One of the most haunting Morricone soundtracks ever – and one of the grooviest too! The album's a perfect blend of our two favorite styles of Morricone work – that of the floating female vocal over a gentle groove, and the darker, tenser side of his music. The main "Verushka" theme is one of his most beautiful – a variation of female vocals with a gentle edge, in the tradition of classic soundtracks like La Donna Invisible or Le Photo Proibite. This theme shifts from mood to mood over the course of the LP, occasionally giving way to some more atonal passages and other more jazz-based tunes – more of which are included here than on the original release, thanks to an expanded reissue job by Right Tempo! In fact, the whole thing's bubbling over with great music – one of the best Morricone reissues we've ever stocked – done with great sound and a huge array of extra tracks! Titles include a number of takes on the "Verushka" theme, plus "Astratto", "La Bambola", "Le Fotografie", "Magia", "La Spiaggia", and "Dopo L'Intervista". CD

Fantastic Fender Rhodes from the Italian scene of the 70s – played by a group who've got a laidback vibe, and a wonderfully soulful sound! The combo features lots of percussion, plus a bit of vocals from Naimi – and the style is maybe a mix of jazz, funk, and Brazilian elements – served up with a wonderfully warm glow. The tracks are all nice and long – with a fantastic flow – and titles include "Mercy Mercy Mercy", "Damballah", "Iffilah Ha Ha", and "Mayafra Blues Waltz". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique collection of sounds from the legendary Piero Umiliani – one that was created to be given away at a wedding party, and was never sold to the public at the time! The work here is the coolest, grooviest side of the Umiliani spectrum – and mixes together rare soundtrack material with sound library gems – all with a focus on the kind of jazzy, funky, and moogy numbers that Piero can do so well! The set features 22 tracks in all – and titles include "Princess", "Cinque Bambole Rosa", "Swing Com Sempre", "Gassman Blues", "Bob E Elen", "Alba Sul Mare", "Bus Stop", "Flirt A Rio", "Mah Na Mah Na", "I Micione E La Gattin", "La Pupa Del Gangster", "Topless Party", and "Essere Donna". CD

A wealth of spiritual sounds from more recent years – served up in a killer compilation that focuses on all the great new sounds that have been emerging from different global scenes – a sublime blend of jazz, soul, Latin, and other modes – all at a level that gives us plenty of hope for both modern music, and the future of humanity too! The set follows in the spirit of nuggets from the past we've always dug from the Right Tempo/Easy Tempo label – but work here is instead all new, and represents a great outpouring of contemporary talents who draw inspiration from the best currents of 60s and 70s righteous expression, the find a way to make bold new statements of their own. Titles include "Envoy" by Mary Ancheta Quartet, "Subway" by Azar Azar, "Let The Sunshine In" by Jimetta Rose & Voices Of Creation, "Formative Stages" by Organic Pulse Ensemble, "Who Will Save The World" by Anthony Joseph, "Naboro" by Tino Contreras, "For Horace" by Raffy Bushman, "Cut To The Chase" by Malcolm Strachan, "Ruptura" by Mama Terra, "Seasons In My Mind (Patchworks version)" by Yellowtail with Mark Murphy, and "Afro Blue" by Francesco Sotgiu. LP, Vinyl record album

An obvious follow-up to their big hit "Cool Jerk", but a great album of raw soulful tracks that puts this Detroit group right up there with the best of the 60s up-tempo harmony groups! Apart from the nice original title cut, the record's also got a number of other great tracks like "It's Googaloo Time", "Tired Running From You", "I Got To Handle It", and "I Feel Alright". There's a few other Atlantic soul covers, but since the great Ollie McLaughlin produced the session in Detroit, the album's got a much more exciting feel than a lot of other Atlantic soul albums from the time! LP, Vinyl record album

One of Tyrone Davis' last albums for Dakar – and a great one too – issued in 1976 before the demise of that label, and Tyrone's big move to Columbia Records! Tyrone's still working strongly here in that great Chicago mix of smooth and rough – a sound first forged on his early Dakar hits, and carried through strongly here by arrangers Tom Tom and James Mack – who still keep a lot of the indie elements that made Davis' music for Dakar great right from the start. The centerpiece of the album is the title track "Turning Point", and it's situated in a set of other nice tunes, a number of which have that smoothed-out feel that Tyrone brought to his work in the late 70s. Includes a remake of "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" (done at a nice ballad tempo), plus "It's So Good (To Be Home With You)", "Saving My Love For You", and "I Can't Bump" (parts 1 & 2). LP, Vinyl record album

