Tracks include "Everyday", "Child Of The Ghetto", "Special Delivery", "Whatever (Interlude)", ""Keep it Gangsta" featuring Shyne, "The Ride ", ""Danger Zone", ""I Am" featuring Kool G Rap & Rakim, "Doe Fiend", "I Want The World To See" featuring Joe Hooker, "Let's Get It" featuring P Diddy, "It's All Over", "One Way", and "Nothing Gonna Stop Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Curtis Mayfield's lasting classic – and an album that the world will remember forever! Apart from being his hugely successful entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack field, this album's also a monster set of grooves that includes some of Curtis' funkiest work ever – a record that works as well as a 70s soul album as it does a hip action film score! The track list alone reads as a who's who of 70s funk – filled with gems that include "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", "Little Child Runnin' Wild", "Give Me Your Love", and "Superfly" – and the rest of the set is equally great, essential listening throughout! Plus, this set also features a whole bonus LP – one that brings together extra tracks, unreleased cuts, alternate versions, instrumental versions, and even some cool radio promotional spots – with the "Check Out Your Mind" instrumental studio jam, the full-length version of the instrumental "Junkie Chase", the demo version of "Ghetto Child", and lots more! LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album from The Spinners – one that has the Detroit vocal group making a hip trip to the Philly scene – picking up a whole new sound and rich new energy in the process! A few years later, working in Philly studios would be common for many artists – but this self-titled Spinners set really helped launch the trend – and for good reason, too – given the strength of the production and arrangements from the legendary Thom Bell! Bell's at his best here – helping the group reach whole new territory in their wonderful harmonies – and backing them up with some of the best musicians the Sigma Sound Studios had to offer. The album's overflowing with hits – like "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" – but it's also got some excellent lesser-known material too, like the extended "I Could Never (Repay Your Love)" and "We Belong Together". Other cuts include "Ghetto Child", "Just You & Me Baby", "I'll Be Around", and "Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind". CD

Curtis Mayfield's lasting classic – and an album that the world will remember forever! Apart from being his hugely successful entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack field, this album's also a monster set of grooves that includes some of Curtis' funkiest work ever – a record that works as well as a 70s soul album as it does a hip action film score! The track list alone reads as a who's who of 70s funk – filled with gems that include "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", "Little Child Runnin' Wild", "Give Me Your Love", and "Superfly" – and the rest of the set is equally great, essential listening throughout! Plus, this set also features a whole bonus CD – one that brings together extra tracks, unreleased cuts, alternate versions, instrumental versions, and even some cool radio promotional spots! with the "Check Out Your Mind" instrumental studio jam, the full-length version of the instrumental "Junkie Chase", the demo version of "Ghetto Child", and lots more! Great stuff – and in a lovely fold-out package, with the same foldover die-cut cover of the original LP! CD

A killer from Ahmad Jamal – a Fender Rhodes record that stands as a nice contrast to his equally great work of the 60s! Jamal was already a master of the subtle, soulful touch – and on Fender Rhodes, that quality comes out even more strongly – given some light support from arranger Richard Evans, who brings in some cool elements that are very much in the late 60s Cadet Records vein! Ahmad's tone is very rich and full, with a great soul sound – and the album features some great jazz funk covers – like a version of the classic break track "Misdemeanor", plus "Trouble Man", "Ghetto Child", and "Don't Misunderstand". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from the second chapter of The Spinners – the moment when the group departed Motown, moved to Atlantic, and got some superb Philly soul treatment at the hands of Thom Bell! Unlike some groups, who maybe sounded best with a Detroit touch, it took the sophisticated Philly arrangements and production of Bell to really set The Spinners free – as they hit the heights with singles one after another during this early Atlantic run, most of which are featured here on selections from 1973 and 1974. There's a joyous groove that fits the groups harmonies wonderfully – as you'll hear here on this all-hit set of tracks that virtually defines the sound of AM radio soul. Titles include "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)", "Ghetto Child", "I'll Be Around", "Then Came You", "How Could I Let You Get Away", "They Just Can't Stop It", "Mighty Love", "Sadie", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", and "Rubberband Man". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "That's What Girls Are Made For", "I'll Always Love You", "It's A Shame", "(Oh Lord) I Wish I Could Sleep", "How Could I Let You Get Away", "I'll Be Around", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)", "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You", "Ghetto Child", "Mighty Love", "I'm Coming Home", "He'll Never Love You Like I Do", "Love Don't Love Nobody", "Then Came You", "Living A Little, Laughing A Little", "Sadie", "Games People Play", "I Don't Want To Lose You", "Honest I Do", "Love Or Leave", "Sweet Love Of Mine", "How Could I Let You Get Away", "Wake Up Susan", "The Rubberband Man", "Me And My Music", "You're Throwing A Good Love Away", "Heaven On Earth (So Fine)", "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me, Girl", and "Funny How Time Slips Away". CD

