Periodically this month, we'll be looking at titles released in the latter part of 2018 that we either didn't cover, or only covered briefly, the first time around!  We hope you enjoy this look at "some nice things we've missed"...

Cherry Red's SoulMusic imprint has kept busy with an eclectic roster of releases drawn from labels including Motown, Solar, and Columbia.  First up is a set of four albums from the "Don't Leave Me This Way" soul queen Thelma Houston, all originally released on Motown: The Devil in Me (1977), Ready to Roll (1978), Ride to the Rainbow (1979), and Reachin' All Around (1982).  Ready to Roll and Reachin' All Around make their CD debuts in this two-disc set.  The Mississippi-born songstress came to Motown's L.A. offices in 1971 after having recorded her solo debut, 1969's Sunshower, with writer-producer Jimmy Webb for the ABC-Dunhill label.  In 1976, the phenomenal success of "Don't Leave Me This Way" solidified her as one of the premier stars in the Motown firmament.  These four albums found Houston basking in the glow of that international hit.

The Devil in Me was assembled from sessions with various producers including the husband-and-wife team of Brenda and Michael B. Sutton; the legendary Brian Holland; Greg Wright of The Devastating Affair; songwriter Michael Masser; Michel Rubini; and Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford.  Ironically, the producer of "Don't Leave Me This Way" - Hal Davis - was not among the roster.  The Suttons' "I'm Here Again," co-written with Kathy Wakefield, scored Houston a top 20 Dance hit and a top 25 R&B entry, while the varied album itself made it to No. 64 Pop/No. 29 R&B.  Ready to Roll followed a duets album with Jerry Butler.  Hal Davis returned for Ready to Roll, as did Greg Wright, but it fared less well than its predecessor, only reaching the lower part of the R&B survey.  Its lead single, "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" gained enough traction to be included in its extended version on Houston's next album, Ride to the Rainbow.  [Unfortunately, the original, shorter version of the song has been cut from the presentation here of Ready to Roll.]

In addition to "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning," which went Top 40 Pop and Top 20 R&B, Ride to the Rainbow included renditions of The Miracles' "Love Machine" and Stevie Wonder and Syreeta's "Just a Little Piece of You," produced by Hal Davis with Bobby Belle.  But Houston departed Berry Gordy's empire after the album, signing with RCA and reuniting with Jimmy Webb on Breakwater Cat.  In 1982, Motown dipped into its vaults for the fourth album here, Reachin' All Around.  Featuring such familiar songs as "(I've Given You) The Best Years of My Life," "Stormy Weather," and "I Can't Stand the Rain," it drew on productions from Davis, Masser, Van McCoy, Ron Miller, and others.  SoulMusic's reissue includes two bonus tracks, the non-LP B-side "If You Won't Let Me Walk on the Water" and Thank God It's Friday soundtrack tune "Love Masterpiece."  The CDs have been remastered by Nick Robbins and feature a 20-page booklet with an essay by producer David Nathan incorporating new quotes from the one and only Thelma Houston.

Another albums collection has arrived from Solar Records star Carrie Lucas.  Dance with You: The Solar and Constellation Albums includes six albums on three CDs, housed in a compact, clamshell case.  California native Lucas, wife of Solar founder Dick Griffey, was the label's only female solo artist.  SoulMusic's set collects all of her Soul Train, Solar, and Constellation LPs: Simply Carrie (1977), Street Corner Symphony (1978), Carrie Lucas in Danceland (1979), Portrait of Carrie (1980), Still in Love (1982), and Horsin' Around (1984).

Simply Carrie established Lucas as an R&B force with which to reckoned; the single "I Gotta Keep Dancin'" not only became a disco favorite but even reached No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Simply Carrie, produced by Dick Griffey, also found the artist first exploring her songwriting muse.  For Street Corner Symphony, fellow Solar recording artists The Whispers joined Griffey as co-producers.  Arrangers included such notables as keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, Gene Page, and Wah Wah Watson.  A standout on the diverse album was the title track, a disco original incorporating classic oldies like "Stand by Me," "Duke of Earl," "Dancing in the Street," and "Raindrops."  In addition to tracks authored by the Bell Brothers (Anthony, Merlin, and Wayne), Carrie continued to pen her own material including the personal "Reflections" and "Simpler Days." In Danceland wore its disco credentials on its sleeve.  Though the singer never identified primarily as a disco or dance artist, she gamely performed over the bubbling rhythms.  The group Lakeside, also members of the Solar family, contributed to the album once again helmed by Dick Griffey.

Portrait of Carrie welcomed Solar artist Leon Sylvers III (of family group The Sylvers) to the fold.  Sylvers produced three songs on the LP, and members of Lakeside, The Whispers, and Dynasty (formed by Leon Sylvers III and Griffey) all appeared in support of Lucas.  Ballads had always been a part of Lucas' repertoire; on Still in Love, she moved closer to a more mainstream, orchestrated pop-soul sound with fine productions like the silky smooth title track.  Both Still in Love and Carrie's final Solar album, Horsin' Around, featured a variety of producers under Griffey's aegis.  The synthpop-oriented album featured a couple of classic R&B covers (Barbara Lewis' "Hello Stranger" with The Whispers, and The Friends of Distinction's "Goin' in Circles"), and a contemporary track co-written and produced by music veteran Barry DeVorzon ("Charlie").  Though one song was entitled "Let's Keep Dancing," the album marked Carrie Lucas' farewell from the music business...until now.  Carrie has just returned in 2018 with "Some Things Never Change," for the newly-relaunched Solar label.  Dance with You celebrates her original classics in a package remastered by Nick Robbins.  A 20-page booklet features her recollections of this vibrant period.

What is hip?  Tower of Power would certainly qualify.  The Bay Area band's rip-roaring horns have enlivened a host of recordings from artists as diverse as Elton John, Grateful Dead, Poison, Neil Diamond, Santana, and Aerosmith, but the group also has had a long career as one of the most smoking outfits in R&B.  On the occasion of ToP's 50th anniversary in 2018, SoulMusic took a new look at the soul-funk outfit's post-Warner Bros. period on the 2-CD, not strictly chronological collection You Ought to Be Havin' Fun: The Columbia/Epic Anthology.

The first disc draws on the three albums ToP released on the Columbia label between 1976 and 1979: Ain't Nothin' Stopping Us Now (1976), We Came to Play (1978), and Back on the Streets (1978).  While personnel in the band were fluid, the sizzling sound remained.  ToP's Columbia debut yielded the single which became their most successful at the label: "You Ought to Be Havin' Fun" (No. 62 R&B/No. 68 Pop).  Ain't Nothin' Stopping Us Now reunited the band with Stax veteran Steve Cropper, with whom they had worked on the Warner album Bump City.  The new album paid tribute to ToP's home city of Oakland, and "We Came to Play" saluted the Godfather of Funk, James Brown.  Columbia shook things up for Back on the Streets, the group's third and final long-player at the label, when they turned to Richard Evans to produce.  Evans, late of Chicago's Chess Records, had an accomplished C.V., but the fit wasn't good for Tower of Power.  Only half of the tunes cut with Evans made the final album, which was rounded out by productions from Detroit's McKinley Jackson.  The producer brought in Philadelphia's Jones Girls for background vocals on the disco/dance-oriented tracks.

Both band and label agreed it was time to part ways.  After a prolific 1970s, Tower of Power slowed down, only releasing two LPs in the 1980s - one for audiophile label Sheffield Labs, and one for A&M's Cypress imprint - while still keeping busy with session and live work with other artists.  The group made their return to recording, ironically, via Columbia's sister label, Epic.  Between 1991 and 1997, ToP released four albums on Epic: Monster on a Leash (1991), T.O.P. (1993), Souled Out (1995), and Rhythm and Business (1997).  These four releases are culled for the second disc of this anthology.  By 1991, the band's sound had changed, incorporating electronic textures in the style of the period.  Longtime member Emilio Castillo produced, while Greg Adams arranged (as he had at Columbia) the first two Epic albums, but the label insisted on an outside producer for Souled Out.  Smooth jazz fusion artist Jeff Lorber was brought in to produce, and his magic touch paid off.  The album - including another tribute entitled "Diggin' on James Brown" - went to the top 10 of the Jazz chart.  Rhythm and Business continued in the smooth jazz/R&B vein, although Castillo regained the producer's seat himself.

Though Rhythm and Business marked Tower of Power's final Epic album, the band has continued to record new music on their own TOP label.  In 2018, they even earned their first chart-topping album with Soul Side of Town, a Jazz No. 1.  SoulMusic's anthology boasts a 20-page booklet with copious liner notes by co-producer Kevin Goins featuring fresh quotes from Castillo, Adams, Lorber, and other key players.  Donald Cleveland has remastered.

Look for all three SoulMusic/Cherry Red titles at the links below!

Thelma Houston, The Devil in Me/Ready to Roll/Ride to the Rainbow/Reachin' All Around (SoulMusic/Cherry Red SMCR 5176D, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

The Devil in Me (Tamla LP T7-358R1, 1977)

1. I'm Here Again
2. It's Just Me Feeling Good
3. I Can't Go On Living Without Your Love
4. Triflin'
5. Give Me Something to Believe In
6. Memories
7. I've Got the Devil in Me
8. Baby, I Love You Too Much
9. Your Eyes
10. If You Won't Let Me Walk on the Water (Bonus Track, Tamla single 54283-B, 1977)

Ready to Roll (Tamla LP T7-361R1, 1978)

