Back catalogue: All genres

Review: New York soul quartet The Topics never found the spotlight they deserved during their short run across the 60s and early 70s, but this sharp 7" reissue offers a long-overdue glimpse at their brilliance. Both cuts originally surfaced in 1973 via Mercury, the only major label to back the group before they vanished into obscurity. 'Booking Up Baby' is a slick, string-laced dancer co-produced by Dennis Williams, best known for work with Teddy Pendergrass and the O'Jays. On the flip, Van McCoy's 'Giving Up' gets an opulent, emotionally rich treatmentidelivered with the polish and pain of top-shelf crossover soul. Both tracks ooze sophistication, driven by harmony-led vocals and lush instrumentation. Given the scarcity of original pressingsione recently went for L850ithis reissue is not only a collector's dream but a chance for wider ears to catch up with two underrated gems from the golden era of American soul.

Review: Released in celebration of Expansion's recent re-serving of two of Leon's early 80s albums - Rockin' You Eternally and Leon Ware - here's a delightful 45 that reminds us of his finest solo moments. "Why I Came To California" is a sun-kissed soul boogie groove with big horns and even bigger chorus. "Rockin' You Eternally" (which is, let's face it, one of the smoothest song titles to ever come from the 80s) showcases Leon's softer side. A ballad steeped in sentiment, play this loud enough and everyone in a five mile radius will stop and get smoochy.

Review: Destination 78/79: Expansion take us deep into the illustrious back cat of revered boogaloo fusionist Willie Bobo for two of his many fiery delights. Side A is his feel-heavy cult instrumental take on Ronnie Laws' disco classic "Always There" while Side B throws us into the heart of his 1979 album Bobo with gutsy raw soul power (and just a few cheeky funk slap bass twangs for good measure) Two stone cold classics together for the first time on 45.

Review: American jazz singer and actress Nancy Wilson is still going, having accrued a queenly quantity of releases to her name ever since the late 1950s. She has recorded over 70 albums of jazz, soul, pop and r&b, not to mention an uncountable barrage of original ingles; among her choicest is Sunshine, which we'll have you know doesn't happen to be a cover of the Roy Ayers original. Instead, Sunshine is a more-than-sophisticated soul-jazz piece, opening with futuristic filter-swept synths and emerging into slinky lyrical ode to the unparalleled feeling of loving you, as opposed to anyone else.

Review: New to the international scene but poised to break out, this talented artist brings out her first single. This 7" release from the American soul singer brings fresh energy to his hit single 'Falling For You'. On Side-A, the Georgie B remix takes the smooth, soulful original and turns it into an upbeat, funky dance track. The remix retains the song's classy, sexy vibe while adding a dancefloor-ready edge, making it an instant hit for those looking for a bit more groove. On Side-B, the original version of 'Falling For You' delivers a soulful, urban feel, with smooth r&b notes and a catchy dance groove. The horn section adds a rich layer to the track, reminiscent of Lisa Stansfield's signature sound, creating an irresistible blend of soul and rhythm.

Review: With roots as a backing singer for Stevie Wonder, Wycoff went on to become a soul ambassador throughout the early 80s. This 1982 reissue is one of the best examples of his silky, heartfelt delivery... "Looking Up To You" is a dynamic love song where traces of big 70s production build and build throughout. "(Do You Really Love Me) Tell Me Love", meanwhile, was only ever released as a B-side. Its 80s production counter the dramatics of the A-side with cool synthetic perfection. Reissues don't get much broader in production or sweeter in sound than this.