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Prepare yourself to discover a funky jazz genius! We don't know much about Bernard except that he was French – but this CD's a stunner, and is filled with the kind of funky little gems that we always try to find on European jazz and studio library albums. There's lots of late 60s mod touches – like organ, electric piano, and even a bit of electric harpsichord – and the record kind of sounds like funky French backings for a pop record from the same time. Titles include "Le Pain, Le Vin", "De Temps En Temps", "Autoscopie", "Cha Tatch Ka", "Monsieur Detour", "Bave A Roi", and "Meut's Boogie".

A killer album of jazzy bossa grooves – originally recorded in France in the early 70s, and darn hard to find in any format! The record was cut for the tiny Saravah label – home to groovy French acts like Brigitte Fontaine and Areski, as well as an elite group of jazz and world musicians. The overall style is similar to bossa nova piano sessions coming out of Brazil in the 60s, but the groove is a lot freer, and the band has a nice rolling sound that might be compared to some of the MPS jazz/Brazilian crossover sessions. Fernando Martins is the pianist, and Edson Lobo is on bass. Titles include "Upa Neguinho", "Nascente", "Bia", "Noa Noa", "Samba Novo", "Berimbau", "Nao Tem Solucao", and "Muito A Vontade". Very nicely repackaged, too!

The "chorus" in the title is appropriate – as there's a flurry of wordless vocals in the mix of this one! The record feels a bit like some of Ennio Morricone's more vocal-oriented soundtracks from the early 70s – with breezy voices drifting over slightly funky arrangements, working together in a mix of moods and styles that could have only come from the pen of the godlike Janko Nilovic! Titles include "Boom Bang", "Ilion", "One Together", "Third Power", "Mrs Brown", "Down Down", and "Magical World".

One of the greatest studio talents of Europe in the 70s! Janko Nilovic may not be a household name, but he was a seminal force in the Parisian studio scene during the 60s and 70s – cutting jazz, funk, pop, and Latin sides with a nutty genius that we'd be hard pressed to beat on this side of the Atlantic! He had a mad talent for mixing unmixable elements – in the kind of way we might ascribe to some of the better MPS groovy sides, or some of the weirder European funk albums, like the classic work of Duke Of Burlington. This long-overdue 2 volume set takes a rich look at Nilovic's talent - and provides some of his best obscure work in a very handsome package. Titles on this first volume include "Gipsy Funk", "Shacking Pop", "Electric Days", "Cross Rolls", "Blow Down", "Centre Atomique", and "Scratching Machine".

Excellent lost funk tracks from the French studio scene of the 70s! We've never seen any of these on the original vinyl – and just about every cut is culled from a rare French jazz, soundtrack, or instrumental LP! There's a whopping 17 tracks in all, and the groove ranges from Blacksploitation funky to breakbeat moog to De Wolfe groovy – with lots of other grooves in between. Cuts include "Slag Machine" by Patrick Abrial, "Happy Smith" by Michel Gonet, "Exciting Mrs. Brown" by April Orchestra, "Coulc Ah!" by Francois Rolland, "Generique" by Philippe Sarde, "Aerospatial" by Janko Nilovic, "Afro-Disiac" by Bernard Estardy, and "Kiss This" by Claude Denjean. Lots more grooviness, and a very nice package that's filled with cuts we've never heard before!

Killer jazzy Brazilian grooves! It's common knowledge that Brazilian music has always found a wider audience in Europe than America (at least for most of the past 30 years) – and that a large number of European jazz and groove artists have created their own versions of the music, coming up with some killer hybrids of funk, fusion, and Brazilian rhythms. This excellent set brings together a dozen great cuts in that style – mostly from French, Italian, and German sources recorded during the 70s. The cuts are all super-rare (natch), and the selection of material is put together in a great way that keeps the whole thing very lively. Titles include "Ye Me Le" by Brazil Selection, "Kinky Peanuts" by Sesso Matto, "Bamba" by Dimenzio, "Vai Vai" by Jean Pierre Sabar, "Batucada Erotica" by Michel Colombier, "Senhor Piloto" by Tega & Ricardo, and "Casa Di Moda" by G & Moi Angeus. Also features one authentic Brazilian groover, the great cut "Agibore" by MPB4 – a killer funky number issued only on a 1973 promo LP by the Brazilian Ministry of Telecommunications for a European meeting!

