A great sense of righteousness and groove – the key mix that made the O'Jays so great back in the day – and which really helped put the Philly International enterprise on the map! The album's miles from the group's simple harmony soul roots – even though those were pretty darn ... read moreCD
The O'Jays keep on going strong – hitting a smooth mellow Philly vibe that takes them away from the style of their mid 70s hits! The sound here is a bit more uptempo than on the previous album So Full Off Love – but the group are still also really using the time to explore their ... read moreCD
(Out of print, Capitol/CEMA Special Markets pressing.)
The O'Jays hit a bit of a new jack mode with this late 80s set – picking up the beats, and giving themselves a chunkier rhythm than usual – but all while keeping things in that laidback territory that suits their famous vocals so well! The mellowest cuts here are our favorites – ... read moreCD
A pivotal album from The O'Jays – and an undeniable Philly classic! The record was the third the group cut for the Philadelphia International label – but it was really the first one that pushed their strong righteous soul agenda, sort of a mix of message-oriented lyrics and heavy soul ... read moreCD
A pivotal album from The O'Jays – and an undeniable Philly classic! The record was the third the group cut for the Philadelphia International label – but it was really the first one that pushed their strong righteous soul agenda, sort of a mix of message-oriented lyrics and heavy soul ... read moreCD
Earlier work by The O'Jays – but issued in a super-pimp cover that has a image of all these hot chicks with guns, standing in a very blacksploitation pose! Clearly, this was an issue that was put on the markets to cash in on the group's early 70s fame on Philly International – but the ... read moreCD
A compilation of previously unreleased tracks from the one-and-only O'Jays – numbers produced by the Gamble-Huff team, mostly in the 80s with some stray numbers from the late 70s and 90s – but never included on any of the O'Jay's albums of the time! The albums are mostly synthesizer ... read moreCD
One of the best-remembered albums from the Olympic Runners – not the shorts-clad ladies on the front cover, but a UK funk combo with a mighty sharp edge! These guys are best when they're really laying into the groove – hitting hard with the bass, following with the drums, and peppering ... read moreCD
Brilliant work by Omar – his 3rd album, supposedly a real break-out effort, but a record that disappeared almost immediately, thanks to poor handling by the label! The record's an excellent batch of instant-classic soul tracks – done with a modern production twist, but still very much ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
A classic of independent soul, and a record that showed the world that the indie spirt wasn't dead – even in the 90's. Omar put this debut album together himself in his bedroom, recorded the whole thing for under 30,000 pounds, and after a brief run issuing it himself, sold the album to ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
(Out of print.)
One Way —
Love Is ... CD MCA/PTG (Netherlands), 1981. New Copy ...
$13.9919.99
A totally massive set from One Way – a record that has them sounding even better than ever – drawing on all the strengths of the previous few records, and really knocking it out of the park! Although the group's got a great way with a groove, the mellow cuts here are equally nice ... read moreCD
A classic from One Way – who're still going strong in the early 80s! The group's ace in the hole was always the great work of Al Hudson – a fearless leader who kept things funky, and who wrote in some great hooks to tracks that give them uncommon strength. Case in point is the classic ... read moreCD
Damn, One Way never lets us down – and although the group cut many albums back in the day, all of them have some great standout moments! The groove here seems even tighter than ever, but never slick or commercial – a very important distinction, given that so many of One Way's ... read moreCD
Nice bit of modern soul stuff from Ray Haden's group Opaz. Sort of like Noel McKoy or Omar in that it's got a sort of modern R&B feel to it, and with that nice twist that the newer London soul artists have in their songwriting. A very big album here in Chicago with the steppers, and a good ... (New Grooves, Soul)read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Original 7ven (aka Time) —
Condensate ... CD Saguaro Road, 2011. Used ...
$24.99
Tremendous work from one of our favorite funk combos ever – Japan's legendary Osaka Monaurail, easily one of the sharpest, tightest, most soulful groups of the past 20 years! These guys have a really no-nonsense approach to funk – from the top to the bottom, from the execution to the ... (Deep Funk, Soul)read moreCD
(Out of print, includes obi.)
Osiris —
O-Zone ... CD Marlin/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1979. New Copy ...
$22.99
Lost soulful sounds from Osiris – one of the many high-concept funk ensembles to spring up in the wake of Earth Wind & Fire – and one of the better ones too! The combo's got some mighty tight grounding in the bass work of Tyrone Brunson – stepping out here in an early role to ... read moreCD
(Part of the Miami Sound – Original Soul/Funk/Disco Collection series!)
