Rick James' first LP for Motown subsidiary Gordy – an effort that was to provide the blueprint for his later success! James' trademark pop bass funk style is fully formed on this one already, and though we may once have thought little of the slick production and style, looking back this stuff has a good bit more substance than some of the other commercial R & B of the day! "Mary Jane" & "You & I" were the 2 big hits of this album, which also includes "Be My Lady", "Hollywood" & "Sexy Lady". CD

One of the all-time great Rick James albums – a return to funkier sounds for Rick that worked both artistically and commercially – and actually got over far better than his more blatant attempts at crossover material on other records! The mix here is perfect – a true summation of all that made Motown great at the time, and the special sort of energy that made Rick one of the freshest mainstream talents at the end of the 70s! The record put a lot of money in Barry Gordy's pockets, and for good reason too – given that the set includes the classic hit "Super Freak" – plus "Give It To Me Baby", "Ghetto Life", "Make Love To Me", "Below The Funk (Pass The J)", and "Fire & Desire" – all done in that compressed pop-funky style that James kind of took from Bootsy Collins and manage to successfully soup up for the masses! CD also features the bonus tracks "Give It To Me Baby (12" mix)" and "Super Freak (12" mix)". CD

One of the all-time great Rick James albums – a return to funkier sounds for Rick that worked both artistically and commercially – and actually got over far better than his more blatant attempts at crossover material on other records! The mix here is perfect – a true summation of all that made Motown great at the time, and the special sort of energy that made Rick one of the freshest mainstream talents at the end of the 70s! The record put a lot of money in Barry Gordy's pockets, and for good reason too – given that the set includes the classic hit "Super Freak" – plus "Give It To Me Baby", "Ghetto Life", "Make Love To Me", "Below The Funk (Pass The J)", and "Fire & Desire" – all done in that compressed pop-funky style that James kind of took from Bootsy Collins and manage to successfully soup up for the masses! LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Features guest work from Boney James on saxes and Chris Standring on guitars! CD

The second smoking album from Captain Sky – a Windy City funk legend, and one who's cut from some of the same cloth as Bootsy Collins or Rick James! Like both of those artists, the Captain's a pretty imposing figure, with a bit of future flash to his looks – and while he uses lots of the basslines that might tie him to Bootsy and the P-Funk universe, he's also got a groove that mixes in some of the more sophisticated modes you'd know from the Chicago scene at the time! There's almost a late Curtom feel to the record – tight funk, a bit faster than early in the decade, but still not really disco – and with some mellow midtempo tracks that balance things out beautifully – and really show Sky evolving past the style of his first record. Tracks include "Moonchild", "Fearless", "Cream & Sugar", "Rebirth", "Hero", "Double You SKY", and "Ker-Runch". CD

The second smoking album from Captain Sky – a Windy City funk legend, and one who's cut from some of the same cloth as Bootsy Collins or Rick James! Like both of those artists, the Captain's a pretty imposing figure, with a bit of future flash to his looks – and while he uses lots of the basslines that might tie him to Bootsy and the P-Funk universe, he's also got a groove that mixes in some of the more sophisticated modes you'd know from the Chicago scene at the time! There's almost a late Curtom feel to the record – tight funk, a bit faster than early in the decade, but still not really disco – and with some mellow midtempo tracks that balance things out beautifully – and really show Sky evolving past the style of his first record. Tracks include "Moonchild", "Fearless", "Cream & Sugar", "Rebirth", "Hero", "Double You SKY", and "Ker-Runch". LP, Vinyl record album

The legend of Teena Marie lives again, and in a really beautiful way – as John Morales serves up tunes that work together almost as a tribute to the memory of the lady – with these really fresh versions that seem to add a lot of majesty to the sound as well! These aren't easy remixes that just focus on the hooks – and instead, Morales strips the tunes down and builds them up from the core – sometimes adding elements that were removed from the original versions that were issued, or bringing in his own touches in ways that make us wonder what sort of magic might have happened, had Motown let John into the studio to produce some of her classic albums. Make no mistake, if you love Teena Marie, you'll find plenty here to love – but the set is also just way more than a set of remixes too – with sublime takes on tunes that include "You're All The Boogie I Need", "I Need Your Lovin", "365", "Portuguese Love", "Chains", "It Must Be Magic", "First Class Love", "Aladdin's Lamp", "Behind The Groove", "Square Biz", "Now That I Have You", "You're All The Boogie I Need", "I'm A Sucker For Your Love (live)", "Wasn't I Good To You", "More Love", "Lonely Desire", and her duet with Rick James on "Fire & Desire". CD

The legend of Teena Marie lives again, and in a really beautiful way – as John Morales serves up tunes that work together almost as a tribute to the memory of the lady – with these really fresh versions that seem to add a lot of majesty to the sound as well! These aren't easy remixes that just focus on the hooks – and instead, Morales strips the tunes down and builds them up from the core – sometimes adding elements that were removed from the original versions that were issued, or bringing in his own touches in ways that make us wonder what sort of magic might have happened, had Motown let John into the studio to produce some of her classic albums. Make no mistake, if you love Teena Marie, you'll find plenty here to love – but the set is also just way more than a set of remixes too – with sublime takes on tunes that include "You're All The Boogie I Need", "I Need Your Lovin", "365", "Portuguese Love", "Chains", "It Must Be Magic", "First Class Love", "Aladdin's Lamp", "Behind The Groove", "Square Biz", "Now That I Have You", "You're All The Boogie I Need", and her duet with Rick James on "Fire & Desire". LP, Vinyl record album

