Kind of an ultimate Marvin Gaye hits compilation – issued in 1970, with one of the most badass Motown covers of the time! The album's got a famous image of Gaye as a black Superman – flying high on the cover of a set that's filled with some of his best 60s work for Motown – and for some reason, there seems to be a few more cuts in the package than you might get in the usual hits collection of the time. Every title's a classic – and tunes include "Pride & Joy", "That's The Way Love Is", "Ain't That Peculiar", "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow", "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby", and "Hitch Hike". LP, Vinyl record album

Early genius from Marvin Gaye – a set that's one of his first biggest hit-making albums for Motown, and for good reason too! Gaye's really come a long way here in just a few short years – hitting hard on the album's title hit, with that trademark rasp that would only get stronger and more charming by the end of the 60s. The backings pack a punch too – pure Motown 60s soul all the way through, with backing vocals from Martha & The Vandellas – although Marvin's own lead is more than strong enough on its own! Titles include the big title hit "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" – plus "Hitch Hike", "Get My Hands On Some Lovin", "It Hurt Me Too", "Pride & Joy", and "Wherever I Lay My Hat" – all written by a young Marvin! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 34 tracks on 2 CDs and features duets with Tammi Terrel and Kim Weston, plus two previously unreleased tracks! Titles include "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow", "Pride And Joy", "It Takes Two", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Trouble Man", "Distant Lover", "Mercy Mercy Me", and more. CD

Al Green and Willie Mitchell return for another soul treasure – delivering on the promise of 2003's wonderful I Can't Stop as strongly as we could have hoped for! This one may be credited to The Reverend Al Green rather than just Al Green – but that's the biggest difference between this album and its predecessor. Once again, it's hard to imagine another legend of the late 60s through the 70s jumping back in the ring with such magnificent results as The Reverend – and his partner Willie Mitchell brings his best, too! Every note Al hits resonates warmth and joy, and Willie Mitchell's production is on fire. Everything's OK, indeed! Tracks include "Everything's OK", a great Memphis soul version of "You Are So Beautiful", "Perfect To Me", "Real Love", "I Can Make Music", "Magic Road", "I Wanna Hold You", "All The Time" and more. CD

A key early record for the Edwin Hawkins Singers – issued right after the group had changed their name from the less-catchy Northern California State Youth Choir! The record contains Hawkins' huge hit "Oh Happy Day" – done with soloist Dorothy Morrison, a voice that was strong enough to push this one from the gospel market right onto the pop charts! Other tunes follow in a similar style, really hitting hard for the soul generation – and tracks include "I'm Going Through", "Early In The Morning", "Joy Joy", and "To My Father's House". (Gospel, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

An album that needs no introduction, except to tell you that most of the mixes are the ones that were on the singles, and not the full LP versions. Tracks include "Walk On By", "Do Your Thing", "Shaft", "Joy (part 1)", "Never Can Say Goodbye", and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix". LP, Vinyl record album

The "man" is at the top of his powers here – as the set pulls together an insanely great run of music from Isaac Hayes' first years as a solo act – coming on strong with a new sort of sophisticated soul sound that would transform a generation! Hayes had already hit big in the 60s working with writer David Porter – as the force behind some of Stax Records' fiercest, funkiest acts of the time – but as the 70s approached, he broke off as a magnificent artist on his own – full of righteous power, pride, and new ideas for soul music. This collection brings together some of Isaac Hayes' best work for the Stax/Enterprise label – with an especially strong focus on the kind of jams that have held up well for a 21st Century audience – including titles that have either been sampled by hip hoppers, or which represent some of Ike's strongest funkier tunes from the time. Titles include "Part Time Love", "Theme From The Men", "Ike's Rap 2", "Joy", "I Can't Turn Around", "Chocolate Chip", "Feel Like Makin Love", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Walk On By", "Ike's Rap 1", "Good Love", "Rolling Down A Mountainside", and "Theme From Shaft". LP, Vinyl record album

A turning point for Loleatta Holloway – as she makes the move from dreamy southern soul diva to club queen of the late 70s! Norman Harris is producing, and the record has a soaring Philly disco sound that proves to be just as great for Loleatta's soulful vocals as the stripped-down southern modes of earlier albums! Gone are the sad tears of earlier weepies, and in their place is a strong sense of joy and power – Loleatta's very positive, very progressive, and very dedicated to standing her own ground! Includes the big single "Hit & Run", plus "Dreamin", "We're Getting Stronger", "Ripped Off", and versions of "That's How Heartaches Are Made" and Curtis Mayfield's "What Now". CD features 5 bonus tracks too – "Hit & Run (orig Walter Gibbons 12" mix)", "We're Getting Stronger (orig Walter Gibbons 12" mix)", "Hit & Run (single version)", "Hit & Run (Paul Simpson hit mix)", and "Hit & Run (acapella)". CD

A nice record pairing the vocal stylings of Thelma Houston and Jerry Butler. Butler and Hal Davis take partial credit for production and tracks include the Bee-Gee's "Love So Right", "Only The Beginning", Stevie Wonder's "Joy Inside My Tears", "Let's Get Together", "It's A Lifetime Thing", and "I Love You Through Windows". LP, Vinyl record album

