The best-ever collection of work we've seen by Johnny Ace – a key figure in the Memphis scene of the 50s, and one of the first great casualties of rock and roll! Johnny was one of the first singers to record for the legendary Duke label, and worked in a mode that helped transform the ... read moreCD
(Out of print, numbered limited edition #2808/5000.)
The only full album from Johnny Ace – a key figure in the Memphis scene of the 50s, and one of the first great casualties of rock and roll! Johnny was one of the first singers to record for the legendary Duke label, and worked in a mode that helped transform the smoother style of the west ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Johnny Adams —
Reconsider Me ... CD Collectables, Late 60s/1970s. Used ...
$4.99
... CD
(Out of print, punch through barcode and booklet.)
A mindblower – and the kind of record we only come across once in a blue moon! Tony Aiken & Future 2000 were an obscure mid 70s group from New York – all players skilled in the burgeoning club scene of the time, but who also had their roots in Caribbean music – coming ... read moreCD
Arthur Alexander —
Monument Years ... CD Ace (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy ...
$9.9918.99
28 tracks from Arthur Alexander – a seminal force in the development of southern soul, featured here in some super-rare tracks from the Monument and Sound Stage Seven labels! Arthur's early hit "I'm Movin On" was recorded for Dot, and is pretty well compiled elsewhere – but ... read moreCD
Gerald Alston —
Gerald Alston ... CD Motown/Universal (Japan), 1988. New Copy ...
$11.9913.99
Brilliant solo work from Gerald Alston – the first album issued under his own name, after a strong legacy of work with The Manhattans! Alston's vocals are wonderful here – beautifully crafted, with a sense of maturity and feeling that most of his younger soul contemporaries couldn't ... read moreCD
Rare funk from the Indy scene of the early 70s – the long-overdue release of material recorded by a really hard-jamming, horn-heavy combo! Amnesty have a sound that's awash in the best large group influences of the time – a bit of Earth Wind & Fire, a bit of Parliament/Funkadelic, ... read moreCD
A key moment in the career of vocalist Ernestine Anderson – a record that not only returned her to the public eye after a flurry of initial sides in the late 50s and early 60s, but which also finally helped Anderson find a sound that worked! The album's done with backing by the Monty ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Maxi Anderson —
Maxi ... CD Blue Note (Japan), 1977. New Copy ...
$10.99
One of the only albums ever cut by Maxi Anderson – a hell of a soul singer who's lent her talents to a number of sessions over the years, but who sounds especially great here in the lead! Anderson's got a vibe that's almost like Minnie Riperton at the time – a warmly glowing approach ... read moreCD
Pre funk, perhaps, but mightily storming soul singles from Vicki Anderson – James Brown productions from the mid 60s to the end of the decade – incredible stuff that's been a bit underappreciated in a world of funky compilations, yet no less incredible and even more diversely soulful ... read moreCD
Ruby Andrews —
Black Ruby ... CD Zodiac/Everland (Austria), 1972. New Copy ...
$9.9918.98
A hell of a great record from Ruby Andrews – a Chicago soul singer who started out sweet, but comes on hard and heavy on this righteous classic from the start of the 70s! The record's got a badass vibe you never would have expected from Andrews a few years before – with tremendous ... read moreCD
Ruby Andrews —
Casanova ... CD Collectables, 1967. Used ...
$4.99
Great reissue of this excellent bit of Chicago female soul, performed by the great Ruby Andrews, and with arrangements by some of the best local talents in the city. Ruby sang with a voice that was pure deep soul, but she had arrangements that were in the best Chicago tradition of the time. The ... read moreCD
Ruby Andrews —
Everybody Saw You ... CD Zodiac/Everland (Austria), 1970. New Copy ...
