Titles include "Runnin From Your Love", "Candy", "See The Real Me", "Love Is A Joy", "The Show Must Go On", and "I Can't Live Without You". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet bit of 60s sunshine, and a record that's every bit as charming as you might guess from the cover – served up by a group who are well into the best harmonies of the time, but also digging for something deeper too! The vibe isn't really psychedelic, but there's certainly some of those elements at play – as the group get help on some larger arrangements from producer Erik Wangberg, who uses just the right touches from song to song to keep things interesting, and from ever falling into too-familiar territory! The record's filled with groovy little original tunes in a variety of flavors – and titles include "Bedtime Story", "A New Tomorrow", "Sweet Melinda", "Silly Girl", "Johnny Silver's Ride", "No Ma It Can't Be", and a cool remake of "Shape Of Things". CD

Recorded live in LA, at a variety of clubs – with titles that include "Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger", "Walking With The Beast", "Bad Mood", "Field Holler", "Seven Miles With The Devil", and "Going Down The Red River". LP, Vinyl record album

Pretty stunning work from the team of Richard Harris & Jimmy Webb – a shining point in both of their careers! Harris wasn't much of a singer, and was mostly known as an actor before these two albums. He teamed up with Jimmy Webb as the perfect foil for some of Webb's late sixties song-stories – crafted here into extended arrangements penned and conducted by Webb, who was just a wee lad at the time. The album went onto become a genre-busting superhit, and pretty much burned out the career of both parties involved – but with brilliance like this, you could hardly expect otherwise! The highlight here is the original 7 minute version of "MacArthur Park", but there's loads of other tracks that are great too – and titles include "Didn't We", "Lovers Such As I", "A Tramp Shining", "Paper Chase", and "In The Final Hours". LP, Vinyl record album

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Eddie's masterpiece LP of late sixties soul, with the classic "Hey There Lonely Girl", the title cut, and a lot of other great original compositions. The sound on here is perfect, and nearly every cut shines. There's almost no filler, and Eddie's voice is strong, beautiful, and has a raspy edge that sounds great! We love this one to death, and it's a surprisingly great album all the way through by a star that you might mistake for a one-hit wonder. Titles include "I Cried", "Let Me Into Your Life", "Am I A Loser", and "Four Walls". LP, Vinyl record album

A hip mix of raunchy blues and rootsy rock – all stretched out over a double-length set that's easily one of John Lee Hooker's loosest albums ever! The album has Hooker playing in a number of settings with hip rock and funk players from the California scene – including Steve Miller, Mel Brown, Clifford Coulter, and others – but in spite of the presence of a few younger stars on the record, the album's still very much Hooker's own – down-home and earthy, with plenty of the rawness and heavy mojo that set Hooker apart from the bar blues artists of his time! Titles include "Doin The Shout", "I Don't Need No Steam Heat", "Pots On, Gas High", "We Might As Well Call It Through", and "Kick Hit 4 Hit Kix U". LP, Vinyl record album

Two fantastic early albums by Al Hudson – working here with his initial group, The Soul Partners! First up is Especially For You – a record that's kind of a first chapter to all the excellent work by One Way to come – even though Al's not using that group name at this time! The record's got this cool, classy vibe – an update of an earlier Detroit soul mode, and one that maybe followed that city's shift a few years later than 70s soul changes in Philly during the decade – and handled with a similar blend of groovers and mellow cuts! The vibe is similar to the great shift The Dramatics were making on ABC Records at the time – and Al and the group work here with production by Al Perkins and arrangements by Jimmy Roach. Titles include "Baby Let Me Love You", "I Got A Notion You Got The Motion", "Real Love", "You're So Wonderful", and "Trying To Prove My Love". Cherish is a funky soul classic from Al Hudson and the Soul Partners – a second full length set, and one that really has Hudson finding his groove! The rhythms are funkier than before – thanks to strong work on bass from Kevin McCord, who also joins Al a bit on vocals – in a mode that still continues the group's strong work on midtempo numbers, but also maybe answers a 70s disco wave with more of a Detroit funk overall! Great work from the group that would later turn into One Way – with titles that include "Tripped, Slipped, Stumbled, & Fell", "If You Get Caught", "If You Feel Like Dancing", and "I Like Everything About You". CD also features bonus tracks – "Feelings (7" version)" and "If You Feel Like Dancin (12" version)". CD

