INNERVISION – WE’RE INNERVISION CD £12.95
Innervision are best known for their great double sided single released on Ariola America in 1977. The orchestrated up tempo disco-soul ‘Gotta Find A Way To Get Back Home’ has that feel good factor and has been popular on the northern and Modern soul scene’s since its release. ‘I Just Want To Love You’ is a superior mid tempo ballad perfect for Sunday morning listening. ‘Honey Baby’ from ’75 is a nice mid tempo stepper and ‘We’re Innervision' has that modern sound. Best of the unreleased tracks are the orchestrated mid tempo dancer ‘Plain Brown Wrapper’ that has a Detroit sound, and the more uptempo ‘Second Time Around’. Good to hear this unreleased album from an under rated group.

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NORMAN CONNORS – TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT/ MR C CD £12.95
'Take It To The Limit' from 1980 is one of Norman's strongest Arista albums. Highlights include @take It To The Limit' and the original of Anita's 'You Bring Me Joy' ft Adaritha, 'Melancholy Fire' with guest vocalist Glenn Jones and the cover of Lou Courtney's 'I Don't Need Nobody Else' Ft Al Johnson. Glenn Jones re-appears on the 1981 'Mr C' album with 'Sing A Love Song'. Check also the 2 Step 'She's Gone' and the duet between Jean Carn and Derrick Hughes 'Love's In Your Corner'.
Original Vinyl LP's Take it to The Limit £15 Mr C £30

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VARIOUS ARTISTS – HORO –A JAZZ PORTRAIT CD £14.95
This 15 track album compiled by Gilles Peterson takes an eclectic journey through the back catalogue of Italian Jazz label Horo -highly recommended. It features many great tracks such as Giancarlo's Coltrane-ish 'Pastoral' and ultra fast 'Big Bang' from Kenny Clarke and Steve Grossman's wonderful 'Moon Dance'. Hard Bop afficandos will go for O Valdambrini & D Piana's 'Blue Generation', whilst Stafford James' 'Costa Bruciata' has a modal feel. For the leftfield check Sun Ra's 'The Satellites'. Excellent Jazz compilation.

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THELMA HOUSTON – SUNSHOWER CD £12.95
Produced by Jimmy Webb (5th Dimension etc), this was Thelma's debut from 1969 and has a West Coast feel not unlike the 5th Dimension. Includes a version of the Rolling Stones' 'Jumping Jack Flash' and the original version of 'This Is Your Life, later recorded by Norman Connors. Check the uptempo 'Cheap Lovin'.

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FREDDY COLE – THE COLE NOBODY KNOWS CD £16.95
Younger brother of Nat King Cole delivers this gem of a Jazz vocal album. Cole possesses a voice not unlike his more famous sibling, but Freddy's voice has a less polished sound. From 1976, the album possesses a funky cut 'Brother Where Are You', which is why this album is so in demand. Lovers of earthy Jazz vocal will go for tracks like 'Wild Is Love' and the pacy 'Moving On – Place In The Sun'.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS – LOUD MINORITY CD £13.95
This wonderful compilation of 12 tracks documents some of the finest moments from the Mainstream label. It covers the period from 1970 to 1973 and reflects the growing political consciousness of its time, mixing Spiritual Jazz with elements of early Jazz Funk. Frank Foster's 'Loud Minority' – a classic – features Dee Dee Bridgewater on vocals, check also Foster's 'E W Beautiful People'. Hadley Caliman's 'Watercress' is a heavy slice of funky Jazz, whilst Buddy Terry's 'Kamili' is heavier still. Other highlights include Mike Longo's 'Matrix', Johnny Coles' jazzier 'Petits Machins'.