Rob McConnell on valve trombone, Steve Wallace on bass, Ernie Pattison on bass trombone, Rick Wilkins on clarinet and tenor saxophone, Terry Clarke on drums, Bob Leonard on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and baritone saxophone, Eugene Amaro on flute, clarinet, and tenor saxophone, John Johnson and Moe Koffman on flute, soprano and alto saxophone, and clarinet, Gary Pattison and James MacDonald on french horn, Ed Bickert on guitar, Brian Leonard on percussion, Don Thompson on piano, Bob Livingston, Ian McDougall and Jerry Johnson on trombones, Steve McDade, Arnie Chycoski, Dave Woods, Guido Basso and John MacLeod on trumpet and flugelhorn. CD

Rob McConnell on valve trombone, Moe Koffman on piccolo, flute, clarinet, soprano & alto saxophones, John Johnson on flute, clarinet, soprano & alto saxophones, Alex Dean on flute, clarinet & tenor saxophone, Rick Wilkins on clarinet & tenor saxophone, Bob Leonard on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet & baritone saxophone, Dave Dunlop on lead trumpet, flugelhorn, Steve McDade on trumpet & flugelhorn, John MacLeod on trumpet & flugelhorn, Guido Basso on trumpet & flugelhorn, Kevin Turcotte on trumpet & flugelhorn, Alastair Kay on lead trombone, Bob Livingston on trombone, Jerry Johnson on trombone, Ernie Pattison on bass trombone, James MacDonald on french horn, Judy Kay on french horn, David Restivo on piano, Ed Bickert on guitar, Jim Vivian on bass & Ted Warren on drums. CD

Directed by Neil Slater, with featured soloists Rene Saenz on alto, John Murphy and John Nugent on tenor, James Farnsworth on baritone, Patrick Mallinger on soprano, John Ballantyne on piano, Mark Prather on trumpet, Tony Pia on drums, Rick Peckham on guitar, Jim Rotondi on trumpet, and Bret Zvaceck on trombone. LP, Vinyl record album

Genius work from one of the greatest Southern Soul studios ever – Muscle Shoals' legendary Fame Studios – the start of a huge wave of great music in the 60s, and a genre-changing sound that's still going strong today! The package is the best we've ever seen to look at Fame – not just a killer selection of the studio's music – 75 tracks that bring together rare singles, hits, and some lesser-known gems – but also a beautiful hardcover book, filled with pages and pages of great notes, vintage images, and more – really telling the unique take of Fame, producer Rick Hall, and all the mighty talents who helped make Muscle Shoals one of the most important sites for soul music in the 60s and 70s. Titles include "Ten Miles High" by David & The Giants, "Search Your Heart" by George Jackson, "Let Them Talk" by Dan Penn, "Two In The Morning" by Spooner's Crowd, "Lady In The Rain" by Lowell Fulson, "Wanted Lover" by James Govan, "Grits & Gravy" by The Fame Gang, "Get Involved" by George Soule, "What Color Is Love" by Roscoe Robinson, "Laugh It Off" by The Tams, "Thief In The Night" by Ben & Spence, "Take Me Just As I Am" by Mitty Collier, "I'm Just A Prisoner" by Candi Staton, "Thread The Needle" by Clarence & Calvin, and "Slippin Around With You" by Art Freeman. CD

We can't get enough of Fame Records – that legendary powerhouse of southern soul in the 60s and 70s – and fortunately, the vaults of the studios have finally been opened after all these decades – and we're really getting the full picture of all the genius that went down in Muscle Shoals! This tremendous little package is essential southern soul listening for both the collector and newcomer – a whopping 24 tracks that virtually define the sound of the genre at its height – handled perfectly by producer Rick Hall and his core combo of crack musicians – working way past cliche to create some tremendous music on the set! A few of the artists here are names you'll know from Fame hits, a few more are lesser-knowns from the scene at the time – and a few more are even completely unknown – singers who weren't listed on the master tapes or studio records, but who are issued here because their vocals are so great. Titles include "Long Ago" by Ben & Spence, "It Tears Me Up" by James Barnett, "Take Me Back" by George Jackson, "Unfortunately" by Jackie, "Have Pity On Me" by Billy Young, "Don't Let It Be Sad" by June Conquest, "Fool For A Woman" by Prince Phillip, "Take It All Off" by Clarence Carter, "Are You Teasing Me" by Linda Carr, "I Can't Stop" by Big Ben Atkins, "Get In A Hurry" by Joe Simon, and "Midnight Affair" by George Soule. CD

An incredible collection – and one that fills in a crucially under-documented side of the New York dancefloor generation – the wealth of special mixes and edits that were made for that city's important DJs for their own use in clubs! The package sorts through a mountain of never-issued acetates, and goes way past conventional disco or rare club collections – to showcase the special mixing talents these DJs brought to their re-presentation of the material – which was usually done on tape, then pressed onto acetate discs for their own private use! Those rare treasures are brought forth here – in a beautiful package that's also overflowing with fantastic notes that finally give this lost history its due – all handled by Al Kent – who's a hell of a mixer himself, as well as an underground club historian. 3CD set is overflowing with gems – and titles include "I Just Wanna Say I Love You (John Luongo rmx)" by Leon Collins, "What About Love (Tony Gioe rmx)" by Marboo, "Ten Percent (Walter Gibbons Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Double Exposure, "Inside America (Rick Gianatos disco queen acetate edit)" by Juggy Murray Jones, "Dancing Free (John Luongo rmx)" by Hot Ice, "Black Water Gold (Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by The Sunshine Band, "Magic Bird Of Fire (Francois Kevorkian Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "It's Good For The Soul (Jay Negron Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "My Love Is Free (Walter Gibbons disco madness rmx)" by Double Exposure, "Reaching Out For Happiness (Jonathan Fearing rmx)" by Fay Hauser, "Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Tom Savarese rmx)" by Love Symphony Orchestra, "The Beat Goes On & On (Jim Burgess rmx)" by Ripple, "I Wanna Be Near You (John Morales Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Ruby Andrews, "I've Been Looking For Somebody (Walter Gibbons rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, "The Disco Scene (Rick Gianatos rmx)" by Lake Shore Drive, "Bumpsie's Whipping Cream (Tom Savarese rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, "Janice (Bobby DJ Guttadoro rmx)" by Skip Mahoney, "My Number's Up (Tee Scott rmx)" by The Salsoul Orchestra, "The Love Bug Done Bit Me Again (David Todd rmx)" by Skyliners, "LA Sunshine (Robert Ouimet rmx)" by Aura, "Love Has Come My Way (Jim Burgess rmx)" by Tony Valor Sound Orchestra, "Handsome Ma (Bobby DJ Guttadoro rmx)" by Sparkle Tuhran & Friends, "Love Thang (Tee Scott rmx)" by First Choice, "Burn Me Up (Jellybean Benitez edit)" by Kay Gees, "Love Is The Message (Tee Scott rmx)" by Brooklyn Express, "Changes (Jellybean Benitez rmx)" by Chain Reaction, "J'Ouvert (Frank Sestito rmx)" by John Gibbs & The Jam Band, "By The Way You Dance (Bobby DJ Guttadaro rmx)" by Bunny Sigler, "It's Good For The Soul (Walter Gibbons disco madness version)" by Salsoul Orchestra, and "It's A Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons rmx)" by Gladys Knight & The Pips. CD

