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Rare work by Curt Boettcher – recorded as a solo project by the Millenium mainman for Elektra in the early 70s. The album came out briefly, and almost died upon release – but it's a great batch of tracks that ranks with the best of the 70s rock underground – including work by Big Star, Terry Reid, and Emmitt Rhodes. The sound here is very different than Boettcher's Millenium work – still heartfelt and somewhat gentle, but also with touches of countrified instrumentation, and a rawer overall sound than you'd expect from the sweetness of Curt's pop in the 60s. Gary Usher helped produce the set, and titles include "Without Her", "Bobby California", "Love You Yes I Do", "Such A Lady", "I Love You More Each Day", and "Lay Down". CD

A killer collection of Billy Bragg's best from the early years – mostly just vocals and guitar, and completely sublime! CD

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A killer collection of Billy Bragg's best from the early years – mostly just vocals and guitar, and completely sublime! CD

One of those records that maybe snuck in a bit under the wire at the time of release – but a set that instantly went on to become a classic, and one of the greatest debuts of the early 90s! Not only is the production great – full of sophisticated samples and ways of putting them together that set a whole new standard for a generation – but Brand Nubian also found a way to take some of the energy of the Native Tongues' freshness, and turn it towards more serious themes – but all without the heavy-handedness that made some of their contemporaries date quickly. Hats off to Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Lord Jamar for such a great job right from the start – on titles that include "All For One", "Slow Down", "Drop The Bomb", "Concerto In X Minor", and 2 mixes of "Wake Up" (Stimulated Dummies mix and the penultimate reprise) – plus "Who Can Get Busy Like This Man", "Ragtime", "To The Right", "Dance To My Ministry", "Step To The Rear", "Try To Do Me", and "Dedication". CD

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Features 50 songs over 2 discs! CD

An excellent introduction to the work of one of the more interesting singer-songwriter avant folksters of the 60s. Tracks include "She Is", "Song Slowly Song", "No Man Can Find The War", "Morning Glory", "Goodbye And Hello", "Buzzin Fly", "Strange Feelin", "Chase The Blues Away", "So Lonely", "Moulin Rouge", and "Song Of The Siren", "Sweet Surrender", "Make It Right", and "Who Could Deny You". CD

An exceptional early release from the tragic Tim Buckley – done with a really unique sound that mixes late 60s folk rock with some subtly jazzy overtones! The record features beautiful string arrangements from the legendary Jack Nitzsche, and some beautiful work on piano, harpsichord, and celeste by Van Dyke Parks! But Buckley's the main star of the set – crooning beautifully with his sad-tinged voice, on wonderful tracks that include "Wings", "Aren't You the Girl", "She Is", and "Understand Your Man". CD

An archetypal album from the legendary Paul Butterfield – and a set that would shape the sound of countless blues rock records to come! Despite what you might think of the genre or its many later incarnations, there's a raw power here that's really amazing – the young Butterfield and his Chicago comperes, hanging out at clubs on the south side, drinking in the relatively new electric sound of the city, and turning out a groove that's a lot more hard-edged than some of the overseas imitators at the time! Paul's pretty darn great on vocals and harmonica – but the group has some even more powerful sounds in the twin guitar talents of Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop – the former on slide, the latter on rhythm – along with Jerome Arnold on bass, Sam Lay on drums, and Mark Naftalin on some Hammond too. Titles include "Blues With A Feeling", "Born In Chicago", "Shake Your Money Maker", "Mystery Train", "Screamin", "Last Night", and "Look Over Yonders Wall". CD

A smoking live set from the Butterfield Blues Band – and like all the group's work, as much of a jazz and soul album as a blues one! Butterfield drew his inspiration from the Chicago bluesmen, it's true – but his style also has plenty of echoes of New Orleans soul, Memphis R&B, and other strands of American work – in a mode that's quite similar to some of the changes that were going on in the British beat group scene at the end of the 60s. The lineup here features some really nice touches on sax from Trevor Lawrence and Gene Dinwiddie – and the live setting only seems to loosen all the players up even more than usual, and let them hit a few nice funky moments. Titles include "Get Together Again", "Love Disease", "The Boxer", "No Amount Of Loving", "Driftin & Driftin", "Number Nine", and "Born Under A Bad Sign". CD