A really well done collection of work recorded by Howlin Wolf for Chess – put together in the early 70s, but featuring sides from the 50s and 60s. The album's got a good set of notes by Pete Welding, and tracks that include "Down In The Bottom", "Forty Four', "My Country Sugar Mama", "Spoonful", "Red Rooster", "Moanin For My Baby", "I Asked For Water", "Wang Dang Doodle", "Who's Been Talkin", "Built For Comfort", "Ooh Baby Hold Me", "Baby How Long", "Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy", and "Killing Floor". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A really well done collection of work recorded by Howlin Wolf for Chess – put together in the early 70s, but featuring sides from the 50s and 60s. The album's got a good set of notes by Pete Welding, and tracks that include "Down In The Bottom", "Forty Four', "My Country Sugar Mama", "Spoonful", "Red Rooster", "Moanin For My Baby", "I Asked For Water", "Wang Dang Doodle", "Who's Been Talkin", "Built For Comfort", "Ooh Baby Hold Me", "Baby How Long", "Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy", and "Killing Floor". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of New York soul gems back to back – the third and fourth albums from the legendary Chuck Jackson! First up is Encore – fantastic work from the great Chuck Jackson – a singer who was really at the height of his powers during these early years of his career! Chuck's maybe best known for heartbreaking material – and the notes on the album actually refer, oddly, to these songs as "the crying towel variety" – but what Jackson brings to his music is this strong sense of pride and power – this depth of reserve that makes you feel like he'll never give up, no matter how hard the going might be – a quality that southern soul singers would soon poach from Jackson and other singers up north, and make their own style of music. Yet back at the start, few folks did it better than Jackson – as you'll Hear on cuts that include the wonderful hit "Tell Him I'm Not Home", plus "Lonely Am I", "Blue Holiday", "Getting Ready for the Heartbreak", "Don't Believe Him Donna", "Tomorrow", "Two Stupid Feet", "Another Day", and "Invisible". Next up is Mr Everything – rock-solid set of heartbreaking soul – the sort that few others could touch at the time! Jackson often doesn't get his due in the history books these days – but records like these were landmark moments of pride, power, and open male emotion – of the sort that went onto inform generations of soul music to come – and help future artists find their way, guided by the emotional frankness of Jackson's approach! Backings are carefully balanced – tight, but never too polished to overwhelm Chuck's vocals – which soar out with a raw power that blows away Sam Cooke or some of Jackson's other contemporaries. Titles include "D-5", "I Need You", "Human", "I'm Your Man", "Tears Of Joy", and "Somebody New". CD

Chuck Jackson may be Mr Everything in the title – but there's one thing he does especially well on this classic 60s album – deliver a rock-solid sort of heartbreaking soul – the sort that few others could touch at the time! Jackson often doesn't get his due in the history books these days – but records like these were landmark moments of pride, power, and open male emotion – of the sort that went onto inform generations of soul music to come – and help future artists find their way, guided by the emotional frankness of Jackson's approach! Backings are carefully balanced – tight, but never too polished to overwhelm Chuck's vocals – which soar out with a raw power that blows away Sam Cooke or some of Jackson's other contemporaries. Titles include "D-5", "I Need You", "Human", "I'm Your Man", "Tears Of Joy", and "Somebody New". LP, Vinyl record album

The tremendous debut of the great Millie Jackson – a new standard-setting deep soul record for the 70s, and one that's quite different than some of Jackson's work from later years! The record's got a heartbreaking southern female soul approach – similar to work by underground favorites like Ann Sexton, Doris Duke, or Shirley Brown – and even though the arrangements are done north of the Mason/Dixon line (in New York by Bert DeCoteaux, and in DC by Tony Camillo), the record feels like it was lifted off the pressing plant in Muscle Shoals or Jackson! Titles include "I Ain't Giving Up", "I Miss You Baby", "Ask Me What You Want", "My Man, A Sweet Man", "I Just Can't Stand It", and "Strange Things". CD version features a whopping 11 bonus tracks – many of which were never issued before – and titles include the MGM numbers "My Heart Took A Licking" and "A Little Bit Of Something", plus "Ask Me What You Want (unedited master)", "Untrue Men", "I Don't Wanna Talk About It", "Strange Things (alt mix)", "My Man A Sweet Man (unedited master)", and "You're The Joy Of My Life (alt take)". CD

The second collaboration between the Jacksons and the Gamble & Huff production team for Philly International – and a nice little sleeper that we like more and more over the years! Like the preceding album from the team, the pairing's a great one – and the Jacksons' pop soul harmonies match up very nicely with the full, rich sound of the Philly groove! Titles include "Music's Takin' Over", "Goin' Places", "Different Kind Of Lady", "Even Though You're Gone", "Jump For Joy", "Heaven Knows I Love You, Girl", "Man Of War", "Do What You Wanna", and "Find Me A Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

The complete recordings of a crucially overlooked deep soul singer – the amazing Rozetta Johnson, a voice that should have been as big as Aretha Franklin or Gladys Knight, if there were any justice in the world! And Johnson isn't just a great singer on her own – she gets incredible help here from Sam Dees – a hell of a songwriter, and a great producer that puts Rozetta in perfect territory – a mode that's often more righteous than traditional southern soul, with some funky currents at the bottom – and an overall badass vibe that fits her vocals perfectly! There was a previous collection of Rozetta's music about a decade ago – but this set supercedes that with excellent sound and some unreleased alternate tracks, too – plus the usual top-shelf Ace/Kent presentation, which makes the collection as much of a joy to hold as it is to hear. Titles include "Mama Was A Bad Seed (alt)", "You Better Keep What You Got (alt)", "I Can Feel My Love Coming Down", "It's Been So Nice", "Personal Woman", "Chained & Bound", "Holding The Losing Hand", "Who Are You Gonna Love (Your Woman Or Your Wife)", "Mine Was Real", "A Woman's Way", "Willow Weep For Me", "That Hurts", "For That Man Of Mind", "How Can You Lose Something You Never Had", and "To Love Somebody". CD

A massive collection of work from Patti Labelle – one that features solo recordings, sides with Labelle, and famous duets – all in a 3CD, 38 track package that even features some previously unreleased cuts! The label-hopping effort offers up a true picture of Patti's greatness at all levels – and the bonus tracks make it well worth having, even if you've got some of these gems on other sources. Unreleased tracks include "Mean Ol Man's World", "Release The Tension (disco version)", and "Last Dance"; solo tracks include "Somebody Loves You Baby", "My Love Sweet Love", "Over The Rainbow", "Music Is My Way Of Life", "Joy To Have Your Love", "New Attitude", "If Only You Knew", and "The Spirit's In It"; Labelle tracks include "Moonshadow", "Last Dance", "Lady Marmalade", "You Turn Me On", "Messin With My Mind", and "What Can I Do For You". CD

