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One of the best records ever cut by this soulful Philly female trio! The album's one of the first on Salsoul's Gold Mind subsidiary – and it features sparkling club production by the Harris/Baker/Young team – a landmark force not only in Philly disco, but 70s female soul as well – as their backings for groups of this nature are always sensitive to the complexities of the vocals! The record's mostly uptempo – with plenty of soaring tracks that still retain the more soulful sound of the group's early work – and the songwriting's generally tight, a few notches above earlier albums on Warner – showing that their return to the indie fold was a very good move. Titles include the classic "Let No Man Put Asunder" – plus "Doctor Love", "Indian Giver", "Do Me Again", and a great version of Stevie Wonder's "Love Having You Around". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Doctor Love (single)", "Love Having You Around (single)", "Indian Giver (single)", "Doctor Love (12" Tom Moulton mix)", "Let No Man Put Asunder (12" Shep Pettibon mix)", and "Let No Man Put Asunder (12" Frankie Knuckles mix)".

From what we can remember, Bunny's been singing since the late 60s. Still, perhaps he forgot about his career for labels like Philly International, which might explain the title of this album. The tracks here follow on that earlier work, but they do have more of the uptempo disco sound that graced the Gold Mind label. Instant Funk backs Bunny up on the set, and titles include "Let's Get Freaky Now", "Simple Things You Do", "Cry My Eyes Out", and "I'm Funkin You Tonight".

One of the best of Bunny Sigler's disco albums – a classic pairing with a the group Instant Funk, and a record that helped define the second generation of the Philly groove! Bunny's still got some of the sweeter touches of earlier years, but he also comes across with a much fuller vocal range – stepping up to the grooves with a voice that's deep in soul, and which unfolds nicely across the album's longer uptempo tracks! The Instant Funk backing is mighty nice too – and really gives the album a sharp edge that sets it apart from other Sigler efforts of the period. Titles include "Let Me Party With You", "Your Love Is So Good", "Don't Even Try", and "I Got What You Need". CD features two bonus tracks – "I Got What You Need (original single), and "Only You", a duet with Loleatta Holloway!

One of the best records ever cut by this soulful Philly female trio! The album's one of the first on Salsoul's Gold Mind subsidiary – and it features sparkling club production by the Harris/Baker/Young team – a landmark force not only in Philly disco, but 70s female soul as well – as their backings for groups of this nature are always sensitive to the complexities of the vocals! The record's mostly uptempo – with plenty of soaring tracks that still retain the more soulful sound of the group's early work – and the songwriting's generally tight, a few notches above earlier albums on Warner – showing that their return to the indie fold was a very good move. Titles include the classic "Let No Man Put Asunder" – plus "Doctor Love", "Indian Giver", "Do Me Again", and a great version of Stevie Wonder's "Love Having You Around".

Darn hard to find – this is a killer dancefloor stormer that never gets old, not even after it was sampled without clearance by Black Box. The cut's a great one, and is the record that will forever be Loleatta Holloway's most remembered – and for good reason!

Heavy beats, electro funk atmosphere and accessible, hooky dancefloor sounds from Oliver on Fool's Gold label – and on a really cool Killian Eng-designed picture disc, to boot! Includes "MYB", "Night Is On My Mind", "Control" and "Mechanical".

One of Bunny's earliest, and one of his best. Although some of the tracks have an uptempo pre-disco feel, there's none of the excesses of his later albums for Gold Mind. Instead, there's a solid Philly soul groove, and great production by Bunny, with arrangements by Norman Harris and Ronnie Baker. Tracks include "Keep Smilin", "Picture Us", "Love Train", "Things Are Gonna Get Better", and "Your Love Is Good".

The last album in the classic run of Steely Dan – the final taste we'd have of the group until their surprising revival in the 90s! Gaucho picks up beautifully where Aja left off – warmly produced with a deep undercurrent of jazz, but perhaps a bit more down to earth feel at times too – not in the music, which is still up there in the heavens, but in some of the subject matter of the tunes, which almost takes us back to Royal Scam territory. Donald Fagan's vocals are wonderful throughout – a sound for which there's no referent or real description – and the balance in the instrumentation is near perfect on tunes that include "Babylon Sisters", "Hey Nineteen", "Time Out Of Mind", "My Rival", "Glamour Profession", and "Gaucho".

