Legendary British band Cymande return in 2025 with their first studio album in many years. A true return to form and jewel in the crown of their iconic discography, Renascence picks up where their 1974 album Promised Heights left off - a spiritual and sonic follow-up, bringing a fresh modern edge to their iconic sound, which remains foundational to early hip-hop and funk scenes in the US and UK.

Curtis/Live! is, simply, one of the greatest concert albums ever cut on a soul artist, and one of the legendary live albums of all time. Cut in January of 1971 during four nights at The Bitter End (then Greenwich Village's leading music venue) in New York, the resulting double LP transcended any expectations in both its programming and execution – Mayfield performed numbers off of the Curtis album ("[Don't Worry] If There's a Hell Below We're All Going to Go"), as well as exciting and urgent new versions of songs originally performed by the Impressions ("We're a Winner," "People Get Ready," "Gypsy Woman"), plus a very moving R&B version of "We've Only Just Begun." This is all beautifully stripped-down work by a quintet consisting of Mayfield (vocals, guitar), Craig McMullen (guitar), Tyrone McCullen (drums), "Master" Henry Gibson (percussion), and Joseph "Lucky" Scott (bass) – a solid, intense performance, with quietly elegant guitar playing against a rock-solid rhythm section, as Impressions hits are rethought and reconfigured in a new context, and Mayfield's early solo repertory comes to life in newer, longer live versions.

The Gibson Brothers are a French disco group, originally from Martinique. Formed in 1976, the group achieved their greatest success during the disco era in the late 1970s. The group's best-known songs are "Cuba" and "Que sera mi vida".

Doin’ Our Thing’s first U.S. vinyl reissue since its original 1968 release date. Cut from the Original Analog Master tapes by Kevin Gray. High Quality Vinyl Release. Limited Color Vinyl Edition. 1968’s Doin’ Our Thing is not only their first self-produced album but offers their most varied selection of songs, including tracks previously performed by Bobby Gentry, Ray Charles, The Supremes, and even a wild ride on the theme to the Otto Preminger film, ‘Exodus. Adding to this re-release’s special nature is the fact this will be Doin’ Our Thing’s first U.S. vinyl reissue since its original 1968 release date.

Sold with Mojo March 2025 (#376). Not for resale. THE ARRIVAL OF THE JAM, AND A BUNCH OF SHARPsuited bands in their wake, heralded a new wave of Modernism in the late 1970s. Away from the mainstream, though, a sect of British music obsessives had been keeping the faith in their own, distinct, way. Northern soul disciples generally eschewed Italian tailoring in favour of vests and bags. But their devotion to raw, emotional, thrilling R&B, to rare records and all-night dancing as an escape from working-class routine, made them torch-bearers for Mod ideals through the late 1960s and 1970s.

Bill Withers created mellow, downhome-style soul for barely more than a decade before retreating from the industry to pursue craftsman interests. Yet over the course of the handful of albums he made for Sussex and CBS, the Appalachian native struck lasting emotional chords in legends ranging from Booker T. Jones to Stephen Stills – not to mention the millions of listeners that fell under the spell of now-standard tracks such as "Lean on Me," "Use Me," and "Ain't No Sunshine." The antithesis of the sweaty R&B shouter that prowled the edge of stages, Withers dealt in calm and vulnerability, qualities that come to fore on the seminal Bill Withers' Greatest Hits. Characteristics ranging from the tension of the guitars, funky bends of the bass, whisper-soft coo of the formal strings, airiness of the backing harmonies, and sharpness of the snare drum emerge with utmost clarity and lifelike presence. Always prized for its naked honesty and pure conviction, Withers' music positively caresses the senses on this SACD, the unadulterated production and beautiful soundscapes revealed anew with each listen.

Sixteen years may have gone by since Isaac Hayes' untimely passing at the age of just 65, but he remains one of the most popular and iconic singer-songwriter-arrangers in the history of Soul music. The albums Hayes made for Stax's Enterprise label remain the benchmark in 'symphonic soul', and sound as breathtakingly brilliant as they did when they were new releases. As well as being one of a small group of artists who expanded the growth of the soul albums market, Ike was a consistently successful singles artist, who placed 16 consecutive 45s on the R&B chart between 1969 and 1976 - most of which also crossed over to pop. The biggest hits have been anthologised on previous occasions - but "Hot Buttered Singles" is the first series to present the A and B sides of all of Hayes' 'Yellow Stax'-era 45s in chronological order, and in their original singles versions - several of which have not appeared on CD before. Many of these tracks are among his best loved recordings. Here you will hear them as you would have heard them on soul and pop radio over half a century ago. Extensively annotated, handsomely illustrated and coming to you - on CD AND double vinyl - in a package that an artist of Ike's stature thoroughly deserves

James Brown -Stars Ballroom, The Hotel Bradford, Boston, MA December 18th 1977.
James Brown's performance at the Stars Ballroom at the Hotel Bradford in Boston on December 18, 1971, is a quintessential display of his talent as "The Godfather of Soul." By 1971, Brown had solidified his reputation as a cultural icon, especially in the Black community. His performances carried weight beyond entertainment, serving as a celebration of pride and resilience during a turbulent era in American history. This show was part of a nationwide tour and took place during an era when Brown's music was transitioning towards funk, with hits like "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "Soul Power" dominating the airwaves. Brown was known for his high-energy shows, and this performance is no exception. Backed by the J.B.'s, his tight-knit band, Brown delivers electrifying renditions of his hits. Homespun brings you this live radio broadcast from WBCN-FM for your listening pleasure.

