Super-sharp work from Con Funk Shun – one of the best of the mainstream funk acts to emerge in the second half of the 70s – working with the sort of style that was trained in the funky 45 underground, then given a bigger, fuller push to album-length glory! The set is a superb selection of their work for Mercury records – and the tracks here also really show why Con Funk Shun were always a cut above – as they had a way of bringing strong soul vocals to play that often illuminated the tunes very strongly – especially when the group would harmonize together. The set features 32 tracks in all – including "So Easy", "Chase Me", "Ffun (12" mix)", "Confunkshunizeya", "Loveshine", "Shake & Dance With Me", "Sure Feels Good To Me", "Electric Lady", "Burnin Love", "Can You Feel The Groove Tonight", "Ms Got The Body", "By Your Side", "Bad Lady", "California 1", "Too Tight", "Lady's Wild", "Let Me Put Love On Your Mind", "Who Has The Time", "Ain't Nobody Baby", and "Got To Be Enough". CD

One of the sweetest-grooving albums ever from Con Funk Shun – proof that the group was almost better when they tightened things up a bit! The set was produced by Deodato at the height of his hit-making soul powers – and it's got a sharpness that really helps bring the Con Funk Shun groove into focus – a style that's not nearly as commercial as Deodato's work with Kool & The Gang, but which shares a similar blend of jazz and modern soul elements! Most tracks groove nicely, even some of the mellower ones – and Deodato's got a perfect balance in the sound of the set – keyboards, beats, and bass all in the right places, with plenty of soulful vocals flowing warmly over the top. Titles include "Don't Let Your Love Grow Cold", "Hard Lovin", "If I'm Your Lover", "Can You Feel The Groove Tonight", "Indiscreet Sweet", and "Baby I'm Hooked". CD

Funky genius from Con Funk Shun – working here under the production helm of Skip Scarborough, who seems to give them an even sharper edge than usual! The album's filled with those tightly compressed rhythms that Skip was so great in producing back in the 70s – grooves that seem to make more out of doing less – and which have a sense of space and timing that's totally impeccable. There's a few light jazzy touches at times too – bits of flute, sax, and organ that bring in a nice sense of depth, and which takes it far past easily classified funk! Titles include "So Easy", "Shake & Dance With Me", "When The Feelings Right", "I Think I Found The Answer", "Wanna Be There", "Can't Go Away", "So Easy", and "Magic Woman". CD

Early stuff by Con Funk Shun, recorded in 1973, and a lot funkier than some of their later work. The set went down in Memphis, and the overall sound is kind of a Bar-Kays-ish ensemble funk style, although with less of a heavy guitar groove. We're not sure if there ever was another pressing of the material – as this 1978 Pickwick issue is the only one we've ever seen. Tracks include the 9 minute long instrumental "Seascape", plus "Funky Things On Your Mind", "Love In me", "Time", and "Get Down With It". LP, Vinyl record album

The only full album from Starvue – a late 70s Chicago group who were part of that overlooked scene in the city once the bigger labels had moved on! In truth, if Starvue were working on the coasts, they could have been huge – as they've got a really sharp, focused approach to ensemble funk that rivals some of the best modes of groups like Brass Construction or Con Fun Shun – with soaring lyrics and instrumentation over well-crafted fast funk grooves – clubby, but not disco at all – and instead just this amazing display of the group's instrumental dexterity! Production is wonderful – handled by Clarence Johnson, who'd given Chicago some great indie soul records in previous years – and titles include "Upward Bound", "Love Affair", "Body Fusion", "Put The BS Aside", "Starvue", and "Love Struck". CD

The oft-covered Bob Dylan songbook never sounds so soulful – classic interpretations of Dylan's canon from a great, far reaching roster of black artists – from the the ever-stirring Staple Singers, southern soul heroes Howard Tate and OV Wright, charismatic country soul from Brook Benton, great gender role perspective flipped versions by Nina Simone and Patti LaBelle, a funky tamborine take by Con Funk Shun and much more! It's another excellent entry in the Songwriter Series from Ace Records, extra excellent in that it takes an obvious hero of 60s Songwriter – and actually pulls together songs that'll take you by surprise for their depth – whether you treasure Dylan, deep 60s & 70s solo & group R&B, funk, folk soul...or all of the above! Includes "Blowin In The Wind" by OV Wright, "Girl From The North Country" by Howard Tate, "The Man In Me" by The Persuations, "Lay lady Lay" by The Isley Brothers, "Emotionally Yours" by The O'Jays, "All Along The Watchtower" by Bobby Womack, "Maggie's Farm" by Soloman Burke, "Mr. Tamborine Man" by Con Funk Shun and more. 20 tracks in all. CD