(Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 60s gem from Brook Benton, produced by Clyde Otis, done in wonderful, more stripped down style than some of his other efforts of the time. Titles include "My Darling My Darling", "Try A Little Tenderness", "Moon River", "The Second Time Around", and "Call Me Irresponsible". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

(Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

The set features only 4 duets between Brook & Dinah – "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)", "I Do", "I Believe", and "A Rockin Good Way (To mess Around & Fall In Love)", which is probably the best track on the LP. Other titles are by Dinah alone – "There Goes My Heart", "Love Walked In", "This I Promise You" – or Brook by himself – "Because Of Everything", "Call me", and "Not One Step Behind". LP, Vinyl record album

Overlooked genius from Brook Benton – moving past his simple hit style here to work with arranger Belford Hendricks in a set of tunes that's a bit more "singerly". The tracks are mostly ballads and slower, sadder numbers – sung by Brook in a style that's slightly emotive, but never too much so – and with just the right touch of soul to keep things from going off track. Titles include "It's Been A Long Long Time", "Lover Come Back To Me", "I'll Be Around", "I Don't Know Enough About You", and "They Can't Take That Away From Me". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime stuff! Sure, it's easy to sit back and say that you don't really dig Ray Charles albums that mix together country music and soul, and that you prefer his hard raw raunchy Atlantic recordings from the earlier days. But let's be honest, Ray really made his biggest splash with this stuff – and although it became extremely popular over the years, it's also part of a huge country soul tradition that's a very accurate representation of the rich crossover culture going on in southern soul, a tradition that for some reason always gets underplayed by folks who want to carve up the world in easy racial lines. Truth is, Ray was not the only soul artist to embrace country, and we can think of a host of others – including Solomon Burke, Ivory Joe Hunter, Joe Simon, Clarence Carter, Brook Benton, and Bobby Womack who all participated in this rich tradition. This set's essential if you're interested in checking out this side of Ray's career – and the price is pretty nice, considering that you get 4CDs, a great book, and 92 songs in all! Work is pulled from Ray's classic ABC sides in the format, plus others from before and after that generation. Titles include "A Born Loser", "I'm Movin On", "Busted", "Crying Time", "Teardrops In My Heart", "Half As Much", "No Letter Today", "Oh Lonesome Me", "Ring Of Fire", "What Am I Living For", "Let Your Love Flow", "Down In The Valley", and "Take These Chains From My Heart". (Soul, Vocalists) CD

Rare Bacharach galore – an assortment of under-reissued tracks all penned by the mighty Burt – most of which are from the heyday of 60s uptown soul! Despite the 1952 in the date range on the title, almost all the tunes here are from the mid 60s – that time when Bacharach was writing new tunes like a demon, and getting most of them recorded by a range of great talents on the New York scene. Singers are a good mix of soul, pop, rock, and vocal artists – and although the material was done for a variety of different labels, there's a relatively unified feel – thanks to that snapping syncopation that Burt always brought to work like this. CD features 26 titles in all – including "How About" by Della Reese, "Third Window From The Right" by Dean Barlow, "I Wake Up Crying" by Del Shannon, "I Looked For You" by Charlie Gracie, "That's Not The Answer" by Vi Velasco, "More Time To Be With You" by Brook Benton, "Three Friends" by The Turbans, "Move It On The Backbeat" by Burt & The Backbeats, "You're Telling Our Secrets" by Dee Clark, "Thirty Miles Of Railroad Track" by The Hammond Brothers, "The Story Of My Life" by Big Al Downing, "Made In Paris" by Trini Lopez, "Rain From The Skies" by Adam Wade, and "True Love Never Runs Smooth" by Don & Juan. CD

A landmark album – not only for Esther Phillips, who's emerging here as a gifted young lady, very different from her R&B years, but also for the genre of country soul, which was emerging to be one of the most important strands in the new music during the 60s. Esther's not fooling around here – as she's working with Nashville arranger Cliff Parman, and getting backup from the Anita Kerr singers for that true Music City sound. Sounds hokey, sounds like it shouldn't work – but the setting is perfect for Esther's raspy rich tone, and in a way, it forces her to break out even more vocally than she does on other 60s recordings. Titles include "Release me", "I'd Fight The World", "Am I That Easy To Forget", "I Really Don't Want To Know", "Just Out Of Reach", and "Be Honest With Me". A wonderful album – one that sits perfectly next to work by Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, and Brook Benton. (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

"Soul" is right – and "excellent" is also! Timi Yuro's early 60s work is fantastic – and is part diva bluesy soul, ala Etta James or Lorez Alexandria, and part country soul, ala Ray Charles or Brook Benton. Her voice is incredible, with a clear tone, yet heartbreaking edge – and this album features great arrangements by Belford Hendricks, backed by the Lois Winter Singers. Titles include "Once In A While", "Stardust", "There Goes My Heart", "If I Had You", and "Somewhere Along The Way". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A very rare slice of work from Charles Mingus – sides recorded for his Debut label that featured vocalists in the lead! Backing is by Mingus-led combos on all tracks – but the presence of singers makes for a great change in the music – not a sleepy, torch jazz vocal style – but much more in the inventive style of singing that would crop on on a handful of Mingus dates from later years – heard here in much more experimental modes. Jackie Paris' work is an especially great revelation – as it's a real contrast to some of his straighter later stuff – but The Gordons are great too, the vocal group from which Honi Gordon sprang to do her solo album for Prestige. Bob Benton sings on a few numbers too – and other players include Lee Konitz on alto, Paige Brook on flute, Hank Jones on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Portrait", "I've Lost My Love", "Precognition", "Make Believe", "Paris In Blue", "Montage", "You & Me", "Cupid", "Can You Blame Me", and "Bebopper". (Jazz, Vocalists) CD

Includes Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, Arthur Lyman, Percy Faith, Henry Mancini, Dinah Washington & Brook Benton, Patsy Cline, and many more. (Vocalists, Vocalists) CD