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A crucial piece of aluminum that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Plus, this super-heavy aluminum version will always stay in place – and it's a solid piece of metal that can double as an extra weight in your hand when getting into an after-set brawl!

A crucial piece of aluminum that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Plus, this super-heavy aluminum version will always stay in place – and it's a solid piece of metal that can double as an extra weight in your hand when getting into an after-set brawl!

A crucial piece of aluminum that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Plus, this super-heavy aluminum version will always stay in place – and it's a solid piece of metal that can double as an extra weight in your hand when getting into an after-set brawl!

A crucial piece of plastic that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market!

Rare mid 80s material from Three Hits – great stuff from the the southerrn US jangle pop scene – paving the way for North Carolina indie rock to come! Includes "Cage Of Gold", "Lori (Last Girl On The Beach", "Numbers", "Pressure Dome" and "Picture Window".

A tasty sampling of tracks from a label that's really starting to get our attention! Dome started out quite a few years back as one of the few strong UK indie soul labels, but early releases didn't grab us nearly as much as some of their excellent recent work – a range of tracks pulled from hard-to-find sources all over the globe, all unified in a real commitment to underground Neo Soul styles! The set features 17 tracks in all, with titles that include "Now You Know" by India T, "Can't Wait" by Kelli Sae, "If You Want My Love" by Incognito, "Keep On Blessing Me" by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers, "Hey Young World" by Andreus, "The Real Thing" by Avani, "Something Special" by Donna Gardier, "It's Over" by Sinclair, "Sad Days (acoustic)" by Angela Johnson, "Wherever Love Is Found" by Richard Darbyshire, "Nostalgia (VRS rmx)" by Hil St Soul, and "Stories" by Full Flava with Carleen Anderson.

A crucial piece of aluminum that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Plus, this super-heavy aluminum version will always stay in place – and it's a solid piece of metal that can double as an extra weight in your hand when getting into an after-set brawl!

A wonderful celebration of a great little label – the 20-year-old Dome Records – home to some of the best contemporary soul recordings from the UK! Dome has a great reputation for picking the cream of the crop of the Neo Soul generation – originally just working with British artists, but soon expanding to include a wide variety of American singers too – a rich array of talent that's presented wonderfully on this 3CD set! The package includes a few rare tracks from singles or radio recordings – and is a heck of a great value at this price – with dozens of tracks that include "Children Of Love" by Martha Redbone, "My Door Is Open" by Carleen Anderson, "Major Bossa" by Khari Simmons, "Location Location Location" by Anthony David, "I Want You Black" by Sinclair, "I'm Back For More (Peter Young Jazz FM radio drop 1993)" by Lulu with Bobby Womack, "It's Alright (Mike Gee Choice FM radio drop 2001)" by Cooly's Hot Box, "Just A Dream (live UK radio session)" by Eric Roberson, "Ugly Part Of Me (Mike Dunn's blackball soul mixx)" by Avery Sunshine, "Freedom To Love (Reel People rework)" by Incognito, "Watch Me Fly (earth sold rmx)" by Down To The Bone, "Rescue Me" by Angela Johnson, "Stop Breaking My Heart" by Rahsaan Patterson, and lots lots more!

A crucial piece of aluminum that you'll treasure for years! This 45 adapter may be tiny, but it provides a key function when you're out spinning in clubs – as it easily allows you to slide 45s on and off a conventional turntable, thanks to its unique cone-shaped top! The adapter fits on the spindle of any regular turntable (even those old-fashioned ones with the drop-type in the middle) – and its size and design make it a lot easier to switch 45s back and forth than most other adapters on the market! Plus, this super-heavy aluminum version will always stay in place – and it's a solid piece of metal that can double as an extra weight in your hand when getting into an after-set brawl!

A great batch of modern soul grooves galore – some from the more natural nusoul realm and others with a slightly clubbier of funkier feel, and really solid stuff all around – and a bargain at under $20!!! Soul Lounge 5 continues the tradition of presenting some of finer tunes from recent releases on Dome Records UK and other soul groove merchants in the UK label scene – with tunes by Incognito, Rahsaan Patterson, Conya Doss, Hil St Soul, Don E, Maysa, Sunburst Band, Seek, James Taylor Quartet and many more! 40 tracks on 3CD: "Oh Lord (Take Me Back)" by Rahsaan Patterson, "Play" by Angela Johnson & Frank McComb, "Stay Ahwile" by Don E, "Head To Toe" by Eric Roberson, "Come Over" by Conya Doss, "In Time" by Beverley Knight, "Step Aside" by Joey Negro, "The Bottle" by Maysa, "Cleo's Mood" by James Taylor Quartet and more.

