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The two Kent CD compilations of Stax/Volt dancers 'Do The Crossover' and 'Let's Crossover Again' were great a decade or two ago now and essential listening along with the Ian Levine compiled set last year. I've been working through those three sets of all the Stax singles that were put out years ago and still find songs anew in there that seem never to have become the big plays they would if on other more obscure labels. It won't happen of course, but I'd be equally happy with all the b-sides being issued too. Especially in the '72-closure era a lot of that was ignored it feels but has great songs behind the obvious chart hits. Checking back to the Kent Records page for Stax the other releases there have good selections too. I forgot how many releases they have featured on Stax such as the 'Gospel Truth' and 'Nobody Wins' sets. Many have been and gone and aren't listened at the site anymore.

The book arrived yesterday and I had a quick sneaky read while pretending to be part of a conversation with my wife. It's a great book. Lots to read and return to there. Thanks for all your work on it Steve.

I look forward to listening. The Salsoul, Prelude, later PIR, early NY garage, post-disco era is something I've evolved towards and enjoy a lot now.

Post-Wigan (before my time) the time I noticed NS go overground was mid-1990s with a series of well organized, bigger commercial nights (not niters) bringing in a younger interested general public just as older generation was coming back. When I first got into NS as an evolution from the Mod revival it was back completely underground and very few nights to go to locally as a teenager in the 80s. by the 1990s there was interest with the dance scene at its peak and some people outgrowing that and the internet certainly helped. Soul Togetherness got going and it started to feel vibrant (if mostly oldies for a while). I remember there being no internet, then a few email groups on Yahoo, then KeepingTheFaith group which became really big by which time we were into NS being a media go-to and the CD era really kicking in with the popular supermarket/car garage sold compilations.

I am enjoying this, very varied across dancers in Northern Soul, Crossover to early Modern Soul plus some slower deep, Southern style songs. Beyond the few songs compiled already this is a good release in its own right.

My order arrived today. It is a huge, definitive, enjoyable book that will take a life to absorb fully.

Got my order in for some reading over Christmas.

The book looks great so I have ordered from Steve. I am looking forward to it immensely.

I'm sure all those who enjoy soul music will say this is well deserved (an understatement).

I will listen again to his new collection CD on Kent as a mark of appreciation.

I'm enjoying that very well produced collection of Betty's music.

Some of Jerry Butler's early 1970s albums have not been reissued yet (including the one with Stop Stepping On This Dream). Sharon Ridley's album too I don't think has had a proper reissue.

Yes the Papik album is excellent, I mean this as a compliment but it's great bed-time listening. The last double album was a bit over ambitious and too many novelty cover versions but this seems a return to form.

Soul Love is excellent this year, more soulful and less House music sounding than previous installments. Enjoying the Eric Benet, After 7, Dave Hollister, Bob Baldwin & Papik releases too. Diane Ducane is on the reissued Casino Classics CD box set too.

The new two new songs by Kim Tibbs are great plays. The new releases keep coming. Outta Sight's 'Soul on the Real Side #6' is out on 25th as is a collection of Kenya's music including new tracks and mixes I envisage. The new album by Myles Sanko is good, his last album was stunning and this is slightly more jazzy. John Legend's album is due 2nd December.

Yes it is a great time for Modern Soul - both new and classic. Those Dean Rudland CDs are good with excellent sound quality so I hope he continues them. I am listening to new After 7 as I type which is great. Listening to new Joe Thomas (Joe) advance sounds good too. There is a new Preston Glass release I paid for a download of yesterday (no CD as I can see so far). It's fairly enjoyable but only a couple of songs seem to stand up to previous works. I see too a Heston release on download without CD which has more of an acoustic feel and didn't really connect with me to buy it. Some great individual songs around too such as Something About You by Michon Young and Thought It Would Be Easier by Kandance Springs. Flicking between Solar Radio, Soul 365, Jazz FM and other UK digital soul stations via internet radio keeps highlighting ever more strong new soul music.

New Soul Love 2016 and Ethereal Magic 2 releases received today. Soul Love 2016 has a few extra tracks in the deluxe online version that you get as a free add on if you order the CD at Amazon (and possibly others).

I enjoyed this more than the first volume. I think that is about me not the first CD though. I kind of feel instinctively it is more my experience for soul artists to be covered by pop and rock artists rather than the other way round, but this stands up in its own right.

Two more 1970's era Modern Soul compilations coming in November on Interstate 'This Time Will Be Different' covers Philly and 'This Love Is For Real' covers Chicago. The tracklistings avoid the obvious plays so worth a look.

Loving the double Expansion releases of Soul Togetherness and Spirit of Philadelphia 4. Getting the Soul Togetherness CD via Amazon means you can download the extra tracks in the digital deluxe version for free. The Ryle, Phonte and Eric Roberson and Kindred The Family Soul albums have now arrived and as good as I hoped. Ryle is from the band Cool Million. It strikes me as positive that Modern Soul sound can incorporate the post-disco boogie style. I got a new compilation release by Dean Rudland in the J&D label imprint called 'Extra Added Soul' that is well worth picking up along with the Northern Soul and Funk specific CDs. Tony Monson's Ethereal Magic volume 2 on Expansion is due soon, the first was a welcome addition to their coverage as I've enjoyed the radio show. Also looking forward to Eric Benet release, the song I heard from it on Solar was good. There is a good double of Melba Moore due soon with plenty of her Buddah tracks. It would be great for Kent or Expansion to compile Buddah properly. We haven't had many Modern Soul releases. 'Some Modern Soul' is still one of my favourite releases ever.

Often it is that they fail to pick up a distributor at the festival or further phase of funding to complete a final edit and mastering for release (or both). Lots of small scale funded films sit 95% done in limbo.

Hi everyone, I just read on Soul Tunes that Kashif has died aged 56.

I enjoyed the Maxwell but it is a slow grower and subtle. It is an album that took a few listens to appreciate and takes its time. Less immediately accessible that a lot of recent Soul albums. New Phonte and Eric Roberson joint album arrived today.

How 'soulful' is the Louie Vega? I will have to have a listen. Thanks.

Anyone heard the Leon Timbo album? On my list. New Eric Benet due soon I think too. Loved the Anglo-Saxon Brown reissue this year, Spinners on Expansion and Rockie Robbins were great too. So many great reissues. Forgot the James Hunter Six new album this year but I struggle with new albums in mono, it seems so artificial. It's not like it's going to be played at The Flamingo and needing to be in mono. The Anderson Paak album although marked as Rap related R&B is more like a modern soul album and one I share interest with my son on. I enjoyed it more than Mayer Hawthorne who musically is enjoyable but his lyrics are far too shallow for adult listening. I think Ace and labels are owed thanks for getting more comfortable with 1970s and early 1980s soul and including it more on their compilations. It has been welcome and at this distance blends in well with earlier songs.