With selections by Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, Smiley Lewis, Smilin' Joe, Archibald, Earl King, Huey Smith & The Clowns, Ford Eaglin, Joe Houston, and Big Jay McNeely. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by O'Jays, Mel Carter, Slim Whitman, Cher, Jackie De Shannon, Johnny Rivers, and Billy J Kramer. LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection of early material from Dave Bartholomew – a key figure in the early days of New Orleans soul! Dave blows trumpet, arrangements are by Wardell Quezerque, and the group features Bobby James on organ and Smokey Johnson on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album of dramatic pop tunes – notable not only for Mel Carter's richly vibratic vocals, but also for sublime early production work by Nick DeCaro! Nick handled the arrangements with Jimmie Haskell and Harold Battiste, and the set's a gem that's right up there in the Gene McDaniels/Tommy Edwards camp, sort of an LA answer to the New York uptown sound of the 60s. Titles include "Band Of Gold", "If You're Wondering", "All Of A Sudden My Heart Sings", "Love Is All We Need", "You've Got To Take The Bad With The Good", and "I Miss You So". LP, Vinyl record album

Damn great work from Albert Collins – one of those hard-edged gems from the early days that's a lot more funk than his later blues! Sure, there's still plenty of blues here – but the rhythms are pretty funky too, and the album's got some great raw production from Bill Hall – free from any of the blues cliches that were creeping into other artists work from mainstream attention – and still cooked up with a really gritty edge overall! Titles include the funky monsters "Doin My Thing" and "Do The Sissy" – plus "Collins Mix", "Trunin On", "Stump Poker", "Let's Get It Together Again", and "Left Overs". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic early work from Albert Collins – almost as much of a funk album as a blues one! This set's not really funky in the same sense as many of Collins' contemporaries in the soul scene of the time – but it's got some great funky elements, especially in the drums and guitar, which is always razor-sharp. 12 numbers in all: "Jawing", "Trash Talkin", "Harris County Line-Up", "Conversation With Collins", "Grapeland Gossip", "Chatterbox", "Medley", "Lip Service", "Talking Slim Blues", "Back Yard Back Talk", "Tongue Lashing" and "And Then It Started Raining". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

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

Fats Domino Swings – a total of 12 million records, according to the cover! We're not sure if that claim's accurate or not, but we can say that the album's got a million dollar sound, and is a perfect demonstration of the genius that made Domino unlike anyone else back in the day – a completely unique artist to rise from the New Orleans scene in the 50s, but one who's also steeped in all the musical roots of the city! Fats has a way of laying down on the piano that brings forward older riffing styles, but in a leaner level that sits brilliantly alongside his raspy, early soul vocals – and the tight, jaunty rhythms of the tunes – which again are kind of a compression of older Nola modes, in a way that so many others would copy over the years. The set features a mix of hits like "I'm Walkin" and "Blueberry Hill", and great lesser known numbers like "Going To The River", "I'm In Love Again", "Bo Weevil", and "Whole Lotta Loving". LP, Vinyl record album

Early work by this obscure New Orleans vocal group! LP, Vinyl record album

Raw New Orleans soul from Overton "Smiley" Lewis – one of the city's big stars in the 50s R&B years, and a singer who arguably set the stage for later deep soul to come! A few years before, and Lewis might have been more of a blues singer – but here, he's working with some strong Nola piano lines and lightly loping rhythms – in a mode that's vaguely in the Fats Domino side of the universe, but a lot more raw and stripped-down too – from the performance to the production! Tracks include Smiley's classic "I Hear You Knocking", plus loads of other nice ones – including "Bumpity Bump", "Bells Are Ringing", "Blue Monday", "Lost Weekend", "Real Gone Lover", and "One Night". LP, Vinyl record album

Raw New Orleans soul from Overton "Smiley" Lewis – one of the city's big stars in the 50s R&B years, and a singer who arguably set the stage for later deep soul to come! A few years before, and Lewis might have been more of a blues singer – but here, he's working with some strong Nola piano lines and lightly loping rhythms – in a mode that's vaguely in the Fats Domino side of the universe, but a lot more raw and stripped-down too – from the performance to the production! Tracks include Smiley's classic "I Hear You Knocking", plus loads of other nice ones – including "Bumpity Bump", "Bells Are Ringing", "Blue Monday", "Lost Weekend", "Real Gone Lover", and "One Night". LP, Vinyl record album

