One of the crowning moments of genius from the great George Clinton – a record that has Funkadelic really finding their groove, in the same way that Parliament were helping push underground funk into both the clubs and the mainstream – while also showing that the P-Funk empire can jam better than just about anyone else! The whole thing is hitting on all burners throughout – with an impeccable sense of instrumentation, balanced with an easygoing attitude that makes the whole thing seem effortless – especially compared to other funk ensembles who were picking up the speed a bit too much in the disco generation. The centerpiece of the album is the classic "One Nation Under A Groove" – a monster cut with a hook that won't quit, spun out here in a great extended version – followed by other classics that include "Into You", "Grooveallegiance", and "Cholly". Plus, this CD reissue also includes the bonus cuts from the original 45rpm ep that came with the album – including "Maggot Brain (live)" and "Doodoo Chasers". CD

One of the crowning moments of genius from the great George Clinton – a record that has Funkadelic really finding their groove, in the same way that Parliament were helping push underground funk into both the clubs and the mainstream – while also showing that the P-Funk empire can jam better than just about anyone else! The whole thing is hitting on all burners throughout – with an impeccable sense of instrumentation, balanced with an easygoing attitude that makes the whole thing seem effortless – especially compared to other funk ensembles who were picking up the speed a bit too much in the disco generation. The centerpiece of the album is the classic "One Nation Under A Groove" – a monster cut with a hook that won't quit, spun out here in a great extended version – followed by other classics that include "Into You", "Grooveallegiance", and "Cholly". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the crowning moments of genius from the great George Clinton – a record that has Funkadelic really finding their groove, in the same way that Parliament were helping push underground funk into both the clubs and the mainstream – while also showing that the P-Funk empire can jam better than just about anyone else! The whole thing is hitting on all burners throughout – with an impeccable sense of instrumentation, balanced with an easygoing attitude that makes the whole thing seem effortless – especially compared to other funk ensembles who were picking up the speed a bit too much in the disco generation. The centerpiece of the album is the classic "One Nation Under A Groove" – a monster cut with a hook that won't quit, spun out here in a great extended version – followed by other classics that include "Into You", "Grooveallegiance", and "Cholly". Also comes with a bonus 12" single that features the tracks "One Nation Under A Groove (disco mix)", "Maggot Brain/Chant", "Lunchmeataphobia", and "PE Squad/Doo Doo Chasers". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the crowning moments of genius from the great George Clinton – a record that has Funkadelic really finding their groove, in the same way that Parliament were helping push underground funk into both the clubs and the mainstream – while also showing that the P-Funk empire can jam better than just about anyone else! The whole thing is hitting on all burners throughout – with an impeccable sense of instrumentation, balanced with an easygoing attitude that makes the whole thing seem effortless – especially compared to other funk ensembles who were picking up the speed a bit too much in the disco generation. The centerpiece of the album is the classic "One Nation Under A Groove" – a monster cut with a hook that won't quit, spun out here in a great extended version – followed by other classics that include "Into You", "Grooveallegiance", and "Cholly". Features bonus tracks – "Maggot Brain/Chant", "Lunchmeataphobia", and "PE Squad/Doo Doo Chasers". CD

An instant classic the day it was released – and a perfect blending of the group's older freaked-out style with a slick late 70s funk sound that started showing up in the work of many other groups. "One Nation Under A Groove" is a monster cut with a hook that won't quit, and the LP version runs way over 7 minutes long. Other tracks are equally great, and the whole thing's woven together with the same sort of skill as some of the best Parliament albums from the mid 70s. Tracks include "Into You", "Grooveallegiance", and "Cholly". LP, Vinyl record album

An 80s groove classic! "Outstanding" has some wonderful funky grooves and a killer 80s sound that's complete with very fat bass pedal grooves, and some tight keyboard work! The hook's a monster, and this rare single offers up 2 versions not on the LP! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Warmly gliding soul from Gloria Gaynor – a great little set that has none of the cliches that sometimes mar our memory of Gloria's work, awash in tight arrangements that mix equal part disco and mainstream soul! Much of the record is upbeat, but never over the top – and even the longer tracks have a hook-heavy simplicity that's really great – a bit like the move into club that some of the Motown artists were also making at the time. Meco handled some of the production and arrangements, and titles include Casanova Brown", "(If You Want It) Do It Yourself", "How High The Moon", "The Prettiest Face I've Ever Seen", "What'll I Do", "Tell Me How", "I'm Still Yours", and "Walk On By". LP, Vinyl record album

Arron Hall first served up some fantastic vocals in the group Guy, and here he steps out as a solo act on his own – turning out a wonderful debut that's full of all sorts of well-produced cuts that work together wonderfully as a whole! The set's one of those R&B records that was produced for the space of the CD generation – which means that tunes are linked together in these really great ways, although still ready to burst out as singles on their own – sparkling with Hall's great way with a hook, and kicked along with beats from the new jack generation that Aaron helped launch while working in Guy. Titles include "Don't Be Afraid (jazz you up version)", "Let's Make Love", "Do Anything", "Open Up", "Pick Up The Phone", "Get A Little Freaky With Me", "When You Need Me", and "I Miss You". CD features bonus tracks – "Get A Little Freaky With Me (ext club)", "Don't Be Afraid (nasty man's groove)", and "Don't Be Afraid (voc)". CD

Wonderful later work from Isaac Hayes – a gem from his Polydor years that has a good mix of mellow cuts and more upbeat numbers! The record has 3 long "quiet storm" tracks that take off on Ike's earlier expanded ballad style (forged on tracks like "Walk On By") – turned into late 70s late night jams with lots of stretched out production, breathy vocals, and seductive instrumentation. The best of these is "What Does It Take", which has a nice hook, and the other two are "Someone Who Will Take The Place Of You" and "A Few More Kisses To Go". Other tracks are a bit more upbeat – but Ike does a wonderful job with groovers at this point of his career – really finding a new outlet for his amazing vocals! Remaining titles include the club classic "Don't Let Go" and "Fever". LP, Vinyl record album