Subtitled "jazz for that relaxed mood", this is actually a great compilation of early work by Ellington's group – recorded for Columbia during the years 1934 to 1939. Somehow, the tracks still end up sounding 30 years ahead of their time – far stronger than most any early 50s big band set might hope to. Recording quality is excellent, and the whole thing's awash in richly chromatic waves of sound. Titles include "Pyramid", "Reminiscing In Tempo", "Tough Truckin", "No Greater Love", and "Finesse". LP, Vinyl record album

These guys are definitely Latin Freaks – of the sort who like to mix heavy percussion with some clubbier instrumentation – all at a level that would make 70s salsa disco giants like Joe Bataan or Eddie Drennon mighty proud! This Italian group have a great way with the music, and have really crafted something wonderful and amazing – a full, rich sound that draws from the sharpness of salsa instrumentation, yet which has more focused grooves for the dancefloor – tight horns on top, nice percussion on the bottom, and sweet keyboards and basslines right down the middle! There's vocals on the set from a few female singers – and the great Joe Bataan joins the group on the title "Can't Help Foolin" – next to other cuts that include "Juanita Shing A Ling", "Divine Dance", "Boogie With Your Baby", "Little Black Woman", "Latin Freak", and "Tiene O Tempo". LP, Vinyl record album

An 80s groove classic – and a killer bit of Captiol Records soul from High fashion! Of all US major labels, Capitol was probably putting out the best soul in the early 80s – and this is a tight modern batch of up-tempo tracks, right up there with other contemporary classics on the label, like work by BB&Q Band, Taste Of Honey, and TS Monk! The tunes all manage to have a great groove without sounding cheesy – thanks to some nice jazzy touches in the arrangements, good hooks in the songs, and some great soulful vocals. Very, very nice – and nearly every cut's a winner! Tracks include "Feelin Lucky Lately", "Next To You", "Hold On", "When The Lover Strikes", "I Want To Be Your Everything", and "You're the Winner". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic run of records from Waylon Jennings – brought together in a single package! First up is Lonesome Onry & Mean – a pivotal album for Waylon Jennings – the record where he really found the new direction that would finally get him the fame he deserved – delivered in a way that's free from all the later cliches, and which also ties Waylon pretty strongly to the hipper currents of the underground – especially that point where singer/songwriter genius intersected with country! The production is his own, and vastly different than the late 60s records – even though we love those to death too – and that magical Jennings vocal approach does fantastic things to tunes by Steve Young, Mickey Newbury, Kris Kristofferson, and others! Titles include the fantastic "Lonesome Onry & Mean", plus "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues", "Freedom To Stay", "Lay It Down", "You Can Have Her", "Pretend I Never Happened", "San Francisco Mabel Joy", "Sandy Sends Her Best", and a great take on "Me &Bobby McGee". Honky Tonk Heroes is genius material from Waylon Jennings – one of those career-defining records from the early 70s that completely put him on top, and heralded a whole new generation in country music! The set's maybe equally noteworthy as a showcase for the up-and-coming Billy Joe Shaver, who wrote much of the songs on the record – and it's also a great showcase for the important production talents of Tompall Glaser, who really gets the spirit of the music right! Titles include great versions of "Honky Tonk Heroes", "Old Five & Dimers Like Me", "Ride Me Down Easy", "Black Rose", "Willy The Wandering Gypsy & Me", "Omaha", and "Ain't No God In Mexico". This Time is one of those Waylon Jennings records from a time when he could do no wrong – fighting the stronger powers at RCA to really find his voice – recording at the studio of Tompall Glaser, with great production help from Willie Nelson – who was enjoying his own transformation at the time too! As with the previous two gems from this period, the choice of material and presentation is great – songs by Willie, JJ Cale, and Billy Joe Shavers – in a set of titles that include "Heaven Or Hell", "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way", "This Time", "Pick Up The Tempo", "If You Could Touch Her At All", "Walkin", "Slow Rollin Low", "Louisiana Woman", and "Slow Movin Outlaw". Ramblin Man is Waylon Jennings at peak mid 70s perfection! Ramblin' Man fits in stylistically with the gruff honky tonk hero mode he first fully realized a couple albums earlier, but he's still fiercely blazing trails here, pairing his gruff lead vocals with sweeter female harmonies on some tracks, changing the groove from laidback swagger to fast-paced honky tonk, working in some tender ballads with the gruffer numbers...Waylon at his best. Starts up with the eternal title track and equally classic "Rainy Day Woman" and hardly lets up in greatness from there, with "Cloudy Days", "The Hunger", "It'll Be Her", a great cover of the Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider", "Memories Of You And Me", "Amanda" and more. Features bonus tracks too – "Laid Back Country Picker", "The Last One To Leave Seattle", "Big Big Love", "Got A Lot Going For Me", "The Last Letter", and "The One I Sing My Love Songs To". CD

