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Tremendous work from Bilal – and further proof that his life on the indie side of the soul spectrum has been a very good thing! There's a crispness to the record that crackles right from the start – slight cosmic touches in the beats, but never too over the top – just enough to electrify the vocals and push Bilal past any sort of mainstream soul – and help him deliver the rich promise we first heard in his music so many years ago – but never found this fully formed during his major label stretch! There's some nice electric bits that percolate forth – moogy keys or sparkling samples – yet the vocals still have all the core warmth that's kept us coming back. Titles include "Astray", "Lost For Now", "West Side Girl", "Back To Love", "Longing & Waiting", and "Butterfly", which features a guest appearance from Robert Glasper!

A killer late set by Bloodstone – one that holds on to all the excellent harmonies they brought to their 70s work, but which pushes their groove forward in a whole new direction! There's a warm modern glow to the set – one that works perfectly with the vocals – and the quintet still have a hell of a way with a ballad – singing in that slow-tripping style that was never too overly emotive, yet could pack a hell of a punch back in the day – especially in the wee hours! The tunes here are longer than before, and inflected by some rich arrangements by both the Isley Brothers and McKinley Jackson – and the set's got an Isleys-like approach by putting all the ballads on one side, and the groovers on another. These groovers really hold onto the harmonies wonderfully – making for a great follow-up to the ballads – and titles include the sublime smooth stepping track "We Go A Long Way Back", plus "Go On & Cry", "How Does It Feel", "Nite Time Fun", "My Love Grows Stronger", and "My Kind Of Woman". CD features great bonus tracks too – "My Love Grows Stronger (part 2)", "Go On & Cry (7" mix)", and "We Go A Long Way Back (12" mix)".

A stunning disco classic from Dan Hartman – maybe an unlikely talent for the dancefloors, given his image on the cover – but an artist who definitely went onto shape the sound of the clubs at the end of the 70s! The album's got the Hartman groove really hitting hard, and right on the money – a tightly compressed approach to disco that really lays heavily on the hooks – in a style that's similar to where Peter Brown was going at the time, with a similar compressed sensibility that gets past any of the fluff that was drowning others in the disco generation! In fact, it could well be argued that the approach here really helps focus a dancefloor sound towards the modes of the 80s – while still allowing for the fluid soul of the disco years too – a style that's summed up perfectly in the album's extended classic "Vertigo/Relight My Fire", which features famous vocals by Loleatta Holloway! Other titles are all sweet too – and include "Free Ride", "I Love Makin Music", "Just For Fun", "Love Strong", and "Hands Down". CD features some nice bonus tracks too – "Boogie All Summer (single)", "Relight My Fire (single)", "Hands Down (12" version)", "Hands Down (Hands Up)", "Relight My Fire (historical 1979 rmx)", and "Vertigo/Relight My Fire (progressive instrumental rmx)".

A smoking little set from DJ Kemit – done in that great old school mode we used to love – in which a hip producer gets vocal help from a range of key contemporary singers! Vocals here are from the best of the best – Eric Roberson, N'Dambi, Osunlade, Frank McComb, Lady Alma, Carl McIntosh, Choklate, and others – each of whom step in on a different track, and really help shade in the different flavors of the record! Kemit comes up with a different groove for each guest – often one that really helps show them at their best – and titles include "Digital Love", "You Don't Know", "Funky 8 Ball", "Inside Out", "Summers Night", "Spread Love", "Never Go Away", "Fortune Teller", and "I Was I Am".

Ronnie Dyson's standout set from the start of his career – a beautiful batch of Philly soul tunes that get some key help from the team of Thom Bell and Linda Creed! Bell produced and arranged part of the set – with other help coming from Stan Vincent and Billy Jackson – all of whom really get the right idea for Ronnie's amazing voice – and really help him find a way of stepping past his previous career on the stage! Some of the best cuts that mix of fragile and groovy that was really working at the time for harmony groups like The Delfonics or The Stylistics – a mode that takes Dyson far past his work in Hair, to a mode that has him almost doing better on his own than any other contemporaries from the show. The set features the sublime cuts "One Man Band", "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely", "I Think I'll Tell Her", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Give In To Love", "Girl Don't Come", "Love Of A Woman", and "Point Of No Return". CD is overflowing with bonus tracks too – singles that include "The Captain Of Your Soul", "Cup Runneth Over", "Lady In Red", "We Can Make It Last Forever", "Just A Little Love From Me", and "Life & Breath".

