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Lost greatness from Stelvio Cipriani – a racing soundtrack, but one that's scored in the same modes as some of his best crime and police work from the 70s! Cipriani's definitely in that best "exploitation" groove here – sometimes using a bit of disco or club, sometimes laying back with some sexier sounds at a slower pace – these sweet numbers that have always made his work one of the standouts of the Italian generation – and which is still holding strong here in this rare gem from 1980! The CD features 24 tracks in all – loads of lovely little numbers – including one with vocals by Nancy Lee Costa!

Sweet, smooth, and soulful sounds from Mint Condition – still very much at the top of their game, and running strong with that tight harmony style that's always made them a favorite 'round these parts! The album's got a great balance between mainstream tightness and indie soul looseness – a quality that has the group sounding right on the money throughout, yet with a vibe that's nicely spontaneous and personal too – especially on some fo the mellow steppers that represent some of the best tracks on the set. Titles include "In The Moment", "Believe In Us", "What I Gotta Du", "Nothin", "Be Where You Are", "Never Hurt Again", and "Girl Of My Life".

One of the most fantastic albums by the JBs – a masterpiece of funky jamming, tight instrumentation, and that free yet tight style of the James Brown 70s years! The tracks are longer than on some of the earlier singles – especially the 8 minute jammer "(It's Not The Express) It's the JBs Monourail", an answer to BT Express' theme song, and a fantastic cut that's held up through so many years and so many scenes! Another great jammer is the group's version of "Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself", which runs for nearly 10 minutes – plus spacey funk tracks "Transmogrification" and "Taurus, Aires, & Leo", and the tighter jammer "Soul Funky Train", which returns to the group's funky 45 mode. Fantastic all around – and the kind of record you'll be playing for your grand kids! CD adds 5 extra bonus cuts, all from hard-to-find People singles, and not on other LPs – including "J.B. Shout", their version of "Alone Again", "Sportin Life", "Dirty Harri", and the two part classic "Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time". Nice stuff, and a good reason to pay the extra price for the Japanese reissue!

A brilliant mix of soul, jazz, and house – all coming together through the cosmic talents of the young Peven Everett, a Chicago producer/singer/instrumentalist whose played on dozens of professional sessions, and who's given it all up to work on his own in an independent setting. Everett's work is fantastic – right up there with the best 90s NuSoul work by trailblazers like Blaze, Omar, D'Angelo, and others – and this self-produced, self-issued CD is a delightfully fresh batch of tracks that will take a proud place in your small collection of instant soul classics! 4 tracks in all – and titles include "I Can Give It", "Everday Girl", "Love & Affection", and "I Can't Believe I Loved Her".

A full three albums by the legendary Pyramids – all packaged together in one complete set, with a bonus video too! The Pyramids recorded three key records during the 70s – each of them an underground classic, all served up in a wonderful bit of spiritual soul jazz with a really cosmic feel! The group are heavy on percussion and reeds – blending congas and assorted other percussion instruments with soprano sax, alto, and flute – all in a captivating sound that builds up nicely over the course of the album's two long tracks! The music is very organic – never too forced, nor never too far out – and there's a majestic quality to the whole thing, one that really lives up to the group's name and image on the cover. And although the ensemble hail from Ohio – hardly a spot you'd peg for spiritual jazz in the 70s – they're a key link between the early 70s avant movements in Chicago and St Louis, some of the hip grooves in Detroit's Tribe Records scene, and the growing loft jazz movement in New York. The reeds are especially nice – alto sax from Idris Ackamoor and flute from Margo Ackamoor – and all other group members play percussion, and vocalize too – singing along with some of the tunes in chanting, chorus formation, which adds an even further element of soul to the mix. Includes the full albums Lalibela, King Of Kings, and Birth Speed Merging – with bonus video content of The Pyramids Live On KQED in 1975.