A sweet little selection of grooves from the folks at Pulp Flavor Records! The label's best known to our customers for their great reissues of French groove obscurities from the 60s and 70s – but this selection features work by a number of newer artists involved with the label, interspersed by a few other older tunes pulled from sound library records. The overall feel is perfect – slightly Latin, slightly easy, slightly soundtracky – with a timeless quality that really blows away most American attempts at this sort of title. Tracks include "Dynamoog" by Jean Jacques Perry, "Vibra D'Electrique" by Apine, "Bagheera" by Nino Nardini & Roger Roger, "Freejazz Box" by Undress Code, "To The Bass" by Zimpala, "It's A Boy" by Ama D Us, "Epoch Making Sense" by Kan Takagi, and "Deja Mort" by Concorde Music Club.

A sweet bit of funk from 70s France – and a great batch of electric keyboard tunes from Jacky Giordano, with a sound that's in the mode of 70s soundtrack work by Lalo Schifrin! The album was originally issued in 1976 as a small-run sound library record, and it's a masterpiece of keyboard grooves – spare and dark, with a mixture of moody and moogy grooves that lie somewhere between the American sound of CTI and Kudu. All tracks are great, and the album's got a warm finish that gives it a deeply soulful feel – a quality level that's high enough that would have made it a hit, were it issued over here in the US at the time. Titles include "Terefic War", "The Big Mameluk", "Moving Grooving", "Devil's Train", "Sex Girl", "Blue Circuit", and "Tabla Minor".

One of the greatest studio talents of Europe in the 70s! Janko Nilovic may not be a household name, but he was a seminal force in the Parisian studio scene during the 60s and 70s – cutting jazz, funk, pop, and Latin sides with a nutty genius that we'd be hard pressed to beat on this side of the Atlantic! He had a mad talent for mixing unmixable elements – in the kind of way we might ascribe to some of the better MPS groovy sides, or some of the weirder European funk albums, like the classic work of Duke Of Burlington. This long-overdue 2 volume set takes a rich look at Nilovic's talent - and provides some of his best obscure work in a very handsome package. Titles on this first volume include "Gipsy Funk", "Shacking Pop", "Electric Days", "Cross Rolls", "Blow Down", "Centre Atomique", and "Scratching Machine".

A gem of a sound library record from the great Janko Nilovic! The album features Nilovic penning some great jazzy arrangements for "wordless vocals" – sung by either a man or a woman, in a very groovy style! The tracks run from pepped-up ditties that have a "Mah Na Na" feel, to others that are in a breezy/easy mellow kind of mode, touched with a bit of the Italian bossa, and slight touches of funk. Some of these cuts have shown up on other Nilovic compilations over the years – but the set's a great one to hear together, as the mix of voices and styles is really great!

Tracks include "Dr Trevis", "Bobyahed2dis", "Journey Throo Da Darkside", "A Million And 1 Buddah Spots", "Noorotic", "Cosmic Slop", "Rockafella (R.I.P.)", "Rockafella", "Can't Wait", "Wuditlooklike", Sooperman Luva II", "We Run N.Y.", and more.

A treasure trove of rare grooves you've probably never heard before – all pulled from the tiny, but excellent, catalog of Montparnasse 2000, a super-hip French sound library label! Most of these tracks were never issued formally to the public – only recorded to serve as backings in radio, TV, and commercial use – but that doesn't stop them from being some really great funky grooves, especially as most of them were performed by some of France's best funky jazzmen of the time! There's a sweet 70s groove that bubbles through the whole set – lots of funky drums, choppy guitar, sweet keyboards, and other classic instrumental touches – and since the Montparnasse catalog has been virtually untapped until now, nearly every track is super-fresh to our ears! Titles include "Turn In Around" by Willy Albimoor, "SOS 17" by Guy Pedersen, "Violence" by Caiage, "OK Richard" by Sylvano Santorio, "Don't Be Cool" by Jacky Giordano, "Danger" by Rene Costy, "Grand Roque" by Maurice Vander, "Vision Pop" by JJ Rober & JM Guise, and "Catalepsy" by Eric Framond.