A great set from Bobby Womack's late 70s years at Columbia Records – one of our favorite records of this chapter in his career! Bobby's move to Columbia in the late 70s did a heck of a lot of good things to his music! At the label, he forged a strong mellow soul sound that still incorporated a lot of his roots and his strengths, but which was also a lot more forward-looking, and which helped Womack escape from some of the cliches of his later UA albums. In a way, his shift was similar to that of Johnnie Taylor at the label, and it's no surprise that the great Don Davis was at the helm – producing the record with a great blend of modern and deep soul modes. There's plenty of great guests, too, like Candi Staton, David Ruffin, and The Horny Horns – all of whom really help enrich the sound. Titles include "Trust Your Heart", "It's Party Time", "When Love Begins, Friendship Ends", "Caught Up In The Middle", "Never Let Nothing Get The Best Of You", and "Wind It Up". CD features 4 bonus tracks – "Wind It Up (single)", "Trust Your Heart (single)", "When Love Begins Friendship Ends (single)", and "Trust Your Heart (12" ext mix)".

A great look at one of the more modern sides of our fair city – a beautiful book that focuses on the Lake Shore Drive apartments of architect Mies Van Der Rohe! Mies had a huge influence on the city's look in the postwar years – and some of his most striking creations are a set of apartment buildings at the cusp of Lake Shore as it hugs the shore of Lake Michigan – beautifully modern buildings that still have a tremendous sense of form, style, and purpose all these many years later – captured here in an array of well-done black and white photographs that showcase the buildings inside and out. The book offers shots both inside and out, as well as architectural plans and other images too – and also features notes in German and English. 90 pages, hardcover, and done with a sharp sense of style!

Love the drums on this one – all skittish and snapping at the beginning – really setting the scene perfectly for the Afro Funk-styled horns that top off the tune and really set the tone! The track's like some lost Nigerian 45 from the 70s – and given excellent production to really suit the mood! "Ghost Walk" isn't nearly as spooky as it sounds – and has this amazing bassline that dips down in ways you wouldn't expect – kind of like The Meters, but as if they're messing themselves up a bit on purpose – all to set up a groove that's equally savage as the a-side, but completely different in sound!

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!

A late 70s dancefloor soul set from Mascara – an album and group that's notable for a number of reasons – most importantly for being a pre-solo star showcase for the great Luther Vandross! Mascara is an interesting international joint effort – with instrumental tracks recorded in Munich and the vocals in Englewood, NJ – co-produced by UK DJ Chris Hill. Luther is one of 3 lead singers along with Ula Hedwig and David Lasley. It's got an all purpose dancefloor groove to it that's hard to resist – and the singing by all three is really strong! Luther was on the verge of a massive breakthrough at this point, which was between his legendarily crucial work with Young Americans-era Bowie and the start of his great solo career. Speaking of Young Americans, Mascara's take on "Golden Years" is early in this set, which also includes the medleys "See You In LA" and "Jet Plane Ride", plus "If You Don't Want To Be In My Life", "I Feel So At Home Here" and "Comin' Home Baby". This first ever CD release includes 3 bonus tracks: "See You In LA (Radio Version)", "Jet Plane Ride (Radio Version)" and "It's Cool (Radio Version)".

An excellent set of some fairly out material – performed by Shorter with a group that includes Freddie Hubbard, Grachan Moncur, James Spaulding, Herbie Hancock, and a rare appearance by his brother Alan on flugelhorn! At times, the record builds into a sound that's freer and more challenging than on some of Shorter's other albums from the time – but it does so in more of the "new thing" mode that you'd hear on records from the time by Jackie McLean or Moncur, with an overall sense of purpose that really keeps the message clear. Features all original compositions by the Shorter brothers – and cuts include "Chaos", "Face Of The Deep", "Mephistopheles", and "Genesis".

Wonderful live work from the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble – just the kind of set needed to remind us that the group is still very much on track after all these years! The quartet makes some wonderful sounds under the leadership of percussionist Kahil El'Zabar – stretching out on long tracks that build with a strong sense of pulse and purpose, and which often avoid some of the overindulgent moments that could sometimes hurt the Ensemble's sound in years past. There's a really unified vibe going on here – possibly because the performance was being filmed for a DVD co-release – and alongside Kahil's earth drums, percussion, and kalimba, other instrumentation includes trumpet and flugelhorn from Corey Wilkes, alto and tenor from Ernest Dawkins, and guitar from Fareed Haque. Titles include "Major To Minor", "MT", "Hot N Heavy", "There Is A Place", and "Black As Vera Cruz".

A beautiful collaboration between pianist Elan Mehler and vocalist Adam McBride-Smith – the former a talent we've loved on previous albums for Gilles Peterson's Brownswood label, the latter a great singer we're hearing here for the first time! The album's got a laidback vibe that's very much like some of Mehler's previous work – organically soulful, but with a fragile undercurrent too – yet the presence of Adam's vocals also give it a bit more focus and strength – kind of a growing sense of purpose that really comes through in the well-penned lyrics – in weird ways that almost remind us of Dave Frishberg's classic Oklahoma Toad record, but given a contemporary Brooklyn twist. Other instrumentation includes some key acoustic basslines, plus drums, and a bit of tenor and accordion – on titles that include "The Hathaways", "Just To Clear My Head", "Get Me To The Station", "The New Breed", "Sad Mona", "Evensong", "Here On The Plains",a nd "Rake".