A really great bit of blue-eyed soul from Laneous – a singer who doesn't try to ape classic modes like some of his contemporaries, but who instead brings together a groove that's certainly got an influence from hip hop as much as it does classic soul – yet which is delivered on some mighty nice live instrumentation throughout! There's a fair bit of vibes on the set – often coming down hard with the rhythms, and ringing out in a mighty nice way – and tunes move between slow funk and breezier, jazzier numbers – both of which Laneous delivers in a really great style! Titles include "I Wanna Be Your Girl", "Not Quite Right", "Nightingales", "Hold My Hand", "Trouble In Paradise", and "Modern Romance". CD

The breakout record from Lizzo – a set that's even more musically striking than its instantly-iconic cover image! The record bristles with an energized take on contemporary R&B, mixed with just the right dose of hip hop – and although Missy Elliott guests on one track, Lizzo's clearly showing the world that she's ready to take the mantle from the queen, with a much more honest, upfront songwriting approach – on titles that include "Boys", "Lingerie", "Heaven Help Me", "Exactly How I Feel", "Tempo", "Crybaby", "Soulmate", "Like A Girl", and "Cuz I Live You". CD

The breakout record from Lizzo – a set that's even more musically striking than its instantly-iconic cover image! The record bristles with an energized take on contemporary R&B, mixed with just the right dose of hip hop – and although Missy Elliott guests on one track, Lizzo's clearly showing the world that she's ready to take the mantle from the queen, with a much more honest, upfront songwriting approach – on titles that include "Boys", "Lingerie", "Heaven Help Me", "Exactly How I Feel", "Tempo", "Crybaby", "Soulmate", "Like A Girl", and "Cuz I Live You". LP, Vinyl record album

A really beautiful second album from Fabiano Do Nascimento – and a set that really blows away his debut! This record's got an "instant classic" vibe right from the start – the kind of set that you could easily listen next to 70s gems by artists like Lo Borges, Milton Nascimento, or Edu Lobo – with a sound that hangs between the complexity and soul of all three of those artists – but a presentation that's also very personal and unique! Fabiano plays acoustic guitar throughout, with a cascading vibe that's incredibly compelling – and often offset by light flute and percussion, which skitter alongside his beautiful vocals – in ways that are always upbeat, but never too polished – really preserving this organic core in his music! The sound is sublime – sophisticated, but very organic – and if you know us at all, we're not ones to throw around the term "classic" lightly when it comes to Brazilian music. Titles include "Planalto", "Baiao", "Brasilerinho", "Ja Que Tu", "Oye Nana", "O Tempo", "Canto De Xango", and "Louva A Deus Mantis". CD

Nirvana's classic session for MTV's Unplugged – slowing down the tempo and stripping away the feedback and squalling electric guitars of their early 90s classics – as well as showing Kurt Cobain's command of cover tunes! This is a set that blew expectations right out of the water. It shows the essence of the great Cobain songwriting, as well has his gift for interpreting others – drawing parallels from Bowie, The Meat Puppets to traditional folk and blues. Amazing! Includes "About A Girl", "The Man Who Sold The World", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", "Lake Of Fire", "All Apologies", "Dumb", "Polly" and more. Cassette

