Boss Soul: The Genius of Barry White Review by Richie Unterberger
In 1966-67, long before he attained seventies superstardom as a growling bedroom funkster, Barry White gained valuable experience as an A&R man for the Del-Fi label in Los Angeles. This compilation has 16 tracks that he was involved with as producer, engineer, songwriter, and/or session musician, the results appearing on Del-Fi's Bronco and Mustang subsidiaries; note, however, that only five of the cuts are by White himself (including one instrumental and a pre-Del Fi 1965 single released under the pseudonym of Lee Barry). At this time, White was very much under the spell of Motown both as producer and songwriter (he wrote or co-wrote all but two of these tunes). The material, whether by White or other Mustang/Bronco artists Felice Taylor, Viola Wills, and Johnny Wyatt, consists for the most part of very derivative, but nonetheless enjoyable and professional, Motown variations. Felice Taylor's "It May Be Winter Outside," a #42 pop hit in 1966, is the most accurate mid-'60s Supremes imitation bar none, both for Taylor's uncanny Diana Ross-like vocals and the dead-on Motownesque arrangement.

Collection includes 5 studio albums by Culture Club, 7 studio albums by Boy George and also one general compilation.

A very versatile and talented vocalist, Tracy Nelson is better known for her role as lead singer of Mother Earth. Collection includes four studio albums by Mother Earth feat. Tracy Nelson and nine solo studio albums by Tracy Nelson.

Wisely, Shout! Factory has picked up Maria Muldaur's two early-'90s recordings – this one and Louisiana Love Call – from the defunct Black Top label for reissue. While both these recordings are excellent, it's Meet Me at Midnite that offers a portrait of the artist as a hardcore R&B singer of the highest order. Produced by John Porter, Muldaur surrounds herself with crack studio players including Rick Vito, Johnny Lee Schell, Hutch Hutchinson, Bill Payne, and a slew of others. Where Louisiana Love Call focused on the music of New Orleans, Meet Me at Midnite digs deep into various dimensions of the Memphis sound – soul, R&B, and blues – and concentrates on the myriad stages and phases of love. While it's true that the set opens with "Trouble With My Lover" by the Crescent City's Allen Toussaint, its vibe is pure Memphis: funky, dirty grooves, packed in a tight cut-time beat and Muldaur shouting the blues with a big, clear ringing voice that wrenches emotion from every syllable. Likewise, the title cut by Vito and John Herron crawls down into the blues alley with killer slide guitar riffs winding their way around Muldaur's seductive vocals.

Across 2LPs comes a unique collection of authentic 70s nostalgia. Blissful and relaxing, compiled together onto vinyl is the warm sound of 32 of the decade’s finest works of easy listening pop. Find classic lounge tracks from The Manhattan Transfer, Neil Diamond and Demis Roussos alongside Dionne Warwick, Commodores, Billy Joel and many more.

Betty Jean Everett was an American soul singer and pianist, best known for her biggest hit single, the million-selling "Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)", and her duet "Let It Be Me" with Jerry Butler. Let It Be Me, the greatest hits of Betty Everett including Let It Be Me (with Jerry Butler), It's In His Kiss (The Scoop Shoop Song), You're No Good, I Can't Hear You, It Hurts To Be In Love, Chained To A Memory, Love Is Strange (with Jerry Butler), The Way You Do The Things You Do (with Jerry Butler), The Real Thing - 19 Tracks Total.

Up Your Mind is the American debut by soul-blues singer/songwriter Ellis Hooks. Originally hailing from Mobile, AL, he was an itinerant musician, scrambling and scuffling across the globe, often as a busker. His debut album, Undeniable, garnered a slew of attention on the other side of the Atlantic and has afforded him the notoriety and critical acclaim to play the Montreux Jazz Festival and the esteemed Poretta Festival in Italy. Hooks resides in New York and is remaking music in his own image by using and fusing traditional elements from soul, rock, and the Mississippi Delta played in a direct, gritty manner. Hooks doesn't sift and he doesn't blend, he sculpts and shapes, leaving the rough grain on the surface to admire. Hooks and veteran producer Jon Tiven offer a streetwise, passion-filled toughness in their deep, sensual mix. Hooks has a voice that owes a great debt to Otis Redding first and Wilson Pickett second (who Tiven produced for many years), and an approach in his songwriting that is eclectic, knotty, and groove-solid.

Terence Trent D'Arby had a difficult 1990s, the nadir of which was probably the desperate mating call Supermodel Sandwich with Cheese from his 1995 album Vibrator. But he has started the new century with a clean slate, changing his name to Sananda Maitreya and launching his own label. The artful blend of soul, rock and funk is reassuringly familiar, though. D'Arby/ Maitreya still exercises a Prince-like control over songwriting, arrangement and production, rendering it a one-man show, but that's no bad thing with an artist of his ability. Drivin' Me Crazy packs enough lust into three funky minutes to satiate his most ardent fans (or "lightbeings", as he calls them), and the outstanding Suga Free pairs dark balladry with an operatic choir. Even the banjo-plinking O Divina comes good in the end, swelling into a Motownesque chorus. A snazzy comeback.

Originally released in 1997, Eric Bibb's Me To You album was seen as a major stepping stone in the New York born Bluesters career. After many years of hard work releasing albums and a near constant touring schedule, Me To You finally and deservedly gave Bibb the recognition that he truly deserved. For the release Bibb gathered together some of his personal heroes, including Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal to contribute. The results proved to be one of Bibb s most popular and best selling albums.

2015 two CD collection. Reach For The Sky: The Change Anthology offers the very best of Change, the innovative studio group masterminded by Jacques Fred Petrus, and brought to life by producer/arranger Mauro Malavasi and bassist Davide Romani. Change launched Luther Vandross' solo career with the #1 dance classic 'The Glow of Love' and the Top 20 UK hit 'Searching'. This 28 track collection spans the group's six albums from 1980-1985 and includes every single that made the pop, R&B, and dance charts in the U.K. and U.S., plus an exclusive bonus new disco remix of 'It's A Girl's Affair' by Mike Maurro. Reach For The Sky features a 24-page booklet with rare photos, plus definitive liner notes with brand new interviews and a track-by-track commentary by some of those who helped define Change's biggest hits, including Jocelyn Brown ('A Lover's Holiday'), Diva Gray ('Paradise'), James "Crabbe" Robinson ('The Very Best In You'), and Deborah Cooper ('Change of Heart'). Newly remastered from the original tapes and housed in a deluxe digipak adorned with Greg Porto's iconic artwork throughout, including this release's front cover. Reach For The Sky will lead Change lovers to paradise.

2010 compilation, an installment in the popular Backbeats series that explores different aspects of the Soul/Dance/Black music scenes and covers such diverse areas as New York Disco, Southern Deep Soul, 70's Detroit, 70's Funk, Philly Classics, 60's and 70's Soul Anthems, 80's New York House, 70's and 80's Rare Groove, Southern Crossover Soul and Soulful Jazz-Funk.

Funk 'N' Roll - A Collection Of 70's Rare Funky Trips, a Various Artists Compilation. Released 2003 on Hitland.

Let Me Get By is the third studio album from Tedeschi Trucks Band, featuring ten new, original songs that stand together as a testament to the spirit and commitment of the tightly-knit 12-member ensemble. Driven by Susan's soaring, spiritually charged vocals and Derek's masterfully lyrical slide-guitar, the band's musical talents are on display in full force. From 'Anyhow' - a declaration of devotion highlighting the album's theme of breaking away - to the funky and uplifting title track, Let Me Get By delivers a sonic journey filled with the barnstorming energy, soulful vibes and roots-based rock that no band delivers better. Deluxe version includes 8-track bonus disc that features live recordings from the legendary Beacon Theatre in New York as well as alternate mixes, early song takes and additional studio material, an expanded booklet with exclusive studio and live photos, and a custom-designed vintage amp box.

Soul Steppin': '80s Soulful Steppers Review by Thom Jurek
Backbeats Records is strictly a compilation company based in the U.K. whose releases are distributed throughout the European Union at a budget prices. What they do is simply compile collections of dance music by well-known and obscure artists from the disco era to the latter '90s. And for what it’s worth, when it comes to licensing, they do a terrific job, and this set is a case in point. Compiled by Ian Dewhirst, Soul Steppin' collects 14 jams from the disco era – many of them extended 12" versions such as the Dells’ “All About the Paper,” the original 12” mix of the Impressions' “Fan the Fire,” Walter Jackson's lone entry into the period with the killer “Touching in the Dark,” a midtempo romantic stepper done in that killer baritone of his. Dee Dee Sharp turns in “Easy Money,” and Teddy Pendergrass’ slick, funky “You and Me Right Now” is also here. But along with the bigger names are one-offs, tracks by artists that were a hit on the dancefloor but never really went anywhere else, such as Sound Troupe's trippy meld of smooth future funk, Latin rhythms, jazz, and disco strings for “Can You Really See Me.” Also included is Greg Henderson's lone club classic, “Dreamin,” with its Latin congas, Chic-esque handclaps, and Larry Graham-styled bass solo. This set is pure nostalgia to be sure, but it’s a gas from start to finish.

Rainmaker is the 1980 debut album by Kevin Moore, now more commonly known as Keb' Mo'. The album features the songs "Rainmaker" and "Anybody Seen My Girl" which were each re-released in Moore's later releases Slow Down and Keb' Mo' respectively.