The "chorus" in the title is appropriate – as there's a flurry of wordless vocals in the mix of this one! The record feels a bit like some of Ennio Morricone's more vocal-oriented soundtracks from the early 70s – with breezy voices drifting over slightly funky arrangements, working together in a mix of moods and styles that could have only come from the pen of the godlike Janko Nilovic! Titles include "Boom Bang", "Ilion", "One Together", "Third Power", "Mrs Brown", "Down Down", and "Magical World".

One of the greatest studio talents of Europe in the 70s! Janko Nilovic may not be a household name, but he was a seminal force in the Parisian studio scene during the 60s and 70s – cutting jazz, funk, pop, and Latin sides with a nutty genius that we'd be hard pressed to beat on this side of the Atlantic! He had a mad talent for mixing unmixable elements – in the kind of way we might ascribe to some of the better MPS groovy sides, or some of the weirder European funk albums, like the classic work of Duke Of Burlington. This long-overdue 2 volume set takes a rich look at Nilovic's talent - and provides some of his best obscure work in a very handsome package. Titles on this second volume include "Mixed Grill", "Golf Open", "Soul Impressions", "Strange Dream", "Machine Gun", "Samba Dio", and "Funky Tramway". Great titles – and the music's even better!

Sweetly jazzy Brazilian grooves from the team of Teca & Ricardo – a lovely album recorded in France in the mid 70s, and unheard for years! The feel here is not that dissimilar from some of the recent work by Tom & Joyce, or classic work by the team of Jaime & Nair – Teca's lovely vocals upfront in the mix, often joined in harmony by Ricardo, with backings that are spare and which include lots of acoustic guitar. Post-bossa jazzy vocals with a slight electric twist – warm and intimate, but with lots of groove-oriented touches! Titles include "Saranda", "Estrela Da Cancao", "Cafune", "Trovaoda", "Pra Que Tanta Explicao", and "Le Son Hante".

A treasure trove of rare grooves you've probably never heard before – all pulled from the tiny, but excellent, catalog of Montparnasse 2000, a super-hip French sound library label! Most of these tracks were never issued formally to the public – only recorded to serve as backings in radio, TV, and commercial use – but that doesn't stop them from being some really great funky grooves, especially as most of them were performed by some of France's best funky jazzmen of the time! There's a sweet 70s groove that bubbles through the whole set – lots of funky drums, choppy guitar, sweet keyboards, and other classic instrumental touches – and since the Montparnasse catalog has been virtually untapped until now, nearly every track is super-fresh to our ears! Titles include "Turn In Around" by Willy Albimoor, "SOS 17" by Guy Pedersen, "Violence" by Caiage, "OK Richard" by Sylvano Santorio, "Don't Be Cool" by Jacky Giordano, "Danger" by Rene Costy, "Grand Roque" by Maurice Vander, "Vision Pop" by JJ Rober & JM Guise, and "Catalepsy" by Eric Framond.

Sweetly jazzy Brazilian grooves from the team of Teca & Ricardo – a lovely album recorded in France in the mid 70s, and unheard for years! The feel here is not that dissimilar from some of the recent work by Tom & Joyce, or classic work by the team of Jaime & Nair – Teca's lovely vocals upfront in the mix, often joined in harmony by Ricardo, with backings that are spare and which include lots of acoustic guitar. Post-bossa jazzy vocals with a slight electric twist – warm and intimate, but with lots of groove-oriented touches! Titles include "Saranda", "Estrela Da Cancao", "Cafune", "Trovaoda", "Pra Que Tanta Explicao", and "Le Son Hante".

One of the greatest studio talents of Europe in the 70s! Janko Nilovic may not be a household name, but he was a seminal force in the Parisian studio scene during the 60s and 70s – cutting jazz, funk, pop, and Latin sides with a nutty genius that we'd be hard pressed to beat on this side of the Atlantic! He had a mad talent for mixing unmixable elements – in the kind of way we might ascribe to some of the better MPS groovy sides, or some of the weirder European funk albums, like the classic work of Duke Of Burlington. This long-overdue 2 volume set takes a rich look at Nilovic's talent - and provides some of his best obscure work in a very handsome package. Titles on this second volume include "Mixed Grill", "Golf Open", "Soul Impressions", "Strange Dream", "Machine Gun", "Samba Dio", and "Funky Tramway". Great titles – and the music's even better!