A great second volume of pivotal episodes of The Johnny Otis Show from Ace Records and a compilation that represents two eras of Johnny Otis! On With The Show starts out by continuing the story of his late 50s and early 60s R&B years – then segues hard into his grittier funk-honed style ... read moreCD
A pair of 70s soul classics from arranger Gene Page – back to back on a single CD! First up is Hot City – an excellent album of Barry White-styled instrumentals – put together by Barry's right hand man Gene Page, and produced by Barry himself! The record's one of the best that ... read moreCD
A pair of late 60s gems from the bluesy singer Junior Parker – back to back on a single CD! Like It Is features standout soul from the great Junior Parker – a singer who started out in blues, and already had a big legacy of music for Sun and Duke Records by the time of this Mercury set ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
One of the funkiest albums ever from Junior Parker – a great little set that shows he had a lot more to offer than just the average bluesman! The album's got a nice little soul sound in the backings – tight rhythms from Horace Ott, who nicely avoids a lot of the cliches that the blues ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
(Part of the Groove Merchant Mo Groovy Collection!)
Junior Parker & Friends —
Mystery Train ... CD Sun/Castle (UK), 1953/1954. Used ...
$6.99
Great early blues recorded by Sun Records including work by Junior Parker, James Cotton, Walter Horton, Coy 'Hot Shot' Love, Kenneth Banks, and Pat Hare. Album features 24 cuts – including a few unissued tracks! (Blues, Soul)CD
(Out of print.)
Junior Parker/James Cotton/Pat Hare —
Mystery Train ... CD Rounder, 1953/1954. Used ...
$6.99
Great early blues recorded by Sun Records – including a few unissued tracks! (Blues, Soul)CD
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
Kellee Patterson's far from her early jazz roots on the Black Jazz label – but that's A-OK with us, as she's changed up modes with an upbeat soul style that's equally nice – but in a very different way! At some level, the shift is a bit like that made by Jean Carne during the same ... read moreCD
Kellee Patterson's amazing first album for the Shadybrook label – a total killer all the way through, and much harder and heavier than any of her later sides for the label! The record's got a nice jazzy vibe that's a good bridge between her earlier work on Black Jazz, and her later, ... read moreCD
Mighty nice work from Kellee Patterson – a singer who should have been huge, given her range of expression – but who's maybe even better as one of the underground soul stars of the 70s! The music here is really a cut above the commercial at the time – tunes that echo some of the ... read moreCD
Paul Hardcastle —
Jazzmasters 6 ... CD Trippin' N' Rhythm, 2010. Used ...
$12.99
... CD
(Out of print.)
Freda Payne —
Reaching Out ... CD Invictus/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973. New Copy ...
$13.99
It's a few years after Freda's big hit "Band of Gold", and she's recording here in a very different mode! The record is produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland, with arrangements by a number of different talents, like McKinley Jackson, Tony Camillo, and Michael Smith – and the overall ... read moreCD
Mindblowing funk from one of the greatest combos on the New York scene of the early 70s – Pazant Brothers Eddie & Al, heard here on a host of their greatest recordings! The package goes way past any other Pazant reissues we've seen – and features not only work from the group's ... read moreCD
Ann Peebles —
Part Time Love ... CD Hi Records/Fat Possum, 1971. New Copy ...
$9.9914.99
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 ...
