The "man" is at the top of his powers here – as the set pulls together an insanely great run of music from Isaac Hayes' first years as a solo act – coming on strong with a new sort of sophisticated soul sound that would transform a generation! Hayes had already hit big in the 60s working with writer David Porter – as the force behind some of Stax Records' fiercest, funkiest acts of the time – but as the 70s approached, he broke off as a magnificent artist on his own – full of righteous power, pride, and new ideas for soul music. This collection brings together some of Isaac Hayes' best work for the Stax/Enterprise label – with an especially strong focus on the kind of jams that have held up well for a 21st Century audience – including titles that have either been sampled by hip hoppers, or which represent some of Ike's strongest funkier tunes from the time. Titles include "Part Time Love", "Theme From The Men", "Ike's Rap 2", "Joy", "I Can't Turn Around", "Chocolate Chip", "Feel Like Makin Love", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Walk On By", "Ike's Rap 1", "Good Love", "Rolling Down A Mountainside", and "Theme From Shaft". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from this smooth Chicago vocal group! The album may well be the best the group ever recorded – and it features some stellar ballad work produced with a nice spacey tone, almost in a Rose Royce mellow mode – by Jerry Butler's Fountain Productions team and by Clarence Johnson, who brought the group up from the beginning! The real strength of the album, though, is the group's vocals – wonderfully harmonious, but with a rougher edge and a deeper soul than many other 70s groups of the same type. The album includes the massive semi-hit "Guess Who's Back In Town" – plus other good ballads like "How Do You Think You're Gonna Find Love", "Let's Work It Out", and "Distant Melody". The album also features some uptempo numbers – and other tracks include "Run & Tell That", "Dance A Thon", and "No Limit". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the earliest work you'll ever hear from the young Jim Osterberg – material that features the famous Stooges frontman playing drums, and doing a slight bit of singing! The group sound a fair bit like you might expect from the cover – a tight, sharp, local combo who do a great job both with their own material, and some of the well-chosen covers they recorded – the kind of stomping garagey material that would have been a hit in the small Michigan clubs at the time! Most vocals are by guitarists Nick Kolokithas and Jim McLaughlin, the latter of whom formed the group with Iggy – and Osterberg does sing lead on a pretty great version of "California Sun", and also contributed the original composition "Again & Again" – a tune that definitely points the way towards The Stooges, and is one of the creepiest things on here. Other titles include "Mona", "I Don't Know Why", "Slow Down", "Walk Don't Run", "Out Of Limits", "Surfin Bird", "Things We Said Today", and "Wild Weekend". Collection features a great range of material – even some early 1963 demos, when the group with just a trio! LP, Vinyl record album

A great statement from vibist Milt Jackson – one of his key solo sessions in a great 60s run of recordings away from the Modern Jazz Quartet! Like the classics that followed this one, the vibe is much more soulful than any of Milt's records with the MJQ – kind of an extension of the groove he hit on 50s dates for Savoy and Prestige, swung with an even tighter feel here in the Impulse Records setting! The backing's from a trio that includes Hank Jones on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Connie Kay on drums – and the tracks are short, but have some nice haunting themes that work well with the sensitive vibes of Jackson and piano of Jones. Titles include "Put Off", "Statement", "Slowly", "Sonnymoon For Two", and "Thrill From The Blues". CD

An overlooked gem from Rick James' classic early run for Motown – a set that maybe didn't chart as big as some of his other records for the label, but which stands strongly today as a well-crafted batch of mellow funky soul! James has a bit less of the bass-heavy riffs here than you'd expect – and instead, the record has kind of a laidback, almost dreamy feel at times – still upbeat, but with the kind of relaxed, glowing vibe you'd be more likely to find from Teena Marie around this point – a really nice contrast with the more familiar hit sounds you'd know from Rick! We actually really like these mellower groovers – which are almost like some of Johnny Watson's Caribbean-tinged grooves – and the production augments the tunes with a bit of sound effects, which really furthers the paradise garden feel of the tunes. Titles include "Mary Go Round", "Summer Love", "Big Time", "Don't Give Up On Love", "Getting It On In The Sunshine", and "Island Lady". CD features a previously unreleased demo of "Gypsy Girl", and a previously unreleased extended version of "Big Time". CD

A masterpiece from the legendary SF rocker Steve Miller – and a perfect summation of the years of blues, soul, funk, and rock he'd been soaking up in the Bay Area scene – served up here with an edge that's still very firmly in place! Miller was already plenty great before this set, but somehow the record really pushes Steve into perfection territory he'd never hit before – able to cross over big with a few key tracks, but still have this sharpness in his guitar work and sense of charm that never seem to die! The album crossed over instantly with the massive cut "Fly Like An Eagle" – already great on its own, but supported here with the massive "Space Intro", which adds an extra minute of cool electronics to the tune – and other great cuts include the amazing funky rocker "Take The Money & Run", which has a break that never gets old – plus the hit "Rock N Me", and the cuts "The Window", "Wild Mountain Honey", "Sweet Maree", "Blue Odyssey", "Mercury Blues", and "Dance Dance Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning underground set from back in the day – a record that was originally released on the label run by Schoolly D himself, then was picked up by Jive Records – because Schoolly had a runaway hit on his own! The whole thing is great – one of the first really hardcore records, told from the streets – in a way that's lean, stripped-down, and a very powerful answer to some of the pop hip hop that was coming up the charts in the mid 80s. The centerpiece of the album is the legendary track "Saturday Night" – a tale of a wild night that still blows us away, despite its slightly dated politics – and other cuts include "B-Boy Rhyme and Riddle", "Housing The Joint", "We Get Ill", "Parkside 5-2", "We Get Ill", "It's Krack", "Dis Groove Is Bad", "Get N' Paid", and "Do It Do It". LP, Vinyl record album

A fuzzy, freaked-out classic from one of the coolest groups to work on the Chicago scene of the 60s – the mighty Shadows Of Knight, easily one of the best garage acts of their time! The album's got a raw power that's undeniable – a gritty sound that almost beats the Boston, Texas, and Sunset Strip scenes at their own game – as sharp guitars, weird Hammond, and plenty of feedback come together to blow away the listener right from the start – all with a sound that's a lot more heady than the group's better-known "Gloria" hit, with a far-reaching vibe that makes us wish these guys had kept on recording a few more years longer – because they might have given some of the best European psych acts a real run for their money! Titles include "Bad Little Woman", "The Behemoth", "Three For Love", "Peepin & Hidin", "Gospel Zone", "High Blood Pressure", and "Tomorrow's Going To Be Another Day". LP, Vinyl record album

A key album in the legendary 80s run of Shalamar – and a set that gets a tremendous amount out of a very stripped-down sound! The sound of Shalamar builds from a bit of bass, some snapping drums, waves of keyboards, and especially great vocals – warm and sweet, but never too commercial – despite the hit status of an album like this. If anything, the group have a style that's a bit more relaxed and personal than some of their contemporaries on the Solar Records scene at the time – one that matches the friendly title, and unassuming cover image of the set. Titles include "A Night To Remember", "Playing To Win", "Friends", "On Top Of The World", "Help Me", "There It Is", "I Can Make You Feel Good", and "I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know". CD features 5 bonus tracks – "Night To Remember (UK 12")", "There It Is (UK 12" ext rmx)", "Friends (UK 12" ext)", "Night To Remember (M&M mix)", and "Night To Remember (M&M inst)". CD

A hell of a record from a Japanese band who answered to nobody else – a combo who could come on with the ferocity of James Gang or some of their contemporaries, but also hit some even wilder, more experimental moments too – something they definitely do here in the space of the double-length of the album – which mixes full-on jammers full of fuzz and bluesy riffs with some of the weirder moments you might find on the farther reaches of The Beatles' White Album! Vocals are all in English, and given that the album was issued on Atlantic, we're not sure why they never tried to push these guys bigger in the states – as they're better than most of the rest of the period. Titles include "Sniffin & Snortin", "Run And Hide", "Bad Woman", "Red Doll", "Flat Fret Swing", "Calm Down", "Search For Love", "Wanna Take You You", and "Song For An Angel". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last totally righteous albums by the Temptations – recorded at the end of their progressive run at Motown, and done with some really hard-hitting tunes and production from Norman Whitfield! Tracks step off with that beautiful mix of badass soul, heavy production, and soaring harmonies that always made the group so great during this period – and the tracks are some wonderful numbers that get way way past the hit-bound material of other albums. Paul Riser handled arrangements for the set, bringing in a few sweet touches that are very much appreciated on the mellower numbers – and titles include the extended mellow funky number "Zoom" – plus "1990", "I Need You", "You've Got My Soul On Fire", "Heavenly", and "Ain't No Justice". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer soul from Doris Troy – a wonderful selection of classic singles from a variety of different labels – mostly smoking selections from the 60s, but a few rare gems from later years too! Doris is one of those singers who never hit the chart heights of some of her contemporaries, but always managed to do impeccable work – as you'll hear here on a range of singles for labels like Calla, Cameo, Capitol, Atlantic, and Apple! Troy's got this amazingly rich voice – one we'd rank right up there with Aretha Franklin at her best – supported here by a range of backings that run from deep soul to uptown soul to some warmer 70s modes. Titles include "Face Up To The Truth", "Just One Look", "What A Night Night Night", "Don't Tell Your Mama", "You Tore Me Up Inside", "Heartaches", "He's Qualified", "I'll Do Anything", "Hear Me Calling", "Can't Hold On", "Tomorrow Is Another Day", and "What A Wonderful Lover". CD

A Chicago group who never hit the big time during their short run at the start of the 80s – but one who definitely know how to groove! There's a vibe here that really lives up to the "togetherness" in the group's name – a way of coming together with a tight, sharp sound throughout – but one that's never too slick, just surprisingly strong for such an underground funk group from the Windy City! And although the music is upbeat, the style is less disco than it is the kind of faster funk that percolated strongly in the underground scene in the pre-house years – almost more akin to some of the best indie club work coming out of the east coast, but with a very unique vibe too. As usual with Numero, the set does way more than just bring this lost music to light – it also tells the tale of the Universal Togetherness Band, and their never-flagging sense of energy and inspiration during their short but important run. Titles include "Ain't Gonna Cry", "Try Try Try", "My Sentiment", "Real Thrill", "Once In A Lifetime", "Call For Love", "I Want You", and "Taken By Love". CD

Sarah Vaughn hit a very groovy new style on her handful of records for the Mainstream label in the early 70s – a new approach that offered her amazing voice a way to stretch out with some of the new sophistication of the time! The arrangements are still jazz, but they've taken a direction that other younger singers, like Nancy Wilson, were following as the decade began – maybe more adult themes in the lyrics, and a way of balancing out the larger charts without ever getting in the way of the singer – which is especially important here, in the way that the album demonstrates that phrasing that not only made Sarah so unique at the start, but which got even more amazing as the years moved on. The arrangers are a hip lot who are definitely up to the job – and include Michel Legrand, Peter Matz, and Jack Elliott – on titles that include "Run To Me", "And The Feeling's Good", "Just A Little Lovin", "Deep In The Night", "When You Think Of It", and a nice take on "Easy Evil". LP, Vinyl record album

The secular sounds of the great Spencer Wiggins – fantastic material cut for Fame and Sounds Of Memphis in the late 60s & early 70s – rawly emotional southern soul that sounds incredible to this day! Some tunes have a more keyboards and rhythm backed sound, others have a punchier, grittier, top shelf southern soul sound – all with Wiggins in great form vocally! From emotionally resonant intimacy to a gritty howl, his voice is a mighty instrument, and it's given a range of great songs to work with here – rare singles and previously unreleased gems alike! "I'm At The Breaking Point", "We Gotta Make Up Baby", "I Can't Be Satisfied", "Double Loving", "Soul Machine". "Love Attack","Cry To Me", "Hit And Run", "Water", "Love Works That Way", "Feed The Flame" and more. 22 tracks in all. CD

An amazing legacy in soul music – the legendary run of records that Bill Withers cut for the Sussex and Columbia labels – each of them a masterpiece in their own way! The early hit sound of Withers is the stuff that dreams are made of – a unique blend of acoustic instrumentation, raspy soul, and slinky rhythms – heard to best effect on the first four albums in the set – one of which is Bill's legendary live set at Carnegie Hall! Yet even past those classics, Withers is still amazing – and shifts his sound through the course of the 70s, to bring in warmer, jazzier elements too – yet all without ever losing his keen sense of song, and his completely mindblowing vocal approach. This box features newly remastered versions of 9 albums – Just As I Am, Still Bill, Live At Carnegie Hall, Justments, Making Music, Naked & Warm, Menagerie, Bout Love, and Watching You Watching Me – a legacy in soul music that few others could ever hope to top! CD

Detroit finally gets its funky due – stepping out from the shadows cast by endless Motown and Northern Soul compilations, and fixing its funky wagon to a great batch of rare indie groovers! The package brings together some real gems from labels that have barely, if ever, been reissued in the past – Sport, Big Hit, and Northern – and features tunes that run in vintage from the late 60s through the mid 70s. There's a really fierce funky 45 sort of feel going on here – with lots of deep deep bass on the best cuts, plenty of snapping drums, and vocals that have lots of raw and rough southern-styled touches! The set's got 17 tracks in all – with titles that include "Party On 4th Street" and "Mama Didn't Lie" by Black Nasty, "Going To Get It" by Calvin Williams, "Don't Leave Me To Be Lonely" by The Dramatics, "Funky Soul" by Dynamic Walton Brothers, "You Better Get Yourself Together" by Timmy Shaw & Chuck Holiday, "Keep On Stepping" by Black Nasty, "Bit Off More" by Lynn Day, and "Uncle Tom" by Herbie Thompson. CD