Massive music at a marvelous price – 40 soulful grooves in one sweet little set, all part of this amazing series of Neo Soul! The package is put together by Dome Records, and the collection features tracks from that label, plus a few other key indies too – all with a great focus on the kind of groundbreaking American and British soul that has formed the core of the Neo Soul groove for years! There's plenty here you'll never hear on the radio – and titles include "I've Been Waiting" by Incognito, "Love You Yes" by Beverlei Brown, "Home" by Carmen Rogers, "Dealing" by Eric Roberson, "In My Fantasy (Jasks Thaisoul temptation mix)" by Tortured Soul, "Back For More" by Cool Million, "Can't Stop" by Reel People, "I Want You Back" by Sinclair, "Distant Lover" by Heston, "You Are" by Full Flava with Carleen Anderson, "Real Love" by Drizabone Soul Family, "Lover's Theme" by Avani, "Sometimes" by Rahsaan Patterson, and "Open Heart Open Mind" by Brenda Russell.

Sublime solo work from Steve Lacy – a perfect demonstration of the great leap forward he took on the soprano sax in the early 70s – documented beautifully on overseas recordings like this! The core of the set features material recorded in Avignon in 1972 – with Lacy using his instrument in wonderfully expressive ways – not just "free" or "out", but really melodic and lyrical at points too – a side that doesn't always show up in some of his more aggressive solo performances, but which really comes through on tracks like "Cloudy", "The Stations", "Josephine", "Original New Duck", and "Weal". CD features four more previously unissued tracks from these same sessions, then more great solo work from 1974 in Berlin – again never issued before – a whopping 9 bonus tracks in all, with titles that include "The Owl", "The Dumps", "The New Moon", "Dome", and "Holding".

A pretty darn psych/groovy soundtrack – to what looks like a very strange film! The music is by Ken Thorne – and the tracks are a mix of mod rhythms, instrumental groovers, and some very trippy numbers that use echoey percussion and some electrified instrumentation. A few cuts have vocals – such as "Respect" by The Ferris Wheel and "Touchables Theme", sung by Nirvana, in a style that's almost in the Bob Crewe mode – but the best cuts are the instrumentals, which are really really fantastic. A few cuts have organ by Wynder K Frog – and titles include "Samson's Theme", "The Dome", "Sadie's Theme", "Christian & Melanie", "Blues For A Frog", and "The Chase".

Sweet exotic sounds from the Arthur Lyman group – heavy on vibes and lots of hip percussion – recorded with a gently swaying feel that recalls the best energy of the Hawaiian scene in the postwar years! The set's one of Lyman's early solo dates – recorded Henry Kaiser Aluminum Dome in Hawaii – which you can almost hear in the way the sounds here resonate, and hang sweetly in air. The tunes are pretty mellow, but in a good way – more sonically sensitive than some more gimmicky, sound effect-heavy exotica – and titles include "Adventures in Paradise", "Andalusia", "Yellow Bird", "Arrivederci Roma", "Sweet & Lovely", "Bamboo Taboo", "Granada", and "Ravel's Bolero". Fire up that console stereo and break out the Tiki glasses!

One of Roy Ayers' greatest albums of the 70s – a set that tightens up the groove from previous Polydor productions, yet still keeps all the soul intact! The record picks up the style begun with the Mystic Voyage album, and pushes it to some slightly tighter territory – a more focused Roy Ayers sound that's totally great, and which makes the album sparkle wonderfully throughout! All aspects of Roy's talents are perfectly balanced here – his warm vocals and jazzy vibes, his uptempo grooves and mellower rhythms – played to perfection by a hip lineup of players that includes Philip Woo on electric piano, Justo Almario on tenor sax, and Steve Cobb on drums. Edwin Birdsong guests a bit on the record – bringing in a nice edge to a few tunes – the album's got a really unique dark undercurrent, even in smoother moments – that subtle Roy Ayers' approach that's always made him one of our all-time favorite artists. Titles include the wonderful jazz-tinged "Searching", a great midtempo stepper that we really love; the funky break track "The Memory", a righteous number that feels like work from earlier records; the clubby classic "One Sweet Love to Remember"; and the sweet instrumental "Vibrations", which has a mellow kickback feel! Other tunes include "Higher", "Domelo (Give It To Me)", "Baby I Need Your Love", and "Better Days".

