Earlier this year, Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint continued its series of artist anthologies with another two titles in the series, this time spotlighting the late singer-songwriter-musician-producer Kashif, and jazz fusion artist-trumpeter Tom Browne.

Help Yourself to My Love: The Arista Anthology collects 30 tracks on 2 CDs from Kashif, the artist born Michael Jones, whose smooth grooves helped define the sound of eighties R&B.  A native New Yorker, Kashif first rose to fame as a member of B.T. Express while still a teenager; though he played keyboards and occasionally composed for the band, he was also a skilled trumpeter, flautist, and saxophonist (just to name a few).  After exiting B.T. Express in 1978, he supported other musicians including Stephanie Mills on the road, and Gloria Gaynor, Tavares, The Four Tops, and others in the studio.  In 1983, he made his solo debut on Arista Records with the self-titled Kashif.  It was his first of five LPs for the label built by Clive Davis, all of which are represented on SoulMusic's set.  Davis saw the commercial potential in Kashif's pioneering keyboard grooves, both as a solo artist and a producer or arranger for other Arista signings including his friend Kenny G.  The hirsute sax man returned the favor by guesting on Kashif.

Seven on the eight tracks on Help Yourself to My Love are reprised here, including the shimmering "Say Somethin' Love" with Kenny G on sax, the romantic throwback ballad "All," and the percolating instrumental "The Mood."  1984 sophomore effort Send Me Your Love welcomed Al Jarreau on guest vocals for "Edgartown Groove," and the cusp-of-superstardom Whitney Houston on "Are You the Woman."  (Kashif subsequently produced her solo debut single at Arista, the chart-topping "You Give Good Love," in 1985.)  Jazz great George Benson appeared on "I've Been Missin' You," co-written and produced with Kenny G, underscoring Kashif's sublime musicianship.  "Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart," one of five songs here from the LP, is heard in its extended version.

Kashif's third long-player, Condition of the Heart, is sampled with a trio of tracks including the evocative, Grammy-nominated instrumental "Movie Song."  His duet with Meli'sa Morgan, "Love Changes," provided the title of his fourth Arista album (and is heard in two different versions here), and opened the door to a duet with Dionne Warwick ("Reservations for Two," which provided the title of her 1987 album).  (Kashif's teaming with Melba Moore, "Love the One I'm With (A Lot of Love)," is not an Arista track and thus fell out of the purview of this set.)  Other Love Changes highlights include "Loving You Only" with a Doug E. Fresh rap, and the Greg Phillinganes co-write "Love Me All Over," both presented in their extended versions.  In a full circle moment, Kashif's final Arista album in 1989 was also titled Kashif, and embraced the New Jack Swing movement with such tracks as "Personality" and rap on "Step into My World."  The album's revival of The Four Tops' "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" is included here in its club mix.  The 24-page booklet unfolds the Kashif story as told by A. Scott Galloway and co-producer David Nathan.  His co-producer Donald Cleveland has remastered.

Brother, Brother: The GRP/Arista Anthology celebrates the 1979-1984, 6-album tenure of another native New Yorker, trumpeter Tom Browne via both album tracks and single remixes and extended versions.  After paying his dues in the jazz world with leaders like Sonny Fortune and Dr. Lonnie Smith, Browne was able to ride the crest of the fusion wave to a major label contract.  His blend of jazz and R&B attracted Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, whose GRP label was set up at Arista.

1979's Browne Sugar welcomed such studio luminaries as bassist Marcus Miller, vocalists Patti Austin and Vivian Cherry, Michael Brecker on saxophone, and Grusin himself on piano.  The smooth crossover style was epitomized by the relaxed title track as well as by reinterpretations of songs such as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and the mellow Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway duet "The Closer I Get to You" (sung by Patti Austin).  Browne took a different approach for his sophomore set, 1980's Love Approach, bringing in his touring musicians rather than the seasoned session veterans.  Dave Grusin again produced, and contributed as a musician and an arranger.  The touring band's looser approach led to the creation of Browne's signature song, "Funkin' for Jamaica."  The tune went to No. 1 R&B and No. 9 Dance, and propelled the album to No. 1 R&B and No. 18 Pop status.

