Masao Yagi —
Inga ... CD
King (Japan),
1978. New Copy ....
$19.99
Great 70s work from Japanese pianist Masao Yagui – a set that's got some fusion elements, but which also holds onto some of his earlier modern energies as well! The lineup here is relatively large – with Yagui on piano and keyboards, plus Akira Miyazawa on tenor, Shigeo Suziki on alto,... read more
Beats by Skeff Anselm, the Soul Merchants and Spearhead X.... read more
Stomu Yamash'ta —
Go Too ... LP
One Way,
1977. Very Good+ ....
$3.99
Go Too from '77 – more than a 42 minutes of spacey concept rock, jazz and classically trained guitar mastery from Stomu and superstar cohorts! Includes "Prelude", "Seen You Before", "Madness", "Mysteries Of Love", "Beauty", "You And... read more
Yosuke Yamashita —
Yosuke Alone ... CD
King (Japan),
1974. New Copy ....
$22.99
Solo piano from one of Japan's most inventive talents on the keyboard – really stretching out here in a warmly acoustic setting, in a style that's quite freewheeling and open, yet without some of the more avant moments of later years too! There's a sense of balance here that's really... read more
Bluesy piano, but with plenty of jazz roots too – vintage material recorded in Chicago during the early years of Atlantic Records, at a time when the label was almost more dedicated to preserving old styles than pushing new ones! Yancey's piano is sublime – recorded better here than on... read more
A standout set from the duo of Calvin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples – sounding great on this set of mid 80s grooves! The production of the set has all the hallmarks of Lonnie Simmons' Total Experience style – bouncy rhythms and sweet keyboards, wrapped up in that mix of catchy and funky... read more
The rare soundtrack for the second movie starring a very young Brigitte Bardot – with moods that range from whimsical movie symphony to sultry, percussion heavy exoticism! The 1952 vehicle for Bardot pegged her to portray the alluring daughter of a light house keeper, and it's pretty sweet... read more
An important early record from Yello – only a 4 track ep, but one that had a huge influence on modern dance! The standout cut here is "Bostich" – a great little track that's spare, electronic, and has snapping beats, catchy vocals, and this dark sound that fit perfectly with... read more
The first rumblings of the pop genius in Yello's music – a record that still has all the best quirky electronics of their first two sets, but which also focuses that energy into a sound that's often more direct and oddly hook-oriented on the best numbers! There's a really percussive vibe... read more
An electronic pop masterpiece! YMO's first US release, and their best LP of quirky techno pop, bubbling over with video game noise, synthesized beeps and a stew of futuristic noises all glued together with infectious rhythms. Includes "Computer Game (Theme From The Circus)", "Comput... read more
An excellent bit of spacey funk – and one of the most obscure Gamble/Huff records ever recorded! Yellow Sunshine are a hip funky jazz group, very tight in the riffing department, with a sound that would be more at home on Fantasy Records than Philly International. Dexter Wansel's in the... read more
Stellar live Yes – recorded during their 1972 tour, when the group was at the height of their jamming powers! Sweet Roger Dean cover, too!... read more
Way more than you might expect! Once again, comic historian Craig Yoe blows us away with the breadth of his knowledge – as the book's a huge range of anti-war images that span the space of a century – from early drawings by Daumier and Thomas Nast, to expressionist work by George Grosz... read more
A great title, and a great little album to match – one that features two guitars, plus bass and drums – in an open-ended style that's mighty nice on the ears! The set's got a lean kind of sound – as you might expect from the lineup – and Japanese players Shoji Yokouchi and... read more
A blistering barrage of sounds from the legendary Michael Yonkers – working here with The Blind Shake, who help give his already offbeat sound a very nice sense of focus! The music burns and rumbles with plenty of fuzzy, freaked-out guitars – but also seems awash in other odd sounds... read more
Rarities from the mighty Yabby You – with some remarkably strong, though little heard rootsy dub from Yabby and his extended brethren – including some recently discovered bits! The title Deeper Roots works on dual fronts. It's got pretty rare material, discovered by the always deep... read more
Quite possibly the greatest Larry Young album of the post-Blue Note years – and a massive bit of funk that totally redefines his sound! Larry's working here with his hip group Fuel – an ensemble that features Laura Logan on lead vocals, giving the tunes a real focus through her lyrics... read more
Quite possibly the greatest Larry Young album of the post-Blue Note years – and a massive bit of funk that totally redefines his sound! Larry's working here with his hip group Fuel – an ensemble that features Laura Logan on lead vocals, giving the tunes a real focus through her lyrics... read more
Incredible stuff from the jazz underground of Newark! This is one of the rarest albums ever recorded by jazz organist Larry Young – cut for the tiny Perception label during the early 70s, and featuring some of the cream of the New Jersey jazz underground. The album's got playing that... read more
Larry Young —
Unity ... LP
Blue Note,
Mid 60s. New Copy (reissue)....
