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Mad MPS material from Wolfgang Dauner – right up there with some of the wildest records on the label during the 70s! The album's easily one of Dauner's most striking sessions – a set that has him handling a whole host of electric keyboards, and working with a group that also includes fuzzy guitar from Larry Coryell, bass from Gunter Lenz, and some really heavy drums from Jon Hiseman and Fred Braceful! Some moments are tight and funky, while others offer up a sweet spacey vibe – and overall, the album's got a perfect blend of MPS groove and some of the freakier, more far-reaching elements of the German scene at the time. The group take on a killer version of Coryell's classic "The Really Great Escape" – then roll into Dauner gems that include "Yin", "Sun", "Tuning Spread", and "Yan" – which features some guest voice and sound effects from Richard Ketterer.

A really tripped-out set from the early years of Rolf & Joachim Kuhn – a psychedelic mix of jazz and electronics – recorded in a style that's like some of the most out-there MPS albums of the time! The set's got some great MPS-like touches too – including heavy Hammond, funky drums, and lots of cool sound effects and processing – which makes the clarinet and piano sound way different than we've heard on any other Kuhn brothers album! There's some great help on the record too – Stu Martin on drums, Volker Kriegel on guitar, and even an appearance from Gunter Lenz – on titles that include "Funny Bird", "Circus Life", "To Our Father", "Bloody Rockers", "El Dorado", and "Crazy Lusly".

Easily one of the most tripped-out records we've ever heard – and take it from us, we've heard a lot of tripped-out records in our time! This unusual session from 1968 is kind of a free-form blend of folk, raga, improvisation, and vocals that are more the sorts of utterances you'd hear at "happening" then really lyrics themselves – all wrapped together with echoey production and weird sort of sounds that make the whole thing feel like one of the MPS "jazz meets world" projects collided with "Sister Ray", or kind of a hippie folk version of some of Don Cherry's organic music experiments. Instrumentation includes flutes, dulcimer, guitar, violin, and percussion – and there's a lot of cool electronics used to process the sounds too. Daevid Allen also works on the recording – and titles include "Lovin Spaceship", "Women Of Moon", "Guharam Rock", and "Between Spirits". 2LP set also features a bonus album with more music recorded in 1970 – with a similar mad mix of styles, on titles that include "Voyage To Nebadon", "Ananada", "Rainbow Forest", and "Titicaca".

A contemporary take on the sounds of mid-Century – a very cool batch of tracks that leans heavily on 50s exotica, 60s electronica, and lots of other odd bits – all filtered together in cool production with a really playful feel! The set's somewhere between some of the older retro sounds on the Irma La Douce label, and some of the colder work in recent years by groups who've been inspired by Italian crime and horror soundtracks – although Akron's work is a bit warmer overall. Titles include "Rabbits In Orbit", "A Glimpse Of Hell", "Frog War Chant", "Robot Grind", "Memory Hole", and "Picabu".

One of the most creative albums ever from UK composer Neil Ardley – and that's saying a lot, given the complexity of his other work! The set's got a wonderful blend of jazz arrangements and some freer passages – scored by Ardley with some of his most sensitive, most beautiful music ever – almost as if the whole thing's an extended soundtrack for a passage in time – or at least a sonic journey that's filled with some wonderful twists and turns! There's definitely some jazz/rock elements in the music, but the main focus is jazz – and Ardley has that same strong sense of large charts and forward-moving rhythms that you'd find in the best early work of Mike Westbrook, particularly his albums for Deram. Players are a very familiar, and very top-shelf batch of British musicians – including Barbara Thompson, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and Don Rendell on reeds; Harry Beckett and Henry Lowther on trumpets; Derek Wadsworth on trombone, Frank Rocotti on vibes, and Stan Tracey on both piano and celeste. Ardley plays prepared piano, and Ivor Cutler makes a great guest appearance on one track – reciting "The Dong With A Luminous Nose" – and Norma Winstone sings on "Will You Walk A Little Faster". The title track – "A Symphony Of Amaranths" – is dedicated to Duke Ellington and Gil Evans – with a feel that more than lives up to both! LP features a bonus "outro" track too.