The classic club album by Love Committee, and one of the most sought-after albums on Gold Mind/Salsoul – a soulful set of club classics that almost beats most of the other work by its contemporaries! The session's grounded in some very solid help from the Sigma Sound team – production and arrangements by the likes of Norman Harris, Ron Tyson, or BHY Productions – in that wonderfully soulful style that was the best mode of the Harris Machine when it was working overtime! The style is disco, but far from the cliches of more commercial work like this – and much more in the legacy of Philly soul from the earlier part of the decade. Titles include "Cheaters Never Win", the classic dancefloor track – plus "Law & Order", "Pass The Buck", "Give Her Love", "Just As Long As I Got You", and "If You Change Your Mind".

More than a decade's worth of music from the legendary Hi Records – and a great little set that goes way past the hits – and uncovers some overlooked singles from the legendary Memphis label! The cuts were chosen by Jaffa – who makes this Backbeats series look so great – and he's definitely got a great eye for an obscure single, especially the sort that shows us that Hi was even still great right around the fringes! Titles include "Pour On The Loving" by Jean Plum, "You Brought The Sun Back Into My Life" by Quiet Elegance with Dan Greer, "Back Into Your Heart" by Majik, "Happy" by Al Green, "Love Makes The World Go Round" by Willie Walker, "Mama Said" by Quiet Elegance, "Still Around" by James Fry, "Stepchild" by Veniece, "Ain't That Sharing My Love" by The Melodics, "I'm Gonna Stay" by Jean Plum, "What Made You Change Your Mind" by Eddie McGee, "It's You That I Need" by The Duncan Sisters, "Slidin In & Out" by The Memphians, "Love Trap" by Bobby McClure, "You Gotta Have Love" by OV Wright, and "Where's Your Love Been" by Donna Rhodes.

Nice compilation of the best cuts that First Choice cut for the Philly Groove label before moving onto Warner Brothers and Gold Mind. The tracks are classic Philly girl group soul from the 70's, and the sound that they get is the stuff that laid the foundation for a whole club generation. Norman Harris produced, with his usual flair, and the titles include "Smarty Pants", "Newsy Neighbors", "The Player", "Armed & Extremely Dangerous", "Wake Up To Me", and "Runnin' Out Of Fools".

A greatest hits two-fer – made even greater with the addition of 27 bonus tracks! First up is Invictus' Greatest Hits – heavy soul from the house of Holland-Dozier-Holland – some of the best bits from their Invictus powerhouse label of the early 70s – definitely a scene-setting imprint at the time! Invictus had some of the deepest grooves ever recorded by the trio – heavy, rumbling bottom sounds – soaring vocal passages – and production that took the Motown lessons of the late 60s to a whole new level. The package is overflowing with gems – and titles include "Crumbs Off The Table" by The Glass House, "Band Of Gold" and "Bring The Boys Home" by Freda Payne, "Give Me Just A Little More Time" and "Everything's Tuesday" by The Chairmen Of The Board, "You've Got To Crawl" and "She's Not Just Another Woman" by The 8th Day, and "I Had It All" by The Barrino Brothers. Hot Wax Greatest Hits is a great collection of some of the best numbers from the Hot Wax label of the early 70s – second generation Detroit soul that really set the standard for the 70s! The tunes here were massive back in the day – blasting out of juke boxes, car radios, and a fair bit of home stereos too – all for good reason, given the care and balance the Holland-Dozier-Holland team brought to their work in the studio, and their ears for selecting singers to handle the work. Titles include "Want Ads" and "Stick Up" by Honey Cone, "Somebody's Been Sleepin" and "Too Many Cooks" by 100 Proof Aged In Soul, "Westbound #9" and "Mind Body & Soul" by Flaming Ember, "Woman's Love Rights" by Laura Lee "Women's Love Rights", and "Frightened Girl" by Silent Majority. 2CD set also features 27 bonus tracks that include "Somebody's Gonna Hurt You" by Lee Charles, "Colors Of My Love" by The Silent Majority, "Love Machine" by The Politicians, "Touch Me" by Eloise Laws, "Hey There Lonely Girl" by Ty Hunter, "Wanting You" by Earl English, "That's Love" by The Hi-Lites, "Can't Get Enough Of You" by Tyrone Edwards, "I Need It Just As Bad As You" by Laura Lee, "VIP" by Scherrie Payne, "Guess I'm Gonna Cry" by New York Port Authority, "Something New About You" by Silent Majority, and "You Too Me From A World Outside" by Lee Charles.

