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A massive bit of funky fusion from the 70s – an album that was crucially overlooked at the time, but which has gone onto become a crate-diggers classic over the years! The group's fronted by Polish jazz legends Michal Urbaniak and Urszula Dudziak – but it also features a fair bit of American players too – all working together in a blend of the best funky fusion modes going down in both the US and Eastern Europe in the mid 70s! Drums on the set are totally great – played by Steve Gadd or Gerald Brown, depending on the track – and some tracks have weird vocal bits that riff around the instrumentation, sung either by Urszula, Bernard Kafka, or some other backing singers. The keyboards are great – quite tripped-out at times, but never too over the top – and overall, the album's a fair bit more soulful and funky than most of Urbaniak's other work of the 70s. Titles include the killer sample track "Rien Ne Va Plus" – used famously by the Beastie Boys many years back – plus "After The World Goes Home", "Funk It", "Sinkin Low", "Next Please", "Horsing Around", and "Watusi Dance".

Includes "Snake", "Been Around The World" feat Ja Rule, "Step In The Name Of Love (rmx)", "Who's That" feat Fat Joe, "Ignition", "You Knock Me Out", and "Dream Girl".

Dancefloor treasures from Factory Records – avant disco classics and underground club tunes from the earlier year of the legendary label – compiled by Strut! Peter Saville of DJHistory.com assembled this great collection of 12-inch classics – with great tracks by Section 25, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Quando Quango, X-O-Dus, Marcell King and more. Incredible, ageless and fiercely creative dancefloor material from that creatively fertile post-punk disco era on through the mid 80s! Includes "Looking For A Hilltop (Megamix)" by Section 25, "Wild Party" by A Certain Ratio, "Puppeteer" by Blurt, "Time" by Minny Pops, "Dirty Disco" by Section 25, "For Belgian Friends" by The Durutti Column, "Reach For Love" by Marcel King, "Cool As Ice (Restructured By John "Jellybean" Benitez), "See Them A'Come" by X-O-Dus, "Smiling Monarchs" by Abecedarians and more. CD version has 24 tracks on 2CDs.

Classic Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column and Happy Mondays from the vaults of Factory Records! Includes "She's Lost Control" by Joy Division, "1963 (12" Remastered Version) by Joy Division, "Otis" by Durutti Column and "Loose Fit (12" Version)" by Happy Mondays.

A great little set – one that's even better than the first in the series! As with that one, this smashing package features great gems from the glory days of the Factory Records scene – the time when the Manchester label was also hosting its own Hacienda nightclub – and helping to change the sounds and styles of modern music around the globe! What we love about this set is the way they've gone even deeper than before – to pull out some of our favorite Factory artists who maybe didn't break as big as the others – including some that only issued 12" or 7" singles for the label. And although "dance" is part of the title, you should take that term very loosely – as many of the numbers here have more of an electronic or post-punk vibe – the kind of stuff that we loved to groove to many decades back – but which would be sure to clear the floor at an Ibiza party these days. 2LP version features 9 tracks that include "Can't Afford (unorganized mix)" by 52nd Street, "The Fox" by A Certain Ratio, "Blue Roses" by Minny Pops, "N'Sel Fix" by Fadela, "Fate" by Nyam Nyam, "Sakura" by Section 25, "Meat Mask Separatist" by Biting Tongues, "Sommadub" by Sir Horatio, "You Hurt Me" by Shark Vegas, and "Host" by The Wake.

The first full album recorded by A Certain Ratio – and a mad mix of styles that's immediately compelling! The group are a key link here in so many traditions – British punk, 70s funk, dub, and late prog – all coming together under the godlike production talents of Martin Hannett to make the album one of the gleaming jewels in the crown of the young Factory Records label. There's never been a record of such scattered, skittish darkness – and even though short songs like "The Fox", "Forced Laugh", "Felch", "My Spirit", and "Loss" are arresting, the whole thing's magnificently capped off by the extended percussion jam "Winter Hill" – a tune that sounds like a batucada group trying to drum their way across a post-apocalyptic landscape!

A sublime debut from German prog outfit Agitation Free – a set that's definitely free of agitation, and one that spins out in these long, winding lines with lots of Eastern influences! There's a bit of drone to some of the grooves, but never in a sleepy or sloppy sort of way – and in addition to familiar prog instrumentation on guitar, keyboards, and percussion, there's also some added ethnic elements as well, and even a bit of steel guitar, zither, and live tape work too! Tracks are longish and nicely organic, and although there's some vocals on the record the whole thing's much more of an exploratory instrumental affair – very much like some of the best early work on Brain. Titles include "You Play For Us Today", "Sahara City", "Ala Tul", "Pulse", "Malesch", and "Rucksturz".

A sweet Latin-styled set from trumpeter Herb Alpert – but one that's got a very different vibe than his faux Latin grooves of the 60s! The set here is done with key contributions from both Juan Carlos Calderon as a songwriter, and Jose Quintana as a producer – both talents who really help Herb reshape his groove in a mighty nice way! Backings are big, and somewhat smooth – as in the "Rise" era – but there's also some Latin jazz elements in the mix too, and an overall approach that isn't nearly as cluttered as you might expect for the time – with an especially strong emphasis on Herb's trumpet solos in the lead. The set was the first issued on the A&M Latin label – AyM Discos – and also features a bit of Spanish language vocals as well. Titles include "Fandango", "Route 101", "Angel", "Aria", "Sugarloaf", "Coco Loco", "Latin Medley", "California Blues", and "Push & Pull".

Hard to go wrong with a set like this – because in our opinion, just about every track recorded by Fela is a "best" – which makes the collection a massive batch of goodness all the way through! Every track here is presented in its original extended version – a dozen massive slices of Afro Funk, which packaged together equal the equivalent of at least 5 or 6 separate albums by Fela – another factor that makes the collection a great one! The 2CD set is filled with gems that helped redefine the sound of funk, soul, and world music back in the 70s – titles that include "Monkey Banana", "Everything Scatter", "Expensive Sh*t", "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am", "Underground System (part 2)", "Sorry Tears & Blood", "Colonial Mentality", "Yellow Fever", "He Miss Road", "Black Man's Cry", "Mr Follow Follow", and "Na Poi". Also features a bonus DVD – with Fela's 1984 performance at the Glastonbury Festival, and an interview too!

