Soul -- Coming Soon

Tony Allen -- Here Comes The Night Owl . . . CD Late November, 2009

Patti Austin -- End Of A Rainbow (Japanese pressing) . . . CD Around November 26, 2009 Sweet smooth soul from Patti Austin -- emerging here as one of the most sophisticated vocalists of her generation, with a mellow modern style that would go onto have a huge influence on mainstream soul! David Matthews handled the arrangements for the album, and the overall style is similar to some ...

Bionic Boogie -- Bionic Boogie . . . CD Around January 1, 2010 The second album by Gregg Diamond's Bionic Boogie group -- and a pretty nice batch of souful disco. The record's not as totally sublime as the first -- mostly because Gregg doesn't get help from Luther Vandross on this one -- but the record holds up surprisingly well, and the mix of funky instrumen ...

Bionic Boogie -- Hot Butterfly . . . CD Around January 1, 2010 A dancefloor classic! The album's the first by Gregg Diamond's Bionic Boogie, and head and shoulders above the rest -- a sublime blend of soul and club that's hardly been matched again! Diamond manages to make things groove, but never loses sight of the soulful styles that make the record so great ...

Black Ivory/The Escorts -- Black Ivory Meets The Escorts . . . CD Mid-September, 2009 (delayed)

Mary J Blige -- Stronger . . . CD Late December, 2009

Mary J Blige -- Stronger (2CD deluxe edition) . . . CD Late December, 2009

Bobo (aka Willie Bobo) -- Bobo . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 A brilliant set of jazzy Latin fusion -- one of Willie Bobo's best of the 70s, and a seminal crossover LP! The album takes the heavy Latin soul of Willie's earlier work, and gives it a sweet 70s twist -- adding in larger arrangements, impeccable production, and plenty of space to let the jazzy play ...

Brecker Brothers -- Original Album Classics (Brecker Brothers/Don't Stop The Music/Heavy Metal Be-Bop/Detente/Straphanging) (5CD set) . . . CD Late September, 2009 (delayed)

Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers -- Flame Still Burns . . . CD Late November, 2009

Pattie Brooks -- Love Shook/Our Ms Brooks . . . CD Around November 15, 2009 (delayed)

James Brown -- Godfather's Smackdown (CD & DVD set) . . . CD Late November, 2009

James Brown -- James Brown Singles Vol 8 -- 1972 to 1973 . . . CD Around December 22, 2009

James Brown -- Live In New York 1980 . . . LP Mid-October, 2009 (delayed)

Terry Callier -- Dancing Girl/Love Theme From Spartacus . . . 12-inch Mid-November, 2009

Caviar with Ronnie Canada -- Never Stop Loving You . . . CD Mid-November, 2009

Don Cherry -- Malkauns/Brown Rice . . . 12-inch Early November, 2009 (delayed)

Cortex -- Troupeau Bleu . . . LP Around September 22, 2009 (delayed) A legendary bit of funky fusion from the French scene of the 70s -- the standout set from Cortex, a combo who's very heavy on the keyboards! The tunes have a feel that's quite different than American electric work of the time -- funky, but also a bit breezy too -- with a strong Brazilian influence ...

Patrick Cowley & Jorge Socarras -- Catholic . . . CD Mid-October, 2009 (delayed)

Dam Funk -- Toeachizown (5LPs) (plus limited edition Stones Throw Fan Club 45) . . . LP Mid-December, 2009 Galactic funk & synth soul from Dam Funk -- his epic full length debut Toeachizown for Stones Throw -- and a record that should be a game changer for the southern Cali ambassador of cosmic funk beats, heavy bass and synth grooves! Dam Funk is part throwback to the electro era -- his vintage syn ...

Darwin's Theory -- Darwin's Theory . . . CD Late November, 2009

Darwin's Theory -- Darwin's Theory . . . LP Late November, 2009

Gary Davis (Chocolate Star) -- New Jersey Story . . . CD Early December, 2009

Lizzy Mercier Descloux -- Press Color . . . LP Around November 1, 2009 (delayed) A brilliant and overlooked gem from the glorious post-disco years of the New York scene -- the first album recorded by Lizzy Mercier Descloux, a French native who'd relocated to America in the late 70s, and soaked up a huge array of influences from the scene at the time! The album's a really unique ...

Doobie Brothers -- Long Train Runnin . . . 12-inch Early November, 2009 (delayed)

Lamont Dozier -- Going Back To My Roots (voc, African drum intro) . . . 12-inch Around November 1, 2009 (delayed)

Bernard Edwards -- Glad To Be Here . . . CD Around December 15, 2009 Post-Chic work from Bernard Edwards -- and a pretty groovy set overall! The album's got a very different style than Edwards' music with Chic -- even though Nile Rodgers plays a fair bit of guitar on the record -- and it's wonderful to hear Bernard's different style of music, let loose here on its o ...

