Smokin' Group Grooves

Here is one very hard to find killer CD packed with sweet soul jams. Many of the tracks have now appeared on various other compilations. I will only mention a few of the highlights, "Don't Let Me Down" by The Creations, "Wonderful Baby" by Len Jewell and "From Lovers To Friends" by The Uptowners. If you see this one don't pass it up.
10 out of 10

*NEW* Neighborhood Treasures

Here is the latest treat for us soul oldies addicts. Only one rare soul track included, "Daddy's Home" by The Earls, the rest are repeats plus a couple not so good selections. If it were not for The Earls track I would not be high on recommending.
4 out of 10

Maryvale Soul Rolas

Not the prettiest of covers and low budget packaging but contains a fair share of rare sweet soul jams. Highlights are many, these are just a few "Look And You'll See" by Little Gregory & The Concepts, "Save A Little Love For A Rainy Day" by Smoke Sugar Company, "We Gonna Make It" by Geno Washington And The G.W. Band, "On What A Lonely Night" by The Desires, "Hiwaymen (Will Steal Your Heart)" by General Soul Assembly, "Kiss & Make Up" by The Inspirations and "Can't Buy Love With Money" by Higgins & Wiggins. The sound quality varies all through the entire set. Too many fast tracks to give it a higher rating.
6 out of 10

Talk To The Rain

Rare 70' sweet soul jams make this a very much recommended addition for your collection. Highlights include the title track "Talk To The Rain" by Spring, "Don't You Want To Fall In Love" by The Steptones, "Come Back With Love" by Special Delivery, "Love Looks So Good On You" by Larry Rice and "Just In The Nick Of Time" by Chocolate Syrup.
8 out of 10

Soul Galaxy, Gambling To Sweet Soul

Some real killer sweet soul cuts and some not so thrilling tracks make up this CD. Highlights include "I'm Not Like The Others" by North, South, East & West, "It's Just Like Magic" by Gaslight, "Should I Follow My Heart" and "Never Take Your Love Away" by Tomorrow's Promise. A recommended addition to you collection.
7 out of 10

Ponderosa Twins Plus One

I had this one on pre-order for months but for unknown reasons to me Real Gone Music pulled back the release date and has yet to provide a new one. The sound quality is good but this release does not have any liner notes. If you dig the early Jackson 5 sounds this will be a solid pick up. Highlights include "Dad, I Love Her", "Bound", "Turn Around You Fool" and of course their take on "You Send Me". A must for your collection.
7 out of 10

Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers

This is my second post featuring Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers and in my opinion the best of the two. This release has some very nice slow jams such as "More Than You Realize", "Try Me" and "I'll Care For You". A recommended addition for the 70's soul music fan.
6 out of 10

Black Heat

Some real hidden soul gems on these two releases of Black Heat. Highlights include "Baby You'll See", "Time is Going To Catch You", "Street Of Tears", and "You'll Never Know". A recommended addition to your collection.
6 out of 10

Smoked Sugar

Funky material with a really nice slow jam in "Don't Let That Feeling Hit Me Again". Other notable tracks include "My Eyes Searched A Lonely Room For You" and "Keeping Up My Front".
6 out of 10

Love, Peace & Happiness

A couple of solid jams in "Lonesome, Lonely And Alone" and "If I Owned The World" made this pick up well worth it. Nice package with a good batch of liner notes.
6 out of 10

Shirley Brown

A couple of nice tracks besides "Woman To Woman" but rest I skipped through. "Passion" and "Ain't No Way" were nice.
3 out of 10

Jackson Sisters

Their take on "Maybe" is decent but I could not get into the rest of their material.
2 out of 10

Slow N' Moody, Black & Bluesy & More

I picked this CD up knowing I would not like the majority of the tracks but passing up on "I'm In Love" by Larry Sanders was not an option. Other nice tracks include "Let's Get Together Again" by Arthur & Mary, "I Don't Wanna Lose You" by Tami Young and "Weep No More" by Terry & The Tyrants. It's an Ace Records release so rest assure you will get very good sound quality and good liner notes.
6 out of 10

Buddah Deep Soul, Yes My Goodness Yes!

Nice cuts by Timothy Wilson, Henry Lumpkin, Judy White and The New Birth. The majority of the remaining tracks had me hitting the skip button. Top notch sound quality with plenty of liner notes.
4 out of 10

Broken Hearted Soul Essentials

A compilation that jumps from the 60's to the 90's which for me simply does not work.  All standard tracks that you are better off picking up on other compilations.
2 out of 10

Neighborhood Oldies

A solid selection of soul tracks in this now nearly impossible to find collection. All repeats but decent sound quality all the way through. Nice jams by The Delfonics, The Four Tempos, Billy Stewart, The Temprees and others. Once track that is not an oldie but has that very good sound is "Do You Love Me (Like You Say You Do)" by Lee Fields & The Expressions.
7 out of 10

Teen Angels Oldies

A good collection of rare soul tracks in this underground compilation. Highlights include "If" by Loverhorn, "Love Won't Pay The Bills" by Evalations, "Can't You Hear Me Calling" by Bobby Wade with the low light going to "Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning. Sound quality varies.
7 out of 10

O.G. Oldies

Another reshuffle job of common tracks. Sound quality is good, no liner notes.
5 out of 10