MODERN SOUL AND SMOOTH GROOVES COLLECTIONS...

SMOOTH GROOVES – SOPHISTICATED 80s PHILLY SOUL

Great tracks from the second generation of Philadelphia International – that time when the label moved past the clubby Philly sounds that had won them big hits in the 70s – into an even deeper range of styles overall! Most of the tracks here have a wonderfully mature sort of feel – a move past easy dancefloor modes, into more complicated mellow steppers and midtempo rhythms that are perfect for the emotive, sensual lyrics of the tunes – most of which are performed by artists who were still the greatest working for the Philly International label at the start of the 80s! Gems throughout – with great cuts that include "I'm In Love Again" by Patti Labelle, "Easy Easy Got To Take It Easy" by Teddy Pendergrass, "When I'm Gone" by The Jones Girls, "Mine All Mine" by The Stylistics, "Start The Fire" by Jean Carn, "I Can't Stop Turning You On" by Silk, "Set A Little Trap" by Phyllis Hyman, "So Glad I'm The One" by Instant Funk, "Yes You Need Love" by Anthony White, "Your Love Is Good" by Bunny Sigler, and "I've Been Pushed Aside" by McFadden & Whitehead.

TWO STEPS TO HEAVEN – MORE 70s AND 80s STEPPERS

Some of our favorite sorts of soul tracks from the 70s – those mellow groovers that never get too over the top, and have a great slow-burning energy that goes on and on through the night! The tracks here are the sort that bubbled under during the disco generation – more laidback tracks that often used the same arrangers, producers, and studios – but came up with a groove that was much more gentle, and which was perfect for the soulful, sensual lyrics of the tunes! Thanks to efforts by the two-step scene in 80s London, and Chicago steppers in the 90s, lots of these tracks have had great staying power for years – and are perfectly put together in this sublime little compilation. Titles include "Take It Slow" by The Notations, "Trying To Get Next To You" by Arnold Blair, "Ain't It A Shame" by The Dells, "This Feeling's Killing Me" by The Jones Girls, "Sweet Music Soft Lights & You" by Ken Williams, "Love Sounds" by Intimate Strangers, "Let's Do It Again" by The Staple Singers, "Try Love Again" by Natural Four, "Lucky Fellow" by Leroy Hutson, "How Glad I Am" by Joyce Cobb, and "We Got Some Catching Up To Do" by Jean Carn.

SOUL A LA MODE – 70s MODERN SOUL

Soaring soul from the start of the 70s – great tracks in a mode that came to be known as "modern soul" in contrast to the Northern Soul that had been big on British dancefloors – but which to us is just totally great, totally tight 70s soul at its best! Most cuts here are relatively underground – numbers that never even broke big in the US when they were released, but which have a depth and quality that's kept them strong for years – and a unique upbeat approach that really makes them all sound great together! There's some great production going on – a fuller range of studio styles that marked the 70s scene – but things are never overproduced, nor commercial at all – which is another great aspect of the collection. Titles include "Human" by Brief Encounter, "Love Music" by Lloyd Price, "I Can See Him Loving You" by The Anderson Brothers, "Satisfactorise Your Mind" by Africano, "Hung Up On Your Love" by The Montclairs, "Come On Train" by Don Thomas, "Movin On A Groove" by Barbara Lynn, "Because Of You" by Jackie Wilson, "I Don't Do This" by Sidney Joe Qualls, "Suddenly" by Tony Drake, "Broken Home" by Ben Monroe, and "What's Happening To Our Love Affair" by Danny Hunt.

LOST IN TIME – MORE NORTHERN SOUL TREASURES

Lost in time, but brought back brilliantly – a host of incredible upbeat soul numbers from the latter half of the 60s – all of them perfect for a Northern Soul dancefloor! There's plenty of Detroit influences going on in the music, and a bit of Chicago as well – but the tracks represent a great range of underground grooves from the days when indie soul 45s were coming out in droves – so much so that the charts couldn't even come up with the quality of the recordings, which resulted in great under-discovered gems like these! The package is really top-shelf all the way through – cuts that come on strong, and keep staying long – filled with undeniable spirit. Titles include "I Keep Tryin" by Fred Hughes, "Let The Music Play" by Didi Noel, "I Hurt On The Other Side" by Sydney Barnes, "I Don't Want A Playboy" by Barbara Lynn, "I'd Think It Over" by Sam Fletcher, "Tear Stained Face" by Don Varner, "Just Like The Weather" by Nolan Chance, "Baby What Has Happened To Our Love" by The Ringleaders, "New Girl" by Jimmy & The Entertainers, "You Hit Me Like TNT" by Linda Jones, "Just Another Heartache" by Little Richie, "Breakaway" by The Valentines, "I'll Always Love You" by The Artistics, and "Lonely For You Baby" by Sam Dees.

PAIN GOES DEEP – MORE DEEP SOUL GEMS

Deep soul from the 70s – a rich assortment of great tracks from the years when the genre was really getting into its own – stretching out, and hitting a rich level of expression that wouldn't have been dreamed about the decade before! At a time when so many mainstream acts were copping the cliches of earlier southern soul, all the artists here dug in their heels, and worked to really deepen up their game – coming up with some incredible music that still stands as some of the most heartfelt soul ever recorded – rich in spirit, and soaring with the new modes of the time. Titles include "Take This Hurt Off Me" by Big John Hamilton, "He's Gone" by Doris Duke, "Loneliness" by Jean Plum, "I Need You" by Little Archie, "Fugitive From Love" by Linda Jones, "That's How It Is" by Otis Clay, "Let Me Down Easy" by Betty Lavette, "I Catch Myself Crying" by Leon Byrd, "I Keep Coming Back" by Tyrone Davis, "Aretha Sing One For Me" by George Jackson, "Been So Wrong" by Aaron Neville, "I Can't Stand To See You Go" by Joe Valentine.
Phillybusters – Underground Philly Dancefloor Gems

PHILLY BUSTERS - UNDERGROUND PHILLY DANCEFLOOR GEMS

Soaring sounds from Philadelphia International – the label that virtually defined the sound of soul in the 70s, thanks to a succession of ultra-big hits! Those cuts are great, but this set goes even deeper – to move past the chart standouts, and come up with a brilliant batch of Philly groovers that stayed mostly on the underground – but which have had a huge influence on the global scene over the past few decades! All the best Philly 70s elements are in place here – tight rhythms, impeccable musicianship, and production that finds a way to polish without ever making things too slick – a wonderful blend that makes these tunes totally top-shelf all the way through – and even fresher than some of the bigger hits you'd know from the artists. Titles include "Hey Baby" by Anthony White, "I Heard It In A Love Song" by McFadden & Whitehead, "Old People" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Sunshine & You" by The Futures, "Groovy People" by Lou Rawls, "You Can't Come Back Now" by Jean Carn, "Tell The World How I Feel About Cha Baby" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "Let The Dollar Circulate" by Billy Paul, "Found A Love You Couldn't Handle" by The Stylistics, and "I'm Just Thinking About Cooling Out" by Jerry Butler.

Source: Dusty Groove