Includes "Sha La La", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Pretty Flamingo", "The One In The Middle", "Oh No, Not My Baby", "Come Tomorrow", and more. LP, Vinyl record album
(Late 70s mono UK brown label pressing. Cover has some wear and aging, price code sticker, and is bumped at the top left corner.)
The Shadows on their own, without Cliff Richard – but that's OK with us, as it means that we get to hear plenty of great guitar work from Hank Marvin, and drums and pepiano from Brian Bennett! LP, Vinyl record album
(Early 90s BGO pressing in a barcode cover, with a small tear in back near the bottom of the opening.)
Close matches: 147
3
Alice —
Park Hotel ... LP EMI (Germany), 1986. Very Good+ ...
Out Of Stock
A gem of a record from the groundbreaking Landsdowne series of UK jazz recordings at the end of the 70s – an ambitious effort directed by composer Neil Ardley, cut very much in the mode of the best work by the Ian Carr/Don Rendell group of the time! As the title might imply, the tunes are all of Greek mythological inspiration – but not in a hokey sort of style, or one that has any overdone "battle of the gods" feel. Instead, there's a warm, intimate approach to the work – almost in the mode of the best sophisticated jazz soundtracks of the late 60s – with a real concern for color, shadings, and tone – ultimately in a style that has less to do with mythology than you might think, but which is pretty darn impressive nonetheless! Carr plays trumpet and flugelhorn, Rendell plays saxes and flutes – and other players include Jack Bruce on bass, Chris Spedding on guitar, and and Barbara Thompson on reeds. Titles include "The Greek Variations", "Farewell Penelope", "Persephone's Jive", "Veil Of Ino", and "Siren's Song". LP, Vinyl record album
Like the other Art Ensemble record on Nessa, Les Stances A Sophie, this one was recorded in France on the beautiful July 7, 1969 during one of the most fruitful periods for the group. Unlike that one, though, this one is a very different recording musically. The LP features one long track, the title cut, and the music is very spare, with lots of nice isolated bass work, horn solos, and percussion. The group here is a quartet that features Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, Lester Bowie, and Malachi Favors. LP, Vinyl record album
6
Automat —
Automat ... LP EMI/Tempo Dischi (Italy), 1978. New Copy (reissue)...
Out Of Stock
Sweet cosmic disco from the Italian scene of the 70s – a record that was produced at a time when the inspirations of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream were really finding their way into the clubs! The group is really just the duo of Romano Musumarra and Claudi Gizzi– and the pair work together in this wonderful array of beats, basslines, and keyboards that really move past the usual – sometimes evoking the majesty of the prog years, but always holding onto the groove – and at other moments creating the sort of lean lines that made European acts like this such a strong inspiration for American electro and street soul in the decade to come! Titles include the side long "Automat" suite – plus "Droid", "Ultraviolet", and "Mecadence". LP, Vinyl record album
7
Aviator —
Aviator ... LP EMI, 1979. Very Good+ ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing. Cover has light ring and edge wear, and lightly bent orners.)
Be Bop Deluxe —
Axe Victim ... LP EMI/Harvest, Mid 70s. Very Good Gatefold ...
$6.99
The amazing debut of Be Bop Deluxe – a record that's made up of all sorts of familiar parts, yet somehow really manages to set itself apart as a whole! The young Bill Nelson is at the top of his game here – a hell of a guitarist, which we sometimes forget in his later work – and a vocalist with a sinister edge that gives the record a sense of darkness that matches the compressed production and overall moody vibe – a child of the Bowie/Bolan generation, but one that's a real black sheep of the family too! The strength of the record is impossible to sum up in easy words – but it's there for the hearing, right from the very first note – on titles that include "Jet Silver & The Dolls Of Venus", "Axe Victim", "Love Is Swift Arrows", "No Trains To Heaven", "Jets At Dawn", "Rocket Cathedrals", and "Third Floor Heaven". LP, Vinyl record album
(UK pressing. Cover is wavy with wear and patchy peel spotting, some clear tape on the bottom, edge & surface wear.)
The "air" here might well refer to the charged atmosphere in the arena during the live show that makes up this set from Be Bop Deluxe – a nice summation of everything that Bill Nelson and the group had done on their studio classics from the mid 70s, maybe stripped-down here a bit away from the studio! Yet somehow, the music also has that wonderful sense of compression that the group always got – a way of layering the sound at a level that's maybe post-glam, pre-punk, and without some of the fuller trappings of ELO, with more of a focus on the guitar. The whole approach holds up surprisingly well on stage – and titles include "Shine", "Fair Exchange", "Sister Seagull", "Blazing Apostles", "Life In The Air Age", and "Ships In The Night". LP, Vinyl record album
(Black vinyl pressing. Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a cutout hole, some ring and edge wear, and bent corners.)
