... LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible run of music from one of the grooviest soul groups of all time – a combo who started out down in the Texas scene with some very upbeat dancing soul singles in the 60s, who then moved to work in the Philly studios in the 70s, where they really opened up their groove! The set features work from both the group's early albums for Atlantic Records and their great second chapter at Philadelphia International – quite a career, given that they recorded for two of the greatest soul labels of the 60s and 70s – in a massive batch of work that's included here, with bonus material too! The Atlantic work starts out nice and raw, and pretty funky too – then gets warmed up in the best way possible as the label has them working with Gamble & Huff, before then leaving to record for the Philly duo's own International label in the 70s. The huge box features the full albums Tighten Up, I Can't Stop Dancing, There's Gonna Be A Showdown, Dance Your Troubles Away, Where Will You Go When The Party's Over, Hard Not To Like It, and Strategy – and CD5 is a full set of bonus tracks, with titles that include "Dog Eat Dog", "Deal With Him", "A World Without Music", "Love At First Sight", "Archie's In Love", "Wrap It Up", "I Wish", "Get It From The Bottom", "Old People", "Let The World Know You Got Soul", and "I Can't Face You Baby". Box features 79 tracks in all – and a big booklet of notes! CD

Although Archie Bell & The Drells had recorded earlier with Gamble & Huff on Atlantic, this is their first album for the team's own label – and it's a killer! In a way, Archie and group were sort of responsible for getting Gamble & Huff their own famous imprint in the first place – because their work with the team on Atlantic yielded some instant hits that really pointed the way towards the hit Gamble & Huff style of the 70s, and that sound is brought up-to-date nicely on this LP. The record really retains the strong vocal sound of earlier years – and has some of the best harmonies the band ever recorded, very much in the mode of The O'Jays or Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. McFadden & Whitehead and Bunny Sigler wrote most of the material, backing is by the Instant Funk group, and the Gamble & Huff team handled production on all cuts. Titles include "Let's Groove", "I Won't Leave You Honey, Never", "Let's Groove", "The Soul City Walk", "Dance Your Troubles Away", and "I Love You (But You Don't Even Know It)". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from Archie Bell & The Drells – an important record that bridges their earlier and later sounds! It's a key transitional album for the crew – as most of the album's in the harder rawer Texas funk groove of earlier year, but some of it features newer production by Gamble & Huff, in that excellent smooth dancing style that took Archie light years from his roots. The Gamble & Huff tracks are the most obvious – the singles "I Can't Stop Dancing" and "Do The Choo Choo" – and the album's got other great cuts like the original tunes "Do You Feel It?", "You're Such A Beautiful Child", "Jammin In Houston", and "Love Will Rain On You", plus versions of Curtis Mayfield's "I've Been Trying" and "Sometimes I Wonder". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent set of midtempo soul tracks recorded at Sigma Sound – and probably the group's greatest album for Philly International! The progression from raw Texas funk to smooth Philly soul was a big one – but Archie and crew did it wonderfully, and kept a lot of their soul intact during the move – really shining strongly in this new mode, and keeping their sound alive a lot longer than most of their late 60s contemporaries. Proof that the group sound was one of the biggest assets of the Philly imprint – whatever the form, and whatever the origin. Includes the stellar cuts "Don't Let Love Get You Down" and "Where Will You Go When The Party's Over" – plus "Everybody Have A Good Time", "I Swear You're Beautiful", "I Bet You I Can Do That Dance You're Doing", and "Nothing Comes Easy". LP, Vinyl record album

(Rock, Soul) CD

Socking soul from the 60s – a record with American roots and a very groovy British sound! The set was the second full length album from Madeline Bell – an American singer transplanted to the mod UK scene of the 60s, where she really flourished in a rich career of hit singles, endless session work, and later fame with the group Blue Mink. The tunes on this set are a wonderful bridge between Madeline's two worlds – and have a sound that's a lot like the uptown soul coming out of the US at the time – sweet and smooth arrangements, topped by deeper soul vocals that make for a wonderful juxtaposition. Arrangements are by British talents Arthur Greenslade, Ian Green, and Keith Mansfield – and titles include "Step Inside Love", "Hold It", "Help Yourself", "After All Is Said & Done", "For Your Pleasure", and "It's Up To You". LP, Vinyl record album

