The beginning of an amazing run on RCA for vocalist Jon Lucien – working here in a sublime blend of styles that's way beyond simple soul or standard jazz! Lucien's got a sound that's unlike anything we can think of – apart from the countless imitators who've tried for his style in recent years – and this initial RCA album is a musical masterpiece that's filled with joy, life, and emotion – all without any of the cliches that such a reference might imply! Arrangements are by Lucien, with some occasional help from Horace Ott and Stanley Rubinstein – all a swirling blend of strings, jazz, and some groovier rhythms at the bottom that have made this record an underground favorite for years. Titles include a killer version of "Who Will Buy", done as a breezy jazz groover, in a way that's made it a classic jazz dance track for years – plus "I Am Now", "How Insensitive", "Love For Sale", and "Dindi" – all given the lush, lovely, swirling, soulful Lucien sound! (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album of the 60s – and a record that forever put Gloria Lynne on the map! The album's got a sense of poise and class that was almost a genre into itself – one that crossed Gloria over big with the title hit version of "I Wish You Love", but which was also supported here by 11 other gems all arranged in similar glistening style by Marty Paich. The set's got a great blend of jazz, soul, and pop – using strings alongside Gloria's deeply soulful vocals – and often inflecting tunes with just the right sense of jazz to put them on the hipper side of the spectrum. Titles include "I Wish You Love", "End Of A Love Affair", "Be My Love", "I Know Love", "There Is No Greater Love", "Love I've Found You", "And This Is My Beloved", "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", and "If You Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublimely soulful work from Irene Reid – at one level a record that's in the field between jazz and soul, like albums from Gloria Lynne or Nancy Wilson at the time – but at another level, a key indication of Irene's strong strong vocal approach – one that's much deeper and more soulful than most of her contemporaries in the genre! Clyde Otis handles the arrangements, often using strings in a sweeping way in the background – never sleepy, but to emphasize the richness of Irene's vocals – but the real star of the set is Reid herself, singing in a majestically powerful mode that would captivate even without any other instrumentation at all! Titles include "This Bitter Earth", "If He Walked Into My Life", "A Man Only Does", "For Once In My Life", "I'm Too Far Gone To Turn Around", "Why Did I Choose You", and "Somewhere Along The Line". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more soulful albums ever cut by Japanese vocalist Mieko Hirota – a set that mixes her warmly raspy style with some equally warm electric backings – all with a vibe that's a bit like Esther Phillips' albums for Kudu Records! Arrangements are by Hiromasa Suzuki and Kiyoshi Sugano – and Suzuki plays keyboards on all cuts, while Sugano brings in a few guitar solos too – amidst other jazz-based instrumentation that's warmed up by some larger strings, used at just the right, light level! Lyrics are in English – and titles include "Soul Lady", "If You Touch Me Baby", "I'm Blind To All But You", "Love Won't Let Me Wait", "They Say It's Wonderful", "Loving You Was Like A Party", and "Love For Sale". LP, Vinyl record album

Soaring soul from Marlena Shaw – her last recording for Blue Note, and a set that points the way towards her bigger fame to come at Columbia Records! Like some of her previous sets, there's definitely still some jazzy elements in the mix – yet the overall sound is much more fully soulful, thanks to arrangements and production from Bert DeCoteaux and Tony Silvester, who both bring in a rich sound that's similar to some of the indie dancefloor soul coming out of Philly and New York at the time – with backings that are a great blend of funk and strings, perfect for Shaw's unique blend of the sophisticated and soulful. Marlena handles this mode better than anyone else, and we think this set's easily one of her strongest records ever – even more so than some of her later dates too. Titles include the wonderful "Think About Me", a solid stepping seventies soul track that is (or should have been) an instant classic – plus "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", "Take My Body", "No Hiding Place", "Love Has Gone Away", "You & Me", "It's Better Than Walkin Out", and "Be For Real". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album