A pair of ABC Records gems from Al Hudson & The Soul Partners – back to back on a single CD! Spreading Love is excellent early work from Al Hudson – a soulful talent who stood his own in the late 70s, forging an up-tempo funk sound that lived long past disco, and which was sort of a platform for groups of the 80s to build a new dancefloor sound. Hudson relied heavily on bass-y funk to hit his groove, but he also gave strong focus to the good singers who worked with his groups – adding in good ballads that act as a showcase to members like bassist Kevin McCord, who sings some great vocals on this set. The album kicks off with the up-tempo groover "Spread Love", an anthemic dancefloor tune that almost points the way towards soulful house, and it's got some other nice cuts, like the ballads "Lost Inside Of You" and "Love Me Forever", plus the funky numbers "How Do You Do", and "Dance, Get Down". Happy Feet is joyous, bouncy sounds from the legendary Al Hudson – a sweet little set with his Soul Partners group, done in a mode that's right up there with the best music of his One Way combo! The grooves are uptempo, yet are much more rooted in ensemble funk than some of the disco of Al's contemporaries – and if anything, the album really shows a great evolution from the funk bands of the previous generation to a newer, more sophisticated style overall. Hudson's work at the helm is wonderful – and helps steer the group towards some nice mellow moments too – with arrangements from Kevin McCord, Rudy Robinson, and Dave Roberson. Alicia Myers serves up some great early vocals with the group – and titles include "I Don't Want You To Leave Me", "Another Love Song", "You Can Do It", "In The Basement", "Call Me", and "Rock". CD

Not as "electro" as you might expect from the title, but a pretty nice little record from Dick! The album has Hyman playing Baldwin electric piano in front of larger orchestrations – running through a suite of tracks that move from jazz to classic to "rock" type rhythms – at the best moments soaring like some hip soundtrack tunes, and at the weaker ones, just sounding like spare jazz solo work. The album features one long piece of music, divided up into many moods and tones. LP, Vinyl record album

Stone classic! The Impressions' version of "Amen" is way way more than just a quasi-religious soul song. It's a mighty anthem of power and majesty, arranged in the style of some of the group's other subtle political moments from the mid 60s! The flipside's a great Curtis Mayfield composition – done later by other artists, but sounding great here in the original version! 7-inch, Vinyl record

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Arranged and conducted by Johnny Pate. 7-inch, Vinyl record

A well-titled set from the fantastic Impressions – a record that mixes a few of their usual Curtis Mayfield-penned tunes with some other 60s material that really shows the range of the group on vocals! The arrangements are by Johnny Pate, who handled the group's best work of the 60s – and he gives all the material a great sound that perfectly matches the smooth raspy harmonies of the trio. Curtis contributed the song "Don't Cry My Love", Pate wrote "Oo You're A Livin Doll", and other tunes include "East Of Java", "Sermonette", "The Look Of Love", "Yesterday", "Fool On The Hill", "This Is The Life", and "Just Before Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

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Jackie & Roy at the height of their ABC powers – really stepping out strongly here with a bold jazz vocal approach that nobody else can touch! Both Roy Kral and Jackie Cain get a few moments of their own in the spotlight, especially Jackie, who steps out on a number of the tracks – but as usual, the duo's at their best when singing together – which they do beautifully here, trading lyrical lines with tremendous charm! Most instrumentation is small combo – with Roy on piano, Monty Budwig on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums – and titles include "From This Moment On", "Kiss & Run", "Cake Walk", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Who Cares", and "How Are You Fixed For Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Walsh and the James Gang at Carnegie Hall – with titles that include "Stop', "You're Gonna Need Me", "Ashes The Rain & I", "Tend My Garden", "Walk Away", and "Lost Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Quincy turns his soul jazz arranging style to a band filled with West Coast players, and he gets them to groove a lot more than you'd expect! Players include Herb Geller, Art Pepper, Charlie Mariano, Bill Perkins, and Walter Benton. The tracks are short, with tight solo space, and most of them were written and arranged by West Coasters like Jimmy Giuffre, Lennie Niehaus, and Johnny Mandel. Titles include "Be My Guest", "London Derriere", "Kings Road Blues", "The Oom Is Blues", and "Bright Moon". CD

