We couldn't think of a better way to describe the sound of Slave than "stone jam"! The band's got a bass-heavy groove, mixed with a lot of soul, in a style that was often copied by many groups in the 80s, but never equalled. The real strength in the band was their songwriting – always fresh, and never too overindulgent in the funky elements. The vocals are tight and soulful, and the restriction of the funky bits makes for some nicely compressed grooves. Steve Arrington's on lead vocals – and tracks include "Watching You", "Never Get Away", "Stone Jam", "Feel My Love", and "Let's Spend Some Time". LP, Vinyl record album

The end of the road for the Velvet Underground – but a set that's also one of the group's best-remembered albums too! The record marked a big shift for the group – a move to Atco from Verve, continuing to work without John Cale – and the sound is possibly more rockish and straight ahead than some of their previous efforts (certainly compared to White Light/White Heat) – but always with that dark edge that Lou Reed could bring to the music! In a way, the whole thing's almost a recasting of all the advances made in 60s rock, but seen through a lens that shows the darker corners and shadows that have crept up alongside – that kind of subtle, yet extremely powerful quality that Reed would bring to his long run of solo albums in the 70s – but served up here with more of an edge, in the definite VU fashion. Titles include the seminal classics – "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll", plus "Cool It Down", "New Age", "Head Held High", "Lonesome Cowboy Bill", "Oh Sweet Nuthin", and "I Found A Reason". LP, Vinyl record album

A folk funk classic from the early 70s – and a weird little record that has a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of! The arrangements are quite soulful, almost funky at times – with a righteous undercurrent that reminds us of Richard Evans or Charles Stepney at Cadet Records. But the vocals – by singer Barbara Massey – have a flanged-out quality that's clearly overdubbed, creating a double-voiced sound that's almost a bit like Brasil 66! This mix of modes is really great – completely unique, and sublime throughout – with a vibe that was years ahead of its time, and which is finally beginning to get some recognition these many years later. Arrangements are by the pair, but Deodato also had a hand in the record too – and the core combo of musicians includes Grady Tate on drums, Ralph McDonald on percussion, and Sam Brown on guitar – alongside more guitars from Ernie and keyboards and piano from Barbara. Tracks include "Searching the Circle", "Do You Know", "For You", "Play With Fire", "My Love & I", "Satisfied", and "Prelude" – plus a wild remake of "Somebody to Love"! CD

A folk funk classic from the early 70s – and a weird little record that has a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of! The arrangements are quite soulful, almost funky at times – with a righteous undercurrent that reminds us of Richard Evans or Charles Stepney at Cadet Records. But the vocals – by singer Barbara Massey – have a flanged-out quality that's clearly overdubbed, creating a double-voiced sound that's almost a bit like Brasil 66! This mix of modes is really great – completely unique, and sublime throughout – with a vibe that was years ahead of its time, and which is finally beginning to get some recognition these many years later. Arrangements are by the pair, but Deodato also had a hand in the record too – and the core combo of musicians includes Grady Tate on drums, Ralph McDonald on percussion, and Sam Brown on guitar – alongside more guitars from Ernie and keyboards and piano from Barbara. Tracks include "Searching the Circle", "Do You Know", "For You", "Play With Fire", "My Love & I", "Satisfied", and "Prelude" – plus a wild remake of "Somebody to Love"! CD

Cerrone's second album – a swirling mix of disco beats and strings that follows very clearly on the spirit of his landmark first one! Like that album, this one's got a title track that runs well over 15 minutes long – building in a slowly dancing way that says everything about European disco styles that one track could ever hope to do! Other tunes on the album are shorter and tighter – with soulful vocals dancing in and out, and some nice keyboard work that makes the tunes sparkle with a sweet electric groove. Titles include "Take Me", "Time For Love", and "Cerrone's Paradise". LP, Vinyl record album

The fantastic first album by Cerrone – a landmark disco record that features the 16 minute long "Love In C Minor" – a swirling bit of strings, beats, and female voices – one of those tunes that forever went onto change the face of dance music in the 70s! Cerrone really set up a whole new blueprint for club here – stretching things out plenty, and layering in subtle time and chord shifts that expose the proggish influences that filtered into French club as the 70s wore on! The title track's got some nice keyboards by the great Alan Hawkshaw – who sounds even better on the album's cool disco version of "Black Is Black" and the tight snare-beat original, "Midnite Lady". LP, Vinyl record album

Two surprisingly great later numbers from Ronnie – sweetly bubbling groovers with tasteful electro touches, great rollicking percussion, and a smooth 80s commercial soul sound! Ronnie's vocals slide in nicely next to the keys and beats – and with some warm Butch Ingram production, the catchy tunes still comes out plenty soulful! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Margie Joseph's really hitting on all burners here – thanks to sublime production from Lamont Dozier, working at the height of his mid 70s powers! Joseph's earlier deep soul vocals are given a nice sense of focus and righteous energy from Dozier's production – a fullness that somehow makes her sound almost better than before, with that mix of professionalism and personal presence that Lamont was laying down on his own great albums. Most of the rhythms are in a mellow midtempo mode – never too aimed at the clubs, but nicely picked up and smoothed out a bit from Joseph's earlier work – and sort of given that Detroit "umph" that rose to prominence in the early 70s HDH generation. Titles include "Didn't I Tell You", "Hear The Words Feel The Feeling", "Prophecy", "All Cried Out", "Feeling My Way", "I Get Carried Away", "Why'd You Lie", and "Something To Fall Back On". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet grooves from Mass Production – a great little set that goes way beyond the usual ensemble funk and boogie at the start of the 80s! The set begins with a slightly mellower, more laidback feel than some of the other records by large funk acts – and that really sets the scene for the rest of the album – keeping a more well-rounded feel to the record, even when things get back into the more uptempo styles the group is known for! There's still plenty of bass in the mix, but the keyboards sparkle equally well – and the record's got some great instrumental moments too. Titles include "Enkuf", "Angel", "Forever", "Shante", "Gonna Make You Love Me", "Your Love", and "Nature Lover". LP, Vinyl record album

A crisp, but funky set from Sister Sledge – produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, who also lead the studio band – tight funky soul grooves all the way! After the dizzying heights of We Are Family, there might have been nowhere to go but down commercially, but Love Somebody Today sounds great to our ears. It's really all about an in the pocket groove this time out, without any pop disco cliches but with the same exuberant charms and killer group vocals – and loads of funky dancefloor soul. Sweet! Titles include "Got To Love Somebody", "You Looked Around", "I'm A Good Girl", "Easy Street", "Reach Your Peak", "Pretty Baby", "How To Love" and "Let's Go On Vacation". LP, Vinyl record album

Possibly the greatest moment ever from Sister Sledge – a set that has the Philly quartet teaming with the Chic team of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards! Rodgers' guitar brings in a hell of a groove to the record – that choppy, skittish sound that made Chic such a favorite at the time – which makes for a surprisingly great combination with the sweeter vocals of the group. There's a definite sense of groove going on here – heard most famously in the huge hits "We Are Family" and "He's The Greatest Dancer" – and continuing strongly through other numbers like "Thinking Of You", "Easier To Love", "One More Time", and "Lost In Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Tight bass-heavy funk from Slave – still working here in that excellent compressed style that was their unique contribution to soul music. There's probably a bit more of a vocal-heavy sound here than on other albums, but the groove's still strong, and is reaching a bit towards an 80s club sound. Titles include "Shine", "Roots", "Funky Lady", "Just A Touch Of Love", and "Warning". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from Slave – an album that's still got the hard funk of earlier years, yet which also has the group sweetening up their sound in a great sort of 80s groove way! Most tracks kick along with that great rolling bass sound that the group practically invented – and which has been their everlasting legacy to mainstream funk – and Steve Arrington's still in the group on lead vocals, really hitting some soaring notes that help the tunes groove even more – all of which maybe makes the record one of the most perfect distillations of everything that made Arrington and Slave such a standard-setting group for the 80s! Titles include "Party Lites", "Snap Shot", "Smokin", "Wait For Me", "Funken Town", and "Steal Your Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