Wonderful sounds from the great John Carpenter – one of those records that reminds us that his music is often just as important as the images he puts on the screen! Carpenter's music for The Fog follows nicely in his work for other films – particularly Halloween – in that it's got this slow-building style that often makes great use of keyboards – often used sparely, with a really spooky sort of energy – and even more space, and at slower speed than his other horror soundtracks! The style really fits the "fog" theme of the film!

Wonderful sounds from the great John Carpenter – one of those records that reminds us that his music is often just as important as the images he puts on the screen! Carpenter's music for The Fog follows nicely in his work for other films – particularly Halloween – in that it's got this slow-building style that often makes great use of keyboards – often used sparely, with a really spooky sort of energy – and even more space, and at slower speed than his other horror soundtracks! The style really fits the "fog" theme of the film – and this 2CD version features the 2000 remix of the soundtrack album, plus 1980 score cues – and a bonus interview with Jamie Lee Curtis too. Titles include "Matthew Ghost Story", "Tommy Tells Of Ghost Ships", "Reel 9", "Blake In The Sanctuary", "Number 6", "Walk To Lighthouse", "Dane", "Andy's In Trouble", and "The Fog Enters Town".

Miles must have turned over in his grave with this one – although it went on to influence a decade of jazz remix projects! Miles spacey trumpet is remixed from tapes recorded before his death, and production is handled by Easy Mo Bee, with kind of a "hip hop meets jazz" sort of flair. Titles include "Chocolate Chip", "High Speed Chase", "Fantasy", "Duke Booty", "Mystery", and "The Doo Bop Song".

Double LP from 1998 DMC mix champ, DJ Craze featuring long, mostly instrumental tracks, with, of course, lots of nice dj work and some well-chosen vocal samples. Most of the tracks are low- to mid-tempo, but one of our favorites is the triple speed "Miami International Break". 12 tracks in all, this set also includes "Tekmasta Anthem", "Crabhappy Crabaholics", "Ride Dat Donkey", "It'z Dangerous To React While You're Running" and "Scratch Sentence One".

Tight!! Lee Fields, one of the great criminally under appreciated funky geniuses of the 70s is back with another pounding, raw funk classic that still finds the man at the peak of his powers, decades after he first made mark on the funk landscape! This is Lee's first full length effort for Soul Fire, a label that we all know goes to painstaking lengths to carefully carry the torch lit by the People Records scene in the 70s into the future, and it's great to see a titan like Lee do amazing work for a great label that does it purely for the love! Lee is absolutely on fire on all 10 of these tracks, with a Godfather like delivery that knocks us out of our chairs every time, whether it's that fiery funk howl that we love so much, or a smooth, soulful glide on the occasional ballad. He's backed up by a bona fide funky orchestra at Soul Fire Studios that includes TONS of hot drums, propulsive percussion, and some driving conga work that steers things into an afro funk groove on several of the tunes. The group MVP, other than Lee himself, could be multi instrumentalist Leon Michels, whose work on flute, keys, tenor and baritone sax, as well guitar and bass not only helps keep the classic 70s feel going, but keeps things crackling at breakneck speed. This isn't newfangled funk revival, this is the real deal from one of the originators – a 33-minute funk maelstrom that will knock you right out of your chair, and have you restarting it the second it ends! Includes "Problems", "The Right Thing", "Rapping With Lee", "I Don't Know Where I'm Going", and "Honey Dove". Oh, if only all of our heroes remained this vital!

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon".

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon". 2CD version is filled with great bonus material – a huge amount of tracks that include "Free", "Song Groove", "I'm So Blue", "Don't Be Messin Round", "Streetwalker", "Fly Away", "Price Of Fame", "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu", "Je Ne Vieux Pas La Fin De Nous", "Bad (Afrojack rmx)", "Speed Demon (Nero rmx)", and "Bad (Afrojack club)".

