Rock — LPs  

A fantastic collection of unreleased material by mid-to-late 60s psych pop songwriter genius Tandyn Almer – who's probably best know for penning the eternally great "Along Comes Mary" for The Association – but we sure didn't know how great of a performer he was on his own! The 15 track record was cut for his publisher Davon Music, who circulated it to insiders at the time, looking to sell the songs – but what they should have done was found a label and released it. Fuzzy guitars, raw drums and great keyboards, excellent background harmonies – and the good-natured, melodic quality that attracted groups like the Association to Tandyn! Sundazed has long been a favorite source of rewarding 60s and 70s reissues, but they really deserve some bigger love for releases like this one – which is a first-ever commercial release. It feels like a complete, finished production for the most part – and not at all like a bunch of demos. Psych pop greatness! Includes "Find Yourself", You Turn Me Around", "Anything You Want", "About Where Love Is", "Face Down In The Mud", "I Get High", "Bring Your Own Self Down" (by The Purple Gang)", "Where Will They Go", "Sunset Strip Soliloquy" and more.

A great mid 70s record by Antorcha – whose late 60s records as Las Antorchas were a great mix of styles – from beat, to garage, mod and psych – and by this point in the mid 70s, shortened their name and honed their groove into heavier, moodier style that's even better! Heavy rhythms and moody textures – with some really haunting organ grooves – and an overall vibe that's up there with some of greater underground rock around the world at the time. By this point, the band was producing and promoting themselves – and put up a number of EPs that are compiled here for this great 11 song set: with "En El Jardin Del Eden", the English-sung "Grass" and "Going Down", "La Tierra", "Crisalida", "Bracero", "Mira", Quiero Vivir" and more.

Pure brilliance from start to finish – especially the second side of the record, which has a continuous run of tunes that's very unique – and still completely sublime all these many years later! The album shows the fracturing ideas of the group, but crafted together with a unity you won't find on The White Album or Let It Be – still a way of making it all gel together beautifully, as the fab four stretch their wings to find new ways of being. Added instrumentation is used wonderfully – never overdone, but with orchestral passages that can really hammer home the best musical moments – and titles include "I Want You", "Because", "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Golden Slumbers", "The End", "Her Majesty", "Polythene Pam", and "Sun King".

A great pre-Rubber Soul moment – with tracks that include "Honey Don't", "I Feel Fine", "Baby's In Black", "Mr Moonlight", "I'll Follow The Sun", and "No Reply".

The Beatles for sale, but never in a commercial way at all – early proof of the group's great balance between mainstream appeal and sounds that still stick to the frontiers of rock and roll! The tunes are short, and heavy on influences from American R&B – yet the Fab Four are already crafting their new sound strongly, and have a melodic brilliance that's hard to deny! Titles include "Eight Days A Week", "Words Of Love", "Honey Don't", "Every Little Thing", "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party", "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", "I'm A Loser", "Rock & Roll Music", "I'll Follow The Sun", "Mr Moonlight", and "No Reply".

The Beatles for sale, but never in a commercial way at all – early proof of the group's great balance between mainstream appeal and sounds that still stick to the frontiers of rock and roll! The tunes are short, and heavy on influences from American R&B – yet the Fab Four are already crafting their new sound strongly, and have a melodic brilliance that's hard to deny! Titles include "Eight Days A Week", "Words Of Love", "Honey Don't", "Every Little Thing", "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party", "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", "I'm A Loser", "Rock & Roll Music", "I'll Follow The Sun", "Mr Moonlight", and "No Reply".

Beautiful work from Benjamin Biolay – easily one of our favorite French artists of the 21st Century – even though we've been following his work since the previous one! Benjamin's got a sound that's just perfect if you, like us, dig an older generation of French work by artists like Serge Gainsbourg, Jacques Dutronc, Michel Polnareff, and others from that magical late 60s moment when French pop really found its own sound. Biolay's got a way of sliding in the sinister next to the groovy – often with vocals that are spoken as much as sung – and produced to perfection by his own strong ear for unusual combinations of sounds. Benjamin helped launch the career of many other great French acts in the past decade or two – but we still love his own work the best – and an album like this definitely lives up to that faith. Titles include "Venganza", "Marlene Deconne", "Personne Dans Mon Lit", "Confettis", "La Fin De La Fin", "L'Insigne Honneur", and "Tresor Tresor".

