Girl soul heaven – two 1962 albums from The Shirelles, back to back on CD with bonus tracks too! First up is Baby It's You, a great one from The Shirelles – the album that carries their big hit "Soldier Boy", and which features a fair bit of other great tunes too! Many of the numbers here aren't well-known hits – either by the group or other artists – and they make for a nicely fresh sound that shows that the girls have a lot more to offer than just a few familiar oldies singles. Production has a nice sad-tinged, late nite quality – and titles include "Baby It's You", "Irresistible You", "Voice Of Experience", "Big John", "Twenty One", "A Thing Of The Past", "Putty In Your Hands", and "Make The Night A Little Longer". On Shirelles & King Curtis Give A Twist Party, Curtis and the girls trade tracks back and forth on this sweet LP that's probably one of the rawest efforts we ever heard on Scepter! Forget the "twist" in the title, because this is mostly R&B stuff with a nice nice groove. The Shirelles do their usual girl group thing, but with an uptempo sound, and less of a pop feel. Curtis plays tenor and sings a bit, and turns in some nice tracks that rank with his work for the Fire/Fury label. Titles include "Mister Twister", "Potato Chips", "Mama, Here Comes The Bride", "Take The Last Train Home", and "Love Is A Swinging Thing". CD also features 3 bonus tracks too – "I Saw A Tear (single version)", "Baby IT's You", and "Hurry Home To Me (Soldier Boy)" by Valli. CD

A set that was issued by the Pricewise budget subsidiary of Scepter Records – but one that also features some great lesser-known work by The Shirelles – material that was still unreleased at the time of this LP, mixed here with some bigger hits to round things out nicely! The groove is right up there with other Shirelles work of the time – upbeat, soulful, and definitely setting a new standard for girl group soul. Titles include "Sha La La", "Maybe Tonight", "Tonight You're Gonna Fall In Love With Me", "Not for All The Money", "Lost Love", and "Time Will Tell". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice collection of tracks from this classic girl group, and one that has a lot of lesser-known material that's pretty darn nice! Includes their very groovy "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World" – plus the tracks "Boys", "I Met Him On A Sunday", "Don't Go Home (My Little Darlin)", "Maybe Tonight", "What Does A Girl Do", and the classic "To Know Him Is To Love Him". LP, Vinyl record album

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The girls do it again! On this nice set, the Shirelles mix their deep soul vocals with some sweeter uptown arrangements produced by the great Luther Dixon – for a trademark sound that put the Scepter label on the map. There's a few uptempo numbers that border on the sock radio soul of the time, but most of the stuff's got a right in the pocket groove – much deeper soul than you might expect! The record's also got some nice lesser-known New York tracks that make it well worthwhile – and titles include "Abra Ka Dabra", "Hard Times", "Foolish Little Girl", "I Didn't Mean To Hurt You", "Talk Is Cheap", and "Don't Say Goodnight & Mean Goodbye". CD

The girls do it again! On this nice set, the Shirelles mix their deep soul vocals with some sweeter uptown arrangements produced by the great Luther Dixon – for a trademark sound that put the Scepter label on the map. There's a few uptempo numbers that border on the sock radio soul of the time, but most of the stuff's got a right in the pocket groove – much deeper soul than you might expect! The record's also got some nice lesser-known New York tracks that make it well worthwhile – and titles include "Abra Ka Dabra", "Hard Times", "Foolish Little Girl", "I Didn't Mean To Hurt You", "Talk Is Cheap", and "Don't Say Goodnight & Mean Goodbye". LP, Vinyl record album

A great second chapter for The Shirelles – hardly the girl group pop they cut in the 60s, and instead a more righteous soul style for the 70s – in a mode that's like Honey Cone or Three Degrees! The backings are nice and soulful – almost funky at times – with arrangements from George Andrews and Joe Scott that mix fuller strings with tighter grooves at the core – in a way that really sets the vocals free amidst some very interesting material! Had the girls only cut this record, it might have been a 70s soul hit – but it's unfortunately gotten lost to the shifting sands of time because it's not as iconic as their hits. Don't make that mistake, though, because the album's a real charmer – and titles include "Boy You're Too Young", "There's Nothing In This World", "It's Gonna Take A Miracle", "Take Me", "We Got A Lot Of Lovin To Do", and "Strange I Still Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