An amazing package – one that comes in a tiny replica of the original home of Motown Records in Detroit! As you'd guess from the title, the 11CD set features every single Motown track that ever hit #1 on the charts – almost 200 classic songs, running from the early 60s right up through the 90s – with work by The Temptations, Four Tops, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, The Contours, Rockwell, The Originals, Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder, High Inergy, The Dazz Band, Rick James, Commodores, and lots more! The package also includes a photo book with classic images and notes – but man, what we dig most of all is that tiny house of hits packaging – a really amazing thing! Plus, this version of the set also features a bonus CD that wasn't in the original version – with 12 more tracks whose cover versions charted at #1! CD

A fantastic look at the funkier side of Motown in the 70s – and a collection that's not just straight disco, thanks to the mighty selection talents of DJ Muro and T-Groove! Muro handles all of CD1 – and mixes in some excellent soundtrack numbers with more familiar soul tracks – and also presents a few classic cuts in remixed versions too! T-Groove is on CD2 – which has cuts that are maybe a bit more iconic in the Motown club sound of the 70s, but still pretty darn great when heard together in this set. Neither CD appears to be mixed – tracks all appear discrete and standalone – and the package features 37 titles that include "You Made Your Bed" by Reuben Howell, "Books & Basketball" by David Shire & James Di Pasquale, "T Plays It Cool (unedited version)" by Marvin Gaye, "Erucu" by Jermaine Jackson, "Mirrors Of My Mind" by Jackson 5, "Date With The Rain (DJ Spinna refreak)" by Eddie Kendricks, "Ego" by Ozone, "Big Time (M+M big time 2016 mix)" by Rick James, "Treat Her Like A Lady" by The Temptations, "Brothers Gonna Work It Out (Joey Negro return of the mac mix)" by Willie Hutch, "He's A Friend" by Eddie Kendricks, "Down To Love Town" by The Originals, "Go For It" by Billy Preston & Syreeta, "Full Speed Ahead" by Tata Vega, "Let's Be Young Tonight" by Jermaine Jackson, "Heaven Must Have Sent You" by Bonnie Pointer, "Shoulda Gone Dancin" by High Energy, "Saturday Night Sunday Morning" by Thelma Houston, "Star Love" by Three Ounces Of Love, "Tailgate" by 21st Creation, "Scratchin" by Magic Disco Machine, "Standing On The Verge" by Platinum Hook, and "I Need Your Lovin (M+M lovin all night long mix)" by Teena Marie. CD

A great little package of clubby soul from Motown – four 12" singles in a box! Though the label wasn't particularly known as a home to disco, they weren't allergic to it either, and fielded their share of nice club friendly tracks throughout the late 70s, and even on through the 80s, though this set features some great highlights from 1978 and 1979. Five tracks are spread out across four 12" singles, with a handful of instrumental flip sides, too, and the numbers include both the vocal and instrumental takes of Rick James' "Bustin' Out", vocal and instrumental takes of High Inergy's "Shoulda Gone Dancin'", vocal and instrumental takes of Billy Preston & Syreeta's "Go For It", and "I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby" and "Get Up For Love" by Tata Vega. LP, Vinyl record album

Soulful luxury at a mighty nice price – 3CDs and 35 tracks of music from the contemporary underground, plus a few cuts from back in the day – all put together with the top-shelf style of the Expansion Records label! The package is one of the best so far in this annual series – and like the others, it has a great way of turning up unusual numbers we might have missed otherwise – some subtle gems and overlooked sleepers, which makes the package as much of a place for new discovery as it is a musical bargain. As with other volumes, contemporary soul expert Ralph Tee handled all the tracks selection – and titles include "Follow" by Paul Johnson, "In The Mood To Take It Slow" by Najee with Meli'sa Morgan, "Speak Love" by James Day with Glenn Jones, "Slow Down" by Bill Henry Band, "Let Me Do It" by Halo, "Jakarta Dreams" by Incognito, "Never Let Go" by Candace Woodson, "Together" by Rockie Robbins, "Friends" by Rick Clarke featuring Don E, "It's You" by Terri Green Project, "I See Love (Metlife rmx)" by Cornell CC Carter, "Love Up" by Zo with Eric Roberson and Carmen Rodgers, "Lovestruck (2019 rework)" by Frankie Fandango, "Who's Been Kissing You" by Soulutions, "Clouds In My Mirror (Nigel Lowis sholes mix)" by Franciscsa Thomas, "It Should Have Been You" by Lasperanza with Izzy Chase, "Reach Out" by Laura Jackson, "Who Do You Love" by Victor Haynes, "We Won't Stop" by One Way with Al Hudson, "Don't Hold Back" by Alex Puddu with Gene Robinson, Jr, "Your Satisfaction Is Mine" by Ed Motta, and "Better Man" by Glenn Jones. CD