Raw and rumbling gospel sounds from the Designer Records vaults – real and resonant southern gospel from Reverend Douglas Bell & Th Stage Cruisers! Heavy vocals & sermonizing with swirling organ and wailing keyboards along with the impassioned vocals. As with the material on the Together compilation, the material is well produced, with bluesy, gritty immediacy. Titles include "Nuclear Blast", "Bitter And The Sweet", "I Got To Make Heaven My Home", "Hard Love Affair", "I Got A Home", "I'll Fight Goliath", "How Many Miles To Heaven", "What You Need From The Lord" and more. (Gospel, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A really wonderful post-Stax album from the great William Bell – a set that has the singer still stepping out with all those great deep soul modes from the 60s, but also finding a hipper, more laidback approach as well! There's a beautiful mellow vibe to the record – one that recalls some of Millie Jackson's best ballad work of the time, especially in the way it warms things up with a bit of class, while taking away none of the power of the vocals. Bell produced and arranged the whole set with help from Paul Mitchell – and there's still lots of nice down home themes and feelings to the record, but William's also working with a bubbling groove that comes off great – and which updates his sound without selling his soul – making for a great set in the modern/southern mode. Titles include "Tryin To Love Two", "If Sex Was All We Had", "Relax", "You Don't Miss Your Water", "Coming Back For More", "Just Another Way To Feel", and "I Absotively Posolutely Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

William Bell was one of the singers who first helped the Stax label get going at the start of the 60s – but during the second chapter of Stax, when they broke from Atlantic, his contributions were maybe even more amazing – as his voice had matured wonderfully, and he was able to handle a range of sensitive themes that went even farther than before! The music here is southern soul at its most mature and sophisticated – heartbreaking vocals, but moving past some of the more oft-tread territory of the 60s – as Bell rose in pride and power during the new generation of Stax, with results that are completely sublime throughout! This side of his work isn't nearly as well-known as the first, but is even better to our ears – presented in a string of singles, both a and b-sides, with detailed notes on this really special period in his career. Titles include "I Forgot To Be Your Lover", "Happy", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "A Smile Can't Hide A Broken Heart", "Lonely Soldier", "Let Me Ride", "Save Us", "All For The Love Of A Woman", "The Man In The Street", "Penny For Your Thoughts", "Get It While It's Hot", "Nobody Walks Away From Love Unhurt", "Getting What You Want", "You've Got The Kind Of Love I Need", "If You Really Love Him", "Lovin On Borrowed Time", "Bring The Curtain Down", and "My Whole World Is Falling Down". CD

William Bell was one of the first great soul singers to record for the legendary Stax Records in Memphis – an artist who really helped set the tone for deep soul singles to come from the likes of Otis Redding and Johnnie Taylor – and one whose early work is still some of the best he ever gave us! This well-done package brings together all of Bell's first 14 singles for the label, both a-sides and b-sides – standing together as a testament to all the greatness the singer brought to the fray right from the start – as Stax not only found a way to record him so much differently than he would have been handled in other spots, but also matured along with Bell to keep on creating fresh magic as the 60s moved on! As always with Ace/Kent, the presentation is wonderful – a detailed set of notes that matches the wonderful set list – which includes "Formula Of Love", "Just As I Thought", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "I Told You So", "Don't Stop Now", "Crying All By Myself", "I'll Show You", "Monkeying Around", "Ain't Got No Girl", "Every Man Oughta Have A Woman", "Never Like This Before", "Marching Off To War", "Soldier's Goodbye", "One Plus One", "Eloise", "You're Such A Sweet Thing", "Don't Make Something Out Of Nothing", and his great farewell to Otis Redding, "Tribute To A King". CD

Excellent work from singer William Bell – and one of the best-ever full LPs to come out of Stax Records in the 60s! At this early point in his career, Bell was simply stunning – a blend of southern soul with some of the more sophisticated touches happening up north, all summed up in the album's landmark tear-jerker track, "You Don't Miss Your Water" – one of those tracks that we never tire of hearing! The whole album's great, filled with fantastic original songs – and titles that include "Any Other Way", "You're Such A Sweet Thang", "Everybody Loves A Winner", and "Eloise". CD

(Blues, Soul) CD

Elton John hits the Philly scene of the 70s – arriving a bit later than David Bowie, but getting some top shelf help at the Sigma Sound studios – production from Thom Bell, and instrumentation from Philly greats Bobby Eli, Larry Washington, and MFSB – and The Spinners even do a bit of background vocals! Titles include "Mama Can't Buy You Love", "Are You Ready For Love", and "Three Way Love Affair". (Rock, Soul) CD

Philadelphia Freedom from Elton John – a trio of tracks recorded with legendary Philly Soul producer Thom Bell, all with a Sigma Sound vibe that's quite different than most of John's other work at the time! In fact, although these tracks were recorded right at the height of the disco era, they're quite restrained and more focused on a soulful sound overall – in a style that's very similar to Davie Bowie's great Philly Soul recordings on the Young Americans album! MFSB, Bell & James, Bobby Eli, and many other key Philly talents are in the lineup – and titles include "Mama Can't Buy You Love", "Are You Ready For Love", and "Three Way Love Affair". This version features six tracks in all – more than the original EP release – including "Shine On Through", "Country Love Song", and "Nice & Slow". (Rock, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Philadelphia Freedom from Elton John – a trio of tracks recorded with legendary Philly Soul producer Thom Bell, all with a Sigma Sound vibe that's quite different than most of John's other work at the time! In fact, although these tracks were recorded right at the height of the disco era, they're quite restrained and more focused on a soulful sound overall – in a style that's very similar to Davie Bowie's great Philly Soul recordings on the Young Americans album! MFSB, Bell & James, Bobby Eli, and many other key Philly talents are in the lineup – and titles include "Mama Can't Buy You Love", "Are You Ready For Love", and "Three Way Love Affair". This version features six tracks in all – more than the original EP release – including "Shine On Through", "Country Love Song", and "Nice & Slow". (Rock, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

