A label-spanning collection that definitely offers up the best of this wonderful soul singer – plus loads of lesser-known gems as well! Bettye Swann may never have truly hit the big time in the late 60s – at least not in comparison to a contemporary like Aretha Franklin – but she was a hell of a deep soul singer who always gave her best, and who got set up with an excellent range of sessions on labels that include Fame, Atlantic, Capitol, and Money Records – all of which are featured here! Swann's got this badass way of putting over a lyric when she wants to – the deep soul grit that came from her time in the indie market – but she also grew to a new level of sophistication in the 70s, and moved past any of the southern soul cliches that so many artists were still clinging to – to emerge with a righteous power that's summed up in the cool cover image here! The set features a few new mixes of tracks from Bettye's Money label sessions – plus lots more tracks too – a total of 24 that include "Traces", "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Make Me Yours", "Our Love", "Don't Wait Too Long", "When The Game Is Played On You", "Kiss My Love Goodbye", "Time To Say Goodbye", "I'm Just Living A Lie", "Tell It Like It Is", "All The Way In Our All The Way Out", "Closed For The Season", and "I Think I'm Falling In Love". CD

A treasure trove of late 60s southern soul from the great Bettye Swann – 22 tunes cut for Capitol between 1968 and 1970 after she jumped from the indie Money Records! Sadly, the move didn't turn Bettye into the major star Capitol no doubt expected to arise – and these fantastic tracks were largely unappreciated at the time. This release marks the very first worthy issue of most of this material, thanks to Honest Jon's – who did a similarly wonderful job rescuing some of the best material ever recorded by Bettye's contemporary Candi Staton! There's an achingly great southern soul feel to these tunes, which range from fragile soul ballads with sweet harmonies to poundingly righteous stompers. The feel is just loose enough, with roomy arrangements that leave plenty of space for Bettye's sweet vocals, but still with the ability to tighten up and pound at the crack of a whip! Masterful lost soul – and a joy to experience with a reverent reissue! Tracks include "Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me?)", "I'm Lonely For You", "Don't Touch Me", "Little Things Mean A Lot", "No Faith No Love", "Ain't That Peculiar", "Tell It Like It Is", "Today I Started Loving You Again" and lots more! CD

Tremendous work from a singer who's hardly ever gotten her due – the great Bettye Swann, an artist who mostly recorded in less-than-hit territory in the 60s and 70s – but who turned out some wonderful work that really stands the test of time! The cuts here are all from Bettye's earliest stretch in the studio – sides cut for LA's Money Records which make strong use of her deep soul inflections, but also have this poise and polish you might not expect – almost uptown soul at times, given the quality that went into the arrangements and production, which wasn't always the case with the Money label. In fact, there's some killer gems on here that might easily rival the best Motown female soul of the time – especially their solo acts – while others would have been right at home in the Atlantic Records stable, too. CD features a few big hits – like "Don't Wait To Long" and "Make Me Yours" – plus lots more rare singles and album tracks, and even some unissued takes too! Other titles include "I Will Not Cry", "What Is My Life Coming To", "Our Love", "Don't Look Back", "The Dance Is Over", "What Can It Be", "Don't Wait Too Long", and "The Heartache Is Gone". CD

Tremendous work from a singer who's hardly ever gotten her due – the great Bettye Swann, an artist who mostly recorded in less-than-hit territory in the 60s and 70s – but who turned out some wonderful work that really stands the test of time! The cuts here are all from Bettye's earliest stretch in the studio – sides cut for LA's Money Records which make strong use of her deep soul inflections, but also have this poise and polish you might not expect – almost uptown soul at times, given the quality that went into the arrangements and production, which wasn't always the case with the Money label. In fact, there's some killer gems on here that might easily rival the best Motown female soul of the time – especially their solo acts – while others would have been right at home in the Atlantic Records stable, too. Titles include "Don't Wait To Long", "Make Me Yours", "I Will Not Cry", "Our Love", "Don't Wait Too Long", "The Dance Is Over", "What Can It Be", "Don't Take My Mind", and "The Heartache Is Gone". LP, Vinyl record album

