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An American psychedelic classic from mid 70s Baltimore – awash in heavy fuzz and lots of electric effects! Jungle Rot has a raw, earnest quality that few other records can match – perhaps the first albums by MC5 or The Stooges – or the very first EP by Pussy Galore – but it's also very much its own animal, as is most music that's come out of Baltimore over the years! Brigman's guitar is recorded here with lots of pedals, effects, and echo – all very spaced out and trippy, and sounding a lot more late 60s than you'd guess from the date of the record. The tunes are often simple and straightforward – and sometimes slightly bluesy underneath all the fuzz – and the vocals are wonderfully abstracted in all that echo, coming out almost like Alan Vega on the first Suicide album. Titles include "Jungle Rot", "DMT"," Don't Bother Me", "Schoolgirl", "I Feel Alright", "Worrying", and "It's Misery".

The first great, label-spanning compilation of great 50s & 60s tracks by a variety of artists with some little in common in some cases, but share at least one unbreakable bond – they recorded these tracks with the incredible James Burton on guitar! It's got fiery, pivotal rockabilly Dale Hawkins and Bob Luman, pop takeover numbers by Ricky Nelson, rustic charisma from Lee Hazlewood, benchmark honky tonk from Merle Haggard, harmony country rock from Buffalo Springfield and much more – including numbers credited to James Burton himself and with Ralph Mooney. Includes "Susie-Q" by Dale Hawkins, "Red Hot" by Bob Luman, "Cannonball Rag" by James Burton, "Blood From A Stone" by Ricky Nelson, "A Child's Claim To Fame" by Buffalo Springfield, "Swamp Surfer" by Jimmy Dobro, "Someday, Someday" by The Shindogs, "Just For A While" by Carol Williams, "Tryin' To Be Someone" by David & Lee and more.

Early genius from The Carpenters – a really tremendous little album, and one that's quite different than their soft rock hits of the 70s! There's a plenty playful feel to the set – energy that comes right off the best Sunshine Pop of late 60s A&M Records – to which this album is a perfect link – a mode in which the studio's as much a part of the sound as Richard and Karen's own contributions – wrapped up with a heavenly approach by producer Jack Daugherty. Tunes are simpler, sometimes more personal – and there's lots of nice basic music touches along the way – a piano here, sweet keyboard there, some gentle drums, and more – all to make the music sound totally groovy! If you've ever heard the Roger Nichols music for A&M, and wondered how he could have such a later link to this pair, this is the album to show you the way. Titles include "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing", "Your Wonderful Parade", "Turn Away", "All Of My Life", "Ticket To Ride", "Don't Be Afraid", "What's The Use", and "Someday".

One of those great examples of a wildly successful songwriter recording a terrific album of his own, but not connecting with the pop consciousness – which is shame, because Roger James Cooke's Study is, well, a study in wonderful late 60s songcraft! Cook was actually no stranger to performing, having scored a hit with Roger Greenaway as David & Jonathan – but this solid Columbia album really deserves a bigger audience. Titles include "Primrose Jill", "Black Paper Roses", "Teresa", "Something", "Ellie", "Today I Killed A Man I Didn't Know", "My Home City", "Stop" and more. This great CD version from RPM has 11 bonus tracks: late 60s and early 70s singles and B-Sides including "I'm Burning", "Paper Chase", "Someday", "Anticipation Grow", "People I've Gotta Dream" and more.

A second sublime set from Ruth Copeland – a funky female singer from the Detroit scene of the early 70s, with key ties to the P-Funk universe, and a unique groove that mixes singer/songwriter modes with the fuzzier funkier elements of artists like Betty Davis or Yvonne Fair! There's a bit more emphasis on soul here than the funk of Copeland's previous efforts – but in a way that makes for an even more impressive record overall, especially when you realize that Ruth arranged and produced the whole thing. George Clinton and Eddie Hazel both had a hand in co-writing songs with Copeland – and instrumentation features Hazel on guitar, plus Bernie Worrell on piano – so there's still a key P-Funk link. Titles include the breakbeat track "Suburban Family Lament", the fuzzy stoner funk number "Don't You Wish You Had", and covers of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and "Play With Fire" – plus "Crying Has Made Me Stronger", "Hare Krishna", and "The Medal". CD features bonus single versions of "Hare Krishna" and "Gimme Shelter".

