Hip stuff by Nancy Wilson – and a sophisticated album of soul tracks arranged and produced by Gene Page, in a string-heavy, slightly-funky style that reminds us of Gene's work with Barry White at the time. The tracks are all pretty hip – and include titles written by Stevie Wonder, Johnny Guitar Watson, Thom Bell & Linda Creed, Billy Page, and Tennyson Stevens. No standout tracks, but plenty of nice moments, and a good side of Nancy's career that isn't always given that much exposure. Titles include "Tell The Truth", "Try It, You'll Like It", "All In Love Is Fair", "There'll Always Be Forever", and "You're As Right As Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing blend of sounds – and way different than you might expect! Yes, the record was part of a big cash-in Zorba moment in the 60s – but it sounds incredible, with this really groundbreaking "jazz meets world" vibe that matches these snake alto solos from Phil Woods with really haunting sounds on bouzukie, dumbeg, and oud – plus added percussion and other instruments – all then held down by Fender bass from Chet Amsterdam and guitar from the great Stuart Scharf! The blend is amazing – much more like an MPS session from the time than Impulse – and tracks include "Zorba The Greek", "Greek Cooking", "Nica", and "Got A Feelin". LP, Vinyl record album

A 60s album, but one that features early 50s material recorded at the Savoy in New York – a live date that features tenor genius Lester Young blowing with an unusual combo that includes Kenny Drew on piano, Aaron Bell on bass, and Jo Jones on drums – plus the lesser-known Jesse Drake on trumpet! The tunes are standards, but opened up by Lester with a heck of a lot of warmth – on titles that include "Stardust", "Mean To Me", "Pennies From Heaven", and "Three Little Words". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant batch of funk soul tracks – deep deep tunes from the late 60s and early 70s – all hand-selected by the folks at soul-sides.com! The collection is the sort that trys to go way past the obvious – and although a few tracks are familiar, it does a great job of bringing together the music in a way that makes each track illuminate the next – setting themes, tones, and modes together with a subtle, but effective edge that really pays off. Some of the tracks have been on other reissues before, but compiler Oliver Wang is no stranger to the soul market these days – and he's gone out of his way to make sure the package has a strong payoff for both new listeners and older collectors alike! Titles include "Live & Let Live" by Jimmy Jones, "Morning Sunrise" by Weldon Irvine, "Masterpiece" by Clarence Reid, "Keep My Baby Warm" by Charles May & Annette May Thomas, "Time & Place" by Lee Moses, "No More Sad Songs" by Amanda Ambrose, "Jealous Guy" by Donny Hathaway, "Piece Of My Heart" by Erma Franklin, "Lovin You" by Johnny Guitar Watson, "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell, and "Ordinary Guy" by Joe Bataan. LP, Vinyl record album

K-tel style compilation with a note in the corner of the sleeve that says "As Seen On TV", with a bunch of short versions of hot soul tunes that were making the rounds every Saturday afternoon on Soul Train. Nothing hard to find here, but a nice piece of the past loaded with familiar but still great tracks, 20 of them in all,and a great cover with photos of Don Cornelius and a number of the artists from their appearances on the show. With Barbara Mason "Give Me Your Love", James Brown "Good Foot", Curtis Mayfield "Super Fly", Archie Bell& The Drells "Dance To your Music", The O'Jays "Back Stabbers", Cymande "The Message", Timmy Thomas "Why Can't We Live Together", Dennis Coffey "Scorpio", Al Green "Guilty", Brighter Side Of Darkness "Love Jones" and The Dells "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation", plus a bunch more. . . LP, Vinyl record album

A wealth of rare work from Jamaican studio genius Bunny Striker Lee – unusual cuts and unreleased material – all of it a further testament to his legendary ear for a mindblowing sound! These aren't half-baked cuts, or material that deserved to fall to the cutting room floor – because the style is years ahead of its time, and put together with techniques and styles that are still pretty darn revolutionary after all these many years! Some tracks have a strong vocal presence, others are more instrumental – and in addition to Lee's famous flying cymbals technique, there's lots more going on here too – including some totally cool space age sounds. Unreleased tracks include "Bell Road Rock" by The Aggrovators, "Joe Frazier" by Tommy McCook, "Go Jah Jah Pickney" by Linval Thompson, "No Man Is An Island" by Johnny Clarke & Horace Andy, "Bunny Lee & King Tubby's Dubplate Special" by Cornell Campbell, "Life Of My Own" by The Raver, "Look How Long Nyabinghi Calling You" by Linval Thompson, "King Tubby's Vs Arrows Dubplate" by Cornell Campbell, "Jamaican Fruit Of African Roots" by Lennox Brown & Sheila Richards, "No Babylon Shall Escape In This Time" by Johnny Clarke, and "Every Knee Shall Bow" by Ronnie Davis. LP, Vinyl record album

