541 Magnetik soul volume 2 (Active Force) really nice selection of "modern soul" rarities! 13 in-demand dancers from late '70s to '80s, if you want to hear those songs on original 7 inch records, you will absolutely go bankrupt Mother Fax/Fallen into love, Nightchill/Hop skip and jump, Billy Boomer/I like what she's doin', Eugene Smiley/It's you girl, Jan Jones/Independent woman, The Mark IV/If you can tell me something good, Sir Prize/Never could find the wordsRonnie McNeir/My baby, etc. (****/*****)

542 The great collectors : Funky music vol 3 (Boogie Times) nicely chosen 12 "modern funk dancers", all now hard-to-find tracks on original 7 inch or 12 inch records, soulful vocals with dance-floor-shakin' rhythms, more lesser known tracks than above 541 Titus Williams/Give me some love tonight, Steve Jackson/Can't get enough, Funder Cooper/She's all right, Eddie Cornelius/Release yourself, Lenard Lidell/Fallen out of love, Gift of Dreams/Better day, Drew Richard/I don't want to lose your love, etc. ((****/*****)

543 Darondo / Let my people go (Luv N' Haight) Darondo? who? Bay area musician and host of TV comedy and children's show in the '70s, this album includes his 3 rare 7 inch records and 3 recently discovered "previously unreleased" tracks, sounds mixture of funk, gritty low-rider soul, blues and jazz, so-called "homegrown soul"! Let my people go, Legs(part 1), Didn't I, I want your love so bad, How I got over, My momma and my poppa, Sure know how to love me, Listen to my song, True (***/*****)

544 Atlantic unearthed soul brothers (Atlantic/Rhino) advertised as "16 lost classics by the gretest soul men ever", a little bit exaggerated? but you'll be amazed that this album includes previously unreleased tracks* by Wilson Pickett, Arthur Conley, Percy Sledge etc. and rare (previously 7 inch only) tracks by Bobby Womack, Percy Wiggins, James Carr, Mighty Sam etc.!! Wilson Pickett/Can't stop man in love*, Bobby Womack/How does it feel, Arthur Conley/Rome*, Percy Wiggins/Book of memories, Otis Redding/I love you more than words can say, James Carr/Hold on, Otis Clay/Pouring water on a drowning man, Carl Hall/Change with the seasons, etc. (****/*****)

545 Atlantic unearthed soul sisters (Atlantic/Rhino) the "sister" version of above, previously unreleased tracks* by Bettye Swann, Margie Joseph, The Sweet Inspirations etc. + rare (previously 7 inch only) tracks by Laura Lee, Jackie Moore, Irma Thomas, Baby Washington etc., "must" album if you dig the world of female R&B,   nice liner-notes by David Nathan Aretha Franklin/My way(unissued in the USA), Margie Joseph/It's growing*, Dee Dee Sharp/Rescue me, Baby Washington/What becomes of the brokenhearted, Esther Phillips/Cheater man, Laura Lee/What a man, Bettye Swann/I ain't that easy to lose*, etc. (****/*****)

546 More soulful srenades (Hayley) nicely selected 14 hidden gems of modern soul by many lesser known singers, some previously unreleased tracks, some from very hard-to-find 7 inch records, some from ....., anyway all tracks are SOULFUL, not detailed but fully helpful liner notes Sy Hightower/I wonder why, Dathan Jones/Contract on love, J.J.Barnes/You're my lady now, Melvin Davis/Thinking of you, Tim Carter/Dream of a lifetime, Sharon McMahan/Get out of my life, Almeta Lattimore/These memories, Jerome Jackson/I never believed in love, etc. (****/*****)

547 Underground soul vol. 1 (Expansion) 15 "independent R&B" tracks selected by Eleonora (www.underground-soul.com) from around the globe, '80s/'90s R&B remade in a more fresher style for the new millenium, anyway all soulful tracks with modern rhythm Ivana Santilli/Deserve, The New Mastersounds/Your love is mine, One 51 feat. Heidi Vogel/Bring me to your life, Mondy Michiru/Philosophy road, Break Reform/Trust, Porche Smith/Cryin', Brigette/Take me, Deborah Bond/This is me, Silhouette Brown/Just a little more, etc. (***/*****)

548 The Fabulous Peps/ Detroit, Michigan (Soul-Tay-Shus) the first "full" album of this Detroit group at long last! 18 tracks from legendary D-Town, Ge Ge, Wheelsville, Wee-3 and Premium Stuff label ('65 - '68), nice northern grooves with harmonies, very informative notes & rare vintage photos Gypsy woman, Speak your peace, With these eyes, So fine, I can't get right, That's the way love is, My love looks good on you, This love I have for you, I love you, Love of my life, This I pray, etc. (****/*****)

549 Action speaks louder than words (Vampi) subtitled as "the best of SSS International group of labels 1967 - 1970", really "best of"? no ballads but all umptempo dancers or funky soul stompers, deep and gutsy vocals with southern grooves, 24 tracks in all Baby Al & The Capps/Grab your partner and do, Clarence Murray/Dancing to the beat, Clifford Curry/Soul ranger, Robert Parker/The hipcupBettye LaVelle/Do your duty, Johnny Barfield/Soul butter, Bright Lights/Motor City funk, Mr. Jamo/Shake what you got, etc. (***/*****)

550 Marvin Sease / Candy licker : the sex & soul of (Jive) 13 tracks from his 5 Jive albums and 1 Malaco album, sounds mixture of blues and gospel-drenched R&B, lyrics are X rated for the ladies only, still one of the very best deep southern R&B singer today, no rare or peviously unreleased tracks Do you need a licker?, Don't go, I'm still waiting on you, Don't forget to tell on you, From my heart, I'm sinkin' down, I Can't believe, I'm your jody, You & me, I gotta clean up, etc. (**/*****)