Bill Withers

None of these Louisiana funk/soul obscurities (none of which postdate 1975) were on big labels. And almost none of the performers have any name recognition value among general listeners, with the possible exception of "Count" Rockin' Sidney (better known as the zydeco artist of "My Toot Toot" fame) and Katie Webster. That doesn't mean that such material isn't of possible interest, of course. But the questions that arise are: is it good, and does it have a distinct regional identity? Those are hard to answer with authority. This soul-bleeding-into-funk crossover is solid, but nothing to make the Meters sweat, being more derivative of national trends (particularly James Brown) than innovative of their own paths; some passing traces of Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Jean Knight (of "Mr. Big Stuff" fame), and other major soulsters of the time can also be whiffed from time to time.

NOW Music proudly presents NOW That’s What I Call Gold – The Ultimate Hits. This essential 4CD set brings together 85 tracks by legendary artists with timeless anthems, celebrating some of the greatest hits of all time, including chart-topping classics and enduring favourites.

Time Life proudly presents The Best of Soul Train, a 9-DVD set featuring one-of-a-kind, superstar performances from the best years of this iconic TV show 1971 to 1979! The Soul Train franchise is one of the most beloved television shows of the past 30 years, featuring hip dances, outrageous fashions, and exciting performances from the biggest names in R&B, Soul, and Hip-Hop.
Each DVD features the best moments from original Soul Train episodes, including on-air interviews with artists, the illustrious Soul Train dancers, and even classic commercials from Soul Train sponsors Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen!