CD-Charts Position 81
Average Rating:

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Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Various

Release Date October 27, 2008
Soul music had several regional centres in the `60's, and there was a distinctive sound from each, notably Detroit, and Memphis, but also in Muscle Shoals and Chicago. Equally, several labels became synonymous with a Soul sound, Motown, Stax and Atlantic, 3 of the best known.

In late 60's Philadelphia, Thom Bell was producing and arranging for the Delfonics, adding elements not normally associated with Soul vocal groups, and in doing so, providing a blueprint for what became known as Sweet Soul. Bell carried this sound with him to The Stylistics, where his writing and arranging with Linda Creed, together with the Groups vocals, created a major stir with their first album on the Atco label in 1970. Both groups feature strongly here, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 82
Average Rating:

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The Greatest Hits [Us Import]

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Sam Cooke

Release Date April 25, 1998
I'm not really sure how to grade this album.

I like Sam Cooke's music, but I'm not THAT big a fan, so for me this is really more of a four-star album. But as far as Sam Cooke-collections go, it is superb, spanning all his best and best-known "secular" songs (the gospel material isn't here). And considering that this is some of the best, most influential soul music ever recorded, I suppose "Greatest Hits" deserves a five star rating (although these studio recordings don't have the nerve of the live renditions on Cooke's magnificent "Live At The Harlem Square Club" album).

As I said, everything the casual fan needs is here. Soft, tender ballads...almost too sweet at times, but Cooke was a black man trying to make it in a world dominated ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 83
Average Rating:

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Les Fleurs - The Minnie Riperton Anthology

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Minnie Riperton

Release Date September 17, 2001
this is a good collection to start with put theres plenty other albums she has done that are fab!! the petals minnine riperton collction 2cd is a better collection then this!! but overall a good collection and the picture inside is lush the flowers!! thers is a few stand out tracks here les fleur loving you,perfect angel ,iam the black gold of the sun and others this is a good introduction but need more albums because there all essential!! bought this a few years ago its a good album for a goodnight in!! disco jazz soul!!

CD-Charts Position 84
Average Rating:

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Greatest Hits & Rarieties

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Brenda Holloway

Release Date August 10, 1998
Every little bit hurts was not typical of T M at the time.The song was by an outside writer Ed Cobb who was one of the 4 Preps and it was covered by Cilla Black as well as a few groups like the Spencer Davis one.A classical sounding song with an aching melody which suited Cilla Black but not really groups like the Small Faces
By the time a new single was issued it could have been anybody.When I'm gone was to my mind rather a poor My guy soundalike.
Later came a single called You made me so very happy-which was good enough to have been a Goffin-King one but its cover by Blood Sweat & Tears is what made the song famous
Her sister Patrice was on the Capitol label and cut a single called Love & Desire-which was nearer the mark.Later she signed ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 85
Average Rating:

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The Gold Collection: 40 Classics

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Ray Charles

Release Date October 05, 1995
Every little bit hurts was not typical of T M at the time.The song was by an outside writer Ed Cobb who was one of the 4 Preps and it was covered by Cilla Black as well as a few groups like the Spencer Davis one.A classical sounding song with an aching melody which suited Cilla Black but not really groups like the Small Faces
By the time a new single was issued it could have been anybody.When I'm gone was to my mind rather a poor My guy soundalike.
Later came a single called You made me so very happy-which was good enough to have been a Goffin-King one but its cover by Blood Sweat & Tears is what made the song famous
Her sister Patrice was on the Capitol label and cut a single called Love & Desire-which was nearer the mark.Later she signed ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 86
Average Rating:

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The Payback

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: James Brown

Release Date October 05, 1998
To rate this anything less than the full five stars is criminal.
This is THE bomb and James Brown dropped a lot of them.
It's an amazing album, a masterpiece of raw funk and improvised
jams.
The title track is a monster and one of the baddest slices of
funk ever cut. "I don't know karate, but I know craazy"!
Mind Power is another mindblowing track("Gimme some flute!");
13 minutes of laidback groove that is so cool it ought to
wear a cape and smoke cigarettes underwater!
Most of the tracks run close to 10 minutes, and 4 punds for this
is the mother of all bargains.

Payback is a mother!
It should be your mother too!

CD-Charts Position 87
Average Rating:

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Best of The Isley Brothers

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Isley Brothers

Release Date January 01, 2007
To rate this anything less than the full five stars is criminal.
This is THE bomb and James Brown dropped a lot of them.
It's an amazing album, a masterpiece of raw funk and improvised
jams.
The title track is a monster and one of the baddest slices of
funk ever cut. "I don't know karate, but I know craazy"!
Mind Power is another mindblowing track("Gimme some flute!");
13 minutes of laidback groove that is so cool it ought to
wear a cape and smoke cigarettes underwater!
Most of the tracks run close to 10 minutes, and 4 punds for this
is the mother of all bargains.

Payback is a mother!
It should be your mother too!

CD-Charts Position 88
Average Rating:

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Motown Chartbusters Volume 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Various Artists

Release Date November 10, 1997
After the runaway success of Volume 1, which made No 2 on the album chart, this Volume 2 followed less than a year later.

Volume 2 did not sell as well, but still made No 8. In spite of the growing popularity of Motown in Britain, and more airplay due to Radio 1 pumping out of millions of transistor radios, this one contained less British hits than Volume 1. I think that is because they songs were chosen from a shorter period than the first one.

My favorite here is Diana Ross & The Supremes 'Reflections', a fine tamborine driven masterpiece. Simple on one level, but there is a lot going on in there. The writers and producers at Motown knew how to get the best out of their artists.

The British gave white Canadian R Dean Taylor a hit with 'Gotta ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 89
Average Rating:

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Diana

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Diana Ross

Release Date August 04, 2003
Diana Ross had not had a big UK hit since 'Love Hangover' in 1976 when this album was recorded. I love it, because it's the album that introduced me to the music of Diana Ross and in time many other Motown legends.
This is not a typical Diana Ross album as there are no traditional ballads. Instead we get a succession of cool grooves from Chic's Edwards and Rogers with Diana's sumptious vocals over the top. Apart from the obvious charms of 'Upside Down' and 'I'm Coming Out' the outstanding tracks are 'Now That You're Gone' and 'Tenderness' (a minor hit in 1981).
This album is equally loved and loathed by Ross fans but whatever your opinion it shows Diana as a serious album artist rather than a singer of hit singles. The deluxe version allows you to compare Diana's remixes with ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 90
Average Rating:

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I Am

CD-Charts > Music > Classic R
by: Earth Wind and Fire

Release Date February 14, 2000
EWF laid out an abundance of great classic albums during the 70s, 80s and even into the 90s but this one here's my favourite of them all. It's probably because it's the first EWF album I ever bought. I remember seeing all the happy people on "Soul Train" dancing to "In The Stone" back in the day and falling immediately in love with their sound. I got the record shortly after and have been an EWF fan ever since. 1979 was a really good year for music.

As I suppose most folk know already, back then, EWF were the quintessential band, complete with vocalists, rhythm section and horns. I just adore the sound of Maurice White's voice. Philip Bailey's I can take or leave but I do admit the two voices complement each other incredibly well. The album had quite a number of hits: apart from ... Read More: