With the 1971 release Gonna Take a Miracle, pop composer and vocalist Laura Nyro completed her four-album/four-year deal for Columbia. Nyro's passion for R&B can be traced back to some of her earliest compositions, such as "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Stoned Soul Picnic" - both of which were covered by the R&B vocal quintet the Fifth Dimension. More recently, her version of "Up on the Roof" was one of the highlights of Christmas and the Beads of Sweat. So, enthusiasts who had paid any attention at all to the course of Nyro's career would not have been surprised by her direction on this project…

This is the eighth (and last) volume in a series of double-disc anthologies from French label Fremeaux Records that chronicles the years that led up to the birth of rock & roll. While the magic year of 1954 is usually accepted as the dawn of the rock & roll age, the whole matter has always generated a good deal of debate, and this installment in the Fremeaux series only muddies the waters, since the year it covers, 1952, shows things rocking along pretty well. One could argue that some of the tracks here, like Wally Mercer's wonderful "Rock Around the Clock," are really just speeded-up R&B, and technically, that's probably so, but there's no denying that something resembling the rock & roll attitude is already in full swing in 1952…

Zapp I/Zapp II/Zapp III is a 2016 compilation uniting the first three albums by Roger Troutman's group, Zapp. The first album (simply called Zapp) features the original album plus bonus tracks from Zapp II. The rest are the original albums as is. This was released by Robinsongs.

Back To The World is a powerful concept album dealing with America's social issues, the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the environment (years before it became fashionable), as well as Curtis' optimism for the future. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as number 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart.

This is a fine two-disc anthology of the Platters which manages to combine both the classic early hits ("Only You," "The Great Pretender," "Twilight Time," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") when the group was led by Tony Williams' sweet tenor, and the later uptown soul hits ("I Love You 1000 Times," "With This Ring," "Washed Ashore") that featured the spirited vocals of Sonny Turner. The result is a nearly seamless overview of this important group's history.

The Funk Box is a 4CD compilation released in 2000 consisting of some of the most primal funk and soul music, many of which are now owned by the Universal catalog and is there a reason this was released by Universal reissue subsidiary Hip-O? Yes.

In the Roots of Rock N' Roll series, this volume covers 1951, a year flowing with lively, rhythmic and humorous master-pieces - all the ingredients for pure Rock 'n' Roll. Fats Domino, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Wynonie Harris are still around. But they have to make room for the newcomers who are to add spice to Rock 'n' Roll - Little Richard, Bill Haley. Big Mama Thornton…

This CD is part of a comprehensive study of the early influences of rock & roll. The blues and rhythm & blues sound created by African American artists, as well as a few crossover Anglo musicians, in the late '30s, '40s, and the '50s, laid the foundation for what was to become rock & roll. It was a sound characterized by a throbbing drumbeat and sensual notes on piano and horns, often with lyrics to match its earthy quality. Volume six collects some notable recordings of the year 1950, just before the big rock & roll explosion caused by artists such as Bill Haley & His Comets and Elvis Presley. The compilation makes clear the great musical debt these artists, who became rich and famous, owed to earlier artists, many of whom remained poor and obscure…

An amazing piece of work - a massive eight-disc boxed set that contains every one of Fats Domino's 1949-1962 Imperial waxings. That's a tremendous load of one artist, but the legacy of Domino and his partner Dave Bartholomew is so consistently innovative and infectious that it never grows tiresome for a second. From the clarion call of "The Fat Man," Domino's 1949 debut, to the storming "Dance with Mr. Domino" in 1962, he typified everything charming about Crescent City R&B, his Creole patois and boogie-based piano a non-threatening vehicle for the rise of rock & roll.

"Faithful" is the title of Dusty Springfield's planned 3rd album for Atlantic Records, and 7th recorded studio album overall, recorded in the first half of 1971. Two singles from the planned album, "I Believe In You" (b/w "Someone Who Cares"), and "Haunted" (b/w "Nothing Is Forever", a track not intended for the album) were released in the U.S. in the fall of 1971, but failed to chart nationally. Due to poor response from the two singles, and a rumoured falling out with Atlantic executives, Springfield's contract with the company was not renewed, and the planned album was shelved and never given a catalogue number or title.

Cloak is the 2016 compact disc by Jordan Rakei. This was released by Soul Has No Tempo.

After Laughter Comes Tears: Complete Stax & Volt Singles + Rarities 1964-65 is a 2012 compilation by American R&b vocalist Wendy Rene. She released years of records but didn't have much success with it until 1993, when hip-hop producer The RZA sampled her song "After Laughter (Comes Tears)" as part of a song by his group, the Wu-Tang Clan, originally called "After The Laughter Comes Tears" but later made famous as "Tearz". Due to the songs used by The RZA, it became unofficially known as Shaolin Soul in reference to Shaolin being the nickname of the borough where they called home, Staten Island, New York. This represents songs that fans missed when they were originally released, including a few by a group she was with, The Drapels. It was released by Light In The Attic.

A definite soul based session for Donald Byrd – and that's saying a lot here, because his previous decade's worth of work had all had some sort of R&B focus. The main force behind the set here is Isaac Hayes – who's producing, arranging, and playing most of the keyboards on the album. Oddly, Ike's not singing at all – and vocals are instead handled by Rose Williams, Diane Davis, Pat Lewis, and Myra Walker – plus the Hot Buttered Soul group on backing vocals.

"So Romantic" is the 7th album released by R&B singer Evelyn "Champagne" King on the RCA label in 1984. It was produced by Clif Magness, Glen Ballard, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Hawk, Jimmy Douglass, and The System. The album peaked at #38 on the R&B albums chart. It produced the hit singles "Just for the Night", "I'm So Romantic", "Out of Control", "Give Me One Reason", and "Till Midnight".

"All in a Night's Work" is the 9th studio album by the funk and disco group KC and the Sunshine Band. The album was produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch and was released in August 1982 on the Epic label. "All in a Night's Work" sparked a brief return to success for the band, including the hit track "Give It Up", which became a #1 hit in the UK and Ireland, and reached #18 on the Pop charts in the United States.