A DJ mix of Fool's Gold artists, family and friends – courtesy DJs A-Trak & Nick Catchdubs – with tracks by Danny Brown, Freeway, Freddie Gibbs, Flatbush Zombies, Action Bronson, Western Tink, Droop-E, Chuck Inglesh, Casey Veggies, Raoch Gigz, King L, MondreMAN of Main Attrakionz, Problem, Donnis and others. 22 tracks in a continuous mix: "Kelly Green" by GrandeMarshall, "Molly Ringwald" by Danny Brown, "8 Feet Tall" by Problem, "Get Off Me" by Roach Gigz, "Sauna" by Casey Veggies, "Mind Gone" by Droop-E, "Talkin' Foolish" by King L, "Trill Hoe" by Western Tink, "Twin Peugeots" by Action Bronson feat Big Body Des and more.

A bit sweet soul, a bit funky – and a real indie soul classic from the early 70s! The album's the second from The Dynamics – a group from Detroit, but one who work here with a style that's much more in the east coast mode of the All Platinum/Stang generation! The production is nice and mellow on the best cuts – fragile, but never sloppy – and the vocals really dominate nicely on the ballads, sliding forward with a really mellow late nite sound! The album does have one standout funk track, titled "Funkey Key", but most of the set is relatively mellow – and other tracks include "Count Your Chips", "You're The Only One", "Voyage Thru The Mind", "What A Shame", and "You'll Never Find A Man Like Me". CD features a lot of bonus tracks too – titles that include "Beautiful Music", "Get Myself High", "I'm Thinking", "Baby Baby I Love You", "Sweet Games Of Love", and "Let's Start All Over".

Mindblowing music from The Association – a heady double-length package that features every single the group ever cut for the Valiant and Warner Brothers label – which together make for an amazing evolution in sound! Although best remembered for their few soft rock hits, The Association were a hell of a group who never stopped growing back in the 60s – from sublime folksy harmonies at the start, to more complicated baroque pop as years went on, to some psych elements, and even a return to rootsier sounds they never had in the first place – always delivered with qualities that were head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries – and perfectly put together in the best LA studio styles, with help from giants like Curt Boettcher, Gary Paxton, Bones Howe, and others. The group also became quite skilled in the studio themselves – as you'll hear in the book's copious notes and comments from members themselves – all a perfect package for a set that features 37 mighty tunes that include "Six Man Band", "Goodbye Columbus", "Like Always", "No Fair At All", "Standing Still", "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies", "Looking Glass", "Birthday Morning", "Makes Me Cry", "PF Sloan", "Just About The Same", "Traveler's Guide", "I Am Up For Europe", "Hear In Here",a nd "Forty Times" – not to mention some bigger hits!

A trio of modern talents, working beautifully together on a set of extended live tracks! The group features guitar from Peter Bernstein, Hammond from Larry Goldings, and drums from Bill Stewart – coming together in ways that remind us of the hipper side of 60s organ combos – those moments when Grant Green and Larry Young really opened things up with a long-flowing groove! There's still a nice undercurrent of soul in the mix, but the rhythms are relatively free and unfettered too – moving forth with energy that might be called modal by some, but which is even less constricted by a simple tag like that – more just pure, beautiful waves of sound from both the organ and guitar. Titles include "The Danger Zone", "Milestones", "Just A Thought", "Molto Molto", and "Chant".

One man psychedelic funk jams from Blue and his Bluefunks project – bass player for the ATL's hip hop funk band (who backed Outkast live) – doing his own thing here on HomeCookedTapeHissInfestedFunks! Blue's heavy bass groove leads the way, boundlessly straddling genres and making his own style out of it all. He plays all the instrumentals on the set and does the singing – it's his show all the way. You hear his love of classic raw funk rock and psych soul throughout. Creative energy permeates the home spun vibe in away that reminds of Cody Chesnutt, but Blue's sound is all his own. "Nay...Na-Na", "Moments Golden", "See Thangz", "Act A Fool", "On The Wall", "Watcha Wanna Do", "Step It Up", "Feenin'" and more.

One of the best debuts in the history of hip hop – and one of the most important albums the genre ever produced! Criminal Minded is landmark for a number of reasons. Among the biggest is, of course, that it was recorded with the late great DJ Scott La Rock – and he was soon to fall prey to the very street violence that BDP documented with such raw brilliance, courtesy the lyricism and delivery of KRS-One. Importance aside, though, Criminal Minded is simply a great, timeless record that no true fan of gritty classic hip hop should be without. The track list alone is a full chapter in the hip hop book of legends – with tunes like "Poetry", "Elementary", "South Bronx", "Super-Hoe", "Bridge is Over", and the "P is Free" remix. Also includes "Criminal Minded", "Dope Beat", and "9mm Goes Bang".