Titles include "Promises", "From Now On", "Freeze Thaw", "How Dare You", "Astrud", and "Miles Away".

Titles include "Promises", "From Now On", "Freeze Thaw", "How Dare You", "Astrud", and "Miles Away".

Some of the most tuneful moments on record from the Bonzo Dog Band – set that's got some really great songs, but which still allows some space for gags and jokes as well! After three previous albums together, even with a shifting lineup, the group have obviously gotten their groove down a bit more – and the result is some focused little numbers that stand out strongly, and which almost show a more sensitive and (dare we say it!) serious side of the group. All the older sense of dada-inspired play is still at the core, though – and even though there's less radio parodies or audio experiments, the tuneful tracks still have some trippy, psyche-styled moments. Titles include "Tent", "You Done My Brain In", "Keynsham", "Quiet Talks & Summer Walks", "Look At Me I'm Wonderful", "What Do You Do", "Noises For The Leg", and "Busted". CD features 5 bonus tracks – including "How Sweet To Be An Idiot", "The Young Ones", "Are You Having Any Fun", and a great cover of "Witchi Tai To".

A great little set from Alan Evans – better known as the drummer in Soulive, but equally smoking out here on his own! Alan doesn't always record on his own, but when he does, it's usually a great thing – and this cooking little album definitely lives up to the funky tightness we'd expect! In addition to drums, Evans also plays guitar and bass on the record – and other instrumentation includes more guitar and lots of Hammond too – but used in a style that's very different than Soulive – still funky, but a bit spacey and cosmic too – a bit in keeping with the image on the cover! Evans also sings a bit, with this great raspy style buried down amidst the groove – and titles include "Hotcakes Meltdown", "Thor", "Cosmic Hazel Dust", "Who Dare Knock", "They Call Me Velvet", "Have You Seen Him", and "Biscuits".

A great little set from Alan Evans – better known as the drummer in Soulive, but equally smoking out here on his own! Alan doesn't always record on his own, but when he does, it's usually a great thing – and this cooking little album definitely lives up to the funky tightness we'd expect! In addition to drums, Evans also plays guitar and bass on the record – and other instrumentation includes more guitar and lots of Hammond too – but used in a style that's very different than Soulive – still funky, but a bit spacey and cosmic too – a bit in keeping with the image on the cover! Evans also sings a bit, with this great raspy style buried down amidst the groove – and titles include "Hotcakes Meltdown", "Thor", "Cosmic Hazel Dust", "Who Dare Knock", "They Call Me Velvet", "Have You Seen Him", and "Biscuits".

Lean, righteous blowing from the legendary Frank Foster – one of a handful of extremely hip sessions he cut in the 60s under his own name! The album's the only record Foster ever did for Blue Note – and we dare say it's even better than his previous 60s work on Prestige and Impulse – with a quality that's even darker, even deeper, even more advanced from his earlier years with Basie. There's a rolling, joyous groove to many numbers – that late 60s take on soul jazz that made for so many great tracks on albums by Hank Mobley or Lee Morgan near the end of the decade. Foster keeps things tight, but he's also got an expansive vision too – an edge in the horns that points the way towards some of the chances he'd take in the 70s, but which is still wrapped around a leanly leaping soul jazz groove! Foster wrote 5 of the 6 tracks on the album, and he's working here with a sextet that includes Garnett Brown on trombone, Marvin Stamm on trumpet, and Richard Wyands on piano, who brings in some offbeat notes and colors throughout. Rhythm is by the excellent team of Bob Cranshaw on bass and Mickey Roker on drums – and titles include "Seventh Avenue Bill", "Stammpede", "Little Miss No Nose", "Manhattan Fever", and "Loneliness".

