One of the first big Philly moments for Archie Bell & The Drells! "Showdown" is an undisputed classic – with an incredible hook, and a strident soul groove that replaces the band's earlier Texas funk style. Gamble & Huff wrote and produced, and the cut's got some tight arrangements by Bobby Martin. The flip's tasty too! 7-inch, Vinyl record

"Walking In Rhythm" was probably the biggest hit ever for this seminal 70s funk group. The cut's got a hook you'd recognize in a minute, and was played to death on AM Radio. However, we're more partial to "The Baby" – a great little funk track with some nice effects, and some very tasty production by Donald Byrd! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two tasty early tracks from Brenda & The Tabulations. "And My Heart Sang" is a sweet little harmony track, with some nice low notes from the boys behind her, and Brenda's lovely voice floating over the top. "Lies" is more uptempo, with a driving feel, and a strong little soul hook in a Detroit mode. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Genius, pure genius – and the kind of female soul tune we'll never tire of! From the first note, the track oozes sadness – really blue in its approach, setting the scene perfectly for Brenda's great interpretation of Van McCoy's lyric. The hook's incredible – the kind that would grab you even coming out of the muddiest AM radio! The flip's nice too – a bit more upbeat, but with a similar approach. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Some of Bobby Byrd's best work ever! "If You Don't Work" is a hard funky killer – done in a tight James Brown way, with lots of choppy guitar, and Bobby's vocals coming off at breakneck speed, just to keep up with the band. Nice simple message, too! "You've Got To Change Your Mind" is a great duet between Bobby and James. It's got a totally catchy hook, and a nice rolling groove that's extremely satisfying. James beats Bobby in the vocal department, but Bobby adds a nice bit of soul in the mix. 7-inch, Vinyl record

A sweet bit of disco, with a wonderful hook! We've never been sure if this Caress is the same group that went onto record later for P&P Records fame, but the tune's got these sweeping strings, falsetto vocals, and a nicely rhythmic pulse that all share real P&P touches – even if Peter Brown or Patrick Adam's names aren't on the credits! Written by Gregg Diamond, and a really nice little tune! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The Classic Sullivans were one of those great lost groups to record for a Warner Brother subsidiary in the late 60s/early 70s – and like all those groups, they never got the attention they deserved. "Paint Yourself In the Corner", despite the clunky title, is a great soul track with a real Impressions-esque approach to harmony, and a very catchy hook! 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the best singles from obscure southern soul singer Cliff Curry. "She Shot A Hole" is pretty good, with kind of a midtempo groove, and a catchy hook – but the better cut is "We're Gonna Hate Ourselves", which has a mellow vocal from Clifford, and a great compressed sound that's like early Muscle Shoals work, touched with kind of a New Orleans approach to rhythm. The hook will stay with you long after the track's over, too! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Great stuff by this excellent Detroit harmony group – cut during their best period. "Do Me Right" is a catchy little groover, with kind of a popping bubbling hook that makes the cut one of the group's most memorable. "Just Now & Then" is a slow mellow number, with a southern soul-ish horn finish, and stone Detroit harmonies at the best moments. 7-inch, Vinyl record