Nirvana's classic session for MTV's Unplugged – slowing down the tempo and stripping away the feedback and squalling electric guitars of their early 90s classics – as well as showing Kurt Cobain's command of cover tunes! This is a set that blew expectations right out of the water. It shows the essence of the great Cobain songwriting, as well has his gift for interpreting others – drawing parallels from Bowie, The Meat Puppets to traditional folk and blues. Amazing! Includes "About A Girl", "The Man Who Sold The World", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", "Lake Of Fire", "All Apologies", "Dumb", "Polly" and more. CD

Nirvana's classic session for MTV's Unplugged – slowing down the tempo and stripping away the feedback and squalling electric guitars of their early 90s classics – as well as showing Kurt Cobain's command of cover tunes! This is a set that blew expectations right out of the water. It shows the essence of the great Cobain songwriting, as well has his gift for interpreting others – drawing parallels from Bowie, The Meat Puppets to traditional folk and blues. Amazing! Includes "About A Girl", "The Man Who Sold The World", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", "Lake Of Fire", "All Apologies", "Dumb", "Polly" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Nirvana's classic session for MTV's Unplugged – slowing down the tempo and stripping away the feedback and squalling electric guitars of their early 90s classics – as well as showing Kurt Cobain's command of cover tunes! This is a set that blew expectations right out of the water. It shows the essence of the great Cobain songwriting, as well has his gift for interpreting others – drawing parallels from Bowie,to The Meat Puppets to traditional folk and blues. Amazing! Includes "About A Girl", "The Man Who Sold The World", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", "Lake Of Fire", "All Apologies", "Dumb", "Polly" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Piero Umiliani gave the world some fantastic soundtracks in the 60s, and incredible electronic and sound library work in the 70s – but in the immediate postwar years, he was a jazz musician at heart – as you'll hear in this great set of small combo jazz from 1959! The vibe is right up there with some of the hippest Italian moderns of the period – like the Basso/Valdambrini group, or work by Gil Cuppini – and if you've heard some of the early 60s jazz soundtracks from Piero, you'll know that he can definitely serve up straight jazz work when he wants to! Umiliani plays piano, and other musicians include Marcello Boschi on alto and flute, Ivan Vandor on tenor, Bill Gilmore on trombone, Peppe Carta on bass, and Roberto Zappulla on drums. All tracks are originals – and include "Tempo Jazz", "Tema In Blues", "Mezza Cottura", "Tipi Misteriosi", and "Battesimo Dell'Aria". LP, Vinyl record album

A fab little soundtrack from one of our favorite Italian composers – a lost gem originally issued in 1971, with a very groovy sound! The score has Piero Umiliani picking up a bit more funk than usual – working with electric bass and keyboards to come up with some totally great tracks that kind of pick up a sexy Euro funk groove from the Serge Gainsbourg generation, and give it some excellent soundtracky touches in terms of tone, color, and melody. The tracks are all pretty darn great – bouncy, sunny, and with funk at just the right moments – and a few nice numbers even have a bit of scatting vocals, an element that makes them all the more pleasing to our ears! Titles include "Mah Na Cowboy", "Holiday Inn", "Love In", "Il Mondo Dell Infanzia", "Luna Di Miele", "Pepito", and "La Nuova Frontiera". LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever volume of the now-legendary Easy Tempo series – a collection of soundtrack grooves that hipped us back to the wonders of the Italian scene of the 60s and 70s – and did so at a time when few folks had ever thought to reissue this music! Right from the start, this series set a whole new level for soundtrack appreciation – and the collection features an incredible range of tunes that run from jazzy, to groovy, to funky, with lots of mod spaces in between – all served up with great sound, and even more of a sense of focus than the original soundtracks! Titles include "La Gabbia" by Gianni Ferrio, "Blue Rhythm Festival" by Piero Piccioni, "Notte Al Grand Hotel" by Riz Ortolani, "One Fine Morning" by Augusto Martelli, "Mark Il Poliziotto" by Stelvio Ciprani, "Grigioperla" by Gianfranco Plenizio, "Serena E Lamuno" by Riz Ortolani, and "Ira Rhythm & Blues" by Gianni Ferrio. CD

Mid 80s soul from Detroit's Colonel Abrams – One of the first artists to take the then burgeoning house sound into the mainstream – paired up with nicely grooving modern soul vibe! Includes the his "Trapped" and "I'm Not Gonna Let", with those bright and bumping synth melodies and relentless house influenced beats underneath vocals and songwriting that helped get it over with the chart ready contemporary soul scene – plus the solid ballad "Never Change", "Over & Over", "Speculation", "The Truth", "Table For Two" and more. This CD version includes 4 bonus tracks: 12" mixes of "Trapped", "I'm Not Gonna Let You", "The Truth" and "Over And Over" – plus the non album track "Music Is The Answer". CD

Post-Mingus work from reedman George Adams and pianist Don Pullen – three albums in a single set! Decisions is one of those key records that has George Adams and Don Pullen reinventing expectations of jazz for the 80s – both musicians with plenty of ear for the outside, but also coming back home with a well-rounded, deeply-rooted approach that's crucial in taking the American jazz legacy another step forward! Like some of their similar contemporaries, who could also be avant at times, and straight at others – Adams and Pullen have no concern with setting themselves in one camp or another – and not only flesh out the spirit of the record with both of those aspects of their playing, but also have some surprisingly bluesy undercurrents at times. The group features George Adams on tenor, Don Pullen on piano, Cameron Brown on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums – and titles include "Decisions", "Triple Over Time", "I Could Really For You", "Message Urgent", and "Trees & Grass & Things". Life Line is a strong outing from this key post-Mingus collaboration – and a record that really shows both Don Pullen and George Adams really coming into their own! Pullen's piano can have plenty of edges, as can Adams' tenor – but there's also some warmer, lyrical moments that really round things out – kind of a balance between righteous energy and deeper quietude that the musicians might have learned during their time with Charles Mingus – taken to a logical small group extension here. Adams also plays a bit of flute, which is especially nice – and the group also includes Cameron Brown on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums. Titles include "The Great Escape Or Run John Henry Run", "Seriously Speaking", "Soft Seas", and "Protection". Live At Montmartre is solidly soaring work from tenorist George Adams – recording live here with pianist Don Pullen, one of his best musical partners during the 80s! The album's got a bit more of a bite than some of the pair's studio sessions – a bit straighter overall, but recorded with a nice degree of energy, and some long tracks that really let both players open up nicely – in a combo that also features John Scofield on guitar, Cameron Brown on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums. The inclusion of Scofield's guitar changes up the group's sound in a nice way – adding in some more chromatic elements that really stand out – and titles include "IJ", "Flame Games", "Song Everlasting", and "Forever Lovers". CD

Loads of great percussion here – more than enough to warrant the album's striking cover image – and other instrumentation includes jazzy keyboards and vibes as well! The album's right up there with other recent projects on Japan's Routine label – a mix of older sounds and contemporary club jazz elements – although Aflex Combo features a bit more programming overall, handled by Keisuke Yamazoe, who's sort of the maestro behind the project! There's still plenty of live instrumentation too – the aforementioned vibes, played by Masami Watanabe of The Fascinations – plus piano, sax, keyboards, and even bagpipes on one groovy track. The percussion often seems programmed, but still retains an acoustic, organic quality – further bringing a classic feel to the set – and titles include "Something Blue", "Biliyala", "Intermezzo", "After The Rain", "The Latin Thing (AC Stomp mix)", "Sound Of Feeling", and "Magic Mood". CD

A pastoral cover hides the greatness within – a set that's maybe one of the most soulful ever recorded by the great Laurel Aitken – who also produced and penned all the tunes too! There's a warm soul vibe to the record that's almost more Sam Cooke than some of the earlier material that Aitken had recorded – and very different than the ska work of his later years too – this sunny glow that has the midtempo cuts sparkling nicely, and with energy that mixes American soul with just the right amount of Caribbean flavor. Titles include "Baby Let Me Take You Home", "Evil Woman", "You Don't Have To Hide", "Think It Over", "Sitting By The Window", and "Baby I Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

