Quite an obscure one by Love – a mid 70s record that actually has quite a bit of soul in the mix! The album almost seems to be going for a Sly Stone approach – expanding the group past Arthur Lee and crew with a host of additional players that include Harvey Mandel, Bobby Lyle, and Joey Deguero. There's still plenty of bluesy and rocky tracks – but there's also a great cover of William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got" – done in a chunky mode that really hits a great groove with us (and which is proof that people were covering the tune even back when it was first released!) Other tracks move between soulful rock, Thin Lizzy-esque compressed guitar numbers, and other styles that show a bit more soul than might be expected. Titles include "Time Is Like A River", "Everybody's Gotta Live", "You Said You Would", "Busted Feet", "With A Little Energy", and "Who Are You". (Rock, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing work from Minnie Riperton – her first solo album, cut at the end of the 60s, after a number of years of work with the group Rotary Connection. The album builds off the now famous sound of Rotary Connection – but takes it to the next level, with arch-baroque production by the great Charles Stepney – who couches Minnie's fantastic vocals in a suite of shimmering soulful tracks that mix strings, horns, jazzy piano, and slight touches of bouncing rhythms. The overall sound is impossible to describe – sort of a cross between Burt Bacharach on A&M, Scott Walker's 3rd album, and the sound of Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On. The album's pure genius all the way through – one of the highlights of the Chicago scene of the 60s – and proof that Riperton, Stepney, and crew were shooting for the outer limits of soul music! Titles include "Les Fleur", "Only When I'm Dreaming", "Rainy Day In Centerville", "Memory Band", "Expecting", "Whenever Wherever", and "Oh, By The Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime second generation soul from Brenda & The Tabulations – a sweet set of Philly grooves, recorded at Sigma sound with help from Norman Harris, Bobby Eli, and John Davis! The album's every bit as groove-heavy as you'd expect from work by those dancefloor heavyweights – and the record's a great change from the earlier style of Brenda and the group – more positive and progressive, yet still with a few of the fragile ballads that first got them noticed! There's a great sense of class and poise to the record – a progression from the early years that's similar to that which many other Philly artists experienced with Gamble & Huff – almost more surprising here, given that sometimes a Casablanca record didn't come out with the same sort of care. Titles include "Superstar", "Home To Myself", "I Keep Coming Back For More", "Let's Go All The Way Down", "Leave Me Alone", and "Everybody's Fool". CD also features a bonus 12" mix of "Let's Go All The Way Down" – and an excellent Reel Music job of mastering and liner notes! CD

A real lost chapter in the career of the great Don Covay – material done after his original funky soul on 60s Atlantic Records, and before his return to fame in the early 70s on Mercury – done in a raw vibe that has a lot more grit than you might expect! There's touches of psychedelic blues in the instrumentation, which was recorded both in Memphis and Muscle Shoals – even though the record comes across with a vibe that's unlike any of the big hits recorded in those scenes at the time! Definitely a standout in the world of soul in the early 70s – with titles that include "Standing In the Grits Line", "Sweet Thang", "Stop By", "Bad Luck", "Hitching a Ride", and "What's In the Headlines". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy heavy funk from the mighty Yvonne Fair – a 70s bad soul sister that we'd rank right up there with Betty Davis! Yvonne got her start working with James Brown in a sweeter mode, but by the time of this mid 70s debut, she'd hit a really hard-wailing sort of style – one that had the righteous vocal lead of singers like Davis, Maxayn, or a rare few others – and which gets support here from some really full, rich production from Norman Whitfield! Whitfield brings in bits of strings alongside the heavier bass, drums, and keyboards – and makes for a unique mix that almost goes a bit southern soul, while still staying in the hipper styles of 70s Motown – letting Yvonne get a bit personal on a few tear-jerking numbers, and come wailing back with full force on the funkier ones. Titles include the classics "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" and "It Should Have Been Me" – plus "Let Your Hair Down", "Love Ain't No Toy", "Tell Me Something Good", "It's Bad For Me To See You", "Stay A Little Longer", and "Walk Out The Door If You Wanna". CD

One of the greatest Kool & The Gang albums ever – a monster live session that almost blows away their studio classics! The groove here is far more freewheeling and complex than some of their singles from the 70s – longer, tripped-out tunes with a definite undercurrent of jazz amidst the funk – loads of wicked horn bits from Ronnie Bell and Dennis Thomas that complicate things up nicely, while still staying soulfully in the groove. There's no vocals at all on the record – which further enforces the Kool Jazz sound of the set – and the album's even harder-hitting than their previous Sex Machine live album, so much so, the PJ's club had to close its doors shortly after the Gang's performance! Titles include the all-time killer sample cut "Duji" – plus "NT", "Ronnie's Groove", "Ricksonata", "Lucky For Me", "Sombrero Sam", and a medley of "Ike's Groove/You've Lost That Lovin Feeling". CD also features a rare bonus cut – "The Penguin" – recorded at the time, but not issued on the original album! Plus, this reissue is even better than the previous one – packaged with a full-color booklet of notes and rare images. CD

Massive work from the great Cheryl Lynn – and a key bridge between late 70s disco and the newer grooves of the 80s club scene! The album's a mix of midtempo groovers with a few mellower tracks – and it's got a tight, slightly jazzy sound that was very fresh at the time, and which still holds up incredibly well today – really a cut above most of Cheryl's contemporaries, and most of her later work too! The standout cut on the record is the landmark groover "Got To Be Real" – but there's loads of other great ones, like "Star Love", "Daybreak (Storybook Children)", "Give My Love To You", "All My Lovin", "You Saved My Day", and "Come In From The Rain". Features bonus tracks – "Got To Be Real (7" version – with different vocals)" and "You Saved My Day (12" version)". CD

Amazing rare soul from Gwen McCrae – little-known material recorded for Columbia records in the years before her later 70s fame at TK! The style here is nice and rootsy – very southern soul in its approach, even more so than Gwen's earliest work at TK – thanks, perhaps, to less of a club or pop crossover need in the production. Yet there's also a key link with the TK years, too – production by Steve Alaimo, who's really finding his way here in a great way – borrowing bits from other southern soul modes, moving them down to Miami, and helping forge a whole new chapter in southern soul for the 70s. Gwen's vocals are incredible – arguably even deeper and more hard-hitting than on some of her bigger hits – and the freshness of the material further makes the set great. Plus, since Columbia never issued a full album of this work in the US (although there was one rare record of the singles in Europe in the 70s), this package makes the first-ever full length Columbia album from Gwen – put together with stunning sound, very detailed notes, and some great vintage images. Titles include "Leave The Driving To Us", "Ain't Nothing You Can Do", "Lay It On Me", "Lead Me On", "Lovin In The Lay A Way", "I'm Losing The Feeling", and "Been So Long". CD

One of the deepest soul sets from Esther Phillips' 70s years on Kudu Records – a set with some nicely gritty grooves and a surprisingly earthy feel at times – especially when compared to some of her other albums of the time! Backings are by James Brown's old reedman, Pee Wee Ellis – and although there's some of the usual Kudu electric funk in the mix, there's also some deeper soul elements too – a vibe that's often a bit laidback and open, almost more Atlantic Records at points – which is a mighty good fit for Esther's wonderful voice! As usual for Kudu, the players are an all-star lineup – one that includes Richard Tee on keyboards, George Benson on guitar, Maceo Parker on tenor, and Bernard Purdie and Billy Cobham on drums – and Don Sebesky's also on deck a bit, to sweeten a few tracks up with light strings. The album's got a great version of Bill Withers' "Use Me" that features a tasty break in the intro – and other titles include a great version of "Alone Again (Naturally)", plus the cuts "Let's Move & Groove", "Cherry Red", "Let Me In Your Life", and "You & Me Together". CD

One of the deepest soul sets from Esther Phillips' 70s years on Kudu Records – a set with some nicely gritty grooves and a surprisingly earthy feel at times – especially when compared to some of her other albums of the time! Backings are by James Brown's old reedman, Pee Wee Ellis – and although there's some of the usual Kudu electric funk in the mix, there's also some deeper soul elements too – a vibe that's often a bit laidback and open, almost more Atlantic Records at points – which is a mighty good fit for Esther's wonderful voice! As usual for Kudu, the players are an all-star lineup – one that includes Richard Tee on keyboards, George Benson on guitar, Maceo Parker on tenor, and Bernard Purdie and Billy Cobham on drums – and Don Sebesky's also on deck a bit, to sweeten a few tracks up with light strings. The album's got a great version of Bill Withers' "Use Me" that features a tasty break in the intro – and other titles include a great version of "Alone Again (Naturally)", plus the cuts "Let's Move & Groove", "Cherry Red", "Let Me In Your Life", and "You & Me Together". CD

