... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A really cool collection – one that's maybe best summed up by the word "ecstatic" in the title – as the package presents a blend of work from artists who easily skirt both the spiritual and secular side of soulful music, united together with a very joyous, uplifting vibe in their sound! This isn't classic gospel from the years when you might hear a guitar or organ behind a small group of harmonizing vocals – and instead, much of this work was created at a time when soul music had already been going strong for years – and while gospel might have initially helped in the formation of soul, it's clear that things are also moving the other direction in these tracks – as many of these artists borrow from the power of righteous soul styles, and use it to inflect their joyous message with a great new energy! Titles include "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" by Keith Barrow, "Is There Anybody Here" by The Alvin Darling Ensemble, "Trouble's Brewin" by The Meditation Singers, "Satisfied" by Andre Crouch & The Disciples, "Let Your Feet Down Easy" by Dorothy Norwood, "If You Believe Your God Is Dead" by Swan Silvertones, "The Upper Way" by The Violinaires, "Elijah" by Roscoe Robinson, "Till I've Got This Feelin Of Love" by Dyson's Faces, and "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" by Destiny. CD

A really cool collection – one that's maybe best summed up by the word "ecstatic" in the title – as the package presents a blend of work from artists who easily skirt both the spiritual and secular side of soulful music, united together with a very joyous, uplifting vibe in their sound! This isn't classic gospel from the years when you might hear a guitar or organ behind a small group of harmonizing vocals – and instead, much of this work was created at a time when soul music had already been going strong for years – and while gospel might have initially helped in the formation of soul, it's clear that things are also moving the other direction in these tracks – as many of these artists borrow from the power of righteous soul styles, and use it to inflect their joyous message with a great new energy! Titles include "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" by Keith Barrow, "Is There Anybody Here" by The Alvin Darling Ensemble, "Trouble's Brewin" by The Meditation Singers, "Satisfied" by Andre Crouch & The Disciples, "Let Your Feet Down Easy" by Dorothy Norwood, "If You Believe Your God Is Dead" by Swan Silvertones, "The Upper Way" by The Violinaires, "Elijah" by Roscoe Robinson, "Till I've Got This Feelin Of Love" by Dyson's Faces, and "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" by Destiny. LP, Vinyl record album

Genius work from one of the greatest Southern Soul studios ever – Muscle Shoals' legendary Fame Studios – the start of a huge wave of great music in the 60s, and a genre-changing sound that's still going strong today! The package is the best we've ever seen to look at Fame – not just a killer selection of the studio's music – 75 tracks that bring together rare singles, hits, and some lesser-known gems – but also a beautiful hardcover book, filled with pages and pages of great notes, vintage images, and more – really telling the unique take of Fame, producer Rick Hall, and all the mighty talents who helped make Muscle Shoals one of the most important sites for soul music in the 60s and 70s. Titles include "Ten Miles High" by David & The Giants, "Search Your Heart" by George Jackson, "Let Them Talk" by Dan Penn, "Two In The Morning" by Spooner's Crowd, "Lady In The Rain" by Lowell Fulson, "Wanted Lover" by James Govan, "Grits & Gravy" by The Fame Gang, "Get Involved" by George Soule, "What Color Is Love" by Roscoe Robinson, "Laugh It Off" by The Tams, "Thief In The Night" by Ben & Spence, "Take Me Just As I Am" by Mitty Collier, "I'm Just A Prisoner" by Candi Staton, "Thread The Needle" by Clarence & Calvin, and "Slippin Around With You" by Art Freeman. CD

A huge package of work from a time when the Jewel/Paula label was a strong force in underground soul – an imprint whose home base was down in Louisiana, but who also had a reach that went up to the Windy City as well! The material here is on the deeper side of the spectrum – some New Orleans modes mixed with other southern soul styles – often recorded with nicely earthy production that really makes the singers come across at their best! Titles include "I Can't Stand To See You Go" by Joe Valentine, "Messed Around & Fell In Love" by Ricky Allen, "Nothing Takes The Place Of You" by Toussaint McCall, "What Is Love" by Jimmy Dobbins, "Cover Me" by Ted Taylor, I Want Everyone To Know" by Fontella Bass, "My Baby's Gone" by Wallace Brothers, "You've Got Me Tamed" by Clay Hammond, "Loosen These Pains & Let Me Go" by Albert Washington, "We Got A Good Thing Going" by Roscoe Robinson, and "Sweet Little Woman" by McKindley Sandifer. CD

With selections by Bettye Lavette, Frank Ballard, Linda Gail Lewis, Roscoe Gordon, Slim Rhodes, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Brightlights, Soul Suspects, Clarence Murray, Wade Cagle & The Escorts, The Four Upsetters, Alvin Robinson, and Carl Perkins. LP, Vinyl record album

Christmas means love, but it also means plenty more too – given that there's a whole host of different themes covered in this collection – a batch of soulful Christmas numbers that goes way past the obvious! There's a few here you might know, but lots more that we're not sure have been compiled elsewhere – in a collection of 27 tracks that includes "Merry Christmas My Love" by Ray Agee, "Yule Tide Love" by Change Of Pace, "A Letter For Christmas" by Salem Travelers, "Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday" by The Groovers, "Santa Came Home Drunk" by Clyde Lasley & The Cadillac Baby Spirituals, "All I Want For Christmas Is Your Love" by Dee Irwin & Mamie Galore, "Tis Yuletide" by Roscoe Robinson, "All I Want For Christmas" by the C-Quents, "It's Christmas Time & I'm Still In Love With You" by Bird Rollins, "Merry Christmas" by Sister Lucille Pope & The Pearly Gates, "Christmas Greeting" by Duke Fakir, "At Christmas Time" by George Grant, "Christmas Means Love" by The Soul Stirrers, and "Just Another Winter" by Betty Everett. CD

A wicked little collection of rare soul singles – all hand-picked by Andy "The Document" Smith, with an equal focus on Northern dancefloor numbers and harder funkier tracks! The set's a nice contrast to other collections on the market, because Andy's coming at the music from a different direction – one that's a bit less concerned with the tracks' presence (or non-presence) on the UK scene, and which is more focused on the overall sound and grooves of the tunes! The 2LP set features the unmixed versions of all the 25 tunes used in the CD mix version – and titles include "Baby Without You" by Danny Monday, "Talkin About My Baby" by Dottie & Millie, "The New Breed" by Jimmy Holiday, "He's Alright With Me" by The Mirettes, "That's Enough" by Roscoe Robinson, "On Top Of The World" by SOUL, "As Long As I've Got You" by The Charmels, "Shotgun & The Duck" by Jackie Lee, "My Little Girl" by Bob & Earl Band, "Cigarette Ashes" by Jimmy Conwell, "Mine Exclusively" by The Olympics, and "Reach Out I'll Be There" by Lee Moses. LP, Vinyl record album