Music

R&B

VERY is packaged in a day-glo orange embossed jewel case.Pet Shop Boys: Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe (vocals, programming). Additional personnel: J.J. Belle (guitar); Phil Todd, Chris Davis, John Barclay, John Thirkell, Mark Nightingale (brass); Frank Ricotti (percussion); Pete Gleadall (programming); Sylvia Mason-James, Dainton Connell, Carol Kenyon, Katie Kissoon, Tessa Niles (background vocals).Recorded at Sarm West, Angel Studios, London, England and The Power Station, New York, New York.This Limited Edition of VERY is packaged in a custom slipcase with a 36-page booklet, and contains a bonus disc of rare tracks.Pet Shop Boys: Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe (vocals, programming). Additional personnel includes: Anne Dudley (conductor); Johnny Marr, J.J. Belle (guitar); Gerard Prescencer... Less

Personnel: Kool G. Rap (vocals), Johnny Rodgers, David Foreman, Jason White, Nick Daniels (programming), Big Mac, Karen Alfonso, Barbara Ann Aquire, Polo, Ann Catulino, Tay, Mike B., Stoker, Sir Jinx, Dazzy D., Ken Dog, Big Mike, Diz, Alim, Little Anthony, Jean (background vocals). Producers: Sir Jinx, Kool G. Rap, TrakMasterz. Recorded at Cherokee Recording Studio, Westlake Audio and Paramount Studio, Los Angeles, California; Powerplay Studios and Chung King, New York.A strong case could be made for Live and Let Die as Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's crowning achievement. Who can really say for sure if the controversy surrounding the cover artwork -- which shows the duo feeding steaks to a pair of rottweilers, in front of two noose-necked white men -- clouded a proper consensus? With... Less

A fabulous anthology, one of the best ones Motown ever released. Both Super Hits packages were crammed full for albums of the era, and the sound and selections were first rate. Motown has issued the first volume on CD, but thus far not the second -- a major mistake. ~ Ron Wynn

This is an Enhanced audio CD which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files including the video for "California Love."Personnel: 2Pac, Syke, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dru Down, Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt, Redman, Method Man, Rappin' 4-Tay, Dramacydal, C-Bo, Storm, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Danny Boy, George Clinton, Outlaw Immortalz, Jewell, CPO, Michel'le, KC, JoJo, Mutah, E-40, B-Legit, Richie Rich (vocals); Roger Troutman, David Blake (talkbox); Sean "Barney Rubble" Thomas (keyboards); Carl "Butch" Small (percussion); Barbara Wilson, Danette Williams, Dorothy Coleman, Natasha Walker, Puff Johnson, Ebony (background vocals). Producers include: Dat Nigga Daz, Johnny "J," 2Pac, DeVante, David Blake.Engineers include: Dave Aron, Rick Clifford, Tommy D.Recorded at Can-Am Studios, Tarzana,... Less

The Isley Brothers: O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley (vocals); Ernie Isley (acoustic & electric guitars, bass, drums); Chris Jasper (piano, electric piano, synthesizer); Marvin Isley (bass, percussion). Additional personnel: Jimi Hendrix (guitar); Motown House Band.Producers include: The Isley Brothers, Holland, Dozier & Holland, Bert Berns, Hugo & Luigi, Angela Winbush. Compilation producers: Leo Sacks, The Isley Brothers. Recorded between 1957 & 1996. Includes liner notes by William C. Rhoden, Leo Sacks and Nikki Giovanni.All tracks have been digitally remastered.The Isley Brothers capture the history of soul music from the late '50s to the early '80s all by themselves. Starting off as a mildly obscure vocal group who eventually struck gold with 1960's delirious "Shout" and... Less

Personnel: Babyface (vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Michael Thompson (electric guitar); Vernon Black (guitar, programming); Walter Afanasieff (nylon guitar, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer vibraphone, bells); John Kurlander, Dave Reitzas (strings); Mark Russo (tenor saxophone); Greg Phillinganes (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Wayne Linsey (electric piano, Wurlitzer); Tim Carmon, Kenneth Crouch (Hammond B-3 organ); Nathan East (bass); Ricky Lawson (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Brandon Edmonds (tambourine); Dan Shea (programming); Take 6 (background vocals). Engineers include: Paul Boutin, Dave Gleeson, John Kurlander.All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. Walter Afanasieff won the 2000 Grammy Award... Less