Really great early work from guitarist Earl Hooker – and a set that also feature some soulful sides by Jody Williams too! The bulk of the album features Hooker laying down that amazing guitar sound that always made him so distinct, and such a key precursor to funk as well – working in combos with organ and piano from Big Moose, tenor from AC Reed, and more piano from Pinetop Perkins – on titles that include "How Long Can This Go On", "Bright Sounds", "Off The Hook", "Nothing But Poison", "Nothing But Good", and "Leading Brand" – plus cuts with vocals from Ricky Allen and Lillian Offitt. Jody Williams plays guitar, but he also sings too – and brings a nicely soulful vibe to tunes that include "You May", "Hideout", "Morning For Molasses", "Looking For My Baby", and "Lucky You". (Blues, Soul) CD

Probably the biggest hit ever by Imagination – a smooth modern stepper with a definite 80s groove! The hook made it a big one for them – and when you hear it, you'll hear why! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Detroit underground hits the mainstream – in a seminal album of crossover dance tracks! Kevin Saunderson and vocalist Paris Grey, along with help from Juan Atkins, craft a set of tunes that managed to hook the rest of the world on the electro sound that had been bubbling under in the Motor City for most of the 80s. And sure, there's more hooks and less darkness than on some of Saunderson's earlier work – but is that such a bad thing? Not to our ears, as lots of these tunes have still held up quite well over the years. Titles include "Paradise", "Ain't Nobody Better", "Big Fun", "Do You Love What You Feel", "Good Life", and "Secrets Of The Mind". CD

The first breakaway effort from the trio of Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, and Marvin Isley – a set that's got an even leaner groove than some of the Isley Brothers material from years before! The group really hit their stride right away – stepping out in a sweet array of funky rhythms that have some definite 80s touches on the beats, yet which still share all the best Isleys elements overall! Guitar parts are especially sharp – that carved in soul sound that showed up in most Isleys projects from the early 70s onwards – and the vocals have a great sense of warmth and soul, especially on the mellower tunes in the set, which turn down some of the more hook-heavy rhythms heard on other tracks. Titles include "Serve You Right", "Sex Drive", "Love Is Gonna Last Forever", "Kiss & Tell", "I Can't Get Over Losin You", "Look The Other Way", "Break This Chain", and "Broadway's Closer Than Sunset Blvd". LP, Vinyl record album

A great remake of the Wet Willie hit – one that's got a soaring, strutting clubby feel that's totally wonderful! The tune's a superb anthem from the old days – and although the hook's a bit commercial, it still sounds plenty great to us after all these years! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A bouncy little set from France Joli – moving quite far here from her initial disco groove, and getting some nice 80s groove elements from producer George Duke! Joli's definitely going for a crossover approach here – especially given the hook-heavy sound of some of the best tunes – numbers that have enough of a bounce to work on the dancefloor, but memorable moments that might work on radio as well. France also brings in some ballads, too – but given her resume, she's definitely best suited for groovers. Titles include "Does He Dance", "Give Me Your Love", "Party Lights", "Love Always Finds A Way", "In The Darkness", and "Attitude". CD features 2 bonus tracks – Shep Pettibone remixes of "Does He Dance" – one a dance mix, another a dub! CD

The standout classic from Junior Giscombe – one of the more unique soul artists of his generation! The set's probably best known for its huge hit single "Mama Used To Say" – a killer cut with an incredibly catchy hook, and a groove that's lasted for years on 80s groove dancefloors – but the whole album's pretty darn wonderful overall, with slight twists and turns that are quite different than other mainstream soul sets of its type. Junior did the record in collaboration with producer Bob Carter, who also plays a fair bit of keyboards on the set – bringing in an airy, open feel that matches Junior's vocals wonderfully – in a sound that's somewhat sweeter than other male soul of the early 80s, but never in a way that's too soft or sleepy. Titles include "Mama Used To Say", "Too Late", "I Can't Help It", "Let Me Know", "Down Down", "Love Dies", "I Can't Help It", and "Darling You (Don't You Know)". LP, Vinyl record album

Bass pedals, midtempo rhythms, and a sublime early 80s groove – a cut that crossed over big but still sounds great today – and a wonderful mix of styles that's easily one of the standouts from the time! The keys are electric, but never too cold – and Junior's vocals on the hook really keep the tune burning brightly! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Mega-hit material from KC & The Sunshine band – an album issued firmly into the disco years, but which still had the group hitting hard in their trademark Miami sound! The tracks here are a bit longer and more hook-heavy than before – and represent the kind of material that linked harder Kool & The Gang-styled funk with some of the crossover sounds that Miami was famous for at the time – a sound that was still largely pre-disco in its roots, but which also helped set the crossover scene for so many other groups of the 70s. The set is filled with loads of huge hits – like "Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man", and "Baby I Love You" – and other tracks include "I Like To Do It", "Come On In", and "Let's Go Party". LP, Vinyl record album

