A record with a cover that has Mighty Baby looking a bit more relaxed than before – and sounding a fair bit relaxed, too – as they trade some of their more strongly-driven modes for a laidback, introspective vibe that's equally nice in its own sort of way! Roger Powell is still on drums, but he also handles some gentler percussion – and other group members shift some of the dynamism of their instrumentation towards more meditative modes – a shift you can definitely hear on the organ, saxes, and flute of Ian Whiteman – who also plays a bit of harmonium. Songs are a bit longer, with even more personal lyrics – and titles include "The Happiest Man In The Carnival", "Keep On Juggin", "Virgin Spring", "Testing The Life", and "Slipstreams". LP, Vinyl record album

Pretty hip stuff, with a definite Coltrane influence – and Larry Young in the group on organ, along with Billy Cobham on drums and Armando Peraza on congas. Titles include "Naima", "A Love Supreme", "Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord", "Meditation", and "The Life Divine". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly the greatest album ever from Side Effect – a wonderful set that mixes their soulful harmonies with some killer jazz funk from Wayne Henderson! The album may be the most perfect realization of the groove that Henderson was going for during his At Home Productions years – lots of funky fusion in the instrumentation, but all directed towards a tighter, more soul-based style – that perfect contribution that Fantasy Records made to the world in the 70s – after labels like Blue Note and Columbia first started setting things down. Whatever the chronology, though, this set's a standout no matter how you slice it – damn catchy tunes, incredible vocals, and a set of rhythms that are every bit as hip today as they were back when first recorded – really genre-defining grooves that you'll definitely recognize in the album's classics "Always There" and "Keep That Same Old Feeling" – and will go on to love in the cuts "Life Is What You Make It", "Changes", "I Know You Can", "SOS", "Time Has No Ending", "Finally Found Someone", and "Honky Tonk Scat". LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic showcase for the Chicago-raised Otis Spann – a musician who'd already had plenty of recordings under his belt by the time of this session, but definitely gets a different sort of exposure here – thanks to the unique presentation of the Candid Records label! Candid mostly recorded modern jazz, and had a very open ear to getting the best out of their musicians – which they definitely do here with Spann's piano, set up in spare duo formation next to the guitar of the equally great and important Robert Lockwood. Both players sing on the record, alternating vocals from track to track in a set of all-original material – with titles that include "Worried Life Blues", "Great Northern Stomp", "Otis In The Dark", "The Hard Way", "Take A Little Walk With Me", and "Beat Up Team". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost landmark in early 70s roots rock – the first solo album from Bobby Whitlock – an artist who'd previously played with Derek & The Dominoes, George Harrison, and Delaney & Bonnie – and who's getting a bit of help here from both Harrison and Eric Clapton in the studio! Yet the set's definitely Bobby's own – rooted in his Memphis background, and fusing together rock and soul with the same sort of core charm you might hear from Delaney & Bonnie – a quality that's almost color-blind at times, and which has the same sort of new southern appeal as music from The Allman Brothers or some of Bobby's bigger contemporaries. Titles include "Where There's A Will", "Song For Paula", "A Game Called Life", "Back In My Life Again", "Back Home In England", and "The Dreams Of A Hobo". LP, Vinyl record album

The fantastic third album from Common – the record that really catapulted him on his way to stardom, yet a set that still retains all the best aspects of his early days in Chicago! Part of that quality comes from the superb production of No ID, who gets a bit of local help from Dug Infinite and Twilite Tone – all talents who have that special, sophisticated vibe that was really starting to flow from Chicago out to the rest of the world – and which here is perfect for the well-crafted lyrics from Common! The balance is great – never too hard or heavy, yet also not trying to ape either a west coast quirky or New York native tongues approach. This time around, there's also plenty of guests on board, of the sort that Common would soon be rubbing shoulders with on a regular basis – a lineup that includes The Roots, Q-Tip, Erykah Badu, Canibus, Black Thought, Lauryn Hill, and De La Soul. Yet throughout, the vibe is Common's and Chicago's – something that's always made us very proud to be from the same scene at the same time. Titles include "1 2 Many", "Reminding Me Of Sef", "Invocation", "Stolen Moments", "My City", "Real Nigga Quotes", and "Retrospect For Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic live album – one of the first in soul music, and a beautiful set of smooth soul tunes from Sam Cooke! Sam's singing at the high-end nitespot The Copacabana – and like many live sets performed there, this one's tailored a bit to the classy crowd at the show – but that doesn't stop him from using his voice to perfection, sweetly crafting beautiful lines on a batch of standards given the soul treatment, plus a few of Sam's own hits. And sure, it's easy to criticize this album after the release of the Live At The Harlem Square album in the mid 80s – which was recorded a year earlier, but rejected by RCA in favor of this album's crossover potential – but keep in mind that for most folks who didn't grow up with the hindsight of reissues, this album was all they had, and it still had quite an impact in the soul market. Titles include "The Best Things In Life Are Free", "Try A Little Tenderness", "If I Had A Hammer", "Twistin The Night Away", "You Send Me", and "This Little Light Of Mine". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the grooviest of Sammy's albums for Reprise during the 60s – cut with production by Jimmy Bowen and a nicely bouncy set of backings! There's a definite mixed bag approach to the material, but it's that non-unified quality that makes some of Sammy's best albums so great – as he'll deliver a pop number one minute, a tender ballad the next, and a tongue in cheek cover after that – really expressing himself on vinyl with the same range that he brought to his excellent live shows. Bowen keeps things light and lively throughout – and arrangers include George Rhodes, Ernie Freeman, and Al Capps. Titles include the excellent "The Goin's Great" – used famously in a Pam Am campaign at the time – plus bouncy versions of "Bein Natural Bein Me" and "In This Crowded World" – and the tracks "What Became Of Me", "Take It From One Who Knows", "This Guy's In Love With You", and "I Have But One Life To Live". LP, Vinyl record album

Smooth as silk, with plenty of soul – a classic set that has the guitar of Eric Gale produced by the legendary Allen Toussaint! The cross of talents is pretty compelling – and although the album's not a New Orleans funk outing, it definitely shares some of the more creative elements that you'd get from some of Toussaint's other side projects at the end of the 70s. A few numbers definitely have a bit more bump than you'd expect from a fsuion date like this – and Toussaint himself plays piano and moog on the record, and even sings a tiny bit. Robert Dabon plays Fender Rhodes – and titles include "You Got My Life In Your Hands", "War Paint", "Touch Of Silk", "Au Privave", "With You I'm Born Again", and "Once In A Smile". LP, Vinyl record album

Arlo Guthrie may not be one of the best-remembered folkies of the 60s, but he sure made waves with this classic debut and the side-long title song! Arlo is the son of Woody Guthrie, and probably owes as much to Bob Dylan as Dylan does to Woody – but he was definitely on to something when he expanded the shorter protest song into the space of the 18 minute "Alice's Restaurant Massacre", which makes surprisingly strong use of its many grooves on the record – while Arlo delivers a biting commentary on the life of a young man in the era of Vietnam and the uptight Establishment. Side two brings in shorter tracks, but with a similar energy – selections that include "Chilling Of The Evening", "The Motorcycle Song", "I'm Going Home", "Highway In The Wind", and "Now & Then". LP, Vinyl record album

Nona Hendryx at the height of her 80s glory – looking mighty fierce in a fencing costume on the cover! As with her previous set, this one's done with heavy help from Material – who bring in a beat heavy sound that's kind of a mainstream variation on the underground New York groove they'd had a few years before. Francois K helps a bit on the mixing, and you can definitely hear some of his playful touches – the sorts of sounds that helped a record like this build a bridge between the clubs and the streets, from Danceteria to the mainstream! Musicians include Bernie Worrell on keyboards and Bill Laswell on bass and tapes – and titles include "To The Bone", "Electricity", "I Sweat", "Soft Targets", "I Want You", "Ghost Love", and "The Life". LP, Vinyl record album