One of the later albums cut by the Brady Bunch crew – a bit towards the end run of the show, and with a feel that's arguably hipper than some of their other records! The arrangements are by Al Capp, and have a nice bass bounce at the bottom – almost hitting a light funk style at times, and certainly grooving with plenty of sunshine pop touches overall. The vocals are still as cloying as you might expect, but our hat's off to Al for making the music so groovy – as that's really the highest part of the set! Titles include "Zuckerman's Famous Pig", "A Simple Man", "Parallel Lines", "Summer Breeze", "Yo Yo Man", and "Everything I Do".

Wild! Greg, Marsha, and the kids do a surprisingly great job on this set of sunshine pop tunes arranged by the great Al Capps. The set list includes their classic "Drumemr Man", plus "It's A Sunshine Day", "In No Hurry", "Playin The Field", "Love Me Do", "Keep On", "Candy", "Saturday In The Park", "Ben", and "You Need That Rock N Roll".

The lone album from the Bubble Puppy – a monumental effort of late 60s hard grooving psychedelia – and one of very best albums to come out of the original Texas psych scene! A couple of the Pup's labelmates at United Artists get a lot of revelry all these years later, and rightfully so – who would argue the importance of The Red Krayola and 13th Floor Elevators – but Bubbly Puppy deserve to be on that top shelf, too. The sound is tight and hard hitting, with trippy lyricism and groovy group harmonies, while the guitars range from cathartic fuzz to some surprisingly pretty melodicism. Not as far out as some of their peers, but the groove is absolutely killer. Titles include the benchmark single "Hot Smoke And Sasafrass", plus "Todd's Tune", "I've Got To Reach You", "Lonely", "Hurry Sundown", "Elizabeth", "It's Safe To Say", "Beginning" and much more.

The third album from Alice Cooper and perhaps the first great one – starting the 70s sleaze show win streak with the massive "I'm Eighteen" and an LP full of great, gritty and grimy rock and roll. Bob Ezrin's producing for the first time, and if the songs and the whole show isn't yet as menacingly theatrical as it would get to be in the following couple of years, the angry anthemic vibe is here and it's heavy! Other tracks include "Caught In A Dream", "Hallowed Be My Name", "Black Juju", "Is It My Body", "Second Coming", "Ballad Of Dwight Fry" and "Sun Arise".

The third album from Alice Cooper and perhaps the first great one – starting the 70s sleaze show win streak with the massive "I'm Eighteen" and an LP full of great, gritty and grimy rock and roll. Bob Ezrin's producing for the first time, and if the songs and the whole show isn't yet as menacingly theatrical as it would get to be in the following couple of years, the angry anthemic vibe is here and it's heavy! Other tracks include "Caught In A Dream", "Hallowed Be My Name", "Black Juju", "Is It My Body", "Second Coming", "Ballad Of Dwight Fry" and "Sun Arise".

A should-be Cali country rock classic by Chris Darrow – and a real rare gem of a record we'd put right up there with the best of its kind! Multi-instrumentalist Darrow might be best known to psych enthusiasts – as he was a founding member of Kaleidoscope – but as a session player, he's worked with an eclectic roster of major players that includes Frank Zappa, Gram Parsons, Leonard Cohen, Sly Stone, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and others. His solo work is akin to some other great, but better-known Cali country rockers, and honestly, we'd rate this record up against the aforementioned Mr. Parsons – it's really that good – but with more eclectic instrumentation. Catchy songs that are well sung and expertly-crafted – with Chris playing guitars, mandolin, dobro, fiddle and just about anything else with strings on it – and some light percussion, too! Other players include Ed Black, Loren Newkirk, Arnie Moore and Mickey McGhee – plus a sweet group of backing vocalists that includes Jennifer Warren. Titles include "Beware Of Time", "Lovers Of Sleep Abed Tonight", "Shawnee Moon", "Move On Down The Line", "Song For Steven", "Cocaine Lil", "Alligator Man", "Keep On Trying", "New Zoot", "The Show Must Go On", "The Sky Is Not Blue Today" and "We Can Both Learn To Say I Love You".

