Rare killers from Atlantic Records – served up here on a hip Japanese collection! Includes lots of obscure singles – including "Hold On" by James Carr, "Faithful & True" by Percy Sledge, "Sister Pitiful" by Judy Clay, "Lovebones" by Mighty Sam, "Only Be True To Me" by JP Robinson, "Is It Over" by Otis Clay, "Holding The Losing Hand" by Rozetta Johnson, "We Will Always Be Together" by Peggy Scott & Jojo Benson, "I Found All These Things" by CP Love, "Suppertime" by ZZ Hill, and "Cover Me" by Jackie Moore. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark double LP collection of work from Stax Records – issued at the end of the 60s, after their split with Atlantic – and a real celebration of the new life that was coming to the label at the time! The range of work is really great, and the 28 track set moves easily from hits to more obscure numbers – in a mode that really shows the growing sound of Stax as the 70s approached. Classic! Titles include "Hot Hips" by The Bar-Kays, "Where Do I Go" by Carla Thomas, "I Like Everything About You" by Jimmy Hughes, "It's Me" by Judy Clay, "Booker's Theme" by Booker T & The MGs, "Heartaches Mountain" by Ollie & The Nightingales, "Soul Clap 69" by Booker T & The MGs, "These Old Memories" by The Mad Lads, "Private Number" by William Bell & Judy Clay, "Long Walk To DC" by Staple Singers, and "Copy Kat" by Bar-Kays. 28 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

Margie Joseph gets a hipper treatment than on earlier records – a mix of east coast styles that adds in some Philly and early modern mellow arrangements, both of which provide a great contrast to Margie's southern-tinged vocals! The approach here is great – a fulling up and fleshing out of Joseph's initial promise – with strong arrangements from Arif Mardin, focused around smaller combo backing by players who include Bernard Purdie on drums, Richard Tee on keyboards, and Norman Harris on guitars. The groove is nice and lean on the bottom, but Margie's vocals are augmented by a brace of backing singers – Judy Clay, Cissy Houston, and others – all of whom create a sense of interplay that's similar to Aretha Franklin with The Sweet Inspirations on earlier records. But Margie's also upfront in the mix on most numbers – singing personally, and somewhat intimately with an easygoing sense of soul. Titles include Margie's own "Ridin' High", Paul Kelly's "Come Lay Some Lovin On Me" and "Come With Me", Norman Harris' "(Strange) I Still Love You", and a great version of Stevie Wonder's "To Know You Is To Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by The Tams, Joe Turner, The Temptations, Chairmen Of The Board, Mary Wells, William Bell & Judy Clay, Patty & The Emblems, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, The Impressions, Marvin Gaye, James & Bobby Purify, Archie Bell & The Drells, and others. LP, Vinyl record album