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George Jones in one of his most classic periods – singles he cut with producer Pappy Daily for United Artists from the early-to-mid 60s – and some of the greatest barroom laments and rave up honky tonk treasures ever! Producer Pappy Daily frames the inherent sorrow, boozy slur and sly pug attitude of The Possum's voice with near-perfect backing of solid waltz patterns, laid down by session legends like Pig Robbins, Grady Martin and Billy Strange – along with effective, ghostly choruses by The Jordanaires. Classics and relatively forgotten gems alike – including "The Race Is On", "She Thinks I Still Care", "Magic Valley", "Big Fool Of The Year", "My Tears Are Overdue", "Your Heart Turned Left (And I Was On The Right)", "Brown To Blue", "Wrong Number", "Least Of All", "World's Worst Lover", "A Good Old Fashioned Cry" and many more. 32 in all!

One of our favorite Ray Barretto albums of the 60s – a real gem from the pre-Latin Soul years! The album's a clear attempt to cash in on the cash in on the James Bond craze of the time – issued by United Artists, who were releasing the Bond films, but also had Ray under contract during the period too. But despite that simple gimmick, it's a great little set – with a quality level that goes way beyond Bond soundtracks, or the usual from Barretto at the time! The tracks are all hard and groovy, with an excellent jazz feel – and some killer arranging from Ray that's right up there with the work he did for his legendary Charanga Moderna album! You may recognize the song titles – but their versions here are superb, and the album's filled with many many wonderful moments that step out with mad rhythms and great jazzy touches. Titles include "Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", "OO7", "Search For Vulcan", "Thunderball", and "Goldfinger". Nice "spy" shot of Ray on the cover, too!

15 classic tracks from Brass Construction – featuring mid 70s tunes lifted from the group's well-selling albums on United Artists! The tracks are a blend of disco, soul, and funk – with more than a bit of the horn-heavy groove that earns the group their "brass construction" name. Titles include "Movin", "Good News", "Changin", "What's On Your Mind", "Walkin The Line", "Ha Cha Cha (Funktion)", "Give & Take", "Help Yourself", "LOVEU", and "The Message".

A classic set that goes "slam" from the very first note – and which helped to set the pace for countless ensemble funk acts to come! Brass Construction had a wonderful sound that was the best-realized version of the east coast indie club combos of the mid 70s – funky at the bottom, but polished at the top, in a style that was equally appreciated by fans of disco and more classic funky soul! The "brass" in their title was certainly strongly supported – as the group used a brace of horns on the top of the mix, smoothly gliding over the choppier rhythms at the bottom. And while there's certainly some vocals on the set, they often take second stage to the tight instrumentation of the group! The set includes the classic "Movin" – virtually a blueprint for mainstream funk at the time – plus the tracks "Changin", "Love", "Talkin", "Dance", and "Peekin".

The second album from Brass Construction – heavy horns, basslines, and stellar dancefloor grooves – a stone classic! The first one was totally great, but they cast a wider stylistic claim on II – their trademark funky sound is still very firmly in place, but they bring more to the plate. The rhythms and percussion have a more globally steeped flare at points on the album, and there's a more smoldering, slightly mellower vibe on some tracks, without sacrificing the funk. The whole thing's fused together wonderfully – with the larger group moving with the energy a much smaller combo – and titles include "Sambo", "Screwed", "Get To The Point", "What's On Your Mind", and "Now Is Tomorrow".

Post-Blues Magoos work by the team of Joey Stec and Ralph Scala – both of whom bring a lot of the late Magoos energy to these sides originally recorded for United Artists in the early 70s! The work's got a blend of blues, rock, and soul influences – all done with more proficiency than the early Magoos sides, but still rough and raw enough to keep their core interests shining through. Titles include "Don't Blame Me", "Loving You More", "Give Me Love", "Get It Get It", "I Take What I Want", "I've Got No Time", and "Baby Don't Cry".