11
Be Bop Deluxe —
Modern Music ... LP EMI/Harvest, 1976. Near Mint- ...
$3.995.99
A late 90s classic from the Beastie Boys, done with that great mix of really rich production that they seemed to discover on the west coast – while still able to serve up all the youthful energy when they burst into the world frm the New York scene! The album has a space of a few years between its predecessor Ill Communication – and it almost feels as if the Beasties spent that time to go record shopping and crate digging – to bring in all these really cool musical twists and turns that remind us that some of their best expressions often come from the direct inspirations of others! Lee Scratch Perry and Money Mark help out on the set – but as always, it's the energy of the core trio that really ignites the fire – on titles that include "Super Disco Breakin", "The Move", "Song For The Man", "Just A Test", "Body Movin'", "Intergalactic", "Flowin Prose", "Remote Control", "Three MCs & One DJ", "Song For Junior", and "Dr Lee PhD". Features two bonus LPs of material – including remixes, live tracks, and b-sides! LP, Vinyl record album
13
Beatles —
Revolver ... LP Apple/EMI, 1966. Very Good ...
Out Of Stock
Maybe our favorite Beatles album ever – a key set that bridges the catchiness of the early years and the sharper ideas of later albums – with a slightly sinister undercurrent that really keeps things fresh! The album's got some great early psych in spots, offset with wonderfully mature and sweet lyrics on the love songs – cross-cut with a bit of witty social commentary too! The blend is amazing – a pre-Sgt Peppers moment of the group that maybe captures them at their most honest and open – all the depth of records to come, but some of the more direct modes of previous sets too. Tracks include "Taxman", "Eleanor Rigby", "Love You To", "Here There & Everywhere", "She Said She Said", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Tomorrow Never Knows", and "For No One". LP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo rainbow label pressing. Vinyl plays with a click during "Here There". Cover has light surface wear, half split bottom seam.)
Maybe our favorite Beatles album ever – a key set that bridges the catchiness of the early years and the sharper ideas of later albums – with a slightly sinister undercurrent that really keeps things fresh! The album's got some great early psych in spots, offset with wonderfully mature and sweet lyrics on the love songs – cross-cut with a bit of witty social commentary too! The blend is amazing – a pre-Sgt Peppers moment of the group that maybe captures them at their most honest and open – all the depth of records to come, but some of the more direct modes of previous sets too. Tracks include "Taxman", "Eleanor Rigby", "Love You To", "Here There & Everywhere", "She Said She Said", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Tomorrow Never Knows", and "For No One". LP, Vinyl record album
Maybe our favorite Beatles album ever – a key set that bridges the catchiness of the early years and the sharper ideas of later albums – with a slightly sinister undercurrent that really keeps things fresh! The album's got some great early psych in spots, offset with wonderfully mature and sweet lyrics on the love songs – cross-cut with a bit of witty social commentary too! The blend is amazing – a pre-Sgt Peppers moment of the group that maybe captures them at their most honest and open – all the depth of records to come, but some of the more direct modes of previous sets too. Tracks include "Taxman", "Eleanor Rigby", "Love You To", "Here There & Everywhere", "She Said She Said", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Tomorrow Never Knows", and "For No One". LP, Vinyl record album
(180 gram pressing, with 2009 stereo remaster – and 14 tracks in all!)
16
Gilbert Becaud —
Gilbert Becaud ... LP EMI/Columbia (Germany), 1960s. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ...
Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
17
Bix Beiderbecke & Frankie Trumbauer —
Bix & Tram – 1928 ... LP EMI/Parlophone (UK), 1928. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
18
Bix Beiderbecke & Frankie Trumbauer —
Bix & Tram 1927 ... LP EMI/Parlophone (UK), 1927. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(In a flip-back cover, with light wear and aging.)
An incredible album from Lo Borges – one of the best singer/songwriters on the Brazilian scene of the 70s! Borges first burst into the spotlight for his work on the Club Da Esquina album by Milton Nascimento – and his work as part of Milton's "corner club" really helped shape the style of the more famous singer. Yet Borges is almost an equally great talent on his own – with a soaring, soulful approach that's every bit as great as the best Nascimento material from the period – and recorded in a wonderfully similar spirit! The sound here is completely sublime right from the start – music that moves us, even if we can't understand the language of the lyrics – like some of the best work by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. There's maybe a bit more guitar than on some of the Milton Nascimento work of the period – but used in a fuzzy way that slides in nicely with some of the jazzy phrasing of the instrumentation – which is delivered with help from key contemporaries who include Beto Guedes, Nelson Angelo, Toninho Horta, and Tenorio Jr. The songwriting is amazing – and titles include "Cancao Postal", "Voce Fica Melhor Assim", "Nao Foi Nada", "Calibre", "Faca Seu Jogo", "Toda Essa Agua", "Pensa Voce", "Como O Machando", and "Aos Baroes". LP, Vinyl record album
(Comes with a bonus lyric insert too!)
