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We love the piano of Jimmy Rowles in a laidback setting – as it always seems to bring out the most charm and wit in his style! This date's a perfect example of that mode – as it just features a bit of extra guitar from Joe Pass – no bass or drums at all – which leaves Jimmy really free to open up on the keys – working with a great deal of humanity, and bringing this subtle soul that really illuminates the tunes! Titles include "What's Your Story Morning Glory", "So Rare", "Marquita", "Stardust", "Deed I Do", and "Tis Autumn".

A real rarity from Jerry Goldsmith – groovy tunes penned for a late 60s film about an Oxford professor who's also a spy for the British Secret Service! Goldmith's music is a bit less serious than usual at points – still scored with the deep care and sensitivity we've come to love in Jerry's soundtracks, but peppered with a few of the more upbeat, mod-styled cuts you'd expect in a 60s spy comedy! Instrumentation varies from full orchestral to smaller combo – romping rhythms and a bit of guitar on some of the groovy numbers, mixed with softer strings on the more serious tunes. There's a great vocal number called "You Gotta Let Me Go" – and other tracks include "The Decoders", "Checkmate", "Sebastian", "First Day At Work", "Night Scene", "The Trip", and "Sputnik Code".

One of the few records ever cut by this fantastic alto player from the mid 50s! Henry most famously worked with Monk, but his albums as a leader are great – and this one features Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Wilbur Ware, and Art Taylor, all components of a totally solid Riverside lineup. Titles include "Orient", "Active Ingredients", "Checkmate", and "Free Flight".

A wickedly tight album from SRC – perfectly blended guitar, keyboards, and snapping drums – and the kind of a record that should have made them much bigger players at the time! The album is jamming, yet also lean and clean – almost a sunshine approach to hard rock, with some great harmonic touches that really make the album sparkle. Includes their jamming take on "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" in a medley with "Bolero" – plus the cuts "Checkmate", "The Angel Song", "No Secret Destination", "Eye Of The Storm", and "Show Me".

Three hard-grooving records from late 60s Motor City rockers SRC – self-titled, Milestones and Traveler's Tales – together in a 2CD set! The debut is straight-up one of the greatest rock albums to come out of Detroit in the 60s – even if these guys aren't as well known as The Stooges or MC5! There's a similar brilliance here, though – a heady brew of ripping guitars, burning Hammond, and massively pounding drums – all recorded with a slightly garagey edge and expansively searching quality that stretches things out without overindulging in too much jamming. There's also a really dark feel to the record too – one that has the same sense of danger and urgency as SRC's bigger contemporaries, yet never sounds forced. Titles include "Onesimpletask", "Daystar", "Exile", "Marionette", "Black Sheep", and "Refugeve". Milestones is the wickedly tight follow-up – with perfectly blended guitar, keyboards, and snapping drums – and the kind of a record that should have made them much bigger players at the time! Includes their jamming take on "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" in a medley with "Bolero" – plus the cuts "Checkmate", "The Angel Song", "No Secret Destination", "Eye Of The Storm", and "Show Me". The group had some lineup changes for Traveler's Time, but the lumbering rhythms and heavy organ grooves are as solid as ever! Titles include "Street Without A Name", "By Way Of You", "Diana", "Across The Land Of Light", "The Offering" and more. One bonus track: "My Fortune's Coming True".

We never stopped ourselves to ask what "stonking" means – but with tunes this great, who cares! The set's the third in a really great batch of Northern Soul compilations from EMI UK – featuring rare tracks pulled from EMI-owned labels like Capitol, Liberty, and other companies that don't necessarily jump to mind when thinking "classic soul" – but who cut some really great singles back in the 60s! The set's a real treasure trove – and features tons of tracks we'd never heard before. Titles include "Kissin Her & Cryin For You" by The Checkmates, "River Of Tears" by Barbara Banks, "I Feel Good" by Bettye Lavette, "One Day Love" by Tommy Dodson, "60 Minutes Of Your Love" by Homer Banks, "Good Little You" by Joey Dee, "I Hurt On The Other Side" by Jerry Cook, "In The Same Old Way" by Scotty Williams, "Turn Around Baby" by Lena & The Deltanettes, "My Heart Is In Danger" by Alder Ray, "She Blew A Good Thing" by Donald Height, "It's A Sad Thing" by Ray Pollard, "Why Did You Do It To Me" by The Thieves, and "I Can't Do It" by Eddie & Ernie.