A solid overview of RCA material from Evelyn Champagne King – from the disco era hits, catchy club soul, and synth soaked 80s grooves! Evelyn's sound is usually upbeat and catchy, but she's does her thing and more measured and and smoothed out soul numbers, and bass & synth grooves in ... read moreCD
The King Curtis combo in all of its glory – really grooving hard here in a set of instrumental performances recorded at the same time as Aretha Franklin's famous live date at the Fillmore West! King backed Aretha up on her own record from Fillmore, but this set features all the instrumental ... read moreCD
A pivotal album for Gladys Knight and group – as the record features their super-huge hit "The Midnight Train To Georgia", a landmark track that not only had a catchy pop hook, but which spoke volumes about African-American migration in the postwar years. The track's one of those ... read moreCD
Tracks include "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "I Wish It Would Rain", "Every Little Bit Hurts", "The Nitty Gritty", "If I Were Your Woman", "I Don't Want To Do Wrong", and "All I Need Is Time" – 22 tracks total. CD
Amazing work from Kool & The Gang – from a period when they were pushing past their tight early funky sound, into a super-dope mix of electronics and spacey jamming that is still pretty darn revolutionary today! Although you might think the album would be a bit disco by the date, it's ... read moreCD
(Out of print original US pressing with a punch through the barcode.)
Lenny Kravitz —
Circus ... CD Virgin, 1995. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
The first album by the second group to call themselves the Last Poets – and as fierce a document of their rich talents as you'll ever find – bursting forth with anger and righteousness at a level as tight as Gil Scott-Heron's first album! The group here is the key second lineup of the ... read moreCD
A surprisingly wonderful set from deep soul diva Bettye Lavette – a record that's actually as good as most of her older work, and that's something we didn't expect! We'll be honest in saying that we're always pretty darn suspicious of comeback albums by older soul singers – and usually ... read moreCD
The long-overdue return of Bettye Lavette to Muscle Shoals – the scene of her ill-fated album for Atlantic Records from the early 70s – hence the title of this album! The style here is certainly classic, and very old school – with backings provided by The Drive-By Truckers, whose ... read moreCD
Really fantastic work from Jarrod Lawson – one of those underground singers who should be huge, if the world had any justice! Lawson's a cut above, and completely his own singer – the kind of individual talent that comes along once in a generation, like Al Jarreau or Michael Franks ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
With 48 tracks including "Sneaking Around", "She Put A Spell On Me", "Blind Man", "Country Style", "Let Me Down Easy", "Twenty-Three Hours", "Moanin' For Your Girl", and "Grits Ain't Groceries". (Blues, Soul)CD
With 20 tracks including "Juke", "Sad Hours", "Blues With A Feeling", "It Ain't Right", "Tell Me Mama", "Mean Old World", and "You're So Fine". (Blues, Soul)CD
Amazing sounds from one of the all-time greats – the legendary Little Willie John – not only a key inspiration to James Brown, but one of the formative forces in soul music at the start of the 60s! The material here was cut by King Records at the height of its R&B years, but it ... read moreCD
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 ... read moreCD
A sweet SoCal groover from Cecil Lyde – recorded in LA in the early 80s, with a great mix of funky club and mellow soul modes! Cecil's got a great ear for the grittier side of California funk at the time – tunes that still use the heavy bass and keyboards of mainstream work from the ... read moreCD
A classic bit of indie blues from the Chicago scene – featuring some great players from the second generation after Chess Records stopped picking up the younger local talents! Magic Sam leads the group on vocals and guitar, and he's working here with Mighty Joe Young on guitar, Odie Payne on ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
An artist you might not know at all – but one you'll be digging plenty after hearing this wonderful set! Richard Marks is a guitarist and singer with a very funky, very gritty sound – really right up there with the best of the funky 45 underground of the time – which makes this ... read moreCD
An early collection of singles from one of Motown's first standout vocal groups – the mighty mighty Marvelettes, one of those groups who put a rough edge on the female trio sound! The set's filled with loads of catchy little numbers that really define the early Motown approach – and ... read moreCD
One of our favorite Curtis Mayfield albums ever – a massive early 70s effort that's filled with wonderful songs all the way through, and quite possibly one of the most perfect realization of the righteous vibe of the early 70s Curtom years! Curtis is in fine form throughout – as a ... read moreCD
(Out of print Rhino pressing with 4 bonus tracks.)
