A full album's worth of material from the legendary Irma Thomas – most of it never heard before! Irma got her start as one of the most important female soul singers from New Orleans in the 60s – but the music here was all recorded for Atlantic Records at the start of the 70s – at ... read moreCD
A landmark album from Timmy Thomas – one that mixes together electronics and soul in this wonderfully unique mellow groove – a style that's hardly ever been matched again, and which may well put this album at the same level as Shuggie Otis' classic Inspiration Information set! Timmy's ... read moreCD
Fonzi Thornton —
Leader ... CD RCA (Japan), 1983. Used ...
$14.99
The debut album from Fonzi Thornton – a singer who didn't even need to cop a Happy Days name to get our attention! The style here is tight 80s groove at its best – lots of keyboards and basslines driving the tunes right from the start, and a sound that's pretty lean overall – and ... read moreCD
The debut album from Fonzi Thornton – a singer who didn't even need to cop a Happy Days name to get our attention! The style here is tight 80s groove at its best – lots of keyboards and basslines driving the tunes right from the start, and a sound that's pretty lean overall – and ... read moreCD
Mid 70s magic from The Three Degrees – a time when this Philly trio was really at the height of their powers! The girl group had recorded previously, in a somewhat more standard style of Philly soul – but during the 70s they hooked up with Gamble & Huff, and managed to make some ... read moreCD
Before they hit the big smooth Philly sound of the seventies, The Three Degrees cut these rawer girl group soul sides for the Swan label. This stuff's really hard to find on wax, and this CD compiles the complete recordings of the group, plus some of the solo stuff by Sheila Ferguson. Cuts ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Three Degrees —
Three Degrees Live ... CD Philadelphia International/Edsel (UK), 1975. New Copy ...
$4.99
The Philly trio gets some great live work done in this tasty little set – hitting the stage with backings from Richard Barrett, and singing before a very enthusiastic crowd in the UK! The style's almost a bit more like the Motown live albums from years back than most Philly International ... read moreCD
The first Salsoul album from Tierra – a great west coast Latin soul combo who followed strongly in the tradition of Malo and El Chicano! Like those groups in their later years, Tierra's focus here is more on tunes that have a mellow-grooving soul approach – still Latin in some of the ... read moreCD
A really unique setting for The Orioles – a group who are best known for their doo wop material of the mid 50s, but who have a heck of a lot more to offer too! This live set from the start of the decade features the group at Chicago's mostly-jazz Blue Note club – a downtown venue that's ... read moreCD
A later bit of Philly disco – recorded at Sigma Sound studios with really soaring production from Tom Moulton – and some surprising help on a number of tracks from a young Arthur Baker! The style here has that Instant Funk sort of groove – a bit more bass at the bottom than ... read moreCD
The first album by The Tom Tom Club – the strange little offshoot of the Talking Heads that featured Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz – and one of the most influential records of the early 80s in both the mainstream and the avant pop underground! Legendary status aside, the album a weird ... read moreCD
A return to greatness for southern soul singer Oscar Toney Jr – a vocalist best known for his late 60s sides for Bell Records, but one who's still sounding pretty darn great on this relatively recent album! The material was recorded at the turn of the century in Atlanta, but the sound is ... read moreCD
Sublime southern soul work from Oscar Toney Jr – from an obscure later chapter in his career! Toney's probably best known for his late 60s sides for the Bell label in the US – but this album is a rarity recorded in London during the early 70s – a date that has Toney sounding even ... read moreCD
A killer little soul group who recorded with John "Monster" Davis in the mid 70s – really soaring with a groove that rivals some of their bigger contemporaries on the east coast group scene! Touch Of Class sing in a style that's sometimes fragile, but often more suited to the ... read moreCD
One of the best of the early Tower Of Power albums – a session recorded in Memphis, with a slightly harder sound than some of their other records! Legendary guitarist Steve Cropper helps the group out a bit on the session – and the album's got a sweet southern funky groove that sits ... read moreCD
One of the best of the early Tower Of Power albums – a session recorded in Memphis, with a slightly harder sound than some of their other records! Legendary guitarist Steve Cropper helps the group out a bit on the session – and the album's got a sweet southern funky groove that sits ... read moreCD
Trammps —
Trammps ... CD Golden Fleece/Sony, 1975. Used ...
$8.99
Wonderful early work from The Trammps – recorded before the group got a bit too bogged down in their own disco fame, when they were still capable of hitting that tight, right Philly club groove! The album's got a simple brilliance that sparkles almost more than the Gamble & Huff work at ... read moreCD
Killer funk and go-go tracks from this legendary D.C. band that had a strong influence on old school hip hop! The band themselves selected the tracks for this very nice 2CD set, and the cuts on here are among some of their most sought-after, and toughest to find on vinyl. Most tracks are nice and ... read moreCD
Rootsy soul from Doris Troy – more of a down-home album than even her American work of earlier years! The set was recorded for the Beatles' Apple label at the end of the 60s – produced by Doris herself, and with a style that mixes in a fair bit of rock influences to a more standard ... read moreCD
Rootsy soul from Doris Troy – more of a down-home album than even her American work of earlier years! The set was recorded for the Beatles' Apple label at the end of the 60s – produced by Doris herself, and with a style that mixes in a fair bit of rock influences to a more standard ... read moreCD
A landmark early moment from Doris Troy – a set that has her shining not just as a key 60s soul singer for Atlantic Records – but also as a heck of a great songwriter too! She's got a really fresh approach here – one that's right up front for the time – with a mix of raw ... read moreCD
A contemporary set, but one that's got a really classic harmony feel – great work from the Philly trio Tru, a group who really keep that old school sound alive and well! These guys have a care with their harmonies that really takes us back to the O'Jays, Delfonics, and other great groups on ... read moreCD
An excellent group from the 70s East Coast scene – one with a heavy harmony sound that should have made them huge! The record was cut during the prime early days of the Sigma Sound Studios – and the record features arrangements by Philly greats like Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, and ... read moreCD
Trussel may have cut this one and only album at the end of the 70s – but they've got a strength that's kept them going for years – despite a lack of success at the time! The record's a sweet modern soul stunner – a record that picks up a sweet jazzy groove that's augmented with ... read moreCD
A younger singer, but one with a really solid mix of reggae and soul – an artist who might well be Jamaica's answer to Foster Sylvers or Michael Jackson! Junior's got a nicely sweet voice at this point in his career – one that glides soulfully over the album's smooth-stepping backings, ... read moreCD
Tommy Tucker may be best-remembered for the title track of this classic album – a tune that was covered by countless other artists in the 60s – but he's a hell of a talent with a mighty great range, and a gritty, soulful sound that's perfect for early 60s Chess Records! The album's got ... read moreCD
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 ... read moreCD
Two sides of early 70s solo Ike Turner – raw, rootsy bluesy soul on the appropriately titled Blues Roots – and stranger, psych soul sounds on Bad Dreams – together in a single set! The Blues Roots album's not lying with the title – as it's a rootsy album of electric blues ... read moreCD
(Includes original slipcase.)
Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm —
Ike's Instrumentals ... CD Ace (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s. Used ...
$7.99
Ike's a mofo – we all know that – especially when he's given the chance to open up with his hard-wailing combo, The Kings Of Rhythm! This set features 22 tasty little groovers from Ike's days at Sue Records, plus a few more from his days at Flair – recorded before he polished up ... read moreCD
Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm —
Trail Blazer ... CD Charly (UK), Late 50s. Used ...
$11.99
Ike Turner's plenty great on his own – but this sweet little set features Turner's raw guitar and soulful vocals in the company of a number of other 50s acts – all artists who worked alongside Ike in the underground of the time – and called him into work on their sessions! Given ... read moreCD
Some of the rarest work Ike Turner ever recorded – early R&B sides cut for the tiny Cobra label in Chicago – at a time when Ike's work was a pure portrait of unbridled power! Tina's still not in the picture at this point, and neither are the cliches that sometimes marred Ike's ... read moreCD
An amazing musical discovery – the lost second album from 24 Carat Black – recorded right after the band's legendary debut for Stax Records, but unissued for over 30 years! All the righteous styles of the group's famous Ghetto Misfortune's Wealth classic are fully in place here – ... read moreCD
A really great album from the revived 70s version of The Tymes – a group who draw on a long legacy of harmonies in Philly soul, and who work here in a setting that really brings out their best! The whole record was produced and directed by Billy Jackson – and it's got a Philly/New York ... read moreCD
A Chicago group who never hit the big time during their short run at the start of the 80s – but one who definitely know how to groove! There's a vibe here that really lives up to the "togetherness" in the group's name – a way of coming together with a tight, sharp sound ... read moreCD
Plenty of darkness here from Phil Upchurch – those great tones and notes he worked so well back in the 70s – all with that near-perfect quality that made him one of the most in-demand players of his day! The style here is a bit different than some of Phil's previous work in Chicago ... read moreCD
Plenty of darkness here from Phil Upchurch – those great tones and notes he worked so well back in the 70s – all with that near-perfect quality that made him one of the most in-demand players of his day! The style here is a bit different than some of Phil's previous work in Chicago ... read moreCD
Phil Upchurch —
Lovin Feelin ... CD Blue Thumb/MCA (Japan), 1973. Used ...