A huge batch of work from Change – all the group's classic albums from the 80s, plus some great work from later years too – all with bonus tracks added to most of the records! First up is Glow Of Love – the classic debut from Change – and the start of an amazing run of groovers in the early 80s! The set's got a tight, jazzy feel throughout – a stripped-down approach to disco modes, with the same focus on the basslines that you'd find in work by Chic – but a style that's almost even more instrumentally focused overall, given the great range of studio players who worked on the set. Yet there's also some key vocal moments, too – work by Luther Vandross that really helps make some of the best tracks sparkle, and which went onto catapult Vandross into a rich solo career on his own. Next is Miracles – a brilliant second set from Change – working here without Luther Vandross on lead vocals, but hardly missing a beat at all! As before, the basslines are at the core of the set – a sweet stripped-down approach that brings even more focus onto the bottom of the groove for early 80s dancefloors – with loads of numbers that step along in a really groovy mode – one quite far from the cliches of disco, and inflected by loads of jazzy elements that keep things fresh over the years! Vocals are by James Robinson – previously with Lonnie Liston Smith – Diva Gray, and Jocelyn Shaw. Sharing Your Love is sweet modern soul from this great group – one of the brightest points in major label soul during the early 80s! Change, ironically, is a group that went through a number of line-up changes, even in their prime – with the tight, clubby, yet genuinely soulful production a constant. This record is made all the better for the beautifully soulful dual lead vocals of James Robinson and Deborah Cooper. The tracks have deeply layered live instrumentation – keyboards, guitar, percussion, horns and strings – blended seamlessly with early 80s production touches. This Is Your Love is an overlooked set from Change – a record that possibly wasn't as hit-worthy as some of their previous efforts – yet one that still had the group very much at the top of their game! By this point, Change had really evolved past being just a studio project, into a rock-solid soul group with a definite ear for a groove – particularly the tight, lean sort of rhythms that percolated in the post-Chic era – making a perfect fit for the slightly jazzy production of the record. Bassbits and beats drive most of the rhythms, but there's still a nice degree of warmth – and vocals are handled by Deborah Cooper, James Robinson, Rick Brennan, and Timmy Allen – who each seem to get their moment in the spotlight, furthering the well-rounded sound of the record. Next is Change Of Heart – a game-changing album from Change – a real breakthrough for the early 80s international soul combo! Change Of Heart has some great production by Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis – and on top of that, it's perhaps the best set of songs the group had recorded to to date. Jam/Lewis wrote half the tunes and produced most of the album, which is front-loaded with some of the best of them. Turn On Your Radio is not nearly as well-known as their first few hits, but still in that all-solid approach to the groove that was the Change trademark during the early 80s! The sound is a bit more stripped down than before – tight beats and keyboards, mostly in a mellow to midtempo mode – all topped with vocals from male and female members of the group! Change still have a great way with a hook here – an approach to soul that's tight and professional, yet not nearly as cloying as some of the chart-climbing acts of their generation. And as before, the keyboards are almost as great as the vocals – with slight jazzy inflections that warm up the tunes nicely! Last up is Love 4 Love – a 2018 comeback for Change – still sounding great all these many years later, but in a slightly different way! The balance between all elements here is fantastic – as the music has all the best parts of the group's earlier music, but also updates the sound a bit – in the way that a combo like Incognito or Brand New Heavies were updating older soul music back in the 90s, by grabbing all the strongest parts of the past, and fusing them into a fresh lean groove. The songs are upbeat, positive, and full of the kind of catchy hooks that Change always did so well! Box set features 78 tracks in all – with bonus tracks added to most albums! CD

One of the first classic hip hop movie soundtracks of the late 80s, and a motherlode of great cuts! As divisive, hard hitting and uncompromising as the movie was, the Colors soundtrack does a great job of delivering on the tone with Ice T's title track and theme some, a snapshot of mid-to-late 80s classic rap, funk from Rick James and more. A time capsule for sure, but with tracks that are vital to this day. Marley Marl produced the majority of these cuts, and this was the early days of the Cold Chillin/Warner alliance, and titles include "Paid In Full (7 minute Cold Cut remix)" by Eric B & Rakim, "Butcher Shop" by Kool G Rap, "Colors" by Ice T, "Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste" by M.C. Shan, and "Go On Girl" by Roxanne Shante. More by Salt N Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, 7A3, and Rick James. LP, Vinyl record album

Kendrick Lamar takes wider creative left turns than ever before on To Pimp A Butterfly – with a funk steeped production style that filters tried-and-true P Funk influences through leftfield modern beatcraft styles, inspired by cats like Madlib to Thundercat, the latter of whom is an official contributor. Fresh material from an increasingly pivotal figure – who may not be revolutionizing the game on the level of the heavy critical praise he's heaped with, but he's certainly marching to his own beat, rather than chasing hits! Includes "Wesley's Theory" with George Clinton & Thundercat, "King Kunta", "These Walls" with Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat, "Aright", "For Sale?", "Institutionalized" with a Slick Rick-homage of a guest verse by Snoop Dogg (sign us up for any record that gives props to The Ruler...and extra points for transplanting that style of flow to Compton), "Momma", "Hood Politics", "The Blacker The Berry", "How Much A Dollar Cost" feat James Fauntleroy & Ronald Isley, "Mortal Man" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A bit of a change from previous Ozone albums – a set that still has plenty of bass at the bottom, but also a fair bit of keyboards as well – stretching out nicely over the top, almost with a bit of an electro pop feel at points! The keys really make for a catchy sort of edge – not just the usual bassy soul from Rick James-era Motown, but a slightly more complicated vibe that's really trying for something new at times. The set also features a few mellower ballads that are surprisingly great – sensitive moments we wouldn't have guessed from the group – and titles include "You Don't Want My Love", "I Can't Wait", "Glasses", "Strutt My Thang", and "Don't Leave Me Now". CD

