A trio of second-period Sly Stone albums – all brought together in a single CD set! On Small Talk, Sly's still doing pretty nice for himself in 1974 – with a sound that's perhaps a bit warmer than on the early records, but still nice and soulful – and peppered with a good dose of funk! The groove is really great on the set – bubbling with a more "deep down" feel than the skittish funk of the first few records, and breaking out on some great soul numbers that show Sly to be an even better singer than before – touchingly sensitive at times, in a really beautiful way! Titles include "Loose Booty", which has a wonderful popping bass/hollow drum sound, and a tasty break in the middle – plus the cuts "This Is Love", "Wishful Thinkin", "Time For Livin", "Can't Strain My Brain", and "Say You Will". High On You is a nice little mid 70s set from Sly – one recorded without the Family Stone, but still grooving wonderfully with lots of funky edges! Sly's expanded his sound nicely here – pushing past the shorter funk of earlier years to work in some complicated instrumentation that keeps things really sounding fresh. Great examples of this are the frenetic horn bits on "Crossword", which you'll recognize from its famous Tribe Called Quest sample – or the sweeping strings on the mellow groover "That's Lovin You". The whole thing's great – and other tracks include "I Get High on You", "So Good to Me", "Le Lo Li", "Green Eyed Monster Girl", and "Organize". On Heard Ya Missed Me, Sly Stone's looking like a one-man band on the cover, but the album's definitely got the full-on collaborative vibe of his early records with the Family Stone! The main man himself has plenty of charm, and still has that wonderful ear for a sharp-tinged funky cut – but he's also working in this mode that allows for other voices to come into the mix at times, and plenty of lively funky instrumentation underneath the lyrics – which really makes the whole thing feel like a party all the way through! Titles include "Sexy Situation", "What Was I Thinkin In My Head", "Mother Is A Hippie", and "Family Again". CD

Early stuff by Sly – and pretty nice! The mix of styles is mostly hard soul, a bit jazz, and tiny roots of Sly's later funky style – and the record has a lot of cuts that may not be as great as Sly's Epic recordings, but which would sound pretty darn nice if they were on an obscure 45! Includes the heavy organ number "Rock Dirge", plus "Deck Of Cards", "If You Were Blue", "Life Of Fortune & Fame", "Hi Love", "Watermelon Man", and "Take My Advice". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from Bobby Womack – one of those records that has all his best elements firmly in place, put forward at a level that's sophisticated and polished, yet never too commercial at all! Bobby's voices are still incredible – that raspy, personal feel that's rooted in country and deeper soul modes, yet ready to take on the mainstream as well – and the tracks also still feature lots of his wonderful guitar work, which inflects the music with these deeper feelings that really holds strong – and definitely lives up to the initial charm of Womack's first few records on Minit. Most of the set was recorded at Muscle Shoals, but as a place where Womack was travelling from LA – a fact that definitely shows in the mix of rootsy elements and tighter construction – yet still handled here without any of the cliches that so many other artists might hit when recording on that scene. Titles include the killer funky stepper "You're Welcome Stop On By", which has been sampled and covered many times over the years – plus "I Don't Wanna Be Hurt By Ya Love Again", "Let It Hang Out", "Lookin For A Love", "Doing It My Way", and "Don't Let Me Down". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from this famous Chicago spiritual leader of the 70s – and an album that's got a nice balance between intimate soul numbers and larger tracks that have the whole Mount Zion Baptist Church along for support! The set's definitely got the strongly soulful vibe of Barrett's Like A Ship album – a strong ear for the best secular elements of the time, which are used liberally in the instrumental backing – to really send home the message in the music! Most tunes really soft-pedal the religion, and instead go for an overall feel that really crosses over to regular soul music – a fact we can attest to, given how many times we turn this up in older collections of 70s soul records. Titles include "Do Not Pass Me By", "So Many Years", "Oh What A Day", "I Want To Be In Love With You", "These Are The Words", and "After The Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from this famous Chicago spiritual leader of the 70s – and an album that's got a nice balance between intimate soul numbers and larger tracks that have the whole Mount Zion Baptist Church along for support! The set's definitely got the strongly soulful vibe of Barrett's Like A Ship album – a strong ear for the best secular elements of the time, which are used liberally in the instrumental backing – to really send home the message in the music! Most tunes really soft-pedal the religion, and instead go for an overall feel that really crosses over to regular soul music – a fact we can attest to, given how many times we turn this up in older collections of 70s soul records. Titles include "Do Not Pass Me By", "So Many Years", "Oh What A Day", "I Want To Be In Love With You", "These Are The Words", and "After The Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent work from The Brand New Heavies – one of those groups that made us first want to get into the record store business many years ago! The passage of time hasn't dimmed their genius at all – and right as at the start, the music here is flowing with classic funk and soul influences, but leaned up into a groove that's very contemporary – and which continues to stand head and shoulders above the generations of artists who've been inspired by their sound! As you might notice by the cover, the core duo of Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Levy are the key force of the sound – but their longtime partner N'Dea Davenport is on vocals for many tracks on the set – replaced at a few points by guests who include Laville, Angie Stone, Angela Ricci, Beverley Knight, and Siedah Garrett – a nicely shifting lineup that almost give the record the variety of a classic Incognito set. Titles include "Stupid Love", "Just Believe In You", "Get On The Right Side", "Little Dancer", "It's My Destiny", "Getaway", "Beautiful", "Wired Up", "Together", and "Dontchawanna". CD

Raw soul, indeed – a term that could have been coined for James Brown's vocal approach, and which probably makes one of its first appearances here on a record! The album's kind of a grab bag of earlier sides that James recorded for King, but it's a perfect showcase for his amazing sound in any setting – as it brings together funky bits with more straightforward soul numbers. Tracks include the great funky numbers "Money Won't Change You" and "Bring It Up", both of which show the new hard sound of James coming to the forefront – plus the tracks "Stone Fox", "Tell Me That You Love Me", "Money Won't Change You (parts 1 & 2)', "Let Yourself Go", and the hip message cut "Don't Be A Drop Out". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal collection of work from Buffalo Springfield – a group with a short-lived existence on the LA scene, but an impact that shaped the sound of mainstream rock for many years to come! That effect is no surprise – given that the lineup features a young Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay – moving from folk influences into trippier, headier territory – and paving the way for both classic and country rock to come! Here at the start, things are nice and lean – well-penned tunes that pack a heck of a lot into a very short space – given key production help from Jack Nitzsche, Brian Stone, Jim Messina, and even Neil Young himself. Titles include "For What It's Worth", "Mr Soul", "Broken Arrow", "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Win", "Expecting To Fly", "Go & Say Goodbye", "On The Way Home", "Sit Down I Think I Love You", and "Kind Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal collection of work from Buffalo Springfield – a group with a short-lived existence on the LA scene, but an impact that shaped the sound of mainstream rock for many years to come! That effect is no surprise – given that the lineup features a young Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay – moving from folk influences into trippier, headier territory – and paving the way for both classic and country rock to come! Here at the start, things are nice and lean – well-penned tunes that pack a heck of a lot into a very short space – given key production help from Jack Nitzsche, Brian Stone, Jim Messina, and even Neil Young himself. Titles include "For What It's Worth", "Mr Soul", "Broken Arrow", "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Win", "Expecting To Fly", "Go & Say Goodbye", "On The Way Home", "Sit Down I Think I Love You", and "Kind Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

An early collection of gems from Norman Granz and his Verve crew – a record that showcases recordings based around some of his alto sax stars! It's not clear whether or not all of these tunes are exclusive to the album, but we can say that we really appreciate it for the numbers that feature the great Willie Smith – one of our favorite altoists from the time, and an artist who almost never got enough space on record as a leader! Smith plays "Tea For Two" and "Not So Bop Blues" – and other titles include "A Pound Of Blues", "Warm Valley", and "Sophisticated Lady" by Johnny Hodges; "A Foggy Day" and "Prisoner Of Love" by Benny Carter; and "Fiesta", "Cardboard", and "Star Eyes" by Charlie Parker. David Stone Martin cover, too! LP, Vinyl record album

A beautifully-blown session from tenorist Al Cohn – definitely what we'd expect, to be sure – but still a nice surprise, too – as we don't often reach for Cohn dates of this vintage! The album's got a stone, stark, no-nonsense approach – with the sort of all-solid feel that Al always had back to the 50s, but that especially confident style that he really exhibited best in some of his 70s dates – a soulful stretching out that makes his later years as winning as his early ones – but in a very different way! The tenor's boldly in the lead on all numbers – in a group that also features Rein De Graaf on piano, Koos Serierse on bass, and Eric Ineke on drums – on titles that include "The Thing", "Hot House", "Speak Low", "Blue Monk", "Rifftide", and "Secret Love". CD

Three full albums from Australian singer Creepy John Thomas – all of them pretty darn great! The set begins with a record issued under the name of Rust – a set recorded in Germany, by Australian singer John Thomas – all quickly put together in the studio, but with results that are surprisingly great! The group have a psychedelic look on the cover, but are more old school rockers with some late 60s twists – some Beatles-esque arrangements on a few tracks, freakier vocals on a few others, and this stunning ability to move between styles while still making the record feel very unified overall. The whole thing's wonderful – filled with catchy tunes and madder moments – titles that include "Delusion", "Come With Me", "Find A Hideaway", "The Endless Struggle", "Please Return", and "Should I". Next is the self-titled Creepy John Thomas album – a stunning set from Aussie singer John Thomas – billed here as Creepy John Thomas, a name that was supposed to invoke older blues roots while also pitching the whole thing to the weirder, wilder, wiggier generation at the end of the 60s! In truth, there's very little blues rock here at the forefront – maybe in part because the album's an early production effort by Conny Plank – who does a great job bringing out all these odd sounds from familiar elements – so that the fuzzy guitar and heavy bass can get weird and moody at times, even when the song structure might be relatively tight. The driving force, though, is Creepy John – the kind of singer who should have been part of some supergroup at the start of the 70s – but who's maybe even better as one of rock's great under-discovered lesser-rans. Titles include "Sun & Woman", "Bring Back The Love", "Ride A Rainbow", "You've Got To Hide", "Gut Runs Great Stone", "Do I Figure In Your Life", "Moon & Eyes Song", and "Trippin Like A Dog & Rockin Like A Bitch". Last up is Brother Bat Bone – a real gem from the overlooked Creepy John Thomas – a record that evokes familiar blues rock styles, but with a much trippier sound overall – as you might guess from the image on the cover! Creepy John plays acoustic and electric guitar – with qualities that are even stronger than his previous records, and which lead to the longs being longer, with some surprisingly great solo parts – which are then topped by those raw, nasty vocals that always made Thomas such a budding talent at the time! There's a complexity here that's really surprisingly – the guitar work alone is wonderful, and all the rest is really just icing on the cake – on titles that include "This Is My Body", "Standin In The Sunshine", "100lb Noomy", "What's The Matter With The Mill", and "Down In The Bottom". CD

A late 70s classic from jazzy funk master George Duke! Master Of The Game is an excellent mix of jazz, smooth soul, and Latin riffing – really a perfect blend of styles that shows not only how far George's sound had progressed throughout the 70s, it also charts the development of the California scene during the late 70s. George has musical help from Ray Obeido, Roland Bautista, and Sheila E – plus vocals by Lynn Davis, Josie James, and Napoleon Brock. The tracks have a smooth sound that works perfectly with Duke's best keyboard approaches – subduing his tenency to "rock out" a bit, but bringing forward his classic ability to hit a stone mellow groove. Titles include "I Want You For Myself", "Every Little Step I Take", "Look What You Find", "I Love You More", "Dog Man", and "Games". This Soulmusic.com edition includes 2 bonus tracks: "I Want You For Myself (US Single Edit) and "Every Little Step I Take (US Single Edit)". CD

Fantastic funk from Freddi Henchi & The Soulsetters – an incredible group who've got an energy level to rival Sly & The Family Stone at their best – but with a deeper groove that seems to pick up a bit of Hendrix energy in the mix, then deliver the whole thing with the rawness of a funky 45! The collection is a real treasure – rare singles issued on a number of different labels, brought together with full notes that tell the group's story – all in a package that's as beautiful as the music! This is the sort of set that makes you love soul and funk reissues – and it's overflowing with 21 tracks that include "Under Pressure", "Piranha", "Mr Funky", "I Like Funky Music", "Popcorn Baby", "Come Down", "Biscuits & Buttermilk", and "Soul Train". Also features a bonus video from 1975! CD

A legendary set of live performances from Jimi Hendrix – both sets recorded in Maui in July of 1970, presented here officially for the first time ever – along with a bonus documentary on the performances too! The set is kind of the true counterpart to the botched Rainbow Bridge project – and features Jimi with Billy Cox on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums – really stepping out on some extended tracks that are filled with searing solos, and that undeniable charisma of Hendrix on stage – still wonderful, even near the end. Titles include "Hear My Train A Comin", "Fire", "Dolly Dagger", "Ezy Rider", "Message To Love", "Lover Man", "Spanish Castle Magic", "Purple Haze", "Red House", "Hey Baby/Midnight Lightning", "Straight Ahead", "Stone Free", "Jam Back At The House", and "Freedom". Also features a great DVD – with the documentary Music Money Madness – about the group's trip to Maui and the ill-fated Rainbow Bridge project – plus all of the existing 16mm footage of the two performances that day! Comes with a 32 page booklet, too – lots of never-published photos. CD

A legendary set of live performances from Jimi Hendrix – both sets recorded in Maui in July of 1970, presented here officially for the first time ever – along with a bonus documentary on the performances too! The set is kind of the true counterpart to the botched Rainbow Bridge project – and features Jimi with Billy Cox on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums – really stepping out on some extended tracks that are filled with searing solos, and that undeniable charisma of Hendrix on stage – still wonderful, even near the end. Titles include "Hear My Train A Comin", "Fire", "Dolly Dagger", "Ezy Rider", "Message To Love", "Lover Man", "Spanish Castle Magic", "Purple Haze", "Red House", "Hey Baby/Midnight Lightning", "Straight Ahead", "Stone Free", "Jam Back At The House", and "Freedom". Also features a great DVD – with the documentary Music Money Madness – about the group's trip to Maui and the ill-fated Rainbow Bridge project – plus all of the existing 16mm footage of the two performances that day! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic pairing of soulful talents – the legendary John Lee Hooker on the mighty Stax Records – in a set that's a real standout in the career of both! The vibe here is different than the usual sound of Stax – not a Memphis-ized John Lee Hooker, but instead the kind of stripped-down session that the singer had done for other labels in his early years – given a very faithful presentation here by producer Henry Stone (who himself might well be the third important force at work on the set!) Tracks are mostly short – apart from one eight minute jam – and Hooker's got that raw, raspy bite that still makes him one of the all-time greats. Titles include "Teachin' The Blues", "Goin To Louisiana","I Need You", "My Love Comes Down For You", "Please Don't Go", "I Just Don't Know", "Slow & Easy", "Two White Horses", "Feel So Bad", and "Grinder Man". LP, Vinyl record album

A double-length killer from Willis Jackson – a single CD that brings together two different albums recorded at the same concert performance! Jackson's Action is a stone cooker from tenorist Willis Jackson, who always seems to burn even stronger than usual in concert performance! The group is raw, rough, and plenty swinging – the great Pat Martino on guitar, Carl Wilson on organ, and Joe Hadrick on drums – plus additional trumpet from Frank Robinson, who really blasts out nicely in the frontline with Jackson! The rhythms are amazing – very snapping and catchy, with almost an early modal soul jazz vibe – and titles include a great long version of "Jive Samba", which sounds very similar to Jackson's amazing Prestige classic "Nother'n Like Thuther'n" – plus the cuts "I Wish You Love", "Monkey Hips", "Aw Right Do It", and "Jackson's Action". Live Action is equally great – recorded at the same time, with the same players, and a tremendous little groove – on titles that include "Blowin Like Hell", "Hello Dolly", "Gator Tail", "Satin Doll", and "Blue Gator". CD