BB King in London – not playing live, but working in the studio with a host of British musicians he'd inspired over the years! The lineup varies from track to track, giving a nice sort of variety to the album – and the overall feel is a bit like some of the Chess London sessions of the time – but maybe more blues overall! Features work by Peter Green on guitar, Steve Marriott on harmonica, Alexis Korner on acoustic guitar, Gary Wright on electric piano and Hammond, Ringo Starr on drums, and The Mystery Shadow on Hammond – and titles include "Ghetto Woman", "Wet Hayshark", "Part Time Love", "We Can't Agree", and "Blue Shadows". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent set by BB King – one of his best from the 60s, and a smoking live set recorded at Chicago's legendary Regal Theatre! The enthusiasm at the venue shows that BB's Memphis-honed style is a perfect fit for the electrified Chicago sound of the 60s – and the recording really brings out some wonderful responses from the audience – making the record a blues equivalent of James Brown's famous Live At The Apollo set! The record features introductions by Chicago DJs Pervis Spann and E Rodney Jones – and tracks include "Every Day", "Please Love Me", "Worry Worry", "Woke Up This Morning", "Help The Poor", and "You Upset Me Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet, smooth, and soulfully beautiful work from John Klemmer – not as all-out cosmic or trippy as some of his earlier albums for ABC, but with some really nice moments! Klemmer's really got the power of his horn in firm control here – playing with that Eddie Harris-schooled use of economy and tone – coming across with an approach that's subtle, but effective, and more deeply soulful than you might expect. Backings are by a small group on most tracks – and include keyboards from Milcho Leviev and drums by Harvey Mason. Klemmer plays a bit of echoplex and phaser alongside his usual tenor, and a few numbers are slightly sweetened by strings – but that's never a problem where Klemmer's concerned! Titles include "Caress", "Quiet Afternoon", "Tough & Tender", "Lifestyle", "Pure Love", "Purity", "Forever", and "Lovin Feelings". LP, Vinyl record album

From the title of this one, you can tell that Denise is going for a bit of late 70s Mille Jackson action – mixing the rougher styles of her roots with some more sophisticated backings – all in a proto-feminist mode that always comes out with the lady on the top! Production is by LaSalle herself – and the sound is Memphis modern – still classic, but with some smoother leanings to fit the classier image on the cover of the record. Tracks are all originals by Denise too – proving that she's got plenty to bring to the table – and titles include "The Bitch Is Bad", "Move Your Body", "Love Addict", "One Life To Live", and "Fool Me Good". LP, Vinyl record album

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Arrangements and production by Michael Zager, in that pop dancefloor style that was making him a rich man at the time! Titles include "Holiday", "Run To Me", "Lonely Days", "Massachusetts", and "To Love Somebody". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly great little album from Freda Payne – recorded after her years with Holland Dozier Holland – but done with a sweet smooth style that's almost southern/modern – and which really works for her voice! The album's got a really unified feel – never too over the top, with some solid sophisticated soul songs that show Freda with a side that we wouldn't have expected. Titles include "Look What I Found", "You", "Keep It Coming", "Seems So Long", "You Brought The Woman Out Of Me", "Lost In Love", "Million Dollar Horse", and "See Me One Last Time". 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

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Lloyd Price turns his incredible voice to a batch of late 50s/early 60s pop hits – including a range of songs taken from other soul stars, made up by Lloyd into his own uniquely styled numbers – with that romping groove he does so well! Arrangements are by Gil Askey and played by Lloyd's group – and titles include "Spanish Harlem", "He Will Break Your Heart", "Ain't That Just Like A Woman", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", and "At Last". LP, Vinyl record album