Dylan's wonderful foray into country rock – the great Nashville Skyline! He takes his voice into a strangely crooning arena that we hadn't heard from him before or since, kinda adding the mysterious vibe of the whole thing. Titles include a duet with Johnny Cash on "Girl From The North Country", plus "Lay Lady Lay", "Country Pie", "To Be Alone With You", and "One More Night". This Sundazed reissue is from the original stereo masters and comes on 180 gram vinyl.

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".

Droning soundscapes with dreamy atmosphere and ominous twists and turns from Ensemble Pearl! The ensemble is an international one – featuring Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley, plus Atsuo from Boris, Boris-affiliate Michio Kurihara, William Herzog and guests – and their eponymous record for Drag City is one of cooler avant instrumental projects on DC in recent memory. It apparently came together from material recorded for a theater project a couple years earlier – and it has a bit of tripped out, spooky soundtrack-y feel to show for it – but it stands really strongly as a headphones experience all its own! Includes "Ghost Parade", "Painting On A Corpse", "Wray", "Island Epiphany", "Giant" and "Sexy Angle".

A classic killer from The Fabulous Rhinestones – a group with a plenty soulful approach to their music, even if the group was probably more of a rock outfit than a funk-based one! There's some heavy rhythms on most of the tracks – kind of a gentle funky groove that's mixed in with great organ lines and sweet guitars – all to couch perfectly the lead vocals of Kal David, who sings with a raspy, earnest tune that really fits the grooves! The group are definitely lesser-known than some of the bigger funk rock acts of the time – but they're also one of the best, too. Titles include "Big Indian", "Positive Direction", "Nothing New", "Free", "Living On My Own Time", and "Easy As You Make It".

A beautiful early record from singer Bill Fay – recorded in a baroque brilliance that rivals the late 60s work of Scott Walker! Like Walker, Fay's as much a poet as he is a singer – and he's also got the great fortune here to be working with some excellent arrangements – handled by British jazzman Michael Gibbs, and featuring some excellent guitar work from Ray Russell. That said, Bill Fay has a distinctly artful presence with a style that's all his own! He's slightly folksy at times, with echoes of some of more mysterious aspects of late 60s and early 70s psych folk scenesters – but his overall vision is far more elaborate, and carried off here to perfection in a rare kind of "once in a career" record that still holds up beautifully today! Titles include "Garden Song", "The Sun Is Bored", "Narrow Way", "We Have Laid Here", "Methane River", "Goodnight Stan", "Be Not So Fearful", and "Down To The Bridge".

The first full length for The Five Americans – a great set of mid 60s heartland rock by a group that could deliver raucous garagey nuggets, sweeter harmonies, and jangly pop tunes – with equal excellence! The group vocals are fantastic, and it's especially impressive that they could handle organ and heavy drums drenched rockers and groovy pop vocals at the same time. These five fellas should be much better remembered! Includes the killer title track "The Losing Game", "Goodbye", "The Train", "it's A Crying Shame", "I Know They Lie", "Twist And Shout", "I'm So Glad", "The Outcast" and more. Reissued for the first time in mono here by Sundazed – and it sounds great!

We love Kim Fowley, and can never get enough of his genius – and no matter what the setting, Fowley always seems to move around the maddest corners of rock and pop music! This raw batch of gems is all pulled from the Fowley vaults – and features a host of indie singles recorded in LA between his bigger bursts of fame – some with Kim in the lead, lots more with lesser-known talents all given Fowley's forceful treatment in the studio – a push forward that makes just about every track here sparkle like some long-lost garage rocker or weird novelty number. Norton provides very detailed notes that are as much a musical journey as the cuts themselves – and titles include "The Knight In Shining Armor" by Knights Of The Round Table, "Kalani Honey" by John Paul Jones, "Young & Wild" by Renegade Five, "Big Bad Wolf" by Kim Garry & The Rhythm Kings, "Watch Your Step" by Larry Green & The Rhythmaires, "Goin Away Baby" and "Golden Apples Of The Sun" by Grains Of Sand, "Wanted Dead Or Alive" by The Rogues, "Moses" by Navarros, and "The Trip", "Astrology", and a rare radio spot all by Kim Fowley.