Ronnie Laws at the top of his early game – working in a tight mix of jazz and soul put together with some great help from Wayne Henderson's At Home Productions – very much in the hit style that team was putting out at the time! The work's surprisingly open and hip compared to efforts like this from a decade later – still smooth in production, but with lots of room for instrumental solos, and a groove that's still more heavy on fusion influences than anything else! Laws plays tenor, flute, and soprano sax – and other players include Larry Dunn on keyboards and Melvin Robinson on guitar – and a few cuts feature chorus vocals, by hip singers who include Eloise and Debra Laws, Diane Reeves, and Phillip Bailey. Titles include "All For You", "These Days", "Flame", "Living Love", "Joy", "Live Your Life Away", and "Love Is Here". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Classic club from Webster Lewis – and much more of an all-out disco affair than some of his later work! The record introduces Lewis' all-encompassing style – as he writes, arranges, and produces the album at a level that easily matches that of Barry White – who would later emerge as a mentor for Lewis, introducing him as part of the later Love Unlimited Orchestra records. The group here is billed as "Webster Lewis & The Post-Pop Space-Rock Be-Bop Gospel Tabernacle Orchestra & Chorus" – a pretty good way to describe the soaringly full sound of the album – one that's built up from Webster's keyboards with lots of added strings and rhythms, plus occasional backing vocals from a female chorus. Most of the focus here is instrumental, though – filled with great tunes that include "On The Town", "Love Is The Way", "Do It With Style", "Song Of Joy", "Goodnight Baby Girl", "Since I've Been Gone", and "Saturday Night Steppin Out". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Harry "Little" Caesar – a singer who made some great R&B singles for the west coast scene in the 50s, but hardly ever got his due on the other side of the US! Harry's got a nicely rough edge in his vocals – a style that reminds us a lot of the best male singers at King, like Roy Brown or Wynonie Harris – and although Caesar's perhaps not as raw and raunchy as the latter, he often covers similar down-to-earth topics in his tunes – material that makes these sides a real joy to rediscover! As the title implies, the work here was recorded for a handful of different labels – Modern, Dolphin, and Downey – and together, the tunes paint a vivid picture of this under-discovered talent from LA – a picture that's expanded on nicely by Billy Vera's notes as well. CD features 26 tracks in all – including "Cadillac Baby", "Don't Mention The Blues", "Lying Woman", "Atomic Love", "Going Down To The River", "Move Me", "Personal Question", "Tried To Reason With You Baby", and "What Are They Laughing About" – plus numbers sung with The Turbans, including "The Nest Is Warm", "No No Cherry", and "Tick Tock A Woo". CD

The beginning of an amazing run on RCA for vocalist Jon Lucien – working here in a sublime blend of styles that's way beyond simple soul or standard jazz! Lucien's got a sound that's unlike anything we can think of – apart from the countless imitators who've tried for his style in recent years – and this initial RCA album is a musical masterpiece that's filled with joy, life, and emotion – all without any of the cliches that such a reference might imply! Arrangements are by Lucien, with some occasional help from Horace Ott and Stanley Rubinstein – all a swirling blend of strings, jazz, and some groovier rhythms at the bottom that have made this record an underground favorite for years. Titles include a killer version of "Who Will Buy", done as a breezy jazz groover, in a way that's made it a classic jazz dance track for years – plus "I Am Now", "How Insensitive", "Love For Sale", and "Dindi" – all given the lush, lovely, swirling, soulful Lucien sound! LP, Vinyl record album

An essential 2 CD set that brings together some of the best work ever by one of the 70's most enduring modern soul groups! We've always loved Maze, but they sound extremely great on this CD – since it picks through their classic albums, and brings together the best cuts, skipping over some of the group's weaker material. Nearly every cut's a winner, and titles include "While I'm Alone", "Golden Time of Day", "Southern Girl", "Joy & Pain", "Happy Feelings", "Love Is The Key", "Lady Of Magic", "Back In Stride", "I Wanna Be With You", "Running Away", and "Reason". CD

A live album from the mighty Frankie Beverly and Maze – and a set that's every bit as important as their studio classics for Capitol Records! It's always a sign of how huge Frankie Beverly was during the 80s that Capitol let him cut not one, but two double live albums during the early part of the decade – and this one, his first, has the band grooving wonderfully before a crowd going mad in the Crescent City – while the group keep all the perfection, sharp grooves, and sophisticated soul that they had on record! The songs retain all the charm of the studio renditions – and are stretched out a bit more in the live setting, with some really nice interplay with the crowd – who are clearly going nuts in the presence of the group. Titles include the famous live version of "Joy & Pain" – sampled heavily back in the day – plus other classics that include live takes on "Happy Feelins", "Southern Girl", "Look At California", "Before I Let Go", "We Need Love To Love", "The Look In Your Eyes", "Running Away", "Reason", "Feel That You're Fallin", "You", and "Changing Times". LP, Vinyl record album

A live album from the mighty Frankie Beverly and Maze – and a set that's every bit as important as their studio classics for Capitol Records! It's always a sign of how huge Frankie Beverly was during the 80s that Capitol let him cut not one, but two double live albums during the early part of the decade – and this one, his first, has the band grooving wonderfully before a crowd going mad in the Crescent City – while the group keep all the perfection, sharp grooves, and sophisticated soul that they had on record! The songs retain all the charm of the studio renditions – and are stretched out a bit more in the live setting, with some really nice interplay with the crowd – who are clearly going nuts in the presence of the group. Titles include the famous live version of "Joy & Pain" – sampled heavily back in the day – plus other classics that include live takes on "Happy Feelins", "Southern Girl", "Look At California", "Before I Let Go", "We Need Love To Love", "The Look In Your Eyes", "Running Away", "Reason", "Feel That You're Fallin", "You", and "Changing Times". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of classic live albums from Frankie Beverly & Maze – Live In New Orleans from 1981, and Live In Los Angeles from 1986 – originally 2LP sets, perfectly paired here as a 2CD set! First up is Live New Orleans, in which the band grooves wonderfully before a crowd going mad in the Crescent City! The songs retain all the charm of the studio renditions – and are stretched out a bit more in the live setting, with some really nice interplay with the crowd. The set is heavy with early Maze classics – including "Southern Girl", "Look At California", "Before I Let Go". "We Need Love To Love", "The Look In Your Eyes" the big sample track "Joy & Pain" and more. Live In Los Angeles was issued a half decade later cut during the 80s – and is even more proof that the Maze style of soul music was not only thriving, but succeeding strongly outside the studio, regardless of air play and album sales! The general groove is very similar to the band's classic work from the late 70s – with tight modern soul grooves, all graced by the magnificent vocals of Frankie Beverly, one of the generations best singers! Includes the cuts "Happy Feelins", "We Are One", "Back In Stride", "Freedom", "I Wanna Be With You", "When You Love Someone", and "Running Away". CD