Southern soul galore – a wonderful range of tracks that are done in that best deep soul mode that borrowed heavily from country music – but also really transformed things to fit their own righteous needs! Make no mistake, the collection is all soul music all the way through – but the songs also echo some of the more heartbreaking themes and local needs you'd find in country music – and also use some isolated elements in the instrumentation and production too! The best way to think of the package is as a collection of southern soul, but one that shows a surprising lack of color barrier when it comes to musical styles – and as always with Ace/Kent, the notes and overall conception of the whole thing is really wonderful. 24 tracks in all – including "Easy Loving" by Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis, "Big Blue Diamonds" by Little Johnny Taylor, "I Hang My Head & Cry" by Arthur Alexander, "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road" by Percy Sledge, "Touch Your Woman" by Margie Joseph, "Who Will The Next Fool Be" by Bobby Bland, "Stand By Your Man" by The Mirettes, "Till I Get It Right" by Bettye Swann, "Another Man's Woman Another Woman's Man" by Laura Lee, and "Jambalaya" by Ralph Soul Jackson. CD

Stormin soul – and a killer set of upbeat 60s numbers! The package was put together for the UK mod scene, but it's a great batch of American tracks from the classic years of soul – not really Northern, not really southern – but kind of a hard-swinging approach to the music that makes for a really lively package overall! The set's got 20 tracks in all, all thumpin, bumpin, and gruntin-type numbers – with titles that include "Do The Whoo Pee" by Sugar Pie Desanto, "Lay This Burden Down" by Mary Love, "Make Me Yours" by Bettye Swann, "I Keep Forgetting" by Chuck Jackson, "I've Got Papers On You Baby" by BB King, "Hole in The Wall" by George Stone, "Have Love Will Travel" by Richard Berry & The Pharoahs, "Keep My Woman Home" by Danny White, "Mama Julie" by Terry & Jerry, and "I Got A Woman" by Billy Hawks. CD

A treasure trove of soul from LA's mighty Money Records – home to some of the best indie singles on the west coast at the end of the 60s! The work here really runs the gamut of hip styles from the time – and includes group soul, Northern groovers, and even a bit of funk too – packaged together beautifully by the folks at Kent Records, who make this third volume sparkle every bit as strongly as other volumes in their Money Records series! There's an equal mix of male and female singers on the set, and the package features not only rare 45s on Money and related labels, but also a few unissued cuts as well – making the whole thing essential to own, even if you've got a pile of rare Money singles at home. Titles include "Girl You're So Fine" by Bobby Angelle, "Give Back Your Lovin" by Don Trotter, "The Skate" by The Larks, "If She Wants To Go" by Choice Of Colors, "I'll Give My Love To You" by Eric Williams, "You Got Me Dizzy" by Bobby Angelle, "Don't Take My Mind" by Bettye Swann, "Put Your Weight On It (part 2)" by Filmore Street Soul Rebellions, "Doin The Thing" by Question Marks, "Open Up Your Eyes" by The M&Ms & The Peanuts, "Why'd You Put Me On" by Bobbi Row & The Englishmen, "Sad & Blue" by The Mysteries, "Speak To Me In Your Soulful Way" by Hank Jacobs & The TKOs, and even "Hard Times Are Coming" by an Unknown Duo! CD

A great entry in this wonderful series – a set that's full of rare 7" singles from the late 60s and early 70s, but with a vibe that's very different than other collections of this nature! As with previous volumes, the sound is warm and uplifting – not heavy funk or deep soul, but tunes that soar and glide on soulful energy – showcasing a few early modern soul elements that were years ahead of their time, and often using just the right sort of production and arrangements to really expand the sound of a singer or harmony vocal group! The whole thing's wonderful – fantastic rare soul listening all the way through – and titles include "Can't Forget About You Baby" by Marian Love, "I Believe In Miracles" by Mark Capanni, "Standing In The Way" by Charles Williams, "The Game Is Over" by Brown Sugar, "Too Late" by Tavares, "Get Involved" by George Soule, "My Heart Is Closed For The Season" by Bettye Swann, "How Can I Go On Without You" by Corey Blake, "Reason To Survive" by Rance Allen Group, "You Had It Made" by Freddie Terrell & Blue Rhythm Band, and "Oh Mama" by CM Lord. CD

