The latest , so far , of our compilation series that grabs rare and collectable funk cuts from around the US and sequences them with an eye for the spectacular. Volume 4 had many great + collectable tunes on it. It opened with the brilliant Billy Garner tune 'I Got Some', from master tape, unlike the bootlegs. This is followed by the highly sought-after 'Deep Soul' by Ron Buford and also features the rare funk classic 'Party and Don't Worry Bout It' by the New Jersey Queens. Chet Ivey, the Soulsetters, E Rodney Jones and a bunch more sought-after 45s are collected alongside an incredible unreleased vesion of 'Get Me Back On Time, Engine # 9' by the National Soul Review. This is hot stuff.

Every now and then we like to give some of our favourite labels a funk once-over, with Stax we gave it a twice-over. This compilation simply crackles with high level funk electricty. From its opening salvo of Lee Sain's 'She's My Old Lady Too' it never lets up its sheer level of excitement. Rufus Thomas gets nasty with 'Funky Hot Grits', Mable John takes on Ashford and Simpson's 'Running Out' and Little Sonny invents funk harmonica on 'Eli's Pork Chop'. For those who thought that Kim Weston was a sweet Detroit soulstress 'Brothers And Sisters Get It Together' shows she can get down.

Obscure and collectable funk albums, sought after by hordes of aficionados are scattered all around the Ace catalogue, on BGP, Southbound and Stax. This is a very special recording that sees ska pioneer Malcolm collaborating with jazz legend Ahmad Jamal in New York. The result is a gritty slice of street funk.

This album defined the Fatback band as one of the finest purveyors of mid-70s New York street funk. Tracks like 'Wicky Wacky' , a big influence on reggae , 'Keep On Steppin'' and 'Mr Bass Man' would cost you an arm and a leg if they were by an obscure band on a tiny label. Southbound's catalogue contains all the Fatback Band's recordings made for the Spring and Event labels, as well as a wonderful collection of the recordings from Fatback founder Bill Curtis' own Fatback label on Kent. The Fatback Band still regularly play gigs all over the world, which cook furiously , catch them whenever you can.

This isn't part of any series, but is a kicking slice of the sort of black music that was being made in Louisiana from the late 60s through the 70s. Highlights include the £1000 rarity 'One Day' by Tabby Thomas and the wonderful soul sound of Johnny Truitt's 'No Sad Times' Not to say that a line up that includes brilliance by the likes of Chester Randle's Soul Senders, African Music Machine, Eddie Giles or the scarey 'Hell Or High Water' by Katie Webster doesn't have a lot more going for it. Special.