An oft-overlooked gem from the JBs – their last album for People Records, and a stone funk classic that's every bit as essential as the others! The band is still in fine fine form – with none of the fast-funk or proto-disco of some later recordings – and they're working here in some really tight song formats that almost go back to the early days of the group's first few singles. The album's filled with great playing, wonderful grooves, and Fred Wesley's keen sense of humor – which sparks the whole set with a sense of warmth and creative play that show why the JBs are still the greatest funk band ever. Includes the excellent "Little Boy Black", which begins with some tasty James Brown vocals; the oft-sampled "Rockin' Funky Watergate"; plus "Step Child", "Makin Love", and "Rice & Ribs". Not as drawn out as Doing It To Death, but more complicated than Food For Thought, and still a totally essential bit of funk! LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent bit of raw funky southern soul from Johnny Jenkins – recorded in Macon, GA, and one of the last relics of the relations that Atlantic Records had with all of the little local scenes in the south! Ton-Ton Macoute is one of those records that manages to blend funk, blues, and southern rock & soul way, way better than so many pretenders from the time – just a damn near perfectly realized set ! Johnny Jenkins sings, stomps, plays guitar and blows harp (with some extra help from Duane Allman on the guitar front), and he runs through tracks like "Blind Bats & Swamp Rats", "Sick & Tired", "Voodoo In You", "Rollin' Stone", "Bad News", "Down Along The Cove", and the absolute classic, classic breakbeat track "I Walk On Guilded Splinters". Features the bonus tracks "My Love Will Never Die" and "I Don't Want No Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky tribute to all the "Super Groupies" who were helping out the 70s music scene – maybe the closest thing that Junie Morrison every came to a tribute album – and a set that's got all the same wonderful complexity of his other solo albums on Westbound! As with those records, there's a pre-Prince approach to funk that draws heavily from Ohio Players and P-Funk elements – but which really gets a sharper, more sinister focus with Junie in the lead – at a level of soulful stardom that could have made him another Bootsy Collins, if folks were ever smart enough to figure out what he was doing at the time! Titles include the funky classic "Suzie Thundertussy" – plus "Super Groupie", "Surrender", "Junie III", "What Am I Gonna Do", "Stone Face Joe", "Suzie", and "If You Love Him". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic work from Ledisi – an artist we've loved for almost 25 years, and who maybe sounds better here than she has in the last decade! There's this back to basics approach that maybe recalls some of her self-released albums at the start – but mixed with the maturity in all the years she's learned as both a songwriter and a singer – the sort of vocalist who should be right up there in the soul music pantheon right next to Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan! Robert Glasper helped a bit on the record – but as usual, Ledisi is the key driving force behind the set – making her equally skilled in the studio as she is on record. Titles include "WKND", "Without You", "Stone", "Wake Up", "What Kinda Love Is That", "Now Or Never", "Stay Gone", "Anything For You", and "Next Time". CD

Fantastic work from Ledisi – an artist we've loved for almost 25 years, and who maybe sounds better here than she has in the last decade! There's this back to basics approach that maybe recalls some of her self-released albums at the start – but mixed with the maturity in all the years she's learned as both a songwriter and a singer – the sort of vocalist who should be right up there in the soul music pantheon right next to Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan! Robert Glasper helped a bit on the record – but as usual, Ledisi is the key driving force behind the set – making her equally skilled in the studio as she is on record. Titles include "WKND", "Without You", "Stone", "Wake Up", "What Kinda Love Is That", "Now Or Never", "Stay Gone", "Anything For You", and "Next Time". LP, Vinyl record album

Stone classic LL Cool J! There was a time we didn't really rate this one on the same level as Radio, but listening with fresh ears after all these years – prime old school Def Jam with an energy that's really missing in so much of the hip hop to follow in the next couple years – and the raw drum machine and cuts approach to production STILL holds up and the rhymes, brags and delivery represent a bygone era of hip hop perfectly. Bigger And Deffer and a hella solid slice of mid-to-late 80s rap. Includes "Go Cut Creator Go", "I'm Bad", "Get Down", "My Rhyme Ain't Done", ".357", "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", and that OG hip hop ballad "I Need Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone burner from 100 Proof Aged In Soul – a group who really take off with this tight second record! The album's a classic from the days when soul music ruled AM radio on both sides of the tracks – and the rest of the album is equally great – packing that tight post-Motown punch that made the Hot Wax label one of the best proponents of Detroit soul in the 70s! Arrangements are by a huge amount of early 70s heavyweights – McKinley Jackson, Paul Riser, and HB Barnum – and the set was produced by General Johnson and Greg Perry, in a style that soars along with the Chairmen Of The Board albums of the time. Titles include "Words", "I Don't Care If I Never Get Over You", "Everything Good Is Bad", "Ghetto Girl", "Nothing Sweeter Than Love", and "Don't You Wake Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic early album from Charlie Parker on Verve – and one that may well support one of the strangest cover illustrations ever done by the great David Stone Martin! The image of a bird-headed Parker blowing alto is more than compelling enough – but inside, the music is even better – pulled from a variety of different early Parker sessions for Norman Granz – showing some of the real early strengths of his sound! Titles include group material with quartet material with Miles Davis on trumpet, Walter Bishop on piano, and Max Roach on drums – on the titles "Au Privave", "Why Do I Love You", "KC Blues", "She Rote", and "Star Eyes". There's also two great tracks with larger arrangements by Gil Evans and voices by Dave Lambert – "Old Folks" and "In The Still Of The Night" – and a few more with trumpeter Red Rodney and pianist John Lewis – "Blues For Alice", "Lover Man", and "Si Si". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing set of music – two rare albums from Ohio funk legend Lou Ragland, plus bonus tracks, and a whole set of unreleased sessions too – a huge amount of new music, even if you've got some of the previous reissues! First up is the legendary Hot Chocolate album – one of the greatest lost funk records of all time! The group is not the British pop band, but an Ohio funk group led by the great guitarist Lou Ragland. The album's originally from Canada, which makes it super rare – and these guys are funky funky funky, and kick some major booty with a heavy guitar sound that's just great! Some of the cuts are instrumental, and some of them have some excellent soul vocals that are produced with a nice deep sound that's brought out nicely by the excellent quality of the reissue. The record's got a bit of Sly Stone, a bit of Grant Green, and a bit of Mike James Kirkland – with a tasty raw indie soul vibe – and the original album was only pressed up at 500 copies. Titles include "So Dam Funky", "Ain't That A Groove", "Sexy Moods Of Your Mind", "Messin With Sly", and "What You Want To Do" – plus 8 more tracks from the same vintage – "Good For The Gander" by Hot Chocolate, "I Travel Alone" and Big Wheel" by Lou Ragland, "Red Robin" and "I've Got Something Going On" by Volcanic Eruption, and "I Can't Take It" and "What The Doctor Prescribed" by Lou Ragland & Hot Chocolate. Next is The Conveyor – the second album from Lou Ragland, stepping out here in a great set of mellow soul tracks! The album's quite different from the heavy funk of the Hot Chocolate album – more of a message-oriented approach to soul, in the vein of similar 70s indie work by Mike James Kirkland. The arrangements are also bigger – not smooth, but ambitious, in a style that perfectly matches the higher vision Lou's going for in tracks like "Understand Each Other", "What Should I Do?", "The Next World", and "It's Got To Change". Conveyor also comes with bonus tracks too – "Tend To Your Business" by Wildfire, plus "Since You Said You'd Be Mine" and "I Didn't Mean To Leave You" by Lou Ragland. And last up is an incredible batch of unreleased material – maybe the biggest and best so far from Ragland – tracks that have this really ambitious quality that mixes soul, funk, and larger orchestrations – especially some light strings, which really expand the sound, and push the music into this righteous territory that reminds us a lot of the creative experiments in Chicago during the Cadet/Concept years! Lou's vocals are great, and the message is totally righteous – and even though the tape quality is slightly aged, the soulful vibe really comes through – on cuts that include "Understand Each Other", "It Ain't My Fault", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "Spend My Life Loving You", "Until I Met You", and "Brother Louie". Lovingly packaged by Numero – with a huge booklet of photos and history – and cool mini-LP sleeves too! CD

