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Paul Simon's mid 80s landmark – a record that brought together Simon's unique voice and pop folk songwriting skill with South African, Chicano, zydeco other global musical styles – held together by some of the best songs Simon ever put together! With lesser material, this would feel like the well-intentioned "world music" album by an aging star, but Simon transcends that in a big way with catchy, intelligent songs and expert production. Includes "The Boy In The Bubble", "Graceland", "Duanonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes", "You Can Call Me Al", "Under African Skyes", "All Around The World Or The Myth Of Fingerprints" and more.

A weird one, but pretty compelling. Cyril Paul is an African American folk singer – less in the mode of jazz/soul folkies like Terry Callier or Oscar Brown, than in the style of the New York/Boston new traditionalists of the early 60s. At most levels, the album's a straight folk one – but the ensemble's pretty hip, and adds in some jazzy elements on the best songs. The strongest titles have sort of a Miriam Makeba quality to them – and the record features a version of Oscar Brown Jr's "Brown Baby", a nicely grooving take on Paul Simon's "Patterns", and the Nina Simone-esque "Freedom Is A Constant Struggle".

Lovely work from singer Michael Johnson – an obscure American vocalist from the mid 70s, with a sweetly folksy style that recalls the work of Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, or James Taylor, but which has a sense of depth that's all its own! The set is done in a lightly folksy style that also has some jazzy overtones – with Johnson on acoustic guitar alongside his vocals, and working with some nicely fuller arrangements. Titles include "OB Glad", "Our Snowflake Dreams", "Ain't Dis Da Life", "High On The Border", and "Mr Arthur's Place".

An excellent early album from Billy that has him singing in a mixed jazz and soul vein, with a sound that's similar to some of Nina Simone's great live albums from the time! Billy's singing with a small piano trio, and his voice is rich and soulful in a way that you don't always get on his later recordings. The set's nearly all covers, but Billy's interpretations are fantastic, and he turns the tracks into something completely different than you're used to – in the same way that Nina Simone and Isaac Hayes were doing at the time with contemporary hits. Tracks include "Bluesette", "That's Life", "Feelin' Good", "Just In Time", and the Kenny Gamble original, "Missing You".

An excellent early album from Billy that has him singing in a mixed jazz and soul vein, with a sound that's similar to some of Nina Simone's great live albums from the time! Billy's singing with a small piano trio, and his voice is rich and soulful in a way that you don't always get on his later recordings. The set's nearly all covers, but Billy's interpretations are fantastic, and he turns the tracks into something completely different than you're used to – in the same way that Nina Simone and Isaac Hayes were doing at the time with contemporary hits. Tracks include "Bluesette", "That's Life", "Feelin' Good", "Just In Time", and the Kenny Gamble original, "Missing You".