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/ R&B/Soul

Release Round-Up: Week of September 8

September 8, 2017 By Joe Marchese 4 Comments

Neil Young Hitchhiker

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Melissa Manchester, Through the Eyes of Love: The Complete Arista 7" Singles (Second Disc/Real Gone)  (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The timeless songs of Melissa Manchester are collected on a new, comprehensive anthology from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music. Through the Eyes of Love: The Complete Arista 7″ Singles brings together 43 songs and 157 minutes of beautiful music on two CDs, including such all-time hits and

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock Tags: Bash and Pop, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Duane Eddy, Godley & Creme, Gregg Allman, Hanson, Melissa Manchester, Neil Young, Ornette Coleman

You're About To Get Your Share: Real Gone Announces Desmond Dekker and Meters Vinyl Reissues

September 6, 2017 By Randy Fairman 4 Comments

Desmond Dekker You Can Get It Vinyl

After revealing its Halloween slate of titles, Real Gone Music has announced two more vinyl reissues due in late October and early November. The first, due on October 27, is the 3-LP set The Meters - A Message from The Meters:  The Complete Josie, Reprise and Warner Brothers Singles 1968-1977.  Funk pioneers The Meters are one of those bands who are greatly influential to a great many musicians.  They have worked with artists ranging from Dr. John to Paul McCartney, but have not had great

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Categories: News Formats: Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul, Reggae Tags: Desmond Dekker, The Meters

Scream

September 6, 2017 By

MJ Scream

Epic and Legacy collect some of Michael Jackson's darkest songs on a new compilation.  Scream features the title duet with Janet Jackson alongside The Jacksons' "This Place Hotel," Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me," and the King of Pop's solo songs like "Leave Me Alone," "Threatened," "Dirty Diana," and of course, "Thriller."  One previously unreleased track, a new mash-up of "Dangerous" and "Blood on the Dance Floor," is included.  Available on CD on September 29, and glow-in-the-dark double

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Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Disco/Dance, Pop, R&B/Soul

Super Strut: Cherry Red Collects Best of Creed Taylor's CTI Label on "Cool Heat"

September 6, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Cool Heat CTI

Cherry Red's Robinsongs imprint is turning up the Cool Heat with a new 2-CD, 25-track collection celebrating The Best of CTI Records and featuring many of the classic jazz label's most renowned artists including instrumentalists George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, and Stanley Turrentine, and vocalists Nina Simone, Patti Austin, and Esther Phillips. Chances are, if you think of a jazz artist, it wouldn't take many degrees of separation to reach Creed Taylor. The esteemed producer

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Disco/Dance, Jazz, R&B/Soul Tags: Bob James, Esther Phillips, Eumir Deodato, Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, Nina Simone, Stanley Turrentine, Various Artists

'Cause This Is Thriller Night: Michael Jackson's "Scream" Arrives In October

September 6, 2017 By Joe Marchese 3 Comments

MJ Scream

On Monday evening, an animated teaser featuring black cats, a spider web, and other spooky imagery arrived on Michael Jackson's official social media platforms, teasing the release of a project entitled Scream.  Today, the details have been confirmed for this new 14-track collection.  Scream, bringing together some of the late King of Pop's darkest songs, will arrive from Epic and Legacy on September 29, giving listeners a month-plus to savor it in the build-up to one of Jackson's favorite

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Vinyl Genre: Disco/Dance, Pop, R&B/Soul Tags: Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, The Jacksons

Oh, Honey: Big Break Celebrates 40 Years of Delegation with Two New Releases

August 31, 2017 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Delegation In Loves Time

Over the course of just four albums released between 1977 and 1982, Delegation established a reputation and a following that continues to this very day based on the group's sleek brand of soulful, dance-infused R&B.  The trio, still active today as led by founding member Ricky Bailey, has long been a mainstay of Cherry Red's Big Break Records label.  That association which has recently culminated in a pair of potent releases: the definitive, double-disc anthology In Love's Time: The

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Disco/Dance, Funk, R&B/Soul Tags: Delegation

Southern Blood [Various Formats]

