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Amazing stuff! This is a totally cool bit of early electronics from the late 60s – and the music is dark and spooky, with lots of weird wild harsh electronics (if you know Dissevelt's other albums, you'll know what we mean!) The whole thing sounds sort of like a mad robot playing a crazy space organ on a merry go round while dropping acid – and that description only gets at half the record! It's a great one if you like spooky 60s electronics, and titles include "Moon Maid", "Sonik Re-Entry", "Twilight Ozone", "Orbit Aurora", and "The Ray Makers". Very cool! Omni Records always fleshes out their releases with loads great bonus material – and they once again go to great lengths on this one! It features the rare stereo version of the album with outtakes, alternates, mono versions more previously unreleased raritites. 20 tracks in all!

Ed OG's nice debut, with a slightly jazzy touch on the production and literate, intelligent lyrics. We really couldn't get with "Bug A Boo", but besides that, this first LP's solid from start to finish, from the days when that wasn't so uncommon. Drop the needle on this and head back in time to a day when backpacker wasn't necessarily a derogatory term, a beat wasn't a straight loop of a common sample, and rhyme skills included being able to follow the beat, which was typically at least a little bit funky. With the now classic "Be A Father To Your Child", plus standout tracks like "I'm Different", "Speak Upon It", "I Got To Have It" and "Life Of A Kid In The Ghetto". 12 tracks in all, also includes "Gotta Have Money", "Feel Like A Nut", "She Said It Was Great", "Dedicated To The Right Wingers", 'Let ME Tickle Your Fancy" and "Stop (Think For A Moment)".

A vocal gem on a small Chicago label – Rocco plays Hammond and sings with his trio!

Ha! This one really takes us back! The set was a massive breakthrough for August Darnell – one of his biggest hits since his day with Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, with an equally appealing approach to the dancefloor. Tracks mix early 80s New York club styles with Darnell's mad retro/exotic take on the world – coming out with a sound that's slightly hokey, but equally catchy! Includes the hits "Annie (I'm Not Your Daddy)", "I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby", and "Stool Pigeon" – plus the cuts "Imitation", "I'm Corrupt", "No Fish Today", and "Loving You Made A Fool Out Of Me".

Includes the tracks "Panama", "Under The Bamboo Tree", "Do What Ory Say", and "Careless Love".

A wild batch of soul novelty tracks – recorded by the HDM label in the late 70s, and issued here for the first time as a full album! The work grew out of a side project for the group Black Ice, and features a fair bit of vocal and songwriting help from labelmate Eddie Horan – who sings lead on some tracks here, alongside Ray Jackson, Hadley Murrell, and others! The standout cut is the classic "Larry Move Your Hand" – based on Flip Wilson's character Geraldine – and a few other numbers follow that vibe, while others take on more of an 80s boogie sort of approach – still with a good sense of wit in the lyrics. Titles include both vocal and instrumental versions of "Larry Move Your Hand" – plus "You Got The Makings Of A Real Freak", "Everybody Get Ugly", "Take It Home & Squeeze It", and "Music Freak".

One of the best 70s albums by this funky organ player – quite different than his work for Blue Note, with a messier funkier edge that's very nice! Reuben Wilson's working with an all-hip lineup, with players who include Melvin Sparks on guitar, Garnett Brown on trombone, Bob Cranshaw on bass, Mickey Roker on drums, and Ray Amando on conga. The groove has a nicely choppy approach to rhythm, which you'll hear on the nice remake of "Cisco Kid", a big sample hit over the years – plus the sweet originals "Groove Grease" and "Snaps", both of which are hard and funky! The album's also got a great cover of "Superfly" – and other tracks that include "The Look Of Love", "We've Only Just Begun", and "Last Tango In Paris".

Some great funky organ work from Reuben Wilson! "Cisco Kid" is Reuben's funky cover of the War track – done with that tightly rolling sound of the original, and made even better as an instrumental! "Groove Grease" is a tasty number too – lots of nice tight organ funk licks!

Jackson 5, move over – because the folks at Numero Records have uncovered a whole host of rare kid soul acts from the 70s – most of them a fair bit funkier than their Motown contemporaries! The tracks here all clearly follow the lead started by Michael and his brothers at the end of the 60s – but the music is way more than just a simple copycat of Jackson modes – as each of these artists have a really individual approach, and a heck of a lot of personality in their music – despite their youthful years. In true Numero fashion, most of the cuts here are from tiny little labels – issued only as singles back in the day, but produced with a great deal of enthusiasm for the music – and a confident, competent sound that's quite striking, given the age of the performers. The package comes with complete notes on the music – opening up a whole world of lesser-known kid soul acts – and titles include the amazing "Trust Your Child" by Patrizia & Jimmy, plus "I'm Not Ready For Love" by Promise, "One Is Enough For One" by Jack & the Mods, "Now That School Is Through" by Cindy & The Playmates, "Jersey Slide (part 1)" by 3 Stars, "You Are My Dream" by 3 Simmons, "Can't Let You Break My Heart" by Quantrells, "If You're Looking For Love" by Triads, "Yellow Ribbons" by Atons, "Sweet Pea" by Altyrone Deno Brown, "Time After Time" by Step By Step, "Time" by Otis The 3rd, and "Little Girl" by Michael Washington. LP also contains a bonus track – part 2 of "Trust Your Child" by Patrizia & Jimmy!

Street and clean versions of four tracks from Guru's independent label, Ill Kid – including "Total Wreck" by Bahamadiah, "Tres Pound God" by Operation Radification, "Beware" by Stikken Moov, and "Put You On Lockdown" by HL Rock (The Sly Fox), all with production by Guru.

This one's got a bluesy jazz approach – set by Ray Charles' version of the title theme, and followed through by Lalo's great instrumental tracks – which mix strings, soul, and just the right jazzy touches to keep things moving along with a subtle groove. Ttiles include "The Chase", "Dialogue In The Rain", "Melba", "The Game", "The Cinncinnati Kid", "The Cock Fight", and "Shooter".

The madness of Kid's a bit suppressed in this single, but in its place is some very soulful grooving – which makes it no surprise that "I'm A Wonderful Thing" became one of the group's bigger dancefloor tracks of the early 80s. "Table Manners" is a silly one, but it's nicely remixed here, with a cool jangly guitar that sounds great!

One of the most hard-wailing albums that Harold Mabern ever cut – a bit of a shift from some of his more lyrical modes, and a soul jazz smoker that's almost in a Prestige jazz funk mode! The combo here is great, and a bit of a shift for Harold – with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Hubert Laws on tenor and flute, Buster Williams on bass, and the mighty Idris Muhammad on drums – playing in a way that's slightly more open than his hard-bumping grooves on other Prestige albums of the time. The whole thing's got a gritty energy that definitely lives up to the title – and which makes the album one of the best that Mabern ever cut as a leader. Boogaloo Joe Jones plays guitar on one track – a great version of "I Want You Back" – and other titles include "Alex The Great", "John Neely-Beautiful People", and "XKE".

One of the most hard-wailing albums that Harold Mabern ever cut – a bit of a shift from some of his more lyrical modes, and a soul jazz smoker that's almost in a Prestige jazz funk mode! The combo here is great, and a bit of a shift for Harold – with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Hubert Laws on tenor and flute, Buster Williams on bass, and the mighty Idris Muhammad on drums – playing in a way that's slightly more open than his hard-bumping grooves on other Prestige albums of the time. The whole thing's got a gritty energy that definitely lives up to the title – and which makes the album one of the best that Mabern ever cut as a leader. Boogaloo Joe Jones plays guitar on one track – a great version of "I Want You Back" – and other titles include "Alex The Great", "John Neely-Beautiful People", and "XKE".

