SoulMusic Records, in association with Cherry Red, has recently launched a series of new 2-CD anthologies designed to give a comprehensive look at one period of an artist's career.  The initial group of releases is dedicated to three artists whose talents span multiple genres - Melba Moore, George Duke, and Ramsey Lewis.

Melba Moore's Standing Right Here: the Anthology - The Buddah and Epic Years devotes one disc to each one of those labels.  Moore's first major-label contract was actually with Mercury Records; the label signed her on the strength of her performances on Broadway in Hair and Purlie.  When the latter's "I Got Love" became her breakout anthem and won her a Tony Award, her Mercury debut Living to Give was retitled I Got Love.  It featured a new arrangement of the title track by the great Thom Bell as well as songs from Hair, the landmark rock musical in which Moore was featured.  Two more Mercury LPs followed - one studio and one live - before Moore moved to Buddah Records in 1975.  SoulMusic 's collection begins with Peach Melba, and features selections from all four of her Buddah platters as well as one non-LP single and a twelve-inch single mix.  Melba's tenure at Buddah saw collaborations with Gene McDaniels, Van McCoy, and McFadden and Whitehead, all of whom surrounded her powerful voice with luxuriant settings.  The ebullient, upbeat "This is It," from the 1976 McCoy-produced LP of the same name, became Melba's biggest hit at No. 18 R&B/No. 2 Dance.

Moore moved onto Epic Records for a three-album run between 1978 and 1980.  The second disc of SoulMusic's package kicks off with the infectious, irresistible grooves of "You Stepped Into My Life," the Bee Gees-penned tune that went to No. 17 R&B/No. 5 Dance for another floor-filling smash.  As Moore embraced the disco sound, it's fitting that this disc - while still representing all three albums - features a number of extended 12-inch mixes and remixes.  "You Stepped Into My Life" is actually heard in both its original version and nearly twice-as-long Disco Version.  Indeed, today, Melba Moore is still Standing Right Here with her versatile voice, capable of smooth balladry, Broadway belting, and passionate R&B alike.  She moved onto Capitol Records for the 1980s, but the 33 tracks on these 2 CDs remain among her most beloved performances.

The prolific jazz pianist and leader Ramsey Lewis is celebrated on Hot Dawgit: The Anthology - The Columbia Years.  Best known for his hit recording of Billy Page's "The In Crowd," Lewis released over 35 albums for the Argo and Cadet labels between 1956 and 1971 before moving to Columbia Records with 1972's Upendo Ni Pamoja.  The move was prompted by Cadet parent Chess Records' sale to the GRT corporation; Lewis desired to record for a label with its emphasis on music.  He joined the home of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, and other jazz luminaries when he was signed by then-President Clive Davis.  Lewis joined the age of fusion, playing electric piano, and embraced the R&B overtones with which many jazz heroes were experimenting.

Lewis was nearly as productive at Columbia as he had been at Argo and Cadet.  Hot Dawgit draws on a full nineteen LPs released between 1972 and 1989, and its varied selections showcase the breadth of Lewis' jazz style.  There are duets with Earth, Wind and Fire, marking a reunion with onetime Ramsey Lewis Trio drummer and EWF founder Maurice White, as well as a cover of EWF's "That's the Way of the World."  At Columbia, Lewis covered pop hits like Seals and Crofts' "Summer Breeze," revisited his own past triumphs such as "Wade in the Water," and covered Stevie Wonder ("Spring High"), Grover Washington Jr. ("Sassy Stew"), and songs from Broadway ("Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" from Hair) and Hollywood ("Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman).  As Lewis was not primarily a composer, he worked with talents like White and EWF associate Charles Stepney on a number of tracks here.  Two duets with Nancy Wilson are included.  The period covered on SoulMusic's anthology represents Lewis at his chart peak, as he was a mainstay on both the R&B survey and the Billboard 200.  A three-time Grammy Award winner, Lewis continues to perform today; his most recent album arrived in 2011 on the Hidden Beach label.

The third artist in SoulMusic's series also blurred the lines between jazz and R&B: George Duke.  Shine On: The Anthology - The Epic Years plucks highlights from the keyboardist-composer's recordings released between 1977 and 1984, during which time the artist was at his commercial peak.  Duke's career in jazz began at the German MPS label, where he recorded for the decade of 1966-1976.  Epic transformed him from a jazz pianist with a remarkably diverse background (including significant work with Frank Zappa throughout the 1970s) into a full-fledged R&B fusion superstar.

