A fantastic debut from Sugarloaf – a group who managed to use the Hammond organ in ways that were just as strong as the guitar in most other groups! The approach here seems to draw a lot from all the best changes taking place in soulful jazz – as Jerry Corbetta manages his keyboards with this lean quality that's wonderful, and balanced with the bass, drums, and guitar in this perfect way – almost funky at many moments, and still pretty damn sharp even if not! You'll probably know that quality from the group's classic hit "Green Eyed Lady" – but it really shines through on the whole album, on titles that include "Bach Doors Man", "Chest Fever", "Things Gonna Change Soon", and "Train Kept A Rollin". LP, Vinyl record album

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A pair of records from this important early 70s group! First up is the fantastic debut from Sugarloaf – a group who managed to use the Hammond organ in ways that were just as strong as the guitar in most other groups! The approach here seems to draw a lot from all the best changes taking place in soulful jazz – as Jerry Corbetta manages his keyboards with this lean quality that's wonderful, and balanced with the bass, drums, and guitar in this perfect way – almost funky at many moments, and still pretty damn sharp even if not! You'll probably know that quality from the group's classic hit "Green Eyed Lady" – but it really shines through on the whole album, on titles that include "Bach Doors Man", "Chest Fever", "Things Gonna Change Soon", and "Train Kept A Rollin". Spaceship Earth is the searing second album from Sugarloaf – a set that has Jerry Corbetta wailing even more heavily on the organ than before, and the group working with the kind of razor-sharp intensity that made them such a big act at the time! Corbetta also handles most of the lead vocals, but the group draws plenty of strength from an ability to harmonize warmly too – not in the softer modes of some of their contemporaries, but with a soaring vibe that really works well with the edges on the guitar, and the full-on bass and drums that propel the whole album along! A gem of a record that was big at the time, and never gets the due it deserves all these many years later – with cuts that include "Rusty Cloud", "Hot Water", "Spaceship Earth", "Woman", "Music Box", "Tongue In Cheek", and "Mother Nature's Wine". CD

The searing second album from Sugarloaf – a set that has Jerry Corbetta wailing even more heavily on the organ than before, and the group working with the kind of razor-sharp intensity that made them such a big act at the time! Corbetta also handles most of the lead vocals, but the group draws plenty of strength from an ability to harmonize warmly too – not in the softer modes of some of their contemporaries, but with a soaring vibe that really works well with the edges on the guitar, and the full-on bass and drums that propel the whole album along! A gem of a record that was big at the time, and never gets the due it deserves all these many years later – with cuts that include "Rusty Cloud", "Hot Water", "Spaceship Earth", "Woman", "Music Box", "Tongue In Cheek", and "Mother Nature's Wine". LP, Vinyl record album

A masterful fusion set from guitarist Lee Ritenour – one that expands his sound a bit more than usual by adding in vocals on a number of tracks – but in a way that really gets at the mainstream soul influences that bubble through his jazz work! The set features key vocal appearances from Patti Austin, Tom Baylor, and Bill Champlin – all singers who really know how to respect the instrumental side of a tune, too – which is great, given that the record also features keyboards from Dave Grusin and Patrice Rushen too. Titles include "That's Enough For Me", "Sugarloaf Express", "What Do You Want", "Matchmakers", "Morning Glory", and "The Storm". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful album from George Duke – and one of our favorite records from his legendary years at Columbia! George Duke's always had plenty of Brazilian elements in his music – but this album really brings them all together – offering up a perfect blend of Duke's keyboards and Cali soul with some key additions from the Rio scene of the time – a mix of singers and musicians who really help round out the sound and authenticate George's ears for Brazilian music! The album was actually recorded down in Rio – and features great contributions from Simone, Milton Nascimento, Roberto Silva, Toninho Horta, and Airto – all working beautifully under Duke's leadership, on cuts that include "Brazilian Love Affair", "Cravo E Canela", "Brazilian Sugar", "Sugarloaf Mountain", "Ao Que Vai Nascer", and "I Need You Now". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Van McCoy, Blackbyrds, Gwen McCrae, Sugarloaf, Styx, Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes, Stylistics, Hot Chocolate, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Gloria Gaynor, Carol Douglas, Kool & The Gang, Billy Preston, George McCrae, Jim Gilstrap, Hues Corporation, Kiss, and BT Express. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Alive & Kicking, Mungo Jerry, Hotlegs, Sugarloaf, R Dean Taylor, the Partridge Family, Bobby Bloom, Brin Hyland, Jerry Reed, Bobby Sherman Punch and more. CD

Music from Alive & Kicking, Mungo Jerry, Hotlegs, Sugarloaf, R Dean Taylor, the Partridge Family, Bobby Bloom, Brin Hyland, Jerry Reed, Bobby Sherman Punch & more. Cassette

Great solo work from Jerry Corbetta – an artist who first rose to fame in the long-haired Sugarloaf group at the start of the 70s – but who here steps out as a sweet AOR act on his own, from the other side of the decade! Steve Barri produced the set, and gives it some soulful currents that really work well with Jerry's vocals – a mode that's smooth, but never too polished – which really makes for a great change for Corbetta – and a perfect showcase for his surprisingly well-written songs! We're not sure how long Jerry continued in this vein, but this album's a gem from the farther reaches of 70s AOR – and titles include "Free Man", "If I Never Had Your Love", "Sensitive Soul", "Between A Rock & A Hard Place", and "I Wish That I Was Making Love To You Tonight" – plus a nice remake of "Green Eyed Lady"! LP, Vinyl record album