An incredible blend of southern and modern soul – the second album by soul songwriter Sydney Joe Qualls, recorded in both Chicago and Muscle Shoals, with a stone mellow sound that's outta site! The groove here is extremely well-done – tight, but never too slick – and with a soaring quality that marks the best late 70s soul coming out of Chicago at the time, but which also has some rootsier vocals from Sydney. The album's a classic for the standout groover "I Don't Do This" – but the whole thing's pretty darn great, and tracks include "Bad Risk", "I'll Run To Your Side", "Let the Woman Know", "I Could Be So Good For You", and "Where Have You Been". LP, Vinyl record album

"I Enjoy" is the title track to Sydney's first LP – and is a great number with a compressed southern soul style that's a bit like work on Hi Records, but which is handled with more of a Chi-town flair, thanks to some good work by Carl Davis. "How Can You Say Goodbye" has a bit more punch – strings sliding on the beat while Sid does a great Al Green-type vocal! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A killer of an album – a real corker from Lloyd, one of those singers who kept on growing tremendously after his early big hits! The album was recorded in Muscle Shoals, but it's got a smooth modern sort of finish – all compressed and slightly funky, in a manner that's partially inspired by Philly, partially by Marvin Gaye's mid 70s hits. The whole thing's extremely great – with lots of hip modern numbers that bear no resemblance whatsoever to Lloyd's early work, and which will have you going "Hey, who's that? He's really great!" A bit like Sydney Joe Qualls, Johnny Bristol, or Prince Phillip Mitchell – and with tracks that include "N'Sele", "Uphill Peace Of Mind", "Street Love", "Mr & Mrs Untrue", "What Did You Do With My Love", and "Music Music". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection of work from an under-documented side of the Chicago soul scene! At the end of the 70s, most of the older talent of the Chicago scene had regrouped around producer Carl Davis after the demise (thanks to tax bungling!) of the Brunswick label – under the umbrella of Davis' new Chi-Sound imprint. Great stars from years past like Gene Chandler, Walter jackson, The Chi-Lites, and The Impressions – plus a few new ones – returned to carve out some of their last great recordings – with Davis at the helm, developing a more sophisticated sound that worked great for the maturing soul artists. This set brings together 15 cuts from the glory days of Davis' Chi-Sound imprint – including "Windy City Theme" by The Windy City Orchestra, "I Don't Do This To Every Girl I Meet" by Sydney Joe Qualls, "Tomorrow I May Not Feel The Same" by Gene Chandler, "Especially For You" by Manchild, "It's All Over" by Walter Jackson, "Heavenly Body" by The Chi-Lites, and "Get Down" by Gene Chandler. CD