You might know Malaco Records as a hotbed of deep soul during the 70s – but as the decade progressed, the southern label also really opened up to some of the warmer, more sophisticated styles that were brewing up north – all to create a magnificent sort of hybrid that really helped move its music forward! The vibe is a bit hard to describe, but maybe imagine late 70s Philly soul with some deeper soul vocals – warm, but never too polished or commercial – and still very close to the best traditions of earlier soul music, while sounding a bit more mature. Artists here include some older southern soul acts from the 60s, mixed with up-and-comers in the 70s, and a few special acts that Malaco helped discover themselves – in a great set of 20 tracks that include "Sweet Life" by Frederick Knight, "Girl Overboard" by Dorothy Moore, "Trust In Me" by Natural High, "Sara Smile" by Latimore, "Let Me Be" by The Duncans, "Show Me" by Mosley & Johnson, "Come To Bed" by Denise Lasalle, "So In Love" by Freedom, "Groovin" by Power, "I Wonder Where The Love Has Gone" by Shirley Brown, "I Need Your Love" by Patterson Twins, "Just To Love Someone Like You" by Sho Nuff, "Take A Chance On Me" by Eddie Floyd, "Let Your Love Rain Down On Me" by Jewel Bass, and "When Can We Do This All Over Again" by ZZ Hill. CD

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A brilliant little compilation – despite the title – one that showcases some of the best work from the legendary Jackson scene of the 70s! As the Memphis and Muscle Shoals scenes were beginning to slow down after years of great soul records in the 60s, Jackson, Mississippi picked up the slack – thanks to the mighty might Malaco Studios! And while the Malaco name later became more associated with the label of the same name – and put out some great blues and soul albums in the 80s – back in the early years, the studio was more of an overall crossroads for many different styles of southern soul, and opened its gates to loads of excellent talent that wasn't getting recorded elsewhere. The depth of the set will really surprise you, as there's some tracks that have a straighter southern soul, but others with styles that are a bit more modern, sophisticated, and at times, even sound a bit like work coming out from east coast indie labels of the period. The set's got 21 tracks in all – filled with sublime work that represents some of the best of the indie scene of the south at the time, most of which you've probably never heard before, plus a few more modern numbers that are equally great! Titles include "Don't Matter To Me" by Billy Cee, "Calling For Your Love" by The Enticers, "All The Way In Love With You" by Ray Crumley, "Standing In The Wings Of A Heartache" by Ted Taylor, "I'm Gonna Love You More" by Richard Caiton, "Foot Loose & Fancy Free" by Carolyn Hudson, "Last Minute Plans" by Chuck Brooks, "Get Some Understanding" by Patrick Green, "When We Touch" by Floyd Taylor, "Kiss & Tell" by Stan Mosley, and "What Do We Have To Lose" by Sam Dees. CD

A tasty little package, and one that hones in on some of the key artists that helped make the Malaco Records label so great in the 70s and 80s – a mix of blues singers and artists you might know from earlier work in southern soul – talents who got a great new showcase on Malaco, where they really helped evolve the music past more familiar modes of the 60s! Most of the artists are presented here with a few tracks each, in clusters within the set list – and titles include "Love Me Or Leave Me" and "I Just Tripped On A Piece Of Your Broken Heart" by Bobby Blue Bland, "Talkin In Your Sleep" and "See Saw" by Denise LaSalle, "Wall To Wall" and "Can I Love You" by Johnnie Taylor, "I'm At The End Of My Rainbow" and "Cheatin Is A Dirty Business" by Little Milton, "Talk To Me" and "Stay Close To Home" by Dorothy Moore, "Shade Tree Mechanic" and "Friday Is My Day" by ZZ Hill, and "I Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" by James Bradley. CD

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Thelonious Monk on piano, Charlie Rouse on tenor saxophone, Larry Gales on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. CD

Later work from Dorothy Moore – one of the singers who first really helped the Malaco label rise as a southern soul powerhouse in the 70s, still going strong here at the start of the 90s! Moore has definitely adapted her vocal style to fit some of the changes of the times – and she's working at points with modes that echo the modern, sophisticated styles of bigger female R&B vocalists at the start of the 90s – while still getting some great down home support on the best numbers, in true Malaco style! These cuts really stand out, and show that Dorothy's still alive as a southern soul singer – on titles that include "He Thinks I Still Care", "More Than Just Another Heart", "Your Body's Here With Me", "Feel The Love", "All Night Blue", and "Be Strong Enough To Hold On". CD

Great 90s work from Dorothy Moore – a set that has her returning to the deep soul modes in which she first got her start – with maybe a slight 90s tweak in terms of production, but an approach that's very much in the classic mode of Malaco Records! Dorothy's got some great songwriting help here – as the album features tunes from George Jackson, Sam Dee, and Frederick Knight – who make for a record that's overflowing with overlooked gems, sung by Moore with that voice that can still knock it out of the park! Titles include "Read Me My Rights", "What You Won't Do For Love", "A Woman Without Love", "Till The End Of Time", "Stay Close To Home", "It's Rainin On My Side Of The Bed", "I Betcha Didn't Know That", and "Before I Fall In Love Again". CD

