One of the tightest albums ever from A Certain Ratio – a set that has them drawing on their 70s funk inspirations even more than before – and really finding a way to focus the soulful side of their talents! In a way, the sound here is a bit like that taken by Gang Of Four over the ... (Rock, Soul)read moreCD
Some of the punkiest funk ever recorded – the legendary first recordings by A Certain Ratio, originally issued only on cassette! The group hailed from the same Manchester scene as Joy Division and other famous Factory Records groups – so they have a sound that's filled with fast and ... (Rock, Soul)read moreCD
Aaron Abernathy —
Dialogue ... CD Aaron Abernathy, 2017. New Copy ...
$12.99
Aaron Abernathy really grabbed us with his debut – and on this second set, he's maybe even tighter and more his own self than before – moving past the guests who helped draw attention to the previous record, and really standing strongly in the spotlight on his own! Aaron composed, ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
An obscure soul group, but a great one – equally at home with a fragile harmony tune as they were with more uptempo groovers for the dancefloor! This one and only album from Act One is a perfect illustration of the best two sides of the east coast indie soul scene of the early 70s – ... read moreCD
Afrique —
Soul Makossa ... CD Mainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973. New Copy ...
$13.99
A killer album of Afro Funk – with a very unusual origin! In the wake of Manu Dibango's big hit (and some kind of failure to register the copyright), many many versions of "Soul Makossa" were recorded and released, some good, some bad. This album is a good example of that ... read moreCD
Yasuko Agawa —
Gravy ... CD Victor (Japan), 1984. New Copy ...
$24.99
One of the hippest records ever from Japanese vocalist Yasuko Agawa – a set that features a fair bit of arrangements and productions from Augie Johnson, all in the best blend of jazz and soul used on his At Home productions in the US! Augie also sings a bit in the background on the record ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
(K2 HD Pro Mastering – HQ CD!)
Yasuko Agawa —
Sunglow ... CD Victor/Beatball (Korea), 1981. New Copy ...
$18.99
A classic groover from Yasuko Agawa – proof that the Japanese scene had an ear for soul in the years before Monday Michiru! The early 80s set is made up from equal parts jazz, soul, and Brazilian influences – all used nicely with tight, fusiony production that really works nicely with ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Tony Aiken & Future —
Liberation ... CD Boom Shot, 2016. New Copy ...
$9.99
You might remember Tony Aiken for his classic funk album Unity, from the 70s – and here, he's back again – after nearly 40 years away from the studio! The album's got a style that's a lot more reggae-influenced than before – maybe not totally a reggae record, given the other ... read moreCD
A great little comeback album for southern soul godfather Arthur Alexander! It was recorded during a period when Warner Brothers was really committed to cutting heavy soul albums, with singers like Lorraine Ellison and Paul Kelly, and Alexander sounds great in this setting. The record's got some ... read moreCD
Allspice —
Allspice ... CD Fantasy/Dusty Groove, 1977. New Copy ...
$10.9912.98
The only album ever from Allspice – but a hell of an incredible soul record – and one that's kept the group's name strong with collectors and rare groove fanatics for years! The album's on of the best Fantasy Records productions by Wayne Henderson and his At Home team – and like ... read moreCD
(On the Dusty Groove label.)
Justo Almario —
Plumbline ... CD Meadowlark (Canada), 1987. Used ...
$9.99
Solo work from Alfa Anderson – a singer that you might remember as one of the original voices in Chic – that famous funky soul group from the 70s! Alfa's still held onto all the funky edge of her roots, but has tuned it here towards a much more 21st Century style – lean and ... read moreCD
After cutting some albums of straighter jazz material during the late 50s, Ernestine did this nice album of supper-club soul for Sue, with some sweet fragile arrangements by Bert Keyes, and an overall approach that's very similar to the Lorez Alexandria work on Argo with Riley Hampton. The style ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Solo work from Apollonia – working here past her time with both Apollonia 6 and her association with Prince – but still showing an equally strong talent for catchy 80s pop! The music is handled by a host of producers, and most numbers are in a beat-heavy mode that follows on her ... 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
Incredible work from the amazing Dorothy Ashby – a brilliant set of funky and spiritual tunes, set to full backings from Chicago soul arranger Richard Evans! This album is easily one of Ashby's greatest, and it's dedicated to the writings of Omar Khayyam – one of the forces guiding ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
(SHM-CD pressing! Part of the Diggin Universal Music – supervised by DJ Muro.)