The creepy creepy soundtrack to Carrie – penned by Pino Donagio with a wonderful mix of the sweet and the sickly! Things start out lush, almost romantic at points – setting us up for a big fall as the darker, more horrific moments come into the mix – put together with some great atonal orchestrations that almost feel like they were lifted from Italian films of the time – getting increasingly dramatic as the story moves on! There's also a few proto-disco numbers that offer a nice respite – almost funky club numbers that were most likely used in the high school dance scene – and this CD debut of the music was remastered entirely from the master tapes, and brings together all the music in the correct film order – with bonus tracks too. Titles include the vocal numbers "Born To Have It All" and "I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone Like Me" – plus "Carrie Returns Home", "Carrie & Miss Collins", "The Principal's Office/The Ashtray", "The Tuxedo Shop", and "The Retribution".

A pair of hip 70s albums from the team of Ferrante & Teicher – back to back on one CD! In A Soulful Mood is a surprisingly soulful set from the team of Ferrante & Teicher – filled with lush instrumentals that mix their piano-heavy technique with some seductive 70s grooves! George Butler heads up the record on production, and definitely draws from some of his best orchestrated jazz albums of the time – bringing in currents you might not normally expect from the aging pair – and, in a way, making the larger orchestrations more of the lead than the keyboards. Although we've also got to admit, F&T play some sweet Fender Rhodes at times – on titles that include great 70s soul covers – like "Love's Theme", "Break Up To Make Up", "You Are Everything", "I'm Stone In Love With You", and "Betcha By Golly Wow" – plus an original called "Hong Kong Soul Brother", which has a nice funky soundtrack vibe! Killing Me Softly is a set that's heavy on strings, but still has some of the nice punch you'd find in the best Ferrante & Teicher albums of the 70s – done in conjunction with producer George Butler, but still with some traces of the old days too! The piano is mostly acoustic, and arrangements often have that lush mode the duo used when a bit less pyrotechnic – but there's a few gently funky numbers that still round out the set nicely. Titles include "Ben", "Also Sprach Zarathustra", "Seesaw", "Night Sounds", "Try Again", and "Living Together Growing Together".

The title's a bit misleading – as the set's not exactly the stuff of hits – but it is a wicked collection of material that ZZ Hill recorded for United Artists Records in the early 70s – sublime southern soul, finally getting its due in this reissue package! Hill's style here owes a lot to some of the Memphis singers of the 60s – especially Otis Redding and Bobby Blue Bland, both of whom would be welcome references here – although ZZ's also stepping out strongly with his own bad self as well – putting in a bit more punch, and hipping things up for a 70s market that had southern soul audiences stretching way up north and out west too. There's also none of the blues modes that Hill adopted in later years – which is great if you've only heard his Malaco dates – and titles include "Bad Mouth & Gossip", "I Created A Monster", "I Don't Need Half A Love", "Ain't Nothing You Can Do", "Am I Groovin You", "Look What You've Done", "That Ain't The Way You Make Love", "Snap Your Fingers", "Can I Get A Witness", and "Dream Don't Let Me Down".

Snap your fingers to a pair of great albums by ZZ Hill for United Artists! The Best Thing That's Happened To Me is one of his best of ZZ's albums – recorded with a really tight down-home feel, and a style that's maybe even a bit more straight southern soul than some of his albums on smaller labels! Arrangements are by Arthur Wright, and they've got lots of warm touches that really work perfectly with ZZ's vocals – pushing the whole album to a top-shelf level, and making it a lost treasure of southern soul that we'd rank with the best of the genre from the time! Titles include "Your Love Makes Me Feel Good", "Cause I Love You", "Friendship Only Goes So Far", "You Were Wrong", and "I've Got To Get You Back". ZZ is more standout l – another of the few albums he cut for United Artists in the early 70s, all of them great! The set's got a really tight tight feel – recorded at Fame Studios with a warm and lean style that pushes ZZ past the blusier roots of earlier sides, into a completely on top 70s southern soul sort of approach. The backing group is filled with great instrumentalists, the songs are all fresh and without cliché, and ZZ himself really steps up with some incredibly well-placed vocals. Titles include "You're Killing Me", "The Best I Ever Had", "Clean Up America", "It Ain't Safe", and "Let Them Talk".

