French pop meets LA production – and the result is some of the best work ever recorded by A&M Records – a gently groovy, slightly sexy sound that really helped define the label in its early years! Claudine Longet's got a gentle Parisian style of singing that's perfect, simply... read more
Dreamy vocals, catchy tunes, bossa rhythms – it's gotta be Claudine Longet! During the late 60s, Claudine first warmed ears in America with a lovely take on the gentle sounds of the Astrud Gilberto era – a French-accented approach to mellow vocal pop, often touched with a bit of jazz... read more
Very cool work from Claudine Longet – a record that really has her stretching out a bit from the 60s – moving into some more sophisticated, adult styles that are totally great! The set's still got the same fragile sweetness of her previous albums – thanks to Claudine's trademark... read more
The genius of 60s pop is hardly summed up better by anyone else than Claudine Longet! This dreamy female singer cut a handful of excellent late 60s albums for A&M – and this gem from 1967 is one of her best! The set's arranged by Nick DeCaro, and produced by Tommy LiPuma – all in... read more
Always-great work from lovely French singer Claudine Longet – a vocalist with a style that's unlike anyone else we can think of! This one's another sublime blend of French 60s pop and sunny A&M production – arranged to perfection by the great Nick DeCaro, with touches that deepen... read more
Early Brit pop from Jerry Lordan – best known as the songwriter of a host of hits for bigger artists in the pre-Beatles years – stepping out here in an album of his own! Jerry's a singer with a surprising degree of charm – not a full-on rocker, but more of an old school vocalist... read more
A nice little record with a sound that's a bit like some of the more compelling vocal Verve projects at the end of the 60s – no surprise as it features arrangements by Albert Gorgoni, who worked with Astrud Gilberto – and audio direction from Brooks Arthur!... read more
"Best Of" collection that takes tracks from Jon's Columbia releases Song For My Lady and Premonition. The set's a good batch of tracks with a sweet jazzy soul feel, and the LP includes most of the cuts you'd want from the other Columbia records. Tracks include "Hello Like... read more
A beautiful album from Jon Lucien – one that's been far too neglected over the years! This was Lucien's second album for Columbia – and it's a wonderfully strong effort that fuses together jazz, soul, and Brazilian styles, in a manner that recalls some of his best work for RCA –... read more
Jon Lucien —
Rashida ... LP
RCA,
1973. New Copy (reissue)....
$9.99
Amazing work from the great Jon Lucien – and probably his best-ever record! The album has Jon hitting a totally unified vision of spacey soul – bringing in elements of Brazilian music and touches of his Carribean roots, fusing them together with a sweet jazzy style and one of the most... read more
A great little album from Pat Lundy – an enigmatic talent who crops up a number of times over the years – but always on different record labels, and always with a slightly different sound and style! This album's one of Pat's best – and has her working in a sophisticated soul... read more
A landmark album of the 60s – and a record that forever put Gloria Lynne on the map! The album's got a sense of poise and class that was almost a genre into itself – one that crossed Gloria over big with the title hit version of "I Wish You Love", but which was also supported... read more
Titles include "The Whisperers", "It May Sound Silly", "I Understand", "After All I've Been To You", "I Love You Yes I Do", and "It Seems To Me I'm Just A Woman In Love". Arrangements by Hal Mooney.... read more
One of the grooviest albums of the late 60s – a lost vocal treasure from the team of Dave MacKay & Vicky Hamilton! The pair were sort of like a hip version of Jackie & Roy – usually singing together on their tracks, with a mixed male/female vocal approach that sounds totally... read more
An under-discovered vocalist from the 50s – the great Nancy Malcomb, a singer we'd rank right up there with Chris Connor's best at the time! Nancy's got a very jazzy approach to her work – no surprise, as she plays piano as well as she sings – with support here from a great small... read more
Bits of jazz and bits of soul, perfectly folded together with a raspy brilliance that really grabs our attention – a subtle depth of singing that almost takes us back to Nina Simone at times, but which also has some leaner 21s Century styles that are mighty nice too! Malia's vocals alone are... read more
Wonderful stuff! You probably know Mama Cass as one of the "mamas" in the Mamas & Papas – but she's got an insane pop vision on her own, a mad mix of the sweet, psychedelic, and historic, filtered through the haze of a late 60s LA summer afternoon. File this one next to your... read more