Evelyn King's still gliding high here – working with that upbeat, catchy style that really helped her hit big during the early 80s – a perfect fit for the hook-heavy sound of her vocals! The mode's a bit like Denise Williams at the time, although maybe a bit less commercial – and King brings in a host of different producers to help give different shape to different tracks in the set – almost in a way that tries to reach out towards a number of (then) contemporary soul modes – some mellow, some upbeat and grooving. Titles include "I'm So Romantic", "Till Midnight", "Out Of Control", "Just For The Night", "Heartbreaker", and "Talking In My Sleep". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the real standouts in Evelyn King's career – a sharply focused album that's filled with catchy 80s styled tunes – and which benefits from some great help from a young Kashif! Lots of the tracks have that great flair for a catchy hook that mark's Evelyn's best work – an approach that's never too slick or too forced, and which has a comfortable way of sliding into a tune. Titles include "I'm In Love", "What Are You Waiting For", "If You Want My Lovin", "I Can't Take It", "The Best Is Yet To Come", and "The Other Side Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal album for Gladys Knight and group – as the record features their super-huge hit "The Midnight Train To Georgia", a landmark track that not only had a catchy pop hook, but which spoke volumes about African-American migration in the postwar years. The track's one of those you've heard a million times, but it's got a strength that still holds up tremendously. Part of this is due to great production work by Tony Camillo – who handled arrangements and studio work on about half the tracks – and part is due to Jim Weatherly, who wrote the song, and about half the others on the album. The whole album's great – one of the best Buddah Records moments for the group – and titles include "I've Got To Use My Imagination", "Window Raising Granny", "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", "Once In A Lifetime Thing", "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me", and "Storms Of Trouble Times". LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal album for Gladys Knight and group – as the record features their super-huge hit "The Midnight Train To Georgia", a landmark track that not only had a catchy pop hook, but which spoke volumes about African-American migration in the postwar years. The track's one of those you've heard a million times, but it's got a strength that still holds up tremendously. Part of this is due to great production work by Tony Camillo – who handled arrangements and studio work on about half the tracks – and part is due to Jim Weatherly, who wrote the song, and about half the others on the album. The whole album's great – one of the best Buddah Records moments for the group – and titles include "I've Got To Use My Imagination", "Window Raising Granny", "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", "Once In A Lifetime Thing", "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me", and "Storms Of Trouble Times". Includes three bonus tracks ; "We Don't Look For Trouble", "Alone Again" & "Rainbow Ride". CD

A massive package of work from the mighty Kool & The Gang – 6 full albums from the 80s, served up here in a 3CD set! First up is Ladies Night – a shameless dancefloor cash-in move – but a record that's still pretty darn great as well! You all know the big title cut "Ladies Night", so we won't bother to describe it – but we can say that the group wisely hooked up with Deodato, who produced, mixed, and even played keyboards on the album. Deodato keeps a nice jazzy punch in the tracks, while still moving towards the slickly produced funk sound that was the group's main approach at the time of the record. JT Taylor's on vocals, and the album's even got a few mellow cuts – like the crossover easy number "Too Hot" – amidst the midtempo 80s grooves that really step out and make the whole thing move. Other tracks include "Ladies Night", "Hangin Out", "Tonight's The Night", "If You Feel Like Dancin", and "Got You Into My Life". The next album is Something Special indeed – as the album was one of the biggest hits for Kool & The Gang, and showed that the group still had plenty of energy left to groove into the 80s! The record features production work by Brazilian music maestro Eumir Deodato – who by this point had become a sweet and smooth talent with a real flair for putting over a modern soul groove! Deodato's approach is really great – smooth, yet soulful, without any tricks or gimmicks – and a real appreciation for lead vocals and a catchy little hook! The album features the group's party classic "Get Down On It", plus "Steppin Out", "No Show", "Pass It On", "Be My Lady", "Take My Heart", and "Good Time Tonight". As One is solid 80s grooving from Kool & The Gang – a group who inspired so many others in the early 80s soul generation, but who could still do it better than most of the rest! The style here is tight and smooth, but never too slick – and Deodato's giving the group some really great production for the album – helping them to focus their energy and soar soulfully, but without resorting to any stiff gimmicks or cliches! There's a great groove running through most of the numbers here – a confident quality that's never too commercial, and which bubbles along nicely throughout. Titles include "Street Kids", "Big Fun", "As One", "Hi De Hi Hi De Ho", "Let's Go Dancin", and "Pretty Baby". In The Heart is a sweet set that's part of a big early 80s run from Kool & The Gang – a time that saw the funk legends really hitting the mainstream, and winning over a huge new audience in the process! Given that the Gang virtually invented ensemble funk at the start of the 70s, they're perfectly poised here to move into modes that so many of their younger competition were trying – but never did so well – that blend of 80s elements and more sharply-fused funk instrumentation, all honed down into a tightly snapping groove. The real surprise, though, is the group's growing ability for ballads – which put records like this into hands of folks who never would have dug their funk a few years before. And while we might have had a few problems with that shift at the time, the passage of years has got the whole thing sounding pretty darn great to our ears – especially in comparison to so much weaker work from the time. Titles include "In The Heart", "Joanna", "Tonight", "Straight Ahead", "September Love", "You Can Do It", and "Home Is Where The Heart Is". Last up is Emergency – one of the key classics from the second chapter of the group – when their lineup and sound were a lot leaner than before, and they managed to cross over big to a much wider audience than before! The upbeat cuts show that the group were still kings of the funky dancefloor – and the mellower ones are equally great too – showing a rising ballad style that proved to be the group's big crossover card at the time – a way of putting over a laidback track, but with plenty of soul. This approach is heard to great effect on the album's great single "Cherish" – and other tracks include "Bad Woman", "Surrender", "Emergency", "Misled", "Fresh", and "You Are The One". CD

A great little groover on Brunswick – with that kind of choppy club funk feel that you'll also find on some of the label's other obscure 12" singles, like the classic "You Are The One", by AMFM. The track's got a very nice groove – and the hook's enough to keep the track grooving nicely throughout! 12-inch, Vinyl record

The only full length album ever cut by this amazing Chicago girl group! The Lovelites first broke onto the charts with their stunning track "How Can I Tell My Mom & Dad" – a sad slow tune about teen pregnancy, sung in a strange otherworldly style that's also quite soulful – with a catchy hook and a way of referring to the problem at hand that's vague, and makes for a strange approach to the material. That track, and the others on the set, are very different than the usual girl trio material – rougher, more honest, with a quality that's emotive, yet not overly drippy. Part of the thanks for this goes to arranger Johnny Cameron, who handled the tracks on the set – but a lot of the credit should also go to lead singer Patty Hamilton, who co-wrote some of the tracks, and who has a fantastic way of putting over the songs. Titles include "This Love is Real", "Certain Kind Of Lover", "Who You Gonna Hurt Now", "Shy Boy", "I've Got Love", "Gotta Let You Go", "Oh My Love", and "How Can I Tell My Mom & Dad". LP, Vinyl record album

