guest appearances by rappers such as Keith Murray, Jay Z, Nas and others. Includes "Home Alone", "Did You Ever Think", "Ghetto Queen", "We Ride", "OnlyThe Loot Can Make Me Happy", "If I'm Wit You", "Half On A Baby", "What I Feel/Issues", "Reality", "Don't Put Me Out" and "I Believe I Can Fly".

19 tracks in all, including "TP-2", "R&B Thug", "The Greatest Sex", "Like A Real Freak", "Fiesta", "I Wish", "I Wish (rmx – To The Homies That We Lost)" and"Feelin' On Yo Booty".

Overall, the sound on this album's very 80s, with lots of electro and synth moments poking through, and a very disco base to the rhythm. The best example of that is the big single, "Don't Go Lose It Baby", an awesome club track, popular with the deep house heads and loft scene here in Chicago, and elsewhere too, if we're not mistaken. A number of the other tracks have the same insistent pulse, but often with a more overt African influence in the sound. Like some of Masekela's other records, his trumpet playing takes a back seat to the vocals. Also includes "The Seven Riffs Of Africa Medley", "Motlalepula", "Getting Fat In Africa", "Pula Ea Na", "African Secret Society" and "U-Dwi".

A monumental meeting of the majors – R Kelly and Jay Z, Jive and Def Jam, in a landmark record. Tracks include "Take You Home With Me aka Body", "Get This Money", "Best Of Both Worlds", "Naked", "It Ain't Personal", "Shake Ya Body" featuring Lil Kim, "The Streets", "Shorty", "Green Light" featuring Beanie Sigel, and "P***y" featuring Devin The Dude.

This is a promo only twelve inch of the title cut from "93 'Til Infinity", but it's packaged in the pic-sleeve from the regular 12-inch, which has a slightly different track listing. Odd, but that's just what Jive was doing at the time.

Tracks include "Check The Rhime", "Bonita Applebum", "Award Tour", "Can I Kick It?", "Scenario", "Buggin' Out", "If The Papes Come", "Electric Relaxation", "Jazz (We've Got)", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Hot Sex", "Oh My God", "Stressed Out", "Luck Of Lucien", "Description Of A Fool", "Keeping It Moving", "Find A Way", "Sucka Ni**a", and "Vivrant Thing".

Ok, so Tribe Called Quest broke up since they ran out of new ideas. But to us, their first single from the "The Love Movement" LP sounded like they're back on track after the last LP. "Find A Way" is a dope mellow groove and "Steppin It Up" does just that with guest vocals by Busta Rhymes and some of the best Redman verses we've heard.

A little harder than your usual Quest track, we're not sure why this never made it to an LP. Also includes yet another Scenario remix (not the Kid Hood one.)

The second album from the immortal Tribe Called Quest – one of the absolute essential hip hop LPs, and a record that should be an anyone's shortlist of the best albums in several subsections of hip hop – just a straight up masterpiece anyway you cut it. The album is so high up on the ladder, we're a loss to add any fresh insight o the critical consensus, so just get it. Classics one after another, steeped in bass note snapping, head nodding funk jazz beatcraft of the first order! "Buggin Out", "Excursions", "Rap Promoter", "Verses From The Abstract", "Check The Rhyme", "Everything Is Fair", "Jazz (We've Got)", "What?", "Scenario" and more.

A masterpiece from prime era Tribe Called Quest! Midnight Maurauders was Tribe's third LP, and even though there were no tracks yet credited to the Ummah, this is pretty much the beginning of Tribe's transition to that sound – with the same mellow, laid back vibe as their best early material, but less of an overtly jazzy reference in their sound. Phife and Tip are still on point lyrically, and honestly, this is pretty much the last LP that Tribe dropped that's got nearly all hits and no misses on it. With the cuts "Award Tour", "Midnight", "Electric Relaxation", "Clap Your Hands", "Oh My God", "The Chase, Part II", and "Keep It Rollin".

10 clean edited tracks from UGK's third LP: "One Day", "Murder", "Pinky Ring", "You Don't Know Me Fool", "Diamonds & Wood", "3 In The Mornin'", "Touched", "Ride My Car", "Good Stuff" and "Ridin' Dirty".

Whodini's third LP, and probably their last good one. A little less of the electro production but still some nice cuts including the big beat production on "Funky Beat", the goofy "I'm A Ho" and the mellow hit "One Love".