A killer 2CD set – both of the Ruth Copeland albums for Invictus – plus bonus tracks too! First up is Self Portrait – a surprisingly groovy little set, and one of a few outings cut by singer Ruth Copeland – kind of an enigmatic figure in the early P-Funk years! The approach here is more rock than soul, but there's definitely some funky undercurrents too – of the sort that have always made Copeland a favorite with break freaks over the years – thanks to help on the album from Dennis Coffey, Eddie Hazel, Bernie Worrell, and George Clinton! Ruth arranged, performed, and produced the core part of the album herself – but the production style is surprisingly strong – with a use of space and strings that almost shows a bit of Axelrod influence at times, although more skewed towards the Detroit soul scene that Copeland called home. Titles include the classic "Your Love Been So Good To Me", which starts with a very fuzzy electric break, and "I Got a Thing For You Daddy", which has some great spacey guitars on the intro – plus "Child of the North", "No Commitment", "A Gift of Me", and "The Music Box". I Am What I Am is a second sublime set from Ruth Copeland! There's a bit more emphasis on soul here than the funk of Copeland's previous efforts – but in a way that makes for an even more impressive record overall, especially when you realize that Ruth arranged and produced the whole thing. George Clinton and Eddie Hazel both had a hand in co-writing songs with Copeland – and instrumentation features Hazel on guitar, plus Bernie Worrell on piano – so there's still a key P-Funk link. Titles include the breakbeat track "Suburban Family Lament", the fuzzy stoner funk number "Don't You Wish You Had", and covers of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and "Play With Fire" – plus "Crying Has Made Me Stronger", "Hare Krishna", and "The Medal". Bonus tracks include single versions of "Hare Krishna", "Gimme Shelter", "The Music Box", "A Gift Of Me", and "No Commitment".

Beautiful stuff from singer Diana Darby – one of our favorite voices in the indie folk landscape! There's a hushed tone to Diana's voice that softens some fairly heavy lyricism – on personal songs that manage to speak the plain, sometimes harsh truths of love and spirituality with a fragile, hypnotic beauty. She accompanies herself on guitar, and the other instrumentation is as subtle and strong as her singing and songcraft – with light percussion, cello, bass, pedal steel, banjo and sax. Diana has been with Delmore Recordings for over a decade now – the label that's doing the world such a service by unearthing archival Karen Dalton – and it's great to hear new music on Delmore that'll truly stand the test of time just as strongly! Includes "Looking For Trouble", "Snow Cover Me", "If Love", "Spinning", "Buttercup", "Oh Butterfly", "Ugly Little Toad", "Heaven", "The Alphabet", "Elena", "Little One" and "Talking To God".

Beautiful stuff from singer Diana Darby – one of our favorite voices in the indie folk landscape! There's a hushed tone to Diana's voice that softens some fairly heavy lyricism – on personal songs that manage to speak the plain, sometimes harsh truths of love and spirituality with a fragile, hypnotic beauty. She accompanies herself on guitar, and the other instrumentation is as subtle and strong as her singing and songcraft – with light percussion, cello, bass, pedal steel, banjo and sax. Diana has been with Delmore Recordings for over a decade now – the label that's doing the world such a service by unearthing archival Karen Dalton – and it's great to hear new music on Delmore that'll truly stand the test of time just as strongly! Includes "Looking For Trouble", "Snow Cover Me", "If Love", "Spinning", "Buttercup", "Oh Butterfly", "Ugly Little Toad", "Heaven", "The Alphabet", "Elena", "Little One" and "Talking To God".

A definite hard attack from Dust – a set that really lives up to its Frank Frazetta cover image at the best moments – but also has some surprising acoustic elements, too! Dust are way more than just the usual hard rock trio of the early 70s – as they mix in pedal steel and acoustic guitar with their fuzz and heavy drums – creating a complexity that you'd expect much more from a prog group, even though these guys have the tighter focus of some of the fiercest power trios of their generation! The mix of modes is great, and really gives the songs some depth – with gentle vocals that offset the fiercer ones – and titles include "Pull Away/So Many Times", "Learning To Die", "All In All", "Ivory", "I Been Thinkin", "How Many Horses", and "Suicide".