Nona Hendryx at the height of her 80s glory – looking mighty fierce in a fencing costume on the cover! As with her previous set, this one's done with heavy help from Material – who bring in a beat heavy sound that's kind of a mainstream variation on the underground New York groove they'd had a few years before. Francois K helps a bit on the mixing, and you can definitely hear some of his playful touches – the sorts of sounds that helped a record like this build a bridge between the clubs and the streets, from Danceteria to the mainstream! Musicians include Bernie Worrell on keyboards and Bill Laswell on bass and tapes – and titles include "To The Bone", "Electricity", "I Sweat", "Soft Targets", "I Want You", "Ghost Love", and "The Life". LP, Vinyl record album

Plenty of groove, and plenty of spice – a set that has the heavy Holmes taking off in his best 60s soul jazz formation! The tracks are extremely tight – a bit shorter than usual, but in a really good way – almost to show that Grove Holmes could pack plenty of niceness into a tune, with less room than other players needed! Rhythms are great – tightly snapping throughout, and definitely in a "Misty" vibe – and the session features great guitar work from both Gene Edwards and Boogaloo Joe Jones, plus drums from George Randall, and some especially nice congas from Richard Landrum – which gives many numbers a sweetly skipping groove. Loads of fantastic covers here, that really transform the tunes – and titles include "If I Had A Hammer", "Old Folks", "123", "Never On A Sunday", "Boo D Doo", "Work Song", and "Day In The Life Of A Fool". LP, Vinyl record album

A group that definitely lives up to its name – given that the lineup features the Chess Records stalwarts Bo Diddley, Howlin Wolf, and Muddy Waters! The set's maybe a bit more in the mode of Wolf or Waters than some of Bo's own records – although there's a bit of that riffing spark of his at times – and the tracks are often nice and long, with more than enough room to make you feel like Phil Chess gave these guys plenty of space in the studio to hang out, and find the right way to interact. As much as we love Chess albums with short songs and a soulful punch, we really appreciate it when they can break format and open up on a session like this – which really helps create a unique moment on record! Titles include "Goin Down Slow", "Long Distance Call", "Sweet Little Angel", "Ooh Baby & Wrecking My Love Life", and "Spoonful". LP, Vinyl record album

Ronnie Laws at the top of his early game – working in a tight mix of jazz and soul put together with some great help from Wayne Henderson's At Home Productions – very much in the hit style that team was putting out at the time! The work's surprisingly open and hip compared to efforts like this from a decade later – still smooth in production, but with lots of room for instrumental solos, and a groove that's still more heavy on fusion influences than anything else! Laws plays tenor, flute, and soprano sax – and other players include Larry Dunn on keyboards and Melvin Robinson on guitar – and a few cuts feature chorus vocals, by hip singers who include Eloise and Debra Laws, Diane Reeves, and Phillip Bailey. Titles include "All For You", "These Days", "Flame", "Living Love", "Joy", "Live Your Life Away", and "Love Is Here". LP, Vinyl record album