Rare work from British easy maestro Ron Goodwin – one of England's most important orchestral talents of the 50s and 60s! Disc one of the set features Goodwin's instrumental singles of the 50s – many of which were done in a style that's similar to some of Les Baxter's pre-exotica work for Capitol. Like Baxter, Goodwin came from a more traditional style of mood music, but was also willing to work in farther-reaching modes – and would pick up traces of some of the more ambitious easy styles of his time. The second disc features Goodwin's soundtrack work of later years – much of which was done in highly dramatic styles that often supported historical narratives, war stories, and other films of an epic nature. Together, the 2CD set makes for a great look at Goodwin's oft-neglected work – and is packaged with a great set of notes and a huge amount of tracks! Titles include "Concetta", "Red Cloak", "The Melba Waltz", "Messenger Boy", "Jet Journey", "Tropical Mirage", "Josita", "Wagon Train", "Aces High", "Departure", "Frenzy", "Decline & Fall", "Cafe Royal Waltz", "Return My Love", and "When Eagles Dare". 53 tracks in all!

Whatever you may think of Milt Jackson's later work, this stuff from the early 50s, recorded in his pre-MJQ years, shows the vibist as a lively talent, playing head to head with boppers that he'd never dare face in later years. Players include Lou Donaldson, John Lewis, Thelonious Monk, and Shadow Wilson – and Kenny "Pancho" Hagood sings vocals on 2 tracks. Tracks include "On The Scene", "Tahiti", "Lillie", "Epistrophy", and "Misterioso". 17 tracks in all – with some alternate takes, and great remastering!

A mindblowing moment from the trio of Dieter Moebius, Hans Joachim Rodelius, and Konrad Schnitzler – an incredible studio exploration that initiated a rich generation of German experimentation! The trio are much harder and darker here than on any of their later recordings – especially solo sides – coming up with new sounds, powerful tones, and waves of sonic energy that never fail to amaze us, even after all these years! The original notes call the music the sound of the machine – which is definitely true, but in ways that are even more abstracted – and, dare we say, more powerfully resonant than any later work from the industrial generation. Each song spans a side of a record – and titles include "Kluster 1(Electric Music Und Texte)" and "Kluster 2 (Electric Music)".

A landmark album in 50s vocal jazz – spare, moody, and evocative tunes from Julie London – sung in a stripped-down setting that few other singers would dare at the time! The sound of the set is as sexy as the cover – intimate, personal, and breathily sung in a mode that comes across with a brashly adult presentation of the material. Backing only features Barney Kessel on guitar and Ray Leatherwood on bass – leaving Julie plenty of room to take over the record with her vocals – a real masterpiece of understatement, given the setting! Titles include her famous version of "Cry Me A River" – virtually THE version of the tune – plus "I Should Care", "Say It Isn't So", "Gone With The Wind", "Laura", and "Can't Help Loving That Man".

A memorable set from Mushroom – captured live at San Francisco's Tip Top Inn in March of 2000! The set promised to channel the creative spirit of leftfield Brit jazz figures of the 70s, such Keith Tippett, Chris McGregor and Ian Carr – and dare we say so, they pretty much nail it! Recorded by drummer Pat Thomas, the group features Jeff Palmer on bass, Marc Capelle on trumpet, Carroll Ashby on trombone, Davie Mihaly on percussion, Jon Sanders on keys and Erik Pearson on guitar and sax. The titles are a trip, too: "No Anagrams Found by Recursive Algorithm", "I've Never Understood The Importance Of Club DJs, They Seem Like The Lowest Link In The Chain, Like A Fluffer On A Porn Site", "Loft Hawk", "Blues For An Airplane" and more. 9 in all, and the set runs north of an hour long.

Early brilliance from The Small Faces – a set that perfectly sums up all the aspects that set them apart from their peers on the British scene of the 60s! Sure, there's the requisite mod touches in the music's influence from American R&B and garage – but there's also a winningly unique vibe in the way the whole thing comes together – almost a touch of nascent psych, yet used in very economical ways – to perfectly fuel Steve Marriott's lead vocals, and send them soaring where few others might dare to go at the time! There's a cohesion and focus of vision that grabs us right from the start – and holds strongly, even when the group are handling other folks' songs too. Titles include "Runaway", "My Mind's Eye", "That Man", "Hey Girl", "All Or Nothing", "Plum Nellie", "You Really Got A Hold On Me", and "My Way Of Giving". MASSIVE 2CD package features – full mono mix of the album – plus bonus tracks that include "Understanding", "I Can't Dance With You", "I Can't Make It", "Just Passing", "Picanniny", "My Minds Eye (stereo)", "Understanding", and loads more – including alternates, rare mixes, and more!

