821 Philadelphia soul rarities / Produced by Weldon A. McDougal III 1965 to 2008 (Universal Love) 18 Philly soul songs by veteran producer Weldon A. McDougal II including incredibly 13 previously unreleased, some backed by early Sigma musicians some recorded at periods, helpful liner notes Jimmy Randolph/No more beautiful days,Dennis Rodgers & Universal Love/It's you girl,Barbara Mason/Take me tonight,Sharon Paige/Lies,unknown artists/Keep on believing,Joe Shamwell/Loving you is an everyday thing,The Larks/Unbelievable,The 3 P's/Why can'tyou be nice to me,etc. (**/*****)

822 Hidden hits vol. 1 (That Philly Sound) 25 Philly rarities including 3 previously unreleased, all producved by legendary John Madara (and partner Dave White), mixture of pop, doowap, early soul and northern dancers, minimum notes but with session date about each song (CD-R) Chubbu Checker/I can't help myself(prev. unreleased),The Executive Suite/Christine,Maureen Gray/Today's the day,Johnny Caswell/What's the matter baby,The Alliance with Daryl Hall and Len Barry/Pass the pipeEddie Curtis/Don't you think it's time (prev. unreleased),The Mellow Moods/Who's afraid of the big bad hurt,The Lavenders with Leon Huff/One more once,etc. (**/*****)

823 Blue Magic (Rhino) Blue Magic was formed in Philadelphia and signed to Atlantic records in '73 and hit the top 40s of the soul singles chart with lots of songs, typical Philly harmony group with great Ted Mills's high tenor, reissue of their first album ('74) plus two non-album and one remix song, informative notes and superb sound quality Sideshow,Look me up,What's come over me,Just don't want to be lonely,Stop to start,Welcome to the club,Spell,Answer to my prayer,Tear it down,Guess who,Where have you been,Look me up(Tom Moulton remix) (****/*****)

824 The Spellbinders / Chain reaction (Shout) this New York based group was produced by Van McCoy and recorded for just three years in the mid '60s, reissue of their one and only album "The magic of The Spellbinders" on Columbia label plus 4 non-album songs (2 on Date label), lots of northern favorites here, nice notes by Clive Richardson We're acting like lovers,For you,Self defense,One of the kind,A litttle on the blue side,Stone in love,Baby I miss you,That's the way you make me feel,Chain reaction,Long lost love,I need your love,Help me,I believe,etc. (****/*****)

825 Derek Martin / Takelike I am : The Roulette recordings (Stateside) his first "full" alnum including 8 Roulette recordings in mid '60s plus 13 eviously unreleased and 4 "demo" songs! he has remained a largely undocumented figurefor a long time till now, detailed notes by David Cole and Bob Fisher makes you understand easily how nice singer he was You better go,You know,Your dadfdy wants his baby back,I won't cry anymore,Bumper to bumper,Don't resist,Breakaway,Take me like I am,Hold on to someone,I can't take it no more,Baby what changed your mind,Come on in,etc. (***/*****)

826 The Rivingtons / Papa-oom-mow-mow (Shout) their pedigree stretches back into the doo-wap era and their first single "Papa-oom-mow-mow" was a US top 50 hit in the summer of '62, this is reissue of their album on Liberty label ('63) plus 11 non-album songs, full of novelty songs, northern dancers and harmony ballads, liner notes with full discography Papa-oom-mow-mow,Deep water,Kickapoo joy juice,My reward,Waiting,Love pill,Slippin' and slidin', Old time love,Have mercy mercy baby,Standing in the love line,I'm losing my grip,The Shaky bird,The weejee walk,Fairy tales,etc. (***/*****)

827 Mary Gresham / Voices from the shadows (Soulscapoe) unknown name? even if you're serious deep/southern soul devotee, she's really well kept secret of the Musycle Shoals music scene, so this album subtitled as "the story of a Muscle Shoals soul sister", incredibly 20 (twenty) previously unreleased songs, informative liner notes by Garry J Cape Let's walk down the street together,Going through the changes(as Chuck & Marian),The woman in me,Motivation(as Marian),Just me and you,Spend a little time,Try,Get on back on the right track,Rainin' in my heart,The colour of man,I'll never let you walk alone,Leaving me,Use me,etc. (*****/*****)

828 Lou Courtney / I'm in need of love (Sony) eissue of his Epic album ('74) plus two non-album songs as bonus, sounds very mellow and groovy, mixture of relaxed, laidback, soft and romantic '70s soul music produced by Jerry Ragovoy, try if you like Leroy Hutson, Leon Ware, Marvin Gaye etc., Japanese release The Common broken heart,Since I first laid eyes on you,What do you want me to do,The best thing a man can every do for his woman,I will if you will,Somebody new is lovin' on you,I'm serious about lovin' you,I don't need nobody else,Just to let him break your heart,I'm in need of love,Beware,Why (****/*****)

829 Major Lance / Best of (Sony) yes, his best of the best! the best Chicago soul sounds in the mid '60s! reissue of his "Um um um um : the best of Major Lance" album on Okeh label plus 6 more bonus songs (including "Come what may" on Columbia label in '77), please hear his masterpieces made by Curtis Mayfield/Johnny Pate/Carl Davis team, no rarities but essential, Japanese release Um um um um um um,Hey little girl,Gypsy woman,Gotta right to cry,Little young lover,That's what mama say,The monkey time,It's all right,Mama didn't know,Think nothing about you,You'll want me back,I'm the one,Delilah,etc. (***/*****)

830 Trammps (Sony) reissue of their legendary first album on Golden Fleece label in '75 plus 4 bonus tracks from their "Disco champs" ('77) album, the perfect Philly style soul vocal group with mighty mighty MFSB sounds, what more can we say about so-called '70s Philadelphia sounds! Japanese release Stop and think,Trusting heart,Every dream I dream is you,Love epidemic,Save a place,Where do we go from here,Down three dark streets,I know that feeling,Shout,Oh waa hey,Just say the word,Promise me,etc. (***/*****)