The only full length album ever cut by this amazing Chicago girl group! The Lovelites first broke onto the charts with their stunning track "How Can I Tell My Mom & Dad" – a sad slow tune about teen pregnancy, sung in a strange otherworldly style that's also quite soulful – with a catchy hook and a way of referring to the problem at hand that's vague, and makes for a strange approach to the material. That track, and the others on the set, are very different than the usual girl trio material – rougher, more honest, with a quality that's emotive, yet not overly drippy. Part of the thanks for this goes to arranger Johnny Cameron, who handled the tracks on the set – but a lot of the credit should also go to lead singer Patty Hamilton, who co-wrote some of the tracks, and who has a fantastic way of putting over the songs. Titles include "This Love is Real", "Certain Kind Of Lover", "Who You Gonna Hurt Now", "Shy Boy", "I've Got Love", "Gotta Let You Go", "Oh My Love", and "How Can I Tell My Mom & Dad". CD

A great little set of groovers from LTD – both of them nice boogie numbers! We're partial to "Back In Love Again" – one of the group's best cuts in our book, a tight little groover with a great little hook! 12-inch, Vinyl record

His first album, and his best! After working as the silent talent on albums by David Bowie, Gregg Diamond, and others – Luther Vandross finally got the chance to cut an album on his own, and it's incredible! The record has a perfect sound – one that verges on disco, but never falls into any of its cliches; touches on mellow soul, but never gets too mellow; and which always goes for the best hook in a song, instead of resorting to trickery. The whole thing's pretty darn great – and the record includes "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me", a remake of the track "Fascination" that he cut with Bowie, plus the tunes "The 2nd Time Around", "Emotion Eyes", "This Strange Feeling", and "It's Good For The Soul (parts 1 & 2)". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic modern soul from the legendary Frankie Beverly! The record's perhaps one of their best remembered – most likely for the killer cut "Joy & Pain", which has a great hook that's been sampled many times over the years. The record also features the wonderful "Southern Girl", an excellent smooth cut that's a great example of the kind of solid soul that Frankie was bringing to the charts in the early 80s. Other tracks include "Roots", "Changing Times", and "The Look In Your Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

Endearing pop soul from Marilyn & Billy! This warm, friendly self-titled third album –since we're all friends by now, it's first names only, thank you very much – is sweet as can be, though relatively underappreciated all these years later! This one's co-produced by Billy and Steve Cropper, with an ear for the late 70s dancefloor soul revolution that was happening all around them – but they wisely stay true to their hook-heavy tunefulness and sunny co-lead vocal style. It's also notable for featuring the original version of "Saving All My Love For You" – which would become a megahit for Whitney Houston – but not for another 7 years! Titles include "Shine On Silver Moon", "So Many Things For Free", "You Got The Love", "I Got The Words, You Got The Music", "Stay With Me", "I Got Love For You", "Saving All My Love For You", "Carry Me" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

80s electro soul from Marcus Miller – nicely grooving in a mix of beats, keyboards, and vocals – all handled by Marcus himself! As with his other work from the decade, there's a jazzy flair to much of the record – a style that goes a bit deeper than just the simple soul that you might guess from the album's cover – but which also has an unabashed feel for a tight groove and a nice little hook! Marcus gets a bit of help on the set from guests that include David Sanborn and Fonzi Thornton – but most of the album's a one-man affair, made possible by the advances in studio technology at the time. Titles include "Unforgettable", "Is There Anything I Can Do", "Superspy", "Juice", "I Could Give You More", and "Perfect Guy". LP, Vinyl record album

Bubbling 80s soul from Stephanie Mills – a set that has the singer's vocals really working strongly with some catchy rhythms that nicely balance between the clubs and the charts! Stephanie's almost in Deniece Williams territory here – working with a groove that's got plenty of potential to cross over to bigger markets – yet still marked by the really rich, full vocal approach that made her a winner right from the start! The backings definitely have that hook-heavy quality you'd hear in mainstream 80s soul – but Mills' approach more than makes the songs her own – even when things are grooving. Titles include "In My Life", "The Medicine Song", "Edge Of The Razor", "Undercover", and "Rough Trade". LP, Vinyl record album

A Capitol classic from Meli'sa Morgan – filled with sweet 80s grooves, and delivered with a style that's nicely lighter than some of her contemporaries! Morgan can still manage a nice hook when she wants, but the album's also got her working as a richer soul artist overall – eschewing the obvious chart territory of other 80s female singers, and stepping back to hit some great midtempo modes that really let her open up with amazing vocals! The mode's almost a female take on the quiet storm style at its best moments – and titles include "Now Or Never", "Lies", "Fool's Paradise", "Heart Breaking Decision", "Do You Still Love Me", and "I'll Give It When I Want It". LP, Vinyl record album

A big one for Billy Ocean – and a set that has the singer sounding even more confident and powerful than ever before! Ocean's not afraid of a hook by this point in his career, and the album's filled with the kind of catch crossover tune that Billy could do better than just about anyone else – music that got him a big audience way beyond soul, especially on the other side of the Atlantic. Titles include "The Colour Of Love", "Calypso Crazy", "Here's To You", "Because Of You", "Get Outta My Dreams Get Into My Car", "Stand & Deliver", and "Gun For Hire". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual little turn for the Ohio Players – a record that's almost completely written and totally produced by Richard Dimples Fields – running here at the height of his early 80s fame! The record's still funky enough overall – but in the style of some of Fields' indie work from the 70s – slightly sharp edged, but also moving into some of the more compressed hook territory that mainstream funk acts were hitting in the early 80s. The best Fields cuts are actually the more laidback ones, which have some southern soul influences – but the real standout here is actually a remake of Charles Wright's "Do Your Thing", which comes off with all the rough vocals and funky rhythms of the original! Other tracks include "I'd Better Take A Coffee Break", "Devoted", "My Baby Gets The Best Of My Love", "Just Me", "Sweet Lil Lady", and "Star Of The Party". CD

An unusual little turn for the Ohio Players – a record that's almost completely written and totally produced by Richard Dimples Fields – running here at the height of his early 80s fame! The record's still funky enough overall – but in the style of some of Fields' indie work from the 70s – slightly sharp edged, but also moving into some of the more compressed hook territory that mainstream funk acts were hitting in the early 80s. The best Fields cuts are actually the more laidback ones, which have some southern soul influences – but the real standout here is actually a remake of Charles Wright's "Do Your Thing", which comes off with all the rough vocals and funky rhythms of the original! Other tracks include "I'd Better Take A Coffee Break", "Devoted", "My Baby Gets The Best Of My Love", "Just Me", "Sweet Lil Lady", and "Star Of The Party". CD