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Little Milton's in some wonderful company here – recording at the best Malaco level of the 80s, which means an equal dose of deep soul and blues! Milton's voice has only gotten better over the years – and he's honestly a more expressive singer here than during the Chess years, really developed as a vocalist especially on the mellower numbers, which are completely sublime. There's still plenty of blues in the mix, and certainly some nice guitar – but the overall approach is more southern soul overall, as Milton really opens up on tunes written by greats like George Jackson, McKinley Mitchell, and the team of Banks & Hampton. Titles include "I Was Trying Not To Break Down", "Caught In The Act Of Getting It On", "Penitentiary Blues", "I Don't Believe In Ghosts", "The End Of The Rainbow", and "You Can't Trust Your Neighbor". CD

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Produced by Tommy Couch and Wolf Stephenson with a classic Malaco approach! LP, Vinyl record album

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A later gem from Bobby Blue Bland – done in a smooth style that fits the later approach of the Malaco label, but with a vocal style that hasn't dimmed a bit over the years! Bobby's still got that incredible rasp in his voice – that approach that easily made him one of the most soulful bluesmen of his generation – with a sense of sophistication and understanding of the music that holds true throughout the entire record. The vibe's a bit like some of Bland's late work for ABC – and titles include "Members Only", "In The Ghetto", "Heart Open Again", "I Need Your Love So Bad", "Straight From The Shoulder", and "Sweet Woman's Love". CD

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Warmly soulful work from this great gospel quintet – a set that features the original tunes "Lord I've Tried", "Sunshine", "All & All", and "Meeting" – plus a version of the Isaac Hayes/David Porter tune "Nobody Knows". LP, Vinyl record album

Produced by Tommy Couch and Wolf Stephenson with a classic Malaco approach! CD

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A definite nuclear blast from Reverend Douglas Bell and his very hip Stage Cruisers group – working here in a gritty mode that brings plenty of funk and soul currents into the world of gospel vocals! Douglas is more of a singer than a preacher at times – a great lead vocalist who almost feels as if he's singing on early work done for Malaco Records – with support on guitar and keyboards that have a nicely gritty vibe, and backing vocals that sweeten things up in all the right ways! Titles include "Nuclear Blast", "Bitter And The Sweet", "I Got To Make Heaven My Home", "Hard Love Affair", "I Got A Home", "I'll Fight Goliath", "How Many Miles To Heaven", and "What You Need From The Lord". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the more unusual albums on the Roadshow label – an imprint best known for New York club in the mid 70s, but here used to showcase the great talents of Ben Moore – a singer who mixes older southern modes with a bit of a modern soul vibe – in an approach that works equally well on the mellow tracks and the groovers! The set was recorded in Nashville and Muscle Shoals – and clearly has an ear towards some of the sounds happening up north at the time – particularly that new level of sophisticated modern soul that some of the Philly male singers were using as the disco years started to wane. Yet Ben Moore's also got more of a southern soul vibe in his vocal phrasing, too – and blended here with smoother backings creates a fresh sound that's a bit like some of the best on Malaco at the time. Titles include "Keeping In Touch", "Get Closer", "Slippin Away", "Love Music", "Easy As Pie", "I've Got A Winner In You", and "I Ain't Got To Love Nobody Else". CD

Deep deep soul from the great Johnnie Taylor – one of the real stalwarts of the Stax Records scene, especially during the post-68 years, when he scored a string of hits for the label! Taylor's always had a lot of blues influence in his music – a similar blend with soul that you'd find in Chicago singers from the west side – and this set brings out that blues element even more clearly, almost hinting at the direction that Taylor would take in the 80s, when he was recording for the smaller Malaco label down in Jackson. All titles are newly remastered for the collection – and titles include "I Had A Dream", "Stop Doggin Me", "Woman Across The River", "Save Your Love For Me", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "Doing My Own Thing (part 1)", "Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed", "That's Where It's At", and "Steal Away". CD