Classic tracks from one of the greatest songwriting teams in soul music during the 60s and 70s – the legendary trio of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland – two of whom started out as soul singers, and all three of whom left behind a huge legacy on the Detroit scene! And while the trio were a famous part of Motown before moving off to start their own HDH family of labels, the work here also expands past those roots and includes some other gems that really show the wide reach of their music – including some non-soul titles that stack up here as a real surprise! As always with Ace Records, the notes tell the huge story behind the music, along with a great set of vintage images – and the package features 24 tracks in all, with titles that include "Band Of Gold (unedited alt version)" by Freda Payne, "There's A Ghost In My House" by The Fall, "New Breed Kind Of Woman" by Lamont Dozier, "Come & Get These Memories" by Laura Nyro, "Leaving Here" by Eddie Holland, "Come See About Me" by Barbara Mason, "Helpless" by Kim Weston, "A Love Like Yours" by Dusty Springfield, "You Keep Me Hanging On" by Vanilla Fudge, "This Old Heart Of Mine" by Bettye Swann, "Take Me In Your Arms" by Isley Brothers, "Don't Do It" by The Band, "Love's Gone Bad" by Chris Clark, "How Sweet It Is" by Brenda Lee, and "Where Did Our Love Go" by Donnie Elbert. CD

The music of Otis Redding – sung by some of his hippest contemporaries, and by a whole new generation inspired by his talents! The tunes here are all numbers you'd know from Redding's famous recordings for Stax and Atlantic – yet the versions are nice and fresh – some done with a gritty down-home feel that's rougher than any of Redding's records, others done with an inventive style that pushes the music forward into new modes – possibly those that Otis might have explored on his own, had he not been taken from us so soon! The package is a great testament to the Otis Redding legacy in soul music – and is filled with a whopping 25 tracks, all of them well-chosen – including "Baby Cakes" by Maxine Brown, "Just One More Day" by Clarence Carter, "Give Away None Of My Love" by Buddy Miles, "Wholesale Love" by Arthur Conley, "Hawg For You" by Tina Britt, "Hard To Handle" by Patti Drew, "Chained & Bound" by Bettye Swann, "I'm Missing You" by Mitty Collier, "Sister Pitiful" by Judy Clay, "These Arms Of Mine" by Albert Washington & The Kings, "Monkey On My BacK" by Jackie Hairston – plus the previously unreleased "Loving By The Pound (part 2)" by Otis Redding himself! CD

A great entry in this wonderful series – a set that's full of rare 7" singles from the late 60s and early 70s, but with a vibe that's very different than other collections of this nature! As with previous volumes, the sound is warm and uplifting – not heavy funk or deep soul, but tunes that soar and glide on soulful energy – showcasing a few early modern soul elements that were years ahead of their time, and often using just the right sort of production and arrangements to really expand the sound of a singer or harmony vocal group! The whole thing's wonderful – fantastic rare soul listening all the way through – and titles include "Standing In The Way" by Charles Williams, "Reason To Survive" by Rance Allen Group, "Consider The Source" by Leon Haywood, "Oh Mama" by CM Lord, "Thank You Girl For Loving Me" by Enchantment, "The Game Is Over" by Brown Sugar, "Get Involved" by George Soule, "Too Late"b y Tavares, and "My Heart Is Closed For The Season" by Bettye Swann. LP, Vinyl record album