Earlier recordings by Jimmy Reed, most likely done at the end of the 60s – but issued here for the first time in this 1973 package by Bluesway. Jimmy's working here in a mode that's almost rootsier than his more famous work for Vee Jay – singing with a really rough edge, and playing harmonica on most of the album's tracks. Al Smith handled production and wrote a number of tunes on the set, and Eddie Taylor is in the group on second guitar. Titles include "I Don't Know (parts 1 & 2)", "Got To Be A Reason", "Take Out Some Insurance", "World's Got A Problem", "If You Want It Done Right", "Turn Me On", and "Got Me Worried". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the great albums that Della Reese cut for ABC in the 60s – albums that seemed to have the singer at the most soulful side of her talents! Backings are by Peter De Angelis – who wrote the original "How Do You Keep From Cryin" – and other titles include "A Wilted Flower", "A Hundred Years From Today", "My Devotion", "Home", "After Loving You", and 'I Only Want A Buddy Not A Sweetheart". LP, Vinyl record album

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Two albums on one CD – both of them great! The title set is one of the grooviest 50s albums ever from the legendary Zoot Sims – a session that uses overdubbing to let Zoot create a one man horn section – blowing on record at the same time on alto, tenor, and baritone sax! The approach is far from the gimmicky sound that you might expect – and the results are really wonderful – an all Zoot-voiced sax section that has some of the smoother qualities of other 50s sextet dates (including Zoot's for RCA), but which has that great Sims' bite on all the solos! Other players include John Williams on piano, Knobby Totah on bass, and Gus Johnson on drums – and titles include a great vocal version of "Where You At", plus "Zonkin", "Pegasus", "Noshin", and "Minor Minor". The second album on the set is a bit more straight – the 1959 session on Argo simply titled Zoot – and features Zoot playing mostly tenor. The group's a quartet – with Johnny Williams on piano, Gus Johnson on drums, and Knobby Totah on bass – and Zoot's blowing in an unfettered setting that reminds us a bit of Sonny Stitt in similar settings at the same time! Tracks are shortish, but there's still plenty of room for Zoot to work in a style that's up there with his best bop recordings of the 50s – and at some level, the record's got the same sharp edge as Sims' best early sides for Prestige – but perhaps goes them one better with an added sense of tightness and maturity. The titles are pretty fresh too – and include "Poinciana", "55th & State", "920 Special", "Gus' Blues", and "Bohemia After Dark". CD

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Titles include "Sooki Sooki", "Don't Step On The Grass Sam", "The Pusher", "Magic Carpet Ride", and "Tighten Up Your Wig". LP, Vinyl record album

A tripped-out batch of freedom rock tunes – pulled together to accompany Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper's famous trip across the wasteland of late 60s America! The set includes Steppenwolf's anthemic "Born To Be Wild", as well as their "The Pusher" – plus "Kyrie Eleison" by The Electric Prunes, "Don't Bogart Me" by The Fraternity Of Man, "Wasn't Born To Follow" by The Byrds, "If You Want To Be A Bird" by The Holy Modal Rounders, and "It's Alright Ma" and "Ballad Of Easy Rider" by Roger McGuinn. LP, Vinyl record album

With arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins. LP, Vinyl record album

Square-headed Bob Thiele tries to get a bit hip in kind of an olde-fashioned 1920's vein, with arrangements by Sid Feller, and some vocalizing by Steve Allen. Thiele plays a Selmer clarinet, and he's joined by The Sunflower Singers on a number of tracks. Cuts include "Jet Me To Frisco", "The Sunshine Of Love", "Here Comes Sgt. Pepper", and "Do The Love". LP, Vinyl record album

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Oh for the days of the "drop out" single! We're not sure why don't they ever make these any more, but this cut's a great reminder of the genre at its best – done with a simple message that never gets too complicated – set to upbeat and bouncing arrangements from Johnny Pate, who also penned the track! "Check My Tears" is more of a tune overall – one that starts with some nice Pate-esque woodwinds before the vocals, then builds into a beautiful Impressions-like mode! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A really great solo record from Gordon Waller – way way different than any of the 60s music he made as half of the Peter & Gordon duo – with a mature, rootsy vibe that really holds up all the way through! The notes point out that Waller's a farmer at the time of recording – and there's definitely a slightly rural vibe to the music – a mode that's not really folksy, but more in that American singer/songwriter style of the Northern California scene – set to some creative arrangements from Thomas Jefferson Kaye and Ted Cooper. Gordon's vocals are great – aged nicely, with a lot more feeling than before – and titles include "Rocky Roads To Clear", "Stranger With A Black Dove", "I Won't Be Your Ruin", "Collection Box", and "Be Careful There's A Baby In The House". LP, Vinyl record album

