Urban Classics Volume 1 is like an ultimate hit list for mid-80s soul music record collectors, a treasure trove of hip hop samples, and an example of the bizarre truth of the music industry that just because a record is very good, doesn’t mean it will be successful. Side 1 kicks off has a pair of songs now much loved on dance floors worldwide but which in ’87 were largely unknown, The Jackson Sisters “I Believe In Miracles” and Maceo & The Macks’ “Cross The Tracks,” and also includes the supreme, skeletal funk of Bobby Byrd’s “I Know You Got Soul,” James Brown’s equally spartan “Don’t Tell It,” Fred Wesley’s psychedelic acid-funk “Blow Your Head” and his smoother P-Funk era track “House Party.” Side 2 meanwhile has a slightly more soul flavour including Roy Ayers’ gently simmering anthem “Everybody Loves The Sunshine,” the honkytonk disco piano of Gregg Diamond’s “Hot Butterfly,” and La Toya Jackson’s funkiest moment “Camp Kuchi Kaiai.” Superb.