An early breakthrough for ZZ Top – a raucous hard electric blues rock classic that was popular at the time, if not critically beloved – finally getting its deserved respect nowadays for timeless grit and groove! The opening couple of classics "Waitin' For The Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" flow one to the other seamlessly and set the mood perfectly, and it's pretty much one great tune after another from there, including "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers", "Master Of Sparks", "Hot, Blue And Righteous", "Move Me On Down The Line", "Precious And Grace", the almighty, never to diminish "La Grange", "Sheik" and "Have You Heard". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful moment in which the loft jazz generation really got a chance to shine in the mainstream – and mostly without any sense of overdone attempts at commercialization! The album's a great summation of all the ideas that reedman Arthur Blythe was cooking up in the 70s underground – performed here with a hip group that includes Blythe on alto, Kelvyn Bell on guitar, Abdul Wadud on cello, Bobby Battle on drums, Bob Stewart on tuba, Wilbur Morris on bass, and Mohammad Abdullah on congas – some of them players who you might never have expected to be recording for Columbia Records! And yet the setting of the record doesn't interfere with their creativity at all – and instead, really seems to give Blythe and the group the sort of focus that only makes their ideas even better – on titles that include "Elaborations", "Metamorphosis", "Sister Daisy", "Shadows", and "The Lower Nile". LP, Vinyl record album

Spare, solo, and incredibly haunting work from Dollar Brand – recorded in Switzerland in the early 70s, and featuring Brand on both flute and piano, playing a set of 14 original compositions designed to provide small sketches of his African homeland. The mood of the work is less sprightly than some of his compositions for larger groups, and carries with it the tone of exile, an extra layer of sadness that gives a real emotional depth to the music. Titles include "Salaam – Peace – Hamba Khale", "Slave Bell", "The Stride", "Tokai", "The Dream", and "The Aloe & The Wildrose". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning set from the mighty mighty Dells – a cool collaboration with the legendary arranger Charles Stepney and songwriter Terry Callier – and a record that shows just how far the group had come since their streetcorner harmony days! The vocals are incredible – that rich blend of deep notes and soaring highs that made The Dells one of the most technically amazing soul groups in the 70s – and Stepney's arrangements follow in the same mode as his work for their Dionne Warwick album, and his music for Minnie Riperton and Ramsey Lewis – with lots of groovy currents on the bottom and soaring strings on the top – sophisticated, but completely soulful too – at a level that nobody else can touch! Terry Callier wrote the original tunes "The Love We Had Stays On My Mind", "Freedom Means", "Melody Man", "Free & Easy", "Rather Be With You", and "It's All Up To You" – and the set also includes great remakes of "One Less Bell To Answer", "Make It With You", and "If You Go Away/Love Story". LP, Vinyl record album

The seminal first album from Egg – a legendary trio that featured a young Dave Stewart on organ, piano, and tone generator – and a key force in the Brit jazz rock scene of the early 70s! The album's sound is especially noteworthy in that there's really no guitar at all in the group – just bass, drums, and keyboards – plus vocals from Mont Campbell, in a dark, spacey sort of mode. The titles give a good feel of the spiralling depth of the album – and include "While Growing My Hair", "They Laughed When I Sat Down At The Piano", and "The Song Of McGillicudie The Pusillanimous Or Don't Worry James Your Socks Are Hanging In The Coal Cellar With Thomas". The second side of the album features the extended "Symphony No 2" – broken into movements 1, 2, and 3 – plus the more improvisational "Blane". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Norman Keenan on bass, Louis Bellson on drums, Bill Bell on piano, Eric Dixon on tenor sax, Grover Mitchell on trombone, and Roy Eldridge on trumpet. LP, Vinyl record album

A nicely understated session that was recorded in honor of Billy Strayhorn – who'd passed away a few months before the recording. The set features all classic Strayhorn compositions – played in new versions by Duke and a group that includes Clark Terry, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Aaron Bell, and Jimmy Hamilton. The recording quality is great, and the sound of the album really makes old classics sparkle nicely once again! Titles include "UMMG", "Blood Count", "Boo Dah", "Rain Check", "Day Dream", "All Day Long", and "Lotus Blossom", done in a haunting solo piano version by Duke! LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal meeting of the old and new generations of jazz in the 60s – put together in perfect Impulse fashion! At some level, this is actually an early 60s John Coltrane Quartet album – with Duke Ellington sitting in for McCoy Tyner on piano, as that's the lineup on about half of the album – tracks that feature Coltrane on tenor, Elvin Jones on drums, and Jimmy Garrison on bass, all working with Ellington on the keys. On other titles, though, the album features Coltrane playing with a Duke-ish trio that has Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums – slightly less modern, but with a nice sense of depth throughout! Overall, the the record does a great job of balancing between the best talents of both players – and titles include "Big Nick", "The Feeling Of Jazz", "Take The Coltrane", and "My Little Brown Book". LP, Vinyl record album

