A moody, ambitious, intriguing record, originally released by Audio Fidelity in 1964.
Just two side-long tracks — and an amazing lineup, with Walter Davis on piano, bassist George Tucker, and two drummers together, Edgar Bateman and the great Andrew Cyrille.
The sleeve-notes quote a Downbeat article from the same year, claiming that Dickerson was the most important vibraphonist since Milt Jackson: ‘instead of solos made up of one related note following another, Dickerson often builds areas of sound, placing them one on the other, creating a total effect.’

Southern soul from her Columbia years, pre TK (but with Steve Alaimo producing, already). Killers like Lead Me On and I’m Losing The Feeling. Her voice never sounded better.

This is knockout.
Luminous, swinging, soaring soul music from 1971; richly arranged by Horace Ott.

His spectacularly seminal 2003 LP, plus fourteen hard-to-find or previously unreleased cuts, including seven instrumentals, and the celebrated freestyle Street Fighter.
On white, yellow and black vinyl, in a wide-spine, birthday-boy sleeve.

Misdemeanour is an irresistible Jacksons-style rare groove classic. Nicked from Dee Clark, arranged by Jerry Peters, sampled by Dre.
Here’s Foster aged eleven, smashing it on Soul Train in 1973, with sisters Angela and Patricia. (Not to mention his bros’ ‘fros.)

Her 1969 masterpiece, resting the psych-rock of Rotary Connection in favour of Ramsey Lewis’ set-up with Maurice White and Phil Upchurch, in pursuit of the Dionne Warwick / Bacharach & David sound. Of course the kicker is Charles Stepney’s production, peaking in the divine opener, Les Fleurs.

What a great record. Soaring early-eighties soul from Bill Withers’ spar — original, loose-limbed and funky, full of emotional intelligence and good vibes. Includes Love’s Too Hot To Hide, two-step heaven.