Two rare groovers from Bobby Boyd! "Love Goddess" has this great sort of building vibe at the start – a bit like the way the "Shaft" theme rolls in, but totally different too – especially when Bobby hits the great lyric in the lead! "Good News" is as upbeat as you might expect – with these bright horns over a romping groove that has plenty of bass at the bottom – all to support Bobby's fantastic vocals, which have a message that's as positive as the music! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Billy Bruner looks nice and relaxed on the cover – and his grooves are nice and relaxed, too – but maybe that's just how they make their music in Billy's hometown of Tulsa! The set's got a sweet blend of 80s soul and mellow boogie – never too over the top, and handled with a nice mix of 80s production styles, in a good balance between electric elements and some warmer modes at the core. Most cuts are nicely unpolished – diamonds in the rough that might have been hits, had they gotten commercial treatment – but which are maybe even better sounding in this approach. The package features a few unreleased tracks, and work by Billy that also includes cuts by T'Spoon and The Davis Family – on titles that include "If You Dance Tonite", "School Dance", "Amazing", "The Tulsa Song", "The Dream", "Sweetness", "Cat's Meow", and "Say Yeah". CD

The duo of Warren Hampshire and Greg Foat keep on getting more and more interesting as the years go on – to a point where they seem to be carving out a really special place in music that might well be a genre of their own! The music here represents a wonderful evolution of their skills together – sounds that are still steeped in older elements of jazz, funk, and other modes – but which have also taken on a new sort of complexity, yet all without ever losing the organic, immediate approach that makes them so compelling! There's a blend here that's as if an Italian soundtrack of the 70s used spiritual jazz for its instrumentation – long flowing tracks that unfold with a gentle sort of beauty – with Hampshire on guitars and percussion, Foat on organ, guitar, piano, and kalimba – and other instrumentation on bells, gongs, flute, and percussion. Titles include "The Solitude Of Certitudes", "Woody Bay", "Out On The Side", "The Undercliff", "The Snake & The Weasel", and "The Clock Tower". CD

LaRombe Baker hails from Philly, but he's best known for his late 70s work on the LA scene – a place where he was continually bubbling under, but never fully got the chance he deserved! Hearing this set, it's clear that LaRombe was one of the great almost-rans of his generation – an artist with the chops to record great soul material without the supervision of any major label or big producer – yet one without the savvy to get such music into the hands of a force that would give it the place it deserved! According to the notes, Baker came to close to working with Motown, Solar, and Curtom – but maybe the fact that those labels passed on tracks as great as these is what makes them so special – a beautifully balanced album of boogie numbers and mellow soul tracks – well-written, beautifully arranged, and topped with great vocals from the man himself. The set's one to put next to your gems from Leon Ware and Ronnie McNeir from back in the day – and titles include "It's All In Your Mind", "Sweet Sensation", "Spread My Wings", "In The Light", "U R The 1", "The Ultimate", and an alternate take of his one issued single "You're The Best". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's more electronic than some of the other recent albums from Greg Foat, but a record that still fits nicely inside his style – that understated approach to keyboard-driven jazz – heavy on influences from the past, yet never delivered in a way that's too straightforward at all – in a lineage that just has things getting more and more complex as Foat keeps on making records! This time around, Greg's teamed up with Linkwood – and the set has elements that move between 70s and 80s electronic styles, including occasional rhythm patterns – sometimes a bit more upbeat than we're used to hearing from Foat, but still with all the spacey touches that we love in his music. Titles include "Es Vedra", "Pressure", "Bentley 101", "Neutrino", "Push It", and "Mysterious Richie". CD

A set that's more electronic than some of the other recent albums from Greg Foat, but a record that still fits nicely inside his style – that understated approach to keyboard-driven jazz – heavy on influences from the past, yet never delivered in a way that's too straightforward at all – in a lineage that just has things getting more and more complex as Foat keeps on making records! This time around, Greg's teamed up with Linkwood – and the set has elements that move between 70s and 80s electronic styles, including occasional rhythm patterns – sometimes a bit more upbeat than we're used to hearing from Foat, but still with all the spacey touches that we love in his music. Titles include "Es Vedra", "Pressure", "Bentley 101", "Neutrino", "Push It", and "Mysterious Richie". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet bit of funky soul from the Florida scene in the early 80s – a completely charming modern soul effort that's quite different than the bigger Miami hits of the decade before! These guys have a sense of integrity that comes through in their look on the cover – unassuming, and very down to earth – which maybe gives the whole thing that nice indie vibe of New Jersey work from ten years before, but with some of the grooves and styles that might be more contemporary to 1981! Vocals are often harmonized, in ways that again go back to older New Jersey or Philly soul – and the album balances funky upbeat tracks with some mighty nice ballads. Titles include "I Need You Baby", "Strung Out On Your Love", "Waiting On A Sign", "I Need Your Love", and "All My Love For You". CD