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A double album recorded for ABC after Charles left Warner Brothers and the 103rd Street Rhythm Band behind – but still very much an extension of that group's later stretched-out funky records! Nice long cuts with grooves that are a little bit more jazzy than his earlier 60's stuff. Tracks include the title cut, plus "You Threw It All Away", "1,2, 3, You & Me", and the extended "Nonsense", which takes up all of side 4. LP, Vinyl record album

Majestic music from the mighty Popcorn Wylie – the Detroit soul legend best known for his work in the 60s, but an artist who really shines on this rare 70s set for ABC! The album was done during the same stretch as Lamont Dozier's ABC work – and like those records, this set features killer arrangements and production from McKinley Jackson – who updates an older Detroit groove strongly, while still keeping all the real soul elements of Popcorn's music intact! Dozier helped a bit on some of the tunes, and the whole thing's got a soaring, joyous feel that's really wonderful – uptempo without being uptight, positive without sounding hokey, and perfectly in a unique space that's all its own. Gene Page and Paul Riser throw in a bit of soul on some tracks too – sweetening things up with just the right touches of strings and horns – and Popcorn's vocals are great, especially on some of the more hauntingly-constructed tunes. Titles include the massive "ESP", which begins with an echoey breakbeat, then rolls into a great hook – plus "Trust In Me", "How Did I Lose You", "Georgia's After Hours", "Lost Time", "I Can Take The World On With You", "Both Ends Against The Middle", and "Singing About You And Me". CD

A companion to Impulse Records' great "The Bass" set – with work by Gabor Szabo, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Norman Connors, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, Alice Coltrane, Chico Hamilton, Roy Haynes, Sam Rivers, and others! LP, Vinyl record album

A classic! What seemed a silly idea at the time was true proof of Ray's genius, and the result was the most successful album of his career – and a bona-fide number one hit that rode the charts for years and years! Ray's voice works perfectly with the material, and thanks to soulful arrangements by Gil Fuller, Marty Paich, and Gerald Wilson, the whole thing comes off to perfection. Titles include "You Don't Know Me", "I Can't Stop Lovin You", "Careless Love", "You Win Again", and "Worried Mind". CD

The second installment of one of Ray's greatest albums – and a landmark in the genre of country soul! As the title implies, Ray's singing a host of tunes best known from the country side of the spectrum – but he's working here with arrangements by LA jazzers Marty Paich and Gerald Wilson, to completely re-cast the tunes into the "modern sounds" mode promised in the title. The result is wonderful – a style that gave Ray's career a whole new boost, and a genre that was a perfect foil for his rich bluesy mode of singing. Titles include "No Letter Today", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Teardrops In My Heart", "Making Believe", and "Hang Your Head In Shame". LP, Vinyl record album

A lot greater than you'd expect – like most of The Four Tops' excellent work on ABC. The classic Motown sound is no longer, but in its place is the same sort of positive 70s soul grooving that Lamont Dozier picked up on the label – a style that makes a perfect platform for the vocals of Levi Stubbs. Backing is by Earl Van Dyke & The Soul Brothers – and titles include "Catfish", "Feel Free", "Strung Out For Your Love", "Love Don't Come Easy", and "You Can't Hold Back On Love". LP, Vinyl record album

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A wonderful duet set from Ike Hayes and Dionne Warwick – one that draws on the classiest side of the Hayes spectrum, and uses his groove to help Dionne find some great new energy! Even in performance, the music has that great rich quality that Isaac always brought to his solo recordings in the 70s – with strings, backup singers, and some tight undercurrents that help keep things soulful throughout – really cutting through the schmaltz of Ike's shiny tux on the cover! Dionne really sparkles in his company – and the record features duo numbers, solo spots, and even some nice medley tracks. The band behind the pair are electric, mellow, and very soulful – and titles include "Can't Hide Love", "Chocolate Chip", "Then Came You", "Come Live With Me", "Unity", and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "I Say A Little Prayer", done nicely in a medley together. LP, Vinyl record album

