Soul — In Stock — LPs

Sure, it's not classic funky Average White Band, but the album's a great one that showcases the group's best second suit – their smooth compressed late 70s soul sound – a great evolution of their earlier groove, and one that showed them as a great mainstream soul act! The tunes are a ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Roy Ayers in a seductive mid 80s mode – his first for Columbia – and a record with some incredibly nice moments that blow away most of his contemporaries! The synth soul and drum machine era might seem like an odd fit for Roy's jazzy vibes, but it actually works really well here! You ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal early funk work from Roy Ayers! The record catches him at that perfect point when he was turning from a straight jazz player into a sinister force in 70s funk – and the group on the session includes super-hip soul jazz giants like Charles Tolliver, Sonny Fortune, and Harry Whitaker, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A funky classic from the team of Roy Ayers and Wayne Henderson – both at the top of their game here, and effortlessly mixing together jazz, funk, and soul! The record really seems to embrace the best of both artists' styles – some of the bassy groovers that Wayne did so well himself, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

The beginning of an empire! This was the first solo album cut by the now-famous Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds – cut after years of work in the music business that included stints in the groups Manchild and The Deele, and lots of production work for other LA soul acts. The record's kind ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

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A brilliant funky soundtrack – with great work from a number of different artists! The Buddah soul stable came out in full force for this soundtrack, including Harvy Fuqua, The New Birth, Barbara Mason, and Horace Ott – as well as the little known group Badder Than Evil! They play on ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Philip Bailey hits a great groove here – working with Nile Rodgers, who gives him a lean, clean sound that works perfectly with his vocals! The sound is a nice change from the direction Bailey was heading in previously – a return to the focused soul of the later Earth Wind & Fire ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Bessie Smith by LaVern Baker – a great blend of modes that really comes off great! Instead of sounding like a throwback blues album, the set comes across with a nice degree of contemporary class – thanks in part to a jazzy presentation that's a bit different than some of Baker's other ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A lost classic in the funky poetry mode of the 70s – and right up there with the best work from the time by the Last Poets, Jim Ingram, or Gil Scott Heron! Bama's got a rough-edged voice that works very well with the funkier backings of the set – handled by a team that includes Bernard ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Animal", "I Adore You", "Leaving You", "Get Your Fingers Wet", and "Stop Look What You're Missing". LP, Vinyl record album

LP, Vinyl record album

LP, Vinyl record album

A tighter sound than before for The Bar-Kays – that lean approach to funky grooves that some of their contemporaries were hitting as the 80s moved on – yet still served up here by the full ensemble with a relatively fresh feel overall. Amidst the beats and keyboards, there's still lots ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Proof that even a move to a major label couldn't keep the Bar-Kays down – as the group are working here in a great groove that's wider, fresher, and stronger overall than any of their Stax albums! Sure, the whole thing's not guitar-based funk all the way through, but the group are also ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Man, these guys really know how to groove – and even on a bigger label, with a more commercial image, they still manage to come up with a tight little set! There's a key ear for a bassline and beat that keeps The Bar-Kays standing stronger than most of their contemporaries – a sense of ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Keith Barrow's first album of secular soul – a soaring set of vocals that really shows off his gospel roots! The record's produced by Bobby Eli with a bit of a Philly soul touch, but in ways that go quite past the conventional modes of the time – kind of offbeat at points, with a ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

The last true classic from the masters of the 80s groove genre – a post-Capitol effort for Elektra, but one that's still awash in great keyboards and snapping electro beats! Some of the jazzier sound from the past is gone here, but in its place is a leaner, cleaner sound that's still a fair ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

By this point in his career, Archie's recording without the Drells, and has moved from Philly International onto the smaller Becket label in New York. However, he's still recording in a very similar style to his late 70s work in Philly – with a smooth grooving sound that's very seductive on ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

One of the strong Philly LPs by Archie Bell and the Drells (and they really did make the transition to Philly pretty well). Side one has some of their more blatent attempts to appeal to the then hot disco crowd, but side two has them back in a great easy soul two-step sound, like "It's Hard ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful post-Stax album from the great William Bell – a set that has the singer still stepping out with all those great deep soul modes from the 60s, but also finding a hipper, more laidback approach as well! There's a beautiful mellow vibe to the record – one that recalls ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