The rare one-off collaborative side project by Robert Smith of The Cure and Steven Severin of Siouxsie & The Banshees! Includes "Like An Animal", "Looking Glass Girl", "A Blue In Drag", "Punish Me With Kisses", "Relax", ""Mouth To Mouth", "Like An Animal", "This Green City" and more.

A rare non-soundtrack record from Goblin – but done in a style that's equally wonderful as their famous music for horror films! The set really shows the progressive roots from which they sprang – with a sound that's a bit fuller than some of their soundtrack work, and which also has vocals too – sung in Italian, but with a very Peter Gabriel sort of edge to them. Keyboards figure heavy in the mix, and there's also some really nice dark undercurrents too – on titles that include "La Danza", "Mark Il Bagarozzo", "Terra Di Goblin", "Un Ragazzo D'Argento", and "Notte".

Includes the tracks "I'm Just Wild About Harry", "Doodle Dee Doo", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", and "Tom Dooley".

Not experienced? Well, this album will help push you over the top – as it's done for decades of listeners from the heyday of young Jimi Hendrix all the way up to the present! The set's a classic through and through – a blueprint not just for the genius of Hendrix, but for generations of guitar heroes to come – as you might expect with a lineup that includes "Hey Joe", "Manic Depression", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Fire", "Third Stone From The Sun", "Are You Experienced", and "Purple Haze".

Not experienced? Well, this album will help push you over the top – as it's done for decades of listeners from the heyday of young Jimi Hendrix all the way up to the present! The set's a classic through and through – a blueprint not just for the genius of Hendrix, but for generations of guitar heroes to come – as you might expect with a lineup that includes "Hey Joe", "Manic Depression", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Fire", "Third Stone From The Sun", "Are You Experienced", and "Purple Haze".

A split LP by 2 of the better psyche folk bands in modern rock – Hush Arbors and Arbouretum – a team effort that makes sense stylistically on top of the conveniently alliterate band names! Hush Arbors' 5 songs kick it off in timeless, insistently melodic fashion. Arbouretum deliver 3 longer tracks to close, nicely akin to the preceding Hush Arbour tracks, though with more hypnotic vibe. Both bands have a nice bit of fuzz in the guitars. Great stuff! The Includes "Lovely Ghost", "Prayer Of Forgetfulness", "Up Yr Coast", "People & Places" and "The Sleeper" by Hush Arbors. Arbouretum's tracks includes "New Scarab", "The Black Sun" and "St Anthony's Fire".

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 fuzzy, freaky little set – and one that shows the Zambian scene really moving into some heady sounds for the second half of the 70s! The set's a standout effort from singer Rikki Ililonga – an artist who's now much more of a fully-fledged rocker than in previous years – singing with a bold style, and hitting lots of heavy notes along the way – thanks to backing by lots of fuzzy guitar that feels like it was lifted from some lost indie psych album from the late 60s US scene. There's much more darkness on the set than the sunshiney title would imply – and the haunting mix of modes is a perfect illustration of the strength of Zamrock at its best! Titles include "Working On The Wrong Thing", "Lovely Woman", "Lock Mice Elf Away", "Ulemu", and "Angel Black".

One of the best rock and/or country LPs of the late 50s and early 60s! Capitol signed the rockabilly rebel princess several years prior to the release of this collection of her jumpy, frenetic singles, and had Wanda record more crossover material, which she succeeded at in incredible fashion. That left Capitol to finally release a record of her earlier trademark style, and boy it's a doozy! You get "Fujiyama Mama", one of the most incendiary unsung rock and roll singles of all time, plus other great ones like "Rock You Baby", "Cool Love", "Honey Bop", "Baby Loves Him", "Mean Mean Man", "You've Turned To A Stranger" and bonus tracks including "Sinful Heart" and "I'd Rather Have You". Sweet, but feral honky tonk rockers of the first order!