$2.99
A very cool combo from the LA scene of the 70s – a tight funky group, topped with two female soul singers – all working together in a style that's got a wonderful mixture of warmer edges and grittier sounds at the core! The two female singers really give the set a unique vibe – ... read moreCD
Some of our favorite work ever by Esther Phillips – served up on a compilation that does a great job of sorting through her classic 70s sides for Kudu, CTI, and Mercury! Back in the 60s, Esther sung in a sad and bluesy sort of soul style – but in the 70s, at the time of these ... read moreCD
One of our favorite-ever albums from Esther Phillips – an album that really helped her transform her sound for the 70s! The approach here is a lot more jazzy than before – served up with a good dose of funk, thanks to arrangements from Pee Wee Ellis – fresh from his work with ... read moreCD
One of Esther Phillips' biggest comeback albums from the 70s – a classic set that takes her deeply soulful vocal approach, and sets it to some sweet jazz funk backings – served up by guitarist Joe Beck, who almost gets equal credit on the album cover! The rest of the lineup is equally ... read moreCD
Tracks include "The Cool Side", "Keep It Smooth", "Club Jazz (Club Mix)", "My Love", "Baby It's Your Turn Now", and "Round Midnight" – 14 tracks in all. (Jazz, Soul)CD
Bassy funk from the early 80s southern scene – the only album we've ever seen from Piranha, and a gem of a tight little set! The groove here is roughly in the mode of some of the better-known northern club groups in the post-disco years – crafted with lots of boogie bass on the bottom ... read moreCD
Quite possibly the funkiest album ever from Pleasure – and that's saying a heck of a lot! The album grooves from the very first note – and moves through some of the group's tightest, most rock-solid numbers – all of which use their trademark blend of funky and soul, but which ... read moreCD
Wonderfully tight work from Pleasure – a record that definitely lives up to the lean, clean image on the cover – as it's got the group honing their funky skills even more strongly than before! Wayne Henderson's at the helm, finding the group hit this razor-sharp groove that comes ... read moreCD
Noel Pointer —
Hold On ... CD United Artists/Blue Note, 1976. Used ...
$6.99
Early work from Noel Pointer – recorded in a smooth, soulful mode with plenty of help on arrangements and production from Dave Grusin! Like Dave's best work from the time, the set's got a feel that's tight, but never as commercial or cloying as mainstream fusion a few years later – and ... read moreCD
A great step into the 80s for The Pointer Sisters – a record that has them bringing in themes that are a bit more soulful than some of their previous efforts! The album's still got all the big crossover potential of their other hits – but the groove's got a solidly soulful vibe overall ... read moreCD
The album's no breakout for the Pointer Sisters, as the trio were already at the top of the charts when the set was released – but the whole thing does find a great way to keep the grooves coming in the group's lasting relationship with producer Richard Perry! There's plenty of 80s elements ... read moreCD
A really fantastic collection of work from the legendary LA drummer Roy Porter – initially a figure in that city's bebop scene, but an artist who continued to work on the fringes over the years – including some great soul and funk work in the 60s and 70s! This set's from the mid 80s, ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
Bobby Powell —
In Time ... CD Whit/P-Vine (Japan), Late 60s. New Copy ...
$18.99
Deep deep deep soul from Bobby Powell – featuring tracks from his late 60s years at the Jewel and Whit labels, all cut in a super-tuff backwoods Louisiana style! The material shows Bobby at his best – stepping out in a rough vocal mode that's backed up by some raw arrangements that ... read moreCD
Wild work from one of the more compelling artists of the Cali soul scene – an Oakland singer/keyboardist who issued a rare album under the name of TJ Hustler in 1979, then kept on making his own sounds away from the mainstream! The vibe here is very very 80s underground – lots of Casio- ... read moreCD
A nice little follow-up to Billy Preston & Syreeta's work on the Fast Break soundtrack – and a record that's one of the few key sides to carry the older Motown duet soul mode firmly into the 80s! There's a great sense of balance here – one that uses Syreeta's sweeter vocal approach ... read moreCD
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
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
(2CD deluxe edition – original recordings remastered for the first time ever!)
Early work from Prince – really his first full fledged masterpiece! Prince ushered the 80s in with a mix of recognizable influences, but filtered through his unique sensibility – taking taught a funk sound, layered vocals, crisp rhythms, ultra catchy songs and that unbridled, ... read moreCD
Wonderful live work from Prince – the only official concert album ever issued by the man during his life, and a great testament to the way that his genius kept on burning bright on stage – even when he wasn't always knocking it out of the park in the studio! There's a fair bit of ... read moreCD
(Includes the first two discs from the original One Nite Alone box set. Discs come in a single jewel case with a standard sized booklet that includes photos and track list.)
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
Really fantastic work from Prince – an album that's maybe not as famous as some of his 80s classics, but which has the maestro in perfect form throughout! There's all these warm jazzy currents in the music that we totally love – especially on the keyboards, which have a glow and flow ... read moreCD
A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is ... read moreCD
A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is ... read moreCD
Professor Longhair —
Bach Of Rock ... CD Sunset Blvd, Late 70s. New Copy 2 CDs ...