An album that definitely earns the "wow" in its title – as it makes us sit up and take new notice of William Bell's talents! Although Bell's best known for his earliest Memphis hits, he really changed a lot near the end of the 60s – evolving into a hipper, more mature singer ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

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That's Ron Baker, Norman Harris, and Earl Young – one of the greatest rhythm sections in Philly soul of the 70s – stepping out here on an amazing album of their own! The record's got a great pedigree right out of the gate – given that Norman Harris had already arranged some of ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A classic set from the legendary Biddu – one of the best European maestros working on the 70s disco scene! The album mixes together strings, keyboards, voices, and uptempo rhythms – sliding along in a style that shares plenty with Prelude and Salsoul at the time – and which made ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

LP, Vinyl record album

A searing debut from Black Heat – one of the best funk acts to record for Atlantic during the 70s, and a tight little group with a sound that's a mixture of New Orleans funk and New York heavy! The album's got a bit of vocals – figuring in on about half the tracks – but the main ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Killer grooves from Black Ivory – a trio who've really come a long way here since their roots – stepping out with proud, soulful tones that are a perfect fit for the upbeat grooves of the set! There's still a touch of fragile harmonies at times – but overall, the group have a ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent heavy funk from Stax! Black Nasty were one of the heaviest groups on the label – with a rock-solid guitar-based groove that went even farther than the Bar-Kays, who were no slouch in the guitar department themselves! The grooves are all slow to midtempo, with the band coming down ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure French combo from the 70s – with a distinct African groove, and a little bit of everything in the mix. As the name of the label might imply, there's a bit of Soukous on the record – but there are also some other strong elements, like the funky samba sound of "Brasil ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A chilling statement from the west coast scene of the 70s – the first album from The Watts Prophets, the ultra-powerful group who emerged from the LA turmoil of the 60s. Like the Last Poets, the group blends together righteous spoken word passages and some spare rhythms and a touch of jazz ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A funky jazz treasure – and the band's landmark first album! The Blackbyrds were a legendary 70s combo that were discovered by Donald Byrd while he was teaching at Howard University – and they had a tight style that mixed raw funk influences with smoother jazz playing, creating a sound ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A funky jazz treasure – and the band's landmark first album! The Blackbyrds were a legendary 70s combo that were discovered by Donald Byrd while he was teaching at Howard University – and they had a tight style that mixed raw funk influences with smoother jazz playing, creating a sound ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic album from this legendary jazz funk combo – a bit smoother than their first, but that's the great thing about it! The record has the band getting even tighter than before – coming up with an amazing jazz-inflected funk groove that still leaves us breathless after all these ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A great album of funky dancefloor tunes! Originally issued in 1978, and clearly for the New York dancefloor crowd – the record takes the earlier work of funk group The Blackbyrds, and remixes the tracks slightly to pump up the groove a bit for the dancers. While the approach might not sound ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A great album of funky dancefloor tunes! Originally issued in 1978, and clearly for the New York dancefloor crowd – the record takes the earlier work of funk group The Blackbyrds, and remixes the tracks slightly to pump up the groove a bit for the dancers. While the approach might not sound ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

There's nothing unfinished about this business – as The Blackbyrds are at the top of their game here – working in a sweet blend of jazz, funk, and soul – all produced to perfection by their mentor Donald Byrd! The groove is quite similar to some of Byrd's best from the time ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the sharpest, jazziest funk you'll ever hope to hear – a smoking collection of the legendary 70s work by The Blackbyrds on Fantasy Records! The group started as a jazz combo under Donald Byrd's supervision – right at a time when Byrd was making his own fantastic funky records ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Later material cut by this great singer from the Soul Children. The tracks are produced by Homer Banks, and still have a very strong sound, even though the style's a bit more modern than Blackfoot's classic work. Writing is by Betty Crutcher, Homer Banks, and Chuck Brooks – and in a way, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most soulful collections ever issued on Rounder – a batch of rare Duke Records singles by Bobby Bland, James Davis, Larry Davis, and Fenton Robinson! LP, Vinyl record album