Fela & Egypt '80 -- Beasts Of No Nation . . . 12-inch Around November 15, 2009 (delayed)

Rodney Franklin -- Endless Flight . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 Rodney Franklin never let us down during his entire run for Columbia -- and like his others for the label, this set's a brilliant mix of jazz, soul, and fusion -- smoothed together nicely, but never in a way that's slick or commercial! Franklin's got a keen ear that lets him sit on both sides of th ...

Rodney Franklin -- Rodney Franklin . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 Excellent set of R&B tinged fusion, featuring this underrated piano talent from the 70's. Tight funky fusion grooves, in a sort of Donald Byrd 70's sort of vein, but with a sound that's all Rodney's own. Loads of great cuts, including "Windy City", "On The Path", "I Li ...

Friends Of Distinction -- Best Of The Friends Of Distinction . . . CD Early July, 2009 (delayed) Fab pop harmony soul! The Friends Of Distinction were LA counterparts of the 5th Dimension -- and at one time, members of both groups had worked under the name of Rex Middleton's Hi Fi's. Unlike the 5th Dimension, who were a bit more pop, the Friends Of Distinction stayed more in the soul vein -- ...

Funk Inc -- Funk Inc . . . LP Mid-November, 2009 A killer instrumental album of hard organ grooves and funky basslines! This was the album that broke Funk Inc out of their Indianapolis scene, and made them a force to be forever reckoned with in the history of funky jazz. The album grooves hard in the same sound as some of the classic work by Pre ...

Funk Inc -- Superfunk . . . LP Mid-November, 2009 One of Funk Inc's greatest albums -- and a really tight batch of funky tunes given some stellar production by David Axelrod! The band's a bit tighter than on earlier releases -- leaving behind the hard jazz-jam sound for a more together soul-oriented one, heard to best effect on the album's endurin ...

Marvin Gaye -- What's Going On -- Rarities Edition . . . CD Around January 5, 2010

Halo -- Halo -- A Reflection Of Light In Music . . . CD Early November, 2009 (delayed)

Larry Heard -- Sceneries Not Songs -- Vol 2 . . . CD Around November 1, 2009 (delayed) Beautiful beats from Chicago house maestro Larry Heard -- working here in the much deeper, more visionary second stage of his career -- on a record that has far more to offer than just simple dance trax! There's still a groove to most of the numbers here, but the sound's a fair bit more spacious to ...

Herman's Rocket (Jean-Pierre Massiera) -- Space Woman . . . LP Late November, 2009

John Lee Hooker -- Live At Soledad Prison/Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive . . . CD Around November 10, 2009 (delayed)

Bobbi Humphrey -- Tailor Made . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 Sure, it's after the Blue Note/Larry Mizell years -- but Bobbi's still kicking ass! Instead of Larry Mizell, Bobbi's working with Skip Scarborough -- and she's hitting a groove that's a bit smoother and more modern than before, but every bit as sweetly funky and seriously soulful. Bobbi vocalizes ...

Phyllis Hyman -- Goddess Of Love (with bonus track) . . . CD Around March 16, 2010 One of the poppiest of Phyllis Hyman's albums -- with some 80s electro groove arrangements that don't always sit that well with her vocals, and which kind of work against the sophisticated style she'd been pushing in earlier albums. Still, the production work is by Thom Bell and Narada Michael Wald ...

Phyllis Hyman -- Somewhere In My Lifetime (with bonus tracks) . . . CD Around May 18, 2010 Warm and wonderful work from Phyllis Hyman -- a set that's a lot more mainstream soul than her music of a few years before, but one that still shows a strong commitment to the more complicated styles of her roots! The sound here is full and proud -- a nice extension of the work that Hyman did with ...

Isley Brothers -- It's Our Thing . . . CD Around October 1, 2009 (delayed) A stone classic from the Isleys -- the album that kicked off their successful T-Neck label, and established that mighty Isleys sound that would have such a huge influence in the 70s! The title cut of the set -- "It's Your Thing" -- is a well-known classic that really sets the tone for the ...

Michael Jackson -- Ben . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 Michael strikes out on his own, and does a pretty darn nice job! The overall sound is prime Motown pop soul -- with some very very tight arrangements by Gene Page, The Corporation, and others. Tracks have a pretty good groove to them -- apart from the ballad title cut, "Ben". Other titl ...