A one-off record by a UK group – but one that's gone on to become legendary over the years, thanks to a quality and vision in the music! These guys are perfectly poised at the later end of psych – still using all the right elements in all the right ways, but with more focus and tunefulness too – maybe a bit like that quality that The Move had right at the start, but which holds up in a very unique spirit here. It's almost like these guys decided that they liked all the shorter songs by Pink Floyd, then came up with some equally great material of their own – then called up Bill Wyman to produce the record. And the production is great – handled by Wyman, who sometimes gets too much credit for the record – as the genius is clearly the group's own. Titles include "Dreamworld", "Under The Rainbow", "She Said Yeah", "Jacob's Bladder", "Introspection (parts 1 & 2)", "Cardboard Watch", and "Don't Take Me". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of Chico's classic recordings for Impulse, and a weird batch of tracks that have an off-beat sound to them that's hard to categorize. The group includes Ernie Hayes on organ, Arnie Lawrence on alto, Larry Coryell on guitar, and a guest appearance by Archie Shepp on piano. Tracks include "For Mods Only", "A Trip", "Baby, You Know", and "Larry Of Arabia". Very groovy, and with a wonderful array of offbeat influences running through the groove! LP, Vinyl record album

A killer late 60s Chicago blues set from Earl Hooker – one of his best! Earl is one of the great blues slide guitarists, and his tone is captured so incredibly well here – songs recorded at Chicago's Sound Studios with impeccable players. Earl sings on "Anna Lee" and "You Don't Want Me", does some conversing with Andrew Odom on the great title track. Louis Meyers contributes some great harmonica on "Anna Lee", with Carey Bell on vocals and harmonica on "Love Ain't A Plaything". Geno Skaggs is on bass, Joe Willie Perkins the keys and Levi Warrens on drums. Other songs include "Off The Hook", "You Don't Love Me" and "Earl Hooker Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A session originally issued under the name of Curtis Fuller – titled Boss Of The Soul Stream Trombone! We're not sure what "soul-stream" is as a genre – but given the strength of this record, we'd be more than willing to grant it onto Curtis Fuller all by himself! The record's a gem that's even more obscure than Fuller's already-rare dates for Blue Note at the end of the 50s – a crack set done for the Warwick label, and one that features an all-star group who've got a great blend of modern edges and soulful rhythms. Alongside Fuller's trombone, other players include Yusef Lateef on tenor and flute, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Walter Bishop on piano, Buddy Catlett on bass, and Stu Martin on drums – making a rare early appearance here. Titles include "If I Were A Bell", "Do I Love You", "Chantized", "Flutie", "The Court", and "Mr L". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer early soul by Leroy Hutson – and a record that really shows him opening up as a vocalist and songwriter! Leroy's got a sound here that's pivotal in terms of Chicago soul – still some of the down-to-earth vibes of the city's indie scene in the 60s, but with that growing sense of maturity that he, Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Maurice White, and Charles Stepney were all bringing to the scene! The tunes are mostly short and focused – still not in the complexity of the Hutson and Hutson II albums, but handled with every bit of care and class by the man himself. Titles include the wonderful soul classic "So In Love With You", a sweet mellow ballad that's extremely catchy, plus the moog-based funky instrumental "Gettin It On", a totally great number that often gets overlooked – and the cuts "Love Oh Love", "As Long As There's Love Around", and "Time Brings On A Change". LP, Vinyl record album

The Impressions are wearing their politics much more on their sleeve at this point – what with a cover that shows them standing in the rubble of the ghetto, and a title that is both a bold proclamation of ownership, and a sad comment on the state of affairs. Curtis Mayfield's pen is in perfect form here, and the group hits that perfect mix of sweet soul and politics that make these late 60s efforts some of their (and Curtis') strongest work. Their harmonies far surpass the earlier years, which still kind of make us wish that Curtis hadn't gone solo, because we just love the sound of his sweet raspy voice next to the deeper style of Fred Cash. The set's filled with great cuts like "This Is My Country", "Loves Happening", "Fool For You", and "Stay Close To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest Yusef Lateef albums on Atlantic Records – and that's saying a lot, given the high level of quality he was hitting at the label! The album's a perfect blend of the newly-funky Lateef style with some hipper, more sophisticated touches – a mode that hints at his bigger-concept recordings to come, but which is still pretty lean and clean overall – and damn funky on most of the best tracks! Yusef plays a host of hip flutes here, plus tenor and oboe – and an almost equal star on the record is Kenny Barron, whose electric piano lines really make the album something special. The album begins with a long take on Barron's "Nubian Lady" which begins the record – and Kenny also contributed the tighter grooving "Jungle Plum". Other tracks include "African Song", "Queen Of The Night", "Poor Fishermen", "Below Yellow Bell", and a strange version of "Hey Jude" that goes on for a long time, and really messes with the volume – listed on the cover with the note "Do not adjust the playback level on your audio equipment – readjust your mind!" LP, Vinyl record album

To signal in the "new era", it appears that Raul Marrero decided to appear on the cover of the record hugging a nude model. (That's the sort of era we can get behind!) Apart from the cheesy cover, though, the set's a very tasty batch of 70's salsa tracks, with arrangements by Louie Ramirez, Charlie Palmieri, and Joe Cain – and playing by Charlie and Louie, plus Chocolate, Vinnie Bell, and Javier Vazques. Titles include "Quiero Besarte", "Siempre Alegre", "Mi Filosofia", "Sonar No Me Cuesta Nada", and "El Toca Toca". Tough to find in the original, too! LP, Vinyl record album