A rare and great one from Luis Bacalov – his soundtrack for Una Questione D'Onore – fleshed out with bonus tracks for a first-time complete release! It's a mid 60s effort that pairs lush strings and grittier, oddball touches – soaring arrangements and stripped town pulpy movements alike. We know little about the film, but it's billed as a period set black comedy, which gives Bacalov plenty of motivation to pull together many of the aspects we love best about his 60s work, all into one soundtrack. Really wonderful stuff. Includes 43 tracks and nearly 80 minutes of music: Variations on the title theme as well as the tracks "Domenica Angela", "West Sardinia", "Modi Loro", "Valzer Per Una Pecora", "La Festa" and many more.

A great late 60s western score from Italian composer Francesco De Masi – hitting on all of favored sounds to accompany the best Italian made westerns of the era – rustic solo guitar, string-tightened tension, both lonely and densely orchestrated horns, and swaggery mood to spare! Excellent work that hits all the right notes – and it's got a groovy vocal opener, to boot! This CD marks the first ever release of the complete score, mastered from the original mono tapes. "Maybe Somwhere, Maybe Someday", plus "Non Potro Domenticare", "Sogni Ed Ombre Nell'Incubo", "La Pista Nella Sabbia", "Ecce Homo", "Triste E Sospeso", "Un Giorno Ti Pentirai", "Passagio Ne Nistero" and many more.

A groovy little record from Domenico – one that's got the same best elements of his music with Moreno Veloso and Kassin, but which almost has a more intimate feel overall! Most tunes here have a relatively tight song structure – almost always with lyrics by Domenico, although Moreno joins in and sings a bit too – and backed with small combo instrumentation that's mostly played live, but occasionally inflected with the kinds of subtle production twists we've always loved in the music of Domenico! It's always hard to describe the exact charm of Domenico's music – but if you've heard him before – or frequent partners Kassin and Moreno Veloso – then you'll know exactly why we like this one so much. Titles include "Cine Prive", "Receita", "Su Di Te", "Sua Beleza", "Zona Portuaria", "Pedra A Areia", "Hugo Carvana" and more. 13 in all.

An expanded version of this classic – with 5 more bonus tracks, 4 of which were arranged by Ennio Morricone! The core album is incredible 70s work from the lovely Astrud Gilberto – a rare effort for the CTI label that has her teaming up with arranger Eumir Deodato and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine – all in a groove that's totally different than most of her earlier work! Astrud's breathy vocals are still wonderfully intact – but they're given a more spacious approach in the arrangements – strings mixes with rolling basslines, soaring keyboards, and stone cold tenor from Stanley – in a groove that's simply wonderful, and which takes off in a whole new direction than before! Other players include Airto, Sivuca, Hubert Laws, and Dom Um Romao – and tracks include classic versions of "Ponteio", "Vera Cruz", and "Zazueira" that are all some of the most grooving takes on the tunes ever – plus "Historia De Amor", "Where There's A Heartache", "Brazilian Tapestry", and "Wanting Things". Bonus tracks include "If Not For You", "Acercendome A Ti", "Argomenti", "En Tu Piel", and "Un Donna Che Ti Ama".

The smoking return of Martha High – a singer who worked famously with James Brown during his funk years, but who never got the same shot at full-length fame as Lyn Collins or Marva Whitney! Martha's every bit as great – and although she did cut later records in the disco years, it's only recently that folks have finally discovered the true depths of her talents – as she's returned to the fold with amazing vocals, and strong support from the global funk underground! After a previous set with Shaolin Temple Defenders, Martha breaks out even more strongly here with backing from Speedometer – a UK combo who've played together for years, and are already razor-sharp on their own – making for the perfect sort of groove to restore High to the sound of her years with James Brown. The album's brilliant all the way through – not a rehash of older modes, but a rich union of two very strong talents – coming together in an effort that's definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Titles include "I'd Rather Go Blind", "No More Heartaches", "No Man Worries", "Never Never Love A Married Man", "You Got It", "You Got Me Started", "Dragging Me Down", and "Trouble Man".

The smoking return of Martha High – a singer who worked famously with James Brown during his funk years, but who never got the same shot at full-length fame as Lyn Collins or Marva Whitney! Martha's every bit as great – and although she did cut later records in the disco years, it's only recently that folks have finally discovered the true depths of her talents – as she's returned to the fold with amazing vocals, and strong support from the global funk underground! After a previous set with Shaolin Temple Defenders, Martha breaks out even more strongly here with backing from Speedometer – a UK combo who've played together for years, and are already razor-sharp on their own – making for the perfect sort of groove to restore High to the sound of her years with James Brown. The album's brilliant all the way through – not a rehash of older modes, but a rich union of two very strong talents – coming together in an effort that's definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Titles include "I'd Rather Go Blind", "No More Heartaches", "No Man Worries", "Never Never Love A Married Man", "You Got It", "You Got Me Started", "Dragging Me Down", and "Trouble Man".

