... LP, Vinyl record album

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 great – with alto from David Sanborn, more horns from The Brecker Brothers, and even a bit of work from Steve Khan – all fusion superstars in their own right, but who never eclipse Esther's lead. Titles include a good version of Grover Washington's "Mr Magic" – with the same funky undercurrent as the original – plus the tracks "One Night Affair", "I Can Stand A Little Rain", "Hurtin House", "Turn Around Look At Me", and a semi-hit version of "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice funky electric groover from Stanley Clarke's mid 80s R&B years! Time Exposure has a lot of period electro funk in the mix, particularly Clarke's impeccable bass lines, which are heavy throughout! A brilliant mix of 80s fusiony future funk with jazz precision – definitely a funky highlight from this period in Clarke's career – and those bass lines are just unreal! A pretty eclectic roster of guest musicians play on this one, including tenor sax player Ernie Watts, fellow bassist Louis Johnson of Brothers Johnson, singer Howard Hewitt and rock guitar guru Jeff Beck. Titles include "Play The Bass 10", "Are You Ready (For The Future)", "Heaven Sent You", "Time Exposure", "Speedball", "Future Shock", "Spacerunner", "I Know Just How You Feel" and more. (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Mad messed-up funk from the cool Bay Area scene of the early 70s – a set that features all these great offbeat arrangements from Clifford Coulter, who plays piano, guitars, melodica, and even Varitone guitar – and also sings a bit – in a hip lineup that features more guitar from Mel Brown, trumpet from Harry Edison and John TUrk, tenor from Plas Johnson and Bill Perkins, and drums and conga from Ron Beck – all in a style that's very different than more mainstream work on Impulse Records, and different than its spiritual modes too! "VJC", plus "Do It Now", "Yodelin' In The Whatchamaname Thang", "Ridin On Empty", and "Worry About It Later". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A great meeting of 70s disco talents here – as both Gregg Diamond and Joe Beck both work with Gloria Gaynor on this sweet little set – with an approach that makes for some of her nicest music of the time! Diamond's tunes have a definite Bionic Boogie feel – sharp-edged, but never too commercial, and with a nicely thoughtful approach to the rhythms overall – especially when they step along in a sweet midtempo groove! Beck's style is a bit more full, and almost in a Kudu Records mode – that style used a bit by Esther Phillips when she was picking up speed more in the 70s – a diva mode that's equally great for Gloria's magnificent vocals. Titles include "Why Should I Pay", "As Time Goes By", "Most Of All", "We Can Start All Over Again", "So Much Love", "This Side Of The Pain", and "Sweet Sweet Melody". LP, Vinyl record album

Smooth and sophisticated grooving from Esther Phillips – a record that really has her shaking off the rag-tag and rootsy modes of earlier years, and gliding sweetly into the mainstream! Phillips' vocals are still as soulful and compelling as ever, but the backings are quite full – penned by Joe Beck, who also plays a fair bit of guitar on the record too – and done with a sound that's in the same mode as David Matthews' backings for other Kudu sides of the time. There's a definite soul-heavy focus going on here – with some clubby touches too – and titles include "Caravan", "Fever", "Pure Natural Love", "Unforgettable", "For All We Know", "Fools Rush In", and "Going Out Of My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprising hit for Diana Ross – a record that really helped the singer shine brightly in the 80s, but with a vibe that's quite different than her years at Motown! The album's got plenty of star power on board – production work from Arthur Baker, Richard Perry, Daryl Hall, Lionel Richie, and Bernard Edwards – and a musical lineup that features half those artistes, plus work from Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, and the Brecker Brothers too! Diana's vocals aren't as over the top as during the disco years – and find a nice place to percolate within the warmer 80s grooves – mostly rhythms that have a nice sort of crossover potential, but not in a way that's as clunky or commercial as some of her contemporaries. Titles include "Missing You", "It's Your Move", "Swept Away", "Telephone", "All Of You", "Touch By Touch", "Nobody Makes Me Crazy", and "Rescue Me". CD