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon". Second CD is filled with great bonus material – a huge amount of tracks that include "Free", "Song Groove", "I'm So Blue", "Don't Be Messin Round", "Streetwalker", "Fly Away", "Price Of Fame", "Toto Mi Amor Eres Tu", "Je Ne Vieux Pas La Fin De Nous", "Bad (Afrojack rmx)", "Speed Demon (Nero rmx)", and "Bad Afrojack club)". Also features the CD and DVD of Michael Jackson's massive performance at Wembley Stadium in 1988 – part of the Bad world tour,a nd filled with great performances!

A sweet early date as a leader from Elvin Jones – one that has him working strongly away from a John Coltrane setting, with some hip arrangements by Melba Liston! Elvin brings in some excellent accompaniment from two other Joneses as well – Thad on cornet and Hank on piano – both of whom show their modernist tendencies more strongly here than in other work from the time – and the group also features great work from Charles Davis on baritone, Hunt Peters on trombone, and Frank Wess on flute and tenor sax! Most of the tracks on the album – such as "Azan", "Elvin Elpus", and "All Deliberate Speed" – are tightly snapping Melba Liston arrangements with a good mix of bop and modernist ideas, but one track – "And Then Again" – is a very nice improvised piece by the group.

70s country genius from CW McCall – the man who took the trucker style to a whole new level! Trucker country had been around for at least a decade before CW cracked the charts – mostly tracks about the hard life, lost loves, and weary eyes of the truck driver in the US. But McCall really stepped things up with these tracks recorded for MGM – showcasing not just the core culture that had grown up in the rising world of the interstates, but also the growing politics that came with the job of driving a truck in an era when gas prices rose and speed limits dropped. And sure, some of these tunes might be seen as throwaway novelty/story numbers – but they've got a surprising depth when heard together like this – and you can trust us on that, as McCall's "Convoy" was one of the first 45s we ever bought! The set features 25 tracks in all – including "Black Bear Road", "Old 30", "I've Trucked All Over This Land", "Four Wheel Drive", "Night Rider", "Classified", "Wolf Creek Pass", "Crispy Critters", and the seminal "Convoy".

Lost grooves from Spanish Harlem – an incredible set of Latin Soul from The 107th Street Stickball Team! With a name like that, the group certainly aren't as well-remembered as contemporaries like Joe Bataan or Willie Colon, but they've got a soulful groove that definitely fits the style of the time – a sweet uptown blend of Harlem soul and Latin rhythms – with the same blend of sweet soul ballads and uptempo groovers you'd find on some of Bataan's classic albums for Fania Records! Bobby Marin put the whole album together, with a tight groove that's very similar to his work for Speed Records – played here by a group that includes Orlando Marin, Louie Ramirez, Ozzie Torrens, and Joey Pastrana – all kings of Latin Soul at the time! Vocalists include Butch Johnson and Danny Agosto – but there's a real group feel to the record, with lots of harmonies behind the lead – the kind of streetcorner soul you might have heard while catching a stickball game on one of the side streets up north of Harlem. Titles include "Toma Guajira", "Look To Me", "You Put A Hurt In My Heart", "Rhythm & Soul", "Mojo Shingaling", "Barbara With The Kooky Eyes", "Tell Her I Love Her", and "Let Me Do My Thing". CD features 3 bonus tracks by The Nitty Sextet, all previously unissued – "Nitty Boo Boo", "Something New", and "Say Listen".

A pretty great little project – a surprising turn for Slakah The Beat Child – working here as the leader of this groovy little group! The music has a lot less "beat" than before – and plenty of the warm sunny tones you might guess from the cover – a beautiful blend of soul and solid songwriting, with a genre-crossing approach that could well make these guys huge in years to come! Tunes are very well-written – and inflected by core instrumentation that often includes sweet violin, cello, and flute – which make for a great addition to Slakah's acoustic guitar, and the nicely punctuated rhythms that really get things going. The album's a great surprise – one of those special discoveries you'll be proud to get in on early – and titles include "Dream On", "Speed Of Time", "The Other Side Of Tomorrow", "Dear Lucy", "Keep Breathing", "Call Me Your Friend", "Beneath It All", and "Perfect Summer".