All eleven of Duke's Epic albums through 1984 (a number of which have been previously expanded by SoulMusic Records/Cherry Red) are represented on this set, including collaborations with bassist Stanley Clarke on two LPs.  A number of 12-inch mixes are featured here, including "Dukey Stick" (his No. 4 R&B smash from 1977) and "Reach Out," as well as Duke's major hits.  In addition to "Dukey Stick," the hits included "Say That You Will" (No. 25 R&B, 1979), "I Want You for Myself" (No. 23 R&B and Dance, 1979), "Sweet Baby" (No. 6 R&B/No. 19 Pop) and "Shine On" (No. 15 R&B/No. 41 Pop/No. 36 Dance).

All three of these anthologies feature thick booklets with detailed liner notes by Charles Waring; in the case of the Moore and Lewis volumes, Waring's notes draw on new interviews with the artists.  (George Duke passed away in 2013; Waring does include quotes from three interviews he conducted with Duke during his lifetime.)  James Bragg has remastered the Duke volume, and Nick Robbins has handled the Moore and Lewis sets.  You can order these new collections below, and watch this space for news of the next volume, dedicated to The Manhattans!

Melba Moore, Standing Right Here: The Anthology (SoulMusic/Cherry Red SMCR 5144D, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. I Am His Lady
2. If I Love
3. Must Be Dues
4. Natural Part of Everything
5. This Is It (12-Inch Version)
6. Stay Awhile
7. Lean on Me
8. One Less Morning
9. Good Love Makes Everything Alright (12-Inch Version)
10. The Way You Make Me Feel
11. So Many Mountains
12. The Long and Winding Road
13. Ain't No Love Lost
14. The Greatest Feeling
15. My Sensitive, Passionate Man
16. Standing Right Here
17. Living Free
18. I Don't Know No One Else to Turn To
19. Just Another Link

CD 2

1. You Stepped Into My Life
2. There's No Other Like You
3. Pick Me Up, I'll Dance (12-Inch Mix)
4. Where Did You Ever Go
5. Miss Thing (12-Inch Version)
6. Need Love
7. Night People (12-Inch Version)
8. Hot and Tasty (12-Inch Mix)
9. Burn (U.K. Remix)
10. Everything's So Good About You (12-Inch Single)
11. Next to You
12. Rest Inside My Love
13. Something on Your Mind
14. You Stepped Into My Life (Special Disco Version)

Ramsey Lewis, Hot Dawgit: The Anthology - The Columbia Years (SoulMusic/Cherry Red SMCR 5143D, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. Slipping Into Darkness
2. Eternal Peace
3. Kufanya Mapenzi (Making Love)
4. What It Is!
5. Hang On Sloopy (Funky Reggae Style)
6. Hi-Heel Sneakers
7. Wade in the Water
8. The Everywhere Calypso
9. Summer Breeze
10. Hot Dawgit
11. Tambura
12. Sun Goddess
13. Jungle Strut
14. That's the Way of the World
15. What's the Name of This Funk (Spider Man)
16. Don't It Feel Good
17. Brazilica
18. Spring High
19. Tequila Mockingbird

CD 2

1. All the Way Live
2. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
3. Wearin' It Out
4. Whisper Zone
5. Come Back Jack
6. So Much More
7. Lakeshore Cowboy
8. You Never Know
9. Sassy Stew
10. Up Where We Belong
11. The Two of Us - with Nancy Wilson
12. Midnight Rendezvous - with Nancy Wilson
13. Quiet Storm
14. This Ain't No Fantasy
15. Slow Dancin'
16. 7-11
17. My Love Will Lead You Home
18. Eye on You

George Duke, Shine On: The Anthology - The Epic Years (SoulMusic/Cherry Red SMCR 5143D, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. You and Me
2. 'Scuse Me Miss
3. Reach for It
4. Just for You
5. Dukey Stick (Part One)
6. Dukey Stick (Part Two)
7. Yeah, We Going
8. Don't Let Go
9. Movin' On
10. The Way I Feel
11. Say That You Will
12. I Am For Real (May the Funk Be with You)
13. Pluck
14. Straight from the Heart
15. I Want You for Myself
16. Party Down
17. Every Little Step I Take
18. Games
19. Brazilian Love Affair
20. Dukey Stick

CD 2

1. Sweet Baby - with Stanley Clarke
2. Never Judge a Cover by Its Book - with Stanley Clarke
3. I Just Want to Love You - with Stanley Clarke
4. Finding My Way - with Stanley Clarke
5. Shine On
6. Positive Energy
7. Dream On
8. Ride of Love
9. Son of Reach for It (The Funky Dream)
10. Reach Out (Part One)
11. Reach Out (Part Two)
12. Born to Love You
13. You (Are the Light)
14. Celebrate
15. Heroes (Vocals)
16. Secret Rendezvous
17. Thinking of You
18. Reach Out