The first-ever tribute to this overlooked genius of southern soul – a set that brings together the rare early 70s singles from Dan Greer, plus a huge amount of unreleased work as well! Dan recorded these cuts for the Sounds Of Memphis label, in a style that really shows the changes in southern soul taking place at the time – that rich move forward you'd hear in the music of Sam Dees, Jimmy Lewis, and other key contemporaries who, along with Greer, really helped shake free of some of the 60s cliches of the genre – and stepped forth strongly with a sense of pride and power that's really amazing! The music's definitely got a Memphis vibe, but also echoes a bit of Nashville and Jackson soul as well – and Greer's slight lyrical twang is a really great fit for the slight bite in the way he puts his songs together. Titles include "Hook Line & Singer", "Shell Of A Man", "Thanks To You Girl", "How Does It Feel", "Bless You", "Voodoo Woman", "Share", "So Good To Be Young", "Any Moment Now", "Natural Reaction", "Only The Beginning", and "I'm A Lucky Guy". CD

Beautiful female soul from The Minits – a three piece group that recorded just a few singles for the the Sounds Of Memphis label – with a dozen great songs pulled together for this excellent compilation from Kent UK, many of which were never issued before now! Ultimately, there were far too few female soul stars coming out of Memphis with popularity anywhere near the levels of the male stars, and fewer still on labels other than Stax or Hi – and the dozen tracks here make a very strong case for The Minits, who should have busted out hugely. The set is light on ballads and skews towards dancefloor ready rhythms and pop soul of the best kind, with genuine soul! It includes their great Sounds Of Memphis singles and several tracks that were left in the vaults and only recently discovered. Titles include "Lover Boy", "Still A Part Of Me", "Last Mile Of The Way", "Pullin'", "Natural Reaction", "If You Don't Like My Apples (Don't Shake The Tree)", "Follow Your Heart" and more. CD

The great state of Texas turned out plenty of soul records in the 60s – and some of the best of them came from the hands of Huey P Meux – the legendary talent who's responsible for all the work on this set! Huey was also known as the Crazy Cajun – also the name of a label on which some of these cuts appeared – and his work shares a bit of the deeper, swampier sounds you might expect from Louisiana soul of the time, mixed with the rich bluesy currents that Texas had been turning out since the postwar years! The result is some stellar music that never fully got its due back in the day – tracks that maybe had a bit of regional fame, but never hit as big as sounds from Memphis or Muscle Shoals, which makes this collection such a great discovery – rare tracks by Texas artists, and other talents who were pulled down near the Houston scene for these recordings – all presented in a set of well-chosen tracks with some mighty nice notes. Titles include "Too Good To Be True" by The Traits, "Half A Man" by Charles Berry, "The Bad Times Make The Good Times" by Warren Storm, "T'Ain't It The Truth" by Jean Knight, "Strange Love" by Eugene Gamble, "All About Love" by Big Sam, "I'm Losing You" by Henry Moore, "Total Disaster" by Lee Maye, "At Your Wedding" by Jackie Paine, "You're Losing Me" by Jo Jo Benson, "Spunky Onions" by Johnny Adams, and "The Pleasures Of My Woman" by Rocky Gil & The Bishops. CD

A look at Memphis soul music that goes way beyond any Stax, Goldwax, or Atlantic Records collections you might own – partly because all of the tracks here are from a time in the city when all those other labels had stopped recording! Memphis is usually remembered for a 60s/early 70s stretch when the city was brimming over with record labels, studios, and top soul talent – but that latter aspect of the scene didn't stop when the record companies went bust – and instead, it just went underground, as lesser-known artists kept on developing great new sounds and styles! As you'd guess from the title, most of the work here is in a modern soul mode – often with rhythms that have a bit of boogie or club in the mix, but also with some of that developing southern soul approach that was maybe more strongly associated with the Malaco label down in Jackson. The scope of music is great, and the set's got very detailed notes on this under-documented time in the history of Memphis soul music – to support a great tracklist that includes "Can We Melt The Ice" by Morris, "You Mean Everything To Me" by Sweet Pearl, "The Doctor" by LA, "Stone Crush On You" by OT Skyes, "What Does It Take To Know A Woman Like You" by Greg Mason, "Always" by Silk Satin & Lace, "Right Thing" by Kick, "Convict Me" by Libra, "Slice Of Heaven" by Cato, "I'm Choosing You" by Magic Morris, "No Seat Dancin" by Frankie Alexander, and "Keep It To Yourself" by Captain Fantastic & Starr Fleet. CD