A collection of classics from Frankie Beverly and Maze – 10 tracks that perfectly sum up the mellow-grooving genius of the group at their best! The set brings together hits and key album cuts from the core Maze albums on Capitol! Titles include "Southern Girl", "Golden Time Of Day", "Before I Let Go", "Back In Stride", "Joy & Pain", "Happy Feelins", and "While I'm Alone". CD

An overstuffed collection of classics from Frankie Beverly and Maze – 18 tracks that perfectly sum up the mellow-grooving genius of the group at their best! The set brings together hits and key album cuts from the core Maze albums on Capitol – starting out with the group's first few at the end of the 70s, through their long strong run in later years – a time when Frankie's lead was stronger than ever, and even 80s production couldn't dampen their soul! Titles include "Southern Girl", "Workin Together", "Golden Time Of Day", "Before I Let Go", "Never Let You Down", "We Are One", "Back In Stride", "Joy & Pain", "Silky Soul", "Too Many Games", "Happy Feelins (live)", and "Feel That You're Feelin". CD

Soaring soul from Melba Moore – a singer who really came into her own with this sweet 70s album! Melba always had a great voice, right from the start – but here, she's working with arrangements and production by Van McCoy – updating her sound with a bit of a clubby groove, in a way that helps Moore reach even greater heights than usual – and cross over to a big audience with ears for the growing disco sounds of the time! McCoy really knows how to pitch things right – and overall, the album's got a much deeper feel than some of his own disco work of the time – thanks, no doubt, to Melba's rich vocal approach. Titles include "So Many Mountains", "Good Love Makes Everything Alright", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "The Greatest Feeling", "Mighty Clouds Of Joy", and "Ain't No Love Lost". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure little modern soul groover – with a jazzy funk touch that you wouldn't expect from a record cut at Malaco Studios and released on the southern soul heavy Chimneyville imprint – usually home to much rootsier material! The group's got a soaring groove – with a lot of uptempo moments and few mellower ones – always exuberant, and filled with a sense of joy and power that really comes through right away! The groove is upbeat, and has the same sense of positive energy you'll find in the lyrics and tight instrumentation – and titles include "Dance To The Funk", "Come & Go Away With Me", "You Make Me So Happy", "Reachin Out", "Time Is Wasting", "Don't Be Lonely", and "Trust In Me". CD

Heavy-jamming Afro Funk from Osibisa – the group's first 2 albums, back to back in one 2 CD package! Osibisa were one of the most popular Afro Funk groups of their generation – with a globe-spanning influence that made them as well-received over here in the US as they were in their post-colonial UK home. The sound on both sets is great – and captures the group at their raw early best – when they were mostly fusing together bits of jazz and soul with African rhythms, and going for a groove that was lightly playful, and infused with a strong sense of joy and celebration! Titles include "Oranges", "Akwaaba", "Ayiko Bia", "The Dawn", "Y Sharp", "Survival", "Move On", "Rabiatu", and the group's classic "Music For Gong Gong". (Global Grooves, Soul) CD

A totally great album from Freda Payne – a set that moves strongly past her initial early hits for the Holland Dozier Holland team, into a realm that's even more sophisticated overall! There's a full approach here that's really wonderful – almost a higher-concept version of soul music, yet still with all the punch that Payne packed on her key singles from the first album! Strings and larger arrangements really round out the sound in a very unique way – but the whole thing's still plenty soulful all the way through, with a righteous undercurrent that definitely lives up to the HDH legacy – thanks to arrangements from McKinley Jackson and HB Barnum. Freda's vocals are wonderful – even more powerful than before – and titles include "I'm Not Getting Any Better", "The Road We Didn't Take", "Odds & Ends", "I Shall Not Be Moved", "Mama's Gone", "Suddenly It's Yesterday", "You Brought The Joy", and "You've Got To Love Somebody (Let It Be Me)". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet club grooving from the legendary Freda Payne – a very different album than her initial hits for Holland-Dozier-Holland, and a set that has a mature mix of disco and modern soul! Production is by Tony Camillo and Frank Wilson – and the tracks are long and nicely stretched out – getting Freda past the hooks and into territory that almost rivals the best on Philadelphia International at the time. The best cuts here are the ones that are slightly mellow, grooving in a midtempo mode – really letting Payne show off this new style to best effect. Titles include "Master Of Love", "Stares & Whispers", "Bring Back The Joy", and "I Get High On Your Memory". LP, Vinyl record album

A very strong album by the one-and-only Prince – maybe the catchiest, most rewarding full length by the royal one since the Revolution days! Musicology is most notable for the undeniable exuberance and joy that vibrates from the speakers, track after track. Prince seems to be having fun on this one, and as much as we admired the freaky prog funk of his previous album The Rainbow Children (even if it was pretty damn puzzling), it's great to have these big, Revolution style funk rock party numbers back in the cannon. All praise aside, we have to admit we're just a little bit baffled by the relentless hype and fawning, over-baked love this album has gotten in mainstream publications, but our beef is with toothless entertainment "journalists" and "critics", not with Prince. Highly recommended! Tracks include "Musicology", "A Million Days", "Life O' The Party" ,"Call My Name", "Cinnamon Girl" (not the Neil Young song), "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?", "On The Couch" and more. CD

A very strong album by the one-and-only Prince – maybe the catchiest, most rewarding full length by the royal one since the Revolution days! Musicology is most notable for the undeniable exuberance and joy that vibrates from the speakers, track after track. Prince seems to be having fun on this one, and as much as we admired the freaky prog funk of his previous album The Rainbow Children (even if it was pretty damn puzzling), it's great to have these big, Revolution style funk rock party numbers back in the cannon. All praise aside, we have to admit we're just a little bit baffled by the relentless hype and fawning, over-baked love this album has gotten in mainstream publications, but our beef is with toothless entertainment "journalists" and "critics", not with Prince. Highly recommended! Tracks include "Musicology", "A Million Days", "Life O' The Party" ,"Call My Name", "Cinnamon Girl" (not the Neil Young song), "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?", "On The Couch" and more. CD

A very strong album by the one-and-only Prince – maybe the catchiest, most rewarding full length by the royal one since the Revolution days! Musicology is most notable for the undeniable exuberance and joy that vibrates from the speakers, track after track. Prince seems to be having fun on this one, and as much as we admired the freaky prog funk of his previous album The Rainbow Children (even if it was pretty damn puzzling), it's great to have these big, Revolution style funk rock party numbers back in the cannon. All praise aside, we have to admit we're just a little bit baffled by the relentless hype and fawning, over-baked love this album has gotten in mainstream publications, but our beef is with toothless entertainment "journalists" and "critics", not with Prince. Highly recommended! Tracks include "Musicology", "A Million Days", "Life O' The Party" ,"Call My Name", "Cinnamon Girl" (not the Neil Young song), "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?", "On The Couch" and more. CD

A great solo moment from Eugene Record – the singer who'd rose to fame with The Chi-Lites, and who still sounds pretty darn great here on his own! The album follows strongly from the best late styles of Record's previous group – and the tunes are a mix of ballads that Eugene could always do very well, and a few more contemporary groovers used to bring a modern soul vibe to the record! Eugene produced the whole thing himself, but gets great Chicago soul help on arrangements from Tom Tom 84 and James Mack – and some of he best cuts have that loping, midtempo groove that was always a perfect fit for Record's standout vocals. Titles include the great "Here Comes The Sun" and "Overdose Of Joy" – plus "Laying Beside You", "Trying To Watch The Wind", "Mother Of Love", "Love Don't Live By Sex Alone", and "Putting it Down". LP, Vinyl record album

An album with a very fitting title – as the whole set is practically a dictionary of soul music, for anyone who needs an understanding of the genre! The cover alone tells you that the set is something special – and the sounds within are even better – classic Otis Redding on Stax Records, at a time when he'd already gotten his initial groove going, and was really pushing into that later, more sophisticated style that had him crossing boundaries and opening up the music for a whole new generation! Key proof of this is his remake of "Try A Little Tenderness" – a standard that had been knocking around for years, but which is exploded with a whole new emotion in Otis' version – as are tunes like "Day Tripper" and "Tennessee Waltz", with results that are maybe not as completely sublime – but which still illustrate the way that Redding was reaching way beyond the indie soul scene with his appeal. But even better are the cuts intrinsic to the album – beautiful originals that include "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)", "My Lover's Prayer", "Ton Of Joy", "I'm Sick Y'All", and "She Put The Hurt On Me" – which really demonstrate Redding's growing strengths as a songwriter. LP, Vinyl record album

Rollicking country-tinged blues from Jimmy Reed and an incredible group of backing musicians – actually not captured in the opulent grandeur of Carnegie Hall – and probably all the better for it! Prior to the original double LP release of Jimmy Reed At Carnegie Hall, Reed headlined a Blues At Carnegie Hall event, and though the performance was not recorded for a live album release he went on the cut a similar set list with varying players that included Lonnie Brooks, Phil Upchurch and Eddie Tayor on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass, Earl Phillips and Albert King on tracks. It's really wonderful stuff, obvious epiphany material for loads of rockers and young players on both the US and British blues scenes to come! 23 tracks in all: "Bright Lights Big City", "I'm Mr Luck", "Found Joy", "Kind Of Lonesome", "Tell Me You Love Me", "Hold Me Close", "Baby What You Want Me To Do", "Blue Blue Water", "Hush Hush", "Found Love", "Honest I Do", "You Got Me Dizzy", "Boogie In The Dark", "Take Out Some Insurance", "The Sun Is Shining" and lots more! (Blues, Soul) CD

Rollicking country-tinged blues from Jimmy Reed and an incredible group of backing musicians – actually not captured in the opulent grandeur of Carnegie Hall – and probably all the better for it! Prior to the original double LP release of Jimmy Reed At Carnegie Hall, Reed headlined a Blues At Carnegie Hall event, and though the performance was not recorded for a live album release he went on the cut a similar set list with varying players that included Lonnie Brooks, Phil Upchurch and Eddie Tayor on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass, Earl Phillips and Albert King on tracks. It's really wonderful stuff, obvious epiphany material for loads of rockers and young players on both the US and British blues scenes to come! 23 tracks in all: "Bright Lights Big City", "I'm Mr Luck", "Found Joy", "Kind Of Lonesome", "Tell Me You Love Me", "Hold Me Close", "Baby What You Want Me To Do", "Blue Blue Water", "Hush Hush", "Found Love", "Honest I Do", "You Got Me Dizzy", "Boogie In The Dark", "Take Out Some Insurance", "The Sun Is Shining" and lots more! (Blues, Soul) CD

An insane array of Christmas disco classics – all wrapped up in a single package! The set features both the original 1976 mix and 1992 Tom Moulton mix of the legendary Christmas Jollies set by the Salsoul Orchestra – one of the Salsoul label's biggest-selling albums – originally recorded in 1976, and pressed again and again over the years – and eventually remixed even stronger in the early 90s. Vince Montana is at the head of the whole project – pushing the group with that great full sound he had at the time – a blend of strings and soul that could be kitschy, but comes off great! The sound is kind of a disco-Christmas one, with driving uptempo versions of tunes like "Merry Christmas All", "Sleigh Ride", "Christmas Time", and "Silent Night" – plus the original tune "There's Someone Who's Knocking". In addition to this, the album also features 2 extended medleys of holiday tunes – one based around Christmas, the other around New Years! The package also features Christmas Jollies 2 from the legendary Salsoul Orchestra – working here with Patrick Adams this time around, in a groove that occasionally bears echoes of his own music on P&P Records! The vibe's nicely different from the first Jollies set – a different inflection of the Christmas disco mode, yet one that's still more than proud enough to bear the Salsoul name – thanks to sharp instrumentation throughout, and a way of laying down the grooves that's often as funky as it is clubby! The whole thing's great, and titles include "Joyful Spirit", "Deck The Halls", "Joy To The World", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" plus "You're All I Want For Christmas" and the 8 minute long "Salsoul Christmas Suite". In addition to Christmas Jollies 1 in the 1976 mix and 1992 Tom Moulton mix, and Christmas Jollies 2 – the set also features 11 bonus tracks, including 7" and 12" single mixes, plus "Christmas Medley (parts 1 & 2)', and "Little Drummer Boy (Dank rmx)". (Holiday Music, Soul) CD