Michael Jackson -- Forever Michael . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 A great one from Michael -- easy to miss between the pillars of his earlier work with his brothers, and his later stuff with Quincy Jones, but equally great for that reason! The album's got Michael singing in a smooth soul mode that's really nice -- almost like Smokey Robinson's Quiet Storm period ...

George Jackson -- George Jackson In Memphis 1972 to 1977 . . . CD Late November, 2009

Michael Jackson -- Got To Be There . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 Early Michael at his best -- a brilliant solo album that sparkles with honest warmth and sweet soul energy! There's a gentleness to the tunes that's quite striking, but never childish -- a simple and effective approach to the material that's sung in a manner that's years beyond Michael's young age ...

Michael Jackson -- Music & Me . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 Classic early work by Michael -- recorded with arrangements by some of Motown's best at the time: Freddie Perren, Gene Page, and James Carmichael! There's no real standout hits here, but the album's got some really great mellow soul numbers that have Michael stretching out from the sound of his gr ...

Jackson 5 -- Dancing Machine . . . CD Around January 5, 2010 Dancing Machine contains some excellent later work by the Jacksons, featuring a shift from their earlier pop material, into a great style that was a bit more baroque, and which yielded some very nice moments. The album includes the funky pre-disco "Dancing Machine", a perennial favorite - ...

Jackson 5 -- Get It Together . . . CD Around January 5, 2010 Surprisingly great album of funky tunes by The Jacksons, and one that shows them moving past the usual structure of Motown 70s pop, into some fiercer material that hints at their later direction. Includes the perennial fave "Dancing Machine", the extended groover "Hum Along & Dan ...

Jackson 5 -- Get It Together . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 Surprisingly great album of funky tunes by The Jacksons, and one that shows them moving past the usual structure of Motown 70s pop, into some fiercer material that hints at their later direction. Includes the perennial fave "Dancing Machine", the extended groover "Hum Along & Dan ...

Jackson 5 -- Goin' Back To Indiana . . . CD Around January 5, 2010 The original soundtrack to the group's TV special -- and it's got some excellent numbers, plus a few odd tracks that are very nice. Bill Cosby, Rosey Grier, and Tommy Smothers all make a bit of a guest appearance on the record -- and it also includes hits like the tune "Goin Back To Indiana&qu ...

Jackson 5 -- Goin' Back To Indiana . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 The original soundtrack to the group's TV special -- and it's got some excellent numbers, plus a few odd tracks that are very nice. Bill Cosby, Rosey Grier, and Tommy Smothers all make a bit of a guest appearance on the record -- and it also includes hits like the tune "Goin Back To Indiana&qu ...

Jackson 5 -- Looking Through The Windows . . . CD Around January 5, 2010 Let's face it -- the Jacksons on Motown were always compelling -- even on a record like this that didn't really have any big hits. The boys could really sing well at this point, and they're backed by nice arrangements by The Corporation, Willie Hutch, Johnny Bristol, and other Motown heavy-hitters. ...

Jackson 5 -- Looking Through The Windows . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 Let's face it -- the Jacksons on Motown were always compelling -- even on a record like this that didn't really have any big hits. The boys could really sing well at this point, and they're backed by nice arrangements by The Corporation, Willie Hutch, Johnny Bristol, and other Motown heavy-hitters. ...

Jackson 5 -- Maybe Tomorrow . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 A great early album by the Jacksons -- with a monster batch of cuts arranged by Gene Page and The Corporation, with a soulful groove that they definitely lost on later albums. The highlight is the funky "It's Great To Be Here", which is an excellent lesser-known track that's got a good br ...

Jackson 5 -- Moving Violation . . . CD Around January 5, 2010 Mid 70s, and the boys are expanding their sound with the club-oriented grooves of the time -- using Holland, Dozier, and Holland on many cuts, trying for a similar strident groove as some of the trio's work on their own Invictus label. The move's actually a great one -- as the maturing group has a ...

Jackson 5 -- Skywriter . . . CD Around January 5, 2010 Skywriter shows the group advancing a lot from earlier pop years -- working into territory that's a lot more sophisticated, and which shows them able to interpret tunes with a deeper emotional strata. Titles include "Touch", "Skywriter", "I Can't Quit Your Love", " ...

Jackson 5 -- Third Album . . . LP Around January 5, 2010 Third Album is (of course) the group's third album, and the boys are still hitting strong and staying long, with the same power as their first two records! The record includes their sweet, sweet rendition of "I'll Be There", plus the groovy "Goin Back To Indiana", and other nice ...