Amazing sounds from the pre-Ayatollah years in Iran – an incredible blend of different global influences, coming together in the sort of sound you'd expect from one of the most progressive scenes in the Mid-East! The work here has some of the same psych elements of Turkish work from the time – but also borrows lots from other sources too – including elements of Bollywood grooves from India, heavy funk from the US, and even some of the more inventive post-colonial sounds from London and Paris! Vocals are almost never in English, but the song structures create a really universal feel to the music – a transcendent sound that's documented perfectly by the selections in this well-done set. Titles include "Asal" by Sattar, "Eshghe To" by Gita, "Dele Khoshbavar" by Shohre Soltai, "Asheghi Ham Hadi Dare" by Shahram, "Pichak" by Nooshafarin, "Tishe O Risheh" by Amir Rassaie, and "Yek Roose Taazeh" by Neli.

Amazing sounds from the pre-Ayatollah years in Iran – an incredible blend of different global influences, coming together in the sort of sound you'd expect from one of the most progressive scenes in the Mid-East! The work here has some of the same psych elements of Turkish work from the time – but also borrows lots from other sources too – including elements of Bollywood grooves from India, heavy funk from the US, and even some of the more inventive post-colonial sounds from London and Paris! Vocals are almost never in English, but the song structures create a really universal feel to the music – a transcendent sound that's documented perfectly by the selections in this well-done set. Titles include "Asal" by Sattar, "Eshghe To" by Gita, "Dele Khoshbavar" by Shohre Soltai, "Asheghi Ham Hadi Dare" by Shahram, "Pichak" by Nooshafarin, "Tishe O Risheh" by Amir Rassaie, and "Yek Roose Taazeh" by Neli.

Titles include "Promises", "From Now On", "Freeze Thaw", "How Dare You", "Astrud", and "Miles Away".

A spicy mix of Latin styles from the Peruvian scene of the late 60s – a wonderfully mixed up batch of modes that goes way beyond the more familiar grooves of the New York scene! The work here is a bit like some of the most inventive styles from Colombia and Panama at the same time – music that definitely gets an inspiration from up north, but then really grooves away in its own direction – changing up rhythms, instrumentation, and production styles – all with lots of groovy twists and turns that really keep things interesting! The track selection is great – with a strong focus on upbeat, lively numbers – and (dare we say it?) this volume may well be the best so far in the Gozalo series – filled with lots of stuff we've never heard before. Titles include "Bailando Boogaloo" by El Combo De Pepe, "Volando" by Coco Lagos, "Gozalo" by Al Veldez, "Macedo's Boogaloo" by La Sonora De Lucho Macedo, "Boogaloo Girl" by Alfredo Linares Y Su Sonora, "Shake Baby" by Los Hiltons, "Que Sera" by Compay Quinto, "Sabor Tropical" by Alfredo Linares, "El Negro Bembon" by Nico Estrada, "Me Quedo Con El Shing-a-Ling" by Bossa 70, "Me Voy A Morir" by Silvestre Montez, "Louie Louie" by Mario Allison, "Mr Trumpet Man" by Tito Chicoma, "Mulata A Go Go" by Sonora Lucho Macedo, and "Oye Mi Descarga" by Carlos Munoz.

Early to mid 70s Persian Funk – a nicely compiled set featuring some of the funkiest music released on Iran's Ahang Rooz label from the early-to-mid 70s! It's got instrumental stormers and vocal numbers – in Farsi and English – funk and soul steeped Persian grooves from an incredible period for modern music in the Middle East! Ahang Rooz rose up during a much different period in Iran, when government's Ministry Of Culture nurtured the label and grew to release albums by the biggest acts in the region. From the outset, the label produced music that blended regional folk styles and instrumentation with globally popular genres. Secret Stash celebrates the funky stuff for Persian Funk – be it straight forward or global pop and psych infused. Includes a few great covers, include Martik's take on Stevie Wonder's "Past Time Paradise" and Googoosh's raw and funky version of "Respect" – and other tracks include "Cheshm Be Rah" by Shohreh, "Hard Groove" by Ahamaizadeh, "Soul Raga" by Mehrpouya, "Prison Song" by Shahram Shabpareh, "Del Dare Pir Misheh" by Kourosh Yaghmaei, "Morteza" by Morteza and more. 11 in all.

