Steve Ferrone

Average White Band are widely and rightly regarded as one of the best ever soul and funk bands. Although probably best known for their global hit, the US #1 single ‘Pick Up The Pieces’, this extensive anthology delves back into their musical history, from the early sessions in 1971, right up to the most recent studio album released this millennium. ‘All The Pieces…’ features the band’s entire catalogue of recorded material on a 19CD box set, which includes all of the original studio albums (and ‘spoilers’ ‘Put It Where You Want It’ and ‘Volume VIII’) in mini-vinyl replica wallets, alternate versions and selected mixes, in this 172-track collection…

Israeli pop singer Noa (aka Achinoam Nini) is a beautiful woman who creates beautiful music. She wrote or co-wrote all 11 tracks on this impressive set, including her lyrical interpretation of "Ave Maria" (it's impressive to claim Bach as a co-writer). Of course, it doesn't hurt to have members of the Pat Metheny Group accompanying you…

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens; March 23, 1953), frequently known as the "Queen of Funk", is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and as a solo performer, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing" which she wrote for her then husband Richard Holland, "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".

Clapton Chronicles ignores Eric Clapton's 1983 Reprise debut, Money and Cigarettes (which sounded more like an RSO album, anyway), starting with the pair of Phil Collins-produced mid-'80s albums, Behind the Sun and August. Though these had a pop sheen, they were album rock holdovers. Clapton didn't get the balance between hard rock and commercial gloss right until 1989's Journeyman, whose featured songs – "Before You Accuse Me," "Bad Love," and "Pretending" – form the heart of this compilation. Journeyman was overshadowed by the phenomenal success of "Tears in Heaven" and 1992's Unplugged…

Bunny Brunel and Stanley Clarke make their presence know on all of the songs on Bass Ball. The two virtuosos (Bunny and Stanley) have very distinctive playing and soloing styles, making it easy to guess who's playing what on the album. In the liner notes, "Bass Ball" carefully outlines each bass player's part. However, If you know your bass players, you'll no trouble identifying these iconic players.

"Robbery" is the fifth album by Teena Marie, released in 1983. It is her first album for Epic Records, following her acrimonious departure from Motown the previous year. The album was written and produced by Marie herself and features contributions from Patrice Rushen, Paulinho da Costa, and Steve Ferrone among others. However, the album did not repeat the success of her last Motown release It Must Be Magic, stalling at #13 on the Black Albums chart and only reaching #119 on the Billboard Albums chart.

Love All The Hurt Away is an Aretha Franklin album, the singer's second release for Arista Records. Aretha's cover version of Sam & Dave's classic hit "Hold On! I'm Coming" won Franklin her 11th Grammy Award in the Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female category. It was her first Grammy win since 1974.

Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine is a 1986 solo album by Daryl Hall. The album features his only Top 10 solo single, "Dreamtime", which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single, "Foolish Pride", reached the Top 40, peaking at #33.