Rod Stewart steals from Jorge Ben – and gets the biggest hit of his career with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy", this Brazilian funk-influenced disco tune that crossed over big! Also includes "Dirty Weekend", "The Best Days Of My Life", "Is That The Thanks I Get", "Attractive Female Wanted", "Last Summer", and "Scarred And Scared". LP, Vinyl record album

A jam-packed soundtrack for this 80s teen sex romp – with selections by Rod Stewart, Earl Klugh, Air Supply, Randy Van Warmer, John Cougar, Earth Wind & Fire, Crazy Horse, and Willie Nile. LP, Vinyl record album

Genius, pure genius – and a record that will completely revise your thinking about Rod Stewart – a set that will blow away all the cliches you might know from later years, and will have you re-examining his early years in all their glorious brilliance! The sound is amazing right from the start – heavy on acoustic instrumentation that offers up a much rootsier side of Stewart than his work with The Faces or Jeff Beck – yet at a level that still packs a hell of a lot of punch, thanks to these incredible drums that get the whole thing going right from the start – urging on the vocals to a crackling charm that's even more powerful here away from any big chart hits. Even familiar tunes are completely remade by the godlike early Rod – as you'll year on tracks that include "Only A Hobo", "Gasoline Alley", "My Way Of Giving", "Cut Across Shorty", "Lady Day", "Jo's Lament", and "Country Comforts". CD

Genius, pure genius – and a record that will completely revise your thinking about Rod Stewart – a set that will blow away all the cliches you might know from later years, and will have you re-examining his early years in all their glorious brilliance! The sound is amazing right from the start – heavy on acoustic instrumentation that offers up a much rootsier side of Stewart than his work with The Faces or Jeff Beck – yet at a level that still packs a hell of a lot of punch, thanks to these incredible drums that get the whole thing going right from the start – urging on the vocals to a crackling charm that's even more powerful here away from any big chart hits. Even familiar tunes are completely remade by the godlike early Rod – as you'll year on tracks that include "Only A Hobo", "Gasoline Alley", "My Way Of Giving", "Cut Across Shorty", "Lady Day", "Jo's Lament", and "Country Comforts". CD

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The young solo Rod Stewart, still going strong – on titles that include "I'd Rather Go Blind", "True Blue", "Lost Paraguayos", "Mama You Been On My Mind", "You Wear It Well", and "Italian Girls". CD

The young solo Rod Stewart, still going strong – on titles that include "I'd Rather Go Blind", "True Blue", "Lost Paraguayos", "Mama You Been On My Mind", "You Wear It Well", and "Italian Girls". LP, Vinyl record album

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Rod Stewart steals from Jorge Ben – and gets the biggest hit of his career with this Brazilian funk-influenced disco tune that crossed over big! The single features a special disco mix by Jim Burgess. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A real turning point for Rod Stewart – but a record that still holds onto all the wonderful sides of his work with the Faces, too! Includes the sublime "Mandolin Wind" – plus "Every Picture Tells A Story", "That's All Right Mama", "Reason To Believe", "Losing You", and "Maggie May". LP, Vinyl record album

A real turning point for Rod Stewart – but a record that still holds onto all the wonderful sides of his work with the Faces, too! Includes the sublime "Mandolin Wind" – plus "Every Picture Tells A Story", "That's All Right Mama", "Reason To Believe", "Losing You", and "Maggie May". CD

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Incredible! The record's one that will blow away all your previous understandings of Rod Stewart – a wicked reinterpretation of the Faces sound, done with heavily acoustic instrumentation and really wonderful production. Includes Rod's landmark take on "Handbags & Gladrags" – plus "Man Of Constant Sorrow", "Cindy's Lament", "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down", and "I Wouldn't Change A Thing". CD

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Incredible! The record's one that will blow away all your previous understandings of Rod Stewart – a wicked reinterpretation of the Faces sound, done with heavily acoustic instrumentation and really wonderful production. Includes Rod's landmark take on "Handbags & Gladrags" – plus "Man Of Constant Sorrow", "Cindy's Lament", "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down", and "I Wouldn't Change A Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Produced by Rod Stewart and Elton John. With Ron Wood and most of the players that would wind up playing on Rod's "Every Picture Tells A Story" album. LP, Vinyl record album

