Earth Wind & Fire cut this one a few years before the actual turn of the century – but that's a-ok with us, because Maurice White & company were always years ahead of their time! The record steps nicely off the modes used by EWF during the 80s – the tighter, more focused approach to the groove that showed up on their later Columbia sides, but which was still quite a bit better than most of their contemporaries – especially the legions of groups who grew up to copy their sound through the years! Production and percussion are a bit 90s-sounding, but surprisingly undated years later – thanks to a continuing commitment to righteous themes and jazz-based flourishes in the tunes – as well as some nice use of kalimba interludes to give the record occasional earthy moments! Philip Bailey still holds sway on some of the mellower ballads – and titles include "Even If You Wonder", "Sunday Morning", "Blood Brothers", "Divine", "Honor The Magic", "Super Hero", "Just Another Lonely Night", "Love Across The Wire", and "Chicago Blues". CD

An early 80s gospel cooker from a group who really live up to their name – young singers from the Portland scene, recorded here during a very uplifting performance at a high school! The rhythms are very driving – funky gospel at its best, with a very romping vibe that has both the larger ensemble and the key soloists really stepping up and knocking it out of the park – setting a fire in the music that goes way past just standard spiritual modes, with a very universal appeal to all fans of soulful styles! Titles include "Be Grateful", "Expressions", "Lord Don't Move That Mountain", "Worship The Lord", "Thank You Lord", "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", and "I Need To Pray". (Gospel, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A deep look at a blues scene that doesn't always get its due – music not from Chicago, Memphis, or various points south – but some nicely gritty tracks that were cut in New York during the postwar years! Despite New York's fame as a hub of jazz, soul, and other styles – the city also had a surprisingly strong blues scene in the 50s and 60s, which is when most of these tracks were recorded – music that's both in the electric modes that were showing up in other urban centers at the time, and also in some more traditional modes that were sometimes left behind in other cities – but which got a nice revival in New York, thanks to an interest in folk blues from the underground! Material here was originally recorded by a range of different labels – Old Town, Atlantic, Mercury, Prestige, Fire, Apollo, King, and Chess – and as you'd expect from Ace, there's also some unreleased material on the set, all presented with a great assortment of notes and details on every single track. 26 titles in all – with cuts that include "Bad Blood" by Champion Jack Dupree, "Step It Up & Go" by Blind Boy Fuller, "The Guy With A 45" by Allen Bunn & His Trio, "Stormy Monday Blues" by Bob Gaddy, "Kansas City March" by Wild Jimmy Spruill, "Four Women Blues" by Larry Johnson & Hank Adkins, "Idle Hours" by Lonnie Johnson with Victory Spivey, "Hard Times" by Noble Thin Man Watts, "Believe Me Darling" by June Bateman, "Security" by Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, "Jack That Cat Was Clean" by Dr Horse, and "Goodbye Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison. (Blues, Soul) CD

Classic black rock funk from Stax, by the second version of the Bar-Kays (the first went down in the plane with Otis) with a nice hard sound all the way through! There's plenty of guitars in the mix, ripping away like a buzzsaw over the top of bass-heavy funk rhythms – ready to bite with the same sting of the rattlesnake that's pictured on the cover! Cuts include "Coldblooded", "Fightin' Fire With Fire", "Frame of Mind", and "Waiting and Hating". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer 2 CD set that focuses on the funky sound of James from the 70s – and which includes great material that was never issued at the time, alternate funky takes, rare singles, and other great bits! There's a wealth of incredible material on here that makes the set essential – even if you have James' full albums from the time, because there's so many other extra bits that weren't included on those! The extra goodies include "Down & Out In New York City" (with a spoken intro), "Coldblooded" (undubbed version), "Mind Power" (alternate take), "Hot Pants Finale" (live), "Don't Tell It", "World Of Soul", "I Can't Stand It '76", "Turn On The Heat & Build Some Fire", "Problems", "I Got A Bag Of My Own", "I Got Ants In My Pants", "King Heroin", "Make It Funky (parts 1 thorugh 4)", "Escape-Ism", "Don't Tell It", "My Thang", "Funky President", and "Make It Good To Yourself" (interlude). Great notes, loads of other great tracks, and a total of 26 cuts make this a monster value! CD

Killer 2 CD set that focuses on the funky sound of James from the 70s – and which includes great material that was never issued at the time, alternate funky takes, rare singles, and other great bits! There's a wealth of incredible material on here that makes the set essential – even if you have James' full albums from the time, because there's so many other extra bits that weren't included on those! The extra goodies include "Down & Out In New York City" (with a spoken intro), "Coldblooded" (undubbed version), "Mind Power" (alternate take), "Hot Pants Finale" (live), "Don't Tell It", "World Of Soul", "I Can't Stand It '76", "Turn On The Heat & Build Some Fire", "Problems", "I Got A Bag Of My Own", "I Got Ants In My Pants", "King Heroin", "Make It Funky (parts 1 thorugh 4)", "Escape-Ism", "Don't Tell It", "My Thang", "Funky President", and "Make It Good To Yourself" (interlude). Great notes, loads of other great tracks, and a total of 26 cuts make this a monster value! CD