A surprising hit for Diana Ross – a record that really helped the singer shine brightly in the 80s, but with a vibe that's quite different than her years at Motown! The album's got plenty of star power on board – production work from Arthur Baker, Richard Perry, Daryl Hall, Lionel Richie, and Bernard Edwards – and a musical lineup that features half those artistes, plus work from Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, and the Brecker Brothers too! Diana's vocals aren't as over the top as during the disco years – and find a nice place to percolate within the warmer 80s grooves – mostly rhythms that have a nice sort of crossover potential, but not in a way that's as clunky or commercial as some of her contemporaries. Titles include "Missing You", "It's Your Move", "Swept Away", "Telephone", "All Of You", "Touch By Touch", "Nobody Makes Me Crazy", and "Rescue Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Narada Michael Walden's first album – and a surprisingly complex approach to spiritual soul, handled with some great guest guitar work by Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana! The approach is somewhere between 70s rock fusion and smooth soul – done with a tight, professional style that persisted on most of Walden's albums from the time. Titles include "You Got The Soul", "Delightful", "First Love", "Meditation", "White Night", and "You Are Love". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Deep Purple, Eric Clapton, The Animals, Bob Marley, Lovin' Spoonful, The Yardbirds, Tina Turner, Jeff Beck, and The Who. (Rock, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by The Who, Eric Burdon, Bob Marley, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, Lovin' Spoonful, The Animals, and Deep Purple. (Rock, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Well, it's not Jaws – but it's still pretty darn groovy – a very cool set of tracks that features some long, lush orchestrations from the great John Barry – plus some sublime disco sounds from Donna Summer! The first half of the record features Barry's extended "Return To The Sea – 2033 AD" – a side-long track that really builds nicely, and has John finding some even more expressive modes than in other mid 70s soundtracks. Then side two really lets loose with the great "Theme From The Deep (Down Deep Inside)" by Donna Summer – a tune that's got this beautifully building groove that's almost like her best early cuts, ala "I Feel Love" – a great use of Summer's vocals on a nicely funky groove. The set also features a slower Donna Summer vocal take on the cut – billed as "A Love Song" – with these cool keyboard lines that feel like they're lifted from an Italian 70s soundtrack – and Barry also turns in his own instrumental version as well. Beckett sings the funky "Disco Calypso" tune too! (Soundtracks, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly nice album from the better half of Steely Dan! This one kind of got cut out immediately when it was issued in 1993, but it's got a heck of a lot of charm – and given the success and style of the re-formed Steely Dan's Two Against Nature, this one sounds pretty great when we look back over our shoulder. And oddly, it's got some nice little modern soul arrangements that struck a strong note with the soul underground – and we can testify to the fact that the record was selling big with the stepper's scene in Chicago, even when it was stiffing in the pop racks elsewhere! Nothing fancy, but there's some nice moments, and with Walter Becker doing the production, it's kind of a Steely Dan album anyway. Titles include "Trans Island Skyway", "Countermoon", "Tomorrow's Girls", "On The Dunes", and "Snowbound". (Rock, Soul) CD

Maybe a bit goofy, but now a classic club track that's survived the test of time nicely as just about every DJ's theme song, with a monster scratchy guitar riff, and lots of that rolling bass pedal groove that was so popular in the early 80s. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A really unique album from the great Etta Jones – a session recorded down in Muscle Shoals, and not in Chicago – a setting that gives James an extra sort of deep soul power! The backing is nicely different than some of the other Chess material – killer work from the legendary Fame Studios lineup that included Barry Beckett on organ, Charles Chalmers on tenor, and Roger Hawkins on drums – all coming together with the great Rick Hall at the production helm! Etta's back in hard-belting R&B-tinged territory here – a bit more sophisticated than the 50s, with a good mix of hard soul numbers and ballads, opening up in some southern territory that really suits her well. Titles include "The Same Rope", "Watch Dog", "Tell Mama", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Just A Little Bit", and "Don't Lose Your Good Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique album from the great Etta Jones – a session recorded down in Muscle Shoals, and not in Chicago – a setting that gives James an extra sort of deep soul power! The backing is nicely different than some of the other Chess material – killer work from the legendary Fame Studios lineup that included Barry Beckett on organ, Charles Chalmers on tenor, and Roger Hawkins on drums – all coming together with the great Rick Hall at the production helm! Etta's back in hard-belting R&B-tinged territory here – a bit more sophisticated than the 50s, with a good mix of hard soul numbers and ballads, opening up in some southern territory that really suits her well. Titles include "The Same Rope", "Watch Dog", "Tell Mama", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Just A Little Bit", and "Don't Lose Your Good Thing". CD adds a whopping 10 bonus tracks to include other material recorded by Etta for the album – issued only on singles during the 60s, or never issued until this CD. Additional tracks include "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", "Misty", "I've Gone Too Far", "You Took It", "I Worship The Ground You Walk On", and "You Got It". CD