Amazing sounds from Fela – a previously-unreleased live show from the mid 80s – almost three times as long as a studio album, and appearing here for the first time ever! Given that there's very few live recordings of Fela at all, the album's quite a treasure – and is almost even more important, as it's one of the few from a time when Fela was hardly recording at all – yet clearly, from the concert performance, able to groove as strongly in the 80s as he could back in his heyday of 70s Afro Funk! Recording quality is a bit "live", but the album more than makes up for that fact with some very extended performances – tracks that usually spin out past the half hour mark, with even more jamming than on Fela's studio albums. Titles include "Beast Of No Nation", "Just Like That", "Confusion Break Bones", and "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense".

A killer array of funky grooves from Fela Kuti – served up in a 6LP box set, with records chosen by Ginger Baker! Baker's a key choice to work on the set – given his famous recordings with Fela, heard here on the album's leadoff record – Fela & Ginger Baker Live! Next up is Roforofo Fight – an early full-length Fela LP, filled with 4 tight groovers that stand with his best work! "Go Slow" begins with this mad trumpet solo that you'll recognize from a famous sample, especially as it mixes in with keyboards; "Roforofo Fight" is a fast-time groover that has the drums working overtime to keep up with the political power of the cut. Confusion features a monster 26 minute track – and it begins with Sun Ra Arkestra-like washes of sound and spaciness, before leaping into a bass-heavy groove that provides a perfect platform for heavy jamming and vamping by the band. Alagbon Close is a lesser-known 70s session from Fela – but a great one too, and a record that captures the Africa 70 group at all their early raw best! Tracks are both very long – stretching for a side of the record apiece – and the title track "Alagbon Close" features some amazing keyboard lines on the intro, all tinny and thin – and done with this other-worldly almost Sun Ra-like quality! The other tune, "I Get No Eye For Back", also has some amazing electric piano too – but intertwined with some very strong horn work from the group! He Miss Road brings back Ginger Baker – who's producing the group, and gives them a sweet progressive vibe. Titles include "He Miss Road", "Monday Morning In Lagos", and "It's No Possible". Last up is the Na Poi album, with two long cuts cuts – "Na Poi" and "You No Go Die Unless"! Both have a freer feel than usual, with heavy percussion added into the usual mix of keyboards and sax solos. All records in original cover art, too!

About as classic as you can get for 70s Fela – 2 albums that are overflowing with righteous politics, heavy rhythms, and super-extended grooves! The CD features the complete tracks from the albums Yellow Fever and Na Poi – both recorded in 1976, but compiled here with a bonus alternate take of "Na Poi" from 1975! The 15 minute tune "Yellow Fever" is a brutal attack on miscegenation, backed by a funky groove that makes the whole thing fall into place with an amazing riffing sound – and the cuts "Na Poi" and "You No Go Die Unless" both have a freer feel than usual, with heavy percussion added into the usual mix of keyboards and sax solos.

Both Donny Hathaway concert albums in a single set – both on US CD for the first time! CD 1 features Donny Hathaway Live – massively beautiful work from the legendary Donny! After two studio albums that had firmly put him on the map as one of the 70s best soul talents, Atco had the genius to have Donny record this live album before very enthusiastic crowds in Hollywood and New York. The result is one of the best soul albums ever – one that shows a totally different side of Donny, and which has him jamming with a smaller, hipper, jazz-oriented group in long versions of some of his best tracks. Features a massive 12 minute version of "The Ghetto", which has loads of excellent instrumental breakdowns, a 13 minute version of "Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)", a superior version of the track "Little Ghetto Boy", which was only ever on a soundtrack, and covers of "What's Going On" and "Jealous Guy" that really transform them from the original versions. Very similar to the classic Curtis Mayfield 2LP live set on Curtom – and with a similar "Chicago studio soulster goes jazzy and intimate" feel. In Performance was issued after Donny's untimely death, and features rare live material from his classic years – most recorded during the same concerts on Donny Hathaway Live! As the fame of his first concert album will attest, Donny's an extremely wonderful live performer, with a wealth of talents that show that his studio work is only half the picture of his soulful creativity. Includes a great version of "Sack Full Of Dreams", plus "Nu-Po", "Song For You", "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", and "To Be Youg, Gifted, & Black". 2CD set features new remastering too – better than ever!

The return of a legend – or maybe more accurately, the first time this legend's ever really gotten his due! Ralph Jackson's been working in the Alabama soul underground for decades – yet this smoking album may well be the first time he's ever really gotten out front, and able to do his thing – working with a tight group of younger musicians who really respect the southern soul vibe that Ralph's going for – and help him hit a really great sound in the process! The set's a soul record through and through – not one of these modern funk workouts with an old singer thrown into the mix – but the kind of old school album you'd hear from Malaco or Criteria Studios – particularly during that point when deep soul was growing up in the 70s. Production and arrangements are right on the money – and all tunes are written by Jackson, save for one totally great cover of The Ides Of March classic "Vehicle"! Other titles include "You've Been Very Good To Me", "Searching", "For Just One Second", "I Can't Leave Your Love Alone", "I'll Take Care Of You", and "There Must Be A Reason".

The return of a legend – or maybe more accurately, the first time this legend's ever really gotten his due! Ralph Jackson's been working in the Alabama soul underground for decades – yet this smoking album may well be the first time he's ever really gotten out front, and able to do his thing – working with a tight group of younger musicians who really respect the southern soul vibe that Ralph's going for – and help him hit a really great sound in the process! The set's a soul record through and through – not one of these modern funk workouts with an old singer thrown into the mix – but the kind of old school album you'd hear from Malaco or Criteria Studios – particularly during that point when deep soul was growing up in the 70s. Production and arrangements are right on the money – and all tunes are written by Jackson, save for one totally great cover of The Ides Of March classic "Vehicle"! Other titles include "You've Been Very Good To Me", "Searching", "For Just One Second", "I Can't Leave Your Love Alone", "I'll Take Care Of You", and "There Must Be A Reason".

