Holy grail Detroit funk recorded in 1969 for Dave Hamilton; backed with a tape-find Northern dancer.

Funky mid-tempo sister soul, recorded at Dave Hamilton’s studio in Detroit. (Plus Little Ann’s tribute to the producer, on the flip.)

Stone killer jazz funk by the All Girls Band, from New Orleans.
Like prime Blackbyrds, but young women doing it to it for a change, with a rocket launcher.

‘Girl group greatness, courtesy of the Chicago-based Hutchinson Sisters (with Theresa Davis on this record) and co-producers Isaac Hayes, David Porter and Ronnie Williams. Recording at Muscle Shoals and Stax seems to have added a little grit to The Emotions’ sound, too; this 1971 classic on the Volt label offers the perfect blend of sweet and sassy. Show Me How was the hit, but it’s Blind Alley that made Untouched one of the most collectible albums of its kind: that track’s one of the most sampled in all of pop and hip hop, most notably by Big Daddy Kane (Ain’t No Half-Steppin’) and Mariah Carey (Dreamlover).’

Murderous southern funk from the dawn of the seventies, featuring brilliant fatback drumming by Freeman Brown and cooking organ by Clayton Ivey. Fittingly, producer Mickey Buckins lets off a siren on the flip.

Honest-to-goodness late-60s-early-70s group-harmony soul from Columbus, Ohio, with fine players like vibraphonist Billy Wooten, expert arranging by Dean Francis, and executive production by Capsoul boss Bill Moss.

At Philadelphia International in 1976. With Blues Away.

Super-rare Chicago sweet soul LP, originally out on Arrow Brown’s Bandit label. ‘A string-laden fantasia straddling the street corner doo-wop of the ‘50s and the Me Decade’s studio excess. Backed by the Chosen Few and the Scott Brothers, arranged by Benjamin Wright, sung by Brown’s 17-year-old daughter Tridia and Moroccos falsetto Larry Brown.’ Lovey artwork by label-mate Eugene Phillips clinches the DIY, outsider appeal.