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Fantastic stuff from John Lee Hooker, and a record that's unlike any other he's ever done! The groove is very hard and funky, with tight drumbreaks and excellent basslines that you'd hardly expect to find on an album by a blues artist – jamming around with a tight groove that really makes us love the record! The guitar on the set is wonderfully scratchy – ripping up and down over heavy drums, with some nice horn touches to flesh the sound up – and wicked vocals from Hook that give the whole set a nice and nasty feel! The best cuts include "Make It Funky", "713 Blues", "714 Blues", and "Bluebird" – and the record's got some very nice breaks! CD

A nice 70s collection of classic 60s ABC work by the early Impressions – not necessarily the group's biggest hits, but a nice batch of work nonetheless! The work is all seminal Chicago soul – recorded mostly with arrangements by Johnny Pate, sung with that sweet crackling harmony style the group was using at the time, and featuring tracks from the years 1962 to 1967 that include "Little Young Lover", "I Need Your Love", "Can't Satisfy", "Too Slow", "I Can't Stay Away From You", "Meeting Over Yonder", and "You've Been Cheatin". LP, Vinyl record album

A lost gem from Keith's "with horns" period – a quintet session from the mid 70s, recorded with a group that features Dewey Redman on tenor, plus Charlie Haden on bass, Paul Motian on drums and percussion, and Guilherme Franco on additional percussion. The feel is a bit straighter than Jarrett's excellent Death & The Flower set – as the tunes have a highly rhythmic component, and make good use of the extra percussion to create a flowing, organic groove. There's still a nice loose feel overall, though – almost a take on the loft jazz sound, especially at the moments when Jarrett goes a bit outside on piano. Titles include "Shades Of Jazz", "Southern Smiles", "Rose Petals", and "Diatribe". LP, Vinyl record album

Quincy turns his soul jazz arranging style to a band filled with West Coast players, and he gets them to groove a lot more than you'd expect! Players include Herb Geller, Art Pepper, Charlie Mariano, Bill Perkins, and Walter Benton. The tracks are short, with tight solo space, and most of them were written and arranged by West Coasters like Jimmy Giuffre, Lennie Niehaus, and Johnny Mandel. Titles include "Be My Guest", "London Derriere", "Kings Road Blues", "The Oom Is Blues", and "Bright Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

A 2LP set issued in 1974 – one that features an assortment of late 50s and early 60s recordings done by Quincy for the ABC label! The album's graced with a stylish photo of Quincy on the cover, clearly designed to cash in on his big albums of the time – but the sound here is more in an older big band mode – the roots of 70s soul jazz and soundtrack grooves, heard in the earliest sides that Quincy recorded as a leader. Tracks are pulled from the albums Go West Young Man, This Is How I Feel About Jazz, The Quintessence, and My Fair Lady Loves Jazz, a Billy Taylor album arranged by Quincy – and titles include "Boo's Bloos", "Stockholm Sweetnin", "The Oom Is Blues", "No Bones At All", "Quintessence", and "Dancin Pants". LP, Vinyl record album

BB King's collapsed here on the beach in California – and maybe that's because he gave so much energy to the session – which is a lot more full than some of his previous work from the 60s! The whole thing is a mix of blues and soul – some larger charts that really provide a great backdrop for BB's vocals, which dominate a bit more in the set than his guitar – although there's definitely a few tracks here that feature that trademark King magic on the strings! Titles include "Just Can't Please You", "Any Other Way", "Guess Who", "Better Lovin Man", "Five Long Years", and "Shouldn't Have Left Me". CD