21
David Bowie —
Let's Dance ... LP EMI, 1983. Very Good+ ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
A mega-hit for David Bowie – and an album that reduced some of the complexity of previous efforts, yet still managed to hold onto all that was great! There's definitely some massive chart material here, but the tunes are still some of the best of their time, pop-wise – tracks that bring forward the best dark corners of the Bowie mythos, and refine them slightly for a new generation – always in tunefully compelling ways. And despite the crossover fame of the set, it holds up surprisingly well over the years – possibly because of that status. Did you know that Stevie Ray Vaughan plays guitar on this album? Titles include "Modern Love", "China Girl", "Let's Dance", "Without You", "Criminal World", and "Cat People" (in a different take than the soundtrack version.) LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing with Masterdisk stamp. A nice copy.)
22
David Bowie —
Tonight ... LP EMI, 1984. Near Mint- ...
$19.99
Titles include "Loving The Alien", "God Only Knows", "Don't Look Down", "Tonight", "Neighborhood Threat", "Blue Jean", and "I Keep Forgetting". LP, Vinyl record album
Kate Bush —
Aerial ... LP EMI, 2005. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ...
$99.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Original 180 gram EU pressing, with booklet. Cover has a hype sticker, bent top corners held with clear tape, clear tape at the center of the top seams, and bumped bottom corners. Booklet is bent a bit at the corners.)
27
Kate Bush —
Dreaming ... LP EMI, 1982. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing with Mastered By Liberty stamp. Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light ring impressions and lightly bent corners.)
Despite the title of the album, the group's a sharp-edged fusion combo – one that hails from late 70s Japan, and who works here in the best mainstream fusion mode of the time! The tunes are mostly jazz funk with a bit of polish – heavy on guitars from Kazuo Takeda, who also takes off on some pretty nice solos – and also featuring keyboards from Hisao Sakurai and tenor from Mitsuru Kanekuni. The record is never too jamming, nor too smooth – but one number does feature some unfortunate blues vocals from Takeda. Titles include "Spinning Toe Hold No 2", "No Problem", "Wild Cat", "Swamp Boy", and "Fou Fou Gun Gun". LP, Vinyl record album
A great vinyl release of beautiful live material from one of the greatest new soul stars of the past decade – plus rare and previously unreleased tracks! Sides A & B of this double vinyl set features rare tracks and remixes of album tracks by some of the most influential hip hop figures of the last couple of decades. Tracks include "Brown Sugar" (Buckwild rmx feat Kool G Rap", "Cold War" (remix featuring GZA & Inspectah Deck), "You're My Lady" (Premier remix featuring AZ), "Ghetto Heaven" (rmx) with Common and more! The live portion of the album on sides C & D is essentially the Japanese release Live At The Jazz Cafe – a stellar D'Angelo set from legendary London groove room! The crowd is extremely enthusiastic, and the whole thing falls together beautifully – with a hard raw soul vibe that's similar to, but edgier than, D'Angelo's studio albums. Lots of great electric piano, soulful vocals, and great backing by a tight band. Titles include "Sh*t, Damn, Motherf*cker", "Me & Those Dreamin Eyes Of Mine" (featuring Angie Stone", "Brown Sugar", and "Cruisin". Also includes great covers of 70s soul classics "Can't Hide Love" and "Heaven Must Be Like This". LP, Vinyl record album
One of the grooviest albums ever recorded – a set that's funky, offbeat, and has way more to offer than most American album of the time! Swedish singer Doris really knocked it out of the park with this one – working with arranger Bert Egerbladh, who gives the set some nicely unusual grooves, often augmented by his own work on organ! The album is famous amongst the break crowd for the track "You Never Come Closer", which has a deep groove and weird fuzzy piano that's been sampled by more than a few folks over the years – but over and above that, the record's an excellent batch of off-beat pop tunes – and it feels like some of the nuttier work that came out on Capitol Records during the late 70s, as evidenced by the Blue Juice/Blue Breaks love of the record in the past decade or two. Tracks include "Did You Give The World Some Love Today Baby", "I'm Pushing You Out", "Beatmaker", "Don't", "Waiting At The Station", "Bath", "You Never Come Closer", and "I Wish I Knew". LP, Vinyl record album
38
East Of Eden —
Here We Go Again ... LP EMI (Germany), 1976. Near Mint- ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Dave Edmunds —
Rockpile ... LP EMI (UK), 1972. Very Good ...