An amazing set of music – two rare albums from Ohio funk legend Lou Ragland, plus bonus tracks, and a whole set of unreleased sessions too – a huge amount of new music, even if you've got some of the previous reissues! First up is the legendary Hot Chocolate album – one of the greatest lost funk records of all time! The group is not the British pop band, but an Ohio funk group led by the great guitarist Lou Ragland. The album's originally from Canada, which makes it super rare – and these guys are funky funky funky, and kick some major booty with a heavy guitar sound that's just great! Some of the cuts are instrumental, and some of them have some excellent soul vocals that are produced with a nice deep sound that's brought out nicely by the excellent quality of the reissue. The record's got a bit of Sly Stone, a bit of Grant Green, and a bit of Mike James Kirkland – with a tasty raw indie soul vibe – and the original album was only pressed up at 500 copies. Titles include "So Dam Funky", "Ain't That A Groove", "Sexy Moods Of Your Mind", "Messin With Sly", and "What You Want To Do" – plus 8 more tracks from the same vintage – "Good For The Gander" by Hot Chocolate, "I Travel Alone" and Big Wheel" by Lou Ragland, "Red Robin" and "I've Got Something Going On" by Volcanic Eruption, and "I Can't Take It" and "What The Doctor Prescribed" by Lou Ragland & Hot Chocolate. Next is The Conveyor – the second album from Lou Ragland, stepping out here in a great set of mellow soul tracks! The album's quite different from the heavy funk of the Hot Chocolate album – more of a message-oriented approach to soul, in the vein of similar 70s indie work by Mike James Kirkland. The arrangements are also bigger – not smooth, but ambitious, in a style that perfectly matches the higher vision Lou's going for in tracks like "Understand Each Other", "What Should I Do?", "The Next World", and "It's Got To Change". Conveyor also comes with bonus tracks too – "Tend To Your Business" by Wildfire, plus "Since You Said You'd Be Mine" and "I Didn't Mean To Leave You" by Lou Ragland. And last up is an incredible batch of unreleased material – maybe the biggest and best so far from Ragland – tracks that have this really ambitious quality that mixes soul, funk, and larger orchestrations – especially some light strings, which really expand the sound, and push the music into this righteous territory that reminds us a lot of the creative experiments in Chicago during the Cadet/Concept years! Lou's vocals are great, and the message is totally righteous – and even though the tape quality is slightly aged, the soulful vibe really comes through – on cuts that include "Understand Each Other", "It Ain't My Fault", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "Spend My Life Loving You", "Until I Met You", and "Brother Louie". Lovingly packaged by Numero – with a huge booklet of photos and history! LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent remix version of Reel People's fantastic Retroflection – one that you can almost look to as an equally great alternative version of it – with remixes by Atjazz, John Morales, Terry Hunter, Tall Black Guy, DJ Spinna and others! The warmly collaborative spirit of the original album – with guest vocals by Angie Stone, Navasha Daya, Anthony David, Omar and others – makes this kind of a companion piece a natural fit. The remixers wisely hew to the gliding soul with jazzy touches that make Retroflection such a strong, standout work, while bringing in elements of club soul, jazzy samba, and timeless disco, depending on the producer/remixer. Titles include "Don't Stop The Music (Art Of Tones Modern Disco Mix)", "I Want To Thank You (Sebb Junior Remix)", "Thinking About Your Love (Da Brownie Remix)", "Keep It Up (DJ Spinna Galactic Funk Remix)", "I'm In Love (Buscrates Remix)", "Buttercup (Terry Hunter Main Club Mix", "Always There (Scott Diaz Funk Excursion)", and "Can We Pretend (Tall Black Guy Samba Remix)". CD

Titles include "Eternal Caravan Of Reincarnation", "Waves Within", "Look Up", "Just In Time To See The Sun", "All The Love Of The Universe", and "Stone Flower". CD

Titles include "Eternal Caravan Of Reincarnation", "Waves Within", "Look Up", "Just In Time To See The Sun", "All The Love Of The Universe", and "Stone Flower". CD

15 bass-heavy classics from the band that virtually invented the 80s groove sound! The set's a good selection of tracks from Slave's classic Cotillion albums from the late 70s, and it also includes 5 tracks from bandmember Steve Arrington, who went on to record with his Hall Of Fame group during the early 80s. Titles include "Slide", "Stellar Fungk", "Stone Jam", "Watching You", "Wait For Me", "Weak At The Knees", "Feel So Real", "Way Out", and "Are You Ready For Love?" CD

The first three albums by Undisputed Truth – finally on CD, with bonus tracks too! First up is the amazing debut of Undisputed Truth – one of the coolest new Motown groups of the 70s – and one of the few that really continued the experimental legacy of the label in the late 60s! As with the Temptations during their psychedelic years, Undisputed Truth are handled by superproducer Norman Whitfield – who does a fantastic job of mixing deeper ideas and righteous themes with some of the soaring soul that was the Motown stock in trade – a wonderful blend that made these guys one of the best groups poised to push the label into the new decade! Titles include the huge hit "Smiling Faces Sometimes", plus lots of covers of cool tracks like "California Soul", "Like A Rolling Stone", "Ball Of Confusion", and "You Got The Love I Need". Law Of The Land is an unstoppable groove from The Undisputed Truth – a group who worked with Norman Whitfield in the same psychedelic soul territory as The Temptations – and who arguably got the sound across even better than them! This set's not as much of a bit hit as the group's other records from the time – but that makes it sound even fresher and more fierce – loads of those hard-rolling basslines you'd expect from Whitfield's production – and some soaring arrangements from Paul Riser and David Van DePitte, both of whom give the album a sense of majesty to match its inherent righteousness. Titles include "Law of The Land" and "Mama I Got A Brand New Thing" – plus covers of Temps tunes "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "Just My Imagination" – and other covers that include "Love & Happiness", "If I Die", "Feelin' Alright", and "Killing Me Softly", done in the full soul mode of the group. Down To Earth features Undisputed Truth at the height of their powers – still working in the psychedelic soul style they forged with Norman Whitfield at the end of the 60s – but with a groove that's tighter and sharper than ever before! We might well call the record the funkiest the group ever cut – as Whitfield's production really brings the rhythms into strong focus, while still letting the righteous message in the lyrics shine through in the group's strong sense of interplay – that back/forth between male and female vocals that really helps the group create a sense of social conversation. Titles include the Whitfield originals "Help Yourself", "Big John Is My Name", "Save My Love For A Rainy Day", and "Law Of The Land" – but the best tracks might be their covers, like "Love & Happiness" and "Our Day Will Come", both totally remade here into great new versions! CD features 6 more bonus tracks – including "Let's Go Back To Day One" and "Gonna Keep On Tryin Till I Win Your Love" – plus single edits of "What's Going On", "What It Is", "You Make Your Own Heaven & Hell", and "Law Of The Land". CD

Features guest work from Russ Ballard and Rod Argent! Titles include "Chippin Away At The Stone", "Fallin", "You're The Loser", "Just Another Day", "Love Is Blind", and "Are You Ready For This". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic full album that brings together some of Muddy Waters' earliest recordings for Chess – a great collection of early singles recorded in Chicago between 1950 and 1954 – most originally issued on 78rpm singles, and beautifully presented in this set! The work's relatively spare and rootsy overall – a great example of Chicago blues in its formative years, with some traces of a more southern style still in the mix – and titles include "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I'm Ready", "Rollin Stone", "Honey Bee", "She Moves Me", "I Can't Be Satisfied", "Standing Around Crying", "Long Distance Call", and "I Just Want To Make Love To You". CD

The first three albums from Don Williams – brought together here in a single set! First up is Don Williams Vol 1 – well-crafted work from Don Williams – an artist who began as a songwriter, but really hit his stride on this debut album! Williams has a gentle, easygoing vocal approach – one that might owe as much to the singer/songwriter generation at the tail end of the folk years – and which is a nice change from some of the more overblown style of the bigger acts of the time. The set was recorded by Jack Clement, but in a way that's different than some of his outlaw work to come – nicely laidback, on tunes that include originals by Williams and Bob McDill. Titles include "Come Early Morning", "Amanda", "My Woman's Love", "I Recall A Gypsy Woman", "Endless Sleep", and "Too Late To Turn Back Now". Don Williams Vol 2 is a set that has Don Williams finding a bit more of his own ground as a country singer – like the first, produced by Allen Reynolds in Jack Clement's studio – which gives the whole thing a very different vibe than mainstream Nashville work of the time! Williams is often introspective, and his voice really fits that mode – never in a way that's fake at all, and which makes for a very adult approach to country music – yet one that's also not got that world-weary, beaten-down quality of contemporaries. Songs include a number of Williams originals, and tunes by Bob McDill – titles that include "Wish I Was In Nashville", "Oh Misery", "Atta Way To Go", "Down The Road I Go", "I Don't Think About Her No More", and "Your Sweet Love". Don Williams Vol 3 is a real career-defining record for the singer – a set that furthers that warm, mature style that made Williams almost a Jim Reeves voice for the 70s – but set to themes that were more adult, and which really reflected the growing sophistication in country music songwriting. The instrumentation is expanded slightly from before – with some especially nice steel guitar and dobro from Lloyd Green – and titles include "Fly Away", "Ghost Story", "I've Turned You To Stone", "Such A Lovely Lady", "Lovin Understandin Man", "Goodbye Isn't Really Good At All", and "I Wouldn't Want To Live If You Didn't Love Me". CD

A stone classic – with "Southern Man", "Crippled Creek Ferry", "I Believe Inh You", "After The Goldrush", and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart". CD

A stone classic from Zhane – a duo who maybe never had the longest life in soul music, but who made a massive impact with this gem from the 90s! The record was part of a new urban generation that was grounded both in hip hop production and deeper soul modes – territory maybe opened up a bit by British imports, especially Soul II Soul, but which also became very firmly a part of the American scene with a record like this! The sound is great – a wicked mix of beats, keyboards, and lean elements – maybe laying out a neo soul blueprint before anyone ever thought that way – and the traded vocals mix great sweetness with the funk – on titles that include the hits "Hey Mr DJ" and "Groove Thang" – plus "Vibe", "Sending My Love", "Off My Mind", "La La La", "Love Me Today", "Changes", and "For A Reason". Also features the remix versions of "Groove Thang" and "Hey Mr DJ". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive celebration of the legendary Westbound Records – a Detroit record label started at the end of the 60s, and one that took the Motor City into much heavier territory than Motown! Westbound was the initial home of both Funkadelic and Ohio Players – and the imprint had a great ear for the kind of deeper, funkier side of the soul music spectrum – both with big groups like the two we just mentioned, and with a host of lesser-known singers and combos too! This package brings together two dozen key singles on Westbound – but not the giant hits, and instead the kind of songs that illustrate that key special touch that really set the company apart from the rest – even as the 70s moved on, and elements of club music started coming into their groove. Titles include "I Love You" by The Motivations, "A Letter From Vietnam" by Emanuel Lansky, "Everything Is Going To Be Alright" by Bill Moss & The Celestials, "Ain't No Telling" by Houston Outlaws, "Yes I'm In Love" by Unique Blend, "Why Not Start All Over Again" by The Counts, "I've Changed" by The Magictones, "I'll Bet You" by Funkadelic, "Music Man (part 1)" by Pleasure Web, "Get Up Off My Mind" by Denise LaSalle, "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms" by Detroit Emeralds, "Devil's Gun" by CJ & Co, "Get Ya Some" by Melvin Sparks, "Alvin Stone" by Fantastic Four, "If You Love Him" by Junie, "Calling Planet Earth" by Dennis Coffey, "Crazy Legs" by Donald Austin, and "Funky Worm" by The Ohio Players. CD

A lost legacy in the always-hip Pacific Northwest scene of the 60s – rare psych and garage tracks from the tiny Garland Records – an Oregon imprint who only issued a small amount of singles, but also recorded some really excellent music back in the day! All the tracks here are pretty darn rare, and the package also features some unissued music too – work that shows a great evolution of northwest sounds since the bigger guitar bands of the early 60s – with some trippier, headier elements showing up in the instrumentation, lyrical modes, and even the production – which is often pretty darn hip for a small label like Garland. The package is one of the best discoveries we've heard from Sundazed/Beat Rocket in recent years – and titles include "Hip Girl" by Stop, "Night Life" by The Heard, "Take It As It Comes" by The Third Stone, "It'll Come Easy" by The Other Side, "Your Mind Was Never Free" by The Zero End, "Suzie Q" by Smack, "Love Is Such A Game" by Grant's Blue Boys, "True Justice" by The Third Stone, "Transparent Soul" by White Feather, and "Blow Your Mind" by The Zero End. CD features bonus tracks – "Fly Today" by The Zero End, and "Itichin In My Heart" by The Heard. CD

A host of wonderful work produced by James Brown – most of it by a range of different singers, and one by The Godfather himself! The collection brings together some of the earliest James Brown productions – mid 60s tracks recorded for King and Smash Records, most of which aren't nearly as well known as later JB productions for the People and Polydor labels! As with that later work, all the grooves here are right in the same territory that James was hitting himself – upbeat, funky, and stone out of sight soul – all with plenty of rough edges, and backings from the same tight core of musicians that were helping out Brown on his recordings. The package is a real treasure – and is a great complement to the James Brown Singles collections from the Hip-O Select label – proof that even in these early days, James was clearly the hardest working man in show business – given all his time in the studio with other artists! 22 tracks in all – including "I Found Out" and "I'll Keep Pressing On" by Bobby Byrd, "That's When I Cry" and "If You Don't Think" by Anna King, "I Don't Care" and "Unexplainable" by Dizzy Jones, "Got No Excuse" and "If You Don't Work You Can't Eat" by James Crawford, "Do You Really Want To Rescue Me (part 1)" by Elsie Mae, "Lookie Lookie Lookie" by The Jewells, "Wide Awake In A Dream" and "Nobody Cares" by Vicki Anderson, "Devil's Den" by The Poets, "It Hurts To Be In Love" by Yvonne Fair, "That's The Spirit" by Rev Willingham, "Faith" by The Five Royales, "I Cried" by Tammy Montgomery, "Soul Food (parts 1 & 2)" by Al Brisco Clark, and "New Breed (The Boo Ga Loo) (part 1)" by James Brown. CD

The hits of 77 here aren't the big American chart hits of 1977 – but instead are some key cuts from the Jamaican scene in Kingston – served up here in versions produced by the legendary Sonia Pottinger! And in fact, it might be a stretch to call all these cuts hits – but that's OK with us, because the set works best as a musical snapshot of evolving 70s reggae from Pottinger's perspective – which, as always, represents the more soulful side of the spectrum – that move forward from earlier rocksteady inspiration, served up with more of a late 70s reggae vibe. Titles include "Anywhere You want To Go" by Calman Scott, "Without Love" by Hell & Fire, "Up Park Camp" by Turnel McCormack & The Cordells, "I'm Still In Love" by Maureen Pearson, "Run For Your Life" by Earth & Stone, and "Ghetto Girl" by The Fantells. PLUS, this 2CD version features a huge amount of bonus tracks – 34 more numbers added to the original album, most unavailable since the 70s – all Pottinger-produced tracks by Jimmy Riley, Delroy Wilson, Earth & Stone, Reggae George, Bobby Ellis & The Revolutionaries, Al Brown, Astley Bennett, The Prince Brothers, U Roy, Owen Gray, Soul Syndicate, and others. CD

A mindblowing little set – and a massive overview of soul music in Spain during the late 60s and early 70s, filled with incredible tunes we've never heard before, all supported by great notes in both English and Spanish! The Spanish soul groove is a bit rougher than that of the US – kind of a reworking of familiar ideas (and sometimes familiar songs), played by artists who really love the music, but sometimes come from more rock or beat group sides of the musical spectrum. Yet as the Spanish soul movement progressed, things definitely tightened up a fair bit – as local acts were joined by visiting singers and musicians from North and South America, fertilizing the scene with new styles and ideas! The 2CD set features 37 tracks in all – nearly all of which were fresh to our ears, and made the collection even more amazing than we might have thought. Titles include "Tabasco" by Los Pekeniques, "Respect" by Circulos, "Ven Conmigo" by Finders, "Trying To Get You" by Z 66, "Black Cat" by Los Dixies, "It's My Thing" by Presidents, "Golden Soul" by Conjunto Nueva Onda, "Black Bird" by Henri Vidal Y Su Grupo Pop, "Todo Gira" by Los Impala, "Woovy Groovy" by Los Buenos, "I Will Pray" by Conexion, "Melenas Club" by Frank Miller & Hispania Soul, "I Felt For Your Love" by Calibre 38, "Family Affair" by Jimmy Stone, and "Beggin" by Duo Inter. CD

