San Francisco's top rare groove shop Groove Merchant turns 20 this year (quite an accomplishment for an independent record store these days!) and celebrates with this choice comp of soul and funk gems. These are the kind of tracks that are either on the wall or behind the counter (as stated on the title) and have been hand picked by Groove Merchant's Chris Veltri. Includes the beautiful, laid back soul of The McCrary's "Emerge," Ron Fontella's funky "Crystals" (with that killer break in the front), the sunny soul grooves of Twilight's "Straight To My Heart" and Numonics "You Lied," the chilled out sounds of September's "Stump," April Fulladosa's "Sunlit Horizon," and Arthur Foy's "Get Up And Dance," plus the upbeat sound of Round Robin's "Our Love Is So True" and Frankie Gee's "Date With The Rain." Serious quality from start to finish. 14 tracks, double vinyl, comes in gatefold cover with detailed liner notes from Michael McFadin, Oliver Wang, and Chris Veltri. Recommended

• music label: Ubiquity / 2010

reviewed by snackmaster 11/2010