A comprehensive anthology of The Electric Prunes singles for Reprise – all in their original mono mixes – and a long overdue collection! We've been spinning and loving the Electric Prunes albums for so long, we're actually quite guilty of overlooking just how succinctly and sharply brilliant they are as a singles band! That alone makes this strong set on Real Gone worthwhile, but the tight, punchy mono mixes seal the deal! All of the great singles are here – from their early garage-psych gems to the trippier, though still tightly-grooving tunes towards the end of the decade – plus a groovy radio spot for the Vox Wah Wah Pedal! Includes "Ain't It Hard", "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)", "Luvin'", "Dr. Do-Good", "The Great Banana Hoax", "Credos", "Shadow", "Violent Rose", "Sell", "Love Grows", "The Adoration", "Help Us (Father, Our King)", "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers", "Sanctus", ""Flowing Smoothly" and more. 24 tracks in all.

An incredible concept album from the end of the 60s – the only set we've ever seen by The Family Tree, but a record of baroque brilliance that sits beautifully with some of the best of its generation! The session was recorded at the same time as Nilsson's classic Aerial Ballet – with the same arranger, producer, studio, and session musicians – and it's got a similarly spacious feel that goes way beyond conventional pop. George Tipton's backings are simply breathtaking – a majestic filling out of the group's initial ideas for the record, blending core Sunshine Pop tunes with strings, horns, piano lines, and more – all produced to perfection. Titles include "Birthday/Dirgeday", "Sideshow", "Any Other Baby", "Simple Life", "Slippin Thru My Fingers", "Lesson Book Life", "Nine To Three", "Miss Butters", and "The Underture". CD also features the bonus tracks "Keepin A Secret", "Do You Have The Time", "She Had To Fly", and "He Spins Around".

A really joyous groove from Michel Fugain and his Big Bazar group – a sound that's a bit hard to describe, but which really grabs us right away! There's definitely some groovy rhythms going on in the set – and the style is kind of an updated French pop mode from the late 60s – swinging in a way that absorbs plenty of influences from the outside scenes, particularly some Brazilian ones – but with a sound that's definitely French all the way through. Fugain's vocals are in the lead, often supported by a chorus – and the backings by Jean Bouchety have this really cool soundtrack feel at points – especially when the rhythms are upbeat and grooving. Titles include "Allez Bouge-Toi", "Attention Mesdames Et Messieurs", "Notre Societe", "Les Gens Irremplacables", "Leda Leda", and "L'Arche De Noe".

An excellent record from Hiss Golden Messenger – who blend rootsy, but freewheeling instrumentation with artful, ambitious songwriting – and they're one of the most creative groups around making brilliantly original music that still hold true to southern folk and roots history The anchors are singer/guitarist/mandolin player MC Taylor and guitar and bass player Scott Hirsch – but the music is fleshed out by a large group of great musicians on a diverse list of instruments – piano, Rhodes and Hammond on the keyboards spectrum, banjo, fiddle, pedal steel and and array of acoustic and electric strings, sax and more. In a way, it's the mix of traditional reverence and straight up newness is reminiscent of The Band in the late 60s and early 70s – but they ultimately have a vibe all their own. Includes "Red Rose Nantahala", "Sufferer (Love My Conqueror)", "I've Got A Name For The Newborn Child", "Devotion", "Hat Of Rain", "The Serpent Is Kind (Compared To Man)", "Cheerwine Easter", "Busted Note", "What Shall Be (Shall Be Enough)".

An excellent record from Hiss Golden Messenger – who blend rootsy, but freewheeling instrumentation with artful, ambitious songwriting – and they're one of the most creative groups around making brilliantly original music that still hold true to southern folk and roots history The anchors are singer/guitarist/mandolin player MC Taylor and guitar and bass player Scott Hirsch – but the music is fleshed out by a large group of great musicians on a diverse list of instruments – piano, Rhodes and Hammond on the keyboards spectrum, banjo, fiddle, pedal steel and and array of acoustic and electric strings, sax and more. In a way, it's the mix of traditional reverence and straight up newness is reminiscent of The Band in the late 60s and early 70s – but they ultimately have a vibe all their own. Includes "Red Rose Nantahala", "Sufferer (Love My Conqueror)", "I've Got A Name For The Newborn Child", "Devotion", "Hat Of Rain", "The Serpent Is Kind (Compared To Man)", "Cheerwine Easter", "Busted Note", "What Shall Be (Shall Be Enough)".

Post-Monkees work from Mike – and a pretty sweet record, too! That twang that was always in the background comes forth nicely – and the set has some nice pedal steel and piano, too.

