An incredible pairing of talents – and a record that proves once again that the vibes of Roy Ayers are maybe one of the most powerfully soulful forces in the universe! It's no surprise that Roy's old records have formed the building blocks of key hip hop tracks over the years – and year, Ayers serves up vibes alongside fresh production from Oh No – in a set of all instrumental tracks that are overflowing with sweet vibes from the master, plus a blinding array of beats, samples, and other great production elements! Tracks are short and to the point, yet still deliver plenty – and titles include "Another Two 4", "Ice Cold Coolers", "Penthouse Elevators", "Intended Mayhem", "Short Tempers", "Dead Ringers", "Unbeautiful", "Leeches" and "Problems & Solvers". (Hip Hop, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

2 funky classics from the legendary Pretty Purdie! Purdie Good is Bernard Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s – tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat" and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland", "You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". Shaft is a full funky session from master drummer Bernard Purdie – a set that expands out his previous Prestige vibe, and almost goes for a soundtrack scope to match the record's Shaft title! The set leads off with a great take on the Isaac Hayes hit – one that follows in the same fully-flowing, slow-building mode as Ike's – but which comes across here as an instrumental with some great solo work from Houston Person – playing here almost in a Stanley Turrentine sort of mode! Other tracks continue the hip mix of jazz and larger backings – and feature a lineup of players that includes Neal Creque on electric piano, Gerry Thomas and Danny Moore on trumpets, Willie Bridges and Houston Person on tenors, Billy Nichols and Lloyd Davis on guitars, Gordon Edwards on Fender bass, and Norman Pride on congas. The sound is warm without ever sounding too smooth – and Purdie's funky drums at the bottom ensure that most tunes are nicely lively. Titles include "Shaft", "Butterfingers", "Summer Melody", "Changes", "Way Back Home", and "Attica". (Jazz, Soul) CD

Bernard Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s – tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat" and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland", "You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Bernard Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s – tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat" and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland", "You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

2 funky classics from the legendary Pretty Purdie! Purdie Good is Bernard Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s – tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat" and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland", "You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". Shaft is a full funky session from master drummer Bernard Purdie – a set that expands out his previous Prestige vibe, and almost goes for a soundtrack scope to match the record's Shaft title! The set leads off with a great take on the Isaac Hayes hit – one that follows in the same fully-flowing, slow-building mode as Ike's – but which comes across here as an instrumental with some great solo work from Houston Person – playing here almost in a Stanley Turrentine sort of mode! Other tracks continue the hip mix of jazz and larger backings – and feature a lineup of players that includes Neal Creque on electric piano, Gerry Thomas and Danny Moore on trumpets, Willie Bridges and Houston Person on tenors, Billy Nichols and Lloyd Davis on guitars, Gordon Edwards on Fender bass, and Norman Pride on congas. The sound is warm without ever sounding too smooth – and Purdie's funky drums at the bottom ensure that most tunes are nicely lively. Titles include "Shaft", "Butterfingers", "Summer Melody", "Changes", "Way Back Home", and "Attica". (Jazz, Soul) CD

One of Lou Rawls' best for Capitol – produced by David Axelrod, and arranged by HB Barnum with a joyous, leaping, sock-soulful groove! The drums get nice and hard on the set – especially on the classic break version of "For What It's Worth", and the rolling righteous cut "My Ancestors" – and Lou's vocals are deeply wonderful all the way through! Other tunes include "I'm Gonna Use What I Got", "My Son", "Evil Woman", "Hang Ups", and "The Letter". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Lou's classics for Philly International – a warm mix of smooth soul and adult vocals, handled with some great arrangements by Dexter Wansel and Thom Bell. There's less standout singles on this set than previous Philly records, but Lou's class and quality makes nearly every track come out wonderfully – a masterpiece of soulful understatement and grace. Titles include "We Keep Getting Closer To Being Further Apart", "Time Will Take Care Of Everything", "What's The Matter With The World", "Bark Bite", and "Lover's Holiday". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the beautiful records from Lou's late 60's years at Capitol, and one of the ones he made with the great team of H.B. Barnum and David Axelrod. As usual, Barnum turns out some fantastically swinging soul arrangements – and Axelrod's procduction ensures that things are nice and tight, and that the drums beat extra funky and soulful! Titles include "Down Here On the Ground", "Soul Serenade", "You're Good For Me", and "I'm Satisfied" – plus the excellent "Life Time", which has a great breakbeat! LP, Vinyl record album

Another one of the really good Lou Rawls albums from the late 60's. David Axelrod produced, and the drums are nice and hard, especially on "I Can't Make It Alone", which he arranged. Other tracks include "Give Me Your Love" (not the Curtis Mayfield song), "When She Speaks", and "Your Good Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent LP by one of the most underrecognized talents of 70's soul! DJ's deep soul voice is smooth and mellow, with the kind of honest heartbreaking quality that you find in the best work by Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. This great LP's got DJ in a nice set of arrangements that have a cool stripped-down feel, with a little bit of electronics, as on some of Stevie's best LPs from the early 70's. Tracks include "Hold On, Be Strong", "Think I'll Make It Anyhow", "If You Didn't Love Me (Don't Go Away)", "Love You Forever", and "Say You Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Great uptown early Philly soul album from the late 60's, featuring the talents of a young Bunny Sigler before he got tied up making too many uptempo records. The record features arrangements by Joe Renzetti – in a sweet uptown style that brings out a lot in Bunny's young vocals. Includes the title hit, plus "Can You Dig It", "There's No Love Left", and "Lovey Dovey". Goofy cover, too. LP, Vinyl record album

A classic album of raw New Orleans soul from one of the all-time greats! Huey was a key figure who bridged the gap between the rolling sound of 50s Crescent City R&B, and later funky grooves from the 60s. This album's filled with 12 original tracks by Huey – recorded by Ace Records in Jackson, Mississippi – and titles include "Rockin Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu", "Little Chickee Wah Wah", "Havin A Good Time", "Everybody's Whalin", "We Like Birdland", and "High Blood Pressure". CD

Titles include "Genevieve", "Little Liza Jane", "Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu", "Just A Lonely Clown", "Free, Single And Disengaged", "For Cryin' Out Loud", and more – 24 tracks total. CD