$9.9918.98
One of the greatest female soul records ever to come from Chicago – a killer set of work from the legendary Ruby Andrews! Ruby's a hell of a talent that should have been huge at a national level – possessed with a deep soul style that matched the best from Betty Lavette or Mavis ... read moreCD
Sure, their name marks them as part of that big world of prepackaged soul groups, and yes, their costumes on the cover may look a bit goofy – but over the years, this debut's got maybe a bit more staying power than some of their contemporaries! There's plenty of hip hop production in the mix ... read moreCD
The only compilation of 60s female soul trio The Apollas we've ever seen – beautiful tunes with sweet and soulful vocals, big emotions and excellent arrangements – fantastic stuff from the trio, earlier material recorded as The Lovejoys and solo numbers by singer Leola Jiles! We'd love ... read moreCD
A funky treasure trove from Apple & The Three Oranges – a group we hardly know at all, but who really blow us away with the cuts on this collection! The groove is plenty hard right from the get-go – the best of the funky 45 underground of the early 70s – which means that ... read moreCD
A third great chapter in the career of the mighty Steve Arrington – a solo debut, after work in the groups Slave and Hall Of Fame – and a set that has Arrington maybe shining even more than ever in the spotlight! Rhythms are a bit more mid 80s than his previous work – but Steve's ... read moreCD
Cesar Ascarrunz —
Cesar 830 ... CD Flying Dutchman/BGP (UK), 1975. New Copy ...
$7.9914.99
Lost Latin funk from the Bay Area scene of the 70s – and an album that may well blow away better-known work by groups like Malo, Azteca, or El Chicano! The album's near-perfect right from the start – and brings in plenty of New York elements to the groove, thanks to the inclusion of a ... (Latin, Soul)read moreCD
Atlantic Starr —
Radiant ... CD A&M (Japan), 1980. New Copy ...
$11.9913.99
Radiant grooves indeed from Atlantic Starr – a group who really make things sparkle throughout this magnificent set! The group are at the height of their powers here – skirting a perfect line between mainstream soul and upbeat club – never falling too much into one style or the ... read moreCD
Don't let the pot reference on the cover put you off, or give you the wrong sort of idea about the record – as the whole thing's tight, sharp, and pretty darn groovy – a wicked batch of blue-eyed soul from the Bay Area scene of the mid 70s, served up at a level that's not too far from ... (Rock, Soul)read moreCD
David Axelrod —
Heavy Axe ... CD Fantasy/BGP (UK), 1974. New Copy ...
$8.9914.99
A great back-to-basics solo album from the legendary David Axelrod – cut in the mid 70s for Fantasy Records, after higher-concept projects like The Auction and Messiah! This set gets right to the core – and focuses on the funk currents that were always part of Axelrod's larger ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
A crowning moment for the west coast Latin scene in the 70s – a wonderful Bay Area set that brings together some of the best talents working on that scene at the time! The set's got a great blend of modes – Latin soul, touches of funk, and plenty of the jazzy inflections you'd expect ... (Latin, Soul)read moreCD
Rare Hawaii soul from the end of the 70s – an album that's a great extension of the sunny sound heard previously from Lemuria! Babadu's got a gently grooving glow that's right up there with the Free Soul sound of years back – an approach that's smooth, but not in commercial or chart ... read moreCD
Fantastic! The lost link in the Chicago soul scene of the 60s was Baby Huey – and he was a pretty darn big link too, if you've ever seen him in pictures! Weighing in at about 300 pounds, Baby Huey was sort of a rockin' soul star who played clubs on both sides of the city, to audiences of ... read moreCD
Rare Bacharach galore – an assortment of under-reissued tracks all penned by the mighty Burt – most of which are from the heyday of 60s uptown soul! Despite the 1952 in the date range on the title, almost all the tunes here are from the mid 60s – that time when Bacharach was ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
A trio of solo albums from Phillip Bailey – presented here with bonus material too! First up is Continuation – an 80s soul classic from Philip Bailey – stepping out here from Earth Wind & Fire in a set that has him sparkling strongly as a solo act! The vocals still have that ... read moreCD
Some of our favorite work ever from the legendary Hank Ballard – a key figure in early R&B, and a singer who cut some big hits with his group The Midnighters – but one who also continued to do some wonderful work for King Records long after his hits – most of which is included ... read moreCD
Bar-Kays —
Animal ... CD Mercury, 1989. Used ...