Lost late 60s psychedelia from Doug Jerebine – recorded in London after leaving New Zealand and before a spiritual search that led him to India – buzzing, Hendrix-ian greatness that more than lives up to that lofty comparision! Jerebine plays all the guitar and bass here, with drums by Dave Preston and backing vocals on just one song. Hard grooving, raw, hypnotic and accessible – this coulda/shoulda busted out big! Includes "Midnight Sun", "Hole In My Hand", "Fall Down", "Ashes And Matches", "Thawed Ice", "Ain't So Hard To Do", "Good News Blues", "Reddened Eyes", "Circles" and "Idea".

A great little record that's waiting to be re-discovered! The album quickly tanked as the over-pressed soundtrack to an under-viewed film – but despite years in cutout bins, it's got a fresh quality that we really treasure! About half the album features cool instrumental tunes from Mike Leander – scored in that weird mix of touches that he was using in his "rock to easy" years – and these cuts are interspersed with vocal numbers by Paul Jones, sung in a dramatic style that's a bit Bowie, but with more blue eyed soul. Titles include "Free Me", "It's Overotherness Time", "I'm Alright Jackboot", "I've Been A Bad Bad Boy", and "Stephen".

A garage pop monster from The Knickerbockers – a set that smokes from the start with their super-huge hit "Lies" – then grooves into a rowdy batch of groovers that almost have the feel of the early fab four at their best! Like The Beatles, the group definitely has a way of harmonizing along with their tunes – bringing in a sweetly melodic quality, even when rough around the edges – which makes for a great mix of sounds we can really endorse. Titles include "Lies", "Just One Girl", "Can't You See I'm Trying", "Wishful Thinking", "You'll Never Walk Alone", and "I Can Do It Better".

Trippy Turkish rock from Erkin Koray – rarities and singles recorded in Istanbul, and every bit as brilliant as the work on his famous self-titled albums! The music is awash in a blend of buzzing, hypnotic folk sounds of Turkey – mixed with western and otherwise globally resonant psychedelia – a wicked blend that's right up there with the best Anatolian grooves of the time! It's wild stuff, but done with passionate vocals and tuneful melodism that's pretty amazing – English and American rockers who brought Middle Eastern errata into pop music made millions and became superstars for it, but we really must say, that creative reach works even more brilliantly in reverse! Includes "Mechul", "Kendim Ettim Kendim Buldom,", "Gun Dogmuyor", "Goca Dunya", "Kraller", "Cumbur Cemaat", "Hadi Hadi Ordan", "Dusunus", "Olmayinca Olmuyor" and "Sevdigim".

Smoking hot rod grooves – put together by studio maestro Bruce Johnston in the years before he became a bigger Beach Boy! The set's one of many groovy surf/car sets that Johnston cut during this mid 60s stretch – although it's more obscure than most, given its release on Smash Records – instead of the usual Capitol or Columbia outlets for his work. But the lineup features some key familiar faces from those other projects – guitar from Glenn Campbell and Tommy Tedesco, and some mighty drums from the great Hal Blaine! Hot Rod enthusiast George Barris adds his name to the project – and also gives up some nice car knowledge on the back cover – and titles include "Stick Six", "Fireball", "Jive Driver", "Super Fine", "Firecracker 400", "Hotty 32", and "Speed Shifters".

The most polarizing of John Lennon's post Beatles ouvre – the strident, Spector-produced, sprawling mess that is Some Time In New York City – a record that has too much of every idea John & Yoko had at the time, which makes it all the more fascinating after all these years! Angry, self-righteous and quite often brilliant – feminist anthems backed by Wall Of Sound pop, an ode to John Sinclair in the mold of a country rock tune – wild stuff from a superstar! Include "Woman Is The Ni**er Of The World", "Sister, Oh Sister", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Attica State", "New York City" and more.