BB King not just live, but well-recorded in the studio too – in this classic ABC set that showcases both sides of his talents! Side one is the live set – and it's arguably better than any of the previous other concert recordings he did for the label – with a tighter, moodier feel that's almost more small club – with backing from a combo that features Charlie Boles on Hammond, Patrick Williams on trumpet, and Lee Gatling on tenor. Live titles include "Just A Little Love", "Sweet Little Angel", "Don't Answer The Door", and "Please Accept My Love". Side two is studio material, with some mighty sweet arrangements by Johnny Pate that almost bring a bit of funk into the mix at times – particularly on the drums which really groove things along! Herbe Lovelle handles the drum kit, and overall things are leaner than any previous Pate work with King – nice and raw, on cuts that include "I Want You So Bad", "Friends", "Get Off My Back Woman", and "Why I Sing The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that has BB King teaming up with southern soul maestro Dave Crawford – an arranger/producer who helps BB find a whole new groove! Crawford's approach is wonderfully warm and soulful – almost a Hi Records sort of take on the music, which brings King's traditional blues into much fresher territory – an update of older Memphis modes, with a really great sound for the 70s. In addition to The Memphis Horns, there's also a bit of Philly help on the record too – thanks to Vince Montana's vibes, Norman Harris' guitar, Ron Kersey's keyboards, and Ronnie Baker's bass. Stevie Wonder makes a brief guest appearance on keyboards too – and titles include "Oh To Me", "Love", "Respect Yourself", "I Like To Live The Love", "Who Are You", "I Can't Leave", and "Thank You For Loving The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A really beautiful little record from Wade Marcus – one that features Wade's great talents for soulful arranging, but with plenty of jazzy touches over the top! The set's got a decidedly disco feel at times, but also uses main soloists on all tracks – creating a strong sense of the solo moment in a lusher setting, in a style that's a bit like some of the more fully arranged albums on Kudu. The real standout is a take on "Poinciana" that runs for 7 minutes long – using great solo work from Fred Jackson and Joe Sample in an arrangement of the tune that expands off of Ahmad Jamal's version, and which has some great nods to his original touches! Other titles include "Metamorphosis", "Funk Machine", "Would You Like To Ride", and "Journey To Morocco" – and other soloists include Jerome Richardson, Lee Ritenour, Dorothy Ashby, and Bill Green. LP, Vinyl record album

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Personnel include Thelonious Monk on piano and celeste, Ernie Henry on alto sax, Sonny Rollins on tenor sax, Oscar Pettiford on bass, and Max Roach on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

One of Della Reese's greatest records – and a unique little session cut "live in the studio" before a very appreciative crowd! Bobby Bryant wrote out some very hip charts for the session, and they're made even better by organ work by Bill Doggett and piano lines by Gerald Wiggins – both of whom are in Della's group on the record. The whole thing's got a very nice groovy feel – similar to some of the best pop jazz coming out of LA at the time – and titles include "Gotta Travel On", "Girl Talk", "Driftin Blues", "Good Morning Blues", and "Detour Ahead". LP, Vinyl record album

Superb work from Steely Dan – and a record that really shows them hitting perfection in the studio! The core sound of this one's jazzier than before – with some great help on instrumentation from Victor Feldman, Lanny Morgan, Bill Perkins, and other west coast jazzers – all helping the group sound great on some of the tightest tracks ever written by the team of Becker and Fagan! Ecstasy is definitely in reach with the sound of this set – a sublime effort all the way through that really set a whole new standard in 70s rock! Includes classics like "Bodhisattva", "Your Gold Teeth", "My Old School", and "Show Biz Kids". LP, Vinyl record album

Steely Dan really hitting the heights – moving into hipper, more sophisticated territory than before – pushing the envelope with both their music and lyrics, which are completely sublime! It's hard to put our finger on the magic of this one, but it's the perfect summation of everything that's come before, with a bit of a nod towards the future – yet all with a simple, song-based charm that we really love. The Becker and Fagan team get some key studio help here – showing a move away from previous group-based recordings – and Phil Woods turns in some especially nice work on his sublime solo for "Doctor Wu". Other tracks include "Black Friday", "Bad Sneakers", "Any World That I'm Welcome To", "Your Gold Teeth II", "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More", "Throw Back The Little Ones", and "Everyone's Gone To The Movies". LP, Vinyl record album