Kid Ory gets plenty of room to do his thing here – caught with a great degree of warmth and expression on this key Paris live date from the mid 50s! The record's got a fluid, easy-going swing that's echoes some of the best trad sides cut by American players in Paris during the postwar years – a sense of energy that seems to re-ignite Ory in front of a newly-appreciative audience. The group's a septet driven by Kid's dynamic work on trombone – and also features Alvin Alcorn on trumpet, Phil Gomez on clarinet, Cedric Haywood on piano, and Julian Davidson on guitar. Titles include "South", "Savoy Blues", "Muskrat Rumble", "Dippermouth Blues", "Down In Jungle Town", "Memphis Blues", "Washington & Lee Swing", and "4 or 5 Times". CD features 72 minutes of music – which seems to be much longer than the original Verve LP!

Birds, brass, and plenty of grooves – two sublime UK sound library sets, back to back on a single CD! "Birds" here is used in the UK slang for women – and the combo sports wordless female vocals sliding along with the grooves – sneaking in and out of the brassier bits on the top with a "yeh yeh" sort of chorus approach, but one that's pretty musical overall! The best part of the music, though, is below the birds and the brass – the bottom, which is often quite funky, and has a soundtrack-styled sort of groove – rolling bass, snapping drums, bits of keyboards – all used in the best gently funky ways of the glory days of the Brit Easy scene. Most of the work here is the brainchild of arranger Keith Roberts – a lesser-known UK sound library figure, one who did a bit of work on Scott Walker's fourth album, but who really shines brightly here on his own. Titles include "Sort Of Soul", "Return To Montana", "Sunspot", "All Souled Out", "Time Key", "Pop Off The Tops", "New Dawn", "Melanie", "Sugar Sugar", "Funky Splanky", "The Kung Fu Kid", "Mexico Fiesta", "Fritzy Baby", and "Swamp Water".

Charles Bukowski in all his glory – reading his own material before a very lively (and probably lubricated!) audience – bringing all his own vocal tones into play with his earthy writing – which makes us love the words even more than in printed form! The set was recorded in San Francisco in the early 70s – and definitely has that feel – and titles include "The Sex Fiends", "Love He Said", "The Last Days Of The Suicide Kid", "The Shoelace", "Hot", "Earthquake", and "The Rat". Note that some of the language gets a bit strong at times!

Quite a chance for singer Dessy Di Lauro – but no surprise, either – given that Dessy's always been one of the more inventive talents of the underground! The set definitely takes its title seriously – and although served up in a contemporary soul style, the music sometimes echoes modes from a century ago – using them with just the right balance to spice things up without pushing Di Lauro into a style that's too far from before. Many numbers have a slight vamp in the rhythms – a gentle swing that bounces around in the way you might have heard in Kid Creole work from the early 80s, but tuned here towards a style that's more 21st Century overall. Some cuts are a bit more straight ahead – and whatever the setting, Dessy sounds great! Titles include "Mysterious", "Bringin It Back", "Never Existed", "Lost In The Jungle", "Why U Raggin", and "Popularity Contest".

The first full length in a few years from world class turntablist DJ Kentaro – and a pretty diverse set of floor-shaking instrumentals – plus a number vocal cuts with a strong roster of guests. Kentaro is a sharp producer/artist on top of the turntablist skills, crafting well-paced full scale listening experiences – and he's wise enough to stay true to his inspirations rather than chase trends. Includes "Kikkake" feat DJ Krugh, "Higher", "Step In" feat Foreign Beggers, "Big Timer" feat MC Zulu, "Lapis Lazuli", "Crossfader" feat Kid Koala & D-Styles, "Next Page (Dora) feat C2C and more.

The first full length in a few years from world class turntablist DJ Kentaro – and a pretty diverse set of floor-shaking instrumentals – plus a number vocal cuts with a strong roster of guests. Kentaro is a sharp producer/artist on top of the turntablist skills, crafting well-paced full scale listening experiences – and he's wise enough to stay true to his inspirations rather than chase trends. Includes "Kikkake" feat DJ Krugh, "Higher", "Step In" feat Foreign Beggers, "Big Timer" feat MC Zulu, "Lapis Lazuli", "Crossfader" feat Kid Koala & D-Styles, "Next Page (Dora) feat C2C and more.

Kind of a silly name for a group – but the record's pretty nice! Elbow Bones & The Racketeers were one of the many retro-soul groups working under the guidance of producer August Darnell – aka Kid Creole – who gave the group a style that was similar to his own unique blend of 80s club grooves, 40s swing, and 30s gangster cliches! Vocals are by Gichy Dan, Stephanie Fuller, and Dutch Robinson – and the set's unified by Darnell's good ear for a catchy hook – those quirky, groovy little numbers that always made the Kid Creole and Dr Buzzard albums so great! Titles include "A Night In New York", "Other Guys", "Our Love Will Always Stand", "You Got Me High", and "I Call It Like I See It". CD features a huge amount of bonus tracks – 7 more numbers that include "Night In New York (12" ext)", "Happy Birthday Baby (12" ext)", "Happy Times (12" ext)", "I Wanna Remind You", "Night In New York (single)", and "Happy Birthday Baby (single)".

Fuzzy and genuinely well-crafted private press grooves from the Emerson brothers – with crazy good hooks, some surprisingly solid musicianship – and songs that range from straight-up catchy, though fuzz-drenched rock, to funk and soul! Donnie Emerson is the lead singer, guitarist and bass player, along with some synth – and on the best tunes, he's got a confident, laidback and warm style on vocals that truly doesn't feel the voice of a kid still in his teens – with brother Joe on drums and other friends on backing vocals here and there. Here's a record that profoundly transcends the private press novelty and the goofy jumpsuits they're rocking on the front cover! Includes "Good Time", "Give Me The Chance", "Baby", the instrumental groover "Feels Like The Sun", "Love Is", "Don't Go Lovin' Nobody Else", "Dream Full Of Dreams" and "My Heart".

Fuzzy and genuinely well-crafted private press grooves from the Emerson brothers – with crazy good hooks, some surprisingly solid musicianship – and songs that range from straight-up catchy, though fuzz-drenched rock, to funk and soul! Donnie Emerson is the lead singer, guitarist and bass player, along with some synth – and on the best tunes, he's got a confident, laidback and warm style on vocals that truly doesn't feel the voice of a kid still in his teens – with brother Joe on drums and other friends on backing vocals here and there. Here's a record that profoundly transcends the private press novelty and the goofy jumpsuits they're rocking on the front cover! Includes "Good Time", "Give Me The Chance", "Baby", the instrumental groover "Feels Like The Sun", "Love Is", "Don't Go Lovin' Nobody Else", "Dream Full Of Dreams" and "My Heart".

Breezy bossa from late 70s Paris – a rare European session from Rio ex-patriots Erica Norimar and Chiquinho Timoteo! The record's got a warmly jazzy glow that takes full advantage of the vocals of both artists – trading them back and forth on the more lively tunes, in a way that's clearly inspired by the older Brasil 66 style of the 60s, but reworked here into a slightly hipper 70s sound. Instrumentation is mostly acoustic, with a lot of percussion and guitar that give the tracks a samba-styled groove – but a few tracks also feature a bit of keyboards, plus some occasional sax, flute, and trumpet. Titles include "Forro", "Dodo", "Hein", "Nega De Obaluae", "Gota D'Agua", "A Filha Da Chiquita Bacana", "De Frente Pro Crime", "Kid Cavaquinho", "Ligia", and "Vatapa".

