Ray Charles was the musician most responsible for developing soul music. Singers like Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson also did a great deal to pioneer the form, but Charles did even more to devise a new form of black pop by merging '50s R&B with gospel-powered vocals, adding plenty of flavor from contemporary jazz, blues, and (in the '60s) country. Then there was his singing; his style was among the most emotional and easily identifiable of any 20th century performer, up there with the likes of Elvis and Billie Holiday. He was also a superb keyboard player, arranger, and bandleader…

Luxury Liner ranks as Emmylou Harris' best-selling solo record to date, and it's one of her most engaging efforts as well; her Hot Band is in peak form, and the songs are even more far afield than usual, including Chuck Berry's "(You Never Can Tell) C'est la Vie" and Townes Van Zandt's painterly tale of aging outlaws, "Pancho & Lefty."…

Groove Story est le 2ème album de Richard Manetti sous son nom. Sept nouvelles compositions de l’artiste sur une dizaine que compose l’album nous laissent découvrir un nouvel angle de sa créativité, dans laquelle on reconnaît bien la « patte » de l’artiste. De nouvelles recherches sonores sont explorées, de nouveaux climats, pour nous offrir une nouvelle palette différente mais pourtant bien dans la continuité du précédent opus « Why Note » (Label Bleu, 2012) qui dévoilait son talent à part entière. Un album loin du manouche faisant la part belle au jazz, au funk et même à la fusion.

"Skin Tight" is the fifth studio album by the Ohio Players and the first released through the Mercury label. "Skin Tight" signified a turning point in the group's career towards a more jazzy and polished funk sound. The album began the Players' dominant platinum selling period, and would bring them a much bigger audience. In fact, this release would outsell all of their previous LPs combined. The band produced and recorded the album in Chicago, with Barry Mraz as recording engineer. The final mix was mastered by Lee Hulko.

Whoever decided to put pianist Marty Paich and Ella Fitzgerald together in the studio in 1966 deserves a bit of credit for the great music on Whisper Not. Together, Fitzgerald and Paich deliver a dozen beautifully sung, carefully arranged standards. An orchestra tastefully backs Fitzgerald's vocals, offering cushy support without overdoing it. Even lighter pieces like "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Old MacDonald" are given stately renditions. There's a fun version of "I Said No," filled with silly double entendres, and a relaxed take on "Thanks for the Memory"…

This Collector's Edition presents a challenge to reviewers. There's so much of it. I could never do it any sort of justice if I approached this as if reviewing a smaller set. This, after all, comprises 37 CDs. As it is all I have been able to do is to sample, reminisce about known recordings and write around the subject. With this caveat stated, let's make a start.
There are three principal strands of Britten recordings. These are broadly tied into and defined by record companies, artists and eras. First we have Britten recording Britten for Decca.

"Ride To The Rainbow" is Thelma Houston's eighth studio album. The album was not the commercial success it deserved to be initially because the album's most compelling songs never were released as singles. Lax promotion also played a role in the albums' slow sales upon its original release. The album includes such hidden gems as "Imaginary Paradise", "I Wanna Be Back in Love Again", "Just a Little Piece of You." It also includes a version of The Miracles' "Love Machine" and the Top 40 Pop hit, "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning" (in its 12" version different from the previous short version released on the album "Ready to Roll").