$9.99
A brilliant album that would forever change the way the organ was used in jazz! The set's the greatest contribution ever from organist Larry Young – a lean and modal session recorded with help from a young quartet that includes Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, and Elvin Jones – all leaping... read more
A collection of some of Prez' famous LA bop recordings, though the cover's not long on notes about the session, so we can't identify the sidemen. We can tell you they all sound mighty fine alongside Prez. 12 tracks in all, including "Sax O Be Bop", "DB Blues", "Lester... read more
A 60s album that brings together sides recorded by Young in earlier years for Savoy – put together as a "memorial" album after his death. Players include Count Basie on piano, Harry Edison and Joe Newman on trumpets, Buddy Tate on tenor, and Freddie Green on guitar. Includes... read more
Lester Young & Harry Edison —
Pres & Sweets ... LP
Verve,
1956. Very Good ....
$11.99
A classic Verve pairing of two of its greatest soloists – both recorded here in a laidback, easily-swinging session that allows both players to shine equally! Young's tenor is always a welcome addition to any set of this nature, and Edison's playing here in a gentler, relaxed mode that's a... read more
Lester Young/Sonny Stitt/Dizzy Gillespie/Roy Eldri —
Jazz Moods ... LP
Hall Of Fame Jazz Greats,
Mid 50s. Near Mint- ....
$2.99
Way more than some of the star-type bios on Scott Walker that have littered the market over the years – and instead, a well-chosen collection of writings on Walker that really get at the full depth of his genius! The book's a co-production with The Wire – and definitely lives up to the... read more
A fantastic self-released album by the enigmatic Roland Young – an unusual blend of organic sounds and slight electronics – all put together with the careful creativity of older albums by members of the AACM! Roland plays all the instruments here himself – in a set of tracks that... read more
Roland Young —
Mystiphonic ... CD
Flow Chart/EM (Japan),
2013. New Copy ....
$16.99
Recent recordings from Roland Young – the reedman who made some amazing indie records a few decades back – still committed to richly organic sounds all these many years later! Roland's working here totally by himself, but overdubs instruments to create a cool layered sound – one... read more
Roland Young —
Mystiphonic ... LP
Flow Chart/EM (Japan),
2013. New Copy ....
$16.99
Recent recordings from Roland Young – the reedman who made some amazing indie records a few decades back – still committed to richly organic sounds all these many years later! Roland's working here totally by himself, but overdubs instruments to create a cool layered sound – one... read more
Excellent work from this oft-overlooked southern soul singer – the beautiful Tommie Young! Tommie's a lady (in case you didn't know it), and she's got deep deep style that'll knock you flat out – with a soaring female southern soul sound on many of the tracks here – including a... read more
Deep soul from deep in Louisiana – a killer collection of work from the great and overlooked Tommie Young! Tommie only cut a handful of singles and one full album for the small Soul Power offshoot of Jewel Records – but those tracks have earned her a place in our hearts for years... read more
Young & Company were an obscure New Jersey group who struck big momentarily with the single "I Like What You're Doing To Me", and got a brief chance to cut this one and only album for Brunswick as a follow-up. The album's an interesting one, because it came at a time when the last-gas... read more
A killer couple of Danish freakout records from Young Flowers – '68's Blomsterpistolen and No. 2 from '69 – a pair of outstanding albums for Sonet and a slew of bonus tracks in a 2CD set! Blomsterpistolen kicks off with a couple minutes-long "Overture" of guitar noise that... read more