A Philly soul legend finally gets his time in the spotlight – as drummer Earl Young played on countless classic sessions back in the day, but rarely even got his name in the liner notes! That lack of recognition is corrected here – in a great package that puts Young's face on the cover, details his genius on the drums in the notes, and then presents a motherlode of killer soul tunes from the late 60s through the 70s! Young's maybe best known for his work at Sigma Sound Studios, and on famous sessions for the Philadelphia International label – but here, he's heard on an even wider range of cuts – including late 60s Northern Soul numbers, and great album work by artists you might not normally associate with Philly. Titles include "Storm Warning" by The Volcanos, "Silly Silly Fool" by Dusty Springfield, "Hit & Run" by Loleatta Holloway, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Philly Devotions, "Please Give Me One More Chance" by Clyde McPhatter, "Do The Hand Jive" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Penguin At The Big Apple/Zing" by The Trammps, "I Can't Fight Your Love" by The Modulations, "Touch & Go (12" mix)" by Ecstasy Passion & Pain, "I Like To Live The Love" by BB King, "I'm Doin Fine Now" by New York City, "Ain't Got The Love Of One Girl" by The Ambassadors, "Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" by The Spinners, "Do It Again" by Charles Mann, and "Be Truthful To Me" by Billy Paul. CD

Almost a "greatest hit" of "greatest hits" collection – given the importance of this album to the David Bowie catalog! Sure, it compiles tracks from other releases – but it also was the album that gave the world the killer cut "John I'm Only Dancing" – one of the key cuts in Bowie's gender revision in the 70s – and a title that was previously only out as a single! Alongside that gem, you also get a fantastic run of greatness from Bowie's first chapter of recording – the kind of cuts that would make other singers weep – including "Space Oddity", "Changes", "Ziggy Stardust", "Suffragette City", "Jean Genie", "Diamond Dogs", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Fame", and "Golden Years". LP, Vinyl record album

An instant classic from Five Corners Quintet – acoustic jazz played with a dancefloor groove, and the perfect summation of a brilliant run of initial singles! The FCQ return jazz to its grooviest roots – played live, without processing or electronics, and able to hit a snapping groove that takes us back to the days when Blue Note and Prestige got plenty of play on the radio and jukebox! Most tracks roll along in a modal or waltzing mode that shares a lot with the best Nicola Conte projects of recent years – but the group have also got a real feel for their own tonal colors, effortlessly shading in each space and corner of the tunes with a sublime blend of ringing vibes, dancing piano, and beautifully-toned horn passages. Mark Murphy guests on vocals on the tracks "This Could Be The Start Of Something", "Before We Say Goodbye", and "Jamming" – and Okou sings on "Blue Cycles" and "Case Study" – leaving the remaining instrumentals "Trading Eights", "Interlope", "Straight Up", "Three Corners", "Lighthouse", and "Unsquare Bossa". US CD features the bonus tracks "Taxi Driver". CD

The start of Ray Parker's big hit run of the 80s – a set that has the Raydio group stripped down to just a duo behind Ray, and Parker very firmly out in the lead on vocals! The title hit's a smooth standard that's kept on going for many years – just the kind of cut that crossed Ray over to a big audience that would hang on for most of the decade – but the record still has plenty of the funkier soul touches that bear the Raydio name, including some tight rhythms from drummer Ollie E Brown, who also co-produced part of the set with Ray. Some tunes are a bit softer than before, but never too mellow – and titles include "A Woman Needs Love Just Like You Do", "So Into You", "It's Your Night", "Still In The Groove", "That Old Song", "Old Pro", and "You Can't Fight What You Feel". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked record in the grand scheme – which is unforgivable in our book! This self-titled album is Prince's second album, and already his vision is becoming a little more focused, and you can really hear the seeds of his later efforts – a really remarkable, unique, and fascinating record that stands up with some of his best work, and bucks all late 70s trends and cliches in pop, soul and funk! In some ways this is one of our favorite Prince records, as it has a kind of intimacy that was lacking on later sets – or maybe because the hit "I Wanna Be Your Lover" has such a mad groove! "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" has the sly sound that would run throughout the rest of Prince's better work for years to come – and Chaka Khan would later cover "I Feel for You", and hit large with it in the 80s. Also includes "Sexy Dancer", "With You" and "When We're Dancing Close & Slow". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked record in the grand scheme – which is unforgivable in our book! This self-titled album is Prince's second album, and already his vision is becoming a little more focused, and you can really hear the seeds of his later efforts – a really remarkable, unique, and fascinating record that stands up with some of his best work, and bucks all late 70s trends and cliches in pop, soul and funk! In some ways this is one of our favorite Prince records, as it has a kind of intimacy that was lacking on later sets – or maybe because the hit "I Wanna Be Your Lover" has such a mad groove! "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" has the sly sound that would run throughout the rest of Prince's better work for years to come – and Chaka Khan would later cover "I Feel for You", and hit large with it in the 80s. Also includes "Sexy Dancer", "With You" and "When We're Dancing Close & Slow". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful work from the later years of Brunswick Records – a time when the company briefly re-emerged as a surprising force on the hipper dancefloors of the time – thanks to a great run of funky club, soulful disco, and seminal boogie tracks! Brunswick didn't issue many albums at the time – and they were quite far from their hit years of the early 70s – but their 12" output from the period is wonderful, and way more than just the usual throwaway work for the discos – done with a real sense of quality, and a devotion to both funk and soul undercurrents that really keep things strong. Titles on this great 3rd volume include "Don't Say Goodnight" and "Love Me Today" by First Love, instrumental and vocal versions of "I Wanna Boogie With You" by Charlie Singleton & Stargasm, "Jammin Big Guitar" and "Rockin Big Guitar" by Vaughan Mason, vocal and instrumental versions of "Word Up" by Legacy, vocal and instrumental versions of "Gimme The Funk" by Charade, "Rock The House (parts 1 & 2)" by Elite, and the fantastic groover "You Are The One" by AM/FM. CD

A fab collection of work from the second great wave of girl group music – the great run of female groups that rose to the forefront during the power pop generation, then continued to burn strongly all through the following decade! You'll recognize a few of the names here from bigger hits on the radio – but as with the previous Ace Records collection in this series, the focus is on tight early tunes that really hew to the sharp, catchy vibe of the power pop generation – music that's as lean as punk, but a lot more friendly – and free from some of the moodier modes that would later emerge in grunge, shoegaze, and other styles to come! The music is as playful as the cover – and supported with the usual great Ace Records notes and attention to detail – in a package that features 25 titles that include "Hit The Ground" by The Darling Buds, "Knock Knock Knock" by The MnMs, "The Real World" by The Bangles, "Goodbye To You" by Scandal, "Cherry Bomb" by The Runaways, "Dream Lover" by The Rebel Pebbles, "Just Before Mary Goes" by Universal Honey, "Jimmy Loves Maryann" by Josie Cotton, "Way Behind Me" by The Primitives, "Cruel To Be Kind" by Letters To Cleo, "Lipstuck" by Eve's Plum, "I Wanna Go Home" by Holly & The Italians, "Vacation" by The Textones, "Glad Again" by Fuzzy, and "Boys Are Drinking" by The B Girls. CD