A hugely expanded version of The Supremes classic Merry Christmas album from 1965 – presented here with full stereo and mono mixes, a new 2017 mix, and even bonus tracks too! The core album was one of THE classic Motown Christmas albums of the 60s – a mighty statement of Holiday pride from The Supremes – who are as strong here as on any of their other non-seasonal work from the time! The class and care of the trio really fits the new spirit of Christmas that was emerging in 60s soul music – not the kinds of raw songs about boozing or sadness on the holiday, which were a staple of blues and R&B – but instead these warmly crafted songs of home and hearth, set up perfectly with production by Harvey Fuqua and arrangements from Gene Page, HB Barnum and Ernie Freeman. The whole thing's incredibly soulful – but in a gentle way too – and the set features a dozen holiday numbers including "Silver Bells", "The Little Drummer Boy", "My Christmas Tree", "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", and "Joy To The World". 2CD version features 50 tracks in all – 12 mono tracks, 12 stereo, and 12 more titles that are all these very cool alternate mixes of the album, some with alternate vocals! Then, there's lots of Supremes bonus tracks too – including "The Christmas Song (duet version)", "Season's Greetings", "My Favorite Things (live)", "It Won't Be Long Til Christmas", "Just A Lonely Christmas", and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem". (Holiday Music, Soul) CD

A treasure trove of late 60s southern soul from the great Bettye Swann – 22 tunes cut for Capitol between 1968 and 1970 after she jumped from the indie Money Records! Sadly, the move didn't turn Bettye into the major star Capitol no doubt expected to arise – and these fantastic tracks were largely unappreciated at the time. This release marks the very first worthy issue of most of this material, thanks to Honest Jon's – who did a similarly wonderful job rescuing some of the best material ever recorded by Bettye's contemporary Candi Staton! There's an achingly great southern soul feel to these tunes, which range from fragile soul ballads with sweet harmonies to poundingly righteous stompers. The feel is just loose enough, with roomy arrangements that leave plenty of space for Bettye's sweet vocals, but still with the ability to tighten up and pound at the crack of a whip! Masterful lost soul – and a joy to experience with a reverent reissue! Tracks include "Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me?)", "I'm Lonely For You", "Don't Touch Me", "Little Things Mean A Lot", "No Faith No Love", "Ain't That Peculiar", "Tell It Like It Is", "Today I Started Loving You Again" and lots more! CD

An early Motown live album - one that shows just how strongly the company was invested in presenting its artists as more than just studio stars. Lots of tasty tracks here, all live, including "Dream Come True" by The Temptations, "Love Me All The Way" and "He's Alright" by Kim Weston, "Pride & Joy" and "Days Of Wine & Roses" by Marvin Gaye, "Quicksand" and "It's Alright" by Martha & The Vandellas, and "Moon River" and "I Call It Pretty Music" by Stevie Wonder. LP, Vinyl record album

A real 80s groover from Lillo Thomas – plenty of keyboards, snapping rhythms, and a sweetly gliding rhythm that beautifully supports Thomas' high-pitched vocals! The style owes a fair bit to territory first hit by Michael Jackson at the end of the 70s, but it still sounds surprisingly great after all these years – a style of soul that's unabashedly focused on the hooks, but which comes off with a fair bit of integrity too – thanks to a batch of nearly all original tunes by Thomas, co-written with keyboardist/arranger Paul Lawrence Jones. There's a lean groove to the record that holds up perfectly throughout, and never loses its energy – and titles include "I Love It", "Trust Me", "Who Do You Think You Are", "Hot Love", "You're A Good Girl", and "Joy Of Your Love". CD

A real 80s groover from Lillo Thomas – plenty of keyboards, snapping rhythms, and a sweetly gliding rhythm that beautifully supports Thomas' high-pitched vocals! The style owes a fair bit to territory first hit by Michael Jackson at the end of the 70s, but it still sounds surprisingly great after all these years – a style of soul that's unabashedly focused on the hooks, but which comes off with a fair bit of integrity too – thanks to a batch of nearly all original tunes by Thomas, co-written with keyboardist/arranger Paul Lawrence Jones. There's a lean groove to the record that holds up perfectly throughout, and never loses its energy – and titles include "I Love It", "Trust Me", "Who Do You Think You Are", "Hot Love", "You're A Good Girl", and "Joy Of Your Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Rootsy soul from Doris Troy – more of a down-home album than even her American work of earlier years! The set was recorded for the Beatles' Apple label at the end of the 60s – produced by Doris herself, and with a style that mixes in a fair bit of rock influences to a more standard style of soul. There's plenty of traces of late Beatles – in an "Oh Darling" or Let It Be mode, especially in the use of heavy guitars – and although Doris handled production, we also hear plenty of traces of Billy Preston and George Harrison in the mix. Titles include "Special Care", "You Tore Me Up Inside", "Gonna Get My Baby Back", "Jacob's Ladder", "Hurry", "So Far", and "You Give Me Joy Joy". LP, Vinyl record album

Great raw vocal group material – and an essential batch of sides from this group that only ever cut rare singles! The set's a much-needed look at the rich talents of the Van Dykes – a southern male vocal trio with a style that covered a number of different areas, from hard post-doo wop harmony, to sweeter Impressions-like soul. We'd only heard a couple of the group's singles for the Mala label, and we're really pleased to discover how much of their stuff is on a par with what we'd already known. The CD features a total of 15 tracks – and titles include "I'm So Happy", "Tears Of Joy", "No Man Is An Island", "Hey Mr Lonesome", "You Need Confidence", and "I'm For Real, Baby". CD