A great mix of heavy rock and jazzy changes from Spontaneous Combustion – a trio who really live up to their name with a burning way of putting over a tune! The group loves the sudden changes in groove – a shared characteristic with the prog scene of the time, yet delivered here with a tight, no-nonsense quality that makes the tunes might more rocking overall – almost a funky undercurrent at times, thanks to tight interplay between the drums and bass in the trio! Lead vocals from Gary Margetts have a way of being a bit more heartfelt than usual for this sort of set – yet never in a way that's overindulgent or trite – just right on the money when they need to be. Titles include "Speed Of Light", "Listen To The Wind", "Leaving", "200 Lives", "Down With The Wind", and "Reminder". CD features the bonus track "Lonely Singer".

The always surprising, always funky, always great Brazilian Beats series goes one volume deeper! The far-reaching tendencies of Brazilian Beats never fails to impress, and nearly overwhelm. Number 5 keeps the contemporary club and dancefloor scheme well out front, with appearances by many of the gods and goddesses of Brazilian musical culture like Elis Regina and Mario Castro Neves on the set, younger innovators like Bossa Tres, and a slew of talents that introduce some really incredible breakbeat and hip hop influences! It takes a special track list to seamlessly string elements of bossa and samba with such seemingly disparate contemporary club sounds – but that's why we keep following these compilations, isn't it? 18 tracks in all: Tejo, Black Alien & Speed "Follow Me Follow Me (Sao Benitez Radio Edit)", Stereo Maracana "Freestyle Love", Jorge Ben Jr. "Take It Easy My Brother Charles", Edson Frederico "Bobeira", Marku Ribas "Zamba Ben", Marcelo D2 "A Maldicao Do Samba", Jackson Do Pandeiro "Eu Balanco (Beatfanatic Rework)", Bossa Tres "Imprevisto", Mario Castro Neves & Samba S.A. "Candomble", Elis Regina "Ye Mele", Jorge Ben "Xica Da Silva", Sasso "Tudo Bem" and MUCH more!

60s soul treasures from a trio of New York labels reverered for so many great singles – Sceptor, Wand and Musicor – in a great collection from Kent UK! It's filled with group acts and solo stars, soaringly emotional cuts and rawer rumbling R&B, even some early strains of funk – and includes a number of previously unissued songs from the vault that are just as sweet as the regional hits of the time. The genuine love of the material that goes into these Kent and Ace compilations continues to impress! 24 tracks in all: "That's No Way To Treat A Girl" by Marie Night, "I Want A Guarantee" by Maxine Brown, "Stick By Me" by Ed Townsend, "Sweeping Your Dirt Under My Rag" by Ann Bailey, "Diamond Ring" by The Fabulous Dinos, "So Help Me Woman" by George Tindley, "Speed Up" by Betty Moore, "You Got It Baby" by The Toys, "Walking With Pride" by Dan & The Clean Cuts, "Ain't No Love Lost" by Patti Jo and more.

The heaviest side of the Chicago soul scene of the 60s – served up in a massive batch of rare tracks from the indie label underground! The collection is a great tribute to the depth of the Windy City scene back in the day – the huge range of local artists who were working hard to keep Chicago grooving – often with a style that was nice and gritty, with a bit less polish than work from Detroit – but with an equal sort of punch on the dancefloor! All tunes here are upbeat and grooving – and the range of artists is wonderfully representative, and includes a few rare tracks from singers who'd crack later fame on bigger labels. Titles include "I Can't Forget" by Bull & The Matadors, "I'm A Big Man" by Big Daddy Rogers, "Swing Your Love My Way" by No No Starr, "Disillusioned" by Marvin L Sims, "Check Her Out" by The Idols, "Spring Song" by The Accents, "All The Way" by The Danderliers, "Lovely Ladies" by Jimmy Hughes, "All Of My Life" by The Ringleaders, "I'm A Good Guy" by The CODs, "A Lonely Boy" by Lee Wilson, and "Speed Up" by Betty Moorer.

