Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

Sounds of the Seventies was a 38-volume series issued by Time-Life during the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s, spotlighting pop music of the 1970s. Much like Time-Life's other series chronicling popular music, volumes in the "Sounds of the Seventies" series covered a specific time period, including individual years in some volumes, and different parts of the decade (for instance, the early 1970s) in others; in addition, some volumes covered specific trends, such as music popular on album-oriented rock stations on the FM band. Each volume was issued on either compact disc, cassette or (with volumes issued prior to 1991) vinyl record.

Sounds of the Seventies was a 40-volume series issued by Time-Life during the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s, spotlighting pop music of the 1970s. Much like Time-Life's other series chronicling popular music, volumes in the "Sounds of the Seventies" series covered a specific time period, including individual years in some volumes, and different parts of the decade (for instance, the early 1970s) in others; in addition, some volumes covered specific trends, such as music popular on album-oriented rock stations on the FM band.

Rhino's expansive six-CD box set of 1970s soul called Can You Dig It?, this wonderfully sequenced collection stands as an impressive survey of the genre in its own right, running the gamut from Al Green and Marvin Gaye to the Chi-Lites, Sly Stone, the Staple Singers, and Earth, Wind & Fire and beyond with nary a slack track in sight. It may technically be a sampler, but in being so it doesn't have the luxury of pausing for breath or historical reflection, which means this compilation, sampler or not, delivers bang for the buck from end to end.

CD compilation series spanning 1955 to 1974, with one 10-track album for each year. Each track made the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

CD compilation series spanning 1955 to 1974, with one 10-track album for each year. Each track made the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart dedicates his third release Start With the Soul to, among others, the late Thin Lizzy leader Phil Lynott. This isn't just lip service, as you can immediately hear when the opening roar of "Fightin' Hard" comes blaring through. Hart doesn't go out of his way to appeal only to blues followers. He has the natural ability to fuse twangy country, Hendrix, funk, and reggae into his Delta blues style without regard to genres. Start With the Soul is unlike other releases from artists who at the beginning of their career display an acoustic Delta approach only to end up incorporating a very commercial soul sound for the sake of reaching a wider audience or receiving minuscule radio airplay. The choice of cover versions is revealing; Chuck Berry's "Back to Memphis," Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose's 1971 hit "Treat Her Like a Lady," and the Sonics' mid-'60s garage rocker "The Hustler" lose none of the vigor of the originals.

Inspired by distinguished soul/R&B singers such as O.V. Wright, Z.Z. Hill, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Otis Clay (who provides backing vocals on two tracks), ex-Dave Specter vocalist Robinson turns in a spectacular performance on his third solo outing. Passionate and emotional, Robinson shifts from classy soul to relaxed blues and easygoing pop (he resurrects the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose's chart hit "It's Too Late to Turn Back Now" with stunning results). The legendary Willie Henderson (Tyrone Davis, Jackie Wilson) arranged and conducted the horns, adding some authentic flavor. But it's Robinson's powerful voice and terrific songs (he co-wrote five tracks) that are responsible for this album's success.