$9.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing. Cover has light edge wear.)
43
Gil Evans, Sade, Jerry Dammers, Paul Weller, & Others —
Absolute Beginners ... LP Virgin/EMI, 1986. Near Mint- ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
A great snapshot of jazzy London in the years before the acid jazz explosion of the late 80s – and a surprisingly great soundtrack that's stood the test of time much more than the actual film! The music here represents a jazz-based undercurrent of the London scene that was already turning its ears back in time – to a pre-mod era of the late 50s, which is the setting for Colin McInnes original novel used for the film – portrayed here in a pastiche of vocal and instrumental songs that often have a fair bit of classic touches! Gil Evans was brought in for most of the instrumentals, and turns out some really sparkling charts that have all the charm of his best work of the 50s – and other contemporary artists do a pretty great job themselves – at least on the more jazz-based numbers. Evans numbers include "Va Va Voom" – and the better jazzy tunes includes the excellent "Killer Blow" by Sade, plus "Have You Ever Had It Blue" by The Style Council, "That's Motivation" and "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie, "Rodrigo Bay" by Working Week, "Selling Out" by Slim Gallard, and "Riot City" by Jerry Dammers. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
44
Dick Farney & Claudette Soares —
Tudo Isto E Amor ... LP EMI/Odeon (Brazil), 1976. Near Mint- Gatefold ...
$4.99
Mid 70s and mellow work from two legendary Brazilian vocalists – the great Dick Farney and the lovely Claudette Soares, singing here in a set of duets that include a number of classic Brazilian tunes set to lush arrangements. The sound is very classic – kind of a 70s take on an older era, with slight electric touches mixed with more traditional strings and piano – and titles include "Este Seu Olhar", "De Voce Eu Gosto", "Minha Namorada", "O Que E Amar", "Tudo Isto E Amor", "Fotografia", "O Nosso Olhar", and "Castigo". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear, unglued seam, tiny peel spot on the back.)
Mid 70s and mellow work from two legendary Brazilian vocalists – the great Dick Farney and the lovely Claudette Soares, singing here in a set of duets that include a number of classic Brazilian tunes set to lush arrangements. The sound is very classic – kind of a 70s take on an older era, with slight electric touches mixed with more traditional strings and piano – and titles include "Nos", "Chuva", "Nick Bar", "Ela Foi Embora", "Tomara", "O Amor Em Paz", and "Apelo". LP, Vinyl record album
(Original Brazilian pressing. Cover has light wear, tiny sticker.)
Killer 2LP set that includes a number of harder to find Fela tracks – and way more than the usual best of that you'd expect! The set has 2 tracks per side of an album, for a total of 8 cuts in all – and lots of the titles are tough to find, like "Chop & Quench", "Let's Start", "Black Man's Cry", "Je'nwi Temi (Don't Gag Me)", and "Egbe Mi O Carry Me I Want To Die". LP, Vinyl record album
47
Fela & Africa 70 —
Confusion ... LP EMI (UK), Early 70s. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
Really mindblowing work from Fela – a seminal 70s set that may well open up even more than any other album from the time – as the leader and Africa 70 stretch out on a single track that takes up the entire record! "Confusion" is almost proggish at the start – with a long passage that just features drums from Tony Allen and some really offbeat electric piano from Fela – slowly building up a groove out of the darkness, then letting the rest of the group come into the mix – all at a level that definitely sets the tune on fire for the righteous politics of the lyrics! The whole thing's no sloppy, over-extended jam – and instead, the record's a great demonstration of the care and craft that Fela brought to his musical vision at the time. LP, Vinyl record album
Egberto Gismonti —
Carmo ... LP EMI (Brazil), 1977. Very Good+ Gatefold ...
Out Of Stock
Stunning early work from Egberto Gismonti – a really complex little record, and quite different than some of his better-known work as a spare acoustic soloist! Gismonti here is at the helm of a rich array of sounds – at one level, a soulful approach to MPB that rivals the best of Milton Nascimento in the 70s – but at another, filled with sharp changes and complicated arrangements that really move past any easy labels! There's a sense of surprise that really keeps things striking throughout – an avant piano line here, full soaring vocal there, funky electro riff the next moment, and a sensitive jazz solo at another point – always interwoven in ways that make complete sense – even amidst the rich array of sounds and colors. Titles include "Raga", "Baiao Malandro", "Cafe", "Educao Sentimental", "Bodas De Prata", "Critiana", and "As Primaveras". LP, Vinyl record album
An amazing tribute not just to the rich imagination of the young Egberto Gismonti – but also to the vivid sound of Brazilian music in the 70s! The album leaps past any easy definitions – as bits of jazz, MPB, serious scoring, folkloric styles, and other elements come into play – often in the space of a single song – and Gismonti's own keyboards and guitar are mixed with really collaborative efforts from Joyce, Danilo Caymmi, Marcio Montarroyos, and other leading lights of the Brazilian underground at the time! The tunes are quite visionary – in a way that's as sublime as Gismonti's legendary 1973 album – and production is other-worldly, at a level that few Anglo albums could hope to match at the time. Titles include the classic "Cafe" – plus Baiao Do Acordar", "Danca Das Cabecas", "Carmo", "Polichinelo", "Trem Noturno", and "Ano Zero". LP, Vinyl record album
51
Egberto Gismonti —
Feixe De Luz ... LP EMI (Brazil), 1988. Near Mint- ...