Ahhh, good ol' Mel & Tim – possibly our favorite soul duo ever, and a really dynamic pair that carve some great new territory away from the path set by Sam & Dave! The album's a bit of a comeback for the duo, as you'd guess from the title – even though it was only recorded a few years after their initial work for the Bamboo label. There's a stylistic shift that marks a second chapter in the Mel & Tim groove – as they move away from the New York uptown sound, and go for more of a gritty southern sound – thanks to help from producer/arrangers Barry Beckett and Roger Hawkins. The set list is filled with loads of great southern soul tunes – penned by composers who include Phillip Mitchell, Isaac Hayes, Dan Penn, and Homer Banks – on the titles "Heaven Knows", "Wrap It Up", "Don't Mess With My Money My Honey Or My Woman", "Carry Me", and a great cover of "I'm Your Puppet". LP, Vinyl record album

An album with a bit of a split personality, a combination of slick modern reggae, and crisp 80s groove soul numbers. While the reggae numbers aren't much to write home about, the soul tracks are an outstanding example of the best of the 80s groove style, with horn lines punctuating Morgan's slightly rootsy vocal delivery, a fat bass pedal chugging along over chirping rhythm guitar and occasional synth flourishes. Includes the classic club groover "I'll Do Anything For You", plus the also excellent "Never Give Up" and "Come Together", and "Sweet Tender Love", and "Who Knows What". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of classic albums from The Muscle Shoals Horns – with bonus tracks too! First up is Born To Get Down, by a group who were definitely born to get down – as they'd proved before on countless funk and soul sessions in the south – and as they prove once again with this masterful album on their own! The style here is surprisingly well-formed – not just horn players getting to shine in the lead, but a soul group with a tightness that matches some of the hippest, most sophisticated groups of the time – working here with really well-crafted rhythms that often hit an excellent midtempo groove, and avoid any disco-era cliches. Muscle Shoals legend Barry Beckett helps the group out on keyboards, arrangements, and production – and trumpeter Harrison Calloway turns out to be a surprisingly great singer in the lead. Titles include "Born To Get Down", which has a nice keyboard break in the middle, plus "Bump De Bump Yo Boogie", "Give It To Me", "Open Up Your Heart", "Where I'm Coming From", and "Break Down". Doin It To The Bone is a killer album from the Muscle Shoals Horns – and way more than just a set of studio players stepping out for some time in the spotlight! Sure, the MSH had worked on hundreds of sessions by this point – but there's also a sense of ownership and leadership they never had before – a real sense of trying something fresh, and really making the album all their own! To that respect, they certainly use their horns – but also work in plenty of vocals, too – and definitely emphasize the rhythms, which often have this cool compressed vibe that's very much in the best Earth Wind & Fire style – especially on the midtempo numbers that really make the album a killer. Production is by Barry Beckett, who goes for a nicely modern soul approach – and of all the horns, Harrison Calloway is probably the lead talent here – handling most of the arrangements, songwriting, and vocals. Titles include "What's Goin Down", "Dance To The Music", "I Just Wanna Turn You On", "Addicted To Your Love", "Beware Of The Rip Off", and "Keep On Playing That Funky Music". Last up is Shine On – an early 80s set from the mighty Muscle Shoals Horns, but one that cooks every bit as much as their funk classics from the 70s! At some level, this album may well be the group's funkiest – but in a style that's got some of the best 80s qualities in the grooves – the kind of tight basslines and sweet keyboard lines that marked some of the best work of the time – mixed with the group's sublime horn lines, which provide these jazzy inflections that really warm things up in a brilliant way! Most of the rhythms are nicely right in the middle – neither too uptempo, nor too head-noddy – and the whole thing's a really overlooked gem that's a standout funky set from the time. Titles include "Celebrate Recreate Participate", "She Was Once My Woman", "Shoalin", "More Than Ever Now", and "Don't Bust Yo Bubbles". 2CD set features bonus tracks – 7" mixes of "Born To Get Down", "Bump De Bump Yo Boodie", "Where I'm Coming From", and "She Was Once My Woman" – plus "I Just Wanna Turn You On (12" mix)". CD

