Early work from Prince – really his first full fledged masterpiece! Prince ushered the 80s in with a mix of recognizable influences, but filtered through his unique sensibility – taking a new approach to funky soul – by using his own sinister blend of layered vocals, crisp rhythms, and ultra catchy songs – always capped with that unbridled, fearless sexuality that comes across right here on the cover – and which already shows that the singer is a bold new force to be reckoned with! And despite his claim of having a dirty mind, Prince uses the music to unlock the sensual souls in all of us – with tracks here that would already become calling cards for a generation – such as the unstoppable classics "Dirty Mind" and "When You Were Mine", plus "Head", "Sister", "Do It All Night", and "Party Up". CD

An amazing collection of 70s soul tracks – sweet, mellow, laidback, and including loads of numbers that have been buried for years! The focus here is not on obscure groups, but on lesser-known album tracks by bigger names – including many chillout numbers that have a sweet jazzy feel, and which might have gotten eclipsed by some of the artists' bigger hits. ?uestlove of the Roots put the set together, and the whole set's got the deep soulfulness of his own work with that group – track after track of mellow 70s soul, jazzy riffs, spacey instrumentation, and warm vocals effortlessly sliding together! Titles include "Star Of The Story" by Heatwave, "Be My Girl" by Michael Henderson, "Clover" by Earth Wind & Fire, "Before The Dawn" by Patrice Rushen, "Can We Pretend" by Bill Withers, "That's What Friends Are For" by Deniece Williams, "Next To Nature" by Jean Claude Toran, "Glowin" by The Rationals, "Magic In Your Eyes" by Rufus & Chaka Khan, "Sensuality (parts 1 & 2)" by The Isley Brothers, "Sienna" by Stanley Cowell, "Quiet Storm" by Smokey Robinson, "Wheels Of Life" by Gino Vannelli, and "Gotta Find A Lover" by Roy Ayers. CD

Talk about a meeting of the minds – a pair of ultra-amazing classics from the team of Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson – back to back in a single set! At the time of Step Into Our Life, Henderson & Ayers were probably the biggest names in the jazz funk business – both with a smooth soulful style that was pushing the genre onto whole new levels, while still keeping firm roots in jazz – a rare blend that few other artists could handle this well! This initial debut from the pair seems to be much more dominated by the spirit of Roy Ayers' work at the time – particularly the mellow jazzed up work he was laying down on albums like Vibrations and You Send Me – a wicked sound that's rooted in modern soul modes, but filled with plenty of warm jazz elements too. The album's got wonderful vibes and electric piano from Roy – and tracks include "Step Into Our Life", "Lovers Should Always Be Together", "No Deposit No Return", "Ooh Baby", and "For Real". Prime Time is a funky classic from the team of Roy Ayers and Wayne Henderson – both at the top of their game here, and effortlessly mixing together jazz, funk, and soul! The record really seems to embrace the best of both artists' styles – some of the bassy groovers that Wayne did so well himself, and while producing for other artists – and those snakey, soulful numbers that we love so much in the late 70s work from Roy Ayers – ultra-sophisticated, but still plenty darn grooving – and some of the most sensual soul you'll ever hope to hear. The whole thing's great – and titles include "Weekend Lover", "Thank You Thank You", "Can You Dance", "It Ain't Your Sign It's Your Mind", "You Make Me Feel Like Rockin With Ya", "Have Your Way", and "Million Dollar Baby". CD

A huge collection of work from one of the most important voices to emerge in 90s soul music – the great Gerald Levert, a singer who set a whole new tone for style and class with music like this! Gerald's the son of Eddie Levert, of O'Jays fame – and he not only has all the chops of his pops, but also really shines in laidback mellow soul territory – maybe pushing forward the aesthetic of 70s cuts by The Isleys or Marvin Gaye, with a more contemporary sensual vibe that was perfect for the shifts in soul music as the 21st Century approached! This 3CD set features 45 tracks in all – including a few single mixes that appear here on CD for the first time ever – including duet cuts that include "Baby Hold On To Me" with Eddie Levert, "That's The Way I Feel About You" with Mary J Blige, and "Close To You" with Tamia – and other cuts that include "School Me", "Private Line", "Mr Too Damn Good", "Dream With No Love", "Spill A Little Love", "What Makes It Good To You", "One Million Times", "Click A Glass", "DJ Don't", "Can You Handle It (rmx edit)", "Fire & Desire", "I Wanna Be Bad (rmx edit)", "Let Me Know", "Made To Love Ya", "Crucify Me", "Nothin To Somethin", and "Love Strete". CD

