A key late 60s country crossover set, but one that also inspired a fair bit of funk as well! The title cut's a well-known gem – one that's been covered instrumentally in some break-heavy versions, but which sounds even more amazing here in Bobbie's original version – one of the moodiest pop tunes we've ever heard, with lyrics, and a way of presenting them, that still leaves us breathless all these many years later. There's also some other funky bits here too – Gentry's raspy "Mississippi Delta" – an original number that almost seems to unseat Tina Turner for down-home soul – and the groovy "Sunday Best", "Niki Hoeky", "Papa Won't You Let Me Go To Town With You", and "Chickasaw Country Child", all numbers that echo the same lilting acoustic guitar grooves of "Billie Joe". (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy Bay Area sounds here – with cuts that include "Superbyrd" and "Your Old Lady" by Steve Miller Band, "Stranger In My Own Home Town" and "Revolution" by Mother Earth, and "Codine" and "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" by Quicksilver Messenger Service. (Soundtracks, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

The breakthrough album by Blondie! Parallel Lines is their third album overall, and having been released only 7 months after their second, you know they were hungry to break big – and they do it here with unbeatable cool. For as tight and bright as as the sound is, a trademark of producer Mike Chapman, there's still something of the raucous downtown energy here – and also some pretty great stylistic strides, such as the disco-aware smash "Heart Of Glass". Includes the equally classic "One Way Or Another" plus "Hanging On The Telephone", "Just Go Away", "I Know But I Don't Know" "Will Anything Happen", "Picture This", "11:59 and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A true classic by Jimi with the original Experience lineup – the third of three straight up masterpiece LPs to come out in just over a year's time by the group! You could call the leftfield astral effects in the mix experimental if you had to – innovations in the studio with echo, that hallucinatory backwards sound effect and other stranger bits – but the passionate, naturally expressive playing and singing by Jimi makes it all feel just right, and that Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell still don't get enough credit for being at the heart of such greatness. A massive 2LP effort that includes "Voodoo Chile", "Crosstown Traffic", "Electric Ladyland", "Little Miss Strange", "Moon Turn The Tides", "Still Raining Still Dreaming" and "All Along The Watchtower". LP, Vinyl record album

A true classic by Jimi with the original Experience lineup – the third of three straight up masterpiece LPs to come out in just over a year's time by the group! You could call the leftfield astral effects in the mix experimental if you had to – innovations in the studio with echo, that hallucinatory backwards sound effect and other stranger bits – but the passionate, naturally expressive playing and singing by Jimi makes it all fell just right, and the Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell still don't get enough credit for being at the heart of such greatness. A massive 2LP effort that includes "Voodoo Chile", "Crosstown Traffic", "Electric Ladyland", "Little Miss Strange", "Moon Turn The Tides", "Still Raining Still Dreaming" and "All Along The Watchtower". LP, Vinyl record album

Very dark work from The Pretty Things – an even more complicated, heavier-sounding album than SF Sorrow! The album's hardly got the lightness you might guess from its Parachute title – and instead, really shows the band moving into darker corners – both musically and lyrically, as they work in a heady brew of sophisticated guitar lines and adult song themes. And although former leader Dick Taylor's left the group, the other members are still holding down the fort nicely – hardly missing a beat here as they step onto a new level in their incredible stretch of growth. Titles include "The Good Mr. Square", "The Letter", "Rain", "Cries From The Midnight Circus", "Sickle Clowns", "Miss Fay Regrets", and "Grass". LP, Vinyl record album