A smashing second set from Everything But The Girl – a record that has the duo stretching out a bit more from the straight jazz leanings of their Eden debut – yet still sticking strongly in a mode that has their music moving with lots of classic influences! The songwriting is still top-shelf – not afraid to show its emotions, yet never over-mired in them either – a beautiful balance that really comes through in the vocals of Tracey Thorn. Production is a bit more mainstream, yet still light years away from the clunk of most mid 80s pop – and titles include "When All's Well", "Ugly Little Dreams", "Shoot Me Down", "Are You Trying To Be Funny", "Sean", "Anytown", and "Ballad Of The Times". 2CD book-style package is amazing – with tracks from singles that include "Kid", "Heaven Help Me", and "Pigeons In The Attic Room" – demos of "Angel", "Ugly Little Dreams", and "Are You Trying To Be Funny" – and BBC recordings of "This Love", "Ballad Of The Times", and "Are You Trying To Be Funny".

Sunny wonderfulness from one of the grooviest vocal groups of all time! This is Free Design's legendary album for children – referred to in the title as "very important people" – and it's a strangely hip set of tracks designed to get the kids to open up in a groovy late 60s kind of way. Given that the Free Design always sounded like a bunch of hippy kids, the setting is perfect for them – and they dreamily make their way through a great set of nearly all original tracks that sparkle with an innocent charm that's slyly deeper than you'd guess from the kid-orientation of the set! Original titles include "Love You", "Kites Are Fun", "Daniel Dolphin", "Ronda 'Go Round", "Bubbles", "Little Cowboy", and "Scarlet Tree". CD features 2 bonus tracks – both outtakes from "For The Love Of Your Lips", a Chapstick commercial!

For your collection of little kid rap records, though this one's a bit more worthwhile for the Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Biz Markie and Erick Sermon beats. Includes "Head Or Gut", "Crumbsnatcher", "We Getz Buzy" and "Stick 'Em Up".

A gem of a record from the lovely Joyce – a set recorded during the same key stretch as her early 80s albums for EMI – yet much more obscure! The album's got the same brilliant blend of jazz and bossa phrasing as her classics Agua E Luz and Feminina – and really brings Joyce's beautiful vocals to the forefront, with a strong focus on that fluid, jazzy style we totally love! Acoustic guitar is key to the instrumentation, yet there's also a few electric touches on keyboards – yet used quite softly, so that the presence of Joyce really dominates the record – but with a power that's greater than some of her more solo sets. Wonderful throughout –a nd with cuts that include "Nacional Kid", "Curioso", "Baracumbarra", "Tardes Cariocas", "Luz Do Chao", and "Ela".

Genius work from one of the greatest young tenorists in many years – Sweden's Jonas Kullhammar, heard here with his Andratx trio – a group based on tenor, bass, and drums – all with a fluidly creative sound that takes us back to Sonny Rollins at the Village Vanguard in the late 50s! Jonas has a bold, strong voice on his instrument – one that's bracingly inventive, but always inside, on the money, and swinging – a rare balance of freedom and jazz focus that never lets up through the course of the album. Other trio members include Kresten Osgood on drums and Ole Morten Vagen on bass – both players who provide far more than just rhythmic support – but who also know how to swing nicely as well! Titles include "Salut", "Kifi", "Black Benny", "Settled In The Saddle", "Kid Dynamite", "Ida Lupino", "Days & Nights Waiting", and "Ebony Queen".

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

A 70s album, but one that features very early sides from Atlantic Records – raw acoustic blues from Willie McTell, recorded on a 12 string guitar down in Atlanta! The album's not just a great example of McTell at his best – witty vocals, and really sharp lines on the acoustic guitar – but also a key illustration of the Atlantic approach right at the start – an ability to find the best setting for the best talents – and really let them open up in a spontaneous, soul-drenched style! Titles include "You Got To Die", "Kill It Kid", "The Razor Ball", "Broke Down Engine Blues", "Dying Crapshooter's Blues", "Blues Around Midnight", "Pearly Gates", and "Soon This Morning".

A wonderfully moody vocal outing from Joe Mooney – a lesser-remembered singer from the 50s, but one of our favorite talents from that generation! Joe's got a style of singing that's in the more fragile mode of male vocalizing – similar to Matt Dennis, but a bit more boozy overall – with a late nite feel that possibly comes through more perfectly on this record than any of his other albums! Joe plays organ along with his vocals here – usually in a laidback and mellow mode, just floating along eerily, with guitar, bass, and drums giving slight additional support. The songs are all familiar ones, but sung with a really great style that almost makes us feel like Joe's telling us the lyrics of the tunes from a neighboring barstool – and titles include "Nina Never Knew", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "That's All", "The Kid's A Dreamer", "Nowhere", "My One & Only Love", and "Have You Met Miss Jones".

The Remixes are great – tunes that show a loving, understanding appreciation of Nilovic's original music – thanks to a well-selected batch of talents on the set! Most of the numbers hardly veer much from the great grooves that Janko first penned – as they're all awash in the best acoustic elements and electronic moments without going too far into abstract, contemporary territory – as can happen in some too-remixed projects we've heard of late. Titles include "Spacial Special" remixed by Minimatic, "African Boost" remixed by Kid Loco, "Summer Breeze" remixed by The Big Knife, "Escape To Chelsea" remixed by Casbah 73, "Tandoori Flock" remixed by Patchworks, "Leslie's Back" remixed by DJ Day, "New Post Scriptum" remixed by Metropolitan Jazz Affair, and "Vocal Improvisations" remixed by Cucumber.

One of greatest moments of genius by pop vocals eccentric Harry Nilsson – the classic early 70s "story" album The Point – perhaps is most imaginative work! The Point is a weird tale of a kid whose head was differently shaped than the rest of his townsfolk (hey, we're not making this up!), which leads him to go on a Yellow Submarine-esque psychedelic odyssey to sort out his identity and feelings! In the end, everything ends up all happy and sweet, but not before Nilsson lays down some very cool, very groovy tracks over nice off-beat instrumentation arranged and conducted by George Tipton. Titles include "Everything's Got 'Em", "Me And My Arrow", "Poli High", "Think About Your Troubles", "Life Life", "Are You Sleeping?", "POV Waltz" and more. This reverent 2012 vinyl reissue from Get On Down includes a reproduction of the original 11.5" X 11.5" full color comic storyboard by Gary Lund – with the lyrics printed in the gatefold. Beautiful!

A nice 10-inch single from Long Island mic master Oxygen – with tight production from Gensu Dean! Includes the original vocal & instrumental – with scratches by DJ Ragz and Kid Dyno – plus a fresh remix and remix instrumental with scratchwork by Chief One.

Mostly a funk track, but with some nice Afro-styled horns on top – a rapid-fire blur of guitar riffs, basslines, and drums – all sewn together with an instrumental tightness that's impeccable! "Moon Cabbage" is mighty cool too – a slow funky stepper, with almost a "Cisco Kid" quality to the groove, and this cool spacey horn line that's definitely got a moon-like vibe!

Timeless, soulful hip hop from DC via Brooklyn DJ/Producer/MC Quartermaine – representing Kev Brown's Low Budget Crew! Redef has been putting out top quality underground hip hop for a while now – and this full length is another win! Honest, real and relatable lyricism backed by soulful beatcraft. Additional production by Kev Brown, Joc Max and Ken Wood. Titles include "Ducats" feat Kid Funk, "Beef And Broccoli", "Me All Day (Nothin')", "Get Me Down", "Introspection", "Q's Lament", "$oul For $ale", "War Of The Roses" and "Giving Up".