This is the second version of an album that was first pressed under the title Back On Top – repackaged here with a slicker cover during the early 70s, to cash in on the fame that the O'Jays were having at Phily International. Although the group's Philly recordings are always touted as some of their best work, we love this early material produced by George Kerr – with a sound that's very similar to classic New Jersey groups like The Moments and The Whatnauts (and which also features a few songs that were covered by those groups, too). The band have heavenly harmonies that are more fragile than on their tightly-sewn Gamble/Huff work, with some elements of the deeper soul that was on some of their earlier recordings. For some reason, the album links together the tracks with a fake "audience" sound, as if it's a live album – which it really isn't. We can forgive the producers at Bell for that, though – because the tracks are so great! Includes the single "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow", plus "I'm So Glad I Found You", "Look Over Your Shoulder", "Going Going Gone", and "I Dig Your Act". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest records ever made by singer Madeline Bell – even though it was never issued to the public at the time! Madeline Bell first broke big on the UK soul scene at the end of the 60s, and also sang famously on many studio sessions too – but here, she works alongside groovemaker Alan Parker (with some help from Mike Moran), to serve up vocal versions of tunes that also appeared on the instrumental album Sound Of Soul! That record was a counterpart to this one – also issued on the Themes label – but the presence of Bell's vocals really sends things over the top, and she works at a level that makes us wish that she and Parker had made more commercial releases at the time. All tunes are nice and soulful, with plenty of funky currents – and titles include "Love Doctor", "Move & Shake Your Body", "Soul Slap", "Crumpet", "That's What Friends Are For", "Flying High", "You're A Winner", "Mr Smooth Man", and "Love Is All". (Sound Library, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

In the early 70s, The Spinners did something that was really wonderful for their music, and instantly made them one of the greatest groups of their generation – they stopped recording for Motown in Detroit, and made the move to Philly to work with the great Thom Bell – the arranger/producer/songwriter who gave the group some of the biggest success of their career! That shift also coincided with a label move to Atlantic, who saw the rising power of Philly soul for the new generation – and the tremendous harmonies of The Spinners really found a way to soar with the help of Thom Bell – in a success of albums here that continue to have the group sounding fantastic as the 70s move onward. This massive box set features 8 full albums – Spinners, Mighty Love, New & Improved, Pick Of The Litter, Happiness Is Being With The Spinners, Yesterday Today & Tomorrow, Spinners 8, and From Here To Eternally – and every single album features bonus material too – including b-sides, single mixes and more – which makes for a massive 92 tracks in all, in a sweet box set with original cover art and great notes too. CD

A great lost side of The Spinners' landmark career at Atlantic Records in the 70s – a huge package that brings together 43 tracks from 7" single releases – over half of which appear here on CD for the first time ever! As you'll see by the title, the work is from that magnificent period when The Spinners moved from Motown to record for Atlantic Records in Philly with producer Thom Bell – the genius who gave them a chance to really soar, and open up their vocals in ways the Motown material never matched! This material was every bit as important to the growth of 70s soul into new mature territory as work on the Philly International label – and although the a-sides of these singles include many classic hits, the b-sides often include a fair bit of obscure, non-album tracks that really make the whole thing worth having, even if you've got plenty of other Spinners titles in your collection. Tracks include "Just You & Me Baby", "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You", "I'll Be Around", "He'll Never Love You Like I Do", "Just As Long As We Love Love", "Smile We Each Have Each Other", "Lazy Susan", "I Don't Want To Lose You", "You Made A Promise To Me", "If You Can't Be In Love", "You're All I Need In Life", "I'm Riding Your Shadow", and "One Step Away" – plus lots more, including the better-known hits! CD

A groovy little live album from The 5th Dimension – not nearly as smoothly polished as their studio albums, in a way that really makes the set stand out nicely! The vocals are still completely top-shelf – a heavenly sound that's hard to believe comes from five mere mortals – but the musical backings are a bit more rough-edged and soul-based – a harder groove than the group gets on their full albums, in a way that provides a great contrast to the harmonies on the lyrics! There's also a great sense of "liveness" to the set – patter from the group before the tunes, and some upbeat medleys of some of their bigger hits – strung together in ways that are a lot nicer than just simple live remakes of familiar songs. Titles include "I Just Want To Be Your Friend", "Eli's Coming", "Never My Love", "Shake Your Tambourine", "Ode To Billie Joe", "I Want To Take You Higher", and two longer medleys of hits! LP, Vinyl record album

The group's grown plenty by the time of this set – hitting a new level of sophistication that takes them way beyond the familiar pop of earlier years! There's definitely a more adult feel to some of these tracks than before – a maturing quality that's really wonderful – probably summed up best in the lead vocals of Marilyn McCoo or Florence LaRue – but still sounding pretty great even when the whole group's singing together! Bones Howe is still at the helm, guiding the group with a heavenly sound that's the pinnacle of pop at the time – and titles include two great Burt Bacharach numbers – "Living Together,Growing Together", lifted from the Lost Horizon soundtrack, and "Let Me Be Lonely" – plus the tracks "Woyaya", "What Do I Need To Be Me", "Open Your Window", and "The Riverwitch". LP, Vinyl record album

The cover to this one has The 5th Dimension sporting some heavy-duty outfits – and the album's got an equally bold sound to match! The group's still in very familiar territory here – working under the direction of Bones Howe – but they're also completely confident in their bag – stepping out with a solid, punched-up approach to pop – one that draws strongly from the soulful harmonies of the quintet, yet which also has some pointedly personal moments as well. As before, the choice of songs is easily one of the best aspects of the record – and the group do a great cover of "Viva Tirado", plus "What Does It Take To Wind Your Love", "Love's Lines, Angles, & Rhymes", "Time & Love", "Guess Who", and "He's A Runner". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent little album that Sergio recorded in the US – with a sweet funky electric sound that's very different than his other work! At some level, the album has a feel that's almost like a hip 70s soundtrack – sporting these great arrangements by Dave Grusin that bring in a lot more funk than you might be used to hearing on one of Sergio's albums, making the whole thing groove in a marvelous way – while still holding onto some Brazilian touches in the rhythms, and that sweet two-female vocal lead style of Sergio's other work. The set includes two funky Stevie Wonder covers – "Superstition" and "Don't You Worry About a Thing" – plus versions of "This Masquerade", "Voce Abusou", and "Double Rainbow". (Brazil, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A great little Lou Rawls album from his short-lived time at Bell Records – and like most of his smaller stints at 70s labels, work that really stands out from the rest! The album was cut in LA with smooth production from Norman Ratner – but the overall sound is still pretty darn hip – a nice update of Lou's earlier style at Capitol and MGM, and almost a precursor to his late 70s fame at Philly International. The vocals are still given strong center stage – and are as magnificent as always – and the track selection is slinky smooth at times, in ways that give a subtle sophistication to the record that's really great. Titles include a great cover of "She's Gone", plus "Feel Like Makin Love", "Now You're Coming Back Michelle", "You're A Lady", "Keep The Faith", "Baby You Don't Know How Good You Are", and "Let It Be Now". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer bit of Latin funk from the west coast scene of the 70s – the only album we've ever seen from Sapo, but a set that almost blows away the efforts of bigger groups like Malo or El Chicano! There's a bit more funk in the mix here than in some of the group's contemporaries – a leaner, more soulful sound that's totally great – and topped with these cool compressed vocals from singer Richard Bean, who's got a very distinctive approach! The rhythms are wonderful – and the album explodes with great tracks that combine equal parts Latin, funk, and soul – all in a way that really lives up to the best promise of such a combination – and never falls too heavily on one or the other side of the fence. Titles include the killer break track "Been Had", the slamming electric jam "Ritmo Del Corazon", the fast modal groover "It's The Music", and the massive "Sapo's Montuno", with some very lively solos! Other cuts include "Nina", "Get It On", and "Can't Make It". (Latin, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A killer bit of Latin funk from the west coast scene of the 70s – the only album we've ever seen from Sapo, but a set that almost blows away the efforts of bigger groups like Malo or El Chicano! There's a bit more funk in the mix here than in some of the group's contemporaries – a leaner, more soulful sound that's totally great – and topped with these cool compressed vocals from singer Richard Bean, who's got a very distinctive approach! The rhythms are wonderful – and the album explodes with great tracks that combine equal parts Latin, funk, and soul – all in a way that really lives up to the best promise of such a combination – and never falls too heavily on one or the other side of the fence. Titles include the killer break track "Been Had", the slamming electric jam "Ritmo Del Corazon", the fast modal groover "It's The Music", and the massive "Sapo's Montuno", with some very lively solos! Other cuts include "Nina", "Get It On", and "Can't Make It". (Latin, Soul) CD

Music from Charlie Gracie, Timmie Rogers, the Rays, Billy Scott, the Storey Sisters, John Zacherle, the Playboys, the Applejacks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and more – 25 tracks in all. (Rock, Soul) CD

Includes tracks by The Kinks, The Ivy League, Peter Best, Bob Sled & The Toboggans, The British Walkers, Evie Sands, The Outcasts, The Rationals, and The Ohio Express. (Rock, Soul) CD

With selections by Clifford Curry, Five Satins, Lee Dorsey, Syndicate Of Sound, James & Bobby Purify, The Silhouettes, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford, Ronny & The Daytonas, Bob Kuban, and Buster Brown. LP, Vinyl record album

A gospel singer, but with a great ear for soul – the mighty Rance Allen was one of the key figures to bridge the spiritual and secular worlds in the 70s! This excellent set features Rance Allen gems from his early 70s years at Stax Records – tunes that burn with all of the deep soul styles of other work on the Memphis label, but which also seem to get an extra push deep down inside, thanks to Allen's spiritual leanings. Most cuts have excellent piano and keyboards alongside the vocals – and titles include "Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul", "Ring My Bell", "Up Above My Head", "Lying On The Truth", "Joy", "What Is This", "I Belong To You", "Ain't No Need Of Crying", "That Will Be Good Enough For Me", "What A Day", and "The Painter". CD

Two top trumpet talents – coming together beautifully on this groovy late 70s set! Both Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela had a big rise to fame in the 60s – Herb, for his Tijuana Brass albums on A&M – and Hugh, for the way that he brought South African jazz currents to the American soul mainstream! Given that both had strong presence on the Cali scene in their time, the pairing here is a great one – and works well with some larger jazz backings that color things out in a mix of soul, fusion, funk, and some slight South African touches. Other players on the set include Lee Ritenour and Arthur Adams on guitars, Paulinho Da Costa on percussion, James Gadson on bass, and Hotep Cecil Bernard on piano – and titles include "Skokiaan", "Moonza", "Lobo", "African Summer", "Ring Bell", and "Happy Hanna". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A heck of a great batch of blue eyed soul tracks – much harder-hitting than you'd expect from the name of the group, and done with a "live studio" feel that really makes the session kick! The group's a big one, of mixed origin – of the sort of party club type acts that used to play a lot in the south in the 60s – and alongside original tunes, they also really groove on some upbeat numbers in a soaring Sam & Dave sort of mode. Titles include "I've Been Trying", "I'm Losing You", "Hey You", "Such A Fuss About Sunday", "Soul Man", "Shake", and "I Feel Good". LP, Vinyl record album

Four fantastic albums from Bobby Bland – all brought together in a single package for the first time! First up is Come Fly With Me – great work from Bobby Blue Bland – one of the few artists to rise up at the end of the 50s, and still find a way to chart their own path forward in soul with fresh material like this! Bobby's voice is still incredible here, and he works with production from Al Bell and Monk Higgins, the latter of whom arranged – in this cool style that's a bit like some of the territory that Tyrone Davis was taking on at Columbia Records during the second half of the 70s – fuller arrangements that bring some sophisticated soul touches to the music, but in ways that never lose the core of Bobby's genius! Titles include "Lady Lonely", "Night Games", "You Can Count On Me", "Love To See You Smile", "Come Fly With Me", and "To Be Friends". The next album is I Feel Good I Feel Fine – and Bobby Bland sounds pretty good too – thanks to arrangements from the great Monk Higgins, who does a perfect job of mixing Bland's trademark vocals with some sweet late 70s arrangements! The sound is upbeat, but never in a cliched disco mode – more in the territory that you'd hear Johnnie Taylor using over at Columbia Records – maybe a good comparison, given the Memphis roots that both artists shared – as both also evolved a lot to shift their sound with the changing modes of the time. And as with Johnnie, Bobby never loses the core that makes him great – as you'll hear on titles that include "Tit For Tat", "Soon As The Weather Breaks", "In His Eyes", "Someone To Belong To", "I Feel Good I Feel Fine", and "Little Mama". Sweet Vibrations is a real gem from the start of the 80s – arranged by Monk Higgins, who co-produced the set with Al Bell – a duo who'd already given Bobby some great records before, but who really knock it out of the park with this one. There's an extra-special quality going on here – maybe a slight reintroduction of blues roots, but still with a very contemporary spirit – set up to superb backings throughout. Titles include "Soul With A Flavor", "Hollywood Woman", "You'd Be A Millionaire", "Sweet Vibrator", "Special Kind Of Fool", and "A Real Woman Is What It Takes". Try Me I'm Real is record with a title that certainly fits the bill – as the amazing voice of Bobby Bland is as real here as it ever was, and blended with superbly soulful backings that take the singer's sound forward for a whole new generation! Some of Bobby's contemporaries were content to just stick in a straight blues mode – but Bland really grew and developed a lot as an artist, thanks in part to Monk Higgins and Al Bell – who are both at the production helm of the record, and balance the bluesy roots of Bobby with some richer soul backings that really knock the whole thing out of the park! We love Bobby Blue Bland during his early Duke Records years – but we love him equally as much for music like this, on titles that include "But I Do", "What A Difference A Day Makes", "Givin Up The Streets For Love", "A Song For You My Son", "Just You Just Me", and "Love Is Where It's At". (Blues, Soul) CD

