Flying Burrito Brothers (1971) Colarado

When Rick Roberts joined  the Burritos replaced the bands founding front man, the charismatic cowboy Gram Parsons he proved he had just as much gravitas as a singer songwriter. This being the best example the tender wailing ode to the Centennial state is deeply felt thanks to his strong voice.  Sneaky Pete Kleinows pedal steel is as always a formidable presence. This ballad proved Gram wasn't the only one who could carry country heartache so vividly.

Jackson Five (1973) Reflections‏

A remake to a certain extent of The Supremes hit, The Jacksons often did new versions of Motown classics rather than their own originals possibly to introduce The Motown standards to a new generation. The original was a classic 60's soul hit invigorated by some wailing, dissonant Moogs oscillating like a Sonar signal adding a coldness to their urban soul. This song supplants this with bubbly vocal whoops, a strong rock back beat and some Arcade Machine sounding synthesizers pinging around. 

Michael's vocal wins over Jermaine's with a powerfully, clear vocal that should make his younger days seem like his vocal peak challenging the Motown older guard with his veteran inflections. This is despite being under half the age of his fellow contemporary artists and sounding utterly more convincing and soulful for someone much fresher faced; makes you wonder where did all this soul come from.

Otis Clay (1972) You Can't Keep Running From My Love

Clays strained vocal delivery and indelible melodies were simple and we're some of the best Hi Records had to offer his songs just as any of Al Greens and the difference is his Trying to Live my Life LP is stronger compositionally than any Memphis soul star.

Poco (1972) I Can See Everything

'If it seems to you that I am fading' begins this incredibly soulful entry from Poco about facing up to a partner losing interest. One of Timothy B Schmidt's patented incandescent, dreamlike paens to a distant lover, part of a long line of hits like Here We Go Again and I Can't Tell You Why.  His crystalline clear high vocals perfect for Poco's country pop, this is a startling track, far more adventurous then the Standard Poco/Eagles country rock formulas this mixes Schmidt's wonderfully smooth vocals with rootsy acoustic guitars and bouncy tablas in a typical 60's blend of genres. Poco had a knack for creating songs that blurred the lines of genres and didn't deserve the country label at times, this song has more Smokey Robinson style RnB then twangy, pedal steel licks.

Styx (1977) Superstars

Tommy Shaw now in the band as a singer as well as guitarist saw him contribute this effort. A galvanising chorus mixed with resonant verses, a tribute to the girl 'of the 14th row'. It feels like a bona fide rockstar anthem with the turbo jet fuelled harmonies. The band had just started playing arenas and their mix of heavy guitar riffs, virtuoso keyboard fills, tight rhythms,  Dennis Deyoung' theatrical vocals and harmony stacks chimed with the late 70s rock scene of bands like Kansas and Journey who started in prog rock.

Medicine Head (1971) And the Pictures in the Sky‏

Built around the duo of guitarist drummer John Fiddler' and Peter Hope Evans' harmonica and Jewish harp whilst also using studio musicians,  Medicine Head come off like a blues rock Steely Dan or a 70s Black Keys. Starting with an oddly compressed kick drum beat before the standard rock n roll guitars come in. The laidback hummed vocal melody and post hippie haze made this a simple hit in the early 70s sounding a bit like T Rex stripped of the glam vocals and thick orchestra.

Eddie Hinton (1978) You Got Me Singin

 From his hidden masterpiece, Very Extremely Dangerous, Eddie Hinton's brand of Deep Soul is best displayed here on this late 70s cut. Starting as the guitarist for the classic The Swampers, house band for the famous Muscle Shoals Studios in Alabama. He added creative guitar licks to many southern soul records but he also proved on his 1978 album he was just as strong as an artist in his own right. While the Memphis deep soul had slowed down by the end of the 70s as slick funk and Disco grooves took off, here he balances a mix of  Bobby Womack patented, oriental slide guitar with Stax horns and his own raspy wail. It sounds like it was an inspiration for The Eagles' Glenn Frey's first solo hit "I've Found Somebody" and clearly wasn't appreciated enough by critics, but he kept the Deep Soul alive on this record.