Incredibly lovely work from Italian guitarist Franco Cerri – easily one of the best players on his instrument in the 60s – even on both sides of the Atlantic! The setting here is relatively lush – fuller backgrounds with Cerri's guitar on lead solos – but often with some nice bits of bossa and some of the other delightful flourishes you'd get in Italian charts of the time, particularly some of the soundtrack arrangements. The feel is wonderful – a great expansion of some of Cerri's small group modes of the earlier part of the decade – and titles include "Ti Basta Dare Tempo Al Tempo", "I Love You", "Bluesette", "Che Faro", "Tonsambaris", "Stella By Starlight", and "Girl From Ipanema".

One of the greatest blacksploitation soundtracks ever – a massively beautiful record that goes beyond any cliches of the genre, and serves up a fantastically unique batch of tracks! Chisoul arranger Johnny Pate did the music for the film – and (dare we say it?) it's even greater that Issac Hayes' work for the first Shaft film – with a depth, sensitivity, and soul that's really amazing – and which has kept the record at the top of our crates for many years. The 4 Tops turn out a great later vocal on the album's theme tune "Are You Man Enough" – and Johnny himself does stellar work on the tracks "Shaft In Africa", "Headman", "You Can't Even Walk In The Park", "El Jardia", "Jazar's Theme", and "Truck Stop"!

An excellent Duke Pearson album – and (dare we say it?) better than any of his Blue Note LPs! The record features a very tight lineup with Johnny Coles on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, Les Spann on flute, James Spaulding on alto, and George Coleman on tenor – all players who are well suited to Pearson's warm funky style on the piano, but who also have a strong modernist sensibility that really comes through on the solos. The album is filled with nice tracks – like "New Girl", "Honeybuns", "Heavy Legs", and the fantastic lyrical groover "Is That So", plus "You Know I Care" and "Our Love".

A spicy mix of Latin styles from the Peruvian scene of the late 60s – a wonderfully mixed up batch of modes that goes way beyond the more familiar grooves of the New York scene! The work here is a bit like some of the most inventive styles from Colombia and Panama at the same time – music that definitely gets an inspiration from up north, but then really grooves away in its own direction – changing up rhythms, instrumentation, and production styles – all with lots of groovy twists and turns that really keep things interesting! The track selection is great – with a strong focus on upbeat, lively numbers – and (dare we say it?) this volume may well be the best so far in the Gozalo series – filled with lots of stuff we've never heard before, and beautifully packaged with some great images from the original records too. Titles include "Bailando Boogaloo" by El Combo De Pepe, "Volando" by Coco Lagos, "Gozalo" by Al Veldez, "Macedo's Boogaloo" by La Sonora De Lucho Macedo, "Boogaloo Girl" by Alfredo Linares Y Su Sonora, "Shake Baby" by Los Hiltons, "Que Sera" by Compay Quinto, "Sabor Tropical" by Alfredo Linares, "El Negro Bembon" by Nico Estrada, "Me Quedo Con El Shing-a-Ling" by Bossa 70, "Me Voy A Morir" by Silvestre Montez, "Louie Louie" by Mario Allison, "Mr Trumpet Man" by Tito Chicoma, "Mulata A Go Go" by Sonora Lucho Macedo, and "Oye Mi Descarga" by Carlos Munoz.

Massive Caribbean funk from the 70s – a killer collection of grooves from the legendary Blue Rhythm Combo! The sound here is way more US-funky than you might expect – as BRC really drew heavily from American acts of the time, especially on the rhythmic tip – which is always mighty heavy on the basslines, and filled with the kind of snapping drums that have made the group a favorite with crate diggers over the years! In fact, we'd dare say that most of these tracks feel more like east coast indie funk from the classic years – with only a hint of island elements to show the group's Barbados origins – modes that you might find in the grooves of a group like Beginning Of The End at the same time. This 7" package is ultra-cool – 6 of the best BRC tracks in a slipcover with full notes – titles that include "I'm Too Old", "BRC's Groove", "Take The Funky Feeling", "Sister Jeanie", and "Get Down".