A stellar collection of country soul by many of the greatest voices of any strain of soul music – Solomon Burke, Esther Phillips, Al Green, Bettye Swann, Percy Sledge, Little Milton, Candi Stanton and many more! A healthy portion of the material comes from the late 60s and early 70s – recordings that bring a depth of genuine soul to songs written or popularized by artists more often associated with the country charts. That said, it's soul music all the way – showing both the dexterity of these great soul singers and the adaptability of the such great songs. Includes "Detroit City" by Arthur Alexander, "He'll Have To Go" by Solomon Burke, "Take Time To Know Her" by Percy Sledge, "I Saw Me" by Esther Phillips, "Hangin' On" by Ann Peebles, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Al Green, "Behind Closed Doors" by Little Milton, "Set Me Free" by Clarence Carter, "Yours, Love" by Joe Simon, "She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye" by Brook Benton and more. CD

The largest set so far in this excellent series of American soul releases from Mississippi Records – and like the previous volumes, an expansive set that really digs deep into the most soulful corners of the 60s and 70s! The work here is a mix of obscure tracks and overlooked gems from bigger names in soul – heavy on the kinds of vocals we love from the deep soul generation, but with maybe a few funky touches along the way! As with other volumes, there's a great booklet that's a huge addition to the package – filled with detailed notes – and the 3LP set features 30 tracks that include "Don't Be Surprised" by The Diamonettes, "I'm Lonely For You" by Bettye Swann, "Somewhere Crying" by Irma Thomas, "My Heart Cries For You" by The Invincibles, "Send Her Home To Me" by Johnny Moffett, "Tell Her" by Fred Williams & The Jewel Band, "Get In A Hurry" by Ben E King, "Like A Fish" by George Freeman, "A Woman Will Do Wrong" by Helene Smith, "22nd Century" by Nina Simone, "I'm Hurted" by Mamie Perry, "Can't Go On" by Johnny Steele, "Darling Don't Come Back" by Bobby Thomas & The Afros, "White On Rice" by Clarence Reid, "Louisiana" by Percy Mayfield, "I Submit To You" by Slim & Ann, and "Baby Please Don't Go" by Rose Mitchell. LP, Vinyl record album

A 70s soul treasure chest! This excellent CD sorts through some incredible lost sides on the Atlantic catalog of the 70s – and it features an amazing selection of work by artists who only ever cut singles or one-off LPs for the label and its subsidiaries. The overall groove is sweet, mellow, and very soulful – and titles include "Just My Way Of Loving You" by Garland Green, "Let Me Show You" by Larry Wu, "I'm So Happy" by Prince Phillip Mitchell, "Come On, Let Me Love You" by Moses Smith, "Save Your Love For Me" by Vivian Reed, "Kiss My Love Goodbye" by Bettye Swann, "The Rising Cost Of Love" by Darrow Fletcher, "Baby Don't Hold Your Love Back" by Bridge, "You're Too Hot To Hold" by Barbara Lynn, "You Got The Best Of Me" by Ronn Matlock, "Love Bandit" by Patti & The Lovelites, and "Got To Get You Back" by Sons Of Robin Stone. 24 cuts in all – with loads of rare stuff! CD

An amazing collection of obscure 45 material and rare album tracks from the archives of the legendary Money/Cash labels! Money Records was a huge beacon for somewhat rough-edged driving soul, when it found its niche on the LA scene in the early 60s. Amazing artists that never fully got their due – stars like Bettye Swann, the Larks (aka Pretenders), the Question Marks, King Solomon, Sonny Herman, and tons of others – many with roots in late 50s doo wop and r&b, recorded endearingly rawer singles for the label in the 60s, and stayed as it progressed into more of a smooth, slightly more polished and groovy sound in the early 70s. 24 tracks – most of which are pretty darn hard to track down on vinyl! Includes "Too Much For You" by Bobby Angelle, "What About Me" by Sonny Herman, "Temptation Walk" by the Larks, "Separation" by King Solomon, "You Gave Me Love" by Bettye Swann, "Baby" by Ted "Soul" Hawkins, "Lil' Valley" by M&M and the Peanuts, "Dancing With My Baby" by the T-K-O's, and tons more. Includes an excellent booklet with great photos, bios, and notes on the production and arrangements! CD