The New Horizons Ensemble is Steve Berry on trombone, Ameen Muhammad on trumpet, Jeffrey Parker on guitar, Yosef Ben Israel on bass, and Avreeayl Ra on drums – with Ernest Dawkins on saxophones and flute. CD

2CDs include an hour long radio documentary about the music on disc one, and 25 South African freedom songs on disc two. CD

Music from Bessie Jones, Hobart Smith, Sid Hemphill & Lucius Smith, Vera Ward Hall, Fred McDowell, Bright Light Quartet, Neil Morris, Sidney Carter, Ollie Gilbert, Almeda Riddle & more – part of the Alan Lomax collection! CD

A really great British group – one who are mostly acoustic, but hardly sound folksy at all – and who are only a trio, yet manage to come across with a much fuller sound than you might expect! It would be easy enough to link these guys with the acid folk scene of the time, but their phrasing is different and their vocals, even while harmonized, have a sense of darkness that sets them apart from the warmer tones of the Cali scene when in similar territory. The record almost feels more like some lost indie set from a decade later – touched with some of the melancholy of a Nikki Sudden album, but again with a different sort of phrasing – in ways that only further make it a standout set. Titles include "Clock Watcher", "Hard World", "People & Places", "Red Sun", "Lazy Day", "Newspaper Seller", "Brief Encounter", and "Songs Of Mine". CD

An overlooked female singer/songwriter from the start of the 70s – one with a sound that's decidedly more underground than some of her contemporaries! Kathy Smith has a sound that's sometimes as sweet as some of the pop folk females of the time, yet she's backed with music that's usually a bit more personal, and almost boozy at times – kind of an intimate, late night small combo approach that's almost to her style of music what a piano trio might be to vocal jazz. That's not saying that Kathy's jazzy at all – as there's a decidedly rock feel here – but there's a mature, sophisticated vibe that's totally great – warmly expressive without sounding cliched. Titles include "End Of The World", "A Vision Of Two Saints", "Topanga", "What Nancy Knows", "Blackbird & The Pearl", "Circles Of Love", and "If I Could Touch You". CD

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Clive Palmer definitely has an original band here – a group who have some of the acoustic elements of The Incredible String Band, of which he was a part – but who also come across with a sound that's a lot more ancient, dark, and spooky too! Vocals are by Clive and Mick Bennett – both singers with a very moody approach – almost weary from battles in the field, coming back home to tell their tales – set to instrumentation that includes key use of organ amidst the acoustic elements, but almost as if it's a pump organ, which gives all the songs this wonderfully downbeat sort of vibe – a bit like when Nico uses harmonium. The set's definitely on the darkest side of the acid folk spectrum, and maybe has echoes of Current 93 and Wicker Man as well – on titles that include "Eleven Willows", "I Told Her", "Oh Bright Eyed One", "Heart Dancer", "Let It Be You", and "Solomon's Song". CD

Dean sings tunes from one of the best of the Matt Helm films – The Silencers! The music's got Dean very much in the best of his Reprise country-styled singing – with production by Jimmy Bowen that makes strong use of electric bass on the bottom, and arrangements from Ernie Freeman and Gene Page that keep things nice and bouncy even on the slow tunes. The album's got a few original instrumentals – like "The Silencers", "Lord You Made The Night Too Long", and "Lovey Kravezit" – plus Dean doing great versions of standards that include "Side By Side", "Glory Of Love", and "South Of The Border". LP, Vinyl record album

Completely wonderful solo work from Monkee Mike Nesmith – music that almost bears no relationship to his famous TV sounds – save for the fact that Mike's still got all of his charms firmly intact! Yet the approach here is unabashedly country rock – that style that Nesmith was bringing to some of his songs as the 60s moved on, from very credible roots – and served up here by a very cool group that features plenty of steel guitar from OJ Red Rhodes! The tunes are smart, but understated – catchy, but never cloying – almost in the territory of the Byrds or Flying Burrito Brothers, but maybe without the darker corners. Titles include "The Crippled Lion", "Mama Nantucket", "The Keys To The Car", "Hollywood", "Calico Girlfriend", and "Nine Times Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty strange concept for an album – a bunch of LA jazz players get together and do versions of songs usually associated with the south! This penchant for swinging tunes from unusual sources was one of Pell's strongest 50s tricks, though, and he makes it come off pretty well with a group that includes Tommy Tedesco on guitar, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Marty Paich on piano, and Med Flory on baritone sax. Arrangements are by Flory, Paich, Bob Florence, Bill Holman, and Johnny Williams – and titles include "Shi Me Sha Wabble", "Sugar Foot Strut", "Jazz Me Blues", "Blues", "Paper Doll", and "Ballin The Jack". LP, Vinyl record album