Funk group that started life in the early 1970s in Southern California. They formed out of the ashes of an earlier R&B covers group, The Creators (6) (who also recorded as The Romeos and Señor Soul), initially naming themselves Nightshift before producer Jerry Goldstein discovered them and gave them a more distinctive name.

The Best Blue Note Album in the World Ever may boast a silly title, but it's hard to argue with what's on this double-disc sampler. Not all of the label's greatest artists are here, but everything is representative, showing how hard bop like John Coltrane's "Blue Train" and Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder" coexisted with soul-jazz from Grant Green ("Born to Be Blue"), Jimmy Smith ("Back at the Chickenshack"), and Horace Silver ("Song for My Father"). It is true that US3's "Cantaloop" sounds distinctly out of place here and that the latter-day stuff, no matter how good it is, isn't quite as magical as the classic era, but there's no denying that The Best Blue Note Album in the World Ever provides a lot of bang for the buck. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine ~

It's an archetypal story of the modern record business two guys with a dream running their nascent label out of a West Hollywood garage in the summer of 1962. The label quickly gains momentum and eventually becomes one of the most important record companies the world has ever seen. The two guys were Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the A and the M in A&M Records. By the way, it was Alpert s garage and that first hit was The Lonely Bull, performed by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. And this year the two record men and UMe are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their label. As part of the celebration, UMe is releasing A&M 50: THE ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION. A 60-track, 3-CD set curated by Alpert & Moss, THE ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION perfectly illustrates what a potent effect the legendary label is still having on contemporary popular music. We wanted to make good records, says Herb Alpert, reflecting on the label s genesis. That was our goal. We felt if we made good records there would be an audience. Herb and Jerry s dedication to development resulted in some of the biggest superstars in music ever: Joe Cocker, Procol Harum, Quincy Jones, Billy Preston, Cat Stevens, Carpenters, Peter Frampton, Supertramp, Jeffrey Osborne, Styx, Bryan Adams, Joe Jackson, the Police, Sting, Janet Jackson, Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Soundgarden, and so many more.

The very essence of Sunday morning listening, Make Music: Folk Funk Flavours & Ambient Soul is a superbly nuanced collection of spacious, mellow soul cuts from the early '70s – the set's subtitle speaks volumes about the scope and effect of the grooves therein. Unified by their acoustic guitars, gently bubbling basslines, and sweetly funky rhythms, the songs document a more intimate and empathetic side of Black Power-era soul, far more personal than political but no less impassioned – as compiler John Stapleton writes in his excellent liner notes, the music evokes contemporary acts like Zero 7 and 4hero, reflecting an "increasing interest in and return to the song…re-exploring the same roots of folk, blues and country, and quieter ways to make music." Excellent stuff throughout, with highlights including Minnie Riperton's ravishing "Les Fleurs," Bill Withers' "You," and Al Wilson's "The Dolphins."

Writer and producer Leon Ware has been responsible for some of R&B and pop's most lush and romantic tracks. Ware produced Marvin Gaye's 1976 classic I Want You. He also co-wrote songs like Michael Jackson's "I Wanna Be Where You Are," Marlena Shaw's "Sweet Beginnings," and the Main Ingredient's "Rollin' Down a Mountainside" to name a few. This album is the follow-up to his 1976 Gordy release Musical Massage and was released shortly after he was behind the controls for nine of the ten tracks of Melissa Manchester's Don't Cry Loud. Inside Is Love has the intelligent and melody rich work fans expect from Leon Ware. Produced by Ware and Ron Roker, this has arrangements from David Blumberg, Gene Page, and Sonny Burke. Although he's not the world's strongest vocalist, his methodical, light tenor gives these songs a personal stamp. The first track, "What's Your Name" has Ware playing his naïve lothario act to the hilt. The magnificent "Love Is a Simple Thing," co-written by Chicago member Robert Lamm, possesses a chorus that is both poignant and uplifting.

This collection covers Pendergrass' run of big hits from the Philadelphia International era, including "I Don't Love You Anymore," "Close The Door" and "Turn Off The Lights".

NOW Music are thrilled to announce the ultimate feel-good album of the year: NOW That’s What I Call A Massive 70s Party – Out 22nd November! Kicking off this celebration of 70s party anthems is Queen's timeless ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, before continuing with the unforgettable sing-along classic ‘Sweet Caroline’ from Neil Diamond and the glam smash ‘Crocodile Rock’ from Elton John. Next comes familiar party favourites: ‘Y.M.C.A.’ from Village People, Donna Summer’s ‘Hot Stuff’ and Hot Chocolate’s ‘You Sexy Thing’, before moving on to the empowering massive #1 ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor and the anthemic ‘I'm Every Woman’ from Chaka Khan. The dancefloor keeps buzzing with ‘Le Freak’ from Chic, Boney M.'s ‘Sunny’, and the global best-seller ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ from Baccara. The floor-filling magic of ‘Disco Inferno’ from The Trammps, ahead of party staple ‘I'm In The Mood For Dancing’ from The Nolans, leads the first disc to a close with country gold ‘The Devil Went Down To Georgia’, and a huge hit from the end of 1979 for Fidler’s Dram, ‘Daytrip To Bangor (Didn’t We Have A Lovely Time)’