A rare gem from T Bone Walker – one of the few hip sides he cut in Europe at the end of the 60s – and very different than his more traditional work! The set was put together by Robin Hemmingway – who also handled the hip Hal Singer record from the same time – and the players here include Bernard Estardy on organ, Michel Sardaby on piano, and Manu Dibango on saxophone – all of whom make for a groove that's far more than traditional blues. Sure, the record's plenty bluesy – but it's also got a funky groove on many numbers – really cooking along in a way that's even cooler than most funky American blues. And given that Walker's guitar style was a key influence on most funky guitar players in jazz, his own work here is a really great fit for the setting! Titles include "Vacation", "Long Lost Lover", "Woman You Must Be Crazy", "I Wonder Why", "Poontang", "Reconsider", "Sail On Little Girl", and "When I Grow Up". (Blues, Soul) CD

Here's a set that takes the "More" in its title very seriously – as the package is overflowing with way more rare work than we might have expected – six tracks from the Motown vaults that appear here for the first time ever, and many other that were unreleased at the time – showing just how much the Detroit soul powerhouse was able to capture some of the best female singers coming through its studios! If you're worried about these tracks being clunkers, put aside those fears – as even the lesser cuts at Motown are usually better than some of the hits at other labels – given the production strengths and studio talents, who do a great job here of making both the big names and the lesser-knowns sound wonderful. As always with Ace, there's a huge amount of detailed notes that really make the package great – alongside 25 tracks that include "Good Good Feeling" by Brenda Holloway, "Hold Me Oh My Darling" by Ann Bogan, "I Don't Want Your Promises" by LaBrenda Ben, "Don't Be Too Long" by Anita Knorl, "A Love So Deep Inside" by the Velvelettes, "Can't Figure It Out" by The Lewis Sisters, "I'm So Helpless" by Debbie Dean, "Nothing But A Fool" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "My Daddy Knows Best" by Little Lisa, "Suck Up" by Oma Heard, "This Love I've Got" by Martha & The Vandellas, "Never Trust A Man" by Chris Clark, "When I Was In School" by Hattie Littles, and "All I Could Do Was Cry" by Yvonne Fair. CD

Tracks from Memphis Slim And The House Rockers, Cootie Williams And His Orchestra, Mabel Scott, Wynonie Harris,Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, Morris Lane Amos Milburn, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Camille Howard, Paul Williams Sextet, Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, T-Bone Walker, and more. (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD

Stormin soul – and a killer set of upbeat 60s numbers! The package was put together for the UK mod scene, but it's a great batch of American tracks from the classic years of soul – not really Northern, not really southern – but kind of a hard-swinging approach to the music that makes for a really lively package overall! The set's got 20 tracks in all, all thumpin, bumpin, and gruntin-type numbers – with titles that include "Do The Whoo Pee" by Sugar Pie Desanto, "Lay This Burden Down" by Mary Love, "Make Me Yours" by Bettye Swann, "I Keep Forgetting" by Chuck Jackson, "I've Got Papers On You Baby" by BB King, "Hole in The Wall" by George Stone, "Have Love Will Travel" by Richard Berry & The Pharoahs, "Keep My Woman Home" by Danny White, "Mama Julie" by Terry & Jerry, and "I Got A Woman" by Billy Hawks. (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD

Ashford & Simpson don't need to ask at this point – their in full 70s soul stride here, and it's not good, it's great! By this point in the late 70s, Nick and Valerie are firmly holding the foreground as artists in their own right after many years of acting as songwriters for other soul and R&B hitmakers – writing, singing, and producing their own work in a now-established tradition of sophisticated soul and uptempo grooves! What they had not done to this point was produce a number of big hits for themselves, and that tide started to turn this this excellent album that's among their best ever! Includes a number of singles that would help them begin to break through to later huge chart success, which was by now richly earned. Titles include "Is It Good To You", "Ain't It A Shame", "It Seems To Hang On", "Flashback", "The Debt Is Settled", and "Get Up And Do Something". LP, Vinyl record album

A key step in the path from The Housemartins to Fatboy Slim – Norman Cook's first big dancefloor excursion, and a super-big hit that sounds surprisingly nice these days! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A killer debut from Brick – the start of a massive run at the end of the 70s, a time when the group was easily one of the biggest acts to come out of the up-and-coming Atlanta scene! Like some other Atlanta acts of the time, Brick had a way of fusing older funky soul on a tighter modern groove – coming up with a sound that was nice and lean – perfect for these key transitional years of funk – with influences that were felt for years, in places as far away as the west coast! Case in point is the album's classic "Dazz" – one of those cuts that never gets old – nestled nicely in a lineup that also includes "Music Matic", "Here We Come", "Good High", "That's What It's All About", "Brick City", and "Sister Twister". LP, Vinyl record album

(Blues, Soul) CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

The first of six "comeback" albums that this great Chicago soul singer cut during his second wave of recording during the late 70s! Walter had originally done some amazing work with the great Carl Davis at the Okeh label during the mid 60s – and this album marks a return to their collaboration – this time at Davis' own Chi-Sound subsidiary of 20th Century Records. Jackson here takes all the smooth sophistication of his early days, and transforms himself into an adult singer of soul songs – taking a route similar to that travelled by singers like Jerry Butler or Lou Rawls at the same time. Like Rawls, the style doesn't always work – but when it does, it's great. Titles include "Love Is Lovelier", "Words", "Too Shy To Say", "Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me Of A Friend)", "Love Woke Me Up This Morning", and a remake of "Welcome Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer 2CD set of funky grooves by one of the best backing bands ever! The JBs were James Brown's legendary combo during his monster funk years of the early 70s – and this well-selected compilation brings together 30 rare tracks from their best years! The set's got a great set of notes – and it stretches beyond work by the JBs alone to include cuts from other groupings of the band, like Maceo & The Macks, The Last Word, The First Family, and The New JBs. Titles include "Rockin Funky Watergate", "Keep On Bumpin Before You Give Out Of Gas", "Soul Power 74", "My Brother (parts 1 & 2)", "The Grunt (parts 1 & 2)", "Dirty Harri", "More Peas", "Watermelon Man", "Givin Up Food For Funk (parts 1 & 2)", "JB Shout", "Blessed Blackness", "Same Beat (parts 1, 2, & 3)", and "Gimme Some More (Very Live)". Nice nice nice – and with a fair number of non-LP tracks! CD