Young Fresh Fellows —
Totally Lost ... LP
Frontier,
1988. Very Good ....
$2.99
Young-Holt Unlimited —
Oh Girl ... CD
Atlantic (Japan),
1972. New Copy ....
$15.99
Wicked electric funk from Young Holt Unlimited – and a real departure from the sound of their 60s albums, and a step into a groove that's very 70s-styled overall! The album's heavy on Fender Rhodes – played not just by group member Ken Chaney, but also by a young Bobby Lyle –... read more
Fantastic! Young and Holt lay down a monster set of grooves from Curtis Mayfield's Superfly soundtrack (all the good ones – like "Freddie's Dead", "Give Me Your Love", "Pusher Man", and "Superfly"), and they also get into some funky tracks of their own... read more
Crossover pop chart hip hop from the tailend of the 80s – the Delicious Vinyl classic Stone Cold Rhymin from Young MC – boisterous, funky good time rap with production by the Dust Brothers and exuberant, fun, uncomplicated, stone cold rhymes from Young MC! Includes the unforgettable... read more
It's a little-known fact that Memphis had a huge influence on the sound of late 50s/early 60s soul jazz – probably because most of the city's best players had to leave and go either to Chicago or New York to make their name. This set's a great reminder of that fact, as it brings together an... read more
A sweet tribute to Jimi Hendrix – served up by older soul legend Lonnie Youngblood – who actually recorded with Jimi in his early days! The set here is a very faithful presentation of the Hendrix aesthetic – maybe a bit more funk than rock, which is a good thing for us –... read more
Despite the corny name, "Sweet Sweet Tootie" is a pretty nice sax-based instrumental by Lonnie Youngblood. Not really a funky track, but with a good soul instrumental groove, and rolling percussion.... read more
A really stunning little record – way more than we expected – and our expectations were already pretty darn high! The album's contemporary – and features legendary Delfonics lead singer William Hart working with younger studio whiz Adrian Younge – who gives the whole thing... read more
Once a raw harmony group, the Younghearts moved into a sweeter, smoother soul vein for their 20th Century recordings, and the result is an excellent batch of modern soul tracks with a nice groove to them. This album includes their great groover "Do You Have The Time (parts 1 & 2)",... read more
A record that has Leszek Zadlo on both flute and tenor, working with the excellent Ego Records rhythm trio of Joe Haider on piano, Isla Eckinger on bass, and Joe Nay on drums! The sound is quite different than other Ego sessions with the trio – as the tracks here build very slowly, often... read more
Some of the hippest sounds ever recorded on the Afghan scene – and a great reminder that the nation's got some standout music if you know where to look! The package is the third whopping volume in Pharaway's look at Ahmad Zahir – a charismatic singer who rose to huge fame in the 70s,... read more
Some of the hippest sounds ever recorded on the Afghan scene – and a great reminder that the nation's got some standout music if you know where to look! The package combines the second and third volumes in Pharaway's look at Ahmad Zahir – a charismatic singer who rose to huge fame in... read more
Zalmac (Zulema) —
Whatcha Gonna Do ... LP
TSOB/Boogie Times (France),
1982. Sealed (reissue)....
$9.99
A great later project from Zulema – one done in the years after her fame on bigger labels, but still pretty darn great overall! The groove here is quite different than the records she did back in the 70s – much more in the street soul mode you'd expect from the TSOB label – with... read more
The obscure second album from Emiliano Zapata – one of the coolest groups on the Mexican scene of the early 70s! Like the first, this one's got a quality that's right up there with the best South American psych of the time – fuzzy guitars mixed with funky rhythms, and some occasionally... read more
Puerto Rican salsa from Zaperoko – a group who weave together strands of traditional rhythms into a sweet new groove! The album's got a rock-solid feel right from the start – the mix of tradition and contemporary energy that makes some of these 80s Montuno sessions so great –... read more
An overlooked salsa gem from the New York scene of the 80s – one of those great Montuno Records albums that was a lot more rootsy than most other work of the time! The group work here with a blend of salsa energy and deeper Afro-Cuban roots – especially on the percussion, which really... read more
Bootsy and Roger went all the way to the bank with this one – a classic electro funk groover without which, most of west coast late 80s/early 90s hip hop would not exist! The cut's a monster – and still sounds wonderful whatever the context.... read more