An unusual little turn for the Ohio Players – a record that's almost completely written and totally produced by Richard Dimples Fields – running here at the height of his early 80s fame! The record's still funky enough overall – but in the style of some of Fields' indie work from the 70s – slightly sharp edged, but also moving into some of the more compressed hook territory that mainstream funk acts were hitting in the early 80s. The best Fields cuts are actually the more laidback ones, which have some southern soul influences – but the real standout here is actually a remake of Charles Wright's "Do Your Thing", which comes off with all the rough vocals and funky rhythms of the original! Other tracks include "I'd Better Take A Coffee Break", "Devoted", "My Baby Gets The Best Of My Love", "Just Me", "Sweet Lil Lady", and "Star Of The Party". CD

A classic from One Way – who're still going strong in the early 80s! The group's ace in the hole was always the great work of Al Hudson – a fearless leader who kept things funky, and who wrote in some great hooks to tracks that give them uncommon strength. Case in point is the classic "Cutie Pie", which is the leadoff track here – with a funky bassline would be right at home on George Clinton's Computer Games – but it really takes flight thanks to One Way's deeper-sinking hook. The album is among their bigger hits of the period – but it's also proof that they were still going strong creatively, too. No foolin'! Lots of solid cuts, including "Runnin Away", "Who's Foolin Who", "Sweet Lady", "Give Me One More Chance" and "You're So Very Special". CD

A classic album of bluesy funk – one that features the guitar of Johnny Otis' young son Shuggie, in a slightly tighter setting than he'd been getting on some of Johnny's own LPs! Shuggie here is still very much under the guidance of his dad – working in a mode that really emphasizes the fuzzier side of his guitar, in a style that was clearly an attempt to hook Shuggie up with the Hendrix audience. Not that that's a problem, though – as the record also features some stone funky playing too, as well as organ work by Leon Haywood, sax by Preston Love, and some other great studio work by members of The Crusaders! Tracks include "Hurricane", "Shuggie's Boogie", "Bootie Cooler", "Funky Thithee" and "The Hawks". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Busted", "Margie", "Georgia On My Mind", "Off The Hook", "Pass The Peas", and "Hit The Road Jack". CD

A landmark album from Freda Payne! Freda had been knocking around a bit as a more jazz-oriented singer, and had cut one album for Impulse and one for MGM before this one – but when she hooked up with the hitmaking Holland-Dozier-Holland team for this record, her career really went over the top! The team take Payne's deep soulful voice away from the sophisticated pop of earlier years, and hook it up with a mix of fuzzy Detroit soul and sweeter southern styles. The album includes loads of great cuts – most notably the sublime crossover hit "Band of Gold", but also plenty of other lesser-known gems, like "The Easiest Way to Fall", "Unhooked Generation", "Deeper and Deeper", and "This Girl Is a Woman Now". Her best by far! CD

Joyous grooves indeed – the second album by this legendary 70s jazzy soul outfit – and a landmark album in the Fantasy Records Bay Area funk mode! The record will forever be remembered for the cut "Joyous" – a monster groover with a killer hook, strong funky playing, and a searing tenor solo that wails for about a minute before the vocals even come in! Wayne Henderson produced the record – and it's very much in the mode of work that he was doing for other groups at Fantasy, but also sounds a bit like later jazz funk groups, such as Breakwater or Smoke – tight, but never uptight – funky, but never with the kind of grit you'd find in the indie underground. The vocals are a bit in the Average White Band mode, and the instrumental playing is top-shelf all the way – a monster mix that's possibly carried off better here than on any other album by the group! The album includes 2 instrumentals, "Selim" and "Sassafras Girl", as well as the vocal tracks "Tune In", "Let Me Be The One", and "Can't Turn You Loose". CD

Joyous grooves indeed – the second album by this legendary 70s jazzy soul outfit – and a landmark album in the Fantasy Records Bay Area funk mode! The record will forever be remembered for the cut "Joyous" – a monster groover with a killer hook, strong funky playing, and a searing tenor solo that wails for about a minute before the vocals even come in! Wayne Henderson produced the record – and it's very much in the mode of work that he was doing for other groups at Fantasy, but also sounds a bit like later jazz funk groups, such as Breakwater or Smoke – tight, but never uptight – funky, but never with the kind of grit you'd find in the indie underground. The vocals are a bit in the Average White Band mode, and the instrumental playing is top-shelf all the way – a monster mix that's possibly carried off better here than on any other album by the group! The album includes 2 instrumentals, "Selim" and "Sassafras Girl", as well as the vocal tracks "Tune In", "Let Me Be The One", and "Can't Turn You Loose". LP, Vinyl record album

A key moment of transition for Prince – a set that's got him toning down the longer-haired look of previous records, and going for the new wave sense of style that would help him cross into many audiences in years to come! Controversy still has Prince singing to the already-converted, but the record's full of moments of stardom to come – blending the open sexuality of his previous records with an even sharper sense of hook and tunefulness! There's a slight touch of politics here, hinted at by the cover – but the driving force is the desire of the man himself, as he performs and produces himself on titles that include "Controversy", "Jack U Off", "Do Me Baby", "Let's Work", "Annie Christian", "Ronnie Talk To Russia", and "Sexuality". CD

