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A great look at an under-acknowledged period of the career of Eumir Deodato – his mid 70s sides for MCA, recorded right after his better-known records for CTI! The vibe here is quite similar to the jazzy funk that Deodato laid down in the earlier part of the decade – a bit fuller at times, thanks to some added instrumentation, but still filled with amazing work on Fender Rhodes throughout – sweetly soaring keys that come off better than most of Deodato's contemporaries on the fusion scene. The set list here is totally great – and features most of the best tracks from Deodato's four albums for MCA – all distilled down into one great 14 track collection that's filled with wonderful keyboard grooves. Titles include "Amani", "Do It Again", "Moonlight Serenade", "Havana Strut", "Whirlwinds", "Juanita", "Funk Yourself", "Adam's Hotel", "Black Widow", and "Super Strut".

A cool collection of early singles by Sun Ra – rare material from the vaults of Saturn Records, showing not just the Arkestra in 45rpm format – but a host of other side projects as well! There's some surprisingly great doo wop work on here – vocal harmony material that rivals the more mainstream groups in Chicago at the time – and other tracks are by some of the lesser-known artists whom Ra worked with, all arranged and produced by Ra himself. Titles include "It's Christmas Time" by The Qualities, "Bye Bye" by The Cosmic Rays, "Hot Skillet Mama" by Yochanan, "Great Balls Of Fire" by Le Sun Ra, "October" by Sun Ra & His Astro Infinity Arkestra, "I'm So Glad You Love Me" by Juanita Rogers & Mr V's Five Joys, "Dreaming" by The Cosmic Rays, and "A Foggy Day" by The Nu Sounds.

Doo wop era spaceways travel from Sun Ra and soulful mid 50s vocal recruits – including The Cosmic Rays, Crystals, Nu Sounds and Juanita Rogers – a motherlode of rarities and never before issued recordings! Interplanetary Melodies includes doo wop numbers of earthly concern, and space theme tunes, and it's jaw dropping that such top notch recordings were still deep down there in the vaults after the excellent earlier era Ra collections from the Atavistic and Evidence labels – and Norton's efforts here are just as wonderful! The vocals are excellent, with some straighter songs, that could have been huge hits numbers with some sweetness and soaring qualities – particularly the Cosmic Rays tunes, but others are more playful, spacey, with odder lyricism and rawer performances. Soulful harmonies or strange mannerisms, rollicking piano or eerie harmonium, it's fantastic stuff and essential early Sun Ra! Most tunes are culled from unreleased studio or home recordings from the vaults, plus a couple rare releases on Saturn and Pink Clouds, and titles include "Daddy's Gonna Tell You No Lie", "Bye Bye", "Somebody's In Love" (unissued home rehearsal) and more with Cosmic Rays, "Honey In The Bee Box" (unissued home rehearsal) with The Crystals, "Spaceship Lullaby" (unissued home rehearsal) and "I'm Through With You" (unissued home rehearsal) with Nu Sounds, "It's Christmas Time" by Qualities, "Teenager's Letter Of Promises" with Juanita Rogers and Lynn Hollings, "Tony's Wife" by Sun Ra and more.

Doo wop era spaceways travel from Sun Ra and soulful mid 50s vocal recruits – including The Cosmic Rays, Crystals, Nu Sounds and Juanita Rogers – a motherlode of rarities and never before issued recordings! Interplanetary Melodies includes doo wop numbers of earthly concern, and space theme tunes, and it's jaw dropping that such top notch recordings were still deep down there in the vaults after the excellent earlier era Ra collections from the Atavistic and Evidence labels – and Norton's efforts here are just as wonderful! The vocals are excellent, with some straighter songs, that could have been huge hits numbers with some sweetness and soaring qualities – particularly the Cosmic Rays tunes, but others are more playful, spacey, with odder lyricism and rawer performances. Soulful harmonies or strange mannerisms, rollicking piano or eerie harmonium, it's fantastic stuff and essential early Sun Ra! Most tunes are culled from unreleased studio or home recordings from the vaults, plus a couple rare releases on Saturn and Pink Clouds, and titles include "Daddy's Gonna Tell You No Lie", "Bye Bye", "Somebody's In Love" (unissued home rehearsal) and more with Cosmic Rays, "Honey In The Bee Box" (unissued home rehearsal) with The Crystals, "Spaceship Lullaby" (unissued home rehearsal) and "I'm Through With You" (unissued home rehearsal) with Nu Sounds, "It's Christmas Time" by Qualities, "Teenager's Letter Of Promises" with Juanita Rogers and Lynn Hollings, "Tony's Wife" by Sun Ra and more.