A great 2-in-1 from Gladys Knight & The Pips – the Claudine and Pipe Dreams soundtracks back to back on a single CD! Claudine is a wonderful mid 70s set from Gladys Knight & The Pips – a soundtrack date written and produced by Curtis Mayfield, who really helps bring a lot of depth to their music! Curtis really helps Knight and the group get out of some of their hit cliches of the 70s, and find some hipper space for the setting of the film – a mixture of some of the mellower tracks that Gladys' always sparkles on, mixed with some badder-stepping numbers that further deepen the groove – and which has kept the album alive over the years, thanks to some key hip hop samples. Tracks include the sublime "The Makings Of You", plus "Mr Welfare Man", "To Be Invisible", "Claudine Theme", "On and On", and "Hold On". After hitting big as a singer on the soundtrack for Claudine, Gladys Knight finally got her chance in front of the camera for Pipe Dreams – a record that featured her both as the star on film and on the soundtrack! The styles here are a bit more wider-ranging than the usual 70s soundtrack of this type – a bit of ballad soul, mellow numbers, and more – arranged by Dominic Frontiere and Michael Masser in styles that are a bit like some of Knight's own albums of the time. We like especially the jazzy vocalesey number "Pot Of Jazz", a nice number that deserves further discovery on a compilation – and other cuts include "Find A Way", "Follow My Dreams", "So Sad The Song", and "Alaskan Pipeline".

Turns out, it DOES run in the family – a great talent for Afro Funk grooves, with the same deeply soulful elements that made Fela Kuti's music so great back in the 70s! This smoker from Femi was recorded at the legendary Afrodisia studios in Lagos – with a nice degree of edge in the mix, which really helps preserve all the grit in the grooves you'd hear in classic Afro Funk from years back! There's none of the too-polished, too-contemporary sounds that might otherwise hurt the energy of the group on record – and instead, all the best bottom bits of the percussion, the snakeyness of the keyboards, and the raspiness of the horns comes through beautifully. Titles include "Dem Bobo", "Nobody Beg You", "E No Good", "No Blame Them", "Make We Remember", "Can't Buy Me", and "Bad Government".

Seun Anikulapo Kuti returns with another strorming set of neo classic Afro Funk in the great tradition of his father – once again fronting the incredible Egypt 80 group! It's remarkable stuff that finds Seun – the youngest son of Fela – standing up as a visionary talent. He's not only living up to an immense legacy, but moving forward with it in ways that will absolutely stand the test of time. The insistent rhythms and intense energy of the Egypt 80 group – led by Lekan Animashaun – are Afrobeat perfection, with Seun's forthright vocals out front of it. But their approach here is anything but a retread of family glories. The songs are urgent and fierce, and there are subtle modern florishes in the production – thanks in part, no doubt, to co-producer Brian Eno. Titles include "African Soldier", "You Can R Un", "Rise", "Slave Masters", "For Dem E Ye", "The Good Leaf" and "Giant Of Africa".

Amazing work from the 70s Nigerian scene – and one of the few female funk records to come out of Africa back in the days! The Lijadu Sisters have a groove that's unlike anything else we've ever heard before – partly Afro Funk, but often changed up a lot in really weird ways – rhythms that get a bit complicated, yet still have a straight ahead punch – taken to new areas by the playful back/forth singing style of the sisters! Their vocals are amazing, sweet, but kind of eerie at times too – almost reminiscent of ESG in the early days – and with a similar style that's infectious right from the start! The whole thing's essential work from an overlooked 70s Afro Funk act – and titles include "Danger", "Cashing In", "Bobby", "Life's Gone Down Low", and "Amebo".

A beautiful album from the Lijadu Sisters to cap off the 70s – and it's among their best ever! Horizon Unlimited is a nice blend of their soulful, harmony-rich vocals with lots of talking drum and electric bass in the mix – along with some other spacey soul touches! Their inspiration is as unlimited as the horizon, as they manage to brilliantly combine traditional and contemporary styles here – even better than on the preceding album – much better, actually! The vocals are as beautiful as ever, and the blend of classic-caliber Afro Beat with tight contemporary funk, pop and soul prefigures diverse global grooves for decades to come! Includes "Orere – Elejigbo", "Erora", "Gbowo Mi", "Gbalo Alogbalo", "Come On Home" and "Not Any Longer".

A sweet step forward for the Lijadu Sisters – a record that's filled with a lot more keyboards than before, used in a way that creates this great spacey feeling in their sound! There's still some nice groovers here, but there's also some wicked tunes that have this laidback vibe that's mighty great – very different than the usual Afro Funk styles of the time – and almost this trippy kind of approach that feels like Shuggie Otis recording in Lagos – albeit with the unique twin-vocal leads of the Sisters! Biddy Wright handles all the cool keys – and also helped arrange and produce the record too – and titles include "Set Me Free", "Promise", "Reincarnation", "Turbulent Waters", "Sunshine", and "Come & Dance".

A dark classic that broke out of the underground and forever transformed the world of dance music! "Blue Monday" has this infectious bass/keyboard riff that you'll recognize immediately – and which you've heard emulated a million times in electro house tracks from later on in the 80s. "The Beach" is more of the same – kind of a dub version of the hit.

Beautiful early work from New Order – a stunning full-length set that brilliantly follows on the promise of their initial singles! Production is by Martin Hannett at the top of his game – almost even more sonically sensitive to New Order's work than that of Joy Division – especially given the additional electronics here. Tracks are all quite dark, but never too overdone – and although there's a hint of dancefloor energy, it's definitely second on the agenda in the music – since most tunes still have a moody post-punk feel. Titles include "Truth", "Senses", "The Him", "ICB", "Denial", "Doubts Even Here", and "Dreams Never End".

Latinized crossover club from the enigmatic Quando Quango – one of our favorite groups from the Factory Records import years! "Atom Rock" is a catchy New York styled number, remixed here by Mark Kamins with the trebley guitar, conga and electro bits all ducking in and out of the bass heavy mix ina nice dubby fashion!

The crowning moment of genius from The Wake – one of the lesser-known groups in the Factory Records generation of the early 80s – but a real standout on a set like this! The feel here is quite similar to the best early moments from New Order – particularly the Temptation EP or Power Corruption & Lies – lots of spare bass-driven grooves, laced with keyboards, and topped with these dark, cold-toned vocals that are perfect for the post-punk ethos of the music! The production is wonderful, too – done by Chris Nagle and the group, but with plenty of Martin Hannett elements – including lots of echo, and a great ear for winnowing down the electronics into these weird other-worldly sounds! Titles include "Judas", "Testament", "Patrol", "The Old Men", and "Heartburn".

Hard to go wrong with a set like this – because in our opinion, just about every track recorded by Fela is a "best" – which makes the collection a massive batch of goodness all the way through! Every track here is presented in its original extended version – a dozen massive slices of Afro Funk, which packaged together equal the equivalent of at least 5 or 6 separate albums by Fela – another factor that makes the collection a great one! The 2CD set is filled with gems that helped redefine the sound of funk, soul, and world music back in the 70s – titles that include "Monkey Banana", "Everything Scatter", "Expensive Sh*t", "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am", "Underground System (part 2)", "Sorry Tears & Blood", "Colonial Mentality", "Yellow Fever", "He Miss Road", "Black Man's Cry", "Mr Follow Follow", and "Na Poi".

The steely cover's an apt one – as New Order have still largely held onto their edge here – those raspy guitars and moodier moments that first marked their early work – all elements that keep things compelling amidst some of the more tuneful moments of the songs! There's definitely a lot more hooks than before, but most tracks are still pretty far from commercial pop – and if anything, showcase the preference for darker sounds that would mark the alt rock underground that was springing up in the US, clearly a generation inspired by New Order's initial experiments. Titles include "All Day Long", "Weirdo", "Paradise", "State Of The Nation", "Angel Dust", "Every Little Counts", and "As It Is When It Was".

A totally amazing little package – every single album recorded by Fela Kuti, served up in tiny LP-style sleeves, and brought together in one excellent box set – with a bonus movie as well! The collection features a total of 46 albums, most of which are paired up with crucial counterparts, as on some of the previous CD releases of the material. But this time around, there's way more than you might imagine in one place – classic records that include Afrodisiac, Confusion, Shakara, Fela's London Scene, He Miss Road, Kalakuta Show, Music Of Many Colors, Beasts Of No Nation, Army Arrangement, Coffin For Head Of State, Original Sufferhead, ITT, The Fela Singles, Roforofo Fight, Excuse O, Moise For Vendor Mouth, Why Black Man Dey Suffer, Na Poi, Authority Stealing, VIP, Fela With Ginger Baker Live, Underground System, Zombie, and lots lots more – a truly amazing run of music! Also features the bonus DVD – A Slice Of Fela.

A beautiful album from the Lijadu Sisters to cap off the 70s – and it's among their best ever! Horizon Unlimited is a nice blend of their soulful, harmony-rich vocals with lots of talking drum and electric bass in the mix – along with some other spacey soul touches! Their inspiration is as unlimited as the horizon, as they manage to brilliantly combine traditional and contemporary styles here – even better than on the preceding album – much better, actually! The vocals are as beautiful as ever, and the blend of classic-caliber Afro Beat with tight contemporary funk, pop and soul prefigures diverse global grooves for decades to come! Includes "Orere – Elejigbo", "Erora", "Gbowo Mi", "Gbalo Alogbalo", "Come On Home" and "Not Any Longer".

The amazing second album from the Lijadu Sisters – and even more amazing than the first! Like their debut, there's a sound here that's unlike anything else we can think of from the 70s African scene – but the groove is even more complex, and has a truly unique quality that's almost impossible to describe in words! Instrumentation is often nicely rootsy – with very earthy percussion at the bottom, light guitar, snaking sax lines, and some occasional electric touches on the more funky numbers – all in service of the sisters' unique back/forth vocal styles – not really harmonies, not really call-and-response – but somewhere in between! The whole record's wonderful, with a charm that's undeniable – and titles include "Osupa I", "Orin Aro", "Dibe Nuwa", "Iya Mi Jowo", and "Bayi L'Ense".

The amazing second album from the Lijadu Sisters – and even more amazing than the first! Like their debut, there's a sound here that's unlike anything else we can think of from the 70s African scene – but the groove is even more complex, and has a truly unique quality that's almost impossible to describe in words! Instrumentation is often nicely rootsy – with very earthy percussion at the bottom, light guitar, snaking sax lines, and some occasional electric touches on the more funky numbers – all in service of the sisters' unique back/forth vocal styles – not really harmonies, not really call-and-response – but somewhere in between! The whole record's wonderful, with a charm that's undeniable – and titles include "Osupa I", "Orin Aro", "Dibe Nuwa", "Iya Mi Jowo", and "Bayi L'Ense".

The first full album recorded by A Certain Ratio – and a mad mix of styles that's immediately compelling! The group are a key link here in so many traditions – British punk, 70s funk, dub, and late prog – all coming together under the godlike production talents of Martin Hannett to make the album one of the gleaming jewels in the crown of the young Factory Records label. There's never been a record of such scattered, skittish darkness – and even though short songs like "The Fox", "Forced Laugh", "Felch", "My Spirit", and "Loss" are arresting, the whole thing's magnificently capped off by the extended percussion jam "Winter Hill" – a tune that sounds like a batucada group trying to drum their way across a post-apocalyptic landscape!

A nicely trippy effort from Berlin prog maestros Agitation Free – a blend of spacey keys, intricate guitar work, and rewarding sounds that draw as much from hypnotic melodies as they do from spare dissonance! The band was experimenting with a mellotron this time out – tripping everything out just a little bit more and adding a bit of a groovier overall sound. Titles include "First Communication", "Dialogue And Random", "Laila Pt 1", "Laila Pt 2", "In The Silence Of The Morning Sunrise", the 2-part suite "A Quiet Walk" and "Haunted Island".