ADC Band take a long stroke on the funky bass – borrowing all the best P-Funk elements from their Detroit counterparts – but also helping the music find a tighter, more focused groove too! ADC were a key part of that post-Parliament/Funkadelic generation who used George Clinton's best influences to find a new way of coming together – an approach to ensemble funk that may have taken it self more seriously than the P-Funk universe (especially in their earlier days) – but which also helped find a way to keep things going a lot longer at a time when George Clinton himself was flagging. The band are way sharper than the usual mainstream funk group of the time – and have that gritty, hard-working sound you'd expect from their image on the cover – and some soaring female vocals really help give their best songs a unique vibe. Titles include the Parliament tribute cut "Long Stroke" – plus "Fire Up", "Cause I Love You", "Baby Love", and "Just Another Song". LP, Vinyl record album

A folk funk classic from the early 70s – and a weird little record that has a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of! The arrangements are quite soulful, almost funky at times – with a righteous undercurrent that reminds us of Richard Evans or Charles Stepney at Cadet Records. But the vocals – by singer Barbara Massey – have a flanged-out quality that's clearly overdubbed, creating a double-voiced sound that's almost a bit like Brasil 66! This mix of modes is really great – completely unique, and sublime throughout – with a vibe that was years ahead of its time, and which is finally beginning to get some recognition these many years later. Arrangements are by the pair, but Deodato also had a hand in the record too – and the core combo of musicians includes Grady Tate on drums, Ralph McDonald on percussion, and Sam Brown on guitar – alongside more guitars from Ernie and keyboards and piano from Barbara. Tracks include "Searching the Circle", "Do You Know", "For You", "Play With Fire", "My Love & I", "Satisfied", and "Prelude" – plus a wild remake of "Somebody to Love"! LP, Vinyl record album

The height of French disco – a huge worldwide hit for Cerrone, a nutty bit of space disco that actually holds up pretty darn well over the years! The guy's not really a looker – and the strange "animal operation" cover almost makes this look like a prog rock album – which is where Cerrone probably got his inspiration for the incredible keyboard work on the set – but the record's a killer bit of club that went onto influence generations to come – and is arguably one of Cerrone's best moments ever! Includes the classic "Supernature", a catchy disco groover you'll recognize instantly – plus the tracks "Love Is Here", "Love Is The Answer", and "Sweet Drums". LP, Vinyl record album

Fatback flying like the Phoenix – but hardly rising from the ashes, given that the group's always on top! The sound here is a bit different – slightly leaner than before, but in a good way – with lots of core keyboards from Bill Curtis, who also handles most of the lead vocals – although as with most Fatback sets, there's plenty of sharing on that front with the rest of the group members – a bit of harmony here, a switched lead there – all keeping things nice and fresh! And this time around, there almost seems to be more of a focus on the mellower cuts, which we like a lot – because we've always enjoyed the more laidback numbers tucked in amidst the group's funkier sets – so this album's a real treat, with plenty of mellow and midtempo groovers. Titles include "The Drum Song", "Lover Man", "Call Out My Name", "You've Got That Magic", "Big Brother", "Jump Up Baby Jump Up", and "I Love You So". CD

