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A positive, powerful set from the always-great Sheree Brown – a new recording, but one that sparkles just as much as her rare classics for Capitol Records at the start of the 80s! Like those gems, there's a blend of jazz and soul here that's really wonderful – a special sound that puts Sheree in the rare company of artists like Minnie Riperton or Patrice Rushen – able to embrace so many ideas at once, and turn them into a rich new groove of her own! Rushen actually helps out a bit on the record, as does Leon Ware – although the main production credits go to Brown herself, who only seems to have stepped up her game in these recent years. Great proof that the great ones still keep on keepin on, if given the chance – with titles that include "Messages From The Heart", "Time For The Party", "Just A Simple Love", "I Think I'm Gonna Pray", "Getting Started", "We Can Chance The World", and a bonus version of Minnie Riperton's "Inside My Love".

A wonderful album of breezy jazzy soul from the sweet voiced Sheree Brown! The record is one of two that Brown cut for Capitol, and it was produced by Richard Rudolph – husband and collaborator of the late Minnie Riperton – in the immediate years after Minnie's death, leading us to wonder if Rudolph was trying for another hit with a different female vocalist. This LP's got a bit of a Minnie Riperton-ish feel, but Sheree also brings a lot more to the session – including some nice guitar work, and a sophisticated soul style that's kind of in a Jean Carn mode. Features the wonderful jazzy stepper "It's A Pleasure", which has a compressed jazz funk groove, and bouncy vocals over the top. Other trakcs include "I Wanna Be By Your Side", "Happiness Flows", and "Everything You Do". Very nice stuff, and a lot harder to find than it should be!

One of the two beautifully sweet albums of soul that the lovely Sheree Brown cut for Capitol in the early 80s. This one has less of a smooth jazzy sound than her first one, but it compensates by adding some tracks in a nice 80s groove mode – pushing the sound a bit further than before. Sheree still sings lead with her fragile Minnie Riperton-esque voice, and she also plays a fair bit of acoustic guitar on the LP – and the LP features guest work by Syreeta, Stevie Wonder, and Patrice Rushen, all a perfect fit for Sheree's lightly jazzy style. Tracks include "On My Way Home", "Feels So Good", "Love Only Knows", "Got To Get Away", and "Happy Music".

A wonderful album from Linda Lewis – certainly one of her best from the early days, and a completely captivating mixture of soul, jazz, and rock that sparkles like Minnie Riperton's best work from the time! The album's got a sweet LA sound – with Linda's great vocals up front in the mix, and lots of nice touches on acoustic guitar, almost foreshadowing the later work Sheree Brown with some nicely jazzy undercurrents! Lewis' sound here is great – very unique, warm and sweet, with a quality that really makes her stand out from other artists of her generation. Tracks include "Lullabye", "Fathoms Deep", "I'm In Love Again", "Play Around", "Wise Eyes", "On The Stage", and "Goodbye Joanna". Includes some nice bonus tracks too – the classic groover "Sideway Shuffle", the track "Safe & Sound", and an acoustic demo of "Red Light Ladies".

There's a heck of a lot of great music here – a whopping 35 tracks of contemporary and vintage soul, all put together for the price of a regular single CD! The package is the latest in the excellent Luxury Soul series – based around artists who have worked the UK series of the same name – and who really come together here in a warm array of the best contemporary soul styles! There's plenty of Neo Soul numbers, a handful of classics, and a few more modern elements too – and titles include "I'm Not That Tough" by Ashford & Simpson, "Rubber Soul" by Live Tropical Fish with Omar, "Things That I Do" by Gianna, "Enough Is Enough" by Dennis Taylor, "Music & Love" by Victor Haynes, "Just A Simple Love" by Sheree Brown, "In The Meantime" by Johnny Britt, "Crystal Clear" by Howard Hewett, "Just Let Me Be Close To You" by Valentine Brothers, "I'll Come Running Back To You" by June Yamagishi with Bobby Womack, "So In Love" by Chapter 8, "Slow Down" by Al Olive, "Priority" by Kloud 9, "It's Just One Of Those Things" by Incognito, "I Want It" by Soul Talk, "Wake Up Everybody" by Eric Benet, and "Anything" by Angela Johnson.

Soulful luxury at a mighty nice price – 3CDs and 35 tracks of music from both the contemporary underground, and back in the day! The package is one of the best so far in this annual series – and like the others, it has a great way of turning up unusual numbers we might have missed otherwise – some subtle gems and overlooked sleepers, which makes the package as much of a place for new discovery as it is a musical bargain. Titles include "So Inspired" by Big Brooklyn Red, "Suddenly" by Adriana Evans, "On The Rebound" by Dave Appell & Friends, "When I Think Of You" by Holloway & John Whitehead, "Rise" by Beggar & Co, "Someday We'll All Be Free (Yam Who rmx)" by Diplomats Of Soul, "Just Like Me" by Junk Funk, "Major Bossa" by Khari Simmons, "Loving You" by Soul Talk, "Believe" by Lady Alma, "Blown Away" by Kevin Leo, "Time For The Party" by Sheree Brown, "Taste of Your Love" by Valentine Brothers, and "Dime" by Kloud 9.

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.

Soulful luxury at a mighty nice price – 3CDs and 35 tracks of music from both the contemporary underground, and back in the day! The package is one of the best so far in this annual series – and like the others, it has a great way of turning up unusual numbers we might have missed otherwise – some subtle gems and overlooked sleepers, which makes the package as much of a place for new discovery as it is a musical bargain. Titles include "So Inspired" by Big Brooklyn Red, "Suddenly" by Adriana Evans, "On The Rebound" by Dave Appell & Friends, "When I Think Of You" by Holloway & John Whitehead, "Rise" by Beggar & Co, "Someday We'll All Be Free (Yam Who rmx)" by Diplomats Of Soul, "Just Like Me" by Junk Funk, "Major Bossa" by Khari Simmons, "Loving You" by Soul Talk, "Believe" by Lady Alma, "Blown Away" by Kevin Leo, "Time For The Party" by Sheree Brown, "Taste of Your Love" by Valentine Brothers, and "Dime" by Kloud 9.

Volume two of this excellent series which mixes fusion and modern soul from the Capitol/EMI 70's catalog. 15 excellent tracks, most of which we sell for a bundle in the original (when we can find them!). Includes "It's a Pleasure" by Sheree Brown, "Before You Break My Heart" by Gene Dunlap, "Inside My Love" by Minnie Riperton, "Beggar For the Blues" by Patti Drew, "Tidal Wave" by Ronnie Laws, "Theme for Relana" by Gene Harris, "Nightfall" by Stradavarious, and "Sunshower" by Alphonse Mouzon. Plus, the CD also includes two totally rare funk tracks: "Expressway to Your Heart" by Margo Thunder, and "Windy C" by 100% Pure Poison.