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The third album by The Ramones and one that many fans argue is their very best – and they may be right! So. . .alright, let's get this straight right now – the songs don't sound the same, they ARE the same and that's why we love them! If you found a way to concentrate 30 years of the best rock & roll into two and a half minutes of beautiful primal energy that still manages to qualify as ear candy, would you try to change things up? Tracks include "Rockaway Beach", "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Why Is It Always This Way", "Surfin Bird", "Do You Wanna Dance", and "Cretin Hop".

Kind of an amazing collaboration – a core group that features Tony Allen, Damon Albarn, and Flea – with guest appearances by Erykah Badu, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Fatoumata Diawara, M.anifest, Cheick Tidiane Seck, and Thundercat! The sound of the set is surprisingly wonderful – hardly a cloying collection of common elements in the trio's music – and instead a rich new territory that's almost a 21st Century re-invention of older Afro Funk modes! Allen's drumming is razor-sharp, and gives the record an acoustic energy that's really excellent – and Flea's basswork is astounding too – rough, rootsy, and really dynamic – in ways that have us unexpectedly complimenting him for his talents. Titles include "Lol", "Night Watch", "Forward Sweep", "Extinguished", "Rotary Connection", "Worries", "There", "Check Out", "Benko", and "The Unfadable".

Kind of an amazing collaboration – a core group that features Tony Allen, Damon Albarn, and Flea – with guest appearances by Erykah Badu, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Fatoumata Diawara, M.anifest, Cheick Tidiane Seck, and Thundercat! The sound of the set is surprisingly wonderful – hardly a cloying collection of common elements in the trio's music – and instead a rich new territory that's almost a 21st Century re-invention of older Afro Funk modes! Allen's drumming is razor-sharp, and gives the record an acoustic energy that's really excellent – and Flea's basswork is astounding too – rough, rootsy, and really dynamic – in ways that have us unexpectedly complimenting him for his talents. Titles include "Lol", "Night Watch", "Forward Sweep", "Extinguished", "Rotary Connection", "Worries", "There", "Check Out", "Benko", and "The Unfadable".

Amazing sounds from Rocket Juice & The Moon – a cut that features the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble working some incredible horn magic over the tune's dubby groove! The approach is almost like Kingston meets Lagos – with an instrumental vibe that's really wonderful! The flipside features "123456", which sports heavy drum work from Tony Allen – and "Forward Sweep", which blends more great drums with fuzzy electronics!

The second chapter of Steeleye Span on Chrysalis Records – and a set that still has the group hewing strongly to the acoustic roots of their early years! At a time when many of their contemporaries were tempted to go for more commercial, more mainstream modes, Steeleye Span only seemed to get more traditional – really holding onto the Celtic folk roots that made them so great in the first place – with amazing lead vocals from the legendary Maddy Prior, and strong vocal support from other group members Tim Hart, Bob Johnson, Rick Kemp, and Peter Knight – who all seem to have really learned how to harmonize together over the years. The set features one live album and four studio sets – the full records Rocket Cottage, Storm Force Ten, Live At Last, Sails Of Silver, and Tempted & Tried – a whopping 47 tracks in all!

Two of the better cuts off Stevie's Hotter Than July LP, a sleeper from the early 80s that we find ourselves going back to more and more. "Do I Do" snaps along nicely with a smooth modern soul feel, and "Rocket Love" is a wonderfully spacey ballad, with Stevie plying his some of his finest synth work ever!

Pure brilliance from The Nubian Crackers – a New York party groove from the early 90s, and one that's overflowing with classic samples from the old school! The cut mixes together a host of wicked funky tracks – with only a bit of a sampled vocal refrain over the top – and some great "Hard To Handle" beats on the chorus, which really send home the whole tune and give it a strong sort of focus! "Test Da Rocket Launcha" is another rare cut from back in the day – not a straight hip hop track, but the kind of 45 King-styled groove that plays strongly with older records – and shows that even in the 90s, the live spirit of mixing funky tracks was still alive and well!

Wild stuff – and one of the coolest compilations we've ever seen from the global scene! The set documents some early underground explorations of rocking rhythms – unusual use of electric instrumentation and R&B-styled production, mostly from far-flung sources, and served up with a fair bit of exotic touches too! The package features notes on each track, which helps tie the music together in a nice way – and although the 10" album is short, it packs a mighty punch. Titles include "Samisen Boogie Woogie" by Ichimaru, "Skokiaan" by Cold Storage Comission, "Rak Ron Ying Kwa Det" by Gunga Din, "Zaino Ya Zaino" by Moahammed Abdel Wahab, "La Buena Vida" by Los Golden Boys, "Whistlin Boogie" by Sister Slocum & Her Little Brother, and "Eena Meena Deeka" by Kishor Kumar.

A hip Finnish take on soul jazz – headed up by drummer Matti Oiling! The groove here is tight and very straightforward – almost an amped-up European groove based on American soul jazz of the 60s – similar to some of Charly Antolini's excellent work for Saba/MPS! Instrumentation includes some nice trumpet and sax passages – often tightly arranged, but in ways that work with the drums in a cool sort of soundtrack funk feel – usually leaving Matti plenty of room to open up on the kit. Titles do a good job of summing up the energy of the record – with cuts that include "Boom Bang Basch", "Soul Rock", "Chicken Nerve", "Road Runner's Waltz", and "Steam Train".

Freaky Finnish disco – a huge collection that features 100 tunes recorded in Finland at the end of the 70s and start of the 80s – each of them a unique contribution to the sound of club music! The styles here vary widely – and although most of the music was marketed under the genre of disco, there's also a good degree of disco-influenced European pop in the mix too – that extrapolation of American dancefloor modes that was used often by German and Scandinavian producers at the end of the 70s. However, that doesn't stop the set from being pretty darn groovy – and with that many tunes to chose from, especially at this price, there's more than enough grooves in the mix for the money. Notes are all Finnish, but seem to be pretty detailed on the contents – and from what we can tell, the 4CD package brings together contents of an 8 cassette series that was issued with some pretty striking covers back in the day! Features work by Bianca, Jukka Heino, Salomon, Nummisuutarit, Jarno Sarjanen, Eric, Lisbeth, Leena, Veijo Sailio, John Hemlight, Paajanen, Maria, Kirsi, Ami & Kirsi, Harmony Four, Eric Mannstrom, and many other cats who never cracked these shores at the time!

Groundbreaking jazz from the Finnish scene at the start of the 70s – and a key illustration of the way that Finland really few the flag of fusion high at the time! The music is a wonderful criss-crossing of acoustic and electric elements – never too jamming, and definitely with the same sense of complexity that Miles Davis was bringing to the Bitches Brew generation – especially in the way that the rhythms move across the set with an energy that would hardly have been imagined in jazz a few years before! All tracks are nice and long, and the set features many players who'd later go onto greater fame in the Love Records world, heard here at their youthful best – a lineup that includes Mike Koskinen on trumpet, Pekka Poyry on soprano sax and alto, Juhani Aaltonen on tenor, Heikki Sarmanto on Fender Rhodes, and Edward Vesala on drums – on titles that include "Made Up Story", "PS DC", "M&M", and "Odds Against Intervals".

Landmark work from the Finnish scene of the 60s – one of those ultra-rare European jazz records that collectors have dug for decades! The set's got a stark, modern sort of feel – but also a nice soulful swing, too – a balance that few of the other Scandinavians hit so well at the time – as they were either hanging between farther-out progressions, or more inside, tightly arranged jazz! Drummer Christian Schwindt's vision here is exceptional – full of rich feeling, deep tone, and careful construction of the tunes – with a sensibility that almost reminds us of Ted Curson and Bill Barron working together – in ways that we'd state from the comments above. (And we've also been told that he's had some great help on conceiving the record from trumpeter Otto Donner – whose playing here is great too!) The whole thing has a quality that you'd find in a rare few albums – maybe some of the best French new wave soundtracks, an early solo Booker Ervin record, or a few other treasures in your collection. Players include Heikki Sarmanto on piano, Otto Donner on trumpet, Erik Danholm on tenor and alto, and Tapani Tamminen on bass – on titles that include "D Day", "My Next & Only Love", "Helsinki At Noon", "Miniature", and "Claudine". CD also features 3 bonus tracks – "Karibaldi", "Nepa", and "Sexus".

Finnish soul, by an American singer – not the same Charles Williams that you might know from 70s jazz funk albums – but an even earlier talent, really shining brightly here in a soulful Scandinavian setting! The album's a really lost rare groove treasure – a record that almost has the same sort of depth as American soul albums of the time – thanks in large part to Williams' great arrangements on the set, which are a mix of funky club and jazz, with room enough for some nice instrumental passages next to the vocals. The mellower cuts showcase Williams' deeper soul styles, and the more upbeat ones have this sweet lead gliding beautifully over tight instrumentation – never too polished or commercial. Titles include the wicked funk classic "Change It", plus "Standing", "Your Life", "Love Is A Very Special Thing", "Helen", "Standing In The Way", and "Theme From Long Road". CD features two bonus tracks – "Just As Long" and "Funky Music".

A rare chapter in the career of Peter Brotzmann – and a very smoking set cut on the Finnish scene of the early 70s! The quartet features Brotzmann on tenor and alto – playing alongside the tenor and flute of Juhani Alaltonen – both of them completely all-out and unbridled, working with the same sort of ferocious free jazz style Peter used on his initial FMP recordings! Other players include Peter Kowald on bass and Edward Vesala on percussion – the last of whom can really shift between full-on intensity and quieter, more sensitive sounds. Titles include "Hot Lotta", "After Pam Pam", "For Dee Deep Finnish Forest Cymbal Governor", and "Kippis".

A rare Finnish album from the great trumpeter Ted Curson – and easily one of his greatest albums ever! The Ted heard here is a bit like the Curson of the famous early 70s Paris sessions – soulful, soaring, and still every bit as modern as his initial moments in the 60s – yet somehow a bit more focused too – able to really hit a groove when he wanted to, but all without ever losing his edge! The lineup here features some excellent reeds from Eero Koivistoinen – who plays tenor, alto, and soprano sax in the lead – almost with an edge as sharp as Curson's frequent partner Bill Barron. The group also has some heavy Fender Rhodes from Pentti Hietanen, plus sharp rhythms from Pekka Sarmanto on bass and Reino Laine on drums – on titles that include "Ode To Booker Ervin", "LSD Takes Holiday", "Airi's Tune", "Montreux", "Festival Blue", and "Typical Ted".

A dancefloor classic! The album's the second by Gregg Diamond's Bionic Boogie, and head and shoulders above the rest – a sublime blend of soul and club that's hardly been matched again! Diamond manages to make things groove, but never loses sight of the soulful styles that make the record so great – and works here with key contributions from a young Luther Vandross, who gives the album some of the same strong vocal arrangements he brought to his own first two albums on Atlantic! Luther sings lead on the album's legendary track "Hot Butterfly", and works in a group with Cissy Houston on other tracks – sweetly soaring with vocals that go far beyond most disco efforts of the time. Simply sublime, and with classics that include "Hot Butterfly", "Paradise", "Cream (Always Rises To The Top)", "Chains", and "When The Sh*t Hits The Fan (Rocket Pocket)".

A bomb! The title of this one says it all – a burning anthem of pride and power, issued in 1969, at the end of one of the most troubling decades in America. James answers all the Uncle Tom cries from his critics – and comes up with "Say It Loud", an instant chant that was taken up around the world, and which still packs a pretty hard punch today! The album's filled with other excellent cuts – like the tasty funk number "Lickin' Stick", with some rocket-driven guitar, and the great instrumental "Shades of Brown". Other titles include "Goodbye My Love (parts 1&2)", "Let Them Talk", "I Love You", and "I Guess I'll Have To Cry Cry Cry".

Stunning Miami grooves from the legendary Jimmy Bo Horne – one of the key figures in the southern club scene of the 70s! Jimmy's got a groove that's very much his own on the set – a snapping, almost clapping sort of rhythm picked up from the George McCrae and KC camps at TK Records – but one that's honed into a tighter, smoother, almost sexier sort of approach overall. This sound's heard to best effect on Jimmy's super-huge hit "Dance Across The Floor" – but it's also pretty well adapted to just about any number, and kept Mr Horne going strong through the biggest years of the TK Miami scene. The set features a total of 19 tracks in all – including "Dance Across The Floor", "Get Happy", "Gimme Some (part 1)", "Spank (1980 rmx)", "Ask The Birds And The Bees", "Goin' Home For Love", "Rocket In The Pocket", "You Get Me Hot", "Music To Make Love By", "Don't Worry About It", and "I Get Lifted".

Brilliant work from this band we've been digging for years – but who never seem to get their due on the global scene, because most of their music comes out in expensive limited packages like this one! But take it from us, the price is well worth it – because Indigo Jam Unit serve up a blistering blend of funk and live jazz – often very heavy on acoustic bass and drums, which rocket out the gate right away with these rhythms that are frenetic, yet always funky – never the "jam" that you might think in jamband terms, and instead a really unique sound that nobody else can touch! Other instrumentation includes piano and lots of percussion – and every tune bristles with energy and freewheeling creativity. Titles include "Rebel", "Rio", "Peekaboo", "Reflection", "Unreachable", "4 Caminos", and "Danza Eterna".

Beautiful modern pop from this enigmatic Swedish group who took their name from the legendary Polish soundtrack composer Krszytof Komeda! Their music is dreamy and wonderful – with bits of 60s pop filtered through a 90s sensibility, trimmed down through a post-punk adherence to simplicity – served up in a lovely little package. Titles include "Top Star", "Light O My Life", "More Is More", "Rocket Plane", and "New New No". First time on vinyl!

A later album from Little Feat – and one that adds some new dimensions to their ever-searching vibe! On Time Loves A Hero, Little Feat takes some surprising steps – even for them – into a bit of a fusiony rock vibe some of the time. Still, the soulful boogie rock and stripped down folky elements they always worked with are still in play. As always, they make these far-flung styles work together into a cohesive whole! Includes "Time Loves A Hero", "Hi Roller", "Old Folks Boogie", "Red Streamliner", "Rocket In My Pocket", "Missin' You", "Day At The Dog Races" and more.

A later album from Little Feat – and one that adds some new dimensions to their ever-searching vibe! On Time Loves A Hero, Little Feat takes some surprising steps – even for them – into a bit of a fusiony rock vibe some of the time. Still, the soulful boogie rock and stripped down folky elements they always worked with are still in play. As always, they make these far-flung styles work together into a cohesive whole! Includes "Time Loves A Hero", "Hi Roller", "Old Folks Boogie", "Red Streamliner", "Rocket In My Pocket", "Missin' You", "Day At The Dog Races" and more.

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!

The one astounding studio album of proto punk/abrasive psych genius from the Monks – a true masterpiece if their ever was one, a record that's been ripped off by myriad more famous groups in both the mainstream and rock underground of the past 40 years! The group's status as discharged G.I.'s informs some of spewed vitriol, but beyond that there's little connection to any trends or scenes, the Monks are true originals in a world of imitators, and that adds a layer of excitement to an already mind blowing listen. The album's wild organ washes, primitive drums and guitar, and harsh, bizarre vocal rants prefigured everything from the Stooges, to Rocket From The Tombs, to the more predictable punk stuff that arrived 18 years later – yet it still grooves. Outrageous and incredible! 12 tracks in all: "Monk Time", "Shut Up", "Boys And Boys And Girls And Girls", "Higgle-Dy-Piggle-Dy", "I Hate You", "We Do Wie Du", "Drunken Maria", "Blast Off", "That's My Girl" and more.

Post Pearls Before Swine work from Tom Rapp – a record that has him stepping out as a solo act, but with a feel that's quite similar to his recordings with the group! The mood here is laidback and slightly folksy – but also augmented more by piano than by guitar, and recorded with a watery style that works wonderfully with Rapp's sad-tinged vocals. A number of the songs appear to be remakes of versions from earlier years – and titles include "Snow Queen", "The Jeweler", "Rocket Man", "Sail Away", "Full Phantom Five & I Shall Not Care", "These Things Too", and "Grace Street".

A beautifully-drawn sci-fi strip from the great Jerry Robinson – material that's even more vibrant than Jerry's famous 40s work on comic books – thanks in part to the lavish style of this volume! Jet Scott was a short-lived continuity strip – one that mixed rocket stories with earthbound action – but the quality is very top-shelf – with adult scripting from Sheldon Stark, and superb draftsmanship by Jerry Robinson – ink and pen that almost rivals Milton Caniff for its characterization and use of space. The book presents all Sunday strips in full color, and dailies in black and white, oversize too – and also features some additional text pieces to frame the material, and rare sketches as well. 253 pages, and an oversize hardcover.

Robot Rock n Roll issue featuring a lavishly illustrated encyclopedia of hundreds of robot records/bands/etc. Interviews with Captured! By Robots, Gilbert and George (The Singing Sculpture), Arthur Lee Maye (1950s R&B/Baseball star), Blowfly, The Troggs, Snoop Dogg, The Syndicate of Sound, Richard and the Young Lions, Rocket From The Crypt, Archer Prewitt, Andy Starr and Junior Brown. Plus Bubblegum, Martin & Lewis, Shrimpenstein (written by Dominic Priore), Crispy Ambulance, Sammy Davis, Jr., Art Fein's 1950s Chicago memories, Bryan Gregory obituary, lots of comics, reviews and more.

Under-exposed genius from the legendary Raymond Scott – a set of straighter jazz material from the late 40s, but all of it with Scott's undeniable sense of madness still very firmly in place! Most of the work here is small combo – played by either a quintet or sextet – and although the styles aren't as dramatic as in some of Raymond's better-known cartoon work, there's still an undeniably fluid, playful feel to the music! Instrumentation includes Scott on piano and celeste, plus trumpet, tenor, clarinet, bass, and drums – and some tracks even feature great early vocals from Dorothy Collins, who seems much madder than usual in the context of the combo! The work appears to have originally been issued by the Master and Audiovox labels – and titles include "Street Corner In Paris", "The Penguin", "By Heck", "Who", "Bird Life In The Bronx", "Curley Cue", "Somebody Loves Me", "Little Girl", "Ectoplasm", "Question Mark", and "Dedicatory Piece To The Crew & Passengers Of The First Experimental Rocket Express To The Moon".

Amazing sounds from The Stark Reality – an obscure group from the early 70s, but one who've really risen to fame over the years – thanks to their groundbreaking ear for new music, and their freewheeling way with a funky groove! This package brings together all the incredible work recorded by the group in the late 60s and early 70s – a mindblowing assortment of funky and fuzzy jazz tracks – almost all of which are graced by the offbeat vibes work of Monty Stark! Stark often adds a bit of distortion into his instrument, which makes for a very tripped-out approach to vibes – one that blends perfectly with the heavy funk of some of the rhythms, and the freaky guitar lines added to most tracks by a young John Abercrombie. Yet at other times, things are very laidback and chilled-out – balanced beautifully from track to track, in a way that illustrates the larger picture the group were always going for in their music. This massive package brings together everything Stark Reality ever recorded – their famous Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop album, the Acting Thinking Feeling live performance, the Roller Coaster Ride/1969 album, and lots of rare singles too – more than enough music to please any fan of the group, and blow the minds of anyone who's just getting a first taste. Titles include "Roller Coaster Ride", "On Being Black", "New World Generation", "Theme To Say Brother", "Dreams", "Clouds", "All You Need To Make Music", "Rocket Ship", "Cooking", "The Old Prospector", and "Junkman's Song". Great package too – with two LP-styled CD sleeves inside a larger case, plus a big booklet of notes and photos!

A killer live set from Suicide – and a very important addition to their catalog – given that the group hardly issued any records in their short-but-crucial career! The album captures a live performance from 1981 – a bilstering barrage of electronics from Martin Rev, topped by these wonderfully moody vocals from Alan Vega – all very much in the best spirit of the group's famous debut album, but given a slightly more spontaneous twist in this live setting too! There's never been another group like Suicide again – despite countless attempts to copy their genius – and the album's one that's right up their with their landmark self-titled set – originally issued on cassette, but sounding even better on vinyl. Titles include "Dream Baby Dream", "Ghost Rider", "Harlem", "Sweet White Lady", "Rocket USA", "Rock & Roll Is Killing My Life", and a weird cover of "96 Tears".

Frankie, Frankie – OW! Take a broken down synth, some crazy vocals, and a rich sense of imagination – and you've got one of the seminal groups of the New York scene of the early punk years. Suicide were a seminal bridge between earlier prog underground sounds and the art-rock punk styles that were coming out of New York in the late 70s. With this one landmark album, the band completely dismantled the cold German prog synth of groups like Kraftwerk, La Dusseldorf, and Tangerine Dream – and created a wild sound of spare anguish that brought a whole new dimension to punk rock. Ok, maybe we're going out on a limb – but this record has got to be one of the top 50 "must have" rock albums of all time. Includes the cuts "Ghost Rider", "Rocket USA", "Johnny", "Frankie Teardrop", "Che", and "Cheree" – plus the unreleased remix of "Cheree".

A rollicking follow-up to one of the best compilations of rare rockers from Bayou country you could ever hope to score – and it's just as great as the first Boppin' By The Bayou set – with tracks by Rocket Morgan, Pee Wee Trayhan, Mickey Gilley, Tony Perreau, Glen Owens, Jay Chevalier, Wiley Jeffers, Al Ferrier and many more! It's got some material that's akin to rockabilly, boogie woogie and R&B-fueled rockers from the period made famous elsewhere in the south – but with some surefire swampy characteristics that's pure Louisiana, too! 28 tracks in all – with rare singles and LPs released on labels such as Zynn, Castle, Flyright, Speedy, Goldband and others – plus some previously unreleased stompers! "You’re Humbuggin' Me" by Rocket Morgan, "Too Hot To Handle" by Vince Anthony, "Got A Right To Cry" by Glen Owens, "Going Back To Cocodrille" by Cajun Joe, "Oh Nell" by Warren Storm, "Castro Rock" by Jay Chevalier, "Rock-A-Me Lulu" by Johnny Jano, "She's Coming Back Again" by Wiley Jeffers, "Whose Baby Are You" by Robert Owens and more.

Rumblin' numbers from late 50s Louisiana – a bit of rockabilly, some that are more rock/less 'billy, still others with the swampier sound you'd expect to be bubbling up outta the bayou! You can feel the influence of 40s New Orleans R&B in the DNA – particularly on the numbers with brass – but there's also some rugged rockers here that would sound right at home in Memphis, or anywhere else – with singles by Tommy Todd, Al Ferrier, Rod Bernard & The Twisters, Arnold Broussard, Jay Chevalier & The Long Shots, Rocket Morgan and others. 28 tracks in all: "Tag Along" by Tommy Todd, "She's Mine" by Johnny Jano, "Linda Gail" by Rode Bernard & The Twisters, "Some Other Time" by Arnold Broussard, "Release Me" by Rocket Morgan, "Boogie Children/Walking With Frankie" by The Playboys, "Rattlesnake" by Wiley Barkdull with Rusty & Doug, "Kansas City" by Warren Storm and more.

Funky covers galore – mostly contemporary tracks, but a few classics as well – all pulled together in support of the Craig Charles Show on BBC! Craig's got a long-standing reputation as a soul collector, funk fanatic, and all around groovy guy – and over the past decade, his show has almost become to funk and soul what John Peel's was to rock back in the day – a great place to discover new talents and revisit old ones! This package has all the key Charles hallmarks – and features a range of grooves that includes deep funk, Afrobeat, dub, and a few more contemporary modes – all of them funky. Titles include "Rocket Man" by The Stiff Naked Fools, "Insane In The Membrane" by Prince Fatty, "Hard Work" by Smoove & Turrell, "The Clap Hands Song" by T Bird & The Breaks, "Wait A Minute" by the Excitements, "Amen Brother" by The Bamboos, "Singalong" by Treva Whateva, "Shaft In Africa" by Mighty Showstoppers, "The Snake" by Al Wilson, "Satisfaction" by Incredible Bongo Band, and "The Bump" by The Haggis Horns.

Great big Dee-troit rawk, like no other group of madmen could have ever created! This is the album that established the Motor City as the capital of late 60s/early 70s gonzo psychedelic rock, and still stands as probably the most massive live recording of the era. Pile-driving outer space noise at it's finest! Recorded live at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit and featuring incisive liner notes by ringleader John Sinclair. Tracks include "Kick Out The Jams", "Come Together", "Rocket Reducer No. 62", "Borderline", "Motor City Is Burning", "I Want You Right Now" and "Starship".

A great set that definitely lives up to its title – as it's easily the most comprehensive collection of work by Chris Kenner we've ever seen! The New Orleans legend is known for a few key classics back in the 60s – but this set goes way past the familiar, to show a huge sound of Crescent City grooves from Chris – including some later gems on singles that we'd totally forgotten about! The package features a whopping 31 tracks in all – most of them with that chunky, funky, bottom-heavy groove that was Kenner's big trademark at the time – and a virtual blueprint for New Orleans soul too. Includes the whole 1000 Dances album, plus lots of bonus singles – cuts that include "Johnny Little", "Rocket To The Moon", "She Can Dance", "My Wife", "All Night Ramblers (parts 1 & 2)", "Wind The Clock", "Mini Skirts & Soul", "Sad Mistake", "Grandma's House", "I Like It Like That (parts 1 & 2)", "Something You Got", "Don't Let Her Pin That Charge", and "Shoo Rah".

Late 60's issue of a record that's also known as Rocket Number Nine Take Off For The Planet Venus. The material was recorded in 1959 and 1960, but unissued until the mid 60's. Ra plays piano, chimes, and gong, and the tracks have a nice laid back spacey feel, with some ensemble vocals chanted by the group. Ronnie Boykins also plays the space gong on one cut, which sounds very nice. Cuts include "Somewhere In Space", "Space Loneliness", "Space Aura", and "Interplanetary Music". The cover's got a brilliant red and white drawing of volcanic land, piano keys floating in space, and a mysterious female figure in flames!

One of the most tripped-out albums of funk you'll ever buy – a rare treasure with a very unusual history! The Stark Reality were a cool little combo formed to work on public television in Boston in the late 60s – and the combo featured some heavy guitars, fuzzed-up vibes, and some monster percussion laid out in tight bass and drum rhythms that were years ahead of their time! The group recorded one rare album – ostensibly a children's record, but based around old compositions by Hoagy Carmichael, completely pulled apart, sliced up, overly harmonized, and spat out into wild funky tunes that bear no resemblance to their originals! The original album – Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop – has been a holy grail for collectors for years (we once sold a copy for hundreds of dollars!), and the music has only ever really been heard by a few dedicated beatheads that have tracked down rare copies. Now, though, the geniuses at Stones Throw have put out the whole LP, plus bonus material, in one fantastic package that is soon to make the Stark Reality legends amongst funky fans the world over! Mad vibes meet fuzzy guitars meet killer funky beats – and the whole thing's a masterpiece that will never be duplicated again! Tracks include "Too Much Tenderness", "Sunday's Song", "Roller Coaster Ride", "Say Brother", "Rocket Ship", "All You Need To Make Music", "Junkman's Song", and "Thirty Days Hath September".

Talib Kweli references has reputation as the concious rap torch carrier – and the perceived restrictions therein on Prisoner Of Concious – and delivers some of his best tracks in years. With a guest appearance by Nelly and featuring appearances by as varied a guest list as Miguel, Curren$y, Busta Rhymes and Kendrick Lamar, you might think he's casting his net too wide, but it's actually pretty consistent! Even on tracks that flirt with a commercial radio ready sound, Kweli's pen is as sharp and his flow as busy as ever. Solid work from one the more active legends in the game. Includes "Human Mic", "Turnt Up", "Come Here" feat Miguel, "High Life" with Rubix Cube & Bajah, "Ready Set Go" feat Melanie Fiona, "Hold It Now", "Push Thru" feat Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar & Glen Reynolds, "Hamster Wheel", "Delicate Flowers", "Rocket Ships" feat Busta Rhymes, "Upper Echelon", "Favela Love" feat Seu Jorge and "It Only Gets Better" feat Marsha Abrosius and more.

Talib Kweli references has reputation as the concious rap torch carrier – and the perceived restrictions therein on Prisoner Of Concious – and delivers some of his best tracks in years. With a guest appearance by Nelly and featuring appearances by as varied a guest list as Miguel, Curren$y, Busta Rhymes and Kendrick Lamar, you might think he's casting his net too wide, but it's actually pretty consistent! Even on tracks that flirt with a commercial radio ready sound, Kweli's pen is as sharp and his flow as busy as ever. Solid work from one the more active legends in the game. Includes "Human Mic", "Turnt Up", "Come Here" feat Miguel, "High Life" with Rubix Cube & Bajah, "Ready Set Go" feat Melanie Fiona, "Hold It Now", "Push Thru" feat Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar & Glen Reynolds, "Hamster Wheel", "Delicate Flowers", "Rocket Ships" feat Busta Rhymes, "Upper Echelon", "Favela Love" feat Seu Jorge and "It Only Gets Better" feat Marsha Abrosius and more.

Blam is right – an all-out batch of funky tracks from The Brothers Johnson – captured here right in the middle of their classic period with Quincy Jones! The Q's at the helm on production for the set, and the record's a great extension of their earlier efforts with the man – but a bit more Johnson-tuned (if we can say that in mixed company) – with the bass upfront on some of the best numbers, and a surprisingly strong male ballad approach on some of the gentler tunes. There's a slightly jazzy undercurrent at times, and tracks include "Rocket Countdown/Blastoff", "Ride-O-Rocket", "Streetwave", "Blam", "So You Won't Stay", "Ain't We Funkin Now", and "Mista Cool". CD also features the bonus single mix of "Ride-O-Rocket".

A bomb! The title of this one says it all – a burning anthem of pride and power, issued in 1969, at the end of one of the most troubling decades in America. James answers all the Uncle Tom cries from his critics – and comes up with "Say It Loud", an instant chant that was taken up around the world, and which still packs a pretty hard punch today! The album's filled with other excellent cuts – like the tasty funk number "Lickin' Stick", with some rocket-driven guitar, and the great instrumental "Shades of Brown". Other titles include "Goodbye My Love (parts 1&2)", "Let Them Talk", "I Love You", and "I Guess I'll Have To Cry Cry Cry".

Great big Dee-troit rawk, like no other group of madmen could have ever created! This is the album that established the Motor City as the capital of late 60s/early 70s gonzo psychedelic rock, and still stands as probably the most massive live recording of the era. Pile-driving outer space noise at it's finest! Recorded live at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit and featuring incisive liner notes by ringleader John Sinclair. Tracks include "Kick Out The Jams", "Come Together", "Rocket Reducer No. 62", "Borderline", "Motor City Is Burning", "I Want You Right Now" and "Starship".

The one astounding studio album of proto punk/abrasive psych genius from the Monks – a true masterpiece – and a record that's been ripped off by myriad more famous groups in both the mainstream and underground rock landscape of the past 40 years! The group's status as discharged G.I.'s informs some of spewed vitriol, but beyond that there's little connection to any trends or scenes – the Monks are true originals in a world of imitators – and that adds a layer of excitement to an already mind blowing listen. The album's wild organ washes, primitive drums and guitar, and harsh, bizarre vocal rants prefigured everything from the Stooges, to Rocket From The Tombs, to the more predictable punk stuff that arrived 18 years later – yet it still grooves. Outrageous and incredible! "Monk Time", "Shut Up", "Boys Are Boys And Girls Are Choice", "Higgle-Dy-Piggle-Dy", "I Hate You", "We Do Wie Du", "Drunken Maria", "Blast Off!", "That's My Girl", "Cuckoo", "Love Can Tame The Wild", "He Went Down To The Sea" and more – the first 12 tracks are the original LP release – followed by later singles and a live track. Light In The Attic's reissue has better sound than we've ever heard for this material, and a great booklet of notes and photos.

Amazing sounds from The Stark Reality – an obscure group from the early 70s, but one who've really risen to fame over the years – thanks to their groundbreaking ear for new music, and their freewheeling way with a funky groove! This package brings together all the incredible work recorded by the group in the late 60s and early 70s – a mindblowing assortment of funky and fuzzy jazz tracks – almost all of which are graced by the offbeat vibes work of Monty Stark! Stark often adds a bit of distortion into his instrument, which makes for a very tripped-out approach to vibes – one that blends perfectly with the heavy funk of some of the rhythms, and the freaky guitar lines added to most tracks by a young John Abercrombie. Yet at other times, things are very laidback and chilled-out – balanced beautifully from track to track, in a way that illustrates the larger picture the group were always going for in their music. This massive package brings together everything Stark Reality ever recorded – their famous Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop album, the Acting Thinking Feeling live performance, the Roller Coaster Ride/1969 album, and lots of rare singles too – more than enough music to please any fan of the group, and blow the minds of anyone who's just getting a first taste. Titles include "Roller Coaster Ride", "On Being Black", "New World Generation", "Theme To Say Brother", "Dreams", "Clouds", "All You Need To Make Music", "Rocket Ship", "Cooking", "The Old Prospector", and "Junkman's Song". 6LPs, in a massive box, with a bonus 7" single, a download card, and 16 page book!

Tremendous lost work from Sun Ra – recorded live in Detroit at the start of the 80s, and only ever issued briefly on a limited Saturn Records pressing! Given the show's setting in the Detroit underground, the material has an especially hip sound to it – a return to some of the more righteous modes of the early 70s – both in the group's use of electronics, and in the chanted soul-based lyrics on the album's great version of "Rocket Number Nine"! Ra himself is playing organ and synthesizer – using both in ways that are really eerie and other-worldly – often with spooky tones and these highly metallic notes that make it really difficult to figure out which instrument is which. Overall, the tunes are adventurous, but never too far outside – often quite introspective, and even slightly groove-based, as on the record's great take on "Romance On A Satellite". Other members of the group for this date include Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Craig Harris, June Tyson, and James Jacson – who plays "Ancient Egyptian Infinity Lightning Drum". CD also features the whole performance that was recorded – material that originally appeared on the Saturn albums Beyond The Purple Star Zone and Oblique Parallax. Other titles include "Beyond The Purple Star Zone", "Planetary Search", "Vista Omniverse", "Celestial Realms", "Journey Stars Beyond", and "Immortal Being".

An earnest, often largely orchestrated gospel-ish album This Lusty Land is his earliest inspirational foray. If you only know ol' Ern from "Sixteen Tons" and the Davy Crockett theme, or from his appearance as a Branson, MO dwelling ghost on the Simpsons, you're really missing out on a singular vocal talent – a man who cut some of the greatest hillbilly pop and proto-rockabilly vocal tunes ever! 12 tracks in all: "John Henry", "Trouble In Mind", "Chicken Road", "The Rovin' Gambler", "In The Pines", "Nine Pound Hammer", "The Last Letter", and more.

A rocketing bit of South African funky soul – and of the few great records released on Ahmad Jamal's short-lived Jamal label! The session's a lot hipper than some of the South African work that was issued in the US around the same time – and the feel here is almost more in a London post-colonial mode, with a strong criss-crossing of elements, but also a good sense of roots. There's an undercurrent of funk, too – tightly vamping rhythms, killer percussion, and it's peppered with sharp jazz solos from Gwangwa on trombone and Du Du Pukwana on sax – an overall groove that's almost like some of the Perception/Today label jazz funk of the early 70s! Some cuts feature vocals from Mamsie, and titles include "Dark City", "Switch #2", "Switch #1", "Szaba Szaba", "Kwatula", "Chant", "Who", and "African Sausage".

A cinematic effort from Gilbert Hernandez – a standalone graphic novel that expands on the story of one of the characters from his Palomar epic – but with a gritty sort of vibe that really matches the cover! The shift is a nice one – as Hernandez works in an even more visually-focused style here – without dialogue in a number of scenes, and often hitting the pacing of a b-movie thriller! 120 pages, black and white, and with a nice sort of oversized crime novel feel.

A cool sci-fi story from two of the three brothers who created Love & Rockets – a tight little tale about robot culture, with a vibe that's like some of the best work from the early years of the magazine! The drawings here are most strongly in the famous style of Gilbert Hernadez, but you can also feel the influence of Mario as well – and the high-quality printing has the black and white images really popping off the page, wrapped up in a nice color hardcover! 126 pages, with bonus notes as well.

Allen's on the front cover in a white turtleneck that makes him look like a bit of a square, but the session's a nice jazzy fusion outing, in the best tradition of some of the excellent work from the time on the short-lived Headfirst label! Vizzutti plays trumpet in the lead, often in a brilliantly brassy style that's clearly inspired by some of Freddie Hubbard's electric work of the early 70s – but which also takes off in an even more jamming mode on a few of the album's more frenetic numbers, which get past the gentler soul of the rest of the set. Other players include Chick Corea, Grant Geisman, and Joe Farrell – and titles include "Zig Zag", "Skyrocket", "Down At Sunset Sound", "Sunflower Fields", and "In The Pocket".

An essential chapter of Miami soul – even if most of the work is appearing here for the first time ever! The set is a magnificent companion to Numero's Deep City collection of pre-TK Miami soul – but it's put together in such a way that it's almost a beautiful introduction to the south Florida sound on its own – served up in a batch of rare, unreleased tracks! The music is every bit as wonderful as you'd expect – Miami soul recorded at a time before cliches had started to hit that scene – and when the best artists down south were strongly resonating ideas from Memphis and Muscle Shoals with other elements borrowed from northern groups both funky and mellow. Numero have really outdone themselves with this one – and the collection is way more than a part 2 to their previous package – more of a brilliant set of soul tunes on its own, complete with a booklet that's as beautiful as the music. Titles include "One Little Piece" by The Rollers, "Don't Be Surprised" by Lynn Williams, "No Way Out" by Clarence Reid, "What's In The Lovin" by Helene Smith, "Mr Lucky" by Betty Wright, "There Goes My Baby" by James Knight & The Butlers, "Do What You're Doin" by The Rising Sun, "Do Your Stuff" by Perk Badger, "Masterpiece" by Deep City Band, "Nasty Dog (part 2)" by The Nasty Dog Catchers, "Thank You Baby" by Betty Wright, "Your Love Won't Let Me Leave You" by Snoopy Dean, "The Pot Can't Talk About The Kettle" by Helene Smith, "Show Me What You Got" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "Don't Be A Fool" by Clarence Reid, and "Knockin At The Wrong Door" by The Rollers. 2LP version features a great 12 x 12 fold out color insert in the middle – and includes 4 bonus tracks – instrumental versions of "Play With Fire" by The Rollers, "True Love Don't Grow On Trees" by Helene Smith, and "There Goes My Baby" by James Knight & The Butlers – plus the cut "Frenchy The Tickler" by Johnny K Killens & The Dynamites.

The birth of Miami soul, and a beautifully done document of the rare Deep City label – home to Willie Clarke, Clarence Reid, and Betty Wright in the years before Alston and TK Records! Way before Miami soul started cracking the charts at the start of the 70s, Deep City was already putting the best parts in place – working with a tight roster of artists and an equally tight in-house band that rose from the ranks of Florida A&M's Marching 100 band – razor-sharp instrumentalists who helped forge a groove worthy to rival the sounds of Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and even the best of Detroit at the time – given that some of the work here has a much sweeter soul sound than other 60s southern soul. As usual, the Numero team have done an incredible job with the package – pulling out rare photos, personal stories, and just the right amount of information to breathe new life into the Deep City label and help it live anew. Titles include "Paralyzed" and "Good Lovin" by Betty Wright, "Am I A Good Man" by Them Two, "Someone To Fulfill My Needs" and "I Love You Baby" by The Moovers, "I Am Controlled By Your Love" and "Willing & Able" by Helene Smith, "Good Thing (part 1)" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "It's My Baby" and "The Upset" by Paul Kelly, and "Stay Away From My Johnny" by Freda Gray & The Rocketeers. 2LP version features 6 bonus tracks – all instrumental – including "Good Lovin (inst)", "I Love You Baby (inst)", "Darling I'll Go (inst)", and "Am I A Good Man (inst)" by The Deep City Band – and "Stay Away From My Johnny (inst)" and "Good Thing (part 2) (inst)" by The Rocketeers.

Badass sounds brewed up in the border town of El Paso – amazing guitar-driven gems recorded for a handful of indie labels in the late 50s and early 60s – served up here with wonderfully great sound, and a full set of notes as well! The set's a stunning volume in Norton's deep-digging project on the El Paso scene – and it's really rich with discoveries throughout – loads of rough-edged rockers that lie somewhere in a space between rockabilly and 60s garage – every one a treasure. Titles include "Across The Bay" by Joe Richie, "Lonely Before Dawn" by Night People, "I Love You Baby" by The Ravons, "Cradle Rock" by Rhythm Heirs, "Long Grey Highway" by Frank Thayer & The Lyonals, "Sarah Jane" by Don Orr & The Original Rockets, "Lonely Teardrops" by The Fortunes, "Jungle Bunny" and "Bacardi" by Jerry Bell & The Original Rockets.

Badass sounds brewed up in the border town of El Paso – amazing guitar-driven gems recorded for a handful of indie labels in the late 50s and early 60s – served up here with wonderfully great sound, and a full set of notes as well! The set's a stunning volume in Norton's deep-digging project on the El Paso scene – and it's really rich with discoveries throughout – loads of rough-edged rockers that lie somewhere in a space between rockabilly and 60s garage – every one a treasure. Titles include "Across The Bay" by Joe Richie, "Lonely Before Dawn" by Night People, "I Love You Baby" by The Ravons, "Cradle Rock" by Rhythm Heirs, "Long Grey Highway" by Frank Thayer & The Lyonals, "Sarah Jane" by Don Orr & The Original Rockets, "Lonely Teardrops" by The Fortunes, "Jungle Bunny" and "Bacardi" by Jerry Bell & The Original Rockets.

A well-done overview of underground Neo Soul from the US – one that features some of the best work we've been stocking over the past few years! The scope here is really great – with a very careful focus on the individual artists, and the tracks chosen – at a level that's far better than most of the cheapo Neo Soul collections out there on the market. Many of these folks are ones that we sell in full LP form, but this set's a great way to dip into their work at a lighter level – with a total of 16 tracks that include "Fell In Love" by Antoinique, "Let Love In" by Trace Ellington, "If" by Heston, "Just Because" by Conya Doss, "U Told Me" by Monet, "Ivory Moon" by Rhian, "I Found Love" by Emerald Jade, "You Know What Happens" by Alison Crockett, "Like No Other" by Maya Azucena, "Love Serenade" by Marlon Saunders, "Darkside" by Mayron, and "Honeydew" by Geno Young.

Some of the darkest work we've ever seen from Gilbert Hernandez – his third standalone graphic novel in this cool crime/b-movie-styled series! The work has a feel that's a bit like his Palomar stories, but packs a bit more punch, too – somewhat raunchier in themes, with the kind of crime thriller feel you'd guess from the cover! Done in a very nice format – 120 pages, black and white, and hardcover.

Mid 70s funk rock from Aura – the psych Sativa from the San Francisco group – a dense blend of funky horns & rhythms, chorus vocals, organ fuzz and heavily -layed piano, lumbering drums and blazing electric guitars! This is a group that cared not for stylistic boundaries and they bring some real heat on this one and only album! Titles include "You Got Something", "Clap Your Hands", "First Taste Of Love", "Gonna Make It", "Sativa", "Mess Up Your Mind", "Don't You Worry", "Trying To Hold It Down" and "Skyrocket".

Mid 70s funk rock from Aura – the psych Sativa from the San Francisco group – a dense blend of funky horns & rhythms, chorus vocals, organ fuzz and heavily -layed piano, lumbering drums and blazing electric guitars! This is a group that cared not for stylistic boundaries and they bring some real heat on this one and only album! Titles include "You Got Something", "Clap Your Hands", "First Taste Of Love", "Gonna Make It", "Sativa", "Mess Up Your Mind", "Don't You Worry", "Trying To Hold It Down" and "Skyrocket". This CD includes 3 bonus tracks: "Catch A Falling Star", "Evil That Brings You Down" and "It's A Feeling".

Amazing stuff – and arguably the greatest early Funkadelic album ever! The set moves past the simple fuzzy style of the group's debut, and the overly-stoned sound of Free Your Mind – and rockets into a heady funk style that's filled with sly social commentary and an incredibly dark vision of the future! The centerpiece of the album is the mindblowing "Maggot Brain" title track – a tune that begins with a chilling spoken intro, then slowly builds amidst washes and washes of post-Hendrix guitar. That cut then rolls into some shorter, funkier numbers that rank with some of the group's best ever – using the device of party-hearty energy to convey a sense of alienation and horror at the world. The whole thing's brilliant throughout – and apart from being a soul classic, the set should also rank as one of the greatest rock albums of all time! Titles include "Maggot Brain", "Super Stupid", "Back in Our Minds", "Can You Get to That", and "Wars of Armageddon".

Amazing stuff – and arguably the greatest early Funkadelic album ever! The set moves past the simple fuzzy style of the group's debut, and the overly-stoned sound of Free Your Mind – and rockets into a heady funk style that's filled with sly social commentary and an incredibly dark vision of the future! The centerpiece of the album is the mindblowing "Maggot Brain" title track – a tune that begins with a chilling spoken intro, then slowly builds amidst washes and washes of post-Hendrix guitar. That cut then rolls into some shorter, funkier numbers that rank with some of the group's best ever – using the device of party-hearty energy to convey a sense of alienation and horror at the world. The whole thing's brilliant throughout – and apart from being a soul classic, the set should also rank as one of the greatest rock albums of all time! Titles include "Maggot Brain", "Super Stupid", "Back in Our Minds", "Can You Get to That", and "Wars of Armageddon".

A treasure trove of lesser-known work by the Hernandez Brothers – shorter stories that were mostly one-offs from Love & Rockets – and which feature different themes and characters than the long-running Locas and Palomar epics! The book features lots of wonderful stuff from the early years which we'd totally forgotten about – some cute, some creepy, all of it handled with that amazing maturity that the Hernadez pair brought to their comics right from the start. There's some especially great material from Gilbert – done with the depth of some of his Palomar characters, but more pointed – and some of the Jamie stories showcase his earlier love of sci-fi, which dropped out a bit as the years went on. 283 pages, black and white, and packed with greatness!

A nice batch of live tracks from Stiff's roster: Nick Lowe "I Knew The Bride" and "Let's Eat", Wreckless Eric & The New Rockets "Semaphore Signals" and "Reconnez Cherie", Larry Wallis' Psychedelic Rowdies "Police Car", Elvis Costello & The Attractions "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" and "Miracle Man", Ian Dury & The blockheads "Billericay Dickie" and "Wake Up & Make Love With Me", and the whole bunch of them performing "Sex Drugs Rock & Roll & Chaos".

Amazing work from trumpeter Avishai Cohen – working here with his Triveni trio, and sounding even more powerful than on the first release from that group! The combo features incredible bass from Omer Avital – a player we've really come to love in recent years – and rocketing drums from Nasheet Waits – working with Cohen's trumpet in this power-trio mode that's usually reserved for tenorists in this type of setting – but which really helps open up Avishai's music in a wonderful way! The quick-time improvisation of the trio is brilliant – proof that these guys really feel each other strongly – and things are free, yet never too outside – a beautiful balance from all players. Titles include "BR Story", "Safety Land", "Get Blue", "Portrait", "Art Deco", "Music News", and "Nov 30th".

The birth of Miami soul, and a beautifully done document of the rare Deep City label – home to Willie Clarke, Clarence Reid, and Betty Wright in the years before Alston and TK Records! Way before Miami soul started cracking the charts at the start of the 70s, Deep City was already putting the best parts in place – working with a tight roster of artists and an equally tight in-house band that rose from the ranks of Florida A&M's Marching 100 band – razor-sharp instrumentalists who helped forge a groove worthy to rival the sounds of Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and even the best of Detroit at the time – given that some of the work here has a much sweeter soul sound than other 60s southern soul. As usual, the Numero team have done an incredible job with the package – pulling out rare photos, personal stories, and just the right amount of information to breathe new life into the Deep City label and help it live anew. CD features 17 tracks in all – including "Paralyzed" and "Good Lovin" by Betty Wright, "Am I A Good Man" by Them Two, "Someone To Fulfill My Needs" and "I Love You Baby" by The Moovers, "I Am Controlled By Your Love" and "Willing & Able" by Helene Smith, "Good Thing (part 1)" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "It's My Baby" and "The Upset" by Paul Kelly, and "Stay Away From My Johnny" by Freda Gray & The Rocketeers.

A much-needed look at the funky Miami scene of the late 60s and early 70s – the new powerhouse of southern soul, after the slowdown in the scenes in Memphis and Muscle Shoals! The Miami sound was harder, tighter, rawer, and faster than that of other southern outlets – based around a really strong ability to pick up a little riff, cook it up nicely, and create the perfect backdrop for sock-soul vocals. By the mid 70s, Miami was topping the charts with disco tunes that sprung out of this energy – but the tracks on this set are all heavy-hitters from the pre-disco years – kickass funky tunes that burn like a box full of rare funky 45s! Titles include "You Got To Be A Man" and "The Spanish Flyer" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "Do It To Me One More Time" and "Somebody Done Took My Baby & Gone" by Joey Gilmore, "Cadillac Annie" by Clarence Reid, "You Got To Be A Man" and "A Woman Will Do Wrong" by Helene Smith, "Funky Cat", "Save Me", and "Fantasy World" by James Knight & The Butlers, "Funky Me" by Timmy Thomas, "Funkadelic Sound" by Little Beaver, "Don't Make The Good Girls Go Bad" by Della Humphrey, "I Get Lifted" by George McCrae, and "Cramp Your Style" by All The People.