The only full album ever cut by The Majors – a hell of a vocal group from the Philly scene of the early 60s, and one with a fantastic approach that's a bit unlike anyone else we can think of! The group sports soaring lead vocals from singer Ricky Cordo – a singer with a range that's really amazing, and used in these ways that can be really dynamic, even on the mellow cuts – as he's backed by the group's three guys and one gal, who sometimes get a bit more spotlight in the lead – amidst this wonderful palette of instrumental touches, which includes bits of vibes, organ, and other nice touches that really keep things interesting. Titles include "Oh Wee Baby", "Time Will Tell", "She's A Troublemaker", "Don't You Lose Your Cool", "Come One Come On", "What In The World", "A Wonderful Dream", and "Anything You Can Do". LP, Vinyl record album

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

An excellent 2LP set that brings together 28 early 50s recordings by T-Bone Walker – crucial sides that link together jazz and blues traditions, with incredible work on guitar that would go onto influence both genres tremendously. The fact that Walker became a huge influence on soul jazz guitarists like Billy Butler, George Freeman, and Wild Bill Jennings is probably not lost on Blue Note – who included the set here as the only non-jazz set in their 2LP 70s reissue series. Titles include "Blue Mood", "Alimony Blues", "The Sun Went Down", "Cold Cold Feeling", "Strollin With Bones", "Street Walkin Woman", "You Don't Love Me", "Party Girl", "Life is Too Short", and "News For You Baby". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

3 album set packed with tracks by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Otis Redding, Booker T, Ike & Tina Turner, and so much more. LP, Vinyl record album

Great material from the postwar Imperial Records catalog – rare singles by Boozoo Chavis, Clifton Chenier, Boogie Bill Webb, Snooks Eaglin, Papa Lightfoot, JD Edwards, and Slim Harpo! (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent album of hard-rolling piano – part R&B, part blues, and part jazz, some of the incredible work of pianist Lloyd Glenn, a heavy handed groover from the 50s. We're not sure, but we think the album may include work that Glenn recorded for Aladdin, issued here under an Imperial label. The tracks are all short, with a rolling piano groove that's part Texas, part New Orleans. Titles include "Glenn's Guide", "Shadow Land", "Chocolate Drop", "Chica Boo", "Tiddley Winks", "Nite Flite", and "Still Water". (Jazz, Soul) CD

Fantastic early O'Jays! The album's the first to feature the group meeting up with the Gamble/Huff team – a significant shift from their earlier work on Imperial, with a style that still retains all the vocal hardness of those days, but which makes a shift into a sweeter soaring soul groove! The move had been taken with similar success by Jerry Butler and Archie Bell & The Drells – and although the sound's a lot different than the group's later work for Philly International, it's a sign that they're really finding their voice, and a style that would push them to the top! Titles include "I Should Be Your Lover", "One Night Affair", "Deeper", "Just Can't Get Enough", "I've Got The Groove", and "You're The Best Thing Since Candy" – and arrangements are by Bobby Martin, Thom Bell, and Richard Rome. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible collection of work – way different than any blues material of the time, and beautifully brought together here in the best Mosaic fashion! Features material for the Imperial, Comet, and B&W labels, plus unissued tracks – 144 titles in all! (Blues, Soul) CD

A dancing soul party, but one that's got a nice sort of focus too – not a completely random collection of cuts, but one that features a fair bit of very early work from Van McCoy, and some great group soul too! Unlike a DJ set in the clubs, the collection's got no problem with mixing together a few tracks in a row by certain artists – which does a great job of compartmentalizing the big run of 25 tracks that make up the set – almost all unusual numbers that really keep things interesting! Titles include "Help Is On The Way", "The Woman Who Made Me A Man", "Ain't Got No Love", "Generation Gap", "Back Tracking", "Just Another Dress Rehearsal", and "If I Could Make You Mine" by Van McCoy; "Appreciation", "Giving Up", and "If She Wants Him" by The Ad-Libs – plus "Funky Drop" by The Soul Suspects, "I'm Stuck On You" and "Merry Christmas Baby" by The Poets, "Hold On Baby" and "It Hurts So Bad" by Sam Hawkins, "I'm Your Love Man" and "If Change Don't Come Soon" by The Lost Souls, "When I Fall In Love" by The Imperial Wonders, and "Ain't It Funny What Love Can Do" by Kenny Young. (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD

Numero does it again – unleashing an amazing batch of work for the first time ever – all packaged in a very limited Record Store Day set! The collection features material that was pressed up at the tiny Boddie pressing plant in Cleveland – a wonderful range of local artists from the late 60s through the mid 80s – all served up with the usual Numero flair! The set's a rich discovery of sounds we'd never have heard otherwise – and although it's slanted heavily towards rare funk and soul, there's also some compelling indie rock sides too – especially some homegrown, dark-toned sounds from the 80s – clearly influenced by the styles in the UK underground. The set features 17 tracks in all – including "Don't Stop Smiling" by Jus Us, "Just A Dream" by Imperial Wonders, "Love Is On The Way" by Bill Spoon, "Let Me Go" by The Harmonics, "I'm Gonna Treat You Good" by The Donations, "Good For The Gander" by Hot Chocolate, "Woman You're Gonna Pay For This" by Wicked Lester, "The Voyage Of The Nautilus" by Russell Potter, and "Snakepit" by Berlin West. (Funky Compilations, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

27 songs from the Cashelles, the Swans, the Del-Rays, the Mastertones, the Cordials, the Dials, the Emblems, the Quentins, the Imperial Gents, the Dee Vines, and more. CD

Anthony and crew were one of the few groups who actually got better when they moved from the raw indie scene to the slicker major label one – as you'll hear perfectly on this set of some of their best work for the Veep/DCP/United Artists label. Teddy Randazzo handled all the arrangements and production, and his breathy uptown style works perfectly with the band's soulful harmonies. 12 numbers in all, including "I'm Hypnotized", "Beautiful People", "Georgy Girl", "A Thousand Miles Away", "You Only Live Twice", "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Two People In The World", "A Prayer & A Jukebox", 'When You Wish Upon A Star", "You Better Take It Easy Baby" and "If I Remember To Forget". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Tears On My Pillow", "Two People In The World", "So Much", "The Diary", "It's Not For Me", "Wishful Thinking", "A Prayer And Juke Box", "I'm Alright", "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop", "My Empty Room", "I'm Taking A Vacation From Love", "Please Say You Want Me", "Traveling Stranger", "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Hurt So Bad", "Take Me Back", and "I Miss You So". CD

Anthony and crew were one of the few groups who actually got better when they moved from the raw indie scene to the slicker major label one – as you'll hear perfectly on this set of some of their best work for the Veep/DCP/United Artists label. Teddy Randazzo handled all the arrangments and production, and his breathy uptown style works perfectly with the band's soulful harmonies. Titles include "Hurt So Bad", "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", "Our Song", "Get Out Of My Life", and "Going Out Of My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Little Anthony – and a great update to his smooth 60s harmony sound with The Imperials! Anthony wisely employs the use of two of 70s top harmony arrangers on the album – using Thom Bell on one side, and Teddy Randazzo on the other – both of whom really help take the group to a whole new level! The Thom Bell material fits perfectly with his work with The Stylistics from the same time, and the cuts have a wonderfully mellow east coast harmony style that's quite different than Anthony's earlier work. Teddy Randazzo does a pretty nice job, too – but with a fuller sound too, almost in a Manhattans mode that makes for a nice change from the previous fragility of Anthony's vocals. Titles include "I Don't Have Time To Worry", "That's What Love is All About", "I'm Falling In Love with You", "Heartache Never Entered My Mind", and "The Loneliest House on the Block". LP, Vinyl record album

Super-heavy funk from late great Desco Records scene! The Mighty Imperials were one of the best funky 45 groups to record for mighty deep funk Desco label – and their first album never properly saw the light of day, thanks to some pressing and distribution messups before the demise of the company. Now, the whole thing's finally out officially – a funky treasure that sounds like a lost 70s gem, and which has almost as much mystique, given the status of the original record! The core combo features organ, drums, bass, and super-heavy guitar – and the album also features them recording with some additional vocal help from Joseph Henry! Henry sings in a mode that's very similar to Lee Fields' work with the deep funk scene – and his vocals are on a number of tracks on the album – leaving the rest as groovy funky instrumentals with a nice heavy late 60s sock-boogaloo sound! Includes covers of "Never Found A Girl" and "Cold Sweat" – plus originals "Soul Buster pt 1", "Chico's Barnyard", "Kick The Blanket", "Thunder Chicken", and "Joseph's Popcorn". (Deep Funk, Soul) CD