After Evans self-titled debut album in 1997 -- a pioneering neo-soul offering -- she was said to have retreated to Brazil, disillusioned with the music industry. Almost a decade later, she released El Camino. The album has a few indicators of her time spent there, with the samba-influenced title track and "Blue Bird in Bahia," but, for the most part, the album stays in Evans' and creative partner Dred Scott's wheelhouse of hip-hop and jazz-influenced soul. Not much has changed about her sound in the ten years since Evans' debut, with songs like "Undercover" and "Calling Me" easily able to melt into her debut's track list and vice-versa. Ultimately, this is well-crafted, easy, and enjoyable (albeit not challenging or ambitious) music. ~ Vincent Thomas

M.O.P.: Lil' Fame, Billy Danzenie (rap vocals). Additional personnel: Teflon, Jay Z, Gangstarr, Freddy Foxxx, Treach, Big Pun, Heather B, Pete Rock, OC.Producers include: M.O.P., DJ Premier, Laze E. Laze.Engineers include: Dejuana Richardson, Eddie Sancho, Winston PHillips, Leo Swift Morris, Dexter Thibou.Audio Mixers: DJ Premier; Eddie Sancho .Recording information: D&D Studios; Pyramid Studios. Photographer: Christian Lantry.If you haven't heard M.O.P., then forget everything you may have heard about hardcore rap music. M.O.P. is the primary representateive of hardcore, with all others trailing in their wake. With two full albums and one EP already earning much respect on the streets, M.O.P.'s FIRST FAMILY 4 LIFE further proves why this Brownsville duo has been around for so long,... Less

Albert and Allen Hughes' DEAD PRESIDENTS takes place in the early 1970s, the nation's supposed time of recovery from the social upheaval of the '60s. At the time, musicians-- particularly soul artists--were edgier, more likely to create music that addressed previously ignored societal ills; even the love songs of the era were daring in their structure and sound. The music found on the soundtrack of the gritty film falls directly into the period spanning 1967 to 1974, when R&B was experiencing this radical phase prior to the arrival of disco.The artists the Hughes brothers chose include many trailblazers who took black music to the "next level." Sly & The Family Stone, who check in with "If You Want Me To Stay," were forefathers of funk who fused the positive messages of the love... Less

Personnel: David Bowie (vocals); Giorgio Moroder (guitar, bass); Michael Landau, Tim May (guitar); Brian Banks (keyboards, Synclavier programming); Sylvester Levai (keyboards); Lee Sklar (bass); Keith Forsey (drums, percussion); Charles Judge (programming); Craig Huntley, Winds, Inc. (sound effects); Stephanie Spruill, Alexandra Brown, Paulette MacWilliams, Scott Matthews, Ron Nagle (background vocals).Recorded at Carla Ridge, Beverly Hills, California and Mountain Recording, Montreux, Switzerland. Personnel: Giorgio Moroder (guitar, synthesizer); Alexandra Brown, Paulette McWilliams, Stephanie Spruill (vocals, background vocals); David Bowie, Scott Mathews (vocals); Michael Landau, Tim May (guitar); Brian Banks (keyboards, programming); Silvester Levay (keyboards); Keith Forsey (drums,... Less

Personnel: Beyoncé (vocals).Audio Mixers: Chad Elliot; Larry Sturm; Maurice Joshua.Audio Remixers: Kay Fingers; Maurice Joshua.Recording information: 24; 353 Studio, New York, NY; 7 Studio, Houston, TX.

The Pharcyde: Slim Kid 3, Imani Wilcox, Booty Brown, Fat Lip.Additional personnel: Cedra Walton, Leslie Cooney (vocals); Buckwheat (rap vocals); J-Swift (piano, bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, scratches, background vocals); JMD (drums); Rahsaan, Greg Padilla, Brandon Padilla (background vocals). Producers include: L.A. Jay, Slim Kid 3.The Pharcyde: Tre "Slim Kid 3" Hardson, Imani Wilcox, Romye "Booty Brown" Robinson, Derrick "Fat Lip" Steward.When the Pharcyde burst onto the scene in the summer of '92 with its brilliantly disconnected grab bag BIZARRE RIDE II THE PHARCYDE, it seemed at first an innocuously enjoyable, goofy if somewhat lightweight disc. However, it would swiftly become clear that there were deeper waters stirring within the Pharcyde's rhymes and rhythms, and that the... Less