A wealth of great work from Jimmy Jones – a sweetly voice crooner who bridges the gap between rougher soul artists and the smoother sounds of singers like Sam Cooke and Jessie Belvin – best known for his hit "Handy Man" for the Cub label, but represented here with a huge amount of songs from the 60s! The set features 48 tracks in all, taking Jimmy way past the early hits, into territory explored by New York uptown artists – Ben E King, Tommy Hunt, Chuck Jackson, and others. The package is great – the first time Jimmy's ever been represented so heavily – and also comes with a full set of notes on the material, and an interview with Jimmy. Titles include the hit "Handy Man", plus "For You", "Ready For Love", "My Precious Angel", "Good Timin", "A Wondrous Place", "Never Had it So Good", "Dynamite", "Snap My Fingers", "Big Leg Woman", "Tell Me Why", "That Was My Mistake", "The Nights Of Mexico", "Mr Music Man", "Dear One", "I Say Love", "Pardon Me", "Mr Fix It", "Don't You Just Know It", and "Send Her Back Home To Me". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Rare tracks from one of the greatest soul labels ever – Detroit's legendary Westbound Records, the famous home of Funkadelic – but a source for countless many more grooves! This set features really rare singles and unreleased tracks from Westbound – a flurry of great soul tracks that's surprised even our Westbound-raised ears – with tracks that run from righteous soul to heavy funk, to great group harmonies, and more! There's nary a big name in the set – and instead, the whole thing really focuses on the hinterland of the Westbound scene – including some especially rare gems that were issued as singles by the even-smaller Eastbound label, who did some wonderfully groovy work in the early 70s. Titles include "Admit Your Love Is Gone" by Damon Shawn, "Old Fashioned Woman" by Unique Blend, "I'm Falling In Love" by Fantastic Four, "Tender Moments" by AC Tilmon & Denise LaSalle, "I Love You" by The Motivations, "More Love" by Emanuel Laskey, "What Am I Gonna Do" by Houston Outlaws, "I Don't Know How" by The Superlatives, "Trying Real Hard" by The Magictones, "You Can't Take This Love For You From Me" by Bob & Harold, "I'm Loving You You're Leaving Me" by The Magictones, "Does He Treat You Better" by Unique Blend, and "Rosetta Stone" by AC Tilmon & Detroit Emeralds. CD

Although Roy Brown had a slightly softer edge than some of his King R&B contemporaries – he could definitely rock and wail when he wanted to, as you'll hear on this CD! The folks at Rhino have done a good job of digging through Roy's work at King, pulling together 18 tracks that have a fierce Wynonnie Harris-ish sound to them – no surprise, as King often had Brown and Harris splitting "Battle Of The Blues" albums together! Tracks include "Black Diamond", "Mighty Might Man", "Rockin At Midnight", "Cadillac Baby", "Hard Luck Blues", "Bar Room Blues", "Big Town", "Gal From Kokomo", "Beautician Blues", and the original version of "Good Rockin Tonight", which is a lot rawer than you'd expect! CD

A definite good thang from Faze-O – easily the masters of snakey funk at the end of the 70s! The set's got loads of great elements that echo the group's Riding High debut – a groove that never goes too far over the top, and which kicks back at a pace that so many others would copy a few years later – a vibe that's a bit Ohio, a bit Cali, yet crafted here with a vision that's totally unique to the band! Horns are a bit heavier than before, but there's still plenty of great keyboards too – and the vocals definitely recognize that they're the second star of the record, and usually defer to the rhythms on most numbers. Tracks include "Good Thang", "Party Time", "Space People", "Who Loves You", and "Funky Lady". LP, Vinyl record album

An early 80s classic from Richard Dimples Fields – one of the most unique talents in soul music of his generation – with an appeal that's both down home, and smoothly sophisticated at the time! In a way, Fields' music represents many changes his audience was going through at the time – classing things up a bit, and heading into the mainstream – yet still very much concerned about the same issues and challenges of years past. The approach is almost southern soul by way of southern California – rough edges polished out, but still earthy enough to hang out with the crowd from back home. Almost all titles are originals, and Richard handled most of the production too – on tracks that include "If It Ain't One Thing It's Another", "After I Put My Lovin On You", "Baby Work Out", "Mr Look So Good", "Taking Applications", and "A Freak On The Side". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Killer King Records material from Wynonie Brown – 20 raunchy R&B numbers that were crucial to the invention of rock & roll! CD

Sweet electric magic from Ramsey Lewis – four 70s albums in a single collection! First up is Don't It Feel Good – massive keyboard work from the great Ramsey Lewis – easily one of his best records ever, thanks to some spaciously funky production by Charles Stepney! Stepney plays keyboards here along with Ramsey, and the twin-keys approach makes for a sound that's extra-special – one that sums up all the earlier soulful creativity of both artists in their late 60s Cadet Records years, and hones it down to an even sweeter groove for the 70s! A number of tracks have some sort of vocal component, but usually in a chorus mode that soon drops out when the keyboards hit home – and the record features a few great short "interlude" tracks that are almost as great as the longer numbers! Titles include the classic "Juaacklyn", a cover of Earth Wind & Fire's "That's The Way Of The World", and the tracks "I Dig You", "Fish Bite", "Don't It Feel Good", "Something About You", and "Can't Function". Salongo is a tremendous little record, and one of the funky 70s sets that Ramsey Lewis recorded with Earth Wind & Fire! Well, not Earth Wind & Fire entirely – but the Kalimba Productions team of Maurice White and Charles Stepney that gave the group its sound – plus a nice sprinkling of other players that were often associated with sessions by the group! Ramsey's own combo here includes Steve Cobb on drums and vocals, and Derf Reklaw on reeds and vocals as well – and the overall sound has bits of African and Brazilian influences, worked into a soulful fusion groove that sounds a lot like the instrumental backings EWF were using at the time. Titles include "Brazilica", "Slick", "Rubato", "Salongo", and "Seventh Fold". Tequila Mockingbird is an overlooked gem from the Columbia Records years, filled with loads of great grooves, and some pretty mighty keyboards! Part of the record has Ramsey working with Larry Dunn of Kalimba Productions – getting plenty of the Earth Wind & Fire groove that made so much of his Columbia sessions sparkle – while the rest of the set has the great Bert DeCoteaux handling things, and giving Lewis just the right mix of sophistication and soul he was using with other Columbia acts at the time. The album's a perfect example of the way that Ramsey stepped way ahead of the pack during this time in his career – using keyboards and grooves together in ways that so many artists today are still trying to match – but never hit it this right! Titles include "Camino El Bueno", "Caring For You", "Intimacy", "That Ole Bach Music", "Skippin", "Tequila Mockingbird", and "Wandering Rose" – that cool cut by Neal Creque! Love Notes is a great little album of mid 70s funk from Ramsey Lewis – very much in the mode of his Earth, Wind, & Fire related work – no surprise, since the album's dedicated to Charles Stepney, whose influence was such a key part of the sound of the group, and of some of Ramsey's other Kalimba-produced albums from a few years before! Ramsey plays Fender Rhodes, mini moog, and Arp – and he gets help on keyboards from Stevie Wonder and Derf Reklaw, who also plays saxes and percussion on the set. Features versions of Wonder's "Love Notes" and "Spring High", plus Reklaw's "Chili Today Hot Tamale", "Shining", and "Stash Dash". (Jazz, Soul) CD

