Many soul musicians in Durham never produced a record. Recording required money and access to a studio that many groups didn't have.  Almost every group that did record began with a 45-rpm single. These records featured a song on each side and were the least expensive and easiest to produce. 45s make up nearly the entire discography of Durham's known soul releases. A little over half of these records were produced by the dozen locally-owned labels in Durham, such as Bull City Sounds, Duplex, and Microtronics. Labels like these in medium-sized cities far away from the soul music hubs of New York, Detroit, and Philadelphia struggled to thrive. The most prolific of Durham's soul labels, Valle-Dalle, produced a mere three releases. Some local artists, such as Blue Steam, recorded with regional labels in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Only two Durham soul groups released records on national labels.  The Modulations' album It's Rough Out Here appeared on Buddah, and N.C.C.U.'s released their album Super Trick on United Artists.

 

Durham's soul, funk, and R&B groups recorded over 30 singles and three full-length albums.

One Real Band
It's Nice To Know There's Still… LP
(Orb DRP-7776; 1981)

Modulations
It's Rough Out Here LP
(Buddah BDS 5638; 1975)

N.C.C.U.
Super Trick LP
(United Artists UA-LA729-G; 1977)

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