A lost southern soul gem – cut at the end of the 70s, in that rare blend of southern and modern styles that few performers could really carry off well! Frederick Knight produced the album, and it really steps off of his own mellow work of earlier years – taking things even further, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A great Japanese collection of work by these two rare groups – all material recorded for the United Records label, and featuring a few unissued tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

LP, Vinyl record album

A great later album from Bloodstone – recorded after their initial classics for London, but in a sweet and mellow soul mode that's totally outta site! Part of the strength of the set is the mighty Al Johnson – who provides arrangements here that push the group firmly into a more modern ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

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 ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Philly soul magic – recorded in New Jersey! This unique little set offers a wonderfully different look at the hit Philly sound that was bubbling strongly on Atlantic Records during the 70s – as it features 3 of the label's best acts in the genre, caught live in a special performance at ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent compilation of tight funky New Orleans tracks by the great Eddie Bo. You may know him from his classic sample cut "Hook & Sling", but there's loads of other great cuts on here, most of which never got reissued, and which never turn up on original 45s. Hot cuts here include ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible work by Willie Bobo – a slamming record of hard funky instrumentals, one that sounds different than any of his other albums! The record's a killer all the way through – a mixture of Latin and deep 70s funk, one of the few perfect fusions of the styles, held up beautifully ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

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One of the things we love best about Angela Bofill is how she exemplifies what was so great about late 70s commercial soul, where she and other singers like Phyllis Hyman and Patrice Rushen were infusing their music with a great jazz inflected sophistication, and just plain solid songwriting, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

An Arista winner from Angela Bofill – one that has her working strongly with Narada Michael Walden – who helps Bofill on production and songwriting for part of the album, and really helps bring a nicely solid feel to the set! The tunes are more in an 80s soul mode than before for Angie ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

One of the biggest and best albums ever for Hamilton Bohannon – filled with quirky rhythms and really unusual grooves! Bohannon was one of the key forces in setting the scene for disco invy 70s – and by the time the rest of the country was hitting the dancefloor in the middle part of ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more guitar-driven groups on the West End label at the end of the 70s – an outfit with a really great approach to cutting longer dancefloor grooves! Tracks on the album have a nice tight feel that's echoed strongly by the guitar and keyboard work on the tracks – not as ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Later work from Booker T and crew – an album that always gets lost in the shuffle, but which also includes lots of great moments, and a bit more funk than in earlier years! The rhythm section's loosening up a bit on the set – led by the mighty Al Jackson, and working past that tight ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Later work from Booker T and crew – an album that always gets lost in the shuffle, but which also includes lots of great moments, and a bit more funk than in earlier years! The rhythm section's loosening up a bit on the set – led by the mighty Al Jackson, and working past that tight ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

The Beatles had Abbey Road – and Booker T & The MGs had McLemore Ave, the main street running outside the Stax studios, and a fitting title for the album that has them playing tunes from The Beatles' incredible Abbey Road album. If you've ever thought that Abbey Road was a soft-rock ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Very hip work from Booker T & The MGs – an album that has them standing out under a pier by the ocean on the cover – clearly a long way from their Memphis roots! The sound here still has a good dose of those roots, though – but it also shows them picking up some hipper ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet sweet set of electric 70s funk – recorded by Booker T during a brief, but well-needed reunion with the MGs! The sound here is quite different than Stax-era MGs – as Booker plays a range of keyboards, not just organ – and the grooves have these great jazz funk touches at ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