Rick James -- Street Songs -- Rarities Edition . . . CD Around January 5, 2010

Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers/Soul Generation -- Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers Meet Soul Generation . . . CD Mid-September, 2009 (delayed)

Samuel Jonathan Johnson -- My Music . . . CD Around September 1, 2009 (delayed) A fantastic album of spacey soul! We know very little about Samuel Jonathan Johnson, but he's a great keyboard player who had a jazzy conception similar to Roy Ayers or Norman Connors -- very cosmic, yet also soulful -- working in a brilliant blend of fusion and soul that really sends us over the t ...

Linda Jones/Ruby Andrews -- Linda Jones Meets Ruby Andrews . . . CD Mid-September, 2009 (delayed)

Kashif -- Condition Of The Heart . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 An 80s soul classic from Kashif -- the guy who really helped transform R&B at the time, all without the benefit of a last name! The album's completely arranged and produced by Kashif himself -- cementing the reputation he'd begun working behind other artists in the earlier part of the decade be ...

Kashif -- Kashif (1983) . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 A monumental bit of 80s soul -- the first solo album from Kashif, issued hot on the heels of a few years spent penning and producing work for a range of bigger artists! Given his experience with the pros, Kashif's emerging here as a very fully-formed talent in soul -- a singer with a way of keeping ...

Kashif -- Send Me Your Love . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 A big hit moment in early 80s soul -- and thanks to the wonders of recording science, Kashif was able to write, produce, arrange, and perform everything on the album himself, thus keeping all the royalties to himself! Although the record kind of made us cringe back in the day, we're surprised at ho ...

La La -- La La . . . CD Late December, 2009

Labelle -- Pressure Cookin' . . . CD Around April 20, 2010 One of the earlier LaBelle albums, when the Nona Hendryx/Sarah Dash/Patti Labelle alliance was a bit more of a wild card, reaching for a number of styles searching for a way to make the transition from their earlier career as a simple soul girl group. There's some good funky numbers on the album -- ...

Last Poets -- Made In Ameriklka (DVD) . . . DVD Early October, 2009 (delayed)

Gerald & Eddie Levert -- Father & Son . . . CD Early December, 2009

Cheryl Lynn -- Cheryl Lynn (with bonus tracks) . . . CD Around February 16, 2010 Massive work from the great Cheryl Lynn -- and a key bridge between late 70s disco and the newer grooves of the 80s club scene! The album's a mix of midtempo groovers with a few mellower tracks -- and it's got a tight, slightly jazzy sound that was very fresh at the time, and which still holds up i ...

Steve Marshall -- Do What You Will . . . LP Around December 15, 2009

Maze -- Back To Basics . . . CD Around December 8, 2009

Janice McClain -- Janice McClain (with bonus tracks) . . . CD Mid-November, 2009

Jack McVea -- Fortissimo -- The Combo Recordings . . . CD Late November, 2009

Sergio Mendes & The New Brasil '77 -- Real Thing . . . 12-inch Around November 15, 2009 (delayed)

Mtume -- Kiss This World Goodbye . . . CD Around December 23, 2009 Hard to find record by this funky conga player. Mtume sings and plays a bit of keyboards on this release, and the sound's a bit more produced than some of his other records. A number of the tracks have a hard P-Funk sort of sound, including "Just Funnin" and "Kiss This World Goodbye ...

New York City Band -- New York City Band . . . CD Around September 1, 2009 (delayed) New York City Band are less of a group on their own than a combo pulled together for this album -- an ersatz soundtrack to the film Sunnyside, a disco-era production starring John Travolta's younger brother Joey! The group's mostly directed and organized by keyboardist Harold Wheeler, who gives the ...

Olympic Runners -- Put The Music Where Your Mouth Is/Out In Front . . . CD Mid-November, 2009

Output featuring Jerome Prister -- Say You'll Be -- Rare & Unreleased Big Beat R&B 1982 to 1983 . . . CD Early April, 2009 (delayed)

Greg Perry -- Smokin' . . . CD Around April 20, 2010 A great little album of smooth soul cuts from Greg Perry -- an extremely talented arranger, producer, and songwriter whose credits includes work in soul, pop, and country -- appearing here in one of the few sessions he ever cut under his own name. There's a bit of a southern soul feel to the album ...

Otis Redding -- Dock Of The Bay . . . CD Around December 8, 2009 A very important crossover soul album -- a huge hit for Otis Redding that was released after his tragic death in December 1967 -- but it's also hard to say if it would have had the impact it did had Redding not passed while the LP was still in production. In a way, the record sort of set the stage ...

