... LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique record from one of the most unique singers in the Japanese scene of the early 70s – an artist with a spare, subtle sense of drama that's really carried through here – as the record features more spoken than sung passages overall, but with a dreamy vibe that's very much in the spirit of Kazumi's previous album! There's almost a European vibe to the record – light soundtrack arrangements that are lower in the background than Yasui's voice – often with a feel that's like some sexy French film production, save for the fact that the lyrics are all in Japanese! Song titles and note are all in Japanese – but there's a very cool vibe to the record that transcends the boundaries of language. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums ever cut by the brothers Conway – working here in Atlanta with a mix of 80s styles and older modes! Titles include "Por-Sha", "I Can't Fight It", "Why You Wanna Do Me Like You Do", "BOC", "If You Love Me", and "Ohio Jam" – a jam of Ohio Players tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

An overlooked mid 70s gem from Curtis Mayfield – a record that's recorded with a slightly less righteous mode than his earliest work for Curtom – but still plenty darn great! The emphasis here is on warmer, sweeter styles – tunes that mix a subtle approach to funk with some great warm vocals from Curtis – in a way that re-exposes his talents as a singer of the kind of love-themed and tender tracks that first got him started in The Impressions! Rich Tufo handled the arrangements, and the sound is great – as perfect a version of mellow soul as the earlier records were a version of funky soul – with loads of slinky little numbers that include "Mr Welfare Man", "Soul Music", "Only You Babe", "Get A Little Bit", "Party Night", and "This Love Is Sweet". CD

A great album of mellow soul tracks from Curtis Mayfield – laidback, slinky, and almost to his earlier work what Let's Get It On was to the early 70s career of Marvin Gaye! The album's got a warm, soulful vibe that's totally great – not as all-out funky or politically righteous as before, and instead more deeply personal, and almost intimate at times – in a way that really lets Curtis open up with those fragile and heartbreaking vocals that made his 60s work so great. The restraint here is totally great – another mid 70s masterpiece from arranger Rich Tufo – and at times, Mayfield hits a similar mode to some of Leroy Hutson's best Curtom work from the time! Titles include "Just Want To Be With You", "All Night Long", "When We're Alone", "I'm Gonna Win Your Love", "Sparkle", "Never Say You Can't Survive", and "Show Me Love". CD

Curtis Mayfield's lasting classic – and an album that the world will remember forever! Apart from being his hugely successful entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack field, this album's also a monster set of grooves that includes some of Curtis' funkiest work ever – a record that works as well as a 70s soul album as it does a hip action film score! The track list alone reads as a who's who of 70s funk – filled with gems that include "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", "Little Child Runnin' Wild", "Give Me Your Love", and "Superfly" – and the rest of the set is equally great, essential listening throughout! CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A great album by Curtis Mayfield – filled with some excellent lesser-known gems! There's No Place Like America was Curtis' scathing testament to the State Of The Union – and it's got a hip political tone that's right up there with the best of his early 70s songwriting – perhaps even more so, as the message is a bit subtler than on other albums, and laid out in this stoner mellow funk vein that's very tasty throughout, and which makes for an extremely unified album! The album includes a version of the cut "Hard Times", which was done earlier by Baby Huey, plus "Blue Monday People", "Love To The People", and "When Seasons Change". Also includes the great sweet love song, "So In Love"! CD

One of the greatest sessions ever recorded by Ronnie Mathews – an excellent soul jazz pianist who's working here in a mode that's similar to that of Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, or other 70s lyrical giants! Mathews' touch on the keys is incredible – at one moment extremely sensitive and pensive, at another racing forward with a searing searching spirituality that's driven on by the bass of Yoshio Suzuki and the drums of Louis Hayes – a great rhythm duo who really help give the record a very special, unique feel. The album features the original compositions "Ichiban", "K's Waltz", and "Jean-Marie" – plus a great version of "Manha Do Carnaval", which features Mathews on Fender Rhodes! CD