2 killers from The Bar-Kays – a heavy funk spectacular all the way through! First up is Gotta Groove – 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)".Black Rock is an album that's every bit as great as the title might imply – heavy guitar-based funk from the second version of The Bar-Kays – one that uses the new instrumental focus to push a groove that's much more black rock than before! There's still a bit of trumpet from the past, but the sound here is much heavier on the bottom – and really fuzzes up the guitar nicely at times to create a hipper sort of soul instrumental vibe! The rhythms are quite hip too – with echoes of the experiments in soul going on at Stax in the work of Isaac Hayes and others – and the album's miles away from the work that the group was laying down a few years before! Definitely one of the hardest-hitting Stax albums of the early 70s – and filled with great tracks like "You Don't Know Like I Know", "Dance To The Music", "Piece Of Your Peace", "Montego Bay", and "Baby I Love You". CD

A stone classic from Kenny Burrell – a record that brought the guitarist to a whole new audience, with a wonderful sound that's a perfect summation of CTI at its best! The vibe here is perfect – spare, airy guitar lines from Burrell – playing with a freer style than usual, although with all of the deep soul of before – in ways that are a bit like the early Wes Montgomery material for CTI, but taken to the next level with a more sophisticated set of backdrops too! Don Sebesky handled arrangements, Freddie Hubbard solos alongside Kenny, and many track shave some mighty nice electric piano, too. Titles include funky track "Love Is The Answer", and mellower tunes "Child Is Born", "Do What You Gotta Do", and "Be Yourself". CD

A stone classic from the Isleys – the album that kicked off their successful T-Neck label, and established that mighty Isleys sound that would have such a huge influence in the 70s! The title cut of the set – "It's Your Thing" – is a well-known classic that really sets the tone for the rest of the record – mixing guitar and chunky rhythms into a righteous funky style of soul that was miles away from the Brothers' earlier work on Motown and RCA. And believe it or not, the rest of the record's even better than the title cut – filled with sinister, sexy numbers that bristle with energy that's still heard best here at the point of its creation! Other gems include "Give the Women What They Want", "He's Got Your Love", "I Know Who You Been Socking It To", "Don't Give It Away", "He's Got Your Love", "Save Me", "Feel Like The World", and "Somebody Been Messin". Ultra heavy stuff! LP, Vinyl record album

An oft-overlooked gem from the JBs – their last album for People Records, and a stone funk classic that's every bit as essential as the others! The band is still in fine fine form – with none of the fast-funk or proto-disco of some later recordings – and they're working here in some really tight song formats that almost go back to the early days of the group's first few singles. The album's filled with great playing, wonderful grooves, and Fred Wesley's keen sense of humor – which sparks the whole set with a sense of warmth and creative play that show why the JBs are still the greatest funk band ever. Includes the excellent "Little Boy Black", which begins with some tasty James Brown vocals; the oft-sampled "Rockin' Funky Watergate"; plus "Step Child", "Makin Love", and "Rice & Ribs". Not as drawn out as Doing It To Death, but more complicated than Food For Thought, and still a totally essential bit of funk! LP, Vinyl record album

A winning selection of some of Ann Peebles' best work for Hi Records – featuring stellar production by Willie Mitchell, and a stone-mellow Memphis soul approach to the music. Includes the great sample cut "I Can't Stand The Rain", plus "Walk Away", "Breaking Up Somebody's Home", "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down", "Part Time Love", and "If This Is Heaven". 26 tracks in all! CD

Great later work from Pleasure – a group who are probably best-known for their classic 70s albums on Fantasy Records, but one who kept the groove riding high in some early 80s years at RCA! This set's a shimmering jewel – a great mix of funky rhythms and mellower moments, all wrapped up in that blend of modern soul and 80s groove that RCA was really hitting perfectly for a few key years at the start of the decade. The sound's definitely different than the Fantasy years, but in a way that nicely has the group maturing a bit – changing things up, yet still holding onto all the best elements that made them a cut above most of their contemporaries. Keyboards come in a bit more than before, and there's some really tasty bass-driven numbers – on titles that include "Take It To The Streets", "Sending My Love", "Give It Up", "Sassy Baby", "It's So Hard", "Stone Love", and "All The Way". CD

Rainbow Team, where have you been all our lives? You're a heck of a great little group – and we love the sound you've got on this second album! Sure, we know you're wearing a bunch of silly day-glo costumes on the cover – and that's probably what's made this record slip by our crates in the past – but one listen to the tightness of your grooves, and we're more than willing to forgive you for any bad fashion choices! The sound of the set is totally great – soaring along in the best sort of 80s groove mode – with tight snapping rhythms at the bottom, and a full set of arrangements that bring in some added horns and just the right amount of sweetening strings. And although Rainbow Team are Italian, the record's got a stone American soul sound – very much like the best of the Capitol Rare generation in the US. Titles include "A Song For You", "Let Em Be", "Please Let's Go", "Bite The Apple", "Hope He Wants", "Let's Forget", and "Don't Cry For Me". CD features the bonus track "Stay". CD

A stone 70s classic from Carlos Santana's lesser-known brother – a set that effortlessly brings together Latin and soul, often with the same sort of vibe as the Coke Escovedo records on Mercury from the same time! Jorge plays guitar, but lead vocals are from Richard Bean (of Malo and Sapo fame) – often in a sweetly crackling style that's kind of a smoother 70s update of Latin Soul modes from a few years before. Tunes are all lively, with nice hooks – never too uptempo, and carried off with a jazzy edge on most numbers. Titles include "Sandy", "Seychells", "Nobody's Perfect", "Love The Way", "We Were There", and "Tonight You're Mine". LP, Vinyl record album

Landmark harmony soul from The Stylistics – a set that's every bit as wonderful as their debut, with the kind of sweet, soulful sound that got played over and over and over and over again back in the day! The album's got a subtle sort of power, though – one that lies not only in its classic cover image, but also in the way that the group mix up the fragile themes of love with some deeper aspects of the human condition – heard to best effect on the classic "Children Of The Night" – a massive 7 minute number that stands nicely next to the shorter singles. Thom Bell produced and arranged the whole thing to Philly perfection – with lots of help from Linda Creed on the songwriting – and titles include "Children of the Night", "Break Up To Make Up", "You'll Never Get To Heaven", "Stone In Love With You", "It's Too Late", "If You Don't Watch Out", and "Peek A Boo". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic – with "Southern Man", "Crippled Creek Ferry", "I Believe In You", "After The Goldrush", and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

The title certainly gets this one right – as the 12 track set is overflowing with classic funk all the way through – tracks that bubbled underground in the 70s, rocked the rare groove scene in the 80s, and which are still being appreciated today! Great stuff all around – and tracks include "NT" by Kool & The Gang, "Stone To The Bone" by James Brown, "Pick Up The Pieces" by Average White Band, "Fencewalk" by Mandrill, "Who Is He And What Is He To You" by Creative Source, "Wicki Wacky" by Fatback, "For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays, "Blow Your Head" by The JBs, "Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield, "Rock Creek Park" by The Blackbyrds, and "Gimme Some More" by The JBs. CD

Amazing stuff – a stone cooker that almost beats the first volume of Ivory Coast Soul – and further mines the overlooked gems from the West African nation! The album's overflowing with groovers from the late 70s – tracks that often echo some of the Ethiopian styles of the time, yet have a groove that's almost even tighter – especially in the rhythmic commitment to funk, which makes nearly every number here the kind of cut that could easily cross over to an American funky audience too! They've really knocked it out of the park with this one – and the set's one of the best Afro Funk compilations we've heard in years – and is double-length, too. Titles include "Ye Man Noun" by Pierre Antoine, "Me Houe Gnon" by Okoi Seka Athanase, "I Love Music" by Sumo Brothers, "Wouck" by Nguenang, "Labazo" by Bony Castro, "Mansou Djouwi" by Houon Pierre, "Man Moeu" by Docteur Appia Morroh, "Kossopka" by Stanley Murphy, "Bravo Sotra" by Francois Lougah, "Ameniwa" by Assale, "Key Len Fece" by Wey Len Nobel, and "Onguindo" by Charles Atangana & Emitais. LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible female pop from 60s France – not weepy ballads or old school Paris numbers, but the kind of hip-snapping, all-groovy material that made the 60s French scene so great! Loads of these tracks are new to our ears (and we love French grooves a lot!) – and this volume of the series seems to dig even deeper than before – through a range of rare 7" EP material and singles, to come up with some killer tracks that will move way beyond the bigger cuts you might know from Francoise Hardy or Brigitte Bardot. The production and instrumentation is superb throughout – often with these funky currents that make these tracks feel years ahead of their time – and as usual with Ace, the whole presentation is great – from ultra-clear sound through full notes on the music too. Titles include "Rouge Rouge" by Christie Laume, "Pour La Gloire" by Annie Philippe, "Demain" by Zouzou, "Cours Si Tu As Peur" by Fabienne, "A La Fin De La Soiree" by Sheila, "Cette Nuit" by Pussycat, "Angel Of Sin" by Charlotte Walters, "Les Prisons De Sa Majeste" by Delphine, and "Le Nenuphar" by Stone. LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic funk from Freddi Henchi & The Soulsetters – an incredible group who've got an energy level to rival Sly & The Family Stone at their best – but with a deeper groove that seems to pick up a bit of Hendrix energy in the mix, then deliver the whole thing with the rawness of a funky 45! The collection is a real treasure – rare singles issued on a number of different labels, brought together with full notes that tell the group's story – all in a package that's as beautiful as the music! This is the sort of set that makes you love soul and funk reissues – and it's overflowing with 21 tracks that include "Under Pressure", "Piranha", "Mr Funky", "I Like Funky Music", "Popcorn Baby", "Come Down", "Biscuits & Buttermilk", and "Soul Train". Also features a bonus video from 1975! CD