One of the greatest Christmas albums of the 70s – a landmark assemblage of some of the hippest soul music talents of the time – offering up a host of different tracks that have gone onto become classics over years! Most artists were working for Atlantic/Cotillion Records at the time, but the set seems to bring in a few surprising guest stars too – and the big highlight is the album's work by a young Luther Vandross – the perennial classic "May Christmas Bring You Happiness", a 70s Christmas tune on a par with "This Christmas", and his mellower "At Christmas Time". Other tracks are mostly standards, and titles include "The Christmas Song" and 'White Christmas" by John Edwards, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Willis Jackson, and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Silent Night" by The Impressions. Also includes "Feeling Like Christmas" and "Christmas Gift" by Margie Joseph, both by Lamont Dozier, who also produced the tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Mylon LeFevre ended up on the more spiritual side of the spectrum in his later years – but here on this great early set, he manages to blend gospel roots with some great elements of southern rock and soul – all produced by Allen Toussaint, and handled with a surprisingly soulful groove at times! Mylon handles lead vocals and acoustic guitar – but he's backed by a very sharp combo who effortlessly blend influences from soul with rockish guitar lines – maybe more Capricorn Records than Cotillion, and given some additional soul touches from the backing vocals on the record from Merry Clayton, Clydie King, and Venetta Fields! Tracks are almost all originals by Mylon – and titles include "Who Knows", "Sweet Peace Within", "Trying To Be Free", "Pleasing Who Pleases You", "The Only Thing That's Free", and "Peace Begins Within". LP, Vinyl record album

The end of the road for the Velvet Underground – but a set that's also one of the group's best-remembered albums too! The record marked a big shift for the group – a move to Atco from Verve, continuing to work without John Cale – and the sound is possibly more rockish and straight ahead than some of their previous efforts (certainly compared to White Light/White Heat) – but always with that dark edge that Lou Reed could bring to the music! In a way, the whole thing's almost a recasting of all the advances made in 60s rock, but seen through a lens that shows the darker corners and shadows that have crept up alongside – that kind of subtle, yet extremely powerful quality that Reed would bring to his long run of solo albums in the 70s – but served up here with more of an edge, in the definite VU fashion. Titles include the seminal classics – "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll", plus "Cool It Down", "New Age", "Head Held High", "Lonesome Cowboy Bill", "Oh Sweet Nuthin", and "I Found A Reason". LP, Vinyl record album

The end of the road for the Velvet Underground – but a set that's also one of the group's best-remembered albums too! The record marked a big shift for the group – a move to Atco from Verve, continuing to work without John Cale – and the sound is possibly more rockish and straight ahead than some of their previous efforts (certainly compared to White Light/White Heat) – but always with that dark edge that Lou Reed could bring to the music! In a way, the whole thing's almost a recasting of all the advances made in 60s rock, but seen through a lens that shows the darker corners and shadows that have crept up alongside – that kind of subtle, yet extremely powerful quality that Reed would bring to his long run of solo albums in the 70s – but served up here with more of an edge, in the definite VU fashion. Titles include the seminal classics – "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll", plus "Cool It Down", "New Age", "Head Held High", "Lonesome Cowboy Bill", "Oh Sweet Nuthin", and "I Found A Reason". This fantastic 5CD set is overflowing with goodness – and packaged in a very cool book-style cover, similar to the other Velvets collections on Verve, with pages of notes and photos! CD1 includes the remastered stereo Loaded, with bonus tracks that include "I'm Sticking With You (rmx)", "Ocean", "I Love You", and "Ride Into The Sun"; CD2 features the rare mono promo mix of Loaded, with bonus tracks "Lonesome Cowboy Bill (unissued b-side mix)", "Who Loves The Sun (a-side mix)", "Oh Sweet Nuthin (b-side mix)", and "Rock & Roll (unissued a-side mix)"; CD3 features Loaded demos and alternate versions, with 21 unusual takes of songs on the record; CD4 features Live At Max's Kansas City in a 15-track version, completely remastered; and CD5 features the previously-unreleased Live At Second Fret Philadelphia 1970, a live performance with tracks that include "New Age", "Some Kinda Love", "Candy Says", "I'm Waiting For The Man", "What Goes On", "Head Held High", "Train Round The Bend", and "Oh Sweet Nuthin". Then, the set also features and audio-only DVD – with three mixes of the album – surround sound remis, stereo downmix, and original stereo mis as a flat transfer of the album. CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A seminal album from the end of the 60s – the triple-length soundtrack to the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969 – pulled from all the many hours of material recorded for the film of the event! The set list reads not just like a "who's who" of hipness at the time – but also expands to show just how wide the range of sounds was in the underground – strands that move past the obvious rock material that you might expect, and which have the record standing as a great memory to the time – with maybe more diversity than some of the more monolithic memories! Features work by Canned Heat, Arlo Guthrie, Jimi Hendrix, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Richie Havens, Santana, Ten Years After, The Who, Country Joe & The Fish, Sly & The Family Stone, Joan Baez, Butterfield Blues Band, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, John B Sebastian – and yes, Sha Na Na. LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A great little album from Baby Brother – a group who share a name with a famous funky track by War, but who come on here with a completely different sound altogether! The group are a funk ensemble at the core, but they have this really special way of weaving their instruments together – sharply criss-crossing things with almost effortless ease – which often seems to lead to lots of vocal interplay, too – but all without hitting you over the head without any sort of pyrotechnics. The approach is a bit like the great way that 80s funk groups distilled down the P-Funk mode to a leaner, cleaner sound – but unlike the Ohio or LA groups, this set was produced down in Muscle Shoals by Rick Hall – who does a mighty nice job! Titles include "You Make My Warm Spot Hot", "Movin Music", "How Do You Like Your Love", "Saturday Night (And I'm Boogie Bound)", "Funky Situation", "(Hang On) I'm Coming For You", "Bad Thing", "All Night's Alright", "You've Got Me Wanting You", and "You Asked For it (You Got It)". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