The first album by Mance Lipscomb and the first album issued by Arhoolie! This is beautiful, acoustic country blues in purely great form – holds up as well as anything made by his peers of the time. As the folk revival was taking flight in the late 50s and early 60s, true blue, downhome figures like Mance were getting love and respect all over the world, some recording for the first time ever. This is one of those cases and the world's better for it. Titles include "Ella Speed", "Freddie", "Sugar Babe It's All Over Now", "Baby Please Don't Go", "Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo", and "One Thin Dime".

A classic from the electro maestro – arguably the greatest American album from Giorgio Moroder! The set's got a great mix of disco and electronics that was years ahead of its time – and is surprisingly fresh and edgey, despite Moroder's fame over the years. Electronics are really at the core of all the tunes – bubbling, dipping, crackling around the groove – with only slight additional disco touches – and an overall sound that leans much more closely towards Kraftwerk than it does other work on the Casablanca label at the time. And we're really not fooling about this one – because it's got a raw electro vibe that still holds up beautifully, and which is more and more of a delight the farther we get from the 70s. Titles include "From Here To Eternity", "Lost Angeles", "Faster Than The Speed Of Love", "First Hand Experience In Second Hand Love", "I'm Left You're Right She's Gone", and "Too Hot To Handle".

One of the rarest Gil Scott-Heron albums! The record is a wonderful example of Gil's work in two different styles – sweet mellow jazzy soul, and harder heavier protest poetry. Side one features classic jazzy tracks recorded with Brian Jackson – like "Free Will", "The Middle Of Your Days", "Speed Kills", and "Did You Hear What They Said?". Side two moves over to a much sparer sound – and has Gil reciting some of his poetry with very heavy percussion, and a very righteous approach. The wisdom and knowledge of those pieces is a perfect example of the kinds of issues that were haunting black America in the early 70s – especially on the tracks "No Knock", "The King Alfred Plan", and "Sex Education: Ghetto Style". This CD version features 8 bonus tracks – alternate versions of some of the heavier-duty tunes on the album, some of which are quite different than the originals! Also includes new notes and photos!

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon".

2 rare albums by Elvin Jones – both excellent, and both among some of his best work ever as a leader! And Then Again is a very nice session from the mid 60's that features arrangements by Melba Liston. Jones brings in some excellent accompaniment from brothers Thad and Hank, who show their modernist tendencies more strongly here than in other work from the time – and he's also joined by Charles Davis, Don Friedman, and Frank Wess. Most of the tracks on the album – such as "Azan", "Elvin Elpus", and "All Deliberate Speed" – are tightly snapping Melba Liston arrangements with a good mix of bop and modernist ideas, but one track – "And Then Again" – is a very nice improvised piece by the group. Midnight Walk has Elvin Jones playing with Dollar Brand on piano on a number of cuts, and with a sound that's a lot more like some of Brand's Afro-grooves than it is like some of Jones' other straight jazz albums. The highlight here is "Midnight Walk", but there's loads of other originals – including many written by Thad Jones, who's also on the set, and who plays in a surprisingly open-ended way that differs greatly from his 50's Blue Note recordings. Other titles include "H.M on F.M", "The Juggler", "All Of Us", and "Cross Purpose".

A stone classic from the legendary Hawkwind – a set that's steeped in all their best space rock modes of the 70s – yet which also has a wonderfully sharp sort of focus too! Keyboards, guitars, and drums soar to the skies right from the start – prefacing an intensity that so many others would later cop from the group, but never get this right – quite possibly because the simple 70s production really helps bring all the best elements right down on the money! In ways, the set almost echoes earlier psych performance and production – yet there's also a cleaner, clearer vibe going on – one that magically steps around the overindulgence of prog and the thinness of some of the later psych of the next decade. Titles include "The Demented Man", "Magnu", "Standing At The Edge", "Warriors", "Kings Of Speed", and "The Wizard Blew His Horn". CD features the bonus cut "Motorhead" – another start of a legend!