A tantric sensual masterpiece, served up with sitar musical backings from the great Jim Sullivan – and a set that's maybe one of the strangest albums to come out of that late 60s psychedelic moment when record labels were really willing to take chances on unusual material like this! Chitra Neogy originally created the album with just a microphone and a bit of echo – but the producer wisely added in some flute, percussion, and especially nice sitar to really flesh out the sound – creating this very cool mix of spoken word and sonic elements, as Neogy speaks on topics like "Advice To The Lovelorn", "Woman Is Like A Fruit", and "Encouragement Of The Lusty Wife" – while talking in a very traditional voice that's supposed to sound "authentic", and hide the racy nature of the material! CD

A classic album of off-color party songs from the notorious Davis/Beacon label – a key force in bringing some of the raunchier sounds of the strip clubs and burlesque houses to the world of the turntable in the living room! The title and cover should give you a good idea of what you're getting into – tunes that are full of double-entendres, and plenty of references to the more sensual side of life – delivered with jazzy backings that help the more subtle side of the messages slide in nicely! Faye Richmonde delivers the tunes "I Want A Man To Gimme Some Luck", "Tony's Got Hot Nuts", "Sadie's Still Got The Rag On", and "My Pussy Belongs To Daddy" – and other tracks include "I Tried It Everywhere" and "She Sits Among The Cabbages & Peas" by Saul T Peter, "Hey Mister Ice Man" and "Things Are Soft For Grandma" by Miss Dee, and "He Forgot His Rubbers" by Angelina. CD

Angie's out to prove that she's one of the best young soul singers around – kicking off the record with a straight acapella track, then rolling into some of the most classically soulful tracks she's ever recorded! The set's a stunner from the word go – grabbing us like a classic mellow soul album from the mid 70s, featuring production and instrumentation that seem to give Angie a deeper sound than we ever remember. The songwriting is simple, sensual, and damn effective – and even the presence of famous guests like Snoop, Floetry, and Anthony Hamilton come across as organic and necessary elements to the tunes – and not just gimmicky one-offs. Angie, we love ya more than ever! Titles include "I Wanna Thank Ya", "My Man", "U-Haul", "Stay For A While", "Lover's Ghetto", "You're Gonna Get It", and "Come Home". CD

A funky classic from the team of Roy Ayers and Wayne Henderson – both at the top of their game here, and effortlessly mixing together jazz, funk, and soul! The record really seems to embrace the best of both artists' styles – some of the bassy groovers that Wayne did so well himself, and while producing for other artists – and those snakey, soulful numbers that we love so much in the late 70s work from Roy Ayers – ultra-sophisticated, but still plenty darn grooving – and some of the most sensual soul you'll ever hope to hear. The whole thing's great – and titles include "Weekend Lover", "Thank You Thank You", "Can You Dance", "It Ain't Your Sign It's Your Mind", "You Make Me Feel Like Rockin With Ya", "Have Your Way", and "Million Dollar Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

The debut album from Robert Brookins – an artist who first made waves in the group Afterbach, and who also had close ties to the Earth Wind & Fire galaxy in the 80s! This set's got a tightness that definitely belies Robert's years working in the studio for other artists – but the sound is bold enough to be his own, too – confident, yet casual male vocals served up in a prime 80s mode – almost crossover at points, thanks to the production, yet hip enough overall to keep things interesting – especially on some of the mellower, more laidback numbers! Titles include "Our Lives", "If You Only Knew", "You Got Me Runnin", "Sensuality", "Be My Weakness", "Are You Bad Enough", and "In The Night", a duet with Stephanie Mills. LP, Vinyl record album