One of the biggest albums of Muddy Waters' career – a key crossover effort that has Waters as the "father" working with "sons" Paul Butterfield and Michael Bloomfield! The style here is still quite rootsy overall – and the double-length session features one album recorded in the studio, and a second done live at the Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree – key evidence of the growing hippie audience for blues like this! The core group features Waters on vocals with Otis Spann on piano, Mike Bloomfield on guitar, Paul Butterfield on harmonica, Donald Duck Dunn on bass, and Sam Lay on drums – and guest players include Phil Upchurch on bass and Buddy Miles on drums – each on one number. Titles include "All Aboard", "Mean Disposition", "Forty Days & Forty Nights", "Sugar Sweet", "Twenty Four Hours", "I'm Ready", "Walkin Thru The Park", "Got My Mojo Working (parts 1 & 2)", "The Same Thing", "Baby Please Don't Go", and "Honey Bee". (Blues, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

An early Christmas gem from Jackie Wilson – a record that really shows his versatility as a singer, as he takes on a number of different Holiday tunes in a variety of moods! Jackie's a soul singer first and foremost, but he can also sparkle with jazzier and more traditional material – which he touches on here in the company of arrangers Nat Tarnopol, Dick Jacobs, and Alan Lorber. The sound is socking soul on the best numbers – but also gets ambitious and somber on some of the others – making for a nice well-rounded Holiday set, on titles that include "Joy To The World", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Silent Night", "White Christmas", "The First Noel", and "Silver Bells". (Holiday Music, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Hypnotic organ funk from Lyman Woodard – an old bandmate of Dennis Coffey, and one of the shining lights of the 70s Detroit scene! This is amazing, amazing stuff – Woodard's electric piano, organ and occasional mellotron and Norma Bell's alto saxophone lend a cosmic funk aspect throughout, very much like Death Wish-era Herbie Hancock – with a laidback, tripped-out groove that's really mindblowing! Ron English accents the thing perfectly with his languid guitar and bass groove, while Leonard King and Lorenzo Brown's drumming and percussion can keep the groove adrift, or tear it up in a funky maelstrom depending on the mission of the cut. It's totally essential Strata jazz funk – and a record we've rarely seen in the original pressing. Tracks include "Saturday Night Special", "Joy Road", "Belle Isle Daze", "Creative Musicians", "Cheeba", "On Your Mind", "Allen Barnes", and "Help Me Get Away". CD features bonus tracks – "Bell Isle Daze (lost alt mix)" and "Saturday Night Special (lost alternate mix)". (Jazz, Soul) CD

Hypnotic organ funk from Lyman Woodard – an old bandmate of Dennis Coffey, and one of the shining lights of the 70s Detroit scene! This is amazing, amazing stuff – Woodard's electric piano, organ and occasional mellotron and Norma Bell's alto saxophone lend a cosmic funk aspect throughout, very much like Death Wish-era Herbie Hancock – with a laidback, tripped-out groove that's really mindblowing! Ron English accents the thing perfectly with his languid guitar and bass groove, while Leonard King and Lorenzo Brown's drumming and percussion can keep the groove adrift, or tear it up in a funky maelstrom depending on the mission of the cut. It's totally essential Strata jazz funk – and a record we've rarely seen in the original pressing. Tracks include "Saturday Night Special", "Joy Road", "Belle Isle Daze", "Creative Musicians", "Cheeba", "On Your Mind", "Allen Barnes", and "Help Me Get Away". Features bonus tracks "Saturday Night Special (lost alt mix)" and "Bell Isle Daze (lost alt mix)". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Hard and heavy female soul from the mighty Chess Records – and a selection of tracks that features plenty of funk in the mix too! The sisters on this set are not of the sobbing kind – as the package goes for a proud-stepping approach to soul that puts the ladies in charge right from the very first note – backing their deeply soulful vocals with a righteous set of backings, and really upping the power of tunes with some sock-solid production all the way through! Most of the tunes are from the late 60s, when Chess was bringing a good deal of funk into the mix – and plenty are from rare singles that haven't been reissued for years! 20 tracks in all, and part of this great Mojo Chess series – with titles that include "Dirty Man" by Laura Lee, "Git Out" by Mitty Collier, "Liberation Conversation" by Marlena Shaw, "Take Me For A Little While" by Jackie Ross, "Don't Mess With The Messer" by Koko Taylor, "In Orbit" by Joy Lovejoy, "Cheater Man" by Irma Thomas, "Sally Go Round The Roses" by The Jaynettes, "California Soul" by Marlena Shaw, "My Babe" by Mitty Collier, "I Surrender" by Fontella Bass, and "I Don't Wanna Fuss" by Sugar Pie Desanto. CD

Of all the soul labels of the 60s, Motown virtually had a lock on Christmas – jumping to the forefront with a host of classic recordings that have stood for years as some of the greatest soul Christmas tunes ever! Motown continued that tradition well into later years too – and this nice little set is a strong testament to the huge legacy of Holiday music served up by the label! The package brings together a few key cuts from the classic years, and mixes them with a lot of surprising numbers from later decades too – in a set list of 13 tracks that include "All I Want" by Asiahn, "Let It Snow" by Boyz II Men & Brian Knight, "This Christmas" by Ne Yo, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Jackson 5, "Silent Night" by Tiana Major9, "Silver Bells" by The Supremes, "Jesus Is Love" by The Commodores, "I Want To Come Home For Christmas" by Marvin Gaye, "Christmas Blues" by Njomza, "Deck The Halls/Bring A Torch" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, "Someday At Christmas" by Joy Denalane, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by India.Arie & Joe Sample, and "Give Love On Christmas Day" by Johnny Gill. (Holiday Music, Soul) CD