A stunning tribute to the music of Jorge Ben – a host of classic covers from the 60s and 70s, all of which share Jorge's love for an upbeat, soulful groove! The set's exploding with life and energy – that new sort of groove that Ben first unleashed on Brazilian music in the 60s, which was quickly taken up by most of his contemporaries – as you'll hear on the wonderful tunes in this set! There's a ridiculous amount of music on the collection – over two dozen tunes, a number of which we'd never heard before – and although Jorge doesn't sing on any of them, the vocalists are all clearly inspired by his sense of warmth and soul. Every cut's a groover – and titles include "Que Mandou" by Osmar Milito, "Zazueira" by Wilson Simonal, "Pulo Pulo" by Elza Soares, "Se Voce Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear" by Doris Monteiro, "Tenha Fe Pois Amanha Um Lindo Dia Vai Nascer" by Salinas, "La Vem Salgueiro" by Os Originais Do Samba, "Carolina Carol Bela" by Os Brazoes, "Speed" by Sonia Santos, "Rei Do Maracatu" by Cyro Aguiar, "Cosa Nostra" by Os Mutreteiros Grilados, "Fio Maravilha" by Marijo, "Pais Tropical" by Wilson Simonal, and "Mas Que Nada" by Elza Soares.

Rare rock from Rotomagus – a heavy group from France – the complete discography of the group, and a completely fresh discovery to us! The sound is loose, ragged and raw on the unreleased album demo that's covers the first half of the anthology – which only enhances the power of it. Singer Alain Fontaine sings, screams and wails in English – fascinatingly, he is a good singer, but shrieks his head off with abandon on some killer songs here. The band is just as strong, showing command of rhythm and with strong solos as well as bashing away with intensity. In some ways, it's a late 60s-style heavy psych album, but played at breakneck speed, rugged soul and with little effort to tidy anything up. The second half is much different – featuring singles the group cut for Polydor, CBS and other labels – far less raucous and more French pop psych-indebted, and those numbers are great, too! They work as well in frenzy as they do with trippy harmonies – very impressive! Titles include "Laureline", "Little Green Man", "Fighting Cock", "Shout Now", "I Dig Life", "The Flufluting Flatmul" and more from the unreleased demo album, plus the rare singles "Le Haut Du Pave", "Nevada", "Eros", "Madame Wanda", "Laureline", "The Sky Turns Red" and more.

A nice little take on the "city symphony" mode that was big in American music a few decades back – served up by the Wynton Marsalis Septet of the early 90s, with decidedly modern touches! The double-length album's a three-tiered affair – with part one standing out as Wynton's extended "Cityscape" – a tribute to New York, done in styles that range from mellow and contemplative, to more hustling and bustling, in true speed of the city. Next up is another suite of tracks titled "Transatlantic Echoes" – work that's still jazz-based, but with a nod to African roots in some of the percussion and phrasing. Last up is "Some Present Moments Of The Future" – the final suite of the album, and one that almost echoes some of the rootsier modes explored by Wynton in his southern trilogy of a few years before. Players include Wynton on trumpet, Todd Williams on tenor and soprano sax, Wes Anderson on alto, Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, Reginald Veal on bass, Herlin Riley on drums, and Eric Reed on piano – and the album also features some guest tenor from Herb Harris and a bit of piano by Marthaniel Roberts.

