911 Pic and Bill / Anthology 1964 - 1987 (Ripete) they - Charles Pickens & Billy Mills - were frequently billed as "500 lbs of solid soul", Carolina's "Sam & Dave", reissued on vinyl and CD forms before but it's great to see easily available again, notes about them (CD-R) All I want is you,What does it take,Sad world without you,Just a tear,Over the mountain,Funny how times slips away,It's not you,Talk bout love,Love is the many splendeed thing,Soul of a man,Moments like this,Gonna give it to you,etc. (****/*****)

912 Bill Coday / The best years (Ordena) 13 songs from his Crajon label days in early '70s, full of his hard, strong, deep and soulful vocals with tight backing sounds, but you should try his "Right on baby" album on Japanese P-Vine label (2 songs extra than this album) if you really love his music, minimum notes Get your lie straight,High on your love,Everything's got to change,When you find a fool,A woman rules the world,Let me be your handy-man,I've got a thing,Sixty-minute teaser,You're gonna want me back,Keep it coming,With 'cha laid on me,Jury of love,etc. (***/*****)

913 Little Willie John / Nineteen sixty six (Kent) the last recording sessions for Capitol label in '66 produced by David Axelrod and HB Barnum, 20 tracks including many alternate takes are all previously unreleased till now, he still CAN sing with rougher and grittier backing sounds, informativew notes Country girl,Suffering with the blues,I had a dream,Never let me go,If I loved you,Someone,Welcome to the club,Early in the morning,In the dark,Crying over you,You are my sunshine,Endless sleep,Crying over you,etc. (***/*****)

914 Sam Baker / I believe in you (Soul Scape) really excellent "southern soul" singer with his own high-tenor voice, 22 songs from his "Sound Stage 7" labels, all "deep soul" at its golden days, fine line notes by knowledgable John Ridley You can't see the blood,What does sister do,Sometimes you have to cry,Something tell me,Don't feel rained on,Someone bigger,Let me come on home,Safe in the arms of love,Just a glance away,That's all I want from you,I can't turn her loose,I believe in you,etc. (****/*****)

915 J&S Harlem soul (Kent) 24 well-chosen tracks from Zell Sanders' nest of labels in early '60s New York soul scene, full of tough, gritty and southern-soul inspired deep songs, very detailed liner-notes with lots of label scans by Ady Croasdell Clarence Ashe/She said I'll be a failure,Freeman Brothers/Life of love,The Relations/Say you love me,Dicky & Billy/The dream I had came true,Jimmy Armstrong & The Pins/I want to be close to you,Henry Hodge/I won't ever try to change you,Sity & James/You needn't tell me,Johnnie Richardson/Every night the same time,etc. (*****/*****)

916 Chicano sweet soundz - "Stay my love" (Liquid Image) 23 "sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet soul" rarities not by Chicano artists but all "black" groups or singers, all demanded songs in Chicano soul scene, try if you love "group harmony" soul, smeet soul or smooth soul, no liner notes Sly Slick & Wicked/Stay my love,The Blue Notes/This time will be different,Richmond International/If you should ever,The Brief Encounter/Just a little notion,T&T/Betcha by golly wow,Changing Scene/Magic love,Experience Unlimited/Second time around,Bobby Patterson/You taught me how to love,etc. (****/*****)

917 Funk & boogie from the great white north (Essential Music Group) compilation of 28 in-demand early '80s club floor shakers in 2 CDs set, nicely selected from hard-to-find 12 inch records, soulful vocals with dancable beats, al,ost all tracks command big bucks in collector's market, notes by Bill Dahl Philly Society/T.S.O.P.,Kim Covington/All of my life,Hipnotic/Are you lonely?,Chestnut Brothers/Sweet little Rita,For Love/The girl is bad,Theryl/Open up your mind,Joe Freeman/Sneakin',Johnny Davis/Expand your mind,Leslie Ming/How I wish you knew I cared,etc. (***/*****)

918 The Continental IV / Explosive! (Red Ruby) one of the most admiered album among "falsetto voice" lovers, the lead singer - Freddie Kelly's falsetto sounds still fresh and impressive, reissue of their only one album ("Dream world" on Jay Walking label) plus two bonus tracks, sweet harmonies with TSOP backings, short notes about them Day by day,I Don't have you,Dream world,Heaven must have sent you,Take a little time,Nite moods,Escape from planet earth,Running away,The love you gave to me,How can I pretend,What you gave up*,The way I love you*(*,bonus tracks) (***/*****)

919 Bobby Martin presents various artists (Red Ruby) Grammy award winning producer/arranger, his contributions to the success of TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) is unforgettable, 11 songs from his vaults, some released before others unissued till now, Tom Moulton remix, short notes about artists The Friends of Distinction/The train,Drake Frye/Isn't it nice to know,Jean Terrell/You're very special part of my life,Bobby Martin Orchestra/Midnight walking,Little Dooley/It's got to be,Little Dooley/Memories,etc. (***/*****)

920 Otis Blackwell / These are my songs! (Inner City) straight reissue of his '77 album, remember Little Willie John's "Fever"? Elvis' "Don't be cruel" or "ALL shook up"? Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great ball of fire"? yes, they're all his compositions! he remade his own songs with his own vocals, mixture of rock'n roll and early R&B All shook up,Fever,Back trail,Daddy rollin' stone,Great ball of fire,Don't be cruel,Searchin',Let's talk about us,Hey little girl,Breathless,Handy man,Return to sender (**/*****)