2 great numbers from Ronnie's Love Satellite LP. "Midnight Plane"s a great slow-building tune from Ronnie – one that's a bit more soul-oriented than some of his jazzier tunes from the Columbia years, but in a great way! The tune begins with a lyric over most of the rhythm – ... read more12-inch, Vinyl record
(In a disco sleeve.)
Aretha Franklin —
After Hours ... LP Columbia, Early 60s. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
Despite the title, this isn't really Aretha's greatest hits – as it includes no numbers from the Atlantic years – but it is a pretty good selection of Aretha's earlier work for Columbia, and features some real gems that should have been bigger hits than they were. Titles include "R ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Columbia Limited Edition pressing. Cover has light wear and the back paste-on has some creases from application.)
Pretty great stuff by Aretha – despite what the pro-Atlantic Records books say! The record is one of the first she cut with John Hammond at Columbia, and although it's not in the classic soul mode of the Atlantic sessions, it's a darn nice batch of bluesy jazz tracks that would still stand ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A pretty amazing batch of early Aretha Franklin – before she was known as the Queen Of Soul, and had the big, soaring and emotional voice to bring flight to songs from the Great American Songbook – classics by the Gershwins, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin and more! You certainly could ... read moreCD
A great early album from the young Aretha Franklin – a set that shows a very different trajectory in her sound, but a great one too! There's less of the deep soul of Franklin's Atlantic recordings, but that's more than compensated for a great jazzy vibe – served up courtesy of the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Brilliant soul from the Columbia Records years of Aretha Franklin – exactly the kind of collection you need to hear if you only think she sounded great on Atlantic! The styles here are somewhat more varied than in the late 60s, but that's only proof that Aretha could handle just about ... read moreCD
Hey, we love this record! It's jazzy, and not at all like Aretha's soul sides for Atlantic – but Aretha's vocals sound wonderful on the record, in a completely different way than on later albums. Arrangements are by Robert Mersey, and they've got a feel that's similar to some of the classic ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Aretha Franklin —
Soul Sister ... LP Columbia, 1966. Very Good+ ...
$8.99
Aretha Franklin's definitely growing into her role as a soul sister here – a later date for Columbia Records that hints a bit at the sounds to come on Atlantic! Backings are by Robert Mersey and Belford Hendricks – both of whom use some relatively full orchestrations and occasional ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Columbia Special Products pressing. Cover has surface wear and aging.)
Aretha Franklin belts it out nicely on this one – stepping out with even more of a hard soul style than before, in a record that's a great close to her early years on Columbia Records! Arrangements are by Belford Hendricks and Clyde Otis – the latter of whom is clearly responsible for ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Hip stuff from Aretha's early years – mostly jazzy, and sung to arrangements by Robert Mersey. Tracks are mostly standards – including "Don't Cry Baby", "Try A Little Tenderness", "Just For A Thrill", "God Bless The Child", "How Deep Is The ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An early moment of vocal strength from Aretha Franklin – a set in which she takes on the music of the recently-departed Dinah Washington, and really transforms it into her own! If you know other Aretha records on Columbia, you'll know that the label did a great job of opening up the jazzier ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A hip little live date from Aretha Franklin – one that's got a very jazzy feel, and some great small combo backings! The album's almost a distillation of the jazzy styles on Aretha's first albums for Columbia – taken into even leaner territory here, in ways that really set Franklin ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(360 Sound stereo pressing. Cover has a small cutout hole, ringwear, edge wear, some splitting in the bottom seam, and some small blemishes in back.)
A bit late in Rodney's classic years for Columbia, but still pretty darn nice – although certainly much more of a soul album than before! A fair number of the tracks here have standout lyrics – sung by Brenda Russell, Philip Ingram, Frank Musker, and even Franklin himself – but ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Rodney Franklin —
Skydance ... CD Columbia/FTG, 1985. Used ...
Out Of Stock
A great example of why we always reach for our Rodney Franklin records time and time again over the years – as there's few other players who could serve up a blend of soul and jazz this well! The album's got a great balance of electric and acoustic, that instantly-warm style that Franklin ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
Fully-formed genius from the amazing Rodney Franklin – one of the best keyboard stars to emerge from the late 70s scene! Franklin's got a great talent for balancing influences from jazz and soul in ways that are similar to contemporaries George Duke and Bobby Lyle – and like both of ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Righteous soul from The Free Movement – a mixed male/female harmony group with a feel that's similar to The Fifth Dimension or The Friends Of Distinction, but a bit hipper! The group have a sunny feel that's quite nice – soaring harmonies reaching to the top of the groove on the best ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(In the textured cover, with a tiny cut corner.)