Anthony and crew were one of the few groups who actually got better when they moved from the raw indie scene to the slicker major label one – as you'll hear perfectly on this set of some of their best work for the Veep/DCP/United Artists label. Teddy Randazzo handled all the arrangments and production, and his breathy uptown style works perfectly with the band's soulful harmonies. Titles include "Hurt So Bad", "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", "Our Song", "Get Out Of My Life", and "Going Out Of My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard to believe that a preppie look could ever be associated with a soul singer, but by the time of this 1983, the preppie craze had spread so much that it actually provided Cheryl Lynn a nice way to update her style! There's nothing preppie about the music, though – and the record's a great batch of cuts that show how much Cheryl influenced the soul sound of the early 80s, especially at a time when Columbia was putting out so many strong R&B acts – stepping forth with a tight, mature groove that's totally wonderful – definitely a standard-setting sound that so many other female singers tried to match! Includes the cuts "Encore", "Fool A Fool", "Fix It", "Change The Channel", "Preppie", and "Life's Too Short". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few albums as a leader cut by pianist Ralph Sharon – a player who's best known for his years supporting singer Tony Bennett, but who sounds really wonderful here in an instrumental setting too! Sharon's got a way of coming up both with a punch and a fluid sort of groove – that gentle swing that worked so well to ignite the jazzier side of Bennett's vocals – and which gets lots of room to open up with a voice of its own here! The rest of the trio nicely match Sharon's liveliness on the keys – with work from Jay Cave on bass and Christy Febbo on drums – and although most titles are standards, they're handled with a fresh approach that makes us wish we could hear more from Sharon in such a setting. Titles include "Steeple Chase", "Angel Eyes", "Bluz For Suz", "I'm Glad There Is You", and "Give Me The Simple Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A great 70s collection of earlier material from the great pianist Randy Weston – tracks that were all recorded for Riverside in the 50s, and culled from a number of different LPs and 10" releases! One LP in the set features the added bonus of Cecil Payne on baritone, but most of the material is spare trio material – in Randy's definite modern idiom – with titles that include "Little Niles", "Solemn Meditation", "Zulu", "Pam's Waltz", and "Lifetime". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-swingin tracks from Ernie Wilkins – one of the most soulful arrangers of his time, working here in a wonderful all-star session from the 50s! The album's definitely got the "top brass" promised in the title – a lineup that features Donald Byrd, Ray Copeland, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Wilder on trumpets – all working at a level that allows plenty of space for well-blown solos, but tied up in tighter ensemble formation overall – all with that Wilkins sense of swing that really set Ernie apart at the time. Rhythm is from a trip that includes Hank Jones on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Kelly Clarke on drums – and titles include "58 Market Street", "Trick Or Treat", "Speedway", "Dot's What", "Top Brass", "Imagination", and "Willow Weep For Me". Also features the album Trumpets All Out – an all-trumpet affair, one that features 5 different players on the instrument – Art Farmer, Emmet Berry, Charlie Shavers, Ernie Royal, and Harold Baker – supported by spare rhythm from the trio of Don Abney on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. There's a definite swing-based approach here – different than usual for some of Farmer's outings of the time – but the differences between the players are nicely pronounced, and the amazing thing about the album is how it manages to pack so much solo energy in such a relatively small space, in a way that still lets you hear the different voices clearly. Titles include "She's Just My Size", "Five Cats Swingin", "Blues In 6/4", "Trumpets All Out", and "Low Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little record from The Damned – even if the set does have them very far away from their punkish roots! Yet like some of the best of their contemporaries, the group grew up fast – shed a bit of anger, learned how to play their instruments, and really developed a way with a tune – an asset that you'll hear here right from the very first note! The songwriting is smart, but sensitive too – and with a slight edge at times, there's almost an evolution to the group's sound that's similar to XTC over the same stretch of time – save for the fact that the guitars are sometimes a bit more ferocious! Captain Sensible's definitely making himself felt more here than earlier – even singing on a few of the best songs too – in a set that includes "Ignite", "Generals", "Stranger On The Town", "The Dog", "Gun Fury", "Life Goes On", "Don't Bother Me", and "Under The Floor Again". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest-sounding Martin Denny albums of the 60s – a record that blends his earlier exotica sound with elements of Indian music, and maybe some great bossa nova currents too! For the set, Denny takes a tip from the sound of the East – adding some slight Indian flavors to his usual groove with the help of arranger George Tipton – who you might know from his work with Nilsson, or some of his own great instrumental records! Most of the music is still in the lush piano instrumental mode that Denny was using in these later Liberty years – but things are definitely groovy throughout, even if the Indian elements are sometimes used in ways that are more bossa than anything else. Maybe not the clearest picture you'll get of the sound of India in the 60s – but a sweet little record, with titles that include "Incense & Peppermints", "Live For Life", "Touch Of India", "Hypnotique", and "Indrani". LP, Vinyl record album