Sublime southern soul from one of the greats! James Carr is right up there with the best of the 60s – Otis Redding, Arthur Conley, Joe Tex, and others – but he never made it as big as them because of personal troubles and bad planning on the part of his label and management. Fortunately, his genius has been kept alive by record collectors everywhere – for whom this rare gem is a holy grail! The album features 11 tunes that sum up the best of the south in the 60s – all sung by James with his unbelievably heartbreaking voice. Titles include "The Dark End Of The Street", "You've Got My Mind Messed Up", "A Woman Is A Man's Best Friend", "I'm A Fool For You", "Stronger Than Love", "More Love", and "Sowed Love & Reaped A Heartache".

An incredible bit of southern soul – one of two classic albums cut by James Carr for the Goldwax! At the time of release, this album virtually died in the racks – but thanks to the work of countless music writers over the past few decades, Carr has finally achieved legendary status in the annals of soul music – and this album's one of the best examples of his genius! Every track is a deep soul masterpiece – and the album sparkles with production by Quinton Claunch and Rudolph Russell, and is filled with classic tracks like "The Dark End Of The Street", "You Got My Mind Messed Up", "She's Better Than You", "These Ain't Raindrops", and "Coming Back To Me Baby".

Quirky Brazilian rock from the late 70s – a bit arty at times, and more straightforward at others – almost post-glam sliding into new wave, if we can bludgeon about so many terms so loosely! There's probably a fair bit of wit in the lyrics here – which we can't get due to our lack of Portuguese – and lead singer Billy Bond seems to be a fairly flamboyant and dynamic type, almost reminding us a bit of the more dramatic New York rockers in the pre punk years. Titles include "O Rape", "Sao Paulo By Day", "Mandrake", "Boeing 723897", "Golden Acapuldo", and "Aeroporto De Congonhas".

The heady second album from Bill Fay – much more introspective and moodier than his first outing for Deram, and a session done in tight collaboration with British guitar legend Ray Russell! Russell's got Fay working here with a much smaller group than on the first album – a collection of jazz-influenced players that includes Nick Evans on trombone, Tony Roberts on reeds, and Alan Rushton on drums – all working with Russell's guitar in an intimate, slightly folksy setting. Fay's songwriting and vocals are darker than before – as can easily be told from the titles of tunes like "Don't Let My Marigolds Die", "Dust Filled Room", "Pictures Of Adolf Again", and "Til The Christ Come Back". But somehow, Fay manages to pull the whole thing off beautifully – with none of the cliches or heavy-handed styles you might expect, really working in a transcendent mode that reminds us of the best of early Leonard Cohen.

A beautiful later score from the legendary Miklos Rosza – a masterpiece that draws on all of his many years in film, yet serves things up with a more subtle approach than before! There's a sense of space here that we don't always hear in Rosza – almost a pausing between the notes, creating a sense of reflection that really expands the gentle sentiment of the tunes – while still building to a bit of drama at a few key moments. Nothing here is overdone at all – and the soundtrack is a great reminder that in the serious film score world, away from the hits, the mid 70s could be a very golden period! Titles include "Providence", "Sonia Et Le Saint Suaire", "Feuillages", "Poursuite", and "Valse Crepusculaire".

An incredible album from one of the greatest talents on the Chicago soul scene of the late 60s – guitarist Phil Upchurch, a player with an amazing sound! Phil could work in worlds that were equal parts soul and psychedelia – making his guitar a perfect accompaniment for the best Chicago soul of Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Minnie Riperton, and other greats of the time. This album's easily one of Phil's best – a mindblowing set of arrangements put together by the groundbreaking producer Charles Stepney – bringing together bits of jazz, rock, soul, and funk – all providing the perfect genre-blending space for Upchurch to solo! Given that there's no singer on the set, Phil's work on guitar is a lot freer than you're used to hearing – in a really great way, one that puts him in a space somewhere between Shuggie Otis and Jimi Hendrix! Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Adam & Charlene", "You Wouldn't You Couldn't Be True", "Crosstown Traffic", "More & More", "Black Gold", "America", and "As You Said".

An incredible album from one of the greatest talents on the Chicago soul scene of the late 60s – guitarist Phil Upchurch, a player with an amazing sound! Phil could work in worlds that were equal parts soul and psychedelia – making his guitar a perfect accompaniment for the best Chicago soul of Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Minnie Riperton, and other greats of the time. This album's easily one of Phil's best – a mindblowing set of arrangements put together by the groundbreaking producer Charles Stepney – bringing together bits of jazz, rock, soul, and funk – all providing the perfect genre-blending space for Upchurch to solo! Given that there's no singer on the set, Phil's work on guitar is a lot freer than you're used to hearing – in a really great way, one that puts him in a space somewhere between Shuggie Otis and Jimi Hendrix! Brilliant all the way through, with tracks that include "Adam & Charlene", "You Wouldn't You Couldn't Be True", "Crosstown Traffic", "More & More", "Black Gold", "America", and "As You Said".

A killer assortment of funky leftfield grooves from the late 70s and early 80s – groundbreaking work that goes way beyond conventional club, funk, and disco! The music here was light years ahead of its time, and still sounds pretty darn fresh today – a weird mix of arty, punky, and experimental modes – but all filtered down into a groove that's still catchy and compelling enough to cross over to fans of mainstream club. Many cuts here had a huge influence on house and techno modes of the mid 80s, and continue to have impact today on some of the younger, more influential groovemakers around the globe – and this single CD set is sort of a re-casting of the previous Disco Not Disco collections on Strut Records, which themselves were influential enough at the start of the current decade. CD features the tracks "Mind Your Own Business" by Delta 5, "Crunch Cake" by Isotope, "Your Life (party mix)" by Konk, "Launderette" by Vivien Goldman, "My Spine Is The Bassline (12" edit)" by Shriekback, "Contort Yourself (August Darnell rmx)" by James White & The Blacks, "Love Tempo (rmx)" by Quando Quango, "Sharevari (inst)" by A Number Of Names, "Silent Street/Silent Dub" by Maximum Joy, "Shake It Right" by Six Sed Red, and "Los Ninos Del Parque (12" mix)" by Liaisons Dangereuses.

Dancefloor cookers from the prime Northern Soul years – all instrumental numbers on this sharp compilation on Kent – 45 sides from a labels like Money, Villa, Swan, King, Epic and Warner Brothers! For all the wonderful Kent soul compilations we've gotten our dusty fingers on over the years, it's a wonder they're never been one devoted to instrumentals – until now! Rhythms roll along at a tight tempo, the tight guitars punch it up, some strings soar, and a pounding Northern beat keeps it all stomping! Those core elements are key, but others weave in an out, from hand claps on the beat, to organ grooves, bursts of brass and more. 24 tracks in all: "Double Cookin" by Checkerboard Squares, "Make Me Yours" by Arthur Wright & His Orchestra, "Festival Time" by San Remo Golden Strings", "The Sounds Of Lane" by Tracks To Your Mind, "Champion Pt 1" by Willie Mitchell, "The Guys From Uncle" by The Spy, "Stirrin Up Some Soul" by The Mar-Ketts, "Hey America (Sing Along)" by James Brown, "California Montage" by Young-Holt Unlimited and more.

They're not lying about the "impossibly rare" part of the title here – because most of the work on this set is previously unreleased – funky Bay Area gems recorded in the late 60s and early 70s, finally seeing the light of day on this collection! The music represents a much deeper current of soul than you might know from Sly & The Family Stone or some of the bigger bay area groups of the period – a really righteous batch of tracks that freak out nicely with a heady, jamming groove – one that's often heavy on the basslines and drums, but which also has a celebratory, party-hearty quality in the vocals and other instrumentation. A few artists here are familiar, but most are relatively obscure – and the biggest portion of this music has languished for years in the vaults of the Golden State Recorders studios of producer Leo Kulka. CD features 20 tracks in all – including "Super Chicken" by Ramona King, "Rock Steady" by Ruby Delicious, "Devil's Got Your Mind" by San Francisco TKOs, "Hearing Things" by Snooky & The Cosmic Flowers, "I've Gotta Groove" by Julio Zavalla, "Love Machine" by Alonzo Smith, "Poor Sad Child (parts 1 & 2)" by The Windjammers, "Are You Together For The New Day" by The Love Experience, "Can't Get Enough" by 87th Off Broadway, "House Party" by Wally Cox & The Natives, "I'm Glad I Got Over You" by Jeanette Jones, "Sweet Talk" by Marvin Holmes & The Uptights, and "Vida Blue (part 1)" by Jimmy Bee.