The tenor of Melissa Aldana fits right in here with the contemporary sound of Blue Note – especially given that labelmate Lage Lund is on guitar, and has a way of folding together all the tones from his strings very nicely next to the sharper edges of Aldana's tenor! The set begins with a dedication to Wayne Shorter – and that number maybe really sets the spirit of the album – as Melissa has a way of phrasing that's equally distinct, and very much her own – soulful and modern at the same time, set up in a quintet that also includes Fabian Almazan on piano, Pablo Menares on bass, and Kush Abadey on drums. Titles include "Echoes Of The Inner Prophet", "A Purpose", "I Know You Know", "The Solitary Seeker", "Unconscious Whispers", and "A Story". CD

The tenor of Melissa Aldana fits right in here with the contemporary sound of Blue Note – especially given that labelmate Lage Lund is on guitar, and has a way of folding together all the tones from his strings very nicely next to the sharper edges of Aldana's tenor! The set begins with a dedication to Wayne Shorter – and that number maybe really sets the spirit of the album – as Melissa has a way of phrasing that's equally distinct, and very much her own – soulful and modern at the same time, set up in a quintet that also includes Fabian Almazan on piano, Pablo Menares on bass, and Kush Abadey on drums. Titles include "Echoes Of The Inner Prophet", "A Purpose", "I Know You Know", "The Solitary Seeker", "Unconscious Whispers", and "A Story". LP, Vinyl record album

The full length classic from the duo of Althea Forrest and Donna Reid – a pair who recorded the title hit as a bit of a lark, then found themselves quickly coming up with enough material to follow up with a full length album! Despite their almost accidental fame, the duo are pretty darn great – very much in the best roots mode of the mid 70s, with an easygoing vocal style that slides right into the well-crafted grooves of the set! Instrumentation is top-shelf throughout – key Kingston backing from Tommy McCook on tenor, Vin Gordon on trombone, Chinna Smith on guitar, and Sly and Robbie on rhythm – all giving the record a great midtempo groove that lets the vocals flow in a nicely seductive way throughout. Titles include "No More Fighting", "Jah Rasafari", "Make A Truce", "The West", "Jah Music", "Sorry", "They Wanna Just", "Uptown Top Ranking", and "If You Don't Love Jah". LP, Vinyl record album

A contemporary group, but one who do a stunning job of cooking up 80s-styled club cuts – just the right balance of boogie, funk, and soul – all handled with a lean vibe that's like some of our favorite rare 12" singles from back in the day! Another Taste are a real group, not just a producer with beats, keyboards, and samples – and you can definitely hear their live interaction throughout – an extra-special sort of warmth that really knocks things out of the park, and which easily makes the album stand next to our favorites from the Capitol Rare generation! Titles include "Perfect Night", "Mad Honey Theme", "Time Is On Our Side", "Turn Up", "It Takes Time", and "Anything You Want". LP, Vinyl record album

The Apostles are nice and groovy here – working in this offbeat way that combines upbeat cuts with some unusual mellower numbers – but all at a level that really keeps things interesting throughout! These guys can clearly move with the groove and hit some sharp funky instrumentation at all the right moments – but they're also maybe more song-conscious than some of their contemporaries, which really comes through in the way they put together their lyrics! The vocals are in English throughout, but very oddly accented – not just because of the origin of the group, but also because of the way the lead singer has of clipping off some of his words and phrases – an odd style, but one that fits the moody modes of instrumentation. Titles include the sweet chromatic "Disciple Funk" – plus "Banko Woman", "Mr Too Know", "Yours Sincerely", and "Faith Luck Music". CD

