The third and fourth albums from Atomic Rooster – back to back in a single set! First up is Made In England – a really striking album in the career of Atomic Rooster – one that's a little bit groovier than most, and maybe a bit funky as well! The drums are great, and have plenty of soulful currents – and the Hammond, piano, and electric piano work of Vincent Crane almost seem to echo earlier UK beat group currents, but turned towards a much hipper 70s vibe – one that's followed by an equally extended range from vocalist Chris Farlowe, who seems to fold together both his mod and prog experience in the vocals! Steve Bolton brings in some tight, riffing guitar – and titles include "Time Take My Life", "Never To Lose", "Breathless", "People You Can't Trust", "All In Satan's Name", "Close Your Eyes", "Little Bit Of Inner Air", and "Stand By Me". On Nice N Greasy, Atomic Rooster definitely get a bit greasy – using some funkier elements at times, and bluesier currents at others – all at a level that really lets singer Chris Farlowe hit some of his most expressive modes! The group's got a fresh guitarist this time around, Johnny Mandala on lead – and his presence gives some of the cuts a harder rock edge than before, often taking the lead more than the keyboards of longtime member Vincent Crane, which helps shape the sound of the set. Titles include "Voodoo In You", "Save Me", "Satan's Wheel", "Can't Find A Reason", "Take One Toke", and "All Across The Country". CD set features the bonus tracks "Moods" and "What You Gonna Do". CD

Wonderful work from Harry "Little" Caesar – a singer who made some great R&B singles for the west coast scene in the 50s, but hardly ever got his due on the other side of the US! Harry's got a nicely rough edge in his vocals – a style that reminds us a lot of the best male singers at King, like Roy Brown or Wynonie Harris – and although Caesar's perhaps not as raw and raunchy as the latter, he often covers similar down-to-earth topics in his tunes – material that makes these sides a real joy to rediscover! As the title implies, the work here was recorded for a handful of different labels – Modern, Dolphin, and Downey – and together, the tunes paint a vivid picture of this under-discovered talent from LA – a picture that's expanded on nicely by Billy Vera's notes as well. CD features 26 tracks in all – including "Cadillac Baby", "Don't Mention The Blues", "Lying Woman", "Atomic Love", "Going Down To The River", "Move Me", "Personal Question", "Tried To Reason With You Baby", and "What Are They Laughing About" – plus numbers sung with The Turbans, including "The Nest Is Warm", "No No Cherry", and "Tick Tock A Woo". CD

A nice live snapshot of a later P Funk incarnation, circa 1983 – with players like Dennis Chambers and Michael Hampton aboard the mothership with Clinton's family of funk all stars! The rest of the crew includes includes stalwarts Bernie Worrell, Eddie Hazel, Blackbird McKnight, Maceo Parker, Mudbone Cooper and George Clinton working hard to extend their legendary style of live funk into the 80s. There's a slow build up of energy that's works well – kicking off slowly but surely with a laidback intro and band intro before busts open in a big way, and from there it's one exciting classic after another 'til the very end! Includes lengthy live riffs on P-funk classics like "Cosmic Slop", "(Not Just) Knee Deep", "Maggot Brain", "Atomic Dog"and "Flashlight", "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)", "Do That Stuff", "Cosmic Slop" plus a medley of "Let's Take It To The Stage", "Mothership Connection (Starchild)" and "I Call My Baby Pussycat" in a nearly 100 minute set! CD

A pair of classic albums from The Undisputed Truth! First up is Method To The Madness – a gem from the second chapter of the group – that time when they stepped away from Motown, and followed producer/creator Norman Whitfield to his own label in California! The shift of record companies also marks a cool shift in styles too – an approach that still has all the bold, bassy elements you'd know from the earlier hits – but one that also has some fuller, more cosmic elements too! The set begins with a weird electronic spoken number that's almost experimental – then brings up the bass for a bit of heavy funk, while also using electric elements in a way that really points the way to sounds that other big funk groups would cop at the start of the 80s – but which really sound fresh here. Titles include "Sunshine", "Take A Vacation From Life (And Visit Your Dreams)", "Life Ain't So Easy", "You + Me = Love", "Cosmic Contact", "Hole In The Wall", and "Let's Go Down To The Disco". Smokin has them still going strong with Whitfield, in a groove that's every bit as wonderful as their early years! There's a killer mix of funk and deeper soul here that few other acts could handle this well – a way of hitting the flashy funk of Sly & The Family Stone or Graham Central Station – but also not falling into any showbiz traps, either – in a mode that really his the group not only respecting the role of each member, but also working together in a very cohesive way on the album. The result is a great little set that balances funky grooves with some excellent cosmic soul cuts – supported by great session work from giants like Wah Wah Watson, Walt Downing, and Jack Ashford. Titles include "Show Time", "Space Machine", "I Can't Get Enough Of Your Love", "Misunderstood", "Sandman", "Atomic Funk", and "Talkin To The Wind". CD

