A really obscure album from the legendary 60s soul singer – done for the short-lived Guinness Records label, right around the same time that Ben was coming back a bit on Atlantic! This one's got a rootsier feel – almost in a southern soul mode, with Ben singing in a style that really brings out the rougher edges in his voice, against arrangements by Bob Gallo that have a slightly dramatic feel. Titles include many originals by Ben, and tunes include "White Moon", "Travlin Woman", "I Guess It's Goodbye", "She Does It Right", and "The Beginning Of It All". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful package – a set that brings together two rare funk albums by Newban, an early version of Atlantic Starr – plus bonus tracks too! The first Newban record is one of the sweetest ensemble funk albums of the 70s – and a record that's gone on to become a classic, despite the fact that most people know little about the group! Newban have a sound that's almost a jazzier take on the Earth Wind & Fire groove of the time – a style that's warm and fluid, and which really gets past the cliches of other larger funk acts – and manages to find a space in sound that's all its own! There's lots of odd phrasings and chords on the set – creating these very blue passages even when the group's grooving in an uptempo mode – almost like the sense of sadness that creeps out from Stevie Wonder's work during his best early 70s years. The sound is totally unique, and uniquely wonderful – and the album includes the classic "Father Time", plus the cuts "Magic Lady", "Mellow Days, Easy Nights", "Fatback Sally", and "Hungry Grin". Newban 2 is every bit as great as the first album – if not better – with some excellent excellent lost material that's the kind of stuff that still keeps you diggin' for the hard ones. Includes the track "Greenburgh", with a tight funky intro and a smooth sweet soul groove, plus lots of other great cuts like "Free Your Mind", "Easin' Through", "Find a Place to Live", and "Rhythm & Rhyme". This deluxe package also features three rare bonus tracks – "Oh Wow", "Miracle Holiday", and "Bells" – tracks recorded before the first two albums! CD

A rare batch of funky soul on the notorious Guinness label – the same company that gave the world the two fantastic albums by Newban – and somehow also managed to issue this gem of a set too! The vibe is similar to Newban – well-crafted upbeat soul that isn't really disco, but isn't hard funk either – instead this really unique hybrid of modes that moves along at a mighty nice clip – while tight, fast guitar really carves out most of the groove – but is matched by some great basslines and drums, and topped by horns that really warm things up alongside the vocals! There's a soaring, positive vibe to the whole record – energy that really belies the fact that the set hardly got any circulation at the time – almost as if the group were poising themselves to be huge. Titles include "Love Love Love", "Hold On", "Can You Feel It", "All In Time", "Fine Lady", and "Smoke Up". CD

A rare funky gem from Madcliff – an early project from Chris Hills, who'd soon go onto greater fame in Players Association! The album's got a much more soul-based sound than Hills' later material – still upbeat and groovy, but delivered with an indie soul vibe that keeps things nice and raw – much more tight funk than slick disco, even though some of the grooves here are perfect for the club! The album only saw brief release on the tiny Guinness label – who also gave us the classic Newban set – and this record's got a similar blend of righteous currents and jazzy funk – all served up at a level that's very individual, and which has made the whole thing an overlooked gem for years! Chris uses some bold piano currents, light string flourishes, and some right rhythms that really keep things funky, even when clubby – on titles that include "Goin To The Disco", "I Like It", "You Can Make The Change", "It Takes A Little Time", "Just Another Woman", "What The People Say About Love", and "Steal You Away". LP, Vinyl record album

A weird set of compressed 70s rock – and one of the few releases on the tiny Guiness label. Felix has an approach here that's almost like some of the best crossover British rock of the time – jangly and earthy at times, but with a nice studio approach to the production – in a way that spaces out the vocals nicely next to the guitars in a post-glam sort of way. Titles include "Try Not To Listen", "My Love & I", "Love Is All Around", "Dear", "Black", "Mother", and "Jackie's Back In Town". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare funky gem from Madcliff – an early project from Chris Hills, who'd soon go onto greater fame in Players Association! The album's got a much more soul-based sound than Hills' later material – still upbeat and groovy, but delivered with an indie soul vibe that keeps things nice and raw – much more tight funk than slick disco, even though some of the grooves here are perfect for the club! The album only saw brief release on the tiny Guinness label – who also gave us the classic Newban set – and this record's got a similar blend of righteous currents and jazzy funk – all served up at a level that's very individual, and which has made the whole thing an overlooked gem for years! Chris uses some bold piano currents, light string flourishes, and some right rhythms that really keep things funky, even when clubby – on titles that include "Goin To The Disco", "I Like It", "You Can Make The Change", "It Takes A Little Time", "Just Another Woman", "What The People Say About Love", and "Steal You Away". CD

The long-overdue return of Gloria Scott – one of our favorite female soul singers of the 70s, and an artist who only gave the world one famous full length album, produced by Barry White! The vibe here is nicely similar to that classic, but more contemporary too – still-great vocals from Gloria, given a fresh setting by producer/arranger Andrew McGuinness, who knows that a groove always seems to bring out the best in Scott's talents, while also allowing her even more depth and space to soar than she got from Barry White! Titles include a sublime remake of the Joe Smooth tune "Promised Land" – plus new cuts "Running Away", "Come Back Baby", "So Wonderful", "Real", "I Found Love", and "Show Me" – and remakes of "There's No Cure For Me", "I've Got To Have All Of You", and "All Of The Time You're On My Mind". CD