Personnel: Stevie Wonder (vocals, various instruments); Michael Sembello (guitar); Sneaky Pete Kleinow (pedal steel guitar); James Jamerson, Reggie McBride (bass instrument); Bobbye Porter (congas, bongos); Deniece Williams, Jim Gilstrap, Lani Groves, Minnie Riperton, Paul Anka, Syreeta Wright, The Jackson 5, The Persuasions, Larry Latimer, Shirley Brewer (background vocals).While the phrase, "greatest album" is a useless distinction for the great Stevie Wonder, the material contained herein finds him at a pinnacle of his more introspective songwriting mode. Released between the chart-topping splendor of INNERVISIONS and the monumental SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE, FULFULLINGNESS' FIRST FINALE has spare instrumentation and a particularly personal tone. From gospel-inflected affirmations to... Less

Personnel: Jay Kay (vocals); Glenn Nightingale, Gavin Dodds, Simon Bartholomew (guitar); Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra (strings); Mike Smith, Gary Barnacie (flute, saxophone); Wallis Buchanan (didjeridoo); John Thirkell (trumpet); Richard Edwards (trombone); Toby Smith (keyboards); Stuart Zender, Andrew Levy (bass); Nick Van Gelder (drums); Kofi Kari Kari, Maurizio (percussion); D.J. Zire (DJ); Linda Lewis, Vanessa Simon (background vocals).Includes liner notes by Jay Kay.Composers: Nick Van Gelder; Toby Smith; Wallis Buchanan; Jason Kay.Personnel: Glenn Nightingale, Gavin Dodds, Simon Bartholomew (guitar); Jono, Gavin Edmonds (strings); Gary Barnacie, Gary Barnacle, Mike Smith (flute, saxophone); Wallis Buchanan (didjeridu); John Thirkell (trumpet); Richard Edwards (trombone); Toby Smith... Less

Personnel includes: Angela Bofill, Boz Scaggs (vocals); Frank Martin, Dave Grusin, Michael Gibbs (conductor). Producers include: Narada Michael Walden, Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen, George Duke, David Frank.Includes liner notes by Brian Chin.Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by James P. Nichols (1999, RCA Recording Studios, New York, New York).Recording information: RCA Recording Studios, NY (1979). Arrangers: Dave Grusin; Narada Michael Walden.In 1978 Angela Bofill became the second artist signed to the GRP label. She was hailed as a jazz prodigy and had consistent success on the R&B charts. While Bofill never achieved major pop-crossover success, her late-'90s releases have an instantly likable smooth-jazz appeal.This excellent collection presents the best of her material. The... Less

Personnel includes: Keith Sweat (vocals); Teddy Riley (keyboards, programming). Engineers include: Jeff Neiblum, Frank D'Amoto, Patrick Adams.Recorded at INS, New York, New York; Power Play Studios, Long Island City, New York.Although only "I Want Her" crossed over to the pop charts, hitting the Top Five, the five singles from Keith Sweat's debut album were prominently featured on R&B radio and dance floors from the winter of 1987 through the fall of 1988. Produced by nascent superstar producer and eventual label head Babyface, MAKE IT LAST FOREVER was arguably the very first "new jack swing" album; that style's characteristic mix of old-school soul-man vocals and hip-hop-influenced arrangements is all over this album.The most obvious nod to soul tradition is in Sweat's unapologetically... Less

Includes liner notes by Scott Jordan.Liner Note Author: Scott Jordan. Illustrator: Nicola Heindl.Arranger: Chris Thomas King.More than Chicago, its electric home, or Detroit and Memphis, where it morphed into modern soul, Mississippi is the blues. But, like every musical form, the blues have evolved since the days Charley Patton lived on Dockery's Plantation and played house dances and juke joints around Clarksdale. And that very evolution is going to make any collection called Mississippi Blues problematic. To many, Mississippi is associated with the acoustic Delta blues. To a younger generation, it's the raw electric artists of Mississippi hill country who appear on the Fat Possum label (and who are essentially unrepresented here). To be fair, the compilers do their best in a thankless... Less