Though 1981's Magic attempted to recapture the sound of "Jamaica" on "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)," it also saw Browne embrace Earth, Wind & Fire-esque dance grooves and the hedonistic "Let's Dance."  On the same year's Yours Truly, Browne revisited "My Latin Sky," which he recorded a decade earlier with Dr. Lonnie Smith, and added Caribbean accents to his music with the single "Fungi Mama/Bebopafunkadiscolypso."  Yours Truly, however, marked the end of Arista's relationship with GRP.  The artist stayed on Arista for two more labels, teaming with producers Maurice Starr (New Edition, New Kids on the Block) and Michael Jonzun, and Ted Currier and David Spradley, to adopt an urban, electrified funk sound.  The formula worked when "Rockin' Radio," the title track of Browne's fifth LP, went to No. 11 R&B.  He didn't completely part ways with Grusin and Rosen, however, and they helmed the second side of Rockin' Radio. 1985's Tommy Gun went further in the electro-funk direction, with productions from Starr, Currier, and Spradley as well as Browne himself.  Siedah Garrett provided the vocals for "Secret Fantasy," a top 40 R&B chart entry.

Brother, Brother features liner notes by Kevin Goins and remastering from Donald Cleveland.  Like Help Yourself to My Love, it's a fine sampler from an underrated artist.  Look for both titles at the links below!

Kashif, Help Yourself to My Love: The Arista Anthology (Cherry Red/SoulMusic SMCR 5155D, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)
2. Help Yourself to My love
3. Stone Love
4. Baby Don't Break Your Baby's Heart (Extended Version)
5. Rumors
6. Ooh Love
7. Say Somethin' Love
8. The Mood
9. All
10. Are You the Woman
11. Edgartown Groove
12. Send Me Your Love
13. Dancing in the Dark (Heart to Heart)
14. Condition of the Heart (Extended Version)
15. Movie Song

CD 2

1. Love Changes - Kashif and Meli'sa Morgan
2. Love Me All Over (Extended Version)
3. Loving You Only (Extended Remix) (Rap by Doug E. Fresh)
4. Love on the Rise - Kenny G and Kashif (Extended Remix)
5. Vacant Heart
6. Personality
7. Kathryn (Instrumental)
8. Reservations for Two - Dionne and Kashif
9. Lovers and Friends
10. Love Letter Out Loud
11. Step Into My World
12. I've Been Missin' You
13. Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got) (Extended Club Mix)
14. Love Has No End
15. Love Changes (A Cappella) - Kashif and Meli'sa Morgan

CD 1, Tracks 1-3, 5, 7-9 from Kashif, Arista AL 9620, 1983
CD 1, original version of Track 4 & Tracks 6, 10-12 & CD 2, Tracks 12, 14 from Send Me Your Love, Arista 8-8205, 1984
CD 1, Tracks 13, 15 & original version of Track 14 from Condition of the Heart, Arista 8-8385, 1985
CD 2, Tracks 1, 5, 8 & original version of Tracks 2-3 from Love Changes, AL 8447, 1987
CD 2, Track 4 from Arista single AS 1-9336, 1985
CD 2, Tracks 6, 10-11 & original version of Track 13 from Kashif, Arista AL 8595, 1989
CD 2, Track 7 from Arista single AS 1-9680, 1988
CD 2, Track 9 from Arista single AS 1-9890, 1989
CD 2, Track 15 from Arista 12-inch single AD 1-9627, 1987

Tom Browne, Brother, Brother: The GRP/Arista Anthology (Cherry Red/SoulMusic SMCR 5161D, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. I Never Was a Cowboy
2. Brother, Brother
3. The Closer I Get to You
4. What's Going On
5. Throw Down
6. Funkin' for Jamaica
7. Dreams of Lovin' You
8. Her Silent Smile
9. Let's Dance
10. Magic (12" Version)
11. I Know
12. Midnight Interlude
13. Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)
14. Fungi Mama/Bebopafunkadiscolypso
15. Funkin' for Jamaica (1991 Extended Remix)

CD 2

1. Bye Gones (Extended Remix)
2. Charisma
3. Can't Give It Away
4. Come for the Ride
5. My Latin Sky
6. A Message (Pride and Pity)
7. Rockin' Radio
8. Cruisin'
9. Angeline
10. Brighter Tomorrow
11. Mr. Business
12. Hit Man
13. Secret Fantasy (Extended Version)
14. Funkin' for Jamaica (1991 Jam Dub Mix)

CD 1, Tracks 1-5 from Browne Sugar, GRP 5003, 1979
CD 1, Tracks 6-8 from Love Approach, GRP 5008, 1980
CD 1, Track 9, original version of Track 10, & Tracks 11-13 from Magic, GRP 5503, 1981
CD 1, Track 14 & CD 2, original version of Track 1, & Tracks 2-6 from Yours Truly, GRP 5507, 1981
CD 1, Track 15 & CD 2, Track 14 from Arista U.K. CD 614 998, 1991
CD 2, Tracks 7-11 from Rockin' Radio, Arista AL 8-8107, 1983
CD 2, Track 12 & original version of Track 13 from Tommy Gun, Arista AL 8-8249, 1984