$6.99
Titles include "Animal", "I Adore You", "Leaving You", "Get Your Fingers Wet", and "Stop Look What You're Missing". CD
2 killers from The Bar-Kays – a heavy funk spectacular all the way through! First up is Gotta Groove – amazing work from the new version of The Bar-Kays – a group who reformed to become a combo as heavy as any of the best funky groups from Detroit, LA, or New York at the time! ... read moreCD
A pair of Mercury Records gems from the Bar-Kays – back to back in a single set! First up is Too Hot To Stop – a pivotal album from The Bar-Kays – a key post-Stax set, but one that's still very firmly grounded in Memphis funk! The groove definitely shows a bit more polish than ... read moreCD
A sweet set of soundtrack funk – from a film named after one of our favorite streets in Chicago! Although the record's got an approach that's perhaps a bit tighter and smoother than anything going down on Stony in the late 70s, it does manage to share a good deal of styles with the Chi-soul ... read moreCD
Dean Barlow —
Solo Years ... CD Lescay, Late 50s/Early 60s. Used ...
$9.99
Includes "Hi Ya Honey", "As God Is My Judge", "Truthfully", "My Life Is Empty Without You", "Can't Stand It Anymore", "True Love" and more – 26 tracks in all! CD
(Out of print, CDr release.)
Nathan Bartell —
Nathan Bartell ... CD Athens Of The North (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. New Copy ...
$6.9916.99
Fantastic funky soul from a very mysterious figure – Georgia's Nathan Bartell, a singer with a deep soul style, and an under-exposed legacy that mostly involves a few indie label singles, and countless work in the smaller clubs of his state! The blend of music here is a bit different than ... read moreCD
Dave Bartholomew —
In The Alley ... CD King Masters (UK), Early 50s. Used ...
$6.99
Seminal work from the lovely Basia – and an album that's a wonderful hybrid of jazz, soul, and pop – all put together at a level that really goes beyond most of her contemporaries! There's a vibe here that's almost like Swing Out Sister at their best – catchy, but never cloying ... read moreCD
Fontella Bass —
Free ... CD Paula/Fuel, 1972. Used ...
$6.99
Very righteous work from Fontella Bass – an album done after her time at Chess Records, and after her work in Paris with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – in a heartfelt, southern soul mode that's totally great! Fontella's back working with producer Oliver Sain, who first brought her fame ... read moreCD
These guys may not be the baddest boys of the industry – they'd have to go a long way to reach that title – but they definitely do a good job of bringing a touch of attitude to the world of harmony soul – blending hip hop inspiration with old school formation, in a style that's ... read moreCD
Sweetly soaring disco from the legendary Celi Bee – easily one of our favorite disco divas of the late 70s! This album's got a slightly lighter feel than some of Celi's other work – a bit less drama at times, but still plenty of full-on clubby rhythms – thanks to arrangements ... read moreCD
Celi Bee —
Blow My Mind ... CD TK/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1979. New Copy ...
$12.9915.99
Celi Bee picks up a few 80s touches for this album – mixing her usual disco groove with some slight Eruo electro touches – adding in a nice dose of darkness to the set! Celi's still got an undeniably strong talent for a catchy tune – the kind of vibe that first made us fall in ... read moreCD
Celi Bee —
Greatest Hits ... CD Get Disconnected, Late 70s. New Copy ...
$10.9916.99
More a retrospective of Celi Bee's best disco work than a true greatest hits collection – but plenty darn great nonetheless, given her flair for a catchy, kitschy club tune! Celi's definitely one of the campiest talents of her generation – but she's also plenty darn comfortable in that ... read moreCD
Yes, it was a mega-hit – and yes, it was one of those records that everyone who lived through the 70s seemed to own at one time – but after all these decades, you can't deny the power of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack – especially for the way that it mixed club soul classics ... read moreCD
One of the rarest funky records of all time – the hard-to-find second album by Beginning Of The End! This West Indian combo hit it big with their first album on Alston, but this second set, for some strange reason, never really got distributed – which is a damn shame, because it's ... read moreCD
William Bell was one of the singers who first helped the Stax label get going at the start of the 60s – but during the second chapter of Stax, when they broke from Atlantic, his contributions were maybe even more amazing – as his voice had matured wonderfully, and he was able to handle ... read moreCD
A really unusual collection of work from the great Brook Benton – material that's much more obscure than you'd guess from the hits in the title – as it comes from two different periods in his career! CD1 features early demos that Brook did when he was an emerging songwriter – ... read moreCD
Carolyne Bernier —
Carolyne Bernier ... CD Private Stock/Octave (Japan), 1978. New Copy ...