A fabulous look at a new wave of music that hit the American scene at the end of the 60s – sophisticated songs with a deep sense of narrative that went way beyond the usual – first sprung by the world of country music, but with an influence that went on to touch all other styles too! This set goes right to the core – and brings together cuts from the hippest songwriters of the period, delivered in versions that may well be the best to ever make it on records – including a few tunes that will really come as a surprise if you think you know the artists from their hits! As you'd guess from the title, the world here is very similar to that in "Ode To Billie Joe" – a world that's also given great illumination by the detailed notes within. Titles include "Endless Miles Of Highway" by Jerry Reed, "If Only She Had Stayed" by Chris Gantry, "July 12, 1939" by Charlie Rich, "What Am I Doing In LA" by Nat Stuckey, "The House Song" by Lee Hazlewood, "Mr Jackson's Got Nothing To Do" by John Hartford, "Widow Wimberley" by Tony Joe White, "Mr Walker It's All Over" by Billie Jo Spears, "Drivin Nails In The Walls" by Waylon Jennings, "Four Shades Of Love" by Henson Cargill, "The Back Side Of Dallas" by Jeanne C Riley, "Way Before The Time Of Towns" by Hoyt Axton, "Down From Dover" by Dolly Parton, "Fabulous Body & Smile" by Sir Robert Charles Griggs, and "Why Can't I Come Home" by Ed Bruce. LP, Vinyl record album

13 songs from Busi Mhlongo, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Soshanguve Black Tycoons, Condry Ziqubu, Mfiliseni Magubane, Tsepo Tshola, Malopoets, and Omthenjwa. CD

A key comeback moment for Arthur Alexander – arguably one of the first great soul talents to rise from the south at the start of the 60s, but an artist who'd fallen far from fame by the time of this early 90s set! The record was cut at a time when Alexander had all but given up music, and was driving a bus in Cleveland – but it shows a singer who's lost none of his power over the years, and who's very much at home with his own songs. Production is by Ben Vaughn, and while it's possibly not as "authentic" as some of that done on soul revival sets in recent years, we actually like it all that much more for that. Instrumentation is mostly small combo, and features plenty of piano and organ from Spooner Oldham, guitar from Dan Penn, and work by other soul studio luminaries – on titles that include "If It's Really Got To Be This Way", "Go Home Girl", "Every Day I Have To Cry", "Lonely Just Like Me", "All The Time", "There Is A Road", and "Mr John". CD

A huge run of records from Yma Sumac – presented here in a box that collects just about everything she recorded for Capitol Records in the 50s! First up is Voice Of The Xtaby – legendary vocal work from the postwar years – some of the earliest recordings from the enigmatic Yma Sumac – an artist whose records really laid the groundwork for an entire generation of exotica records to come! Sumac's authenticity has been debated over the years – but there's no denying that she's got this incredible vocal range – a many-octave approach that almost makes her sound like a human theremin – as she works with exotic backings from Les Baxter to offer up a take on Peruvian roots, styled towards a 50s bachelor pad listener! Titles include "Xtaby", "Wayra", "Taita Inty", "Monos", and "Tumpa". Legend Of The Sun is early work from Yma Sumac – with that moody mix of other worldly vocals and semi-Latin instrumentation that made her a popular one with the early exotic crowd. Yma runs up and down the vocal scale, while Moises Vivanco leads the band in a set of crashing dramatic orchestrations with a Peruvian feel. Tracks include "Sunray Surita", "Mamallayi", "No Es Vida", "Ccori Canastitay", and "Kon Tiki". The package features selections from the album Flahooley – one of the more obscure Yma Sumac albums from the 50s – a Broadway production with a larger cast – and much more of a musical than Sumac's other records. Yma really stands out in the show, though – singing a few special numbers with music by Moises Vivanco – but the rest is familiar Broadway modes of the early 50s, penned by Sammy Fain & EY Harburg. Sumac titles include "Najala's Song Of Joy", "Najala's Lament", and "Come Back Little Genie Birds". Mambo is quite possibly our favorite album ever by the enigmatic Yma Sumac – thanks to some lively arrangements by Billy May, who gives the set a swinging jazzy groove! As you might guess from the cover, the style here is more in a Latin jazz mode than some of Yma's other more ethereal work – and that style turns out to be a wonderful fit for Sumac's incredible vocals – creating a batch of driving tunes that swing nicely, yet still have a spooky exotic sound on the top! Titles include "Bo Mambo", "Taki Rari", "Goomba Boomba", "Malambo No 1", and "Five Bottles Mambo". Inca Taqui is an early 10" LP – on which Yma Sumac sings chants of the Andes – and authentic or not, the sound's pretty darn great! The record's in the same format as her other early work for Capitol – tunes written by Moises Vivanco, who also conducts the backings in a dramatic early 50s style that's perfect for Yma's wonderful voice! And whether or not these tunes are actually the ones that all the cats in Peru were singing up in the mountains, they still sound pretty darn great as a key part of postwar exotica! Titles include "Incachao", "Llulla Mak'Ta", "Chuncho", "K'Arawi", and "Cumbe-Maita". Legend Of The Jivaro is one of Yma's more "historical" records – and the notes say that the album is "the rare plum of authenticity". We don't know if we'd go that far, but we can tell you that the record features Yma performing songs of the legendary Jivaro headhunters! Supposedly, Yma learned them in her "South American jungle-home", but we keep wondering why the headhunters took the time to teach her, when they could have been shrinking her head. Tracks include "Yawar", "Shou Condor", "Aullay", "Sumac Soratena", and "Hampi". Last up is Fuego Del Ande – one of the most obscure albums by vocalist Yma Sumac – and one of the most compelling too! The album has Yma working in the Andean style of her earlier 10" albums for Capitol – working with Moises Vivanco on a set of tunes that have a much more traditional and almost folkloric style than some of her work with Les Baxter. Titles include "Clamor", "Dale Que Dale", "Llora Corazon", "Gallito Caliente", "La Molina", and "Flor De Canela". CD

A long-overdue moment of exposure for pianist Horace Tapscott – one of the greatest creative forces in west coast jazz in the 60s, 70s, and 80s – but an artist whose genius was often kept away from the limelight! That hardly seemed to matter to Tapscott, though – as his legacy is tremendous, finally given full exposure by this autobiography, which then paved the way for new presentations of his music in years to come – a surprisingly large legacy of reissues that we wish Horace could have seen in his too-short life! Yet despite that, it's clear that the man himself took a lot of pride in his music – as you'll read in this live story, which documents Tapscott's move to LA as a young child, his creation of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, and all his many other projects – which were often tied to cultural and political developments in south LA. The book is 272 pages, softcover, and as beautifully written as Tapscott's music! Book

A really deep dive into the lost legacy of Franklin Boukaka – a singer who really helped revolutionize music in the Congo during the 60s, recording a heck of a lot of great tracks before a brutal murder took him from the planet in the early 70s! At some level, the work here is to Congolese music what some of the more playful township songs were to the South African scene – a new style, but one that also had a really universal sort of appeal – contemporary and catchy, yet still nice and lean, and never overproduced in any sort of European way! There's plenty of numbers here that show that strong 60s Congo love of Afro-Cuban elements – and the 3CD package also features work done with Manu Dibango, and the group Cercul Jazz. Titles include "Pasi Na Komona", "Succes Cercul", "Na Welate", "Dia Bikola", "Honole", "O Nongone Mba Mulema", "Na Ye Na Lisano", "Yanga", "Longwa Na Nzela", "Nitouani Yam Bi", "Awana Divorce Na Bana", and "Les Ecoliers". CD

Very clubby work from the South African scene at the start of the 90s – a record that warms things up nicely from the synth pop recordings of a few years before, and really seems to embrace all the best elements of house music in the process! The songs are catchy and have nice hooks when the vocals come in – and in a way, the approach here is similar to that moment when more mainstream UK work firmly embraced inspirations from Chicago house, then really let things open up and groove! Titles include "Love Is The Message", "People Of The World", "Living For The City", "Victim Of Your Love", "Open Invitation", and "It's Too Late". LP, Vinyl record album

A really unusual slice of music from the southern African scene of the postwar years – sounds from a strange wave of cowboy-inspired music in Zimbabwe and South Africa – but with results that are completely unique! Many of these guys actually wore cowboy hats and played acoustic guitar – but the sounds are very different than American hillbilly records from the period – in part because the presentation and production are different, as is the language – but also because the guitar is used in ways that would evolve into more familiar African styles in later decades – echoes of Malian blues, highlife rhythms, and other modes. But at the same time, there actually is a bit of yodel on some of the songs, as indicated by the title – an undeniable Jimmie Rogers influence – in a set of tracks that includes work by Sammy Nagaku, Clarkson Sithole, Josaya Hadebe, Petrus Mntambo, Mathew Jeffries, George Sibanda, Sabelo Mathe, and Michael Majozi. LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty sweet mid 60s disaster movie – filmed in Cinerama, and featuring an all-star cast that includes a great later Sal Mineo role! The music is lush and slightly sentimental – almost in a Rogers & Hammerstein mode, with South Pacific-y touches on the album's few vocal numbers. Barbara Werle sings the tunes "A Nice Old Fashioned Girl" and "Just Before Sunrise" – but the best number is the wonderful "East Of Java" title theme, sung by a male harmony group who's unfortunately unnamed on the cover! Other instrumental tunes are lush and mainstream soundtrack-ish – and titles are mostly variations on the 3 above-named songs. LP, Vinyl record album