A really well-titled set from Frankie Beverly & Maze – as the album takes the group right back to the mellow-stepping sound that first made them great back in the 70s! Production's a bit more updated, but still very laidback – and there's a smoothly-grooving glow to the record we ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Eugene McDaniels —
Outlaw ... CD Atlantic/Water, 1970. Used ...
$9.99
An incredible step forward for 60s soul singer Gene McDaniels – so much so, that most folks hearing this album can't believe he's the same guy who recorded for Liberty Records a few years before! The album's incredibly righteous right from the start – and has a genre-busting quality ... read moreCD
An incredible record from Mississippi Fred McDowell – a set that was issued on a big label, but which has a wonderfully rootsy feel throughout – in a way that almost out-does any work from the indie blues labels of the time! The package was put together by Tommy Couch as an early ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
(Sealed.)
Jimmy McGriff —
Tailgunner ... CD Lester Radio Corporation/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1977. Used ...
$11.99
Jimmy McGriff in a very cool 70s mode – hitting some of the fuller, more soul-based styles that Johnny Hammond and Jimmy Smith were exploring in the middle of the decade – while still also displaying a hell of a talent on the organ as well! The album has extra keyboards from Pat ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
A really cool cooker from The Meters – recorded during their post-Josie run for Warner Brothers, but with this tight vibe that still holds all their funky New Orleans roots intact! The sound is a bit more expanded here – not in a commercial way, but just in a style that has the group ... read moreCD
Groundbreaking work, and a killer piece of Philly groove! MFSB were a large conglomeration of studio players who graced some of the first big Philly hits in the 70s, and here they break out on their own in a remarkable set of pre-disco tunes that form the blueprint for the rest of the 70s ... read moreCD
A great lost bit of funk – and a pretty mysterious record, too! The record came out hot on the heels of Manu Dibango's big original version of "Soul Makossa" – and while it's got a groove that definitely leans towards Afro Funk, it's also got plenty of Caribbean touches too ... read moreCD
Heady soul from Miguel – a new artist with a great warm sound in his music! The beats and instrumentation are often nicely fuzzy – not crackly cosmic, as on other contemporary singers – but almost with this messed-up feel as if the album's come from lo-fi tapes, then remastered ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
Some of the best soul to come out of the early 60s – and also some of the least known! Although Garnet's big hit "Cry Baby" does get its dues from time to time, just about every side he cut was a winner, and they all sparkled with his unusual mix of deep soul vocals and tight ... read moreCD
The complete Malaco recordings of McKinley Mitchell – an excellent singer/songwriter whose work was a key part of the southern scene in the 70s, but who rarely ever gets his due! McKinley had a really unique voice that shared some of the warmth of northern singers – including a few of ... read moreCD
A starkly beautiful album from New Orleans street evangelist Sister Gertrude Morgan – recorded in 1968 with only voice and tambourine, but in a way that's got a highly rhythmic groove! Gertrude's been rediscovered of late, due to interest in her artwork – and this record itself is ... read moreCD
A pair of wonderful records – reissued here together as a single CD set! The core album Let's Make A Record is a starkly beautiful album from New Orleans street evangelist Sister Gertrude Morgan – recorded in 1968 with only voice and tambourine, but in a way that's got a highly ... read moreCD
(Out of print, digipak has some light wear and a hype sticker on the cover.)
Shirley Murdock's looking a bit more contemplative on the cover than on previous albums – and that image really sets the tone for the record – which has a nicely maturing sense of songcraft that really makes the most of Murdock's wonderful vocal range! There's definitely a few groovers ... read moreCD
(Original 1991 Japanese pressing – includes obi.)
Naturally Seven —
Non Fiction ... CD Primarily A Cappella, 2000. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
This record, as we're sure you know, is a spunky bit of hip hop-inflected R&B, with the kind of sinister groove that got Me'Shell noticed immediately after the record was released. It got a bit overplayed and overblown at the time it was released – but it actually holds up well over the ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
New Edition show they're no Johnnies-come-lately on the harmony soul scene – and pay tribute to a host of older groups from the 50s and 70s – singing a mix of hits and soul classics in a laidback late nite mode that brings a real focus on their vocals. Given their age, there's a sound ... read moreCD
Nuyorican Soul (Masters At Work) —
Nuyorican Soul ... CD Giant Step/Talkin' Loud, 1997. Used ...
