Classic 80s funk from Xavier – a group led by bassist Ernest Smith, who'd already had plenty of practice working with Isaac Hayes, The Midnight Movers, and The Coasters during their funky late 60s years! The groove here is similar to some of the other tight funk groups on Liberty at the time – especially Dayton – but Xavier's groove is a bit leaner, too – very nicely turned towards a modern dancefloor with its emphasis on bass upfront in the mix, in a mode that's often nicely placed between boogie and rollerskating jams! Ayanna Little sings lead vocals with Xavier – and the set also features some wicked keyboard work from Rahni Harris – on tracks that include "What Goes Around", "Truly Devoted", "Work That Sucker To Death", and "Love Is On The One". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from the Crows, the Moonglows, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, the Five Satins, the Diamonds, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Del Vikings, the Champs, the Coasters, Ray Charles, Wilbert Harrison, Dion, and more. CD

Music from Thurston Harris, the Coasters, the Bobbettes, the Dell-Vikings, Mickey And Sylvia, the Five Satins, Larry Williams, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, the "5" Royales, Lloyd Price, the Tune Weavers, Fats Domino, Little Richard, and more - 22 tracks in all. CD

A crucial album in the sound of late 60s Warner – recorded by west coasters The Beau Brummels in the heart of Tennessee, at the legendary studios of country producer Owen Bradley! This meeting of west and country is fantastic – a really incredible extension of earlier folksy rock styles forged by Dylan, Fred Neil, Tim Buckley, and others – handled with incredible care, and a style that's equally honest and ironic – but coming together with a sound that's unlike anything else we can think of – one of those rare few albums that somehow draws from a wealth of inspiration, but manages to make something completely standout in the process – almost a Feelies/Good Earth for its own generation! Tremendous stuff – and titles include "Jessica", "Bless You California", "I'm A Sleeper", "Little Bird", "Turn Around", and "An Added Attraction". CD

A great reissue of one of the few albums ever cut as a leader by crack drummer Charlie Persip, though you might miss that as it's issued here under Conte Candoli and Lee Morgan's names! Morgan and Candoli share the front line on only two tracks, and the set was originally issued as one of Howard Rumsey's "Lighthouse Series" sides of the 50s – but it's a lot harder-driving and more energy-filled than most of the other Lighthouse-related sides coming out of LA at the time. Half the record features Persip's group – a set of east coasters that includes Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, and Wynton Kelly – and the other part features some of the players from that ensemble mixing it up with Candoli, drummer Stan Levey and other LA talents that include Frank Rosolino, Bob Cooper, and others. In all, the album's a great meeting of east and west coast hardbop styles – with short driving tracks that include "Reggie Of Chester", "Celedia", "Moto", "The Champ", and "Wildwood". CD

Quintet and Octet recordings by saxophonist/arranger Lennie Niehaus – both of them great! The first 8 tracks of the CD feature Lennie stepping out of the larger Stan Kenton orchestra, into the limelight with a hip quintet that includes Jack Montrose on tenor, Bob Gordon on baritone, Monty Budwig on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums. The feel here is quite similar to the best Montrose/Gordon collaborations from the time – impeccably tight reed lines, but still played with enough sense of soul to bring in a good deal of humanity to the otherwise modern setting. The tracks are tight and short – and titles include "Bottoms Up", "I Remember You", "Inside Out", "Prime Rib", and "Whose Blues". The Octet sides are almost even better – large group material, but tracks that really have Lennie grooving on alto – blowing in a tighter, harder style than most west coasters – more in the realm of Herb Geller or Art Pepper than some of his other contemporaries on the instrument – really shining in a larger group that includes Bill Holman, Jimmy Giuffre, Bob Gordon, Jack Montrose, and Pete Jolly. Arrangements are beautiful, and titles include "Rick's Tricks", "Figure 8", "How About You", "Bunko", "Night Life", "Have You Met Miss Jones", and "Seaside". CD

Pretty incredible work from Lennie Niehaus – one of his seminal albums for Contemporary – nearly all of which were as poorly titled as this one, but equally worth checking out! This side has Lennie grooving on alto – blowing in a tighter, harder style than most west coasters – more in the realm of Herb Geller or Art Pepper than some of his other contemporaries on the instrument – really shining in a larger group that includes Bill Holman, Jimmy Giuffre, Stu Williamson, and Pete Jolly. Arrangements are beautiful, and there's a lot more soul on the set than you might first expect! Titles include "They Say It's Wonderful", "Rick's Tricks", "Yes Yes Honey", "Rose Room", and "Cooling It". LP, Vinyl record album