A look at Memphis soul music that goes way beyond any Stax, Goldwax, or Atlantic Records collections you might own – partly because all of the tracks here are from a time in the city when all those other labels had stopped recording! Memphis is usually remembered for a 60s/early 70s stretch when the city was brimming over with record labels, studios, and top soul talent – but that latter aspect of the scene didn't stop when the record companies went bust – and instead, it just went underground, as lesser-known artists kept on developing great new sounds and styles! As you'd guess from the title, most of the work here is in a modern soul mode – often with rhythms that have a bit of boogie or club in the mix, but also with some of that developing southern soul approach that was maybe more strongly associated with the Malaco label down in Jackson. The scope of music is great, and the set's got very detailed notes on this under-documented time in the history of Memphis soul music – to support a great tracklist that includes "Can We Melt The Ice" by Morris, "You Mean Everything To Me" by Sweet Pearl, "The Doctor" by LA, "Stone Crush On You" by OT Skyes, "What Does It Take To Know A Woman Like You" by Greg Mason, "Always" by Silk Satin & Lace, "Right Thing" by Kick, "Convict Me" by Libra, "Slice Of Heaven" by Cato, "I'm Choosing You" by Magic Morris, "No Seat Dancin" by Frankie Alexander, and "Keep It To Yourself" by Captain Fantastic & Starr Fleet. LP, Vinyl record album

A mind-expanding look at Memphis soul – one that gets way past common cliches about the city and its music! There's a heavy dose of funk in the mix on most numbers here – a gritty, fuzzy approach to the music that seems slightly borrowed from the Detroit scene at the end of the 60s – then mixed with some rougher, rootsier southern soul styles too! But other tracks take on a more sophisticated sound too – some of the righteous elements that hit Stax in the post-1968 period, especially as Isaac Hayes and David Porter were working on their own great solo work. Yet unlike Hayes and Porter, most of the artists here are much lesser-known – singers and groups who never charted big, but who got the chance to record for Memphis labels like XL, Stax, Select-O-Hits, and Sounds Of Memphis. CD features 20 tracks in all – and titles include "Dig It" by The Optimistics, "Mississippi Mud" by Smithsonian, "Two Paces Ahead Of Love" by Willie Walker, "Pullin" by The Minits, "It's Bump Time" by Gene Bowlegs Miller, "Blackrock Yeah Yeah" by Blackrock, "Keep The Faith" by Mel & Tim, "Watch Dog (alt)" by Barbara & The Browns, "Come What May" by John Gary Williams, "Strange Things" by Art Jerry Miller, "Shake" by The Ovations, "Tip Toeing" by Alvin Cash, "The Way Of Me" by Hannon, "Take A Giant Step" by LaCleve Milon, "Papa Killed A Chicken" by Willie Toliver, and "Don't Boom Boom" by Lillian Hale. CD

A stunning collection of work from the great George Jackson – a real 70s powerhouse in southern soul, but an artist who didn't always get the chance to shine as much as he should! One reason for that was that Jackson only issued singles during the decade – work here collected from labels that include Chess, MGM, and Sounds Of Memphis – superbly-written tunes that really show off George's skills as a songwriter – at a level that also had Jackson's talents so in demand by others, he didn't always get the chance to issue records on his own. As you'd guess from the title, the work here was all recorded in Memphis – with wonderful vocals by George, and that strong Memphis style backing of soulful guitars, horns, sweet keys, rollicking drums and insistent bass lines. Titles include "Things Are Getting Better", "Let's Live For Ourselves", "If You Never See Me", "Dear Abby", "I Don't Need You No More", "Talking About The Love I Have For You", "How Can I Get Next To You", "If You Never See Me", and "Walking The City Streets". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous legacy in gospel music during the 60s – a crucially important indie from the Memphis scene – and one who recorded really great groups from around the country! Designer were helping shape the sound of modern gospel at the same time as Chess, Savoy, and some of the bigger labels – and doing their work with a similar ear towards some of the more soulful sounds of the secular world – particularly in the way the harmonies and sound of group vocals came together! And despite their name – designer – which might make you think in terms of throwaway fashion – the label has a really classic sound and a rock-solid approach, which makes this overstuffed 4CD set a treasure trove for anyone interested in these key years in gospel music. The set features 101 tracks, in a very cool LP-sized sleeve, complete with an oversized booklet filled with notes and photos – and the collection features work by Foster Brothers, Gospel Songbirds, Twilight Singers, Melody Kings Of Greenwood MS, The Jubilee Hummingbirds, Jackson Trumpeteers, Little Willie Patterson & The Famous South Land Singers, The Shaw Singers, Sister Carrie Daniel, and many many more! CD

Deep soul from the glory days of the Memphis scene – not the better-known work recorded at Stax, but material from the smaller American Sound Studio – a new game in town during the late 60s, and a place that forged it's very own legacy in Memphis music! American recorded a variety of styles – a bit like Muscle Shoals – but this collection not only focuses most strongly on the soul music cut at the studios, but also work by "The Memphis Boys" – the superb in-house session group that included top-shelf talents like Reggie Young and Tommy Cogbill on guitar, Bobby Emmons on keyboards, and Chips Moman at the head of the group. The great Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham also did plenty of work for American – on material that was issued on a variety of labels – Atlantic, Cameo, Bell, Sound Stage 7, Smash, and others – all collected here with a deep set of notes that really gets at the special vibe going down at American. Titles include "Burning Fire" by Arthur Conley, "Someone To Take Your Place" by Bobby Marchan, "I Don't Want To Have To Wait" by James & Bobby Purify, "Ain't That True Love" by Oscar Toney Jr, "There's A Heartbreak Somewhere" by Roscoe Shelton, "Comin To Bring You Some Soul" by Sam Baker, "It Ain't Fair" by Ben E King, "Don't Take Your Love" by The Blossoms, "So Much Love" by Dusty Springfield, "Broadway Walk" by Bobby Womack, "Holdin On" by Jerry Lee Lewis, and "On The Other Side" by Lee Jones & The Sounds Of Soul. CD