Rockie Robbins -- I Believe In Love . . . CD Around November 20, 2009 One of the strongest albums by Rockie Robbins -- and they're all pretty darn great -- thanks to some sweet production and arrangements from the team of Skip Scarborough and Jerry Peters! Skip and Jerry bring a nice sense of smoothness to Rockie's Chicago-forged sound -- expanding his sound with ful ...

Rockie Robbins -- You & Me . . . CD Around November 20, 2009 Great work from the wonderful Rockie Robbins -- a smooth soul singer who cut some great sides at the start of the 80s, but who hardly ever gets his due! Bobby Martin's working with Rockie on this effort -- giving the set that warmly gliding mode that made Martin's productions some of the best in la ...

Diana Ross -- Diana -- Rarities Edition . . . CD Around January 5, 2010

Pharoah Sanders -- Elevation . . . 12-inch Early November, 2009 (delayed)

Sass Band -- Sassified . . . CD Mid-November, 2009

Joe Simon -- Soul For The Dancefloor . . . CD Late November, 2009

Sinitta -- Right Back Where We Started From -- The Hits + Collection 1986 to 2009 . . . CD Mid-October, 2009 (delayed)

Suttons (Mike & Brenda Sutton) -- So Good . . . CD Around November 15, 2009 (delayed) The Suttons have a much stronger electro groove than on earlier releases -- but still maintain their strong run of self-produced indie soul! As before, the pair are clearly inspired by the mode of Ashford & Simpson -- writing, producing, and duetting vocally on all tracks -- but there's less of ...

Thee Midniters -- Thee Complete Midnighters -- Songs Of Love, Rhythm, & Psychedelia (4CD set) . . . CD Around January 1, 2010

Three Degrees -- Three Degrees (with bonus track) . . . CD Around March 16, 2010 Smooth female soul from one of Philly's hottest female trios -- Gamble & Huff's big answer to First Choice, and an equally important force in 70s female soul! The album's got a nice mixture of Philly groove and smoother pop arrangements from the likes of Norman Harris, Bobby Martin, Lenny Pakul ...

20th Century Steel Band -- Warm Heart, Cold Steel . . . CD Mid-November, 2009 A sample classic from way back! The album includes the classic groover "Heaven & Hell", best known as DJ Red Alert's Theme Song from the old days, but also an excellent bit of groovy funk which has been covered by more than a few bands. Also includes "Pepper Woman", "T ...

Gene Van Buren -- What's Your Pleasure (with bonus track) . . . CD Mid-November, 2009

Venus Gang (Jean-Pierre Massiera) -- Galactic Soul . . . LP Late November, 2009

Mary Wells -- In & Out Of Love (with bonus tracks) . . . CD Around February 16, 2010 Mary's come a long way from Motown here -- in a great way, one that has her working through some hip modern soul tracks that show a whole new side of her talents! Greg Perry and McKinley Jackson handled some of the arrangements, and they give the album a similar smooth feel to some of Lamont Dozier ...

Whitefield Brothers -- Earthology . . . CD Fall 2009

Whitefield Brothers -- Earthology . . . LP Fall 2009

Deniece Williams -- Niecy . . . CD Around February 16, 2010 Totally great work from Deniece Williams -- still mostly free from the tinny pop of later years, and done in a solidly soulful style at Sigma Sound, with arrangements and production from the mighty Thom Bell! The groove is almost an update of 70s Philly, with traces of the maturing mellow side of W ...

Bill Withers -- Justments . . . CD Around March 16, 2010

OV Wright -- Nickle & A Nail & Ace Of Spades . . . CD Around March 16, 2010 A beautiful early record from OV Wright -- recorded with stone Memphis production by Willie Mitchell, and a beautiful sound that's more open and relaxed than some of Wright's other records -- not as tightly "fixed" or polished as his other work, no matter how great that might be! As the t ...

Various -- 70 Minutes Of Funk -- Mixed By DJ Muro . . . CD Around July 22, 2009 (delayed)

Various -- Best Of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour Vol 1 . . . CD Early September, 2009 (delayed)

Various -- Come On Soul Vol 2 . . . CD Fall 2009

Various -- Diggersville -- Mixed By Muro . . . CD Early November, 2009 (delayed)

Various -- From My Best Crates -- Diggin Ice Mixed By DJ Muro . . . CD Around July 22, 2009 (delayed) A sublime mix of classic funk from the 70s and 80s -- put together with the genius of DJ Muro, and featuring a wonderful assortment of familiar and lesser-known numbers, all coming together in one totally brilliant blend! There's a wicked slow funk groove running through most of the tracks -- as la ...