August 30, 2017 By

Gregg Allman Southern Blood

The late, great Gregg Allman's final recordings are presented on Southern Blood, his first studio album since 2011's Low Country Blues. This final testament from an artist who shaped the sound of southern rock was produced by Don Was and recorded in the legendary Muscle Shoals, where his brother Duane Allman famously enhanced the recordings of so many artists passing through. Channeling the spirit that informed his solo works like Laid Back, Allman brought his distinctive style to songs written

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Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, DVD, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul, Rock

Can't Hold the Feeling Back: Brenda Holloway's Lost Motown Sessions Arrive On "Spellbound"

August 29, 2017 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Brenda Holloway Spellbound

A new anthology from Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records imprint is bound to leave listeners so very happy.  Why?  It's a 2-CD, 33-track collection of (mostly) unheard music from one of Motown's most underrated stars, the incandescent Brenda Holloway.  While Brenda may be best known for co-writing "You've Made Me So Very Happy," there was much more to the artist, and Spellbound: Rare and Unreleased Motown Gems makes that abundantly clear.  Many of the tracks on this collection

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Brenda Holloway

The Spirit Of Memphis (1962-1976)

August 29, 2017 By

Isaac Hayes Spirit of Memphis

Craft Recordings celebrates the life and legacy of Isaac Hayes on an essential new 4-CD box set.  The first disc includes 26 of Hayes' great early Stax classics as a songwriter and producer. Disc 2 moves on to his solo singles for the Enterprise label, including many non-LP rarities like a Volt single from 1965, a double-sided holiday platter from 1969, duets with songwriting partner David Porter and even two radio spots.  The final two discs are also themed. One focuses on Hayes' covers,

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Formats: Box Sets, CD, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul

Release Round-Up: Week of August 25

August 25, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Alex Chilton A Man Called Destruction

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Alex Chilton, A Man Called Destruction: Expanded Edition (Omnivore) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2-LP Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada  In 1995, the late Big Star and Box Tops frontman Alex Chilton returned to Memphis' Ardent Studios, the site of his classic work with Big Star, to record A Man Called Destruction.  Blending original songs with a host of eclectic covers from the likes of Chris Kenner ("Sick and

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Disco/Dance, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul, Rock Tags: Alex Chilton, Andy Williams, Big Star, Bob Dylan, Delegation, Exposé, Jack Tempchin, Judee Sill, Liza Minnelli, Nick Lowe, Pet Shop Boys, Rita Coolidge, The Undisputed Truth

Hot Fun: Cherry Red's Robinsongs Collects Stanley Clarke's Epic Years

August 24, 2017 By Joe Marchese 2 Comments

Stanley Clarke Definitive

Bassist Stanley Clarke has long been one of jazz's leading lights.  The Philadelphia-born musician and composer's career, which flourishes to the present day, has recently been anthologized by Cherry Red's Robinsongs label.  The Definitive Collection concentrates on the period of 1975-1990 during which time he was recording for the Nemperor and Epic labels as a solo artist. Philadelphia-born Clarke first rose to prominence showcasing his bass wizardry as part of Chick Corea's fusion jazz

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Funk, Jazz, R&B/Soul Tags: George Duke, Stanley Clarke

Soul Man: Isaac Hayes Box Set Coming Next Month

August 24, 2017 By Mike Duquette 6 Comments

Isaac Hayes Spirit of Memphis pack shot

Having just announced a John Lee Hooker box set, Craft Recordings shows no sign of slowdown, yesterday announcing The Sprit Of Memphis (1962-1976) a 4CD box set devoted to the legendary Isaac Hayes. It's impossible to think about the Stax Records sound--or soul music in the '60s and '70s, really--without considering Isaac Hayes. He helped shape the soul-pop sound of Memphis as a writer and producer, involved with smash hits and immortal cuts like "Hold On! I'm A Comin'," "B-A-B-Y" (a recent

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Categories: News Formats: Box Sets, CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Booker T. and the MG's, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, Sam & Dave

SoulMusic Spotlight Part One: New Anthologies Arrive For Esther Phillips, Levert, and Mtume

August 15, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Esther Phillips Kudu Anthology

