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Review: Some of the finest soul albums of all time are not studio sets, but rather live recordings that capture the energy of the greats at the peak of their powers. Aretha Franklin's Oh My Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly 1972 is one such example. Backed by a band of hugely talented musicians, the two-hour concert recording sees the undisputed Queen of Soul deliver spine-tingling recordings of stone-cold classics ('Rocksteady', 'Respect', 'Oh Me Oh My', 'Spanish Harlem' and so on) interspersed with some genuinely brilliant cover versions. The album was first released on CD way back in 2007, but this marks its' belated and much deserved release on vinyl. In a word: essential.

Review: Warner Bros Motion Picture Sparkle has an essential soundtrack, all thanks to the work of two soul legends in Aretha Franklin and Curtis Mayfield. In the film itself, it was the movie's main stars Irene Cara and Lonette McKee who mostly sang the tunes but this recording features the Queen of Soul Aretha singing them at Curtis's Curtom studio in Chicago. He composed and produced all the tunes and here they are pressed onto sealer vinyl for the first time since they were first released. It's a feel good selection whether or not you have seen the film.