Sweet electric magic from Ramsey Lewis – four 70s albums in a single collection! First up is Don't It Feel Good – massive keyboard work from the great Ramsey Lewis – easily one of his best records ever, thanks to some spaciously funky production by Charles Stepney! Stepney plays keyboards here along with Ramsey, and the twin-keys approach makes for a sound that's extra-special – one that sums up all the earlier soulful creativity of both artists in their late 60s Cadet Records years, and hones it down to an even sweeter groove for the 70s! A number of tracks have some sort of vocal component, but usually in a chorus mode that soon drops out when the keyboards hit home – and the record features a few great short "interlude" tracks that are almost as great as the longer numbers! Titles include the classic "Juaacklyn", a cover of Earth Wind & Fire's "That's The Way Of The World", and the tracks "I Dig You", "Fish Bite", "Don't It Feel Good", "Something About You", and "Can't Function". Salongo is a tremendous little record, and one of the funky 70s sets that Ramsey Lewis recorded with Earth Wind & Fire! Well, not Earth Wind & Fire entirely – but the Kalimba Productions team of Maurice White and Charles Stepney that gave the group its sound – plus a nice sprinkling of other players that were often associated with sessions by the group! Ramsey's own combo here includes Steve Cobb on drums and vocals, and Derf Reklaw on reeds and vocals as well – and the overall sound has bits of African and Brazilian influences, worked into a soulful fusion groove that sounds a lot like the instrumental backings EWF were using at the time. Titles include "Brazilica", "Slick", "Rubato", "Salongo", and "Seventh Fold". Tequila Mockingbird is an overlooked gem from the Columbia Records years, filled with loads of great grooves, and some pretty mighty keyboards! Part of the record has Ramsey working with Larry Dunn of Kalimba Productions – getting plenty of the Earth Wind & Fire groove that made so much of his Columbia sessions sparkle – while the rest of the set has the great Bert DeCoteaux handling things, and giving Lewis just the right mix of sophistication and soul he was using with other Columbia acts at the time. The album's a perfect example of the way that Ramsey stepped way ahead of the pack during this time in his career – using keyboards and grooves together in ways that so many artists today are still trying to match – but never hit it this right! Titles include "Camino El Bueno", "Caring For You", "Intimacy", "That Ole Bach Music", "Skippin", "Tequila Mockingbird", and "Wandering Rose" – that cool cut by Neal Creque! Love Notes is a great little album of mid 70s funk from Ramsey Lewis – very much in the mode of his Earth, Wind, & Fire related work – no surprise, since the album's dedicated to Charles Stepney, whose influence was such a key part of the sound of the group, and of some of Ramsey's other Kalimba-produced albums from a few years before! Ramsey plays Fender Rhodes, mini moog, and Arp – and he gets help on keyboards from Stevie Wonder and Derf Reklaw, who also plays saxes and percussion on the set. Features versions of Wonder's "Love Notes" and "Spring High", plus Reklaw's "Chili Today Hot Tamale", "Shining", and "Stash Dash". (Jazz, Soul) CD

Sweet funky blues from the team of Junior Parker and Jimmy McGriff – coming together here in a way that's even groovier than some of their previous work! Junior's got a sweet approach to the lyrics that grooves nicely with Jimmy's Hammond – and the set's got some full and soulful arrangements by Horace Ott that really tighten things up nicely – getting past any of the blues cliches that might ruin things, and instead going for that lean groove that McGriff was really hitting at the end of the 60s! There's more of a soul vibe than a blues one going on most of the time – and titles include "Workin", "Inner Light", "Losing Battle", "Drownin On Dry Land", and "It Ain't What'cha Got". (Jazz, Soul) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Ashford & Simpson don't need to ask at this point – their in full 70s soul stride here, and it's not good, it's great! By this point in the late 70s, Nick and Valerie are firmly holding the foreground as artists in their own right after many years of acting as songwriters for other soul and R&B hitmakers – writing, singing, and producing their own work in a now-established tradition of sophisticated soul and uptempo grooves! What they had not done to this point was produce a number of big hits for themselves, and that tide started to turn this this excellent album that's among their best ever! Includes a number of singles that would help them begin to break through to later huge chart success, which was by now richly earned. Titles include "Is It Good To You", "Ain't It A Shame", "It Seems To Hang On", "Flashback", "The Debt Is Settled", and "Get Up And Do Something". CD

Stellar sounds from the great Roy Ayers – an early 80s album for Polydor, but a set that's still got the wonderfully tight, wonderfully groovy feel of his late 70s albums for the label! Roy's really perfected his sense of balance by this time – and does a great job of balancing groovers with sweet mellow steppers – the kind of cool, compressed, jazzy numbers that we love so much! Ayers heads for the clubs one minute, the bedroom the next – and draws us in beautifully whichever direction he takes – thanks to some sublime vibes and electric piano – and great lead vocals from Roy, and other singers who include Terri Wells, Vivian Prince, John King, and Ricky Williams. Titles include "Ooh", "Let's Stay Together", "Feeling Good""Knock Knock", "Turn Me Loose", "Stairway To The Stars", and "Our Time Is Coming". CD

