Mean, lean grooves from The Gap Band – a legendary batch of mainstream funk from the end of the 70s – and a record that really has the trio working at the top of their game! There's a wonderful balance here between funky numbers and mellow ones – the latter of which really help pace the record nicely, giving it a depth that takes the group way beyond the cliches of some of their contemporaries, and firmly establishing the Gap Band as one to watch for the 80s! Titles include the massive "I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up & Dance" – with its classic "Oops Upside Your Head" refrain – plus "Who Do You Call", "No Hiding Place", "Steppin Out", "You Are My High", and "Party Lights". LP, Vinyl record album

Perhaps the ultimate album for The Gap Band – and sure, it was a hit, but the record still sounds great today, and the constant sampling of some of the record has kept it fresh in the crates for years and years! The band have lost the heavier funk sound of earlier years, and working in a slick 80s groove mode that they both helped to define and put on the charts with the tracks "Outstanding" and "Early In The Morning", both two killer grooves with a complicated instrumental feel, and some wicked harmony vocals over the top. Lonnie Simmons is still producing the band – and other tracks include "Lonely Like Me", "Stay With Me", "Talkin Back", and "You Dropped A Bomb On Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet electro funk from The Gap Band – a group who are still grooving strong here, hitting the best of their Total Experience modes! The trio's mighty tight throughout – and their familiar funk is augmented by some electro touches that definitely keep things fresh – and we mean that in the best mid-80s use of the word! A bit of an old school influence comes into the vocals at points – which are spoken as much as sung on some cuts – and as always, The Gap Band really show their strength with the kind of catchy chorus that works great with a bassy groove. Titles include a great ballad reworking of "Going In Circles" – plus the groovers "Lil Red Funkin Hood", "Automatic Brain", "Desire", "Bumpin Gum People", and "I Know We'll Make It". LP, Vinyl record album

A winning batch of modern soul from Yarbrough & Peoples – synthy duet soul, bits of funk, and some sweety sultry groovers, too! Y&P do their thing in a number of modes, and that fairly expansive approach to the 80s R&B sound really sets them apart from many of their peers. On one level, the synths and period production touches are kind of slick, but there's enough of a bubbling funky underbelly to give it some grit. Alisa Peoples can deliver a sultry coo or powerhouse lead with equal success, and Calvin Yarbrough is a charismatic partner. "Don't Waste Your Time", "I'm Ready To Jam", "I'll Be There", "I Only Love You", "Be A Winner", "The Power", "Who Said That", "I Gave My All (To You)" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Charles Mingus caught live is a totally different experience from Mingus in the studio – as this crack album from 1964 will testify! The album features a stripped-down quartet that includes Clifford Jordan on tenor, Jane Getz on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums – plus a guest appearance by altoist John Handy on one of the album's two tracks. Although you'll recognize the titles – "New Fables" and "Meditations (For A Pair Of Wire Cutters)" – as two of Mingus' more famous compositions, the versions here are extremely long (over 20 minutes), and show the less-composed side of Mingus' playing – one in which he allowed soloists to have much freer rein than usual, and really stretch out with their sound! Jordan and Handy take more than ample use of this space, and wail away mightily in some of their best recorded work from the time. Nice stuff, and one of the best mid-60's Mingus albums! LP, Vinyl record album

We've loved the music of Lee Fields for many many years – but these days, he seems to be sounding even better than ever – taking all of his decades of experience in soul music, and blending his deep soul roots with an even more mature, open sort of style! And even though Lee's early work was great, we never would have imagined the greatness he can hit with a record like this – a set that draws on so many currents of classic soul, but finds a way to make a statement that's totally personal, totally original, and totally out of sight all the way through! Fields has a fantastic raspy vocal style, but he never just lets that stand as his calling card – because he's really bringing new inflections, new inspirations to the music – all while working with superb backing from Leon Michels and The Expressions. If you can imagine Hi Records mixed with James Brown mixed with New Jersey soul mixed with Daptone mixed with The Impressions – then you've only got part of the multi-faceted genius of this set. Titles include "Two Faces", "You're What's Needed In My Life", "Love Prisoner", "Will I Get Off Easy", "It Rains Love", "Love Is The Answer", "A Promise Is A Promise", and "Blessed With The Best". LP, Vinyl record album

One of a handful of amazing albums recorded by David Axelrod towards the end of the 60s – really stunning, genre-breaking music that was years ahead of its time – and which has only finally been getting its due in more recent decades! At the time of the record, Axelrod was a house producer at Capitol Records – where he'd created big hits for Lou Rawls and Cannonball Adderley – and he'd also been experimenting a bit with studio techniques for other rock groups. But here, the Axe brings all his experience into play – then sends things soaring to the skies – with music based on the work of poet William Blake, but delivered in this totally groovy west coast 60s mode. The core of the instrumentation features funky drums from Earl Palmer and bass from Carole Kaye – both of whom really keep things rock-solid amidst the larger mix of strings and instruments directed by the great Don Randi – who himself is pretty darn wonderful too. The music has nice snatches of fuzz and organ throughout – jazzy moments, funky passages, and lots more too – served up on tunes that include much-sampled song "Holy Thursday" – plus "The Smile", "A Dream", "Song Of Innocence", and "The Mental Traveler". William Blake never sounded so funky! LP, Vinyl record album