Archives: Features

Rightfully a perennially in-demand set, this 1976 album cut for Atlantic was the group’s only offering (a solitary 7” aside) and only hints at what could have been had they continued to produce music of this calibre. The classic ‘Gonna make You Mine’ kicks off this fine set followed by the 2-step ‘Straighten It Up’ and the funky ‘ASB Theme’. ‘The Grizzly’ and ‘Disco Music’ are aimed at the dancefloor while ‘The Man I Love’ is a sweet, mid tempo ballad, the finger clicked ‘Call On Me’ is a wonderful slice of Philly soul while the lush ender ‘I’ll Keep...

Betty Wright’s 1976 album ‘Explosion’ is considered by many to be her career best. The string laden 2 stepper ‘Smother Me With Your Love’ has been a very popular Rare Groove track for years. ‘Keep Feelin’ is a great Modern Soul mid tempo dancer. The Ballads ‘If I Ever Do Wrong’, ‘I Think You Better Think About it’ and the jazzier ‘Life’ are also highlights. Four non album 45 sides include the funky ‘Slip and Do It’ and ‘If Was A Kid’ a future Modern Soul classic awaiting discovery that ends this album on a high.   CD [add_to_cart id=""...

Ground breaking album from 1973, one of the first jazz-funk albums and the biggest seller on Blue note at that time.Produced by Larry Mizell this introduced a new sound featuring an all star cast Inc Harvey Mason, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder etc topped by Donald’s brilliant trumpet playing. ‘Flight Time’, ‘BlackByrd’, ‘Love’s So Far Away’ and ‘Mr Thomas’ have that ‘Mizell’ stamp all over them, and are brilliant early jazz funk groovers. The mellow ‘Sky High’ and ‘Where Are We Going’ are equally good. One of the all time great jazz funk albums. CD LP [add_to_cart id=""...

Bestselling jazz fusion guitarist Pat Metheny releases his first album of all-new material for five years with drummer Antonio Sanchez, double bassist Linda May Han Oh, and UK pianist Gwilym Simcock. The album is a document of unrehearsed expression (Metheny’s idea) with Meshell Ndegeocello’s haunting voice and Grégoire Maret’s harmonica guesting on the ethereal ‘From This Place’ and ‘The Past In Us’ respectively. ‘America Undefined’ is a 13-plus minutes tour-de-force, the Wes Montgomery-like ‘Wide and Far’ is catchy with some great crescendos, the Latin touch of ‘Same River’ glistens while the calm and chaos of ‘Pathmaker’ ebbs and flows. ‘Everything...

This 1970 debut release from Curtis Mayfield is an acknowledged classic among soul albums (and albums in general) and has stood the test of time, both lyrically and musically. Powerful, keenly observed social commentary – often with a wry, dark humour – abound across the set. The stunning ‘The Other Side Of Town’ brings to the fore the universal and enduring problems with social equality and the stark differences in opportunity that it brings, the epic ‘We People Who Are Darker Than Blue’ and ‘If There’s A Hell Down Below…’ are lengthy, punchy slabs of funky soul, the classic ‘Move...

Founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire Philip Bailey delivers his 12th solo album and has assembled a cast of soul and jazz royalty on ‘Love Will Find A way’ including Christian McBride, Chick Corea, Steve Gadd, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington,Christian Scott, Bilal, Casey Benjamin, Kendrick Scott and Derrick Hodge among many others. The urgent, driving cover of Curtis’ ‘Billy Jack’ is a triumph, the smooth, jazzy ‘You’re Everything’ brings the sunshine while Mayfield in mined again on the airy ‘We’re A Winner’. ‘Stairway To The Stars’ is an eastern-vibe jazz instrumental, ‘Brooklyn Blues’ again ploughs a deep jazz vein while...