$19.9924.99
A sweet sexy disco set from Carolyne Bernier – a singer we only know from this one record, but who does a mighty nice job of hitting the right mood for the songs! The set's definitely got that "sexy lady upfront" sort of disco mode – with Bernier moving slinkily along the ... read moreCD
Chuck Berry —
Anthology ... CD MCA/Chess, Late 50s/Early 60s. Used 2CD ...
$4.99
A great two disc collection packed with goodies – includes 49 tracks. CD
Two classic Chess albums from Chuck Berry – issued here on a single CD! First up is One Dozen Berrys – the fresh fruits of the labors of a young Chuck Berry – heard here at his raw, early best! The sound here is stunning – a version of Chuck that gets way past any oldies ... read moreCD
The title kind of says it all – as the album's a set of bluesy tracks by Maybelle, built around her perennial hit "Candy" – a sweet and dreamy tune that's been forever kept alive by her version! The style is very much in the vein of that hit, and other tunes on the album ... read moreCD
(Japanese Denon/Columbia pressing.)
Jo Bisso —
Love Somebody ... CD Marlin/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1977. New Copy ...
$12.9915.99
Disco grooves, but with a definite difference – given that Jo Bisso had previously worked on the Parisian club scene, and brings a special flourish to this American album from the late 70s! Jo sings lead vocals on the side-long "Love Somebody" – a tune that builds strongly as ... read moreCD
Bill Black's Combo —
Hi Masters ... CD Hi Records/Demon (UK), Late 50s/1960s. Used ...
$3.995.99
Some of the sharpest, jazziest funk you'll ever hope to hear – a smoking collection of the legendary 70s work by The Blackbyrds on Fantasy Records! The group started as a jazz combo under Donald Byrd's supervision – right at a time when Byrd was making his own fantastic funky records ... read moreCD
Don Blackman —
Don Blackman ... CD Arista/Expansion (UK), 1982. New Copy ...
Just Sold Out!
A jazz funk masterpiece, and THE record by the legendary Don Blackman – the only one issued under his own name for many many years, and a famous little set that's been sampled endlessly over the years, and for good reason! The vibe here is one that's barely been matched again – a blend ... read moreCD
(Remastered edition – completely new version taken from the original source master tapes!)
Bobby Blue Bland —
Anthology ... CD MCA, 1950s/1960s/1970s/Early 80s. Used 2 CDs ...
$8.99
To us, most of Bobby's early Duke albums would serve fine as "best of" sets in and of themselves – so great is his work for that label during this period! This one's a pretty great sampling of his genius – that unique blend of blues and soul that still makes Bobby's work ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
An incredible record from Bobby Blue Bland – and quite possibly the greatest one he ever made! The set's got an amazing something special that's unlike most other material of the time – a bit blues, but a lot of soul too – still with some echoes of R&B in the jazzier charts ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
Mary J Blige —
Breakthrough ... CD Geffen/Matriarch (UK), 2005. Used ...
$1.99
Mary J Blige broke through well over a decade ago, but Breakthrough is an apt title for her eighth album – as it not only busts up the morass of mid 00s urban radio fodder – it also breaks through MJB's own creative doldrums – adding up her best work in years! It's certainly not ... read moreCD
Tanya Blount —
Natural Thing ... CD Polygram/Universal (Japan), 1994. New Copy ...
$13.9916.99
Tanya Blount's got a great way with a mellower, more laidback version of 90s R&B – that kind of slow-kicking groove that still has beats, but used in a spacious style to slowly percolate the background – while Tanya soars right out front with a really wonderful reach in her vocal ... read moreCD
Blowfly —
Butterfly ... CD Weird World/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Mid 70s. New Copy ...
