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One of Jean Carn's best tracks for Philly, with the kind of perfectly sensitive backing that Philly International gave her, which mixed jazz and soul, augmented with a nice clubby groove to keep things pumping. The single's a must-have for fans of smooth 70s dancefloor tracks – sophisticated, soulful, and plenty darn great!

A near-lost chapter in the career of Jean Carn – her one and only album recorded for Motown, cut in the early 80s with production by Norman Connors! Oddly, although Connors was the first producer to give Jean Carn a chance back in the 70s as a smooth soul vocalist – finding her voice a perfect fit for his warm and jazzy arrangements – here, he's going for a style that's a bit more conventionally soul-based, with more guitars and mainstream production than you'd expect. Jean's still pretty great, though, showing why she was one of the best female soul artists of the modern soul era – on tunes that include "My Baby Loves Me", "Don't Let Me Slip Away", "Steady On My Mind", "Completeness", and "Better To Me".

Quite a different sound than Jean's Philly International recordings – although certainly a logical extension – a sweeter than sweet set from the mid 80s that in turn celebrates and transcends the production style of the era! Overall, Closer Than Close is a smooth batch of mellow modern soul, almost in a Phyllis Hyman mode, and with less of the free easy jazz touches of Jean's earlier recordings. Grover Washington produced most of the record, an he really does add a bit of jazz into the mix – but the standout element is Jean's vocals, which seem to have expanded their range along with the addition of the "e" to her last name! Titles include "Lucky Charm", "Closer than Close", "Everything Must Change", "Sexy Eyes", "It Must Be Love", and a solid remake of "Break Up To Make Up".

Smooth modern duets from one of our favorite ladies in soul music! Jean Carne's a heck of a singer – with a career that stretches back to early soul jazz recordings with (then) husband Doug Carn, to solo recordings on Philly International in the late 70s, to appearances on records by other artists – sessions from the 70s, 80s, and 90s in which Jean lent her vocals to a wealth of great recordings! This great collection focuses on work in that category – uncollected sides from a three decade period, brought together in one album that shows just how great Jean can sound when she's singing with other artists. Many of these titles are quite hard to find otherwise, and haven't even shown up on other collections of Jean's work – and tracks include "Good Thng Goin On" with Billy Paul, "Holdin On" and "Dreams Of Tomorrow" with Dexter Wansel, "Keep In Touch" and "The Look Of Love" with Grover Washington Jr, "Lean On Me" with Nathan Heathman, "If You Don't Know Me By Now" with The Temptations, "Love Is Beautiful" with Universe, "Star Flower" with Lonnie Liston Smith, "Let's Stay Together" with Bobby M, "I'm Back For More" with Al Johnson, "You Might Be Surprised" with Roy Ayers, "Mother Of The Future" with Norman Connors, and "Valentine Love" with Michael Henderson. Also features the bonus solo track "Trust Me" – never on CD before!

2 incredible soundtracks from Serge Gainsbourg – both of them from his best period of work! Cannabis is a tremendously funky set of tunes – and some real standout soundtrack material from the legendary Serge Gainsbourg! Serge is working here with some great help from Jean-Claude Vannier – the guiding force behind Melody Nelson – and Vannier brings some great grooves to the record, really going for those sexy riffs and breaks that make us love Gainsbourg's music so much! There's a bit of vocals, but the main focus is on the instrumentation – which shifts nicely from track to track, taking the themes in some very nice directions – all of them definitely up to the sexy standard of Serge. The score to Ce Sacre Grand Pere is included here as bonus work – and features tracks written by both Serge and Michel Colombier. The overall feel is more orchestral and traditionally soundtrack-styled, but there are a few really sly funky tracks that offer up Serge at his sexy best! The set's got 21 tracks in all, and titles include "Cannabis", "Jane Dans La Nuit", "Danger", "Avant De Mourir", "Cannabis-bis", "Piege", "I Want To Feel Crazy", "Le Deuxieme Homme", "Champetre Et Pop 1", "Nous Les Jericho", and "L'Herbe Tendre".

Very nice record of lost soul from LA, recorded for Hanna-Barbera, who are much better known as purveyors of cartoons, not music! We don't know much about Jean, but she's got a lovely voice, and the setup for the record – which is an intimate live setting – gives her perfect space to groove around a lot. She's backed by a tiny combo that has Pete Jolly on piano, Howard Roberts on guitar, Hal Blaine on drums, and Emil Richards on percussion. Shorty Rogers and Gene Page did the arrangements, and they did a nice job coming up with tight jazzy backings that have a bit of an uptown sound, but which sound a lot harder because of the live setting. Great stuff, and a record we almost never see! Tracks include "All I Really Want To Do", "Just My Style", "England Swings", "Watermelon Man", and "I Got You".

A fantastic album – with a really groovy approach! The record is the only one we've ever seen from arranger Jean Leccia – and it's got a two-vocal lead approach that's pretty darn great. Soul singer Pat Henderson joins up with male vocalist Ed Whiting – in a style that's part harmony, but which also has a focus on the solo leads from time to time. Leccia's arrangements are a mix of bouncy jazz and dreamy pop – sweet and slow at times, but with some majestically groovy moments at others – baroquely skipping alone in a style that reminds us of some of the best European vocal groovers of the time, mixed with a healthy dose of California sunshine pop! Titles include the killer "Lady Rain", plus "Lovelight", "Drop", "Love Is", "Carnival", "Lovely Bird", "Only A Dream", "Mother Of Us All", and "Good Morning To You".

Amazing work from French film composer Michel Magne – a set of more serious compositions, but all of which still have the great ear for odd sounds and subtle humor we love in his soundtracks! The centerpiece of the set is his "Musique Tachiste" suite from 1959 – an extended composition that features voices, instruments, and noises all coming together in a really wonderful way! Christiane Legrand handles the "voix chantee" – a wordless singing vocal – and Jaqueline Dano does the "voix expression", the more dramatic one in the set. Piano is by Paul Castanier, who figures heavily – and other instrumentation includes vibes from Geo Daly, plus some spare but effective use of odd noises that really come off well. After that selection, the CD moves onto a series of 1968 recordings in which pianist Martial Solal plays the music of Magne – set to arrangements from the legendary Jean-Claude Vannier! The sound is amazing – jazzy, but always veering outside – not just on Solal's trademark angular piano lines, but also in Vannier's complex shifting colors in the backdrops! Titles include "Air Liquide", "Rose Des Vents", "Clair Obscur", and "Organique". The CD features 2 more rare experimental works – "Echellses Mobiles" from 1970, and "Mozart En Afrique" from 1972. The whole thing's great – never too cerebral or academic, and always with a nice sense of wit.

Weird and wild work from producer/performer Jean-Pierre Massiera – the force behind Les Maledictus Sound, and an even crazier talent on his own! The tracks on this first volume are completely over the top – a psychotic, psychedelic blend of fuzzy guitars, rough percussion, spare electronics, and occasional funky touches – sometimes topped with some even weirder vocals that further trip out the sound, and push things into territory that almost makes the Cherrystones compilations sound mainstream. Massiera clearly has plenty of skills in the studio – as the production here is as imaginative as the vocals and instrumentation – and work on the set is by a variety of artists, with titles that include "Bizarre" by Les Chats, "Space Woman" by Herman's Rocket, "Space Inferno" by Venus Gang, "Engins Bizarres Et Gens Etranges" by Basile, "La Turbie Piranhienne" by Piranhas, "Psychose" by Les Monegasques, "Jingle Jungle" by Starlights, and "Dali Court" and "Plus Jamais Ca" by Jean-Pierre himself!

Strange and incredible mid 70s atmospherics from Jean-Pierre Massiera – dark atmospherics that roll from heady psych rock to cerebral funk and proggy dynamics – taken to a far deeper dimension thanks to Massiera's hypnotic use of tape samples and layered vocal errata! It's amazing how much is going on here, especially given that the feverish hypnotic effects never lag – as wild and tripped out as it gets, the hold it has on your sensory processors never lags! Billed as a Gallic concept album, it may very well be that, but we can only speak for the visceral thrills – which it has, and many to spare! Includes 3 long pieces, "Frayeur", "Angiosse", and the 16 +minute "HIA".

Libidinous, soundtracky funk from France! Streaking is a great set of funky French grooves from Jean Claude Pelletier – one that's clearly informed by and indebted to the cinematic soul and blacksploitation soundtrack style coming out of the States in the early part of the 70s – with a boisterous, bright European twist! It feels like a blend of soundrack funk and grand scale late 60s and early 70s French pop & soul. Even with the latter elements, it's fairly hard-hitting and certainly geared for the dancefloor on whatever continent! Wah wah guitars, rubbery bass grooves, heavy drums & percussion and a punchy brass section define the sound. To make even groovier, the title and almost all the tracks are cheeky nods to art of streaking! Includes "Hello Streakers", "Special Streaking", "Dangerous For Your Health", "Nudes And Marines", "To Streak With The Devil", "Streaking Land", "Topless On The Trail" and "Streak To Streak".

Libidinous, soundtracky funk from France! Streaking is a great set of funky French grooves from Jean Claude Pelletier – one that's clearly informed by and indebted to the cinematic soul and blacksploitation soundtrack style coming out of the States in the early part of the 70s – with a boisterous, bright European twist! It feels like a blend of soundrack funk and grand scale late 60s and early 70s French pop & soul. Even with the latter elements, it's fairly hard-hitting and certainly geared for the dancefloor on whatever continent! Wah wah guitars, rubbery bass grooves, heavy drums & percussion and a punchy brass section define the sound. To make even groovier, the title and almost all the tracks are cheeky nods to art of streaking! Includes "Hello Streakers", "Special Streaking", "Dangerous For Your Health", "Nudes And Marines", "To Streak With The Devil", "Streaking Land", "Topless On The Trail" and "Streak To Streak".

A rich selection of sounds from maestro Jean Claude Petit – easily one of the most important French soundtrack composers of the past few decades, and one of the few who can really turn out a classic-styled sort of orchestration! The package is overflowing with great themes and scenes set by Petit – work from films that include Jean De Florette, The Playboys, The Return Of The Musketeers, Mayrig, and many others – often films with an historical setting, which is evoked beautifully by Jean Claude's well-scored orchestrations – music that's surprisingly timeless, especially here away from the images on the screen – and which really works together wonderfully in one collection, with a unified feel that's not expected, given the 20-odd films from which the music is pulled! The CD features 24 tracks in all, with notes in English and French.

One of the few cats who could ever make us learn to love the violin in jazz – presented here in a host of classic 70s albums for Atlantic Records! By the time of these sides, Ponty had already been making some key sounds in the European and American scenes for a decade or more – yet these records really showcase a new evolution of his style – one that really picks up strongly from the growth of fusion in the 70s, and finds a perfect space for the violin next to the keyboards, reeds, and grooves! The change is somewhere in the territory of Michal Urbaniak, yet possibly not as freewheeling – showing a soulful focus that really helped these records reach heights that Ponty wouldn't have expected when working with Frank Zappa. The set features the full albums Upon The Wings Of Love, Aurora, Imaginary Voyage, Enigmatic Ocean, and Cosmic Messenger – all in tiny LP-styled sleeves!

A great little solo set from Jean Terrell – a singer who's probably best known for her work as the leader of The Supremes after Diana Ross left the group, but who sounds even better here on her own! The album's still got the strong-voiced sound that Jean brought to her Motown years – but the production is smoother and more in a Philly mode, thanks to production and arrangements from Bobby Martin – who pushes Jean into the more sophisticated style that worked perfectly for the hipper ladies of the late 70s. The songwriting on the record is really great too – with plenty of adult soul numbers by Hanks & Grey, who really push the level of the lyrics up a few notches more than usual. Titles include "I Had To Fall In Love", "Rising Cost Of Love", "Change Up", "How Can You Live Without Love", and "No Limit".

Rare and unreleased instrumentals from the great French orchestral pop composer Jean Claude Vannier – amazing stuff from his personal archive that ranges from loosely haunting passes to more grandly orchestrated bits – funky psych rock backdrops to heavy, tribal percussion numbers! Vannier is as much of a master of setting a mood as he as an expert composer-arranger, and this great set is brilliant showcase of his talent and we'd even say a fine entry point if you're just now being introduced. He's greatly reknowned for the incredible work he did with Serge Gainbourg, as well he should be – but a standout artist on his own, as you're hear here! It's got previously unreleased numbers from his Vannier's own vaults, many from a fertile period in the early 70s, plus rare sound library recordings and more! Includes "Bombard Lamentation" (centered around the reed instrument used most often in Breton music), "L'Ours Peresseux – 1969", "La Girafe Au Ballon", "Claquez Klaxons", "Theme 504", "Road To Cuba", "La Douleur De L'Orchestre", "L'Elephant Equilbriste", "Je M'Appelle Geraldine", "Saturnin Vaca Vaca" and more.

A great late album from French composer, arranger, lyricist, singer and all around creative musical force Jean Claude Vannier – with Vannier singing moody, vintage orch pop numbers in a mode that does both JCV and his old collaborator Serge Gainsbourg proudly! The set has a very lively feel to it, which is quite natural, given that the album came about following the group's rehearsals for the Histoire De Melody Nelson performance at London's Barbican in 2006. It features a brilliant group of players who worked with Vannier and Serge Gainsbourg on that uber-iconic album as well as other boundary-busting projects and soundtracks – including Cannabis, La Horse, Slogan and Vannier's own legendary leftfield classic L'Enfant Assassin Des Mouches. Vannier's voice is charismatic as can be, and the vintage pulp orchestrations are as fresh as ever. Includes "Londres-Paris-Sofia", "Les Yeux Valise", "Au Desespoir Des Singes", "Les Coquelicots", "La Vie En Live", "Une Partie De Scrabble", "Roses Rouge Sang" and "Un Petit Quelque Chose".

A totally great boogie track, with an uptempo groove that pops along in an unstoppable roller disco mode with some very soulful vocals by Jean.

The rare soundtrack for the second movie starring a very young Brigitte Bardot – with moods that range from whimsical movie symphony to sultry, percussion heavy exoticism! The 1952 vehicle for Bardot pegged her to portray the alluring daughter of a light house keeper, and it's pretty sweet how this nice little score brings visions of the beauty to mind! The best parts are the sultrier turns, ratcheting up the drums and off kilter strings for a smoky vibe that sounds a decade ahead of it's time! Titles include "Overture (Manina Theme/Parisian Interlude/Tangier Oriental)", "Swimmers Ballet", "Corsican Guitar Motif", "Music Hall Can Can", "Moorish Oriental", "Guitar Serenades", "The Escape (The Chase/Manina's Love Song)" and "Drowning Scene Music".

As you might guess, this is as much a remake of the Michael Jackson hit as it is a new version of the Blackstreet hit, or at least a couple of the remixes are.

One of the few rare albums cut by Chicago soul jazz singer Jean DuShon, an artist that Chess really tried to push in the mid 60s, but who never really seemed to make it. This one's a nice set of intimate jazz vocal tracks, sung with the Herman Foster trio, and covering a range of material from blues to bossa. Includes versions of "Early One Morning", "More", "Baia", "Night Song", and "I'm Thru With Love".

A seminal session from 70s French synth maestro Jean-Michel Jarre – his 8-part "Equinoxe" suite, a great bit of electronics that was almost France's answer to Kraftwerk at the time! Jarre's style is a bit warmer and more focused on the melody – and the range of keyboards and synthesizers used on the album create a rich tapestry of sound that almost has a soundtrack-y feel at the best moments.

France's huge contribution to the classic catalog of 70s synth records – proof that Germans weren't the only ones who could make huge-selling spacey albums! The record's strength is Jarre's slightly romantic approach to scoring, which creates some dreamy melodies that really help hold the extended suite of tracks together. Some tunes are spare, and others have a nice Kraftwerk-type beat!

A really unusual project from bassist William Parker – a great tribute to the legendary Godard film Alphaville, done with music that's a surprisingly great fit! There's almost a jazz soundtrack feel to the record at points – a bit straighter than usual for Parker, but still with plenty of edge – although other tracks sometimes get a bit more outside and improvisational, making for a really nice balance in the record. The core group features Parker on bass, Rob Brown on alto, Lewis Barnes on trumpet, and Hamid Drake on drums – which is then augmented by two cellos, violin, and viola – shading in the sound nicely. Parker really does a great job of capturing the quick shifts, bold moments, and striking qualities that make Godard's film so great – and titles include "Alphaville Main Theme", "Interrogation", "Alph 60", "Doctor Badguy", "Oceanville Evening", and "Civilization Of Light" – plus two versions of the great track "Natasha's Theme", a spiritual soulful number with vocals by Leena Conquest!

2 funky sample classics - back to back on one 45! "EVA" is one of the greatest tracks ever by Jean Jacques Perry – a mad mix of snapping beats, spacey moog, and these cool bell tones – sampled famously by Gang Starr, but even funkier straight up in this original mix! "Take Yo Praise" is a great bit of work from righteous poetess Camille Yarbrough – starts with a spare vocal bit, then bubbles with a superdope bass part that snaps along with some heavy guitar and conga beats!

A nice little record – way different than Ponty's overblown sides from the 70s, and cut at a time when he was hanging out with George Duke and Frank Zappa! The record is a live session recorded at the hip Donte's nightclub in Hollywood at the end of the 60s – but not issued until this brief release in 1981. Ponty's on his trademark violin, grooving on long tracks with backing by George Duke on piano, John Heard on bass, and Al Cecchi on drums. Titles include "Hypomode Del Sol", "People", "California", and "Eighty One".

As you might guess, this is as much a remake of the Michael Jackson hit as it is a new version of the Blackstreet hit, or at least a couple of the remixes are.

Oscar Brown's score for a hip play that he wrote (one of his many plays!) – performed by him, Sivuca, and Jean Pace. Despite the "show" quality of the material, this actually stands simply as a great Oscar Brown Jr. LP, and the production is nice and intimate, and sounds just like an ordinary studio album. Sivuca's great, and his breathy voice and playing really open up Oscar Brown with some great Brazilian touches. And as usual, the writing's great, especially on tracks like "Brown Baby", "Mother Africa's Day", "Funky World", and the great version of "Afro Blue", featuring Oscar's classic lyrics. Also features a wonderful version of Johnny Alf's "Sky & Sea" – done by Sivuca with an incredible lilting groove!

2 incredible soundtracks from Serge Gainsbourg – both of them from his best period of work! Cannabis is a tremendously funky set of tunes – and some real standout soundtrack material from the legendary Serge Gainsbourg! Serge is working here with some great help from Jean-Claude Vannier – the guiding force behind Melody Nelson – and Vannier brings some great grooves to the record, really going for those sexy riffs and breaks that make us love Gainsbourg's music so much! There's a bit of vocals, but the main focus is on the instrumentation – which shifts nicely from track to track, taking the themes in some very nice directions – all of them definitely up to the sexy standard of Serge. The score to Ce Sacre Grand Pere is included here as bonus work – and features tracks written by both Serge and Michel Colombier. The overall feel is more orchestral and traditionally soundtrack-styled, but there are a few really sly funky tracks that offer up Serge at his sexy best! The set's got 21 tracks in all, and titles include "Cannabis", "Jane Dans La Nuit", "Danger", "Avant De Mourir", "Cannabis-bis", "Piege", "I Want To Feel Crazy", "Le Deuxieme Homme", "Champetre Et Pop 1", "Nous Les Jericho", and "L'Herbe Tendre".

A tremendous collection of French film soundtracks – all penned to accompany the famous work of Jean-Pierre Melville, and all nearly as integral to the movies as the image itself! Melville is a very sound-conscious director, and the music for his films is a key force in guiding the actions of the camera – as much a narrative force as a scene-setting device, as you'll hear in the wonderful music on this set! The package features work from 10 different Melville films from the years 1959 to 1972 – and is presented with great notes in both English and France, with some key images from the movies too. Includes material from Bob Le Flambeur by Jo Boyer, Deux Hommes Dans Manhattan by Christian Chevallier, Leon Morin Pretre by Martial Solal, Le Doulos by Paul Misraki, L'Aine Des Ferchaux by Georges Delerue, Le Samourai by Francois De Roubaix, L'Armee Des Ombres by Eric Demarsan, Le Cercle Rouge by Eric Demarsan, Un Flic by Michel Colombier, and Musique Inedit Pour Le Cercle Rouge by Michel Legrand.

A madly grooving late 60s French soundtrack by Jean-Pierre Mirouze – and a masterful one at that – with sounds that range from a moody, dramatic vocal tune to some killer instrumental funk! The haunting "Together" opens the record in a great way – with a mystical mellow vibe and English language vocals by Barry Green. Subsequent instrumental tunes have a similarly evocative or sultrier vibe – while others such as "Sexopolis" have heavy Hammond, massive rhythms, and a totally freaked-out groove! Includes "Tivoli Garden", "Ulla Et Georgie", "Karin On The Ryke", "Lovers Party", "Tivoly By Night", "Scene Du Port" and "Tandoori Dance".

A madly grooving late 60s French soundtrack by Jean-Pierre Mirouze – and a masterful one at that – with sounds that range from a moody, dramatic vocal tune to some killer instrumental funk! The haunting "Together" opens the record in a great way – with a mystical mellow vibe and English language vocals by Barry Green. Subsequent instrumental tunes have a similarly evocative or sultrier vibe – while others such as "Sexopolis" have heavy Hammond, massive rhythms, and a totally freaked-out groove! Includes "Tivoli Garden", "Ulla Et Georgie", "Karin On The Ryke", "Lovers Party", "Tivoly By Night", "Scene Du Port" and "Tandoori Dance".

Think what you want about Jean-Luc Ponty – this early session is pretty darn hip! Ponty's not nearly as overblown as he is on other records – and he falls nicely into both a tradition of French modernism and hip European jazz violinists, recording here in the company of other French players like Michel Portal on flute, Eddy Louiss on organ, Daniel Humair on drums, and Guy Pedersen on bass – a very groovy lineup that's perfect for the gliding, soaring sound of Ponty's instrument! The tracks are a mixture of bop standards and tunes by French jazzers like Jef Gilson, Martial Solal, and Raymond Fol – and titles include "Une Nuit Au Violin", "Postlude In C", "Night In Tunisia", "Au Privave", and "Spanish Castles".

A sweet collection of music from the early films of Jean Luc Godard – mostly tracks that initially appeared on 45rpm EP releases in France – but brought together here in an overstuffed double LP set! The package features a fair bit of jazzy tracks from Godard's key films of the nouvelle vague, plus a few vocal moments from Chantal Goya too – and the set features music from A Bout De Souffle by Martial Solal, Une Femme Est Une Femme by Michel Legrand, Le Meprise by Georges Delerue, Alphaville by Paul Misraki, Pierre Le Fou by Antoine Duhamel, Masculin Feminin by Chantal Goya, Sauve Qui Peut by Gabriel Yared, Weekend by Antoine Duhamel, and Vivre Sa Vie by Michel Legrand. Comes with an insert too!

A surprisingly great recent set from these three older ladies of soul – recorded live in Chicago, and with as much class and care as some of their work from many years back! The format has each of the three singers getting her own space on the stage – singing in front of a well-rehearsed band as they work through some of their best older hits – often with some spoken parts on the intros that are as charming as the tunes themselves! Jean Carn sings "What You Won't Do For Love", "Love Don't Love Nobody", "Don't Let It Go To Your Head", "Closer Than Close", and "Ain't No Way"; Shirley Jones (of Jones Girls fame) sings "Who Can I Run To", "This Feeling's Killing Me", "Do You Get Enough Love", "You're Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else", and "Nights Over Egypt"; and Cherrelle sings "You Look Good", "Saturday Love", and "Everything I Missed At Home".

Two sweet Braziliany groovers back to back! "Pas Tant De D'Chici Ponpon" is a great number by singer Jean Constantin – lightly jazz with plenty of bossa touches, some nice piano in the mix, and great vocals by Jean with warm and raspy touches! "Obelix Samba" is more lively and more 70s oriented – electric keys over strings with a percussive finish – almost the soundtrack for an aerial view of the Rio beaches, circa 1976, with all the sunniness to match!

Mail music to someone you love – thanks to this totally cool postcard format – with space for a message on the back, and an actual record on the front! The card spins at 33rpm, and features the song promised in the title – supported by a cool little graphic too. And while we can't say how well the whole thing might play, once it gets in the hands of the US Post Office – we can say that it's a pretty cool relic, and at the very least might offer up some unusual Christian Marclay take on the tune!

Wild sounds abound – in this extended session of free improvisation between the quartet of Carlos Alves Zingaro on violin, Jean Luc Cappozzo on trumpet and bugle, Jerome Bourdellon on flutes and bass clarinet, and Nicolas Lelievre on percussion! The music opens up in a very free, organic style – a space somewhere between the bolder elements of 70s European free jazz, and some of the richer sounds of the loft jazz scene in the US – a nice juxtaposition that has almost all the instruments involved expressing some very unique sounds – tones you'd hardly expect from their usual use on record!

A rich array of sounds from French pianist Jean Rotman – a player who seems to bring way more here to a trio date than you might expect! The album starts with a very boppish tribute to Charlie Parker, but then moves to a sensitive piano duet, then swings into a sweet funky number with a bass-heavy break at the start – and that's all just on side one! By the end of the record, there's plenty of great surprises to discover – all handled by Rotman's deep, warm tone – which is often echoed nicely by bassist Patrice Soler – and given subtle inspiration by drummer Laurent Rosemain – all in a way that's a great illustration of the creative complexity you'll find in the oft-overlooked French scene of this period. Titles include "Charlie Parker Par Coeur", "Seattle M'Etait Conte", "A Tune For Mat", "Degriffe", "Bossa Lissee", and "Bring Back Your Strawberry".

A great late album from French composer, arranger, lyricist, singer and all around creative musical force Jean Claude Vannier – with Vannier singing moody, vintage orch pop numbers in a mode that does both JCV and his old collaborator Serge Gainsbourg proudly! The set has a very lively feel to it, which is quite natural, given that the album came about following the group's rehearsals for the Histoire De Melody Nelson performance at London's Barbican in 2006. It features a brilliant group of players who worked with Vannier and Serge Gainsbourg on that uber-iconic album as well as other boundary-busting projects and soundtracks – including Cannabis, La Horse, Slogan and Vannier's own legendary leftfield classic L'Enfant Assassin Des Mouches. Vannier's voice is charismatic as can be, and the vintage pulp orchestrations are as fresh as ever. Includes "Londres-Paris-Sofia", "Les Yeux Valise", "Au Desespoir Des Singes", "Les Coquelicots", "La Vie En Live", "Une Partie De Scrabble", "Roses Rouge Sang", "Un Petit Quelque Chose" and more.

A classic underground funk set from the 70s – and a record that definitely lives up to the party time promised in the title! The group have a really festive approach to funk – still as hard-hitting and sharp-edged as other indie contemporaries – but willing to open up and push things with a live sort of energy too – a vibe that's a bit like a funkier take on Jr Walker & The All-Stars – especially given the strong use of tenor on the tunes! The set's got two very long jamming numbers – "Party Bump (parts 1 & 2)" and "One More Time (parts 1 & 2)" – and other titles are all pretty nice too – including "You're Gonna Need", "Now Generation", and "Party Strut". Produced by George Kerr, arranged by Bert Keyes, and even the version of "Amazing Grace" comes out pretty nice too!

CTI Masters, and then some – a collection that features one full album from Patti Austin, plus lots of bonus tracks too! The first 10 tracks on the album comprise the classic End Of The Rainbow debut for CTI – wonderfully warm soul from the great Patti Austin – a key artist in the late 70s, and one who really helped push the music forward with a new sense of sophistication! Patti's got a strongly jazzy vibe here – and works with David Matthews arrangements that are really well put-together – less funky than some of Dave's other work of the period, and filled with these mellow moments that really let Austin's energy flow! The overall feel is a bit like some of Jean Carn's work on Philly International – hip, sophisticated, and filled with plenty of jazz touches – although with an even stronger approach to ballads – and titles include the classic "This Side Of Heaven", plus "More Today Than Yesterday", "Say You Love Me", "In My Life", "Give It Time", and "What's At The End Of A Rainbow". CD then goes onto include 8 more tracks from other CTI albums from Patti – equally great numbers that include "Havana Candy", "I Just Want To Know", "We're In Love", "I Need Somebody", "Lost In The Stars", "Body Language", "Another Nail For My Heart", and "I Want You Tonight".

Roy Ayers in a tight mid 80s funk mode – commanding a modern vibe really well, especially with his vibes so prominent in the sound! Although the sound's a step or two more modern than the Polydor years, Roy still sounds great – and he grooves nicely on this batch of tracks that mix his older jazz funk style with an 80s groove sound that has slight touches of electro. This mix of modes is really unique for the time, with Roy embracing the new school without completely letting go of his trailblazing personal approach. Jean Carn sings lead vocals on the cut "Can I See You", and the album also includes the nice stepper "Programmed For Love", plus "Virgo", "Night Flyte", and "For You", a smooth mellow cut that's got great vocals by Roy! This 2012 FTG edition features the rare single versions as bonus tracks – 6 in all, including "Programmed For Love (12" Extended Version)", "Hot (12" Version)", "Hot (Dub Mix)", "Slip N' Slide (7" Version) and more.

A split set of soundtracks – both penned for films directed by Jean-Louis Bertuccelli! Richard Rodney Bennett really charms us with his score for L'Imprecateur – easily one of his most carefully creative film pieces of the 70s – and really nicely balanced between space and sound, in ways that have the subtle drama of the film welling up beautifully as the music unfolds! The instrumentals from the film are presented in two smaller "suites" – with tracks that include "New York", "Le Bus", "Ecoute", "La Vueve", "Le Cafe", "Retour A La Lumiere", and "L'Accident". Next is Gabriel Yared's music for Interdit Aus Moins De 13 Ans – written five years after Bennett's score, but done with a similarly evocative feel! Instrumentation has a bit of an 80s quality at times – but not in a cheesy way – more in the sonically sensitive qualities that you might find in a Wim Wenders score of the decade. Titles include "L'Autre Rive", "Louis Et Lucie", "La Nuit De Noel", and "Scene D'Amour".

The sun shines brightly on Mario Biondi – really making this record sparkle with a charm that goes way beyond Mario's previous albums – a quality that's less retro than before, and which shows Biondi as a growing soul star with really universal appeal! There's still some of the old school jazz in the mix that we love from Mario's Schema work – but the album's also got a fuller production style at times, one that really expands the palette of Biondi's colors, and which has him working here with help from key guests who include Omar, Leon Ware, Al Jarreau, Incognito, and Chaka Khan – and even a bit of organ from the James Taylor Quartet! Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick helped co-write a good number of tracks on the set – and titles include "Shine On", "Come To Me", "Woman Woman", "What Have You Done To Me", "Never Stop", "La Voglia La Pazzia L'Idea", "Girl Blue", "Light To The World", and "Catch The Sunrise".

Pure genius from the hipper side of the LA scene – 2 rare early sessions from trombonist Lou Blackburn, both cut in collaboration with a young Horace Tapscott! The style here is quite hard to peg – a unique blend of soul jazz and modernism – handled with a key focus on unusual rhythms and timings. Blackburn's work on trombone is nicely matched with trumpet by Freddie Hill in the frontline – and the pair work together perfectly in a recasting of some of the modes explored by both instruments in the more mainstream side of the LA scene of the 50s. Tapscott's piano is not nearly as unbridled as in later years, but his presence here is clearly felt on the record – as there's a similar collaborative feel here to some of his later, larger, more spiritual groups. The albums are filled with great original tunes – and titles include "Harlem Bossa Nova", "New Frontier", "The Clan", "Scorpio", "Two Note Samba", "Grand Prix", "Jean Bleu", "Blues For Eurydice", and "Jazzanova". 19 tracks in all – and incredible throughout!

Proof that the genius of Art Blakey never falters! This obscure gem was recorded in the mid 80s – but rarely saw proper issue until the time of this CD – and it features Blakey leading a hip group of young lions with all the care and confidence of some of his best Jazz Messenger sides from earlier years. The style on the album's about halfway between Blakey's Blue Note and Prestige styles – with the hard-blown solos of the former, and the longer freer song structure of the latter – and players include Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano. Tracks are all long – and titles include "Fuller Love", "Dr Jeckyle", "81", and "One By One".

Angela Bofill's sublime first album – a mixture of jazzy soul and soulful jazz, all put together with a sound that's really a cut above most of her contemporaries! As with Jean Carn or Phyllis Hyman, there's a sophistication to Angela's sound here that indicates roots in much hipper territory that were still pulling strongly on her work for this mainstream set – a sound that runs deeper than you might expect for such a commercially successful record, and which has really kept it alive for years. Part of the strength of the set is the jazzy backings given the music – arranged by Dave Grusin, and carried off by himself on keyboards, with other players who include Eric Gale on guitar, Dave Valentin on reeds, Steve Gadd on drums, and Ralph MacDonald on percussion. There's a warmly glowing feel to the record that's neither slick or commercial – and titles include "Children Of The World United", "Summer Days", "Rough Times", "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", and "The Only Thing I Would Wish For". Includes a bonus track – the Arista single mix of "This Time I'll Be Sweeter".

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty".

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty".

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. Titles include the classic "Higher Ground" – plus "Adam's Apple", "Western Sunrise", "Chant", "Sanctuary", "The Messenger", and "Mighty Mighty".

An undisputed 70s soul jazz classic – and arguably the best album that Doug Carn ever cut for the Black Jazz label! The set is a masterpiece of spiritual jazz – with Carn on keyboards setting up the groove, and wife Jean singing some incredible vocals – very different than her later soul work as a solo act, and with a vibe that's like Dee Dee Bridgewater at her soulful 70s best. Jean does a killer job with the album's classic vocal version of Bobby Hutcherson's "Little B's Poem" – done here with sweet lyrics that really open the song up a lot, and make it into an anthem of love and joy that we'd be hard pressed to match with any other tune! And all other tracks are great too – with titles that include "Moon Child", "Passion Dance", and a great version of Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes".

An undisputed 70s soul jazz classic – and arguably the best album that Doug Carn ever cut for the Black Jazz label! The set is a masterpiece of spiritual jazz – with Carn on keyboards setting up the groove, and wife Jean singing some incredible vocals – very different than her later soul work as a solo act, and with a vibe that's like Dee Dee Bridgewater at her soulful 70s best. Jean does a killer job with the album's classic vocal version of Bobby Hutcherson's "Little B's Poem" – done here with sweet lyrics that really open the song up a lot, and make it into an anthem of love and joy that we'd be hard pressed to match with any other tune! And all other tracks are great too – with titles that include "Moon Child", "Passion Dance", and a great version of Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes".

The Black Jazz recordings of Doug Carn are always a revelation – some of the most powerful, progressive work on the American underground of the early 70s – music that got Carn into way more record collections than you might expect! The sound here is a perfect summation of Doug's early genius – his own work on organ and keyboards, never overdone and mixed perfectly with a righteous array of acoustic sounds from Rene McLean on alto and tenor and Olu Dara on trumpet – both players who soar to the skies on waves of energy begun by Carn! Wife Jean Carn sings on a number of tracks – with this heavenly style that's mighty righteous – every bit as soulful as her later work at Philly International, but in a very different way. The set includes Doug's great reading of "Naima" – plus other wonderful cuts that include "Power & Glory", "Feel Free", "Jihad", "Fatherhood", and "God is One".

The Black Jazz recordings of Doug Carn are always a revelation – some of the most powerful, progressive work on the American underground of the early 70s – music that got Carn into way more record collections than you might expect! The sound here is a perfect summation of Doug's early genius – his own work on organ and keyboards, never overdone and mixed perfectly with a righteous array of acoustic sounds from Rene McLean on alto and tenor and Olu Dara on trumpet – both players who soar to the skies on waves of energy begun by Carn! Wife Jean Carn sings on a number of tracks – with this heavenly style that's mighty righteous – every bit as soulful as her later work at Philly International, but in a very different way. The set includes Doug's great reading of "Naima" – plus other wonderful cuts that include "Power & Glory", "Feel Free", "Jihad", "Fatherhood", and "God is One".

A much-needed 4CD box set devoted to the diverse, but always dancefloor-ready sounds of Chic – both Chic the legendary band and the Chic Organization production and songwriting work of Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers! The set has plenty of prime material from Chic proper – including 12" mixes and otherwise longer grooving gems – and lots of classic and rare Chic Organization productions by a diverse cast of superstars. Includes funky dancefloor groovers by Chic, Sister Sledge and Norma Jean, plus rare mixes and previously unreleased gems by Sheila & B Devotion, Teddy Pendergrass, Diana Ross and more. It's even got rarities by pop and rock singers looking for some dancefloor magic – including Carly Simon, Debbie Harry and Johnny Mathis! The box set was put together in conjunction with Nile Rodgers himself – so you know it's top notch. Includes a few great Dimitri From Paris remixes, too! 46 tracks on 4CDs: "Everybody Dance (12" Mix)", "Le Freak", "Savior Faire", "My Feet Keep Dancing", "Stage Fright", "You Are Beautiful" and more by Chic, "Saturday (Dimitri From Paris Remix)" by Norma Jean, "He's The Greatest Dancer", "Thinking Of You (Dimitri From Paris Remix)" and more by Sister Sledge, "Upside Down (Original Chic Mix)" and more by Diana Ross, "Dream Girl (Previously Unreleased Nile Rodgers Mix)" by Teddy Pendergrass, "I Want To Fall In Love (Previously Unreleased)" and more by Johnny Mathis "Why (12" Mix)" by Carly Simon, "Backfired (12" Version)" by Debbie Harry and much more.

One of Buck Clayton's famous Vogue Records recordings from the Parisian scene of the postwar years – simple, focused work that offers a great illustration of his unique talents on the trumpet! The group's a French combo – with Jean-Claude Pelletier on piano and organ, Jean Bonal on guitar, Roland Lobligeois on bass, and Kansas Fields on drums – and all players really lay back and let Clayton take the lead on most of the record – which allows Buck to sparkle on tracks that include "Premier Bal", "Tenderly", "Lonesome", "Rosetta", "Louise", "Stompin At The Savoy", "I'm In The Mood For Love", and "Black & Blue".

The mellower of Lyn Collins' two albums for the People label – but still pretty darn fantastic! At some level, it seems like Lyn's taking on the rest of the soul industry – showing them that she can kick some major booty on her interpretations of hits like "Backstabbers", "If You Don't Know Me By Now", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "Mr Big Stuff", which is one of her best funky tracks ever, and better than Jean Knight's original! She also shines extremely well on the original cuts, though – especially the funky classic "Rock Me Again & Again & Again", plus the often-overlooked mellow soul groovers "To Each His Own", "Put It On The Line", and "How Long Can I Keep It Up". Production by James Brown, of course!

One of Norman Connors' first true soul albums – a real shift from his earlier work in the spiritual jazz mode, and a sublime blend of styles! The record still shows plenty of traces of Norman's earlier roots – as he blends together jazzy influences with smoother mid 70s production – getting help from some great vocal talents to flush out his sound, kind of in the same way that Roy Ayers was doing at the time. Features the big hit "Valentine Love" with vocals by Jean Carn and Michael Henderson, plus some great fusiony funk cuts like "Saturday Night Special" and "Kwasi", and a good version of "Maiden Voyage"!

An excellent album of smooth soul tracks – one that reaches back to some of Norman's earlier records for inspiration, and which takes the sound up a few notches to expand the groove. Norman gets help on the arranging tip from Al Johnson, McKinley Jackson, and Paul Riser – which is why the album has such a great 70s smooth soul feel – and there's loads of guest appearances, like vocals by Johnson, Jean Carn, and The Jones Girls, and instrumental solos from Freddie Hubbard and Gary Bartz. Adaritha sings lead vocals on a number of cuts, and Glenn Johnson takes the lead on "Melancholy Fire". Includes a great version of "Black Cow", plus "Take It To The Limit", "Justify", "You've Been On My Mind", and an excellent remake of "I Don't Need Nobody Else", with Al Johnson on vocals!

A pair of groovers by Norman Connors from the start of the 80s – Take It To The Limit and Mr C – together in a single set! Take It To The Limit is excellent album of smooth soul – one that reaches back to some of Norman's earlier records for inspiration, and which takes the sound up a few notches to expand the groove. Norman gets help on the arranging tip from Al Johnson, McKinley Jackson, and Paul Riser – which is why the album has such a great 70s smooth soul feel – and there's loads of guest appearances, like vocals by Johnson, Jean Carn, and instrumental solos from Freddie Hubbard and Gary Bartz. Adaritha sings lead vocals on a number of cuts, and Glenn Johnson takes the lead on "Melancholy Fire". Includes a great version of "Black Cow", plus "Take It To The Limit", "Justify", "You've Been On My Mind", and an excellent remake of "I Don't Need Nobody Else", with Al Johnson on vocals! Mr C is a real sleeper from Norman Connors, but a great record – one that shows him still moving strong in the 80s, always continuing to develop his smooth jazzy soul style! Backing is by the Starship Orchestra, with Marion Meadows on most sax solos – and vocals are by Beau Williams, Jean Carn, and Glenn Jones. There's a number of great uptempo tunes – with a tight hard jazz funk backing, and kind of a sweet early 80s club style in the vocals. Titles include "Love's In Your Corner", "She's Gone", "Stay With Me", "Keep Doin It", "Anyway You Want", and "Sing A Love Song".

A fantastic bit of modern soul from Norman Connors – proof that he was still growing and changing as an artist, continuing to push his groove into whole new areas as the 70s progressed. The record takes the smooth jazzy sound of the earlier Buddah sides, sharpens it into a more sophisticated modern soul style, fused with a bit of a quiet storm vocal approach, to create a wonderfully mature album of silky soul tracks. Part of the strength comes from the vocalists – who include Eleanor Mills and Jean Carn – and Norman also does a bit of singing on the record, and comes across surprisingly well. Tracks include "Stella", "This Is Your Life", "Wouldn't You Like To See", "Butterfly", "Captain Connors", and a wonderful jazzy soul reworking of "The Creator Has A Master Plan".

A fantastic bit of modern soul from Norman Connors – proof that he was still growing and changing as an artist, continuing to push his groove into whole new areas as the 70s progressed. The record takes the smooth jazzy sound of the earlier Buddah sides, sharpens it into a more sophisticated modern soul style, fused with a bit of a quiet storm vocal approach, to create a wonderfully mature album of silky soul tracks. Part of the strength comes from the vocalists – who include Eleanor Mills and Jean Carn – and Norman also does a bit of singing on the record, and comes across surprisingly well. Tracks include "Stella", "This Is Your Life", "Wouldn't You Like To See", "Butterfly", "Captain Connors", and a wonderful jazzy soul reworking of "The Creator Has A Master Plan".

An excellent bit of spiritual soul jazz on Horace Tapscott's Nimbus label – featuring a group led by pianist Kaeef Rauzadun that includes Henry Franklin on bass, George Bohannon on trombone, Wilbert Hemsley on tenor, and Gary Bias on alto and soprano sax. The album's also got some beautiful vocals from BJ Crowley – who co-leads the group, and sings out with a proud righteousness that recalls some of Dee Dee Bridgewater or Jean Carn's early early soul jazz recordings. The tracks are all long and spiralling numbers – never really "out", but in a free searching mode that's a perfect platform for the piano work of Ruzadun. Titles include "One Step Out", "Flashback Of Time", "All Praises Due", and "Stars In Lightyear Time".

Sweet beats from Damu – and a cut that's heavy on a moogy sample from Jean-Jacques Perry – one you'll recognize from a famous track, but used much differently here – in a really moody way!

Sweet beats from Damu – and a cut that's heavy on a moogy sample from Jean-Jacques Perry – one you'll recognize from a famous track, but used much differently here – in a really moody way!

Mindblowing work from French film composer Francois De Roubaix – an artist who's perhaps gotten more credit in recent years for his electronic sounds, but who's featured here in a fantastic batch of vocal numbers too! Many of these tracks have that great messed-up funky style of the era of Gainsbourg, Jean-Claude Vannier, and Michel Colombier – bouncing bass, psyche-inspired instrumentation, and lots of weird production that trips things out in these subtle, wild ways. Vocals are sung by a host of different artists, and the styles vary up nicely too – but the whole thing's really unified with that sense of madness we've always loved in the instrumental work of De Roubaix! Titles include "Les Poupons" by Olivier & Louis De Funes, "Le Rapace" by Los Incas, "Loin" by Joanna Shimkus, "Just Be Cool" by Fire Exit, "Mon Ami Thia" by Serge Reggiani, "Chacun Son Homme" by Brigitte Bardot & Annie Giradot, "Pour Qui Pourqui" by Nicoletta, "My Sky Is Blue" by Alice Herald, "Un Peu Beaucoup Passionnement" by Vaea Sylvain, "La Ballade Du Heros" by Farid, and "Avec Des Cubes" by Chapi Et Chapo. 24 tracks in all – and some very copious notes!

A pair of action soundtracks from Georges Delerue – both mighty darn nice! Cent Mille Dollars Au Soleil is from a cool early 60s thriller with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Lino Ventura – done by Delerue with music as bold as the action in the story, but balanced out nicely with some leaner, more evocative passages that hint at the direction Georges would take in years to come. The main theme recurs often, creating a nice sense of elliptical energy in the music – and tracks include "Quartier Arabe", "Mitch Mitch", "L'Enlisement", "Une Nuit Marocaine", and "L'Appel Du Desert". Next is a film from 20 years later – Les Morfalous – but also starring Belmondo, and scored by Delerue with surprisingly subtle touches – far less of the schlocky electronic music that was often used in other 80s thrillers. A few tunes are a somewhat bold, but mostly the style is spare and tense – orchestrations held back to a minimum, and some nice accordion lines that step out gingerly to feel the space of the music. Titles include "Objectif GMC", "C'Est L'Aventure", "Helene", "Piege Au Cimetiere", and "Les Morfalous".

Two great soundtracks by Georges Delerue – both penned for Jean-Paul Belmondo films of the mid 60s! Les Tribulations D'Un Chinois En Chine has a really great style that mixes fake "Chinese" themes with more playful orchestrations – all in a mood that really fits that lightly comedic action of the movie, and which has an extremely evocative feel, even away from the screen! Strings are often arranged in playful ways, and mixed with odd woodwinds – not really authentically Chinese, but that's the appeal! L'Homme De Rio has a stronger Brazilian feel, as you might expect – one that's got bits of batucada, elements of bossa orchestrations, and some of the bolder, more dramatic moments we've come to expect from Delerue! The whole package is great, with lots of images from the films, and notes in both English and French – and a total of 24 tracks that include "Bowling Bresilien", "Batucada/Rapt Au Trocadero", "A La Poursuite De Catalan", "Quelle Adventure", "Mister Goh", "Hong Kong", "Poursuite En Ballon", "Suzy Et Cornelius", and "Choinoiseries" – plus 2 bonus tracks, "Alexandrine Pour Alexandra" and "Amazone".

A great collection of soundtrack work by Georges Delerue – featuring 6 tracks from Jean-Luc Godard's famous film Le Mepris (aka Contempt), plus tracks from the films Compte A Rebours, Heureux Qui Comme Ulysse, Cartouche, L'Insoumis, La Peau Douce, and L'Aine Des Ferchaux. Most of the work is in a strongly orchestral style – and even though the tracks are from diverse films, they're unified by a dark approach to the themes. Titles include "Lamento", "Capri", "Paul", "Camille", "Adultere", "Thomas Et Dominique", "Cartouche", "Final", and "Ulysse". 28 tracks in all – with notes in English and French!

A relatively contemporary score from the great Eric Demarsan – who we love for his work in the 60s – yet a soundtrack that's also handled with the same sense of space and somberness he brought to his music for the films of Jean-Pierre Melville! Most numbers here have a slow-growing sort of energy – keyboards mixed with larger orchestrations, but often used in a relatively subtle way – and marked by some key tenor sax solos by Archie Shepp on some of the album's best tracks – used in ways that break out with a bit more free emotion than the rest of the score. Titles include "Piano Droit", "Pigalle By Night", "Alice Et Nadir", "Les Visions Troubles", "Les Belles Histoires", "Un Frere", and "Frissons Rouges".

12 remixes: "No,No, No Part 2 (Wyclef Jean extended version)", "Emotion (Neptunes rmx)", "Bootylicious (Rockwilder rmx)", "Say My Name (Timbaland rmx)", "Bug A Boo (refugee Camp rmx)", "Dot (E-Poppi mix)", "Survivor (rmx feat. Da Brat)", "Independent Women Pt II", "Nasty Girl (Azza's nu soul mix)", "Jumpin Jumpin (rmx ext)", "Bills, Bills, Bills (Maurice's xclusive livegig mix)" and "So Good (Maurice's soul mix)".

Beautiful reeds throughout – a sensitive yet striking mix of flutes and clarinet – the former played by Michel Edelin, the latter by Jacques Di Donato, who also handles a bit of soprano sax as well! The instruments often fold over each other nicely as the tunes begin – fluttering in waves of sound that are pushed forward by the rhythmic intensity of Jean Jacques Avenel on bass and Simon Goubert on drums – but also able to find some quieter, more contemplative space at times too. The album's one of the most lyrical we've ever heard on the Rogue Art label, yet still has that highly creative and independent spirit that we like on the company's other discs too. Titles include "Tristezza Della Diva", "Black Snow", "Witches", "Jet Lag", "Tales Of Seven Lizards", "Bailes De Tango", and "Simon's Bubbles".