Manhattan Transfer —
Brasil ... CD
Atlantic,
1987. Used ....
$4.99
Titles include "Agua", "Soul Food To Go", "Capim", "Notes From The Underground", "Jungle Pioneer", and "The Zoo Blues".... read more
Manhattan Transfer —
Live ... LP
Atlantic,
1986. Very Good ....
$0.99
Way way more than just a simple "jazz meets Broadway" session – as Shelly's working here with vocals by Jack Sheldon & Irene Kral, and arrangements by soundtrack maestro Johnny Williams – in a style that completely recasts the score! The album's got a really dynamic kind... read more
Tania Maria —
Canto ... CD
Naive (France),
2012. New Copy ....
$12.9913.99
Sublime sounds from the great Tania Maria – a killer blend of jazz, bossa nova, and wonderfully soulful vocals – all served up in a style that takes us back to Maria's best European sides of the 70s! The sound is no surprise, given that the album was partially recorded in Paris –... read more
Tania Maria with Eddie Gomez —
Tempo ... CD
Naive (France),
2011. New Copy ....
$12.9913.99
A really special album from Tania Maria – one that features only the bass of Eddie Gomez for accompaniment, which makes for an even more personal sound than usual! Tania's vocals are wonderful – that jazzy, breezy style we first fell in love with back in the 70s – effortlessly... read more
Lovely vocals from British singer Millicent Martin – working here in an easygoing mode with lush backdrops from Tony Osborne! Millicent's big fame at the time was her key appearance in The Boy Friend – and she's definitely got a style here that echoes the era of that show – not... read more
Two gems from Johnny Mathis' mid 60s years at Mercury Records – one classic album, and another previously unreleased session! First up is Love Is Everything – an album that's got Johnny working with arranger Glenn Osser – who always seemed to set the right tone to unlock the best... read more
A pair of gems from Johnny Mathis' years at Mercury Records – back to back on a single CD! First up is So Nice, an album that definitely lives up to its title – with a sound that extends strongly from the lushness of Mathis' early 60s recordings, but which also has a bit of a nod to... read more
A sweet 80s set from Johnny Mathis – one of those great later albums when he brought a good deal of soul into the mix! The feel here is almost more modern R&B than the vocal jazz mode that first brought Johnny fame – and it turns out that the Mathis mode is wonderful for such a... read more
Two Johnny Mathis gems from his years at Mercury Records – back to back on a single CD! Sweetheart Tree is a unique album – in that it represents some unusual London sessions from Johnny Mathis – material recorded in the UK with different arrangers than usual – including... read more
A pair of Mercury Records albums from Johnny Mathis – on CD for the first time ever! Tender Is The Night is tremendous work from Johnny's short years on Mercury – a set that has the singer hitting a new level of maturity in his music – thanks in part to arrangements from Don... read more
A pair of Mercury Records albums from Johnny Mathis – back to back on a single CD! First up is This Is Love – a record that really sparkles, thanks to backings from Allyn Ferguson, done in that perfect mix of soft strings and shimmering brass that seems to work best for the vocals of... read more
A classic from Johnny Mathis' second run at Columbia! Up Up & Away is Mathis' first set back at the label after a brief hiatus – a record that shows a newly mature style that's wonderfully suited for Johnny's amazing voice! Mathis tones are every bit as perfect as before – but he's... read more
An early vocal set from Les McCann – quite unusual, and pretty darn soulful as well! The album's done in a mode that foreshadows Les' move to soul during the 70s, and features him singing to some hip arrangements by Gerald Wilson – in a soulful, jazzy style that was common for LA of... read more
Obscure batch of jazzy pop originals by this obscure singer from Indianapolis. Jimmy's clearly trying for a Lou Rawls Capitol sort of style, but he's also got a voice that's a bit raspier and blusier than Lou. Most of the tracks are originals by Jimmy, and titles include "Searching",... read more
A great illustration of the genius of Carmen McRae in the 70s – a record that easily shows why Carmen was hipper than most of her contemporaries from two decades before! The set has the vocalist somehow managing to still stick in a straight jazz style, without going for cheaper soul routines... read more
A great illustration of the genius of Carmen McRae in the 70s – a record that easily shows why Carmen was hipper than most of her contemporaries from two decades before! The set has the vocalist somehow managing to still stick in a straight jazz style, without going for cheaper soul routines... read more
Great early work from Carmen McRae – small combo, jazzy, and a nicely different set than some of her other work of the 50s! Backings are by two groups – one headed by accordionist Mat Mathews, the other by saxophonist Tony Scott – both quartets, and both of them working with a... read more
