The Impressions - The Young Mods' Forgotten Story (1969)

Curtis Mayfield before he was Curtis Mayfield; classic Chicago Soul from one of the iconic masters of the genre.

Spiritual and political while still romantic and sophisticated, check out the polished and lush production from another underrated gem from 1969.
The Impressions - The Young Mods' Forgotten Story (1969; Curtom Records)

Marvin Gaye - Vulnerable (1997)

Locked away in the Motown vaults for more than 30 years, this archival release from 1997 is Marvin at his most vulnerable, hence the title. 

This is him at his best, crooning soulfully over heavily orchestrated big band arrangements with overdubs and a beautifully warm production aesthetic. 

There's a certain downtrodden and mournful tone to this record, and one of the things the man could do better than almost anyone is put that fear and despair or life and love to tune. 

Thank you, Marvin. 
Marvin Gaye - Vulnerable (1997; Motown Records)

Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information (1974)

The definitive psychedelic soul record, Shuggie Otis' nine tracks shuck and jive along, resulting in a trippy and funky output for this esoteric legend.  

"He released an album with Al Kooper, played on Frank Zappa's Hot Rats, turned down a chance to work with Quincy Jones, was approached to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones, mentioned in the same breath as both Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone as well as the blues greats and apparently inspired both Prince and Beck, but a bit like Terry Reid he chose to follow his own path which undeservedly led into relative obscurity." - oldrock, Rate Your Music
Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information (1974; Epic Records)
Link also contains the album Wings of Love, re-released together in 2013

Black Nasty - Talking to the People (1973)

Raw integrated funk. Just straight up FONK.

The kinda funk make you wanna smack yo mama for not raising you up on this kinda funk.

The kinda funk that make you wanna visit Detroit.

Cut the shit and drop the needle on this.
Black Nasty - Talking to the People (1973; Enterprise Records)

Buddy Miles Express - Expressway to Your Skull (1968)

I've always held fast to my opinion that Jimi Hendrix's work with drummer Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox was far superior to that he did with the Experience; it's a funkier, more soulful incarnation of Jimi's music and it came along at a time when people were more or less doubting (or challenging) Hendrix's "blackness".

So Buddy's drumming gave everything a funkier, dancier swing (fresh off his work with blues rock band The Electric Flag) and Jimi's Band of Gypsys was born. In between being a sideman for Mike Bloomfield's project and Jimi's new thing, he had his own thing, the Buddy Miles Express, with Jim McCarty on guitar and Billy Rich on bass. This is a pretty cool album as far as being a period piece; not every song is a knock-out (the cover of Sam & Dave's Wrap it Up is actually kind of flat) but it's interesting to see on record how one of the first albums to attempt to blend hard rock with funk & soul works out- this basically presaged the whole Funkadelic movement; helping to spawn funk rock.

Anyway, give it a go; you shan't be disappointed (too much)...

Buddy Miles Express - Expressway to Your Skull (1968; Mercury Records)

Donny Hathaway - Live (1972)

I used to love live music; something inexplicable happened in the last few years that has switched my focus to the supreme worship of the album as ultimate artistic statement- I think it's one too many shitty concert experiences. You know what I'm talking about- some places have really bad acoustics or are cramped or too hot, but the one I hate the most is the inattentive crowd busy chatting away or texting it up. I guess any number of things serve as deterrents from an awesome live music experience. Oh well.

This record, however; is one of the best live albums of all-time, judging from the crowd's response. Donny Hathaway was like a man possessed these two nights back in '72 (side one is from The Troubador in Hollywood and side two is from The Bitter End in Greenwich Village). The cover versions of John Lennon's Jealous Guy and Carole King's You've Got A Friend are as good (if not better) than the originals, Hathaway's soulful voice gives them a warmth that they're missing.

I gotta give a shot-out to J.D. for introducing me to this album a long time ago; we used to listen to his parents' vinyl copy on the good stereo in his living room. Listen to this now, people...

Donny Hathaway - Live (1972; Atco Records)