Curtis Mayfield's lasting classic – and an album that the world will remember forever! Apart from being his hugely successful entry into the blacksploitation soundtrack field, this album's also a monster set of grooves that includes some of Curtis' funkiest work ever – a record that works as well as a 70s soul album as it does a hip action film score! The track list alone reads as a who's who of 70s funk – filled with gems that include "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", "Little Child Runnin' Wild", "Give Me Your Love", and "Superfly" – and the rest of the set is equally great, essential listening throughout! Plus, this set also features a whole bonus CD – one that brings together extra tracks, unreleased cuts, alternate versions, instrumental versions, and even some cool radio promotional spots! with the "Check Out Your Mind" instrumental studio jam, the full-length version of the instrumental "Junkie Chase", the demo version of "Ghetto Child", and lots more! CD

Fantastic work from the second chapter of The Spinners – the moment when the group departed Motown, moved to Atlantic, and got some superb Philly soul treatment at the hands of Thom Bell! Unlike some groups, who maybe sounded best with a Detroit touch, it took the sophisticated Philly arrangements and production of Bell to really set The Spinners free – as they hit the heights with singles one after another during this early Atlantic run, most of which are featured here on selections from 1973 and 1974. There's a joyous groove that fits the groups harmonies wonderfully – as you'll hear here on this all-hit set of tracks that virtually defines the sound of AM radio soul. Titles include "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)", "Ghetto Child", "I'll Be Around", "Then Came You", "How Could I Let You Get Away", "They Just Can't Stop It", "Mighty Love", "Sadie", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", and "Rubberband Man". CD

A landmark album from The Spinners – one that has the Detroit vocal group making a hip trip to the Philly scene – picking up a whole new sound and rich new energy in the process! A few years later, working in Philly studios would be common for many artists – but this self-titled Spinners set really helped launch the trend – and for good reason, too – given the strength of the production and arrangements from the legendary Thom Bell! Bell's at his best here – helping the group reach whole new territory in their wonderful harmonies – and backing them up with some of the best musicians the Sigma Sound Studios had to offer. The album's overflowing with hits – like "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" – but it's also got some excellent lesser-known material too, like the extended "I Could Never (Repay Your Love)" and "We Belong Together". Other cuts include "Ghetto Child", "Just You & Me Baby", "I'll Be Around", and "Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Trouble In Mind", "Ghetto Child", "Who's Been Talkin", "The Hustle Is On", and "Are You Glad To Be In America?". CD

Really great work from the Kent/Modern family of labels on the LA scene of the 60s – a company that initially broke big during the postwar years of R&B, but continued to record a huge amount of wonderful artists as the years went on! Because of their ties to R&B in the previous decade, Kent also had a great ear for the deeper side of soul music – so there's plenty of tracks on this set that may well have come from Memphis, Muscle Shoals, or other points south – mixed in with others that have a cool Cali vibe, including a few great early funk tracks, and some crossover gospel gems! The collection is the sort that Ace does the best – and is filled with rare singles, unreleased tracks, and other gems – all supported by very detailed notes. Titles include "At Last" by Jimmy bee, "Where She Att" by ZZ Hill, "Like I Do" by Bobby John, "Don't Believe Him" by Stacy Johnson, "Mighty Clouds Of Joy" by BPS Revolution, "Nobody But Me" by The Other Brothers, "Ghetto Child" by Johnny Copeland & His Soul Agents, "What Is This World Coming To" by Charles Taylor, "Jodine" by Earl Foster, "It's Getting Late" by Al King, "Whole World Down On You" by Larry Davis, "The Good Side Of My Girl" by Clay Hammond, "I'll Be Standing By" by Chuck Walker & The VIPs, "You're Still My Baby" by Venetta Fields, and "Rock Me Baby" by Millie Foster. CD