An amazing version of this one – the core soundtrack really expanded with a lot of extra from the film, not just the record – and presented here as a 2CD set with loads of extra source music, alternate takes, and cues as well! The core version of Happy Ending is a real slice of genius from Michel Legrand – one of his brilliant late 60s soundtracks, not as well remembered as, but cut during the same period as The Thomas Crown Affair. The soundtrack is probably best remembered for the incredible theme "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" – sung here in 2 versions by Michael Dees, and also served up in a nice instrumental take as well. But overall, the whole record is pretty darn great – not as out and out groovy as some of Legrand's other work, but with a great mix of moody, jazzy, and atmospheric – handled with some really great instrumental touches that are all Legrand, all the way! Titles include "Smooth Sailing", "Collage", "Diamonds Are Forever", "Floating Time", "Hurry Up N Hurry Down", and "Whistle While You Swing". 2CD version features all the material unearthed for that very limited MGM box set a few years ago, a total of 48 tracks in all – with other gems that include "Soft Sell", "Till Death Do Us Part/That Trapped Feeling", "Bahama Blues", "The Stripper", "Reconciliation", and "It Ought To Be Forever".

Perfect pivotal Bobby! The record still has the raspy southern soul edge of earlier albums, but it benefits from some great smooth funky backing, laid down at Muscle Shoals with a host of legendary studio giants like Clayton Ivey, Roger Hawkins, Jimmy Johnson, and Truman Thomas. Includes killer funky stepper "You're Welcome, Stop On By", which has been sampled and covered many times over the years – plus "I Don't Wanna Be Hurt By Ya Love Again", "Let It Hang Out", "Lookin For A Love", "Doing It My Way", and "Don't Let Me Down".

Killer 70s work from Bobby Womack – reinventing himself here in a great style that keeps all the warmth and soulfulness of his Minit recordings, and gives it a healthy dose of 70s soul production – creating a sweet new groove that pushed Womack into a huge new audience at the time! Bobby strikes a perfect balance here – keeping things hip, but also tightening things up too – yet never by getting too smooth or too commercial. The result is a great batch of tracks that includes classics like "I Can Understand It", "Woman's Gotta Have it", and "Harry Hippy" – as well as a nice version of "Sweet Caroline", and Jimmy Lewis' great "Got To Get You Back".

A stone classic from the legendary Hawkwind – a set that's steeped in all their best space rock modes of the 70s – yet which also has a wonderfully sharp sort of focus too! Keyboards, guitars, and drums soar to the skies right from the start – prefacing an intensity that so many others would later cop from the group, but never get this right – quite possibly because the simple 70s production really helps bring all the best elements right down on the money! In ways, the set almost echoes earlier psych performance and production – yet there's also a cleaner, clearer vibe going on – one that magically steps around the overindulgence of prog and the thinness of some of the later psych of the next decade. Titles include "The Demented Man", "Magnu", "Standing At The Edge", "Warriors", "Kings Of Speed", and "The Wizard Blew His Horn". CD features the bonus cut "Motorhead" – another start of a legend!

Incredible work – 2 of Bobby Womack's best albums ever in one set! Understanding is killer 70s work from Bobby – reinventing himself here in a great style that keeps all the warmth and soulfulness of his Minit recordings, and gives it a healthy dose of 70s soul production. The result is a great batch of tracks that includes classics like "I Can Understand It", "Woman's Gotta Have it", and "Harry Hippy" – as well as a nice version of "Sweet Caroline", and Jimmy Lewis' great "Got To Get You Back". On Communication, Bobby says thanks to Sly Stone on the back of the album cover – and it's clear that he's gotten a good dose of Sly's funky soul to kick things up a bit from earlier albums. Part of the record was cut in Muscle Shoals, and it's still got that rootsy southern style of Bobby's late 60s work – but there's also a slicker LA funk sound in the mix, with lots of electric guitar solos and funky electric keyboards. Features the righteous "Communication", plus "That's The Way I Feel About 'Cha", "Everything Is Beautiful", "Come L'Amore", and a monologue-heavy version of "Close To You" that's a bit on the Isaac Hayes tip. And hey, Pam Grier's on backup vocals, too!