Carmen McRae —
I Am Music ... CD
Blue Note/Big Break (UK),
1975. New Copy ....
$14.99
Carmen McRae really opens up on this sweet 70s set for Blue Note – expanding past the traditional jazz of her roots, and even some of the groovier work of her Atlantic years – into a sweeping, contemporary sound that's all adult, all the way! The vibe is great – in the same... read more
Carmen McRae really opens up on this sweet 70s set for Blue Note – expanding past the traditional jazz of her roots, and even some of the groovier work of her Atlantic years – into a sweeping, contemporary sound that's all adult, all the way! The vibe is great – in the same... read more
A gorgeously and lush batch of material cut with the Peter Matz Orchestra – with a surprisingly intimate feel! The strings soar, but the percussion is fairly spare and often a little bit off kilter – while Carmen emphasizes her phrasing and more earthy tendencies with any empty... read more
The start of a legend – and the very first album by Sergio Mendes' Brasil 66 group, proudly brought to the world through the godlike talents of a young Herb Alpert! Sergio was no stranger to the recording studio by the time of this set, but the record marked a real shift in his music –... read more
The start of a legend – and the very first album by Sergio Mendes' Brasil 66 group, proudly brought to the world through the godlike talents of a young Herb Alpert! Sergio was no stranger to the recording studio by the time of this set, but the record marked a real shift in his music –... read more
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 —
Look Around ... LP
A&M,
1967. Good+ ....
$1.99
Dreamy bossa pop from the A&M studios of the 60s – the Brasil 66 sound at its best! The style here is a perfect blend of real Brazilian influences and some of the hipper styles bubbling in the LA studio scene of the time – all locked together perfectly by Sergio Mendes, in the twin-... read more
Quite an unusual album from Helen Merrill – but a set that also shows that quite early on, she was a singer with a keen ear for working on larger concepts too! Merrill first rose to fame as a cool-voiced singer in the 50s, but she does a surprisingly great job here with country tunes as well... read more
A wonderfully moody session from Helen Merrill – and an obscure one too! The album was recorded in New York in 1965 – with pianist Dick Katz leading an off-beat group that featured Thad Jones on cornet, Jim Hall on guitar, Ron Carter on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – a combo... read more
A rare Japanese session from vocalist Helen Merrill – one of a few key 60s recordings she cut on the Tokyo scene, after initial fame in the US! The album features a great small group arranged by drummer Takeshi Inomata, played by a combo that includes alto, baritone, and trumpet – all... read more
A wonderfully moody album from singer Helen Merrill – recorded with backing by pianist John Lewis, in an overall feel that's got some of the styles that Lewis forged with the Modern Jazz Quartet! The tunes are familiar ones, mostly, but arranged in a style that's got wonderfully sad and... read more
Features Ella Fitzgerald on vocal performances of "April In Paris", "Party Blues", and "Every Day I Have The Blues" – with Count Basie backing. Also features a jam session version of "Billie's Bounce" – with Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, Tal Farlow... read more
The shrill goofy vocalist lays down a second album of groovy camp tunes that'll make your dog cover his ears! There's a few lame tracks on here, but there's also some great ones, like her versions of "Girl From Ipanema" and "Monday, Monday". Mod arrangements by Fred Bock and... read more
The full range of Mina's pop genius of the 60s – some upbeat groovers, some offbeat swingers, and some mellower cuts that glide forth with her wonderful vocals in Italian! Although she never cracked the charts here, Mina was easily one of the best female singers on the European scene of the... read more
A sweet rarity from the lovely Mina – a great replica of one of her best singles from the early 70s – featuring the kind of amazing vocals that have always made her work unlike anyone else!... read more
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... read more
Mina —
Mina ... CD
EMI (Italy),
Late 60s. New Copy ....