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The first album in The Shirelles mighty run for Scepter Records – and a great set that really set new standards for girl soul in the 60s! Although some of the cuts crossed over bit, the whole album's got a heartbreaking sense of soul that goes way beyond familiar oldies – a beautiful mix of crackling lead and supporting harmony vocals, often set to simple rhythms that led the voices handle most of the action in the set! Titles include the classic "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", plus a number of other well-penned Brill Building soul tunes – including "Boys", "Tonight's The Night", "Lower The Flame", "Doin The Rondie", "Dance Is Over" and "Tonight At The Prom". LP, Vinyl record album

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Music from the Angels, the Ad Libs, the Supremes, the Shirelles, the Shangri-Las, the Jaynetts, the Chordettes, the Chiffons, the Marvelettes, the Bobbettes, the Cookies, the Jelly Beans, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, the Dixie Cups, the Butterflys, the Murmaids, Reparata And the Delrons, and the Honey Cone. CD

24 tracks of hard NYC soul from the Wand/Scepter stable, and a motherload of great uptown stuff! Loads of obscure singles here, including a few sweet unreleased tracks. Great stuff by The Esquires, The Charts, The Just Brothers, Judy Clay, Walter Johnson, The Gentlemen Four, and Maurice Williams. Like having someone put together a tape of great late night soul tracks for you – but with the bonus of great artwork and liner notes! Tracks include "Carlena" by the Just Brothers, "Dearly Beloved" by Jack Montgomery, "Groovy Guy" by the Shirelles, "I Refuse To Give Up" by Clarence Reid, "Look My Way" by Maurice Williams, and "You Must Be Losing Your Mind" by Jimmie Raye. CD

The "dancing" in the title refers to the act as practiced by England's Northern Soul scene – who have a penchant for uptempo soul groovers, which makes this set a sock-hard set of rare 60s tunes! The package features 25 tracks that go for the harder and more upbeat side of the Wand/Scepter label's output – a company who's normally known for some of their mellower and uptown soul tracks – but who really come out of the gate here with some wonderful soaring singles. Titles include "This Man" by Wally Cox, "Last Minute Miracle" by The Shirelles, "Come Back Baby" by Nella Dodds, "Everything Is Everything" by Sandy Waddy, "Out On The Streets Again" by Candy & The Kisses, "Desiree" by The Charts, "Tightrope" by Bobby Martin, "You Busted Up My Mind" by Judy Clay, "Love Is A Good Foundation" by Leslie Uggams, "One In A Million" by Maxine Brown, and "Marching" by The Camp. CD

Music from The Shirelles, The Chiffons, The Vestelles, The Antwinettes, The Charmers, The Sharmeers, The Dolls, The Teenettes, Penny & the Overtones, The Deltairs, The Antwinettes, The Charmettes, The Starlets, The Angelettes, and The Gailtones. CD

Includes tracks by the Bobbettes, Poni-Tails, Shirelles, Chiffons, Crystals, Angels, Jaynetts, Shangri-Las, Toys, and Honey Cone. CD

Music from the Crew-Cuts, Ricky Nelson, the Fleetwoods, Debbie Reynolds, the Shirelles, Swinging Blue Jeans, Vic Dana, Dean Martin, David Cassidy, Jerry Lee Lewis, Electric Light Orchestra, and more – 24 songs in all. CD

Music from Ike & Tina Turner, The Jokers, Big Dee Irwin , Baby Washington, Linda & The Del Rios, Titus Turner, The Shirelles, Dinah Washington, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford, and more - 60 songs in all. CD