78 in the shade, and 78 on the calendar too – 1978, a year when the reborn Small Faces were still sounding plenty darn great! The album follows nicely from the previous Playmates – with the strong rootsy undercurrents as that one, way more than in the group's earlier music – produced tightly, but still at a level that's free from commercial fluff or any too-easy attempts at a hit. Steve Marriott's presence in the lead is great – the the overall presentation is surprisingly free of hoke, and the album falls somewhere in the territory of the best solo material by Ronnie Laine, Rod Stewart, or Ron Wood. Titles include "Over Too Soon", "Brown Man Do", "Real Sour", "Filthy Rich", "Stand By Me", and "Let Me Down Gently". LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool package that's way more than just the blues promised in the title – as the set brings together work from a variety of scenes and styles, all showing the many ways that American blues had such an impact on UK sounds from the mod generation onwards! There's definitely some tracks here that stick to a slavish representation of the original influence – but the set also includes all sorts of great divergences, tracing the path that so many artists would take from learning blues licks to really stepping out with new sounds of their own in psych, prog, hard rock, and other British styles to follow! There's also some surprising folk moments too – and over the course of 73 tracks, the box follows a fantastic journey – also supported with great notes too – through the work of artists who include Siren, Andy Roberts, Medicine Head, John Martyn, The Deviants, Pentangle, Killing Floor, Jo Ann Kelly, Jellybread, Alexis Korner, Rod Stewart, Mike Cooper, Savoy Brown, The Purple Gang, Al Jones, Bronx Cheer, Dave Ellis, Roger Hubbard, Taste, Incredible String Band, Ralph McTell, and many others. CD

The Faces gave us a handful of fantastic records during the early 70s – but alongside those studio sets, their antics as a live group were even more stunning – as you'll hear on some of this material recorded for the BBC at the time! The tunes aren't as totally freewheeling and over the top as their work on stage, but are still pretty great – and show that rawness at the core that has continued to give the group power that's lived on for many years, even past the more mainstream career of Rod Stewart too! Stewart is incredible here on vocals – and the rest of the group are impeccable instrumentally – and this set adds in more material than previous BBC vinyl releases – to present all the work the group recorded for the network during their time together. Titles include "Country Comfort", "Had Me A Real Good Time", "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Miss Judy's Farm", "Stay With Me", "Love In Vain", "Wicked Messenger", "Oh Lord I'm Borrowed Off", and "Around The Plynth/Gasoline Alley". LP, Vinyl record album

A compilation of early recordings by Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt, Dave Edmunds, Boz Scaggs, Warren Zevon, Jeff Lynne, Willie Nelson, Nick Lowe, and Greg & Duane Allman. LP, Vinyl record album

The third album from The Faces and a straight up masterpiece of charismatic, sweaty, swaggery early 70s rock and roll! We were pretty late in acknowledging the badassery of Rod Stewart during this period, both solo and with The Faces, and boy does this record ever sound amazing to us now! The love these Brits have for soul, rhythm and blues is real, too – which makes it work on a deeper level. Titles Includes "Miss Judy's Farm", "You're So Rude", "Last Orders Please", "Love Lives Here", "Debris", a great cover of "Memphis", Too Bad" the breakthrough superhit "Stay With Me" and That's All You Need". CD

A posthumous collection of work from The Faces – a set of some of their best material from the early 70s, served up as a swan song to the great group who was bound to implode at some point in their career! Rod Stewart is amazing here – even more ferocious than on his own early solo work – and the Ronnies, Wood and Laine, are both superb – at a level that always has us trading our old Rolling Stones records for Faces albums – even at a ratio of three to one. Titles include "Cindy Incidentally", "Pineapple & The Monkey", "Flying", "Sweet Lady Mary", "You Can Make Me Dance Sing Or Anything", "Stay With Me", "Had Me A Real Good Time", "Silicone Grown", "Around The Plynth", "Miss Judy's Farm", and "Ooh La La". LP, Vinyl record album

Covers from Rod Stewart, Joan Baez, Manfred Mann, Eric Clapton And His Band, Ron Wood, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Rick Nelson, Doug Sahm & Band, Raiders, Blue Ash, Jah Malla, The Hollies, and more. CD

Covers by the Flying Burrito Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, the Mekons, Flamin' Groovies, Marianne Faithfull, Gene Pitney, Otis Redding, Bryan Ferry, and others – 24 tracks total. CD

Includes tracks by Al Jarreau, Quarterflash, Rod Stewart, Talk Talk, Pointer Sisters, Burt Bacharach, Marshall Crenshaw, Heaven 17, and Rufus & Chaka Khan. LP, Vinyl record album