Landmark early recordings by Phil Ochs – the demos that predate his first album, which were recorded live to reel-to-reel, many with spoken intros – and he's clear-toned and strident as ever here! It's remarkable stuff, and a even a bit chilling now, given how relevent so many Phil's songs even decades later– as topical as they were at the time, the struggles at their core go on and on. However you feel about his views, there's just no denying the strength and passion, and he's as charming as he is righteous here. Some songs ended up being recorded professionally for later albums, but a good deal of it is didn't appear until after Phil passed away. 25 in all: "The AMA Song", "The Ballad Of Davey Moore", "On My Way", "Lou Walsh", "Hazard, Kentucky", "I'll Be There", "The Power And The Glory", "How Long", "Bobby Dylan Record", "Talking Airplane Disaster", "Spanish Lament", "Don't Try Again" and more.

Important work from European electronic genius Bernard Parmegiani – an artist who works here in a relatively academic setting, but also manages to hit with the power of the industrial generation to come! Parmegiani really has a way with noisy sounds – and although some moments here are spare and spacey, others have this bold texture that draws a real link between the earlier work of Iannis Xenakis and some of the more homegrown sounds later artists. The album features two important longform works – "L'Oeil Ecoute (The Eye Is Listening)" and "Dedans Dehors (Inside Outside)" – on heavy vinyl, with notes in English and French!

Complicated and folksy work from Quintal De Clorofila – aka Garden Of Chlorophyll – the duo of Negendre and Dimitri Arbo, singing together and working on an assortment of instruments that include acoustic guitars, casio keyboard, bandolim, microharp, soprano sax, flute, and lots of percussion! The style is as unusual as the group's name and presentation – but almost has as many echoes of other South American folk as it does more familiar work from Brazil – and although the record was cut in the early 80s, it's got an incredibly earthy tone, and sounds much more like some lost acid folk set from the late 60s! Titles include "As Alamedas", "Jornada", "Drakkars", "Liverpool", "Jardim Das Delicais", "Balada Da Ausencia", and "O Ultimo Cigano". CD features 2 bonus tracks too!

Mid-to-late 60s Michigan rock from The Rationals – taking bit of both Mersey Beat and midwestern US rock and r&b influences into a mix of tunefulness and rugged, garagey rock – well worth the full on 2CD anthology treatment! A mix of sweetness and grit, with raw, rollicking guitar, bass & drums, and vocals that roll from a howl to a coo. 34 tracks on 2CDs, compiling singles from the 1965-1968, with a slew of previously unreleased recordings from the era! Titles include "Feelin Lost", "Someday", "Gave Me Love", "Turn On", "Irrational", "Respect", "Hold On Baby", "I Gotta Go Now", "You Got It Made", "Sunset", "Part Time Love" and much more.

A killer EP from Royal Trux – released after the classic Accelerator album – with an altogether different, yet equally great vibe! Includes 2 shorter cuts with a longer middle piece, and to the Trux eternal credit, it's a unique little gem and completely vital piece of their catalog. "Deafer Than Bland" sounds like a swaggery, subterranean Stones-y soul rocker with the wheels just about to come off, with some of the clearer Herrema & Hagerty traded vocals in their canon. "The United States Vs One 1974 Cadillac El Dorado Sedan" is as epic as the title and "Run, Shaker Life" is the perfectly shambling closer.

Gentle, timeless folk songcraft from Cali singer/songwriter Mariee Sioux – lovely, lilting material rooted in the psych folk sound of the west coast at the end of the 60s/start of the 70s – though she also sounds right at home in the contemporary indie landscape! Acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass, a bit of pedal steel and some delicate keys and synth deliver the sound, though it's the angelic vocals and deft harmonies that really make the album the charmer that it is! Includes "Homepathic", "Ghosts In My Heart", "Old Magic", "Icarus Eye", "Swimming Through Stone", "White Fanged Foreverness", "Twin Song" and "Tule".

