His masterpiece.

CD from Big Break Records.

1974 soul masterwork. His inimitable, melancholic, laidback, funky blend of spiritual and interpersonal insight, with angst, tenderness, fury and hurt, and political nous to spare. Great voice, too. With Dorothy Ashby. A must.

Leaving Sussex for Columbia, this 1976 classic presents a mellower Withers, notwithstanding the rough rare groove killer Make Love To Your Mind. Hello Like Before and I Wish You Well are both here, too.

Pure soul from Muscle Shoals in 1973. Heart-stopping interpretations of Carole King, Burt Bacharach, George Soule, Bob Dylan, George Jackson… he even makes an Aretha his own. Wonderful record.

Excellent 1978 solo debut of the P-Funk keyboardist — with Bootsy, George Clinton, the Brides Of Funkenstein, Eddie Hazel, Fred Wesley, Maceo, the lot.

Edna was a Honey Cone who sang with Holland-Dozier-Holland, and Ray Charles on Let’s Go Get Stoned. Her 1977 solo album is pure class — a luxuriant blend of ballads and dancers, supervised and brilliantly arranged by Greg Perry, her old man. De La Soul, Nas and Talib Kweli all drank from the fountain. Oops! itself is all-time rare-groove murder.

Feeling, folkey soul from 1977, with Skull Snaps and Jimmy Castor crew.