$9.99
Dreamy pop from Italian diva Mina – sweetly soaring strings and groovy 60s pop touches – horns, galloping percussion and other upbeat touches on a few tracks, though a few more are piano and voice centered numbers with a touch of melancholy! The album features great arrangements by... read more
Beautiful stuff – and a record that shows a real maturation in Mina's vocals – a move away from some of the simple pop of the early years (even though that was pretty darn great), and into the territory of an all-adult vocalist with a really wide range! Backings are by Augusto Martelli... read more
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... read more
Great pop sounds from the lovely Mina – an Italian singer of the 60s whose powers easily rival those of French chanteuses like Francoise Hardy, Brigitte Bardot, or France Gall! The tunes here have a nice undercurrent of rock and pop elements under larger arrangements that often allow Mina to... read more
One of the grooviest European singers of the 60s – the lovely Mina, who could swing with the best of the British and French scene of the time – yet who also had a wide vocal range that was also used in famous soundtracks, too! This cracker of an album really displays the full range of... read more
Playful pop from Mina – a great Italian singer who made some really wonderful records from the late 50s onward! This early set is a real gem – a sprightly mix of larger arrangements with rock and pop inflections – all served up in this optimistic blend that really fits the mood... read more
One of the few albums ever issued by vocalist Frank Minion – an ultra-hip singer that we'd rank right up there as one of our favorites ever! Although the cover bears a 1970 date, the album was recorded in the late 50s – and date reference is a great indication of the forward-thinking... read more
A warm and wonderful live date from vocalist Martha Miyake – one of the most important Japanese jazz singers of the 70s – and an artist with a great command for phrasing in English! Backings here are by a tight piano trio – and Miyake's got this mellow-toned, open-ended style... read more
A warm and wonderful live date from vocalist Martha Miyake – one of the most important Japanese jazz singers of the 70s – and an artist with a great command for phrasing in English! Backings here are by a tight piano trio – and Miyake's got this mellow-toned, open-ended style... read more
Matt Monro —
Rare Monro ... CD
EMI (UK),
1960s/Early 70s. New Copy 2CD ....
$9.99
A great look at the lesser-known side of the career of UK vocalist Matt Monro – one that features rare EMI singles, obscure album tracks, and other usual bits all pulled together in one overstuffed 2CD set! The package is a great antidote to all of the overdone hits collections of Monro's... read more
Marian Montgomery —
What's New ... LP
Decca,
Mid 60s. Very Good ....
$1.99
Oh for the days when you could go to a club and hear a singer like this – peppy, jazzy, but also able to put over a sad and dreamy tune when she wants to. Marian only recorded a few records, and this one's probably her best – a jaunty set of tunes with arrangements by Charles Albertine... read more
Joe Mooney —
Lush Life ... CD
Atlantic (Japan),
1956. New Copy ....
$14.99
A wonderfully moody vocal outing from Joe Mooney – a lesser-remembered singer from the 50s, but one of our favorite talents from that generation! Joe's got a style of singing that's in the more fragile mode of male vocalizing – similar to Matt Dennis, but a bit more boozy overall... read more
Misty's got a look on the cover that makes her look like she might have come across on the casting couch in order to get a record deal – but the album's a nice one that takes her sexy promise and backs it up with a nicely groovy late 60s blend of pop and jazz! There's a number of unusual... read more
Robert Moore —
Wildcat ... CD
RoMo Music,
1995. Used ....
$0.49
Pat Moran Quartet —
While At Birdland ... CD
Bethlehem/Solid (Japan),
1957. New Copy ....
$15.99Just Sold Out!
One of two albums cut for Bethlehem by the Pat Moran Quartet – a groovy little combo that harmonized vocally while they were grooving on their instruments! The group's led by Pat on piano and lead vocals – and singer Bev Kelly is also with the group – and this album features... read more
Ennio Morricone & Others —
Morricone Pops ... CD
El (UK),
Early 60s. New Copy ....
$13.99
Think that Ennio Morricone only made music for soundtracks? Guess again – because this groovy little set features a whole host of tracks that the maestro recorded with singers in the early 60s – great postwar pop numbers that already show his creative touch on the charts! Most of the... read more
A second return to the American studios – with arrangements by Al Capps – and titles that include "The Singer", "The Loving Song", "Dandelion", "Like A Main Theme", "Just Another Face", and "Dance Over The Water".... read more