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Maybe the deepest book we've ever read on the life and music of James Brown – and certainly one to really get past the monolithic moments, and really serve up the full details of The Godfather at work! There's a surprising amount of research that went into the project – way more than some of those star bios on Brown that were issued years back – and RJ Smith definitely digs James from the same perspective that we do, and really gets at the important forces that helped shape the sound of his music, and its exposure to the world at large! 455 pages, with some black and white images, hardcover.

One of the harder-hitting books we've ever seen on James Brown – an account of his famous Boston performance on April 5, 1968 – the night after Martin Luther King was assassinated – but one that also looks at Brown's lasting impact on race in America as well! We appreciate author James Sullivan's approach here, as it gets right past some of the over-told stories from Brown's early days – and jumps right in to the time when The Godfather was really starting to get funky, and shake things up around the country in the process. Book includes a foreword by Chuck D, some black and white photos, and is 244 pages, paperback.

Includes tracks by James P Johnson, Herman Chittison, Joe Venuti & His Orchestra, Benny Carter & His Orchestra, Billy Kyle & His Swing Band, Coleman Hawkins Quartet, Sidney Bechet Quartet, the Gotham Stompers, Muggsy Spanier & His Ragtime Band, Ella Fitzgerald & Her Orchestra, Billie Holiday, and the Three Peppers.

Lots of great material on here – albums that include Soft Lights & Bobby Hackett, In A Mellow Mood, Rendezvous, Don't Take Your Love From Me, Gotham Jazz Scene, At The Embers, Bobby Hackett Quartet, Easy Beat, Blues With A Kick, and the unusual Hawaii Swings!

A crucial set of work from the overlooked Jards Macale – one of the hippest cats in Brazilian music during the 70s, heard here on one of his best early albums! The music here is really at the crossroads – a combination of the folksy edge of the 60s work of Geraldo Vandre, mixed with some of the trippier elements of the generation that would be best represented by Lula Cortes, all set free by some of the rich waves of energy that sprung from Brazil in the wake of the Tropicalia movement! Macale's got a way of really personalizing the tunes with both his vocals and guitar work – and the overall presentation moves from intimate to expansive with effortless ease. Titles include "Sem Essa", "So Morto", "O Crime", and "Solucos". CD also features a huge amount of bonus tracks – 10 more numbers that include "Gotham City", "Let's Play That", "Poema Da Rosa", "Revendo Amigos", "Orora Analfabeta", and "Rua Real Grandeza".