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A killer album of modern soul from ex-Dramatics singer LJ Reynolds! The album's in a modern Detroit mode all the way through – with top-shelf production by Reynolds, Don Davis, and Ronnie McNeir – and Ronnie, who'd been lost to the industry for a few years, also re-emerges as a writer on the songs "Southern Pearl", "Lonely Superstar", and "Ain't No Woman Like My Baby". The real standout, though, is the amazing cut "Key To The World", a killer steppers track that has a hook that won't quit, and this wonderful brassy finish that gives the track a really triumphant sound that works perfectly with the righteous lyric. The track's been a fave on the Chitown steppers scene for years – and for good reason!

A pair of classic early 80s soul albums from ex-Dramatics singer LJ Reynolds! The self-titled '81 set is killer material in a modern Detroit mode all the way through – with top-shelf production by Reynolds, Don Davis, and Ronnie McNeir/ Ronnie, who'd been lost to the industry for a few years, also re-emerges as a writer on the songs "Southern Pearl", "Lonely Superstar", and "Ain't No Woman Like My Baby". The real standout, though, is the amazing cut "Key To The World", a killer steppers track that has a hook that won't quit, and this wonderful brassy finish that gives the track a really triumphant sound that works perfectly with the righteous lyric. LJ Reynolds' sounds great on '82's Travelin', too – stepping even more strongly away from his work with The Dramatics, and emerging as one of the best male soul acts of the early 80s! The production on this one is split between Reynolds and Don Davis, in a mode that's contemporary, but which allows LJ plenty of space for old school vocal expression – that far-reaching style of singing that always made him stand out strongly from the pack! There's a sublime mellow version of Aretha Franklin's "Call Me" on the set – and other tracks include "Words", "Trust In Me", "Say You Will", "You & Me", "Let Me Satisfy You", and "Fast Action"…

LJ Reynolds' sounding great on his own here – stepping strongly away from his work with The Dramatics, and emerging as one of the best male soul acts of the early 80s! The groove here is a nice extension of his earlier group work – still produced by Don Davis in a mode that's contemporary, but which allows LJ plenty of space for old school vocal expression – that far-reaching style of singing that always made him stand out strongly from the pack! There's a sublime mellow version of Aretha Franklin's "Call Me" on the set – and other tracks include "Words", "Trust In Me", "Say You Will", "You & Me", "Let Me Satisfy You", and "Fast Action". CD also includes the bonus track "Look What Your Love Has Done For Me".

The Dramatics hit an 80s groove mood here – and as on their clubbier sides from the end of the 70s, the vocals are still wonderful – and more than anything, the set's a strong soul-based set that still has the group at the top of their game! Ballads actually sparkle the best here – and showcase that wonderfully full mode that was the best side of The Dramatics harmonies – but the uptempo tunes are good, and have breakout moments that sparkle nicely. Production is by Ron Banks and LJ Reynolds, but Don Davis still oversees the whole thing – and titles include "It Ain't Rainin", "Wecome Back Home", "Love Is Here", "Be With The One You Love", and "Music Is The Peoples Choice".

One of the excellent recordings made by The Dramatics at ABC – great group soul gems that are sometimes overlooked because they didn't yield as many hits as earlier sets – but which are stellar records nonetheless! This one's got all the right elements firmly in place – killer production by Don Davis, and smooth but real harmonies from LJ Reynolds, Ron Banks, and the rest of the group. There's a few tracks that hit a smooth sort of groove that might be tagged as "disco" – but which is really just an extension of the super-dope mode that the group used in earlier years – and which has a lot more to offer than just a cheap dancefloor cash in. Titles include "Life Is Just A Playground", "Love Birds", "A Marriage On Paper Only", "I'm Hooked On You", "That's My Favorite Song", "I Think About You", and "I Just Wanna Dance With You".

One of the excellent recordings made by The Dramatics at ABC – great group soul gems that are sometimes overlooked because they didn't yield as many hits as earlier sets – but which are stellar records nonetheless! This one's got all the right elements firmly in place – killer production by Don Davis, and smooth but real harmonies from LJ Reynolds, Ron Banks, and the rest of the group. There's a few tracks that hit a smooth sort of groove that might be tagged as "disco" – but which is really just an extension of the super-dope mode that the group used in earlier years – and which has a lot more to offer than just a cheap dancefloor cash in. Titles include "Life Is Just A Playground", "Love Birds", "A Marriage On Paper Only", "I'm Hooked On You", "That's My Favorite Song", "I Think About You", and "I Just Wanna Dance With You".

One of their best, and a real masterpiece of 70's group soul. The arrangements are sweet, but the group is as hard as they ever were, but free to soar in their singing with the massive arrangements provided by the Detroit Groovesville crew. Ron Banks and LJ Reynolds are in perfect form, and this album is solid all the way through. Titles include "I Dig Your Music", "How Do You Feel", "Thousand Shades Of Blue", "I Cried All The Way Home", and "Good Things Don't Come Easy".

Sweetly smooth grooving from The Dramatics – tighter than their years at Stax, but still tremendous stuff vocally – with a sound that mixes the rough and the sweet like nobody else! The album features works by a number of different producers – including group members Ron Banks and LJ Reynolds, plus Michael Henderson and Don Davis, whose talents are perhaps most responsible for the strength of any of the group's best records. David Van De Pitte does a bit of arranging on the record too – bringing in some of the fuller, clubbier styles he's known for. The album features a sublime mellow harmony track entitled "I Get Carried Away" – plus the tunes "Be My Girl", "I Can't Get Over You", "Stand Up & Move", "Finger Fever", "After This Dance", and "Say The Word".

A solid smoker from the lesser-known Jeannie Reynolds – a hell of a 70s soul singer, and one who should have been huge – especially given the rich vocals on this set! Jeannie's brother LJ Reynolds handles production this time around, and he brings in a nice sharper edge to the set – touches of funk at points, which echo a Dramatics sort of groove – and which really seem to unleash some sharper sounds in Jeannie's vocals at all the right moments. A few other tunes are warmer, and remind us of the soulful charm we discovered on Reynolds' debut – creating a great sense of balance that gives the album a lot more depth than most other Casablanca sets like this from the time! LJ and Jeannie wrote all the tracks save one – and titles include "Guide Me Well", "I Know I'll Always Be In Love With You", "Sexy Man", "I Don't Want To Be Second Best", "I'm Hooked On You", "Come My Way", and "Don't Make A Fool Of Me".

A mindblowing collection of 80s groovers – 2 CDs worth of music, and overflowing with great bits from the Capitol Rare generation! The set really comes together wonderfully – and features some lesser-known tunes by bigger artists, plus a few stone classics from the time, offered up in longer mixes lifted from 12" singles. The groove is completely tight and outta site – lots of heavy bass, sweet keyboard riffs, and the best jazzed-up soul approach of the 80s groove era! 20 tracks in all, with titles that include "All Because Of You (extended)" by Beau Williams, "Right From The Start (extended)" by O'Brian, "Crazy (extended)" by Colorblind, "Let's Go All The Way" by Chocolate Milk, "Feelgood (extended)" by Blue Feather, "Tell Me Why" by Change, "Trust In Me (extended)" by LJ Reynolds, and "A Good Thing Is So Hard To Find" by Deep.

A great little album from Jeannie Reynolds – and her lasting contribution to underground soul! Jeannie's vocals are nice and deep – with hints of southern diva phrasing, filtered through some of the tighter soul styles coming out of Chicago and other points north at the time! Detroit talents LJ Reynolds, Tony Hester, and Don Davis produce – save for one song by Michael Henderson – and the big highlight is the slow groover "The Fruit Song", a sly seductive stepper of a track, with rolling congas, sweeping strings, and a very catchy hook from Jeannie. That number runs for about 7 minutes long – and the album also includes a number of nice shorter cuts, like "I've Still Got My Pride", "The Feelin' Ain't There", and "You Want To Get Your Hands On A Woman" – all wonderful numbers that will have you loving Jeannie as one of your favorite new discoveries in 70s soul!

A solid smoker from the lesser-known Jeannie Reynolds – a hell of a 70s soul singer, and one who should have been huge – especially given the rich vocals on this set! Jeannie's brother LJ Reynolds handles production this time around, and he brings in a nice sharper edge to the set – touches of funk at points, which echo a Dramatics sort of groove – and which really seem to unleash some sharper sounds in Jeannie's vocals at all the right moments. A few other tunes are warmer, and remind us of the soulful charm we discovered on Reynolds' debut – creating a great sense of balance that gives the album a lot more depth than most other Casablanca sets like this from the time! LJ and Jeannie wrote all the tracks save one – and titles include "Guide Me Well", "I Know I'll Always Be In Love With You", "Sexy Man", "I Don't Want To Be Second Best", "I'm Hooked On You", "Come My Way", and "Don't Make A Fool Of Me". CD also features four bonus tracks – "Love Don't Come Easy For Me", "Unwanted Company", "The Phone's Been Jumping All Day", and "Lay Some Lovin On Me".

The underground of Chicago explodes in the mainstream – as Rhino offers the world a dozen soul tunes lifted from the city's hot steppers scene of the past 10 years. (Never mind the fact that by the time this one came out from Rhino, the stepping scene in the city was not what it had been years before!) Forget the packaging of the material, though, and focus on the fact that the set's just a great batch of mellow soul tracks – including "Be Thankful For What You Got" by William DeVaughn, "The Fruit Song" by Jeannie Reynolds, "This Feeling's Killing Me" by The Jones Girls, "Staten Island Groove" by Down To The Bone", "Teach Me (Something About Love)" by Blue Magic, "Mr Smooth" by Michael Franks, "Key To The World" by LJ Reynolds, "Life In The Country" by The Ebonys, "Soft & Easy" by The Blackbyrds, and "In & Out Of Love" by Patti Austin.

The Dramatics hit an 80s groove mood here – and as on their clubbier sides from the end of the 70s, the vocals are still wonderful – and more than anything, the set's a strong soul-based set that still has the group at the top of their game! Ballads actually sparkle the best here – and showcase that wonderfully full mode that was the best side of The Dramatics harmonies – but the uptempo tunes are good, and have breakout moments that sparkle nicely. Production is by Ron Banks and LJ Reynolds, but Don Davis still oversees the whole thing – and titles include "It Ain't Rainin", "Wecome Back Home", "Love Is Here", "Be With The One You Love", and "Music Is The Peoples Choice".

A mindblowing collection of 80s groovers – 2 CDs worth of music, and overflowing with great bits from the Capitol Rare generation! The set really comes together wonderfully – and features some lesser-known tunes by bigger artists, plus a few stone classics from the time, offered up in longer mixes lifted from 12" singles. The groove is completely tight and outta site – lots of heavy bass, sweet keyboard riffs, and the best jazzed-up soul approach of the 80s groove era! 20 tracks in all, with titles that include "All Because Of You (extended)" by Beau Williams, "Right From The Start (extended)" by O'Brian, "Crazy (extended)" by Colorblind, "Let's Go All The Way" by Chocolate Milk, "Feelgood (extended)" by Blue Feather, "Tell Me Why" by Change, "Trust In Me (extended)" by LJ Reynolds, and "A Good Thing Is So Hard To Find" by Deep.