Old songs, but swung the Julie London way – and given a really cool feel here, thanks to jazzy backings from the great Jimmy Rowles! The group's clearly got some key west coast hornmen in the lineup – as some points feature some standout sax or trumpet bits that really help flavor the tunes – taking them way past Julie's usual sensual style, and offering up a great second element that really makes the record worth checking out! The tunes come across in ways you'd hardly expect – and titles include "Row Row Row", "By The Beautiful Sea", "Comin Thru The Rye", "After The Ball", "Cuddle Up A Little Closer", and "Old Folks At Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A tantric sensual masterpiece, served up with sitar musical backings from the great Jim Sullivan – and a set that's maybe one of the strangest albums to come out of that late 60s psychedelic moment when record labels were really willing to take chances on unusual material like this! Chitra Neogy originally created the album with just a microphone and a bit of echo – but the producer wisely added in some flute, percussion, and especially nice sitar to really flesh out the sound – creating this very cool mix of spoken word and sonic elements, as Neogy speaks on topics like "Advice To The Lovelorn", "Woman Is Like A Fruit", and "Encouragement Of The Lusty Wife" – while talking in a very traditional voice that's supposed to sound "authentic", and hide the racy nature of the material! LP, Vinyl record album

Sexy genius from Armando Trovajoli – the undisputed master maestro of the 60s Italian comedy! Casanova 70 has a great little score that blends together jazz and lighter Italian styles – a great link between the straighter jazz modes used in early 60s films, and some of the groovier, more mod-oriented styles that were taking over the Italian scene in the later part of the decade! There's some especially nice use of electric harpsichord on the record – quick little lines that have a tinkling, shimmering feel – often set against fuller Hammond, and a warmly grooving sense of rhythm. Titles include "Blues For Casanova", "Sensual Jazz", "Casanova 70", "Striptease", "Dino's Blues", "700 Jazz", and "Rubacuori". Plus, this massive CD reissue features a total of 34 tracks – 26 of which weren't on the original album – and which make for a really fantastic package! CD

A classic set from Christopher Williams – one of the richest-voiced singers in his generation of mainstream R&B – with a sensual warmth that goes back to the glory days of the 70s, but tuned a bit more towards that new jack aesthetic! Williams is also an actor – known for his work in New Jack City – and maybe that quality brings a bit more emotional depth to his presentation here – as Christopher's clearly a vocalist who's not going to sit back and let the rhythms do all the work for him! Titles include "Please Please Please", "Dreamin", "Every Little Thing U Do", "Don't U Wanna Make Love", "Where Is The Love", "Let's Get Right", "All I See", and a duet with Mary J Blige on "Good Luvin". CD features bonus tracks – "Every Little Thing U Do (Doug House mix)" and "Dreamin (crazy hip hop version)". CD

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Sweet and smooth 70s soul – hand-picked with a freshness that should appeal to folks who found these sounds through the hip hop that these grooves laid the sonic groundwork for. The tracks on here aren't as beat or break-heavy as some of the material on other sample-driven collections – but that's fine with us, as the tracks move into a sophisticated soul range that's always a pleasure to hear, bringing together the kind of well-produced 70s tracks we love! Titles include "Sweet Taste Of Sin" by Dennis Coffey, "I'll See You In Hell First" by Phillip Mitchell, "Do It To Me Now" by Fatback, "Don't Risk Your Happiness On Foolishness" by Fantastic Four, "Killing Time" by Natural Essence, "Your Love Is My Desire" by Eramus Hall, "Baby Get Down" by Eddie McLoyd, "Set It Out" by The Detroit Emeralds, "Love Starved" by Shirley Brown, "I'm Gonna Have To Tell Her" by Isaac Hayes, "If I Had The Power" by Johnny Guitar Watson, and "I Got To Have Your Love Now" by Caesar Frazier. CD

Gently graceful work from Art Farmer – and a wonderful example of the way he was expanding his talents in the 70s! The set's got a slow burning sensuality that seems to bring even more soul out of Farmer's work on flugelhorn than before – especially on the mellower cuts, which seem especially written as showcases for Art's masterful examples of understatement. But don't go thinking that the album's all ballads, because with a rhythm section that includes Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins, the tracks move along nicely, even when in a gentler mode. Titles include "The Summer Knows", "Ditty", "Manha Do Carnaval", and "When I Fall In Love". CD

The record that may well push Devon Gilfillian over the top – and a set that might also set a whole new standard in soul music as well! Devon's got a way of embracing the sensual presence of male soul stars from years back, while also presenting himself with a fragile, open quality that's really unique – one that comes through in the slight crackle of his vocals, and in the way the backings handled by producer Jeremy Lutito really fit the mode of the lyrics – this style that's crisply contemporary, but which feels as if it's come from a really special place in the spectrum – uniquely suited to the needs of Devon's vocals and lyrics. Titles include "Follow The Leader", "Brown Sugar Queen", "All I Really Wanna Do", "The Recipe", "Right Kind Of Crazy", "Imma Let My Body Move", "Love You Anyway", and "Let The Water Flow". LP, Vinyl record album