Titles include "Walkin Blues", "Get Out Of My Life Woman", "Mary Mary", "East West", "Two Trains Running", and "Work Song". CD

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Smoking work from Donald Byrd – post-Blue Note, post-Larry Mizell, and with a modern funk groove that's still pretty darn tasty! Not one to rest on his laurels – which he could have easily done with endless Mizell-based recordings – Donald shifts his groove here towards more of a boogie-styled 80s approach – one that's got the same sort of loping funk that was showing up in the work of Tom Browne and some of the younger players on the scene at the time. There's a fuller, richer, more soul-based approach to the set – but still some strands of the Mizell years – especially in the album's great keyboard work by Clare Fischer, and its use of chorus vocals on a number of tracks. Wade Marcus and George Bohannon helped with arrangements – and titles include a great funky remake of Fischer's "Morning" – plus "Veronica", "Gold The Moon, White The Sun", "Marilyn", "Pretty Baby", and "People Suppose To Be Free". CD

The last album ever recorded by The Byrds, and a set that almost has the group going full circle – as the record's a reunion of sorts, and features an early lineup of the group back together – then-leader Roger McGuinn, joined by Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke! The sound of the set shows all the many paths the individuals had followed since they had split from the group – and although there's still some of the more acoustic-oriented tracks you might expect from early 70s Byrds albums, there's also some more pronounced tracks that amp things up a bit – yet all without having any sort of the ego collision such a reunion might normally inspire. Titles include "Full Circle", "Cowgirl In The Sand", "See The Sky About To Rain", "For Free", "Things Will Be Better", "Borrowing Time", "Long Live The King", and "Sweet Mary". CD

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Includes the original album plus lots of demos. CD

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Includes the songs "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", "Good Times Roll", "You're All I've Got Tonight", "Don't Cha Stop", "Moving In Stereo", "Take Me Now", "Cool Fool", "Let's Go", "Candy-O", "Dangerous Type", "Double Life", "Got A Lot On My Head", "It's All I Can Do", "Nightspots (Early Version)", "Slipaway", "That's It", "Panorama", "Gimme Some Slack", "Don't Go To Pieces", "Touch And Go", "Don't Tell Me No", "Shake It Up", "Since You're Gone", "I'm Not The One", "Cruiser", "The Little Black Egg", "Funtime", "You Might Think", "Drive", "Magic", "Hello Again", "Why Can't I Have You", "Breakaway", "Tonight She Comes", "You Are The Girl", "Strap Me In", "Door To Door", "Leave Or Stay (1977 Demo Version)", and "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo (1977 Demo Version)". CD

A well-remembered classic from The Cars – one of those records that had the group finding a perfect way to tap into new wave energy from the underground, yet somehow manage to score some major hits at a time when American radio was still pretty shy of so many new sounds! This set still has the group pretty close to their Boston roots – commercial, but never too polished – and in addition to the title hit "Shake It Up", other tracks include "Think It Over", "Since You're Gone", "I'm Not The One", "Victim Of Love", "This Could Be Love", and "A Dream Away". CD

Titles include "Gabriela's Song", "Lenda", "Obsession", "Velho Piano", "Guararapes", "Desenredo", "The River", and "Like A Lover". CD