Really great work from trumpeter Jack Sheldon – a bigger band record that doesn't suppress his horn, and which instead really gives him a tight energy that he doesn't always have on other records! Sheldon's playing here with a pretty nice group of players – including Billy Root, who plays some wonderfully fluid baritone sax solos on a number of cuts, as well as better known west coasters like Art Pepper, Chet Baker, Conte Candoli, Harold Land, and Herb Geller. Tracks are short, and the album's really wonderful overall – truly one of the best of Sheldon's few albums as a leader. Titles include "I'm Also A Person", "Arrividerci", "Brown Cow", "JS", "Aplomb", and "Anyhow". CD

Cool Japanese release with Electric Warrior, Slider, and Tanx in one nice set! CD

Classic 80s funk from Xavier – a group led by bassist Ernest Smith, who'd already had plenty of practice working with Isaac Hayes, The Midnight Movers, and The Coasters during their funky late 60s years! The groove here is similar to some of the other tight funk groups on Liberty at the time – especially Dayton – but Xavier's groove is a bit leaner, too – very nicely turned towards a modern dancefloor with its emphasis on bass upfront in the mix, in a mode that's often nicely placed between boogie and rollerskating jams! Ayanna Little sings lead vocals with Xavier – and the set also features some wicked keyboard work from Rahni Harris – on tracks that include "What Goes Around", "Truly Devoted", "Work That Sucker To Death", and "Love Is On The One". CD

Culled from the rich history of the Atlantic records label, and lovingly put together with great notes and everything! 28 tracks in all, including "Ruby Baby" and "Fools Fall In Love" by the Drifters,"In paradise" by the Cookies, "The Chicken & The Hawk" by Joe Turner, "Devil Or Angel" by the Clovers, "Drown In My Own Tears" and "Lonely Avenue" by Ray Charles, "Jim Dandy" by LaVern Baker, 'Down In Mexico", "Searchin'" and "Yakety Yak" by the Coasters, "Treasure Of Love" by Clyde McPhatter, "Since I Met You Baby" by Ivory Joe Hunter, "Lucky Lips" by Ruth Brown, "Midnight Special Train" by Joe Turner, "Cc Rider" and "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes" by Chuck Willis and "Mr Lee" by the Bobbettes. CD

More funky breaks than Evel Knevel after the Snake River Canyon jump! The groove hounds at BGP records were set loose on the Ace catalog – which includes holdings from Atlantic, Stax, Volt, Westbound, and other funky classic labels – and they managed to come up with a killer batch of funky cuts, even though this is their 3rd dip into the crates! If anything, perhaps they dipped even deeper this time – especially as some of the once-trusted sources for breaks, like the famous Ultimate Breaks & Beats series, are now disappearing from the market. Titles include "Soul Pad" by The Coasters, "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" by Johnny Jenkins, "T Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, "Nappy Dugout" by Funkadelic, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Jimmy Ponder, "Get Out Of My Life Woman" by The Mad Lads, "The Rose" by 50 Foot Hose, "Holy Ghost" by The Bar Kays, "No Strings Attached" by The Mad Lads, "After Laughter Comes Tears" by Wendy Rene, "River's Invitation" by Freddie Robinson, "This House Is Smokin" by BT Express, "Music Man (parts 1 & 2)" by Pleasure Web, and "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" by David Porter. CD

One of the best-ever documents of the young genius of tenorist Wardell Gray – exactly the kind of music that shows why he was one of the biggest and best of the bop saxophonists – before he was taken away from us all too soon! The material here was originally issued on 78s or 45s, and comes together as a great full length representation of Gray at his best – and on this first volume, Wardell plays tenor in one group with Al Haig on piano and Roy Haynes on drums – on titles that include "Easy Living", "Twisted", and "Southside". Another combo features Phil Hill on piano – on "Treadin", "Grayhound", and "Blue Gray". And the last combo is Teddy Charles' West Coasters – with Charles on vibes, Frank Morgan on alto, and Sonny Clark on piano – the last two of whom make their debut on the record! CD

Music from La Vern Baker, Ray Charles, the Coasters, the Drifters, Ben E King, Carla Thomas, Solomon Burke, the Mar Keys, & Booker T & the MGs – 25 tracks total. CD

With selections by Barbara Lewis, The Drifters, Lavern Baker & Jimmy Ricks, The Trammps, The Coasters, Willie Tee, The Tymes, Doris Troy, The Clovers, Mary Wells, Clyde McPhatter, Archie Bell & The Drells, Clarence Carter, Stick McGhee, Lenny O'Henry, Sam & Dave, and Ruth Brown. LP, Vinyl record album