New Orleans R & B

  Chess records showed up late when hitting the New Orleans 50's scene, all the main acts had already been picked up.  So what you've got here is a slew of eclectic almost unknown artists, but their sound is unquestionably classic and influential!

The Budos Band -- III

  There I was, at a local downtown watering hole, gulping down copious amounts of beer and whiskey.  The owner pulls out this Ethio-esque Afro beat'd Jazzy Soul album by The Budos Band.  Needless to say my evening wasn't as successful as this killer record.  I made it home ok but totally puked in my sink, which left a barftastic odor in my apartment, luckily I cleaned 'er all up and have kept a great memory of this album!

Beastie Boys -- The In Sound From Way Out!

  So ... if you are getting wasted on a school night, or at my age a work night, with your buddy, and want something to play dueling djembes to, look no further than The Beastie Boys The In Sound From Way Out!  This Booker T and The Mg's-esque Soul/ Jazz instrumental compilation has tracks that range from very good, pretty ok and f*cking shit, but albums like these show their diversity and talent, who else could jump from Hip Hop to Hardcore Punk to mellow instrumentals in one fatal swoop!

Sharon Jones And the Dap-Kings -- 100 Days, 100 Nights

  I'd like to say that these guys are throwback Soul/ Funk revivalists, but goddamn their shtick is so real that they are rewriting R & B music, undoing all the damage that Disco had made over the years.  Sharon Jones And The Dap-kings definitely know how to throw it down with sweet Soul and deep Funk!

Jr. Walker And The All Stars -- Play Shotgun

  These killer motor city Soul brothers somehow make me think of a Motown version of Booker T And The MG's, but being a Detroit band, there's more horns and less Blues.

Betty Everett -- They'll Come A Time

  Great album but to be honest this record is just run of the mill Soul music, which is nice and all, but there was a lack of a stand out track!  Hey!!  I'm a poet and did know it, thank God I wrote it!

Baby Huey -- The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend

  Yowzers!!!  What do you get when you mix Curtis Mayfield, who produced this album, and a Soul belter ... you guessed it, Baby Huey.  Unfortunately Huey died even before he had completely finished his influential debut album, but at least we have this testament from one, "bad ... shut your mouth!"    

Shuggie Otis -- Inspiration Information

  Shuggie Otis perches himself between Sly Stone's Funky Psychedelia and smooth Stevie Wonder'd tenderness.  

The Scepter Records Story

  This 3 CD comprehensive box set features many great artists, I'd name one but then I'd have to name 'em all, there are some great moments, but honestly not many.  With the exception of maybe disc one's first twelve songs, and Louie Louie that shows up in the middle of disc two, this compilation stinks, not that the artists are so bad, but I kept getting the impression that they had bargain basement staff, as in song writers and producers, all the numbers had a sense phoniness, like they were written and produced to sound like another hit song ... point is, if anyone wants this comp it's up for grabs! 

Arthur Alexander -- You Better Move On

  Completely underrated to the point he drove a bus up until his potential comeback, then died of a heart attack ... damn Rock 'n' Roll, taking it's casualties whenever it wants.  Alexander sounds to me like a poor man's Ben E. King, and I don't mean that knocking him in anyway, he wrote some majorly famous numbers, that other artists staked big time fame covering, none other than The Beatles (Anna) and The Rolling Stones (You Better Move On) for starters.  So the next time you pop on a bus, get some street meat, or in my case visit a jewellery store, what you see isn't always what you get!   

Sugarhill Gang

  Soul Funk drenched Hip Hop innovators The Sugarhill Gang.  I admittedly didn't hate this LP but for god sakes was it ever cheesy, case and point and I quote, "on and a on and a on and a on on on, I'm gonna rock you like a filet mignon ..."

Animal House

  Ok yes it's a great hilarious movie and the soundtrack is pretty good, but the real thing to write home about is Otis Day And The Knights.  They are the phoney joke Soul-ish Doo Wop group within the film.  Even-though they are hilarious to watch and hear, they pull off their schtick beautifully, their version of Shout is a real romper, but my personal favorite is the nonsensical ballad Shama Lama Ding Dong which pokes fun at kooky Doo Wop phrasing but at the same time homages it with their authentic sound ... "and that is why, shoo doo doo do do do!" 

Jackson 5 -- Greatest Hits

  I don't really mind the Jackson 5, but are they the same caliber as other Motown artists ... hardly.  They are just too cute and packaged to sell to the masses, but you can't say that breaking down barriers with adorable little faces wasn't one hell of a brilliant plan!  

Martha And The Vandellas -- Greatest Hits

  Killer Motown comp by Martha and The Vandellas ... when I listen to these song I can't help but wish that life was just like 60's Motown music.

Four Tops -- Greatest Hits

  One of the great Motown hit makers the Four Tops.  Each and every song on this Greatest Hits compilation should have already been embedded in all our minds, unless you were born on Mars.  These guys embody the pumpin' Soul Motown sound!

King Khan And The Shrines -- The Supreme Genius Of ...

  These guys brought, Garage Revival music, back from it's gloomy repetitive grave, by mixing the ferocious Psych Punk of The Fuzztones with a touches of Psychedelic Soul, making a true testament to Rock 'n' Roll.

Ben E. King -- Seven Letters

  Toss aside some cheesy moments, and the every once in a while campy background vocals, this Ben E. King release is great.  What you've got here are dark soulful ballads forcing you to think about your own mortality, frailties and raison d'etre ... or maybe it was just that kinda night?

Jimmy Cliff -- Unlimited

  The poor man's Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff.  Unlimited feels more like a Soul Pop album with Jamaican undertones, rather than a full on Reggae record, with that being said it was a total unexpected surprise.

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles -- Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

  Vol. 2 covers The Miracles's best numbers from 65' to 67'.  Smokey was like the Dylan of Motown, his lyrics speak right to the spearhead of our emotional vulnerabilities and their truths, with a voice so damn smooth it carries the music to new heights. 

A Motown Christmas

  Who isn't sick to sh*t of crappy ass Christmas music, and every year, when it's too late, I order a Christmas album in hopes it'll get here fast, too save myself of the bad holiday tunes.  This year's Christmas record is a double album set, A Motown Christmas, pretty much a best of from Soul-city's holiday sounds.  Now I haven't received it yet so it's hard to describe how good or bad it is, but my guess is that it's mostly good with a couple of cheeseball stinkers.  I'm sure I'll get it in the new year and annoy everyone with one last bolt of Christmas songs.