Groundbreaking Italian prog from Area – the Arbeit Macht Frei, Cautio Radiation Area, Crac!, Area(A)zione, Maledetti and Event '76 albums – all from the crucial early-to-mid 70s years – in a 6CD box set on Cramps! The debut Arbeit Macht Frei features a tripped out blend of lingering 60s psychedelia with jazzier prog and folkish melodies, all done as uniquely as any combo of the time. Includes "Luglio, Agosto Stettembre (Nero)", "Consapevolezza", "240 Chilometri" and more. Cautio Radiation Area is even more impressive – a mad mix of out jazz, hard jamming, and even more experimental touches that include quite a bit of noise. Titles include "Cometa Rossa", "Lobotomia", "Brujo", and "ZYG". Crac! continues on this path, with even more far out vocals and a strangely joyous take on far-reaching 70s prog. Tracks include "Magalopoli", "Nervi Scoperti", "Area 5", "Implosion" and more. Are(A)azone is the group's 4th album – a collection of alternate versions of songs from previous records plus a 15 minute hard jamming tune called "Are(A)zione", and a free jazz interpretation of "The International". Maledetti goes further with the out jazz – and features guest soprano sax work from Steve Lacy. Includes "Evaporazione", "Gerontocrazia", "Scum", "Caos (Parte Seconda)" and more. Event '76 closes with "Caos II Parte (1)", "Caos II Parte (2)" and "Event '76". Comes in a great oversized package with a nice booklet – notes in Italian.

A Syd Barrett treasure trove – and an essential compilation of unreleased work that's a much-needed companion to Barrett's classic albums for EMI! The material here is all from the years 1968 to 1970 – tracks recorded before, during, and around the sessions that later became The Madcap Laughs and Barrett – but which often also show a wider-ranging side of Syd's talents, especially on the few demo recordings – which offer an even more personal glimpse of the artist trying to find his way. Instrumentation is a bit more acoustic than on Barrett's full albums, but even the acoustic guitar is played with these dark tones that have the same sinister quality as the chords he brought to Pink Floyd – maybe even more striking here without any fuzz, as they resonate alongside Syd's offbeat lyrics. Titles include "Rats", "Golden Hair", "Opel", "Clowns & Jugglers", "Birdie Hop", "Let's Spilt", and "Swan Lee". Features a number of bonus alternate takes – added to the original core lineup of 14 tracks from the 1988 release of Opel.

Rhythmic early 60s global grooves from John Berberian – a master of the oud with a great group of players on these oft intense takes traditional Turkish, Armenian and Arabic songs! The melodies and rhythms are pretty impressive – the percussion is particularly heavy and groovy! The oud is out front and supported by lots of clarinet and bongo, hand percussion, guitar, bass and some vocals, too! There's a passion here that easily trumps any initial thoughts that this would be a dry reading of middle-eastern folk material – it's appealing in many of the ways that Salah Ragab's Egyptian jazz material is, without the cosmic funkiness. Players include Souren Baronian on clarinet and bongos, Jack Chalikian on canun, John Valentine on guitar and dudoog, among others. Tracks include "Siseler", "Laz", "Basha Bella", "Whyek", "Taksim", and "Nubar Nubar".

A wild debut from Blood Sweat & Tears – one of those records that forever changed the face of popular music! The set's noteworthy not just for early vocals from Al Kooper – who was a key part of the group at their start – but also for key production work from a young John Simon – who helped arrange a bit, threw in a few musical touches, and really gave the group some focus on record – of the sort that would continue over the course of man albums. The set's got some added strings at points, and there's even some backup vocals from the duo of Valerie Simpson and Melba Moore. Titles include "Overture", "I Can't Quit Her", "Just One Smile", "Without Her", "My Days Are Numbered", "Morning Glory", and "So Much Love/Underture". CD features bonus tracks – "Refugee From Yuhupitz", plus demo versions of "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" and "The Modern Adventures Of Plato Diogenes & Freud".

