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Groundbreaking Italian prog from Area – the Arbeit Macht Frei, Cautio Radiation Area, Crac!, Area(A)zione, Maledetti and Event '76 albums – all from the crucial early-to-mid 70s years – in a 6CD box set on Cramps! The debut Arbeit Macht Frei features a tripped out blend of lingering 60s psychedelia with jazzier prog and folkish melodies, all done as uniquely as any combo of the time. Includes "Luglio, Agosto Stettembre (Nero)", "Consapevolezza", "240 Chilometri" and more. Cautio Radiation Area is even more impressive – a mad mix of out jazz, hard jamming, and even more experimental touches that include quite a bit of noise. Titles include "Cometa Rossa", "Lobotomia", "Brujo", and "ZYG". Crac! continues on this path, with even more far out vocals and a strangely joyous take on far-reaching 70s prog. Tracks include "Magalopoli", "Nervi Scoperti", "Area 5", "Implosion" and more. Are(A)azone is the group's 4th album – a collection of alternate versions of songs from previous records plus a 15 minute hard jamming tune called "Are(A)zione", and a free jazz interpretation of "The International". Maledetti goes further with the out jazz – and features guest soprano sax work from Steve Lacy. Includes "Evaporazione", "Gerontocrazia", "Scum", "Caos (Parte Seconda)" and more. Event '76 closes with "Caos II Parte (1)", "Caos II Parte (2)" and "Event '76". Comes in a great oversized package with a nice booklet – notes in Italian.

An assortment of early 50s recordings by The Chordettes – easily one of the most heavenly groups ever to record in pop music! The quartet first had their roots in barbershop harmony, but soon stepped into much more sophisticated territory with these recordings for Cadence Records – sides that are perhaps best remembered for the hit "Mr Sandman", but which are pretty darn interesting throughout! The style's a bit sweeter and a bit less modern than work by The Four Freshmen or The Hi-Los from the 50s, but it's also no less compelling – and The Chordettes were one of the few female groups of the time to sing in such a way, making them a real standout. Tracks here sometimes feature additional instrumentation, usually on rhythm – but often the recordings are nearly acapella, and base all the song structures simply on the amazing vocals by the lovely ladies in the group! CD features 16 titles in all – including "Mr Sandman", "We Three", "San", "Oh Baby Mine", "For Me & My Girl", "Down Among The Sweltering Palms", "Hummingbird", "Lovely Lips", and "A Good Man Is Hard To Find".

Rare Afro Rock from Nigeria – a really cool fusion of African funk and dexterous guitar – served up with plenty of hypnotic touches! Although we've dug their tracks on compilations over the years, we've never been lucky enough to hear a full album by Colomach – and are blown away at the range of sounds the group deliver on this rare gem from the 70s! Tracks range from Sahel rock with electric guitar over rumbling bass and percussion, to grooves centered around some sweet and spare acoustic guitar – often touched with a bit of flute and emotive vocals as well. Production is top shelf too – given that the set was recorded by EMI in Nigeria – and titles include "Enoviyin", "Ottoto Shamoleda", "Cotocun Gba Gounke", "Bernadetta", "Sweet Sounds from Colomachi", "K Assa Kpa Sama Kpa", "Pipan", "Yebo Blues", and "Sonorites Sahelienne".

Sweet 70s grooving from Brazilian singer Eva – a bit of soul, a bit of easy, all styled together nicely by orchestrations from the magical maestro Gaya! Gaya's work here is similar to his best backings for other artists in the Blue Brazil generation – a mix of American pop, post-bossa instrumentation, and in this case, some very slight electric touches – kind of hipping up the tunes a bit with some nice keyboards! The album's got a really nice version of "Moon River" that skips along at a nice pace – plus some great originals that offer a strong update to the sound of other Brazilian pop/post-bossa singers, like Doris Monteiro or Claudette Soares. Titles include "O Homem Do Tempo", "Vinte Leguas", "Na Baixa Do Sapateiro", "Olha Eu Aqui Oh Oh Oh", "Talisma", and Sonho Lindo".

A rich western score from Carlo Rustichelli – one that begins with a brooding intensity, then holds strongly in that mode throughout! There's a nice shift past usual western modes in the music – even with the presence of some acoustic guitar – and Bruno Nicolai conducts the music with a subtle use of strings, usually quiet and somewhat dark – with the occasional isolated instrument coming forth in a stronger voice. A few moments feature tracks with I Cantori Moderni – and titles include "Habanera Gitana", "Tema Della Solitudine", "Tema Di Jose", "Fandango", and "Morte De Jose".

