Famous tracks from the legendary Miami Soul powerhouse TK Records – famous not because they were hits in the 70s, but because they were used in later years as hip hop samples – dug from the deep well of music that TK recorded back in the day, to lay the blueprint for a whole new generation! The set brings together 15 gems that are not only funky, and which have key elements that you'll know from hip hop songs – but which also stand pretty darn strongly on their own, as a fantastic overview of the care of creation that TK brought to its work in the studio. Titles include "Groove To Get Down" by T-Connection, "Dedicate All My Love" by Raw Soul Express, "Sweet Thang" by The 13th Floor, "Living Together Is Keeping Us Apart" by Clarence Reid, "Good Good Lovin" by Charles Johnson, "To Touch You Again/Lady Blue" by John Tropea, "Givin Me Your Love" by Facts Of Life, "Dance With Me" by Peter Brown, "Why Can't We Live Together" by Timmy Thomas, and both versions of "90% Of Me Is You" – one by Gwen McCrae, one by Vanessa Kendrick. Also features some J Rocc mixes – "I Get Lifted (J Rocc edit)" by George McCrae, "Keep It Up (J Rocc edit)" by Milton Wright, "I Love The Way You Love (J Rocc dub)" by Betty Wright, and "Clean Up Woman (J Rocc edit)" by Betty Wright. CD

A surprisingly beautiful book on the famous 60s radical Jerry Rubin – one that's not only the first-ever look at the man's life, politics, and influence – but one that's also presented in a lavishly visual style that really conveys the crossroads of art and ideas of which Rubin was a key part! The book is even better than Pat Thomas' previous book, Listen Whitey – and has the same heavily visual feel as that one – as words from Rubin and his contemporaries are mixed with larger historical information, an incredible amount of cultural sidebars – and hundreds of fantastic images from the 60s onwards. Rubin's known as one of the founding fathers of the yippies – the Youth International Party, which gave political focus to the freedoms of hippies, and was a key part of the protests in Chicago in 1968. But the man's also had a much larger, even more colorful life – and this book really gets at all of that, and then some – one of those rare cases where you pick up a book on someone, and actually find yourself far more illuminated than before – both in terms of the subject, and their larger cultural role. 253 very vivid pages, hardcover, and done in the best Fantagraphics style. Book

One gal, three guys, and a sublime album of harmony soul – one of those fantastic early 70s sets from the Independents – a Chicago group we'd stack right up there next to the best from the east coast! Maurice in the title is Maurice Jackson – who'd earlier recorded the track "Lucky Fellow" – later done by Leroy Hutson, and recorded here by the group in a fantastic version too! Chuck in the title is Chuck Jackson, who co-produced the set with Marvin Yancey – an early effort from the soul production duo who'd later help Natalie Cole and others hit great fame – working here at the start of his career, to guide singers Helen Curry and Eric Thomas to great heights. The whole record is wonderful – a definite "cut above" harmony soul set with all the sophisticated styles that the Chicago scene had to offer at the start of the 70s – thanks also to arranging genius on the set from Richard Evans, Tom Tom Washington, and Floyd Morris. In addition to "Lucky Fellow", other titles include "It's All Over", "No Wind No Rain", "I Found Love On A Rainy Day", "The Same Old Way", "It's All Over", and "In The Valley Of My World". CD features three bonus tracks – "Let This Be A Lesson To You", and two versions of "Arise & Shine". CD

A 70s set that brings together some nice sides from Wes and his brothers. Side one is taken from the Montgomery Brothers set, the first session to feature the group with Wes on the west coast – caught in the studio at a time when Buddy and Monk had left The Mastersounds, and recorded here with a sound that's quite similar to that group – but with a bit of a harder edge, thanks to the guitar. Side two continues in the same vein, capturing the group on a live set in Vancouver, grooving in a similar style that's a bit like some of Wes' early small group albums from the same time. The final two sides are pulled from the Groove Yard LP, another lively set that has a lot more swing than usual, and which grooves nicely on just about every cut. The drummers on the sides are Lawrence Marable, Paul Humphries and Bobby Thomas, all fitting nicely into the pocket with the Montgomerys. 15 tracks in all, including "Jeanine", "Green Dolphin Street", "Beaux Arts", "Snowfall", "Lover Man", "June In January", "Monterey Blues", "Delirium", "Back To Back", "Doujie", "Just For Now", and "Groove Yard" LP, Vinyl record album