Breezy, yet innovative work from Kassin – who is still best known (in our parts, anyway) for the run of teriffic trio sets he made with Moreno Veloso and Domenico in the 00s – and it's really high time for him to gain a broader audience of his own all around the world. This could be the album that does it, as it's truly excellent. Help us spread the word, please! The tunefulness at play is purely infectious – timeless sunshine pop hooks and overall catchiness, with buzzing, avant touches on the edges that push it into weirder, but no less accessible realms. Percussion, guitar, vibes, Rhodes, horns and flute are often in the mix, with easygoing vocals by Kassin and backup singers. Includes "Mundo Natural", "Potassio", "For a De Area", "O Que Voce Quiser", "Calca De Ginastica", "Sorver-Te" and "Quando Voce Esta Sambando" and more.

A cool bit of bossa jazz from Italy – recorded by a group who clearly draw inspiration from Sergio Mendes, but also take their tunes in some bold new directions! Like other Euro bossa work of the time, there's really a strong respect here for the original Brazilian sound – but also a different sort of vibe too, one that clearly brings in some sunny Mediterranean moments to really spark things up! Percussion is heavy, vocals are often sung together and sweet – and there's some nice use of organ bubbling around in the background, which links the record a bit to some of the Italian film scores that we love from the time. Very groovy stuff throughout – with lyrics in Italian, but a universal appeal to any lover of warm bossa grooves! Titles include "Ci Vuol Pazienza", "Inquinamento", "Ride La Citta", "Davvero", "Foglie Gialle All'Imbrunire", "Gli Avvoltoi", "Muore Ormai La Domenica", and "Cento Volte Addio".

Features a long reading of "Pyramid" – plus "Django", "Romaine", "Vendome", and "It Don't Mean A Thing".

Maybe the greatest record so far from this ultra-hip Brazilian group – a set that has the range of singers and musicians coming together wonderfully – in a really rich sound that's way more than the sum of its already-great parts! The album features vocals by Moreno Veloso, Nina Becker, Thalma De Freitas, and others – and features lots of hip instrumentation from Kassin, Domenico, Wilson Das Neves, and many others – a list of players large enough to be the orchestra promised in the title – but moving with a groove that's tight enough to match the work of Kassin or Moreno on other records! Many tunes echo older bossa, samba, and MPB elements, yet the style is pretty fresh as well – aware of the past, but not just rehashing it – thanks to a very inventive presentation overall. Titles include "Cair Na Folia", "Fala Chorando", "Moleculas", "Tamancas Do Caterete", "A Saudade E Que Me Consola", "Mocoto Em Tijuana", and "Apaixonado".

A lengthy discussion with Chris James of the stellar seventies sweet soul act The Natural Four, Nardwuar vs Queens of the Stone Age, interviews with the last living brother of The Maddox Brothers and Rose, Mark Ridlen of 70s/80s Texas punk/psych band Lithium Xmas (also a member of Rapid Fire, the evil band from Ron Howard's "Cotton Candy"), New Orleans musical eccentric Quintron on his return to his ravaged city, Brazilian guitar legend Toquino, and Beach Boys' biographer Domenic Priore. Also, the scrapbook of Black punk legend Neon Leon, a Clancy Eccles tribute, hundreds of novelty celebrity records profiled, and a history of Diabolik. Plus, lots of great comix, including Freaky Bear by Plastic Crimewave, an incredible recreation of R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" starring Batman by K. Thor Jensen, and lost comics and 70s rock writing by Funkadelic's Pedro Bell.

A killer set of funky jazz from veteran vibes man Billy Wooten – backed by mod funk masters Speedometer – live at the London's Jazz Café! The hour + set was captured back in 2003, and the players are in fantastic form, sounding like they've worked together for years. They totally roll with a funky vibe, too, not so much on the gritty side of the sound, but with a deft, controlled energy that's phenomenal. Wooten's vibes out from of guitar, sax trumpet, flute, keys, drums and percussion of the mighty Speedometer. We wish we were there! Titles include groovy takes "Open Up JB (Paarty)", plus "Sookie Sookie", "In The Rain", "In The Middle", "Steve's Song", plus Wooten's "Chicango (Chicago Land)", "Monkey Hips & Rice" and more.