The Staple Singers are cooking on all burners at this point – and it's hard to stop them with that much power – a soaring, searing sort of energy that definitely earns them a place in the sky! The set's a totally strong batch of gospelly soul tracks – produced by Al Bell with that great early 70s Stax deep soul sound – at a point that's still without the sort of cliche that might hold back material of this type in later years. Instrumentation is by Clayton Ivey on Hammond, Barry Beckett on keyboards, and Jimmy Johnson and Eddie Hinton on guitar – and titles include "Getting Too Big For Your Britches", "Today Was Tomorrow Yesterday", "Something Ain't Right", "My Main Man", "Blood Pressure", "Who Made The Man", "Back Road Into Town", and "If It Ain't One Thing It's Another". CD features 4 bonus tracks – "Oh La De Da", "I Like The Things About You", "Respect Yourself", and "I'll Take You There". CD

Way more than just a disco collection – a great album that features a few tunes that we haven't seen elsewhere! A number of the tracks are uptown groovers lifted from RCA albums – like "Pressure Cookin" by Labelle, "The Happy Hooker" by Nite-Liters, "Sex Trip" by Crown Heights Affair, "Have You Ever Tried It" by The Main Ingredient, and "Hook It Up" by The Choice Four – but the album's also got some killer obscure tunes that rank with the best early indie disco at the time! These tracks include "How Have You Been" by Blood Hollins with vocals by Jean Lang, "Free And Easy" by Satyr, "One Way Street" by Beckett Brown, and "I Wanna Know" by Sunny Gale – all excellent early disco groovers, with a really soulful finish! LP, Vinyl record album

That's a mighty sexy cover on the front – and the grooves inside definitely have the flavor to match! The work here is from the obscure French disco underground – a European scene that never got the same exposure as German or Italian work for clubs – which makes the whole package a really great discovery in sound! The music is surprisingly fresh, and often quite funky too – and done in modes that are arguably warmer and more soulful than most other European disco – and often a lot like the best American underground club of the period. Some tracks have breathy female vocals, while others have bolder lyrics that almost echo some of the global musical crossovers happing in 70s Paris and a few of the later tracks bring in electro elements, but in a subtle way we totally love. The collection's a follow-up to the Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds compilation – and like that one, it's really a cut above the usual! Titles include "Super Star" by Contessa, "Lady Jones" by Over Drive, "Music Madness (ext Charles Maurice version)" by Beckie Bell, "Y'A Du Blues" by Marche Noire, "Un Fait Divers & Rien De Plus (re-remix)" by Le Club, "Pour Moi Ca Va (Charles Maurice version)" by France Lise, "Polar (Charles Maurice version)" by Bernard Guyvan, and "Minuit L'Heure Du Swing" by Didier Makaga. (Funky Compilations, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

The Masterpiece series has been running for quite a long time – and just seems to get better and better in the process! The range of tracks here is nicely expanded past those on early volumes – not straight disco or funk, but instead this great slice of overlooked club cuts that includes some rare singles, and some material that's never been released on CD at all! If you dig 80s grooves, you'll find a lot to love here – but there's a nicely wide range of sounds, too – on titles that include "Stone In Love" by Electro, "Give Me The Time" by Michelle Gold, "Let Me Know (ext version)" by Beckie Bell, "After Tonight" by Shirley Brown, "One Love" by Tony Ransom, "Your Love Is All I Need" by BT Express, "Sweet & Sassy" by Deborah Foster, "Give It Up" by Tyrone Curry, "Can't Get Over You" by Shara, "Count On Me" by Linda Tillery, "Put Me Down" by Spur Of The Moment, and "Given Up On You" by Kevin & Benetta. (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD