The first true proper solo album by John Lennon – recorded after a few non-Beatles records with Yoko Ono, and at the same time as Yoko's much wilder album with a similar title! This one, though, is John at his best – very personal and exposed, in similar territory to Paul McCartney on his first solo record – and the whole thing is a fantastic testament to the humanity that Lennon always brought to his music, even at a time when some might have accused him of going off the deep end with some of his more experimental music. The record's got a relatively stripped-down vibe, although isn't entirely just voice and guitar – as other elements are brought in at just the right level to expand the sound without losing the Lennon at the core. Titles include "Mother", "Hold On", "I Found Out", "Working Class Hero", "Isolation", "Remember", "Love", "Well Well Well", "Look At Me", "God", and "My Mummy's Dead". LP, Vinyl record album

Johnny's very much in his "revival" mode here – dipping back to his earlier R&B roots, and working with a host of famous older blues singers. The set's got vocals by Roy Milton, Roy Brown, Esther Phillips, Mighty Mouth Evans, Ivory Joe Hunter, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Margie Evans, and Big Joe Turner – and even though Shuggie Otis is on the album, the whole thing's a pretty bluesy affair overall. Titles include "Shuggie's Boogie", "Plastic Man", "Margie's Boogie", "Baby You Don't Know", "Little Esther's Blues", "RM Blues", "Goin Back To LA", "Willie & The Hand Jive", and "Since I Met You Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the loveliest of all the bossa singers is caught here in some superb arrangements by Oscar Castro-Neves! The set's got a wonderful feel – with moments that are rootsier than your average bossa diva record, and others that are baroque enough to hint at the direction Nara would take a year later with Rogerio Duprat. Production is excellent, and Edu Lobo even guests on the track "De Onde Vens". Other tracks include "Lancha Nova", "Inspiracao", "No Corado Da Saideira", "Camisa Amarela", and "Se Voce Quiser Saber". Fantastic cover, too! LP, Vinyl record album

A late 60s bluesy-psych album by Outlaw Blues Band! The group's got equal parts funk and equal parts blues, and they play with kind of trippy approach to the music that's filled with lots of wry touches – both instrumentally and vocally – that keep things nice and lively! Breaking In brings the blues influences a bit more to the fore, and is more stripped down in instrumentation, but it's still a pretty tripped out set with some great drums, woozy organ and searing guitars. Titles include "Plastic Man", "My Baby's Left And Gone", "Day Daid", "Mamo Pano Shhhh", "You're The Only One" and "Deep Gully". CD