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

Classic uptempo group material by this fantastic harmony combo! This one was recorded in Philly, with great arrangements and performances by the likes of Norman Harris, Vince Montana, Bobby Eli, Ronnie Baker, and Bunny Sigler. Includes the hot track "Bingo", plus "Once More With Feeling", "Will You Be Mine", and "A Mother For My Children". Tough to find on wax, too! LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime stuff from The Whispers – a record that features some wonderfully easy-drifting harmony vocals, put together in a careful way that preserves the smooth mellow tip that always made the group sound best! There's a maturity to the record that takes the quintet far past their early harmony soul roots, and even past some of the more clubby styles they were using during the 70s – almost the mix of sophistication that some of the hipper groups at Philly International would reach during the same stretch. The set's definitely got a few groovers, but the mellower steppers are the most wonderful – including the fantastic cut "(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out", a sweet little groover with a hook that's undeniably catchy. Other tracks include "The Planets Of Life", "Disco Melody", "Children Of Tomorrow", "All The Way", and "You're A Special Part Of My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 80s winner from The Whispers – one of the few 70s groups who really found a way to keep themselves going strong into the next decade! The album gave the group their super-huge hit "Rock Steady" – possibly their biggest mainstream success ever – and it's got the group working with the team of Babyface and Reid, in a snapping kind of soul that's partially pop, but which almost hints at new jack at points. Titles include "Rock Steady", "I Want You", "No Pain No Gain", "In The Mood", "Just Gets Better With Time", "Love's Calling", and "Give It To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty groove-heavy set – one that continues the mix of "dancin and romancin" The Whispers served up on their previous album! Side one is heavy on "dancin" – and features some bass-heavy tunes that are very much in the best mainstream LA soul modes of the time – production by the group and Leon Sylvers, all in a sound that's heavy on basslines and keyboards, but which still has harmonies that are way ahead of most of the group's younger contemporaries! These harmonies come into play even more strongly on the "romancin" side of the record – a batch of ballads that have The Whispers in the mellower territory that first got them started – updated slightly here with an early 80s soul vibe, but sung with proof that the quintet were still at the top of the harmony game. Titles include "Tonight", "Keep On Lovin Me", "This Time", "Had It Not Been For You", "Try It Again", "Lay It On Me", and "Keep Your Love Around". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring uptempo soul from The Whispers – still going strong with the Solar sound well into the 80s – and stepping out here in a real hit-making style! The vocals are great, the grooves are solid – and there's a snapping, rhythmic feel to the first side – which is billed as the "Dancin" side, and done in a very 80s groove mode! Side two is named the "Romancin" side – and as such, has a slightly mellower feel – still some beats on the bottom, but mostly in a gentler way that really lets the harmonies take over. Titles include "On Impact", "Contagious", "Suddenly", "Don't Keep Me Waiting", "Sweet Sensation", "Never Too Late", "Are You Going My Way", and "Some Kinda Lover". LP, Vinyl record album

Not as sublime as some of the group's earlier efforts, but still with a strong harmony sound that keeps things moving nicely ahead. The arrangements are in a smooth soul mode – still uptempo on a number of tracks, in the same style that they were using with the Philly crew. The difference is that there's a bit more of a modern LA soul sound in the mix – although not as much as you'd expect from some of the other albums on the Solar label. Includes the nice midtempo groover "Can't Stop Loving You Baby", plus "World Of A Thousand Dreams", "What Will I Do", "This Kind Of Lovin", and the retro jazzy "The Bright Lights & You Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

The boys are growing up a bit by this point, but the hit sound is still very firmly in place – and served up here in a catchy batch of bass-riffing, synth-drum grooving numbers that were clearly having a bigger impact upon mainstream soul than anyone might have expected! And after so many years, we've got to admit that the vocals sound a lot better than we remember – harmonizing nicely on the hooks, and coming off with a sweet quality overall. Arrangements are by John Duarte, Rick Timas, Michael Sembello, and Vincent Brantley – and titles include "A Little Bit Of Love", "Sweet Thing", "With You All The Way", "Let's Be Friends", "Whispers In Bed", "School", "All For Love", "Kickback", and "Tonight's Your Night". LP, Vinyl record album

Two dozen tracks from the great Jackie Wilson, documenting some of his finest work for the Brunswick imprint,spanning nearly two decades! Includes "Reet Petite", "To Be Loved", "Lonely Teardrops", "That's Why I Love You So)", "I'll Be Satisfied", "Talk That Talk", "Baby Workout", "Please Tell Me Why", "Doggin' Around","Passin' Through", "A Woman, A Lover, A Friend", "You Don't Know What It Means", "Night", "The Tear Of The Year", "You Better Know It", "I Just Can't Help It", "I'm Comin' On Back To You","Danny Boy", "Am I The Man", "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)", "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me (Higher & Higher)", "No Pity (In The Naked City)", "She's All Right" and "You Got Me Walking". LP, Vinyl record album