A surprisingly great album from Syl Johnson's daughter! Syleena's got a bit of a bite in her vocals – almost a touch of blues, showing her link to the rich soul lineage of which her father was a part – but she's also working here with some sweet modern arrangements, bubbling under in a mix of NuSoul and current R&B approaches, nicely taking Syleena's rootsy vocals into a classier setting – and making of a compelling juxtaposition that really grabs us right away! Titles include "Faithful To You", "Now That I Got You", "So Willingly", "I Believe In Love", "Tonight I'm Gonna Let Go", and "Guess What".

Includes "Snake", "Been Around The World" feat Ja Rule, "Step In The Name Of Love (rmx)", "Who's That" feat Fat Joe, "Ignition", "You Knock Me Out", and "Dream Girl".

Three tracks from his first solo LP. Unlike most BDP/KRS material, KRS brings in outside producers on all three: Muggs, Commisioner Gordon, and Domingo.

With a few tracks produced by the Neptunes, most notably the gigantic hit "Shake Your Ass". Also includes "Danger (Been So Long)", "I'm Throwed Off", "Big Truck Boys", "U Would If U Could", "Mystikal Fever", "Ain't Gonna See Tomorrow", "Smoked Out", and "Neck Uv Da Woods".

Tracks include "Check The Rhime", "Bonita Applebum", "Award Tour", "Can I Kick It?", "Scenario", "Buggin' Out", "If The Papes Come", "Electric Relaxation", "Jazz (We've Got)", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Hot Sex", "Oh My God", "Stressed Out", "Luck Of Lucien", "Description Of A Fool", "Keeping It Moving", "Find A Way", "Sucka Ni**a", and "Vivrant Thing".

Beats, Rhymes & Life – crucial aspects of Tribe Called Quest and hip hop in general – and the fourth album by the inimitable Tribe! After a couple or three years of down time following Midnight Marauders, the Tribe returned with this extra stripped down sound, collaborating with Jay Dee and the Ummah. Titles include "Jam", the r&b crossover ready "Stressed Out" feat Faith Evans, "Motivators", the great "Phony Rappers", and "Keep It Moving", "Word Play", "The Pressure", "Word Play" and much more.

The last Tribe Called Quest LP – one of those "end of an era" type experiences for sure – and record that was fairly slept on it the time given the dizzying heights of their earlier record – and holds up today as an essential! The tracks are all produced by The Ummah featuring J Dilla, and just a solid bed of production that's a reminder of how this excellent style of hip hop production excels so sweetly at both looking forward and making 70s soul jazz beats sound forever fresh – with tracks including "Pen & Pad", "Find A Way", "Like It Like That", "Steppin' It Up" (featuring Busta Rhymes & Redman), "Rock Rock Y'all" (featuring Mos Def, Jane Doe, Punchline & Wordsworth.) As an added bonus, the CD includes six rare classic Tribe Called Quest alternate tracks and remixes that this point only ever appeared on 12-inches – including the classic "Scenario" remix, "Oh My God" remix, "Hot Sex", "One, Two Sh*t", and "Jazz (We Got)" re-recorded version.

A masterpiece from prime era Tribe Called Quest! Midnight Maurauders was Tribe's third LP, and even though there were no tracks yet credited to the Ummah, this is pretty much the beginning of Tribe's transition to that sound – with the same mellow, laid back vibe as their best early material, but less of an overtly jazzy reference in their sound. Phife and Tip are still on point lyrically, and honestly, this is pretty much the last LP that Tribe dropped that's got nearly all hits and no misses on it. With the cuts "Award Tour", "Midnight", "Electric Relaxation", "Clap Your Hands", "Oh My God", "The Chase, Part II", and "Keep It Rollin".

Sweet 80s groove from Millie Jackson – a set that's got a very different vibe than her famous southern soul work of the 70s – but one that still has the singer very much at the top of her game! The backgrounds are a bit more electric than before – especially the rhythms – but Jackson's raspy, raw approach to the lyrics really holds fast – and, if anything, helps make the set a new vision in rootsy soul for a more contemporary generation. Some of the "nasty gal" tones of previous years are put on the backburner – and Millie returns to those mellower ballads that were always some of her strongest work – really shining nicely on tracks that include "It's A Thang", "An Imitation Of Love", "Hot Wild Unrestricted Crazy Love", "Wanna Be Your Lover", "Love Is A Dangerous Game", and "I Fell In Love". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Hot Wild Unrestricted Crazy Love (7" edit)", "Love Is A Dangerous Game (ext mix)", "Wanna Be Your Lover (7" version)", "It's A Thang (ext mix)", "Hot Wild Unrestricted Crazy Love (inst)", and "Love Is A Dangerous Game (inst)".