The collected mid 70s psych/prog/funk rock of Benny Soebardja – a beacon from the Indonesian scene and for underground rock the world over – with nearly all of the material from his 3 great albums with his Lizard group! The Lizard Years is made up of tracks from the albums Lizard, Gut Rock and Night Train LPs – at a time when Benny was veteran of the regional scene with the groups Giant Step, The Peels and Shark Move – stepping out front and backed by an incredible group of musicians going by the name Lizard. The music is tripped out, though accessible – with guitars ranging from proggy to funky, spacey keys and quite a bit of flute – nicely sung by Benny, in English, and with a really unique vibe that sweeps you right in! We were introduced to Benny's style of this period via Now Again's Those Shocking, Shaking Days comp – and it's great to have such a sprawling collection here – complete with a great booklet that puts it all in perspective. 30 tracks on 2CDs: "18 Years Old", "Come Closer", "Crime", "In 1965", "Sunny Day", "Cynthia", "Candle Light", "The Advantage Of Music In Me", "Circle Of Love", "The End Of The World", "Someday", "I'm Still In Luv Wit Ya'", "Gut Rock", "Night Train", "Stroll On", "Talked About My Girl", "Woman Of Desire", "Struggle For Life", "A Signal From Outer Space" and more.

Pulp psychedelia from the vaults of Barcelona's Belter Records label – classified as the "Cradle Of Spanish Pop" – but collected here from the era of post psychedelic exploitation! The set includes heady covers/reworkings of Stones, Bowie, Quincy Jones and others, heady stoner funk rock and freaked out cosmic pop – all in the leftfield tradition of the best Finders Keepers comps. On top of the covers, there's a trippy take on the theme from the American cop show Ironside, a string flavored pulp pop number from a star of Vampyros Lesbos and more! Includes "La Verdad" by Soledad Miranda (of Vampyros Lesbos fame), "Tocata Y Fug" by Fusioon, "Furia" by Furia, "Cambio" by Huracanes, "En Mi Mube (Get Off My Cloud)" by Sonya, "El Juego Del Amor" by The Brisk, "Jefe Ironside" by Los Mismos, "Veo Visions" by Los Gritos, "Zorongo" by Alfonso Santisteban, "Space Oddity" by Hermanos Calatrava and more.

Dancefloor treasures from Factory Records – avant disco classics and underground club tunes from the earlier year of the legendary label – compiled by Strut! Peter Saville of DJHistory.com assembled this great collection of 12-inch classics – with great tracks by Section 25, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Quando Quango, X-O-Dus, Marcell King and more. Incredible, ageless and fiercely creative dancefloor material from that creatively fertile post-punk disco era on through the mid 80s! Includes "Looking For A Hilltop (Megamix)" by Section 25, "Wild Party" by A Certain Ratio, "Puppeteer" by Blurt, "Time" by Minny Pops, "Dirty Disco" by Section 25, "For Belgian Friends" by The Durutti Column, "Reach For Love" by Marcel King, "Cool As Ice (Restructured By John "Jellybean" Benitez), "See Them A'Come" by X-O-Dus, "Smiling Monarchs" by Abecedarians and more. CD version has 24 tracks on 2CDs.

A totally cool little compilation – kind of the sonic equivalent of a night at the drive-in movies! The package digs through some really raunchy exploitation rock of the 60s – gritty garage tracks, freaky exotic numbers, and other rough-edged gems – then mixes the music with rare horror film trailers and movie dialogue from the time – creating a combination that's totally out of this world! There's a creepy feel to the whole thing – an edgey sensibility that goes way beyond the novelty mode you might expect – and which really gets at the eerie undercurrent that lingered in the farther reaches of film production during these glory days. The collection was first cooked up two decades ago, but it's just as powerful today – a must for any fan of the Norton, Kicks, Svengoolie, or Roctober side of the spectrum! Titles include "Shook Out Of Shape" by Carol Kay & The Stone Tones, "You Is A Rat Pfink" by Ron Haydock & The Boppers, "Twist Fever" by Arch Hall & The Archers, "The Lemon Grove Kids" by Don Snyder & Pee Wee Flyn, "The Bird's The Word" by Rocky Roberts & The Airedales, "She Devils Instrumental" by R Lewis Band, and lots more great stuff – including trailers from Girls From SIN, Maniacs Are Loose, Thrill Killers, Strange Rampage, Hypnovista, and lots more weird movies!

Pre-Voidoids and Pre-Ramones hard rock band featuring Marc Bell, aka Marky Ramone – with their self-titled and Hard Attack records – together in a 2LP set! Dust's 1971 is a mix of pummeling, though accessible rockers and a suprising bluesy and psych folk nod here and there – particular in the slide guitar and pedal steel of Kenny Aarronson. It features a mix of those and pummeling rockers – with drums that are way faster than Marc would play after changing his persona to Marky! Titles include "Stone Woman", "Chasin' Ladies", "Love Me Hard", "From A Dry Camel" and more. The follow up Hard Attack – as the the title indicates – streamlines the approach a bit into more of a straight up hard rocking style. Titles include "Pull Away/So Many Times", "Learning To Die", "All In All", "Ivory", "I Been Thinkin", "How Many Horses", and "Suicide".