11. Love Is Comin' On
12. I Wanna Start My Life All Over Again
13. Midnight Mona
14. Pardon Me
15. Everybody's Got a Story
16. Strange
17. Am I Expecting Too Much
18. Can't We Try

CD 2:

Ride to the Rainbow (Tamla LP T7-365R1, 1979)

1. Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (Extended Version)
2. I Wanna Be Back in Love Again
3. Love Machine
4. Imaginary Paradise
5. Just a Little Piece of You
6. Ride to the Rainbow
7. Paying for It with My Heart
8. Give It to Me

Reachin' All Around (Motown LP 6034ML, 1982)

9. You Never Were My Friend
10. Reachin' All Around My Love
11. I Can't Go Home Again
12. Lies
13. Don't Wonder Why
14. Never Took No for an Answer
15. Rhythm of Love
16. (I've Given You) The Best Years of My Life
17. Little Bit of Heaven and Little Bit of Hell
18. Medley: Stormy Weather/I Can't Stand the Rain
19. Love Masterpiece (Bonus Track, from Thank God It's Friday, Casablanca LP NBLP-7099, 1978)

Carrie Lucas, Dance with You: The Solar & Constellation Albums (SoulMusic/Cherry Red SMCR5174BX, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1:

Simply Carrie (Soul Train BVL1-2220, 1977)

1. I Gotta Keep Dancin'
2. Me for You
3. Play by Your Rule
4. Tender Interlude
5. Tender
6. Jammin'/Tenderly (Tender Part II)
7. I Gotta Get Away from Your Love
8. I'll Close Love's Door
9. What's the Question
10. Men Kiss and Tell

Street Corner Symphony (Solar BXL1-2773, 1978)

11. Street Corner Symphony
12. But My Heart Says No
13. Tic Toc
14. The Depths of My Soul
15. The Edge of Night
16. Questions
17. Simpler Days
18. Reflections

CD 2

In Danceland (Solar BXL1-3219, 1979)

1. Danceland
2. Sometimes a Love Goes Wrong
3. Are You Dancing
4. Dance with You
5. I'm Gonna Make You Happy
6. Southern Star

Portrait of Carrie (Solar BXL1 3579, 1980)

7. It's Not What You Got (It's How You Use It)
8. Lovin' Is on My Mind
9. Career Girl
10. Use It or Love It
11. Fashion
12. Just a Memory
13. Keep Smilin' (12" Version)

CD 3

Still in Love (Solar E1-60008, 1982)

1. Show Me Where You're Coming From
2. Sweet Love
3. Men
4. Is It a Dream
5. Rockin' for Your Love
6. Dreamer
7. I Just Can't Do Without Your Love
8. Still in Love

Horsin' Around (Constellation MCA-5513, 1984)

9. Summer in the Street
10. Charlie
11. Goin' in Circles
12. Horsin' Around
13. Hello Stranger (featuring The Whispers)
14. Let's Keep Dancing
15. Somebody Said
16. Superstar

Tower of Power, You Ought to Be Havin' Fun: The Columbia/Epic Anthology (SoulMusic/Cherry Red SMCR5179D, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: The Columbia Years

1. Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now
2. Because I Think the World of You
3. You Ought to Be Havin' Fun
4. While We Went to the Moon
5. We Came to Play
6. Love Bug
7. Lovin' You Is Gonna See Me Through
8. Am I a Fool
9. In Due Time
10. And You Know It
11. Rock Baby
12. Heaven Must Have Made You
13. By Your Side
14. Somewhere Down the Road
15. Doin' Alright
16. It's So Nice
17. Just Make a Move and Be Yourself
18. Deal with It
19. Bittersweet Soul Music

CD 2: The Epic Years

1. Soul with a Capital "S"
2. Please Come Back (To Stay)
3. You
4. Souled Out
5. Recapture the Magic
6. A Little Knowledge (Is a Dangerous Thing)
7. Who Do You Think You Are
8. How Could This Happen to Me
9. Diggin' on James Brown
10. Come to a Decision
11. Rhythm and Business
12. This Was Then, This Is Now
13. Come On with It
14. You Can't Fall Up (You Just Fall Down)
15. Cruise Control
16. Undercurrent

CD 1, Tracks 1-4, 13, 15-16 & 18 from Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now, Columbia PC 344302, 1976
CD 1, Tracks 5-8 & 14 from We Came to Play, Columbia JC 34906, 1978
CD 1, Tracks 9-12 & 17 from Back on the Streets, Columbia JC 35784, 1979
CD 2, Tracks 1-3, 10, 13 & 15 from T.O.P., Epic EK 52805, 1993
CD 2, Tracks 4, 9 & 16 from Souled Out, Epic EK 67218, 1995
CD 2, Tracks 5 & 11-12 from Rhythm and Business, Epic EK 68002, 1997
CD 2, Tracks 6-8 & 14 from Monster on a Leash, Epic EK 47987, 1991