One of our favorite groups from the Factory Records scene of the early 80s –with a sound that was a bit leaner and lighter than some of their Factory labelmates – but still very much in the same dark post-punk territory that the label was known for. The core instrumentation is mostly sharp guitars, with touches of the cold keyboards that were part of the Factory sound, and a slight spaciness to some of the group's tracks – a dreaminess that trips out nicely, and almost points the way towards sounds to come on later indies from the UK scene. Lyrically, Crispy Ambulance's work is a bit subdued – as the vocals are really buried in the mix, and almost secondary to the overall sound – with a moody quality that almost makes you not want to pry that much into what the band are going on about anyway! But that's really part of the charm of the group's work – heard to good effect here on tracks that include "Are You Ready?", "Travel Time", "The Force & The Wisdom", "The Wind Season", "Death From Above", "We Move Through The Plateau Phase", "Bardo Plane", "Chill", "Federation" and "Simon's Ghost".

Features a previously unreleased version of "Sorrow, Tears And Blood".

Seun Anikulapo Kuti returns with another strorming set of neo classic Afro Funk in the great tradition of his father – once again fronting the incredible Egypt 80 group! It's remarkable stuff that finds Seun – the youngest son of Fela – standing up as a visionary talent. He's not only living up to an immense legacy, but moving forward with it in ways that will absolutely stand the test of time. The insistent rhythms and intense energy of the Egypt 80 group – led by Lekan Animashaun – are Afrobeat perfection, with Seun's forthright vocals out front of it. But their approach here is anything but a retread of family glories. The songs are urgent and fierce, and there are subtle modern florishes in the production – thanks in part, no doubt, to co-producer Brian Eno. Titles include "African Soldier", "You Can R Un", "Rise", "Slave Masters", "For Dem E Ye", "The Good Leaf" and "Giant Of Africa".

The seminal first album from Section 25 – a crucially overlooked British act of the post-punk years, one with a sound that's as important to our ears as the work of Joy Division or PIL! Section 25 were contemporaries of the latter, and labelmates of the former – and worked in a similar dark sphere of flat percussion, moody basslines, and psychedelic-cum-punk production that made for some incredibly evocative tunes. Like JD, their lyrics are often bleakly straightforward – and also like JD, Section 25 receive some amazing production on this set from the legendary Martin Hannett! We'd easily rank this one as one of the most fully-realized albums of the post-punk era – and one of the most unknown as well (possibly because the original record's packaging was so elaborate, it was impossible to mass-produce!) Titles include "Friendly Fires", "Dirty Disco", "Melt Close", "Hit", "Babies In The Bardo", and "Be Brave".

The first album from The English Beat – and not only is it one of the most essential of the English ska revival era of the late 70s and early 80s – it's one the most enduring records of 1980 in any genre! The English Beat, like the best of their peers, used ska and rocksteady inspiration to fuel their own contemporary UK sound – and it sounds great to this day! The rhythms are tighter and punchier here than on later records, with some pop, mod and soul lacing their songwriting and vocal. A landmark! Includes "Mirror In The Bathroom", "Hands Off. . .She's Mine", "Twist & Crawl", "Big Shot", "Best Friend", "Jackpot" and more. This 2012 CD version also includes "Ranking Full Stop" – which wasn't on the original UK release.

Arguably the most perfect record ever from New Order – a stunning second full length set that has the group emerging from the turgid depths of the early post-Ian Curtis years, and before the schmaltzy pop of the John Hughes generation! The electronics are wonderful – definitely a few generations ahead of their time, especially in the way they realize all the north England experimentation of the time, but bring it into more tuneful territory – yet never without losing its edge. The group produced the record themselves, and managed to hold onto lots of the best lessons learned from Martin Hannett – and there's a tightness and economy to the songwriting that holds up beautifully over the years. Titles include "Ultraviolence", "The Village", "We All Stand", "Your Silent Face", and the lovely "Leave Me Alone".

A really wonderful back to basics session for Basie – featuring arrangements by longtime band members Frank Foster, Erick Dixon, Bobby Plater, and Thad Jones! The set also features vocals on 2 tracks by bluesy vocalist Richard Boone – a singer with a really great scatting approach – but overall, the real strength is the horn section, particularly Al Aarons, Dixon, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis – who all get in some very nice solo work. Tracks are mostly older numbers, Basie-ized – and played with a laidback tone that's a real contrast from the higher energy early 60s recordings. Titles include "Squeeze Me", "Frankie & Johnny", "Boone's Blues", "I Got Rhythm", and "Hey Jim".

An overlooked gem from the revival years of Impulse Records – a set recorded in the mid 80s, but one that easily matches the soul and spirituality of the label's best work from the late 60s and early 70s! Pianist Henry Butler steps out here with a strong musical vision – one colored by his own bold McCoy Tyner-esque lines on the piano – and embellished by great solo work from Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Azar Lawrence on tenor. Rhythm is by Charlie Haden on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – who definitely match Butler's pulsating, modal-influenced groove here – and additional instrumentation includes bits of flute and oboe, plus a string quartet on 2 numbers – coming off with Alice Coltrane-like brilliance! Great proof that righteous jazz was still being made in the 80s – with titles that include "Fivin Around", "LA Samba", "Improvisation On An Afghan Theme", "Giant Steps", and "Butler's Blues".

Music by Walter Raim – with titles that include "Red Apple Juice", "Sing Out", "Seven Daffodils", "Writing On The Wall", and "Calumet City".

Uptempo soul from Europe, of the sort that would soon turn into Euro-disco, but which at this point was still a melding of different musical influences showing up in the Euro clubs, a fair number of them percussive funky ones. Tracks are short, and titles include "Love To Dance This One With You", "She's Got The Style To Love Me", "Pain Sweet Pain", "Heavy Eyes", and "Funny How Love Dies".

Produced by Rockwilder.