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An unforgettable album from Natalie Cole – a record that came at a time when her R&B career was faltering slightly, and a set that not only helped Natalie reach a new level of sophistication in her music – but also find a huge new audience too! If the title sounds familiar, it's because it's the name of a huge hit for Natalie's dad, the great Nat King Cole – who makes a surprising appearance here via the magic of technology, as he duets with his daughter on the album's hit title track. There's a jazzy vibe to the whole set – thanks in part to some piano work by Ike Cole too – and titles include "The Very Thought Of You", "Paper Moon", "Mona Lisa", 'This Can't Be Love", "Lush Life", "That Sunday That Summer", "Avalon", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Nature Boy", "Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup", "Thou Swell", and "Unforgettable". CD

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Classic tracks from the Cure – a set that starts with some of their earliest gems, then runs through the 80s stretch when the group were a surprisingly appealing dancefloor act too! Titles include "Boys Don't Cry", "A Forest", "Let's Go To Bed", "The Lovecats", "In Between Days", "High", "Friday I'm In Love", "The Walk", "Just Like Heaven", "Cut Here", "Just Say Yes", "Never Enough", "Lovesong", "Wrong Number", "Why Can't I Be You", "Lullaby", and "Mint Car". CD

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Extended remix of the title track, plus four live tracks. CD

A pretty huge step for The Cure – with a heavier drum sound, seemingly more confident vocals by Robert Smith, and a very compelling sound – standing strong to this day among their best ever! OK, we can say that now, but at the time of release, a lot of the press still didn't really "get" The Cure, dismissing Pornography as a glum downer. In hindsight it's pretty laughable given their legacy was actually really starting to take root here! There's real emotional catharsis in the supposedly depressing lyrics, the production stands the test of time, and it's and one we come back to year after year. Classic! Includes "One Hundred Years", "A Short Term Effect", "The Hanging Garden", "Siamese Twins", "The Figure Head", "A Strange Day", "Cold" and "Pornography". CD

Lots of early classics – "Boys Don't Cry", "Killing An Arab", "Let's Go To Bed", "The Hanging Garden", "Charlotte Sometimes", "Jumping Someone Else's Train", "A Forest", "The Walk", "Lovecats", "In Between Days", and "Close To Me". CD

Robert Smith and the group are still going strong here – changing up some of the rhythms a bit for the 90s generation, but still holding on to all of their best charms – and really hitting that tuneful crossover mode that made them so huge the decade before! Tracks include "Trap", "Treasure", "Bare", "Jupiter Crash", "Mint Car", "Strange Attraction", "The 13th", "This Is A Lie", and "Club America". CD

Maybe the biggest album ever from The Cure – a set that marked a high moment in maybe the second chapter of their career – at a time when they'd gone from being a cult underground band to becoming a surprisingly durable group in the long run! That darker energy of Robert Smith's earlier years is still here, but oddly refocused with these glimmers of hope from time to time – almost as if they'd gone from the coldness of standing on the beach to the realization that they were flag-bearers for a generation of misfits. Titles include "To Wish Impossible Things", "Open", "High", "End", "A Letter To Leslie", "Friday I'm In Love", "From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea", "Doing The Unstuck", and "Wendy Time". 2022 Deluxe Edition includes new mastering and two discs of bonus material! CD

Remixes by Tony Humphries, Satoshi Tomie and Pal Joey. CD

Southern rock meets southern soul – all in this groundbreaking set from the team of Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett! The quality quotient here is quite high – light years beyond so many later folks who tried for this territory, but then slicked it up for radio airplay – and in another world, both singers might have been just cutting gritty 45s for a colorblind local audience – had Elektra Records not given them such a great shot with this classic! The already great Bramlett core sound gets strong support here from studio stalwarts like Bobby Whitlock, Bobby Keys, and Jim Price – and Leon Russell and Rita Coolidge also lend their talents to the proceedings too – on titles that include "Get Ourselves Together", "Ghetto", "Love Me A Little Bit Longer", "Soldiers Of The Cross", "Dirty Old Man", and a great take on "Do Right Woman". CD