The final full album from the legendary Faces – a group who've got all their best elements sharply in focus here, in a way that really stands apart from the growing solo fame of Rod Stewart! Rod the god is still at the helm on vocals – and really sounds incredible – but the group energy of performance is what really drives things throughout – the vibe that makes you realize that these guys play together as well as they party together! Ronnie Wood is sublime on guitar, Kenny Jones tears up the drum kit, and Ronnie Lane's sense of timing holds the whole thing together beautifully. Titles include "Silicone Grown", "Cindy Incidentally", "My Fault", "Borstal Boys", "Glad And Sorry", "Just Another Honky", and the title track "Ooh La La" – which features Wood on lead vocals, and has maybe grown on to become one of the best-remembered Faces tracks over the years! LP, Vinyl record album

Features early work by Albert Lee, Dave Kelly, Rod Stewart, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Fever Tree, Free, The Edgar Winter Group, Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground, The Zombies, Steve Miller Band, The Youngbloods, Country Joe And The Fish, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and more - 24 tracks in al. CD

A wide ranging collection that's actually a lot better than any of the regular US "Now" releases – with tracks from Elton John, Slade, Mud, Sweet, 10cc, David Bowie, the O Jays, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Alice Cooper, the Drifters, Donny Osmond, and more – 83 songs in all. CD

Long John Baldry is best remembered for one massive hit in the early 70s – but at the start of his career, he was one of the key artists on the UK scene mixing together blues, soul, R&B, and even a touch of jazz – as you'll hear here in a series of rare BBC material that captures Baldry with two very hip groups! The first half of the record features John on vocals as part of Steampacket – a group that also features a very young Rod Stewart, plus the great Julie Driscoll on vocals too – backed by the Trinity combo of organist Brian Auger – who would soon go on to make some great records with Julie. The second half features Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men – a group with John as the sole singer, plus Al Gay and Stan Robinson on saxes, and Geoff Bradford on guitar. Most of the tracks on the record are mod remakes of American tunes – including "How Long Will It Last", "It's All Right", "Five Long Years", "Speak Your Piece", "Lord Remember Me", "Going To A Go Go", "Jump For Joy", "Didn't Want To Do It", and "The Drifter". LP, Vinyl record album

Charly issue of material by "the first rock supergroup" – The Steampacket, a large group that included Brian Auger, Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll, Vic Briggs, and Mick Waller. The sound is beat group heavy – an extension of the Auger/Driscoll groove – and titles include "Baby Baby", "Holy Smoke", "The In Crowd", and "Back At The Chicken Shack". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Dave Lambert And Buddy Stewart With Red Rodney's Be-Boppers, Frances Wayne with Neal Hefti And His Orchestra, Neal Hefti And His Orchestra, and Red Rodney's Be-Boppers. CD

A pair of country gems from the great Gary Stewart – back to back in a single set! First up is Out Of Hand, a seminal album from Gary Stewart – one of those key 70s records that helped establish him as a rising star on the bandstand and the barrooms – thanks in part to some very booze-oriented tracks on the set! The record's got two classics that really define Gary's sound – the seminal "Drinkin Thing" and "She's Actin Single (I'm Drinkin Doubles)" – which are a great update of older drinking themed country cuts, but with a much more vibrant 70s approach, one that shows the way that rock music was sliding in to influence crossover stars like Gary! The whole thing's great, though – and the record's filled with other great tracks that include "Sweet Country Red", "Back Slider's Wine", "Draggin Shackles", and "Out Of Hand". Brand New is a set that Gary Stewart cut away from some of his major label fame, and a record that maybe has him burning even more strongly in the setting – working with a leaner sort of production that puts him in the territory of some of the younger up-and-comers of the generation, and which also shows just how much his 70s material might have been an influence to them! Stewart's still got that incredible voice that few others can match – inflections that really send the tunes home – on titles that include "Son Of A Honky Tonk Woman", "Brand New Whiskey", "An Empty Glass", "Murdered By Love", "Romona", and "I Get Drunk". CD