One of Lamont Dozier's true 70s classics – an amazing album of baroque soul with an undeniable groove – kind of the best aspects of Detroit soul, wrapped up together! The arrangements here are fantastic – a mix of strings and soul that surpasses any of Lamont's previous albums, and which holds together perfectly throughout. The whole thing's orchestrated by McKinley Jackson, Gene Page, and Paul Riser, who all do a perfect job of keeping the realness in Lamont's vocals, while expanding the palette of expression to soul classic possibilities! Titles include "All Cried Out", "Let Me Start Tonight", "Put Out My Fire", "Shine", "I Wanna Be With You", and "Thank You For The Dream".

Twin pianos from Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones – with no other instrumentation – played in some great ways that provide an equal balance of rhythmic pulse and lyrical melody! The set's got a sweet stereo split – so that Tommy's in the right channel, and Hank is in the left – and the pair do a great job of bringing new life to a host of bop classics, yet in an all-piano style that has the music billowing out in these great waves of sound! Titles include "Robbins Nest", "Confirmation", "Jordu", "Our Delight", and "Lady Bird".

Titles include "Heartbroken Booper", "Smoke Big Factory", "Hi Rockers", "Herbert's A Loser", and "Back To The City".

A heady double-length set from Keith Jarrett – some of his more sharper-edged work of the time, even though the session follows the free-flowing solo aproach of his other ECM recordings! The first half of the set features the extended "Invocations" suite – a work that has Jarrett working moodily on a combination of pipe organ and soprano sax – the former of which is used with plenty of dark tones and odd notes, making for a surprisingly great combination with the sax! "The Moth & The Flame" suite follows on the second disc – featuring Jarrett on more familiar piano (and a wide-bodied Steinway at that), soaring out on some warmer, more lyrical lines.

Watch what happens – and what happens is very groovy! Ken plays alto sax, Beverly sings – and the rest of the album features small combo backing that includes Vic Feldman on piano and Joe Pass on guitar. The tunes are an assortment of 60s groovy pop tunes, soundtrack gems, and a few great originals – and Beverly alternates between singing straight lead vocals and scatting in a light, breezy, and rhythmic way – ala Jackie Cain, of Jackie & Roy fame, or Vicki Hamilton, on her great Impulse recordings! Titles include "Nothing Left To Do But Follow You", "The Face I Love", "Theme From Harper", "Man & A Woman", "Captain Jack", and "Watch What Happens".

A great blend of older jazz styles and the sweet 70s funk of Robin Kenyatta – served up with a hip sort of sparkle overall! There's a few familiar jazz modes in here that definitely live up to the spirit of the title – but most of the record is more open, laidback, and somewhat spiritual – thanks to help from a hip lineup that includes Billy Harper on tenor sax, Dwight Brewster and Larry Willis on electric piano, Winston Wright on organ, Lew Soloff on trumpet, and Jimmy Knepper on trombone! Some of the best tracks here are surprisingly open and earthy – almost pointing back towards Kenyatta's Until album, but a bit more inside – and other cuts have a warmer sort of 70s glow, more in the mode that Robin was hitting on other Atlantic albums of the time. Titles include "The Need To Smile", "Mellow In The Park", "Jessica", "River Boat", "Two Bass Blues", and "Smooth Sailing".

After hitting big as a singer on the soundtrack for Claudine, Gladys Knight finally got her chance in front of the camera for Pipe Dreams – a record that featured her both as the star on film and on the soundtrack! The styles here are a bit more wider-ranging than the usual 70s soundtrack of this type – a bit of ballad soul, mellow numbers, and more – arranged by Dominic Frontiere and Michael Masser in styles that are a bit like some of Knight's own albums of the time. We like especially the jazzy vocalesey number "Pot Of Jazz", a nice number that deserves further discovery on a compilation – and other cuts include "Find A Way", "Follow My Dreams", "So Sad The Song", and "Alaskan Pipeline".

A classic deep soul set from Eloise Laws – an early album recorded for Invictus Records, and done with stellar production from Brian Holland! The title cut's a monster, one of the best tracks on the label from the 70s – with some wonderfully spacey keyboards, funky drums and bass grooving! But there's loads of other strong cuts too – all with that great Invictus blend of masterfully produced, tight dancefloor soul – yet also served up with more than enough grit in the grooves to make the album a great one for funk fans too! Tracks include "Ain't It Good Feeling Good", "Where Did We Go Wrong", "I Believe In You Baby", "Love Goes Deeper Than That", "Put A Little Love Into It", "Camouflage", and "Make It Last Forever". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Love Factory", "You Made Me An Offer I Can't Refuse", "Tighten Him Up", "Touch Me", "Stay With Me", "Love Goes Deeper Than That (12" version)", and "Put A Little Love Into It (12" version)".

Incredibly great work from Machine – an album of disco tunes, but with a hipper, message-oriented feel than most of its contemporaries! The group will forever be known for their classic hit "There But For The Grace Of God Go I" – an infectious groover with a wild lyric about urban flight in the 70s – and they more than match the quality of that one with a host of other great tunes on the set that have a similar feel. Part of the credit should go to August Darnell, working here in a pre-Kid Creole way that throws in lots of jagged touches and some really wicked guitar to most of the tunes! Tracks include "There But For The Grace Of God Go I", plus "Mr. Destiny", "You've Come A Long Way Baby", "It's The Last Time Again", and "Marisa".

One of the first MJQ albums on Atlantic – and a bit fresher than some of their later outings, when it seemed like they were churning records out at the drop of a hat! Titles include an extended medley of standards, all given the MJQ touch – plus the drum-heavy "La Ronde", and the tracks "Baden Baden", "Bag's Groove", and "Night In Tunisia".

Drummer Alphonse Mouzon cut some of the hardest, heaviest fusion albums ever to hit the Blue Note label in the 70s – including this legendary powerhouse of a record! The set features Mouzon with one of his longtime partners – guitarist Tommy Bolin – hitting a hard-rocking, heavy fusion sound that really blows off the roof – more than enough influence from the younger generation to showcase the new energy hitting electric jazz – and a bit like some of the work that Alphonse would do with other artists in later years! Mouzon's drums explode like a case of dynamite hitting a nitroglycerine factory – and Bolin wails away on guitar like a buzzsaw out of control. There's some nice little licks on the set – making the record a good one for the sample crowd – and a really high octane album with loads of nice changes! Titles include "Nitroglycerin", "Mind Transplant", "Snow Bound", "Ascorbic Acid", and "Carbon Dioxide".