One of three amazing albums the Fatback Band cut for the Perception label in the early 70s – and a set that's definitely the most soulful of the bunch! The difference here is that the group opens up some space for lead vocals from the great Johnny King – a singer with a really unique sound, and one whose special touch brings plenty to the already-great funky instrumentation of the group – deepening their sound in all the right ways! The set features both vocal and instrumental versions of Weldon Irvine's great cut "Feeling Mellow" – done even better than the original – and other cuts include "Makin' Love", "Sketches of Life", "Meet Me Over My House", and "Three Dimensional World". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic funky combo from the mid 70s African scene – one who worked previously with Geraldo Pino, and who definitely show some traces of his own great work too – but who also have a madly great groove that's all their own! Freedom Family are definitely on the funkier side of the 70s Afro spectrum – and like Pino, clearly draw lots of inspiration from the best American funk acts of the late 60s and early 70s – so much so that we'd definitely say that this album works equally well as a straight funk album as it does a testament to the greatness of Afro Funk at the time! Most lyrics are in English, and the group use lots of Hammond, riffing guitars, heavy drums, and tight horns – served up in a mighty lean blend, with a great funky 45 style of production. Tracks include "Lala Li", "Good Times", "Life", "Ayentsoo", "The Last Thing", and "Yensuro". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little set from Leroy Hutson – proof that he was still going strong through all his years at Curtom! The vibe here is a bit different than his first few records, and you might be suspicious with Leroy wearing a disco shirt on the front – but the sound is wonderful, and only shows Hutson blossoming into a more sophisticated singer, songwriter, and producer – one with a great ear for the careful balance needed for the modern soul generation! The shift is a bit like Roy Ayers on his late 70s work for Polydor – and Hutson is definitely on a par with Ayers in our book – we'd always put the two side by side for the strength of their work in the 70s. Seminal tracks include "So Nice" and "Right or Wrong" – both of which are amongst some of his best work ever – and other tracks include "Unforgettable", "Funk In My Life", and "Lonely Without You". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff – and a key link between the early work of the Jackson 5 on Motown and Michael's later grooves with Quincy Jones! The Gamble/Huff team give the group a smooth sweet sound – definitely in a dancefloor mode, with some of the bassy riffs of Michael's Off The Wall album, but also with all the sweet catchy soul of earlier years – a really great blend that makes the album a great winner in the group's post-Motown years! The album includes the incredible smooth soul number "Show You The Way To Go", a killer cut that's very much in the Philly modern mode – and other tracks include "Style Of Life", "Enjoy Yourself", "Think Happy", "Blues Away", and "Living Together". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 70s gem from Patti Labelle! Although the album's recorded right in the height of the disco years, Patti's really shining on the mellower cuts – hitting a serious soulful side that shows that her move to a solo act really let her move into more sophisticated material. There are definitely some dance tracks like "Music Is My Life" but the real highlights are mellow tunes like "What'cha Doing To Me" and "You & Me". Other titles include "It's Alright With Me", "Love & Learn", "My Best Was Good Enough", and "Deliver The Funk". LP, Vinyl record album

We've never been sure if the title's supposed to indicate that Stacy Lattisaw's finally celebrated her 16th birthday, but the album's definitely a key bit of teen pop from the 80s – filled with catchy crossover tunes and a bouncy approach to soul! The record's a bit more unified than some of Lattisaw's earlier albums – and shakes off some of the ballads of before for a range of tunes that playfully deal with themes in a young girl's life. There's a few numbers that get a bit more mature and grown up, but as usual, Stacy actually sounds best on the catchier pop numbers – titles that include "Million Dollar Babe", "16", "Black Pumps & Pink Lipstick", "What's So Hot Bout Bad Boys", and "Johey". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet set of 70s Latin Disco – less Afro-Cuban than you might expect, but a great illustration of the way that older Latin modes had filtered down to more mainstream dancefloors at the time! There's definitely still some Latin elements in the mix – but the set's also got Michael Zager arranging and producing, and giving the whole thing more of a disco focus overall – in ways that criss cross nicely throughout the record. Titles include a sweet clubby cover of Joe Cuba's "Bang Bang", a remake of Sly Stone's "Life & Death In G&A", and the titles "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys", "Once You Get Started", and "Get Dancin". LP, Vinyl record album