A great little box set of Syl Johnson sides from Numero's epic, jaw-droppingly far-reaching Complete Mythology package! The purpose here was not only put together a beautiful, more portable vinyl sampler of the amazing 6LP/4CD complete set, they also did it to represent the breadth of Syl's soul genius and mastery of a range of styles over years. Honestly, we can't imagine how difficult it must have been to pick standout tracks to feature here, but however many blood-vessels in the brain they must have busted to choose the best, it delivers perfectly. Packaged in a white box that's sealed with custom Syl Johnson craft tape! "Do You Know What Love Is" b/w "The Love I Found in You", "My Funky Band" b/w "Sockin’ Soul Power", "Double Whammy" b/w "Wiggle In Your Hips", "Right On" b/w "Pt. 2", "Try My Love Again" b/w "All I Need Is Someone Like You".

One of Elvin Jones' greatest records – a set that's quite different from both his work in the John Coltrane Quartet, and some of the powerhouse jazz sides he'd cut later as a solo act! The vibe here is a bit hard to describe, but it somehow comes together in the "midnight walk" of the title – as there's a pulsating rhythm to many of the numbers – one that comes partly from the record's great use of Dollar Brand on piano on some cuts. But other players are great, too – and there's some wicked electric piano work from Steve James – who really gives a few tracks a sinister edge – plus tenor from Hank Mobley, trumpet from Thad Jones, and added percussion from George Abend. Titles include "Midnight Walk", "HM On FM", "The Juggler", "All Of Us", and "Cross Purpose". A great album, and a real lost treasure from the Atlantic back catalog!

One of Elvin Jones' greatest records – a set that's quite different from both his work in the John Coltrane Quartet, and some of the powerhouse jazz sides he'd cut later as a solo act! The vibe here is a bit hard to describe, but it somehow comes together in the "midnight walk" of the title – as there's a pulsating rhythm to many of the numbers – one that comes partly from the record's great use of Dollar Brand on piano on some cuts. But other players are great, too – and there's some wicked electric piano work from Steve James – who really gives a few tracks a sinister edge – plus tenor from Hank Mobley, trumpet from Thad Jones, and added percussion from George Abend. Titles include "Midnight Walk", "HM On FM", "The Juggler", "All Of Us", and "Cross Purpose". A great album, and a real lost treasure from the Atlantic back catalog!

One of Syreeta's deepest albums ever – proud, bold, and wonderfully righteous throughout – filled with a sense of message and purpose that was quite rare for Motown at the start of the 80s! Syreeta's really tapped back into that wonderful energy that made her so great when first working with Stevie Wonder – a warm, jazzy glow that suits her unique vocals perfectly – and which is shaped to perfection here by producers Richard Perry, Hal Davis, and Jerry Peters! The album's got a few funky groovers that are definitely Motown circa 1980, but its best moments are the mellower ones – which hit a Minnie Riperton-like quality that's mighty nice. Sheree Brown sings with Syreeta on a few cuts – and titles include "Blame It On The Sun", "Let Me Be The One", "Love Fire", "Here's My Love", and "You Bring Out The Love In Me" – plus "Please Stay" and "One More Time For Love", both duets with Billy Preston.

Glorious power pop from South London – driving work from the Exits! The spectre of early Elvis Costello hovers over The Exits, particularly in the vocal department – but the uber catchy hooks and buzzing guitars have more of an all purpose sheen. Strong stuff from the power pop underground of the end of the 70s! 13 tracks in all: "The Fashion Plague", "Cheam", "Fool To Fall In Love", "Holiday Shots", "We Broke Up Today", "School Of Intrigue", "Index Linked", "Mood Walk", "Revolt Into Style", "This Toytown Word", "Chantelle" and more.

A career-spanning anthology of the legendary Yellowman – the Jamaican deejay whose longevity against all odds is nearly as surprising as the top notch quality of his best recordings – many of which you can find here! Yellowman's better known in some circles for being a pioneer, for better or worse, in a more sexually explicit lyricism – for good reason – but he's such a charismatic performer that he deserves to be better known for his style than his words. Lots of great material here, and a good deal of it is quite timeless! 40 tracks on 2CDs: "Mad Over Me", "Shorties", "Lost Mi Love", "Mister Chin", "Out Of Hand", "Death Of Barnabas", "Them A Fight I", "Night Flight", "Top Form", "Duppy Or A Gunman", "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng", "Galong Galong Galong", "Gregory Free", "King And Queen" and "Jah Mek Us Fi A Purpose" with Sister Nancy, "Mr. Wong", "Herbman Smuggling", "Water Rock" and "Bam Bam" with Fathead, "Bunn The Kutchie", "Blueberry Hill" and more. 40 tracks on 2CDs – plus the DVD Live At Sunsplash 1988!