The first-ever issue of music from a really weird John Phillips side-project of the 70s – a space-themed musical produced by Andy Warhol and directed by Paul Morrisey – with performances by Phillips, Dennh Doherty, and members of Warhol's Factory! Despite a loopy story, the tunes have a fair bit of homegrown charm – at least on the core material here, which is performed by Phillips himself, using just a bit of acoustic guitar, and coming across with a folksy feel that's mighty nice, especially given the date of the recording – almost a childlike simplicity in the themes, which is a nice change from the other Phillips modes of the time. Some other selections feature numbers recorded live at the play – and the set also features some additional studio tracks sung by Genevieve Waite, plus some other out-takes and rehearsal material. 38 tracks in all – with titles that include "Oh Andy My Assistant", "Mission Control", "My Name Is Can", "Star Stepping Stranger/Convent", "Penthouse Of Your Mind", "Starburst", "Handcuffs", "Close Your Eyes", "Love Is Coming Back", and "The Last Of The Unnatural Acts".

Includes "Sympathy For The Devil", "Street Fighting Man", "Dear Doctor", "Parachute Woman", "Prodigal Son", "Factory Girl", and "Stray Cat Blues".

A late 80s duo set from former Temptations David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks! The Ruffin & Kendrick album for RCA (we didn't leave the -s off Eddie's last name, that's how he was billed at the time) finds both in excellent form vocally, and rather than making a neo-classic Motown vibe for the record, the production is very much in the 80s modern soul mode of bigger hits of the day. It's got bright synth soul, a bit of boogie, and other other mid-to-late 80s modes that should have made this one a real win commercially – especially given the soulful weight and importance of the singers and genuine emotion in their performances. Titles include "I Couldn't Believe It", "Ordinary Girl", "One More For The Lonely Hearts Club", a cover of "Family Affair", "Goodnight Pillow".

Titles include "Sooki Sooki", "Don't Step On The Grass Sam", "The Pusher", "Magic Carpet Ride", and "Tighten Up Your Wig".

Even more experimental than the first album from The Swell Maps – a set that features some longer songs and a bit more tunes, but also a lot more weird sounds as well! Instrumentation is often slightly more conventional here, but usually taken to some very unusual places – odd tones and phrases that really mark the Maps as a key link between pre and post-punk sides of the British scene – and which give this record a timeless quality that's kept it essential for years! Epic Soundtracks serves up loads of cool instruments along with his drums – including some toys, violin, typewriter, and even a bit of mumbling – and Nikki Sudden drives the whole thing home with his droney guitar and great vocals. Titles include "Let's Buy A Bridge", "Robot Factory", "Big Maz In The Desert From The Trolley", "Mining Villages", "Collision With A Frogman Vs The Mangrove Delta Plan", "Whatever Happens Next", and "The Helicopter Spies".

Even more experimental than the first album from The Swell Maps – a set that features some longer songs and a bit more tunes, but also a lot more weird sounds as well! Instrumentation is often slightly more conventional here, but usually taken to some very unusual places – odd tones and phrases that really mark the Maps as a key link between pre and post-punk sides of the British scene – and which give this record a timeless quality that's kept it essential for years! Epic Soundtracks serves up loads of cool instruments along with his drums – including some toys, violin, typewriter, and even a bit of mumbling – and Nikki Sudden drives the whole thing home with his droney guitar and great vocals. Titles include "Let's Buy A Bridge", "Robot Factory", "Big Maz In The Desert From The Trolley", "Mining Villages", "Collision With A Frogman Vs The Mangrove Delta Plan", "Whatever Happens Next", and "The Helicopter Spies".

A work of incredible brilliance – a lost treasure from the late 80s that's been one of our favorite records for years! The album's quite different than most other work by David Sylvian – not nearly as open-ended and loose as his more experimental, soundscape-like projects – nor as sweet and romantic as some of his earlier solo work, or his albums with Japan. Instead, there's an acoustic, organic quality to the record – really focusing on Sylvian's amazing vocals, set amidst light instrumentation that swells and dips like the sun on rises in the land on a late afternoon hike in the autumn. There's a subtle poetry to the whole album, delivered in a style that is somehow free from pretension, or any of the cloying qualities a work like this should have. Tremendous stuff – one of those rare records that's never been duplicated again! Titles include "September", "The Boy With The Gun", "Maria", "Orpheus", "When Poets Dreamed Of Angels", and "Let The Happiness In".

Near-peak material from T Rex – the still great Tanx – with the hard-charging heaviness, swaggery Bolan charisma and all around blazing rock & roll onslaught as crushing as ever! Includes "Tenement Lady", "Rapis", "Born To Boogie", "Life Is Strange", "Shock Rock", "Electric Slim & The Factory Hen", "Mister Mister", "The Street & Babe Shadow" and "Left Hand Luke".

A landmark album from Johnnie Taylor – a set that not only gave his career a giant boost, but which also helped shift southern soul into hip new territory in the late 70s! The music's a great change from Taylor's previous work at Stax – and the set features warm production from Don Davis that brings a new level of smoothness to Johnnie's music – a quality that unlocks the soulful undercurrent always lurking in his bluesier work, and which pulls him out of the indie soul ghetto to the modern soul mainstream. The album features the massive "Disco Lady" – a record that's probably still paying Johnnie's bills today – and a cut that's much more groovy soul than you might guess from the title. Other tracks are great too – and include "Running Out Of Lies", "I'm Gonna Keep On Loving You", "Pick Up the Pieces", and "Somebody's Gettin It".

Heady keyboards from Trash Company – an artist who's been making grooves since the late 70s, and who definitely has an ear for a really raw sound! The music's less disco than other PPU reissues – and is mighty dark throughout – with lots of distortion on the beats and keys, and an overall sound that feels like the Italian Cosmic scene collided with early Factory Records! EP features five sweet tracks – including "I Don't Mind", "Having Fun", "For The Hook", "Pluto", and "Bigga Man".