Some great Northern soul, pulled together from the wide array of labels currently handled by Universal/Spectrum – including Motown, MGM, Philips, and Chess. There's more than a few great cuts on here that we haven't seen reissued elsewhere – and although the price of the set is cheap, it's got a fortune's worth of rare soul sides! Titles include "6x6" by Earl Van Dyke, "The Boogaloo Party" by The Flamingos, "He Who Picks A Rose" by Jimmy Ruffin, "Worth Every Tear I Cry" by Dee Dee Warwick, "Learning To Trust My Man" by Sisters Love, "Landslide" by Tony Clarke, "The Way You've Been Acting" by Al Kent, "Do I Love You" by Frank Wilson, "Baby Hit & Run" by The Contours, and "Love Love Love" by Bobby Hebb. 17 tracks in all! CD

Salsoul classics, given the extended remix treatment for this greatest hits sampler! Titles include "Hit & Run" by Loleatta Holloway and "Ten Percent" by Double Exposure, both remixed by Walter Gibbons, plus "Doctor Love" by First Choice remixed by Tom Moulton, and "Magic Bird Of Fire" by The Salsoul Orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album

Almost a "greatest hit" of "greatest hits" collection – given the importance of this album to the David Bowie catalog! Sure, it compiles tracks from other releases – but it also was the album that gave the world the killer cut "John I'm Only Dancing" – one of the key cuts in Bowie's gender revision in the 70s – and a title that was previously only out as a single! Alongside that gem, you also get a fantastic run of greatness from Bowie's first chapter of recording – the kind of cuts that would make other singers weep – including "Space Oddity", "Changes", "Ziggy Stardust", "Suffragette City", "Jean Genie", "Diamond Dogs", "Rebel Rebel", "Young Americans", "Fame", and "Golden Years". LP, Vinyl record album

A disco dazzler from the glory days of the De-Lite Records scene – served up here by a group who really hit all the best sort of groove's you'd expect from that legendary imprint! The album's a disco record, sure – but it's also got the deeper roots that come from the De-Lite commitment to earlier 70s funk – co-produced and written by Leroy Burgess and Stan Lucas, both of whom sing on the record – and also get some help from some great female vocalists too! Although the cover makes the album look a bit like a throwaway set, the overall quality is very high, and quite soulful – thanks to strong work by Burgess and Patrick Adams, who also does a bit of arrangement – with that ear to the underground that he always had on his best records. Titles include "Reaching", "Slipped Disco", "It's Not The Same", "Walk Before You Run", and "All". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky soul classic from the Fantastic Johnny C – a hard and heavy Philadelphia winner from the end of the 60s, and the kind of record that really gave Stax and Atlantic a run for their money! Johnny C's working here with some great hard soul production from Jesse James – grooving in a way that's heavy on the back beat – following in the style of similar late 60s work from Wilson Pickett and Dyke & The Blazers. Like Dyke, Johnny's album has a rolling groove that's a great precursor to funk in years to come – and like Wilson, Johnny's vocals are very on top of the mix – shoutin' and beltin' all the way through, in a really solid sock-soul groove! Titles include the hit "Boogaloo Down Broadway", plus "Cool Broadway, "Got What You Need", "Baby I Need You", "Shout Bamalama", and "The Bounce". LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a package – two key albums from Gang Of Four, plus lots of other rare material from these crucial years! At the core of the package is the classic album Entertainment – one of the greatest debut albums of all time – a record that hit the world like a comet when it was released, and which will continue to burn brightly for many decades to come! There's few groups who get things so right as Gang Of Four on this set – balancing the sharp edges of UK punk with a deeper political sense – but one that puts its message across in these short, sharp, shocks that are often given an extra punch by some surprisingly strong basslines! The mix of rawness, message, and surprising groove really sets this one apart from the pack – and that includes the work by legions of groups who've tried to imitate it over the years. Tracks include "Ether", "Natural's Not In It", "Not Great Men", "Damaged Goods", "Return The Gift", "Guns Before Butter", "Glass", and "Contract". Solid Gold is a stunning second set from the mighty Gang Of Four – and a record that's got all the power and politics of their famous Entertainment debut! The set's got some wonderfully heavy basslines amidst the scratchy guitar that makes the group so great – but nothing's too polished, certainly not as in their crossover club modes to come – and the call/response vocal style of Andy Gill and Jon King is tremendous – a very fresh way to deliver the message, and one that's still never been matched all these many years later. Titles include "Paralyzed", "What We All Want", "Why Theory", "If I Could Keep It For Myself", "Cheeseburger", "The Republic", "Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time", "In The Ditch", "A Hole In The Wallet", and "He'd Send In The Army". Next, you get an exclusive Singles album – the first-ever LP collection of all the early singles and b-sides – including tracks from the EP releases Yellow, Damaged Goods, and Another Day Another Dollar. Next is an another exclusive vinyl release – the 2LP set recorded Live At The American Indian Center 1980. Plus, the box features a 100 page full-color, hardcover book – with rare photos, contributions from group members, original artwork, and rare posters – plus essays from Greil Marcus, Michael Stipe, Jon Langford, and others. Also includes posters, flyers, and ephemera! CD

Excellent work from this smooth Chicago vocal group! The album may well be the best the group ever recorded – and it features some stellar ballad work produced with a nice spacey tone, almost in a Rose Royce mellow mode – by Jerry Butler's Fountain Productions team and by Clarence Johnson, who brought the group up from the beginning! The real strength of the album, though, is the group's vocals – wonderfully harmonious, but with a rougher edge and a deeper soul than many other 70s groups of the same type. The album includes the massive semi-hit "Guess Who's Back In Town" – plus other good ballads like "How Do You Think You're Gonna Find Love", "Let's Work It Out", and "Distant Melody". The album also features some uptempo numbers – and other tracks include "Run & Tell That", "Dance A Thon", and "No Limit". CD

A turning point for Loleatta Holloway – as she makes the move from dreamy southern soul diva to club queen of the late 70s! Norman Harris is producing, and the record has a soaring Philly disco sound that proves to be just as great for Loleatta's soulful vocals as the stripped-down southern modes of earlier albums! Gone are the sad tears of earlier weepies, and in their place is a strong sense of joy and power – Loleatta's very positive, very progressive, and very dedicated to standing her own ground! Includes the big single "Hit & Run", plus "Dreamin", "We're Getting Stronger", "Ripped Off", and versions of "That's How Heartaches Are Made" and Curtis Mayfield's "What Now". CD features 5 bonus tracks too – "Hit & Run (orig Walter Gibbons 12" mix)", "We're Getting Stronger (orig Walter Gibbons 12" mix)", "Hit & Run (single version)", "Hit & Run (Paul Simpson hit mix)", and "Hit & Run (acapella)". CD