Nice one! 14 tight independent hip hop joints all with the crisp, soulful vibe that's Spinna's hallmark, even if he didn't produce all of them, though he was responsible for many. As with some other popular compilation/mix series you get one disc of the tracks in their full versions, unmixed, and another with Spinna getting to work on the 1's and 2's for a continuous set that flows like hot butter over popcorn. Spinna's deep hip hop roots show through nicely with tracks by the Jigmastas and 7L & Esoteric saddling up next to nice instrumentals by Spinna himself as well as 88 Keys and Kingsize. With "Lyrical Fluctuation 2000 (Spinna mix)" by the Jigmastas, "3ree6ix5ive" by Old World Disorder, "Take A Look" by the Domecrackers, "Across The Globe" by the Jay I Geez, "Precision" by Kingsize and 9 more slices of underground niceness to keep your head boppin', packaged beautifully in a really nice foldout cardboard sleeve in a slipcase!

A reimagined version of the legendary Yellow Pills compilation on Numero – 20 songs from the original compilation, plus two bonus tracks, new liner notes, and lots of cool sleeve scans, photos, and more! Forget everything you know about rock music in the late 70s – all the punk rock and new wave that's been immortalized over the years – and get ready to discover a whole new world of power pop! At the time, the power pop underground was as important to some ears as the artier and angrier work coming out of the east coast and UK – and the power pop world was one that could co-exist a bit more peacefully with mainstream rock, while still offering a great opportunity for bands on various local scenes. The work here has echoes of more famous acts of the time – like The Cars, The Kings, or The Knack – but it's also got a bit more of a home-grown, punk rock edge – one that comes through beautifully in the guitar parts, vocals, and unabashed hooks of the tunes. The set's a follow-up to the original Yellow Pills set by zine publisher Jordan Oakes – and it delves deeper than even that one, with a real focus on work from the end of the 70s, and acts that never had great chart success overall. Titles include "High School" by Tommy Rock, "She's Hi Fi" by The Trend, "There Goes My Heart Again" by The Kids, "Not My Girl Anymore" by The Bats, "All I Want" by The Colors, "Domestic/Imported" by The Toms, "Sunshine USA" by Randy Winburn, "One In A Million" by Luxury, "She's The Girl" by The Tweeds, "Rave It Up" by Colors, and "Hey Little Girl" by The Kids.

A wonderful tribute to Caetano Veloso – put together by a really surprising range of artists! The tunes are all classic Veloso compositions – Brazilian nuggets that have been making our lives wonderful for years – and they get fresh reinterpretations by a range of artists that includes The Magic Numbers, Beck, Ceu, Chrissie Hynde, Kassin, Moreno Veloso, Tulipa Ruiz, Beck, Mariana Aydar, Seu Jorge, Toninho Horta, and others – a great mix of Brazilian and American artists who really show the far-reaching influence Caetano's had over the decades. Most numbers are pretty well done – never too commercial, and surprisingly sensitive to the lyrics, while also offering up fresh twists with their own arrangements. Titles include "The Empty Boat" by Chrissy Hynde with Moreno, Kassin, and Domenico – plus "London London" by Os Mutantes, "Michaelangelo Antonioni" by Beck, "Eclipse Oculto" by Ceu, "You Don't Know Me" by The Magic Numbers, "Araca Blue" by Marian Aydar, "Alguem Cantando" by Momo, "Quem Me Dera" by Devendra Banhart & Rodrigo Amarante, and "Peter Gast" by Seu Jorge, Toninho Horta, and Arismar Espirito Santo.

One of Roy Ayers' greatest albums of the 70s – a set that tightens up the groove from previous Polydor productions, yet still keeps all the soul intact! The record picks up the style begun with the Mystic Voyage album, and pushes it to some slightly tighter territory – a more focused Roy Ayers sound that's totally great, and which makes the album sparkle wonderfully throughout! All aspects of Roy's talents are perfectly balanced here – his warm vocals and jazzy vibes, his uptempo grooves and mellower rhythms – played to perfection by a hip lineup of players that includes Philip Woo on electric piano, Justo Almario on tenor sax, and Steve Cobb on drums. Edwin Birdsong guests a bit on the record – bringing in a nice edge to a few tunes – the album's got a really unique dark undercurrent, even in smoother moments – that subtle Roy Ayers' approach that's always made him one of our all-time favorite artists. Titles include the wonderful jazz-tinged "Searching", a great midtempo stepper that we really love; the funky break track "The Memory", a righteous number that feels like work from earlier records; the clubby classic "One Sweet Love to Remember"; and the sweet instrumental "Vibrations", which has a mellow kickback feel! Other tunes include "Higher", "Domelo (Give It To Me)", "Baby I Need Your Love", and "Better Days".