Tracks include "Check The Rhime", "Bonita Applebum", "Award Tour", "Can I Kick It?", "Scenario", "Buggin' Out", "If The Papes Come", "Electric Relaxation", "Jazz (We've Got)", "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo", "Hot Sex", "Oh My God", "Stressed Out", "Luck Of Lucien", "Description Of A Fool", "Keeping It Moving", "Find A Way", "Sucka Ni**a", and "Vivrant Thing".

Delicate dissonance, bruised beauty, and hazy noise pop – all in one of the best rock albums ever made – the amazing first album from the Velvet Underground and Nico! The album's the stuff of legend – and for good reason, too – a surprising slab of vinyl that barely set the world on its ear when first issued back in the mid 60s – yet a record that's gone onto have an influence felt for decades to come – arguably one of the most important rock records of all time. There's a really sinister edge to the record, even when things are sweet – and the range of subject matter and handling here is brilliant – from the dream pop slice of heaven "Sunday Morning", the melodic bitterness of "Femme Fatale", the massive White Light-esque freakout "European Son", and the sublime "Heroin" – quite possibly the inspiration for generations of drug use to come. The whole thing's a classic – with wonderful vocals from both Nico and Lou Reed – and titles include "Venus In Furs", "Run Run Run", "Black Angel's Death Song", "I'll Be Your Mirror", and "All Tomorrow's Parties". 2CD versions features 9 tracks from Scepter Studios sessions from 1966, 6 tracks from Factory Rehearsals in 1966, the stereo version of the album, and 5 alternate versions that include "All Tomorrow's Parties (alt single voice version)", "Heroin (alt version)", "European Son (alt version)", "I'll Be Your Mirror (alt mix)", and "All Tomorrow's Parties (alt inst mix)".

The legendary Bobby Womack embraces 80s grooves fully on Last Soul Man – his gritty vocals bringing real, gritty soul to backdrops centered by keyboards, synth and programmed beats – and live instrumentation from some exceptional players. Womack brings more depth to the proceedings with some social awareness and an all around realness to the song choices. Tracks include "Living In A Box", "When The Weekend Comes" (featuring Sly Stone) "I Still Love You", "Gina", "A World Where No One Cries", "The Things We Do (When We're Lonely)", "Outside Myself" and more.

Chicago house music really takes off – in this massive collection that really documents the most experimental years in the Windy City club scene! By the mid 80s, Chicago house had already had a few years under its belt – stepping strongly forward as a revolutionary new mode of club music – stripped-down from disco, borrowing some electronics from overseas, and giving the world a fresh new vision of dancefloor sounds that would have a huge influence for decades to come! And by the end of the decade, folks were really starting to play with the format – bringing in lots of older analogue electronic sounds, dubbed "acid" for the way they burned and tweaked – and garnering the city even more interest from the UK and European scenes – who thought the name referred to drug usage, and took the cue to ignite their own waves of house-based parties on the other side of the Atlantic. While back home, Chicago artists were spurred on to experiment even more – and things went from warm and clubby to downright sci-fi – an aesthetic that's really captured strongly in this set from Soul Jazz. LP part one features the cuts "Can You Feel It" from Mr Fingers, "Hallucinate" by Acid Wash, "151" by Armando, "The Jacking Zone" by Risque Rhythm Team, "I Can't Understand" by Pleasure Zone, "Rabbit Trax 1" by James Jack Rabbit Martin, "Freedom (Factory mix)" by The Children, "Ecstasy" by Mr Fingers, and "I Believe" by A Black Man, A Black Man, & Another Black Man.

A very cool relic from the post-punk scene of the early 80s – the first-ever album on Les Disques Du Crepuscule, originally issued as a cassette, and featuring a really wide range of wonderful music! The collection features some key bits by British artists – including some Factory Records stalwarts – plus other more arty and experimental songs thrown in as well, all wrapped up with a booklet of artwork that further underscores the higher concept leaning of the project. Some of the best tracks are atmospheric instrumentals, and titles include "Stranger" by Repetition, "Children On The Hill" by Harold Budd, "Sleep Will Come" by Durutti Column, "The Music Room" by Martin Hannett, "Cat" by The Names, "Airwaves" by Thomas Dolby, "The Shadow Garden" by Bill Nelson, "Armoury Show" by Richard Jobson, "A Walk Through H" by Michael Nyman, "White's SS" by Gavin Bryars, "Meine Freunde" by Der Plan, "Twist Up" by Gilbert & Lewis, and "Haystack" by Kevin Hewick & New Order.

Includes "Funkorama" by Redman, "Beez Like That (Sometimes)" by Jamal & Calif, "It's That Hit" by Keith Murray, "Ferar" by Tommy Gunn "Up Jump The Boogie" by the Wixtons and "Reign" by Erick Sermon. 11 tracks plus 2 interludes.

Buzzingly melodic psychedelic gems from the Brit scene of the mid 60s to early 70s – a pretty large assortment of aromatic obscurities – creeping dangerously close to 100 songs on 5CDs, with a glossy booklet of notes, too! The groups throughout this set weren't afraid to heap a little bit of heft to the vibe, particularly in the fuzzed out guitars dept, but they do so pretty a sweet sense of melody. Pretty great stuff, not out of the realm of better known groups like The Creation. 82 tracks on 5CDs: "Try A Little Sunshine" by Factory, "Floatin'" by Vamp, "Reputation" by Shy Limbs, "Magic Potion" by Open Mind, "No Home Today" by Kult, "Baby Don't You Doi It" by poets, "Red Sky At Night" by Accent, "Take Her Any Time" by Longboatmen, "Hold On" by Rupert's People, "Dinosaur" by Joint, "Leg" by Arzachel, "Jamie's Song" by Deviants, "Feelin Free" by Pacific Drift", "Mr Sunshine" by Dogfeet, "Extensive Corrosion" by Bram Stoker.