$7.99
A massive record – and an instant legend the day it was released! Masters At Work host the beautiful meeting of a host legendary artists – Roy Ayers, George Benson, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Jocelyn Brown, Vince Montana, and others – all united in a magical session that brings ... (New Grooves, Soul)read moreCD
A classic set from all-true Alexander O'Neal – and maybe one of his last great records for the Tabu label! The set's got a nice balance of groovers and mellower moments – really showing the growing diversity of O'Neal as an artist, as he tries to move away from some of his bigger ... read moreCD
(Out of print original pressing, booklet has some light wear.)
A damn soulful album from Ghanaian percussionist Rim Kwaku Obeng – recorded in LA at the end of the 70s, with loads of sweet clubby touches in the mix! Rim gets in plenty of tight percussion – lots of which showcases his rim-heavy approach to the drums – and also plays keyboards ... (Global Grooves, Soul)read moreCD
Billy Ocean —
Suddenly ... CD Jive/Arista, 1984. Used ...
$3.99
The album that made Billy Ocean a superstar for a little while, one that had a HUGE couple of years on the charts, even longer service as a snapshot of its era, and is now one that we can look at freshly and appreciate for all of the unstoppably catchy pop soul craft that made it so massive in the ... read moreCD
A landmark album for the O'Jays – a set that moved them from the indie ranks to 70s megasoulstatus! After years of bumping around on a variety of labels, and in a variety of styles, the group really exploded with this wonderful set – an album that has them soaring along in the ... read moreCD
A classic session of pounding percussion – quite possibly the most successful entry into this earthy genre that hit the recording scene at the end of the 50s! Babatunde Olatunji is joined here by a great assemblage of players – including Montego Joe and Baba Hawthorne Bey on percussion ... (Global Grooves, Soul)read moreCD
One of the rarest soul records of the 70s – recorded in Germany by a bunch of American servicemen on leave, but with a sound that's right out of the Chicago or Detroit groove of the pre-disco years! The group's great with both the funky and soulful material – hitting hard with monster ... read moreCD
Titles include "She's On The Left", "Can't Go Back On A Promise", "One Love One Dream", "Cindy", "The Family", "My Heart Can Wait Forever", and "La Cuenta Por Favor". CD
An insanely wonderful album! Shuggie Otis is the son of Johnny Otis – the LA R&B maestro who was moving heavily into funk at the end of the 60s – and he has this tripped out, super-dope guitar style that he played to strong effect on Johnny's albums of the late 60s and early 70s, ... read moreCD
George Clinton may have pretty well disbanded Parliament and Funkadelic by the time the 80s came around, but the Mothership is still soaring highly on this first album from the P-Funk All Stars project – featuring some (but not all) of George Clinton's better players from various groups! ... read moreCD
The second album from Mica Paris – an crisp, effervescent modern soul effort from 1993! The album features production on the better tracks by Narada Michael Walden & Ron Templeton – a mix of sleek, club friendly soul and some ballads! The second track "I Wanna Hold On To ... read moreCD
An oft-overlooked gem from Parliament – released during the year 1976, and sometimes hidden between monster LPs like Funkentelechy and Mothership Connection – but every bit as great as those two classics! The album's got that tightened-up P-Funk sound that was working so perfectly at ... read moreCD
Here's where it all happens – the huge culmination of all the years of heavy funk and psychedelic soul created by George Clinton and the P-Funk empire – fused into an amazingly tight groove that helped win over much bigger audiences than ever before! The album title and cover are very ... read moreCD
Here's where it all happens – the huge culmination of all the years of heavy funk and psychedelic soul created by George Clinton and the P-Funk empire – fused into an amazingly tight groove that helped win over much bigger audiences than ever before! The album title and cover are very ... read moreCD
Although these days, Parliament's best remembered for their classic studio albums, back in the 70s, the real P-Funk experience was the incredible live shows served up by George Clinton and the group! George, Bootsy, and the rest were undeniably at the top of their game at the time – rolling ... read moreCD
Stone cold great collection of funk cuts by this legendary group – all wrapped up in a nice package with a good memory for the hits! Tracks include monsters like "Chocolate City", "Up For The Down Stroke", "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)", " ... read moreCD
A great litle early album from Ann Peebles – rawer than most of her more familiar stuff, with a gutbuckety soul quality that really keeps things fresh! We always love Ann's work, but in these early years she has a deep soul vibe that few other singers can touch – a level that easily ... read moreCD
Ce Ce Peniston —
Finally ... CD A&M, 1992. Used ...
$0.99
... CD
(Out of print, BMG direct pressing.)
Persuasions —
Acappella ... CD Straight/Rhino, 1969. Used ...
$8.99
The title gets it right on this one, because The Persuasions sing all acappella – quite unique for soul music at such a time of heavy production! The group were a great throwback to an earlier era of vocal group harmony – and this album, recorded for Zappa's Straight label, gave them ... read moreCD
Titles include "Stagger Lee", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Come Into My Heart", "Lady Luck", "Never Let Me Go", and "Have You Ever Had The Blues?" – 18 tracks total. CD
The record that forever put Prince on the map – a legendary set that took him from being an under-appreciated soul singer to a lasting pop music legend! Prince had been around for a few years before 1999 – but the double-length set was the first to really win over the masses to his ... read moreCD
Prince —
3121 ... CD Universal, 2006. Used ...
$2.99
A strong effort from the mid 00s revitalized Prince – one that doesn't approach the greatness of the best material, but a graceful and consistent gem nonetheless! As it was done on his big ol' comeback album, Musicology, Prince takes strides to revisit his classic styles on the different ... read moreCD
Recorded in 1987, but never officially released until 1994, when Prince was trying to get out of his Warners contract. Prince's attempt to return to his more funky side after flirting with more straight pop songs was a Holy Grail amongst collectors for a time, and though we don't like it as much ... read moreCD
A big new chapter for Prince in the 90s – his first set with the New Power Generation, and a record that definitely has him amping up his game for the decade! There's maybe a bit more sampling here, and a groove that certainly has one ear open for the younger sound of R&B at the time ... read moreCD
A big new chapter for Prince in the 90s – his first set with the New Power Generation, and a record that definitely has him amping up his game for the decade! There's maybe a bit more sampling here, and a groove that certainly has one ear open for the younger sound of R&B at the time ... read moreCD
(Includes the box, huge hardcover book, poster, and backing sheet – in beautiful shape!)
A great return to form for Prince – even though at the time, we all had to refer to him with an unpronounceable symbol! There's a lean, funky vibe to most of the record – almost a step back to the unified group approach of his mid 80s classics – and even though a few sonic ... read moreCD
The fourth Prince soundtrack in less than a decade – and a record that follows nicely after Purple Rain, Batman, and Parade, but with a slightly different spirit too – thanks to an ever-expanding Paisley Park family that included George Clinton, Morris Day, and Mavis Staples! The older ... read moreCD
A very strong album by the one-and-only Prince – maybe the catchiest, most rewarding full length by the royal one since the Revolution days! Musicology is most notable for the undeniable exuberance and joy that vibrates from the speakers, track after track. Prince seems to be having fun on ... read moreCD
(Columbia house jewel case pressing. Includes insert and booklet.)
A very strong album by the one-and-only Prince – maybe the catchiest, most rewarding full length by the royal one since the Revolution days! Musicology is most notable for the undeniable exuberance and joy that vibrates from the speakers, track after track. Prince seems to be having fun on ... read moreCD
Prince in a grand groove – really hitting a new level of funk with a razor-sharp edge – and even blowing away some of his work on previous records! The record's a soundtrack for a film – Under The Cherry Moon – and although that movie never had the success of Purple Rain, ... read moreCD
One of the greatest crossover albums of the 80s – and the record that catapulted Prince very firmly into the mainstream! There's a tightness here that surpasses even that of Prince's early classics for Warner Brothers – an unabashed love of a pop hook that makes for some incredibly ... read moreCD