Rare work from the early years of soul music – and a special set that focuses on sounds created in and around Los Angeles – a city that's not nearly as well known for 60s soul as Chicago, Detroit, or New Orleans! Yet during the postwar years, LA had just as much going on as those eastern cities – a huge new population influx, who'd move over from the south during the wartime years – and new labels that had cropped up to capture their sounds and serve their audience! 50s LA was already humming with R&B material, which gave the rising styles of soul plenty of places to get recorded – so much so, that there's even some work on this set that was never issued at the time! The vibe is great – similar to other Birth Of Soul sets from Ace/Kent – in that the music carries a bit of R&B and blues bite from earlier years, mixed with more romping and tighter soul styles – in a smoking set list of 24 tracks that include "But What About My Broken Heart" by Don Wyatt, "Everybody's Got A Lover But Me" by Richard Berry, "Have You Heard" by The Vows, "With These Hands" by The Wonders, "You Better Watch Out Girl" by The Imperialites, "Lose My Cool" by Ike & Tina Turner, "Let Him Walk Away" by Darlene Love, "My Pillow" by The Numbers, "Help Me With My Broken Heart" by Sylvester Stewart, "That Other Guy" by The Mandarins, "Don't Drop It" by The Question Marks, and "Young Lover" by Wilks & Wilkerson. CD

A classic compilation gets upgraded in a mighty nice way – as a huge tribute to the many years of soul and funk we've gotten from the Ace/Kent label in London! Back at the start of the 80s, the company was one of the first to properly repress rare American soul, and do it the right way – not only with top-shelf sound quality, but also a strong sense of history that has had us learning as much about 60s and 70s soul from their compilations as we've found ourselves loving the music! The original On The Soul Side album was one of the first Kent titles from the early years – but here, it's expanded to a whopping 26 titles, with great sound and detailed notes – all to present over two dozen tracks that really show the farther reaches of 60s soul beyond Motown and the big chart hits. Titles include "Boy Watcher" by Ginger Thompson, "Baby I Love You" by Jimmy Holiday, "Dr Love" by Bobby Sheen, "Love & Desire" by Patrice Holloway, "A Lot Of Love" by Homer Banks, "It's What's Underneath That Counts" by June Jackson, "Point Of No Return" by Gene McDaniels, "Fortune Teller" by Benny Spellman, "It Was Easier To Hurt Her" by Garnet Mimms, "The Record" by HB Barnum, "Love Is A Hurtin Thing" by Lou Rawls, "Nothing Left To Do But Cry" by Merry Clayton, "The Man Who Don't Believe In Love" by Marv Johnson, "What You Gonna Do" by Bobby Womack, "Nobody Treats You The Way I Do" by The Magnificent Men, "Gonna Fix You Good" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, "It Will Stand" by The Showmen, "What's A Matter Baby" by Timi Yuro, "Ready Willing & Able" by Jimmy Holiday & Clydie King, and "Trick Bag" by Earl King. CD

Saint Etienne have brought us a number of wonderful compilations over the years – both in this format for Ace Records, and their work on their own great Croydon Municipal label – yet as much as we've loved all those others, we may well love this one the best – as it's a sublime blend of 60s soul, tear-stained pop, and cool numbers with a New York sort of sound! The focus is mostly on tracks from the mid 60s – and the work here often feels like the special sort of tracks the Brill Building talents might have been working on into the night, before stepping down to the Carnegie Deli for a snack – the kind of special songs that were often too sophisticated to make the charts, but which stand out all these many years later as true moments of genius from the 60s. As usual with a Saint Etienne set, there's a huge amount here we've never heard before – all given proper presentation by Ace Records, along with a full booklet of notes. Titles include "Night Hawk" by The Valli Boys, "Deep Dark Secret" by Dee Sharp, "Up On The Bridge" by The Chiffons, "Don't" by Marva Josie, "I'm Your Man" by Chuck Jackson, "Boy You Love Me" by Joan Moody, "Catch Me In The Meadow" by The Tradewinds, "He's A Lover" by Tutti Hill, "Let's Stop Fooling Ourselves" by Eddie Jones, "Is This The Way To Treat A Girl" by The Hesitations, "Summer's Comin In" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, and "Park Avenue" by Lou Johnson. (Funky Compilations, Soul) CD