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STEPPIN STONE – XL AND SOUNDS OF MEMPHIS STORY VOL 3 CD £13.95
Another 22 southern soul tracks, mainly previously unreleased from the Sounds of Memphis vaults.
William Bollinger 'People Are talking' and 'I Want Love To Cry No More' are nice late 60's/early 70's mid tempo dancers. Willie Walker's dancer 'If You Never See me' and mid tempo floater 'Run Around' , Minit's 'Love Letters' and Jacksonians brassy uptempo 'Sparkle Eyes' , mid tempo 'Saturday In The Park'
and good cover of Donny's 'I Love You More Than You'll ever Know' are also highlights. Excellent 70's southern soul

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FREDDIE HUGHES – SEND MY BABY BACK CD £13.95
Freddie's classic 1968 album illustrates his incredibly soulful voice. 'Send My Baby Back' is a great mid tempo ballad, 'Tonight I'm Gonna See My Baby' is a big ballad and his gender changing cover of Aretha's 'Natural Man' is anther highlight. Also includes material recorded as Casanova 11 and Soul Brothers.

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VICKI ANDERSON – WIDE AWAKE IN A DREAM CD £13.95
Vicki's pre-funk 45's recorded from 1964-70 many of them prod by James Brown. The uptempo 'I Love You' and 'Never Never Let You Go' have that JB mid 60's sound. 'You Send Me' and 'Wide Awake In A Dream' are great ballads and there's a good unreleased live cut of 'Don't Play That Song'.highly recommended – Mother Popcorn –Anthology CD £13.95

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EVELYN KING – GET LOOSE CD £11.95
Produced by Morrie Brown with assistance from Kashif and Paul L Jones, 'Get Loose' is one of Evelyn's most successful albums. It includes the huge hit and incredibly infectious 'Love Come Down'. Other hits include 'Betcha Don't Love You' and the title song plus the highly catchy Back To Love'. 2 Step lovers may well love 'I'm Just Warmin Up'. Nice set.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS – GET DOWN WITH THE PHILLY SOUND DOUBLE CD £14.95
Another fine compilation from BBE and compiled by Dimitri from Paris, features 13 tracks from 'The Sound Of Philadelphia', though not recorded exclusively for the Philadelphia International label. Includes tracks like Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes 'Bad Luck' and 'The Love I Lost', John Davis 'Night And Day', Eddie Kendricks 'He's A Friend' and Teddy Pendergrass 'More I Get, The More I Want'. Other more underground gems include Carl Bean 'I Was Born This Way' and Philly Devotions 'Hurt So Bad'. The second CD comprises of some excellent Dimitri From Paris re-edits and reworks of nine of the thirteen tracks.

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O.V WRIGHT – WE’RE STILL TOGETHER CD £14.95
1979 Album from the evergreen OV Wright produced  by Willie Mitchell in Memphis. ‘We’re Still Together’ is a string laden mid tempo with a strong bass line. ‘The Hurt Is on’ is a good uptempo dancer and the mid tempo ‘I Found peace’ and ballad ‘Baby Baby Baby’ are also strong.

Original Vinyl LP £15

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SYL JOHNSON – DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH CD £14.95
Excellent 1974 album from the great Chicago soul singer, produced by Willie Mitchell. The up-tempo ‘I Want To Take You Home To See Mama’, the brassy ‘Keeping Down Confusion’ and mid tempo ‘Let Yourself Go’ and ‘I Hear The Love Chimes’ have that  typical ‘Hi’ Sound. ‘Could I Be Falling In Love’ is a brilliant beat ballad. Strong throughout.

Original Vinyl LP £15

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LOU RAWLS – NOW IS THE TIME/ CLOSE COMPANY CD £12.95
Two albums from the early 80’s released on one CD.  Part produced by Thom Bell and part by Mtume and Lucas, ‘Now Is The Time’ is the stronger  with some wicked songs all delivered by that velvet vocal style of Lou’s.  Standouts include ‘Now Is The Time For Love’, ‘Watch Your Back’, ‘Let Me Show You How’ and the wonderful ‘Back At You’.  ‘Close Company is from 1984 and two years after ‘Now Is The Time’, produced by Dexter Wansel it mixes more of an 80’s feel; though tracks like ‘Close Company’, ‘Sunshine’ and the cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Lady Of My Life’.   

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7TH WONDER – WORDS DON’T SAY ENOUGH/ THUNDER CD £13.95
2 albums from this Funk and Soul group from Alabama,  ‘Words Don’t Say Enough’ is from 1978.  The band has a full sound with horns and on mid-tempo tunes like the glorious ‘We Are So In Love’ and the lovely ballad ‘Words don’t say Enough’ there are similarities with Earth Wind And Fire.  Check also the extremely catchy ‘Absence  (Makes The Heart Grow Stronger)’.  ‘Thunder’ from two years later has an early 80’s feel, it s the mid-tempo tracks like ‘Stop Before You Break My Heart’, ‘Missin Out’  and the slowie ‘All In All’.

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MICHAEL WYCOFF – COME TO MY WORLD/ ON THE LINE CD £11.95
Lovers of very early 80’s smooth Soul will be delighted most probably that these two albums have been released on CD.  Songs like ‘Standing By’, the upbeat ‘Come To My World’ and ‘Feel My Love’ reflect the sound of 1980 and very well.  Wycoff’s voice has stood the test of time. ‘On The Line’ from 1983 has more of a mainstream 80’s feel with the P Funk inspired ‘On The Line’ and the infectious ‘You’ve Got It Coming’ still sounding strong.

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TWILIGHT- PAIN OF LOVE CD £15.95
This second Twilight album (see review of 'Still Loving You') was recorded five years later in 1986 and the difference in the sound is considerable. 'Pains Of Love' has a mid 80's vibe. Highlights include the mellow sawyer 'You Look So Good'. The 80's dancers 'You're In Love' and 'Dance With Me' are riff laden affairs that characterize the 80's era. 'Never Want To See You Low' shows Twilight's Lawrence Ross has a fine ear for a good hook line.

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TWILIGHT – STILL LOVING YOU CD £15.95 LP £19.95
This rare album from 1981 has hints of Breakwater and a low budget Earth Wind And Fire. Twilight was the brainchild of Lawrence Ross, who wrote and produced plus played most of the instruments. 'Play My Game' and the infectious 'Just A Kiss Away' are strong upbeat tracks. The EWF influence surfaces on the gentle floater 'Scorpittiarius'. 'We'll Be Special' is a horn led and jaunty uptempo groove with a catchy hook.

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JOE TEX – SINGLES As AND Bs 1964 – 1966 CD £13.95
22 tracks (11 singles) includes the crossover hit ‘Hold What You Got’ plus ‘Papa Was Too’ and ‘You Better Believe It Baby’.  This is the first volume of a series that will collate Joe Tex’s work for the Dial label.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS – DOUBLE COOKIN CD  £13.95
Two dozen instrumental Northern Soul tunes that were/ still are floor fillers at Northern Soul venues.  Classics include The San Remo Strings ‘Festival Time’, Willie Mitchell ‘The Champion’, Jimmy Conwell Cigarette Ashes’, Just Brothers ‘Sliced Tomatoes’, The Guys From U.N.C.L.E’ ‘The Spy’ and Earl Wright’s ‘Thumb A Ride’. An excellent compilation released by Kent.

CHAPTER 8 –CHAPTER 8 CD £12.95
Chapter 8's debut album from 1979 featuring Anita Baker is a good all round soul album. The uptempo 'Don't You Like It' and slightly slower 'Lets Get Together' will keep you miving. But it is the ballads 'Ready For Your Love', 'We Need Your Love' and 'I Just Wanna be Your Girl' on which they really excel. Strong quality soul album

BOBBY GLOVER –BAD BOBBY GLOVER CD £12.95
Good Boogie and soul album from 1984. Incl the excellent soulful 2 steppers 'It's my Turn' and 'Happy' and the ballads 'I Love You' and 'Can't Stand The Pain' The mid tempo dancer 'Bright Skies And Sunny Days' and the boogie tunes ''What Kind Of Lady' and 'Your Spell' will keep the feet moving. Consistently good album.

IRAKERE – CUBA LIBRE CD £13.95
Recorded in Japan in 1980, ‘Cuba Libra’ is an ultra rare Afro Cuban set.  Check this mix of fiery Latin rhythms, Funk and Jazz.  The line-up includes original members Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval and Jorge Alfonso.

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GROVER WASHINGTON JR – GROVER LIVE CD £16.95
A must for all Grover fans, this concert from 1997 was recorded a couple of years before Grover’s untimely death.  The concert includes classics like ‘Mr. Magic’, ‘Wine light’, ‘Let It Flow’ and ‘Sassy Stew’ plus a medley of many more of his hits.

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