Wynton Marsalis' second date for Columbia Records, and an album that already has him stretching out from the first! Unlike before, when Wynton was given a few older players to help establish his sound, the group here is all Marsalis' own – with brother Branford on tenor and soprano sax, Kenny Kirkland on piano, Jeff Watts on drums, and either Phil Bowler or Ray Drummond on bass. Tracks are a mix of originals, and well-chosen modern moments from years past – played with a mix of soulful colors and more angular sounds, almost in the manner of VSOP from a few years before. Titles include "Fuschia", "Knozz Moe King", "Later", "The Bell Ringer", "Think Of One", and "Melancholia". LP, Vinyl record album

A solid collaboration between punk-folk-whatever they want to sound like this time-heroes The Mekons and Chicago's equally un-pigeonhole-able singer/songwriter/interpreter Robbie Fulks – recorded in Jura, Scotland! The line-up features Fulks with most of the legendary Mekons crew – including John Langford, Sally Timms, Rico Bell, Lu Edmonds and Susie Honeyman – with co-written tunes, covers and takes on traditionals. Vibrant, spontaneous and passionate stuff – and what happens when different sorts with a similar love of older songcraft hole up together in a history-steeped, whiskey-soaked locale! Includes "A Fearful Moment", "Refill", "AN Incident Off St. Kitt's", "Shine On, Silver Seas", "Beaten & Broken", "I Am Come Home", "U Say, Hang Him!", "Go From My Window" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from the 50s New York scene – and a legendary set that offers up its own interpretation of Santerian rhythms! The groove on the set is very percussion-heavy – and done with that rich sort of vibe you might get on some of the classic Sabu Martinez records – or maybe even some of the percussion projects that were handled by jazz labels of the time – although with a definite rootsy feel, too – as all instrumentation is focused on the rhythms. There's vocals on the set – which give it a slightly spiritual sort of energy – alongside the heavy work on maracas, bongos, claves, cow bell, and an assortment of other percussion instruments. Titles include "Obanlaese", "A Bailar Oriza", "Africa", "Laye, Laye", "Nueva Oriza", and "Malambo". LP, Vinyl record album

Arguably the best Mark Murphy album ever – a stunningly soulful, and slightly spiritual 70s session that features some of his hippest tunes ever – and backings from a Dave Matthews-arranged group that also includes The Brecker Brothers and Don Grolnick on keyboards! Titles include great vocal versions of "Naima", "Empty Faces", "Red Clay", "Maiden Voyage", and "Canteloupe Island". LP, Vinyl record album

The group's second album – with the hit team of Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, and Bell, Biv, Devoe firmly in place! Features the huge hit "Cool It Now", plus "Kinda Girls We Like", "Maryann", "My Secret", "Mr Telephone Man", and "Hide & Seek". LP, Vinyl record album

Man, that east coast harmony sound couldn't miss in the 70s – as proven by the huge AM radio success of New York City! The band wasn't the greatest harmony group in the world – although they did feature John Brown, who'd cut his teeth in the Five Satins – but when you teamed them up with production by Thom Bell, and backing from the Sigma Sound Studios, they created an unstoppable sound that was a perfect pop peddling of the harmony group sound. This album was their biggest – and it includes the classic "I'm Doin' Fine Now", plus lots of other nice tracks like "Hang Your Head In Shame", "Quick, Fast, In A Hurry", "Uncle James", and "Reach Out". LP, Vinyl record album

Laura Nyro's first album ever – originally issued by Verve/Forecast in the mid 60s, but brought back out on the market by Columbia, during the height of Nyro's early 70s fame for the label! Even at this early point, Nyro sounds wonderful – a fair bit more soulful than most other female pop singers of her time – with a fully-fleshed out approach to the vocals that's mature and sensitive, and almost a bit more confident at times than in later years. Arrangements are by Herb Bernstein, and almost have the same sort of sunny feel as The 5th Dimension in their famous covers of Nyro's tunes – again with more soul than we might have expected for the time. Titles include "Lazy Susan", "Stoney End", "Flim Flam Man", "Buy & Sell", "He's A Runner", "Billy's Blues", and "Wedding Bell Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

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Much looser than usual for Oscar Peterson, and we mean that in a good way – a very open-ended jam session recorded at Montreux in 1977, produced by Norman Granz with very much the same style as his Verve sets of this nature from the 50s! Peterson's billed as the leader, but the pianist has some very bold company here too – Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry on trumpets, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis on tenor – all of whom get in some great solo moments on the album's longish tracks. Other players include Niels Orsted Henning Pedersen on bass and Bobby Durham on drums – and titles include "Ali & Frazier", "Just In Time", "If I Were A Bell", and "Things Ain't What They Used To Be". LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from Ghanaian funk singer, composer and arranger Rob – issued for the first time ever outside of Ghana, thanks to the deep diggers at Soundway! Rob sings in English throughout – and there's a slinky, slow-cooking, kinda strange groove on most of the numbers – a mix of funk with lots of offbeat, oddball touches – of the sort that some folks these days might dub Afro Psych – but which was just pretty darn experimental back in the day! Rhythms are heavy on guitar, bass, and drums – and plenty of offbeat percussion – all topped with some great heavy horns too. The memorable title track is one of the most unique Afro Funk songs you could ever hope to hear – , with dexterous opening horn blasts, clattering bell-like percussion, and undeniably carnal English vocals – and the rest of the album's pretty darn amazing too! Other titles include "Loose Up Yourself" "Not The End", "I've Got To See You Again Lord", "He Shall Live In You", "But You", "Bargain" and "Back On You". LP, Vinyl record album