Rare rock from the Golden Triangle scene of Southeast TX in the late 60s and early 70s – a well-curated overview of the stylistically sprawling material being cut at Mickey Rouse's Lowland Recording Studio in Beaumont! Texas rock of the late 60s and early 70s justifiably brings to mind acts like The 13th Floor Elevators and The Bubble Puppy – tripped out psychedelia in other words, but Texas is huge, and there was a heck of a lot more going on than just the best remembered cult favorites. The music coming out of just the Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, Texas "triangle" chronicled here was incredibly diverse. It includes proto TX boogie rock that's a clear precursor to early ZZ Top, harmony flavored numbers that sound closer to Cali than they do The Lone Star State, one track that somehow fuses CS&N with The Beatles and does so with prominent cowbell in the mix (and it's good!!!), punchy psych grit, and swaggering country rock with some twang in the strings that feels a bit more profoundly Texan. You don't need our word that The Numero Group has devoted some serious attention to detail – with a large booklet of notes, photos and histories, plus the impressive Lost In The Golden Triangle "family tree" of the regional musicians involved – as if discovering these long buried regional relics wasn't impressive enough already. Beautiful! 28 tracks on the 2LP version...6 more than on the CD! "Trash One" by the Lowland Studio Band, "Live My Life Today" by Insight Out, "Simple House" by Mother Lion, "Love Of The Morning" by Circus, "Take A Look At Your Friends" by Next Exit, "You Know I Love You" by Roy Briggs & Alton Tew, "Calling Me Home (Demo)" by Donald Thomas and more, plus the LP only tracks "Lizard" by Lowland Studio Band, "Let Me Listen" by Sage, "Groundhog Day" by Boot Hill and more.

Incredible sounds from Burma – a really under-tapped musical legacy, finally brought forth by the always-great efforts of Sublime Frequencies! The sound here is unlike anything else we've ever heard – a very weird mish-mash of Southeast Asian elements, but always moving away from our expectations just when we think we've got a handle on it! There's some soulful vocals that remind us a bit of recordings from the subcontinent – but at other times, there's some very noisy, very percussive passages that remind us of the intense side of Indonesian gamelon – and at still other points, there's the weird sort of cultural crossroads that you'd get in frequently passed-through territories like Vietnam or Cambodia. But this hardly even gets at the surface of the whole thing – and as usual, you're best just putting your ears in the hands of Sublime Frequencies – as they blow your mind with cuts that include "Burmese Golden Drum" by Bo Hein, "Really Strange & Weird Things" by Sein Sah Thin, "Beautiful Town" by Mar Mar Aye, "Elephant Dragon" by Luan Moe, "Good Time" by Yi Yi Thant/Aung Heina, and "The Tune Of The Second Entertainment" by Yangon Sein Kyi Moe.

An amazing portrait of America between the wars – served up over dozens of vintage 78rpm recordings – all based around themes of daily life mentioned in the title! The collection is an incredible historical document – pulled mostly from the collection of Louisville 78 collector Don Wahle, and remastered and re-presented beautifully by the folks at Tompkins Square – who not only sort the songs into key categories, but also provide a wealth of notes and images to further illuminate the tunes! There's a number of tracks on here that have never been reissued before, mixed with others that are still plenty darn rare – and the 3LP vinyl version comes in a beautiful box that reminds us a bit of classic Folkways – the size of which allows for a bigger, nicer booklet! It features 42 tracks that include "Climbing The Golden Stairs" by Happy Four, "Oh Declare His Glory" by McDonald Quartette, "Fourth Of July At The County Fair" by Bill Chitwood, "Tennessee Coon Hunt" by Whit Gaydon, "Hide Away" by Oscar Ford, "Poor Man Rich Man" by David McCarn, "Driving Saw Logs On The Plover" by Pierre La Dieu, and "Flat Wheel Train Blues (parts 1 & 2)" by Red Gay & Jack Wellman.

Sure, it's the group's major label debut – but it's also a stunning pop album that blows away most of its generation! Instead of being swallowed in the maw of Warner Brothers, Stereolab take up the challengs of greater professionalism – and hone their skills to an impeccable edge, crafting 10 beautiful little tunes that are every bit as compelling as the promise of the album's title makes them out to be! Titles include "Tone Burst", "Golden Ball", "Pack Yr Romantic Mind", "Paus", "Jenny Ondioline", and "Analogue Rock".

One of the best debuts in the history of hip hop – and one of the most important albums the genre ever produced! Criminal Minded is landmark for a number of reasons. Among the biggest is, of course, that it was recorded with the late great DJ Scott La Rock – and he was soon to fall prey to the very street violence that BDP documented with such raw brilliance, courtesy the lyricism and delivery of KRS-One. Importance aside, though, Criminal Minded is simply a great, timeless record that no true fan of gritty classic hip hop should be without. The track list alone is a full chapter in the hip hop book of legends – with tunes like "Poetry", "Elementary", "South Bronx", "Super-Hoe", "Bridge is Over", and the "P is Free" remix. Also includes "Criminal Minded", "Dope Beat", and "9mm Goes Bang".

Smoking tenor and organ work here from the team of Ralph Bowen and Jared Gold – two players who find a wonderful space together right from the start! Bowen's tenor has just the sort of sharp tone to match the energy of Gold's Hammond – able to take off right away, yet also stop on a dime – and still manage to keep things swinging in the process – a rare blend of modernism and soul, and one that takes us back to some of the most inventive sessions like this from the 60s! The group also features Mike Moreno on guitar and Rudy Royston on drums – both players who, like Bowen and Gold, seem to have rhythm on their minds at all times. Titles include "On Green", "Hip Check", "Exosphere", "Arrows Of Light", and "Into The City".

Percussionist Kahil El'Zabar leads the Ritual Trio, and the group's one of the truest extensions of the AACM spirit to still exist in Chicago. No wonder, though, as it's got Malachi Favors of the Art Ensemble on bass, as well as multi-faceted reedman Ari Brown on saxes. El'Zabar's the real core of the group, though, and his soulful approach to percussion adds in a degree of warmth that always humanizes the work of the group, pushing it past simple virtuostic improvisation. This set from 1995 still has the group going strong – and it features many strong tracks, including "Sweet Meat", "Fatsmo", " Save Your Love For Me", "Golden Sea", "Trane In Mind", and "Ornette".

The genius of the Chicago collective scene is firmly back in action – on this stunning second CD from Nicole Mitchell! The record is incredible – light years ahead of her debut, and a rich tapestry of sounds and colors performed by a large group that features some of the best underground musicians in the city's soulful avant scene. From the first moment of the set, the music grabs you with the depth and intensity of some of the best work of the 70s Strata East era – and it stands proudly in a tradition of work that includes the collective projects of the AACM, and groups like the Sun Ra Arkestra and Artistic Heritage Ensemble. Mitchell's writing is wonderful – stretching out on a Coltrane-like journey of discovery and spiritual expression – and her playing on the set is interwoven with some beautifully vocalized passages. Titles include "Afrika Rising Trilogy", "Peaceful Village Town", "Emerging Light", "Bluerise", "Goldmind", and "Wheatgrass".

Soaring grooves from the legendary KPM Sound Library – a set of tunes that sparkles with all the charm and glamour of early 70s air travel! The title and cover really fit the spirit of the music here – as most of the tracks are upbeat and sky-flying – the sorts of numbers that go way beyond the sleepier side of easy listening, and really show the way that Easy maestros of the 70s were picking up plenty of funky elements in their music! There's no hard funk tracks here – as you might find on other sound library sets – but there's definitely an undercurrent of groove, thanks to some well-chosen rhythms, strong use of electric bass, and an overall sense of flow in most of the orchestrations – a feel that reminds us a lot of some of the excellent Brigade Mondaine compilations from a few years back. The package really offers up a different look than usual at KPM – and the tunes are as classy as anything we might have loved years ago, on the legendary Sound Library collections. Titles include "Sun Lover", "The Great Outdoors", "Husky Birdsong", and "Towards The Sun" by Keith Mansfield; "Holiday People", "Soft Memories", "Gentle Breeze", "Summer Dreams", "Summer Season", and "Friendly Faces" by James Clarke; "Paradise Found" by Dick Doerschuk, "Silk Stream" by David Gold, "Busy Spectacle" and "Fun In The Sun" by Neil Richardson, "Sunseekers" by David Lindup, and "A Tender Touch" by Steve Gray.

A pair of great Jerry Goldsmith soundtracks – back to back on a single CD! Shock Treatment is a soundtrack that's as great as you might guess from the title – penned for a psycho-thriller, and done with a slight bit of "shock" in the music – not really electricity, but these odd tones that have a cool spacey feel at the best moments – similar to some of the ways that Goldsmith could work real magic with acoustic instrumentation on some of his sci fi scores. Even the more standard passages are pretty great – tense, and a real cut above the usual of the time. CD features bonus tracks added to the soundtrack – with titles that include "Broken Glass", "Home Work", "Night Scene", "Nelson's Seduction", "Another Treatment", "Hot Money", and "Nelson's Escape". Fate Is The Hunter has a decidedly different feel – kind of cool and gentle, almost watery at times – with an undercurrent of jazz that almost reminds us of some of Johnny Mandel's best soundtracks of the time! Titles include "Forest Scene", "Night Scene", "Moon Fish", "The Room", and "Fate Is The Hunter".

A long-overdue look at one of the greatest vocal groups on the southern scene of the 60s – the amazing Ovations, a trio with a sound like nobody else! The group were noted for a strong love of the music of Sam Cooke – and they worked in the years after Sam's death in a blend of sweet and smooth harmonies that were not only a loving tribute to the Cooke genius, but which also show the way that Sam's style might have changed in the 60s. Lead vocalist Louis Williams has a warm and crackling vocal mode that's very much in the Sam Cooke mode, but the use of additional harmonies from the group really changes the overall sound quite a bit – making for a warmer, smoother style that's very much the group's own, especially when it's being pushed by some heavier Memphis soul touches. The CD features 26 tracks in all, plus great notes on the group – and titles include "I've Gotta Go", "Don't Cry", "I Miss You Baby", "You Had Your Choice", "Happiness", "I'm Living Good", "Qualifications", "It's Wonderful To Be In Love", "You & Tom", "Won't You call", "Peace Of Mind", and "I Know You Don't Want Me".

A beautiful later score from the legendary Miklos Rosza – a masterpiece that draws on all of his many years in film, yet serves things up with a more subtle approach than before! There's a sense of space here that we don't always hear in Rosza – almost a pausing between the notes, creating a sense of reflection that really expands the gentle sentiment of the tunes – while still building to a bit of drama at a few key moments. Nothing here is overdone at all – and the soundtrack is a great reminder that in the serious film score world, away from the hits, the mid 70s could be a very golden period! Titles include "Providence", "Sonia Et Le Saint Suaire", "Feuillages", "Poursuite", and "Valse Crepusculaire". CD features 15 more bonus tracks – all previously unreleased!

Funky breaks galore – mixed by a man who knows them better than anyone! Kenny Dope really came up with some choice bits for this set – and pulled together 37 different tracks that include 60s soul, 70s funk, and a few choice bits from the early years of hip hop – all sewn up into one mighty groove that never stops kicking! Great all the way through – and like having Kenny play his favorite jams for you, one after the other! Titles include "Uphill Peace Of Mind" by Kid Dynamite, "Engine #9" by Wilson Pickett, "Can I Get A Soul Clap" by Grand Wizard Theodore, "Be Black Baby" by Grady Tate, "Scorpio" by Hoctor Band, "2001" by Cecil Holmes, "Space Dust" by Galactic Force, "T Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, "Super Sporm" by Captain Sky, "Get Up" by Vernon Burch, "Catch A Groove" by Juice, "The Guardian Angel" by Golden Flamingo Orchestra, and "Sessomatto" by Sessomatto.

Incredible work from one of the greatest deep soul labels ever – the legendary Goldwax Records, a smaller company that languished in the shadows of Stax and Hi Records during their glory years! Like so many small labels in cities that were important to soul music, Goldwax seemed to have an amazing talent for picking up all the bits that Stax and Hi left behind – recording artists who were every bit as good as the bigger stars from Memphis, but who also seemed to benefit even more from the personal sound, and richer recording quality they got from the label. The most legendary figure to record for Goldwax was James Carr, and the work on this set follows very much in Carr's tradition – a deeply burning, extremely heartfelt approach to southern soul – one that even leaves some of the bigger names of the scene in the dust! The set features 24 tracks in all, including a number of unreleased tracks – and it's packaged with a great set of notes on this legendary imprint! Titles include "I Never Loved A Woman" by Spencer Wiggins, "Crying Baby Baby Baby" by Percy Milem, "Welcome Home Baby" by Barbara Perry, "Peace Of Mind" by The Ovations, "Country Style" by Dorothy Williams, "Good Times" by George & Greer, "Toddlin" by Gene Bowlegs Miller, "I Ain't Gonna Cheat On You No More" by Wee Willie Walker, "When You Look In The Mirror" by Eddie Jefferson, "The Side Wind" by The Lyrics, "Darling" by The Vel Tones, and "A Man Needs A Woman" by OB McClinton.

A cool collection of grooves from the legendary TK Records label – and one that goes way past the obvious hits that topped the charts back in the 70s! The package is less the overall story of TK, than it is a great reminder that there's some really funky nuggets lurking deep in the label's mighty catalog – killer tunes that show that the Miami club sound of the late 70s was firmly rooted in funk and deep soul of the earlier part of the decade – at a level that still stayed pretty funky, even well into the disco generation! There's some great gems here – and titles include "Lady Fingers" by Tony Middleton, "Plato's Retreat" by Joe Thomas, "Funk Reaction" by Lonnie Smith, "Harlem Nocturne" by Wildflower, "Don't Turn Away" by Midnite Flite, "Star Cruiser" by Gregg Diamond, "Funk Machine" by Funk Machine, "Hey Sexy Dancer" by Rocky Mizell, "Dance To The Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly & Life, and "Do What You Wanna Do" by T Connection.