Cherry Red's SoulMusic Records label has added another quintet of releases to its rapidly-growing Anthology series, and this batch is among the most eclectic yet, blurring the lines of jazz, pop, and R&B with Esther Phillips, Levert, Tom Browne, Kashif, and Mtume. As the premier vocalist on CTI Records' Kudu imprint, Esther Phillips (1935-1984) played a key role in producer Creed Taylor's "Cool Revolution" at CTI. A gifted vocalist, Phillips nonetheless struggled with personal demons

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Funk, Jazz, R&B/Soul Tags: Esther Phillips, Levert, Mtume

I Want Action: Playback Collects Lost Soul Recordings of Jeanette Jones

August 9, 2017 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Jeanette Jones

Even a diehard R&B connoisseur could be forgiven for not recognizing the name of Jeanette Jones.  She only had one solo single to her name: 1969's "The Thought of You" b/w "Darling I'm Standing by You," released on the small Golden Soul label out of San Francisco.  But in the 21st century, the musical archaeologists at Ace Records began issuing lost masters from this lost singer, building up a small but powerfully vivid catalog from the mystery-shrouded vocalist.  Now, in association with

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Jeanette Jones

Is He Groovin' You? Big Break Collects Harvey Mason's Funky Arista Years

August 8, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Harvey Mason Sho Nuff Groovin You

Harvey Mason may be best known for his session credits on countless classic records by artists from Carole King to Quincy Jones.  But the drummer/percussionist has also led a solo career since 1975, most often fusing his jazz sensibility with R&B textures.  His first stint as a solo artist came at Clive Davis' Arista Records, where he recorded five well-received, self-produced albums between 1975 and 1981.  Big Break's recent anthology Sho Nuff Groovin' You: The Arista Records Anthology

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: CD Genre: Jazz, R&B/Soul Tags: Bill Champlin, Dave Grusin, David Foster, George Benson, Harvey Mason, Merry Clayton

Release Round-Up: Week of August 4

August 4, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Robin Hood Legacy Collection

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! The Legacy Collection: Robin Hood (Walt Disney Records) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K.) Disney's Legacy Collection returns with a first-ever complete soundtrack release for the 1973 animated classic Robin Hood.  Disc 1 of this 2-CD set includes the original songs and score from the film (28 tracks overall), penned by writers including Roger Miller, George Bruns, Floyd Huddleston, and Johnny Mercer. Disc 2 spotlights 13 tracks of

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Vinyl Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks Tags: Def Leppard, Henry Mancini, Jaguar, Jimmy Reed, Randy Newman, Roger Miller, Samson, The Rain Parade

Hard-Hitting "Sweet Sweetback" Returns To Vinyl For Stax 60th Campaign

August 3, 2017 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Sweet Sweetback Vinyl

Upon its release in 1971, there was nothing quite like Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.  The low- budget, independently-made film - written, directed, edited, composed by and starring Melvin Van Peebles, and rated X "by an all-white jury" as its tagline proclaimed, ushered in the blaxploitation genre in shocking and often graphic fashion.  Prior to the film's release, the multi-hyphenate Van Peebles realized that the best way to spread the word about his groundbreaking work was via music.  And

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Categories: News, Reviews Formats: Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul, Soundtracks Tags: Earth Wind and Fire, Melvin Van Peebles

Review: Santana and The Isley Brothers, "Power of Peace"

July 31, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

image004

In 1965, Hal David first made the observation, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love...it's the only thing that there's just too little of."  Over fifty-two years later, there's still just too little love, and it's a situation which Carlos Santana has aimed to remedy.  The guitar hero was inspired by seeing the velvet-voiced Ron Isley, longtime lead singer of The Isley Brothers, performing with Burt Bacharach in a 2004 television special promoting their collaborative album Here I Am. 