Al Stewart, right before his big hit years to come – sounding wonderful here on both his tremendous vocals, and the range of tunes that seem to flow effortlessly from his pen! Production is by Alan Parsons, whose ability to compress elements to perfection is a perfect foil for Al's voice – a style that's tight, but never too smooth – not overly commercial, yet very nicely focused on the kind of hooks that can make Stewart's best songs so wonderful. There's still key traces of Al's folksy roots – but the shift in presentation here marks a real achievement, one that none of his other contemporaries were ever able to hit this well. Titles include "Not The One", "Apple Cider Re-Constitution", "Carole", "Sirens Of Titan", "Modern Times", and "Dark & Rolling Sea". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Roy Eldridge, Anita O'Day, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Ventura, Red Rodney, Buddy Stewart, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

A great document of an early all-star jazz concert – recorded at Town Hall by a young Bob Shad – who's clearly working here in the same live territory as producer Norman Granz! There's a great sense of variety going on here – and the record's maybe worth it alone for an excellent performance by a trio with Gene Krupa on drums and Charlie Ventura on tenor – with only piano, and no other instrumentation – a great mode for both players! The album also features work from a quintet led by pianist Teddy Wilson with Flip Phillips on tenor – on the tune "Sweet & Lovely"; a trio with Billy Taylor on piano and Stuff Smith on violin, on "Perdido"; a fantastic duet between Don Byas' tenor and Slam Stewart's bass on "I Got Rhythm"; and a Red Norvo group with Shorty Rogers on trumpet and Flip Phillips on tenor, on the tunes "The Man I Love" and "One Note Jive". LP, Vinyl record album

George Clinton may have pretty well disbanded Parliament and Funkadelic by the time the 80s came around, but the Mothership is still soaring highly on this first album from the P-Funk All Stars project – featuring some (but not all) of George Clinton's better players from various groups! Urban Dancefloor Guerillas his a pretty great little set of jammed-up cuts produced by Clinton, Bootsy, Gary Shider, and Sly Stewart. The flame was still burning, even in the "dark years" of the litigious early 80s – on a set that's actually a bit more stylistically diverse than some the related projects, though unified by never wavering funk! Titles include "Copy Cat", "Pumpin' It Up", "Catch A Keeper", and "Generator Pop". CD

A great little set from the 70s run of Motown albums from Rare Earth – an album that's sometimes overlooked, but which still has the group very much at the top of their game! Here, they're working with production from Stewart Levine – who handled the wonderful Adventures In Paradise album for Minnie Riperton – and the sound has a way of being more sophisticated than their roots, but nicely lean too – never cluttered, and always focused – at a level that's great when things are funky, and equally wonderful when they're more directly soulful! Titles include "Walking Schtick", "City Life", "Keeping Me Out Of The Storm", "It Makes You Happy", "Let Me Be Your Sunshine", "Boogie With Me Children", and "Happy Song". CD

One of our favorite albums from Lester Bowie's big solo run of the 80s – and a set that has some of the more dynamic energy of his Brass Fantasy group, but maybe also a bit more depth as well! The album's part of a handful that the Art Ensemble Of Chicago did with the DIW label at the time – and the AEOC production maybe gives the record a slightly more serious sound – even though the group still take on material from James Brown, Sade, and EU! Yet there's also two Billie Holiday tributes that are surprisingly powerful, and a stunning version of Roland Kirk's "The Inflated Tear" – with a strong trombone solo from Steve Turre, who worked with Kirk in later years, and always championed his work. The lineup features Bowie, Stanton Davis, EJ Allen, and Gerald Brezel on trumpets; Turre and Frank Lacy on trombones; Vincent Chancey on French horn; and Bob Stewart on tuba – plus drums and percussion from Don Moye, Ken Cruchfield, and Vinnie Johnson. Titles include "Inflated Tear", "Smooth Operator", "Strange Fruit", "Don't Worry Be Happy", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", and "Da Butt". CD

A trio of 80s albums from piano genius Ramsey Lewis – all brought together in a single package! First up is Les Fleurs – a bit later than Ramsey Lewis' classic electric sides for Columbia Records in the 70s, but still a pretty great little album – and one that mixes mellow grooves on Fender Rhodes with a nice dose of acoustic piano – in a style that's a bit like Rodney Franklin at the time, but considerably warmer and sweeter overall! The core trio backs Ramsey on acoustic bass and drums – but there's plenty of extra bits added in throughout, including a bit of sax from Ronnie Laws, and some overall arrangements and additional keys from Tom Tom 84 – who really helps keep a sophisticated Chicago vibe in place – almost a ghost of Charles Stepney, lurking nicely in the background. Titles include remakes of "Reasons", "Les Fleurs", and "Super Woman" – plus the tracks "Physical", "With A Gentle Touch", and "Essence Of Love". Fantasy is a sweet 80s set that has Ramsey Lewis showing the world that he's still one of the reigning master of the keyboard – as he opens up here with a whole bunch of keys from that decade, at a level that marks a strong new chapter from his electric work of the 70s! Lewis works alongside additional keyboardists Morris Butch Stewart and Lonnie Graves – and at times, even the rhythms are electric too – influenced by both R&B and hip hop at times, similar to Herbie Hancock electric experiments of the time – but with more of that soulful vibe that we love from Ramsey! There's a bit of vocals on the record – courtesy of Stewart, Maurice White, Brenda Mitchell, Josie Aiello, and Alice Sanderson Echols – on titles that include "Les Clefs De Mon Coeur", "It's Gonna Change", "Victim Of A Broken Heart", "Slow Dancin", "Ram Jam", "This Ain't No Fantasy", "Part Of Me", and "The Quest". Keys To The City is a late 80s effort that still has the piano genius very much at the top of his game – tight, but never in the sleepier territory of some of the smooth jazz artists who were coming into the scene! Ramsey's on piano both electric and acoustic – getting more keyboard help from Larry Dunn, who also handles arrangements – with musicians who include Don Myrick on saxes, Roland Bautista on guitar, and Maurice White on percussion – the last of whom is a key influence here, as it's clear that Lewis is holding onto that great balance of jazz and soul that he furthered in his work with White and Earth Wind & Fire in the 70s. Titles include "Keys To The City", "7/11", "Strangers", "My Love Will Lead You Home", "You're Falling In Love", "Shamballa", and "Love & Understanding". CD

George Clinton may have pretty well disbanded Parliament and Funkadelic by the time the 80s came around, but the Mothership is still soaring highly on this first album from the P-Funk All Stars project – featuring some (but not all) of George Clinton's better players from various groups! Urban Dancefloor Guerillas his a pretty great little set of jammed-up cuts produced by Clinton, Bootsy, Gary Shider, and Sly Stewart. The flame was still burning, even in the "dark years" of the litigious early 80s – on a set that's actually a bit more stylistically diverse than some the related projects, though unified by never wavering funk! Titles include "Copy Cat", "Pumpin' It Up", "Catch A Keeper", and "Generator Pop". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent lost soul group – with a mix of funk and garage rock that was pretty unique, and which calls to mind some of the mixed-race combos that were playing around the showband scene in the south during the late 60s. The strong-voiced soul singer Wilmer fronts the more rocking Dukes – and the mix is a strong one for the hard grooving soul party crowd, heard most famously in the band's classic version of "Get Out Of My Life, Woman", complete with an excellent tasty drumbreak! Other great tracks include the instrumental "Get It", a version of The Stones' "I'm Free", Billy Stewart's "I Do Love You", and the band's own "Give Me One More Chance". Also includes a version of Steve Miller's excellent "Living In The USA", one of those numbers that's a lot more funky than anyone gives it credit for! LP, Vinyl record album

A righteous batch of 70s reggae tracks, all produced by Niney The Observer – including 15 tracks that haven't been in print since their original Jamaican release back in the day! The cover and title are a play on a famous American film of the late 60s – but the music here is pure Kingston, and has Niney working with some of the top talents of the scene, and as a lead act on his own – serving up both instrumentals and vocal tunes, all in a wonderfully soulful mix of modes! There's definitely some key classics on the set, but those are also mixed with some great rare numbers too – a rich array of cuts that were originally only issued as 7" singles, presented here with great sound and very detailed notes. There's a whopping 49 tracks in all – with work from Big Youth, Earth & Stone, Ken Boothe, Sang Hugh, The Observers, Hubert Lee, Winston Wright, Delroy Wilson, Denis Brown, U Roy, Glassford Manning, Junior Delgado, Roman Stewart, and Niney himself! CD

A very cool collection – all rare New Orleans R&B, originally issued on 50s singles by Chess Records, mostly handled by producer/arranger Paul Gayten! Features work by Al Little, Ralph Williams, TV Slim, Robert Green, Roland Cook, Sherman Jones, Charles Williams, Buddy Stewart, Virginia Darrow, Alanzo Stewart, and Gayten himself! LP, Vinyl record album

Sun Ra left the planet a few decades ago, but his Arkestra has been going strong – really carrying the torch that the great one kept burning – and stepping out here in their first studio album in 20 years! The record is really something special – that core Sun Ra spirit, but taken in righteous territory that shows just how much the group has evolved in his absence – still with alto saxophonist Marshall Allen as the leader, but a combination of classic Arkestra members and younger musicians who have really helped continue that legacy of mentorship and spiritual exploration that was always the greater mission of the ensemble. The production is great – never too commercial, and handled brilliantly to capture the spirit of the group at their most expressive – with a lineup that also features Knoel Scott on alto, James Stewart on tenor and flute, Michael Ray and Cecil Brooks on trumpets, Vincent Chancey on French horn, Farid Barron on piano, Dave Hotep on guitar, Akatunde and Elso Nascimento on percussion, and Tara Middleton on vocals and violin. Titles include "Sea Of Darkness/Darkness", "Swirling", "Seductive Fantasy", "Sunology", "Door Of The Cosmos/Shy", "Satellites Are Spinning/Lights On A Satellite", "Infinity/I'll Wait For You", and "Angels & Demons At Play". CD

A great little set from the 70s run of Motown albums from Rare Earth – an album that's sometimes overlooked, but which still has the group very much at the top of their game! Here, they're working with production from Stewart Levine – who handled the wonderful Adventures In Paradise album for Minnie Riperton – and the sound has a way of being more sophisticated than their roots, but nicely lean too – never cluttered, and always focused – at a level that's great when things are funky, and equally wonderful when they're more directly soulful! Titles include "Walking Schtick", "City Life", "Keeping Me Out Of The Storm", "It Makes You Happy", "Let Me Be Your Sunshine", "Boogie With Me Children", and "Happy Song". CD

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One of the few albums to ever feature the pre-Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross talents of Dave Lambert on vocals – caught here in duets with Buddy Stewart, in a sweet vocalese mode! Backing is by a hip lineup that includes Charlie Ventura on tenor, Red Rodney on trumpet, Tony Aless on piano, Serge Chaloff on baritone sax, and Billy Bauer on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

Quite a compelling album from the great and sometimes-overlooked Al Stewart – a set that really showcases the evolution in both his songwriting and subject matter – all at a level that seems wonderfully unconcerned with any sort of chart hit or commercial crossover! At this point, Al's kind of the perfect step beyond the earlier version of Brit singer/songwriters you would have found on labels like Harvest or Vertigo – steeped both in a creative sense of subject matter that seems influenced by Dylan, with an ability to spin out narratively unusual tunes that also get way past folksy cliches too – and which are delivered here with well-arranged, well-produced backings – but again, at a level that seems quite far from chartbound. Al's wonderful vocal style is a big part of the album's strength – really individual, and a sound we can fall in love with, no matter what the setting. Titles include "Warren Harding", "Roads To Moscow", "Last Day Of June 1934", "Nostradamus", and "Post World War Two Blues". CD

A 70s gem from singer/songwriter Al Stewart – a set that was part of his long-overdue rise to global fame – after quietly giving the world a number of great and overlooked albums from the UK scene! The vibe here is similar to the preceding set – the classic Year Of The Cat – in that Al's got all of his sharp songwriting and very unique vocal phrasing intact – all set to sharp production that brings out the real strengths of his catchier moments, and certainly pushes Al far past the more Dylan-inspired territory of his earliest years. Titles include the wonderful title cut "Time Passages" – plus "Song On The Radio", "Life In Dark Water", "Valentina Way", "A Man For All Seasons", "Almost Lucy", "The Palace Of Versailles", and "Timeless Skies". LP, Vinyl record album

The biggest record that Al Stewart ever cut – as you no doubt know from the oft-played title track – but a set that also stands as a great testament to all the many years he'd been crafting fine music before fully getting the recognition he deserved! Stewart's got a way with words that's like few of his contemporaries – maybe a bit like Donovan, with whom he shares a similar vocal approach – and also a clear early love of Bob Dylan, yet an immediate evolution past that influence – so that the whole thing is very much in a world of Al's own, with some slight 70s mainstream production, but not enough to soften the music into more mainstream AOR – despite the fame of the hit. Titles include, of course, "Year Of The Cat", plus "One Stage Before", "Flying Sorcery", "Broadway Hotel", "Lord Grenville", "If It Doesn't Come Naturally Leave It", and "Midas Shadow". LP, Vinyl record album