Al Capps arranged and conducted this disco record featuring songs from the soundtrack to Guys and Dolls. The notes on the back cover credit Capps for his "tasteful, happy, 'today' treatments of the much loved score". Songs include "A Bushel and a Peck", "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat", "Luck Be A Lady", "If I Were a Bell", and "The Oldest Established". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from Jerry Butler – the kind of album that goes way past his hits, and which shows the full depth of his work in the early years! The set features a great assortment of tunes that dwell in the darker corners of adult love – some of the first really well-crafted male vocal sides in soul, sung in Jerry's rich-voiced Iceman style of the time! The whole thing's great, with a deep palette of soulful emotion – and titles include "Where Do I Turn", "Aware Of Love", "Without Your Love", "When Trouble Calls", "Find Another Girl", "Is This True Love", "Love Me", "One By One", and "Couldn't Go To Sleep". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer stuff – as Jerry's getting the full early Philly treatment here, with arrangements by Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, and Roland Chambers, and production by a young Gamble and Huff! The sound isn't nearly as icy as the old Vee Jay days – but that's fine with us, as Jerry is nice and soulful on tracks like "Moody Woman", "When You're Alone", "I Forgot To Remember", "Brand New Me", "What's The Use Of Breaking Up", and "Walking Around In Teardroops". Nice cover, too – with Jerry standing in a pile of fake diamonds! LP, Vinyl record album

A raw cooker from the Chicago scene of the 70s – the best kind of gritty electric blues that was being recorded by the indie labels, even at a time when other bigger companies were trying to turn it into cliche! Eddie Campbell is great here – with raw vocals that captivate instantly, which are then followed by some really nice guitar solos too – lean, and with a quality that's both bold and fragile on the strings at the same time. The group also features a young Carey Bell on harmonica – getting plenty of solos in too – plus piano from Lafayette Leake and bass from Lurrie Bell, on titles that include "She's Nineteen Years Old", "Weary Blues", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "Smokin Potatoes", "King Of The Jungle", "We Both Must Cry", and "The Red Rooster". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful collection of work from the legendary James Carr – a singer that those in the know place at the same level as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, or any of the deep soul greats of the 60s! Like Otis, James recorded heavily on the Memphis scene at the time – not for Stax or Atlantic, but for the smaller Goldwax label – who really hit magic with the sounds you'll hear on this set – a perfect blend of the richness of James' voice with the kind of slow-burning soul sounds that the scene was really hitting during its golden years! The songwriters alone here are enough to sell the set to any fan of classic southern soul – as tunes include contributions from Chips Moman, Dan Penn, Quinton Claunch, William Bell, and Spooner Oldham – writers who maybe never had a better interpreter of their work than Carr – who knocks it out of the park here on tunes that include "Love Attack", "Dark End Of The Street", "Freedom Train", "Pouring Water On A Drowning Man", "You've Got My Mind Messed Up", "A Man Needs A Woman", "Let's Face Facts", "You Hurt So Good", "I Don't Want To Be Hurt Anymore", "I'm A Fool For You", "Your Love Made A U-Turn", and "Let It Happen". CD

A beautiful collection of work from the legendary James Carr – a singer that those in the know place at the same level as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, or any of the deep soul greats of the 60s! Like Otis, James recorded heavily on the Memphis scene at the time – not for Stax or Atlantic, but for the smaller Goldwax label – who really hit magic with the sounds you'll hear on this set – a perfect blend of the richness of James' voice with the kind of slow-burning soul sounds that the scene was really hitting during its golden years! The songwriters alone here are enough to sell the set to any fan of classic southern soul – as tunes include contributions from Chips Moman, Dan Penn, Quinton Claunch, William Bell, and Spooner Oldham – writers who maybe never had a better interpreter of their work than Carr – who knocks it out of the park here on tunes that include "Dark End Of The Street", "You've Got My Mind Messed Up", "I'm A Fool For You", "A Lucky Loser", "Let's Face Facts", "Your Love Made A U Turn", "Freedom Train", "Pouring Water On A Drowning Man", "You Hurt So Good", "Love Attack", and "A Man Needs A Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Easily one of the best Ray Charles albums on ABC – if not one of the best Ray Charles albums of all-time. Ray's in his C&W mode here, but it's a bit more restrained than on other LPs, and is replaced here by a sophisticated style that works perfectly with his heartbreaking voice. Proof that Ray knew what he was doing when he said that he didn't want to cut any more crazy R&B records! Titles include "Teardrops From My Eyes", "Cry", "A Tear Fell", "You've Got Me Crying Again", and "I Cried For You". LP, Vinyl record album