Excellent work from this legendary vocal trio! The Jones Girls were probably one of the best female acts to ever hit the Philly International stable – really a cut above their contemporaries, and not just one of those acts that was kind of a backup singer set, come forward! Their vocals are sublime – richly complicated, and with a maturity that really comes through on this set – a record that has them grooving away nicely in a sophisticated style that's only matched by some of the other male groups on Philly International. Cuts include the classic club tracks "This Feeling's Killing Me" and "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" – plus "I'm At Your Mercy", "We're A Melody", "Who Can I Run To", and "Life Goes On". Great production by Dexter Wansel & Gamble and Huff! LP, Vinyl record album

Andre Previn's got some very hip pals here – drummer Shelly Manne and bassist Red Mitchell – both frequent partners during the late 50s, especially on this classic run of jazz-Broadway records for Contemporary! The spirit here is very much like that of the famous My Fair Lady date made by the trio – a strong extrapolation of familiar tunes from a hit show – taken way out into instrumental jazz territory – with less thought of the core melody, and more focus on the tunes use as vehicles for jazz improvisation. Previn's piano has hardly sounded better – and more creative, both in tone and timing – an inspiration that certainly comes from Manne's inventive drum work – and titles include "Aunt Alicia's March", "I Remember It Well", "The Parisians", "She Is Not Thinking Of Me", "Thank Heaven For Little Girls", and "A Toujours". LP, Vinyl record album

Prince certainly hit and run with this record – as the set was so secret, we couldn't even announce it until it was released! But the lack of advance fame certainly doesn't hold it back – as the whole thing is one of Prince's strongest efforts in years – a record that echoes lots of his 80s famous funk right at the start, then breaks out into a mode that's a lot more brash and almost brutal at times – as if the purple one's expressing anger and emotion we never would have heard in his music from years back! Everything is very much right on the money – vocals, instruments, and all the rhythms woven together with that magic that Prince first created decades ago – but with a fresher 21st Century spirit that still blows away most of the younger generation he's inspired. Titles include "Hardrocklover", "Fallinlove2nite", "Mr Nelson", "June", "Million $ Show", "Ain't About 2 Stop", and "This Could B Us". CD

An overlooked record in the grand scheme – which is unforgivable in our book! This self-titled album is Prince's second album, and already his vision is becoming a little more focused, and you can really hear the seeds of his later efforts – a really remarkable, unique, and fascinating record that stands up with some of his best work, and bucks all late 70s trends and cliches in pop, soul and funk! In some ways this is one of our favorite Prince records, as it has a kind of intimacy that was lacking on later sets – or maybe because the hit "I Wanna Be Your Lover" has such a mad groove! "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" has the sly sound that would run throughout the rest of Prince's better work for years to come – and Chaka Khan would later cover "I Feel for You", and hit large with it in the 80s. Also includes "Sexy Dancer", "With You" and "When We're Dancing Close & Slow". CD

A double-length set from The Rascals – possibly their most stretched-out exploration of ideas, at least during their initial run for Atlantic Records! The 2LP set features a fair bit of shorter, catchier tunes on the first record – many with some righteous soul overtones – but on the second record, the group really open up – hitting some longer jamming tunes on side three, and moving into a 15 minute instrumental on side four! Vocals are great from all three singers – Gene Cornish, Eddie Brigati, and Felix Cavaliere – and the rhythms are rock-solid too, often augmented with a bit of Atlantic-styled backings by Arif Mardin, to further enforce the soulfulness of the set. Titles include the hit "People Got To Be Free", plus "American The Beautiful", "Any Dance'll Do", "A Ray Of Hope", "Look Around", "Boom", "Heaven", "Cute", "Baby I'm Blue", and "Adrian's Birthday". LP, Vinyl record album

Three classic albums from Shoes, plus bonus tracks, and a full CD worth of rare material too! First up is Present Tense – a power-pop classic from Shoes – their first full length for Elektra Records, and a set that stands with all the best end of 70s gems from either coast! The songs are impeccable, and the group do a fantastic job of blending sharper guitars with really great lyricism – a mode that maybe makes the Illinois group a strong precursor for territory that The Replacements wouldn't hit until many years later – and which makes just about every track on the album a precious nugget that just gets better and better with time! Titles include "Now & Then", "Every Girl", "I Don't Wanna Hear It", "Three Times", "In My Arms Again", and "Too Late". On Tongue Twister, Shoes continue the brilliance of their first album for Elektra – serving up the kind of music that was so well-done, so subtle, it was maybe missed by most of the world at the time – even though it's gone onto the status of classic, thanks to legions of fans and critics! Shoes have a way with a tune that's unlike anyone else – maybe that compressed charm of Big Star, but fused into the sharper modes of the power pop years – but without any of the too commercial modes of some of the bigger groups of the time. Instead, the whole thing feels like you've just stumbled upon a brilliant band, playing in a backroom bar – which, unfortunately, is how Shoes spent too much of their career. Titles include "Only In My Sleep", "She Satisfies", "Found A Girl", "Hate To Run", "When It Hits", "Yes Or No", "Your Imagination", and "Girls Of Today". On Boomerang, Shoes maybe look a bit too new wave on the cover, but still sound perfect within – very much in charge of that perfect yet understated approach to a tune that has gone on to make them legends in all the many years since this album was released! The group were never out to change the world, and maybe that held them back at the time – but they were also never trying for big chart success, or too-slick modes – and there's a wonderfully honest, down to earth approach to the songwriting and production that clearly sets the stage for all the bigger late 80s groups that would follow in their wake. Nearly every tune is a completely catchy mofo – and titles include "Curiosity", "In Her Shadow", "Double Talk", "The Summer Rain", "Under The Gun", "The Tube", and "What Love Means". 4CD set features a huge amount of bonus material – 8 track demo versions of all three albums, added to their discs – and a bonus CD of 18 more rare tracks – all in a box, with a big booklet of notes! CD

A real high point in Jimmy Smith's famous 60s run at Verve Records – a key collaboration with arranger Lalo Schfrin, who brings a great blend of jazz and soundtrack styles to Jimmy's famous groove on the Hammond! Lalo's backings are totally great – with touches of Latin and Brazilian that really open up the sound from some of Smith's other records – but in a way that still keeps the whole thing nicely on point as Jimmy soars away on his solos. The single "The Cat" was kind of a minor hit for Smith – and there's a lot of other nice tunes on the album, including "Theme From Joy House", "Chicago Serenade", "Delon's Blues", and "Main Title From Carpetbaggers". 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

Lean, clean work from Luther Vandross – an album of gentle grooves and warmly romantic tones – offered up as part of Luther's hit run in the 80s! The sound is quite electric at times, but Vandross' vocals provide enough human warmth to offset the beats and keyboards – and given that Marcus Miller's usually guiding the latter, there's still an undercurrent of humanity that goes beyond the usual commercial backing tracks of the time. Titles include "Any Love", "Come Back", "I Know You Want To", "I Wonder", "For You To Love", and "The Second Time Around". CD