Riff weren't one of the only groups on the scene in the early 90s to tie old school harmonies with hip hop and new jack production elements – but given their vocal work on this album, they may well be one of the best – as the set definitely puts the vocals first, and really lets them find their flow! The group may be sporting a street look on the cover, but they've got the sensual warmth of old school Isleys at their best – really letting their voices flow and drift into a tune, a reference that's maybe more than apt, given that the album features a great remake of the Isley classic "Voyage To Atlantis"! Other tracks include "To Whom It May Concern", "Baby It's Yours", "Adjust Your Love", "Don't Go Nowhere", "Judy Had A Boyfriend", "Waiting", and "There'll Never Be". CD features the bonus track "Judy Had A Boyfriend (12" mix)". CD

Gently graceful work from Art Farmer – and a wonderful example of the way he was expanding his talents in the 70s! The set's got a slow burning sensuality that seems to bring even more soul out of Farmer's work on flugelhorn than before – especially on the mellower cuts, which seem especially written as showcases for Art's masterful examples of understatement. But don't go thinking that the album's all ballads, because with a rhythm section that includes Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins, the tracks move along nicely, even when in a gentler mode. Titles include "The Summer Knows", "Ditty", "Manha Do Carnaval", and "When I Fall In Love". CD

A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is completely intact – his amazing ability to create funky grooves, slinky sensuality, and songs that are so catchy, they can win over audiences on both sides of the fence. But there's also some deeper elements here going on too – maybe more space for thoughtful presentation spread out over the 2LPs that comprised the original record – at a level that's only more confirmation of the never-ending genius of prince! Titles include the great title cut "Sign O The Times" – plus "Strange Relationship", "Slow Love", "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", "Adore", "Ballad Of Dorothy Parker", "Housequake", "U Got The Look", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", "The Cross", "Hot Thing", and "Starfish & Coffee". CD

A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is completely intact – his amazing ability to create funky grooves, slinky sensuality, and songs that are so catchy, they can win over audiences on both sides of the fence. But there's also some deeper elements here going on too – maybe more space for thoughtful presentation spread out over the 2LPs that comprised the original record – at a level that's only more confirmation of the never-ending genius of prince! Titles include the great title cut "Sign O The Times" – plus "Strange Relationship", "Slow Love", "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", "Adore", "Ballad Of Dorothy Parker", "Housequake", "U Got The Look", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", "The Cross", "Hot Thing", and "Starfish & Coffee". 2020 version – remastered for the first time ever! 3CD version features lots of bonus tracks – single mixes and edits – all remastered – tracks that include "U Got The Look (long look)", "Shockadelica (12" long version)", "Hot Thing (ext rmx)", "Hot Thing (dub rmx)", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (fade)", "La La He He Hee (highly explosive)", "If I Was Your Girlfriend (edit)", "Housequake (7 minutes moquake)", and "Sign O The Times (edit)". CD

A great posthumous release from the mighty Marvin Gaye – a set that's half comprised of material that Marvin was working on before his early death, and half pulled from rare personal recordings he'd entrusted to his mother! The cover carries a message that some of the material might be "offensive to some listeners" – and the music is kind of an 80s extension of the sensual themes that Gaye first opened up in the 70s – taken to some slightly more sexual territory here. But other tracks are even more sophisticated than you might expect – very ambitious material that almost hint at a return to the greatness of early 70s Motown and its more complicated presentation of themes – and which offsets the love songs nicely. Together, the work makes for a surprisingly nice addition to Gaye's catalog – possibly not as essential as some of his classics, but still way better than the work of most – and proof that Marvin hardly ever missed at all! Titles include "Sanctified Lady", "Savage In The Sack", "It's Madness", "Ain't It Funny (How Things Turn Around)", "Symphony", "Life's Opera", and "Dream Of A Lifetime" CD