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul, Rock Tags: Santana, The Isley Brothers

Review: Arthur Alexander, "Arthur Alexander [Expanded Edition]"

July 31, 2017 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Arthur Alexander

If the influence of Arthur Alexander on rock-and-roll is ever in doubt, one need only look at the list of artists who have recorded his songs - a list that includes The Beatles and The Rolling Stones just for starters.  Though the R&B singer-songwriter ("You Better Move On," "Anna (Go to Him)") never became a household name in the vein of Otis or Sam or The Wicked Pickett, he nonetheless left behind a treasure trove of varied recordings.  Now, the Alabama native's 1972 self-titled Warner

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Categories: Reviews Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Arthur Alexander

Release Round-Up: Week of July 28

July 28, 2017 By Joe Marchese Leave a Comment

Boy From Tupelo LP

Welcome to this week's Release Round-Up! Elvis Presley, A Boy From Tupelo - The Complete 1953-55 Recordings (RCA/Legacy) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K.) A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete Recordings 1953-1955 journeys back to the birth of rock-and-roll to feature, on three CDs and digitally, every known Elvis Presley Sun Records master and outtake.  In addition, the collection also contains Elvis' four earliest, privately-pressed sides, and vintage radio and concert

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Categories: Release Round-Up Formats: Box Sets, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Jazz, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, R&B/Soul Tags: 10cc, Alice Cooper, Arthur Alexander, Elvis Presley, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Herb Alpert, Jessica Molaskey, John Pizzarelli, Pet Shop Boys, Santana, The Cars, The Delfonics, The Isley Brothers

A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

July 27, 2017 By

Aretha and the Philharmonic

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Aretha Franklin's arrival at Atlantic Records in 1967 after departing Columbia Records.  Her twelve year-tenure there would produce some of the most iconic soul and R&B recordings of all time.  To celebrate this anniversary, Rhino Records is taking a cue from the Elvis Presley playbook and combining her classic vocals with new orchestral backing tracks.  A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will hit stores on November

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Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul

Tell Me This is a Dream (Expanded Edition)

July 25, 2017 By

Delfonics Tell Me This is a Dream

Funky Town Grooves U.K. has an expanded edition of The Delfonics' fourth album - their first with Major Harris in the line-up, and first without Thom Bell at the helm.  It includes favorites such as "Hey Love" and "Walk Right Up to the Sun" and has been expanded with four bonus tracks: singles of non-LP side "Think It Over" (arranged by Norman Harris and Vince Montana), the rare "Delphonics" Arista single "Don't Throw It All Away" b/w "I Don't Care What People Say," and the 45 version of the

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Formats: CD Genre: R&B/Soul

Roll with the Punches

July 25, 2017 By

Van Morrison Roll with the Punches

Van Morrison's 37th studio album, Roll with the Punches finds the Caledonia soul man covering some of his favorite R&B classics (by the likes of Bo Diddley, Mose Allison, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Lightnin' Hopkins among others) alongside five new, original songs.  Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Jeff Beck, Paul Jones and Jason Rebello join Van for this new release.  Available on CD, LP, and DD.

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Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul, Rock

Give Your Propers: New Aretha Franklin Project Combines Classics with New Orchestral Backing

July 25, 2017 By Randy Fairman 14 Comments

Aretha and the Philharmonic

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Aretha Franklin's arrival at Atlantic Records in 1967 after departing Columbia Records.  Her twelve year-tenure there would produce some of the most iconic soul and R&B recordings of all time.  To celebrate this anniversary, Rhino Records is taking a cue from the Elvis Presley playbook and combining her classic vocals with new orchestral backing tracks.  A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will hit stores on November

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Categories: News Formats: CD, Digital Download, Vinyl Genre: R&B/Soul Tags: Aretha Franklin

Tickle Me: Edsel Reissues The Alan Price Set's Decca Recordings, Featuring Early Randy Newman Songs

July 25, 2017 By Joe Marchese 1 Comment

Alan Price Set Twice the Price

Alan Price's early accomplishments with The Animals would have been enough to ensure the keyboardist-composer-arranger's place in the rock and roll pantheon, but happily, Price's solo work has endured just as strongly over the years.  Price publicly announced his departure from the group on May 5, 1965, and just a few months later in September, he introduced his new band, The Alan Price Set.  Edsel has recently restored the early recordings of The Alan Price Set into print on a 3-CD

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Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul Tags: Alan Price, Randy Newman, The Alan Price Set

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