Personnel: Keith David, Musiq (Soulchild) (vocals); Warryn Campbell (various instruments); G. Koop (guitar); George Mathews , John Murphy (keyboards); DJ Crazytoones (scratches); Romeo Johnson, DeVere Duckett, Shareef Jackson, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Angie Stone, Traci Nelson, Barbara Wilson, WC (background vocals).Audio Mixer: Dave Lopez .Recording information: Fever Studio, North Hollywood, CA.Photographer: Eric Williams.Despite Ice Cube's having translated his success into a cuddly family film empire, the N.W.A. veteran doesn't need to provide any gangsta disclaimers on RAW FOOTAGE. While the track "It Takes A Nation" may take the route of brandishing his braggadocio, Cube's flow is still wholly distinguishable in its force and clarity. True, the official album-opener, "I Got Locs On,"... Less

Includes the bonus track '30 Minutes (Remix)' and the video 'All The Things She Said' featuring behind the scenes footage with Julia and Lena.

Return of the Ankh was supposed to be issued earlier than March 2010. It's just as well: 2008's stupefying 4th World War provided such a dense concentration of charged lyrics over ceaselessly vein-melting production work that Erykah Badu could have been forgiven for letting five years pass prior to unveiling something else to soak up. Return of the Ankh is a relief in that Badu does not attempt to trump herself with a set that is even more intense and powerful than its predecessor. Thematically, it's aligned with 4th World War's relatively lighter songs, "Me" and "Honey," more personal than planetary, less challenging sonically and lyrically. Most of it was actually recorded at the same time as 4th World War. The list of collaborators, featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow, Madlib, Shafiq... Less

Personnel: Sally Shapiro (vocals); Cloetta Paris (background vocals). Recording information: The Mountain Lake.While `80s genres such as synth-pop, Euro disco, and Italo disco have all been thoroughly mined for the sake of irony by dance producers of the 2000s, it's altogether uncommon to come across modern-day artists with an honest and genuine appreciation for those past styles beyond a passing fad. The Swedish duo that record under the name Sally Shapiro (producer Johan Ageborn and an anonymous female vocalist) is one of those rare examples. Wearing their love for spring-loaded synth arpeggios and frothy minor key melodies on their collective heart sleeves, Sally Shapiro model themselves after the high fructose, borderline- schmaltz of "romantic Italo" artists like Valerie Dore and... Less

Originally released as 2 separate LPs on Musicor.Liner Note Author: Jon Philibert. Recording information: Groove Sound Studios, New York, NY.Both of S.O.U.L.'s LPs, What Is It and Can You Feel It, are compiled on this two-fer release from the BGP label. ~ Jason Ankeny

Personnel: Stacey Q (vocals).Liner Note Author: Jon Saint James.Recording information: Cabash; Casbash; F1 Music; Front Page; Kendun.Unknown Contributor Roles: Roger Behle, Jr.; Scott Bowers; Josh Freese; Keith Walsh; Ricky West; Rusty Anderson. Greatest Hits contains 14 of Stacey Q's best, including her lone hit single "Two of Hearts" and club favorites like "Love or Desire," "We Connect," "Screaming in My Pillow," "Synthicide," "The Model" and "Video Girl." Not all of this material is strong, but the collection is the definitive overview of this dance-pop diva's brief career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

En Vogue: Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones, Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson (vocals). Additional personnel: Salt-N-Pepa, Kam, FMob (vocals); Marlon McClain (guitar); Lewis Taylor (flute); Quincy D III (guitar, keyboards); Leroy Romans (keyboards); Thomas McElroy, Denzil Foster (keyboards, drum programming); Wycliff "Steelie" Johnson (bass); Dave Kelly (drums); Mentalinstrum, Lord Baron (programming), Terror Fabulous (DJ), 3 Feet (background vocals). Producers include: Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Herby "Luvbug" Azor.Engineers include: Steven Hart, Al "Taz" Machera, Rob Chiarelli.