Out Of Stock
Egberto's working here with a lot of electric keyboards – but he's lost none of his fire and power! The range of compositions is amazing – from spare mellow beautiful numbers, to driving open-ended tracks that have a free improvisational quality to them – and backing is by the Academia De Dancas group, which features work by Luiz Alves, Paulo Moura, Zeca Assumpcao, and Robertinho Silva. Titles include "Bela Palomera", "7 Aneis", "Feixe De Luz", "For All", "Dor De Amor", "Scherzo Mecanico", and "Forrobodo". LP, Vinyl record album
52
Egberto Gismonti —
No Caipira ... LP Odeon/EMI (Brazil), 1978. Near Mint- ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
One of Egberto Gismonti's fantastic records from the seventies, and is waaaay better than anything he did for an American label. It's a wild mix of strident jazz and odd "experimental" moments, with a lot of joy and a lot of wonderful emotions running through all the tracks. The album's filled with baroque arrangements, cool keyboards, and lots of Gismonti's haunting compositions! Titles include "Frevo", "Cancao Da Espera", "Selva Amazonica", "Saudacoes", and "Maracatu". LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Includes the textured inner sleeve. Cover has light ringwear, sticker spot, and is lightly bent at the edges.)
53
Beto Guedes —
Amor De Indio ... LP EMI/Odeon (Brazil), 1978. Near Mint- ...
$29.99
Looks like Beto Guedes was dragged out of bed for the cover shoot – but that doesn't stop the record from being one of his best of the 70s! Wagner Tiso plays keyboards and also handles arrangements – and titles include "O Medo De Amar E O Medo De Ser Livre", "Era Menino", "Luz E Misterio", "Cantar", "Gabriel", "So Primavera", and "Amor De Indio". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes heavy inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
Features arrangements by Wagner Tiso – and titles that include "O Sal Da Terra", "Boa Sorte", "Rio Doce", "Contos Da Lua Vaga", "Quatro", "Sete Flautas", "Dona Julia", and "Cancao Do Novo Mundo". LP, Vinyl record album
A real treat – one of the few small group sessions ever recorded by Slide Hampton during the 60s! The session was cut in Paris, where Hampton had taken up residence at the end of the decade – and was done with an all-star group that features Joachim Kuhn on piano, Niels-Henning Orsted-Pederson on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. The quality of the work is great – with very long tracks that dance with the freedom you'd expect from Kuhn's piano work, yet which also still swing very nicely in Hampton's usual groove. In all, we'd be tempted to rate this one as one of the more free-thinking trombone jazz sides of the 60s – and it's certainly one of Slide's finest records overall! Titles include "Last Minute Blues", "Lament", "Chop Suey", "Impossible Waltz", and "In Case Of Emergency". LP, Vinyl record album
(80s Le Jazz En France issue. Cover has light ring impressions and a small worn spot at the top seam.)
A record with a cover that references the Beatles, but a sound that's very different overall – as Japanese combo Happenings Four take the tunes in lots of weird and wonderful directions! The record's maybe much more psychedelic than the original recordings by the fab four – lots of fuzz and distortion at times, and some especially cool use of piano – which gets jazzy at times, but with offbeat twists and turns that further keep things interesting – as does the use of organ on a few of the cuts! The arrangements are great – hardly respectful of The Beatles' originals at all, and really opening up the tunes – to serve up fantastic unusual versions of "Drive My Car", "Don't Let Me Down", "Lady Madonna", "Fool On The Hill", "Ticket To Ride", "She Loves You", "Penny Lane", "Yesterday", and "Revolution". LP, Vinyl record album
58
Joe Harriott/Amancio D'Silva Quartet —
Hum Dono ... LP EMI/Trunk (UK), 1969. New Copy (reissue)...