A soaring set from Leon Bridges – a full length second album that's every bit as classic as his debut, but in a completely different way! Where Coming Home was maybe Leon's answer to the generation of Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke, Good Thing is more of a nod to the era of Maxwell and D'Angelo – but, as before, coming across with a vibe that's completely Bridges' own – this ebullient, bubblingly soulful quality that's completely sublime – and which has Leon's voice fitting perfectly with the mellow grooving beats, keyboards, and guitar. The singer's voice is maybe even better than before – sure to win over an even new wave of ears – and titles include "If It Feels Good Then It Must Be", "Bet Ain't Worth The Hand", "Bad Bad News", "Shy", "Beyond", "Forgive You", "Lions", "You Don't Know", and "Georgia To Texas". (Neo Soul, Soul) CD

A soaring set from Leon Bridges – a full length second album that's every bit as classic as his debut, but in a completely different way! Where Coming Home was maybe Leon's answer to the generation of Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke, Good Thing is more of a nod to the era of Maxwell and D'Angelo – but, as before, coming across with a vibe that's completely Bridges' own – this ebullient, bubblingly soulful quality that's completely sublime – and which has Leon's voice fitting perfectly with the mellow grooving beats, keyboards, and guitar. The singer's voice is maybe even better than before – sure to win over an even new wave of ears – and titles include "If It Feels Good Then It Must Be", "Bet Ain't Worth The Hand", "Bad Bad News", "Shy", "Beyond", "Forgive You", "Lions", "You Don't Know", and "Georgia To Texas". (Neo Soul, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly THE James Brown album of the mid 60s – a solid set of hard-grooving tracks, based around the monster title hit "I Got You (I Feel Good)"! The tune's one of those numbers that has been used a gajillion times over the years in commercials and promos – but which never sounds better than here, on James' original version – one of those cuts that never gets old! The hit's also nicely offset by a number of other more obscure numbers that make the album really worth tracking down – titles that include "I Can't Help It (I Just Do Do Do)", "Good Good Lovin", "I've Got Money", "Three Hearts In A Tangle", "You've Got The Power", and "Love Don't Love Nobody" – all on the rougher side of the JB spectrum. CD

Although Gene Chandler wasn't scoring nearly as big in the 80s as he was in the 60s, he was still a great vocalist, and could turn out some good material when he wanted to. This album's more than enough proof of that – and it features some good mellow tracks that have Gene singing in a sophisticated quiet storm sort of style. The best number is "Haven't I Heard That Line Before" – and other tracks include "You'll Never Be Free Of Me", "Lucy", and "Please You Tonight". The record's got some uptempo numbers that fall flat, so stick to the ballads and mellow cuts. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the blueprints of hip hop! At the time, Chic's "Good Times" just seemed like a wickedly funky pop tune – but who knew that that bass and guitar groove would inspire a whole generation of hip hoppers, bouncing along in a groove that was at once at home on the roller rink or the wheels of steel! This original single features a key version that's over 8 minutes long, too! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Forget Tina Turner – we'll take Ike's backup singers, who sound great all the way through this collection! The Ikettes may never have had the fame of Tina, but back in the early and mid 60s, they were actually scoring a few more hits – and these recordings for the Modern label represent the group at their height – stepping firmly into righteous soul territory, shaking off any girl group cliches, and avoiding any of the stereotypes that could sometimes mar Ike Turner's projects. There's a really special sound here – one that's got bits of Motown, bits of R&B, and bits of Northern Soul – all wrapped together perfectly and delivered with sock-solid vocals from singers Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Smith, and Venetta Fields. The CD features all the material from the girls' full album for Modern – Soul The Hits – plus loads of other singles and even some unissued tracks! Titles include "Fine Fine Fine", "Camel Walk", "Sally Go Round The Roses", "Cheater", "You're Trying To Make Me Lose My Mind", "I'm So Thankful", "Don't Feel Sorry For Me", "Can't Sit Down Cos I Feel So Good", "Lonely For You", "Sha La La", "It's Been So Long", and "Nobody Loves Me". CD

An excellent early album from Millie Jackson – recorded in a southern soul style in New York and Muscle Shoals, but a lot hipper than most of the rest of the female soul that was coming out of the south at the time! Millie was a bit different than the rest – as although she's got a tear running down her cheek on the cover, she can also be a real badass when she wants too – rapping hard and frankly about the ups and downs of love and live – often sticking to harder material, except for a few tear jerking ballads, and adds in a lot of humor and touches of the fierce sarcasm that would soon become her calling card in the soul business. Key producer Brad Shapiro is working with Millie here – Gary Byrd penned the leadoff cut "I Cry", and the other tracks include "Two Faced World", "Hypocrisy", "Good To The Very Last Drop", "Help Yourself", and "Now That You Got It". CD features a whopping amount of bonus tracks too – previously unissued versions of "It Hurts So Good", "Help Yourself", "Here Comes Love", "That's My Style", "Hypocrisy", and "Breakaway" – all sounding much more different than the master takes! CD

A classic deep soul set from Eloise Laws – an early album recorded for Invictus Records, and done with stellar production from Brian Holland! The title cut's a monster, one of the best tracks on the label from the 70s – with some wonderfully spacey keyboards, funky drums and bass grooving! But there's loads of other strong cuts too – all with that great Invictus blend of masterfully produced, tight dancefloor soul – yet also served up with more than enough grit in the grooves to make the album a great one for funk fans too! Tracks include "Ain't It Good Feeling Good", "Where Did We Go Wrong", "I Believe In You Baby", "Love Goes Deeper Than That", "Put A Little Love Into It", "Camouflage", and "Make It Last Forever". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Love Factory", "You Made Me An Offer I Can't Refuse", "Tighten Him Up", "Touch Me", "Stay With Me", "Love Goes Deeper Than That (12" version)", and "Put A Little Love Into It (12" version)". CD