The Vietnam war was tough on most folks in the US – but it's no secret that it was especially tough on black Americans – who were often given little choice and little chance to get out of the callup to the military action – which left a huge impression on their community for years to come! This package documents the affect of Vietnam in soul music – in ways that are both direct and more subtle, as the package blends together a number of tracks that you likely don't know at all, and others that you might have missed as being critical of the war – as there's more subtle messaging going on, a lesson that was learned during the Civil Rights era, when a mellower lyric might get more mainstream circulation – as a call to action that a change was going to come. The quality of cuts here is wonderful – as well-selected as some of the Ace/Kent collections of rare soul music on small labels – and there's definitely a few here that we're hearing for the first time, alongside other numbers that really sound great in the setting. Titles include "Fighting For My Baby" by Donald Jenkins, "Lonely Soldier" by William Bell, "Letter To A Buddie" by Joe Medwick, "I Want To Come Home For Christmas" by Marvin Gaye, "My Ship Is Coming In Tomorrow" by The Pace Setters, "Johnny" by King Hannibal, "Going On Strike" by The Emotions, "Uncle Sam" by Jimmy Hughes, "My Soldier Boy Is Coming Home" by The Shirelles, "Glad To Be Home" by Charles Smith & Jeff Cooper, "The War Is Over My Brother" by The Sensational Saints, "Home To Stay" by RB Greaves, "Stop The War" by The Impressions, "Wish You Were Here With Me" by The Fawns, "VC Blues" by Allen Orange, "Promise That You'll Wait" by Michael Lizzmore, "Men Are Getting Scarce" by Chairmen Of The Board, and "Leave Him Alone" by Stu Gardner. CD

Features 30 tracks – most recorded for Musicor, Scepter, and Wand – including cuts by Maxine Brown, Betty Lavette, Nella Dodds, The Toys, Sonnettes, Ernestine Eady, Baby Janes and the Rockabyes, Tammy Montgomery, The Shirelles, Shangri-Las, Jackie Hayes, and others! CD

The complete Tamla and Motown singles of The Satintones – the soul, R&B & popular music juggernaut's first male vocal group – and a treasure trove of rare post doo wop from the end of the 50s/beginning of the 60s! It's fascinating for the history herein – the group is hugely under-anthologized in a world of myriad Motown compilations – which is a real shame, as you'll hear in this sweet set – with numbers that rely on the doo wop influences as well as tunes more devoted to lead vocals – with a slew of early Berry Gordy productions and compositions. The set includes the then legally challenged Shirelles knockoff/answer song "Tomorrow and Always" plus "Motor City", "Going To The Hop", "Sugar Daddy", "A Love That Can Never Be", "Foot Stomping Time", My Kind Of Love", "Boogie Woogie Heart", "Because I Love You", "You Can't Beat My Lovin" and many more. 26 tracks in all. CD

Includes the album Meet The Supremes plus 40 tracks from other groups including the Shirelles, Blossoms, Chantels, Paris Sisters, Bobbettes, Crystals, Pearlettes, Bluebelles, Orlons, Donays, and more. 52 tracks total! CD

Sublime soul all the way through – really tremendous little tracks that are just waiting to be discovered – and none of them the kind of mainstream grooves you might expect from the "crossover" in the title! Instead, these tracks have a power that really helps shift perception of a genre – almost a bridge between upbeat 60s Northern Soul and smoother 70s modern – with a warmth that's undeniable, and a groove that never lets up! The vocals are sublime, and the production is perfect – totally tight, but never slick at all – just perfect for the arrangements that really help these tunes soar! The set features a whopping two dozen tracks in all – and in addition to some real gems by lesser-knowns, there's also some great overlooked tracks by bigger names too – titles that include "I'm Not Ready" by Ujima, "The Common Broken Heart" by Lou Courtney, "Let's Try It Over Again" by Willie Hutch, "Midnight Sunshine" by The Soul Children, "It's Gonna Be Alright" by Maxine Brown, "One Step Ahead" by Aretha Franklin, "Fool's Hall Of Fame" by Ike Lovely, "Wait Till I Give The Signal" by The Shirelles, "Sweeping Your Dirt Under My Rug" by Ann Bailey, "Main Squeeze" by Syl Johnson, "Satisfactorise Your Mind" by Africano, "Trapped In A Love" by Barrino Brothers, and "I Gotta Keep My Bluff In" by Freddie Hughes. CD