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 tremendous little album from Jimmy Ruffin – as "ruff" as the title implies, with a much deeper groove than you might find from other Motown releases at the time! The style here is really wonderful – rich, heartfelt vocals from Jimmy that easily match the best of the Detroit underground of the time – a style that's a bit like Darrell Banks or JJ Barnes, with echoes of the southern sound of the 60s – but produced to perfection with all the best that Motown could muster! Jimmy gets lots of heavy help from Norman Whitfield – who produced about half the tracks on the set, and gives Ruffin a sound that's somewhere between his righteous soul with the Temptations, and the best Motown grooves of his earlier work for the label. Other production is by Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier, William Weatherspoon & James Dean, and Richard Morris – all of whom follow Whitfield's lead nicely – and although the album's got few runaway hits, it's a rock-solid effort throughout – just the kind of album that makes us love the Motown full-length scene even more than the label's singles! Titles include "Lonely Lonely Man Am I", "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)", "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me", "Everybody Needs Love", "Sad & Lonesome Feeling", "Love Gives Love Takes Away", and "Farewell Is A Lonely Sound". Great reissue package too – with excellent sound, very detailed notes, and some great vintage images! CD

The incredible lost album from the group Sisters Love – material slated for release in the early 70s, but never saw the light of day, save for a handful of singles – a mix of rootsier southern soul and impeccable west coast funk styles, finally brought to light and with bonus tracks, to boot! Sisters Love came to Motown/MoWest at a transitional time for the label(s), who sent the group on tour, released a rare few singles in the US & UK, but didn't get the group over into the public consciousness the way it deserved. Great songs that were written, produced & arranged by the cream of the crop of soulful talents – Willie Hutch, Hal Davis, Gene Page, Gloria Jones & Pamela Sawyer – but this is the Sisters Love show, and they shine brilliantly! Titles include the amazing "Fast Mack" (purportedly submitted for the soundtrack to The Mack – and it's funky enough!), "Communication", "Mr Fix-It Man", "You've Got My Mind", "Just A Little Understanding", "I'm Learning To Trust My Man", "Giving Up", "Do What You Gotta Do","You've Got To Make Your Choice", "Sweet Inspiration", "Give Me Your Love" and "Turn On Your Love Light". CD

Late 70s cosmic club soul from Hotlanta producer, arranger, performer Tommy Stewart – cut from the cloth of his underground classics released on Abraxas in the 70s – but unreleased until now by the holy grail hunters at Jazzman UK! The disco EP has sounds tailor made for the dancefloor, the heavy bass lines and funky percussion, vamping vocals and just a really insistent groove – with spacey flourishes at the outer edges – and free of cliches that date or marginalize lesser material of the era. Reportedly rescued from reel to reel tapes in Stewart's Atlanta basement, the sound is top notch – and it's a strong testimonial to Stewart's club soul legacy! 6 tracks on this EP: "Hot Box", "Everything's Made For Love", "Let's Fall In Love Again", "I Could Never Say Goodbye", "Keep On Dancin" and "Function At The Junction". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Irma Thomas – and one of her deepest soul albums ever! The set was recorded with Swamp Dogg at the production helm, and he gives Irma this wonderfully rootsy feel throughout the record – the kind of vibe she definitely never got in the 60s, and a sound that seems to unlock even richer tones from her wonderful vocals! And although Swamp's in charge, the record's definitely Irma's own, too – as there's none of the usual Dogg-heavy cliches that might get in the way of the vocals, and instead Swamp is supremely respectful of everything Irma has to offer – and really helps her focus on her best strengths. The set was recorded at Capricorn Studios in Macon, with Duane Allman guitar on a few cuts – and titles include "She'll Never Be Your Wife", "What's So Wrong With You Loving Me", "Coming From Behind", "Turn My World Around", "These Four Walls", and "You're The Dog". LP features four bonus tracks – "Save A Little Bit For Me", "We Won't Be In Your Way Anymore", "That's How I Feel About You", and "I'd Do It All Over You". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the deepest soul records ever issued by Chess Records – and the album wasn't even done in Chicago! The album's the only full effort issued under the name of Kim Tolliver – a singer who'd worked previously for Fantasy as Kimberley Briggs – and it's a sublime effort from Tolliver and husband Fred Briggs, who'd worked together previously on work for Stax by Margie Joseph! The style here is quite unique – a mix of Kim's southern soul-styled vocals with some fuller, richer touches – almost in the same way that Gloria Scott comes across on her classic album with Barry White – but a bit more rough around the edges overall. The production is amazing – with a great sense of space and style – and some key use of echo that really underscores the emotion of the tunes. A good part of the album was recorded in Miami – with echoes of the TK modes of the time – but other recording was also done in Cleveland, which might account for the more unique aspects of the set. Regardless of location, though, the album's a tremendously individual effort – a bold, raw statement from Tolliver – filled with emotion that few of her contemporaries could match, and free of any crossover soul cliches that were really bogging down other artists at the time. Most tracks here are original – as original in conception as the sound of the record – and titles include "The Other Side Of Town", "The Way He Used To", "She Don't Know You Like I Do", "Takin A Woman's Stand", "I'm Losing The Feeling", "Learn To Get Along Without You", and "I Need You/Drop Whatever You're Doing". CD

Mary Wells has come a long way from Motown by the time of this sweet early 80s set – really changing up her style to go for a mature, sophisticated groove – that best side of modern soul at the time, put together with superb production by the great Greg Perry! The sound is warm, and plenty darn groovy – a mode that's almost in the same style that some of the hippest Philly International artists were hitting at the same point – really refining their sound, but still holding onto the best soulful elements of years before! But there's still a nice Detroit legacy going on too – that undercurrent of Motown togetherness that you might find in later work by Lamont Dozier – no surprise, since McKinley Jackson's helping Perry arrange the rhythms on the record. Titles include the great groover "These Arms", plus "Spend The Nights With Me", "You Make Me Feel So Good Inside", "Gigolo", "I'm Changing My Ways", and "I'm Not The One". Beautiful Reel Music reissue, too – loads of detailed notes – and bonus tracks that include 12" versions of "Gigolo" and "These Arms". CD

Totally great work from Deniece Williams – still mostly free from the tinny pop of later years, and done in a solidly soulful style at Sigma Sound, with arrangements and production from the mighty Thom Bell! The groove is almost an update of 70s Philly, with traces of the maturing mellow side of Williams – all wrapped up with a good degree of confidence on the vocals, but enough tenderness to remind us of the greatness of Williams' roots. Deniece at her early 80s best! Titles include "I Believe In Miracles", "Waiting By The Hotline", "It's Gonna Take A Miracle", "Love Notes", "How Does It Feel", "Now Is The Time For Love", "Waiting" and "A Part Of Love". CD

Al Wilson weighs in with another 70s classic – a set that's poised nicely between the audacious soul of "The Snake", and some of the mellower moments of cuts like "Show & Tell"! Neither of those hits are on here, but that's a good thing – because the under-discovered set offers up a fresh take on the Al Wilson sound – one that shows that he's got way more to offer than just a few key hits – and that Wilson was really going strong, no matter what the setting. There's a few especially nice tracks here – the cut "The Magic Of Your Mind", a mellow groover with production by Leon Ware, and "Keep On Loving You", with production by Ugene Dozier – and other titles include "All For You", "Somebody To Love", "Keep On Loving You", "Amen Brother", "The Last Phonograph Record", and "Things Are Changing". LP, Vinyl record album

Damn! Bill Withers can never do wrong in our book – and this album is definitely case in point! The set marks Bill's big move from Sussex Records to Columbia, and it's the start of an amazing run in the late 70s – completely sublime soul that wraps up all Withers' roots from the earlier part of the decade, and focuses them beautifully in some sweet keyboard-driven grooves! Bill's voice is marvelous – that raspily charming sound that no other soul singer could ever match – and the album features arrangements from Larry Nash, who plays keyboards on the date along with Dave Grusin. Electric piano makes for plenty of great moments – and titles include his classic "Hello Like Before", plus "The Best You Can", "Make Love To Your Mind", "Paint Your Pretty Picture", and "Don't You Want To Stay". CD