A fantastic record – one of the best jazz vocal records of the 80s, and a real bright spot in an often dim decade for jazz! The set is Carmen Lundy's debut – and it's a masterful self-produced effort that immediately put her in the ranks of the ultra-hip, ultra-soulful jazz crowd – singers like Betty Carter and Dee Dee Bridgewater, both of whom took a lot longer to sound this good than Carmen! The record is set in a perfect setting – Carmen working closely with musicians headed up by brother Curtis on bass, and including soulful players like Bobby Watson, Rene McLean, Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, and Harry Whitaker. The whole thing's great – the kind of righteous vocal set that few singer ever seem to make this well – and titles include some great originals like "Good Morning Kiss", "Time is Love", and "Perfect Stranger" – plus excellent versions of "Dindi", "Love For Sale", and "The Lamp Is Low". CD also features 3 bonus alternate takes! (Vocalists, Soul) CD

Rare early album by Barbara Lynn, recorded under the production aegis of Huey P. Meaux, before Barbara moved on over to Atlantic records. The album's title cut, "You'll Lose A Good Thing", is a mellow soul classic that still can't be matched – and the record's got a lot of other nice originals, written by Barbara, and credited to her real name, Barbara L. Ozen. Titles include "Second Fiddle Girl", "Dina & Petrina", "You Don't Sleep At Night", "Second Fiddle Girl", and "What I Need Is Love". She sure was a sad one! LP, Vinyl record album

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Heavenly heavenly soul from one of the best voices in the Motown stable – the mighty David Ruffin, heard here at the height of his early solo powers! David's raspy vocals sound great next to the album's sparkling arrangements – really top-shelf late 60s Motown magic from Wade Marcus, David Van Depitte, Paul Riser, and Willie Shorter – all to grace a batch of tracks that are way more personal and original than some of the other label material at the time! Ruffin's sense of power and pride comes through right away – on a great batch of tracks that include "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)", "I Pray Everyday That You Won't Regret Loving Me", "What You Gave Me", "One More Hurt", "I Let Love Slip Away", "The Forgotten Man", and "I'm So Glad I Fell For You". LP, Vinyl record album

A huge 80s jam, one you may have heard on the radio a few too many times, but still a classic Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis number. The long version stretches the beat out nicely, and as a bonus, there's an unlisted acapella too! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A great little album of modern soul, cut by Johnnie Taylor years after his early raw Stax recordings, and about half a decade after his hit with "Disco Lady". The record's a surprising treat, and has Johnnie singing with smooth slick arrangements, in a warm mellow style, given a nice edge by the bluesy roots in his vocals. Gene Page handled the arrangements, and there's some great mellow steppers – like "What About My Love", "I'm So Proud", and "Don't Wait". Also features a few slap-bass tracks like "I Need A Freak" and "Just Ain't Good Enough" – but stick with the mellow stuff. CD

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A rare gem from T Bone Walker – one of the few hip sides he cut in Europe at the end of the 60s – and very different than his more traditional work! The set was put together by Robin Hemmingway – who also handled the hip Hal Singer record from the same time – and the players here include Bernard Estardy on organ, Michel Sardaby on piano, and Manu Dibango on saxophone – all of whom make for a groove that's far more than traditional blues. Sure, the record's plenty bluesy – but it's also got a funky groove on many numbers – really cooking along in a way that's even cooler than most funky American blues. And given that Walker's guitar style was a key influence on most funky guitar players in jazz, his own work here is a really great fit for the setting! Titles include "Vacation", "Long Lost Lover", "Woman You Must Be Crazy", "I Wonder Why", "Poontang", "Reconsider", "Sail On Little Girl", and "When I Grow Up". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible batch of electric funk from Grover Washington Jr – easily one of his best albums ever! The record really picks up from the sweet CTI sound of the 70s – taking Bob James arrangements with a lot of space and electric keyboards, and letting Groover blow some wonderfully soulful lines over the top on soprano sax! The album's got some really wonderful funk tracks that feature a mad mix of drums, bass, and lots of that Bob James "space" – including the massive cuts "Hydra" and "Knucklehead" – both of them magic! Other tracks include "Moonstreams", "It Feels So Good", and "The Sea Lion". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most unique compilations we've ever heard – a set that gets at the really unique way that soul music came across on the British scene of the 60s – as American influences were mixed with local interpretations, which themselves drew plenty of influences from related scenes in the West Indies and South Africa at the time! The scope of expression here is hugely different than any American soul collections from the time – and while there's definitely a few Americans in the mix from time to time, they're mostly represented by recordings done in England, amidst a huge amount of artists who never get reissued on our side of the Atlantic! Usually, a set like this would be put together to show that Northern Soul created some upbeat music on the British scene – but with this gem of a collection, the scope is much wider, and really open to the influences that were running through black communities in England during these key post-colonial years. The package has a massive amount of music – 115 tracks in all, with a very cool book-styled package that's got superb notes and plenty of images – to support work by Lorraine Child, Peter Straker, Maxine Nightingale, Cy Grant, Cab Kaye, Dimples & Eddie, Ronnie Jones, Ernest Ranglin, Norma Lee, Jimmy Tomas, Jackie Edwards, Madeline Bell, Oliver Norman, The Fantastics, Root & Jenny Jackson, Ram John Holder, Simon K & The Meantimers, Caleb, The Foundations, The Soul Brothers, Blue Beaters, Seven Letters, Joe's All Stars, Sonny & The Daffodils, Tony Washington & The DCs, Davy Jones, Geoff Love, Ray Ellington, Emile Ford & The Big Six, Millie, Rico, Black Velvet, and many others! CD