Great second-chapter work from Lonnie Mack – brought together here with his 1963 debut as well! That album is the first – The Wham Of That Memphis Man – a killer blend of southern soul and rockabilly grit from Lonnie Mack – his first album and a really incredible effort that fuses soul, country, and rock roots in a really brilliant way! Lonnie was later known as more of a country boy-electric bluesman, but the blues on this early LP feels like a blue-eyed Bobby Bland – but maybe with a lot more guitar in the lead! The horns burst, and the organ & bass really steep the overall vibe in the two Steps From The Blues style, but the fiery guitar and vocals keep more of a early rock vibe – twang next to soul, in a really unique mode. Tracks include "Wham!", "Down And Out", "Why", "Down In The Dumps", "Memphis", "I'll Keep You Happy", "Suzie Q", "Satisfied", and "Farther On Down The Road". Glad I'm In The Band is a slow-burning charmer from the great Lonnie Mack – a set that has him in a slightly different setting than his debut, but one that's equally soul-drenched overall! The group here features some especially great work from David Byrd – who plays these organ lines that almost set the whole thing in Muscle Shoals territory – as do the strong horn arrangements from Maxwell Davis, who sounds a lot more southern here than his Cali soul norm. Lonnie's also turned into an even better singer than before – blue-eyed deep soul at its best – on titles that include "Sweat & Tears", "Let Them Talk", "Why", "Old House", "Save Your Money", "Stay Away From My Baby", and "She Don't Come Here Any More". Whatever's Right is a comeback album of sorts for Lonnie Mack, recorded for Elektra with a really down-home sound that's almost verging on southern soul at points! In a way, the set's kind of a nod to the sorts of genres in rock that Mack's music first helped unlock in earlier years – done at a time when it was a bit more acceptable to cross boundaries and reference roots that weren't actually yours in your music! The execution here is surprisingly strong and without hoke – a few notches up from Leon Russell – and Mack's guitar is in fine fine form, supported by a good deal of organ in the backings. Titles include "Gotta Be An Answer", "Untouched By Human Love", "I Found A Love", "Baby What You Want Me To Do", "Mt Healthy Blues", "What Kind Of World Is This", and "Things Have Gone To Pieces". Hills Of Indiana is a real charmer – and the last Elektra album by Lonnie Mack! We don't normally think of Indiana in such poetic terms – but leave it to Lonnie Mack to find the hidden beauty in roughness – a quality that seems to emerge more and more in his music as the 70s moved on! This Elektra album from 1971 is a real overlooked gem – quite different than anything you might have expected from Mack at the start of his career, and a record that really shows him blossoming as much as a singer as he was a guitarist – heartfelt and personal, but still with all the grit that his reputation would entail – with strong currents of both southern soul and rock, but some nice roots elements too. The set was recorded in Nashville, Muscle Shoals, and LA – and titles include "Bicycle Annie", "Asphalt Outlaw Hero", "The Man In Me", "Rings", "She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye", and "Lay It Down". CD

Great sounds from one of the best years in Elvis' comeback career – 23 tracks, presented in a really great way – all from Memphis sessions produced by Chips Moman! CD

Amazing work from the new version of The Bar-Kays – a group who reformed to become a combo as heavy as any of the best funky groups from Detroit, LA, or New York at the time! There's a style here that's a sweet Memphis distillation of ideas bubbling under in music by Sly Stone, Funkadelic, and others – taken to new territory here by a group that was already steeped in 60s soul instrumental sounds! The cuts show a great ear for simple hooks and playful instrumental twists and turns – still with a bit of the trumpet used on Bar-Kays work of the past, but more in a groove that lets the guitar step out nicely with psychedelic soul undercurrents! Tracks include "In The Hole", "Funky Thang", "Grab This Thing", "Street Walker", "Humpin", and "Don't Stop Dancing To The Music (parts 1 & 2)". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most fantastic soundtracks of the 70s – and maybe even of all time – thanks to a non-stop blast of insane styles and grooves – all quite different than other blacksploitation records of the time! For this, his masterpiece film, Melvin Van Peebles composed a non-stop collage of crazy sounds and funky jams, played by himself and a very young Earth, Wind, & Fire – then pasted together in a pastiche of music, dialogue, and sound effects that serve as an audio document of the film! If you've ever seen the movie – and even if you haven't – you'll find that the soundtrack works as a 40 minute version of the film, shifting back and forth with a loose narrative progression. Of course, the real appeal is the funky music – and you'll hear more than enough of that on tracks like "Sweetback's Theme", "Hoppin John", "Come On Fee", and "Sweetback Getting it Uptight". LP, Vinyl record album

