Nice and jazzy – with tracks that include "Alfred Hitchcok Presents", "M Squad", "Richard Diamond", "Private Eyeball", "Riff Blues", and "The DA's Man". Arrangements by Pete Rugolo and Skippy Martin! LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing vocal work from The Olympics – a great little group who bridged the gap between doo wop and 60s soul – and who had a pyrotechnic style that only The Coasters could match! Like The Coasters, The Olympics often mixed in a good deal of humor with their tunes – not only in the subject matter, which often included topics from the lower end of the mid century cultural spectrum, but also in the way they delivered the tunes – which was always lively and exuberant! This quality made for some nice little groovers in the group's repertoire too – tunes that rock and roll with an early approach to upbeat 60s soul, and which has made some of their numbers perennial dancefloor favorites. Titles include "Little Pedro", "Dodge City", "Private Eye", "Big Boy Pete", "Big Chief Little Puss", "Stay Away From Joe", and "Baby Hully Gully"; plus bonus tracks not included in the original issue. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

What can we say? We winced at this one back when it came out, but over the years, it's got a real "Free Soul" appeal to us – with vocals that are surprisingly soulful in parts, some nice 80s mellow soul instrumentation, and even a few hooks that are real guilty pleasures. Includes the smooth grooving "I Can't Go For That", plus "Mano A Mano", "Did It In A Minute", "Head Above Water", "Your Imagination", and "Private Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent primer for fans of blacksploitation soundtracks! The set was put together by Ice T as an homage to all the great black action films of the 70s – and it's a good selection of vocal hits from scores that may well be known more for their instrumental funk. And sure, the selection's a bit basic – but it's also a good place to start, and hearing the vocal numbers is kind of a different hook into the films than the usual instrumental riffs. Titles include "Love Doctor" by Millie Jackson, "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch, "Blowin Your Mind" by OC Smith, "Are You Man Enough" by The Four Tops, "Make A Resolution" by The Impressions, "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack, "Theme Of Foxy Brown" by Willie Hutch, "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye, "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes, and "Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield. CD

Packed with hits! Selections include "Maneater", "I Can't Go For That", "Rich Girl", "She's Gone", "Kiss On My List", "Private Eyes", "You Make My Dreams", and more! LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from this blue-eyed soul group of the 70s – one who've been picked and kept alive by some key underground scenes over the years – like the Northern Soul world of the UK, and the beach music scene in the Carolinas! The group here have some key jazz contributions from Mike Melvoin on piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, and Tom Scott on tenor – and as with their first record, there's a nice current of soul running through the music – a way of using soulful elements in subtle ways, which is really the appeal of these guys – as they really know how to slide in with a compelling style and a warm vocal approach! Titles include "Get It Up For Love", "I Can't Stop This Love Song", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Who's Foolin' Who", and "Magical Lady". CD features four bonus tracks, all singles – "Skysurf", "Can't Let You Down", "Gemini Lady", and "Love Connection". CD

Titles include "Back In The City", "Swear", "Hard To Say It's Over", "Hungry Eyes", "All By Myself", "Love & Affection", "Strut", and "Sugar Walls". CD

An overlooked album of blue-eyed soul from Essra Mohawk – a singer who seemed to get better as the 70s moved on, and who works here with some nice jazzy touches in the backings! The album's got some great arrangements from Sonny Burke, who also plays keyboards – and the overall presentation of the album is more soul than you might expect, right down to some of the clubbier rhythms at the bottom, which are the more familiar approach of the Private Stock label at the time! Essra's vocals are great throughout – very distinct, in ways that make the album a surprising treasure – on titles that include "Summersong", "I Wanna Feel Ya", "God Help It", "Appointment With A Dream", and "Holy Trinity". CD

An overlooked AOR gem from this cool southern group – one who've got a nicely funky vibe at times, and a style that creates this different spin on LA styles of the period! The vocals have an electrified vibe that works very well with the keyboards and guitar – and there's plenty of soulful currents in the rhythms that almost make some of the best cuts sound like the midtempo AWB gems from the late 70s! Titles include "City Of The Future", "Call Me", "Sunset Eyes", "A Fool In Line", "Little Bird", and "Fat Boy". CD

An 80s pop soul classic from Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force – insistent and irresistible to this day – and a solid album full of tunes that stand up strongly with their unstoppable hit singles of the period! Yes, the sound would get a bit too cutesy and played out by the end of the 80s, if you lived through those years, but it's amazing how nice it sounds all these years later! There's nice dose of electro and early hip hop creeping in, it's the breakout "I Wonder If I Take You Home" is, straight-up, one of our favorite mid 80s mainstream R&B jams. Also includes "Can You Feel The Beat", "You'll Never Change", "All Cried Out", "This Is Cult Jam", "Behind My Eyes", "Private Property" and "Take Me Home (Rap)". CD