A wonderful selection of work by the team of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson – a batch of tunes that focuses on their tight 80s work for Capitol Records! The pair may be best known from this era for their mega hit "Solid" – but Nick and Valerie changed the face of duet soul ... read moreCD
One of our favorite albums from this legendary duo – Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson's first album for Warner Brothers, and compared to the numbers moved by biggest hits, you could call this one a hidden gem – filled with near perfect mellow soul jams and more sweetly soaring ... read moreCD
Stone classic early work from Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson – really moving past the Motown sound – stepping wonderfully into a hip style of soul that would have a huge effect on the direction of R&B in the 70s! I Wanna Be Selfish is actually a very giving effort from the ... read moreCD
Near-perfect work from Ashford & Simpson – really grooving in full powerhouse mode here, and never missing a beat! By all rights, the team should have run out of steam by this point, but the album's another winner from their sublime Warner years – caught in a unique space between ... read moreCD
A mid 80s classic from Atlantic Starr – at the height of their catchy commercial fame – bouncing along with rhythms that crossover nicely to the mainstream, yet still keep a bit of their previous funky edge intact! The groove here is almost in the style that Atlantic Starr inspired in ... read moreCD
Massive grooves from the second group of organist Brian Auger – from a time when he was really stretching out! (Jazz, Soul)CD
(Out of print. Barcode has a cutout mark.)
Aurra —
Body Rock ... CD Family Groove, Mid 80s. New Copy ...
$9.99
Never-heard work from Aurra – a full album of grooves recorded in the years after the duo had left Salsoul Records, but still had plenty of great music to offer on their own! The style here is nice and lean – loads of bass and sweet keyboards from Steve Washington, who sings a bit ... read moreCD
A live set from the great Patti Austin – but done at a level that's every bit as tight as her studio work from the time! Patti's in a perfect balance between jazz and soul here – and works with sweet arrangements from Dave Grusin and Leon Pendarvis – the latter of whom also leads ... read moreCD
(Part of the CTI 50th Anniversary Special Collection!)
AWB's first for Atlantic – and a nice slice of funk that proves that they can mix it up with the best groups of the 70s! The record's got plenty of sweet electric keyboards over smooth funky basslines – and as the years go by, the band's white boy vocals don't sound nearly as bad as we ... read moreCD
(Pre-Rhino pressing.)
Average White Band —
Cut The Cake ... CD Atlantic/Rhino, 1975. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
If you need to own one album by Average White Band, this is it! The album features the band at their funky best – playing hard and chopping away with a strong crossover sound that put them firmly on the map during the early 70s. The record includes their funky classic "School Boy ... read moreCD
An amazing slice of music from the legendary David Axelrod – quite different than his better-known sides for Capitol and Reprise Records – and plenty darn funky overall! Axelrod is at his studio best here – stepping off the funky jazz modes he produced for Cannonball Adderley, ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
Polygram's totally cool 2 CD anthology of some of Roy's best work for the label, featuring tracks that run from the early 70's through the early 80's, with such stellar cuts as "We Live In Brooklyn Baby", "Coffy is The Color", "Pretty Brown Skin", "Africa, Center ... read moreCD
(Out of print BMG Direct pressing. Includes the original slipcase & large booklet. Slipcase has light wear.)
Roy Ayers —
Wake Up ... CD Ichiban, 1989. Used ...
$6.99
Proof that Roy Ayers is always great, no matter what the setting! Even in a low-budget, later album like this, there's an Ayers genius that really shines through – a way of inflecting the rhythms, jazzily tuning the instruments, and soulfully setting the whole thing up that gets way past the ... read moreCD
Wally Badarou —
Echoes ... CD Island/Music On Vinyl (UK), 1984. New Copy ...
$16.9918.99
A tough record to peg – but a great one too! Wally Badarou plays a range of spacey keyboards that include synclavier, mini moog, and prophet 5 – all over some beats that are a mix of electro and Carribean rhythms – in a style that's part jazzy, part new agey, and part 80s groove! ... read moreCD
Erykah Badu —
Baduizm ... CD Universal, 1997. Used ...
$1.99
A landmark debut from the mighty Erykah Badu – a record that really set the world on fire when it first appeared – and which continues to blow our minds all these many years later! There's a simple, straightforward grace to the album that comes through immediately – as Erykah ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
A big breakthrough for Philip Bailey – and a record that was kind of a second-level explosion for the Earth Wind & Fire sound in the 80s! There's a definite crossover feel to the record – a style that takes Bailey's soulful vocals, and mixes them with lots of catchy hooks – ... read moreCD
The pinnacle of classy crossover soul at the end of the 80s – and a landmark album that's probably still helping Anita pay her bills! The feel is mellow and laidback without being too cheesy or too adult contemporary – drawing from mellow soul traditions of the 70s, and filtering it ... read moreCD
Anita Baker —
Songstress ... CD Beverly Glen, 1983. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
From the female singer in the obscure group Chapter 8, Anita went onto become one of the biggest selling soul music acts during the 80s – and this album's her first effort as a solo act. The record's a smooth sophisticated batch of soul tunes, with lots of nice jazzy touches, and a classy ... read moreCD
A quadruple pack of albums from The Bar-Kays – four records on two CDs! First up is As One, a record that definitely has the Bar-Kays definitely grooving as one – with amazing choppy guitar, bumping basslines, and brassy horns – all wrapped up with some wonderfully warm ... read moreCD
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 before – the same sort of shift the Ohio Players made after moving to Mercury Records – but as with the Players ... 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
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
A great one from Basia – a record that has the Polish soul singer hitting even warmer, jazzier territory than before – as her style matures nicely with help from keyboardist Danny White, who co-wrote most of the material on the set! There's a nice current here of the best UK soul of ... read moreCD
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
A monster bit of funk that's unlike anything else we can think of! Beginning Of The End hailed from The Bahamas, but don't hold that against them – because instead of being a Caribbean cliche, they took the best part of the island rhythms, and used them to forge an incredible approach to ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Beginning Of The End —
Nassau Funk ... CD Alston/Playback, Early 70s. New Copy ...
$12.9916.99
Fantastic funk from Beginning Of The End – one of the coolest, grooviest, most unique funk groups of the 70s – and one who've got a real criss-crossing of styles in their sound! As you'd guess from the title, these guys hail from Nassau, in the Bahamas – but their sound is hardly ... read moreCD
Although Archie Bell & The Drells had recorded earlier with Gamble & Huff on Atlantic, this is their first album for the team's own label – and it's a killer! In a way, Archie and group were sort of responsible for getting Gamble & Huff their own famous imprint in the first place ... read moreCD
(Part of the Disco Fever 40 series!)
Regina Belle —
Super Hits ... CD Sony, Late 80s/Early 90s. Used ...