Breezy, yet innovative work from Kassin – who is still best known (in our parts, anyway) for the run of teriffic trio sets he made with Moreno Veloso and Domenico in the 00s – and it's really high time for him to gain a broader audience of his own all around the world. This could be the album that does it, as it's truly excellent. Help us spread the word, please! The tunefulness at play is purely infectious – timeless sunshine pop hooks and overall catchiness, with buzzing, avant touches on the edges that push it into weirder, but no less accessible realms. Percussion, guitar, vibes, Rhodes, horns and flute are often in the mix, with easygoing vocals by Kassin and backup singers. Includes "Mundo Natural", "Potassio", "For a De Area", "O Que Voce Quiser", "Calca De Ginastica", "Sorver-Te" and "Quando Voce Esta Sambando" and more.

A double-length live set from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded in Scandinavia in 1960, almost as a summation of the group's growing genius in the 50s! The tunes are a mix of John Lewis and Milt Jackson originals, plus other songs all given the wonderful MJQ twist – distilled into a sublime blend of piano, vibes, bass, and drums – all delivered with a sense of class, but never too much polish. The album is live, but still has that sophisticated composure that made the group so unique at the time – and the whole thing's a perfect complement to their famous studio albums on Atlantic! Titles include "Django", "Bluesology", "La Ronde", "Festival Sketch", "Vendome", "Odds Against Tomorrow", "I Should Care", and "I Remember Clifford".

An excellent set that has the vocal talents of the Swingle Singers backed by the sweet and mellow instrumentation of the Modern Jazz Quartet! Given that John Lewis & Co were essentially local residents in Paris for so many years, it's amazing it took them until 1966 to hook up with Ward Swingle's hip vocal group – but the album's more than worth the wait, as the MJQ really help open things up, and take the Swingles into more complicated territory than before. Milt Jackson's vibes are especially great alongside the groovy vocals – and titles include "Little David's Fugue", "Vendome", "When I Am Laid In Earth", "Air For G String", and "Three Windows".

A low-priced introduction to one of the most essential world music labels of the past few decades – the mighty Luaka Bop, a key force in opening American ears to a wider world of sounds! The package is heavy on Brazilian bits from the past and present – but also features some other great sounds from around the globe – the sorts of music that Luaka Bop's great at tracking down, pulling together, and presenting in a form that's easy to grasp for the uninitiated. CD features 11 tracks in all – including "Ya Ya Ya" and "Seu Lugar" by Kassin+2, "De Usa Do Amor" and "Possibilidade" by Domenico+2, "Dance With Me" by Nouvelle Vague, "Brother Father Mother Sister" by Tim Maia, "Crash Into The Sun" by Jim White, "Pode Me Chamar" by Eddie, "A Mimha Menina" by Os Mutantes, "Cobrinha" by Tine, and "Diamonds To Coal" by Jim White.

Ruthless Cali group gangsta from Above the Law – the first and probably their best LP! A benchmark – one of the planks on the bridge between the earlier efforts from NWA, Eazy E and the click and the later Dre & Snoop heyday. Livin' Like Hustlers has a few tracks produced by Dr Dre, and the rest by ATL and Laylaw. Includes "Murder Rap", "Livin Like Hustlers", "Menace To Society", "Just Kickin Lyrics", "Untouchable", "Another Execution", "Freedome Of Speech", "Flow On" and "Ballin".

Amazing sounds from Gal Costa – a brilliant live album that follows strongly in the mode of her Recanto studio album! Like that set, this one features Gal in the most experimental style she's used in years – bits of electronics and contemporary underground modes layered in with her sublime vocals – all in ways that reopen that leftfield side of Costa's talents that have been buried for so many years! Some tracks are quite intimate and personal, others are very powerful – and the performance was put together by both Caetano and Moreno Veloso, with backing by a trio that also features percussion from Domenico too. Titles include "Tudo Gil", "Da Maior Importancia", "Mansidao", "Forca Estranha", "Meu Bem Mel Mal", "O Amor", "Baby", "Deus E O Amor", "Segunda", "Barato Total", and "Autotune Autoerotico".

