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

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

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

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

OV Wright at the top of his game – working here with classic Memphis production from Willie Mitchell, and a sound that should have knocked Al Green right off of the charts! Wright's vocals have a rougher edge than Al's, and the record's really dripping with deep soul feeling – a slow-burning energy that's perfectly handled by Mitchell, in ways that echo some of OV's bluesier roots, but keeps things in the more sophisticated Memphis modes of the 70s. The balance is perfect, and instrumentation is handled by a batch of Hi Records regulars – including the Memphis Horns with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love. Wright really rises to the occasion for the whole album, and the set's arguably better than any of his later work for Hi – although that stuff is all pretty darn wonderful too! Titles include "I've Been Searching", "Lost In The Shuffle", "I'd Rather Be Blind Crippled & Crazy", "Ghetto Child", "You Must Believe In Yourself", and "I'm Going Home". Beautiful reissue pressing too – with deep notes on the music, details of the session, vintage images, and even an OV Wright Discography too! 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

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

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