An album that not only broke the bossa big in the US – but a set that also really helped transform the sound of the organ in jazz! Not only is the record a key meeting of bossa rhythms and jazz organ – transplanted hugely to the US after a big initial Wanderley run in 60s Brazil – but the set also features some of the cleanest organ lines to ever hit these shores – a big difference from the heavier flutter that some of the US organists were using a few years before, and a sharp shift towards cleaner keyboard sounds for the rest of the decade. Instrumentation's nice and spare – mostly bass and percussion, plus a bi tof flute and guitar – and titles include the massive hit "Summer Samba", plus "Rain", "Beach Samba", "Song Of The Jet", "Cried, Cried", and "Girl From Ipanema". CD

An album that not only broke the bossa big in the US – but a set that also really helped transform the sound of the organ in jazz! Not only is the record a key meeting of bossa rhythms and jazz organ – transplanted hugely to the US after a big initial Wanderley run in 60s Brazil – but the set also features some of the cleanest organ lines to ever hit these shores – a big difference from the heavier flutter that some of the US organists were using a few years before, and a sharp shift towards cleaner keyboard sounds for the rest of the decade. Instrumentation's nice and spare – mostly bass and percussion, plus a bi tof flute and guitar – and titles include the massive hit "Summer Samba", plus "Rain", "Beach Samba", "Song Of The Jet", "Cried, Cried", and "Girl From Ipanema". LP, Vinyl record album

Johnny Guitar Watson at the top of his game – working here in a sublime mix of funk, blues, and soul – all crafted into a groove that was uniquely Watson's own! Johnny may have started the 70s in relative obscurity – down from some hit work in the 50s and 60s – but by the time of this set, he was back on top, and working in a confident groove that few others from his older era could ever hope to achieve! There's a youthful sense of sex and soul that run through the entire set – an effortlessly slinky groove that never goes too over the top in the funk department, and which makes just the right use of electric instrumentation and tripped-out production, but never gets too wrapped up in either – and often comes off with some great jazzy touches as well. Titles include the anthemic "Real Mother For Ya", plus "Your Love Is My Love", "The Real Deal", "Tarzan", "I Wanna Thank You", and "Lover Jones". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Nancy Wilson's excellent 70s run on Capitol Records – a set that goes way beyond the spirit of some of her earlier records, and features a very unified vibe overall! The set was done in heavy collaboration with producer/composer Clarence McDonald – and features all original album penned for the date, most of which has a sublime blend of strings and soul that really pushes Wilson into even more sophisticated territory than before! Nancy's really on a par here with Marlena Shaw at her 70s best – even though Wilson had hit some of the territory years before – and the set's overflowing with great little numbers – including the funky classic "I'm In Love", plus "Let It Flow", "I'm Gonna Let Ya", "Music On My Mind", "He Makes Me Feel Good About Myself", and "Light". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic 70s classic from Stevie Wonder – part of a great run of records in which he broke completely from his earlier Motown sound – and showed the world that he was one of the true musical visionaries of the decade! The righteous currents of his previous few albums are fully in place here, taken with a bit more focus that helped the record gain Stevie a few new followers in the crossover market, while still offering up plenty to please all the minds that had already been blown by is initial work of the 70s! There's some fantastic themes here, and so many new ideas too – and titles include the slow-funk moog classic "Creepin", which has these wonderful washes of sound throughout, weird vocals by Stevie, and some drums that bump around in off-kilter little patterns just at the right moments. The album also includes the hit "Boogie On Reggae Woman", plus "Too Shy To Say", "You Haven't Done Nothin", "It Ain't No Use", "Bird Of Beauty", and "Please Don't Go". LP, Vinyl record album

Man, these guys really know how to groove – and even on a bigger label, with a more commercial image, they still manage to come up with a tight little set! There's a key ear for a bassline and beat that keeps The Bar-Kays standing stronger than most of their contemporaries – a sense of rhythm schooled in years of indie funk that comes through even on the mellower cuts here – which themselves show an even better side of the group in this generation, one that comes across great here on a few slower numbers that have a sweetly stepping groove. Titles include "Nightcruising", "Freaky Behavior", "Feels Like I'm Falling In Love", "Touch Tone", "Hit & Run", "Unforgettable Dream", "Traffic Jammer", and "Backseat Driver". LP, Vinyl record album

The first solo set that Dr Dre cut after leaving NWA – and a record that not only set the tone for his solo career, but also for a huge run of albums from other folks in the years to come! Dre's as much of a production genius as he is a frontman here – really pushing forward some of the best elements he brought to the music of NWA, and also providing a great showcase for the young Snoop Dogg too! And yes, there were so many other records that tried to hit this territory right afterwards, and ended up more in the realm of parody – but the doctor really stays ahead of the pack here throughout, with a record that holds up surprisingly well over the years. Titles include the cuts "F**k Wit Dre Day", "Let Me Ride", "Nuthin' But A G Thang", "Lil Ghetto Boy", "A N***a Witta Gun", "B!tches Ain't Sh!t", "The Chronic", "Deeez Nuts", and "Stranded On Death Row". LP, Vinyl record album

In our opinion, The Exciters stood head and shoulders above a lot of the other rockin' soul groups of the 60's – partly because of the great raspy female lead vocals, but also because of the swingin' instrumentation and the great writing that characterized most of their sessions. This CD's got some of their rarest stuff – the sides recorded for Roulette in the mid-60's, which we've never actually seen on LP. The title cut's a nice hit, but there's also 14 other great tracks like "Run Mascara" and "My Father". CD

A rare early 70s session from pianist Red Garland – one of his first in many years after a strong 50s run for Prestige! The record shows Red losing none of his warmth and grace on the keys – and he's set up in a great trio with Sam Jones on bass and Roy Brooks on drums – both players well-tuned to match Garland's subtleties on the keys, and step forward with his strong and inherent sense of soul. A few tracks are nicely contemplative, and great examples of the Garland tone at its best – but others hit a more flowing style that shares some of the MPS groove of the time. Titles include two Garland originals "Auf Wiedersehen" and "Old Stinky Butt" – plus "Hobo Joe", "A Night In Tunisia", "Stella By Starlight", and "Dahoud". LP, Vinyl record album

The Isley Brothers on Motown – a really key step forward for the group, who find a whole new level of soul with help from the Holland Dozier Holland team! There's a warmth here missing from previous Isleys material – that rough edge that was more part of their rocking years, softened a bit to let the vocals really take off with straightforward power – that mix of raw energy and sublime precision they'd explore later on the T-Neck years – helped strongly here by the Motown influence. Titles include the massive hit "This Old Heart Of Mine", plus "Take Some Time Out for Love", "Baby Don't You Do It", "Nowhere To Run", "Put Yourself In My Place", "Seek & You Shall Find", and "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the hit "Waterloo" – plus "Smoke Along The Track", "Life To Go", "Run", "The Carpet On The Floor", and "Uncle Sam & Big John Bull". CD