A fabulous look at a new wave of music that hit the American scene at the end of the 60s – sophisticated songs with a deep sense of narrative that went way beyond the usual – first sprung by the world of country music, but with an influence that went on to touch all other styles too! This set goes right to the core – and brings together cuts from the hippest songwriters of the period, delivered in versions that may well be the best to ever make it on records – including a few tunes that will really come as a surprise if you think you know the artists from their hits! As you'd guess from the title, the world here is very similar to that in "Ode To Billie Joe" – a world that's also given great illumination by the detailed notes within. Titles include "Endless Miles Of Highway" by Jerry Reed, "If Only She Had Stayed" by Chris Gantry, "July 12, 1939" by Charlie Rich, "What Am I Doing In LA" by Nat Stuckey, "The House Song" by Lee Hazlewood, "Mr Jackson's Got Nothing To Do" by John Hartford, "Widow Wimberley" by Tony Joe White, "Mr Walker It's All Over" by Billie Jo Spears, "Drivin Nails In The Walls" by Waylon Jennings, "Four Shades Of Love" by Henson Cargill, "The Back Side Of Dallas" by Jeanne C Riley, "Way Before The Time Of Towns" by Hoyt Axton, "Down From Dover" by Dolly Parton, "Fabulous Body & Smile" by Sir Robert Charles Griggs, and "Why Can't I Come Home" by Ed Bruce. CD

A great collection with early American jazz, jug bands, blues, and even some country music – includes songs by the State Street Ramblers, Joe Turner, Frenchy's String Band, Jimmie Rodgers, Sonny Greer, Sam Morgan's Jazz Band, Eddie South & His Orchestra, Duke Ellington, and more. 79 tracks total. CD

A gem of a record from the mid 70s west coast scene – a really overlooked set from vocalist Laura Allen, recorded with a wonderfully breezy, soulful sound! Laura's got a voice that's perfect if you dig singers like Linda Lewis or Maria Muldaur, particularly the former – a bit jazzy at points, but usually focused straight ahead – but with a gentle flow that's completely seductive. Production is nicely laidback – never too studio slick – but the instrumentation's also nice and tight, and Laura plays some cool instruments on the record – a bit of clay drums, zither, and dulcimer – which bring in some folksy touches to her music, especially alongside some of the electricity in the keyboards and guitar. Most songs are originals by Laura – and titles include "Opening Up To You", "Sunny Day", "Stairway", "Promises", "Love Can Be", "Come As You Are", and "Hole In My Bucket". CD also features enough bonus tracks for a full extra album – including "Looking At You", "Sweet Lovemaker", "Looking For The Right One", "Slip & Slide", "Back Door", and "Radio". CD

A powerful and righteous album from Brother Moves On – as you might guess from the title – a group led by singer Siyabonga Mthembu, who's worked with Shabaka & The Ancestors – in a lineup that also features some contributions from Shabaka Hutchings as well! The group span their South African roots with some of the contemporary London vibe – mixing jazz elements with vocals and other production elements – in a lineup that also features work from Mthunzi Mvubu on alto and Muhammad Dawjee on tenor. Shabaka Hutchings adds in some flute and clarinet to the group's songs – and titles include "Bayakhala", "Sphila", "Puleng (ext version)", "Sweetie Love Oh", "Mazel", "Ta Tom", "Itumeleng Revisited", and "Hamba The Reprise". LP, Vinyl record album

A bit of a change from the fragile, folksy tones of the first album from Jimmy Campbell – a set that's got some heavier instrumentation, and a feel that's a bit more rocking overall! Jimmy still shows some of his sensitive side on the set, but only on a few tracks – leaving others to go for a cool combination of fuzzy guitar, flanged-out vocals, and some early glam-styled production – an approach that's hardly glam at all, but which definitely hints at the fuller, more echoey modes that would come into prominence in British rock a few years later. Campbell's songs are still quite creatively penned – leaving lots of room for his odd twists and turns, and greatly imagistic way of presenting a lyric – on titles that include "In My Room", "So Lonely Without You", "Green Eyed American Actress", "Half Baked", "Closing Down The Shop", and "Don't Leave Me Now". CD

That's a sweet Roger Dean cover image on the front, and a definite indication that you're in for something special – a killer set as a leader from bassist Billy Cox, done after famous work in the company of Jimi Hendrix! There's a sonic influence here that definitely shows Jimi's influence – lots of fuzz and freak – but the songs are tighter, and there's a tuneful focus that's really great – vocals bubbling up from the headier brew of Billy's bass, the drums of Robert Tarrant, and guitar of Char Vinnerdge – who's got a great way of mixing of fuzz and wah wah action! Titles include "Touch Me", "Portrait", "Powerhouse", "You Got A Hold On Me", "Let Me Do What I Want To Do", and "Not My Time". CD