An amazing album from Sun Ra – and one of the most in-demand for Dusty Groove customers! The record's actually a bit funky – if you can believe it – and was recorded with electric keyboards, bass, and guitar (played by the mysterious Disco Kid!) The album originally came out on the Philly Jazz label and was quickly dismissed by many Ra fans for being a funk sell-out album – but over the years, it's become a prized album for its cosmic sense of soul and appealing jazz dance style. In fact, it's probably the album that most folks expect when they've heard one or two Sun Ra tracks on a funk compilation and expect all of his albums to sound like that. Titles include "That's How I Feel", "Where Pathways Meet", "Twin Stars of Thence", and "There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)". Tough stuff, and a very unique Sun Ra LP!

Features mammoth Redd Foxx vinyl, CD, video, and TV discography of over 200 titles; a Rudy Ray Moore interview; Dickies interview; Pat Boone interview, with dozens of musicians and writers debating whether he should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Swamp Dogg interview; Andre Williams meets Los Straitjackets; Cub Koda eulogy; Xuxa article; Maceo interview; Kid Creole interview; T. Valentine photo feature; and lots lots more!

The story of Kiddie-A-Go-Go, pre-pubescent American Bandstand, Velvet Crush. Garage legends the Monks get it together. Gary Glitter. The history of midget rock and roll featuring interviews with Kenny "R2D2 " Baker, blues dwarf Kid Dynamite, plus coverage of Pee Wee Marquette (Birdland doorman), Louis Dejesus (P-Funk member, dwarf porno star, Billy Barty, Johnny Puleo, more) Plus: Garageshock, Wildgirl Gogorama, Rollins & Roky, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sugarloaf, bonus hall of greatness poster.

My god, what a record! This one's genius through and through – a set that sometimes gets eclipsed in the brilliance to come, but which is easily one of our favorites ever by Steely Dan! There's a beautifully focused feel here – thanks to Donald Fagan's incredible lead vocals, and a sense of songwriting that never takes any left turns – no odd forays into different styles or previous genres, just all steeped in Steely, as the group should be by this point! John Klemmer turns in some wonderful sax work that really helps shape the sound, and titles include the wonderful "Caves Of Altimira", "Kid Charlemagne", "Don't Take Me Alive", "Green Earrings", and "The Royal Scam".

Classic! The third LP from the Time, and last before Morris Day went off and started his solo career – though by this point Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had departed the group. Nonetheless, the sound is still tight modern funk, with Jesse Johnson and crew keeping things in the great post-Prince Minneapolis pop-funk sound, including some nice dance numbers like "Jungle Love" and "The Bird" – and Morris just being Morris on cuts like "My Drawers", "Chili Sauce" and "If The Kid Can't Make You Come".

A little harder than your usual Quest track, we're not sure why this never made it to an LP. Also includes yet another Scenario remix (not the Kid Hood one.)

Funky rhythms and modal grooves – all held together nicely by the raspy vocals of JJ Vianello! The record's got echoes of other recent work from Italy – particularly some of the Mario Biondi recordings, in its mix of well-chosen modes from the 60s! But JJ's also got a bent that's more soul than some of the jazz of other projects like this – and effortlessly steps back and forth between genres throughout the space of the album! Instrumentation's by a core small combo, but there's lots of jazzy contributions from guests – and some rhythms at the bottom that push the grooves a bit more towards the dancefloor at times. Vianello sings in English on most cuts – and titles include great covers of "Cincinnati Kid" and "Sympathy For The Devil" – plus "Just A Game", "Your Smile", "Fire", "Such A Shame", "Your Morning Smile", "Sparami", and "Love Rains On Me".

A monster from start to finish – not only the greatest album from War, but maybe one of the greatest mainstream funk albums of all time! The set's got a really unique groove – one that so many others tried to copy, but which was forged here first – in a wicked LA blend of Chicano funk, heavy organ lines, and soulful singing that sews the whole thing together perfectly. Just about every cut is upbeat and funky – rolling along at that low-rider pace that was War's lasting contribution to funk music – and the album features the huge hits "World Is A Ghetto" and "Cisco Kid", two of the brightest spots on radio funk from the 70s – plus classics like "Four Cornered Room", "City Country City", "Where Was You At", and "Beetles In The Bog".

One of the dueling cover story ssues of Wax Poetics – headed by great features on classic rap legend Big Daddy Kane, blue-eyed soul hero Daryl Hall, upstart hip hop gamer Joey Badass and progressive jazzy soul singer Jose James! Solid, worthy choices one and all – and pretty much every artist featured in Issue 54 could just as easily be on the cover! Includes interviews with Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, an extremely rare interview with Jimmy Spicer, plus pieces on Laura Nyro, Ghetto Brothers, Bobby Caldwell, Clams Casino, Nosaj Thing and Keyboard Kid. As always, it's got both both classic and comparably rarely seen photos, shots of old school cover and inner label art and more. Another essential issue!

A surprisingly solid and fairly ambitious score from Patrick Williams – who really seems to work well with director Richard Lester! Butch And Sundance –The Early Days is, you guessed it, a prequel of sorts to Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid – which set the bar pretty darn high a decade earlier, both cinematically and musically. We can't speak for the film, but the score works! Film director Richard Lester is most famous for directing The Beatles in A Hard Day's Night and Help – and he seems to welcome quirky and adventurous musical scores. Williams delivers! It's got a great, folksy main theme and an adventurous vibe overall, with playful horns and strings, some sparer moments and more dramatic orchestrations when necessity calls. The CD includes both the final complete film score – and as a bonus, the original/alternate version. 30 tracks in all. Titles include "Rustlers", "The Arrival", "The Parting", "OC Dies", "The Really Big Train Robbery" (Parts 1, 2 and 3), "The Final Victory (End Credits)" and more.

Betty Wright explodes with soul on this sweet 70s classic – really stretching out past the simpler grooves of her roots, and showing the world she's got more than enough talent to be one of the standout soul divas of her generation! The record's also a great illustration of the way that Miami soul was growing up at the time, too – and sparkles with Willie Clarke production that help balance some of the new smoother modes with Betty's core down-home energy – captured perfectly here with a quality that makes the record southern enough to appeal to longtime fans, yet hip enough to get plenty of play up north too. Vocals get nice and complicated at times, almost jazzy with a Rufus/Chaka touch – and titles include "Do Right Girl", "I Think I'd Better Think About It", "Smother Me With Love", "Open The Door To Your Heart", "Life", "If I Ever Do Wrong", and "Don't Forget To Say I Love You Today". CD features four bonus tracks – "To Love & Be Loved", "Ooola La", "Slip & Do It", and "If I Was A Kid".

Way more than just a beginners guide to French Pop – as the set digs way way deeper than you might expect – thanks to great track selection by Kid Loco! Loco's got a great ear for the kind of older French cuts that are plenty pleasing to modern ears – and as a collector and digger himself, he moves way past the obvious to come up with loads of tracks from the 60s that we've never heard before! All music here is from the EMI/Odeon vaults – and the set features a massive 45 tracks that include "Royal Madison" by Noel Chiboust, "Vienne La Nuit" by Francois Lubiana, "Dis Tu Reviendras" by Tichky, "Ne Pars Pas" by Les Dauphins, "Reveille Toi" by Alice Dona, "Bonjour Bresil" by Jacqueline Taib, "Fleurs De Pavots Blues" by Charlotte Walters, "Wraach" by Jacques Filh, "Une Fille Mais Quest Ce Que" by Les Anges, and "La Machine" by Dani.

