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The most polarizing of John Lennon's post Beatles ouvre – the strident, Spector-produced, sprawling mess that is Some Time In New York City – a record that has too much of every idea John & Yoko had at the time, which makes it all the more fascinating after all these years! Angry, self-righteous and quite often brilliant – feminist anthems backed by Wall Of Sound pop, an ode to John Sinclair in the mold of a country rock tune – wild stuff from a superstar! Include "Woman Is The Ni**er Of The World", "Sister, Oh Sister", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Attica State", "New York City" and more.

One of coolest live documents of folk music adventuror Sandy Bull you could ask for – recorded at the Berkeley Community Theater in 1976 – with Bull playing the oud, on stage with early version of the TASCAM 4-track recorder, utilized here as his backing "band"! He dubs his tape machine The Rhythm Ace – with Bull playing the oud to pre-taped drum machine and bass, and talking to the audience about just what heck they're seeing and hearing. We don't know of the audience was in awe, dumbstruck or what – folk fellows didn't do this kind of thing on stage in '76 – which makes it all the more rewarding to hear 35+ years later! Sandy's musicianship is brilliant, and it's great fun to listen to him talk about his pal The Rhythm Ace, too. Includes "Oud", "Love Is Forever", "Driftin", "Alligator Wrestler" (with an intro) and "New York City" – plus a demo of his Rhythm Ace.

Righteous earth mama vibes from our hometown sweetheart Bonnie Koloc. Bonnie was part of the original folk cabaret scene around old town here in Chicago, and this is her first album, with her gutsy, folky vocals and songwriting underpinned by a groovy rock-inflected backing band, that features Phil Upchurch on bass! Titles include "Don't Leave Me", "After All This Time", "new York City Blues", "Devil's Nine Questions", "Another new Morn", "Rainy Day Lady", "Jazz Man", "Victoria's Morning", "Got To Get What You Can", and "One Sure Thing".

A sweet sweet set of rare tracks from start of the 80s – all recorded in the far-out locale of Rock Island, IL – but done with a funky groove to rival the best sounds coming out of New York or Minneapolis at the time! Midnight Express were a regional show band, and they've got a bass-heavy, bottom-centrist groove that's totally great – really bumping up from the lower level with some great basslines and stark drum bits too – heard here in an all-instrumental groove that's really wonderful – just the kind of local genius that's waiting to be discovered all these many years later! Titles include "Terry Jam", "Receiving End", "Tri-City Connection", "Breeze UP", and "Danger Zone Demo".

Funky soul from the west coast – and a motherlode of tracks that you've probably never heard! Inner City Records was a small time funk powerhouse – owned and run by organ player George Semper, who cut some mighty fine records on his own! The label's not to be confused with the New York-based jazz label Inner City – because this one was a much more down-n-dirty funky one – and cut some killer work in a deep deep mode, much of which was never issued before – and is making a long-overdue first appearance here! The tracks have some seriously fine jazzy work in them – snapping funk, with a hard and dirty edge, played by performers that include Charles Owens, Rodney Franklin, and James Gadson – all of whom would later go onto become superstars in their own right. A number of tracks have vocals, too – and titles include "Plastic Situation" by Ron & Candy, "In One Peace" by In One Peace, "Funkorgy" by Funkafreek, "Tenderness" by Funkhouse with Candy, "Thank U" by The R&B Classic Funk Band, "It's Insane" by In One Peace, "Spread The News" and "Hands Of Time" by Perfect Circle, "Sticky Boom Boom" by United Soul Association, and "Funktime" by Funkproof.

New York is what is funky! This is a killer new release by a small organ jazz combo from the Big Apple – and they are definitely worthy members of the city's great end-of-the century funk scene that includes Medeski Martin & Wood, Sugarman Three, and The Other Side! The band have certainly spent plenty of time getting their chops up – and they have a very tight organ/guitar sound with a totally live feel to it. The overall groove is right up there with the best classic combos on Prestige – with stone cold funky drumming underneath sweetly strident lines on the Hammond, and some very heavy guitar rhythm parts. In a way, the record really evokes the heavy funk sound of Lonnie Smith's fantastic Blue Note sides from the Late 60s – with a very heavy drum sound nicely kicking it live! The CD's their first – and believe us, it will more than break them out of the box. Tracks include "Arruga De Agua", "Doin Something", "Rudy's Way", "Azucar", and "Steppin". Great stuff – and the kind of small-group recording that makes it worth shopping at Dusty Groove!