Founded in 1965 by ex-Vee Jay president Randy Wood, L.A.-based Mirwood Records reigns among the definitive Northern soul labels. Creatively spearheaded by songwriter/producer Fred Smith and arranger James Carmichael, Mirwood enjoyed its greatest commercial success while still in its infancy via
Jackie Lee's "The Duck" -- never again would the label flirt with pop chart immortality, but Smith and Carmichael nevertheless went on to hone a distinctive style all their own, creating soul music that was both relentlessly energetic and sweetly sophisticated, topped off by trademark vibes that evoked the otherworldly beauty of a Pacific Ocean sunset. Kent's tremendous The Mirwood Soul Story compiles two dozen of the label's shining moments, records that were guaranteed crowd-pleasers at Northern soul clubs during the 1970s -- this is the real deal, an overview and a label both worthy of the tag "essential." Highlights include Richard Temple's "That Beating Rhythm" (a major favorite of Catacombs DJ Farmer Carl Dene), Bobby Garrett's "I Can't Get Away," and Jimmy Thomas' "Where There's a Will." ~ Jason Ankeny