Simtec & Wylie were an American soul duo from Chicago active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The group was composed of Walter "Simtec" Simmons and Wylie Dixon, and had a hard soul sound similar to that of Sam & Dave. As Simtec Simmons & Wylie Dixon, they issued "Socking...
When the producer/composer/keyboardist/vocalist recorded four albums for Philadelphia International in the late '70s, he made certain that all of them were diverse and unpredictable. True to form, Wansel keeps listeners guessing on 1979's Time Is Slipping Away, which was the last of the four. The LP gets off...
In Her Loving Memory Most of Nancy Wilson's late '60s releases contained four or five good tunes and the rest would be filler from the day's batch of B-grade pop material. Her 1967 date Welcome to My Love, though, is an exception. It offers a consistent...
William Bell's history illustrates just how singles-oriented soul was in the 1960s. Though he'd enjoyed a hit in 1961 with "You Don't Miss Your Water," it wasn't until 1967 that Stax finally released his first album, the magnificent The Soul of a Bell. From that classic...
Sometimes, no matter how great a songwriter or performer an act is, things just never work out in the studio, and it takes a live album to truly reveal their greatness and go on to become their trademark release. Now let’s get one thing straight, Bill Withers is...
Kept in the vaults for 15 years due to Stax Records going bankrupt at the time of its intended release, Sandra Wright's 1974 album 'Wounded Woman' is one of those perfect hybrids the much-troubled label was putting out in its last years: Southern Soul with...
An obscure one from Stax, only solo effort from John Gary Williams, who earlier headed up the excellent Mad Lads (“Don’t Have to Shop Around,” “I Want Someone”) vocal group for the label! Williams is working here with a fairly sophisticated set of arrangements – ones that...
Justine Baby Washington's single "Thats how heartaches are made" and "Handful of Memories" are two songs that brought her success as singles as released by Sue Records. But does the public really know who Baby washington is? You will after hearing this album!And you'll be...
One of the only albums ever from Willie Tee – an artist who's usually known best for his funky 45s, but who really shines here in the space of a full-length record! Willie's got a killer vocal style, with a warm raspy style that reminds...
A Soul/Jazz gem. Recorded with an exemplary supporting cast featuring pianist Don Blackman, guitarist Eric Gale, and saxophonist Michael Brecker, Sinbad explores the extremes of Weldon Irvine's music, juxtaposing several of the keyboardist's funkiest, most energetic grooves to date alongside mellow, contemplative performances of uncommon intricacy...
Is it Smooth Jazz or Soul Jazz? Truth is, it's both. This is an album that you'd not want to miss. If you managed to get a hand on it, just snatch it quickly and put it on your shopping cart. It's like a wine that...
Amazing stuff! Arguably Leon Ware's greatest record – and one of the greatest Motown records of the 70's! The record is a beautiful set of interwoven mellow soul tracks, recorded right on the heels of Marvin Gaye's I Want You album, which was written and...
Someday at Christmas is a Christmas album by Stevie Wonder, released on November 27, 1967 under Motown Records. It was his eighth studio album release. It would also be re-released in 1978 with different cover art and different catalog number (Original 1967 catalog: T-281, 1978...
The Jackie Wilson style soars into the 70s – in a mode that's definitely different than Wilson's Brunswick work of a decade before – but which also show's a really bold evolution in style! Jackie's in the higher end of his range here – and...