Steve Arrington's got a long long legacy in soul music – one that goes back to his late 70s work on Slave – but he also sounds completely contemporary here, working in collaboration with a whole host of producers who were no doubt influenced by his creations of the past, and help Arrington find a whole new vibe in his music! Tunes are often spare, and served up in a blend of vocals, beats, keyboards, and guitar – yet all elements are given some cool, crispy twists and turns through a host of hip hop elements and other contemporary modes – but all at a level that only seems to bring new live to Arrington's music, and not overwhelm it. The set features work from Mndsgn, Gifted & Blessed, J Rocc, Knxwledge, Devin Morrison, and others – and titles include "Love Knows", "Keep Dreamin", "Soulful I Need That In My Life", "Make A Difference", "Joys Of Love", "It's Alright", "Make Ya Say Yie", "You're Not Ready", "Good Mood", and "Work On It". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-titled set from one of the greatest soul groups to ever come from Chicago – a sublime quartet who had a way of voicing their tunes that was really head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries! This killer record showcases The Artistics' genius right from the start – mixing in some deeper soul modes than you might expect from the Windy City side of Brunswick Records – yet still keeping the Chicago contingent firmly in place thanks to production by Carl Davis, arrangements by Sonny Sanders, and a wonderful set of material written by the likes of Eugene Record, Floyd Smith, Marvin Smith, and Gerald Sims. The vocals are wonderful – rawer at some moments than others, which really gives the album a great sense of personality – and titles include their hit "You Left Me", plus "The Other Side Of Sadness", "Fading Memories", "Man With Feeling", "Have No Pity", and "Ain't That The Way It Goes". CD features two bonus tracks – "You Make Me Happy" and "Nothing But Heartaches". CD

Ashford & Simpson don't need to ask at this point – their in full 70s soul stride here, and it's not good, it's great! By this point in the late 70s, Nick and Valerie are firmly holding the foreground as artists in their own right after many years of acting as songwriters for other soul and R&B hitmakers – writing, singing, and producing their own work in a now-established tradition of sophisticated soul and uptempo grooves! What they had not done to this point was produce a number of big hits for themselves, and that tide started to turn this this excellent album that's among their best ever! Includes a number of singles that would help them begin to break through to later huge chart success, which was by now richly earned. Titles include "Is It Good To You", "Ain't It A Shame", "It Seems To Hang On", "Flashback", "The Debt Is Settled", and "Get Up And Do Something". CD

Ashford & Simpson don't need to ask at this point – their in full 70s soul stride here, and it's not good, it's great! By this point in the late 70s, Nick and Valerie are firmly holding the foreground as artists in their own right after many years of acting as songwriters for other soul and R&B hitmakers – writing, singing, and producing their own work in a now-established tradition of sophisticated soul and uptempo grooves! What they had not done to this point was produce a number of big hits for themselves, and that tide started to turn this this excellent album that's among their best ever! Includes a number of singles that would help them begin to break through to later huge chart success, which was by now richly earned. Titles include "Is It Good To You", "Ain't It A Shame", "It Seems To Hang On", "Flashback", "The Debt Is Settled", and "Get Up And Do Something". LP, Vinyl record album

Ashford & Simpson may have gotten their start at Motown, but they really found their groove at Warner Brothers – as you'll hear on this massive collection of tracks from their landmark late 70s years at the label! Even many decades later, the strength of this music is undeniable – a careful blend of soulful roots and upbeat rhythms – yet all in ways that never fall into standard disco cliches of the period! The Ashford & Simpson groove is a really unique one – always deeply soulful, even when well polished, and carefully put together with some of the best studio elements the pair could get their hands on – then produced to perfection with a sparkling sound that's years ahead of its time. This 2CD set offers up a full disc of 70s originals that includes some rare 12" mixes from back in the day – and it also includes a second CD of contemporary remixes that really pay tribute to the classics – the sort of modern re-edits and mixes that always keep the original sounds, styles, and rhythms intact. CD 1 features 14 tracks that include "Over & Over (12" disco mix)", "Have You Ever Tried It", "One More Try (12" disco mix)", "Send It", "Top Of The Stairs", "Don't Cost You Nothing (12" disco mix)", "It Seems To Hang On (12" disco mix)", "Found A Cure (12" disco mix)", "Bourgie Bourgie", and "Love Don't Make It Right (12" disco mix)". CD 2 features 9 tracks that include "Stay Free (Dim's club mix)", "Found A Cure (Tom Moulton mix)", "It Seems To Hang On (Tommy Musto re-touch)", "Bourgie Bourgie (Joe Claussell's classic rmx)", "One More Try (Dimitri re-edit)", and "Love Don't Make It Right (Joey Negro mix)". CD

