Stand! is widely regarded as a seminal masterpiece and an artistic high point in the career of the influential American funk and soul outfit Sly & The Family Stone. Originally released in May 1969 by Epic Records right before the group's legendary performance at the Woodstock festival, this expanded 2007 reissue from Epic / Legacy captures the multi-racial, mixed-gender band at the absolute zenith of their creative powers. Written and produced entirely by multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, the album seamlessly bridges uplifting, infectious pop melodies with sharp political commentary, gritty funk, and groundbreaking psychedelic soul arrangements. Over its 13 tracks, the expanded release features timeless radio hits and civil rights anthems such as Everyday People, I Want To Take You Higher, Sing A Simple Song, and the empowering title track Stand!, alongside the 13-minute jam Sex Machine and five bonus single mixes and unreleased studio takes. Selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress and consistently ranked among the greatest albums of all time, Stand! remains a timeless pillar of American popular music.

S.O.B. is a legendary funk and soul rarity by the Chicago-based vocal quartet Shades Of Brown, originally recorded for Chess Records in 1970 and lovingly reissued by Dusty Groove America in 2008. Combining the smooth, soaring vocal harmonies of groups like The Dells and The Temptations with a gritty, self-contained rhythm section, the album presents a captivating fusion of deep Chicago soul and hard-hitting funk grooves. Produced entirely by Dells maestro Bobby Miller, who also penned all ten tracks, the record features masterclass arrangements by Richard Evans and Charles Stepney. Standout selections like the upbeat opener Lite Y'All Up, the dramatic story-song He Didn't Leave Me A Name, and the highly sought-after breakbeat classic The Soil I Tilled For You highlight the group's impressive vocal range and tight instrumental backing. Packed with raw horn arrangements, driving basslines, and passionate lead performances, S.O.B. remains an essential treasure for collectors and enthusiasts of vintage 1970s funk and soul.

Like Stevie Wonder and Allen Toussaint before him–and Prince and D'Angelo afterward–Shuggie Otis was a musical visionary whose early 1970s recordings showed he could do it all, writing, arranging, performing, and producing some of the decade's most satisfying, innovative, and, unfortunately, overlooked music. This reissue of his 1974 Inspiration Information album–a soulful song cycle that took three years to create and was worth every minute–ranges from early drum machine-driven experiments like "Xl-30" and "Aht Uh Mi Hed" (note the Sly Stone spelling influence) to Otis's most stunning pop confection ever, "Strawberry Letter 23." (The latter song, which ended up being a big hit for the Brothers Johnson, is one of four bonus tracks taken from Otis's 1971 Freedom Flight album). Otis, who once turned down an offer to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones, continues to perform around the Bay Area on his own and with his father, bandleader Johnny Otis. Hopefully, the long-awaited resurrection of this material will help bring him the attention he deserves.

Released in 2013 on Hip-O Select, Vol. 12B: 1972 is the triumphant final installment in Universal's monumental archival series documenting every single released by the Motown family of labels. Covering the pivotal second half of 1972 across 5 CDs and 100 tracks, this collection captures Berry Gordy's empire during its epochal transition as Motown relocated its headquarters from Detroit to Los Angeles. A historical turning point, this volume captures major milestones: Michael Jackson's solo #1 smash "Ben," Stevie Wonder's funk revolution with "Superstition" and Talking Book, The Temptations' cinematic masterpiece "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," Smokey Robinson's final single with The Miracles, Marvin Gaye's blaxploitation score for Trouble Man, and rare cuts from Motown's experimental rock and pop imprint MoWest (including Bobby Darin, Lesley Gore, and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons). Meticulously restored from original master tapes, this collection stands as an extraordinary chronicle of American popular music in transition.

Released in 2013 by the prestigious French label Le Chant du Monde, The Complete Singles 1956–1962 is a landmark 3-CD anthology assembling all 35 singles (63 tracks) released by Sam Cooke during his transformative initial six years as a solo secular recording artist. Moving from his debut solo single "Lovable" (released under the pseudonym Dale Cook following his departure from gospel icons The Soul Stirrers) through his early Keen Records smashes and his prolific hitmaking era at RCA Victor, this set presents the definitive chronological portrait of the "King of Soul" conquering the pop and R&B charts. Meticulously remastered, the collection gathers legendary, era-defining chart-toppers including "You Send Me," "Wonderful World," "Chain Gang," "Cupid," "Twistin' The Night Away," "Bring It On Home To Me," and "Having A Party," alongside rare B-sides, regional hits, and pop standards. Accompanied by a 72-page historical booklet, this anthology stands as an essential archival record of one of the most influential vocalists and songwriters in popular music history.

Released in 1993 by the archival label Charly Records, You Send Me is a fine 20-track collection gathering foundational solo recordings by the undisputed "King of Soul," Sam Cooke. Tracing his historic transition from gospel trailblazer with The Soul Stirrers to pop and R&B icon, the compilation features his breakthrough 1957 Billboard #1 smash "You Send Me," alongside essential early chart hits including "Only Sixteen," "Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha," "Win Your Love for Me," and the enduring classic "Wonderful World." Balancing his self-penned crossover pop-soul originals with sophisticated interpretations of jazz standards and traditional pop songs like "Ol' Man River," "God Bless the Child," and "Moonlight in Vermont," this set highlights Cooke's incomparable melismatic vocal delivery, effortless grace, and timeless songwriting.

Released in 2006 through BMG Special Products and Sony Music, The Mighty is a focused 10-track retrospective collecting defining hits and essential album cuts from legendary American funk, soul, and R&B powerhouse Earth, Wind & Fire. Masterminded by founder Maurice White alongside lead vocalist Philip Bailey and an unmatched brass-and-rhythm ensemble, the compilation spans the band's most celebrated era across the 1970s and 1980s. Highlighting their signature blend of tight horn arrangements, soaring falsettos, and uplifting spiritual grooves, the set includes transcendent funk anthems ("Mighty Mighty," "Serpentine Fire," "Getaway"), radiant pop-soul hits ("Sing A Song," "Fantasy"), the timeless title track balladeering of "That's The Way Of The World," and Maurice White's hypnotic kalimba-led classic "Evil." An ideal gateway anthology highlighting the unstoppable groove of one of music history's greatest bands.

Released in 2006 on the UK budget label Pazzazz, Drown In My Own Tears compiles classic early recordings by the legendary "Fifth Beatle," keyboard virtuoso, and soul legend Billy Preston. Originally cut during his mid-1960s formative period—where his fiery Hammond B-3 organ work bridged gospel, soul, and rhythm & blues—this 12-track anthology showcases Preston's soaring organ instrumentals and soulful vocal interpretations of popular hits of the era. Featuring energetic covers of standards like Ray Charles' "Drown In My Own Tears," John Barry's "Goldfinger," The Supremes' "Stop! In The Name Of Love," and Roger Miller's "King Of The Road," this compilation serves as a vibrant document of a young organ prodigy on the cusp of international superstardom.