Super hard to get import pressing of R Kelly's second LP, the one that really broke him out of the box and catapulted him to super-stardom. Some of the commercial radio ready R&B slow jams and modern soul numbers here have become so ubiquitous it's easy to forget that this LP set a benchmark that's not really been matched by too many contemporary male soul vocalists since. With huge hits like "Bump N' Grind" and "Your Body's Callin'", plus "Sex Me", "Back To The Hood Of things", "Summer Bunnies", "I Like The Crotch On You", "Homie Lover Friend", "Freak Dat Body" and more.

Jive pressing with 18 tracks.

Includes limited edition remix bonus disc.

Includes limited edition bonus DVD of the first 5 chapters of "Trapped In The Closet".

Steady B's second major label album, but still in the mid 80s Pop Art style, proving you don't need much more than two turntables, a drum machine and a mic to make good hip hop. Okay, maybe some fly Cazals and Fila track suit. 12 tracks in all, including "The Hilltop", "Don't Disturb This Groove", "Hold It Now", "My Benz", "What's My Name", "Funky Drummer" and "Rockin Music".

CD with three new remixes, and a bonus DVD.

Too Short's third LP on Jive, the last one before he started becoming a parody of himself. A few tracks have the same humor as his first two Jive LPs, and it includes the hit "The Ghetto" using the classic Donny Hathaway melody, and "Ain't Nuthin But A Word To Me" with Ice Cube, plus "Punk B#tch", "Short But Funky" and the title track.

One of THE landmark hip hop albums – and the full length debut of great Tribe Called Quest! We hardly need to tell you about this classic – but it will always bear repeating. De La Soul might have kicked the door open on leftfield, anything goes artistry about a year or so earlier, but their friends and fellow Native Tongues Tribe's debut was a crucial reminder that the east coast was spinning out of one of the greatest creative growth spurts in hip hop history at the time. Pure excellence. Tracks include "Luck Of Lucien", "Footprints", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Bonita Applebaum", "Can I Kick It?", "Rhythm (Devoted To The Art Of Moving Butts)", "Mr Muhammad", "Description Of A Fool" andmore seminal, jazzy middle school tracks!

Includes "Holler If Ya Hear Me", "Keep Ya Head Up", "I Get Around", "Strictly 4 My NIGGAZ", "Point The Finga", "Last Wordz", "Souljah's Revenge", "Peep Game", "Strugglin", "Guess Who's Back", "Representin' 93", "The Streetz Are Deathrow", "Papa'z Song" and "5 Deadly Venomz".

The album that made Billy Ocean a superstar for a little while, one that had a HUGE couple of years on the charts, even longer service as a snapshot of its era, and is now one that we can look at freshly and appreciate for all of the unstoppably catchy pop soul craft that made it so massive in the first place! Billy's earlier Caribbean inflected pop and R&B was good stuff that deserved a bigger audience and boy did it ever find him with the mid 80s hits "Caribbean Queen", the killer ballad "Suddenly" and the crazy fun "Loverboy". Other tracks include "Mystery Lady", "Lucky Man", "Dancefloor" and "If I Should Lose You". This Cherry Pop UK edition has 4 bonus tracks: extended versions of "Caribbean Queen", "Lucky Man", "Mystery Lady" and "Loverboy".

Sweet funky 70s work from Cannonball Adderley – a record that has him revisiting older tunes from his early soul jazz years – but in ways that give them a whole new electric vibe overall! The album's actually Cannonball's last full studio set, but it's also one of his greatest too – a very hip little record that features arrangements that are slightly bigger than before – almost a CTI sort of mode, with a similar CTI sense of space, sound, and timing! There's some great keyboards on the set – courtesy of George Duke and Mike Wolff – and other players include Nat Adderley on cornet, Airto on percussion, Sam Jones and Walter Booker on bass, and Louis Hayes and Roy McCurdy on drums. The keyboards lead off most numbers, but they're followed strongly by Cannon and Nat – both of whom open up wonderfully in the magical setting of the record! Titles include great new takes on "Sack O Woe", "Work Song", "Jive Samba", "74 Miles Away", "Walk Tall/Mercy Mercy Mercy", "Country Preacher", "Domination", and "This Here" – plus "Hi Fly" and "Hamba Nami".

A gem of a record from Nat Adderley – filled with short soulful groovers, and done with an upbeat vibe that rivals some of Cannonball's best of the 60s! Joe Zawinul handled the arrangements, so there's definitely a strong influence here from the Cannon group – and although the players shift a bit throughout the course of the set, there's a really unified feel – thanks to a top-shelf lineup that includes Seldon Powell on tenor and flute, Ernie Royal on trumpet, Benny Powell on bass trombone, and Willie Bobo on percussion! The set features all original material by Nat – with older gems and new favorites that include "Little Boy With The Sad Eyes", "Never Say Yes, "Jive Samba", "Stony Island", "Junkanoo", and "Work Song".

The only compilation of 60s female soul trio The Apollas we've ever seen – beautiful tunes with sweet and soulful vocals, big emotions and excellent arrangements – fantastic stuff from the trio, earlier material recorded as The Lovejoys and solo numbers by singer Leola Jiles! We'd love to say we've been fortunate enough to have heard more than a handful of the great Loma and Warner 45s, but that isn't the case – so this compilation from Kent as rewarding for us as just about anything they've put together in recent years – which is really saying something! A number of the tracks are should-be anthems that really allow the girls to sing big – backed by brass and tight arrangements to suit. That said, they're diverse talents, and there's some sweeter girl group styled tunes here that come across just as strongly. Glorious! Titles include "You're Absolutely Right", "Who Would Want Me Now", "Jive Cat", "See The Silver Moon", "Pretty Red Balloons", "I'm Under The Influence Of Love", "Baby I'll Come", "My Soul Concerto" and more from The Apollas proper, plus "He Ain't No Angel" and "Wait 'Round The Corner" by The Lovejoys, "I've Got So Used To Loving You" and "Why I Was Born" by Leola Jiles and more. 25 tracks in all.

An obscure little album from Jack "Mr Bongo" Constanzo – his only entry into the Latin Soul genre, and a really nice batch of grooves! Jacko's working here with singer Gerrie Woo – who sings in English on about half of the album's tracks, giving the set a nice pop-styled Latin groove that reminds us a lot of Willie Bobo's work for Verve, and some of the more unusual indie Latin albums of the time. The set's filled with loads of great numbers – including Hector Rivera compositions "Recuerdos", "Que Vengo Acabando", "Don't Squeeze The Peaches", and "Mambo Jack" – plus covers of "Jive Samba", "Words", and "Green Onions".

A pair of overlooked gems from Ronnie Dyson – both of which show there's way more to love than just his early hits! On Love In All Flavors, Ronnie's older than during his falsetto soul early years – and he's working here with some impeccably mature Chicago soul arrangements by Gene Barge, Gene Page, and Richard Evans. The album's produced by the always-great modern soul dynamic duo of Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancey (ex-Independents), and it's got an approach that mixes deeply soulful vocals with smoother backings, kind of in the same mode that The Manhattans were using, but with a bit more of a modern tip that points towards the Capitol work by the Jackson/Yancey team. Tracks include "I Want To Be Where You Are", "Sara Smile", "Don't Be Afraid", "I Just Want To Be There", and "Ain't Nothing Wrong". On More You Do It, Dyson works with the 70s hit soul team of Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy – the pair who brought great sound to Natalie Cole, and who work some similar magic with Ronnie! The album was recorded in Chicago – partially at Curtom – and has arrangements from Gene Barge, Gene Page, and Richard Evans – all of whom bring a fullness to the record that's a nice change from Dyson's more fragile work of earlier years. Some of the best cuts have a gentle midtempo groove that's almost like Leroy Hutson – warm, and never slick – very personal, and stepping along nicely. Titles include "The More You Do It", "You & Me", "Jive Talkin", "Close To You", "Love Won't Let Me Wait", and "Lovin Feelin".