A jazz-inspired hip hop uberclassic! While Digable Planets might not have pioneered the jazzy hip hop vibe – we might nod to the Native Tongues scene and DJ Premier's productions in the late 80s for that – Digables set a new standard with breezy but head nodding production and mellow, laidback rhyme style that dug into the abstract lyrical realm more than any of their predecessors. Still sounds fresh today, too! Includes "Where I'm From", "It's Good To Be Here", "What Cool Breezes Do", "Time & Space (A New Refutation Of)", "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)", "Escapism (Gettin Free)", "Pacifics", "Appointment At The Fat Clinic", "Swoon Units", "Last Of The Spiddyocks", "Examination Of What", "Nickel Bags", and "Jimmi Diggin Cats". CD

A really important album on the west coast country rock scene – recorded with help from the great Buddy Emmons on steel guitar! CD

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An incredible record – with a great performance, and the ultra-creepy long version of "Celebration Of The Lizard"! CD

The classic – with "Break On Through", "Soul Kitchen", "Crystal Ship", "Light My Fire", "Back Door Man", and "The End". CD

The classic debut – with "Break On Through", "Soul Kitchen", "Crystal Ship", "Light My Fire", "Back Door Man", and "The End" – plus bonus tracks "Moonlight Drive (Versions 1 & 2)" and "Indian Summer". CD

Titles include "Land Ho", "Maggie M'Gill", "Roadhouse Blues", "Waiting For The Sun", "Peace Frog", "Ship Of Fools", and "Blue Sunday". CD

Titles include "Land Ho", "Maggie M'Gill", "Roadhouse Blues", "Waiting For The Sun", "Peace Frog", "Ship Of Fools", and "Blue Sunday". CD

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Titles include "Tell All The People", "Touch Me", "Shaman's Blues", "Easy Ride", "Wild Child", "Do It", and "Wishful Sinful". CD

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Quite a soul-based set from the great George Duke – a set that not only features his strong keyboards, but also a fair bit of vocals from singers Phil Perry, Jeffery Osborne, and James Ingram – all of whom are a great fit for Duke's evolving sound! Duke had worked heavily with singers on many other albums – and even produced for some of these artists as well – but the vibe here is also more of an extension into 90s modes, both for fusion and R&B – with a few lingering traces of his 80s work, but also a leaner style at times that's nicely appreciated. Titles include "Love Ballad", "Children Of The Night", "Miss Wiggle", "Brazilian Coffee", "This Lovin", "Mystery Eyes", and "Same Ole Love". This Japanese CD edition includes 3 bonus tracks: "560 SL", "Fuzzzion" and "Rise Up". CD

An 80s fusion classic from saxophonist Bill Evans – working here on tenor and soprano sax, plus some keyboards as well! The music has a flowing, open sort of style – almost to saxophone what Pat Metheny's work of the time is to guitar – played with a nice sense of feeling on most numbers, and quite different from some of the slicker, more tune-tracked fusion that was beginning to emerge at the time. Many tunes have a spaciousness that offsets any electronics with an exploratory, almost ECM-like sense of sound – and other players on the date include Mitch Foreman on piano and keyboards, Mark Egan on bass, Adam Nussbaum on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussion. Titles include "Reef Carnival", "Living In The Crest Of A Wave", "Past Thoughts", "The Young & The Old", and "Dawn In Wisconsin North Woods". CD

Sublime late live work from Bill Evans – a well-recorded performance for French radio, and one that really stands out from some of the scratchier late 70s concerts on the market! Bill's working here with a sound as sensitive and picturesque as the cover image – never pushing things too hard, but letting each tune unfold organically in waves of sound few other players could conjure up! Trio musicians include Marc Johnson on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums – and titles on this first volume include "Quiet Now", "My Romance", "Noelle's Theme", "I Loves You Porgy", and "Up With The Lark". CD