$34.9938.99
One of the most compelling albums ever recorded by British alto genius Joe Harriott – a very unusual record that has him working with guitarist Amanico D'Silva, in a style that's got some wonderful modal undertones! The feel here is a bit like Harriott's work with Michael Garrick – minus piano, of course – as he and D'Silva work through some tunes that are long, filled with complicated rhythms, yet still have a magically dancing sound. The mood shifts a bit from track to track – as Norma Winstone comes in for wordless vocals on two numbers, and Ian Carr blows a bit on one tune – and there's one short track on the record that only features Harriott's alto next to a bit of drums. Great stuff all around – with titles that include "NNNT", "Hum Donon", "Jaipur", "Stephano's Dance", and "Ballad For Goa". LP, Vinyl record album
Totally great stuff by The Hollies – and don't let anyone else tell you any different! For Certain is one of the band's greatest albums – forged out of some totally great songwriting, amazingly precise guitar parts, and sharp-edged vocals that make the tracks sparkle and glisten. Big hits include "Pay You Back With Interest" and "Stop Stop Stop" – but it's all great, and other titles include "Tell Me To My Face", "Clown", "What's Wrong With The Way I Live", and "Crusader". LP, Vinyl record album
(Early 70s issue. Cover is slightly wavy at the front panel.)
Kiwiro Boys Band —
Vijana Wa Kazi ... LP EMI/We Are Busy Bodies (UK), 1979. New Copy (reissue)...
$19.9930.99
A really joyous album from the Kenyan scene at the end of the 70s – a set that has cascading group vocals even more in the lead than percussion and guitar – yet all delivered with this light, compact style that gives the whole record a really fluid sense of energy! Both presentation and production are nicely lean for the time – especially given some of the modes that were coming into play in the West African scene – and the whole approach really makes the whole thing almost feel more like some sort of spontaneous musical collaboration than a record that was cut in the studio for EMI. Titles include "Mapenzi Tele", "Pole Na Safari", "Rosa Wa Tanzania", and "Caren Atieno". LP, Vinyl record album
A really unique later album from Peggy Lee – one that's so different than the brash confidence of her early material, and which shows her really perfecting that boozy, mature sound that she brought to a handful of gems like this! The album's got a truly adult approach to pop that was less concerned with chart placement than it was with getting over a more sophisticated level of expression – and Peggy turns out to be wonderfully well suited for this mode – a deeply emotive singer by this point, capable of bringing a deeper sense of life into younger tunes of the era, fleshing them out with the newer freedoms of the time, yet without going overboard. There's almost a Robert Altman sense of poise and adult grace to these tunes – arranged by Artie Butler with a careful simplicity, and sung by Peggy with some of the truest emotion of her days on record. Titles include "Love Song", "Razor", "When I Found You", "A Song For You", "It Takes Too Long To Learn To Live Alone", "Someone Who Cares", and "Just For A Thrill". LP, Vinyl record album
Raw New Orleans soul from Overton "Smiley" Lewis – one of the city's big stars in the 50s R&B years, and a singer who arguably set the stage for later deep soul to come! A few years before, and Lewis might have been more of a blues singer – but here, he's working with some strong Nola piano lines and lightly loping rhythms – in a mode that's vaguely in the Fats Domino side of the universe, but a lot more raw and stripped-down too – from the performance to the production! Tracks include Smiley's classic "I Hear You Knocking", plus loads of other nice ones – including "Bumpity Bump", "Bells Are Ringing", "Blue Monday", "Lost Weekend", "Real Gone Lover", and "One Night". LP, Vinyl record album
French recordings from the group of alto saxophonist Willie Lewis – with players that include Bobby Martin on trumpet, Benny Carter on alto, Herman Chittison on piano, and Frank Big Boy Goodie on tenor! LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear, distro sticker in back, and is bent a bit at the corners.)
Logic System —
Venus ... LP EMI/Universal (Japan), 1981. New Copy (reissue)...
Out Of Stock
A really beautiful record from the Japanese electro scene at the start of the 80s – a record that's got some of the catchy synth modes of the period, but which also has a fair bit of other elements going on too! Logic System features keyboards from Hideki Matsutake – best known for his keyboard programming with YMO – and here, his style expands into some wider modes that almost remind us of our favorite French soundtrack styles of the period – slight currents of sentiment, and a richness of expression that goes way past the more familiar simpler forms of the keyboards. There's definitely some catchier tunes too, and the balance is very nice – on a set that's mostly instrumental, save for some occasional vocoded bits. Titles inlcude "Metamorphism", "Equivalent", "Be Yourself", "Prophet", "Morpheus", and "Venus". LP, Vinyl record album
Nick Ingman's the arranger on Close Encounters – and helps give the record a disco vibe that's quite different than the usual sci fi set – a groove that clearly stems from Ingman's great sound library work of the 70s – touched here with plenty of clubby rhythms and some especially great keyboards at times. The whole thing's funkier than you might expect – and titles include "Close Encounters", "Flight Fantastic", "Space Patrol", "Solar Sailor", "The Omega Man", "Star Wars", "Time Machine", and "Blake's 7". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a distro sticker at the bottom left corner.)