An overlooked gem from Rick James' classic early run for Motown – a set that maybe didn't chart as big as some of his other records for the label, but which stands strongly today as a well-crafted batch of mellow funky soul! James has a bit less of the bass-heavy riffs here than you'd expect – and instead, the record has kind of a laidback, almost dreamy feel at times – still upbeat, but with the kind of relaxed, glowing vibe you'd be more likely to find from Teena Marie around this point – a really nice contrast with the more familiar hit sounds you'd know from Rick! We actually really like these mellower groovers – which are almost like some of Johnny Watson's Caribbean-tinged grooves – and the production augments the tunes with a bit of sound effects, which really furthers the paradise garden feel of the tunes. Titles include "Mary Go Round", "Summer Love", "Big Time", "Don't Give Up On Love", "Getting It On In The Sunshine", and "Island Lady". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet 80s groover from KC and his Sunshine Band – a set that's got the group sounding a lot different than during their Miami hit years of the 70s – but still every bit as groovy! The style is more 80s funk than before – a bit more emphasis on the keyboards, and basslines that rocked straight through the grooves – and Wayne "KC" Casey's voice often uses that cool level of processing you'll know from his hits, but in a wider range that even makes for some unusual moments on the mellower cuts and the ballads. Overall, there's still lots of sunshine in the mix – that ebullient atmosphere that always made KC and the group so great – and titles include "Don't Run", "Give It Up", "You'd Gimme Some More", ""When You Dance To The Music", and "You're Going Out Of Your Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

A second set of super-rare tracks from the Bob Marley side of the universe – not material that was issued by Island Records as part of his run of hit albums in the 70s – but instead some very obscure dubs that were taken from acetates that were initially only circulated through Jamaican soundsystems back in the day! The material here is very different than the cleaned-up hits – as the tracks often mute the vocals, bring up the rhythms, and go for an echoey brilliance that must have sounded great coming out of some massive speakers in the street! You'll definitely have to turn your stereo up to 11 when playing this one – for titles that include "Black Survivor Dub", "Top Rankin Dub", "So Much Trouble Dub", "Babylon System Dub", "Ride Natty Ride Dub", and "One Drop Dub". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the all-too-few recordings of the great Brew Moore on tenor as a leader – a rare date recorded during the year of Moore's first appearance on the European scene – the start of a great 60s run that really had the saxophonist taking off overseas! Brew was already great on his handful of 50s releases in the US, but when he hit the European scene he seemed to change into an even more amazing player, almost overnight – one with a boundless sense of imagination that comes through in well-crafted, extended solos – and a sense of depth and soul that should have gotten Moore much greater recognition on these shores at the time! This set features really striking material from a few different settings – maybe the best of which is material recorded in Stockholm with a Swedish trio – on long tracks that include "Five Planets In Leo", "Buzzy", and "Apple Core". The set also features some tighter Parisian recordings – done at the Blue Note with a sweet quartet that features Lou Bennett on organ, Jimmy Gourley on guitar, and Kenny Clarke on drums – on the titles "Zonky", "Broadway", and "Satin Doll". Last up is one more track recorded for Danish TV with Paul Godske on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Alex Riel on drums – a nice reading of Brew's own tune "Ergo". CD

Maybe the last great album in the Ohio Players run for Mercury in the mid 70s – a set that's every bit as smooth, sexy, and funky as their other major label efforts from the time – and one that continued to refine the grittier funk of their roots! While the Players might be remembered for their over the top jams, the cuts here we love the best are the mellower steppers – tracks that still have plenty of funk in the mix, but hit a gentler groove, too – following the spacey soul legacy of "Sweet Sticky Thing". Titles on the album include "Glad To Know You're Mine", "Angel", "Merry-Go-Round", "Don't Fight My Love", "Body Vibes" and "Ohio". 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

Prince certainly hit and run with this record – as the set was so secret, we couldn't even announce it until it was released! But the lack of advance fame certainly doesn't hold it back – as the whole thing is one of Prince's strongest efforts in years – a record that echoes lots of his 80s famous funk right at the start, then breaks out into a mode that's a lot more brash and almost brutal at times – as if the purple one's expressing anger and emotion we never would have heard in his music from years back! Everything is very much right on the money – vocals, instruments, and all the rhythms woven together with that magic that Prince first created decades ago – but with a fresher 21st Century spirit that still blows away most of the younger generation he's inspired. Titles include "Hardrocklover", "Fallinlove2nite", "Mr Nelson", "June", "Million $ Show", "Ain't About 2 Stop", and "This Could B Us". CD

The great Marty Robbins did plenty of things in his many years with Columbia Records – music from straight country, to Hawaiian tunes, to crossover pop – yet the singer will forever be known for his western-themed songs – and in particular, this classic collection of tracks! Robbins has a voice that's amazing – deep and rich, and instantly able to open up your ears – a quality that makes him instantly narrative, which really suits the spirit of this material wonderfully – as Marty delivers these tunes that evoke the old west, but in the style of a postwar western – more Gunsmoke than the real thing – but that's the charm of the whole record too! The set's one of the key classics in the run of Columbia Records material from the time – not hard country, certainly – but an undeniably influential record – thanks in part to the huge crossover hit "El Paso", nestled here next to other gems that include "Big Iron", "Cold Water", "Running Gun", and "In The Valley". LP, Vinyl record album

The great Marty Robbins did plenty of things in his many years with Columbia Records – music from straight country, to Hawaiian tunes, to crossover pop – yet the singer will forever be known for his western-themed songs – and in particular, this classic collection of tracks! Robbins has a voice that's amazing – deep and rich, and instantly able to open up your ears – a quality that makes him instantly narrative, which really suits the spirit of this material wonderfully – as Marty delivers these tunes that evoke the old west, but in the style of a postwar western – more Gunsmoke than the real thing – but that's the charm of the whole record too! The set's one of the key classics in the run of Columbia Records material from the time – not hard country, certainly – but an undeniably influential record – thanks in part to the huge crossover hit "El Paso", nestled here next to other gems that include "Big Iron", "Cold Water", "Running Gun", and "In The Valley". Includes 3 bonus tracks, for 15 in all. CD

A key album in the legendary 80s run of Shalamar – and a set that gets a tremendous amount out of a very stripped-down sound! The sound of Shalamar builds from a bit of bass, some snapping drums, waves of keyboards, and especially great vocals – warm and sweet, but never too commercial – despite the hit status of an album like this. If anything, the group have a style that's a bit more relaxed and personal than some of their contemporaries on the Solar Records scene at the time – one that matches the friendly title, and unassuming cover image of the set. Titles include "A Night To Remember", "Playing To Win", "Friends", "On Top Of The World", "Help Me", "There It Is", "I Can Make You Feel Good", and "I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know". LP, Vinyl record album

