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An incredible record from Sun Ra! The session was recorded in New York in the late 60s – and it features Ra playing the "solar sound instrument", which is actually a modified Hohner Clavinet, used here with some really spooky sounds! The setting of the album is spare and moody – with Ra striking out first on the "solar sound instrument" – laying down a groove that's filled in by John Gilmore on tenor, plus additional percussion by Robert Barry (who plays a bit of the "lightning drum"), Clifford Jarvis, Marshall Allen, and Pat Patrick. Titles include "Mu", "Lemuria", "Atlantis", "Bimini", and "Yucatan".

A sweet album of funky guitar tracks, with Freddy Robinson out front over a bunch of tight LA Monk Higgins arrangements. Kind of a sleeper that hasn't really gotten as many props in the groove scene as it ought to, with a great sunny west coast 60s soul jazz vibe running throughout. Joe Sample provides warm keys, Paul Humphrey is snapping nicely on the drums, and the group kicks on tracks like "Before Six", "Black Fox", and "Monkin Around".

A treasure trove of 70s work from Wayne Shorter – his four albums for Columbia Records, plus two more CDs' worth of music recorded with Weather Report! The music here really represents a flowering of Shorter's talents – a way to focus some of the experiments he began at Blue Note at the end of the 60s – and find a way to bring back some of the warmth and soulfulness of his earliest years – yet all within a freer setting that has styles mixing wonderfully! The package features the full albums Atlantis, Phantom Navigator, Joy Ryder, and Native Dancer – the last of which is an especial favorite for us, given that it shows Shorter's love of Brazilian music. And the set also features two full CDs of Weather Report recordings of Wayne Shorter compositions – a great example of Wayne's important force within that seminal 70s group!

Strong work in Charles' post-Prestige mode – the style in which he turned his keyboard skills to other non-Hammond instruments, like Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and mini-moog. Tracks are a mix of smooth soulful numbers and more jazz funk oriented ones – and the whole thing's got a sophisticated sound that's pretty darn striking, especially when you consider that Charles handled all the arrangements and most of the production. Titles include "Upper Atlantis", "In The Land Of Mu", "Drifting", "Mona Lisa", and "The Great Pyramid".

The Mothership goes under water – as George Clinton and crew groove away nicely on this water-themed set of tracks designed to raise Atlantis from the deep! The overall sound is perhaps not as totally perfect as some of the earlier albums, but the P-Funk machine is still in full effect – cranking away nice and hard on tracks like "Liquid Sunshine", "Motor Booty Affair", "Deep", "Rumpofsteelskin", and "(Your'e A Fish And I'm A) Water Sign". Plus, the album more than makes up for a lack of standout tracks with a nicely-united theme – almost a "concept album" of the funky type!

An amazing collection of funky work from Communist Hungary – music that's really making us change our opinion about the Cold War! Back in the day, we used to think the Iron Curtain was in place to keep out Western forces – but now we know it was there to keep in groovy music like this – secret underground grooves that explode with the power of a thousand ICBMs! The core style here is mostly rock, but the groups bring in plenty of funk too – heavy drums, rumbling bass, and fuzzy guitar that really make these cuts groove nicely – in ways that are similar to some of the more proggish fusion that's been compiled from the Eastern European scene of the 70s, but usually in a more tuneful, lyric-oriented way. And while you can't understand most of the words in the songs, that's nothing to worry about at all – because these cuts are all musical gems through and through, and the lack of meaning in the lyrics only makes the vocals come through as one more instrument in the array of funky sounds. The package comes with full, amazingly detailed notes on the tunes – and the set features 20 tracks that include "Nem Biztos Semmi" and "Add Mar Uram Az Esot" by Kati Kovacs, "Egy Lany Nem Ment Haza" by Omega Redstar, "Vegallomas" by Hungaria, "Mondj Egy Meset" by Piramis, "Kergeskezu Favagok" by Locomitiv GT, "A Bolond Lany" by Illes, "Kivanj Te Is Nekem Szep Jo Ejszakat" by Meteor & Demjen Ferenc, "Hetkoznapi Balladak" by Bergendy, "Szevasz Haver" by Skorpio, and "Kinai Fal" by Nemenyi Bela & Atlantis.

A mid 70s funky classic from the Isleys – but also one that we love for number of excellent mellower tracks! Sure, the Isleys could wear flashy suits and play some heavy guitar with the best and and the funkiest combos of the era – but honestly, what might really love them more here for the laidback, loving tunes they do so well. We actually think that this album includes 2 of their greatest ballad tracks ever – "Voyage To Atlantis" and "Footsteps In The Dark" – plus the great midtempo tune "Tell Me When You Need It Again" – but the whole thing is a treasure! Other tracks include "Climbin Up The Ladder (Part 1 & 2)", "The Pride (Parts 1 & 2)", and "Go For Your Guns". This Big Break UK remastered edition includes 3 bonus tracks: "Voyage To Atlantis (Alternate Version)", "The Pride (Part 1) (Single Version)" and "Voyage To Atlantis (Single Version)".

The Mothership goes under water – as George Clinton and crew groove away nicely on this water-themed set of tracks designed to raise Atlantis from the deep! The overall sound is perhaps not as totally perfect as some of the earlier records, but the P-Funk machine is still in full effect – cranking away nice and hard on tracks like "Liquid Sunshine", "Motor Booty Affair", "Deep", "Rumpofsteelskin", and "(Your'e A Fish And I'm A) Water Sign". Plus, the album more than makes up for a lack of standout tracks with a nicely-united theme – almost a "concept album" of the funky type!

A funky album – but one that we love best for the mellow tracks! Sure, the Isleys could wear flashy suits and play some heavy guitar – but honestly, what we really love them for here are the laidback, loving tunes they do so well. The album includes 2 of their greatest ballad tracks ever – "Voyage To Atlantis" and "Footsteps In The Dark" – plus the midtempo tune "Tell Me When You Need It Again", another great track that almost has the same power as the other two. Other tracks include "Climbin Up The Ladder", "The Pride", and "Go For Your Guns".

Sweet Philly soul from Tony Strong – a singer who's worked with some of the greatest Philly groups over the years – including The Ebonys, Perfections, Blue Magic, and Intruders! This contemporary set features production by Butch Ingram, in a style that's almost an 80s modern take on older Philly male vocal modes – with Strong firmly in the lead, but supporting harmonies on most tracks that really recall the best sort of Intruders style – although in ways that you would have heard if the group had gone on recording past their 70s albums and singles. Other members of the Ingram Family round out the backing group – and titles include some new tracks, and some older remakes – cuts that include "Wind It", "Friends No More", "It Ain't Over", "Voyage To Atlantis", "United", "Never Gonna Give You Up", "Together", "When You Coming Home", and "I'll Always Love My Mama".

A huge amount of work from funky flute man Bjorn Jason Lindh – material recorded after his initial early 70s fame, and a package that includes 6 albums that hardly got any circulation in the US at the time! The groove here is partially the funky fusion that you'd know from Bjorn's few American releases – but it also moves into more atmospheric styles at times too – very open and spacious at points, and more fusion-driven at others. The albums run from the late 70s through the mid 80s – and there's a definite instrumentation shift along the way – a bit less jazz, some more electronics at points – yet still always handled with the kind of care and sensitivity for sound that made Lindh's early material great. The package features the albums Bike Voyage II (1978), Musik (1981), Vata Vingar (1980), Varlden Vander (1985), Atlantis (1983), and Svensk Rapsodi (1986) – and the package includes 55 tracks in all.