Jazzy vibes – and jazzy sax, trumpet, and keyboards too – all heard in a host of rare cuts from the 70s – pulled together in one massively great batch of music! The set does a great job of digging around the edges of the 70s – moving past too-familiar jazz funk classics, and coming up with numbers that really get at the more sophisticated side of the genre! Most of the work is by relatively well-known artists, but the whole thing's still a nice change from the mainstream, and features loads of rare groove classics – including "In Good Faith" by Norman Harris, "Latin Spirit" by Leon Huff, "Latin Love" by Dexter Wansel, "Cisco Kid" by Reuben Wilson, "Red Beans" by Jimmy McGriff, "Out On The Coast" by Larry Willis, "Give Me Your Love" by Funk Incorporated, "Killing Time" by Natural Essence, "Like A Thief In The Night" by Mike Longo, "Them Changes" by Lionel Hampton, and "Killing Me Softly" by Hysear Don Walker.

A wonderful compilation of the Microsolutions 12-inch series on the always edible Soul Jazz Records – A scatter-shot mix of the electronic underground – from glitchy house to jazzy broken beat to left-field hip hop and back again. The common thread here is the absolute abandonment of anything straightforward – each number drops a heavy dose of heady experimentation in the mix! Tracks include "Humbaba" by Kit Clayton, "We Got It 303 (Live Acid edit)" by Secondo, "Tranzit" by Rekid, "BBQ Plate (Telefon Tel Aviv mix)" by AmmonContact, "Discoetique" & "Sunday Love Of Kind" by A Greenman, "Mouth Party" & "Boulez' Toes" by Sutekh, "On Bellflower (Smyglyssna mix)" by AmmonContact, "Sunkissed (Daedelus mix)" by Hu Vibrational, "Batmen" & "Banana Peel" by Kid 606, "Enkidu" by Kit Clayton, "Friends & Gardens (Corker/Conboy mix)" by Hu Vibrational, and "Body Ginger" by Tim Exile.

Ho! This one takes us back! We're not as old as you might think here at Dusty Groove, but we're old enough to remember that wonderful period in the early 80s when somewhere on the lower east side, the energy and rawness of punk and post punk were meeting up with the glamour of the glitzed up disco club scene. ZE records was all over the scene, releasing the finest mutated disco from arch scenesters like August Darnell and the not-yet-heavyweight producer Don Was to other greats who might sadly have become sidebars in the history of modern music if not for this compilation, like Lizzy Mercer Descloux and Cristina. Each and every track grooves along with an unstoppable energy, whether it's Kid Creole's sophisticated Latin-esque numbers, Garcons' bubbling synths or Was (Not Was)'s faux R&B. 25 tracks in all, spread out over 2 CDs, with excellent retrospective notes and a nice fold out digipack! Includes: Was(Not Was) "Wheel Me Out" & "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming", Material with Nona Hendryx "Bustin' Out", Kid Creole & The Coconuts "Annie I'm Not Your Daddy" & "I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby", Coati Mundi "Que Pasa/Me No Pop I", James White & The Blacks "Contort Yourself", The Aural Exciters "Emile" & "Spooks In Space", Gichy Dan "Cowboys & Gangsters", Don Armando's 2nd Ave Rhumba Band "Deputy Of Love" plus loads more from Garcons, The Waitresses, Lizzy Mercer Descloux and others!

The sweet sound of 70s Blue Note – a really wonderful stretch for the label, and a time when the company was stretching out in a range of sublimely soulful directions! This period's probably best known for the influence of Larry Mizell on some of the label's key players, but it's also got plenty more to offer too – Brazilian influences in the rhythms, electric undercurrents in the instrumentation, and some especially soulful vocals on some of the best-remembered tracks. Old players are born anew, new players rise to lofty heights, and the whole thing's an amazing discovery in jazz – filled with key tracks that do a better job of summing up 70s Blue Note than our few worlds ever could! 20 tracks in all – including "Chicago Damn" by Bobbi Humphrey, "Koko & Lee Roe" by Gene Harris, "Love So Far Away" by Donald Byrd, "Fun House" by Bobbi Humphrey, "Cheshire Cat" by Ronnie Foster, "Kumquat Kid" by Eddie Henderson, "People Make The World Go Round" by Bobby Hutcherson, "In Pursuit Of the 27th Man" by Horace Silver, "You're Everything" by Carmen McRae, "Route" by Moacir Santos, "Sassy Soul Strut" by Lou Donaldson, "Always There" by Ronnie Laws, "Essence Of Mystery" by Alphonse Mouzon, and "Motherland" by The Waters.

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Kid Koala, and Dan The Automator pool their skills for this dawn of the 2000s sci-fi hip hop classic – the masterful Deltron 3030! The guest list is almost too long to get into, but Money Mark, Prince Paul, PB Wolf and Mr. Lif are all here, along with many others. One of the benchmark albums in the leftfield underground hip hop canon – and a hugely influential set that burst the doors wide open for the more creative spirits in the hip hop and even experimental pop. Tracks include "State Of The Nation", "3030", "The Fantabulous Rap Extravaganza", "Things You Can Do", "Positive Contact", "St Catherine St.", "Virus", "Mastermind", "National Movie Review", "Time Keeps On Slipping", "Turbulence (remix)", "Battlesong", "Memory Loss" and more.

A pretty catchy bit of Miami club from the late 70s – and an album that sounds a heck of a lot better than you might think from its silly pink cover! The group's actually got a strong acoustic sound underpinning their grooves – with some excellent percussion underneath the best tracks, and some vocals that almost hit a scatting harmony range that reminds us of Side Effect or the LA Boppers. There's a definite Latin bent to some of the better tunes too – almost hitting in a Kid Creole style, but without the retro touches. Titles include "Mademoiselle", "Tena's Song", "Ready For Love", "Get Off", and "It's Happening".

Excellent funky LP cut by Johnny Otis and his late 60's version of "The Johnny Otis Show". Shuggie's playing guitar, Delmar Evans is singing, and Sugarcane Harris even shows up on a few tracks. The LP contains two excellent funky 45 cuts, "Cuttin Up", an instrumental with choppy guitar, and "The Watts Breakaway", with good goofy vocals by Delmar. All this, and the LP's got a nice Jack Davis (of MAD fame)cartoony cover of the band doing surgery on a kid that we assume is Shuggie. to boot!

Killer early stuff from Hank – when he was just about the size of a bratty kid, and he had a voice on him that would stop a train! Loads of shoutin R&B tunes, including "The Coffee Grind", "I Love You So-o-o", "Don't Go, I Love You", "Look At Little Sister", and the hit "Finger Poppin Time".

What a cool little single! This 4 track ep is presented by Kelloggs, the cereal company, as a tie-in with the Banana Splits TV show. It's got some really great numbers that range in style from trippy to groovy, and maybe a little bit funky. The track "Doin The Banana Split" was purportedly written by Barry White adn features a slightly funky groove, and a hip male soul vocal and heavy instrumentation. We simply cannot believe kid show music was at one point this crazy and incredible! Other cuts have a groovy sunshine pop feel – a bit off-beat, kind of trippy, and almost somewhere near Millenium or Love Generation.

Way more than just another kiddie soundtrack – or an album for a childish TV show – as the set's a surprisingly groovy little record, almost Sunshine Pop in its best moments! We're not sure about the nature of the players or the singers – but arranger Jack Eskew put the whole thing together with a bouncy, bubbly groove that rivals the best pop-psych work of the late 60s on labels like Kapp or Uni – right down to the perfect combination of fuzzy guitars and organ in the instrumentation. Titles include "This Spot", "I'm Gonna Find A Cave", "We're The Banana Splits", "In New Orleans", "Toy Piano Medley", "Don't Go Away Go Go Girl", and the classic "Tra La La Song". CD also features bonus Splits songs – "The Very First Kid On My Block", "The Beautiful Calliope", "Let Me Remember You Smiling", and "Soul". The CD also features the album Here Comes The Beagles – from a very Splits-like show that features another group of singing animals! The Beagles aren't The Beatles, but they definitely have a strong Brit Invasion feel in their music – a UK way with a melody that's mixed with a few sunny Cali pop touches too. Very 60s, very groovy, and way better than just a kiddie record – with tunes that include "What More Can I Do", "Be The Captain", "I Wanna Capture You", "Indian Love Dance", and "You Satisfy".

Gritty revival blues from RL Burnside – and a record that really broke his music into a wider audience! Of course, it helps that the set features guest appearances from Kid Rock and Lyrics Born – the latter we enjoy more than the former – but the overall vibe is still very much in the best spirit of Burnside's other music – on titles that include "Detroit Boogie (parts 1 & 2)", "Someday Baby", "Goin Down South", "Go To Jail", "Bird Without A Feather", "Glory Be", "Goin Away Baby", "Rollin & Tumblin", and "Stole My Check".

A landmark record that should be in any Latin collection! At the time of this album, Johnny Colon was a young trombonist just getting his start – working in the turbulent late 60s Spanish Harlem scene, and picking up on the wide range of styles going down in the hood. At one level, he was a straight player with a love for the sound of the early 60s descarga era – but at another, he was a young kid absorbing all the soul, funk, and drug influences that were coming out of other groups at the time. The result is a really amazing album with a slow, sinister groove that's unlike anything else we can think of. Tracks roll over one another with uncanny beats and a sad and soulful feel – shifting between English and Spanish to reflect the speech patterns of the members of the band – and really opening up with some killer grooves that have made the album a treasure for years! Titles include "Judy (part 2)", "Canallon", "Jumpy", "Boogaloo Blues", "Descarga", and "Mi Querida Bomba".

One of the coolest club combos of the 70s – the mighty Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – a group with a sound that's a lot tighter than their name! The group's probably best known for giving exposure to August Darnell in his pre-Kid Creole years – but they've also got a sound that's really all their own, and which draws strongly from all members of the group – making them way more than just another Darnell side project. Old and new styles come together wonderfully in the band's music – but the approach isn't just easy retro disco, and instead is often a warmer take on mainstream 70s disco modes – one that dips into the past to pull back the right elements to bring a bit more life to the sound. Arrangements are mostly by Stony Browder Jr, who co-wrote most of the tunes – and titles include "The Gigolo & I", "You Got Something/Betcha The Love Bug Bitcha", "Transistor Madness/Future DJ", "Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon", "Mister Love", "Sunshower", "Nocturnal Interludes", "Soraya/March Of The Nignies", "Auf Wiedersehen/Darrio", "I'll Play The Fool", and "Hard Times".

One of the greatest New York groups of the early 80s – and a key link in the post-disco, post-punk, and no wave scenes of the time! Konk had an incredible sound that featured a stripped down blend of bass, live percussion, and horns – all grooving together in a style that sat somewhere between Kid Creole and ACR – but without the kitsch of the former, or the darkness of the latter! The bass dominated on most tracks – rolling out amidst the drums and congas, and setting a pace that was picked up strongly by the group's tight work on horns. Most tracks are acoustic, save for the bass – and the vocals are kept at a minimum to allow for the strongest focus on the tunes rhythmic progressions! As usual, Soul Jazz have done a tremendous job of recounting the group's history in a wealth of notes, interviews, and photos – and this well-done package is the first ever proper reissue of the group's work! Titles include "Machina Jam", "Baby Dee", "Elephant", "Soka Loka Moki", "Love Attack", "Konk Party", and "Your Life". Plus, the set also features bonus tracks "Konk Party (DJ tools)" and "Baby Dee (live)".

Beat jazz galore – a wonderful CD that features two of the best late 50s efforts in the genre! The first half of the set features work from poet Kenneth Patchen – very well set up with small combo backings from The Chamber Jazz Sextet – a combo that includes piano, bass, and drums – plus some especially wonderful horn work that snakes and twists together with the complexity of some of the best California jazz of the 50s! Patchen's voice is nicely restrained – never too over the top, with a darkly dipping quality that's quite striking – and his words are used perfectly to pepper the tunes, and never overwhelm them – a real synthesis of words and music that didn't always happen on records like this. Titles include "Murder Of Two Men By A Young Kid Wearing Lemon Colored Gloves", "State Of The Nation", "Lonesome Boy Blues", "I Went To The City", and "Do The Dead Know What Time It Is". Next up are some equally great shorter poems by City Lights impresario Lawrence Ferlinghetti – read in a slightly more serious mode, but one that still suits the setting well. Ferlinghetti titles include "Autobiography", "Junkman's Obbligato", and "The Statue Of St Francis" – and all the tracks are backed by obscure The Cellar Jazz Quintet – a group that features Bruce Lippincott on tenor, Dickie Mills on trumpet, Bill Weisjahns on piano, Jerry Goode or Bob Lewis on bass, and Sonny Wayne on drums.

One of the dueling cover story ssues of Wax Poetics – headed by great features on classic rap legend Big Daddy Kane, blue-eyed soul hero Daryl Hall, upstart hip hop gamer Joey Badass and progressive jazzy soul singer Jose James! Solid, worthy choices one and all – and pretty much every artist featured in Issue 54 could just as easily be on the cover! Includes interviews with Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, an extremely rare interview with Jimmy Spicer, plus pieces on Laura Nyro, Ghetto Brothers, Bobby Caldwell, Clams Casino, Nosaj Thing and Keyboard Kid. As always, it's got both both classic and comparably rarely seen photos, shots of old school cover and inner label art and more. Another essential issue!

On the heels of their Sessomato Experience LP, Easy Tempo release this compilation of older Italian soundtrack grooves – by Luis Bacalov, Armando Trovajoli, Piero Umiliani, and Piero Piccioni – remixed by modern European mixologists – like Kid Loco, Jazz Brothers, Rainer Truby Trio, Maffia Sound System, and Gak Sato. As with the other projects, the effort is an attempt update some of these funky grooves, and turn them towards the modern dancefloor. The album's packaged on 3 long 12" singles, which makes it extra DJ friendly, and it's a nice batch of tracks to mix in with a lively now sound set.

50s futurist sounds from the pioneers – Raymond Scott, Jean Jacque Perrey, Edgard Varese and others – early computer grooves, synthesizer experimentalist eeriness and symphonically styled soundscapes! Sci fi sounds, oddly melodic electronics, gigantic computer sounds and living, breathing orchestral accompaniment! 18 tracks in all: "Sonik Re-Entry" by Tom Dissevelt/Kid Balton, "The Rhythm Modulator" by Raymond Scott, "Ancient Krell Music" by Louis & Bebe Barron, "{arade Des Soldats De Bois" by Jean Jacques Perrey, "Density" by Rene Le Roy", "Noise Study" by the IBM 7090 Computer, "Octandre" by NY Wind Ensemble and more.

50s futurist sounds from the pioneers – Raymond Scott, Jean Jacque Perrey, Edgard Varese and others – early computer grooves, synthesizer experimentalist eeriness and symphonically styled soundscapes! Sci fi sounds, oddly melodic electronics, gigantic computer sounds and living, breathing orchestral accompaniment! 18 tracks in all: "Sonik Re-Entry" by Tom Dissevelt/Kid Balton, "The Rhythm Modulator" by Raymond Scott, "Ancient Krell Music" by Louis & Bebe Barron, "{arade Des Soldats De Bois" by Jean Jacques Perrey, "Density" by Rene Le Roy", "Noise Study" by the IBM 7090 Computer, "Octandre" by NY Wind Ensemble and more.

Wildness from J Dilla – a couple of gritty gems from the expanded Ruff Draft set! "Wild" is a flat out stunner – a previously unreleased cut that has us wondering how deep Dilla's vault goes – cause this s**t shoulda been ruling the underground for years now! It has these stuttering, thundering beats, and rolling rhymes augmented by a kid with a Brit accent riffing on "Cum On Feel The Noise" – sounds strange, but this a killer cut! "Make Em NV" is another classic – again with the thunderous beats, with some vibes sweetening it up over the top. Dilla at his dirtiest!

Madlib & Freddie Gibbs follow up the Thuggin' EP with the superior Shame EP – with some of the most straight-up classic soul-inspired production we've heard from "Lib in a little while – which is a perfect backdrop fror Freddie's no-nonsense rhymes! "Shame" features BJ The Chicago Kid on the main version, and the 12-inch EP also includes the instrumental, acapella version. "Terrorist" is just as sharp – which also comes in the instro and acapella versions. Also includes the "Later That Night" and "The Morning After" bonus beats.

A pretty great record from one of the coolest school teachers you could ever hope to have – the lovely Miss Rita Abrams, a hippie who was teaching in Marin County at the start of the 70s! The set's a project done by Abrams with her fourth grade class – a set that mostly features original tunes penned by Rita, filled with joy, hope, and the sort of optimism that characterized the Marin County scene of the post-Haight years – and performed with a cool blend of acoustic instrumentation next to Abrams keyboards – with some larger arrangements from Ed Bogas, who'd later work on hip soundtracks for Fantasy Records, across the Bay. There's nothing hokey about the set at all – as the tunes are great, and the kid-quality of the vocals is really kept to a minimum – more used to underscore the warmth in Rita's lead, and surprisingly never cloying at all – a lot like some of the best singer/songwriter projects on Reprise at the time, especially given Rita's cool electric keyboards. Titles include the cool single "Mill Valley" – plus "Floating Away", "Wonder", "Building A Heaven On Earth", "Running In The Green Grass", "Sweet Summertime", and "I Never Asked". CD also features three bonus tracks – "Sad Night", "The Happiest Day Of My Life", and "America Let's Get Started Again".

The Remixes are great – tunes that show a loving, understanding appreciation of Nilovic's original music – thanks to a well-selected batch of talents on the set! Most of the numbers hardly veer much from the great grooves that Janko first penned – as they're all awash in the best acoustic elements and electronic moments without going too far into abstract, contemporary territory – as can happen in some too-remixed projects we've heard of late. Titles include "Spacial Special" remixed by Minimatic, "African Boost" remixed by Kid Loco, "Summer Breeze" remixed by The Big Knife, "Escape To Chelsea" remixed by Casbah 73, "Tandoori Flock" remixed by Patchworks, "Leslie's Back" remixed by DJ Day, "New Post Scriptum" remixed by Metropolitan Jazz Affair, and "Vocal Improvisations" remixed by Cucumber.

A monster from start to finish – not only the greatest album from War, but maybe one of the greatest mainstream funk albums of all time! The set's got a really unique groove – one that so many others tried to copy, but which was forged here first – in a wicked LA blend of Chicano funk, heavy organ lines, and soulful singing that sews the whole thing together perfectly. Just about every cut is upbeat and funky – rolling along at that low-rider pace that was War's lasting contribution to funk music – and the album features the huge hits "World Is A Ghetto" and "Cisco Kid", two of the brightest spots on radio funk from the 70s – plus classics like "Four Cornered Room", "City Country City", "Where Was You At", and "Beetles In The Bog".

A monster from start to finish – not only the greatest album from War, but maybe one of the greatest mainstream funk albums of all time! The set's got a really unique groove – one that so many others tried to copy, but which was forged here first – in a wicked LA blend of Chicano funk, heavy organ lines, and soulful singing that sews the whole thing together perfectly. Just about every cut is upbeat and funky – rolling along at that low-rider pace that was War's lasting contribution to funk music – and the album features the huge hits "World Is A Ghetto" and "Cisco Kid", two of the brightest spots on radio funk from the 70s – plus classics like "Four Cornered Room", "City Country City", "Where Was You At", and "Beetles In The Bog". Features great bonus tracks too – previously unreleased "Ghetto Jam" numbers that are even more open and freewheeling than cuts on the album – titles that include "Freight Train Jam", "58 Blues", "War Is Coming (blues version)", and a sweet rehearsal take of "The World Is A Ghetto".

Hard grooving psychedelia and other wise astral rock from the South African underground scene – and a variety of sounds – some from the Hendrix school of hard bluesy psyche sounds, others airier and more based on soaring vocals and trippy songcraft, and still others with surprising bits of soul! This second volume in the Astral Daze series stands up proudly with the first, with a few recognizable names for deep rock nugget diggers, Blondie Chapman for one, here with his group The Flames, and lots of others that are totally fresh to our ears! 18 tracks in all: "The Kid He Came From Aazareth" by Freedoms Children, "Spider Spider" by Tidal Wave, "Solitude" by The Flames, "I Wish I Was A Purple Door" by Falling Mirror, 'Woman Yeah" by The Gonks, "She's A Mermaid" by Band Of Gypsies and much more.

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.

Massive grooves from the legendary Sam Records – a late 70s disco powerhouse from the New York scene – and one of the tightest, most soulful labels on the market! This killer collection not only brings together the best of Sam from the glory days, it also offers up a wealth of edits and remixes that further enforce the funky sounds of the classics – including a number of contemporary edits that really bring out the hippest aspects of the tunes! Percussion breakdowns are extended, keyboard parts stretched out, and basslines are funkier than ever – on a 2CD set of tracks that include "We'll Make It (Volta Bureau edit)" by Mike & Brenda Sutton, "Bourgie Bourgie (Catz N Dogz rmx)" by John Davis & Monster Orchestra, "This Beat Is Mine (Soul Clap rmx)" by Vicky D, "Just How Sweet Is Your Love (Walker & Royce Touch)" by Rhyze, "Feel Alright (Bonar Broadberry edit)" by Komiko, "Stay With Me (Andy Ash edit)" by John Davis, "Let's Lovedance Tonight (Jacques Renault edit)" by Gary's Gang, Just Let Me Dance (Maxxi Soundsystem rmx)" by Scandla, "Up Jumped The Devil (6th Borough Project jumped up jam)" by John Davis, "Keep On Dancing (Todd Terje rmx)" by Gary's Gang, "Don't Stop (runaway rmx)" by KID, and "Let's Do It (Prince Language hands up edit)" by Convertion – plus a long continuous mix of tracks by Jacques Renault!

The sweet sound of 70s Blue Note – a really wonderful stretch for the label, and a time when the company was stretching out in a range of sublimely soulful directions! This period's probably best known for the influence of Larry Mizell on some of the label's key players, but it's also got plenty more to offer too – Brazilian influences in the rhythms, electric undercurrents in the instrumentation, and some especially soulful vocals on some of the best-remembered tracks. Old players are born anew, new players rise to lofty heights, and the whole thing's an amazing discovery in jazz – filled with key tracks that do a better job of summing up 70s Blue Note than our few worlds ever could! 20 tracks in all – including "Chicago Damn" by Bobbi Humphrey, "Koko & Lee Roe" by Gene Harris, "Love So Far Away" by Donald Byrd, "Fun House" by Bobbi Humphrey, "Cheshire Cat" by Ronnie Foster, "Kumquat Kid" by Eddie Henderson, "People Make The World Go Round" by Bobby Hutcherson, "In Pursuit Of the 27th Man" by Horace Silver, "You're Everything" by Carmen McRae, "Route" by Moacir Santos, "Sassy Soul Strut" by Lou Donaldson, "Always There" by Ronnie Laws, "Essence Of Mystery" by Alphonse Mouzon, and "Motherland" by The Waters.

Amazing work from one of Chicago's best indie labels of the 60s – a wealth of wonderful soul that easily ranks with some of the best work at Chess or Vee Jay at the time! USA's a label that's also known for work in the rock and blues field, but the company had a marvelous ear for soul back in the day – and was often able to grab key Windy City talents before they broke big – or others who were already great, but finally found the right sort of treatment they needed at USA – a care with production and presentation that often rivals some of the beautiful presentation that Curtis Mayfield was bringing to his Impressions recordings or work with other artists – lots of deep soul roots, but also the tightness and sophistication that made Chicago so great at the time. The package features 36 rock-solid tracks – and titles include "Hot Spring Water" by Billy The Kid Emerson, "Come On In" by Detroit Jr, "A Lonely Boy" by Lee Wilson, "Step It Up" by Al Perkins, "I'll Wait For You" by LC Cooke, "No Appreciation" by Tut Sutton, "Taunting Love" by Frankie Newsom, "Just Being Careful" by Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters, "What You Don't Know" by Oscar & Anita, "Sweet Little Woman" by McKinley Sandifer, and "You Gotta Pay Dues" by Chris Campbell.

A pair of albums from one of the most creative club acts of the 70s – the mighty Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – back-to-back! Before starting his Kid Creole & the Coconuts combo, August Darnell worked to great fame with Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – kind of a campy, jazzy ensemble – one that worked with a 20s aesthetic over a disco groove on the self-titled set! There's a fair bit of acoustic instrumentation in the rhythms, and lots of those choppy, scratchy lines that we love so much in the Kid Creole work – all of which makes for a very nice change from the usual, especially in the late 70s mainstream. Darnell and Cory Daye are the main vocalists, and Darnell wrote all the lyrics for this album – on titles that include "Cherchez La Femme", "I'll Play The Fool", "Sour And Sweet", "We Got It Made", "Hard Times", "Sunshower", and "Betcha The Love Bug Bitcha". Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Meets King Penett is more unique work from the group – a set that bears all the unmistakeable touches of group leader August Darnell! The set's definitely got the older aesthetic that Darnell brought to his work at the time – possibly even more so than the group's first album – and it's also got a wonderfully acoustic approach to the music, one that uses older jazz inflections mixed with rootsier percussion – almost a late 70s club update of older swing and Latin modes! The tunes are beautifully penned too – most often starting out with a real sort of 30s or 40s style, then sweeping nicely into more of a 70s groove – but always without any sense of gimmick or trickery. Vocals are by the lovely Cory Daye, with a bit of help from Darnell – and titles include "Transistor Madness", "Organ Grinder's Tale", "Mister Love", "The Gigolo & I", "Nocturnal Interludes", and "I'll Always Have A Smile For You".

One of the coolest club combos of the 70s – the mighty Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – a group with a sound that's a lot tighter than their name! The group's probably best known for giving exposure to August Darnell in his pre-Kid Creole years – but they've also got a sound that's really all their own, and which draws strongly from all members of the group – making them way more than just another Darnell side project. Old and new styles come together wonderfully in the band's music – but the approach isn't just easy retro disco, and instead is often a warmer take on mainstream 70s disco modes – one that dips into the past to pull back the right elements to bring a bit more life to the sound. Arrangements are mostly by Stony Browder Jr, who co-wrote most of the tunes – and titles include "The Gigolo & I", "You Got Something/Betcha The Love Bug Bitcha", "Transistor Madness/Future DJ", "Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon", "Mister Love", "Sunshower", "Nocturnal Interludes", "Soraya/March Of The Nignies", "Auf Wiedersehen/Darrio", "I'll Play The Fool", and "Hard Times".

Gritty funk from central Tennessee – the first single on a hip little indie! "Tennessee Strut" is a slow-stepping number with some rattling drums at the core – a snapping groove that lives up to the strut promised in the title – with a great bassline alongside the kid, which steps out a bit on its own in the middle of the tune! Other instrumentation includes sax and a bit of guitar – the latter of which shines nicely on "Fancy Roll" with these great chromatic tones.

Legendary work from Milton Nascimento – one of his first LPs, and still one of his greatest! The record is amazing – a sublime blend of soulful vocals, baroque orchestrations, and just the right amount of jazzy touches – handled in a way that forever proclaimed Milton as one of Brazil's greatest artists, and which went onto shape the force of Brazilian pop for years to come. Every single track is a gem – and the album includes the classic "Para Lennon e McCartney", a solid solid groover – plus loads of other great ones like "Clube da Esquina", "Amigo, Amiga", "Durango Kid", and his excellent recording of "A Felicidade". Production is excellent, and the sound is extremely haunting! CD features 4 bonus tracks too!

The south rises again – in this excellent annual issue of Oxford American dedicated to music from below the Mason-Dixon line! This year, the publication's got a special focus on Louisiana – a great mix of soul, jazz, blues, and roots – served up in an issue that's heavy on Crescent City commentary – with articles on Shotgun Joe, Professor Longhair, and Amede Ardoinand – plus musings on the music of New Orleans by Stanley Crouch, a look at a NO strip club, and a long piece on "The Anxiety Of Authenticity". There's loads more little features too – on Louisiana music old and new – and as the biggest bonus, the issue comes with a 21 track CD – featuring cuts that include "Sugar Bee" by Cleveland Crochet & Hill Billy Ramblers, "Two Wings" by Rev Utah Smith, "Real Live Living Hurtin Man" by Johnny Adams, "Reconsider Me" by Margaret Lewis, "Shirley" by John Fred & The Playboys, "The Eyes Of Love" by Margie Singleton, "Parlez Nous A Boire" by Chris Stafford, "Monkey In A Sack" by Lil Buck & The Top Cats, "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere" by Robert Pete Williams, "The Patriotic Flag Waver" by Dr John, "Shine" by Kid Ory, "Bon Ton Roula" by Clarence Garlow, "Look What You're Doin To Me" by Professor Longhair, and "Old Man's Darling" by Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Cha.

One of the best ever records from Twennynine – produced and arranged by Lenny White & Larry Dunn – jazzy modern soul at it's dawn of the decade finest! Twennynine With Lenny White is way at the front of the pack of a lot of the 80s groove elements to follow in its wake – with popping basslines, heavy bass pedals, compressed guitar riffs and a really insistent overall groove! The record's got a pretty straight R&B feel, but thanks to White's nice production, there's a lot of good fusion elements in the mix – which raises the album a step above, and makes it groove nicely. The group features keyboards by Skip Anderson, doing a great job stepping in for Don Blackman, with lead vocals by Tanya Willoughby, synths by Larry Dunn, percussion by Paulinho De Costa, guitar by Eddie Martinez, bass by Barry Johnson and others. Titles include "My Melody", "Kid Stuff", "Fancy Dancer", "Slip Away", "We Had To Break Away", and "Love & Be Loved".