Jimmy McGriff picks up a few more keyboards than straight Hammond organ – but that's ok with us, given the great results of the set! The album's got McGriff working on electric piano and clavinet alongside the organ – plus supporting arrangements from Brad Baker, in that fuller, Kudu-styled approach to jazz funk that Groove Merchant used strongly in the mid 70s – a slightly smoother sound than before, but still plenty darn great, and definitely filled with more than enough jazz to keep things real! Pat Rebillot plays some additional keyboards on the album – in that funky style he used well at the time – and there's almost a spacey Fantasy Records quality to some of the best numbers here! Titles include the incredible tripped out break cut "Space Cadet", plus "Love Is My Life", "Sweet Love", "Big Booty Bounce", "Red Beans", and "Cakes Alive". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius work from Freda Payne – a set recorded after her bigger fame years for Invictus/Hot Wax – but a record that's done with an even deeper feel overall! The album features some key contributions from Lamont Dozier – who wasn't credited on the original record, due to his continuing contract with HDH – and his bold, righteous approach in the studio is definitely felt here – as he gives Freda the same great groove he'd hit on his own ABC albums! As with those, McKinley Jackson handles the arrangements – which work perfectly with the punctuated groove of Dozier's production – and Payne really sparkles in the setting, stretching out with these magnificent vocals that go way beyond what you might expect. The tunes are impeccable – as well-written as those on other Dozier projects of the time – loads of original numbers that include "Didn't I Tell You", "It's Yours To Have", "I Get Carried Away", "Run For Your Life", "Shadows On The Wall", and "Don't Wanna Be Left Out" – plus versions of "A Song For You" and "I Won't Last A Day". LP, Vinyl record album

The sweethearts of soul sing sweet and mellow in this classic album of duets done way before they got reunited! This one's a perfect batch of New York uptown tunes – with arrangements by Bert Keyes, and a strong set of tracks that includes some nice originals, plus a few standards. Titles include the hit "For Your Love", plus "It's True I Love You", "The Things I Want To Hear", "Count On Me", and "My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A rare late LP Sam & Dave cut for United Artists in the mid 70s – with raw & gritty soul vocals and rough hewn, yet soulfully resonant production by Steve Cropper, and backing by a slew of Memphis sessions specialists! Back At Cha is a coulda-shoulda-woulda been great comeback effort, and if failed to chart them for renaissance revival, it sounds pretty sharp all these years later. Sam & Dave's vocals go more for raw emotional grittiness, well matched by heavier Memphis soul backdrops for the most parts, and a touch of string accented sweetness in a spot or two. Titles include "When My Love Comes Down", "There's A Party In My Heart", "Blinded By Love", "Under The Boardwalk", "Come Into My Life", "Queen Of The Ghetto", "Give It What You Can" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The record that forever put Nancy Sinatra over the top – thanks to the massive title hit "Boots Are Made For Walking" – and some impeccable Lee Hazlewood production that really found a way to make Nancy sound fantastic! The young Sinatra had been wanting to make her own records for awhile, and had definitely had a few shots before Boots – but Lee Hazlewood really finds a way to bring out the best in Nancy, often using the same kind of bass-heavy, well-paced rhythms that made his own songs so great – and using some spacious production that can make even familiar tunes sound wonderful in Nancy's hands! Billy Strange handled the arrangements, and is an equally force here alongside Lee – especially given his work on guitar – and in addition to "These Boots Are Made For Walkin", other titles include "I Move Around", "In My Room", "Lies", "So Long Babe", "Run For Your Life", "If He'd Love Me", and "Flowers On The Wall". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Sylvester's years on Fantasy Records – a set that has him working strongly with soul maestro Harvey Fuqua, in a really great blend of disco and more laidback modes! There's a balance here that's like early Luther at his best – a way of being proudly poised, yet never in an overdone way – a captivating approach to the music that pushes past any obvious cliches you might expect, and which will definitely have you digging deeper for more Sylvester if you only know his hits. The set list includes a few older classics remade – including "Fever" and "Cry Me A River" – plus the tracks "Change Up", "I Need You", "My Life Is Loving You", and "Doin It For The Real Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Sarah Vaughan definitely earns her divine nickname here – singing sublimely here in a warmly jazzy setting from her early years at Roulette Records! The style's a nice extension of Vaughan's best sides at Mercury – and is almost a nice back-to-basics approach, the kind of reminder that Sarah always sounds best when she's heard at her jazziest – as on this album, with arrangements and piano from Jimmy Jones, and some great trumpet lines from Harry Edison! The sound is often nicely spare and laidback – letting Vaughan's vocals really come up strongly in the mix, and flow with a tremendously natural, but creatively dynamic style that really leaves us breathless. Titles include "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Somebody Else's Dream", "What Do You See In Her", "Jump For Joy", "Ain't No Use", "I'm Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life", and "When Your Lover Has Gone". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime stuff from The Whispers – a record that features some wonderfully easy-drifting harmony vocals, put together in a careful way that preserves the smooth mellow tip that always made the group sound best! There's a maturity to the record that takes the quintet far past their early harmony soul roots, and even past some of the more clubby styles they were using during the 70s – almost the mix of sophistication that some of the hipper groups at Philly International would reach during the same stretch. The set's definitely got a few groovers, but the mellower steppers are the most wonderful – including the fantastic cut "(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out", a sweet little groover with a hook that's undeniably catchy. Other tracks include "The Planets Of Life", "Disco Melody", "Children Of Tomorrow", "All The Way", and "You're A Special Part Of My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