The one and only album by Exit 9 – an obscure funk combo who recorded this rare set for Brunswick in 1975! The group is extremely tight instrumentally – working at a very fast funky clip that's kind of similar to work by Bohannon or Sound Experience – both of whom shared Exit 9's pre-disco approach to dancefloor grooves – more fast-funk than the tighter club sound of later years, and proof that a funky combo could hit the dancefloor if it had the right groove! Most numbers have vocals, and instrumentation includes lots of nice guitar work that keeps a rawer edge on the tracks – choppy and gritty in a really great way. Tracks include "MFB", "Miss Funky Fox", "Fly", "Julie I Love You", "Jive Man", and "Rhapsody in Funk".

An unusual package of Quincy Jones albums – featuring variations on two American records, presented here in offbeat German versions of the 60s! First up is Songs For Pussycats, kind of a mix of Quincy Jones' Pussycat album for Mercury with some tracks from other records too – all done in that wicked mix of jazz, soundtrack, and popular themes that Quincy virtually helped invent back in the 60s! The album's got plenty of great groovers that take a popular tune and kind of turn it on its ear – takes on tracks like "What's New Pussycat", "Take Five", "Mack The Knife", "Sermonette", "Mr Lucky", and "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" – all of which are souped-up by Quincy, and done in a rhythmic style that takes them past familiar versions you might know. Quincy In Rio is a set that seems to be the famous Big Band Bossa Nova album at the start, but which also features tracks from other 60s albums too – showing a whole new fresh side to Quincy's genius in a jazz bossa mode! Arrangements are very lively, with lots of great percussion underneath the soaring big band charts – and titles include "Bossa Nova USA", "Desafinado", "Jive Samba", "Baia", "The Gentle Rain", "Non-Stop To Brazil", "Samba De Una Nota So", and "I Love You & Don't Forget It".

A 60s set from Memphis bluesman BB King – but one put together with a very distinct Chicago touch as well! The set's produced by Johnny Pate, and recorded live with a vibe that's similar to King's classic recording at The Regal – but it's almost got even more of a soulful punch, thanks to backing from a cool small combo that includes Bobby Forte on tenor, Kenneth Sands on trumpet, Duke Jethro on Hammond, and Louis Satterfield on bass! BB's vocals are great – in his best early form – and the tunes are bluesy, but also smoke with a nice degree of soul – and almost some jazzy touches at times from the tenor and organ. Titles include "Don't Answer The Door", "Blind Love", "Tired Of Your Jive", "Night Life", "Buzz Me", and "Waitin On You". CD features two bonus tracks – "Goin Down Slow" and "Sweet Sixteen (parts 1 & 2)" – both additional live numbers.

Original versions, plus instrumentals, of these two tracks from the "KRS-One" LP, issued on KRS's own independent Front Page records, before they came out on Jive. Production by Showbiz and Diamond D.

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

Smoking hot rod grooves – put together by studio maestro Bruce Johnston in the years before he became a bigger Beach Boy! The set's one of many groovy surf/car sets that Johnston cut during this mid 60s stretch – although it's more obscure than most, given its release on Smash Records – instead of the usual Capitol or Columbia outlets for his work. But the lineup features some key familiar faces from those other projects – guitar from Glenn Campbell and Tommy Tedesco, and some mighty drums from the great Hal Blaine! Hot Rod enthusiast George Barris adds his name to the project – and also gives up some nice car knowledge on the back cover – and titles include "Stick Six", "Fireball", "Jive Driver", "Super Fine", "Firecracker 400", "Hotty 32", and "Speed Shifters".

Funky organ and plenty of vamping – a really tight little set from the mighty Charles Kynard – who's working here with a really wide-ranging command of the keyboard! As with some of the other Mainstream Records sessions of the time, the backings here are somewhat full – arranged and conducted by Richard Fritz with a style that's almost soundtrack funk at points, but which still has a more jazzy feel overall – thanks to the space given to Kynard's organ solos, and to backings from players who include George Bohannon on trombone, Arthur Adams on guitar, and Paul Humphrey on drums. The set features a surprising cover of Joe Quarterman's classic "I Got So Much Trouble On My Mind" – one that's almost as funky as the vocal original – plus "The World Is A Ghetto", "Superstition", "Zambezi", "Summer Breeze", "Momma Jive", and "You've Got It Bad Girl".