Amazing sounds from Gal Costa – a brilliant live album that follows strongly in the mode of her Recanto studio album! Like that set, this one features Gal in the most experimental style she's used in years – bits of electronics and contemporary underground modes layered in with her sublime vocals – all in ways that reopen that leftfield side of Costa's talents that have been buried for so many years! Some tracks are quite intimate and personal, others are very powerful – and the performance was put together by both Caetano and Moreno Veloso, with backing by a trio that also features percussion from Domenico too. Titles include "Tudo Gil", "Da Maior Importancia", "Mansidao", "Forca Estranha", "Meu Bem Mel Mal", "O Amor", "Baby", "Deus E O Amor", "Segunda", "Barato Total", and "Autotune Autoerotico". DVD features subtitles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

An incredible document of the growth of the European jazz scene in the postwar years – a set recorded in Berlin, but featuring a host of the best players from all over the continent! The mix of musicians here is wonderful – similar to some of the great boder-crossing experiments from Saba/MPS a few years later – but still wonderfully fresh in this setting – as modern jazz giants from the other side of the Atlantic come together with amazing clarity of sound – and a host of fresh ideas that really set them apart from their contemporaries in the US! The set features a driving take on "Haitian Fight Song" with Dusko Goykovich on trumpet, Albert Mangelsdorff on trombone, Arne Domnerus on alto, Hans Koller on tenor, and both Martial Solal and Tete Montoliu on piano. Other numbers include a version of "Am I Blue" with vocals by Monica Zetterlund, "Blue Monk" by a Montoliu trio, "Hittin The Blues" with vibes by Fats Said and guitar from Franco Cerri, "Gone With The Wind" with Arne Domernus on alto and Ronnie Ross on baritone, "3 + 3" with Domerus and ross – plus Koller on tenor and Cerri on guitar, and "Avertissez-Moi" by a larger group with Martial Solal on piano, Koller on tenor, Domerus on alto, Goykovich on trumpet, and Sadi on vibes!

A sprawling collection of the film music of Muarice Jarre – from the stunning, epic scale sounds of Lawrence Of Arabia and Dr Zhivago to far more delicate material for smaller scale classics and lesser remembered work – score work from more 5 decades on an impeccably curated 4CD collection! Includes themes bits of score from eclectic roster of films, with music that's diverse to suit each masterfully – and it also includes bonus tracks with unused bits of music that have been unheard until now! Includes music from Lawrence Of Arabia, Dr Zhivago, Topaz, Is Paris Burning, Jesus Of Nazareth, The MacKintosh Man, The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean, Mandingo, Grand Prix, Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome, Passage To India, Fatal Attraction, Gorillas In The Mist, Jacob's Ladder and many more – with bonus tracks featuring rare and unreleased, if not pretty much unheard work for Jennifer 8, The River Wild and more. Comes in a nice, book-like long box with a 44-page booklet. 5 hours of music on 4CDs!

A cool bit of bossa jazz from Italy – recorded by a group who clearly draw inspiration from Sergio Mendes, but also take their tunes in some bold new directions! Like other Euro bossa work of the time, there's really a strong respect here for the original Brazilian sound – but also a different sort of vibe too, one that clearly brings in some sunny Mediterranean moments to really spark things up! Percussion is heavy, vocals are often sung together and sweet – and there's some nice use of organ bubbling around in the background, which links the record a bit to some of the Italian film scores that we love from the time. Very groovy stuff throughout – with lyrics in Italian, but a universal appeal to any lover of warm bossa grooves! Titles include "Ci Vuol Pazienza", "Inquinamento", "Ride La Citta", "Davvero", "Foglie Gialle All'Imbrunire", "Gli Avvoltoi", "Muore Ormai La Domenica", and "Cento Volte Addio".

An extremely groovy soundtrack from Carlo Rustichelli – one that bridges two generations of Italian comedy scores! At one level, there's a bouncing melodic feel to the score – done in a very Nino Rota-esque way, with plenty of jazzy touches on electric guitar, and some extremely captivating tunes. At another level, there's more of the mod 60s approach at work too – particularly in the way Pier Luigi Urbini interprets the score, and in the way the whole thing's recorded. Very nice stuff – and filled with classic Italian-styled tunes! Titles include "Night Dance", "Il Ricatto", "La Domenica", "Chiacchiere", "Prima Della Festa", and "Sarabanda Allegra". Great CD version features 10 more bonus tracks, including some rare mixes – 26 titles in all!