The earliest roots of one of the greatest blue eyed soul acts ever – material recorded in Philadelphia by a young Daryl Hall and John Oates! The work here even predates the pair's first few excellent Atlantic albums – and is done in a similar stripped-down mode – partly soul, partly singer-songwriter – bridging the earlier roots of both artists in soul-styled vocal groups, but pointing the way towards the bigger market of the 70s.

A classic greatest hits package from The Who – one that had almost as much life as any of their major full length albums, and a set that served to re-introduce new audiences to the group after the success of Tommy and Who's Next! Most of the tracks here predate those albums – pulled from the group's earliest years, and awash in mod rhythms, tight guitars, and lyrics that are quite edgey – even in the format of a two-minute pop tune. Titles include "Boris The Spider", "Happy Jack", "Pictures Of Lily", "My Generation", "The Seeker", "I Can't Explain", "The Kids Are Alright", "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere", "A Legal Matter", "Substitute", "I'm A Boy", and "Pinball Wizard".

The first Chicago album – presented here in all its jazzy brilliance! Back in the day, we used to wince when we heard these guys – but over the years, thanks to much rediscovery of the band by groove hounds, we've really come to like their work a lot. This first album especially has some great moments – complicated jazzy bits that you might have forgotten about, and some surprisingly groovy material that sounds a lot better than you might remember! Includes the classics "Beginnings", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is", "Questions 67 & 68", and "Listen" – plus the tracks "Someday", "I'm A Man", "Free Form Guitar", and "Liberation".

The LA Turnaround from Brit folk tunesmith Bert Jansch – one of the few records he made for Charisma in the mid 70s – this one fresh from the break up of the seminal Pentangle! The UK folk sound is as noteable in Bert's voice as any other aspecet of this warm, wonderful set – but there's also some laidback, southern Cali sunshine in the acoustic picking as well as the more fleshed out instrumentation, with some electric bass, pedal steel and electric piano that shows up when the mood strikes. A really wonderful record, produced by Mike Nesmith, who often a part of some pretty inspiring things when free of any creativitely stifling Monkee business! Titles include "Fresh As A Sweet Sunday Morning", "Chambertin", "Travelling Man", "Stone Monkey", "Needle Of Death", "Lady Nothing", "One For Jo", "Open Up The Watergate (Let The Sunshine In), "The Blacksmith" and more. Vinyl version includes a bonus CD 4 bonus tracks: alternate versions of "Open Up The Watergate", "The Blacksmith" and "One For Jo", plus "In The Bleak Midwinter, plus the CD is enhanced, featuring the 13+ minute behind the scenes "LA Turnaround. . .The Movie".

Beautiful modern pop from this enigmatic Swedish group who took their name from the legendary Polish soundtrack composer Krszytof Komeda! Their music is dreamy and wonderful – with bits of 60s pop filtered through a 90s sensibility, trimmed down through a post-punk adherence to simplicity – served up in a lovely little package. Titles include "Top Star", "Light O My Life", "More Is More", "Rocket Plane", and "New New No". First time on vinyl!

The 2 rare early 70s records from Lagger Blues Machine – Tanit and earlier Tanit Live together on CD! The group is a Belgian combo with some hazy, psychedelic blues in the guitars – but they're actually more of a psych-prog machine! There's a heavy atmosphere on par with some of the much more internationally-revered groups of the era – from Soft Machine to King Crimson – but Lagger Blues Machine stands up pretty strongly with the best of them! They deal in both fuzzed-out riffs and nimble guitar solos, some eerily melodic flute, organ and lumbering rhythms – with slow-building grooves and unpredictable changes. Great stuff! Includes "Symphonie 1 Ere Partie", "Darknessly", "Tanit", "Symphonie 2 Eme Partie" and "Born To Be Alone On A White Desert Island". The live album was actually recorded a couple years before the release of their studio album Tanit – and they're all the more raucous in a concert setting! There's a raw intensity and some fast playing here that's invigorating – the frenetic drums and manic guitars are incredible – but it doesn't overshadow the creative spirit or musical dexterity of the later studio album. 4 long-ish songs that show a heavier side of the group in a formative period! "Test About A Rehabilitating Personality", "Ode", "Mistake" and "Firedance".