Atmosphere returns wielding their signature sound full force! What they've come out with this round is by far their most experimental – definitely fresher and more distinct than the "safety" of God Loves Ugly. Slug bounces along melodically, tortured and true to his nature, yet he comes off a little (just a little) more optimistic this time and he recites more than just tales of love lost. He STILL is at his tightest when weaving wonderful heart-wrenching stories instead of bragging, yet I don't think you hear the name Lucy once on this album. Sean Daley, the philosopher? – maybe we'll see more and more of that in the future. ANT's production is sounding much much better since God Loves Ugly – these beats pound just a little harder, seemingly influenced by punk rock, seventies rock, and folk rock (any rock). There still is a whole lotta soul in there, which is very nice, yet he still ain't afraid to pitch the formula, say sample some off kilter scatting or a ripping metal guitar. Tracks include "Bird Sings Why The Caged I Know", "Cats Van Bags", "National Disgrace", "Liquor Lyles Cool July". "Good Times", "Keys To Life Vs 15 Minutes Of Fame", "Reflections" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Features "Glory Of Love" by Peter Cetera, "Rock N Roll Over You" by Moody Blues, "Fish for Life by Mancrab, "Let Me At Em" by Southside Johnny, "Two Looking At One" by Carly Simon and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Bobby Womack at the height of his powers – perfectly balancing southern soul roots and 70s soul polish – with an amazing sound that was unlike anyone else at the time! The set was recorded at Muscle Shoals, but has a quality that goes way beyond any of the standard modes from the studio – almost as if Bobby brought a special sort of magic to the sessions that made everyone rise above the sometimes too-familiar work they were giving to the bigger names who were traipsing through the studio. Of course, a big part of the success of the album comes from Womack's amazing vocal delivery – that style that's raspy, yet warm – and which is a perfect fit for the well-penned tunes on the set. Titles include "I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You", "Nobody", "If You Can't Give Her Love Give Her Up", and a very cool version of "The Look Of Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning soundtrack from the legendary Francis Lai – a record that got a fair bit of circulation at the time, as it was a follow up to his huge global hit, A Man & A Woman (aka Un Homme Et Une Femme)! The style here is equally great – a groovy sound that completely changed the way soundtrack music was used in the 60s – airy, jazzy, and with the same mix of bossa and mod styles that you might find in some of your favorite Italian soundtracks of the time – although at a global scale, we always think that Francis really set the tune for others to follow! There's some nice organ, great use of trumpet, and the record even has some groovy vocals at points from the wonderful Nicole Croisille – who'd sung on the Man & A Woman soundtrack, and also worked with Lai on other Saravah Records albums too. And in a way, since Pierre Barouh had a hand in some of these tunes, the whole thing is almost a precursor to Saravah – certainly, like A Man & A Woman, where Barouh had some help in raising the funds for that project. Titles include "Theme To Candice", "Theme To Catherine", "Theme To Robert", "All At Once It's Love", "Zoom", and a few versions of the title cut! LP, Vinyl record album