Zapp —
Zapp ... CD
Warner/Get On Down,
1980. New Copy ....
$12.9914.98
The classic first album by this legendary funky combo – a group who not only went onto change the sound of funk in the 80s, but also went onto have a huge impact on generations of hip hop as well! The album burns from the very first note – the wicked snapping funk of "More Bounce... read more
The classic first album by this legendary funky combo – a group who not only went onto change the sound of funk in the 80s, but also went onto have a huge impact on generations of hip hop as well! The album burns from the very first note – the wicked snapping funk of "More Bounce... read more
One of the most jamming Zappa albums from the early days – a set that's still got some of Frank's complicated musical leanings in play – but which features interpretation by a smoking group who no doubt helped the great one reach a much larger audience! George Duke plays lots of organ... read more
Frank Zappa —
Sleep Dirt ... LP
DiscReet,
1979. Very Good ....
$14.99
Frank Zappa live in the 70s – working with a surprisingly hip large ensemble, with all the sharp changes and unusual moments of his classic studio albums! Like some of Zappa's other concert performances, there's an approach that steps a few years back – clearly to please the group... read more
One of Frank Zappa's biggest-selling albums of the early 70s and it's also one of his best ever! Over-Nite Sensation finds Zappa's leftfield weirdness and sly social satire at play within adventurous, but accessible arrangements. It's got some early fusiony bits paired with heavy drums and... read more
Frank Zappa/Mothers Of Invention —
Uncle Meat ... CD
Reprise/Bizarre,
1969. New Copy 2 CDs ....
$19.9921.98
An amazing movie in sound – supposedly music (and more) that was going to be used in a film project, issued to the public while Zappa was trying to raise money for production! The album's one of the most tripped-out studio efforts to date from the group – loads of overdubbing, and... read more
Frank Zappa & The Mothers, live at the Fillmore East – showing the world they've got plenty of greatness to offer away from the studio! The band here is super-tight – with the ferocity of Chunga's Revenge, but still enough room between the jamming for some mad bits of dialog and... read more
A key record in showcasing Frank Zappa's blend of complicated compositions and all-out jamming – that mix of hard rock and serious songwriting that would direct his energy for most of the 70s – yet still pretty darn raw at this point! The album's a live one – with some of the... read more
Mothers Of Invention (Frank Zappa) —
Freak Out ... CD
Ryko,
1966. Used ....
$7.99
A fabulous furry freak out from Frank Zappa – the start of a legendary run in the late 60s – and a record that is still as mindblowing now as it was all those many years back! There's a deadpan quality to the vocals that's unlike anything other groups were trying for at the time –... read more
A collection of two wonderful early 70s albums from Tom Ze, recorded just after the Tropicalia years! Estundando O Samba is one of Tom Ze's best albums ever – a fantastic blend of post-Tropicalia styles – and it features some strange arrangements that perfectly illustrated Ze's insane... read more
Some of the wildest work we've heard from Tom Ze in years – a set that returns to some of the darker themes of his famous 70s recordings, and one that features a great balance between experimental sounds and more playful modes! The rhythms are especially compelling – fresh sounds... read more
Sublime vocal work from a contemporary Georgian ensemble – but one who work strongly in the best ancient modes of the Eastern world! The group have an amazing polyphonic approach – voices rising and falling, crossing and turning, coming together in a way that's far more than usual... read more
Wild! This is, supposedly, "electronic boogie and blues composed and played on the moog" – but the sound is more like tripped-out funky computer music, with a good fuzzy edge, and none of the hokiness you'd think of from the "boogie" tag in the title. Paul Beaver is part... read more
Denny Zeitlin —
Carnival ... LP
Columbia,
Mid 60s. Very Good ....
$3.99
Very hip piano trio work – the second Columbia album by Denny Zeitlin, a young fresh talent in the 60s, with an approach that was lyrical, slightly modern, and a bit soulful. Carnival is a bit more free flowing than his first – with Charlie Haden doing some great bass, making a rare... read more
Si Zentner back to back – two nice ones from the 60s on a single CD! From Russia With Love is one of the grooviest Si Zentner albums of the 60s – thanks to a host of hip spy themes that keep things interesting throughout! The material really brings out the best in Si – as does... read more