Don't worry too much about the "bitter grooves" or "AOR" in the title – and just focus on the "soul" – as the set's overflowing with great rare groove tracks from the 70s, very much in the best sort of style that we've loved from P-Vine label reissues over the years! Tracks include a very special slice of work from the American underground – records from decidedly indie sources, but which also have a nice sort of polish and professionalism – never slick or commercial, but always tight and really well done! If you're a fan of this sort of material, you'll probably recognize a few names in the tracklist – but as always with P-Vine, the overall track selection and combination are a really big part of the album's appeal. Titles include "My Girl Friday" by L'il Albert, "Everything You Do" by Positive Force, "No Love In The Morning" by Thelma Houston, Nightfall" by Cynthia Schloss, "Our Love Will Last" by Spaceark, "Too Soon Your Old" by Penny Goodwin, "Got To Be Lovin You" by Erik Tagg, "I Said It Before" by Touch Of Class, "What A Lovely Way To Spend A Lifetime" by Ted Coleman Band, "Lonely People" by People's Pleasure, "Come With Me" by Judy Pollak & 33 1/3, "Heaven" by Matthew Larkin Cassell, and "Love Love Love" by JR Bailey. CD

Think The Beatles only had an impact on rock and pop fans in the America of the 60s? Think again – because their music had an undeniable impact on soul as well – as you'll here from this wonderful range of remakes of classic cuts from the Fab Four! The work here is a real surprise if you don't know the legacy – but it also really makes sense once you're reminded of the mind-expanding, ear-opening territory the group hit in the latter half of the 60s – and working with themes of social change, alienation, and personal longing – of the sort that turn out to be perfect for new interpretations in soul! Most of these cuts are way more than standard cover versions, too – as the arrangements are really inventive, and take off in bold new directions that make the songs very much new properties overall. Most of the work here is from the late 60s and early 70s – and as always with Ace Records, the notes and presentation really put the music in context! Titles include "The Fool On The Hill" by The Four Tops, "Dear Prudence" by The Five Stairsteps, "For No One" by Maceo & The King's Men, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" by Ike & Tina Turner, "Tomorrow Never Knows" by Junior Parker, "Got To Get You Into My Life" by Earth Wind & Fire, "Do You Want To Know A Secret" by Mary Wells, "Lovely Rita" by Fats Domino, "With A Little Help From My Friends" by The Undisputed Truth, "Savoy Truffle" by Ella Fitzgerald, and "Let It Be" by Bill Withers. CD

A warm and wonderful selection of tracks from the mid 70s – music that lies in the farther reaches of the world of AOR, but which is often much less chartbound, and mixed up here with a few rare soul tracks too! The set is part of an excellent series from Saint Etienne – compiled by Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs, and Sarah Cracknell – and while previous versions have imagined a soundtrack for spaces of an older vintage, this set acts as the backdrop for an imagined lunch spot in 70s LA – as the notes say, "the kind of place where Warren Beatty and Julie Christie might meet in the afternoon for a secret rendezvous." As such, the collection is full of mellow, midtempo tunes that have a groove, but a gentle one – the kind of tracks that are perfect for kicking back, and letting a sunny afternoon slowly slide into the dusk of a summer evening. Titles include "Oh Honey" by Delegation, "Only Love" by Bill Quateman, "Where Are We Going" by Marvin Gaye, "Tin Man" by John Edwards, "Love Is The Answer" by Utopia, "Natural High" by Bloodstone, "A Love Of Your Own" by Ned Doheny, "Love Don't Come No Stronger" by Jeff Perry, "Thunder In The Afternoon" by Bobbie Gentry, "Lilly Are You Happy" by Hall & Oates, "One Way Or The Other" by Fifth Avenue Band, "Tell Her She's Lovely" by Batteaux, "Touch Me Baby" by Tamiko Jones, "Save It For A Rainy Day" by Stephen Bishop, and "Hickory" by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. CD