A key moment of transition for Prince – a set that's got him toning down the longer-haired look of previous records, and going for the new wave sense of style that would help him cross into many audiences in years to come! Controversy still has Prince singing to the already-converted, but the record's full of moments of stardom to come – blending the open sexuality of his previous records with an even sharper sense of hook and tunefulness! There's a slight touch of politics here, hinted at by the cover – but the driving force is the desire of the man himself, as he performs and produces himself on titles that include "Controversy", "Jack U Off", "Do Me Baby", "Let's Work", "Annie Christian", "Ronnie Talk To Russia", and "Sexuality". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most standout tracks on the Sign O The Times double LP – a tune that has the same catchy crossover vibe as Prince's material from the Purple Rain years – with a monster hook that really keeps the whole thing going! The core tune here is presented next to a whopping three versions of "Hot Thing" – one of which keeps the funky groove going for almost nine minutes! 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the greatest crossover albums of the 80s – and the record that catapulted Prince very firmly into the mainstream! There's a tightness here that surpasses even that of Prince's early classics for Warner Brothers – an unabashed love of a pop hook that makes for some incredibly catchy tunes that are still delivered with a nice funky undercurrent. The whole Prince family is at the top of their game at this point – and titles include "Darling Nikki", "Let's Go Crazy", "I Would Die 4 U", "When Doves Cry", "Baby I'm A Star", and "Purple Rain". CD

One of the greatest crossover albums of the 80s – and the record that catapulted Prince very firmly into the mainstream! There's a tightness here that surpasses even that of Prince's early classics for Warner Brothers – an unabashed love of a pop hook that makes for some incredibly catchy tunes that are still delivered with a nice funky undercurrent. The whole Prince family is at the top of their game at this point – and titles include "Darling Nikki", "Let's Go Crazy", "I Would Die 4 U", "When Doves Cry", "Baby I'm A Star", and "Purple Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest crossover albums of the 80s – and the record that catapulted Prince very firmly into the mainstream! There's a tightness here that surpasses even that of Prince's early classics for Warner Brothers – an unabashed love of a pop hook that makes for some incredibly catchy tunes that are still delivered with a nice funky undercurrent. The whole Prince family is at the top of their game at this point – and titles include "Darling Nikki", "Let's Go Crazy", "I Would Die 4 U", "When Doves Cry", "Baby I'm A Star", and "Purple Rain". This version features the new 2015 remaster of the album, done by Prince! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest crossover albums of the 80s – and the record that catapulted Prince very firmly into the mainstream! There's a tightness here that surpasses even that of Prince's early classics for Warner Brothers – an unabashed love of a pop hook that makes for some incredibly catchy tunes that are still delivered with a nice funky undercurrent. The whole Prince family is at the top of their game at this point – and titles include "Darling Nikki", "Let's Go Crazy", "I Would Die 4 U", "When Doves Cry", "Baby I'm A Star", and "Purple Rain". This fantastic 3CD/DVD version features a completely new 2015 Paisley Park remaster of the album, done by Prince – plus a full CD that features unreleased songs and tracks from the vaults – with titles that include "Katrina's Paper Dolls", "We Can F**k", "Father's Song", "Possessed", "Computer Blue (hallway speech version)", "Love & Sex", "The Dance Electric", "Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden", "Wonderful Ass", "Velvet Kitty Cat", and "Electric Intercourse (studio version)". CD3 features lots of rare single edits and non-LP b-sides – with tracks that include "Erotic City", "Let's Go Crazy (special dance mix)", "17 Days (edit)", "Baby I'm A Star (edit)", "I Would Die 4 U (extended)", "Another Lonely Christmas (extended)", "Take Me With U (edit)", "God (edit)", "When Doves Cry (7" edit)", and "God (inst)". DVD features a never-issued concert performance, recorded at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse in March of 1985 – with 19 songs in all! CD

Sure, the politics seem a bit silly now – but the track's still one of Prince's last really compelling hits. It's got a totally infectious hook, a spare Timmy Thomas-ish beat, and a strangely captivating vocal that really sticks with us! The flip's a bit silly – a 10 minute extended number with a silly jam kind of feel – but it's also a great testament to the freedom that Prince was allowed on his 12" singles – which makes them every bit as essential as his albums. 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of Prince's biggest tunes ever – and a track that still sounds surprisingly great to our ears these days – funky, chunky, and completely catchy – with a hook that shouldn't go over so well, but really sends the tune home time and time again! "17 Days" is great too – a deeper, almost story-type cut that points the way towards some of Prince's music on albums to come – but still with all the fantastic groove of the Purple Rain era! If you ever needed the kind of cut to show you what Prince did that was so special, "17 Days" might be the one. 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of the few US singles by this British soul group – one of England's best soul acts in the mid 70s! "You To Me" is a great tune – grooving with almost a Barry White-type production, chugging with tight drums under strings, really great on the hook, which is produced with a bit of flange in the vocals! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A great little album from Jeannie Reynolds – and her lasting contribution to underground soul! Jeannie's vocals are nice and deep – with hints of southern diva phrasing, filtered through some of the tighter soul styles coming out of Chicago and other points north at the time! Detroit talents LJ Reynolds, Tony Hester, and Don Davis produce – save for one song by Michael Henderson – and the big highlight is the slow groover "The Fruit Song", a sly seductive stepper of a track, with rolling congas, sweeping strings, and a very catchy hook from Jeannie. That number runs for about 7 minutes long – and the album also includes a number of nice shorter cuts, like "I've Still Got My Pride", "The Feelin' Ain't There", and "You Want To Get Your Hands On A Woman" – all wonderful numbers that will have you loving Jeannie as one of your favorite new discoveries in 70s soul! LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album from Jeannie Reynolds – and her lasting contribution to underground soul! Jeannie's vocals are nice and deep – with hints of southern diva phrasing, filtered through some of the tighter soul styles coming out of Chicago and other points north at the time! Detroit talents LJ Reynolds, Tony Hester, and Don Davis produce – save for one song by Michael Henderson – and the big highlight is the slow groover "The Fruit Song", a sly seductive stepper of a track, with rolling congas, sweeping strings, and a very catchy hook from Jeannie. That number runs for about 7 minutes long – and the album also includes a number of nice shorter cuts, like "I've Still Got My Pride", "The Feelin' Ain't There", and "You Want To Get Your Hands On A Woman" – all wonderful numbers that will have you loving Jeannie as one of your favorite new discoveries in 70s soul! CD also features 4 non-LP bonus cuts – "Phone's Been Jumping All Day", "Unwanted Company", "Lay Some Lovin On Me", and "Love Don't Come Easy For Me". CD

