Omnivore Recordings is celebrating legends of soul with a pair of two new releases.

In just three albums recorded between 1971 and 1973, The Stylistics - a.k.a. lead singer Russell Thompkins, Jr., Airrion Love, Herb Murrell, James Dunn, and James Smith - positioned themselves at the vanguard of Philadelphia soul, introducing future pop and R&B standards such as "You Are Everything," "People Make the World Go Round" and "You Make Me Feel Brand New" with multi-hyphenate Thom Bell (serving as producer, arranger, conductor, and composer) and lyricist Linda Creed. Every single release Bell produced for the group hit the Top 10 R&B chart, and many also went Top 10 pop.  When Bell parted ways with the group to turn his attention to The Spinners, they continued to make sweet sounds with such illustrious producers as Van McCoy, Teddy Randazzo, Hugo and Luigi, Dexter Wansel, and Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager (and even briefly reunited with Bell).

Between 1971 and 1985, The Stylistics had released one album per year with the exception of 1983.  But after 1985's A Special Style, the group (since 1980, slimmed down to the trio of Thompkins, Love, and Murrell) stepped away from the studio.  They returned in the early 1990s, and in 1996 released their third album of the decade: Love Is Back in Style.  As the title indicates, it was a return to the classic sound on which The Stylistics' musical foundation was built, and it's back in stores now.

Love Is Back in Style teamed Thompkins, Love, and Murrell with producer-songwriter Preston Glass, a protégé of Thom Bell's whose own credits include work with Earth Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, Johnny Gill, Stacy Lattisaw, Margie Joseph, Anita Pointer, George Benson, Jennifer Holliday, and countless others.  The album was originally issued on Glass' own Marathon Records label and became the final album recorded by the three founding members.  (Russell Thompkins, Jr. left the group in 2000; Love and Murrell carry on today while Thompkins leads his own New Stylistics.)

Omnivore's reissue includes a new mastering by Michael Graves and liner notes from Kevin L. Goins.  One bonus track, "She's All That" featuring rapper Biggie Smallz (not to be confused with Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.), has been reprised from the original CD and cassette release.

This Friday, March 15, Omnivore will give Another Look to a treasure trove of recordings from the late Doris Troy.  The "Just One Look" hitmaker followed her tenure on Atlantic Records with brief stops on Cameo-Parkway and Capitol and then a signing to The Beatles' Apple Records.  She later moved to such labels as Polydor and People - all the while bringing her chops to background sessions for Pink Floyd (The Dark Side of the Moon), Carly Simon ("You're So Vain"), The Rolling Stones ("You Can't Always Get What You Want"), and others.

In 1976-1977, Doris released two singles on Midland International Records and its successor, Midsong.  The first, a cover of Eagles' "Lyin' Eyes" b/w the Troy/Artie Ripp co-write "Give God Glory," was described on the single's label as "from the forthcoming LP Another Look, BKL1-1955."  Yet the album never appeared; the second single "Can't Hold On" b/w "Another Look" made no mention of it.  A couple of years later, in 1979-1980, Troy collaborated with "British Ambassador of Soul" and future SoulMusic Records founder David Nathan for more recordings, many of which first appeared in recent years (some on vinyl, some digitally).

Another Look collects these rare singles and lost tracks from the mid-1970s to 1980 to offer the most comprehensive chronicle of Troy's recording activities during this period.  The 7" and 12" versions of the Midland/Midsong material (produced by Artie Ripp and Philly disco maestro John Davis of The Monster Orchestra) are included alongside one track only released in the U.K.; a previously unreleased track from the David Nathan sessions also debuts.  Nathan also provides liner notes.

Another Look is due from Omnivore on March 15.  You'll find the track listings and order links for both the Stylistics and Doris Troy releases below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Stylistics, Love Is Back in Style (Marathon 73017, 1996 - reissued Omnivore, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. I Once Had A Love
2. She's All That
3. Shoulder
4. Keeping You To Your Promise
5. Right Face, Wrong Mind
6. Have You Ever Been In Love?
7. Go
8. Where Do You Run
9. Love Can Heal A Wounded Heart
10. You Must Love Loneliness
11. What You're Goin' Through
12. She's All That (Remix) (Bonus Track)

Doris Troy, Another Look (Omnivore, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Can't Hold On (Midsong International MB-11082, 1977)
2. Another Look (Midsong International MB-11082, 1977)
3. Lyin' Eyes (Short Version) (Midland International MB-10806, 1976)
4. Give God Glory (Midland International MB-10806, 1976)
5. You Got Me Baby (1979 Disco Version) (remix on Super Disco Edits/NEFER SDE40, 2018)
6. It's All In The Game (1979 Disco Version) (released digitally, 2020)
7. What'cha Gonna Do About It (1980 Version) - feat. Mystic Merlin (released digitally, 2020)
8. Smilin' / Let Me Make Love To You (Medley) - with Vy Higginsen (first released on I'll Do Anything: The Doris Troy Anthology 1960-1996, Kent CDKEND 344, 2011)
9. Lyin' Eyes (Long Version) (Midland International JH-10806, 1976)
10. Can't Hold On (12" Version) (Midsong International MD-11083, 1977)
11. Another Look (12" Version) (Midsong International MD-11083, 1977)
12. You Got Me Baby (Short Version) (released digitally, 2020)
13. What'cha Gonna Do (2018 Nefer Music Remix) - feat. Mystic Merlin (Super Disco Edits/NEFER SDE40, 2018)​