Music from Smokey Robinson, the Dynamic Superiors, Rick James, the Temptations, Switch, Eddie Kendricks, Marvin Gaye, Teena Marie, the Miracles, the Commodores, the Four Tops, and more. CD

Early work by Ra and the Arkestra, recorded in 1958 in Chicago, but not issued until the end of 60s, as one of the best rare sides on Saturn Records! The material's fairly straight, but with a cool off-kilter groove, and some very nice arrangements. The lineup's as classic as can be, and include Gilmore, Pat Patrick, James Spaulding, Marshall Allen, and Hobart Dotson. Hattie Randolph sings on 2 tracks, and Ra plays a bit of celeste. Titles are mostly all standards, given the Ra twist – and titles include "S'Wonderful", "Round Midnight", "I Could Have Danced All Night", and "Deep Purple". This expanded CD version features 6 bonus cuts, for a total of 13 tracks in all – including some originals like "Enlightenment" and "Dreams Come True". CD

A rare lost treasure from James Brown – the full, unedited version of a live concert that was cut up and butchered for the Sex Machine album – presented here for the first time ever, with a huge amount of never-issued tunes! Sex Machine was one of those "fake" concert albums from James – some original live recordings, other studio tracks tricked out – and put together in a way that never really made much sense. This set is something completely different altogether – a James Brown concert from start to finish, complete with some wickedly sharp patter from the stage – and long tunes that really show his group hitting on all burners! The lineup of musicians include three drummers at once – Clyde Stubblefield, Jabo Stars, and Melvin Parker – alongside Fred Wesley on trombone, Maceo Parker on alto, Jimmy Nolen on guitar, and Charles Sherrell on bass. James himself plays a bit of organ at instrumental moments – and tracks include the never-released "Lowdown Popcorn", "World", "Spinning Wheel", "Try Me", "I Got The Feelin/Lickin Stick Lickin Stick", and "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" – next to versions of "There Was A Time", "Say It Loud", "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing", "Mother Popcorn", and "I Can't Stand Myself". LP, Vinyl record album

Mighty nice work from an overlooked soul group – a combo from the 90s who released a handful of records at the time, but who have a vibe that's much more like some of our favorite groups from the end of the 60s! There's a nicely bubbling vibe to some cuts – kind of the groove that you might hear from Archie Bell & The Drells, but a bit leaner and more laidback at times – and Patrick Henry has a style that crackles nicely around the edges on the groovers, maybe with some of the charms of a young Tyrone Davis or Jesse James – although with a deeper, more personal vibe on the mellow cuts – which balance with the upbeat tracks in a really great way – fleshing out the group's music to make the whole thing feel like some vintage lost gem from the southern scene. CD features 18 tracks in all, pulled from three rare albums by the group – titles that include "Loving U", "Good Loving", "LB Blues", "How Lucky Can I Get", "Come & Get It", "U Cheating", "I'm Leaving U", "Something About You", "Free Me", "The Train", and "I Could Make It Better". CD

A rare lost treasure from James Brown – the full, unedited version of a live concert that was cut up and butchered for the Sex Machine album – presented here for the first time ever, with a huge amount of never-issued tunes! Sex Machine was one of those "fake" concert albums from James – some original live recordings, other studio tracks tricked out – and put together in a way that never really made much sense. This set is something completely different altogether – a James Brown concert from start to finish, complete with some wickedly sharp patter from the stage – and long tunes that really show his group hitting on all burners! The lineup of musicians include three drummers at once – Clyde Stubblefield, Jabo Stars, and Melvin Parker – alongside Fred Wesley on trombone, Maceo Parker on alto, Jimmy Nolen on guitar, and Charles Sherrell on bass. James himself plays a bit of organ at instrumental moments – and tracks include the never-released "Lowdown Popcorn", "World", "Spinning Wheel", "Try Me", "I Got The Feelin/Lickin Stick Lickin Stick", and "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" – next to versions of "There Was A Time", "Say It Loud", "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing", "Mother Popcorn", and "I Can't Stand Myself". CD

A modern classic hip hop soundtrack to Black Panther that should make T'Challa proud! It was pretty clear early on that Black Panther might be one of the greatest modern super hero movies – and an important one for the political and cultural climate of the late teens – so the pressure was on to deliver a relevant soundtrack. What's stunning is how creatively uncompromising it is, with sharp, lyrically pointed tracks by Kendrick Lamar – and with no watering things down to PG-13 on this unedited version – plus tracks by Schoolboy Q, Vince Staples, The Weeknd, Ab-Soul and more. Kendrick headlines or guests on several tracks including the title track, "All The Stars" with SZA, "King's Dead" with Jay-Rock, Future & James Blake, "Big Shot" with Travis Scott and "Pray For Me" with Weeknd. Other tracks include "Opps" by Vince Staples, "I Am" with Jorja Smith, "X" by Schoolboy Q, 2 Chainz & Saudi and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Funky soul legend Rickey Calloway makes an appearance here – first calling out the groove on "Hot Love", which has lots of chunky drums – then speaking the lyrics as much as singing, all in that made that makes him one of the greatest heirs to the James Brown sound! "Pornishead" is an instrumental take on the same tune – but with a lot more sweet electric piano instead of vocals! 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the rarest albums ever issued by Sun Ra's Saturn Records label – and one of the few dates to ever feature baritone saxophonist Pat Patrick as a leader – Sun Ra's longtime partner in the Arkestra, and a hell of a player on his own! The record is a heavy baritone date – with Rene McLean, Charles Davis, James Ware, Reynold Scott, and George Barrow joining Patrick on the lead instrument, plus a bit of flute – blowing at a level that makes the whole thing feel like one of the best creative ensemble projects on Strata East from the period – very jazzy, but also reaching for lots of new ideas too! The music is a lot more soulful than Ra's usual work – less outside overall, but in a good way – and the group also features a young Hilton Ruiz on piano, plus Jon Hart on bass, Steve Solder on drums, and Babafemi Humphreys on congas. Titles include "Funny Time", "Uptighttedness", "Eastern Vibrations", "Sabia", and "The Waltz". CD