2 classic albums of late 50s jazz – both showcasing the rich talents of players from Detroit! First up on the disc is the album Motor City Scene – recorded for United Artists under the leadership of Thad Jones in 1959. The set features Thad at his best – late 50s, and working with an excellent group of hometown players! The album's more open and rough than some of Thad's excellent Blue Note sides from the time – in a really great way, one that makes for the kind of session that you rarely get to hear from Thad. Other players include Tommy Flanagan, Al Grey, Paul Chambers, Elvin Jones, and the great Billy Mitchell – whose tenor work on Jones' albums from the time is worth the price of admission alone! Titles include "Like Old Times", "Minor On Top", "Let's Play One", and "No Refill". The next 5 tracks on the set are from a 1960 session for Bethlehem – also titled Motor City Theme, recorded under the leadership of Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams. The two of them groove nicely here with a sextet that includes guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer "Hey" Lewis (another name for Louis Hayes!) The band is very tight, and the tracks are long enough that everybody gets in some good licks on the solos. Titles include "Trio", "Philson", "Libeccio", and "Bitty Ditty". Way harder than most of the west coast sessions on Bethlehem too!

2 brilliant albums back to back on one CD – the complete recordings of the quintet co-led by trumpeter Kenny Dorham and alto saxophonist Jackie McLean! First up is Matador – an obscure United Artists album from 1962. The set is billed under the name of Kenny Dorham – and is one of his more far-reaching efforts, with the expansive compositional style that he started bringing to some of his Blue Note work of the early 60s. The record features a group with Jackie McLean on alto, Bobby Timmons on piano, Teddy Smith on bass, and JC Moses on drums – all working with Kenny in a slightly Latin tinged mode that features some really shimmering trumpet work! The record features a stunning 3 part reading of McLean's haunting tune "Melanie" (done under his name on the album A Fickle Sonance) – plus the tracks "Prelude", "El Matador", "Smile", and "There Goes My Heart". Inta Somethin is from a year earlier – 1961 – and was first issued on Pacific Jazz – and the set is some of the most interesting early 60s work by both of the players! The group's co-led by Kenny Dorham and Jackie McLean, with rhythm backing by Walter Bishop Jr, Leroy Vinnegar, and Art Taylor. The quintet play a fiercely modernist approach to hardbop, in a style that's slightly more unbridled than some of their studio recordings, thanks to the live setting of the album – which was recorded at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco. Titles include "Us", "San Francisco Beat", "Lover Man", and "No Two People".

A monster from start to finish – not only the greatest album from War, but maybe one of the greatest mainstream funk albums of all time! The set's got a really unique groove – one that so many others tried to copy, but which was forged here first – in a wicked LA blend of Chicano funk, heavy organ lines, and soulful singing that sews the whole thing together perfectly. Just about every cut is upbeat and funky – rolling along at that low-rider pace that was War's lasting contribution to funk music – and the album features the huge hits "World Is A Ghetto" and "Cisco Kid", two of the brightest spots on radio funk from the 70s – plus classics like "Four Cornered Room", "City Country City", "Where Was You At", and "Beetles In The Bog". Features great bonus tracks too – previously unreleased "Ghetto Jam" numbers that are even more open and freewheeling than cuts on the album – titles that include "Freight Train Jam", "58 Blues", "War Is Coming (blues version)", and a sweet rehearsal take of "The World Is A Ghetto".

A very cool set! This one comes in a hardcover book-like package – and not only includes the main record, but two full other records as well! Across 110th Street is one of the best blacksploitation soundtracks of the early 70's – not only for the great title cut by Bobby Womack, "Across 110th Street", but for the excellent hard-hitting instrumentals by J.J. Johnson, which are perfectly in the groove of the blacksploitation generation! Lots of wah-wah guitar, funky keys, and tight riffing by the band – especially on the cuts "Harlem Clavinette", "Hang On in There", and "Harlem Love Theme". Also features "Do It Right" and another vocal version of "Hang On In There", both by Bobby. Facts Of Life features Bobby Womack at the height of his powers – perfectly balancing southern soul roots and 70s soul polish – with an amazing sound that was unlike anyone else at the time! The set was recorded at Muscle Shoals, but has a quality that goes way beyond any of the standard modes from the studio – almost as if Bobby brought a special sort of magic to the sessions that made everyone rise above the sometimes too-familiar work they were giving to the bigger names who were traipsing through the studio. Of course, a big part of the success of the album comes from Womack's amazing vocal delivery – that style that's raspy, yet warm – and which is a perfect fit for the well-penned tunes on the set. Titles include "I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You", "Nobody", "If You Can't Give Her Love Give Her Up", and a very cool version of "The Look Of Love". Looking For A Love Again is perfect pivotal Bobby! The record still has the raspy southern soul edge of earlier albums, but it benefits from some great smooth funky backing, laid down at Muscle Shoals with a host of legendary studio giants like Clayton Ivey, Roger Hawkins, Jimmy Johnson, and Truman Thomas. Includes killer funky stepper "You're Welcome, Stop On By", which has been sampled and covered many times over the years – plus "I Don't Wanna Be Hurt By Ya Love Again", "Let It Hang Out", "Lookin For A Love", "Doing It My Way", and "Don't Let Me Down".