Pretty great pop-psych from Daughters Of Albion – a set that mixes the sing-song nature of the tunes with some deeper LA production from Leon Russell – all in a great blend fo styles that's really made the album a standout over the years! The group's a duo – Greg Dempsey and Kathy Yesse, both of whom have such long hair, it's hard to tell who's who – both singers who come from a folksy background, yet bring in that mix of Sunshine Pop modes that so many post-folkies on the west coast were using at the time – a great ear for sweet harmonies and catchy tunes, but with an undercurrent of darkness too! Titles include "I Love Her And She Loves Me", "Still Care About You", "Yes Our Love Is Growing", "Candle Song", "Lady Fingers", "Sweet Susan Constantine", "Well Wired", and "John Flip Lockup". CD features two bonus tracks too – "Well Wired (mono 45)" and "Story Of Sad (mono 45)".

Fuzzy and genuinely well-crafted private press grooves from the Emerson brothers – with crazy good hooks, some surprisingly solid musicianship – and songs that range from straight-up catchy, though fuzz-drenched rock, to funk and soul! Donnie Emerson is the lead singer, guitarist and bass player, along with some synth – and on the best tunes, he's got a confident, laidback and warm style on vocals that truly doesn't feel the voice of a kid still in his teens – with brother Joe on drums and other friends on backing vocals here and there. Here's a record that profoundly transcends the private press novelty and the goofy jumpsuits they're rocking on the front cover! Includes "Good Time", "Give Me The Chance", "Baby", the instrumental groover "Feels Like The Sun", "Love Is", "Don't Go Lovin' Nobody Else", "Dream Full Of Dreams" and "My Heart".

Fuzzy and genuinely well-crafted private press grooves from the Emerson brothers – with crazy good hooks, some surprisingly solid musicianship – and songs that range from straight-up catchy, though fuzz-drenched rock, to funk and soul! Donnie Emerson is the lead singer, guitarist and bass player, along with some synth – and on the best tunes, he's got a confident, laidback and warm style on vocals that truly doesn't feel the voice of a kid still in his teens – with brother Joe on drums and other friends on backing vocals here and there. Here's a record that profoundly transcends the private press novelty and the goofy jumpsuits they're rocking on the front cover! Includes "Good Time", "Give Me The Chance", "Baby", the instrumental groover "Feels Like The Sun", "Love Is", "Don't Go Lovin' Nobody Else", "Dream Full Of Dreams" and "My Heart".

Incredibly groovy work from France Gall – easily one of our favorite French singers of the 60s! France has a sound that's really unique – one that comes from the Frenchified pop of the "yeh yeh" generation, but which really packs a lot more punch than her contemporaries – a bold, proud, loud quality that's really wonderful – and which makes just about every number from the time a total killer! Part of the help here comes from Serge Gainsbourg – who wrote a good number of tracks for the young Gall – but the style's also quite different than that of Serge, too – often with an emphasis on punchy drums at the bottom, which creates a hint of funk – bringing a nice nasty feel to France's little girl vocals. The set's a great one – overflowing with key cuts from singles of the 60s – and titles include "Made In France", "Poupee De Cire Poupee De Son", "Laisse Tomber Les Filles", "Quand On Est Ensemble", "Rue De L'Abricot", "Bloody Jack", "Le Temps De La Rentree", "Mon Bateau De Nuit", "Baby Pop", and "Les Sucettes". 22 tracks in all!