An overlooked gem from the glory days of Virgin's Frontline series – a homegrown effort from UK singer Vivian Weathers – a really unique talent with a style that's very much his own! At some level, Vivian's got the warmth of the lover's rock generation, but mixes it with some of the deeper currents of contemporaries on the hipper side of the UK reggae spectrum – creating a record here that's stunningly soulful and deep, and very much at the highest level of British reggae for the period! This isn't crossover pop, but instead the kind of special, deeper current that only a rare few were crafting on the London scene – as you'll hear on cuts that include "Move Ghetto Children", "Hip Hug", "Gypsy Love", "Song Of Sufferation", "A Fool & His Baby", "The Way You Walk", and "Street Talk". Features a bonus track – "Hip Hug (12" mix)". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest records ever issued on Galt MacDermot's legendary Kilmarnock label – a selection of songs and poems by Harlem school children, set to music by Galt, and sung by vocalist Angela Ortega! Given that Galt's handling the music, you can bet that there's plenty of nicely funky touches at the bottom – supported by rolling bass, snapping drums, and nice use of organ. But the real charm of the tunes comes from the lyrics, which have a simple and to the point way of dealing with issues of racism, poverty, drugs, and other issues of the time. There's a very groovy feel here that almost reminds us of the best of Schoolhouse Rock at times – except that the lyrics are perhaps even more pointed, and surprisingly gripping after all these years. Titles include "Black Is Beautiful", "Drugs", "Slums", "Evil Hands", "Cry Sound", and "Set Us Free". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most righteous albums ever issued by Stax Records – from the title of the record, to the cover, to the grooves laid down by the group! The album was originally issued on Truth – the gospel subsidiary of Stax – and while it does have a bit of a spiritual component, the group's also plenty darn funky too – and the record has a feel that's far more secular than most other gospel records of the time! In fact, the whole thing may well stand as one of the best mainstream examples of the funky gospel genre of the 70s – one of the few records of this type issued on a slightly bigger label, even though the set still is something of a rarity! There's plenty of fuzzy guitar and electric piano in the mix – and the religion in the song lyrics is fairly buried in most cuts, and the overall approach is more one of general spiritualism and humanity, than it is preachy and churchy. Tracks include "The Ghetto", "Son Of The Deacon", "Give It Up", "God Bless The Children", and "He's All We Need". CD

Quite possibly the funkiest album ever from Pleasure – and that's saying a heck of a lot! The album grooves from the very first note – and moves through some of the group's tightest, most rock-solid numbers – all of which use their trademark blend of funky and soul, but which somehow seem to hit even more perfect territory than previous albums! And yes, those records are great, but usually have a few standout cuts – while this one works together perfectly – leading us in right away, then holding us rapt through some wonderful cuts that never let up – massive energy that few other funky combos could match, produced to perfection by the legendary Wayne Henderson. Titles include the wicked sample cut "I'm Mad", the bouncy "Pleasure For Your Pleasure", the spacey "Ghettos Of The Mind", the bumping "Let's Dance", and the tracks "Jammin With Pleasure", "Theme For The Moonchild", "2 For 1", "We Have So Much", and "The Love Of My Life". CD

A classic! This is one of the best-ever albums by the legendary Marlena Shaw – and it's a tremendous live set that really lives up to the righteous promise of her earlier work on Cadet Records! The album was cut with a small combo, and the overall feel is incredibly hip – a mixture of jazz and soul, much more open-ended than some of Marlena's other albums, and with a more sophisticated feeling that was probably part of the way that she was presented to the crowd at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The highlight of the set is a 10 minute long re-working of her classic "Woman Of The Ghetto" – done in an incredible way, with lots of extra lyrics, and a great jazzy groove that's been sampled more than once over the years. Also features an excellent reading of Marvin Gaye's "Save The Children", plus the cuts "Twisted", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "The Show Has Begun", and "But For Now". CD

A classic! This is one of the best-ever albums by the legendary Marlena Shaw – and it's a tremendous live set that really lives up to the righteous promise of her earlier work on Cadet Records! The album was cut with a small combo, and the overall feel is incredibly hip – a mixture of jazz and soul, much more open-ended than some of Marlena's other albums, and with a more sophisticated feeling that was probably part of the way that she was presented to the crowd at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The highlight of the set is a 10 minute long re-working of her classic "Woman Of The Ghetto" – done in an incredible way, with lots of extra lyrics, and a great jazzy groove that's been sampled more than once over the years. Also features an excellent reading of Marvin Gaye's "Save The Children", plus the cuts "Twisted", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "The Show Has Begun", and "But For Now". CD