A rich western score from Carlo Rustichelli – one that begins with a brooding intensity, then holds strongly in that mode throughout! There's a nice shift past usual western modes in the music – even with the presence of some acoustic guitar – and Bruno Nicolai conducts the music with a subtle use of strings, usually quiet and somewhat dark – with the occasional isolated instrument coming forth in a stronger voice. A few moments feature tracks with I Cantori Moderni – and titles include "Habanera Gitana", "Tema Della Solitudine", "Tema Di Jose", "Fandango", and "Morte De Jose". CD features 18 more bonus tracks too!

Claudette Soares, moving way beyond bossa nova – stepping out here in a wonderful live date from recent years – in a mode that mixes earlier roots with some beautifully mature styles too! Claudette's got this raspy edge to her vocals that she never had in her youth – and the change is really wonderful for giving the tunes a nice sort of bite – a subtle soul mixed with the inherent jazziness in the arrangements – which themselves lie somewhere between Elis Regina at Montreux, and recent live sets on the Biscoito Fino label. Titles include "Mancada", "Abre Alas", "Samba Com Pressa", "Baiao", "O Que Eu Gosta De Voce", "Fato Consumado", and "Mar Amar".

A rare gothic horror soundtrack by Piero Umiliani – and it's a great one – with sounds that range from melodic, orchestral mood music to spare, eerie-as-hell experimental effects! The title sequence that kicks the soundtrack off is actually quite pretty – with some wonderfully acoustic guitar that leads into some lovely, if necessarily ominous strings. It gets darker and creepier from there, though – with some disquieting, ghostly electronic effects – and with those paired up with classical strings, it really makes for a unique and chilling atmosphere! Includes 14 sequences on the title theme.

Whoa! Here's a motherlode of pop psych grooves from Mainstream – the jazz-centric label who were famously making a play for the freaky rock scene in the latter half of the 60s – releasing astounding material by The Amboy Dukes, Stone Circus, Fever Tree, Ellie Pop, Bohemian Vendetta and many more! Mainstream didn't hit paydirt with the mainstream rock consumers, for the most part, and many of the rock releases of the late 60s are pretty obscure these days – but it's wild, groovy stuff – with fuzzy guitars, primal rhythms, trippy lyrics and catchy melodies. This massive 2CD collection puts togther standout album tracks and singles – 52 tracks on 2CDs with a nice booklet of notes! Includes "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" by Amboy Dukes, "For A Moment" by Orient Express, "Can't You See" by The Tangerine Zoo, "200 Years" by Maxx, "I Can Beat Your Drum" by Fever Tree, "You'll Walk Away" by The Art Of Lovin, "An Older Man" by The Tiffany Shade, "Can't Be Love" by Ellie Pop, "Tinkle Talk" by The Sixpentz, "Sara Wells" by The Stone Circus, "Mary Maiden" by The Scarlet Letter and many more.

Legendary work from a crucial component of Brazilian culture in the late 60s and early 70s – the International Song Festivals of the time – a very important way of presenting both new talent and new compositions as well! The events were really unique, and often quite striking – from both a cultural and political perspective – as artists used the festivals as a key platform for taking steps forward in their words and music – sometimes steps that were even bolder than their studio work on record! Performances are unique to the records, and usually represent some key non-album tracks from the artists involved. This second volume brings together work from the 1969 to 1972 versions of the Festivals – a really crucial time in Brazilian music, represented here by performances from Clara Nunes, Marcos Valle, Quarteto Forma, Beth Carvalho, Golden Boys, Tiaguara, Evinha, Antonio Adolfo & Brazuca, Maria Odette, Oz Brazoes, Hermes Aquinho, Alceu Valenca, O Grupo, Vox Populi, Martinho Da Vila, Luiza, Som Okey 5, Jards Macale, Os Tres Morais, Tribo, Toni Tornado, Agostinho Dos Santos, Trio Esperanca, Wilson Simonal, O Terco, Som Imaginario, Wanderlea, Silvo Cesar, Osmar Milito, Ze Rodrix, Claudia, Alaide Costa, and many others! Box features the full albums IV Festival Internacional Da Cancao Popular Vols 1, 2, & 3 (1969), V Festival Internacional Da Cancao Popular Vols 1 & 2 (1970), VI Festival Internacional Da Cancao Popular (1971), and VII Festival Internacional Da Cancao Popular (1972) – and most albums have bonus tracks too!