A pair of classic early 80s soul albums from ex-Dramatics singer LJ Reynolds! The self-titled '81 set is killer material in a modern Detroit mode all the way through – with top-shelf production by Reynolds, Don Davis, and Ronnie McNeir/ Ronnie, who'd been lost to the industry for a few years, also re-emerges as a writer on the songs "Southern Pearl", "Lonely Superstar", and "Ain't No Woman Like My Baby". The real standout, though, is the amazing cut "Key To The World", a killer steppers track that has a hook that won't quit, and this wonderful brassy finish that gives the track a really triumphant sound that works perfectly with the righteous lyric. LJ Reynolds' sounds great on '82's Travelin', too – stepping even more strongly away from his work with The Dramatics, and emerging as one of the best male soul acts of the early 80s! The production on this one is split between Reynolds and Don Davis, in a mode that's contemporary, but which allows LJ plenty of space for old school vocal expression – that far-reaching style of singing that always made him stand out strongly from the pack! There's a sublime mellow version of Aretha Franklin's "Call Me" on the set – and other tracks include "Words", "Trust In Me", "Say You Will", "You & Me", "Let Me Satisfy You", and "Fast Action"... CD

An incredible album of deep deep soul! Recorded way before Sharon Ridley became a big club diva, this record mixes deep soul vocal stylings with some well produced Van McCoy arrangements, and backing by some crack New York players. The result is one of the best female vocal soul albums we can think of from the early 70s – and the kind of lost soul album that makes you keep tracking down rare wax! Includes the incredible cut "You Sold Me A One Way Ticket", which begins with an amazing intro, and has a hook so strong you could hang a parka on it – plus the cuts "Stay A While With Me", "I Found Him, I Loved Him, I Lost Him", and "When A Woman Falls In Love". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album of deep deep soul! Recorded way before Sharon Ridley became a big club diva, this record mixes deep soul vocal stylings with some well produced Van McCoy arrangements, and backing by some crack New York players. The result is one of the best female vocal soul albums we can think of from the early 70s – and the kind of lost soul album that makes you keep tracking down rare wax! Includes the incredible cut "You Sold Me A One Way Ticket", which begins with an amazing intro, and has a hook so strong you could hang a parka on it – plus the cuts "Stay A While With Me", "I Found Him, I Loved Him, I Lost Him", and "When A Woman Falls In Love". CD also features the bonus track "Scandal In Bedrock (single mix)". CD

Few people did soulful fusion better than Lee Ritenour back in the early 80s – and the guitarist always seemed to find a way to really link together all the different sounds of the electric genre – from heavy jamming to soulful grooving to a rock-like appreciation for a good hook! Harvey Mason provides some great heavy drums, and also helped Lee produce – which gives the record a sharp, soulful focus that's like some of Harvey's own great records of the time – an undercurrent of funk that more than helps keep the Ritenour vocals moving along! Titles include "Mr Briefcase", "Countdown", "Good Question", "Dreamwalk", "Is It You", and "Just Tell Me Pretty Lies". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A great little crossover number from Romeo Void – served up here in a dancefloor mix with a bit more on the bottom than the original, but still plenty of those catchy airy guitars and ethereal vocals! The hook's a great one, and although the single's probably more into the 80s rock side of the spectrum, it still holds up well over the years. "Six Days & One" is a darker, moodier number – but still quite nice. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Here's one extension we can go for! "Sweetest Taboo" is one of Sade's greatest cuts ever – a lightly jazzy number with an infectious hook that sounds great rolling over and over again on this special 12" version! There's not much difference here than the original – but the whole thing's nice and long, really keeping the groove going! "You're Not The Man" is mellower, and a great little ballad – almost torch jazz at times, and sung beautifully by Sade! 12-inch, Vinyl record

The mighty SOS Band, still grooving hard well into the 80s – and still showing the world that their sound is way tighter than any of their many imitators! The style here is updated a bit from the group's first few records – given a sharper punch and polish by the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis team – yet the record's still got a depth that goes way past some of the more commercial soul the duo had been working on at the time – a great evolution of an older funk style into a sweet, lean sound for the latter half of the 80s! Keyboards soar over bouncy basslines – and the trademark mix of male and female vocals really works well on the album's hook-heavy cuts. Tracks include "Borrowed Love", "The Finest", "Do You Still Want To", "Sands Of Time", "Even When You Sleep", "Nothing But The Best", "No Lies", and "Two Time Lover". CD

The mighty SOS Band, still grooving hard well into the 80s – and still showing the world that their sound is way tighter than any of their many imitators! The style here is updated a bit from the group's first few records – given a sharper punch and polish by the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis team – yet the record's still got a depth that goes way past some of the more commercial soul the duo had been working on at the time – a great evolution of an older funk style into a sweet, lean sound for the latter half of the 80s! Keyboards soar over bouncy basslines – and the trademark mix of male and female vocals really works well on the album's hook-heavy cuts. Tracks include "Borrowed Love", "The Finest", "Do You Still Want To", "Sands Of Time", "Even When You Sleep", "Nothing But The Best", "No Lies", and "Two Time Lover". LP, Vinyl record album

The mighty SOS Band, still grooving hard well into the 80s – and still showing the world that their sound is way tighter than any of their many imitators! The style here is updated a bit from the group's first few records – given a sharper punch and polish by the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis team – yet the record's still got a depth that goes way past some of the more commercial soul the duo had been working on at the time – a great evolution of an older funk style into a sweet, lean sound for the latter half of the 80s! Keyboards soar over bouncy basslines – and the trademark mix of male and female vocals really works well on the album's hook-heavy cuts. Tracks include "Borrowed Love", "The Finest", "Do You Still Want To", "Sands Of Time", "Even When You Sleep", "Nothing But The Best", "No Lies", and "Two Time Lover". Includes 4 bonus tracks "Even When You Sleep (extended)", "Borrowed Love (extended)", "No Lies (12 inch mix)" and "The Finest (extended)". CD