A sweet bit of funky soul from the Florida scene in the early 80s – a completely charming modern soul effort that's quite different than the bigger Miami hits of the decade before! These guys have a sense of integrity that comes through in their look on the cover – unassuming, and very down to earth – which maybe gives the whole thing that nice indie vibe of New Jersey work from ten years before, but with some of the grooves and styles that might be more contemporary to 1981! Vocals are often harmonized, in ways that again go back to older New Jersey or Philly soul – and the album balances funky upbeat tracks with some mighty nice ballads. Titles include "I Need You Baby", "Strung Out On Your Love", "Waiting On A Sign", "I Need Your Love", and "All My Love For You". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that really lives up to its title – as all these rare tracks really have a special sort of feeling – a warm spirit and positive energy that's way different than you might expect from the title! In fact, it's probably not even fair to call this work disco at all – as most of the tracks are simply upbeat and grooving – working in modes that move from faster ensemble funk to some of the better underground club styles of the late 70s – all pulled from rare 7" singles, too – a format that seems to compact and energize the music in ways that are very different than the sprawling sounds of a 12" single! All the cuts here are brand-new to our ears, but won't be soon – as we'll be playing this collection again and again over the years – thanks to a set list that includes "She Really Needs Love" by Mahana, "You Can Win" by Bileo, "These Are The Good Times" by Popsicles, "I'm Loving You" by Cloudburst, "Life Is A Miracle" by Jax Transit Authority, "We Are Here To Party (7" mix)" by Gratitude, "Love Episode" by Strivers Show Band, "Paradise's Love" by Bordeux, and "Days Gone Past" by Darrell Johnson. CD

A set that really lives up to its title – as all these rare tracks really have a special sort of feeling – a warm spirit and positive energy that's way different than you might expect from the title! In fact, it's probably not even fair to call this work disco at all – as most of the tracks are simply upbeat and grooving – working in modes that move from faster ensemble funk to some of the better underground club styles of the late 70s – all pulled from rare 7" singles, too – a format that seems to compact and energize the music in ways that are very different than the sprawling sounds of a 12" single! All the cuts here are brand-new to our ears, but won't be soon – as we'll be playing this collection again and again over the years – thanks to a set list that includes "She Really Needs Love" by Mahana, "You Can Win" by Bileo, "These Are The Good Times" by Popsicles, "I'm Loving You" by Cloudburst, "Life Is A Miracle" by Jax Transit Authority, "We Are Here To Party (7" mix)" by Gratitude, "Love Episode" by Strivers Show Band, "Paradise's Love" by Bordeux, and "Days Gone Past" by Darrell Johnson. LP, Vinyl record album

The funkiest record in years from the great Greg Foat – a set that moves away from some of the more open, meditative sounds of other recent albums – and has Greg returning to the kind of grooves that first made us fall in love with his music! Foat plays Fender Rhodes throughout – and the album's got lots of great rhythms from the drums of Malcolm Catto and Clark Tracey, and the added percussion of Eric Young – whose congas kick things up fantastically next to the heavy bass of Phillip Achille. There's also some strong horn work throughout too – tenor from Binker Golding, trumpet from Trevor Walker, and both soprano and tenor from Rob Mach – players who are used in individual, spacious ways – and not as the more familiar horn section approach to funk – which skews the whole album much more strongly in a jazz-based direction. Titles include "Eric's Breakdown", "The Door Into Summer", "Kushiro River", "Sapphire Dreams", "Lake Kussharo", and "Not That It Makes Any Difference". LP, Vinyl record album

The team of Warren Hampshire and Greg Foat have already given us some amazing music on record – but this strangely-titled set may well be their crowning achievement so far! The set's got kind of a creepy look and feel – and a layout that replicates some of the more sophisticated UK jazz titles on the Argo Records label at the end of the 60s. And the style here is very much in keeping with that spirit – this straight mixture of light and darkness, delivered by the duo in a way that's more subtle than before – yet even more powerful too! Hampshire plays guitars, organ, and other keyboards – and Foat adds in more keyboards and bass, while both handle some other effects and sounds – but the real difference here is the album's use of larger string arrangements – not full orchestrations, but just the right kind of light colors and shadings that you might have heard on a record by Nick Drake, Colin Blunstone, or some of the other hipper British singers at the start of the 70s. The approach is more holistic than their previous jazz efforts – not entirely in that side of the spectrum – and more a beautiful record of rich yet melancholy instrumentals. Titles include "Crows Feet", "The Hive", "The Elderflower", "Honey Dreams", "Rain Clouds", "Winter Bound", and "The Fly & I". LP, Vinyl record album

