A Little Soul Party, released in 1999 by the U.K.-based Almafame, is a two-disc set that combines
the Ohio Players' first album,
Observations in Time, with a set of early recordings originally issued as
First Impressions. Prior to becoming a rock-solid funk band,
the Ohio Players were more like a Stax act that made tough but sensitive Southern soul. The difference between "Bad Bargain" -- a highlight here -- and "Skin Tight," for instance, is enormous. Southern soul freaks should enjoy this, while fans of
the Ohio Players' peak '70s hits might not. Regardless, this material deserves to be in circulation.