A far reaching batch of classic and rare mod, R&B and other swinging London sounds of the mid-to-late 60s – with a few big names, but heavy on hard-to-find treasures – selected by Paul Weller! Weller, of course, has been the one of the greatest living embodiments of these sounds from the 70s onward, so you know you're in great hands for the tracklist – and there's a heck of lot of material here! It's mostly British mod and it's completely great, with classics that made a huge impact and lesser known gems that deserve a greater audience. Classic stomping groovers from The Spencer Davis Group, The Arthur Brown Set, The Bats, The Soul Purpose, Barbara Ruskin, The In Crowd, The Mojos, Ray Singer, The Picadilly Line, John's Children, Episode Six and many more. 80 tracks on 3CDs! "Looking Back" by Spencer Davis, "I Don't Need Your Kind" by The Rockin Vickers, "Done Me Wrong" by The Couriers, "Broken Truth" by A Wild Uncertaintly, "Looky, Looky" by The Brothers Grimm, "Kangaroo" by Hoagy Benson, "Reviewing The Situation" Jacki Bond, "No Good Without You" by The Birds, You Can't Be Serious" by The Mirage, "Jak D'Or" by Episode Six and many more/

The third and perhaps best album yet for Swiss beatcrafter and all around soundscape adventurer Dimlite! To date, Dimlite has colored from as broad of a sonic palette as just about anyone in the contemporary electronic scene – taking cues from classic art rock and experimental pop, psych and jazz, the sound that's not easy to pin down or predict where it will go next. It's also insistently engaging at all times, and feels purposefully hypnotic from for first second of each track. The beats are pretty heavy for the most part, too, often surround by bubbling synth and thick bass for a something of a future funk vibe. Includes "You Very Rich Believer", "Pour Some Blood, We Got This", "Blur, Blur, Blur, Blur, Blur", "Healing A Random Tyrant", "New, Better Pain", "Yes, Welcome", "Than Them", "Fridge Note", "One Of Uh Infinity's Countless Uh Tiny Cycles", "Heroine Roof" and more.

Cali mic veteran Planet Asia – paired up producer Gensu Dean! A tight, purposefully trend-skirting collaborative effort from a duo concerned with making high quality music that'll stand the test of time. Tracks include "Thoroughest", "Bar Mitzvah", "Chochise", "Faces O The Dollar", "Chuck Berry" feat Shawn Pen, "Listen", "Reflections", "Thyself" with David Banner & Tragedy Khadafi, "Do What I Want" with Larina & Washey Choir and more.

The second album from underappreciated metal progenitors Sir Lord Baltimore – Brooklyn's entry in the blueprints of heavy rock – not quite as brawny as their Kindom Come, but with a more purposeful sense of groove! How is this band not a staple of classic hard rock radio? Ridiculous, that. Titles include the 11 minute "Man From Manhattan" plus "Where Are We Going", "Chicago Lives", "Loe And Behold", "Woman Tamer" and "Caesar LXXI".

Number in the excellent Electro series of compilations on the UK Street Sounds imprint, a great batch of prototypical hip hop and beeping electronic funk from the days when this stuff looked like the sound of the future, and for all intents and purposes practically was! Nothing but classic early and mid 80s numbers with snapping synthesized production, this volume features 9 numbers in all, including "It's Time To Rock" by Great Peso & Mr Nasty, "Fast Life" by Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde, "Techno Scratch" by the Knights of the Turntables, "Egypt, Egypt" by the Egyptian Lover, "Breakers Revenge" by Arthur Baker, "Captain Rock To The Future Shock" by Captain Rock, "Release Yourself" by Aleem, "The Buck Stops Here" by Fantasy Three, and "B Boys Breakdance" by the High Fidelity Three.

Amazing! One of the few rare records cut by Bill Dixon during the 60s, and a perfect example of "new thing" jazz in action. Trumpeter Dixon plays in 3 different ensembles – a nonet, a quintet, and a duet – with players like Byard Lancaster, Reggie Workman, Robert Pozar, and Jimmy Garrison. The tracks are long, with an approach that begins with compositional structures, but which also showcases the avant solo talents of the players – in a manner that's similar to some of the Blue Note work by Anthony Williams or Grachan Moncur III. A darn tough record to find – and with the tracks "Voices", "Nightfall Pieces I & II", and "Metamorphosis".