Great post-Parliafunkadelicment work from George Clinton – surely the biggest hit of his albums for Capitol – especially since it features the singles "Atomic Dog" and "Loopzilla"! We'll be honest in saying that at the time this one came out, as die-hard Detroit funk fans, we remember thinking "oh gosh, George has lost it" – but from the perspective of many years later, the record sure sounds like classic P-Funk to us – really picking up where the last few Funkadelic and Parliament albums left off! The album sports a great Pedro Bell cover, features some nice work with Bootsy, includes the hits "Atomic Dog" and "Loopzilla" – and also features some lesser-known gems that include "Pot Sharing Tots", "Get Dressed", "Computer Games", and "One Fun At A Time". CD

(Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

The third album in an amazing early run from The Delfonics – the kind of work that set a whole new standard for group soul in the 70s! A number of the tracks here had already risen to fame before the album's release as singles – and these are mixed with some additional tracks that are woven together in a near-perfect symphony of sound! The mighty Thom Bell arranged most of the numbers here – save for 2 by Anthony Dorsey – and the group's heavenly harmonies are in amazing form on both mellow ballads and a few more righteous numbers. Titles include "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time", "Funny Feeling", "Over & Over", "Baby I Love You", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Delfonics Theme", "Trying To Make A Fool Of Me", "I Gave To You", "Down Is Up Up Is Down", and "Think About Me". CD

Sublime soul through and through – 2 classics from The Delfonics, back to back on a single CD! First up is self-titled record The Delfonics – the third album in an amazing early run from The Delfonics – the kind of work that set a whole new standard for group soul in the 70s! A number of the tracks here had already risen to fame before the album's release as singles – and these are mixed with some additional tracks that are woven together in a near-perfect symphony of sound! The mighty Thom Bell arranged most of the numbers here – save for 2 by Anthony Dorsey – and the group's heavenly harmonies are in amazing form on both mellow ballads and a few more righteous numbers. Titles include "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time", "Funny Feeling", "Over & Over", "Baby I Love You", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Delfonics Theme", "Trying To Make A Fool Of Me", "I Gave To You", "Down Is Up Up Is Down", and "Think About Me". Tell Me This Is A Dream has The Delfonics just getting better and better! The longer the group recorded, the more they picked up this strange spacey quality that pushed them past some of their contemporaries of the early 70s. And on an album like this, they prove that they're way more than just Thom Bell puppets by showing that they have a rich talent for a wide variety of complicated arrangements that really push the vocal group sound of the 70s. They take many stylistic risks, coming up with really sinister new harmonies, and always managing to stay clear of the cliches that buried some of their mates on the charts. Bell still arranges some of the material, but the record also features work by Norman Harris and Caldwell MacMillan, who did the real genius work on the record. This masterpiece includes the sublime "Hey, Love", plus "Walk Right Up to the Sun", "I'm A Man", "Too Late", "Love You Till I Die", "Looking for a Girl", and "Round & Round". CD

Amazing work by The Delfonics – their first 2 albums, back to back on a single CD! La La Means I Love You is a landmark album in harmony soul – one of those records that pushed the genre to a whole new level! The Delfonics emerge fully formed here as one of the most compelling groups of their time – a tremendous trio with a really unique approach to soul music – one that's heartfelt and heartbreaking, but never too sweet to be cloying or poppy – definitely just the right groove to keep things hip while also cracking the charts! The album's their first full collaboration with legendary producer Thom Bell – and it's got a sound that's summed up perfectly in the quintessential cut "La La Means I Love You" – and which is followed through beautifully on a batch of tracks that includes "Losing You", "Can You Remember", "You're Gone", "I'm Sorry", and "Break Your Promise". Sound Of Sexy Soul is an equally groundbreaking album of vocal group soul – right from the first note! The record kicks off with the sublime "Ready Or Not, Here I Come" – which starts with fierce stepping strings that are actually funky, then soars into some of the best harmonies the group ever put to record, superbly arranged by the great Thom Bell, who also wrote the track. As the album progresses, the sound expands further to encompass many elements that would become the blueprint for vocal groups over the next few years – like twangy electric sitar, cascading orchestrations, and pinched lead vocals that take a lot more chances than most group singers had been taking for years! There's still a bit of a 60s soul sound to some of the cuts, but the album's a watershed – not only for Thom Bell and the group, but for harmony soul as well! Titles include "Ready Or Not Here I Come", "My New Love", "Loving Him", "With These Hands", "Somebody Loves You", and "Everytime I See My Baby". CD also features the bonus track "You Got Yours & I'll Get Mine". CD