Soaring grooves and mellow moments – a perfect blend of 70s soul styles, summed up here beautifully by Enchantment! The album's one of the group's greatest – and certainly one that's been very well-remembered around these parts – thanks to some rock-solid arrangements from Johnny Allen, who almost brings an indie soul vibe to the whole set – while still putting the whole thing together at a totally top-shelf level too! The harmonies are wonderful – especially on the ballads, like "Gloria" and "Sunshine" – and other tracks include "Sexy Lady", "Come On & Ride", "Thank You Girl For Loving Me", and "Dance To The Music". CD features 6 bonus tracks – "Come On & Ride (single)", "Hold On (single)", "Gloria (single)", "Dance To The Music (single)", "Sunshine (single)", and "Hold On (12" disco)".

Sparkling work from singer Irene Kral – and possibly the best album she ever cut! The backings here are by the Herb Pomeroy group – a slightly modern ensemble that still knows how to swing with a good dose of Boston soul – and the overall feel of the album's a lot more forceful than some of Irene's other albums, packing a punch we didn't know she had, and which we're happy to hear! There's a few cooler overtones here – somewhat in the June Christie mode – but overall the sound is upbeat, full, and swinging – served up with in arrangements by Ernie Wilkins and Al Cohn. Titles include "This Little Love", "What's Right For You", "Comes Love", "Lazy Afternoon", "I'd Know You Anywhere", and "It Isn't So Good".

Material recorded in Puerto Rico during Tito's tour of the country in 1962. The tracks aren't live, but they are some lively studio work by Tito and crew, played in their best early 60s style. Titles icnlude "Cuando, Cuando", "Chevere", "Untate En Mi", "Mango Del Monte", "Fiesta Du Besos", and "Una Vez Mas".

The Ike & Tina Turner Revue shakes the foundation at Carnegie Hall on April Fools Day, 1971! There's a good reason for there being so many live albums by Ike & Tina – it's because they're damn great on stage – and this NYC set is a strong showcase for The Ikettes and The Kings Of Rhythm, too! The group was riding a peak wave of popularity around this time, and they cover a wide variety of songs in a set that's masterfully-paced – starting out slow and building up intensity as it goes! Titles include the Ikettes-led "Piece Of My Heart" and "Everyday People", the thunderous Tina intro "Doin' The Tina Turner", "Sweet Soul Music", "Proud Mary", "I Smell Trouble", "Ike's Tune", "I Want To Take You Higher", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Respect" and more.

A monster from start to finish – not only the greatest album from War, but maybe one of the greatest mainstream funk albums of all time! The set's got a really unique groove – one that so many others tried to copy, but which was forged here first – in a wicked LA blend of Chicano funk, heavy organ lines, and soulful singing that sews the whole thing together perfectly. Just about every cut is upbeat and funky – rolling along at that low-rider pace that was War's lasting contribution to funk music – and the album features the huge hits "World Is A Ghetto" and "Cisco Kid", two of the brightest spots on radio funk from the 70s – plus classics like "Four Cornered Room", "City Country City", "Where Was You At", and "Beetles In The Bog".