Modern music from two different eras – a really cool conception of this album of solo piano, which features 18th century compositions by Domenico Scarlatti alongside passages from John Cage's Music Of Changes! The Scarlatti sonatas take on a whole new feeling in this setting – arguably darker, and certainly sharper – and the deft hands of Pi-Hsien Chen effortlessly works to bring the music together over the course of the set. The Cage changes are especially wonderful – a sometimes stark contrast that juxtaposes boldness and silence. Scarlatti sonatas include K 214, K 226, K 235, and K 29 – and the set features Cage "Changes" one through four.

A groovy little record from Domenico – one that's got the same best elements of his music with Moreno Veloso and Kassin, but which almost has a more intimate feel overall! Most tunes here have a relatively tight song structure – almost always with lyrics by Domenico, although Moreno joins in and sings a bit too – and backed with small combo instrumentation that's mostly played live, but occasionally inflected with the kinds of subtle production twists we've always loved in the music of Domenico! It's always hard to describe the exact charm of Domenico's music – but if you've heard him before – or frequent partners Kassin and Moreno Veloso – then you'll know exactly why we like this one so much. Titles include "Os Pinguinhos", "Cine Prive", "Receita", "Su Di Te", "Sua Beleza", "Zona Portuaria", and "Hugo Carvana".

Great 60s work from Mina – a singer who only seems to get better and better as the years go on! This smoker from 1967 finds Mina really working out strongly in a mix of mod modes – including some newly soulful undercurrents that definitely borrow a bit from the Dusty Springfield generation, yet which also take on a rich new feel of their own in Mina's Italian vocals. There's also a touch of Brazilian influence, and some of the usual strong soundtrack impulses that show up in previous records – making for a really rich batch of tunes that includes an excellent cover of Chico Buarque's "A Banda", plus "Quando Vedro", "L'Immensita", "Conversazione", "Sabati E Domeniche", "Noi Due", "Portami Con Te", and "Se Tornasse Caso Mai".

Think funk music has to be old to be good? Think again – as Keb Darge takes you on a tour of some of the best funk you'll ever find on one CD, and it's all by current groups! Nobody knows more about old funk than Keb – as his work as a DJ, collector, and compiler have been keeping the music alive for years. But Keb's also open minded enough to realize that there's a heck of a lot of new groups that have been inspired by the classic grooves of the late 60s and early 70s – and who share his love for totally authentic funky tracks that are perfect in every way, top to bottom with dirty, heavy, messed-up funk! The set brings together 14 recent tracks from the deep funk underground – killer cuts that were issued as rare 7" singles, plus a few previously unissued numbers, all with the sock-hard finish of classic work by James Brown or The Meters – and with the added bonus that these are groups that you could actually get up, go out, and see in a club! Tracks include the previously unissued tracks "Wait Up" by Speedometer and "The Badger" by Connie Price & The Keystones – plus "Texas Rumble" by The Imaginary Visions, "Forty First Street Breakdown" by Naomi Davis, "One Note Brown" by The New Mastersounds, "Got To Be The Way It Is" by Sharon Jones, "Who's The King" by Joseph Henry, "The Matador" by The Mighty Imperials, "GT" by The New Mastersounds, "Funky So & So" by The Sugarman Three, and "Blow Your Top (part 1)" by The Soul Destroyers.

A double-length live set from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded in Scandinavia in 1960, almost as a summation of the group's growing genius in the 50s! The tunes are a mix of John Lewis and Milt Jackson originals, plus other songs all given the wonderful MJQ twist – distilled into a sublime blend of piano, vibes, bass, and drums – all delivered with a sense of class, but never too much polish. The album is live, but still has that sophisticated composure that made the group so unique at the time – and the whole thing's a perfect complement to their famous studio albums on Atlantic! Set features 15 tracks in all – including "Django", "Bluesology", "La Ronde", "Festival Sketch", "Vendome", "Odds Against Tomorrow", "Skating In Central Park", "The Cylinder", "Bags' Groove", "I Should Care", "Round Midnight", and "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)".

One of Sonny Rollins' best albums of the 70s – a Japanese-only live date that features some excellent work on both tenor and soprano sax! The group has a really great feel – thanks to congas by Mtume and guitar from Yoshiaki Masuo – both of whom bring some new elements to Rollins' groove, alongside electric bass from Bob Cranshaw and drums from David Lee. Sonny's solos are all well-blown and quite extended – put together with a strong sense of fire, and a bit less of the hoke that could sometimes show up on other US domestic albums. Tracks are all long, and titles include "Powaii", "Moritat", "Alfie", and "St Thomas".