Amazing stuff from Ahmad Jamal – one of his greatest albums ever, and the kind of Fender Rhodes classic that got passed over in the history books, but which is finally getting some appreciation these days! Ahamad's in a very different mode than his Cadet/Argo years – using the mellow keys of the Fender Rhodes to craft some killer tunes with a laidback edge. Richard Evans did the arrangements, and the sound is very deep and soulful on most of the album. Includes a sublime sample version of War's "World Is A Ghetto" , plus "Superstition", "Children Of The Night", and "Soul Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

The first full-length from Mos Def and Talib Kweli together as Black Star – a benchmark moment in hip hop history, and one of the finest duo vocal hip hip records of the 90s – and one of the best ever on Rawkus! In hindsight, it's all the more rewarding given Talib Kweli's longevity in proud, mic skills centric hip hop and while highs and lows of Mos Def's work as the years rolled along – and it still stands as strong (then) underground hip hop that takes on the ghetto fabulous themes of the day and well beyond. Stand out cuts include "Definition" "Twice Inna Lifetime", "Children's Story" – the Slick Rick classic redone along the lines of Jeru's "One Day" – and "Respiration" featuring Common Sense – and other tracks include "Brown Skin Lady", "Yo Yeah", "Thieves In The Night", "Twice Inna Lifetime and more. 13 in all. LP, Vinyl record album

A great little collection of the soul jazz sides that Marlena cut for Blue Note during the early 70s. The work's all got a great feel – with less of the supper-club soul than she had in her Cadet years, and none of the slicker modern soul that she did for Columbia in later years. These tracks are a good mix of righteous themes and sophisticated female vocalizing – and although the set did leave off a few choice bits (including "Woman Of The Ghetto, drat!), it's still a very nice sampling from a number of hard to find albums. Titles include "Save The Children", "Wipe Away The Evil", "No Hiding Place", "Street Walkin Woman", "Sing To Me", "But For Now", "You", "Be For Real", and "Feel Like Making Love". 13 cuts in all. CD

One of the few US singles by this British soul group – one of England's best soul acts in the mid 70s! "You To Me" is a great tune – grooving with almost a Barry White-type production, chugging with tight drums under strings, really great on the hook, which is produced with a bit of flange in the vocals! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A trio of solo albums from Phillip Bailey – presented here with bonus material too! First up is Continuation – an 80s soul classic from Philip Bailey – stepping out here from Earth Wind & Fire in a set that has him sparkling strongly as a solo act! The vocals still have that trademark Bailey sound – a wonderful range that's never overdone, and which seems to shine especially well on the mellow and midtempo tunes in the set! Production is by George Duke, who does a lot to preserve the jazzier warmth of Bailey's previous settings – and although there's a bit more crossover potential here, the sound is still never too commercial or aimed at the charts. Titles include "It's Our Time", "Trapped", "I Know", "I'm Waitin For Your Love", "Desire", "The Good Guy's Supposed To Get The Girls", and "Your Boyfriend's Back". Next is Chinese Wall – a big breakthrough for Philip Bailey – and a record that was kind of a second-level explosion for the Earth Wind & Fire sound in the 80s! There's a definite crossover feel to the record – a style that takes Bailey's soulful vocals, and mixes them with lots of catchy hooks – in ways that push the Kalimba aesthetic even more into mainstream modes. Yet the album's still got some solid soul grounding, too – thanks to arrangements by Tom Tom and Arif Mardin – which is a nice contrast to the production by Phil Collins, who also guests on the hit "Easy Lover". Other cuts include "Time Is A Woman", "Go", "Walking On The Chinese Wall", "Photogenic Memory", "I Go Crazy", and "Children Of The Ghetto". Last is Inside Out – a set that has Philip Bailey working with Nile Rodgers, who gives him a lean, clean sound that works perfectly with his vocals! The sound is a nice change from the direction Bailey was heading in previously – a return to the focused soul of the later Earth Wind & Fire years, with his amazing lead opening up in ways that few other singers can match. Tunes are pretty well-penned too – catchy, but never cloyingly commercial – and titles include "State Of The Heart", "Welcome To The Club", "Special Effect", "Because Of You", "Take This With You", "The Day Will Come", "Back It Up", and "Echo My Heart". 3CD set features nice bonus material – "I Know (ext dance mix)", "Love Is Alive", "Easy Lover (with Phil Collins)", "Walking On The Chinese Wall (single)", "State Of The Heart (dub mix)", "Twins (with Little Richard)", "Twins (club mix)", and "Easy Lover (ext dance mix)". CD