"Whatcha See" is one of The Dramatics' best cuts ever! It's got a dope rolling groove, a hard righteous message, and a hook that just won't quit. The track's more than a bit funky, and it's one of those tunes that you've heard for years – and will smile upon catching again! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two tracks from the sweet voiced Donnie. "Sweet Baby" has a rolling midtempo groove, and a much better hook. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Classic stuff – as Aretha's version of the Ashford & Simpson hit "You're All I Need" is augmented with lovely strings and large arrangements by Arif Mardin, very much in the style that Aretha was moving into after her first few sessions with Atlantic. "Pullin" is a bit harder, and has a nice hook! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Hmmm....we're not sure if this is the same Harlem River Drive that recorded with Eddie Palmieri, but we've got to assume that they are, as we can't imagine 2 bands using the same name at the same time, and both apparently from New York. "Need You" has also got a sound that's kind of a progression from the famous album by the group, with a shift from Latin funk to Latin disco – in the kind of groove that Eddie Drennon was moving to at the same time. The track's a vocal groover, with a nice catchy soul hook. "Overtime" is a bit more straight funk – but with a heavy bottom sound that's also in the Harlem River Drive style. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Fantastic stuff from this great Philly group! "Cowboys To Girls" is probably the group's biggest track from the old days – with a loping hook that's as sweet as it is catchy! "Turn The Hands Of Time" is wonderful too – with a strident driving groove, punctuated with vibes, and featuring some incredible harmonies that really send the message of the cut! Bobby Martin arranged both cuts – and did a fantastic job! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The a-side's a familiar classic, but the b-side's our real favorite! "I Turned You On" has a nice slow sexy groove, with the kind of hook and power that made the Isleys so great in the early 70s! Wonderful stuff – and not easy to find on vinyl! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A totally excellent single by one of our favorite overlooked soul singers! "If You Want" starts out with some amazing echoey guitar picked passages – ala early 70s Barry White (in fact, they sound like they were lifted from the Gloria Scott album!) Then, Jesse comes in on a monologue, and next leaps into the song's tasty catchy hook. Arrangments by HB Barnum, who also had a hand in writing the cut. And this wasn't on an album, was it? 7-inch, Vinyl record

A stone classic! "Temptation 'Bout To Get Me" is one of those harmony tracks that you never forget. It's got a strong strong hook, sung in a descending vocal style that pins it right to your heart! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Excellent work from this hip west coast Latin combo! "Suavecito" is one of the greatest Latin-inflected pop ballads of all time – a sweet little tune with a really catchy hook, and a harmony sound that's right out of Spanish Harlem! "Nena" is a faster groover with a nice jazzy flourish – tight, breezy, and very sweet! 7-inch, Vinyl record

We love these guys – and both cuts are great! "Backfield In Motion" is a huge hit for the duo – with amazingly acrobatic vocals, and a strange little hook that's a lot more enduring than you'd imagine. "Do Right" is just as great, with a jaunty little groove, and the kind of vocal pyrotechnics that always made Mel & Tim so great! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Leroy Hutson arranged, produced, and wrote both tracks – and they're both excellent harmony sides by this stellar soul group from Chicago! "Heaven Right Here On Earth" is one of the group's trademark tunes – a beautifully slow track that starts with some electric sitar, then slides into a floating harmony vocal that's perfect all the way through! "While You're Away" is a bit mellower, but in a way that brings the harmonies even more to the forefront. The cut's got a great hook, and is produced to perfection with a stone cold sound! 7-inch, Vinyl record

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A totally great little record – the initial recording of "Boogie Chillen" by the legendary John Lee Hooker – presented here on a 7" pressing that looks like the original single on Sensation Records from Detroit! Unlike that one, this issue features a bonus second take of the tune on the flipside – one that's even more raucous than the original! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A classic – and one that we pull out every year on Mother's Day! Goofy, but fantastic – and with a compelling vocal that always gets us hooked. One of those songs that shouldn't be so great, but year after year, we still love hearing it! Plus, the part 2 has a great spoken bit! 7-inch, Vinyl record

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Leroy Hutson arranged, produced, and wrote this tracks, an excellent harmony side by this stellar soul group from Chicago, with a catchy hooks and a sense of harmony that will make you think you're on the east coast. 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two great mellow sweet soul tracks by this excellent Chicago male vocal quartet! The sound is pure Chicago soul – with arrangements by Rich Tufo, very much in the Curtom vocal group mode! "Since You've Been Gone" is a great midtempo number, with some nice electric sitar, warm hooks, and kind of a Spinners-esque "Mighty Love" sort of sound! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The first 3 seconds of this are enough for us – as the track leads in with an amazing guitar part that really hooks us up! The bit's incredible – this slow downturning part that will never be duplicated, and which opens the door to some of the most adventurous writing the group ever did. The tune's funky, but in a really subtle way – one that makes for some incredibly soulful vocalizing too! "Not So Sad" is a great one too – harder and funkier, with that dark dark Westbound production approach! 7-inch, Vinyl record

2 great ones from Dee Dee – recorded with Dave Crawford during her Atlantic years, in a style that's got its roots in late 60s southern soul, but which is also pointing the way towards a hipper future for female singers! Both sides really strong – with good hooks, and excellent vocals from Dee Dee. 7-inch, Vinyl record

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