A classic set of soul jazz from Chicago – a rare indie date recorded in the early 80s, but with a tight and swinging feel that's more 70s jazz funk than you might think! Corky's on Yamaha keyboards, and he's backed by a hip group of Chicago players that includes Curtis Prince on drums, Artee Duke Payne on saxes, and Stephen Harris on guitars – all working together in a tightly rhythmic sound with some slight spiritual undercurrents – almost in the same territory as James Mason on his legendary record from a few years before! As with that set, there's a bit of polish here, but never too much – a balance that makes the record a wonderfully mature record with a depth that keeps it going for years. Byron Woods sings lead vocals on the album's jazz dance classic "Searching For Soul" – and a few other tracks feature Theresa Davis on lead vocals. Other titles include "Everything Must Change", "Open Wide", "Passion", "Jive Mama T", "Off C", and "Mirror Mirror".

A classic set of soul jazz from Chicago – a rare indie date recorded in the early 80s, but with a tight and swinging feel that's more 70s jazz funk than you might think! Corky's on Yamaha keyboards, and he's backed by a hip group of Chicago players that includes Curtis Prince on drums, Artee Duke Payne on saxes, and Stephen Harris on guitars – all working together in a tightly rhythmic sound with some slight spiritual undercurrents – almost in the same territory as James Mason on his legendary record from a few years before! As with that set, there's a bit of polish here, but never too much – a balance that makes the record a wonderfully mature record with a depth that keeps it going for years. Byron Woods sings lead vocals on the album's jazz dance classic "Searching For Soul" – and a few other tracks feature Theresa Davis on lead vocals. Other titles include "Everything Must Change", "Open Wide", "Passion", "Jive Mama T", "Off C", and "Mirror Mirror".

A killer diller of a live set from Brother Jack McDuff – a cut that burns with energy that almost beats his studio 60s classics for Prestige! The group is one of Jack's best ever – a lineup that includes the twin tenors of Red Holloway and Harold Vick, plus incredibly sharp guitar from a young George Benson, and some of the most unique soul jazz drum work you'll ever hear – courtesy of the amazing Joe Dukes. Despite their individual strengths, which might make this whole thing an ego-fest – all players fit perfectly into place on the album's hard wailing batch of groovers, and groove together with a sympathetic energy that's simply amazing! Titles include a great remake of "Jive Samba", plus "Dink's Blues", "Grease Monkey", "Passing Through", and "Vas Dis". This is the kind of thing live recording equipment was made for!

Quite possibly THE mother of all funky soundtracks – the legendary score to Rudy Ray Moore's classic first Dolemite film! The record's been referenced for years, and all the hype is totally right – because the whole thing's overflowing with funky tracks both vocal and instrumental – cut with a sound that's as gritty and badass as the movie itself! The Soul Rebellion Orchestra provided the wicked instrumental grooves for the set – and vocalists include Mary Love and Ben Taylor – and the pacing of the whole record almost makes it come across like a mini-movie in sound! You'll find enough samples on here to cut a lifetime's worth of hip hop LPs, and the funky tracks will have you coming back to the record again and again! Tracks include "The Queen", "The Rumble", "Mayor Get Away", "The Jive Jungle", "Creeper", and "Ghetto Expressions".

Quite possibly THE mother of all funky soundtracks – the legendary score to Rudy Ray Moore's classic first Dolemite film! The record's been referenced for years, and all the hype is totally right – because the whole thing's overflowing with funky tracks both vocal and instrumental – cut with a sound that's as gritty and badass as the movie itself! The Soul Rebellion Orchestra provided the wicked instrumental grooves for the set – and vocalists include Mary Love and Ben Taylor – and the pacing of the whole record almost makes it come across like a mini-movie in sound! You'll find enough samples on here to cut a lifetime's worth of hip hop LPs, and the funky tracks will have you coming back to the record again and again! Tracks include "The Queen", "The Rumble", "Mayor Get Away", "The Jive Jungle", "Creeper", and "Ghetto Expressions". Plus, this CD reissue is even more beautiful than the original vinyl – with a booklet chock full of notes and vintage photos – and 6 bonus tracks that include "Dolemite (with narration)", "Flatland (film version)", "Human Tornado", "Miss Wonderful", "Dolemite Radio Spot (version 1)", "Dolemite Radio Spot (version 2)", and "Human Tornado Radio Spot".