One of Lisa's greatest cuts, with a sweetly soaring hook that's a perfect example of the catchy grooves she could hit when she wanted to! Remixes by Gail Sky King – and the single is promo only. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A bit tighter and more conventional soul than earlier work by Starpoint, but still pretty darn great too – and great proof that the group were more on top of their bag than other funky combos of the type! Renee Diggs is strongly out front on vocals throughout – lending her sweet sound to the flurry of electro keys and beats that make up most of the instrumentation here. The instrumentation's almost got some echoes of the Minneapolis funky soul scene at the times, but echoes the group's older sound at other points – and although a few tracks are quite hook heavy, they're never too poppish or cloying. Titles include "Behind Your Back", "Don't Be So Serious", "Put Your Love On Me", "It's So Delicious", "Let Go", and "I Got The Love". CD

Not to be confused with the group Pleasure, or the ex-Police leadman Sting – this group are a pretty darn sweet disco trio with a really nice groove! The sound's a bit different than other disco references we might use – not really New York, European, or Canadian – and done with a bit more soul than you might think. The vocals are silly at times, but also pretty darn catchy – and sung with a good sense of the hook, so that they're not as buried in the mix as on other disco tunes. A few tracks also get nice and mellow, making for a good variety in the set – and titles include "Do It In The Shower", "Winning Number", "Best Friend", "Pleasure", "Love Is The Answer", and "Without Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A big crossover moment for Donna Summer in the 80s – a set that features lots of keyboard-heavy arrangements from Michael Omartin – who produced the record at a level that really gets the most out of Summer's hook-heavy style! Donna's way past the drama of the disco years here – and does a great job of getting right down to business on most of the tunes – never pushing things too far past her vocal range, but adding just the right sort of punch to the lyrics alongside Omartin's catchy keyboards. Titles include "Eyes", "Supernatural Love", "Cats Without Claws", "Suzanna", "It's Not The Way", "There Goes My Baby", and "I'm Free". LP, Vinyl record album

A great bit of boogie from the Chicago scene of the early 80s – a set recorded with a nice jazzy bounce overall, and a strong ear for a catchy hook and tight groove – very much in the mode of Omni or Zoom from the same period! Alfonzo's got a warm vocal style that soars up to falsetto one minute, but dips down deep the next – a perfectly fluid approach that works well with the dynamic grooves of the record. And throughout, the whole thing stays nice and cool – nice and classy – never too over the top or schlocky, and in a really timeless way that's held up great for years! Titles include "Gimmie", "Forever", "Only A Winner", "Gimmie Your Love", "Make It Feel Good", "Gotta Be Love", and "Our Love Is For Keeps". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer soul from Johnnie Taylor, and really his first major LP! The record was Johnnie's second for Stax – and although the first one was good, this was the record that really had Johnnie hitting that funky bluesy sound that became his trademark into the 70s. The title cut – "Who's Making Love" – is a monster groover with a funky hook that was covered instantly by many jazz combos, and which riffs along with an Isley Brothers-ish kind of sound. The album features loads of other tasty numbers, too – all produced by Al Jackson and Don Davis – and featuring the cuts "Poor Make Believer", "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water", "Can't Trust Your Neighbor", and "Payback Hurts". Plus, the CD features the bonus track "Rumors". CD

A huge moment for War – maybe the group's biggest album of the 70s, but a set that still has them holding onto everything that makes the great! Like Earth Wind & Fire at their best, War have this way of staying strong and righteous, while still able to hit a hook – jamming one minute, but finding sharp focus the next – and balancing it all out over the course of an album so that there's a sense of depth that really keeps on going once the familiar cuts draw you in. In this case, the familiar cuts are giants – the stunning Latin funk gem "Low Rider", which became an anthem for a generation, and the radio hit "Why Can't We Be Friends" – mixed with other nuggets like the jazzy "Don't No One Get You Down", the funky "Heartbeat", and the cuts "Lotus Blossom", "Smile Happy", "So", and "Leroy's Latin Lament". LP, Vinyl record album

War became so popular on their own in later years that it's easy to forget how they first sprung onto the soul charts – here, in an album of many styles that was put together by the wayward Eric Burdon after the dissolution of The Animals. We have to admit that Burdon was a genius to hook onto the rich talents of this LA combo – even though he really didn't know what to do with them on this record. Part of the album's an homage to Roland Kirk, part is an extended reworking of "Tobacco Road", and part is an overly-long bluesy passage called "Blues For Memphis Slim". Fortunately, the record also includes the monster groover "Spill The Wine", one of the first big crossover tracks to popularize the Chicano funk sound of LA – and a great little groover that still hooks us in today. LP, Vinyl record album

A great moment in the career of the mighty Leon Ware – a set recorded after his famous 70s work for Motown, and before his return to fame at Elektra – but still with a super-tight quality that shows that Leon was always great, no matter what the setting! Leon's warm, mellow, and totally right on the money here – serving up some wicked midtempo grooves that sparkle way more than most of his contemporaries – and which even rise above most of the other work on TK records at the time! Ware wrote and produced the whole set himself – with that masterful studio approach that first rose to prominence on Marvin Gaye's album I Want You – and like that classic set, the whole thing here is great – never a clunker or a bit of filler at all. Titles include the great "What's Your Name" – an extremely catchy two-step number, with a hook that will ring in your head long after the track is over – and other cuts include "Inside Is Love", "Try It Out", "Club Sashay", "Inside Your Love", and "Love Is A Simple Thing". CD

Maybe the best album that Johnny Watson cut during his DJM years – a totally tight, totally soulful set that avoids any fake funk cliches! The record's got some wonderful trippy numbers – cut in that slow g-funky mode that was Johnny's huge legacy to the west coast scene – best of these is the classic "Superman Lover", a great little cut with a very catchy hook, and just the right dose of humor. But you'll also catch the same vibe on "I Want To Ta Ta You Baby", "Ain't That A Bitch", and "I Need It". Johnny's sitting on the cover, surrounded by ladies and a dog – and the back cover says "My apologies to Freddie, my guitar, for forgetting to bring him to the photo session." What a guy! CD