Billy Bruner looks nice and relaxed on the cover – and his grooves are nice and relaxed, too – but maybe that's just how they make their music in Billy's hometown of Tulsa! The set's got a sweet blend of 80s soul and mellow boogie – never too over the top, and handled with a nice mix of 80s production styles, in a good balance between electric elements and some warmer modes at the core. Most cuts are nicely unpolished – diamonds in the rough that might have been hits, had they gotten commercial treatment – but which are maybe even better sounding in this approach. The package features a few unreleased tracks, and work by Billy that also includes cuts by T'Spoon and The Davis Family – on titles that include "If You Dance Tonite", "School Dance", "Amazing", "The Tulsa Song", "The Dream", "Sweetness", "Cat's Meow", and "Say Yeah". LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic idea for a compilation – a set that brings together obscure covers of funk and soul tunes – mostly from the late 70s/early 80s generation, and mostly in a laidback, soul-stepping style! If you're a lover of rare groove, you'll recognize plenty of the songs, but not the versions – as these are all pretty darn rare and obscure, usually cut by indie artists who barely got any circulation for their recordings at the time – in the best tradition of super-rare work we usually expect from the Athens Of The North label! And while the title might indicate that the set features tracks in a lovers rock mode, the approach is maybe more indie soul overall – with only a hint of reggae inspiration in some of the grooves. The package features new takes on songs by Leon Ware, Mtume, Deniece Williams, Lowrell, and others – with titles that include "Rocking You Eternally" by Peter Hunningale, "For The Love Of You" by Simplicity, "What You Won't Do For Love" by Michael Gordon, "Do Me Baby" by Family Love, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pure Silk, "Mellow Mellow Ride On" by Misses Misty, "Body Fusion" by Michael Prophet, and "Outstanding" by Al Charles. LP, Vinyl record album

A really fantastic idea for a compilation – a set that brings together obscure covers of funk and soul tunes – mostly from the late 70s/early 80s generation, and mostly in a laidback, soul-stepping style! If you're a lover of rare groove, you'll recognize plenty of the songs, but not the versions – as these are all pretty darn rare and obscure, usually cut by indie artists who barely got any circulation for their recordings at the time – in the best tradition of super-rare work we usually expect from the Athens Of The North label! And while the title might indicate that the set features tracks in a lovers rock mode, the approach is maybe more indie soul overall – with only a hint of reggae inspiration in some of the grooves. The package features new takes on songs by Leon Ware, Mtume, Deniece Williams, Lowrell, and others – with titles that include "Rocking You Eternally" by Peter Hunningale, "For The Love Of You" by Simplicity, "What You Won't Do For Love" by Michael Gordon, "Do Me Baby" by Family Love, "Don't Let Love Get You Down" by Pure Silk, "Mellow Mellow Ride On" by Misses Misty, "Body Fusion" by Michael Prophet, and "Outstanding" by Al Charles. CD

A very cool collaboration between Greg Foat and James Thorpe – a set that's billed more as a sound library session than some of Foat's other jazz projects – even though the sound is equally appealing if you love those records too! The set is self-described as "futuristic analogue cosmic synth library cues for TV, film, and radio" – but it's also got a much warmer sound than you might expect, very much in keeping with the natural image on the cover – as Foat and Thorpe eschew some of the colder keyboard styles of other library records, and instead really let things glow with that organic vibe that usually informs Greg's music, as gentle rhythms set the pace for Fender Rhodes, Hohner pianet, and a host of Korg and Roland keys. There's also a touch of vibes, some field recordings, and other cool touches – on tracks that include "Balloon Ride", "Circadian Rhythms", "Grockle Box", "Living The Dream", "Platform Game", "Stacey's Theme", and "Elementary Physiology (parts 1 & 2)". CD

James McKenzie looks a bit down to earth on the cover, but he sounds a lot more high-end on record – a budding blue-eyed soul singer, with a strong penchant for AOR production – but always served up in a homegrown style that's nice and lean! Were he working in LA in the late 70s, James might have scored some big hits – but instead, he worked privately, in Florida – recording under both his own name, as The McKenzie Brothers – recording an album of material under each! This set brings together the best tracks from both records, and is a strong addition to that genre of "underground AOR" that's been getting some strong traction in recent years – with titles that include "Felt Her Fire", "Lady Is Love", "Tomorrow Is Your Own", "Wonderful To Be In Love", "I Hope She Don't Hurt You", and "Joni's Little Song". LP, Vinyl record album