Funky Collector No. 3

If you can excuse the ridiculous graphic design, the extensive Funky Collector series -- released by Active Music, under the French wing of Universal -- does an excellent job of tying together well over a hundred overlooked and often unfairly neglected funk and soul singles from the '70s and '80s. The majority of the tracks appear in club-oriented extended lengths, making the discs ideal for DJs and retired clubbers. It's an awesome series, but good luck tracking it down. Highlights of the third volume include Northend's "Happy Days" (Madonna's "Holiday" is indebted to this Arthur Baker-Tee Scott collaboration), Jermaine Jackson's "Burnin' Hot," Mystic Merlin's "Can't Stop Dancin'," Daybreak's "Everybody Get Off," and Windjammer's "Tossing and Turning."