Spare and introspective musings from Terje Rypdal – playing nearly solo here on a variety of guitars, plus piano, electric piano, soprano sax, flute, and bells – all of which are used very spaciously in the set! The record does feature a bit of almost-indiscernible voice from Inger Rypdal, but it's really mixed in sparely with the rest of the instrumentation – drifting along more as a sound than a song. Titles include "Autumn Breeze", "Kjare Maren", "Little Bell", "Like A Child Like A Song", and "After The Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

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Ambitious folksy work from British trio Jade – a set that definitely fits into the best acid folk style of the time! There's often a bit of fuller backings in the mix here – nothing slick or commercial, but just a slight use of strings or other instrumentation to give the tunes the right sense of majesty and timing – especially when some well-placed piano lines are used alongside the acoustic guitar to underscore some of the best dark elements of the tunes. Vocals are never too trilling, nor too personal either – and there's almost a bit more confidence to Jade's approach than some of their contemporaries. Titles include "Amongst Anenomies", "Raven", "Fly On Strangewings", "Alan's Song", "Bad Magic", "Clippership", and "Five Of Us". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual slice of work by trumpeter Charlie Shavers – proof of his vitality and the range of his powers during the 50s! The first 4 tracks feature Shavers in a sextet with Hank D'Amico, Bennie Morton, Ken Kersey, Aaron Bell and Panama Francis, and some narration by Al Jazzbo Collins! Collins provides some hipster speak that sets that stage for a variety of older tunes featuring Shavers on solo. The set list includes "Dark Eyes", "Dawn On The Desert", "Story Of The Jazz Trumpet", and "Moten Swing" – all done in pretty cool, swinging versions. Side 2 of the LP features Shavers leading another sextet in front of the John Kirby Orchestra with vocalist Maxine Sullivan alongside too, and all of which include Buster Bailey on clarinet, Russell Procope on alto, and Billy Kyle on piano – on tunes that include "Windy", "Rose Room", "If I Had A Ribbon Row", "Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm", and "Molly Malone". LP, Vinyl record album

A late date for Woody Shaw, but a great one too – a bit more straightforward than some of his more righteous albums of the 70s, but still proof that Shaw is easily one of the greatest trumpeters of his generation! The album's got a laidback sort of feel, and features a fair bit of familiar standards – but Woody and the group do plenty to transform them, especially on the solo spots. Shaw's leading a quintet here – with Steve Turre on trombone, Kirk Lightsey on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Carl Allen on drums – and titles include "Steve's Blues", "Dat Dere", "Imagination", "If I Were A Bell", "You & The Night & The Music", and "Stormy Weather". LP, Vinyl record album

One the all time great funky albums of the 70s – a mad little record with a sense of rhythm and timing that was years ahead of its time! The Soul Searchers (along with Chuck Brown) later became known for their heavy-hitting Go Go work at the end of the decade – but here, they're a really free-thinking outfit with a lot of jazz in their funk – and a willingness to change up the beats and timings in ways that push the record miles ahead from an average funk outing. Tracks swirl around with an amazing intensity – supported by guitar work from Brown, organ from Hilton Felton, and some really great horns from Don Tillery and Lloyd Pinchback. The album features a wonderful remake of "Think" – plus the great originals "1993", "Soul To The People", "Blowout", and "We The People". LP, Vinyl record album

Eight Atlantic albums, and The Spinners are still going strong – sounding really wonderful here, thanks to Philly backings from the great Thom Bell! The album's not filled with hits, but that's a big part of its charm – as the group still sounds great, with smoother than smooth vocals – and the tunes move nicely between the soaring style the group discovered in Philly, and some of the mellower moments we've grown to like even more in their work over the years. Most players are Sigma Sound regulars, and titles include "I'm Tired Of Giving", "You Got The Love That I Need", "Painted Magic", "Easy Come Easy Go", "Love Is One Step Away", "Back In The Arms Of Love", and "Heaven On Earth". LP, Vinyl record album

A fascinating little record by The Spinners – and a real contrast to some of their other Atlantic albums! The set has them stepping out of the tightly controlled studio sound of their Philly albums – still working with Thom Bell on production, but doing so in a freer sort of live setting. A number of tracks are taken in very open versions, and really extended out nicely – and there's also some good material on here that shows that the group's harmonies could work in just about any setting. Surprisingly great – a really excellent little album that shows that the group were as strong as a unit as they could be as part of a hit-making machine. Titles in lude "Then Came You", "Sadie", "Fascinating Rhythm", "I've Got To Make It On My Own", "Superstar Medley", "Love Don't Love Nobody", and "Mighty Love". LP, Vinyl record album