An insanely fantastic look at the strong legacy of gospel music from Savoy Records – a company who were initially a powerhouse in the fields of jazz and R&B, but who moved into the gospel world and dominated that market for decades! Savoy is a bit like Chess Records – a company who really learned how to record blues singers and soulful styles from the secular world, then used that same ability to work some real magic on songs from the more spiritual side of the spectrum – an approach that really made for top-shelf music, even as the decades moved on! Savoy's gospel legacy has always been a bit underground – not nearly as reissued for larger audiences as their jazz and blues material – but this collection does a great job of correcting that lack, by presenting their music in a wonderful format – all in a mix of rare cuts and classics from the gospel underground. This second volume features work from Savoy's prime 70s gospel years – 20 tracks by artists who include The Metro Tones, Betty Hollins, Gene Martin, Swan Silvertones, Artistic Sounds, James Moore, Holy Lights Of Baltimore, Brooklyn Skyways, World Wonders, Myrna Summers, Brockingham Ensemble, Prof Charles Taylor, Exciting Supreme Highlights, and Highway QCs. (Gospel, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A great set that may well be Big Maybelle's best record ever – really rare work that's quite different than her famous work of the 50s! The set was recorded in the Criteria studios in Miami – and it's got a cool southern soul sound that's part Bobby Blue Bland bluesy soul, and part Muscle Shoals funk – fused together wonderfully by arranger Eric Knight – who really has a great ear for giving Maybelle a wicked new groove! Maybelle's vocals are a bit deeper than usual – much more soul than the blues of a decade before – and tracks include "This Bitter Earth", "How It Lies", "Old Love Never Dies", "My Mother's Eyes", and "Love Careless Love". CD

Pastor Wiley Champion is a gospel singer with a hell of a voice – the sort that could have instantly made him a huge soul singer, if he ever chose to leave his faith – but which is maybe even more powerful here directed towards a spiritual sort of setting! The album's a very lean effort, especially for a contemporary album – recorded to two track analog tape in a church in Oakland, but with crisp fidelity that lets the vocals really come to life once the songs begin – as Champion sings with light backings from his own guitar, plus a bit of keyboard, bass, drums, and tenor. The whole thing is wonderfully without any sense of cliche – and has none of the slavish attempt to sound "authentic" that you might fear from a contemporary record like this – just the pure, unadulterated power of a singer who's worked in obscurity for decades, finally getting his due. Titles include "To Be Used By You", "Storm Of Life", "I Know That You've Been Wounded", "He'll Make A Way", "I Just Want To Be A Good Man", and "Who Do Men Say I Am". (Gospel, Soul) CD

Funky guitar and a bucket of fried chicken – two things that go perfectly together here on a record that's one of the last of Dennis Coffey's great run in the early 70s! The album marks some of the shift in Coffey's role on the Detroit soul scene as the decade moved on – as it features close collaboration with longtime musical partner Mike Theodore, who was helping the scene move past 60s soul into the world of 70s club – a style that's showcased very heavily here with all sorts of fantastic rhythms, and even backing female vocals that provide a soulful addition to Coffey's work on guitar! There's almost a Sigma sound vibe to the record at times, but the grooves are even funkier with a drum snap at the bottom – on titles that include "Finger Lickin Good", "I've Got A Real Good Feeling", "El Tigre", "Live Wire", "Some Like It Hot", "Wild Child", "If You Can't Dance To This", and a nice remake of David Bowie's "Fame". CD

A deep deep deep collection of work from Arthur Conley – one that really shows the true spectrum of his mighty soul talents – and which goes way past his few overplayed hits of the 60s! The focus here is on slow-burners and mellow groovers – tunes that really bring out the depth of Conley's southern soul vocals – a richness that's right up there with his one-time mentor Otis Redding, recorded brilliantly at the legendary Fame studios! The label-spanning collection brings together material for the Atlantic, Fame, Jotis, Ru-Jac, and Capricorn labels – and has the usual top-shelf Ace Records presentation of detailed notes with vintage photos and label scans as well. Titles include "Let's Go Steady", "God Bless", "Nobody's Fault But Mine", "There's A Place For Us", "Take Me", "Where You Lead Me", "Stop Knocking", "I Want Your Love", "Otis Sleep On", "Put Our Love Together", "Let Nothing Separate", and "Walking On Eggs". CD

Good news galore from the great Sam Cooke – maybe THE album in which he fully shows off his unique contribution to soul music in the 60s – that mix of raw and sweet, easygoing and progressive – a mode that had a huge impact at the time, and went onto become a strong influence for years to come! Key proof of this approach is the landmark track "A Change is Gonna Come" – a slyly righteous track that became a huge Civil Rights anthem and has continued to have social power for many years. And even the more mundane titles have a fresh approach too – like the hit "Another Saturday Night", and a host of other gems that include "Home", "No Second Time", "The Riddle Song", "Good Times", "Meet Me At Mary's Place", and "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album by The Drifters – different than most of their other work for Atlantic, but still quite nice! The bulk of the album features the group running through jazzy versions of pop tunes – like "Quando Quando Quando", "More", "The Good Life", and "Desafinado" – all of which they do quite well, with a classy sound that fits well with the arrangements by Ray Ellis. The album also features one more regular tune by the group – the single "Saturday Night At The Movies", a killer uptown soul number arranged by Teacho Wiltshire. LP, Vinyl record album

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An excellent mid 80s soul set from Garry Glenn – recorded for Motown, and sadly lost in the shuffle at the time. The record's a surprising gem – sophisticated, mature, and with a laidback quality that really gets past some of the cliches of 80s soul at the time. Garry's got a talent for songwriting and production that almost rival Leon Ware at the time – and even though the instrumentation has a bit of the tinniness of the times, the whole thing comes off with a wonderfully soulful quality – hitting all the right midtempo and mellow soul notes! Tracks are all originals, and titles include "Do You Have To Go", "Torch For You", "Running Away", "Feels Good To Feel Good", "Lonely Night", "Love Makes It Right", and "You Don't Even Know". CD

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A great bit of Chicago soul from the 70s – by a short-lived group who were sort of an offshoot of Brighter Side Of Darkness, who had scored earlier in the decade with the falsetto hit "Love Jones". This one was produced by Clarence Johnson/Star Vue Productions, and licensed to 20th Century, like the earlier work – and the record features a remake called "Love Jones 75". There's loads of other great stuff on the record, though – and the groove runs through the funk of "Tipsy Mood" and "Kung Fu You", to the mellower soul sounds of "I Found My Dancing Girl", and wonderfully sweet little number! LP, Vinyl record album