Genius, pure genius! This album's possibly the most perfectly realized set from the team of Bobby Hutcherson on vibes and Harold Land on reeds – a pair who hit territory that's slightly funky, but which is also still touched by the modal spiritualism of some of their earlier work together! The album has an approach that we've not heard on other sides from the time – in that it takes its time to build the grooves up slowly, layering element over element as the songs unfurl, crafting some killer numbers that make the album incredibly strong as a whole. Land plays flute and tenor, and even a bit of oboe, which makes for a wonderfully compelling reed sound – and the group also features Joe Sample on Fender Rhodes, on loan from The Crusaders, plus Fender bass from John Williams and drums from Mickey Roker. Titles include the classics "Ummh" and "Goin' Down South", which have been made famous over the years, thanks to the magic of sampling technology – plus the tracks "Jazz", "Night In Barcelona", and "Procession". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of classic early 80s soul albums from ex-Dramatics singer LJ Reynolds! The self-titled '81 set is killer material in a modern Detroit mode all the way through – with top-shelf production by Reynolds, Don Davis, and Ronnie McNeir/ Ronnie, who'd been lost to the industry for a few years, also re-emerges as a writer on the songs "Southern Pearl", "Lonely Superstar", and "Ain't No Woman Like My Baby". The real standout, though, is the amazing cut "Key To The World", a killer steppers track that has a hook that won't quit, and this wonderful brassy finish that gives the track a really triumphant sound that works perfectly with the righteous lyric. LJ Reynolds' sounds great on '82's Travelin', too – stepping even more strongly away from his work with The Dramatics, and emerging as one of the best male soul acts of the early 80s! The production on this one is split between Reynolds and Don Davis, in a mode that's contemporary, but which allows LJ plenty of space for old school vocal expression – that far-reaching style of singing that always made him stand out strongly from the pack! There's a sublime mellow version of Aretha Franklin's "Call Me" on the set – and other tracks include "Words", "Trust In Me", "Say You Will", "You & Me", "Let Me Satisfy You", and "Fast Action"... CD

One of the most obscure albums ever recorded by Screamin Jay Hawkins – and one of the best, as well – a rare session done down in Nashville, and with a rootsy vibe that works perfect for Jay's amazing voice! There's a bit less hoke here than Hawkins can sometimes have – and although the songs still resonate with that striking approach that got Hawkins rediscovered by a whole generation at the end of the 60s, there's also less gimmick, too – and a mode that goes for some deeper southern soul elements at all the best moments. Titles include "Portrait Of A Man", "Don't Deceive Me", "Ashes", "We Love", "I Don't Know", "Please Don't Leave Me", and "Guess Who". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of early records from Hour Glass – back to back in a single set! First up is the self titled Hour Glass album – fantastic early work from Gregg And Duane Allman – a set that's nothing at all like their Allman Brothers material, but which has a wonderful style nonetheless! At some level, there's a very strong soul current running through the music – as the group mix in songs by Curtis Mayfield, Deon Jackson, and others with some headier rock material – all set up in these arrangements by Dallas Smith that seem to begin in uptown soul, then push things into more psychedelic territory! The blend is great, and makes for a really wonderful record – on titles that include "I've Been Trying", "No Easy Way Down", "Out Of The Night", "Nothing But Tears", "Heartbeat", and "Silently". Power Of Love is an excellent second set from Hour Glass – the pre-Allman Brothers Band that featured both Duane and Gregg Allman, the latter of whom is really coming into his own on the record! Unlike the group's debut, this one features a lot more original material by Gregg – and guitars that start to crackle in that sweetly cresting style that would become the group's hallmark, and which would have an undeniable influence on the sound of rock in the 70s. At some level, the whole thing's an early southern effort to answer the sounds of the Bay Area scene – and comes off beautifully, thanks to titles that include "To Things Before", "I'm Not Afraid", "Home For The Summer", "Down In Texas", "Now Is The Time", and "Going Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album

Damn! The first volume in this series of rarities cut by George Jackson for Fame Studios really blew our minds around here – and Kent has gone and somehow topped it with Volume 2! Let The Best Man Win features 2 dozen songs, most of which are originals by Fame staff writer Jackson – and not one of these was officially released back in the day. A bunch were cut to demo the songs for prospective artists, but it's truly hard to imagine anyone bettering these versions – not even Candi Staton or Wilson Pickett! The backing is top notch, too – with that unshakable Fame southern soul rhythm that's just raw enough – and each track feels fully-formed – not at all like a demo! As essential a trip into the Fame archives as any we've had to date! Includes "Mini Skirt Mini", "Get It When I Want It", "Forbidden Love", "Save Me", "Let The Best Man Win", "Soul Lovin'", "I'm Livin' Good", "Your Love Lifted Me", "You Got A Lot To Like", "Ain't That Some Good Lovin'L, "The Darkest Hour Is Before The Dawn" and many more. CD

Classic country soul from Millie Jackson – plus a brand new song as well – all served up in a set that shows yet another side of this legendary singer! Millie's known both for her weepy sad songs of the early years, and her bitchy blues of later ones – but during the 70s, she also cut a fair bit of country-tinged tunes as well – done in a similar space as other southern soul singers like Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, or Joe Simon! The styles vary nicely, though – not just the straight blend of country roots and soulful inflections you'd hear in the 60s – as some of the tracks are from later years, and bring in some modern soul to the mix – nicely expanding the sound. A few titles are duets with Isaac Hayes – and titles include "Angel In Your Arms", "Rose Colored Glasses", "Sweet Music Man", "Cheatin Is", "You Needed Me", "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down", and "Standing In Your Line" – plus the brand new track "Black Bitch Crazy". CD