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Not as all-out funky as some of the funky blues albums on Chess at the time – but still nicely funky, and a very different album than usual for T Bone! The record has Walker's vocals and guitar backed by some larger arrangements that have a nice little bounce – lots of electric bass rolling around to kick the tunes into gear, and get T Bone to play a bit faster than usual. A few cuts are more laidback and bluesy, but over the course of the record things get plenty groovy for our tastes! Titles include "Goin To Funky Town", "Party Girl", "Long Skirt Baby Blues", "I'm In An Awful Mood", and "Jealous Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Easily one of the best Ray Charles albums on ABC – if not one of the best Ray Charles albums of all-time. Ray's in his C&W mode here, but it's a bit more restrained than on other LPs, and is replaced here by a sophisticated style that works perfectly with his heartbreaking voice. Proof that Ray knew what he was doing when he said that he didn't want to cut any more crazy R&B records! Titles include "Teardrops From My Eyes", "Cry", "A Tear Fell", "You've Got Me Crying Again", and "I Cried For You". The CD includes 7 bonus tracks! CD

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One of Lamont Dozier's true 70s classics – an amazing album of baroque soul with an undeniable groove – kind of the best aspects of Detroit soul, wrapped up together! The arrangements here are fantastic – a mix of strings and soul that surpasses any of Lamont's previous albums, and which holds together perfectly throughout. The whole thing's orchestrated by McKinley Jackson, Gene Page, and Paul Riser, who all do a perfect job of keeping the realness in Lamont's vocals, while expanding the palette of expression to soul classic possibilities! Titles include "All Cried Out", "Let Me Start Tonight", "Put Out My Fire", "Shine", "I Wanna Be With You", and "Thank You For The Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the excellent recordings made by The Dramatics at ABC – great group soul gems that are sometimes overlooked because they didn't yield as many hits as earlier sets – but which are stellar records nonetheless! This one's got all the right elements firmly in place – killer production by Don Davis, and smooth but real harmonies from LJ Reynolds, Ron Banks, and the rest of the group. There's a few tracks that hit a smooth sort of groove that might be tagged as "disco" – but which is really just an extension of the super-dope mode that the group used in earlier years – and which has a lot more to offer than just a cheap dancefloor cash in. Titles include "Life Is Just A Playground", "Love Birds", "A Marriage On Paper Only", "I'm Hooked On You", "That's My Favorite Song", "I Think About You", and "I Just Wanna Dance With You". CD

The biggest moment ever for saxophonist John Handy – an album that crossed over big, thanks to a tremendously funky title cut! Handy first rose to fame back in the 60s – playing modernist jazz with Charlies Mingus, and opening up on his own in a stretch of great albums that evolved from hardbop, to modal jazz, to some even freer world jazz experiments in the 70s. Here, though, he's back in very soulful territory – working in a combo that has keyboards and guitar, and plenty of grooves that are somewhere in a space between early 70s CTI/Kudu and similar dates on Cadet or Prestige Records! The style's a great balance of modes – and although electric, the album's never too smooth – thanks to relatively small instrumentation on most numbers, and an approach that still lets most of the energy come from the interaction of the core group members. Players include Hotep Cecil Barnard on keyboards, Mike Hoffman on guitar, Chuck Rainey on bass, and James Gadson on drums – and Handy plays both alto and tenor, and even sings a bit on a few cuts. Titles include the JBs-styled "Hard Work", plus "Afro Wiggle", "Didn't I Tell You", "Love For Brother Jack", "You Don't Know", and "Young Enough To Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

Joyous, bouncy sounds from the legendary Al Hudson – a sweet little set with his Soul Partners group, done in a mode that's right up there with the best music of his One Way combo! The grooves are uptempo, yet are much more rooted in ensemble funk than some of the disco of Al's contemporaries – and if anything, the album really shows a great evolution from the funk bands of the previous generation to a newer, more sophisticated style overall. Hudson's work at the helm is wonderful – and helps steer the group towards some nice mellow moments too – with arrangements from Kevin McCord, Rudy Robinson, and Dave Roberson. Alicia Myers serves up some great early vocals with the group – and titles include "I Don't Want You To Leave Me", "Another Love Song", "You Can Do It", "In The Basement", "Call Me", and "Rock". CD features a bonus track – "You Can Do It (disco mix)". CD