If you only know Meatloaf from his late 70s work with Jim Steinman, prepare to be amazed – as this early album for Motown's Rare Earth label is a completely different set altogether – filled with soulful elements that take the man's mighty voice in directions we never would have guessed! The set's a collaboration with female singer Shaun Murphey, aka Stoney – another talent from the Detroit scene, and working with Meatloaf in that effortless blend of soul, rock, and some funky psychedelic touches that some of their best Motor City contemporaries were doing at the time – but maybe even better! The record's got a tremendous sound, even without Meatloaf's later fame – and was put together with some great arrangements from David Van DePitte and Tom Baird – on titles that include "Jessica White", "Lady Be Mine", "Jimmy Bell", "Sunshine", "Game Of Love", "Kiss Me Again", It Takes All Kinds Of People", and "She Waits By The Window". LP, Vinyl record album

Mid-period Stylistics, recorded after their association with Thom Bell and Linda Creed, and during the time that the group was handled by Hugo & Luigi. H&L do an ok job with them, and they've got Van McCoy handling arrangements to add a bit more soul to the mix – but the record is still down a few notches from the classic years. The album includes one last Thom Bell arrangement – the group's huge "You Make Me Feel Brand New" – plus other cuts like "Love Is The Answer", "I Got Time On My Hands", "I Got A Letter", and "We Can Make It Happen Again", perhaps the group's wish for a bigger hit. LP, Vinyl record album

The third album by The Stylistics – and a set that's still very much in the high-harmony territory of their first two classics! Thom Bell's still very firmly on deck this time around – arranging, producing, and writing a good deal of the material too – and the Sigma Sound recording setting ensures plenty of key Philly help in the studio – just the right balance of musicians to get the album's mellow and uptempo tracks sounding their best! This is the kind of set that countless groups tried to copy back in the day, but hardly ever got this right at all – and titles include the sly number "Payback Is A Dog", plus "Love Comes Easy", "I Won't Give You Up", "Make It Last", "Only For The Children", and "Rockin' Roll Baby" – plus the massive crossover number "You Make Me Feel Brand New". LP, Vinyl record album

The Stylistics work their way through a nice batch of material by Hugo & Luigi. The sound's not entirely the same as their earlier work with Thom Bell, but there's some very nice moments – thanks to good arrangements by Horace Ott. Titles include "Wonder Woman", "Good Thing Goin' On", "Lucky Me", "Give A Little Love", and "Fool Of The Year". LP, Vinyl record album

Forget any biases you might have against Clark Terry – this album is a super-hip killer! The arrangements were handled by Joe Cain, a mad mad mad Latin arranger who brings a strange sense of rhythm to the session, and a unique way of inserting instrumental flourishes. There's some nice organ and firey piano, Jerome Richardson plays excellent bits on flute and sax, and Vince Bell and Eric Gale both play guitars. Jose Mangual and Willie Bobo kick it in with percussion, and Terry plays in a tight jaunty style, with occasional mad vocal moments. Titles include "El Blues Latino", "The Cat From Cadiz", "Rum & Mumbles", and "Never". LP, Vinyl record album

The really wonderful debut of Thin Lizzy – a set that features a slightly different sound than their big 70s classics, but which is also completely wonderful, and shows that the group was already on a very clear path! There's a bit more acoustic guitar here than in later years – as Phil Lynott plays the instrument, and Eric Bell adds in 12 string guitar – both elements in the music that really give the songs a subtle sense of beauty, even while they still rock out heavily with those amazing Lynott lead vocals, as well as his great work on bass! The power of the album comes through right away – clearly very different than so much of the scene at the time – and titles include the fantastic "Friendly Ranger At Clontarf Castle", plus "Honesty Is No Excuse", "Ray-Gun", "Look What The Wind Blew In", "Clifton Garage Hotel", "Saga Of The Ageing Orphan", and "Remembering (Part 1)". LP, Vinyl record album

One of THE disco hits of the 70s – a set that spawned not only a huge hit single for Anita Ward, but which also firmly pushed the Miami scene over the top! The record's a wonderful mix of modes – served up with stone southern soul production from Frederick Knight, but also given plenty of disco touches from arranger Mike Lewis – who famously works in strings and keyboards in ways that really help the vocals soar! The mellower numbers are a great reminder that Anita's way more than just the usual club diva – a singer able to make things work strongly on a ballad front as well – and some of the best tracks here are penned by Sam Dees, who brings a level of songwriting that you normally wouldn't find on a disco record. Titles include the hit "Ring My Bell" – plus "If I Could Feel That Old Feeling Again", "Sweet Splendor", "You Lied", "Make Believe Lovers", and "I Won't Stop Loving You". LP, Vinyl record album

Muddy Waters definitely put the "unk" in funk – although back in his day, the word meant something different than in the 70s! This set features some great late Muddy for Chess – produced in conjunction with Ralph Bass, Muddy's longtime associate in the studio, and done with a style that's a lot more rootsy than the title might imply! Instead of the electrified funky style that other Chess bluesmen were going for in the early 70s, or which Waters used on his late 60s albums, this one is a more back to basics set – with stripped down arrangements, and the kind of electric down homey feel that must have been big with the college kids. Pinetop Perkins plays piano on the set, and Carey Bell Harrington throws in a lot of harmonica. Titles include "Electric Man", "Trouble No More", "Unk In Funk", "Everything Gonna Be Alright", "Waterboy Waterboy", and "Rollin & Tumblin". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique moment for Nancy – one in which she leaves the LA sound behind, and gets some special treatment from the young Philly crew of the Gamble & Huff studios! Arrangements on the set are by Thom Bell, Lenny Pakula, and Bobby Martin – and the style's an interesting mix of Nancy's pop jazz vocals with some of the lighter, sweeter sounds of the Philly scene at the start of the 70s. The result is a surprisingly wonderful album – quite different for Nancy, and with the kind of backings that really break her out of the sound of the 60s – and pave the way for the sophisticated style of the 70s. Titles include "Now I'm A Woman", "Let's Fall In Love All Over", "Lonely Lonely", "Joe", "How Many Broken Wings", and "The Real Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Hip stuff by Nancy Wilson – and a sophisticated album of soul tracks arranged and produced by Gene Page, in a string-heavy, slightly-funky style that reminds us of Gene's work with Barry White at the time. The tracks are all pretty hip – and include titles written by Stevie Wonder, Johnny Guitar Watson, Thom Bell & Linda Creed, Billy Page, and Tennyson Stevens. No standout tracks, but plenty of nice moments, and a good side of Nancy's career that isn't always given that much exposure. Titles include "Tell The Truth", "Try It, You'll Like It", "All In Love Is Fair", "There'll Always Be Forever", and "You're As Right As Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

Hypnotic organ funk from Lyman Woodard – an old bandmate of Dennis Coffey, and one of the shining lights of the 70s Detroit scene! This is amazing, amazing stuff – Woodard's electric piano, organ and occasional mellotron and Norma Bell's alto saxophone lend a cosmic funk aspect throughout, very much like Death Wish-era Herbie Hancock – with a laidback, tripped-out groove that's really mindblowing! Ron English accents the thing perfectly with his languid guitar and bass groove, while Leonard King and Lorenzo Brown's drumming and percussion can keep the groove adrift, or tear it up in a funky maelstrom depending on the mission of the cut. It's totally essential Strata jazz funk – and a record we've rarely seen in the original pressing. Tracks include "Saturday Night Special", "Joy Road", "Belle Isle Daze", "Creative Musicians", "Cheeba", "On Your Mind", "Allen Barnes" and "Help Me Get Away". LP, Vinyl record album

About as archetypal as you can get for a Christmas collection – but isn't that what the holiday's all about? The album's filled with classics from years back – including "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee, "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" by Spike Jones, "Do You Hear What I Hear" by Bing Crosby, "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry, and "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt. LP, Vinyl record album

Late niceness from Count Basie – and a set that definitely lives up to its name – a really high energy set, and one of the few times that Basie ever recorded for the MPS label! The group here works with sharp arrangements from Chico O'Farrill – who's got that punchy groove he was really perfecting in the 60s – a rhythmic snap that works just as well with the Basie group as Neal Hefti's charts did a decade before! Tunes are mostly standards, served up in a no-nonsense mode that's very heavy on the overall rhythmic conception of the group – but with some nice breakout solo moments, too – as you might hope for with a group that includes Eddie Lockjaw Davis on tenor, Eric Dixon on flute and tenor, Joe Newman on trumpet, Jerry Dodgion on alto, and Buddy Morrow on trombone. Titles include "Together", "If I Were A Bell", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Chicago", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Day In Day Out", and "When Sunny Gets Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

Al Capps arranged and conducted this disco record featuring songs from the soundtrack to Guys and Dolls. The notes on the back cover credit Capps for his "tasteful, happy, 'today' treatments of the much loved score". Songs include "A Bushel and a Peck", "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat", "Luck Be A Lady", "If I Were a Bell", and "The Oldest Established". LP, Vinyl record album

A cool UK combo set – Derek Cox on piano, with Billy Bell on guitar, Dave Richmond on bass, and Art Morgan on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

The second album from one of the most unique voices in British music in the 60s – a really sublime little set that moves beyond familiar folk, rock, and pop – to put Marianne Faithfull in a mighty special place that's all her own! Right from the very first note of her voice, Marianne's out to sound way different than the rest – with a darkness that almost echoes the solo work of Nico, but a warmer sound that still holds on to some of the previous Brit mode that inform the album. Arrangements are totally great – penned by David Whittaker, Mike Leander, and Jon Mark – conducted by Leander with an eerie sound that's really amazing. Titles include "Come & Stay With Me", "As Tears Go By", "Down Town", "I'm A Loser", "What Have I Done Wrong", "They Never Will Leave You", and "He'll Come Back To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The most polarizing of John Lennon's post Beatles ouvre – the strident, Spector-produced, sprawling mess that is Some Time In New York City – a record that has too much of every idea John & Yoko had at the time, which makes it all the more fascinating after all these years! Angry, self-righteous and quite often brilliant – feminist anthems backed by Wall Of Sound pop, an ode to John Sinclair in the mold of a country rock tune – wild stuff from a superstar! Frank Zappa and the Mothers on side four! Include "Woman Is The Ni**** Of The World", "Sister, Oh Sister", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Attica State", "New York City" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Little Anthony – and a great update to his smooth 60s harmony sound with The Imperials! Anthony wisely employs the use of two of 70s top harmony arrangers on the album – using Thom Bell on one side, and Teddy Randazzo on the other – both of whom really help take the group to a whole new level! The Thom Bell material fits perfectly with his work with The Stylistics from the same time, and the cuts have a wonderfully mellow east coast harmony style that's quite different than Anthony's earlier work. Teddy Randazzo does a pretty nice job, too – but with a fuller sound too, almost in a Manhattans mode that makes for a nice change from the previous fragility of Anthony's vocals. Titles include "I Don't Have Time To Worry", "That's What Love is All About", "I'm Falling In Love with You", "Heartache Never Entered My Mind", and "The Loneliest House on the Block". LP, Vinyl record album