A key blend of two chapters in David Bowie's career – his guitar-heavy groove with the Spiders From Mars, and his 60s roots in mod London! The tracks here all date from the mid 60s, and are Bowie's homage to that period in his life – but they're all played with a glammish 70s sensibility, and some definite Ziggy Stardust elements in the way the guitars come into the mix. Given Bowie's rise as a key songwriter of his time, the step back to an album of all covers is a surprising, but genius move – and the execution of the tunes here comes off brilliantly – with plenty of personal spirit that keeps them from being simple rehashes of hits! Tracks include "See Emily Play", "Friday On My Mind", "I Can't Explain", "Everything's Alright", "Don't Bring Me Down", "Shapes Of Things", and "Here Comes The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic album from Prince – recorded in 2010, and unreleased at the time – but clearly one of the greatest things he gave us in the final decade of his life! This isn't uncooked demo material, or under-thought studio tracks – and instead, the whole thing is a fully-formed record with a message that really comes through in the title – more political Prince than usual, with an eye for our nation that rivals Sign O The Times! It may be that back when Prince recorded the set, the time wasn't right for the message – but these tracks definitely hit home now – and are often delivered in this sinister slow funk mode that really fits the lyrics – almost as if Prince were trying to give the world his version of a righteous 70s album on Curtom Records. Titles include "Running Game", "Born 2 Die", "Welcome 2 America", "Check The Record", "Hot Summer", "Stand Up & B Strong", "Same Page Different Book", and "One Day We Will All B Free". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most beautiful albums that Charlie Haden ever recorded – and if he only ever appeared on one record in his life, we'd still love him tremendously for this one! The album has a feel that's very much in keeping with both the "liberation" and "orchestra" in the title – "liberation", in that the music is filled with inspiration from South American sources, and has a strongly political feel at times; and "orchestra" because the group here is somewhat large, and filled with a tremendous array of expressive players – including Gato Barbieri on tenor, Dewey Redman on alto and tenor, Don Cherry on cornet and flutes, Michael Mantler on trumpet, Roswell Rudd on trombone, Robert Northern on French horn, Paul Motian and Andrew Cyrille on percussion, Carla Bley on piano, and Perry Robinson on clarinet. Haden leads these disparate talents through a set of tremendously focused music – filled with as many ideas as it is with a sense of humanity and soul – all to brilliantly point the way forward for the new sound of Impulse Records in the years after Coltrane's death! Titles include the classic "Song For Che", plus Ornette's "War Orphans", Carla Bley's "The Interlude", and "Song Of The United Front", by Hans Eisler, and with words by Brecht! LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most cooking work of the 70s from Dexter Gordon – and that's saying a lot, given all his overseas sessions and late-life work for Columbia Records! The format here is different than both of those, though – in that it's both a sharp hardbop set, with a real back-to-basics vibe – but also one that has much more of an overall group feel, instead of some of the longer-form solo vehicles that Gordon recorded for Steeplechase Records. There's definitely a blowing session vibe – tracks are long, and there's multiple soloists who each get extended time in the spotlight – but there's also a careful sense of structure, brought to the record no doubt by producer Don Schlitten – who'd handled classic dates in the past for Prestige. The group features both Gordon and Al Cohn on tenors, Blue Mitchell and Sam Noto on trumpets, Barry Harris on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – a hell of a lineup that really makes magic on "Lady Bird", "How Deep Is The Ocean", and "True Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most cooking work of the 70s from Dexter Gordon – and that's saying a lot, given all his overseas sessions and late-life work for Columbia Records! The format here is different than both of those, though – in that it's both a sharp hardbop set, with a real back-to-basics vibe – but also one that has much more of an overall group feel, instead of some of the longer-form solo vehicles that Gordon recorded for Steeplechase Records. There's definitely a blowing session vibe – tracks are long, and there's multiple soloists who each get extended time in the spotlight – but there's also a careful sense of structure, brought to the record no doubt by producer Don Schlitten – who'd handled classic dates in the past for Prestige. The group features both Gordon and Al Cohn on tenors, Blue Mitchell and Sam Noto on trumpets, Barry Harris on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – a hell of a lineup that really makes magic on "On The Trail", "Allen's Alley", and "Silver Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure east coast 80s group – on titles that include "Understanding", "Life", "The Best", "Crazy", "Dangerous", "Inside Out", and "Do You Love Me Tonite". LP, Vinyl record album