$33.99
One of Phil Upchurch's best records – and one that's a no-nonsense batch of funky instrumentals that feature some really great guitar! Phil's dropped the Hendrix fuzz of some of his Cadet sides of the late 60s – and instead, he's working in a stretched-out chromatic mode that has bits ... read moreCD
Phil Upchurch —
Upchurch ... CD Cadet (Japan), 1969. New Copy ...
Just Sold Out!
An incredible album from one of the greatest talents on the Chicago soul scene of the late 60s – guitarist Phil Upchurch, a player with an amazing sound! Phil could work in worlds that were equal parts soul and psychedelia – making his guitar a perfect accompaniment for the best ... read moreCD
A great bit of indie soul from the mid 70s – and a record that's as wonderful as it is obscure! We don't know much about John, but he's got a spacious, soaring style of soul that's clearly influenced by Stevie Wonder – and which takes the sound into a fuller, richer groove – but ... read moreCD
A stunning early chapter in the rich career of soul singer Bobby Womack – his early work with his brothers in both the Valentinos secular group, and the Womack Brothers gospel combo! Bobby's already a hell of a singer at this point in his career – and these recordings might well be ... read moreCD
Very tripped out work from Melvin Van Peebles – the multi-talented artist who had a huge influence on African American film in the 70s! Melvin's working here in a a mode that combines soul, folk, funk, and lots of the more messed-up sounds that you'd hear on his own soundtracks for his films. ... read moreCD
A strange cover, but a mighty soulful set from Waldo – a really cool Columbia Records soul group with Tyrone Lester and James Brown on vocals, plus some sweet keyboards from Calvin Brunson too! The sound is tight, with the keyboards and basslines really setting the groove – with some ... read moreCD
25 tracks including the huge hit "Shotgun", plus "Home Cookin", "Road Runner", "Hip City", "Shake & Fingerpop", "Shoot Your Shot", and "Do You See My Love". CD
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 ... read moreCD
A killer moment in 70s soul – but kind of a lost gem, too – given that the album was issued by Chess Records, but features a number of big names who mostly recorded for other companies! The live performance was recorded at the first annual benefit for the Black Congressional Caucus ... read moreCD
One of THE disco hits of the 70s – a set that spawned not only a huge hit single for Anita Ward, but which also firmly pushed the Miami scene over the top! The record's a wonderful mix of modes – served up with stone southern soul production from Frederick Knight, but also given plenty ... read moreCD
Amazing stuff! Arguably Leon Ware's greatest record – and one of the greatest Motown records of the 70s! The record is a beautiful set of interwoven mellow soul tracks, recorded right on the heels of Marvin Gaye's I Want You album, which was written and conceived by Ware, then taken at the ... read moreCD
Beautiful soul vocals from Dee Dee Warwick – the entirety of her work for Atco – all of it recorded between 1970 and 1972! Dee Dee had a pretty successful run as a solo singer for Mercury before moving to Atco, to say nothing of her pedigree as a session singer over the years, hitting ... read moreCD
Although Dee Dee's sister Dionne was always the more famous singer, we think Dee Dee had a much more soulful style, and we find her recordings the ones we come back to again and again over the years. This long-overdue compilation brings together tracks from Dee Dee's hard-to-track down Atco years ... read moreCD
One of the greatest moments ever from Dee Dee Warwick – and a set that definitely shows her to be one of the more soulful members of her famous family! The set's got a much deeper soul sound than some of Dee Dee's other material – as Atlantic has Warwick working down at Criteria ... read moreCD
A surprisingly nice album from the later years of Dionne Warwick's career – a set recorded at a time when the lady may have been a bit of a parody of herself on screen, but could still sound great in the studio! The approach is an extension of Warwick's Bacharach roots into a adult ... read moreCD
The final Warner Brothers album from Dionne Warwick – and a smooth, sophisticated affair done with full arrangements from Michael Omartian! The sound's still not as pop disco as you might expect from the time, and Dionne's gentle vocals are often cast in backings that step along nicely with ... read moreCD
A key album in Dionne Warwick's career revival at Arista Records – a set that's filled with the kind of fuller sounds and maturing modes that worked quite well for her shifts in styles over the years! Warwick's a bit less fragile than in the Scepter years, but also not trying as hard to be ... read moreCD