An incredible set from Bill Withers – a record that's part of his "second chapter" of 70s soul, when he was working for Columbia Records, and dropping a bit of the acoustic vibe of his start – yet still sounding completely sublime, and head and shoulders above most of his contemporaries! There's a wicked undercurrent of funk in the set – loads of great keyboards in place of the acoustic guitar that used to dominate the Withers sound – and the keys sound beautiful next to Bill's unique vocals, making them sound even more soulful than ever! Don Freeman handles most of the keyboards (thanks, Don!) – and titles include "If I Didn't Mean You Well", "Close To Me", "Naked & Warm", "My Imagination", and "Where You Are". CD

A stunner of a solo set from Edna Wright – once the lead singer for Honey Cone, but almost even better on this smooth soul masterpiece from the 70s! The album's got an immediately recognizeable moment in the leadoff cut "Oops Here I Go" – sampled famously by De La Soul and others – but the whole thing's amazing, a killer bit of warm, modern soul put together by the legendary Greg Perry – who makes the whole thing shine every bit as much as his own great Smokin album of the time! Edna's vocals are wonderful – more mature than before, and really stepping out with a proud, sophisticated sort of groove – almost in territory of Jean Carn or Gloria Scott, particularly the latter on some of the album's more grooving cuts. In addition to "Oops Here I Go", other cuts include "Come On Down", "You Can't See the Forest", "Nothing Comes to a Sleeper", "If The Price Is Right", and "Spend the Nights With Me". Great reissue package, too – with full notes and beautiful remastering! CD

A classic collection of Chuck Berry's early genius – a set that introduced his best cuts to a new younger audience in the 70s! All the work here is from the early Chess Records days – and titles include "Deep Feeling", "Wee Wee Hours", "Nadine", "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Thirty Days", "Havana Moon", "Too Much Monkey Business", "School Days", "Reelin & Rockin", "Oh Baby Doll", "Too Pooped To Pop", "Round & Round", "Rock & Roll Music", and "Back In The USA". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Maybellene", "30 Days", "You Can't Catch Me", "Too Much Monkey Business", "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Havana Moon", "School Days", "Rock And Roll Music", "Oh Baby Doll", "Reelin' & Rockin'", "Sweet Little Sixteen", "Johnny B. Goode", "Around And Around", "Carol", "Beautiful Delilah", "Memphis", "Sweet Little Rock And Roller", "Little Queenie", "Almost Grown", "Back In The USA", "Let It Rock", "Bye Bye Johnny", "I'm Talking About You", "Come On", "Nadine", "No Particular Place To Go", and "I Want To Be Your Driver". CD

Very unusual later work from Fats Domino – recorded with a bit of a deep soul vibe by producer Felton Jarvis, who makes for some interesting twists on the usual Domino sound! Titles include "Man That's All", "Wigs", "Monkey Business", "Reelin & Rockin", and "Why Don't You Do Right". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer keyboards from the legendary George Duke – and one of his most righteous albums for the MPS label! The album's a spectacular set that showcases both sides of Duke's genius at the time – his spacey, soulful approach to a laidback tune – and his more jamming styles on the harder cuts! Instrumentation is somewhat spare – just keyboards and piano from George, who also sings a bit – plus Ndugu Chancler on drums and John Heard on bass – both playing with a freely creative energy that's definitely motivated by Duke. There's a beautiful mix of electricity and acoustic warmth on the set – never too forced, and clearly an inspiration for countless players in years to come – maybe even more so than Herbie Hancock's work of the time. Drums are great too – and snap tightly for plenty of nice breaks on the set – which are in turn augmented by mellower keys from Duke, who also sings with a sweetly electric soul style. Titles include "Capricorn", "The Opening", "Psychosomatic Dung", "North Beach", "Faces In Reflection", "Maria Tres Filhos", and "Da Somba". (Jazz, Soul) CD

A really great set of later southern soul from Eddie Hinton – recorded at Muscle Shoals with a nice 70s take on the classic 60s style of the genre – with powerful vocals from Hinton! The record's surprisingly rootsy for the time – and Eddie sings in a wonderful mode that has plenty of traces of Otis Redding and James Carr. The production has a modern touch, but never in a way that smooths out the real gritty soulfulness – and on these numbers, the album isn't out of step with some of the nice mid 70s work of Arthur Alexander or Paul Kelly. A genuine gem! Titles include "Get Off In It", "I Got The Feeling", "You Got Me Singing", "Yeah Man", Shout Bamalama", "Brand New Man", and "Shoot The Moon". CD

A rare set from legendary deep soul diva Betty Lavette – recorded as a one-off for Motown in the early 80s, but done in a deep soul style that has plenty of 70s touches! The feel here is almost in the Malaco mode – southern soul, but with some more sophisticated modern touches – an approach which takes Betty's great vocals and makes them come across with a warm, sensuous glow that's really great. And if you've got any doubts about the date of the record, or the label it's on, shelve them now – because this is a great record with plenty of wonderful mellow soul numbers that display a whole new side of Betty's talents – every bit as great as her earlier work for rootsier labels, and proof that she was always a shining star in the deep soul scene, no matter what the setting! Titles include "I Like It Like That", "Tell Me A Lie", "Right In The Middle", "Either Way We Lose", "Suspicions", and "Before I Knew Your Name". CD

Heavy blues from Jimmy McCracklin – a set of tracks recorded for the Modern label in the mid 50s, with a sound that's much rawer and raunchier than his 60s soul sides! The quality of the set is excellent – with wonderful restoration that makes the tunes crackle with even more raw energy than the original 78s – and the set is wrapped up ina sharp looking 10" sleeve, to boot! 10 numbers in all, with titles that include "Reelin' & Rockin'", "Love When It Rains", "Beer Drinkin' Woman", "I'll Get A Break Some Day", "Just Won't Let Her Go", "Ragged As A Mop", "Up & Down Blues", and "Gonna Find Another Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

A heavy blend of soul, jazz, and rock influences – all jamming together freely in this late 70s set from David Sancious and his Tone group! The style here is probably more appealing to rock fans looking for a bit of fusion than it is to fans of keyboard jazz from the 70s – but as with other Sancious albums from the period, there's enough of a range of modes going on that if you don't hear something you like at first, you're bound to hear something you do later! Other members of the group include Alex Lighterwood, Gail Boggs, Gerald Carboy, and Brenda Madison – all of whom seem to sing together on some of the fuller vocal numbers. Titles include "Sound Of Love", "On The Inside", "Matter Of Time", "Ever The Same", and "Fade Away". (Jazz, Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A masterpiece of southern soul – even if the record hides underneath a somewhat unassuming cover! The set was originally done for the Back Beat side of the Duke/Peacock label from Houston – but was recorded in Memphis with some great early work from Willie Mitchell, all in a lean mode that's somewhat different than the style he was developing over at Hi Records! Here, there's more of a focus on the wonderfully raspy charms of OV Wright's vocals – very personal, and very unique – all at a level that's quite different than so many of his deep soul contemporaries. As the title hints, the set features the two classic tracks "Nickel & A Nail" and "Ace Of Spades" – plus other great cuts that include "Don't Let My Baby Ride", "He Made Woman For Man", "Eight Men Four Women", "Don't Take It Away", and "Afflicted". CD

Includes tracks by the Mustangs, Twisters, Decoys, Crystalights, Carvettes, Jiving Juniors, Little Prince and the Freeloaders, Caprees, Cardinals, Confidential Four, and more – 24 tracks total! CD

A great tribute to the songwriting skills of Laura Nyro – presented here in a package that features key covers from some of Nyro's contemporaries, and which also includes a surprising amount of soul music too! Laura's one of those key 60s talents who started writing for others, then got the chance to spread her wings on her own – and while her own recordings have really continued to reach new audiences over the decades, it's great to have a package like this to remind us of Nyro's songwriting roots! The set's mostly heavy on material from the late 60s and early 70s – with a fair bit of female soul tunes in the mix – and it also includes a few more contemporary numbers that come as a nice surprise. Like others in Ace's "songwriter" series, the production and packaging is great – and titles include "Stoney End" by The Blossoms, "Time & Love" by The Supremes, "Wedding Bell Blues" by Bobby Gentry, "Captain St Lucifer" by Melba Moore, "Save The Country" by Thelma Houston, "Lazy Susan" by Liane Carroll, "He's A Runner" by Mama Cass, "Buy & Sell" by Nnena Freelon, "Lonely Women" by Linda Hoyle, "Eli's Coming" by Friends Of Distinction, and "Stoned Soul Picnic" by Staple Singers. (Rock, Soul) CD