Interstellar vocal group numbers and doo wop from the Sun Ra vaults – a couple rare release and a bunch of previously unissued numbers featuring The Cosmic Rays, Crystals, Nu Sounds and Juanita Rogers – teenage vocal group numbers, bits of bebop and spacey doo wop released for the first time ever! The Second Stop Is Jupiter is Volume 2 in Norton's compilations of early, vocals centered Sun Ra material – beautifully done, and worthy for more than just Ra completists – it's a treasure trove of leftfield 50s vocals on top of a nice early snapshot of the spacey sounds of Sun Ra. Includes straighter tunes and a couple standards with the interplanetary touches at the outer edges, more forthright spacey harmonies, tunes with easygoing piano and voice arrangements, and others touched by exotica and pointing the way towards Ra travels to come! Titles Include "Somebody's In Love" and "Dreaming" with Cosmic Rays, "Honeysuckle Rose" (unissued home rehearsal) and "Black Sky And Blue Moon" (unissued home rehearsal) with Nu Sounds, ""Happy New Year To You" with Qualities, "Little Sally Walker" (unissued home rehearsal) with Crystals, "I'm So Glad You Love Me" (unissued home rehearsal) with Juanita Rogers, "Stuff Like That There" by Sun Ra and more.

One of the best rock albums of the late 60s, and probably THE best record Gram Parsons ever played on. Parsons spearheaded the sound earlier with the International Submarine Band and the Byrds, but this first Burritos album is where the epiphanies are found. Traditionally structured weepers that bust all boundaries – with electric and steel guitar, wonderful harmonies that shoot straight for the stratosphere rather than dig their heels in rural cliches, and a soulful spirit that suggests the influence of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions almost as much as the Bakersfield boys. Unprecedented, amazing, beautiful "country rock" – two words that worked great together before the Eagles showed up. Tracks include "Christine's Tune", "Sin City", "Do Right Woman", "Dark End Of The Street", "My Uncle", "Wheels", "Juanita", "Hot Burrito No. 1", "Hot Burrito No. 2", "Do You Know How It Feels", and "Hippy Boy".

Interstellar vocal group numbers and doo wop from the Sun Ra vaults – a couple rare release and a bunch of previously unissued numbers featuring The Cosmic Rays, Crystals, Nu Sounds and Juanita Rogers – teenage vocal group numbers, bits of bebop and spacey doo wop released for the first time ever! The Second Stop Is Jupiter is Volume 2 in Norton's compilations of early, vocals centered Sun Ra material – beautifully done, and worthy for more than just Ra completists – it's a treasure trove of leftfield 50s vocals on top of a nice early snapshot of the spacey sounds of Sun Ra. Includes straighter tunes and a couple standards with the interplanetary touches at the outer edges, more forthright spacey harmonies, tunes with easygoing piano and voice arrangements, and others touched by exotica and pointing the way towards Ra travels to come! Titles Include "Somebody's In Love" and "Dreaming" with Cosmic Rays, "Honeysuckle Rose" (unissued home rehearsal) and "Black Sky And Blue Moon" (unissued home rehearsal) with Nu Sounds, ""Happy New Year To You" with Qualities, "Little Sally Walker" (unissued home rehearsal) with Crystals, "I'm So Glad You Love Me" (unissued home rehearsal) with Juanita Rogers, "Stuff Like That There" by Sun Ra and more.

Jumpin' 50s r&b material from the great Rufus Thomas – doing the period rollicking bluesy and proto rock & roll thing masterfully – years before the Stax style that made him famous! It's really on par with some of our favorite jump blues style sounds of the 50s, with emotional vocals from Rufus and backing ranging from rollicking r&b fever to blue ballads. Includes singles made for the Sun, Chess, Bullet and Star Talent labels. 20 tracks: "Bear Cat", "Crazy About You Baby", "Tiger Man", "Married Woman", "Decorate The Counter", "Walking In The Rain", "Gonna Bring My Baby Back", "Juanita", "Save That Money", "Double Trouble", "Beer Bottle Boogie" and much more.