A different groove than usual from the mighty Snowboy – not the Latin you may know from his own records, or the funk you'll find on his other compilations – but instead a smoking batch of 60s soul, with a really wonderful batch of well-chosen cuts throughout! The album's a counterpart to Snowboy's hip Soho club night – and it's got the feel of mod London in the 60s, but the side of the city that was overflowing with appreciation for American soul, jazz, and R&B! Most artists here are familiar, but the cuts are mostly nice and obscure – really great singles and a few key album tracks – all the kind of wonderful numbers you'll only find at a set spun by a legendary DJ like this. Titles include "You Don't Love Me" by ZZ Hill, "Can't Shake It" by Etta James, "Soul Brothers Testify (part 2)" by Chester Randle's Soul Senders, "Just A Mistake" by The Barrino Brothers, "Coming Back To Me Baby" by James Carr, "Boys" by The Shirelles, "Nuthern Like Thuthern" by Willis Jackson, "Do The See Saw" by The Contours, "The Watusi Roll" by Hank Marr, "Looking At The Future" by Little Johnny Taylor, "Misery" by The Dynamics, "I Say You're Driving Me Crazy" by Dorothy Berry, "I'll Give You My Love" by Sun Ann Jones, and "Baby Don't You Know" by The Brownettes. CD

A nice collection of songs covered by the Beatles – presented here in their original versions by the likes of Barret Strong, the Coasters, Isley Brothers, Marvelettes, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, the Shirelles, Cookies, and others. 15 tracks total. CD

Mindblowing music from the trio of Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, and Jo Armstead – most of it composed and recorded in New York during the mid 60s – before Armstead left for the Chicago scene, and Ashford & Simpson went to work for Motown in Detroit! The three writers have a really beautiful way of putting over a tune – fresh lyrics that are perfect for the budding soul generation of the 60s – and which often get some production work from the members of the trio too, especially on some of the tracks here that were issued by Wand Records. The package does a perfect job of unearthing these early years – pulling together compositions by the three (and occasionally just by Ashford & Simpson) – and illuminating this period with notes that are as thorough as the selection of tracks on the set. Titles include "Dance Children Dance" by Mary Love, "The Shoe Won't Fit" by Betty Everett, "Look Away" by The Shirelles, "Are You Trying To Get Rid Of Me Baby" by The Crystals, "I Don't Need No Doctor" by Sandy Nelson, "Please Little Angel" by Doris Troy, "The Real Thing" by The Chiffons, "Smokie Joe's" by The Jewels, "Say It Again" by Marie Knight, "Looky Looky" by Candy & The Kisses, "Mr Creator" by The Apollas, "You're Absolutely Right" by Tina Britt, "I'm Satisfied" by Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown, "Cry Like A Baby" by Aretha Franklin, "Same Old Feeling" by Jo Ann & Troy, "Only Your Love Can Save Me" by Betty LaVette, and "Love Ain't What It Used To Be" by The Diplomats. CD

Includes tracks by The Shirelles, Gary US Bonds, Billy Bland, Freddy Cannon, The Isley Brothers, Paul Anka, Lloyd Price, LaVern Baker, The Rivingtons, Tiny Tim, and Jan & Dean. CD

A great batch of girl group soul and pop singles from the 60s – probably the deepest set yet in the Where The Girls Are series – featuring loads of independent singles from the 60s scenes that range from sweet bubblegum to deeper soul sounds! If there's a theme that connects these tunes beyond the female vocals focus, it's a surprising sophistication to many of the productions, without sacrificing gritty touches – and many of the tunes are in a nice kind of rave up mode. 26 tracks in all: "Tears Come Tumbling", "Earthquake" by The Fashionettes, How Fine Can One Guy Be" by The Jelly Beans, "He's My Boyfriend" by Kriss Anderson, "Sally Bad" by The Utopias, "I Found Me A Lover" by The Lovelites, "You're Welcome Back" by Ann Hodge, "What Is Love" by The Shirelles, "Get Me To The Church" by Baby Jane & The Rockabyes and more. CD

Music from Dion & the Belmonts, Bobby Vee, Frankie Avalon, Johnny Tillotson, the Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, Del Shannon, Eddie Hodges, Timi Yuro, Chris Montez, Eddie Cochran, Shangri-Las, Shirelles, Gene Vincent, Ricky Nelson, and others – 100 tracks total! CD