A trio of classic albums from The Muscle Shoals Horns – with bonus tracks too! First up is Born To Get Down, by a group who were definitely born to get down – as they'd proved before on countless funk and soul sessions in the south – and as they prove once again with this masterful album on their own! The style here is surprisingly well-formed – not just horn players getting to shine in the lead, but a soul group with a tightness that matches some of the hippest, most sophisticated groups of the time – working here with really well-crafted rhythms that often hit an excellent midtempo groove, and avoid any disco-era cliches. Muscle Shoals legend Barry Beckett helps the group out on keyboards, arrangements, and production – and trumpeter Harrison Calloway turns out to be a surprisingly great singer in the lead. Titles include "Born To Get Down", which has a nice keyboard break in the middle, plus "Bump De Bump Yo Boogie", "Give It To Me", "Open Up Your Heart", "Where I'm Coming From", and "Break Down". Doin It To The Bone is a killer album from the Muscle Shoals Horns – and way more than just a set of studio players stepping out for some time in the spotlight! Sure, the MSH had worked on hundreds of sessions by this point – but there's also a sense of ownership and leadership they never had before – a real sense of trying something fresh, and really making the album all their own! To that respect, they certainly use their horns – but also work in plenty of vocals, too – and definitely emphasize the rhythms, which often have this cool compressed vibe that's very much in the best Earth Wind & Fire style – especially on the midtempo numbers that really make the album a killer. Production is by Barry Beckett, who goes for a nicely modern soul approach – and of all the horns, Harrison Calloway is probably the lead talent here – handling most of the arrangements, songwriting, and vocals. Titles include "What's Goin Down", "Dance To The Music", "I Just Wanna Turn You On", "Addicted To Your Love", "Beware Of The Rip Off", and "Keep On Playing That Funky Music". Last up is Shine On – an early 80s set from the mighty Muscle Shoals Horns, but one that cooks every bit as much as their funk classics from the 70s! At some level, this album may well be the group's funkiest – but in a style that's got some of the best 80s qualities in the grooves – the kind of tight basslines and sweet keyboard lines that marked some of the best work of the time – mixed with the group's sublime horn lines, which provide these jazzy inflections that really warm things up in a brilliant way! Most of the rhythms are nicely right in the middle – neither too uptempo, nor too head-noddy – and the whole thing's a really overlooked gem that's a standout funky set from the time. Titles include "Celebrate Recreate Participate", "She Was Once My Woman", "Shoalin", "More Than Ever Now", and "Don't Bust Yo Bubbles". 2CD set features bonus tracks – 7" mixes of "Born To Get Down", "Bump De Bump Yo Boodie", "Where I'm Coming From", and "She Was Once My Woman" – plus "I Just Wanna Turn You On (12" mix)". CD

We're not sure if Arthur Ponder ever really got crowned prince on the Georgia scene of the early 80s – but given the class and quality of the tracks on this set, he definitely comes across like some sort of royalty! In truth, only a few of the songs here were ever issued at the time – a bit of solo material, and some that feature Arthur working with the group Sideshow – both of which have a modern soul update of older deep southern modes – killer vocals from Ponder in the lead, set to arrangements that are sometimes warm, sometimes mellow, and occasionally done with more of an upbeat groove! The package is the first-ever full length to showcase the music of Ponder – and titles include "Sexy Lady", "You Are The One For Me", "It's You Girl", "You Talk Too Much", "Lonely Girl", "If You Want My Love", "Let's Get Together For The Wrong We Have Done", and "Whatcha Gone Do About It". LP, Vinyl record album

A really groundbreaking collection – one that looks at the surprising rise of interest in spiritual ideas during the late 60s years of hippy-heavy rock music – served up here in a host of cuts by artists we never thought we'd see together in such a collection! These aren't obscure Christian rock bands or church groups – and instead, most of the music here is by bigger name groups who, during a time of peace and love, opened their ears to some of the more conventional expressions of the spirit – while still turning out music that was heavy on all the psych, prog, folk, and harder rock elements they would normally record! As always with Grapefruit, the notes are as essential as the overall track selection – a stunning mix of tracks from 57 different artists – with cuts from The Kinks, Strawbs, Incredible String Band, Amazing Blondel, Manfred Mann, Magna Carta, Hollies, Jethro Tull, Unicorn, Lindisfarne, Heron, Gordon Giltrap, Moody Blues, Fairport Convention, Matthews Southern Comfort, Nirvana, Al Stewart, Roy Wood, Bill Fay, and many others! CD

Sam Dees is a hell of a singer, and he's a hell of a songwriter too – one who's worked not just with the southern soul stars of his roots, but also a much wider range of soul talents too! This wonderful collection really gets at the strength of Dees' amazing ability to pen a special soul tune – as it features work from a surprisingly huge array of talents from all sides of the soul spectrum – including a fair bit of vocalists we never knew worked with Sam's material. We love Dees' own records to death – and have enjoyed many of his demo recordings over the years, too – but a set like this really shows the important influence he had on soul music in the 70s – the way he touched so many folks, and helped them out with his meaningful lyrics. The set features great notes on Sam and his contribution – and 22 tracks that include "Where Did We Go Wrong" by LTD, "Vanishing Love (UK rmx)" by The Chi-Lites, "Girl Overboard" by Dorothy Moore, "So Your Love Finally Ran Out" by Les McCann, "Run To Me" by Sidney Joe Qualls, "Save The Overtime" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Seconds Of Your Love" by Johnnie Taylor, "One In A Million You" by Larry Graham, "Spoiled By Your Love" by Anita Ward, "What A Way To Put It" by The Temptations, "Good Guys Don't Always Win" by Ray Crumley, and "My World" by Sam Dees himself! CD