$6.99
A pretty sweet batch of early 90s R&B from Benet – which is the brother and sister duo of Eric and Lisa Benet – a couple years before Eric would conquer the charts as a solo act! It's a nice little record that's warm and good-natured, and produced with a bright and smooth, but not ... read moreCD
Wild and mysterious stuff! This album is sort of a repackaged version of the legendary Harlem Underground album – a great lost funk album from the mid-70s that listed George Benson as a player in the group, but one that Benson claims that he never played on! The time of this release ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
Includes "Hey Girl", "Nassau Day", "Livin Inside Your Love", "Welcome Into My World", "Before You Go", "Unchained Melody", "Love Ballad", "Prelude To Fall", and "Soulful Strut". (Jazz, Soul)CD
If you think that Chuck Berry only hit his heights at Chess Records, then get ready to change your mind – as this late 60s record for Mercury is quite a cooker! Side one has Berry working in a cool hybrid of blues and soul, but with some very weird production – handled by Chuck himself ... read moreCD
The cover's a bit trippy, but the sound is anything but – and instead stands as a strong tribute to the way the early work of Chuck Berry continued to influence a generation of rockers well through the 60s! Berry's the frontman, and gets plenty of chance to sing and sear on guitar – ... read moreCD
A breakout solo moment from the great Edwin Birdsong – an artist who participated in some of Roy Ayers great albums of the 70s, and who cut some great underground records of his own – but who finally got the chance to step into the limelight on this set for Philadelphia International! ... read moreCD
Black Hippies —
Black Hippies ... CD Academy, 1977. New Copy Gatefold ...
$9.9915.98
Hardly the kind of hippies that were always hanging around when we were growing up – as these guys are super tight, super funky, and right on the money throughout – grooving hard in one of the most searing styles of Afro Funk we've ever heard! Older psych modes are turned towards the ... (Global Grooves, Soul)read moreCD
One of the hippest groups of the Nigerian scene of the 70s – presented here in two classic albums, back to back on a single CD! Chapter One is a landmark set of African grooves – very unusual in both conception and execution – with a feel that's unlike anything we can think of! ... (Global Grooves, Soul)read moreCD
Blue Magic getting a bit bolder than before – adding in some heavier funk that takes them past the mellow moments of their earliest years – yet still serving up some great harmonies in the process! The change is a subtle one – heard on some of the album's more hard-grooving ... read moreCD
A previously-unreleased sweet soul treasure – now finally getting its due! Bob & Gene were an obscure duo from Buffalo at the end of the 60s – recording briefly together under the guidance of Bob's father, who recorded the young pair in his home studio with the help of some great ... read moreCD
2 late 70s gems from Willie Bobo – 1978's Hell Of An Act To Follow and 1979's Bobo – on a single CD! Hell Of An Act To Follow is really nice stuff from Willie – maybe not as hard and funky as his early 70s work, but very nice in kind of a Latin Club mode, thanks to some great ... (Latin, Soul)read moreCD
A great late 80s comeback for Angela Bofill – and the kind of record that shows that she was still head and shoulders above most of her contemporaries! There's a richness here that most of Angie's contemporaries couldn't muster at the time – a style that stretches back to her deeper ... read moreCD
A soaring classic from Angie Bofil – a record that stands as one of the most perfect demonstrations of her upbeat, positive approach to soul! There's a stile here that seems to be a bit in the legacy of Minnie Riperton – especially the way that Narada Michael Waldon brings in some ... read moreCD
One of the biggest and best albums ever for Hamilton Bohannon – filled with quirky rhythms and really unusual grooves! Bohannon was one of the key forces in setting the scene for disco in the early 70s – and by the time the rest of the country was hitting the dancefloor in the middle ... read moreCD
The Beatles had Abbey Road – and Booker T & The MGs had McLemore Ave, the main street running outside the Stax studios, and a fitting title for the album that has them playing tunes from The Beatles' incredible Abbey Road album. If you've ever thought that Abbey Road was a soft-rock ... read moreCD
Clea Bradford —
Now ... CD Mainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1965. New Copy ...
$13.99
A nice step forward for singer Clea Bradford – an artist who started out in bluesier territory that maybe reflected her St Louis roots – but who works here with arranger Jim Tyler, who sets her up in a sophisticated mix of jazzy styles! Bradford's vocals are quite dynamic – you ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Brass Construction —
Brass Construction ... CD United Artists/Soul Brother (UK), 1975. New Copy ...