Deep deep soul from the great Johnnie Taylor – one of the real stalwarts of the Stax Records scene, especially during the post-68 years, when he scored a string of hits for the label! Taylor's always had a lot of blues influence in his music – a similar blend with soul that you'd find in Chicago singers from the west side – and this set brings out that blues element even more clearly, almost hinting at the direction that Taylor would take in the 80s, when he was recording for the smaller Malaco label down in Jackson. All titles are newly remastered for the collection – and titles include "I Had A Dream", "Stop Doggin Me", "Woman Across The River", "Save Your Love For Me", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "Doing My Own Thing (part 1)", "Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed", "That's Where It's At", and "Steal Away". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic live album from the great Betty Wright – and one of the few recorded documents of the way that classic soul singers would evolve the nature of their songs in a concert setting! Betty's recording for Alston/TK here, but the mode she uses is one that would grace countless performances to come from lots of her southern soul contemporaries, including many who would end up recording for Malaco in the 80s – this warmly personal, all-entertainment approach that really heightens the spirit of the singer way past their familiar songs and lyrics. Betty does some great monologue bits on the album – the most famous of which is on her 8 minute take of "Tonight Is The Night" – hugely superior to the studio version. There's also a great "Clean Up Woman Medley", in which betty sings that song and mixes it with bits of other 70s songs over the course of 11 minutes – showing that she's the one and only clean up woman! Other tracks include "Where Is The Love", "You Can't See For Lookin", "Lovin Is Really My Game", and "A Song For You". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic folk blues and acoustic Americana from Lucinda Williams – her first record for Folkways – recorded at Malaco Studios with just Lucinda's naturally wonderful vocals, 12 string strumming, and 6 string accompaniment by John Grimaudo! Ramblin' finds Lucinda doing passionate, but somehow kind of relaxed renditions of a numbers from blues, folk and traditional canon, numbers by Robert Johnson, Memphis Minnie, Hank Williams, the Carter Family and others. Lucinda was much more celebrated decades later, but nothing she's done works better than the Folkways era for our ears. Includes "Ramblin' On My Mind", "Me And My Chauffer", "Malted Milk Balls", "Disgusted", "Drop Down Daddy", "Jambalaya", "Satisfied Mind" and more. CD

Tight and soulful blues from Little Milton – just the sort of record that helped him cross over to bigger audiences back in the day, and a set that still sounds plenty great all these many years later! The set was done in Chicago – arranged by James Mack, with backing vocals from Kitty & The Haywoods – and the sound is a sweet west side mix of rootsy and soulful elements – a blend that shows the same growing sophistication of the Malaco scene at the time, at a level that moves nicely away from college circuit blues cliches of the 70s. Milton's vocals are wonderful – raspy and appealing with a Tyrone Davis-like charm – and titles include "Friend Of Mine", "Don't Turn Away", "You're Gonna Make Me Cry", "It's All Bad News", "Sundown", "Bring It On Back", and "Baby It Ain't No Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Little Milton's always been as much of a soul singer as a bluesman – and this overlooked gem from the 70s has him hitting equally well on both fronts! The set's a great precursor to Milton's 80s revival on Malaco – but has the singer working in Chicago, with these deep soul arrangements by James Mack – who also brings in the excellent Kitty & The Haywoods for backing vocals! Little Milton's not trying too hard to overstate himself – and some cuts have this laidback, slow-burning feel that's nicely southern soul – mixed with a few funky moments that are equally nice. Titles include "Just One Step", "Me For You You For Me", "Loving You (Is The Best Thing To Happen To Me)", and "My Thing Is You". LP, Vinyl record album

A near-lost comeback effort from Solomon Burke – recorded at the start of the 90s for the mostly-rock Bizarre label, but a surprisingly well-done set overall! The mode here is often in that southern soul revival style used by Malaco heavily in the 80s and 90s – an approach that sounded a bit unusual for Solomon at the time, but which has a nicely aged appeal here. Instrumentation is sometimes modern – at least for the time – but given that Burke was hardly recording secular soul albums in the 80s, the record's kind of like the one he never got to make from that decade, with instrumentation that's sometimes a bit electric, but vocals that haven't faltered a bit! Titles include "Baby Please Don't Cry", "Try A Little Tenderness", "Make It Up To You", "Stayin Away", "Home Land", "I'll Be There", and "Love Ain't No Easy Place To Be". CD

Little Milton's always been as much of a soul singer as a bluesman – and this overlooked gem from the 70s has him hitting equally well on both fronts! The set's a great precursor to Milton's 80s revival on Malaco – but has the singer working in Chicago, with these deep soul arrangements by James Mack – who also brings in the excellent Kitty & The Haywoods for backing vocals! Little Milton's not trying too hard to overstate himself – and some cuts have this laidback, slow-burning feel that's nicely southern soul – mixed with a few funky moments that are equally nice. Titles include "Just One Step", "Me For You You For Me", "Loving You (Is The Best Thing To Happen To Me)", and "My Thing Is You". CD

The title's not right – as there's plenty of soul and plenty of blues throughout – just the sort of thing we'd expect from Stan Mosley's long legacy of indie recordings from the contemporary underground! We first started hearing Stan's music on the Malaco label at the end of the 90s – a great continuation of that company's way of keeping southern soul alive by mixing it with a bit of blues – a quality that definitely comes through on some of these cuts, with a bit of blues guitar solo in the lineup – while Stan soars out as more of a deep soul singer on others! The vocals are wonderful throughout – nicely unbridled, and very much up to Mosley's legacy – on titles that include "You Need Love", "Blues Man", "I Can't Get Next To You", "This Train", "Losing Hand", "Stomp", "Right Next Door", and "I'm Back To Collect". LP, Vinyl record album

There's nothing blues-like about this great little cut from 1979 – one that has Warren Raye singing deep soul vocals over a slow-stepping groove with some warm modern soul production – very much in that warmer shift in southern soul that was taking place on labels like Malaco in the latter half of the 70s – a quality that's carried through on the flipside – an excellent cut that wasn't even issued back in the day! 7-inch, Vinyl record