Includes liner notes by Stu Hackel.This is part of Motown Records' Ultimate Collection series.Audio Remasterer: Kevin Reeves.Liner Note Author: Stu Hackel. Arrangers: Jerry Long; Jimmy Roach.Motown's THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION series has been widely considered the best of their many compilation series, and The Four Tops entry perhaps the best within that. All their classic hits are represented, ("Reach Out I'll Be There," "Baby I Need your Loving," and "I Can't Help Myself") with an altogether winning mix of the group's many other charting singles. Twenty-five tracks in all are collected from this utterly essential Motown group.

Personnel includes: Diana Ross, Lionel Richie (vocals). Producers include: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Michael Masser, Tom Baird, Hal Davis. Compilation producer: Harry Weinger.Includes liner notes by Barry Walters. Digitally remastered by Kevin Reeves (Universal Mastering Studios-East).This is part of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series. Arrangers: David Blumberg; Gene Page; Clay Drayton; Lee Holdridge ; Paul Riser; Bernard Edwards.THE MILLENIUM COLLECTION represents the cream of Diana Ross's '70s output at Motown, before her controversial departure to RCA. (The diva received a signing advance of several million dollars, a move widely criticized on the grounds that the company wouldn't be able to sign promising new artists.) Highlights include four... Less

Personnel: Amos Lee (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tenor guitar, baritone guitar, drums); Nate Skiles (guitar, mandolin, background vocals); David Kalish (dobro); John Austin Hughes (ukulele); Christopher Joyner (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Jaron Olevsky (piano, background vocals); Fred Berman (drums, percussion, background vocals); Pete Thomas (drums); Priscilla Ahn, Lizz Wright (background vocals).Audio Mixer: Kevin Killen.Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY; Red Star Recording, Silverlake, CA; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA.Photographer: Lucille Reyboz.

Personnel: Jamie Foxx (vocals); Mary J. Blige (vocals); Common, Kanye West, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Twista (rap vocals).Jamie Foxx's second release as a solo artist is his first since his Oscar-winning portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 film RAY. It is natural, then, that UNPREDICTABLE would be a much higher-profile affair than 1994's PEEP THIS. The production credits include top-currency names like Timbaland and Sean Garrett. And guest stars? Forget about it. Common, Ludacris, Twista, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige, just to name a few, make appearances and help boost Foxx's credibility as one of the most popular kids on the block.Foxx's music falls firmly into the category of sultry, hip-hop-inflected R&B a la R. Kelly. And like Kels, Foxx too has a penchant for bedroom themes,... Less

Personnel includes: Flesh-N-Bone, David's Daughters, Big B.Producers: Jimmy "JT" Thomas, Darren Vegas, L.T.Hutton, DJ U-Neck.Engineers include: Rob Worthington, Aaron Connor, John Bregman.Recorded at Ruthless Records Recording Studio, U-Neck's Workshop, Studio Cat & Sound Castle Studios, Los Angeles, California.Audio Mixers: DJ U-Neek; Aaron Connor.Recording information: Ruthless Records Recording Stud; Sound Castle Studios, Silver La; Stud; U-Neek's Workshop, Los Angeles, CA.This long-awaited return of Cleveland's Bone Thugs-n-Harmony shows the rapper/singers have stayed true to their lightning-quick vocal flow and their distinctive style. While combining rhyme schemes rife with subtle melodic twists and a glossy production ethic, Bizzy, Krayzie, Layzie, Wish, and Flesh continue to... Less

Sister Sledge: Debbie Sledge, Joni Sledge, Kim Sledge, Kathy Sledge (vocals). Additional personnel: Mark Ralph (guitar); Marianne Carroll, Cheryl Hong, Karen Milne (strings); Alex Foster (saxophone, flute); Jean Fineberg (saxophone); Ellen Seeling (trumpet); Barry Rogers (trombone); Robert Sabino (piano, Clavinet); Andy Schwartz (piano); Raymond Jones (Fender Rhodes electric piano); Sammy Figueroa (percussion); Alfa Anderson, Diva Gray, David Lasley, Norma Jean Wright (background vocals). Producers: Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers.Reissue producers: David McLees, Patrick Milligan. Engineers: Bob Clearmountain, Don Berman, Bert Szerlip.Recorded at The Power Station Studios, New York. Includes liner notes by Ken Barnes. Personnel: Debbie Sledge, Kim Sledge, Joni Sledge, Kathy Sledge (vocals);... Less