861 R&B on Lakewood Boulevard (Ace) rare and unreleased early R&B from Jack Wenzel's vaults (of Downey Records) in southern California, 5 previously unreleased, very valuable and interesting compilation for devotees of the blues or early R&B in early '60s but worth for the voice of early Little Johnny Taylor for "soul music" collectors, detailed liner notes T-Bone Walker Jr/Midnight bell are ringing,Art Wheeler/Somewhere,Ace Holder/Leave my woman alone,Little Johnny Taylor/I've got news for you,Little Caesar & The Ark Angles/I hope that it's me,The Debonaires/Fare thee well,etc. (**/*****) [from the point of view as "soul/R&B"]

862 The Rogana story / Hossman's blues (Blue) Rogana Production Company is William "Hoss" Allen's, he was a DJ at WLAC radio in Nashville and one of the most powerful men in southern R&B music industry, this is the compilation of his works from various labels, lots of fine southern blues, deep deep soul ballads and down-south groovy instrumentals, helpful liner notes Sam Baker/Crazy about you baby,Art Grayson/When I get home,Dee Brown/Bad habit,Rodge Martin/Wasted nights,Tiny Watlins/Words of a dying man,Lucille Mathis/Somewhere out there,Frank Howard/Smoky places,Johnny Copeland/Year round blues,etc. (***/*****)

863 Arthur Alexander / Lonely just like me : the final chapter (HackTone) he remains the only writer in history to have his songs covered by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Boby Dyland, byt you'll understand his smooth goodness when you hear this compilation album including his comeback "Lonely just like me" album, "live" recordings in '91 & '93 and "hotel" demos, 25 songs in deluxe package If it's really got to be this way,Go home girl,Sally Sue Brown,All the time,Lonely just like me,Every day I have to cry,In the middle of it all,Genie in the jug,Mr.John,Johnny heartbreak,I believe in miracles,etc. (**/*****)

864 The complete Motown singles vol. 8 : 1968 (HipO Select) the mighty mighty Motown hits the year of 1968 - a time of plenty changes both social and musical, still full of chart-toppers, lesser known sides and totally obscure songs with pictures, session details and informative notes, 144 songs in 6 CDs Rita Wright/I can't give back the love I feel for you,Shorty Long/Night fo' last,Four Tops/Walk away Renee,Gladys Knight & The Pips/The end of our road,Chuck Jackson/The man in you,Debbie Dean/Why am I lovin' you,Billy Eckstine/Thank you love,Smokey Robinson & The Miracles/If you can want,etc. (*****/*****)

865 The Rhythm Makers / Soul on your side Outta Sight) collectable eastcoast funky group who had "Emanuel Raheem" as group leader/lead singer (later "GQ"), reissue of their album "Soulon your side" ('76) on Vigor label plus 9 bonus tracks, some nice harmony group ballads also here, helpful liner notes Can you feel it,You better believe it,You're never too old,How much I love you,Touch,Memories of you,Prime cut,Position,Wonderful,Lover's lane,At the hop,etc. (**/*****)

866 Larry Banks' soul family album (Kent) he was a key figure of New York black music scene who, withhis family and friends, produced sublime '60s soul music for all taste (from deep slow ballads to northern soul stompers), 24 songs includes 14 (yes! "fourteen"!) unreleased, this is tribute to Larry and his worshiper Dave Godin, extensive liner notes Bessie Banks/Go now,Kenny Carter/You'd better get hip girl,Jaibi/What good am I?,Milton Bennett/What's one more lie,The Dynamics/My life is no better,Larry Banks/Will you waite,The Geminis/He moves me,The Hesitations/No brag just fact,Kenny Carter/Lights out,etc. (*****/*****)

867 Brooks O'Dell / I'm your man : The anthology 1963 - 1973 (Kent) unfamiliar name to you? oh! no! you'll understand how nice "big city soul" singer he was afte hearing those 26 songs (on Gold, Bell, Columbia, Valentine and Mankind labels) including 11 previously unreleased, helpful liner notes by Tony Rounce I'm your man,Watch your step,Soul serenade,You'd better make up your mind,Standing tall,The heartless one,Now you are gone,What's so wrong with you loving me,Turn my world around,Until the fire was gone,Got to travel on,Hooked on a feeling,etc. (***/*****)

868 Can't be satisfied / The XL and Sounds of Memphis story (Kent) one of the strongest southern soul compilation album ever! 22 rare tracks culled from tiny Memphis labels - XL, Sounds of Memphis, Roman and ER Music labels, includes incredibly 7 previously unreleased tracks or mixes, the ultimate powerhouse of "deep southern soul" Spencer Wiggins/I can't be satisfied,The Minits/Last mile of the way,Barbara & The Browns/Play thing,Richard & Walter/Love just ain't there,William Bollinger/You can lead your woman to the alter(Chess), The Ovations/Take it from someone who knows,Dan Greer/Thanks to you,George Jackson/Talking about the love,Rudolph Taylor/Tell him tonight,etc. (*****/*****)

869 Sound City soul brothers (Soulscape) do you still remember "Alarm" label from Shreveport in mid '70s? all the tracks were recorded in "Sound City Recording Corp", 8 songs by Ted Taylor, 7 by Reuben Bell and 9 by Eddie Giles, all soulful southern soul without any hard shout, helpful liner notes Ted Taylor:Somebody's gettin' it,Steal away,Standing in the wings of a heartach,I'm gonna hate myself in the morning,Reuben Bell:Asking for the truth,Kiss tomorrow goodbye,Meet me half way,Eddie Giles/Are you living with the one you're loving with,Baby I care,How maany times,I can't get over you,Married lady,etc. (*****/*****)

870 Funky hot pants (Soul Patrol) subtitled as "14 super rare original funk monsters from the late 60's to the early 70's", it's it's true, full of heavy, solid and strong funk songs, few vocals many instrumental tracks, sadly no liner notes Freedom Express/Get down,Shades of Joy/Music of el topo,Fantastic Epics/We do itall up in here,Soul Drifter/Funky soul brother,Funk Factory/Get on the case,Soul Dukes/"Soul-68",Ricky Calloway/Tell me,Community Effort/Shake your funky butt,etc. (**/*****)