The record that forever put Nancy Sinatra over the top – thanks to the massive title hit "Boots Are Made For Walking" – and some impeccable Lee Hazlewood production that really found a way to make Nancy sound fantastic! The young Sinatra had been wanting to make her own records for awhile, and had definitely had a few shots before Boots – but Lee Hazlewood really finds a way to bring out the best in Nancy, often using the same kind of bass-heavy, well-paced rhythms that made his own songs so great – and using some spacious production that can make even familiar tunes sound wonderful in Nancy's hands! Billy Strange handled the arrangements, and is an equally force here alongside Lee – especially given his work on guitar – and in addition to "These Boots Are Made For Walkin", other titles include "I Move Around", "In My Room", "Lies", "So Long Babe", "Run For Your Life", "If He'd Love Me", and "Flowers On The Wall". LP, Vinyl record album

Hypnotic and frenzied instrumental sounds from the early 70s – heavy rhythms and fuzzy walls of guitar from Bob Thompson and Doug Snyder – a masterful piece of avant rock! Daily Dance is one of those records that's so far ahead of the pack stylistically, you can hardly believe it was made when it was. The songs are long and roll out in a way that makes it clear the players are unafraid of noise, but it's wholly riveting and finds a real groove – they set up their own dynamics and they work well within them. The duo does more with electric fuzz, echoes, and pounding rhythms than all too few boundless artists dared to even attempt – and it's a record that you could have easily convinced us was produced at some point in the 80s, 90s, or 00s rock underground had we not been informed it was from early 70s southern Ohio! Timeless, original and exciting stuff. Includes "Daily Dance", "Living With The Crocodiles", "Time Overlaps Itself", "Soul And Universe", "Hit And Run", "Truth Is A Pathless Land" and "Teenage Emergency". CD

Hypnotic and frenzied instrumental sounds from the early 70s – heavy rhythms and fuzzy walls of guitar from Bob Thompson and Doug Snyder – a masterful piece of avant rock! Daily Dance is one of those records that's so far ahead of the pack stylistically, you can hardly believe it was made when it was. The songs are long and roll out in a way that makes it clear the players are unafraid of noise, but it's wholly riveting and finds a real groove – they set up their own dynamics and they work well within them. The duo does more with electric fuzz, echoes, and pounding rhythms than all too few boundless artists dared to even attempt – and it's a record that you could have easily convinced us was produced at some point in the 80s, 90s, or 00s rock underground had we not been informed it was from early 70s southern Ohio! Timeless, original and exciting stuff. Includes "Daily Dance", "Living With The Crocodiles", "Time Overlaps Itself", "Soul And Universe", "Hit And Run", "Truth Is A Pathless Land" and "Teenage Emergency". 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

Wonderful stuff from Sylvia Robinson – the singer who scored big as a youngster in the Mickey & Sylvia group, and who later became the den mother of hip hop with her Sugar Hill label. This set was recorded during the time that Sylvia had a very successful run with her New Jersey group of soul labels like All Platinum and Stang – and it's a monument to her breathy sexy style, and is probably one of the raunchiest records to hit the top of the charts in the early 70s. The hit single "Pillow Talk" was bedroom fodder for couples all over the world – but the whole record's pretty darn nice, and equally sexy! Features the great "Didn't I", a slinky groover with a good sample riff – plus "Give It Up In Vain", "Had Any Lately", and "My Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best albums in a big 80s run from Tease – thanks to great production from Mtume! The album's got a balance of soul and style that really holds together throughout – as the group finds especially strong ways of coming across on the ballads and mellower numbers, which often still have some heavy beats at the bottom! In a way, the set's one of the first to showcase a new style of slower soul that would hit even more strongly in the 90s – laidback cuts that still have an urban punch, but at a slower bpm. Titles include a unique remake of "I Can't Stand The Rain" – plus "Kick", "Tingle", "Somewhere Somebody", "Let's Stop Pretending", "Bad Reputation", "Remember", and "A Love Of Your Own". CD

Lean, clean work from Luther Vandross – an album of gentle grooves and warmly romantic tones – offered up as part of Luther's hit run in the 80s! The sound is quite electric at times, but Vandross' vocals provide enough human warmth to offset the beats and keyboards – and given that Marcus Miller's usually guiding the latter, there's still an undercurrent of humanity that goes beyond the usual commercial backing tracks of the time. Titles include "Any Love", "Come Back", "I Know You Want To", "I Wonder", "For You To Love", and "The Second Time Around". LP, Vinyl record album

Johnny Guitar Watson at the top of his game – working here in a sublime mix of funk, blues, and soul – all crafted into a groove that was uniquely Watson's own! Johnny may have started the 70s in relative obscurity – down from some hit work in the 50s and 60s – but by the time of this set, he was back on top, and working in a confident groove that few others from his older era could ever hope to achieve! There's a youthful sense of sex and soul that run through the entire set – an effortlessly slinky groove that never goes too over the top in the funk department, and which makes just the right use of electric instrumentation and tripped-out production, but never gets too wrapped up in either – and often comes off with some great jazzy touches as well. Titles include the anthemic "Real Mother For Ya", plus "Your Love Is My Love", "The Real Deal", "Tarzan", "I Wanna Thank You", and "Lover Jones". CD

Kind of a "greatest hit" of greatest hits compilations – a set that's probably sold more copies than any of Barry White's full length albums – thanks to a monstrous run of hits in the 70s! The package is overflowing with greatness – amazing tunes that balance funky rhythms with soaring strings – all topped with the legendary vocals of The Man himself! Many titles are in shorter single mixes than their album versions, but still pack plenty of punch – and titles include "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe", "I'm Gonna Love You A Little More, Babe", "I've Got So Much Love To Give", "Honey Please, Can't You See", "You're The First The Last My Everything", and "Love Serenade". CD

Kind of a "greatest hit" of greatest hits compilations – a set that's probably sold more copies than any of Barry White's full length albums – thanks to a monstrous run of hits in the 70s! The package is overflowing with greatness – amazing tunes that balance funky rhythms with soaring strings – all topped with the legendary vocals of The Man himself! Many titles are in shorter single mixes than their album versions, but still pack plenty of punch – and titles include "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe", "I'm Gonna Love You A Little More, Babe", "I've Got So Much Love To Give", "Honey Please, Can't You See", "You're The First The Last My Everything", and "Love Serenade". LP, Vinyl record album

Great early work from Barry White – tracks recorded before his big 70s hit years on the 20th Century label – and which really show the soulful maestro working out his new ideas! Barry sings on about half these cuts, and the others are instrumental – and all of them show that larger style of arranging that would make White such a giant force in 70s soul – modes expanded from the uptown soul styles of New York in the 60s, and some of the Chess/Cadet soulful string styles of the Richard Evans generation too – all taken into territory that's very much Barry White's own! Tracks include "Come On In Love", "Under The Influence Of Love", "Fragile Handle With Care", "All In The Run Of A Day", "Where Can I Turn To", and "Out Of The Shadows Of Love". CD