Titles include "Bo Diddley", "Love The One You're With", "Let It Rock", "Jesse James", "Someday", and "Heavy Music".

A great assemblage of Billy Joe Shaver's excellent, overlooked 80s records for Columbia – from a time when most mainstream country was getting glossier and more cliched – and Billy was sticking to hardscrabble yet soulful outlaw roots! This 2CD set includes the complete I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday) and Billy Joe Shaver albums from '81 and '82 – which are among his best ever – plus the nearly as strong Salt Of The Earth from a few years later, and a non-LP bonus track. Titles include "Fit To Kill And Going Out In Style", "Blue Texas Waltz", "Ragged Old Truck", "I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal", "Bottom Dollar", "Old Five And Dimers Like Me", "Ride Me Down Easy", "Swwet Mama", Hardworkin' Man", "Devil Made Me Do It The First Time" (a newer and more electric version of his classic "Black Rose"), "Fun While It Lasted", "I Been To Georgia On A Fast Train", "Blue Texas Waltz", the B-side "Love You 'Till The Cows Come Home" and more. 31 tracks in all!

An amazing package – filled with loads of rare gems – all vintage vinyl nuggets from the enormous collection of The Cramps! Lux Interior and Poison Ivy are legendary record collectors – and have been digging in thrift stores, warehouses, and basements for many decades – filling a love of music that even predates the formation of their famous group – and which went onto inform the sounds they made on their own! Given that the duo were out there digging for many years before the rest of us, they've definitely gotten their hands on some amazing gems over the years – a good number of which are presented here in an ultra-cool 10" vinyl package – subtitled in ways that really give you an idea of the sounds – "ghoulish exotica", "lip-curling rock n roll", "crazy mixed up sounds", and "instrumental madness". Titles include "The Cave" by Gary Spider Webb, "Wild Man Walk" by The Ebonettes, "Mashed Potatoes" by Noble Watts, "Unitar Rock" by Willie Joe & His Unitar, "Jibba Jab" by Tic & Toc, "From The Top Of Your Guggle" by The Five Blobs, "Gang War" by Gene Maltais, "Sugar Doll" by Johnny Jay, "Bongo Beatin Beatnik" by Joe Hall & The Corvettes, and "Dragon Walk" by The Noblemen.

Sweet pop and soft rock from one of the greatest songwriting teams ever! Roger Nichols and Paul Williams may not be as familiar to you as Bacharach & David – or at least not as familiar as Paul Williams himself – but during the late 60s and early 70s, the pair emerged from the A&M studios as one of the greatest forces in LA songwriting! Both Nichols and Williams were hipper than the usual talents, and Nichols himself had recorded one of the greatest albums ever issued on A&M – and together, the pair managed to write some of the grooviest tunes ever to crack the mainstream as the 60s wore into the 70s. The songs here are touched with a great blend of California sun, hippie optimism, and love-burned realism – presented in a great array by a variety of pop and easy artists, making the set one of the greatest tributes to Nichols and Williams you could ever hope to hear! Titles include "The Drifter" by Heidi Bruhl, "Always You" by The Sundowners, "I Won't Last A Day Without You" by Paul Mauriat, "Someday Man" by The Casuals, "I Never Had It So Good" by Dobie Gray, "To Put Up With You" by The Sandpipers, "Talk It Over In The Morning" by Engelbert Humperdink, "Love So Fine" by Don Costa, "I Kept On Loving You" by Heaven Bound, "When Love Is Near" by The Original Caste, "Rainbow Connection" by Willie Nelson, and "No Love Today" by Michelle Phillips – plus "Travelling Boy" and "Rainy Days & Mondays" by Paul Williams, and "Let's Ride" and "The Drifter" by Roger Nichols.

Heavy fuzz from late 60s Brazil – a Tropicalia-era album, but one with a slightly more mainstream groove – one that mixes elements of regional music with psychedelic elements and bouncy, mod-styled backings! The approach is somewhat like the work going on over at EMI/Odeon during the time – although there's certainly a trippier side to the record as well, thanks to arrangements from Rogerio Duprat, Damiano Cozzela, and Julio Medagalia. There's a fair bit of groovers on the record – although in a somewhat offbeat mode – nestled nicely next to a few headier tunes that help balance out the whole set wonderfully. Titles include "Alegria Alegria", "Quem Sabe", "Que Maravilha", "Fossa Boboca", "Longe Do Tempo", "Pela Rua Da Praia", and "Vou Buscar Voce".

