A great record to start off with. Easily one of my personal favourites in the last few months, this is quite simply wonderful. From the distinctive punchy start this record kicks in from the word go, swirling violins, choppy guitars, wonderful vocal all at an almost perfect mid-tempo pace that is sure to make this a dance floor winner every time. I have always loved his "Man up in the sky" but this is far better for me, absolutely tremendous.

This one evaded me for quite some time; I don't know why as I don't think it is particularly rare it's on Hi for god's sake. Mike Ashley first put me onto this one; apparently he bought it as a new release that's how old he is!! Ever since he first played it to me, I needed this record and it took me 18 months to find one. Bobby is one of my favourite artists and this record is one of his best for me basically this is a Southern Soul Disco offering, more of a dancer than most of his outings "Doing it" mixes the laid back southern style with the (then) new Disco style. Don't let the disco tag put you off this because while it may be in a disco style it sure ain't disco, it is however a rather wonderful piece of soulful dance music. Lyrically it may not be in a Sam Dees league but old Bobby promises to "make yo backbone whine baby" whatever that means and I'm sure my backbone whines at the most mundane requests from my tired old body nowadays.

Not sure exactly when this was made but at a guess I would say probably early Seventies with more of a Northern Soul feel to this outing by the Ellingtons. Basically this is a Morality tale, a warning to all you ladies out there to beware of the Spider a euphemism for the Devil himself spinning his evil web to ensnare you all. A great hook line on this one "Spider, spider spins his web of evil tighter" I personally love it to bits and as it falls into the gap in between Northern and Crossover Soul it isn't that easy to pigeon hole and I for one like that. Again it's a mid tempo dancer, but I'm sure you have noticed my preference for that pace already probably not for everyone this time and not too common either at least that's what they told me when I bought it, but I for one am glad that I did.

Well you could have knocked me over with a feather when I first heard this one for me it's the best record I have bought this year (and I have bought some good records) and the rest of the Album ain't bad either. This is great, think rich deep vocal, think slick polished production, think floater, think absolutely wonderful, think marvellous "shoo be doo pow" backing. To be honest I could prattle on about this record all day long and not do it justice I think by now you'll have guessed that I am a fan. Essential purchase, just get it.

I suppose it is to be expected that I'm going to like every record that I list here but this is getting ridiculous. Another essential purchase and again relatively easy to pick up from the Hugo and Luigi stable. More of a Modern Soul dancer this one and slightly more uptempo then the rest so far, it fair romps along, well for a modern record that is. Big sound, big vocal big time record.

Wonderful, wonderful soul record that comes complete with the classic line "So I slap a little water on my kisser, get down on the corner, Shoe Shine Mister?" what would he think of today's instant wax shine eh? Not exactly what you'd call a dancer this one although the flip "Operator" is more of a dancer just a lovely soulful song that most of the Crossover boys and girls should go for.

Two excellent sides here, "Leading lady" is the more obvious, a mid tempo dancer and fine example of Seventies group soul heaven. The only slight downside for me is the slightly cheesy end to the track but even that is growing on me. The other side "Mr Me and Mrs You" is just a brilliant soul record, forget categories and pigeon holes, if you like your music to have soul to spare this one is for you. I guess it's a ballad really but a soulful ballad in the Philly traditions of Messrs Pendergrass and Levert and that is high praise indeed.

Me I'm a sucker for that Norman Whitfield sound and this record fits that bill to a tee, slightly psychedelic, with intricate group vocal interplay's from Eddie and the boys I just love it. It is very Temptations and slightly funky and most wonderful. A good dancer too with all the changes in tempo that virtually guarantee that it will be a dancefloor winner. The label Trip, I'm told is a re-issue label, the original label being Saru. I've seen loads of these for sale on Saru, but this is the only one I've seen on Trip (and it's a nice multi coloured swirling pattern label to boot.) Why anyone would want to re-licence a record that wasn't a hit is beyond me if you see either they shouldn't be more than a fiver or so and well worth it at that.

I'm told that this was a bit of a play for Robin Salter at Stafford well for my money it's about time the dust was wiped from it's grooves and the record given another airing. Highly infectious eminently danceable this is a winner all round. Much more of a dancer than their classic "Too Late" and just as good. From the start of the Bass plucking intro right through to the end it just floats along and is so right for now, how could you not dance to this.