The first album by Atlantic Starr – a tight set of modern soul tunes with a very different feel than their later work! Part of the credit goes to Bobby Eli – who arranged and produced the set, giving it a feel that's almost late Philly – tight, sophisticated, and right on the money at all the best points! There's a number of sweet mellow ballads with lead vocals by Sharon Bryant, and other tracks that groove in an uptempo way that points towards more of the group's 80s work – a great mix of modes that makes for a really well-developed album right out of the gate. Titles include "Gimme Your Lovin", "The Love I Never Had", "Visions", "Keep It Comin", "Stand Up", "Where There's Smoke There's Fire", "We Got It Together", and "Being In Love With You Is So Much Fun". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album by Atlantic Starr – a tight set of modern soul tunes with a very different feel than their later work! Part of the credit goes to Bobby Eli – who arranged and produced the set, giving it a feel that's almost late Philly – tight, sophisticated, and right on the money at all the best points! There's a number of sweet mellow ballads with lead vocals by Sharon Bryant, and other tracks that groove in an uptempo way that points towards more of the group's 80s work – a great mix of modes that makes for a really well-developed album right out of the gate. Titles include "Gimme Your Lovin", "The Love I Never Had", "Visions", "Keep It Comin", "Stand Up", "Where There's Smoke There's Fire", "We Got It Together", and "Being In Love With You Is So Much Fun". CD features a bonus track – "Stand Up (single version)". CD

An all-star record from three contemporary forces in soul, hip hop, and jazz – yet one that's also got a nicely lean vibe as well – as the whole thing focuses on the best strengths of all three talents involved! Much of the music features Karriem Riggins on drums, Robert Glasper on keyboards, and Common delivering lyrics – usually with a style that's much more compact and down to earth than some of his own records of the past few decades! Glasper's right at home in the setting, and really helps set the tone – and singer Samora Pinderhughes is on many tracks, balancing out Common's rhymes with her vocals. Other guest singers include Bilal and Brandy – and titles include "Black Kennedy", "Practice", "Fly Away", "Aya", "Let Go", "The Time", "Optimistic", and "No Apologies". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent funky fusion group from Chicago – and one of the best ensembles to record for the Black Jazz label! The group's made up of hip Chicago underground players – and includes Ken Chaney on electric piano, Ari Brown on saxes, and Frank Gordon on trumpet – a lineup that comes together with the same sort of righteous energy and soulful power as Windy City contemporaries like The Pharoahs or Earth Wind & Fire! On this first LP, they jam with a mix of righteous funk and spiritual soul jazz, mixing electric piano, choppy reeds, and tight horns with a powerful rhythm backing that never goes too over the top, and which stays in a good modal mode that works great for the soloists – soaringly expressive at a personal level, yet coming together with a really righteous group feel in the end. Tracks include "Jupiter", "Brand New Feeling", "Convulsions", and "Kera's Dance". CD

An excellent funky fusion group from Chicago – and one of the best ensembles to record for the Black Jazz label! The group's made up of hip Chicago underground players – and includes Ken Chaney on electric piano, Ari Brown on saxes, and Frank Gordon on trumpet – a lineup that comes together with the same sort of righteous energy and soulful power as Windy City contemporaries like The Pharoahs or Earth Wind & Fire! On this first LP, they jam with a mix of righteous funk and spiritual soul jazz, mixing electric piano, choppy reeds, and tight horns with a powerful rhythm backing that never goes too over the top, and which stays in a good modal mode that works great for the soloists – soaringly expressive at a personal level, yet coming together with a really righteous group feel in the end. Tracks include "Jupiter", "Brand New Feeling", "Convulsions", and "Kera's Dance". CD

An excellent funky fusion group from Chicago – and one of the best ensembles to record for the Black Jazz label! The group's made up of hip Chicago underground players – and includes Ken Chaney on electric piano, Ari Brown on saxes, and Frank Gordon on trumpet – a lineup that comes together with the same sort of righteous energy and soulful power as Windy City contemporaries like The Pharoahs or Earth Wind & Fire! On this first LP, they jam with a mix of righteous funk and spiritual soul jazz, mixing electric piano, choppy reeds, and tight horns with a powerful rhythm backing that never goes too over the top, and which stays in a good modal mode that works great for the soloists – soaringly expressive at a personal level, yet coming together with a really righteous group feel in the end. Tracks include "Jupiter", "Brand New Feeling", "Convulsions", and "Kera's Dance". CD