A timeless take on Cali psych from Maston! It's a pretty sweet take on classic styles – rolling from rawer, eerier takes on the melancholy sunshine of Pet Sounds to even moodier songcraft – with tripped out, though melodic vocal material and some cool instrumentals alike. While the influences standout pretty strongly, the mix of sunny and eerier sounds is quite unique – and like everything we've heard on the Trouble In Mind label, it's expertly crafted and built to last! Includes "Stange Rituals", "(You Were) In Love", "Messages", "Looks", "Young Hearts", "Judge Alabastser", "Flutter", "Mirror" and "Night".

A full blown duets album by Bonnie Prince Billy and Dawn McCarthy of Faun Fables – co-headlining a straight-up beautiful set of tunes once sung by The Everly Brothers! They're not going for the hits here, rather taking on some of the more unusual Everly originals and covers – which include tunes written by Kris Kristofferson, Jackie Edwards, John Denver, King/Goffin and others. As longtime fans of The Everlys at their wierdest and most adventurous, we can't recommend this enough! Billy & Dawn clearly love the songs, and deliver with genuine warmth and affection – and go all in with the production, too! It's sweet and intimate, yet beautifully textured with steel, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, harmonium, flute, cello and keyboards – even a sousaphone and tuba! It's mostly got some leftfield country charm, but there's a chugging rocker or 2 in the mix, too. Titles include "Breakdown", "Empty Boxes", "Milk Train", "What Am I Llivng For", "My Little Yellow Bird", "So Sad", "Omaha", "Poems, Prayers And Promises", "Just What I Was Looking For", "Kentucky" and more.

Includes "The Any Several Sundays", "Touch The Water", "Peerless", "Won't Make You (Sleepy)", and "Peerless II".

Perhaps the most beloved of albums by Mercury Rev – and also their most unique! This is a band that was just about the least predictable group to appear on a major label during the early 90s "alternative" feeding frenzy – certainly one of those great bands whose influence and impact extends far beyond however many records they sold at the time. Deserter's Songs has textures picked up from classic ornate pop, waltzy numbers and dreamy atmosphere to spare– paired with off kilter vocals and a freewheeling, creative sensibility. A classic! Includes "Holes", "Tonite It Shows", "Endlessly", "I Collect Coins", "Opus 40", "Hudson Line", "The Happy End (The Drunk Room)", "Goddess On A Hiway", "The Funny Bird", "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp".

Sunshine pop from late 60s Florida – a cool little set from Mercy, a group that features a sweet mixture of guy and gal vocals over some nicely gentle rhythms! Production is by Brad Shapiro and Steve Alaimo, but the Warner release of the album seems to give it a cool sort of sophistication too – almost a darker take on more mainstream pop styles of the time, with a wry undercurrent that's hard to describe, but which sets the album apart nicely. Instrumentation includes organ and 12 string guitar underneath the vocals – and titles include "Love Can Make You Happy", "Forever My Love", "The Morning's Come", "Sounds Of Silence", "Love Is Blue", and "Do I Wanna Live My Life With You".

Echoey pop from the Italian scene of the early 60s – a record that already sparkles with dynamic vocals from the legendary Mina – but which also has some great studio touches too! There's a lively, optimistic mix of modes going on here – electric guitar that rings out boldly next to the vocals, rhythms borrowed from rock and Latin, and all-out vocals from Mina – sung with the kind of power and charm that no American singer could touch! The whole thing's great – the kind of music you'd hear a pretty girl playing on her transistor radio in a Fellini film – and titles include "Ho Paura", "Personalita", "La Nonna Magdalena", "Il Cielo In Una Stanza", "Invoco Te", "Coriandoli", "Una Zebra A Pois", and "Pesci Rossi".

Early in the career of Italian singer Mina – but a record that's filled with the sort of well-sung pop numbers that made her huge on the European scene of the 60s! The style here is a bit fuller than some of Mina's later work – arrangements that sometimes echo American pop modes of the late 50s, but other times have a swinging 60s mod feel – with some rockish touches you don't always hear on other Mina records! Titles include "Rapsodie", "Que No Que No", "Amore Di Tabacco", "Renato", "Dindi", "Chihuahua", "Ollalla Gigi", "Just Let Me Cry", and "Si Lo So".