Ian Matthews got his start in Fairport Convention, but a record like this makes it clear that Matthews always needed to be a mainman of his own – as the record's got this focus, fullness, and lyrical quality that's only further by Ian's surprisingly strong role as a producer! There are a few older echoes here and there, but the whole thing is stepping up to a new generation of singer/songwriter material – personal, but confident – acoustically inflected, but never folksy at all – and filled with the sorts of songs that make it clear that you're in a new generation of self-expression! Titles include "Desert Inn", "Hearts", "Never Ending", "Reno Nevada", "Hinge (parts 1 & 2)", "Southern Wind", "Morgan The Pirate", and "If You Saw Thro' My Eyes". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes music from Holly Cole, Dianne Reeves, Julie London, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Dodo Green, Lorez Alexandria, Jerri Southern, Nina Simone, and Nancy Wilson. CD

An amazing array of southern soul – a 3CD package that's overflowing with classics in the genre, but which also features a fair bit of rare numbers too! The presentation of the whole thing is completely top-shelf – with a 72 page booklet that's almost worth the price of admission alone, supported with 3CDs of music containing a total of 75 songs in all! The set's divided up thematically – discs titled You Don't Miss Your Water, The Rainbow Road, and The River, respectively – and even if you've already got a fair bit of southern soul in your collection, you'd be hard pressed to find so much great music anywhere else, especially presented this well. Titles include "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" by William Bell, "Polly Wally" by Tony Borders, "Faithful & True" by ZZ Hill, "What I Don't Know Won't Hurt Me" by Paul Thompson, "I Can't Give You My Heart" by Jimmy Braswell, "Lead Me On" by Gwen McCrae, "Let's Face Facts" by The Masqueraders, "Something I Never Had" by Jarvis Jackson, "Mumble In My Ear" by Marcell Strong, "Tired Of Being Alone" by Al Green, "Jody Come Back & Get Your Shoes" by Bobby Newsom, "Starting All Over Again" by Mel & Tim, "I'll Play The Blues For You" by Geater Davis, "I'll Make It Up To You" by Clay Hammond, "The One You Can't Have" by Shirley Walton, "My Adorable One" by Joe Simon, "Losin Boy" by Eddie Giles, and "We Always Come Back Strong" by Sam Dees. CD

A huge collection of work from funk and soul legend Jimmy Castor – an artist who cut a big number of incredible records for a variety of different labels – almost all of which are in this set! In truth, Jimmy's got a huge legacy in soul that goes back to early years in vocal groups – but this set picks up with his late 60s Latin soul material, then rolls into his famous funk work for RCA and Atlantic Records in the 70s, and continues with great club tracks from the following decade! There's a massive 45 tracks on the 3CD set – a fitting tribute to Castor's never-ending genius – and titles include "Hey Leroy", "It's Just Begun", "Soul Serenade", "Luther The Anthropoid", "Bertha Butt Boogie", "Troglodyte", "It's Just Begun", "Southern Fried Frijoles", "Daniel", "Tribute To Jimi", "LTD", "Psych", "You Better Be Good", "Hallucinations", "Love Train", "One Precious Word", "The Everything Man", "Dracula (part 1)", "The Return Of Leroy (part 1)", "I Just Wanna Stop", "Party People", "Need Your Lovin", "E Man Par Tay", "Space Age (12" mix)", "Super Love", "Bom Bom", "Supersound", "Don't Do That", "King Kong", and lots more! CD

An easygoing city pop classic from Momoko Kikuchi – catchy but laidback at the same time – and nicely produced, but with a different vibe than some of the clunkier American work of the time! The record's a great illustration of the way that a singer like Momoko could find just the right balance with the backings – working with a set of arrangements from Tetsuji Hayashi, who also wrote the songs – carrying forward some of the pop and soundtrack styles of the time, and wrapping things up in a well-crafted record for Kikuchi. Titles include "Boy Friend", "Southern Cross Dreaming", "Ai No Surf Break", "Dear Children", and "Calendar Ni Initial". LP, Vinyl record album

One of THE disco hits of the 70s – a set that spawned not only a huge hit single for Anita Ward, but which also firmly pushed the Miami scene over the top! The record's a wonderful mix of modes – served up with stone southern soul production from Frederick Knight, but also given plenty of disco touches from arranger Mike Lewis – who famously works in strings and keyboards in ways that really help the vocals soar! The mellower numbers are a great reminder that Anita's way more than just the usual club diva – a singer able to make things work strongly on a ballad front as well – and some of the best tracks here are penned by Sam Dees, who brings a level of songwriting that you normally wouldn't find on a disco record. Titles include the hit "Ring My Bell" – plus "If I Could Feel That Old Feeling Again", "Sweet Splendor", "You Lied", "Make Believe Lovers", and "I Won't Stop Loving You". LP, Vinyl record album