Really wonderful work from the young Michael Hurley – one of his first records to get somewhat wide exposure, thanks to the help of Jesse Colin Young, who signed Hurley up to his Raccoon label at Warner Brothers! The vibe here is right up there with some of the best offbeat acoustic work cut during that stretch at the label – not the same in sound, but not far in spirit from unique records by Steve Young, John Hartford, and others – not to mention the cooler currents from Jesse's scene too! Hurley's vocal style changes nicely to fit the mood of each tune, really bringing the most out of the sorts of lyrics that were his special stock in trade – while the guitar playing is nicely unified, and although spare, really does a great job of holding the album together. Titles include "Blue Driver", "Water Train", "The Sun Is Slowly Sinking", "I'm Worried I'm Worried", "In Florida", "Lilly Pads Upon The Pond", and "Trinidad". (Folk/Country, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of early records from Hour Glass – back to back in a single set! First up is the self titled Hour Glass album – fantastic early work from Gregg And Duane Allman – a set that's nothing at all like their Allman Brothers material, but which has a wonderful style nonetheless! At some level, there's a very strong soul current running through the music – as the group mix in songs by Curtis Mayfield, Deon Jackson, and others with some headier rock material – all set up in these arrangements by Dallas Smith that seem to begin in uptown soul, then push things into more psychedelic territory! The blend is great, and makes for a really wonderful record – on titles that include "I've Been Trying", "No Easy Way Down", "Out Of The Night", "Nothing But Tears", "Heartbeat", and "Silently". Power Of Love is an excellent second set from Hour Glass – the pre-Allman Brothers Band that featured both Duane and Gregg Allman, the latter of whom is really coming into his own on the record! Unlike the group's debut, this one features a lot more original material by Gregg – and guitars that start to crackle in that sweetly cresting style that would become the group's hallmark, and which would have an undeniable influence on the sound of rock in the 70s. At some level, the whole thing's an early southern effort to answer the sounds of the Bay Area scene – and comes off beautifully, thanks to titles that include "To Things Before", "I'm Not Afraid", "Home For The Summer", "Down In Texas", "Now Is The Time", and "Going Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album

Rare Earth get some super-heavy help on this set from Norman Whitfield – who wrote all the tracks for the record, and produced the whole thing with a thundering intensity to match his best work with The Temptations! Given Rare Earth's more rock-styled bent, the sound's a bit different here – but the record has an undeniably soulful quality that really makes it stand out – even amongst other excellent early work by the group. Titles include the super-extended jammer "Ma", which runs for over 17 minutes in length – plus great versions of "Hum Along & Dance", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", and "Big John Is My Name". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful set of unreleased Arthur Russell songs – great tunes that he cut in more of an eclectic singer-songwriter approach than some of his other work – emotionally upfront, understated material that is simply beautiful! The songs range from very stripped down and folksy on the earlier recordings – kind of like an East Village Townes Van Zandt (we s**t you not) with Arthur singing and playing acoustic guitar and occasionally his cello – with an intuitive, true understanding of folk and Americana at its most honest and direct, while still working in some avant flourishes. As the set and the years of recording progress, the accompaniment gets busier and more pop, soul and experimental sounds are filtered in – but the song-based approach carries all the way through. For a noted perfectionist and experimentalist, it's a really unfussy batch of material, and very rewarding. Highly recommended! Tracks include "Close My Eyes", "Goodbye Old Paint", "Maybe She", "Oh Fernanda Why", "Eli", "Habit Of You", "Janine", "Big Moon", "The Letter", "Your Motion Says", "Love Is Overtaking Me", "Planted A Thought", "Love Comes Back" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A strange one for Motown – for a number of reasons: The group's European, for one, and they're more of a spacey rock group than a soul outfit. The vocals are a bit lackluster, but the group does have a wonderfully jazzy sound to their playing – and on the best cuts, they hit some strident grooves that really take off nicely, with a bit of a funky prog feel. Highlights include "Keepsake", "Pollution", "Words & Music", and "Time Is A Good Friend". (Soul, Rock) LP, Vinyl record album

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If you only know Meatloaf from his late 70s work with Jim Steinman, prepare to be amazed – as this early album for Motown's Rare Earth label is a completely different set altogether – filled with soulful elements that take the man's mighty voice in directions we never would have guessed! The set's a collaboration with female singer Shaun Murphey, aka Stoney – another talent from the Detroit scene, and working with Meatloaf in that effortless blend of soul, rock, and some funky psychedelic touches that some of their best Motor City contemporaries were doing at the time – but maybe even better! The record's got a tremendous sound, even without Meatloaf's later fame – and was put together with some great arrangements from David Van DePitte and Tom Baird – on titles that include "Jessica White", "Lady Be Mine", "Jimmy Bell", "Sunshine", "Game Of Love", "Kiss Me Again", It Takes All Kinds Of People", and "She Waits By The Window". LP, Vinyl record album