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An excellent early album from Millie Jackson – recorded in a southern soul style in New York and Muscle Shoals, but a lot hipper than most of the rest of the female soul that was coming out of the south at the time! Millie was a bit different than the rest – as although she's got a tear running down her cheek on the cover, she can also be a real badass when she wants too – rapping hard and frankly about the ups and downs of love and live – often sticking to harder material, except for a few tear jerking ballads, and adds in a lot of humor and touches of the fierce sarcasm that would soon become her calling card in the soul business. Key producer Brad Shapiro is working with Millie here – Gary Byrd penned the leadoff cut "I Cry", and the other tracks include "Two Faced World", "Hypocrisy", "Good To The Very Last Drop", "Help Yourself", and "Now That You Got It". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare early work from Etta James – material cut during the late 50s for the west coast Modern Records label, most of it a lot harder-hitting than Etta's more famous music for Chess in the 60s! Given the raw power of Etta James at Chess, that's saying a heck of a lot – and you'll definitely hear an unbridled James at work here – a younger singer working in territory that echoes Lavern Baker or Ruth Brown on Atlantic, but with a grittier nod to the R&B underground on labels like King or Savoy. The package features a few great answer songs – Etta's contribution to the "Henry" song cycle – and some other great stompers too – a selection that includes "Tough Lover", "Good Rockin Daddy", "Woman", "The Wallflower", "Dance With Me Henry", "Hickory Dickory Dock", "Strange Things Happening", and "Hey Henry". LP, Vinyl record album

Often overlooked amidst the bigger early albums by Kool & The Gang – but a totally solid record of funky stuff that's right up there with their best work! The band is super-tight at this point, grooving along in a hard drum, heavy bass, wah wah guitar frenzy – and even the vocals are great by this point, with that good mix of funky soul and humor that made the band so much more entertaining than some of their contemporaries. Tracks include the spacey "Wild Is Love", the super-dope "Rated X" and "North East South West", the mellow jazz number "I Remember John W Coltrane", and the cuts "Good Times", "Country Times", and "Making Merry Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the deepest soul to ever come from a Detroit label – a great run of singles cut by Denise LaSalle for the Westbound label – all of them pretty darn wonderful! Denise has roots that start in Mississippi, and she spent plenty of time in Chicago – so by the time she hit Westbound, she had a great interstate approach that really pulled some great styles together! In a way, these sides were crucial in helping push southern soul forward in the 70s – not just in the production, which was tight, but never too smooth – and which helped give her bluesy inflections a hip, modern sort of mode – one that was often well-suited to the subtle gender politics of the tracks too. Ace did a great job with this smoking set – and not only includes all the key singles, both a-sides and b-sides – but even throws in some great notes, and a few rare radio spots too! Titles include "Do Me Right", "Man Sized Job", "Trapped By A Thing Called Love", "Keep It Coming", "Here I Am Again", "My Brand On You", "What Am I Doing Wrong", "Don't Nobody Live Here", and "Your Man & Your Best Friend". CD

(Funky 45's, Soul) 7-inch, Vinyl record

A huge moment in British soul – the debut album from Mica Paris, and a set that broke almost as big on our side of the Atlantic as it did in the UK! Mica's got a wonderful vocal style here – a bit cooler and classier than some of her contemporaries – maybe even in the territory of Sade at times, at least in the way she can deliver a lyric with understated grace and plenty of warmth! The approach is fantastic – completely charming from the get-go, and a really nice change a time when some of the more mainstream soul was sounding a bit tinnier and overproduced. There's a richness to the record that still holds up strongly over the years – thanks in part to the work of songwriters Mick Leeson and Peter Vale – on titles that include "Like Dreamers Do", "Great Impersonation", "Where Is The Love", "So Good", "Don't Give Me Up", "Nothing Hits Your Heart Like Soul Music", and "My One Temptation". This deluxe edition from Cherry Pop includes a second disc of bonus tracks – including "Into The City", "Rock Together", "Same Feeling", "Where Is The Love?", "Wickedn", "My One Temptation (Club Mix)" and more. 23 tracks on 2CDs! CD

Classic New Orleans soul from this legendary duo – with tracks that include "Lee's Dream", "Rock All Night", "Takes Money", "Confessin", "Sweethearts", "I Want To Dance", "Feel So Good", and "Let The Good Times Roll". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the greatest full length set ever recorded by vocalist Little Johnny Taylor – a solid set all the way through, mostly recorded at Muscle Shoals with a groove that's a bit tighter than other sessions at the time from Ronn Records! Johnny's got a groove here that's bluesy, but also filled with a good deal of soul – on one hand speaking with a down home frankness about relationships and life, but also doing so with a bit of poise, and an approach that's never too narcissistically self-indulgent. Miles Grayson arranged and produced the album, and tracks include a two-part version of "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing", plus "It's My Fault Darling", "Sweet Soul Woman", "How Are You Fixed For Love", and "Baby Get Hip To Yourself". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most unique compilations we've ever heard – a set that gets at the really unique way that soul music came across on the British scene of the 60s – as American influences were mixed with local interpretations, which themselves drew plenty of influences from related scenes in the West Indies and South Africa at the time! The scope of expression here is hugely different than any American soul collections from the time – and while there's definitely a few Americans in the mix from time to time, they're mostly represented by recordings done in England, amidst a huge amount of artists who never get reissued on our side of the Atlantic! Usually, a set like this would be put together to show that Northern Soul created some upbeat music on the British scene – but with this gem of a collection, the scope is much wider, and really open to the influences that were running through black communities in England during these key post-colonial years. The package has a massive amount of music – 115 tracks in all, with a very cool book-styled package that's got superb notes and plenty of images – to support work by Lorraine Child, Peter Straker, Maxine Nightingale, Cy Grant, Cab Kaye, Dimples & Eddie, Ronnie Jones, Ernest Ranglin, Norma Lee, Jimmy Tomas, Jackie Edwards, Madeline Bell, Oliver Norman, The Fantastics, Root & Jenny Jackson, Ram John Holder, Simon K & The Meantimers, Caleb, The Foundations, The Soul Brothers, Blue Beaters, Seven Letters, Joe's All Stars, Sonny & The Daffodils, Tony Washington & The DCs, Davy Jones, Geoff Love, Ray Ellington, Emile Ford & The Big Six, Millie, Rico, Black Velvet, and many others! CD