Two early 80s groovers from the Isleys – on one great CD! Inside You is a strong extension of the group's funky 70s style – moving into a more compressed mode that had been taking hold of the group's style over the past few albums, giving them a smoother finish, but one that actually brought out some even more soulful feelings from their overall work. As always, we dig the mellow cuts best – especially the two part "Don't Hold Back Your Love", and the stepper "Welcome Into My Heart". Other tracks include "First Love", "Baby Hold On", and "Love Zone" and "Inside You". The Real Deal is authentic 80s grooving from the Isleys – mostly an album of upbeat, electro-grooving numbers that change up the style a bit more from their 70s funk work. But as usual for this period, they actually sound best on the ballads – clocking in with the sweet slow tune "All In My Lovers Eyes", and sounding even nicer on the anthemic "I'll Do It All For You" – a great little track with a bubbling, steppish groove. Other tracks include "The Real Deal", "Stone Cold Lover", "Are You With Me", and "Under The Influence". CD

The classic batch of instrumentals from J Dilla – one that strongly transcends the hip hop genre – and perhaps his rawest, and most adventurous listening experience ever! The loopy soul samples, rich synth/electro shine, and thumping bass and soul beats that Dilla largely made his name on are laced throughout, but he also takes things a step into stranger territory – with spacey elements that buzz as much as they groove! The cuts are never less than soulful and funky, and never really steps into his peer Madlib's brand of the weeded out style, either. We love how raw this all feels, too! It's easily identifiable as the work of Jay Dee, but at the same time, wholly unpredictable! One of the best releases that Stone's Throw ever released – instrumental or vocal! Includes "Donuts (Intro & Outro)", "Workinonit", "Waves", "Light My Fire", "People", "Mash", "Airworks", "Lightworks", "Stepson Of The Clapper", "One Eleven", "Don't Cry", "Geek Down", "Thunder", "Gobstopper", "Walkinonit", "U-Love", "Last Donut Of The Night" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A classic album of bluesy funk – one that features the guitar of Johnny Otis' young son Shuggie, in a slightly tighter setting than he'd been getting on some of Johnny's own LPs! Shuggie here is still very much under the guidance of his dad – working in a mode that really emphasizes the fuzzier side of his guitar, in a style that was clearly an attempt to hook Shuggie up with the Hendrix audience. Not that that's a problem, though – as the record also features some stone funky playing too, as well as organ work by Leon Haywood, sax by Preston Love, and some other great studio work by members of The Crusaders! Tracks include "Hurricane", "Shuggie's Boogie", "Bootie Cooler", "Funky Thithee" and "The Hawks". LP, Vinyl record album

Fully mature work from Diana Ross – a set that really breaks free from the styles of her roots, and which has her emerging as a full-formed solo act on her own! There's a range of modes here that's quite surprising – strong, sophisticated ballads at the core, but also echoes of jazz, country, and even a bit of rock influences as well – showing Diana's increasing desire to broaden her musical reach, and coming off surprisingly well, without any of the mis-steps you might expect. Backings are often full, but usually focused too – arranged by Bob Gaudio, Gene Page, Tom Baird, Michael O'Martian, and others. Tracks include the funky favorite "I Heard A Love Song", plus "Stone Liberty", "No One's Gonna Be A Fool Forever", "Sleepin", "You", "Turn Around", and "Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest soul records of all time – and an album that we'd never part with! Gloria Scott only ever recorded this one full LP – but that's more than enough, as the whole thing's a masterpiece – produced by Barry White with the best of his 70s approach, and featuring songs written by lesser-known White protege, Tom Brock! Nearly every single cut's a classic – a mixture of deep soul, mellow soul, and slight traces of funk – all gliding effortlessly together with White's stone cold production, and Gloria's instantly captivating vocals. Titles include Me, Love Me, Love Me, or Leave Me, Leave Me, Leave Me", "I Think Of You", "That's What You Say", and "Too Much Lovemakin" – and the whole thing's great! LP, Vinyl record album

A huge breakout moment for disco in the 70s – the first album from Silver Convention, a very early example of the European power on the club scene! The group's the brainchild of arranger Sylvester Levay and producer Michael Kunze – who come up with some great German disco rhythms for the record, mixed with soaring female trio vocals, by a group that includes two German gals and American soul singer Roberta Kelly! The vocal approach is similar to that 70s Philly group mode – popularized by First Choice, Three Degrees, and others – and pumped it up with the Munich sound of throbbing bass and heavy beats, which was arguably one of the first steps towards house music in the 80s. Titles include the huge hit "Fly Robin Fly", plus "Save Me", "I Like It", "Chains Of Love", "Tiger Baby", "Always Another Girl", and "Heart Of Stone". CD features bonus tracks – "Fly Robin Fly (12" disco version)" and "Tiger Baby (12" disco version)". CD

Features the stone club classic "Georgy Porgy" – plus "Child's Anthem", "I'll Supply The Love", "Rockmaker", "Hold The Line", and "Angela". LP, Vinyl record album

A totally wonderful album from one of the hippest groups on Motown at the start of the 70s – the mighty Undisputed Truth, a group who really took up the psychedelic soul style of The Temptations, and gave it a real run for its money! The record was produced by Temptations maestro Norman Whitfield – and is a perfect example of the rumbling funky soul sound that he was developing at the time – a mixture of heavy bass, rumbling percussion, fuzzy guitars, and a stone righteous sound that pushed soul music firmly into the 70s! The songs are mostly all originals written by him and Barrett Strong – and the band is filled with great players like Dennis Coffey, Earl Van Dyke, Johnny Griffith, and the great Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin. Titles include "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World) Friendship Train", "What It Is?", "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me", "What's Going On", and "You Make Your Own Heaven & Hell Right Here On Earth". CD

The amazing debut of Undisputed Truth – one of the coolest new Motown groups of the 70s – and one of the few that really continued the experimental legacy of the label in the late 60s! As with the Temptations during their psychedelic years, Undisputed Truth are handled by superproducer Norman Whitfield – who does a fantastic job of mixing deeper ideas and righteous themes with some of the soaring soul that was the Motown stock in trade – a wonderful blend that made these guys one of the best groups poised to push the label into the new decade! Titles include the huge hit "Smiling Faces Sometimes", plus lots of covers of cool tracks like "California Soul", "Like A Rolling Stone", "Ball Of Confusion", and "You Got The Love I Need". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic material from Tim Buckley – rare tracks recorded in 1968 and 1973, both presenting two different slices of his too-short career – and standing together as a great addition to his too-small catalog of recorded work! The first half features small sessions from 1968 – with Tim on those amazing vocals of his and Lee Underwood on lead guitar – plus a bit of vibes from Dave Friedman, in a manner that echoes the great use of that instrument on his Elektra albums of the late 60s. The songs are dreamy, open, and have that sublime blend of blueness and flow that really set Tim apart from his contemporaries – titles that include "Danang", "Happy Time", "Buzzin Fly", "Song To The Siren", and "Ashbury Park" – all done in unusual versions. The second half of the record features material recorded in 1973 – songs that are a bit more tight, with more of an overall group feel – almost jamming in the way the whole thing comes together! 1973 titles include versions of "Honey Man", "Falling Timber", "Quicksand", "Stone In Love", "Sefronia", "Because Of You", and "The Dream Belongs To Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Just when you think you know everything there is to know about Motown, here comes a set to open your ears and blow your mind all over again! The set unearths a huge amount of rare work by The Contours – the rollicking group who gave Motown a sweet album and handful of singles in the 60s, but who also recorded a lot of other work that was never issued at the time – including a sweet array of tracks that feature a young Dennis Edwards as their lead vocalist! Edwards is best known for his work in the Temptations – but these tracks predate that time, when Dennis was brought in to give fresh focus to the ailing Contours – and lent his strong lead vocals to their massively grooving sound. The package features a whopping 26 tracks – 14 issued here for the first time ever, and a lot more pulled from only collections of rare Motown releases – and titles include "Determination", "I'll Turn To Stone", "I Like Everything About You", "Can't Do Without Your Love", "Come See About Me", "I Grow Deeper In Love Every Day", "Our Last Rendezvous", "Which Way To My Baby", "Need Your Lovin", "What's So Good About Goodbye", "Sunny", and "I'm Here Now That You Need Me". CD