Four albums on three CDs – with lots of bonus tracks as well! Windows Of The World is seminal later work from Dionne Warwick – an album that perfectly sums up her evolving genius at Scepter Records! Windows continues the very successful Bacharach-led arrangement scheme – but ... read moreCD
Mindblowing work from Ella Washington – a lesser-known force in southern soul during the late 60s, but a singer whose music really leaves us breathless! Washington's work on this set is impeccable throughout – far beyond the simple southern soul cliches that were coming to be common in ... read moreCD
A nicely grooving set to start the 80s by The Waters – an underappreciated 2-man, 2-woman LA vocal group who did a considerable amount of backup vocals in the studio scene of the late 70s – and this is easily their best record! It's got some of the best arrangements the group ever ... read moreCD
The debut album from Jody Watley – an instant hit that became one of the biggest soul albums of the mid 80s! Jody stepped out from soul group Shalamar to work with producer Andre Cymone on a this set of tracks that set the blueprint for slick soul at the time – still very much in the ... read moreCD
Wah Wah Watson —
Elementary ... CD Columbia/Get On Down, 1976. Used ...
$6.99
A funky fusion classic from guitarist Wah Wah Watson – his only album as a leader, despite countless appearances as a sideman on 70s soul, jazz, and pop sessions! The album's got a really wonderful sort of west coast groove – one that takes bits of spacey fusion, bassy funk, and ... read moreCD
Funky treasures back to back – two Watsonian albums from the late 70s on one CD! Master Funk is a great Johnny Guitar Watson side project – a set not billed directly to his name on the front, but which has all the great hallmarks of the best Watson albums from the 70s! Johnny produced ... read moreCD
Soaring vocals from The Weather Girls, set to bouncy grooves that are equal parts soul and pop! Martha Wash and Izora Armstead have mighty vocal chops throughout – that bold duo approach they first crafted as Two Tons O Fun, and pushed even more strongly as The Weather Girls – set here ... read moreCD
Maestro Richie Weeks is at the helm of this sweet set of early 80s groovers – funky club in the best second chapter mode of the Salsoul label – served up with a sound that's lean and mean throughout! We're not sure who the "Co" is, since Richie sings, plays keyboards, and ... read moreCD
Some of the greatest work ever from Jean Wells – a 60s soul singer who never fully got her due, but really shines here in the company of some top-shelf Atlantic Records talent! The album's a great mix of deep soul vocals and tighter uptown soul production – with sublime arrangements ... read moreCD
A pair of lost classics – back to back in a single set, with bonus tracks too! First up is the self-titled Mary Wells album – non-Motown magic from Wells – a killer 60s album that really lives up to her previous promise! The scope is a bit wider here than before – and Mary' ... read moreCD
A pair of incredible early Motown albums from Mary Wells – one of the label's first truly great singers – in a great single set from Kent UK! Mary Wells never sounded better than in her Motown years – and 1962's The One Who Really Loves You is key proof of her talents, as it's ... read moreCD
All the best work from the legendary Whispers – material from their tremendous run on Solar Records – a time when the group really came into their own! The Whispers hit Solar as an act that had already been forging their harmonies in the indie underground for years – which makes ... read moreCD
Love for Love, but still a pretty groove-heavy set too – one that continues the mix of "dancin and romancin" The Whispers served up on their previous album! Side one is heavy on "dancin" – and features some bass-heavy tunes that are very much in the best mainstream ... read moreCD
Raucous rock 'n' soul from Barrence Whitfield & The Savages – who reformed and cut a killer record for the deep soul and garage rock diggers at Munster Records a few years back – and they're doing it with even more soul and savagery for our friends at Bloodshot! The band mixes wild- ... read moreCD
A wonderfully expanded version of this classic of funky funky female soul! Marva Whitney was one of the greatest singers in the James Brown stable of stars during the late 60s – and she sang with a hard raw style worth of The Godfather himself! Brother James produced and wrote a good part ... read moreCD
The obscure 2nd album by The Wild Magnolias – much harder to find than the group's first American record! The sound here is similar to their debut – a Meters-driven approach to New Orleans funk, served up in a catchy blend of tight rhythms, raspy vocals, and some well-chosen keyboard ... read moreCD