78
William Lyall —
Solo Casting ... LP EMI (UK), 1976. Near Mint- Gatefold ...
Out Of Stock
The only solo album ever from William Lyall – an artist with ties to 70s UK pop giants Pilot and The Bay City Rollers – although don't hold that latter reference against him, as the music here is much like his work in Pilot! As with that group, the songs here are wonderfully sharp and compressed – well-crafted UK pop with that cool sense of production that could make a tune like "Magic" crackle and spark at a level that's different than so many US hits of the time – a quality that's even better when you start to listen to William's great work on keyboards too. Phil Collins played drums on a number of tracks, Paul Buckmaster delivers some great orchestrations at points – and titles include "Playing In The Sand", "Us", "Reasons", "Maniac", "The Deeper You Get", "Sleep", "Don't Be Silly", and "Supertrader". LP, Vinyl record album
(Yellow label EU pressing. Cover has some edge wear, minor flaking near the edges, and a piece of clear tape over a sticker spot at the top right corner..)
82
Di Melo —
Di Melo ... LP EMI/Fatiado (Spain), 1975. New Copy (reissue)...
$33.9936.99
Seminal funk from the Brazilian scene of the 70s – one of those really rare, really one-of-a-kind albums – but one that also seems to perfectly sum up the sound of the times as well! Di Melo's a mighty funky cat – and works here with these bass-heavy arrangements from Geraldo Vespar – very groovy and filled with lots of influence from American soul of the time, yet delivered in a style that's decidedly Brazilian too! There's a sense of sparkle to the album that recalls the charm of Jorge Ben in his funkiest modes – but Vespar also brings in some nicely jazzy flourishes too – especially on the keyboards and horn passages, which really go past the usual EMI/Odeon modes of the time. The whole thing's great – a soulful treasure all the way through – and titles include the funky classic "A Vida Em Seus Metodos Diz Calma", plus "Kilario", "Aceito Tudo", "Pernalonga", "Jodao", "Alma Gemea", "Se O Mundo Acabasse Em Mel", and "Minha Estrela". LP, Vinyl record album
Includes David Bowie's "This Is Not America". LP, Vinyl record album
84
Mighty Cavaliers —
Mapendo ... LP EMI/Want Some (Germany), 1977. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)...
Out Of Stock
A record as earthy as you might expect from its cover – a rare 70s gem from the Kenyan scene, and one that mixes some killer funky nuggets with a few more straightforward tunes! There's lots of driving rhythms on the album, and snakey guitar that criss-crosses in a great way underneath the vocals and horns – all on short tracks that pack plenty of punch throughout! The whole thing's got the harder-hitting approach of Nigerian work of the same generation – and titles include "Mambo Bado", "Wacha Maneno", "Africa Tuungane", "Mama Come Home", "Nifanye Nini", "Baruwa Ya Soweto", "Mapendo Mapendo", "Bring Your Love", and "Wacha Tabia Mbaya". LP, Vinyl record album
Warmly mellow work from Marisa Monte – a record that's issued in conjunction with her samba-styled Universo Ao Meu Redor album, but which has a sound that's much more in keeping with her Memorias Cronicas E Declaracoes set from a few years back! The backings here are often mellow and laidback – bits of keyboards and guitar that snake lazily alongside Monte's beautiful vocals – which themselves sparkle and glow with qualities that are far better than we remember from before. Production here is nicely subdued and almost invisible at times – but there's clearly enough magic going on in the studio to make Marisa sound this great, especially in comparison to most of her earlier work. Titles include "Levante", "Aquela", "Garanio", "Quem Foi", "Infinito Particular", "Vilarejo", "Ate Parece", and "Pernambucobucolismo". LP, Vinyl record album
Lovely work from Marisa Monte – perhaps a bit sweeter than some of her earlier stuff, but pretty darn catchy, and with some excellent production by Arto Lindsay! The tracks have a mellow breezy feel, with a compressed production style that includes a lot of flanged-out guitar, subtle electronics, and warm acoustic touches. As with most of Marisa's albums, the record's filled with work by famous guest stars – like Joao Donato, Arnaldo Antunes, Marc Ribot, Carlinhos Brown, and others. Titles include "O Que Me Importa", "Nao E Facil", "Perdao Voce", "Abololo", "Gotas De Luar", and "Agua Tambem E Mar". LP, Vinyl record album
87
Marisa Monte —
MM ... LP EMI (Brazil), 1989. Near Mint- ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
The first album by Marisa Monte, and the start of a fantastic run of records – really strong work that had Monte emerging as maybe one of the strongest new acts in Brazil at the time! The set is live, which is unusual for a debut – and that also makes for energy that's a bit more raw and spontaneous than you might guess from some of Monte's later, more sophisticated production – especially when the singer hits some sharper edges that almost feel punkish at points. The small group features Roberto Alves on piano – and the set list includes a version of Os Mutantes' "Ando Meio Desligado", plus "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "Speak Low", "Comida", "Negro Gato", and a nice remake of "Chocolate", an old Brazilian soul song by Tim Maia. LP, Vinyl record album
(Original Brazilian pressing. Includes the insert. Cover has light ringwear, price sticker remnants, some edge wear, lightly bent at the bottom right edge, and bent a bit at the spine and top seam.)