A real classic from Facts Of Life – a unique trio with a great talent for mellow songs about life, love, and messing around! The work was recorded in Muscle Shoals by Brad Shapiro and Millie Jackson – and it's often got the best qualities of Millie's own mellow work – not the upbeat tracks, but the laidback ones in which she tells a little story with her lyrics. But given the trio nature of the group, there's often some great interplay between the male and female vocals – in a way that reminds us a lot of The Soul Children towards the end of their run at Stax – when they really matured a lot, and used the male/female group format to really expand on older styles of southern soul. Shapiro's production is tight, but never overdone – often letting the vocals cup through the most strongly, even on some cuts that augment the grooves a bit. Titles include "Caught In The Act (Of Getting It On)", "Sometimes", "Uphill Places Of Mind", "What Would Your Mama Say", and "That Kind Of Fire". CD features the bonus track "LOVE". CD

A little bit funk, a little bit soul – Mickey Murray was one of the underrated talents working in the SSS label during the company's glory years, and had a sock-hard southern soul style that was really outta site! Mickey first hit big with the tune "Shout Bamalama" – originally recorded by Otis Redding in his earliest years in the studio, but pushed to much bigger fame by Mickey with his classic late 60s recording. This tasty little set is done in a great mix of upbeat sockin-soul and mellower southern burners – all carried off with a depth and level of quality that should have made Mickey a bigger star at the time! Titles include the massively funky "Hit Record", plus "How many Breaks Can One Heart Take", "Got You On My Mind", and the eerie "Lonely Room". LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of wonderful tunes – all written by the legendary southern soul team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham! The pair rarely entered the spotlight themselves, but contributed countless compositions that helped forge the sound of southern soul in the 60s – classic tunes that made the music of Memphis and Muscle Shoals even more mighty than anyone might have expected – thanks to a depth of feeling, sensitivity of emotion, and a trademark undercurrent of sadness that really helped the music set a new level at the time! This collection is the first to really do justice to the full range of the Penn/Oldham catalog – a beautiful batch of soul singles from a variety of different 60s labels – laid out back to back, in a breathtaking tapestry of soulful music. Titles include "Feed The Flame" by Ted Taylor, "Take Me" by Solomon Burke, "I'm Your Puppet" by Dionne Warwick, "Out Of Left Field" by Percy Sledge, "Cry Like A Baby" by Arthur Alexander, "It Tears Me Up" by Jeanne Newman, "I Met Her In Church" by Tony Borders, "I Need Someone" by The Wallace Brothers, "In The Same Old Way" by Arthur Conley, "Let It Happen" by James Carr, "Are You Never Coming Home" by Sandy Posey, and "I Worship The Ground You Walk On" by Etta James. CD

An incredible collection of southern soul – and actually way more than the usual CD compilation, and almost instead a time machine back to the glory days of the genre! The set comes in a heavy slipcase, with a huge booklet of notes – not just track-by-track stories on all the 75 songs in the package, but also beautiful vintage images of the southern scene from which these deep soul tracks come – great photographs that are a great accompaniment to the often-narrative tracks in the set. The music is a mix of tracks from southern soul giants, and some key lesser-known acts – and as you'd expect from Kent, the whole thing goes way past the hits – and features plenty of obscure numbers too. Titles include "A Sad Sad Song" by Charles Crawford, "Mary Jane" by Bobby Rush, "If Loving You Is A Crime" by Lee Moses, "Go On Fool (ext)" by Marion Black, "Someone To Take Your Place" by Bill Locke, "I Got Everything I Need" by Eddie Floyd, "I've Got Memories (demo)" by Melvin Carter, "Give Me Back The Man I Love" by Barbara West, "Somebody Done Gone Took My Baby & Gone" by Joey Gilmore, "Depend On Me" by Steve Dixon, "Going Back Home" by Ground Hog, "Just A Touch Of Your Hand" by Al Gardner, "Sure As Sin" by Jeanie Greene, and "Please Don't Desert Me Baby" by Gloria Walker & The Chevelles. CD

Derrick Harriott may sing Jamaican reggae, but he does so here with plenty of help from American soul – as half the record features songs from the US 60s scene, including some Motown and southern soul gems – all retooled nicely for the sound of young Kingston! Derrick produced the set himself, and gets the groove just right for that warmly crackling vocal style of his – getting help from Bobby Ellis and Boris Gardinier on the arrangements – in a lineup that features Earl Chinna Smith on guitar, Winston Wright on organ, and Val Bennett on tenor sax. Titles include "It's Alright", "I'm Not Begging", "You Really Got A Hold On Me", "Have Some Mercy", "Sitting ON Top", "Close To Me", "Standing In", and "Long Time". LP, Vinyl record album