... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Features Too $hort, Spice 1, Freddy B, MC Breed, Father Dom, Erick Sermon, Shorty B, and others. CD

An excellent album from Brother Jack – one that has him making a shift from organ to electric keyboards, but in a mode that loses none of his funkiness, none of his soul, and none of his wit! The album's got some wonderfully angular groovers – showing that McDuff was always growing his style, working into grooves that always pushed him past his earlier work. Includes the stellar tracks "The City Bump" and "Layin' Back" – plus "Show Casing", "Half Breed", and "Fourth Dimension". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most spiritual recordings put out by the Strata East label – and the album that put tenor giant Billy Harper on the map! Harper leads a hip group here – one that features George Cables on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, Jimmy Owens on trumpet, and Julian Priester on trombone – and they're joined by a quintet of voices that includes Eugene McDaniels, all singing behind the jazz players in an uplifting spiritual mode that cries out with the new soul jazz freedom of the 70s! Max Roach and Donald Byrd had begun experiments like this a decade before, but Harper's work here blows them all away – with a sense of righteousness and focus that's simply astounding, especially considering that the album was Billy's first as a leader! Harper's solos are worth the price of the record alone – searing with a raw, post-Coltrane energy as he darts in and out of the voices in the backings. Titles are all original compositions – and include "Capra Black", "Soulfully I Love You", "New Breed", "Sir Galahad", and "Cry of Hunger". LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a spiritual jazz session from trumpeter Milt Ward – a relatively obscure player who worked on the same 70s Boston underground scene as Stanton Davis – a friend of Milt's and a good comparison to the sound of this one rare album! The vibe is a bit like that of Davis' Ghetto Mysticism – spiritual jazz, but delivered with a soulful focus throughout – tunes that still have plenty of room for strong solos, but also groove a bit too – all instrumental, and served up by a tremendous lineup that includes the great Carlos Garnett on tenor, plus Bill Pierce on soprano and tenor, Delmar Brown on electric and acoustic piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Ignacio Mena on percussion! There's a very special spirit to the record – a set that's not just rare, but a rare breed of wonderful – with titles that include "The Charle", "Virgo Paths", "Juneboy's Frismas", "Mr Cheese", and "Morning Glories". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection put together in the late 80s highlighting some of the best soul and R&B instrumental tracks issued on Sue. 14 tracks in all, including "I've Got A Woman (part one)", "MG Blues" and "All About My Girl" by Jimmy McGriff, "The New Breed (parts 1 & 2)" and "Going Home" by Ike Turner, 'Fat Back" and "Good Time Tonight" by Bill Doggett, "June's Blues" and "Chicken Scratch" by the Commandos, "So Far Away" and "Monkey Hips &Rice" by Hank Jacobs, "Stick Shift" by the Duals and "Soul At Sunrise" by Juggy Murray Jones. LP, Vinyl record album

Melting Pot Music is funky funky music – a great spot where straight instrumental funk resonates equally with loop-based remakes – served up with an intensity that really matches the spirit of the classics from the late 60s and early 70s, but also with a playful and youthful feel that's almost even better! The vibe here is strongly in the Quantic/Tru Thoughts mode – and like that work, there's a real respect for the older analogue sounds of the past – styles that are sometimes played live by core funky combos, and other times reworked from older records in great new ways! Titles include "Hip N Soul Shake" by The Malcouns, "We Getting Down" by Soul Village, "I Give You My Life" by Vietnam Veterans, "Soul 69" by A-Ko, "All Hail The Queen" by Queen Eve & The Kings, "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" by Soul Village, "Four Hills" by DJ Day, "Massak Theme" by Massak, "Cafone Going" by Devil McDoom, "Untitled" by A-Ko, "Peacock Strut" by Lefties Soul Connection, and "Horny Pipin Bats (DC mix)" by Imperial Breed. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Art Carney & friends, Larry Large, McLean & McLean, Homer & Jethro, Sonny Day & Rare Breed, Ben Bolt & the Nuts, Smokey, the Rare Sound, Tony Randall & Jack Klugman, the Matty Brothers, and more – 29 songs in all. CD

Music from CeCe Winans, Smokie Norful, Fred Hammond, Darwin Hobbs, Mandisa, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Israel & New Breed, Angie Winans, Aaron Neville, and more. CD

Stirring sounds from the start of the 60s – all pulled from that magical moment when soul was first coming into place – brought together out of different strands of grooves that were rumbling around in the 50s! The set mixes R&B, vocal group, and even a bit of pop – but all with a sound that's plenty soulful throughout – and really uncovers some lesser-known gems in the process! These Outta Sight collections are always great for Northern Soul – and this one shows the roots of the genre – and really illustrates the way that so many 21st Century collectors are turning back to the generation before Motown. Titles include "I Say Hello" by Jimmy Breedlove, "Darling I Know Now" by The Mystics, "Because Of You" by The Dreamers, "Boss Bossa Nova" by Bellino, "Summertime" by Barbara D'Orleans, "Hi Fi Baby" by Teddy McRae, "Humdinger" by Little Marie Allen, "Please Don't Go" by Johnny Acey, "Baby Oh Baby" by The Shells, "Oh What A Fool" by Big Jay McNeeley, and "I Walk On" by Little Tommy & The Elgins. CD