A key album in the career of Louis Armstrong – one that helped him forge the fourth or fifth great comeback in his career! As you'd guess by the title, the album's built around Louis' hit version of "Hello Dolly" – sung in a mode that at one level stretches back to his roots in trad jazz, but at another kind of peps the whole thing up with a mod 60s/20s retro sort of swing – more syncopated than before, with a choppy little groove that pushed Louis right back onto the charts. Backing is by a small group that includes Billy Kyle on piano, Arvell Shaw on bass, and Joe Darensbourg on clarinet – and the album's filled with other great numbers that include "A Kiss To Build A Dream On", "Moon River", "You Are Woman I Am Man", "Blueberry Hill", and "Be My Life's Companion".

A trio of cool cop soundtracks from Stelvio Cipriani – all brought together in a beautiful package with a really unified feel! Cipriani's easily one of our favorite Italian composers for the cop/crime genre – as he's got a way of bringing sensitive sounds into play with driving action – in ways that are different from Morricone, Piccioni, or any of his other contemporaries! These tunes have a great balance between careful strings, warm themes, and more pointed action – often hanging their sound on a key element, such as a keyboard line, or off-tuned piano – and moving carefully forward with a really great ear for space and timing. Things are never sleepy, even when spacious – and the tunes ring out with a heavenly quality that could almost sanctify the acts of crime for which they were initially scored. CD features 3 tracks from La Polizia Sta A Guardare, 3 from La Polizia Chiede Auto, 9 from La Polizia Ha Le Mani Legate, and 9 more bonus tracks from the films – including some previously unreleased numbers. A really wonderful package too – with great graphics, notes in English, and a really beautiful look overall!

Melodic psychedelia from 70s Iran – an incredible full scale anthology of recordings by guitarist and vocalist Kourosh Yaghmaei from the pre-revolution years – and an absolute treasure! Kouroush often recorded with his brothers – Kourosh singing lead and playing guitars or bass – with Kamran Yaghmaei on guitars and backing vocals and Kambiz Yaghmaei on keys and backing vocals. Other players contribute drums, bass and occasional additional elements – harmonica or horns on few tracks. The sound is a really wonderful amalgam of western garage, psych and strains of funk with native Iranian modes and tempos. The songs here sink in on an emotional level without us knowing a word of the language – the passionate vocals work wonderfully in that regard – but musically, it's innovative stuff that's nicely tripped out and heavily rhythmic, without compromising the melodic sensibility. The heavy duty 3LP set features 21 tracks in all – in a sweet 6 panel gatefold with a 24 page booklet – featuring extensive notes and photos, with Kourosh's story told in autobiographical detail. Like other recent Now Again packages, it's really beautifully done! Titles include "Gol E Yakh", "Dar Enteha", "Paiz", "Leila", "Del Dareh Pir Misheh", "Shirin Joon", "Ghazal", "Mosafere Shahre Baran", "Saghe", "Niyayesh", "Saraabe Toe", "Baroona", "Khaar", Bachehaye Khoobe Koocheh" and more.

Two lost scores – packaged together on a single CD! First up is Billion Dollar Brain, composed by Richard Rodney Bennett – done for an obscure late 60s spy thriller starring Michael Caine, and a really dark soundtrack! Bennett did a fair bit of jazz arranging in his time – and the score to this one mixes some dark dramatic bits with some lighter motifs that feature good work on woodwinds and percussion. The main theme has some nice floating piano over the top, and a few other tracks have a cool whistling suspense theme – but things also really change up a lot nicely, and the whole thing almost has an audio collage feel at times, with its sense of variety. Titles include "Love Scene", "Hoe Down", "Anya", "The Church", "Skidoo", "Ambush", "Car Chase", and "Billion Dollar Brain". Roy Budd handles the score for Final Option – an early 80s spy thriller, but one that gets some beautiful Budd treatment that's right up there with Roy's famous soundtracks of the 70s! The instrumentation often has an airy, eerie feel – slowly cascading keyboards, with almost a hint of Italian space between – used with a lot less schlock than some of the tinnier, cheesier action scores that were more of the mainstream at the time. A few tunes were composed and conducted by Jerry & Marc Donahue – and titles include "Who Dares Wins", "Straight Ahead Blues", "Nature Of The Beast", "Reds Under The Beds", "Hi Jack (part 1)", "American Medley", and "SAS Or Nothing".