The first full length from Blundetto – a Parisian radio programmer and artist showing impeccable taste here – with a slyly dubby and reggae & soul influenced groove and featuring collaborations with The Budos Band horns, Chico Mann, Tommy Guerrero, Lateef The Truthspeaker, Shawn Lee, Genreal Elektricks and Hindi Zahra! Blundetto shares compositional credits with the guest, and it has the feel of collaboration with that atmopherically soulful core groove. Really nice work for the Heavenly Sweetness label! Titles including the Blundetto cover of the Bob James classic "Nautilus" plus "Voices", "Mustang", "Mi Condena", "Cuban Shirt", "Party Animals". "White Birds", "Ken Park", "My One Girl", "Bad BadThings" and "Sunset Stroll". CD

One of Sun Ra's best non-Saturn live sets of the 70s – a nice little record that shows the group mixing it up with equal parts avant garde and straight ahead jazz, all handled in that ever-growing large group style that made them a real force to be reckoned with in a concert setting! The album was recorded during the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival, and has a bit more focus and polish than some of the other Arkestra live material from the time – a mature, coherent sound that almost points the way towards some of their work to come in the 80s – when Ra and the group were finally reaching the wider audience they deserved. The set's a double-length one, and features players who include John Gilmore on tenor, Marshall Allen and Danny Davis on alto and flute, Pat Patrick on baritone, Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet, Craig Harris on trombone, and James Jackson on Ancient Egyptian Infinity drum – which is always a treat. Ra plays solar organ and moog, as well as piano – and titles include "Of The Other Tomorrow", "On Sound Infinity Spheres", "El Is The Sound Of Joy", "Gods Of The Thunder Realm", "Gods Of A Thunder Realm", "The House Of Eternal Being", and "Lights On a Satellite". CD

There's a whole lot more going down in Florida than alligators and Disney World – as you'll hear on this amazing little set! The package follows brilliantly in the tradition of Jazzman's Texas and Midwest Funk compilations – and like those collections, this one uncovers an incredible amount of under-heard music from an especially unlikely source! Florida is usually best remembered as the home of TK disco in the 70s, or contemporary club in more recent years – but back in the late 60s and early 70s, the state was a hotbed of indie funk activity – with loads of artists who were every bit as great as bigger names from points north, all working in an underground network of clubs, studios, and labels. The Jazzman team of Gerald Short and Malcolm Catto have really outdone themselves here – providing not only almost two dozen great funky tracks, but also a wealth of notes and information on each track – all served up in one really beautiful little package! The CD features a whopping 24 pages of notes and pictures all in color – with titles that include "Quit Jive'in" by Pearly Queen, "Cutting Room (Hot Pants)" by Oceanliners, "Super Cool" by Carrie Riley & The Fascinations, "Pure Funk (part 2)" by Delrays, "Do Right Man" by Sam Baker, "All The Time" by Bobby Williams & His Mar Kings, "Butterfly Theme" by Blowfly, "Lay It On Me" by Willie Johnson, "Funky Fast Bump" by The Outlaw Gang, "Na Na" by Coke, "Get Down" by The Montereys, "90% Of Me Is You" by Vanessa Kendrick, "Soft Soul" by Lavell Kamma, "Baby Don't Cry" by Third Guitar, "Spider Web" by Weston Prim & Backlash, "Soul Food" by Frankie Seay & The Soul Riders, "Save Me" by James Knight & The Butlers, and "It's Gonna Be A Mess (part 2)" by The Mighty Dogcatchers. US pressing features the bonus track "Soft Soul" by Lavell Kamma – and different cover art too! CD

One of the greatest grooves from the legendary Desco Records years – a brilliant album of modern Afro Funk done by The Daktaris – in a groove that's just as hard-hitting as any of Fela's work from the 70s! The album was one of the first to bring back an older African style to current funk – and even years later, it's still one of the best examples of the sound – a razor-sharp session that helped set the stage for better-known Antibalas work to come! Percussion and guitar is super-heavy throughout – produced with that bare-bones Desco style, and handled in a way that makes you think the record might be some treasure from mid 70s Nigeria – a trick the label tried to pull when it was released! Cuts include a cover of Fela's "Upside Down", James Brown's "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose", and the originals "Super Afro-Beat", "Daktari Walk", "Voodoo Soul Stew", and "Quiet Man Is A Dead Man". LP, Vinyl record album