Classic New Orleans funk featuring backing from the "New Orleans Project" that includes the Gaturs' Willie Tee, Earl Turbinton, and other Crescent City session stalwarts like Larry Panna and Julius Farmer. Includes lots of tracks that rocked the rare groove scene in the 80's, including ... read moreCD
A treasure trove of early Andre Williams – cut for the Fortune label from 1955 to around 1960 – with some of his greatest and best known singles of the time, as well as some comparably rare gems! Andre's most legendary for the smoothly charismatic, streetwise R&B sound – and ... read moreCD
Andre Williams —
Silky ... CD In The Red, 1998. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
Genius work from Denice Williams – a singer who'd cracked the charts a bit as Denice Chandler, with a little girl soul sound, way back in the 60s – but who's grown up considerably by this essential 70s set! Chandler's voice is still a bit high – almost in a Minnie Riperton sort ... read moreCD
A killer batch of clubby soul from Esther Williams with a great New York sound! Inside Of Me a perfect example of the kind of excellent material that verges on disco, but which still keeps things pretty darn soulful. Released in '81, it's steeped in the warm, timeless and beautifully well ... read moreCD
A rare funk album from west coast legend Larry Williams – very different than his heavy R&B of the late 50s, or the brief soul comeback he had with Johnny Guitar Watson in the 60s – and instead a heavy groover with a trippy Cali sound! The record's got a sharp groove right from the ... read moreCD
A killer set from Lenny Williams – done in a smoothly jazzy mode that echoes with a real Fantasy Records groove! Lenny's clearly drawing some great inspiration here from the East Bay scene – working with older Motown producer Frank Wilson on a set of warmly modern numbers that really ... read moreCD
One of Lenny's first solo records – rawer than later work, thanks probably to the fact that he produced the record with Chester Thompson – and it's wonderful stuff! Thompson plays organ and arp on the record, and gives many tracks a nice heavy funk sound that's similar to his and ... read moreCD
A killer bit of modern soul – one of the standout classics from the best years of Arista! Richard Evans produced and arranged this excellent set of smooth soul grooves for Linda Williams. Linda plays keyboards and sings, and the album was recorded in 2 different sessions – one in LA, ... read moreCD
The Jackie Wilson style soars into the 70s – in a mode that's definitely different than Wilson's Brunswick work of a decade before – but which also show's a really bold evolution in style! Jackie's in the higher end of his range here – and really grooves greatly on some great ... read moreCD
A tremendous album from Jackie Wilson – one that really shows the greatness he was capable of at his start! The album's a bit more full and relaxed than some of Wilson's rockers – but in a way that really lets his vocals open up and soar – at a mode that's not that different from ... read moreCD
A very cool groove from Jackie Wilson – a record that still holds onto all the great vocal range of his roots, but also pushes into a hipper late 60s style that's pretty darn nice! Wilson's really at home in the setting – re-emerging as a more mature, confident singer with a lot better ... read moreCD
Jackie Wilson —
He's So Fine ... CD Brunswick/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1958. New Copy ...
$19.99
Jackie Wilson's first album ever – and a hard-rocking batch of tunes that captures him at his early best! The tunes here really crossover wonderfully – drawing on Jackie's rich vocal history with The Dominoes and The Drifters – but also showing him in some great mellower modes as ... read moreCD
Jackie Wilson takes over the Copa – bringing his early soul styles to the New York elite – but a few years before The Supremes and other Motown artists got their chance! The album's got Wilson acting with great poise and grace, but still losing none of his vocal power at all – ... read moreCD
Jackie Wilson really takes off here – leading the set with his landmark title track, then moving into a range of tracks that really display his tremendous vocal talents! The setting is a formative one in early soul – not entirely free from pop, but directed by the singer into really ... read moreCD
One of the last great albums that Jackie Wilson ever recorded – a sublime set of 70s soul that has some very different backings than before, all a perfect fit for those amazing Wilson vocals! David Van DePitte handled the arrangements – and wonderfully blends together strings and soul ... read moreCD
Soul Time from Jackie Wilson – a set that has the singer really opening up on some hard-edged groovers, then laying back into some wonderful mellow cuts too! The front cover says "featuring Danny Boy and other great Soul Songs" – and while it's tough to even imagine "Dann ... read moreCD
Fonzi Thornton —
Leader (with bonus tracks) ... CD 
