If Pittsburgh singer Billy Price shopped the tapes of his most recent album, then surely they're collecting dust on various executive desks, having never been heard. If they'd been shopped and listened to, a bidding war would have erupted because Soul Collection (Green Dolphin) is one of the best records of its kind in ages. Price, who recorded with Roy Buchanan in the 70s and has a slew of self-released solo albums under his belt, has explored and expounded upon his soul influences here. The "collection" contains 16 interpretations from the pens of lesser known, but highly regarded writers like Syl Johnson, James Carr, and Arthur Alexander. The songs presented are striking for a number of reasons. They're hits, but not the obvious ones. These are the tunes buried in your consciousness, brought to life by a large, impeccable group of musicians behind a guy that really feels it. Price is a great singer. The pleading "Your Time to Cry," the tender "I Betcha Didn't Know That," and the rave-up "I Can't Stand It" are all conveyed with precision and taste. No one goes through the motions here. O.V. Wright's galloping "Gonna Forget About You" is graced with backing vocals by the great Otis Clay, the sole "star" guest. Sublime backing vocals are all over the album in fact, one of the necessary components of any great soul performance. The production is crisp, clean, and wide-open; the program is well paced. Soul Collection is a "must-have" hour's worth of majestic soul music.