The birth of Miami soul, and a beautifully done document of the rare Deep City label – home to Willie Clarke, Clarence Reid, and Betty Wright in the years before Alston and TK Records! Way before Miami soul started cracking the charts at the start of the 70s, Deep City was already putting the best parts in place – working with a tight roster of artists and an equally tight in-house band that rose from the ranks of Florida A&M's Marching 100 band – razor-sharp instrumentalists who helped forge a groove worthy to rival the sounds of Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and even the best of Detroit at the time – given that some of the work here has a much sweeter soul sound than other 60s southern soul. As usual, the Numero team have done an incredible job with the package – pulling out rare photos, personal stories, and just the right amount of information to breathe new life into the Deep City label and help it live anew. CD features 17 tracks in all – including "Paralyzed" and "Good Lovin" by Betty Wright, "Am I A Good Man" by Them Two, "Someone To Fulfill My Needs" and "I Love You Baby" by The Moovers, "I Am Controlled By Your Love" and "Willing & Able" by Helene Smith, "Good Thing (part 1)" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "It's My Baby" and "The Upset" by Paul Kelly, and "Stay Away From My Johnny" by Freda Gray & The Rocketeers. CD

A glorious batch of unearthed soul and funk from the early 70s central Ohio scene – the storming singles of Prix label – culled from ultra rare 45s plus previous unreleased gems! Prix was the imprint started to release work captured at Columbus's Harmonic Sounds studios commercially – pummeling funk, uptempo harmony soul, some heavy organ groovers and beyond – work by the Royal Esquires, Eddie Ray, Joe King, Marion Black and others. Most of the tracks were cut in the first few years of the 70s – at a time when when central Ohio was producing soul and funk as mighty as the bigger midwestern cities of Detroit, Memphis and Chicago – standing just as tall even if it didn't get over as well in the marketplace! 19 tracks in all – 11 of which were issued as Prix 45s in the early 70s, plus 8 more tracks that were never officially released – culled from finished masters, demos and other studio material that was only recently discovered! Titles include "Wait A Minute", "You Got Me" and more by Eddie Ray, "Mystic" and "Mister Kidneys" by OFS Unlimited, "Speak On Up" and "Your My Everything" by Joe King, "Ain't Gonna Run" by Royal Esquires, "Listen Black Brother" by Marion Black, "Melon Jelly" by Soul Ensemble, "I'm Gonna Gitcha" by Chip Willis & Double Exposure and more, plus 4 "extended play" bonus tracks by Eddie Ray, Harmonic Sounds Band and Penny & The Quarters. CD

A hefty helping of songs about the state of Tennessee – served up here in a great mix of postwar country and early rock and roll – maybe no surprise, given that the state is home to both Memphis and Nashville! Some tunes here are familiar classics, others are more obscure – and they're brought together in a great mix of sounds that's very much in keeping with the style we love on other compilations from the Bear Family label. 25 tracks in all – and titles include "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Johnny Cash, "Tennessee Whiskey" by David Allen Coe, "Tennessee Blues" by Tex Ritter, "Tennessee Two Step" by Joe Maphis, "Tennessee Local" by Tennessee Ernie Ford, "FOB Tennessee" by Kenny Roberts, "Tennessee Rag" by Country All Stars, "Tennessee Saturday Night" by Ernest Tubb, "Tennessee Jive" by Johnny Horton, "Tennessee Boogie" by Zeb Turner, "Tennessee Toddy" by Marty Robbins, and "I'm Goin Back To Tennessee" by Jimmie Logsdon. CD

Classic sounds from one of the coolest labels and studios in southern soul – the mighty Fame, which was to Muscle Shoals what Stax was to Memphis – especially at the time of these mid 60s recordings! Like Stax, Fame was an indie with a strong ear to the ground – and was able to pull together some incredible talent for its in-house roster – really strong songwriters, and session musicians who went on to become the stuff of legends – very different than the slicker cats on the coast, and instead some really dedicated young players who forever helped change the sound of soul in the 60s! Because of the core collection of talent at Fame, and the strength of its leader and producer Rick Hall, there's a really unified vibe to this material, even though the singers in the lead are always different – as were the labels that originally released some of this material. Leave it up to Ace Records to pull all the best bits together, and also give us the wonderful story behind the Muscle Shoals scene – on titles that include "Fortune Teller" by The Del-Rays, "I Can't Stop" by Arthur Conley, "It Tears Me Up" by James Barnett, "Feed The Flame" by Billy Young, Take Me Just As I Am" by Dan Penn, "Hi Heel Sneakers" by Jimmy Hughes, "Slippin Around With You" by Art Freeman, "That Kind Of Lovin" by Otis Clay, "Don't Make Me Hate Loving You" by Jeanie Greene, "Back In Your Arms" by George Jackson, "Thread The Needle" by Clarence Carter, "You Really Know How To Hurt A Guy" by Ralph Soul Jackson, "Long Ago" by Ben & Spence, "Keep On Talking" by James Barnett, "Come On Home" by Herman Moore, "Almost Persuaded" by June Conquest, "Wish You Didn't Have To Go" by Spooner & The Spoons, "I Worship The Ground You Walk On" by Jimmy Hughes, "A Piece Of My Heart" by Art Freeman, and "Blind Can't See" by Richard Earl & The Corvettes. CD

Excellent heavy funk from Stax! Black Nasty were one of the heaviest groups on the label – with a rock-solid guitar-based groove that went even farther than the Bar-Kays, who were no slouch in the guitar department themselves! The grooves are all slow to midtempo, with the band coming down hard on the downbeats, jamming away in a style that sounds more like heavy Detroit Westbound than sweetly soulful Memphis. Most all cuts have vocals – sung in a shouting style by the band that works well with the tripped-out hooks of the songs. This was the only album the band ever cut, but it's become a fast favorite among those who like their funk raw. Tracks include "We're Doin Our Thing", "Rushin Sea", "Booger The Hooker", "Black Nasty Boogie", "Nasty Soul", and "Getting Funky Round Here". LP, Vinyl record album

A selection of earlier Al Green numbers issued originally at the end of the 70s – with new mixing by Willie Mitchell, who'd produced all the original sides. Titles include "Love Ritual", which is a nice groover with some congas in the mix giving the whole thing an earthier thump under the trademark 70s Hi Records sound – and ultimately, upon revisiting this compilation, Mitchell does a pretty great job of filtering Al's wandering muse at this point through the trademark sounds of Memphis and Hi Records! plus "Glory Glory", "Let It Shine", "Keep Me Cryin", "Oh Me Oh My", "I Tried To Tell Myself", and "Smile A Little Bit More". CD

Tasty batch of funky blues tracks from Sonny – an artist who we normally don't like that much, but who sounds very sweet here, thanks to tight arrangements by The Bar-Kays, who back him up on the session! The record is a great mix of funky blues and Memphis soul – and includes the massive funky breakbeat track "Memphis B-K", plus "You Got A Good Thing", "They Want Money", and "Hung Up". LP, Vinyl record album

Four full albums from the Box Tops, plus bonus tracks too! First up is The Letter/Neon Rainbow – a powerhouse set from The Box Tops – a 60s group who showed the world that the Memphis scene had as much to offer the world of rock as it did the worlds of blues and soul – thanks to the all-great pedigree of this album! Not only does the group feature a very young Alex Chilton on lead vocals, the set was also recorded at the new American Recording Studios headed up by Chips Moman – with tracks on the record from the classic soul songwriting team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, not to mention a few by the young Bobby Womack too! The bit hit "The Letter" leads off the set, but the album's way more than just that it – filled with great tunes that include "I Pray For Rain", "I'm Your Puppet", "Happy Times", "Neon Rainbow", "Break My Mind", "She Knows How", and "Everything I Am". Cry Like A Baby is a fantastic album from The Box Tops – the kind of all-great, no-filler record that really set them apart from some of their 60s contemporaries! At this point, Alex Chilton's still not a songwriter, but he sounds tremendous in the lead on vocals – working with superb Memphis production, amidst a host of great tunes from the team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, plus a few other key songwriters too! Penn produced the record, and really gives it a fantastic sound – the kind of special touches and genre-bending elements of his own later records – on titles that include "Deep In Kentucky", "Cry Like A Baby", "Trouble With Sam", "The Door You Closed To Me", "Lost", "Fields Of Clover", and "Every Time". Non Stop is beautiful work from The Box Tops – a set that has the group moving way past their early hits, and finding this really sort of special place in the world of up-and-coming artists in the 60s! The Box Tops were maybe one of the first Memphis rock groups to really put together all the great elements that were bubbling in that city's scene during the 60s – the unique hybrid of soul, country, R&B, and other influences that were filtering into groups via the cross-cultural vibe of the city. That quality really comes through here – partly in the group's performance and the lead vocals of Alex Chilton, partly in the great production by Dann Penn, who also wrote a number of tracks with Spooner Oldham, and partly in the way that fuller arrangements are used to underscore some more soulful touches in the music. Titles include "Sandman", "Choo Choo Train", "I'm Movin On", "People Gonna Talk", "She Shot A Hole In My Soul", "I Met Her In Church", "I Can Dig It", and "If I Had Let You In". Dimensions is maybe one of the most soulful albums by The Box Tops – and that's saying a heck of a lot, as there's plenty of other soul elements moving through the other records! Alex Chilton's really finding his own here, and contributes a number of his own songs to the record, as a harbinger of his great legacy to come – and the production is slightly shifted, with Tommy Cogbill and Chips Moman taking over from Dan Penn, and maybe bringing in even more elements from the wide crossover between rock and soul on the Memphis scene. Titles include "I See Only Sunshine", "Together", "The Happy Song", "Rock Me Baby", "Sweet Cream Ladies", "I Must Be The Devil", "Midnight Angel", and "Soul Deep". Bonus cuts include "Since I Been Gone", "Lay Your Smile On Me", "King's Highway", "Take Me To Your Heart", "Georgia Farm Boy", "Come On Honey", and "You Keep Tightening Up On Me". CD

A glorious batch of unearthed soul and funk from the early 70s central Ohio scene – the storming singles of Prix label – culled from ultra rare 45s plus previous unreleased gems! Prix was the imprint started to release work captured at Columbus's Harmonic Sounds studios commercially – pummeling funk, uptempo harmony soul, some heavy organ groovers and beyond – work by the Royal Esquires, Eddie Ray, Joe King, Marion Black and others. Most of the tracks were cut in the first few years of the 70s – at a time when when central Ohio was producing soul and funk as mighty as the bigger midwestern cities of Detroit, Memphis and Chicago – standing just as tall even if it didn't get over as well in the marketplace! Some tracks were issued as Prix 45s in the early 70s, and others were never officially released – culled from finished masters, demos and other studio material that was only recently discovered! Titles include "Wait A Minute", "You Got Me" and more by Eddie Ray, "Mystic" and "Mister Kidneys" by OFS Unlimited, "Speak On Up" and "Your My Everything" by Joe King, "Ain't Gonna Run" by Royal Esquires, "Listen Black Brother" by Marion Black, "Melon Jelly" by Soul Ensemble, "I'm Gonna Gitcha" by Chip Willis & Double Exposure and more. LP has 2 bonus cuts – 21 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

A warm return to funky form for the New Mastersounds – working here in an instant-classic groove that recalls the glory days of the Memphis scene! The group's instrumental sound is supported by some extremely burning work on Hammond – sweet and soulful licks that remind us a lot of the sound of Booker T in the late 60s, backed up by some guitar work that shifts easily from uptight and scratchy, to superdope and mellow. The album changes things up nicely from track to track, going for grooves that blend in a lot of different modes, and which show the group to be really expanding their format. Titles include "Better Off Dead", "Six Underground", "Barca", "You've Had It All", "This Ain't Work", "Idle Time", "Your Love Is Mine", "RTA", "Coming Down", and "Be Yourself". LP, Vinyl record album