VA – The Tabu Records Box Set (2014)

After more than a year of reissues of the Tabu Records catalogue by Edsel - reissues that have been relatively lavish but particularly divisive for their occasional lapses in audio quality – the label has prepped a thorough career-spanning box set.
The Tabu Records Box Set is a 6CD affair collecting tracks from all of the label’s major releases between 1977 and 1991. Each disc will be broken down by theme; the first focuses on early soul albums by the likes of The S.O.S. Band and Brainstorm plus more left-of-center instrumental albums by Manfredo Fest and noted composer Lalo Schifrin. (Some of these tracks, particularly those by Schifrin, have not been celebrated with individual reissues, making their inclusion a particular treat.) Disc 2 highlights dance tracks…

320 kbps | 1.07 GB | UL | FS | RG ** FLAC

…from that early era (“Lovin’ is Really My Game,” “Groovin’ (That’s What We’re Doin’)”) while Disc 3 showcases the romantic side of the label’s roster.

Discs 4 and 5 highlight Tabu’s biggest peak in the ’80s, when producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, formerly of The Time, set up shop as writers/producers for Alexander O’Neal, Cherrelle and The S.O.S. Band. Hits like “Just Be Good to Me,” “Never Knew Love Like This,” “Saturday Love” and “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” blossomed from this period. The set closes with some of the lesser-known acts from the label’s twilight years, including Demetrius Perry, Kathy Mathis and Rhonda Clark.

Disc 1: Introducing Tabu

1. Wake Up and Be Somebody – Brainstorm
2. No One Home – Lalo Schifrin
3. Take Your Time (Do It Right) – The S.O.S. Band
4. Universal Love – Woods Empire
5. Jungle Kitten – Manfredo Fest
6. Changin’ – (Ms.) Sharon Ridley
7. Middle of the Night – Lalo Schifrin
8. Waiting for Someone – Brainstorm
9. Are You Ready? – The S.O.S. Band
10. Full Moon – (Ms.) Sharon Ridley
11. Enchanted Flame – Lalo Schifrin
12. Stormin’ – Brainstorm
13. Koko and Leeroe – Manfredo Fest
14. Guess I’m Gonna Have to Say Goodbye – (Ms.) Sharon Ridley
15. Journey to the Light – Brainstorm

Disc 2: At the Dance

1. S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dat Dat Dat Dit Dit Dit) – The S.O.S. Band
2. Lovin’ is Really My Game – Brainstorm
3. Sweet Delight (Special Mix) – Woods Empire
4. Groovin’ (That’s What We’re Doin’) – The S.O.S. Band
5. Knock Down the Walls – General Caine
6. Sister Fine – Lamont Johnson
7. Can’t Get Enough – The S.O.S. Band
8. Your Unchanging Love – Anacostia
9. Oh Darlin’…Life Goes On – Lalo Schifrin
10. Girls – General Caine
11. Love Won’t Wait for Love – The S.O.S. Band
12. Who Needs It – Manfredo Fest
13. Hangin’ On – Brainstorm
14. Looking for You – The S.O.S. Band
15. Hot for You – Brainstorm

Disc 3: Romancing & Mellow Grooves

1. If You Were Here Tonight – Alexander O’Neal
2. I Will Wait for You – Cherrelle
3. This Must Be Heaven – Lamont Johnson
4. Loving Just You – Brainstorm
5. Memory of Love – Lalo Schifrin
6. Do You Wanna Like I Do – Alexander O’Neal
7. Upside Down – General Caine
8. What’s Wrong with Our Love Affair? – The S.O.S. Band
9. Easy Come, Easy Go – Lamont Johnson
10. Destiny – Woods Empire
11. Ain’t Nothing to It – Anacostia
12. Just You and Me – (Ms.) Sharon Ridley
13. Look At Us Now – Alexander O’Neal
14. Stay with Me – Cherrelle
15. You Put a Change in My Life – Brainstorm
16. I Need You Now – Cherrelle
17. All for You – Anacostia

Disc 4: The Jam & Lewis Sessions

1. High Hopes – The S.O.S. Band
2. What’s Missing – Alexander O’Neal
3. I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On – Cherrelle
4. Just Be Good to Me – The S.O.S. Band
5. Saturday Love – Cherrelle & Alexander O’Neal
6. Never Knew Love Like This – Alexander O’Neal & Cherrelle
7. No One’s Gonna Love You – The S.O.S. Band
8. Weekend Girl – The S.O.S. Band
9. When You Look in My Eyes – Cherrelle
10. A Broken Heart Can Mend – Alexander O’Neal
11. Tell Me If You Still Care – The S.O.S. Band
12. Will You Satisfy? (Remix) – Cherrelle
13. Just the Way You Like It – The S.O.S. Band

Disc 5: Jam & Lewis and Beyond

1. The Finest – The S.O.S. Band
2. What is This Thing Called Love? – Alexander O’Neal
3. Keep It Inside – Cherrelle
4. Fake ’88 (Remix) – Alexander O’Neal
5. One of Many Nights – The S.O.S. Band
6. The Lovers – Alexander O’Neal
7. Sands of Time – The S.O.S. Band
8. Can-Do Can-Do (Anything for You) – Demetrius Perry
9. (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me – Alexander O’Neal
10. State of Attraction – Rhonda Clark
11. Thin Line – Kathy Mathis
12. Just What I’ve Been Missing – James Robinson
13. Automatic Stop & Go – Kathy Mathis
14. Criticize – Alexander O’Neal
15. Love Festival – Kathy Mathis
16. Another World – Demetrius Perry
17. Sunshine – Alexander O’Neal

Disc 6: The Final Years

1. Still in Love with You – Cherrelle
2. Feeling – The S.O.S. Band
3. Everything I Miss At Home – Cherrelle & Alexander O’Neal
4. Can We Do It Again – James Robinson
5. Separate Ways – Mary Davis
6. Lady – Alexander O’Neal
7. You’re My Everything (feat. Chuck Howard) – Rhonda Clark
8. Can’t Explain – The S.O.S. Band
9. Tears of Joy – Cherrelle
10. Guilty - James Robinson
11. Sentimental – Alexander O’Neal
12. Broken Promises - The S.O.S. Band
13. Breathless – Demetrius Perry
14. Now That You’re Gone – Kathy Mathis
15. My Gift to You – Alexander O’Neal
16. We’re On Our Way Home (Part 1) – Brainstorm