Coming soon: Soul

Review: A rare and funky reissue of the 1971 album What's Up Front That Counts, by The Counts, the trailblazing Detroit funk outfit who recorded for Westbound Records. Notably, the album's title track has been sampled countless times by hip-hop greats, including Queen Latifah and Eric B and Rakim. Though the record has been out of print on vinyl for nearly two decades and it now comes reissued via Ace.

Review: The debut album from Mississippi soul legends The Natural Four, Good Vibes! deserves this full reissue on Wax Trader, which puts a dent in its former obscurity and rareness. An early LP incarnation of Chris James, Allen Richardson, John January and Al Bowden in unison, the album delivers the posi-vibes it promises and then some. But despite its commitment to a good time, the Four don't fall prey to the idea that such vibes necessarily mean avoiding of slow jams; indeed, star cuts like 'Why Should We Stop Now' are as pleading and longing in tone as they are premonitory of the relationship at hand going well; things get even wild-Wester on 'Message From A Black Man', amounting to a multifaceted take on the stated good vibe.