$25.9926.99
Mighty nice work from the great Professor Longhair – live material recorded in the late 70s, presented here without much in the way of notes – but with a musical quality that more than makes up for that lack of information! The Professor was a key figure in the New Orleans music scene ... read moreCD
Nice collection of rootsy New Orleans music with a dozen tacks in all, including Professor Longhair "Go To The Mardi Gras" and "Big Chief (parts 1 & 2)", Al Johnson "Carnival Time", the Hawketts "Mardio Gras Mambo", the Wild Magnolias "Handa Wanda ... read moreCD
A great run of music from the mighty Arthur Prysock – an incredibly soulful singer who was at the top of the heap in the early 60s, but who's largely forgotten all these many years later! Prysock had a really unique approach – and one that really paved the way for some of the bigger ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
An excellent mix of soul, jazz, and funk from Bernard "Pretty" Purdie – and a record that's kind of the summation of the entire Flying Dutchman groove of the early 70s! By the time of this 1971 recording, Purdie had played on a host of classic soul and jazz sides from the 60s ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
(Part of the "Solid Records – Jazz Giants" series!)
Queen Samantha offer up a nice mix of modes here – taking on the Box Tops' classic oldie "The Letter", before launching into some originals of their own – all in the best longform disco mode of the TK Records family of labels at their height! The group's singers aren't listed ... read moreCD
(Part of the TK Records – The Miami Sound Original Soul/Funk/Disco Collecion!)
The super-tight second set from French disco act Queen Samantha – a few female singers working with some excellent rhythm players – all on the kind of long-spun grooves that represent the late 70s Euro club scene at its best! All tracks really take time to build – and there's ... read moreCD
(Part of the TK Records – The Miami Sound Original Soul/Funk/Disco Collecion!)
An amazing set of music – two rare albums from Ohio funk legend Lou Ragland, plus bonus tracks, and a whole set of unreleased sessions too – a huge amount of new music, even if you've got some of the previous reissues! First up is the legendary Hot Chocolate album – one of the ... read moreCD
Rainbow Team —
Rainbow Team ... CD PTG (Netherlands), 1981. New Copy ...
$11.99
Incredible work from the Italian scene of the early 80s – and a record that steps along with the best groove of the American scene of the time! Rainbow Team specialize in dancefloor funk with a real boogie undercurrent – one that mixes together tight basslines, riffing guitars, and a ... read moreCD
Never-heard music from the legendary Rasputin's Stash – a funk group who recorded famously on Atlantic and Curtom in the early 70s, then created this gem of an album that appears here for the first time ever! The quality of the work is fantastic, and even seems better than their Curtom album ... read moreCD
(Limited to 1000 copies.)
Lou Rawls —
At Last ... CD Blue Note, 1989. Used ...
$2.99
Features Bobby Watson, David Newman, Jack Walrath, and Steve Turre on horns – plus Steve Kahn and Cornell Dupree on guitar. CD
One of those obscure funk records that was even pretty darn obscure back in the day – at a time when so many other funk records weren't so obscure! But obscurity aside, the record also quickly grew into the stuff of legend – thanks to a groove that's totally great, and which has all ... read moreCD
Not much rock here, but a definite guitar-driven groove – that Ray Parker vamp cooked up in a long legacy of work for other artists – really sparkling here in the frontline of Raydio! The bass is pretty strong too, with that mainstream funk sound that was popping strongly from the west ... read moreCD
(Out of print, 2008 pressing with replica printed sleeve – complete with tiny lyrics – includes obi which has a sticker over the barcode.)
Reddings —
Awakening ... CD Believe In A Dream/PTG (Netherlands), 1980. New Copy ...
$13.9919.99
A great dawn of the 80s set from The Reddings! It's steeped in bouncing bass, snapping rhythms, and plenty of full on groovers from the Reddings trio – a set that has their vocals tightly wrapped around rhythms that are heavy on the boogie and mainstream funk modes of the time! Bass is ... read moreCD
Reddings —
Class ... CD Believe In A Dream/PTG (Netherlands), 1981. New Copy ...
$13.9919.99
A nice early 80s set from The Reddings – the group featuring two sons of Otis Redding and a sweet set of funk steeped R&B! Dexter Redding plays bass, and there's a whole lot of bass in the mix, bringing some funk into the groove very nicely – with some post disco pop soul melodic ... read moreCD
Don't get this set mixed up with Clarence Reid's album of a similar name on Alston/Atco – as this rare date for the Tayster label is quite different – although it still shares the famous title track! Reid's in perfect rough-edged form here – almost more strongly southern soul ... read moreCD
(In a very cool Japanese-styled, LP-like cardboard sleeve cover!)