An amazing, career-spanning compilation of pioneering psych and earlier material, mixed with more traditional elements of Korean music by Shin Joong Hyun – including his own numbers, great songs with his combos over the years and tunes he wrote for others to sing – from the late 50s to the early 70s! The stylistic breadth is pretty wide, but what's so impressive is that he's not merely traipsing through genres to stay current – he's a real master, and the consistently great quality throughout is a real thing to behold. It's passionate and soulful as all get out, whether it's a spare bit of rock or folk, raw and rumbling psych folk or garage-y stormers. One of the best global psych comps we've seen in a while! Includes "Moon Watching", "J Blues '72" and "I've Got Nothing To Say" (credited to Shin Joong Hyun), "Please Don't Bother Me Anymore" by Golden Grapes, "The Sun" by Kim Jung Mi, "Tomorrow" by lee Jung Hwa, "Spring Rain" by Park In Soo, "Sunset" by Jang Hyun, "Why That Person" by Bunny Girls, "Beautiful Rivers And Mountains" by Shin Joong Hyun & The Men and more.

A groovy set of surfing stomps performed by The Marketts – some of the best Liberty surf rock ever! This record finds these players pairing up rumbling rhythms and raw percussion with nicely grooving piano and some sweet sax – with some tight, punchy guitar grooves to keep it well enough within the surf instros idiom. Rugged stomps and sunny rockers from the masterful Marketts! Tracks include "Surfer's Stomp", "Let's Go Trippin'", "Surfin", "Stompin' Room Only", "The Bristol Stomp", "Here Comes The Ho-Dads", "Stompede", "Let's Go Trippin'".

A really nice set from Ian Matthews – who cut his teeth a few years earlier with Fairport Convention – and gets a little help here from fellow Fairporters Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson. Ian's warmth in the vocal department really glows here – and the sound overall brings in some sweet country rock and west coast folk rock as well as any Brit effort we can think of. Very good stuff! Tracks include "Desert Inn", "Hearts", "Never Ending", "Reno Nevada", "Hinge I", "Hinge II", "Southern Wind", Morgan The Pirate", "If You Saw Thro’ My Eyes" and more.

Classic first album of avant noise and psych from the Texas underground, featuring seminal early work by Mayo Thompson, and a mind-blasting set of tracks that mixes straight songs with the group's trademark "free form freak outs". Essential to anyone with even the slightest affinity for the true psychedelic 60s – and especially so for true lovers of the influential psych forbears! Titles of the songs include "Hurricane Fighter Plane", "Transparent Radition" (an all-time classic), "War Sucks", "Former Reflections Enduring Doubt", and "Pink Stainless Tail" – and each track is separated by a freakout!

10 tracks from Thurston & Co (in the Jim O'Rourke augmented lineup . . .), including "Pattern Recogniton", "Unmade Bed", "Dripping Dream", "Kim Gordon & The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream", "Stones", 'Dude Ranch Nurse", "New Hampshire", "Paper Cup Exit", "I Love You Golden Blue" and "Peace Attack".

North Hills teen instrumental romps from the early 60s – savagery from The Outcasts, Galaxies, Keys, Mad Haters and Sonics – raw, incendiary and hard-grooving cuts from the regional US scene in the years leading up to the garage rock renaissance that hit every city and 'burb in the US! Really riveting stuff and well worth this nice Norton compl. Includes "Scotora Mull", "Sleepy Hollow Rock" and "Burning Rubber" by The Outcasts, "Malibu Beach" by Galaxies, "Raw-Hide" by Mad Hatters, "Blow Out" and "Super Sport" by Sonics and more.

Fantastic French femmes from the 60s – and a great illustration of the way that girl power really took over the sound of the Parisian scene at the time! These tunes have a punch that few American or British tracks of the period could ever hope to match – a way of staying sweet, yet really hitting hard with a groove – sometimes with fuzzy guitars or organ, sometimes with a fuller blast of orchestrations – always completely charming and immediately appealing – even if you can't understand the lyrics! Most numbers feature work by some top-shelf arrangers from the tight Parisian scene – including Alain Goraguer, Jacques Denjean, Michel Colombier, and Ivan Julien – and titles include "Le Coeur Au Bout Des Doights" and "Ce Soir Je M'En Vais" by Jacqueline Taieb, "Laisser Tomber Les Filles" and "Le Temps De La Rentree" by France Gall, "Voila" by Francois Hardy, "Caque Nuit" by Les Surfs, "Donne Moi" by Petula Clark, "Un Chagrin A Oublier" by Alice Dona, "Il Suffit D'Un Jour" by Liz Brady, "L'Adorable Femme Des Neiges" by Christie Laume, "Impatiente" by Les Gams, and "Les Filles C'Est Fait Pour Faire L'Amore" by Charlotte Leslie.