A stunning overview of work from the small D-Vine Spirituals label in Memphis – a really homegrown imprint who were as important to the sound of the city's spiritual music as Stax Records was to soul in the 60s! In fact, the vibe here is often more 60s than 70s – maybe a testament to the finances of D-Vine when it came to recording this music – but also an indication of the way the company was able to go to the roots of what makes these tracks great – which is usually just a great lead voice or tight harmonies, and an important message in the music! This wonderful collection brings together rare 45rpm tracks issued by the label – and titles on this first volume include "God's Going To Blow Out The Sun" by Elder Ward & The Gospel Four, "I Feel Like Flying Away" by The Joy Of Memphis, "When I Looked" by The Traveling Stars, "The Reason I Love Him" by The Kingdom Airs, "Where You Gonna Run" by The D-Vine Spiritualettes, "One River To Cross" by The Seven Brothers, "Look At Your Life" by Evelyn Taylor, and "I'm A Soldier In God's Army" by The Southern Sons. (Gospel, Soul) CD

A stunning overview of work from the small D-Vine Spirituals label in Memphis – a really homegrown imprint who were as important to the sound of the city's spiritual music as Stax Records was to soul in the 60s! In fact, the vibe here is often more 60s than 70s – maybe a testament to the finances of D-Vine when it came to recording this music – but also an indication of the way the company was able to go to the roots of what makes these tracks great – which is usually just a great lead voice or tight harmonies, and an important message in the music! This wonderful collection brings together rare 45rpm tracks issued by the label – and titles on this first volume include "God's Going To Blow Out The Sun" by Elder Ward & The Gospel Four, "I Feel Like Flying Away" by The Joy Of Memphis, "When I Looked" by The Traveling Stars, "The Reason I Love Him" by The Kingdom Airs, "Where You Gonna Run" by The D-Vine Spiritualettes, "One River To Cross" by The Seven Brothers, "Look At Your Life" by Evelyn Taylor, and "I'm A Soldier In God's Army" by The Southern Sons. (Gospel, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

With cuts by Alyson Williams, Bobby Brown, Cathy Dennis, The Chimes, Doug Lazy, Glen Goldsmith, Jody Watley, Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens, Marathon, Ruth Joy, Seduction, Skipworth & Turner, Stevie V, Tyree, Urban High, and Wang Chung. LP, Vinyl record album

First New Orleans, then Houston, now Baton Rouge – leave it to the folks at Tuff City to make any southern city funky funky funky! The album actually only features work by 4 artists – but all of them are pretty darn great, the kind of obscure funky acts that first put us in business years back! The groove is hard and heavy – quite a different slice of LA than the New Orleans groove – with lots more hard drums and rumbling bass, and an overall sound that's very much in the east coast indie funk sound of the early 70s. And honestly, this is one of the freshest and strongest compilations that Tuff City ever put out – filled with great tracks that include "Joy & Affection", "Funky Black Man", and "Hogwash" by Earnest Jackson; "I Never Found A Girl" by Underground Express; "That's Henry", "Mississippi Mud", and "Angela" by Black Blood & The Chocolate Pickles; and "Ooh Wee Baby I Love You", "What The Deal Is", and "Groove Making" by George Perkins. (Funky Compilations, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

The funky side of New Orleans soul – from a series that has been giving us some of the best underground nuggets for many years, and at a level that goes farther than most of the 60s-centric collections of Crescent City funk! This time around, there's a great rare unissued track from Robert Parker – the excellent instrumental take of "The Hiccup", paired with his vocal version of the tune too – next to titles that include "What's His Name Black Samson" by Willie West, "Stink Bomb" by Eddie Bo, "Tweedie Pie" by Raymond Winnfield, "Da Boys From Across The Tracks" by George Porter's Joy Ride, "Accept What You Expect" by Louisiana Purchase, "Water Hole" by Sam & The Soul Machine, "Things Could Be Better" by Raymond Winnfield, and "Sweet Thing" by Willie Tee. (Funky Compilations, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Really great work from the Kent/Modern family of labels on the LA scene of the 60s – a company that initially broke big during the postwar years of R&B, but continued to record a huge amount of wonderful artists as the years went on! Because of their ties to R&B in the previous decade, Kent also had a great ear for the deeper side of soul music – so there's plenty of tracks on this set that may well have come from Memphis, Muscle Shoals, or other points south – mixed in with others that have a cool Cali vibe, including a few great early funk tracks, and some crossover gospel gems! The collection is the sort that Ace does the best – and is filled with rare singles, unreleased tracks, and other gems – all supported by very detailed notes. Titles include "At Last" by Jimmy bee, "Where She Att" by ZZ Hill, "Like I Do" by Bobby John, "Don't Believe Him" by Stacy Johnson, "Mighty Clouds Of Joy" by BPS Revolution, "Nobody But Me" by The Other Brothers, "Ghetto Child" by Johnny Copeland & His Soul Agents, "What Is This World Coming To" by Charles Taylor, "Jodine" by Earl Foster, "It's Getting Late" by Al King, "Whole World Down On You" by Larry Davis, "The Good Side Of My Girl" by Clay Hammond, "I'll Be Standing By" by Chuck Walker & The VIPs, "You're Still My Baby" by Venetta Fields, and "Rock Me Baby" by Millie Foster. CD

We're not sure if Santa makes the best dance instructor, but he definitely gets plenty of help from this groovy collection – a batch of 26 Christmas tunes that run the spectrum of soulful styles! Most numbers here are from our favorite stretch of Holiday soul – and although there's some tracks here you might have on other collections, there's plenty more unusual ones in the mix as well! Titles include "Santa Soul" by Rocki Lane & The Gross Group, "Christmas Joy" by The Soul Stirrers, "Santa Bring My Baby Back" by Joe Johnson, "Happy Birthday Jesus" by Sam Sweetsinger Bell, "Christmas Round The Corner" by Smuggy Williams, "Santa Teach Me To Dance" by Debbie & The Darnells, "Christmas In Viet Nam" by Charles Bowens & Gentlemen From Tigerland, "Spirit Of Christmas" by The Gospel Heavyweights, "Presents For Christmas" by Solomon Burke, "Christmas Time Is Coming" by The Storytellers, "Christmas Greeting" by The Elgins, "Christmas Time Baby" by The Organics, "Mama's Gift" by Stormy Weather, and "Alone On New Yers Eve" by The Manhattans. (Holiday Music, Soul) CD