Reid Inc —
Reid Inc ... CD TK/Solid (Japan), 1977. New Copy ...
$13.99
An obscure female soul project from 70s-era TK Records – one that features production by Clarence Reid, hence the group's name! The groove here is very much in the best Miami club mode of the time – upbeat, but still nicely gritty overall – more fast funk in the instrumentation, ... read moreCD
A pair of classic early 80s soul albums from ex-Dramatics singer LJ Reynolds! The self-titled '81 set is killer material in a modern Detroit mode all the way through – with top-shelf production by Reynolds, Don Davis, and Ronnie McNeir/ Ronnie, who'd been lost to the industry for a few ... read moreCD
One of the heaviest funk records ever to come out of Indy in the 70s – a super-dope batch of ensemble grooving with plenty of odd twists and turns! At one level, the group work in a familiar Earth Wind & Fire-styled vibe – mixing heavy bass, funky rhythms, and lots of great horns ... read moreCD
One of the few full albums ever cut by the great Sharon Ridley – a hell of a great singer from the east coast scene, and one with the fullness of the best club divas of the time – but an approach that goes way way deeper overall! There's a sexy slink to the album that echoes Ridley's ... read moreCD
Ritchie Family —
I'll Do My Best ... CD RCA/PTG (Netherlands), 1982. New Copy ...
$13.9919.99
The Ritchie Family do their best to remain relevant after the glory days of commercial disco – and succeed strongly on I'll Do My Best – thanks to the sweetly soulful trio vocals and a nicely updated dancefloor soul sound! The songs are great, and groove on just long enough – ... read moreCD
Rivage —
Sittin On It ... CD Tempus/Athens Of The North (UK), 1981. New Copy ...
$14.99
A sweet bit of funky soul from the Florida scene in the early 80s – a completely charming modern soul effort that's quite different than the bigger Miami hits of the decade before! These guys have a sense of integrity that comes through in their look on the cover – unassuming, and very ... read moreCD
The title's an apt one here, as Jimmy Rogers was one of the many bluesmen who started out in the south, but headed to Chicago for greater fame – which was a good thing for Chess Records, who managed to come some of these great sides in the 50s! Rogers both sings and plays guitar – the ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
(Barcode has a cutout hole.)
Larry Rose Band —
Jupiter Effect ... CD Crossroad/BBE (UK), 1978. New Copy ...
$14.99
Larry Rose plays some mighty sweet keyboards on this late 70s set – electric piano, organ, and other keys as well – and also sings a fair bit on the record, in this great blend of jazz, soul, and some tighter modes of the time! The approach is maybe a bit in the territory of jazzy soul ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
A great little album from Diana Ross – maybe one of her lesser-known efforts with The Supremes, and a set that really points the way towards the solo years to come! One of the reasons for that is that the set really just features Diana out in the lead, with different backing singers behind ... read moreCD
T Boy Ross —
Changes ... CD Motown/PTG (Netherlands), 1979. New Copy ...
$10.99
An overlooked Motown gem from T-Boy Ross – a self-produced set that's filled with loads of 70s mellow soul moments! Ross begins the set by covering Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" – and there's definitely a similar vibe to the record – that kind of warmer grooving that Leon ... read moreCD
Some of the trippiest soul music ever recorded – an amazing collection of work by the legendary Rotary Connection – early home to vocalist Minnie Riperton and arranger Charles Stepney! Rotary Connection was a unique late 60s combination of soul, jazz, and rock-based modes – all ... read moreCD
Jimmy Ruffin —
Groove Governor ... CD SOUL/Elemental (France), 1970. New Copy ...
$12.99
One of those Motown treasures that would have been a runaway hit, were it issued on a label with less going on – but which somehow got lost amidst the shuffle of all the other Motor City greatness of the time! Don't let obscurity make you think that Jimmy Ruffin's not giving his best, though ... read moreCD
(Limited edition!)
Rufus With Chaka Khan —
Ask Rufus ... CD MCA, 1977. Used ...
$8.99
One of our favorite albums ever from Rufus and Chaka Khan – a sublime 70s set in which the group's sound totally comes together, and finds a really special sound that's all its own! The blend of elements here is perfect – the group's funky jazz instrumentation, and Chaka Khan's warm ... read moreCD