A funky psychedelic kaliedoscope of grooves from India – killer numbers from the 70s and into the early 80s – Psych Funk Sa-Re-Ga, from the folks who put together the equally heavy Psych-Funk 101 and Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas compilations! Most of cuts here have a raw, fuzzed out undercurrent of psychedelia – guitars that buzz or lead searingly, depending on the needs of the number – with heavy, funk-based drums and/or hand percussion with rumbling bass rhythms. From that core, they bust out mightily with more furious percussion, rhythms, mad horn arrangements, and vocals that work as either a sweetener or for even more wild-eyed excitement! In short, global psychedelic funk rhythms with regional Indian folk and classical flourishes, blended with mod, soul, garage and soundtrack influences from around the globe. It's a funky, psychedelic fusion of east and west that's billed as a seminar, but this is no academic endeavor – it's a psych funk party all the way! Includes "The Mod Trade" by The Black Beats, "Psychedelia" by X'Lents, "Somebody To Love – Edit" and "Gairaag Dance Music – Edit" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Dance Music From Hare Rama Hare Krishna" by RD Burman, "Lekar Ham Diwana Dil" by RD Burman feat Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar, "Mary Long" by Atomic Forest, "Dharmatma Theme Music" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Phir Teri Yaad" by Hemant Bhosle feat Asha Bhosle, "Thanimayil" by Ilaiyaraaja fet Vani Jairam & Chorus and more. 20 tracks in all – with a thick booklet of notes on each track, plus loads of photos, original album & poster art, and more. CD

Way more than just another look at the music of this legendary group – as the huge package brings together a wealth of rare material, including 36 tracks that appear here for the first time ever – all wrapped up in a beautiful package with a huge set of notes, photographs, and other information too! Erin Osmon serves up a massive oral history of the group, worth the price of the box alone – and there's also interviews and discographical information too – far more than you usually get with a box set of this nature. But honestly, the real charm is all the great unreleased material, added to the too-small catalog of the group's work from these classic years – Titles that include "I'll Never Break Away From This Heart Of Mine", "I Love You Honey Give Me A Bear", "Live It Up (Giorgio Moroder demo)", "Will Anything Happen (inst)", "Spaghetti Song (Atomic part 2)", "Once I Had A Love (Mike Chapman demo)", "Denis (Terry Ellis mix)", "Underground Girl", "Call Me (Chris Stein mix)", "Hardest Part (home tape)", "Theme From Topkapi (home tape)", "Mr Sightseer", "Ring Of Fire (home tape)", "Tide Is High (demo)", and "Susie & Jeffrey". 3CD set features 52 tracks in all – including some great material from are singles and early work too! CD

A really great document of a unique musical moment – one that happened overseas, but which started a wave of protest that's continued to this day! In the late 50s, London was a hotbed of nuclear protest – one of the first cities to express a strong resistance to the arms race that was building up at a global level – in a movement that not only drew political forces, but artists and musicians as well! This well-done set looks at some of the latter – a mix of folk and jazz singers and musicians who joined together to protest atomic weapons – some with songs that outwardly anti-nuclear, some a bit more subtle – brought together here in a massive 54 track collection! The range of material varies, and maybe the most surprising are some of the trad jazz artists who we might not have expected to be working next to more political folkies – in a lineup that features material from Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, Fred & Betty Dallas, Margaret McKeown, Kenny Ball, Humphrey Lyttleton, Sheila Hancock, Sydney Carter, Chris Barber, George Melly, Kenny Ball, and The Alberts. CD

British music breaking through – served up here in a set of sounds that really reflect the massive musical year of 1971! As you might guess from the "underground" in the title, the collection's a bit one-sided – as it's not out to document the hits of the time, but instead the work that was bubbling under and having such a huge impact on the world – even if some of these artists never saw the fame they deserved, or were a few years away from bigger success with the tracks on the set! The package is heavy on work from the psych-into-prog years – much of which never falls into the excesses of either – and there's also a few hard rockers, some jazzier bits, and lots more surprises along the way – served up in a set list of 52 tracks by artists who include Keef Hartley, Jade Warrior, Pink Fairies, Procol Harum, Family, Samurai, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Nucleus, Yes, Status Quo, Cressida, BB Blunder, Beggars Opera, Pretty Things, Spring, Hawkwind, Audience, Atomic Rooster, Patto, Caravan, John Martyn, Peter Hammill, and many others. CD