A never-ending batch of wonderful tunes – the 5th volume in this amazing series of 60s French pop! If your ears have been a bit lazy lately, pick up this set and prepare to have your mind blown – as it's filled with loads of groovy little tunes you've probably never heard, all stacked up back to back in one completely wonderful set of groovy 60s numbers! 22 tracks in all – with many many rare numbers, and titles that include "Seul" by Stone, "Les Filles A Papa" by Chris Kersen, "J'Achete Tout" by Claude Channes, "SOS Mademoiselles" by Ronnie Bird, "C'Est Fou" by Bernadette Grimm, "Qui Est In Qui Est Out" by Serge Gainsbourg, "Ailleurs" by Elsa, and "Ca S'Est Arrange" by Jean-Paul Keller.

Blundetto's groove is even nicer than before – honed through their work on singles and remix efforts – and turned towards a rich array of global roots that really deepen the sound of this album! There's as much 70s African and Jamaican influence going on here as there is a spiritual jazz side – both filtered through 21st Century modes that rework the primal elements, and come up with a fresh new groove – yet one that's always respectful to the originators! Guests on the set include the Akale Horns, Shawn Lee, Tommy Guerrero, and Jahdan Blackkamoore – and titles include "Hercules", "Rocroy", "It's All About", "Walk Away Now", "Treat Me Like That", and "I'll Be Home Later".

Parker, Lovens, and Schlippenbach perform live at the 1981 Rassegna Internazionale Del Jazz in Pisa, Italy. The album documents their entire performance together, and features 3 long tracks, all of which are free improvisations: "Ciclone", "Fra di Noi" and "Abbondanza". Very nicely put together, with the usual high level of quality you'd expect from the Po Torch label.

A wonderful document focusing on the aboriginal musical traditions of Burundi in Central Africa. A variety of folk forms are showcased, from solo performances to ensemble pieces, many with vocals. The instrumentation is quite varied, unlike some of the other Nonesuch volumes, including flutes, one-stringed fiddle, a variety of drums and thumb piano. Like other traditional African music, the songs are built up on spiraling repetitive patterns, with rich folk melodies and themes overlaid on vocals. Includes "Yes I Love Micombero", "Bernadette", "Shepherd's Flute", "Walking Song", "Take Me Back to Mabayi", "Warriors Of The Drum" and "Walking Troubador", twelve songs in all.

Spirit, swing, and a whole lot more – a mighty collection of music all hand-picked by the legendary Nicola Conte! There's a deeply soulful groove to the whole thing – and a touch of the exotic as well – and the package really reminds us a lot of the great Gilles Peterson Universal collections that were out a few years back – full of deep tones and rich colors, and proof that when you've got the right guy at the helm, a collection of older jazz tracks can be way more than just the sum of its parts! In addition to Universal label work – originally issued on Decca, Emarcy, and other labels – the package features some Fantasy/Prestige tracks too – including some great gems we might have missed otherwise. Almost 75 minutes of music – with titles that include "Taboo" by Dorothy Ashby, "New Delhi" by James Clay, "Big P" by New Jazz Orchestra, "Juan-Les-Pins" by Staffan Abeleen, "Subo" by Klaus Weiss, "Spanish Castles" by George Gruntz, "Modette" by Roy Haynes, "My Favorite Things" by Sound Of Feeling, "Jungle Fantasy" by Yusef Lateef, "Feeling Good" by Pat Bowie, "The Hooter" by Ernie Wilkins, "Afro Blue" by Abbey Lincoln, "Bogota" by Ahmad Jamal, and "Baltimore Oriole" by Lorez Alexandria.

Not the full story of Bossa Nova (for that, we might suggest the Trip To Brazil CD) – but a good compilation of rare tracks from the EMI/Odeon catalog, home to some of the best work ever recorded in Brazil! The set's got more than a few hits, but it also features a number of tunes that we've not had easy luck finding on CD – and at this price, the 20-track set's a great little set of bossa tunes whatever way you slice it! Titles include "Voce" by Milton Banana, "Samba De Verao" by Marcos Valle, "Corcovado" by Joyce with Gilson Peranzzetta, "Fotografia" by Sylvia Telles, "Copacabana" by Nana Caymmi, "Se Todas Fossem Iguais A Voce" by Lucio Alves, "O Barquinho" by Pery Riberio, "A Ra" by Joao Donato, "Vivo Sonhando" by Marcos Valle, "Ao Amigo Tom" by Doris Monteiro, "Meditacao" by Luiz Eca & Astor, "Amor Em Paz" by Dick Farney & Claudette Soares, "Samba De Uma Nota So" by Walter Wanderley, "Chega De Saudade" by Lelia Pinheiro, and "A Felicidade" by Agostinho Dos Santos.