Two very groovy 60s soundtracks – back to back, and both appearing on CD for the first time ever! First up is Divorce American Style – a nice little soundtrack written by Dave Grusin for this dark and depressing 60s comedy that starred Dick Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds! Grusin's score is extremely well-written – as great on the mellow and sad moments as it is on the more upbeat ones – almost going into Neal Hefti territory with its rich array of blue notes and understated jazzy phrasing – really great sounds from the budding young jazz talent! And sure, there's still a few nice groovers on the set that have a kitschy 60s feel – it wouldn't be a Dick Van Dyke film without them – and titles include "The Other Woman", "Before The Storm", "The Judgement", "Sudden Bachelor Blues", "Financial Counterpoint", "Tacos Por Uno Por Favor Jose", "The Scheme", "Sunday Fathers", and "Social Suburbia". Art Of Love is one of Cy Coleman's best records from the 60s – a swinging little soundtrack that's awash in all his best jazzy tendencies – the modes first honed up at the Playboy Penthouse, and expanded even more on a range of 60s scores! The film's a bit forgotten – a goofy 60s comedy starring Dick Van Dyke, James Garner, Elke Sommer, and Angie Dickenson – but the music lives on wonderfully, and has a jazzy flourish with a bit of kitsch – somewhere in the Mancini style of the 60s, but with some wonderful floating piano lines by Cy himself! Orchestrations are by Bob Bain and Russ Garcia – both very groovy talents – and titles include "Nikki", "Parisian Women", "So Long Baby", "Kick Off Your Shoes", and "Inspector Revisited".

A standout 60s soundtrack from the great Manos Hadjidakis – penned for a heist thriller from director Jules Dassin! The music follows slightly off the Dassin/Hadjidakis pairing on Never On A Sunday – using lots of familiar Greek elements, but moving these into more complicated film score modes as well – particularly on some of the cool mood-setting numbers you'd find in a heist film of this vintage – a surprisingly great setting for some of the more exotic moments in the music. There's plenty of bazuki in the mix, and some nice percussion too – and titles include "Meet Hans", "Istanbul", "Meet Arthur Simpson", "Main Title", "On The Road", and "The Road To Riches". CD features some bonus tracks too!

A great soundtrack for a pretty darn obscure film – the third appearance of Inspector Clouseau, filmed after A Shot In The Dark and The Pink Panther, but featuring Alan Arkin in the title role, instead of Peter Sellers! The score is by Ken Thorne, and is quite different from more familiar Mancini moments from Panther films – a bit more whimsical overall, with a nice range of off-kilter instrumentation! Some tunes are groovy, others have an exotic flair – and overall, the soundtrack's a wonderfully strong effort – every bit as great as Ken Thorne's other few classics from the 60s. Titles include "Why Don't You Go" – a Brit Invasion-styled vocal track – plus "Bossa Nova", "Car Chase", "Fitting The Mask", "Don't Go", "March", "Lindt Vans", and "Water Ballet & End Titles".

One of the most striking albums ever recorded by Denny Zeitlin – the dark soundtrack to this late 70s remake of the horror classic Invasion Of The Body Snatchers! There's a very minimal use of electronics on the record, combined with some wonderful orchestrations from Zeitlin – very dark and turgid, with some orchestral touches that are very off-beat – almost electronic sounding themselves! Titles include "The Reckoning", "Escape To Darkness", "Flight", "On The Streets", "Angel Of Death", and "Rescue". CD features notes and photos, plus a bonus interview!

Not just the Cinematic Orchestra – but a set that features work from other artists too – all in a beautifully evocative set of soundscapes that draws heavily from the collaboration, and which goes way beyond other previous work from the group! The sounds here are really united in a commitment to richly expressive modes – often working in a soundtracky style that lives up to the Cinematic promise – using strings on just about every track, but in these cool spare, stark ways that mix with the other instrumentation – and almost recall the glory of the first 4AD experiments in these modes from decades back. In addition to "Manhatta", "Entr'Acte", and "Necrology" by Cinematic Orchestra – the set also features "Lapis" by Austin Peralta, "Dream Work" and "Outer Space" by Dorian Concept & Tom Chant, and "Regen" by Gary Reverend.

A pretty great collection of work by Ike & Tina – with a strong focus on their harder-hitting sides! The set compiles tunes from the group's United Artists years, plus some other sides recorded for Liberty Records – and it's a really nicely done set that's pretty appealing to the kind of Ike Turner sounds that more recent soul and fans are digging. There's lots of less-familiar numbers on the set – with a total of 21 tracks that include "Doin It", "The Chopper", "Tell The Truth", "Bolic", "Baby", "Get You When I Want You", "Help Him", "Popcorn", "I Love Baby", "Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter", "I Wanna Jump", "Too Much Woman", and "I Love Baby".

A great album from Bobby – different than his earlier albums for United Artists, but in a good way – one that revives his whole career, and takes his sound into a whole new direction! The album's got a smooth soul finish with some touches of synth funk – produced by Bobby and Patrick Moten, who would later work together on the masterful Poet LP – and the contrast between the more modern arrangements and Bobby's raspy soul vocals works wonderfully! The mellow tracks are really great – with a tight, lightly funky sound bubbling under Bobby's wonderful vocals – and the album's got loads of nice cuts like "The Roads Of Life", "Give It Up", "The Roots In Me", "Honey Dripper Boogie", "How Could You Break My Heart", and "What Are You Doing".

A sprawling, double-sized set of Northern Soul singles – compiled by Richard Searling and with a focus on the pivotal mid 60s period – from the vaults of labels/imprints both big and small! It's got great singles issued at the time on Roulette, Capitol, United Artists, Sue, Veep, Minit, Liberty and more – mostly from '65-'68 – with some fairly famous names and comparably forgotten ones. Most of these tunes became rarities quite soon after they appeared – and it's s a massive set, too – with 50 tracks on 2CDs! Includes "Better Use Your Head" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, "Dance Dance Dance" by The Casualeers, "I'll Do Anything" by Doris Troy, "He Always Comes Back To Me" by Clydie King, "Movin' Away" by Kenny Lynch, "The Drifter" by Ray Pollard, "Breakout" by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, "My Dear Heart" by Shawn Robinson, River Of Tears" by by Barbara Banks, "She Blew A Good Thing" by The Poets, "I'm On My Way" by Dean Parrish and more.

A killer selection of rare soul tunes from the EMI catalog of the late 60s! The cuts on here originally appeared on labels like Liberty, Imperial, Capitol, and United Artists – and they're selected by Dean Rudland with a very strong UK soulboy vibe. There's loads of stuff on here that we've never ever seen on wax, and the quality of the compilation is extremely high. Titles include "Don't" by Marva Josie, "The Drifter" by Ray Pollard, "Love & Desire" by Patrice Holloway, "She Blew A Good Thing" by The Poets, "Looking For You" by Garnet Mimms, "Fortune Teller" by Benny Spellman, "Dance Dance Dance" The Casualeers, "Ski-ing In The Snow" by The Invitations, "Dr Love" by Bobby Sheen, and "Seven Days Too Long" by Chuck Woods.

Another in the great series of driving Northern greatness from Stateside – a MASSIVE batch of cuts from a scene so deep they can probably keep digging great ones up for decades and still never run dry! The set's the fourth in the Talcum series of compilations from EMI UK – featuring rare tracks pulled from EMI-owned labels like Capitol, Liberty, United Artists and other companies with names both well known and almost completely obscure – all of which cut some really great singles back in the 60s! Per usual, it's a treasure trove of tunes – many of which we've never heard until now! 26 tracks including "Please Don't Go" by Kathy & The Calenders, "Nothing Can Help You Now" by Lenny Curtis, "What Are You Trying To Do" by Irma Thomas, "World Without Sunshine" by Sandra Phillips, "He's Got The Nerve" by The True Tones, "Turn To Me" by Chris Towns Unit, "Help Me" by Honey & The Bees, "Movin' Away" by Kenny Lynch and lots more.

Another in the great series of driving Northern greatness from Stateside – a MASSIVE batch of cuts from a scene so deep they can probably keep digging great ones up for decades and still never run dry! The set's the fourth in the Talcum series of compilations from EMI UK – featuring rare tracks pulled from EMI-owned labels like Capitol, Liberty, United Artists and other companies with names both well known and almost completely obscure – all of which cut some really great singles back in the 60s! Per usual, it's a treasure trove of tunes – many of which we've never heard until now! 26 tracks including "Please Don't Go" by Kathy & The Calenders, "Nothing Can Help You Now" by Lenny Curtis, "What Are You Trying To Do" by Irma Thomas, "World Without Sunshine" by Sandra Phillips, "He's Got The Nerve" by The True Tones, "Turn To Me" by Chris Towns Unit, "Help Me" by Honey & The Bees, "Movin' Away" by Kenny Lynch and lots more.