A massive record from the days when the Chicago scene was dominated by some important mainstream forces – The Chicago Fest summer music blast at Navy Pier, and The Loop, a major player in FM album rock at the time! This special album for the event features work by Bohemia, The Rage, Champion, Take Me, The Roadside Band, Spit Balls, The Pawnz, and other local groups.

Great French grooves from the 60s – a host of female-led rockers, most of which have a harder edge than you might expect! The mode here is similar to Paris pop that you might know from the "yeh yeh" generation, but the sound's a bit grittier too – proof that the garage reference in the title is well-placed, especially on the more guitar-heavy numbers! If you dig the sounds of France Gall or Francoise Hardy, you'll find plenty to love here – a treasure trove of rare tracks that includes "Le Restaurant Chinois" by Janny L, "Au Temps Des Princes Charmants" by Marjorie Noel, "Le Boa" by Clothilde, "Ma Moto" by Kathy, "Oh Dis Moi" by Les Princesses, "Un Petit Rien" by Tonia, "Une Question Qui Se Pose" by Evy, and "Mais Qui Que Quoi Donc Ou" by Les Cheries.

Not just Rock N Roll, but a classic collection of doo wop, R&B, and more! The original Rock N Roll Dance Party was a key collection in the late 50s – one that helped push the best R&B artists on the Modern/Kent label to a wider audience, thanks to a more mainstream cover! Features work by Etta James, Joe Turner, Joe Houston, The Jacks, The Cadets, and Marvin & Johnny!

Easily one of Donovan's most successful albums – but also a brilliant blend of folk and jazz that forged a bold new sound in the 60s! Part of the strength of the set comes from arranger John Cameron – an artist that we love for his jazz and easy work of the late 60s, and who's working here with players that include British jazzmen Phil Seamen, Tony Carr, Ronnie Ross, and Harold McNair! The instrumental component of the album alone is worth the price of admission – as Cameron gently blends together moddish and trippy styles, alongside some folksier vocals and guitar from Donovan. But it's also Donovan's own extrapolation of styles of the time that really makes the album a masterpiece – a strange post-folk mode of expression that's almost a British counterpart to the genius of Simon & Garfunkel, but which is arguably darker and more intellectual. Apart from classic hits like "Museum" and "Mellow Yellow", the album also features some moodier brilliance on tracks that include "The Observation", "Hampstead Incident", "Sunny South Kensington", "Writer In The Sun", "Sand & Foam", and "House Of Jansch".

A wild debut from Blood Sweat & Tears – one of those records that forever changed the face of popular music! The set's noteworthy not just for early vocals from Al Kooper – who was a key part of the group at their start – but also for key production work from a young John Simon – who helped arrange a bit, threw in a few musical touches, and really gave the group some focus on record – of the sort that would continue over the course of man albums. The set's got some added strings at points, and there's even some backup vocals from the duo of Valerie Simpson and Melba Moore. Titles include "Overture", "I Can't Quit Her", "Just One Smile", "Without Her", "My Days Are Numbered", "Morning Glory", and "So Much Love/Underture".