A great document of the continuing influence of Charles Mingus in the immediate years after his passing – served up here in a set of Mingus-related groups recording for the Black Saint/Soul Note label! First up is Reincarnation – a very special Mingus Dynasty recording, with a lineup that includes some of the most soulful players from Charles' later group – Ricky Ford on tenor, Richard Williams on trumpet, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, Roland Hanna on piano, Reggie Johnson on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums! Titles include "East Coasting", "Reincarnation Of A Love Bird", "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting", and "Ecclusiatics". Mingus' Sound Of Love is a record that definitely lives up to its title – as alums from the Mingus band work together here in a set of fresh changes on classics from the master - titles that include "Celia", "Ysabel's Table Dance", "Caroline", and "Sue's Changes". Group includes Randy Brecker on trumpet, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, James Newton and Craig Handy on reeds, and Roland Hanna on piano. Last up are two albums comprising a concert performance – Live At The Theatre Boulogne Billancourt in Paris – with a great Mingus-inspired group that includes David Murray and Clifford Jordan on tenors, John Handy on alto, Randy Brecker and Jon Faddis on trumpets, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, and Jaki Byard on piano! Tracks are quite long – and very much in the Mingus tradition. Four full albums – each in tiny sleeves with the original artwork. CD

Funky funky California – and a great set of rare grooves from the 70s! The folks at Luv N Haight records are up to their old tricks – digging through the crates for the kind of hard-to-find funky tracks that first gave birth to the fame of the Ubiquity label. The set traces a sound that barely shows up in the history books – the harder funky sound of California in the 70s, a scene that was mostly underground, and which stood in stark contrast to the smoother sounds coming out on major labels at the time. A few of the artists on the set might be familiar through other Luv N Haight reissues, and there's others here that we've never heard at all – grooving in hard and heavy styles that spread across the Sunshine State from East LA to Funky Frisco to Oaktown – a total of 14 tracks that include "Freaky To You" by Sweet Stuff, "Losing You" by Cordial, "Love & Affection" by Ike White, "Freedom Time" by Linda Tillery, "Patience" by Rokk, "Party Time" by Roy Porter, "Carnaval" by Oquesta Esencia, "Wobble Cha" by Cool Benny, "Feelin Alright" by West Coast Revival, "Where Do We Go From Here" by Cool Sounds, "Hang On In There" by Mike James Kirkland, "Daydreamer" by Adele Sebastian, and "A Real Thing" by Sons & Daughters Of Life. CD

A massive look at the work of guitarist James Burton – a musician who only cut a few records under his own name, but who was hugely important for his session contributions to both rock and country music in the 50s and 60s! Burton's one of those guys for whom the term "picker" was coined – the kind of cat who could show up, guitar in hand, and bring something really special to a session – a strong guitar lead that almost seemed effortless, and which was often the final element to cement the strength of a hit record! This collection focuses on key Burton contributions to the work of a number of different artists, both country and rock – in a set of 35 tracks that includes work by James Wilson & The Jimmie Cats, Maylon Humphries, David Houston Bob Luman, Dale Hawkins, The Shadows, Ricky Nelson, Dorsey Burnette, Tommy Cassel, Bobby Lee Tramwell, The Green River Boys, and The Shacklefords – most of whom are featured here on a few tracks each, all with guitar by Burton. CD

A sublime pop psych classic from Tommy James & The Shondells – a record that's quite different than some of the janglier work the group was issuing a few years before – and a perfect example of the way that just a few slight studio tricks can really transform a record! The tunes are all short and focused, but produced with lots of cool reverb, echo, and fuzzy touches on the sides – never overindulgent, and still plenty tuneful – but with so many weird little edges that they come through with a sound that's still pretty darn fresh after all these years – even if you think you know these guys from their hits. Titles include "Kathleen McArthur", "Do Something To Me", "I Am A Tangerine", "Smokey Roads", and "Breakaway" – plus the classic hits "Sugar On Sunday", "Crystal Blue Persuasion", and "Crimson & Clover". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic debut from the James L'Estraunge Orchestra – a studio combo, but one who come together with this amazing mix of groove and sophisticated arrangements! The project is the brainchild of Ricky Reid – who you might know in his work with The Soul Renegades – and there's a richness to the album that takes us back to some of the first wave of really complicated, really beautiful sounds from the London scene years back – maybe like the music of Chris Bowden or Jessica Lauren, with just a trace of 4Hero in the way that Reid blends together fuller strings and horns with some tight rhythms at the core. There's plenty of great keyboards on the album – including some Fender Rhodes from Ricky – but the album's hardly just the usual beats-and-keys session, as there's a complex vision here that's way more than just dancefloor music. Yet there's also plenty of grooves – just served up with a depth that makes the album appealing in so many other ways too – on tracks that include "The Call", "Closer", "We Rise", "Me & The Bear", "Eventual Reality", "See You Tonight", "Autumn Falls", and "It Happened Before". CD

Four soulful fusion classics from keyboardist Rodney Franklin – all together in a single set! First up is In The Center – wonderful keyboard work from the amazing Rodney Franklin – a player who sounds equally great on acoustic and electric piano! This album does a wonderful job of mixing them both – showing Rodney's more sensitive side on a few acoustic numbers, but then really taking off in a much more groove-based mode for the electric ones – which have a soaring, spacious style that's in that best blend of fusion and soul that was going down at Columbia in the late 70s – but with some spacier Bob James touches too! Most of the cuts were arranged by Byron Olsen, who's got an equally sensitive ear as Franklin – and although there's a bit of vocals on the record, most of the focus is on instrumental grooves – especially Rodney's work on the keys. Titles include the classics "I Like The Music Make It Hot", "Spanish Flight", and "On The Path" – plus "Yours", "Life Moves On", and the extended "Spring Suite". You'll Never Know is fully-formed genius from the amazing Rodney Franklin – one of the best keyboard stars to emerge from the late 70s scene! Franklin's got a great talent for balancing influences from jazz and soul in ways that are similar to contemporaries George Duke and Bobby Lyle – and like both of those players, he still stands strong in jazz, but makes some key nods to soul music on this set – adding in a bit of vocals where needed, and moving into some R&B-drenched fusion lines that all sound pretty darn hip! As on previous records, Rodney plays both acoustic and electric keys – blending them wonderfully for a very deep sound – and the group behind him features some especially nice work on reeds, which bring sharper edges to some of the best tracks on the set. There's a wonderfully deep feel to the whole thing – way more than you'd expect for a major label release at the time – and titles include "Felix Leo", "The Watcher", "The Groove", "Journey", "You'll Never Know", "Return", and "Parkay Man". Next is the self-titled Rodney Franklin – tremendous work from Rodney Franklin – one of our favorite soulful fusion players from the end of the 70s! The album's a keyboard delight through and through – and Rodney plays both acoustic and electric piano, often on the same track – which creates this nicely expanded sound that works well with the album's tight arrangements! There's a fair bit of soul in the mix too – some rhythms that make a few numbers great groovers, courtesy of Tom Tom arrangements – and some other full moments handled by Patrick Williams. Titles include a wonderful version of "Windy City" – the cut you might know from a classic Carl Davis recording – plus "On The Path", "I Like The Music Make It Hot", "Life Moves On", "Creation", and "In The Center". Endless Flight is a brilliant mix of jazz, soul, and fusion – smoothed together nicely, but never in a way that's slick or commercial! Franklin's got a keen ear that lets him sit on both sides of the fence wonderfully – in a way that so many other players tried in later years, but never managed to do without losing their groove or selling out too much. Part of the strength of the album is the way that it mixes together acoustic and electric keys from track to track – deepening the spirit of the album through a good sense of pacing and mood, and also offsetting vocal tracks with some key instrumental numbers. Tom Washington produced and heavily helped in the arrangements – and titles include "Vibrations", "Benetta", "Cancion Para Mi Mama", "Dance Tonight", "Endless Flight", "Return To The Source", "Mensaje De Dios", and a surprisingly great funky take on "Hill Street Blues". Includes one bonus track – "The Groove (single version)". CD

A fantastic little record – and very much the kind of set that the Strata East label was created to represent! The music here would hardly have found a home on the bigger jazz labels of the period – not because it's too avant garde or non-commercial, but just because it's so deeply personal and powerful – the boldest vision on record of trombonist John Gordon, who composed a mindblowing suite of tracks for the first side of the album, as well as some equally great tunes for the second half! Gordon leads the group on trombone – with solos that are soaring and soulful, alongside work by the great James Spaulding on alto and flute, Waymond Reed on trumpet, John Miller on piano and keyboards, Lyle Atkinson on bass, and Frank Derrick on drums! If you know some of the other players here from their own work of the time, you know you're in for a treat – as the music has this fantastic sound of strong individual voices coming together, instruments lifted high on a mission of music – with results that are as fantastic all these many years as they were in the 70s. Titles include the long "Erotica Suite", plus "Ora Lee Tingle", "Blue Na", and "Neleh". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest sets the Numero Group has ever released – and that's saying a heck of a lot, given their already-mighty catalog! Although the label issued a previous dip into the enigmatic Boddie Recording company of Cleveland, this massive package brings together a whopping 57 tracks from the Boddie studios and related labels – many of which have never been reissued before, even by Numero – and all of which offer up a mindblowing microcosm of the American scene in the 60s and 70s – a wealth of rare funk, soul, psych, gospel, and more – all of it the kind of gritty material that 45 collectors die for! But just as cool as the music is the box itself – a slipcover that fits around a hardcover book, which contains individual pockets with CDs that focus on the core labels from Boddie – then other pull outs that include a big booklet on the studios, another on the artists, and a third set of bonus inserts! Musically, the whole thing's right on par with other Numero releases – maybe even above them, given the wide range and depth of the collection – and artists include Bo & The Metros, Inter Circle, King James Version, Ricky Hodges, Jackie Russell, Angela Alexander, Frankie Pighee, Chantells, AC Jones, Harvey Hall, Headlines, Modern Detergents, Penny North, JC Akins, Little Anthony Mitchell, Gospel Fabulators, Royal Kings, Corinthian Singers, Brother Bill, Victory 5, and many more. CD

The Jazzman label hits a whole new level of brilliance – as they turn their funk-trained crate digging skills to the world of spiritual jazz! The collection's an amazing batch of ultra-rare tunes – tracks that take inspiration from the John Coltrane/Archie Shepp work on Impulse Records in the 60s, then run with those roots in bold new directions – soaring, spiritual aims in jazz that reach for new freedoms, but never lapse into the totally-outside modes of free jazz! Instead, there's a really great balance here between structure and struggle – as many tunes often have a good rhythmic pulse, usually modal and soulful, then let the horn solos stretch out more in their own sounds and directions. The mix is amazing, as is the selection of tunes – rare numbers pulled mostly from American independent jazz releases of the 60s and 70s – most of which are as obscure as the funky 45s we normally get from Jazzman. As with the label's US funk compilations, there's full notes on all the music – a heck of a lot of detail on these artists – and tracks on the set include "Paul's Ark" by Morris Wilson Beau Bailey Quintet, "Ayo Ayo Nene" by Mor Thiam, "Nomusa" by Ndikho Xaba & The Natives, "The Afrikan In Winter" by The Positive Force, "Neveen" by Salah Ragab, "Ja Mil" by Hastings Street Jazz Experience, "Be There" by Leon Gardner, "Psych City" by Ohio Penitentiary 511 Jazz Ensemble, "Introduction" by James Tatum Trio Plus, and "No Jive" by Frank Derrick Total Experience. US pressing has 2 bonus tracks – "All Prasies To Allah (parts 1 & 2 edit)" by Lightmen Plus One, and "Bada Que Bash" by PE Hewitt Jazz Ensemble. CD