A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is completely intact – his amazing ability to create funky grooves, slinky sensuality, and songs that are so catchy, they can win over audiences on both sides of the fence. But there's also some deeper elements here going on too – maybe more space for thoughtful presentation spread out over the 2LPs that comprised the original record – at a level that's only more confirmation of the never-ending genius of prince! Titles include the great title cut "Sign O The Times" – plus "Strange Relationship", "Slow Love", "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", "Adore", "Ballad Of Dorothy Parker", "Housequake", "U Got The Look", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", "The Cross", "Hot Thing", and "Starfish & Coffee". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is completely intact – his amazing ability to create funky grooves, slinky sensuality, and songs that are so catchy, they can win over audiences on both sides of the fence. But there's also some deeper elements here going on too – maybe more space for thoughtful presentation spread out over the 2LPs that comprised the original record – at a level that's only more confirmation of the never-ending genius of prince! Titles include the great title cut "Sign O The Times" – plus "Strange Relationship", "Slow Love", "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", "Adore", "Ballad Of Dorothy Parker", "Housequake", "U Got The Look", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", "The Cross", "Hot Thing", and "Starfish & Coffee". 2020 version – remastered for the first time ever! 3CD version features lots of bonus tracks – single mixes and edits – all remastered – tracks that include "U Got The Look (long look)", "Shockadelica (12" long version)", "Hot Thing (ext rmx)", "Hot Thing (dub rmx)", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (fade)", "La La He He Hee (highly explosive)", "If I Was Your Girlfriend (edit)", "Housequake (7 minutes moquake)", and "Sign O The Times (edit)". CD

A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is completely intact – his amazing ability to create funky grooves, slinky sensuality, and songs that are so catchy, they can win over audiences on both sides of the fence. But there's also some deeper elements here going on too – maybe more space for thoughtful presentation spread out over the 2LPs that comprised the original record – at a level that's only more confirmation of the never-ending genius of prince! Titles include the great title cut "Sign O The Times" – plus "Strange Relationship", "Slow Love", "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", "Adore", "Ballad Of Dorothy Parker", "Housequake", "U Got The Look", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", "The Cross", "Hot Thing", and "Starfish & Coffee". 2020 version – remastered for the first time ever! Massive 8CD/DVD version features lots more material! CD3 features remastered tracks from singles – including "U Got The Look (long look)", "Shockadelica (12" long version)", "Hot Thing (ext rmx)", "Hot Thing (dub rmx)", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (fade)", "La La He He Hee (highly explosive)", "If I Was Your Girlfriend (edit)", "Housequake (7 minutes moquake)", and "Sign O The Times (edit)". CD4, 5, and 6 include unreleased tracks from Prince's vault – unusual songs, alternate takes, demo versions, and lots more – all appearing here for the first time ever! CD7 and 8 feature an unreleased vintage live show in its entirety – recorded in Utrecht, on June 20, 1987. DVD features an unreleased full Live At Paisley Park show – recorded on New Year's Eve in 1987! Also features a 120 page hardback book – with rare photos, new notes, and lots lots more! CD

A fantastic record from Prince – a double-length set that came out at a time when the purple one was brimming over with energy and new ideas – and a step slightly in the direction of more socially conscious material! Everything that was great about Prince before the record is completely intact – his amazing ability to create funky grooves, slinky sensuality, and songs that are so catchy, they can win over audiences on both sides of the fence. But there's also some deeper elements here going on too – maybe more space for thoughtful presentation spread out over the 2LPs that comprised the original record – at a level that's only more confirmation of the never-ending genius of prince! Titles include the great title cut "Sign O The Times" – plus "Strange Relationship", "Slow Love", "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", "Adore", "Ballad Of Dorothy Parker", "Housequake", "U Got The Look", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", "The Cross", "Hot Thing", and "Starfish & Coffee". Remastered for the first time ever! LP, Vinyl record album

The record that may well push Devon Gilfillian over the top – and a set that might also set a whole new standard in soul music as well! Devon's got a way of embracing the sensual presence of male soul stars from years back, while also presenting himself with a fragile, open quality that's really unique – one that comes through in the slight crackle of his vocals, and in the way the backings handled by producer Jeremy Lutito really fit the mode of the lyrics – this style that's crisply contemporary, but which feels as if it's come from a really special place in the spectrum – uniquely suited to the needs of Devon's vocals and lyrics. Titles include "Follow The Leader", "Brown Sugar Queen", "All I Really Wanna Do", "The Recipe", "Right Kind Of Crazy", "Imma Let My Body Move", "Love You Anyway", and "Let The Water Flow". CD