Easily one of the headiest Donovan albums of the 60s – a record that moves past the simple psychedelic pop of earlier hits, and into a range of mind-expanding themes and styles! There's a cerebral quality here that seems to take hold even on the simpler, catchier tunes – a deeply introspective approach that has Donovan working in a world that's really all his own – less concerned with hit singles, and more focused on a personal journey in music, one that ties together many strands of music borrowed from Celtic, West Indian, jazz, and folk sources. Arrangers are John Cameron and John Paul Jones – and titles include "Get Thy Bearings", "Peregrine", "The Entertaining Of A Shy Girl", "West Indian Lady", "Jennifer Juniper", "Tangier", "The River Song", "The Sun Is A Very Magic Fellow", and "Hi It's Been A Long Time".

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".

One of Donovan's greatest albums! This LP is a perfect blend of pop psychedelia – complicated little songs that sum more in a short space than some of Donovan's contemporaries could do in a single album side. Nearly every cut on here is a tiny little 3 minute gem – and tunes include "There Was A Time", "Sun", "The Land Of Doesn't Have To Be", "Wear Your Love Like Heaven", "Little Boy In Corduroy", and "Mad John's Escape".

Godlike! This is probably the finest Nick Drake album that you can buy, and it's an incredible mix of folksy vocals, jazzy guitar, and incredible baroque arrangements! The album includes Drake's wonderful "River Man", one of his best-ever songs (and maybe one of THE best-ever songs!) – plus loads of other excellent cuts like "Fruit Tree", "Day Is Done", "Three Hours", "Saturday Sun", and "Time Has Told Me". Fantastic – and essential!

A masterpiece of early electric Dylan – featuring classics like "Subterranean Homesick Blues", "Maggie's Farm", "Mr Tambourine Man", "Gates Of Eden", "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", "It's Alright Ma", and "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream". This Sundazed edition on 180 gram vinyl is the first original mono reissue in more than 3 decades!

A stunner of a solo acoustic folk guitar record from Daniel Bachman – one that rivals some of great archival releases on Tompkins Square – though this one was recorded in 2012, and Bachman is a young player just a couple years into his twenties! Raw, string-buzzing immediacy and dexterous playing from young Bachman – and it's incredibly engaging stuff, too! He's also one of the relatively few contemporary folk instrumentalists – along with with Nashville's William Tyler – who truly evoke the spirit of trailblazers like Fahey and Basho for us. Includes "Copperhead", "Seven Pines", "Sun Over Old Rag", "Long Nights I", "Mount Olive Chohoke", "With Signs Following" and '218 To Caledon".

Gong's not dead – and in fact, they sound better than ever in this great live set from 1977 – recorded on the Paris scene that was still plenty appreciative of their most trippy touches! The set's got the best aspects of the best Gong studio work – including lots of plenty playful lyrics sung by Daevid Allen, Gilly Smith, and Tim Blake – all couched in some freaky, fuzzy guitar work, a fair bit of keyboards, and some cool electric touches as well! The record's definitely one of those that reminds us that in some corners of the world, punk never really happened – as you'll hear on trippy tunes that include "Can't Kill Me", "Outer Temple", "Zero The Hero & The Witch's Spell", "Flute Salade", "You Never Blow Your Trip For Ever", and "I've Been Stoned Before".

Very groovy pop from the one-named Jefferson – a set that boasts some especially swinging production from the legendary John Schroeder! The style here is very much at the peak of Brit pop for the time – sung with a bit of warble on Jefferson's vocals, and supported by some bouncy arrangements from Lew Warburton that are really great – soaring and compressed, but not in the smoother style of later 70s UK pop – and still with the best sort of edge we love from more familiar English work of this sort. Titles are very well chosen – and include Alan Hawkshaw's "Love & The World Loves With You" – plus "Montage From How Sweet It Is", "Give A Little Love", "I Fell Flat On My Face", "Baby Take Me In Your Arms", and "City Girl".