Sublime late live work from Bill Evans – a well-recorded performance for French radio, and one that really stands out from some of the scratchier late 70s concerts on the market! Bill's working here with a sound as sensitive and picturesque as the cover image – never pushing things too hard, but letting each tune unfold organically in waves of sound few other players could conjure up! Trio musicians include Marc Johnson on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums – and titles on this first volume include "Quiet Now", "My Romance", "Noelle's Theme", "I Loves You Porgy", and "Up With The Lark". CD

Sublime late live work from Bill Evans – a well-recorded performance for French radio, and one that really stands out from some of the scratchier late 70s concerts on the market! Bill's working here with a sound as sensitive and picturesque as the cover image – never pushing things too hard, but letting each tune unfold organically in waves of sound few other players could conjure up! Trio musicians include Marc Johnson on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums – and titles on this second volume include "Nardis", "Laurie", "34 Skidoo", "Letter To Evan", and "Gary's Theme". CD

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Nothing super-intense, but a great solo moment from Lisa Fischer – a vocalist who'd previously worked with Luther Vandross and The Rolling Stones, and who steps out on her own in this classic early 90s set! The music's got a bouncy approach to soul that reflects Lisa's professional roots – and she gets plenty of help from Luther Vandross on the record, working here in a host of top-shelf studio talent that also includes Narada Michael Walden and Arif Mardin too! Fischer may be making a solo debut on the album, but she comes across with a great sense of class and professional poise throughout – on titles that include "How Can I Ease The Pain", "Wildflower", "Save Me", "Some Girls", "So Tender", "Get Back To Love", "Chain Of Broken Hearts", "Last Goodbye", and "So Intense". CD

Bill Frisell on guitar, Don Bryon on clarinet and bass clarinet, Billy Drewes on alto saxophone, Curtis Fowlkes on trombone, Kermit Driscoll on electric and acoustic bass, and Joey Baron on drums. CD

Bill Frisell on guitars and ukulele, Hank Roberts on cello and jazz-a-phone fiddle, Kermit Driscoll on bass, and Joey Baron on drums. CD

A later album by Joao – but a really lovely live performance that sparkles with the warmth and intimacy of his earlier studio albums! The album's got a total of 13 tracks, all recorded at the Montreux jazz festival in 1985 – with no backing for Joao's voice other than his light lively acoustic guitar, which holds up extremely well over the nearly 70-minute long performance. Titles include "Estate", "Menino Do Rio", "Adeus America", "Rosa Morena", "Sandalia De Prata", and "Sem Compromiso". CD

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The follow-up to Koyaanisqatsi – and almost as beautiful! CD

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The dawn of the 90s uberclassic from Manchester's Happy Mondays – a mix of bright, neo psych pop songcraft, trippy dancefloor inspired beats and heady lyrics – standing strong to this day, both because of AND in spite of the band's hedonistic reputation. Like a number of their peers at the time, Happy Mondays blended late 60s psychedelic pop influences with profoundly modern dancefloor sounds, but something about their take on the style REALLY transcends. Includes the forever great single "Step On", one of the most imitated songs of the early 90s, plus "Kinky Afro", "God's Cop", "Loose Fit", "Dennis & Lois", "Bob's Yer Uncle", "Holiday", "Donovan" and "Harmony". CD

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One of Emmylou Harris's best loved albums, and for good reason – it's a major departure from the some of the more straightforward, if neo classic country of her late 80s and earlier 90s work, taking on a more atmospheric sound with producer Daniel Lanois. Lanois deserves credit for inspiring a new direction for Emmylou, but Wrecking Ball is her show – and of all the folk, country and roots-oriented artists Lanois worked with over the years, Harris is the one with a voice big enough fill the atmosphere, and intimate enough to pull it back down to earth. Includes "Where Will I Be", "Goodbye", "All My Tears", "Wrecking Ball", "Goin' Back To Harlan", "Blackhawk", "Orphan Girl", "May This Be Love" and "Waltz Across Texas". CD

Titles include "Leora", "C/Saw", "Drunk On God", "Bordertown", and "At Harmony". CD