$9.99
A classic set that goes "slam" from the very first note – and which helped to set the pace for countless ensemble funk acts to come! Brass Construction had a wonderful sound that was the best-realized version of the east coast indie club combos of the mid 70s – funky at the ... read moreCD
Breakwater —
Breakwater ... CD Arista/BMG (Japan), 1978. Used ...
$11.99
A landmark set from a group who only ever gave the world two albums – but who've gone on to have a huge influence over the years! This initial offering from Breakwater is a masterful blend of jazzy fusion and mellower soul – a sound sifted together so perfectly, it really tops the rest ... read moreCD
(Out of print, includes obi.)
Brecker Brothers —
Straphangin ... CD Arista (Japan), 1981. New Copy ...
$13.99
It's our bet that the Brecker Brothers probably weren't straphanging on their way to work in this point in their careers – given the classy, professional sound of this set – which was more likely to earn them a ride in a limo than a place in the subway! But we certainly don't hold that ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
A beautiful turn in direction from the legendary jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater – a return to some of the soul-based modes she used in the 70s, but served up here as a tribute to Memphis soul of an earlier generation! The set was recorded in that fine southern city, at the Royal Studios ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
The first solo album from Johnny Bristol – a genius soul talent who did a bunch of great work for Motown as a writer and arranger, breaking out here on his own! Like so many other behind-the-scenes talents from the late 60s, Johnny turned out to be an excellent soul artist in his own right ... read moreCD
(Limited edition!)
Brit Funk Association —
Full Circle ... CD Expansion (UK), 2018. New Copy ...
$14.99
An all star section of the Brit funky soul scene comes Full Circle – with members of Beggar & Co, Incognito, Hi Tension, Central Line and more – on a sweet batch tunes with an upbeat, jazzy groove, too! The opening "BFA Theme (Let The Music Blow Your Mind)" kicks the set ... read moreCD
Charles Hilton Brown —
Owed To Myself ... CD Schema (Italy), 1974. New Copy ...
$16.99
A swirling blend of soul, funk, and jazzy grooves – and a super-rare album that we've never seen in the original! Supposedly, backing on the record is by the British Afro-Funk group Assagai – which sounds right to us, because there's a nice rolling conga groove on many of the tracks. ... read moreCD
One of the stranger James Brown albums from the 60s! The record is one of the only vocal albums he cut for the Smash label – and it was issued during a time when James was strangely contracted to two labels – King and Smash. His dual contract situation was that he couldn't record any ... read moreCD
Raw live energy from the great James Brown – and a record that comes hot on the heels of Live At The Apollo! Like that one, this set was supposedly "recorded on the spot" – and it's even harder, faster, and noisier than that classic – with a loud-bursting sound that ... read moreCD
Raw live energy from the great James Brown – and a record that comes hot on the heels of Live At The Apollo! Like that one, this set was supposedly "recorded on the spot" – and it's even harder, faster, and noisier than that classic – with a loud-bursting sound that ... read moreCD
A plenty funky record, despite a cheesy cover – which shows James Brown as a disco-era player – kicking back on a couch with an unbuttoned shirt, while two topless girls dance in front of him – showing him their "cakes"! The groove's definitely different than the ... read moreCD
A classic groover from Jocelyn Brown! One From The Heart was a big mainstream moment for Jocelyn Brown – the crowning realization of all the great work she'd done in the club underground in the early part of the 80s – presented here with a slightly more crossover vibe, but a sound that' ... read moreCD
(Out of print original pressing. Tray card has a small cutout notch.)
Smooth funky jazz from Tom Browne – caught here during his best early years! The album's his second best next to Love Approach, but it's got almost the same sort of feel, with tight late 70s studio jazz jamming – and a buttery smooth sound from Browne's post-Donald Byrd trumpet licks. ... (Jazz, Soul)read moreCD
Great music in many modes -- northern soul, deep soul, harmony soul, modern soul, and group soul -- plus disco, funk, club, electro, rare groove, and more!
Ernestine Anderson —
New Sound Of Ernestine Anderson ... CD 