A masterpiece of hard and heavy funk – from one of the best bands of the early 70s! The Nite Liters were a legendary funky combo that provided the backing for some of New Birth's best albums – but on their own, they were even funkier, and had a sound that was part JBs, part Meters, and all funky! This album may well be the group's best – their last for RCA, and a set that really has them honing their edge incredibly. The drums are amazing, the keyboards great, and the horns have this quality that's both complex, yet right on the money – making for a richness in sound that really sets the group apart from their contemporaries. A few singers from The New Birth provide chorus vocals on a few tracks – but most of the set is instrumental, and the record's one we'd gladly stack next to our Meters albums on Josie or JBs classics on People. Every track's a gem – and titles include "Drumology", "Excuse Me While I Do My Thing", "Serenade for a Jive Turkey", "Happy Hooker", "Craaashing", "Damn", "Pee-Foul", and a sweet cover of "Valdez in the Country" that's been sampled at least once over the years!

A masterpiece of hard and heavy funk – from one of the best bands of the early 70s! The Nite Liters were a legendary little funky combo that provided the backing for some of New Birth's best albums – but on their own, they were even funkier, and had a sound that was part JBs, part Meters, and all funky! This album may well be the group's best – their last for RCA, and a set that really has them honing their edge incredibly. The drums are amazing, the keyboards great, and the horns have this quality that's both complex, yet right on the money – making for a richness in sound that really sets the group apart from their contemporaries. A few singers from The New Birth provide chorus vocals on a few tracks – but most of the set is instrumental, and the record's one we'd gladly stack next to our Meters albums on Josie or JBs classics on People. Every track's a gem – and titles include "Drumology", "Excuse Me While I Do My Thing", "Serenade for a Jive Turkey", "Happy Hooker", "Craaashing", "Damn", "Pee-Foul", and a sweet cover of "Valdez in the Country" that's been sampled at least once over the years!

Great work from the Ohio Players – and proof that moving to a big label could be a good thing for a funky group! This was the band's first album for Mercury – and although one might have the temptation to say that the label cut down the radical funk sound of the trippy Westbound years, the move also taught the band to sharpen up their act, and get out of the repetitive sloppy groove into which they'd been lapsing during the past few years. The record's a lot smoother than earlier work – with a polished funky sound that would soon push the band right up there with Earth Wind & Fire at the top of the soul charts. And although there's familiar funky numbers like "Skin Tight", "Jive Turkey", and "Streakin Cheek To Cheek" – the best moment on the entire album is the wonderful spacey soul number "Heaven Must be Like This", a seven minute mellow groover that's got a sophisticated jazzy soul style, with voices and piano soaring into the heavens, in a way that always still sends chills down our spine! That cut shows the band's tremendous growth – and it's one of their best-ever!

A completely unique little set from singer Steve Parks – a set cut in the Bay Area scene of the early 80s – but done with a righteous 70s vibe that mixes jazz, soul, and bits of Latin influences as well! The overall approach is definitely soul, but there's plenty of jazz inflections in the vocals and instrumentation – a vibe that's not unlike the best sound of Jon Lucien on RCA, but which is carried here by Parks with a bit more force – and these undeniably fluid vocals sounds that really blow us away! Instrumentation is right on the money – warm, jazzy, and never hokey at all – with lots of great acoustic percussion at the core. Titles include the massive sample track "Movin In The Right Direction" – plus "All In A Day", "Everything's Gonna Be OK", "Don't Stop Now", "The Golden Key", and "Sadness In My Samba". CD features an insane number of bonus tracks – 9 more numbers that include "Wrong Decision", "Should've Been Wishing", "Wonderful", "Stop Drop Everything", "You Make It Easy For Me", and "Shimmy & Jive".

Just a few of the songs here are from the 60s, and many of the rest are written by Gaetano Partipilo himself – and mixed with a few Brazilian numbers as well – all to round out a wonderfully rich sounding album that really lives up to the best Schema tradition! Instrumentation is mostly live jazz – played by Gaetano on alto sax, as well as Nicola Conte on guitar, Pietro Lusso on Fender Rhodes, Pasquale Bardaro on vibes, and Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet – but maybe best of all are the vocals, which shift a bit over the course of the record, and include raspy soul lines from MR Natural, and warmer female vocals from Alice Ricciardi, Heidi Vogel, and Rosalia De Souza. Half the tracks are instrumentals, and the mix of modes really makes the album great – never settled too far into one comfortable corner, and really taking the listener on a great journey overall! Titles include "Essa Mulher", "Se Voce Pensa", "Beyond The Days", "Jive Samba", "Right Now", "13 Death March", "Wall & Water", "Atras Da Porta", "The Sticks", "Moon Flower", and "Ocean Dance".