One of the boldest, most righteous 70s statements from trumpeter Hannibal Marvin Peterson – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given his previous body of work! The set's cast in the same large ensemble mode as Hannibal's Children Of The Fire album – and like that one, it features an array of all-star players, all united in the trumpeter's rich vision – artists who include Deirdre Murray on cello, Billy Hart on drums, Michael Cochrane on piano, Art Webb on flute, and Pat Peterson on vocals! Tracks are long, and build with energy that's very much in the Strata East mode – a vibe that Hannibal didn't seem to have down this well in the earlier part of the 70s, but which he more than made up for at the end of the decade with a record like this. Titles include "Now Stand", "A Sacred Multitude", "Returning To The Ways", "Of Live & Love & God", and "The Tribe".

Patrick Adams picks the best of P&P Records – and the man definitely knows what he's doing – given that he was one of the "P's" in the label's name! The tunes here are heavy on those cool spaced-out grooves that Adams did so well – that wonderfully hip, and very underground style he used after an initial few years in more mainstream soul – the trademark imprint of P&P, and the reason why the label's tunes have gone onto influence so many others over the years! The grooves are all sublime – from quick-stepping moogy numbers, to mellower tracks that stretch out in this great sort of gentle funk – all tied together with a united production aesthetic and lots of shared sympathies between the artists. Titles include "Dance Dance Dance" by Marta Acuna, "Jump Jump Jump" by The Musicmakers, "God's Greatest Gift To Man Is Woman" by Margie Lomax, "God Save & Protect All The Children" by Margo Williams, "The Guardian Angel Is Watching Over Us" by Golden Flamingo Orchestra – and "Flying High", "Disco Juice", "Happy Music", and "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By" by Cloud One.

A beautiful collection of all the great and rare material Eddie Holland cut as solo singer in the late 50s and early 60s – including the incredible early Motown material, plus tracks he cut for Mercury, Kudo, Tamla and United Artists! Of course Eddie Holland is best remembered for uber-legendary work as producer, composer and arranger with the Holland-Dozier-Holland super soul unit – for damn good reason, but it's his early work as singer is way too strong to be considered a mere footnote to his greater legacy. Many of the cuts were written and produced by Berry Gordy, along with numbers written and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, some recorded more famously by later acts, so what you truly have here is the foundation for great things to come – it's beautiful stuff that shines brightly in its own light. Eddie's a solid singer and the songs are terrific, formative stuff that's a pivotal bridge from earlier R&B to massive soul. 56 tracks on 2CDs: "Little Miss Ruby", "Will You Love Me", "Just A Few More Days", "It's Not Too Late", "Just Ain't Enough Love", "Brenda", "Baby Shake", "Magic Mirror", "If Cleopatra Took A Chance", "Action Speaks Louder than Words", "Bashful Kind", "Too Late To Cry", "Happy Go Lucky", "Pretty Little Angel Face", "Day Dreamer", "Rain And Thunder", "I Like Everything About You", "Happy Days" and many more. This set goes deeper than any compilation we've seen of Eddie's recordings, too, with a number of previously unissued Mercury recordings.

Three seminal late 70s albums from Bobby Womack – all wrapped up in a single package! Home Is Where The Heart Is is an exceptional album from Bobby Womack's years at Columbia Records – and a record that brings together smooth and roosty styles wonderfully! When Womack moved to Columbia, he was doing it at a time when a number of other older deep soul artists (Johnny Taylor, Betty Wright, Tyrone Davis) were making the shift – pulling their sound out of the indie ghetto, and going for a more sophisticated approach that expanded their style without dampening their spirit! In the case of Bobby, the shift was perhaps near perfect – as the raspy Womack vocals are still wonderfully in place, but the increasingly great choice of songs, warmer style of arrangements, and completely professional presentation of the material really helps push Bobby to the next level! Pieces is proof that 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 Bobby 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. Roads Of Life is a great album from Bobby – different than his earlier albums for United Artists, but in a good way – one that revives his whole career, and takes his sound into a whole new direction! The album's got a smooth soul finish with some touches of synth funk – produced by Bobby and Patrick Moten, who would later work together on the masterful Poet LP – and the contrast between the more modern arrangements and Bobby's raspy soul vocals works wonderfully! The mellow tracks are really great – with a tight, lightly funky sound bubbling under Bobby's wonderful vocals – and the album's got loads of nice cuts like "The Roads Of Life", "Give It Up", "The Roots In Me", "Honey Dripper Boogie", "How Could You Break My Heart", and "What Are You Doing".