A great record with all the known recordings of the Sea-Ders (or Cedars) – a beat combo from mid-to-late 60s Lebanon – and a pretty much perfect mix of period rock & roll hooks and rhythms with Middle Eastern string buzz in place of a Stratocaster! The vocals are in English and the tunes are as catchy and accessible as can be – with either an electric bouzouki or oud bring the stringed heat – and it's a perfect fit! Includes "For Your Information", "Hide If You Want To Hide". "I Like The Way", "Thanks A Lot", "Better Loved", "Undecidedly", "'Cause I Do Care" and more. 8 tracks in all – and some nice back cover notes by Mike Stax of Ugly Things Magazine.

The legendary rock instrumentalists update their first hit song this killer set from '64 – and better it! Walk Don't Run Vol 2 is a peak period effort from The Ventures – with gritty, groovy covers that show their range as well as any of their early-to-mid 60s albums. Much more than surf rock band, though their surf rock songs are as great as any – with organ soul flavored numbers, proto-garage and psych stormers and more. This is the group in full stride, and in full recognition that they were at the top of their game. Includes "The House Of The Rising Sun", "Diamond Head", "Night Train", "Peach Fuzz", "Rap City", "Night Walk", "One Mint Julep", "Pedal Pusher", "The Creeper", "Stranger On The Shore" and more. 12 tracks in all.

The legendary rock instrumentalists update their first hit song this killer set from '64 – and better it! Walk Don't Run Vol 2 is a peak period effort from The Ventures – with gritty, groovy covers that show their range as well as any of their early-to-mid 60s albums. Much more than surf rock band, though their surf rock songs are as great as any – with organ soul flavored numbers, proto-garage and psych stormers and more. This is the group in full stride, and in full recognition that they were at the top of their game. Includes "The House Of The Rising Sun", "Diamond Head", "Night Train", "Peach Fuzz", "Rap City", "Night Walk", "One Mint Julep", "Pedal Pusher", "The Creeper", "Stranger On The Shore" and more. 12 tracks in all.

Dark tales from the mid-century American scene – a host of rare blues, folk, and country numbers that went onto become inspiration for a host of rockers in later years! The package is put together with a Mojo stamp of approval – and features the original recordings of tunes that are key roots for Bob Dylan, Led Zepplin, Ry Cooder, Johnny Cash, and others – some classics, others a fair bit more obscure – and brought together here with thoughtful notes by Dave Henderson of Mojo. Titles include "Cast Iron Arm" by Peanuts Wilson, "Vigilante Man" by Woody Guthrie, "Dying Crapshooter's Blues"by Blind Willie McTell, "John Hardy Was A Deperate Little Man" by The Carter Family, "Stack O Lee" by Mississippi John Hurt, "Banks Of The Ohio" by Bascom Lamar Lunsford, "Pretty Polly" by Dock Boggs, "Jesse James" by Almeda Riddle, "Prison Cell Blues" by Leroy Carr, "The Gallis Pole" by Leadbelly, "Ornie Wise" by GB Grayson, and "Miss Otis Regrets" by Ethel Waters.

A great collection of the classic pop-soul-rock songwriting of Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield – very well curated to show how far-reaching their talents are in writing across genres and styles – as well as to more simply play brilliantly as great collection of songs,purely iconic and relatively forgotten ones alike! It's got soul, pop vocal and proto rock icons – Connie Francis, Bobby Darin, The Everly Brothers, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Peggy Lee, Ben E King, The Monkees, Tom Jones, The Tokens, Patti Drew, The Globetrotters, The Tokens and many more – including Neil Sedaka himself! 25 tracks in all: "Stupid Cupid" by Connie Francis, "Keep-A-Walkin'" by Bobby Darin, Calendar Boy" by Dee Dee Sharp, "Get Rid Of Him" by Dionne Warwick, "Foolish Little Girl" by The Cookies, "Magic Colors" by Leslie Gore, "Bewitched" By Peggy Lee, "Walking In The Footsteps Of A Fool" by Ben E King, "Don't Look Over Your Shoulder" by Nanciy Wilson, "You're Knocking Me Out" by Neil Sedaka and more.