971 Doris Duke / A shell of a woman (Soulscape) hear her "A shell of a woman", I rate very highly, one of the greatest female deep soul ever! very sadaly she passed awayon November '07, this "tribute" album contains all her recordings including 11 (eleven) previously unreleased, fine liner notes as always I don't want to cry,So good to be together,Let's walk down the street together,A shell of a woman('86 version),Clean up woman,Birmingham jail,Baby it's cold outside,You left the water running,Tit for tat,What's wrong with me loving you baby,Ashes won't burn(all previously unreleased),etc. (*****/*****)

972 Geater Davis / I'll play the blues for you (Soulscape) his legendary "House of Orange" sessions, well-chosen 16 fine southern blues'n soul songs, mostly produced by Allen Orange, nice liner notes with lots of rare pictures, no unreleased Sweet woman's love,Don't marry a fool,My love is so strong for you,I can hold my own,For your precious love(album version),St.James infirmary,I know,Best of luck to you,Cold love(long version),I'll play the blues for you(second version),etc. (****/*****)

973 Brenda and The Tabulations / The Dionn records singles collection 1966-1969 (Jamie/Guyden) still reme,ber their "Dry your eyes"? 14 songs from their 8 singles with helpful notes, try her charming yet soulful vocals Dry your eyes,Stay to gether young lovers,Who's lovin' you,Just once in a lifetime,Hey boy,When you're gone,Baby you're gone,Baby you're so right for me,To the one I love,That's in the past,I can't get over you,A reason to live,etc. (***/*****)

974 New breed R&B with added popccorn (Kent) interesting compilation of early R&B dancers, 24 songs from little known or negrected late'50s/early '60s R&B music, also includes some Beligian popcorn favorites (but avoided the poppier excesses of the Popcorn scene), helpful liner notes Luther Ingram/Oh baby don't you weep(prev. unrld),Paul Clifton/She wobbles when she walks,Banny Price/You love me pretty baby,Barbara & The Browns/I'm gonna start a war,Harold Atkins/Big ben(prev. unrld),Tom Tumbleweed/Tumbling down(prv.unrld),Barbara Perry/A man is a mean mean thing(prv.unrld),Venon Green & The Medallions/A lover's prayer,etc. (****/*****)

975 Southern soul stock vol III (Li-Jan Music) 20 great "deep soul" from now-hard-to-find 45s, all typical southern deep soul, minimum notes, credited as "made in Thailand" but really? bootleg? Crume Brothers/You were meant for me,Eddy Jacobs/Turn me loose,George Jackson/Macking on you,Mitty Collier/Everybody makes a mistake sometime,Tommy & Cleve/I don't want to share your love,Johnny Adams/Let them talk,Eddie Bradford/You made your bed,etc. (***/*****)

976 Best of Harley records (Hayley) well-chosen & well-done! 16 grooviest & rarest "slow to midtempo" floor-shakers from late'60s to '70s) including lots of originally unreleased, all "collector's tems", sadly no liner notes but you should listen if you'er deeply into "rare soul" scene, UK release Charles Brimmer/Show and tell,Jimmy Ruffin/The entertainer,Tim Carter/Thank you Marvin for the songs,Clarence Jackson/I miss you,Emanuel Lasky/A different kind of different,Melvin Davis/Thinking of you,J.J.Barnes/Love at fitst sight,Sy Hightower/I wonder why,Lyn Varnado/Ain't that something,etc. (****/*****)

977 Soulful thangs vol. 8 (Latin Soul) 23 more "rare and hard-to-find sweet & northern soul classics", nicely chosen compilation but with minimum notes, all really collector's items, "ear candy" for any soul collectors! Albert Jones/Reflections,Young Ladies/He's gone to another,Manila Machine/Poor loser,Wilson Love/Funky money,Creators/Why why why,Darryl Stewart/You must know magic,Ledgends/A fool for you,Expos/Youre best friends and me,Decisions/Do I love her,etc. (***/*****)

978 Bobby Williams / Funky superfly (Jazzman) never seen this jacket? yes, this is the very obscure "fan club" pressing of this classic album! of course he's J.B. follower but has great voice and style, try the groovy midtempo floater "You need love like I do" if your don't like funk Funky superfly,All the time,Let's jam,Get into it,Let's work a while,Make yourself funky,Soul brother party,Fair trade,You need love like I do (***/*****)

979 The Birmingham sound / The soul of Neal Hemphill vol. 2 (Rabbit Factory) 24 more hidden treasures from the vaults of Neal Hemphill in Birmigham, Alabama, full of '70s soulful southern soul sounds (actually some from late '60s), mainly midtempo or uptempos, excellent and detailed liner notes with vintage photos, the same quality as Numero! Bobby Dobyne & The Barefacts/Strickly soul,Cortez Greer,Testify,Ralph "Soul" Jackson/Matchbox,Chuck Mitchell/Let me be myself,Wes Lewis/I'm a telling you,David Sea/Work hard,Frederick Knight/Take my hand,Fletcher Flowers/When you wake up,Les Wilson/Knock in for a second chance,etc. (*****/*****)

980 Hank Ballard/ You can't keepa good man down (Soul Brother) reissue of his '68 album plus 3 non-album single on King label, 2 on People and 1 on Polydor, produced by James Brown and penned most of the songs, yes! this is the funky funky sounds with his still good vocals backed by the James Brown bands How you gonna get respect,Teardrops on your letter,Funky soul train,Slip away,Which way should I turn,Thrill on the hill,Woman is a man's best friend,Come in with it,Butter your popcorn,Annie had a baby,Finger poppin' time,etc. (***/*****)