One of the best-ever Chet Baker albums! The material is divided up into two sides – one featuring some of the last-ever work by pianist Richard Twardziak, one of Baker's best-ever accompanists, playing here in a tight little quartet with the great Jimmy Bond on bass and Peter Littman on drums. Bond returns on the second side, which features piano work by Gerard Gustin and drums by Bert Dahlander. Either side is excellent, though – and the record features some of the best no-nonsense blowing ever by Baker. Way more soulful than some of his other work, with a sound that moves past the early west coast years in a perfect way! Titles include "Rondette", "Piece Caprice", "Sad Walk", "Pomp", and "Summertime". Beautiful cover, too!

Massive! "La Vendetta" has a wicked soundtrack funk approach – one that really lives up to its Italian name – drums echoing in a brooding, bottom-heavy space – with lots of other instrumentation swirling around up top – never too polished, and with the kind of rare funky energy you'd get from 70s film score from overseas! "La Rapina" follows with a similar vibe – slightly mellow at first, but then with these great drums kicking in after a few spins!

The first full length from Blundetto – a Parisian radio programmer and artist showing impeccable taste here – with a slyly dubby and reggae & soul influenced groove and featuring collaborations with The Budos Band horns, Chico Mann, Tommy Guerrero, Lateef The Truthspeaker, Shawn Lee, Genreal Elektricks and Hindi Zahra! Blundetto shares compositional credits with the guest, and it has the feel of collaboration with that atmopherically soulful core groove. Really nice work for the Heavenly Sweetness label! Titles including the Blundetto cover of the Bob James classic "Nautilus" plus "Voices", "Mustang", "Mi Condena", "Cuban Shirt", "Party Animals". "White Birds", "Ken Park", "My One Girl", "Bad BadThings" and "Sunset Stroll".

A wonderfully diverse Italian soundtrack from the 60s – penned for a film about action in the Mediterranean, but filled with way more than you'd expect! Some tunes are bright and sunny – with a playful feel rooted in bossa – but others have more of a spy/crime jazz vibe overall – and still others go farther out into more jazz-based modes – including one number billed as "free jazz" with some great horn interplay! There's cool organ lines, sweet vibes, great percussion, and lots more to love – on tracks that include "Bira Shake", "Sangue Sul Fondo Del Mare", "Quica Mambo", "Panfilo", "Bossa Girotondo", "Night Slow", "Mare Delle Baleari", and "Alla Maniera Del Free Jazz". CD features 10 more bonus tracks too!

He's got shaggy long hair on the cover, but we still love him anyway – and honestly, Francis Lai may well be one of our favorite soundtrack composers ever! Sure, the guy hit early fame for his soundtrack to A Man & A Woman, but as this big box set will attest, he had a genius career that lasted years – scoring films famously for French director Claude Lelouch, as well as a host of other screen efforts that are showcased here! The box includes many great recordings never issued on CD before – and is a great companion to other Lelouch-heavy collections of Lai's work showing his ability to go beyond famous themes, and hit a rich array of great sounds through the 70s and early 80s. In addition to two CDs of instrumental music, mostly from the three decades of Lai's career, the package also features one more CD of vocal numbers by Nicole Croisille – the singer who really made some of his best themes shine. Includes work from the films The Games, Hannibal Brooks, L'Odeur Des Fauves, Le Petit Matin, Un Amour De Pluie, Le Cinema De Minuit, Le Petit Poucet, Le Bon Et Les Mechants, Child Under A Leaf, Bilitis, Bonjour La Trois, Madame Claude 2, Les Yeux Noirs, Bernadette, Le Passager De La Pluie, and many more. Croisille sings versions of "Le Passager De La Pluie", "Images", "Un Deuxieme Amour", "Vivre Pour Vivre", "Il Y Avait", and "Avant Toi".

A sharp EP from the MF Grimm – with strong production by Draser Monumental! Grimm is as tight as ever here, spitting grim, though passionately penned over some nice production by Monumental – giving it the apocalyptic funk backdrop it needs. Includes "Good Morning Vietnam", "Tangerine", "If You Don't Know", "Be Noble", "Solar Soul Controller", "Grand Opening" and "Mater Matuta". Side B features the instrumentals.