"Smokey" is the debut studio album by American soul singer, songwriter, and producer Smokey Robinson. It was released on June 19, 1973, by Tamla Records and was Robinson's first solo record after his departure from The Miracles. The album featured the single "Sweet Harmony", which was his tribute to his former singing partners in the Miracles: Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore and Ronnie White. "Smokey" was arranged by Dave Blumberg, Gene Page and Willie Hutch. It also featured the song "Baby Come Close", his first solo hit single, and the single "Just My Soul Responding", a protest song dealing with ghetto life in America, and the plight of the American Indian. "Smokey" peaked at #70 on the Billboard albums chart, on which it spent 19 weeks.

"Quiet Fire" is the 3rd studio album by American singer-songwriter Roberta Flack, released in November 1971 by Atlantic Records. It was recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, Regent Studios, and The Hit Factory in New York City. The album peaked at #18 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape, and its single "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" charted at #76 on the Hot 100.

"Diamond Life" is the debut studio album by English band Sade. It was first released in the United Kingdom on 16 July 1984 by Epic Records and in the United States on 27 February 1985 by Portrait Records. After studying fashion design, and later modelling, Sade Adu began backup singing with British band Pride. During this time Adu and three of the original members of "Pride" Paul Anthony Cook, Paul Denman and Stuart Matthewman left the group to form their own band called Sade. Following various demos and performances, Sade received interest from record labels and later signed to Epic.

An update of the 1994 compilation The Best of Sade, The Ultimate Collection contains all but two of the Sade singles – "When Am I Going to Make a Living" and, unfortunately, "Turn My Back on You" – released through the first six studio albums…

I Am Now is the album that introduced the late West Indies singer, songwriter, guitarist, and arranger Jon Lucien to American audiences. Issued by RCA in 1970, Lucien's meld of flawlessly executed jazz, pop, and theatrical song remains highly original and sophisticated. The material on I Am Now is unlike anything else in his catalog. Of the 11 songs here, only "Find Yourself a Lover" was penned by Lucien. With its swirling strings, bossa guitars, smooth soul vocals, and lithe Caribbean rhythms, the song was a precursor to the kind of genre blending that is so prevalent in the 21st century.

Fulfillingness' First Finale is a 1974 album by Stevie Wonder; widely considered one of the albums from his "classic period". Released on July 22, 1974 on the Tamla label, it is Wonder's nineteenth album overall, and seventeenth studio album. According to Billboard magazine, it was Wonder's first studio album to top the Pop Albums chart where it remained for two weeks, while it was his third album to top the R&B/Black Albums chart where it spent nine non-consecutive weeks.

An update of the 1994 compilation The Best of Sade, The Ultimate Collection contains all but two of the Sade singles – "When Am I Going to Make a Living" and, unfortunately, "Turn My Back on You" – released through the first six studio albums. There are six well-chosen album cuts, highlighted by the exceptionally spacious Love Deluxe ballads "Bullet Proof Soul" and "Pearls."…

"Diamond Life" is the debut studio album by English band Sade. It was first released in the United Kingdom on 16 July 1984 by Epic Records and in the United States on 27 February 1985 by Portrait Records. After studying fashion design, and later modelling, Sade Adu began backup singing with British band Pride. During this time Adu and three of the original members of "Pride" Paul Anthony Cook, Paul Denman and Stuart Matthewman left the group to form their own band called Sade. Following various demos and performances, Sade received interest from record labels and later signed to Epic.

"That's the Way of the World" is the 6th studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire, released on March 15, 1975 by Columbia Records. It was also the soundtrack for a 1975 motion picture of the same name. The album rose to #1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. "That's the Way of the World" has also been certified Triple Platinum in the U.S by the RIAA. Off the LP came the single "Shining Star" which rose to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. Shining Star went on to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The album's title track also reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

With a total of 40 Pop chart hits, Dionne Warwick's recordings for the Scepter label rank as arguably the most successful run of any artist - and certainly of any female artist - for an independent label during the 1960s. But all that success had a downside for her considerable legacy: Scepter became a hot property for acquisition, and as a result the label's holdings were bought and sold several times before Dionne herself arranged to buy her own masters back. By that time, though, the Scepter tapes had been scattered in disarray, thus leaving a lot of material in limbo and causing compilers to throw up their hands. Well, where other reissue labels fear to tread Real Gone Music goes full speed ahead! Odds & Ends - Scepter Records Rarities offers 26 hard-to-find tracks (plus some bonus promo spots) from the Scepter vaults, including rare alternate versions.

Ace Spectrum was an R&B, soul and disco musical group that was popular in the mid-1970s. Based in New York City the group consisted of Rudy Gay Sr., Elliot Isaac, Henry "Easy" Zant, Aubrey "Troy" Johnson, and, on their final album, Frederick G. Duff and Lawrence Coley. Zant, (also known as Edward "Easy" Zant), was not only a member but he also managed the group. Gay, Isaac, Zant and Johnson began collaboration as a group in 1966. Don't Send Nobody Else, written by Ashford & Simpson, was their biggest single. From their Tony Sylvester-produced debut album, it peaked at #57 on Billboard's Hot 100 while finding its way to the Top 20 on the R&B Singles chart. Their single Keep Holdin' On was released as a 12-inch single, and heavily promoted by their record label at disco clubs. Another single Live And Learn with lead vocals by Frederick, reached position #35 on the Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. Their first two albums saw chart action. "Inner Spectrum" attained position #28 on the R&B Albums chart, and "Low Rent Rendezvous" saw action on the Billboard 200 (#138), as well as on R&B Albums (#35). Patrick Adams produced and arranged the group's 1976 recordings, but consequential success eluded them.

Known in all circles as "The Love Man" and "The Maestro," Barry White was a man who put new boundaries on the universal language of love. He had a soul of passion and this is evident in every song that he recorded. He was an icon.

The Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get reissue contains no fewer than nine bonus tracks including charting hits "Fell for You" and "Hey You! Get Off My Mountain," both recorded in Detroit instead of Memphis. The closer "Hum a Song (From Your Heart)" was produced at Atlantic South Criterion Studios by the legendary production triumvirate of Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, and Arif Mardin.

"My Melody" is the 5th studio album by American singer Deniece Williams, released in March 1981 by ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached #13 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. "My Melody" has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

David Benoit And Friends' features special guests Dave Koz, Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, Vincent Ingala, Lindsey Webster and others. All are Smooth Jazz stars in their own right, highlights include the gorgeous Dave Koz feature "Vernaaza","Make It Real" a sensuous ballad featuring Lindsey Webster, "Moon and Sand" featuring Marc Antoine, David's interpretation of the Portugal hit "Feel It Still" and much more.