The first album by Marisa Monte, and the start of a fantastic run of records – really strong work that had Monte emerging as maybe one of the strongest new acts in Brazil at the time! The set is live, which is unusual for a debut – and that also makes for energy that's a bit more raw and spontaneous than you might guess from some of Monte's later, more sophisticated production – especially when the singer hits some sharper edges that almost feel punkish at points. The small group features Roberto Alves on piano – and the set list includes a version of Os Mutantes' "Ando Meio Desligado", plus "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "Speak Low", "Comida", "Negro Gato", and a nice remake of "Chocolate", an old Brazilian soul song by Tim Maia. LP, Vinyl record album
A real departure for Marisa Monte – an album of samba tunes done in mostly traditional modes! The style here is often simple and classic – bits of guitar, percussion, cavaquinho, and slight use of keyboards to warm things up a bit – but mostly in a way that allows for the strongest focus on Marisa's vocals, and only a hint of the playfully modern touches of some of her other work. Guest stars include David Byrne, Paulinho Da Viola, Daniel Jobim, and others – but the real focus here is on Marisa, on titles that include "Universo Ao Meu Redor", "Statue Of Liberty", "Tres Letrinhas", "Perdoa Meu Amor", "Cantinho Escondido", "Vai Saber", "Para Mais Ninguem", and "Quatro Paredes". LP, Vinyl record album
Titles include "Feel So Good To Me", "For The Love Of You", "Can't Hide Love", "We Are Family", "Sweet Love", "Betcha Don't Know", and "Mysterious". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a light stain in front.)
91
Neville Brothers —
Uptown ... LP EMI/Rounder, 1987. Near Mint- ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
An ambitious mix of rootsy samba and soaring orchestrations – one of the strongest 70s albums by Clara Nunes, and set to arrangements by Francis Hime, Nelsinho, and Maestro Gaya! The record manages to sit on both sides of a sound with tremendous ease – never getting bogged down in its own ambition, yet still pushing Clara forward with a fresh approach. Titles include "Canto Das Tres Racas", "Fuzue", "Risos E Lagrimas", "Ai Quem Me Dera", "Tenha Paciencia" and "Retrato Falado". LP, Vinyl record album
(Later Brazilian pressing on Standard, in a non-gatefold cover. Cover has some ring and edge wear, yellowing from age, and bent sides and corners.)
93
Clara Nunes —
Clara ... LP EMI (Brazil), 1981. Very Good- ...
$8.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the heavy inner sleeve. Cover has some ring & surface wear.)
Great later work from The O'Jays! They've been around forever, but they still have a way with harmonies that few newer groups can match. Includes "No Can Do", "Somebody Else Will", and "Heartbreaker". LP, Vinyl record album
96
Os Uirapurus —
Os Uirapurus ... LP EMI (Argentina), 1969. Good ...
Out Of Stock
A very cool Brazilian harmony group – serving up versions of tunes by Marcos Valle, Minton Nascimento, Roberto Carlos, Geraldo Vandre, and others! LP, Vinyl record album
No charity needed here – as reedman Eji Oyewole's got a wealth of talent on his own! Eji's a musician with roots in the 60s Nigerian scene, but left to follow a personal path through Europe and the US, where he picked up some wonderfully funky styles which are then brought home to create this completely cooking late 70s album! The style's different than other big Afro Funk names of the time – like Fela Kuti or Manu Dibango – but shares a similar sense of flowing, open grooves – and Eji's ability to act strongly as both a lead vocalist, and a soaring soloist on tenor, soprano, and flute! Rhythms are damn funky at the core – with almost a blacksploitation vibe at times – and the tracks are all quite long, with most of the real "voice" coming from the saxes, which speak volumes on their solos. Titles include "Gele Odun (Oil Boom)", "Lagos Complex Highways", "Unity In Africa", and "Charity Begins At Home". LP, Vinyl record album