An amazing little record from Joe Byrd – an artist with roots in serious music, but who's serving things up here with a wild hippie aesthetic that makes the whole thing come across more like a "happening" than the usual sort of studio album – but in ways that also echo an earlier generation of Americanist composition too. The process of the record mimics some of Byrd's famous work in New York – and has a very collaborative feel overall, with elements of electronics, acoustics, and vocals coming together beautifully! There's some great tabla, harpsichord, moog, and organ on the record – plus more serious woodwinds and brass – and vocals from Victoria Bond, Susan De Lange, Christie Thompson, and Ernie Anderson – plus Joe himself. Titles include "Kalyani", "Moonsong Pelog", "You Can't Ever Come Down", "Gospel Music", "Nightmare Train", "Leisure World", and "The Elephant At The Door".

A lesser-known gem from The Sandpipers, and a record that really lives up to the "softly" in the title! There's a slight undercurrent of folk on some of the tunes here – bits of jangly acoustic guitar under the trio's harmony vocals – often with an undercurrent of darkness that's a bit different than some of their other records – as if the guitar is bringing out some earthier elements that really unlock the melancholy that's always been present in The Sandpipers' music. Nick DeCaro arranged two tracks on the set, but most of the backings are by Bob Thompson – and titles include "Softly", "A Reason To Believe", "Love Is Blue", "Back On The Street Again", "Jennifer Juniper", "All My Loving", and a wonderful version of the Paul Williams classic "To Put Up With You".

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.

Raw soul, heavy funk, snotty rock, and raucous R&B – all pulled from the legendary record collection of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy! The sounds here are the sorts that went onto form the blueprint for The Cramps – and the package is overflowing with rare gems that are hand-picked by the pair – the kind of underground, indie singles that have always made record-digging so great – plucked up by Lux and Ivy in the years before most of us even started searching for wax! The cool 10" set features two dozen tunes – and titles include "Drive Daddy Drive" by Little Sylvia, "Stormy Weather" by The Five Sharps, "Rock A Bongo Boogie" by Terry Snyder, "Red Headed Flea" by The Caps, "Chickie Run" by Homer Denison Jr, "99 Chicks" by Ron Haydock & The Boppers, "Baby Brother" by Bill Carter & The Rovin Gamblers, "Service With A Smile" by The Kuf-Linx, "Imagination" by The Quotations, "Tongue Tied" by Betty McQuade, and "The Vulture" by Ronny Ray's Playboys.

One of the most creative albums ever from UK composer Neil Ardley – and that's saying a lot, given the complexity of his other work! The set's got a wonderful blend of jazz arrangements and some freer passages – scored by Ardley with some of his most sensitive, most beautiful music ever – almost as if the whole thing's an extended soundtrack for a passage in time – or at least a sonic journey that's filled with some wonderful twists and turns! There's definitely some jazz/rock elements in the music, but the main focus is jazz – and Ardley has that same strong sense of large charts and forward-moving rhythms that you'd find in the best early work of Mike Westbrook, particularly his albums for Deram. Players are a very familiar, and very top-shelf batch of British musicians – including Barbara Thompson, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and Don Rendell on reeds; Harry Beckett and Henry Lowther on trumpets; Derek Wadsworth on trombone, Frank Rocotti on vibes, and Stan Tracey on both piano and celeste. Ardley plays prepared piano, and Ivor Cutler makes a great guest appearance on one track – reciting "The Dong With A Luminous Nose" – and Norma Winstone sings on "Will You Walk A Little Faster". The title track – "A Symphony Of Amaranths" – is dedicated to Duke Ellington and Gil Evans – with a feel that more than lives up to both! CD features the bonus track "National Anthem & Tango".

A great overview of the prog rock explosion in early 70s Italy – a scene that was really brimming over with top-shelf music – most of which never made it to our shores at the time! The Italian prog artists had a tightness that was different than some of their contemporaries on the European scene – and at some levels, they were probably closest to the best and biggest of the Brit prog groups – given the inherent tunefulness of most of these tracks, and the impeccable musicianship – played here in ways that are full and filled with flourishes, but which also have a good sense of economy too. The set's overflowing with key cuts, and comes with a booklet with notes in Italian – and a CD that features 18 tracks that include "Generale" by PFM, "Via Beato Angelico" by Perigeo, "Culto Disarmonico" by Delirium, "Orizzonti Iontani" by Gli Alluminogeni, "Fiori E Colori" by Le Orme, "Lucifero" by Metamorfosi, "Degli Uomini" by Museo Rosenbach, "Nu Gatto Come Nu Lione" by Canzoniere Del Lazio, and "I Cavalieri Del Lago Dell'Ontario" by New Trolls.