$12.9915.99
The raunchy one is at it again – serving up funky, filthy, and funny parodies of 70s soul and pop songs with more than enough bad language to make even the most street hip hopper turn red! The band is nice and tight on most of the tracks, grooving hard with a funky wah-wah sound underneath ... read moreCD
New work from a revived version of Blue Magic – that legendary 70s group who were one of the best on the Philly scene of the time – still sounding great here in a more contemporary set! The album's headed up by producer Butch Ingram – with backing by the whole Ingram Family ... read moreCD
A killer little soundtrack – and one that's quite different than the usual blacksploitation set, but still pretty funky overall! The film Black Girl was a surprisingly sensitive movie directed by Ossie Davis in the early 70s – not as much about action as it was about the everyday life, ... read moreCD
A killer little soundtrack – and one that's quite different than the usual blacksploitation set, but still pretty funky overall! The film Black Girl was a surprisingly sensitive movie directed by Ossie Davis in the early 70s – not as much about action as it was about the everyday life, ... read moreCD
Tremendously tight grooves from Hamilton Bohannon – tunes that have this amazing way of wrapping together the bass, drums, and guitar – all in this fast-chugging style that's plenty funky all the way through! Bohannon was one of the most minimal of his 70s funk contemporaries – ... read moreCD
The first-ever full length set of work from Howard Bomar – a singer who only issued a few rare 45s back in the 60s, yet kept on making music for years! From the very first tune, you'll hear that Bomar has a fantastic voice – that sort of searching, searing style that you'd hear from ... read moreCD
A sublime second chapter of work from Booker T & The MGs – pulled from a time when Stax Records was stepping out of the influence of Atlantic, and really opening the door to a wide variety of new soul sounds! That approach is definitely in place here – as the tracks really evolve ... read moreCD
A monumental collection of work by the legendary Booker T & The MGs – one that features a huge amount of the group's best recordings – mostly pulled from their early years at Stax Records, and including some rare album tracks, b-sides, and other nice bits! Memphis soul expert ... read moreCD
A killer collection of work from a group who are very near and dear to our hearts – a soulful combo who emerged from the UK scene at the end of the 80s, and really helped bring back a classic sort of warmth to soul music! Brand New Heavies were a funk combo at the core, but they were also ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
Brenda & Herb —
In Heat Again ... CD Drive/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1979. New Copy ...
$12.9915.99
That's Brenda & Herb, not Peaches & Herb – Herb Rooney and Brenda Reid of the excellent 60s group The Exciters – grooving together here in a really full-on vocal approach that's clearly inspired by the best aspects of Ashford & Simpson! Tracks have a lush, full feel – ... read moreCD
An obscure bit of boogie from Brief Encounter – a southern soul group known best for their mid 70s sides for the Sound Stage Seven label, stepping out here in a completely different 80s groove! Most tracks are upbeat and dancefloor funky – plenty of bass on the bottom and some sweet ... read moreCD
Put aside all the brick and stone references in the title, as these guys have a wonderfully warm and welcoming vocal approach – one that mixes their rich-ranged harmonies with some gentle beats on the bottom – all at a level that never shakes things up too much, and really just lets the ... read moreCD
Brit Funk Association —
Ancestral Voices ... CD Expansion (UK), 2023. New Copy ...
$17.9921.99
That's almost an Earth Wind & Fire-styled image on the cover – and the Brit Funk Association definitely live up to the spirit of that scene – which is maybe no surprise, given that group members have a legacy that goes way back for many years on the UK soul scene! There's a warmth ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
A sweet funky set from the New Jersey 70s soul empire of the Stang/Turbo/All-Platinum family of labels – the kind of record that came out with little fanfare at the time, but which has a razor sharp groove all the way through! The set features plenty of wonderful work on keyboards – ... read moreCD
Fantastic work from the great Charles Brown – an equal mix of jazz and blues, delivered with a smooth, sophisticated touch that really helped move things forward in the postwar years! 20 classics from his years at Aladdin Records. CD
A surprisingly cool collection of tracks that hides under the "Merry Christmas Baby" title of Charles Brown's big postwar Holiday hit – but which instead includes a fair bit of later soul, blues, and gospel numbers recorded for Jewel and Paula Records! The package mixes things up ... (Holiday Music, Soul)read moreCD
(Punch through barcode.)