LP, Vinyl record album

Massive work from Bootsy Collins – one of his best-ever solo albums, and a perfect summation of the P-Funk groove – focused strongly through Bootsy's own sense of stardom! George Clinton worked with Collins on production, and the album's as tight as the best Parliament or Funkadelic ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous little album from Brainstorm – funky and clubby at the same time – yet delivered with this righteous energy that few of their contemporaries could ever hope to match! There's a perfect melding of modes going on here that may well rival Earth Wind & Fire at their best ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Six albums in, and these guys still aren't losing their groove – and if anything, they seem to be getting even tighter and funkier with the 80s groove generation! Randy Muller's still the main man making things happen here – giving the group their trademark horn sound, and that ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet 80s groove from Brass Construction – still with Randy Muller at the helm, but with a sound that's a bit more bassy than before! Trademark Brass Construction horns still make an appearance on the set, but there's almost more focus on the keyboards – which, along with the bass, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Brass Construction's fifth album, and the group's still grooving harder than most of their contemporaries! The legendary Randy Muller is still fully in charge here – serving up his trademark lean, mean arrangements that compress all elements of the music firmly on the beat – all in a ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

They may not be naming their albums too creatively, but that's A-OK with us, given the strength of the grooves on this set! Brass Construction and the amazing Randy Muller do it again – somehow managing to fuse a very large group into an incredibly tight sound – one that rivals that of ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A lesser-remembered gem from Brass Construction – and a tight bit of 80s groove that builds nicely on the group's ensemble funk work of the 70s! The group's still quite large, with a brassy finish that befits their name – but there's also a nice undercurrent of funky guitar, bass, and ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Brass Construction stayed great long after their early hits kept coming – and this mid 80s set still has the ensemble very much at the top of their game! The album's the sort that you might easily pass up, given its dated cover image – but it's a real standout in the 80s groove scene, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Nice record by Brass Fever, and a one that was recorded before their more disco-y Time Is Running Out LP. The band includes a host of great horn players like George Bohannon, Jerome Richardson, Oscar Brashear, and John Handy – plus some good solos by Odell Brown on keyboards. Five long cuts ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A St Louis combo from the late 70s – with a groove that's equal part jazzy club and blue-eyed soul! Breakaway is the group's debut – recorded in 1977 with a surprisingly tight sound – especially given that the group were essentially a local club act who got the chance to record a ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

No splashdown here – as Breakwater are every bit as soaringly soulful as they were on their debut set! The groove here is that perfect blend of jazz and soul that only a few groups in the 70s really got right – maybe Pleasure, or The Blackbyrds – and most certainly Breakwater, ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Classic work from Brick – a group who went onto become surprisingly successful during the 70s with a hot Atlanta blend of funky soul and uptempo club grooves – absolutely killing it early on with this self-titled second album! Brick has a feel that would be taken up heavily a few years ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Damn fine work from Brick – a group who's even tighter here than before – yet all without ever sounding too slick or commercial! Brick's one of that rare breed – a combo who can groove with an edge, even while cracking the mainstream – never hitting the biggest spots in the ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous bit of harmony soul from Chicago – one of the few cases where the Windy City really gave the east coast a run for its money – and the landmark album from teen soul quartet Brighter Side Of Darkness! Although young, Brighter Side managed to bring a depth to their work that ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A great album of southern soul tracks – oddly placed on the Chelsea label, which mostly did disco and pop soul records at the time – but who come through strong for Charles, making the record sparkle like some indie effort from below the Mason/Dixon line! Senator Jones did the ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent smooth soul from Johnny Bristol – working here in territory that's a lot more sophisticated than his earlier work, in the same vein as smooth modern soul singers like Leroy Hutson, Leon Ware, or Prince Phillip Mitchell! The album's got a sweet warm feel – and the richness of ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Funky keyboard tracks from Julius Brockington – a mad early 70s figure who not only cut some wild funk, but who also ended up doing a fair bit of gospel work in later years. This set's a good bit of stoner funk tracks – in the wilder mode of the Perception/Today label – and it's ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

Wild funky keyboards from Julius Brockington – a player who worked a bit on both soul and gospel albums during the early 70s, and one of the odder talents in the funky music business. The album's got a nicely off-kilter sound – and most of the tracks are original compositions. Julius ... read more LP, Vinyl record album

A really weird little soul set from Julius Brockington and his wife – and one of the most messed-up albums on the always-crazy Today label! The sound here is kind of a more soul-based take on the mode explored by Julius on his albums United Chair and Sophisticated Funk – one that takes ... read more LP, Vinyl record album