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 Make You Happy", and "As Long As We're Together". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time – a pioneering blast of mid 80s thrash from Metallica at an early peak! Say what you will about Metallica's later career triumphs and failures, there's no overstating how huge their impact was on metal and hard rock early on, and their best few records are incredible to this day. This may well be they're very best album – the culmination of a couple years of slow-building word-of-mouth reputation-building for genre work that can't be praised highly enough. One metal classic after another: "Fight Fire With Fire", "Ride The Lightning", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Fade To Black", "Trapped Under Ice", "Escape", "Creeping Death" and "The Call Of Ktulu". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most impressive albums ever from arranger Oliver Nelson – a set that really shows the full depth of his mighty talents! Side one features Nelson working with a larger orchestra – similar to the kind of ensemble he arranged for other artists in the 60s, but handled here with an open, searching sort of sound – really impressive modern jazz elements on the title track, then some sweeter, warmer soul sounds on a few shorter numbers too! Nelson plays soprano sax, and his use of the instrument is definitely Coltrane-informed at times – and a nice change from his more familiar alto. The flipside features just a quartet – Oliver again on soprano sax – plus Steve Kuhn on piano, Ron Carter bass, and Grady Tate on drums. With Kuhn on piano, bringing a nice modern edge that works perfectly with the soprano. Titles include "Sound Piece For Jazz Orchestra", "Patterns", "Flute Salad", "The Lady From Girl Talk", and "Elegy For A Duck". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure one from vocalist Joel Smith – a record that features some pretty hip players, including Richard Wyands on piano and Ernie Hayes on keyboards – both of whom handle arrangements – plus organ from Reuben Wilson, vibes from Vince Bell, and drums from Bill English! LP, Vinyl record album

The final album from Trapeze – and a set that has them stepping out as a super-heavy trio who should have been huge! Glenn Hughes handles bass and all the lead vocals – with the best qualities he would soon bring to Deep Purple – and the drums from David Holland are fantastic – full of all the right sort of power and drive to make the lean lineup work so well! Guitarist Mel Galley has really grown a lot since the start – and turns out some solos and leads here that should have made him one of the bigger acts of the growing hard rock generation from the UK – save for the fact that he's also got a wonderful ear for more sensitive moments, which makes this record far more deep than just a standard rocker. Titles include "Loser", "You Are The Music", "Way Back To The Bone", "Keepin Time", "Coast To Coast", "Will Our Love End", and "Feelin So Much Better Now". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful album from Dionne Warwick – probably her greatest record after the early years! The session was recorded with production by Thom Bell at Sigma Sound in Philly – and the style is a sweet blend of Philly modes, from fragile ballads to midtempo groovers, all done in a warm and intimate style that's never cloying, and which really gets at the depth of Dionne's soulful style. The record's one of those that you might have passed by for years, but which if you heard it playing at someone's house, you'd say "Dang! What the heck is that?" Great all the way through, and with tracks that include "Track Of The Cat", "His House & Me", "Once You Hit The Road", "This Is Love", and "Love Me One More Time". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by The Tams, Joe Turner, The Temptations, Chairmen Of The Board, Mary Wells, William Bell & Judy Clay, Patty & The Emblems, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, The Impressions, Marvin Gaye, James & Bobby Purify, Archie Bell & The Drells, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

No soundclash here – as the grooves are all right on the money, and fit perfectly together throughout – a blinding blend of tropical-styled sounds that really lives up to the promise of the package! Sofrito have outdone themselves here – and come up with the kinds of tracks we'd never have found in a million years of digging – mostly vintage numbers from the late 70s and early 80s tropical scene – mixed with a few contemporary numbers that seem to have an equally classic sort of vibe! The package is an instant global grooves party right from the start – and titles include "O Ti Yo" by Midnight Groovers, "Cumbia Y Tambo" by La Pesada, "Ebolo" by Bell'A Njoh, "Vibrations Groove" by Lord Shorty & Vibrations International, ""Mwekuru Muthao" by Melodica Teens Band, "La Zorra Y El Perol" by Grupo Canalon De Tinbiqui, and "The Path (Sofrito edit)" by Concept Neuf. LP, Vinyl record album