James Brown —
Bodyheat ... CD Polydor (Japan), 1976. New Copy ...
$10.9913.99
An enduring classic from James Brown – quite possibly the strongest of his late 70s albums, and a record that nicely balances the harder funk of the early part of the decade with a more sophisticated style that almost gets slightly jazzy at times! The vocals are planted strongly at the top ... read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
Obscure Holiday work from James Brown – not the oft-compiled tracks from his late 60s years at King Records, but some later numbers that show that Brown could still turn out one heck of a Christmas tune! James' vocals are at their older best – still surprisingly powerful, and able to ... (Holiday Music, Soul)read moreCD
James Brown —
Christmas Songs ... CD King/Universal (Japan), 1966. New Copy ...
$13.9916.99
One of the few rare Christmas albums that James Brown recorded in the 60s – all really wonderful, really memorable records that go way past the usual Holiday fare! Sure, there's a few sentimental tracks that have the familiar spirit of the holiday, but there's also some funky moments too ... (Holiday Music, Soul)read moreCD
James Brown —
Family Affair ... CD Brownstone/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Early 90s. New Copy ...
$16.9919.99
A rare chapter of James Brown's career – material recorded for producer Henry Stone in the early 90s – at a time when James himself was without a major record contract! Most of these tracks were recorded by Stone, but unissued for years – which is a bit of a surprise, as the ... read moreCD
Excellent funky Christmas – essential for any soulful holiday celebration! Not everyone knows it, but James Brown cut a fair number of Christmas albums during the 60s – thre albums, and a bunch of singles to be exact! They're all super-rare, but this great collection brings together ... (Holiday Music, Soul)read moreCD
Excellent funky Christmas – essential for any soulful holiday celebration! Not everyone knows it, but James Brown cut a fair number of Christmas albums during the 60s – thre albums, and a bunch of singles to be exact! They're all super-rare, but this great collection brings together ... (Holiday Music, Soul)read moreCD
James Brown screams at the beginning of the record – "I'm Back! I'm Back!" – which is his proclamation that he was ready to take on a whole new generation of funk music – grooving with a new sound that was guaranteed to hit as big as it did in earlier years! The ... read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
James Brown —
Hell ... CD Polydor (Japan), 1974. New Copy ...
Just Sold Out!
A killer double-length album from James Brown – a smoking set that stands strongly right next to similar packages like Get On The Good Foot and Payback! The album's a bit different than the latter, in that the tracks are mostly shorter, and there's some mellower cuts too – but they ... read moreCD
The last, and most obscure of James Brown's Christmas albums of the King years – and quite possibly the hippest too! Given that James is shouting "Hey America" in the title, he's clearly going for a righteous and semi-political tone on the set – singing Holiday tunes, but ... (Holiday Music, Soul)read moreCD
James Brown really opens up on this early 70s classic – really showing the world the amazing groove he was crafting with his band – who were let loose to jam in the studio, spinning out some really long grooves – which were then cut down to make this sweet little record! The ... read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
James Brown really opens up on this early 70s classic – really showing the world the amazing groove he was crafting with his band – who were let loose to jam in the studio, spinning out some really long grooves – which were then cut down to make this sweet little record! The ... read moreCD
Further genius from James Brown at the start of the 70s – a record that's starting to show some of the more open-ended grooves he'd explore with the JBs on their own albums – longer, stretched-out tracks that are way more than simple funk and soul! There's a sense of freewheeling ... read moreCD
(Part of the Rare Groove Funk 1000 Best Collection!)
Further genius from James Brown at the start of the 70s – a record that's starting to show some of the more open-ended grooves he'd explore with the JBs on their own albums – longer, stretched-out tracks that are way more than simple funk and soul! There's a sense of freewheeling ... read moreCD
One of the greatest albums ever from James Brown – even if it wasn't issued during his classic run of funk records in the early 70s! Yet the material here is all from that time – recorded by Polydor when James and the JBs were completely kicking ass in the studio – turning out ... read moreCD