A stunning set from the mighty mighty Dells – a cool collaboration with the legendary arranger Charles Stepney and songwriter Terry Callier – and a record that shows just how far the group had come since their streetcorner harmony days! The vocals are incredible – that rich blend of deep notes and soaring highs that made The Dells one of the most technically amazing soul groups in the 70s – and Stepney's arrangements follow in the same mode as his work for their Dionne Warwick album, and his music for Minnie Riperton and Ramsey Lewis – with lots of groovy currents on the bottom and soaring strings on the top – sophisticated, but completely soulful too – at a level that nobody else can touch! Terry Callier wrote the original tunes "The Love We Had Stays On My Mind", "Freedom Means", "Melody Man", "Free & Easy", "Rather Be With You", and "It's All Up To You" – and the set also includes great remakes of "One Less Bell To Answer", "Make It With You", and "If You Go Away/Love Story". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album from Dinosaur L – the legendary New York dancefloor project of Arthur Russell! – fleshed out and expanded more than ever before by Sleeping Bag and Get On Down Records! The group's core sound is a punky, funky, chunky amalgam of bass thumping, guitar riffing, keyboard filling, and sax honking – all very much in the spirit of Russell's best quirky club work of the time, but with the added sound here of a more expanded approach – one that takes the tunes in a whole new territory than the more famous 12" singles! The tracks on the original set were simply numbered – "1", "2", "3", and so on – and come across almost as free-jamming instrumentals – but this reissue appends the songs with their 12" titles, so "#1" gets parenthetically entitled "You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean" and "#5" as "Go Bang!", plus this disc adds several 12" versions that were not on the original LP release, like Francois K's mix of 'Go Bang!" and Larry Levan's mix of "In The Corn Belt". Totally great stuff – as experimental as it is funky! This 2CD box set edition is amazing – coming in a heavy-duty box with each disc in an oversized gatefold style sleeve – and it includes more Arthur Russell collaborative and/or pseudonymous material for Sleeping Bag with or as Bonzo Goes To Washington, Felix, Sounds Of JHS Brooklyn and Indian Ocean. Other tracks include "School Bell/Treehouse" (Indian Ocean), "You Can't Hold Me Down (Extended Version)" (Felix), "5 Minutes (R-r-r Radio Mix)" (Bonzo Goes To Washington) and more. Also includes a nice booklet of photos, artwork and artist testimonials – plus notes by Russell biographer Tim Lawrence. CD

An incredible album from Dinosaur L – the legendary New York dancefloor project of Arthur Russell! – fleshed out and expanded more than ever before by Sleeping Bag and Get On Down Records! The group's core sound is a punky, funky, chunky amalgam of bass thumping, guitar riffing, keyboard filling, and sax honking – all very much in the spirit of Russell's best quirky club work of the time, but with the added sound here of a more expanded approach – one that takes the tunes in a whole new territory than the more famous 12" singles! The tracks on the original set were simply numbered – "1", "2", "3", and so on – and come across almost as free-jamming instrumentals – but this reissue appends the songs with their 12" titles, so "#1" gets parenthetically entitled "You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean" and "#5" as "Go Bang!", plus this disc adds several 12" versions that were not on the original LP release, like Francois K's mix of 'Go Bang!" and Larry Levan's mix of "In The Corn Belt". Totally great stuff – as experimental as it is funky! This 2CD box set edition is amazing – coming in a heavy-duty box with each disc in an oversized gatefold style sleeve – and it includes more Arthur Russell collaborative and/or pseudonymous material for Sleeping Bag with or as Bonzo Goes To Washington, Felix, Sounds Of JHS Brooklyn and Indian Ocean. Other tracks include "School Bell/Treehouse" (Indian Ocean), "You Can't Hold Me Down (Extended Version)" (Felix), "5 Minutes (R-r-r Radio Mix)" (Bonzo Goes To Washington) and more. Also includes a nice booklet of photos, artwork and artist testimonials – plus notes by Russell biographer Tim Lawrence. CD

Great work by one of the most unusual girl groups of the 60s! The Dixie Cups hailed from New Orleans – and as such, had a sound that was rougher and choppier than some of the other female trios from the north, especially the sweeter ones in LA. The group were discovered and produced by Joe Jones, a Crescent City soul star in his own right – and under Joe's guidance, they created a style that was steeped in the bubbling soul of the New Orleans scene, yet also had the kind of girl group sensibilities that would help them reach wider audiences across the US. This 18 track set is the best reissue we've ever seen of their material from the time – and features all of their recordings for the Red Bird label, produced by Lieber & Stoller, with arrangements by Joe Jones, Wardell Quezerque, and Mike Stoller. Titles include "Iko Iko", "People Say", "Little Bell", "Gee Baby Gee", "Another Boy Like Mine", "Chapel Of Love", "Girls Can Tell", "All Grown Up", and "Thank You Mama Thank You Papa". CD