A stone killer from the legendary 5 Royales – one of the greatest groups to ever record for King Records in the 50s, and a key force in helping move things forward from doo wop to soul! The balance between Lowman Pauling's lead and the harmonies is amazing – a big inspiration on the young James Brown & The Famous Flames – and many cuts have this hard guitar used in a very rhythmic way, which creates a groove that few other groups could touch! The tracks all have a great hard-edged sound, with little of the schmaltz that can sometimes date these albums a bit too much – just lots of raw group vocals that definitely pave the way for 60s soul, but also have a stronger 50s R&B current in the background! The material is very rootsy soul stuff – and titles include "One Mistake", "Mine Forevermore", "Wonder Where Your Love Has Gone", "I Know It's Hard But It's Fair", and "Get Something Out Of It". CD

A stone classic from Ron Henderson and his excellent Choice Of Colors group – maybe one of the hippest soul acts in North Carolina during the 70s – and one who are certainly different than the groups of that scene who were trying more for a groove that would please vacationers on the coast! Instead, Henderson's a mellow soul genius – with elements in his music that maybe rivals some of the better-known work of artists like Bobby Wilson or Leroy Hutson – but which also has some Jersey/Philly elements at times, too – especially when the rest of the group harmonizes along with Ron's lead! The set features two Allen Toussaint remakes, and the rest is original material by Henderson – titles that include "I'll Be Around", "The Real Thing", "Love Is Gone", "Real Men Can't Be Wrong", "What About Love", "Mary Green", and "Problem Child". CD features bonus tracks too – "Gemini Lady", "Goodbye My Love", and "Bad Sign", in both vocal and instrumental versions. CD

Never-issued work from trumpet genius Woody Shaw – and a set that we'd easily stand next to any of Shaw's classics from this stretch in his career! Part of the strength of the record comes from the man himself, but there's also a really fantastic contribution from the group as a whole – a rock-solid lineup that features Larry Willis on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums – plus some really beautiful work from the great Carter Jefferson on tenor and soprano sax, who really gets plenty of room to showcase his sometimes-overlooked talents on the the tracks in the set. The group have a modal energy that hearkens back to some of Woody's early 70s material – and titles include "Love Dance", "Round Midnight", "Theme For Maxine", "Stepping Stone", "Seventh Avenue", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Invitation", and "Teotihuacan". Also features a bonus recording from 1981, with Woody in a quartet that features Mulgrew Miller on piano – "We'll Be Together Again". CD

An unusual session recorded by Swamp Dogg for Hi Records at the start of the 70s – a bit more polished and less full-on nasty than some of the usual Dogg grooves from the 70s, but still with plenty of that heavy Jerry Williams groove at the bottom! The album's got a nice tightness that we really love – with all original material, save for some great covers of John Prine's "Sam Stone" and The Beatles' "Lady Madonna" – both of which showcase Swamp Dogg's key appeal to the crossover crowd of the time. But it's the original tracks that we really love, especially those numbers that lay back and get a bit more personal – showcasing a side of Williams' persona that's not as caught up in Swamp Dogg's posturing. Titles include "Sam Stone", "Complication No 5", "If It Hadn't Been For Sly", "In My Resume", "Captain Of Your Ship", and "Your Last Dirty Trick". LP, Vinyl record album

A great overview of one of Motown's hippest soul groups! The Undisputed Truth were the brainchild of Norman Whitfield – and the group were the perfect platform for the "right on" soul that Whitfield was starting to craft in Detroit at the end of the 60s. Whitfield mixed the group's male/female vocal style with a wealth of work on heavy bass, echoey drums, and fuzzy guitars – often having them sing songs with hipper, more contemporary themes, in the same mode as the political conscious soul he'd been working on with The Temptations. This 19 track set is a wonderful collection of the best Motown moments by The Undisputed Truth – with a strong selection of tracks that includes "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "Girl You're Alright", "Law Of The Land", "Help Yourself", "Higher Than High", "Let's Go Back To Day One", "You Got The Love I Need", "You Make Your Own Heaven & Hell", "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", "What's Going On", "I'm A Fool For You", "Spaced Out", and "UFO's". CD

Rare tracks from one of the greatest soul labels ever – Detroit's legendary Westbound Records, the famous home of Funkadelic – but a source for countless many more grooves! This set features really rare singles and unreleased tracks from Westbound – a flurry of great soul tracks that's surprised even our Westbound-raised ears – with tracks that run from righteous soul to heavy funk, to great group harmonies, and more! There's nary a big name in the set – and instead, the whole thing really focuses on the hinterland of the Westbound scene – including some especially rare gems that were issued as singles by the even-smaller Eastbound label, who did some wonderfully groovy work in the early 70s. Titles include "Admit Your Love Is Gone" by Damon Shawn, "Old Fashioned Woman" by Unique Blend, "I'm Falling In Love" by Fantastic Four, "Tender Moments" by AC Tilmon & Denise LaSalle, "I Love You" by The Motivations, "More Love" by Emanuel Laskey, "What Am I Gonna Do" by Houston Outlaws, "I Don't Know How" by The Superlatives, "Trying Real Hard" by The Magictones, "You Can't Take This Love For You From Me" by Bob & Harold, "I'm Loving You You're Leaving Me" by The Magictones, "Does He Treat You Better" by Unique Blend, and "Rosetta Stone" by AC Tilmon & Detroit Emeralds. CD

Crisply-tailored, yet soulful and groovy mod jazz from the 60s – a slew of great numbers by Byrdie Green, Johnny Lytle, Mark Murphy, Reuben Wilson, The Nightbeats, The Cals, Billy Larkin, Johnny Hammond Smith, Byrdie Smith and more! Lots of great stuff here, from names synonymous to moddish jazz and others that nicely fit that mold for a bit – cats like Buddy Guy, for instance. A sweet, sweet set from the passionate compilers at Kent UK! Includes "The Real Thing" by Troy Dodds, "Finders Keepers" by Floyd White, "Rod Run" by The Reuben Wilson Quartet, "Talkin' About Love" by Tobi Lark, "Screamin'" by Jack McDuff, "Double Love" by The Cals, "Tricky Too" by Gus Jenkins, "Fever" by Buddy Guy, "Work Song" by Clint Stacy, "My Beat" by George Stone, " It's Like Love" by Mark Murphy, "The Village Caller" by The Johnny Lytle Trio and more. CD

Way more than disco, a bit different than funk, and a lot cooler than you might guess from the image on the cover – a stone classic from Miami groovers Foxy, and easily one of their best records ever! The set's nice and tight right from the start – not really disco, but more of a compressed approach to funk, with some surprising Latin touches too – especially in some of the percussion moments that really open up, creating a nice sense of energy to the record! The group have more than enough tightness to cross over to the AOR crowd, but they still keep things sharp on most tracks – and make the album real TK standard from the glory days. Titles include "Devil Boogie", "Hot Number", "Chicapbon Chicapbon", "Headhunter", "Lady", "Give Me That Groove", "Lady Of The Streets", and "Give Me A Break". CD features the bonus track "Call It Love". CD