The title's righter than you might think – as Willis DOES play with feeling, despite a cheesy-looking cover that might make you think otherwise! The groove here is tight and smooth 70s jazz funk – very much in the mode of some of the more fully-arranged Kudu and CTI albums of the time, with Willis out in the lead, blowing wonderfully over the top in a Stanley Turrentine sort of mode. Arrangements are by Ricky West and Bert Keyes, and the album's got a really great version of the Afro Funk classic "Racubah", plus the upbeat tunes "Singing Bass" and "Do Your Super Thing", and the slower, harder, guitar-based "Do It To It". LP, Vinyl record album

The lasting legacy of Screaming Lord Sutch – and an album that's almost equally well-known for its work by a host of famous guests – including Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and others! Page is perhaps the most involved here – as he produced the set with Sutch, co-wrote some tracks, and plays some mighty searing guitar – as does Beck, which makes the album almost worth it alone for all the wonderful solos! But Sutch himself is pretty great too – kind of a mish-mash of late 60s nasty camp references, with the same sinister vibe as Kim Fowley – and an equally freewheeling approach to a tune that makes the album a heck of a lot of fun. Titles include "Gutty Guitar", "Flashing Lights", "Wailing Sounds", "Thumping Beat", "Union Jack Car", and "London". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Uptempo ensemble funk from Mass Production, very much in a post-EWF vein. The group does a good job of layering guitars, keys, horns and percussion together in a tight, bass heavy mode, we'd say our only wish is that they were a touch stronger in the vocal performances, which though nice enough, don't take the group to the next level. Includes "Sky High", "Groove Me", "Our Thought (Let The Music Take You Away)", "Just Wanna Make A Dream Come True" and "Slow Bump". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first few albums from Slave – and a wickedly tight batch of funk that helped set a new level for countless other groups to come! Slave have an impeccable groove here that's free from some of the over-indulgent jamming and too-bassy funk that wrecked so many other groups at the time – and instead, they've got a finely-honed sound that's all compressed around the rhythms, yet which also opens up spaciously with other soulful elements. The mellow cuts are as great as the harder numbers – and the set includes the great instrumental "Baby Sinister", plus "The Party Song", "Life Can Be Happy", "The World's On Hard", "We Can Make Love", and "Volcano Rupture". LP, Vinyl record album

With Buffalo Springfield, Led Zeppelin, Byrds, Cream, Steve Miller Band, and more! LP, Vinyl record album