Nas's sorta comeback record from the dawn of the millennium– a strong one at the time that still stands strong today! Stillmatic was a welcome change of pace after some not so great work in the later 90 – with the return-to-form rally cry "One Mic" setting the pace – and the best cuts on this set (which make up the majority of the run time) still sound great! 15 tracks including "Stillmatic", "Got Ur Self A...", "2nd Childhood", "You're Da Man", "The Flyest" featuring AZ, "Rule" featuring Amerie, "Ether", "What Goes Around", "Every Ghetto", "Braveheart Party" featuring Mary J Blige and more – included here is the bonus track "Every Ghetto! LP, Vinyl record album

A set that wasn't initially conceived as a full album by Gil Scott-Heron – but one that's come to be an essential part of his catalog, thanks to the always-relevant title theme! The album's actually a classic collection of work from the early years of Gil Scott-Heron at the Flying Dutchman label – a time when he was recording some of his most impressively righteous material ever – a hip mix of protest poetry and sweet jazzy numbers – played with great keyboard accompaniment from frequent partner Brian Jackson on keyboards on nearly every track – plus help from Hubert Laws on flute and sax, and Bernard Purdie on drums. Nearly all the famous classics by Gil are here, and the titles include some of Gil's best jazz funk groovers, including "Pieces Of A Man", "Lady Day & John Coltrane", "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", "Save The Children", "Sex Education Ghetto Style", "Whitey On The Moon", "Did You Hear What They Said", The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", and "No Knock". LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a striking title – and a set that really marked the full promise of Linval Thompson in the 70s – a dubby classic that's every bit as strong on the vocal side of Thompson's skills, as it is the production side! The album was recorded at Tubby's with the Revolutionaries band and an uncredited Junjo Lawes (who would later go on to cut some of the best dub albums ever, with Scientist) – and the vocals have this great style of cresting between sweeter modes and more biting modes – particularly when wrapped around the social themes that always made Thompson stand out. Titles include "I Love Marijuana", "Don't Push Your Brother", "Dread Are the Controller", "The Children of the Ghetto", "Not Follow Fashion", and "Jamaican Colley Version". LP, Vinyl record album

A big breakthrough for Philip Bailey – and a record that was kind of a second-level explosion for the Earth Wind & Fire sound in the 80s! There's a definite crossover feel to the record – a style that takes Bailey's soulful vocals, and mixes them with lots of catchy hooks – in ways that push the Kalimba aesthetic even more into mainstream modes. Yet the album's still got some solid soul grounding, too – thanks to arrangements by Tom Tom and Arif Mardin – which is a nice contrast to the production by Phil Collins, who also guests on the hit "Easy Lover". Other cuts include "Time Is A Woman", "Go", "Walking On The Chinese Wall", "Photogenic Memory", "I Go Crazy", and "Children Of The Ghetto". CD features a bonus cut – "Easy Lover (extended dance remix)". CD

15 tracks including "Stillmatic", "Got Ur Self A...", "2nd Childhood", "One Mic", "You're Da Man", "The Flyest" featuring AZ, "Rule" featuring Amerie, "Ether", "What Goes Around", "Every Ghetto", and "Braveheart Party" featuring Mary J Blige. LP, Vinyl record album

For all you mix tape makers and bedroom producers, the promo version of Nas' Stillmatic, with just the rhymes, including "Stillmatic", "Got Ur Self A...", "2nd Childhood", "One Mic", "You're Da Man", "The Flyest" featuring AZ, "Rule" featuring Amerie, "Ether", "What Goes Around", "Every Ghetto", and "Braveheart Party". LP, Vinyl record album

15 tracks including "Stillmatic", "Got Ur Self A...", "2nd Childhood", "One Mic", "You're Da Man", "The Flyest" featuring AZ, "Rule" featuring Amerie, "Ether", "What Goes Around", "Every Ghetto", and "Braveheart Party" featuring Mary J Blige. LP, Vinyl record album

All the beats from Nas' "Stillmatic", with "You're Da Man" and "Rewind" produced by Large Professor, "2nd Childhood" produced by DJ Premier, "The Flyest" and "Every Ghetto" produced by LES, "Ether" produced by Ron Browz, and more! LP, Vinyl record album