Nnenna Freelon —
Heritage ... CD Columbia, 1993. Used ...
$3.99
A clubby classic from the enigmatic Gary's Gang – a group who scored a big disco hit with the title track of this album, a unique groove that features some weird keyboard and synth touches – alongside some surprisingly great percussion at the bottom! The group effortlessly mix electric ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A great posthumous release from the mighty Marvin Gaye – a set that's half comprised of material that Marvin was working on before his early death, and half pulled from rare personal recordings he'd entrusted to his mother! The cover carries a message that some of the material might be " ... read moreCD
Marvin Gaye's last album ever – and a sensuous batch of grooves that almost return him to the sound of Let's Get It On! The style here is a bit more modern, but the sound is still great – a smoother approach to soul than most of Gaye's contemporaries at the time, recorded in a way that ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Includes the printed inner sleeve.)
Marvin Gaye's last album ever – and a sensuous batch of grooves that almost return him to the sound of Let's Get It On! The style here is a bit more modern, but the sound is still great – a smoother approach to soul than most of Gaye's contemporaries at the time, recorded in a way that ... read moreCD
The last bit of sweetness we ever received from Marvin Gaye – a sublime single that crossed over big, but which still retained all the loving soul of the later Motown years! The tune's got a nice little 80s groove undercurrent that somehow stands up even more strongly now than it did when ... read more12-inch, Vinyl record
A fantastic album from tenor legend Benny Golson – one in which he reinvents his sound for the 70s, but still keeps all the tight sense of arrangement we loved in his earlier work! Benny's going for a funky jazz groove on most cuts – a bit clubby, in a Kudu Records mode – with a ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
Sweet keyboard grooves from Herbie Hancock – and a set that has him taking up some of the territory of younger players he'd inspired – like Bobby Lyle, Webster Lewis, or Rodney Franklin! There's a fair bit of soul in the mix here, including some great work on vocoder – blended in ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(White label promo. Cover has a tracklist sticker, promo stamp, and light wear.)
A great little soul album from Herbie Hancock – but one that's often lost in the valleys between his bigger hits of the time! The record was cut in the space right before Herbie's big "Rockit" success – and it's a sweet bit of funky fusion that has a good dose of R&B in ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
An overlooked gem from the great ZZ Hill – a set that has the singer making a brief appearance on Columbia Records, and working with the mighty Bert DeCoteaux in the process! Bert brings this full, rich style to bear alongside ZZ's vocals – an approach that's still quite respectful to ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A stone 70s classic from the Isley Brothers – a set recorded right at the height of their glory days – at a time when their sound was completely on the money! The cover has the group on stage – a photo taken during their run of arena concerts at the time – but the album's a ... read moreCD
Isley Brothers —
Go For Your Guns ... LP T Neck/Columbia, 1977. Very Good+ Gatefold ...
$19.99
A stone 70s classic from the Isley Brothers – a set recorded right at the height of their glory days – at a time when their sound was completely on the money! The cover has the group on stage – a photo taken during their run of arena concerts at the time – but the album's a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Orange label pressing. Includes the printed inner sleeve.)
Isley Brothers —
Live It Up ... LP T Neck/Columbia, 1974. Very Good ...
Out Of Stock
Mid 70s genius from the Isley Brothers – a record that has them firmly hitting their superstar mode with a fantastic blend of mellow soul and guitar-heavy funk! The record's got a sense of class, care, and poise that's head and shoulders above most of the group's contemporaries – an ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Rebbie Jackson —
Centipede ... LP Columbia, 1984. Very Good+ ...
Out Of Stock
A great set from Rebbie Jackson – a batch of 80s groovers that's way different than work from siblings Michael or Janet – and done with a percolating sort of vibe that's quite different from some of the core projects of the rest of the Jacksons universe! Wayne Henderson handled most of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
Sweet smooth soul from Walter Jackson – recording here in his later years, with a style that's a lot more modern than his classic 60s recordings for Okeh, but still surprisingly nice, and a great evolution of his "Iceman" soul sound! The set features Eugene Record's great title cut ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Samuel Jonathan Johnson —
My Music ... LP Columbia/Be With (UK), 1978. New Copy (reissue)...
Out Of Stock
One of our favorite 70s soul records ever – and a totally unique set as well! To our ears, Samuel Jonathan Johnson belongs in the company of Roy Ayers, Norman Connors, and other spiritual soul heavyweights – even though he only ever cut this one album for Columbia Records back in 1978! ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Kimiko Kasai with Herbie Hancock —
Butterfly ... CD Columbia (Japan), 1979. Used ...
Out Of Stock
A legendary pairing of talents – as Japanese jazz singer Kimiko Kasai works alongside Herbie Hancock – in a setting that's very much on the soul side of the spectrum! Both Herbie and Kimiko started out with a straighter jazz sound in their early years – but by the end of the 70s, ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
(Out of print sealed Blue Spec CD2. Includes obi.)
The only album we've ever seen from Khemistry – but a heck of a sweet little set, and one that's always been dear to our hearts! The trio features two gals and one guy, all working with a great sing-song approach on the vocals – and a snapping 80s groove on the rhythms! There's a ... read moreCD
(In a very cool Japanese-styled, LP-like cardboard sleeve cover!)
Titles include "Landlord", "Taste Of Bitter Love", "Hero", "Friend Of Mine", "My Time", "You're Number One", "Save The Overtime", and "When You're Far Away". CD
Gladys Knight & The Pips —
Visions ... LP Columbia, 1983. Near Mint- ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Sweet 80s groove from Gladys Knight & The Pips – just the kind of record that shows why the group kept going strong for so many years! The classic approach is still very firmly intact – Gladys' wonderful lead, soaring out over the Pips' warm harmonies – a vocal power that so ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light aging and is bent a bit at the spine.)
Second LP from this slick British funk outfit, with a soulful jazzy edge like many of the bigger acts of their day. The record has a surprisingly tight, compressed groove, considering the band is a bunch of long haried Brits in dirty t-shirts (at least from what we can tell), but it's the mellower ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a promo stamp, some ring and edge wear, and lightly bent corners.)
Sweet electric magic from Ramsey Lewis – four 70s albums in a single collection! First up is Don't It Feel Good – massive keyboard work from the great Ramsey Lewis – easily one of his best records ever, thanks to some spaciously funky production by Charles Stepney! Stepney plays ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
One of our favorite Ramsey Lewis albums ever – and a perfect summation of the genius that was brewing on the Chicago scene in the late 60s and early 70s! The album has Ramsey working strongly with Earth Wind & Fire – no surprise, given his close ties to Maurice White, who was the ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
Ramsey Lewis —
Sun Goddess ... CD Columbia (Japan), 1974. Used ...
Out Of Stock
One of our favorite Ramsey Lewis albums ever – and a perfect summation of the genius that was brewing on the Chicago scene in the late 60s and early 70s! The album has Ramsey working strongly with Earth Wind & Fire – no surprise, given his close ties to Maurice White, who was the ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
A mighty nice collection of work from the second chapter in the career of piano legend Ramsey Lewis – work that he recorded for Columbia Records in the 70s and 80s, after his initial run at Chess – and with a sound that's even groovier and more soulful than before! Ramsey in the 70s ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
An 80s pop soul classic from Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force – insistent and irresistible to this day – and a solid album full of tunes that stand up strongly with their unstoppable hit singles of the period! Yes, the sound would get a bit too cutesy and played out by the end ... read moreCD
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a promo stamp, hype stickers, and a light wear.)
Jon Lucien —
Premonition ... LP Columbia, 1976. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
A beautiful album from Jon Lucien – one that's been far too neglected over the years! This was Lucien's second album for Columbia – and it's a wonderfully strong effort that fuses together jazz, soul, and Brazilian styles, in a manner that recalls some of his best work for RCA – ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
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 ... read moreCD
Cheryl Lynn —
Cheryl Lynn ... LP Columbia, 1978. Very Good+ ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
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 ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
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 ... read moreCD
2 tracks from Cheryl's Preppie album – a sweet little early 80s groover, with plenty of electro touches! "Free" is awash in heavy bass pedals and keyboard bits – but also features Cheryl's deeply soulful vocals strutting out over the top, creating a nice juxtaposition that's ... read more12-inch, Vinyl record
Plenty real soul here – a killer collection of Columbia grooves by Cheryl Lynn – a set that runs right from the clubby start to the more commercial finish of her time at the label! The package is a great illustration of Cheryl's ability to rise to the occasion in just about any setting ... read moreCD
"Got To Be Real" is one of the most amazing tracks of all time. Not only did it bridge the disco and soul worlds at the time, but through hip hop sampling, it also became an essential old school classic. Still sounds great today, and it's a cut that we can never get enough of. 12-inch, Vinyl record
(Canadian pressing in a pink Columbia sleeve.)