Two very playful soundtracks – both composed by Lallo Gori, who we mostly know for more serious action work! Scusi Ma Le Paga Le Tasse is from the start of the 70s, and begins with a vocal number from Franco Fanchi, but soon moves into much groovier territory with a blend of funky jazz and dreamier moments of the sort that you might be likely to hear from some of the bigger Italian composers of the period. There's occasional light piano, ala Stelvio Cipriani – and even an appearance from the Nora Orlandi singers over the course of the 17 tracks from the film. Come Rubammo La Bomba Atomica is from 1967, and the music has some slight currents of spy spoof scores of the period – that nice comedic/dramatic mix of jazz and dynamic pacing, blended with a few exotic elements too. The set features two vocal numbers sung by Elsa, and the rest of the 12 tracks from the film are instrumental. CD

A Holiday greeting from the folks at Atomicat Records – served up in the sort of collection they do with other music during all the other seasons of the year! The set's overflowing with gems from the 50s and 60s – a total of 28 obscure holiday tunes, plus a few better-known tracks – all to make a very fresh collection of Christmas goodies! Titles include "Rockin Bells" by Bill Robbin, "Born In Bethlehem" by Famous Blue Jay Singers, "Christmas Here Christmas There" by Ray Pettis, "Christmas Kisses" by The Bookends, "Cowboy Santa Claus" by Bill Lacey, "The Robin" by The Holidays, "The Bells Of St Mary's" by Lynn Taylor, "Does It Have To Be Christmas" by Ray Pettis, "Happy New Year To You" by The Qualities, "Come On Santa" by Kay Martin, "Christmas In Japan" by Paul Anka, "Merry Twist Mas" by Jay Matty, and "Santy's Movin On" by Homer & Jethro. CD

A really rare chapter of the soundtrack legacy of Italian giants Guido & Maurizio DeAngelis – a pair who are best known for their crime/cop movie work of the 70s, but who step out here in a whole host of different TV projects instead! There's definitely some music here that resonates with that famous legacy, but there's also projects with different scenes and stories too – and which provide a much richer palette of sounds than you might expect – as the DeAngelis brothers move effortlessly between contemporary 70s settings and more historical ones, depending on the program! There's a total of 69 tracks in the big 3CD set – which features many tracks each from programs that include Dedicato A Una Coppia, Guaranta Giorni Di Liberta, I Marsigliese, Sul Filo Della Memoria, Delitto Di Regime, and Ipotesi Sulla Scomparsa Di Un Fisco Atomico. CD

Jazzy goodness from the wonderful Piero Umiliani – a set that's got some sweet instrumental touches from Chet Baker on trumpet, plus piano from Umiliani himself! The overall feel is very much in an early 60s crime jazz style – that best Italian groove before more mod and bossa-styled elements came into play – and in addition to trumpet and piano, instrumentation also features vibes and guitar that step out strongly on some of the best numbers! Most of the tunes are relatively short – more jazz themes than straight jazz tunes – but manage to say quite a lot with just a little. Titles include "Motel", "Idillio Giallorosa", "Jazz Bar", "Pedinamento", "Agguato", "Contagio Atomico", and "Ritmo Neutronico". CD also features two bonus tracks – "Agguato" and "Spogliarello Da Circo". CD

The darker side of the hillbilly sound of the postwar years – a whole host of tracks that deal with inner fears, worldly temptations, and external terrors – served up in a mix of tracks that resonates strongly with the long running Hillbillies In Hell series! The approach here is a bit wider-ranging, and maybe a bit more rough around the edges – but we also appreciate that, and the way the package lets the CD format really open up the amount of tracks that are included – 28 numbers that include "Let Me Go Devil" by Wade Ray, "Spellbound" by Jimmie Holt, "Haunted Blues" by Jimmy Littlejohn, "Haunted House Boogie" by Happy Wilson, "Satan's Daughter" by Gene Davis, "Shudders & Screams" by Ben Colder, "Tennessee Hillbilly Ghost" by Red Folkie, "Spookie Boogie" by Cecil Campbell, "Satan's Chauffeur" by Jimmy Minor, and "Marijuana The Devil's Flower" by Mr Sunshine. CD

It's Christmas once again – but thanks to this groovy little set, you'll be celebrating with music that's a nice change from previous years! The package does a great job of pulling together rare 50s cuts in a variety of styles – country, R&B, instrumental, and early rock and roll – a blend that works wonderfully as the set steps from one unusual tune to the next – making for a great change from the Frank Sinatra and Vince Guaraldi albums that usually get big play during the 12th month of the year! The set's got 30 tracks in all – and titles include "Snow Man Rock" by Big Bud, "Frosty The Snowman" by Porter Wagoner, "Who Said There Ain't No Santa Claus" by Ron Holden, "Christmas Dinner" by Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Joy To The World" by The Louvin Brothers, "Swingin Christmas" by Earl Grant, "We Wanna See Santa Do The Mambo" by Big John Greer, "Sleigh Bell Rock" by Chuck Blevins, "Santa's Helper" by Joe Poovey, "Jingle Bells" by Chet Atkins, "I'm Gonna Tell Santa Claus On You" by Faron Young, and "Mister Santa" by Dorothy Collins. CD