The first album ever from The Faces – a mighty merger of half of the old Small Faces with the young Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, fresh from the Jeff Beck group! The meeting of talents really set The Faces on fire – bringing even sharper focus to the group's previous sound, and giving it a stellar frontman in the face of Stewart – who was still brilliantly soulful here, and way far from all the cliches he'd spew in later years! The guitars are fantastic, the rhythms very raw – and the whole record romps along with this messy blend of rootsy elements and garagey power – never letting up the sonic onslaught for a minute. In the US, Warner still tried to market the group by using "Small Faces" on the cover – but trust us, the sound is way different than before – as you'll hear on cuts that include "Stone", "Around The Plynth", "Looking Out The Window", "Nobody Knows", "Wicked Messenger", and the classic "Three Button Hand Me Down".

The legendary album from Mayo Thompson – pared down with more of an outsider folk rock vibe after the freaky psych of the first couple Red Krayola – and ultimately just as trailblazing! Mayo's voice and skewed songcraft are front and center, though there's piano, organ, fiddle, slide guitar, bass and drums coming in and out, too, but whether or not it was forthright goal, Mayo's weird lyricism is the star of the show, and you can hear the influence this record had on myriad underground rock figures in the decades that followed! Includes "The Lesson", "Oyster Thin", "Horses", "Dear Betty Baby", "Venus In The Morning", "To Black Legs", "Good Brisk Blues", "Around The Home" and "Worried Woman".

The second compilation in the L'Anthologia series from Italy's Cramps label – following up the funky first anthology with an incredible set of rare punk, post punk and new wave from the late 70s Italian scene! We can't speak for the world on the subject of Italian punk and new wave scene(s) of the period, but to us, this set makes a great case for the need to dig deeper nto it. The sounds range from raucous punk rock at it's most feral and raw, to more electronics textured, to the javant azz & clubby influences that also ran through some of the No Wave era's finest. Truly cool stuff – we hope they do another one like this in the series! 21 tracks in all: "Io Sono Un Autonomo" by "Skiantos", "Mano Armata" by Decibel, "Nevadagaz" by Gaznevada, "Intoxication" by Rancid X, "Europe" by "NOIA", "SW Digestian" by The Stupid Set, "Desire Crazy Desire" by Mixo, "Basta Basta" by Kaos Rock, "UFO Dictatator" by Tampax, "Informations Of Death" by Neon.

A wild debut from Blood Sweat & Tears – one of those records that forever changed the face of popular music! The set's noteworthy not just for early vocals from Al Kooper – who was a key part of the group at their start – but also for key production work from a young John Simon – who helped arrange a bit, threw in a few musical touches, and really gave the group some focus on record – of the sort that would continue over the course of man albums. The set's got some added strings at points, and there's even some backup vocals from the duo of Valerie Simpson and Melba Moore. Titles include "Overture", "I Can't Quit Her", "Just One Smile", "Without Her", "My Days Are Numbered", "Morning Glory", and "So Much Love/Underture".

A really nice set from Ian Matthews – who cut his teeth a few years earlier with Fairport Convention – and gets a little help here from fellow Fairporters Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson. Ian's warmth in the vocal department really glows here – and the sound overall brings in some sweet country rock and west coast folk rock as well as any Brit effort we can think of. Very good stuff! Tracks include "Desert Inn", "Hearts", "Never Ending", "Reno Nevada", "Hinge I", "Hinge II", "Southern Wind", Morgan The Pirate", "If You Saw Thro’ My Eyes" and more.