Various Artists - This Is Retro Soul (1969-1979) Various Artists

Retro soul is a sound that you know when you hear it, recorded at a point where soul music reached its zenith. It’s where the pioneers of the 60s had matured to a point that they could use the experiences of the past decade to create an incredible fusion that mixed R&B, gospel, funk and jazz and adorned it with expansive, sophisticated arrangements that allowed listeners to wallow in its depth and dance to its beat. Today this music soundtracks films and adverts, is mined for beats by clever producers and still sounds amazing when played in bars and clubs. This is music that urges you to get up on your feet.

The 12 tracks on “This Is Retro Soul” are an entry point into this mythical world conjuring up images of flared trousers, Halston dresses, Cadillacs with a “diamond in the back” and hair the size of space helmets. But the music conforms to no simple clichés, whether it was created by international superstars such as Isaac Hayes and Millie Jackson, cult heroes George Jackson and Darrow Fletcher or obscure one-off groups such as the Brilliant Korners.

This music is high class and always original.