Cheryl Lynn —
In The Night ... LP Columbia, 1981. Very Good+ ...
Out Of Stock
One of Cheryl Lynn's early killers for Columbia – an album of tight, bouncy, joyous soul all the way through – free from any of the too-commercial touches that sometimes slowed Cheryl's later work! Ray Parker Jr produced the set – and he as well is free from the slicker sounds of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of Taj Mahal's first LPs of the 70s, and also one of his very best of the decade – if not THE best! Happy To Be Just Like I Am is one of the earlier records Taj cut in which he's really going all in with the diverse influences, including the Caribbean flourishes that so flavored his ... (Blues, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some ring and edge wear.)
Taj Mahal —
Mo' Roots ... LP Columbia, 1974. Very Good+ ...
Out Of Stock
A well-titled album – given that Taj Mahal's music is always pretty darn rootsy – and this time around, he's also adding in a bit of Jamaican roots too, thanks to production help from Bob Marley and Aston Barrett of The Wailers! The pair help Taj out on a few numbers, mixing in some ... (Blues, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A very rootsy feel overall – much more delta blues styled than some of Taj's other albums of the time – mostly with acoustic guitar behind his vocals, plus some occasional backup support from The Pointer Sisters – although even they manage to hit a rootsier feel than usual too! ... (Blues, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Taj Mahal —
Real Thing ... LP Columbia, Early 70s. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ...
Out Of Stock
Hardly any "recycling" going on here – as Taj Mahal takes bluesy roots and turns them in a whole new direction for the 70s, evolving the music way past the level most other bluesmen were working in at the time! At some level, Mahal's style is far more rootsy than most early 70s ... (Blues, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(In the textured cover, with some staining & waviness on the bottom left corner.)
Taj Mahal —
Taj Mahal ... CD Columbia, 1968. Used ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
The first album in a mighty legendary run from Taj Mahal – one of the first generation of blues musicians to really learn to recast their sound for the younger crossover generation! By that, we don't mean that Taj is commercial at all – it's just that he's kind of reclaiming the blues ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
Taj Mahal —
Taj Mahal ... LP Columbia, 1968. Very Good+ ...
Out Of Stock
The first album in a mighty legendary run from Taj Mahal – one of the first generation of blues musicians to really learn to recast their sound for the younger crossover generation! By that, we don't mean that Taj is commercial at all – it's just that he's kind of reclaiming the blues ... (Blues, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Stellar Manhattans from the start of the 80s – and proof that the group could still hold strong, even at a point when soul music was really changing up around them! The sound is somewhat smoother than before, but never in a throwaway style – and as you might guess from the title, the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a light mark from sticker removal at the top right corner and tiny peeled spots at the bottom right.)
Manhattans —
Black Tie ... LP Columbia, 1981. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
A black tie affair, but a set that's still got all the great vocal touches of The Manhattans firmly in place – thanks to careful Chicago production from Leo Graham and arranger James Mack! The set's smooth, but never in a sloppily commercial way – and instead, the pair find a way to ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The Manhattans were one of those groups who knocked around for years in the indie soul world – cutting some fantastic material early on, but then losing direction for a number of years until they sprung forth as a huge act for Columbia during the early 70s. By that time, the band had more ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A real classic from The Manhattans – and just the kind of record to show why the group stayed so great after all the years! The ballads are wonderful – arguably even better than the group's indie label days – with a depth of feeling, fullness of harmonies, and magical balance ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Sealed 70s pressing!)
Manhattans —
Manhattans ... LP Columbia, 1976. Very Good ...
Out Of Stock
A Philly soul classic from The Manhattans – one of their best 70s albums, and a record that showed that they were firmly out of the indie ghetto, and totally on top of their game! The record features arrangements and production by Bobby Martin and Bert DeCoteaux – bubbling along in ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Philly soul classics from The Manhattans – the mid 70s self-titled gem and After Midnight from the dawn of the 80s! The Manhattans album is one of their best of the 70s, and a record that showed that they were firmly out of the indie ghetto, and totally on top of their game! The record ... read moreCD
A stone classic from The Manhattans – still going strong long into the 70s with a classic harmony approach! The title tune sets the whole album up perfectly – and is the kind of a sad, slow ballad that the group was always perfect at – a number that grabs you with a compelling ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Four early 80s classics from Johnny Mathis – presented here in a single 2CD package! Different Kinda Different is a tremendous start to the 80s for Johnny Mathis – and a set that really continues that strong shift into soul-based territory he begun in the 70s! Gene Page handles a lot ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
The voice of Johnny Mathis meets the soulful arrangements of Paul Riser and HB Barnum – all wrapped up with Johnny Bristol production! Johnny's tender voice, the gently sweeping arrangements and soul-rooted production make this one a gemTitles include "Woman Woman", "Sail On ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Johnny Mathis riding high in the early-to-mid 70s! Johnny takes on a mix of sweet & tender and more melancholy tunes on Killing Me Softly, showing a surer hand at making some then contemporary hits his own better than just about any veteran pop vocalist of his generation. Jerry Fuller produced ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Johnny Mathis —
Mathis Is ... LP Columbia, 1977. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
A second 70s set that has Johnny Mathis working with arrangements and production from Thom Bell – which makes for a much more soul-based record than usual! Titles include "Hung Up In The Middle Of Love", "I Don't Want To Say No", "Sweet Love Of Mine", "I'll ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Four fantastic records from a time when Johnny Mathis was really evolving his sound! On Me & Mrs Jones, Johnny Mathis takes on the sophisticated soul modes of the 70s, and also adds in a few other styles too – on an album that shows just how much the singer had changed in nearly 20 years ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Three full albums from Johnny Mathis in one single set – the last of which was actually issued originally as a 2LP set! First up is Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head – great magic from Johnny Mathis at the start of the 70s – a set that has Johnny working through some groovier ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
A sweet 80s set from Johnny Mathis – one of those great later albums when he brought a good deal of soul into the mix! The feel here is almost more modern R&B than the vocal jazz mode that first brought Johnny fame – and it turns out that the Mathis mode is wonderful for such a ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Mellow magic from Johnny Mathis – a late 70s set that updates his older style for a crossover audience in adult contemporary! The style is smooth and polished, but never so much so that Johnny's amazing voice can't shine through – thanks to soulful arrangements from Gene Page, who'd ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A superb set of duets between Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams – a set that's a key part of Johnny's rise into soul music during the 70s, and one that also forms a cornerstone of the early career of Deniece Williams too! Williams' soaring vocal range is a great match for the trademark ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
A superb set of duets between Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams – a set that's a key part of Johnny's rise into soul music during the 70s, and one that also forms a cornerstone of the early career of Deniece Williams too! Williams' soaring vocal range is a great match for the trademark ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
It's taken us a bit longer than expected to get this second installment in Maxwell's Black Summers' Night series – but it's been well worth the wait, given the greater depth in the music! All that we love about Maxwell's previous records is alive and well here – but there's also kind ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
A massive return to form for Maxwell – his first album in many years, but definitely well worth the wait! The set's supposedly the start of a trilogy – but hell, we're more than happy to have it all on its own – a wonderful reminder of the deeply soulful sound that first made us ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
Maxwell —
Embrya ... CD Columbia, 1998. Used ...
Out Of Stock
The second album by smooth soul singer Maxwell – and every bit as great as the first! Although the vibe is modern, the sound is quite classic – with lush warm arrangements that perfectly wrap up Maxwell's sweet and soulful vocals. The record picks up a tradition that was left off by ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
Another smoooooth NuSoul number from Maxwell, off the Embrya album, with his typical odd names for the mixes, which are all largely the same, sort of like different dubs of the album take. (Neo Soul, Soul)12-inch, Vinyl record
(Promo in a stickered sleeve. Label has a light sticker spot.)
Early early work from Van McCoy – his first full record as a solo artist, done at a time when he was just starting to share his talents with other artists! The style here is quite sophisticated – almost more of a jazz ballad style than anything else – with lush arrangements by ... read moreCD