Snowboy returns with another batch of grooves in the Hi Hat series – the first volume we've heard under that name in awhile – and while the sound is still great, the format here is a bit different than before! The style this time around is heavily jazzy – and pulled from records that are even more obscure than those used on previous volumes – mostly relatively recent recordings from the past decade or so, but those which were ignored the first time around – making the music here seem even more fresh! Most of the numbers are titles that were buried in more conventional records, but which stand out as modern jazz dance tracks – keeping the spirit of modal, hardbop, and Latin-styled jazz grooves alive and well on the dancefloor – as testified by the album's photos from Snowboy's Hi Hat club night! Titles include "Sunny Day (live)" by Jon Lucien, "Speed Trap" by Peter King, "If I Perish" by Terrell Stafford, "Our Man In Havana" by Cubana Bop, "Seven Steps To Heaven" by World Saxophone Quartet, "Caribbean Fire Dance" by Bobby Sanabria & Ascension, "Blue Bossa" by McCoy Tyner Latin Big Band, and "Fical Mal Com Deus" by Airto.

A trio of funky electric albums from Stanley Clarke's mid 80s R&B years – 1984's Time Exposure, ''85's Find Out and '86's Hideaway – in a 2CD set! Time Exposure has a lot of 80s electro funk in the mix, particularly Clarke's impeccable bass lines, which are heavy throughout. Titles include "Play The Bass '10", "Heaven Sent You", "Speedball", "Future Shock" and the great title track. Find Out follows somewhat similar territory, an 80s synth funky set with a few surprising twists – including an electro/funk/old school rap cover of "Born In The USA"! Other tracks include "Find Out", "The Sky's The Limit", "Stereotypica" and "Psychedelic". Hideaway makes a move towards more delicate synth soul for Clarke – who assembles an impressive guest list that includes Stanley Jordan, Herbie Hancock and Stewart Copeland. Titles include a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed", plus "My Love, Her Inspiration", "Where Do We Go", "Old Friends" and "When It's Cold Outside".

One of the first great moments from this legendary 60s ensemble – a brilliant pairing of American and European players – heard here in one of their pre-MPS sessions! Group founder Gigi Campi is well-placed at the helm – as both producer and supervisor – giving the ensemble the vital energy that made them different from so many other groups of previous years – a quality that almost has them hitting like a small combo, especially on the breakout solo moments on the set. Players include Benny Bailey and Idrees Sulieman on trumpets, Sahib Shihab and Derek Humble on reeds, and Fats Sadi on vibes – not to mention core rhythms from Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. The group's inventive style of writing and arranging is already in place – and titles include "Long Note Blues", "Speedy Reeds", "Sonor", and "Om Mani Padme Hum".

The smoking return of Martha High – a singer who worked famously with James Brown during his funk years, but who never got the same shot at full-length fame as Lyn Collins or Marva Whitney! Martha's every bit as great – and although she did cut later records in the disco years, it's only recently that folks have finally discovered the true depths of her talents – as she's returned to the fold with amazing vocals, and strong support from the global funk underground! After a previous set with Shaolin Temple Defenders, Martha breaks out even more strongly here with backing from Speedometer – a UK combo who've played together for years, and are already razor-sharp on their own – making for the perfect sort of groove to restore High to the sound of her years with James Brown. The album's brilliant all the way through – not a rehash of older modes, but a rich union of two very strong talents – coming together in an effort that's definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Titles include "I'd Rather Go Blind", "No More Heartaches", "No Man Worries", "Never Never Love A Married Man", "You Got It", "You Got Me Started", "Dragging Me Down", and "Trouble Man".

Solo acoustic guitar from Uwe Kropinsky – played with incredible dexterity at times, and a great ear for a wide range of sounds that don't always come from the strings! At some level, Kropinsky has this quality that echoes earlier work by Paco DeLucia, or other players on the Spanish scene – but his overall style is also a lot more experimental and offbeat, too – with plenty of echoes of some of the more inventive improvising guitarists of the 70s and 80s – although without ever going as outside as any of them. So in a way, Kropinski's almost a guy who knows about all the possibilities that a player like Derek Bailey or Fred Frith might have unlocked – yet he's also got a great way of still holding onto a tune, and making things swing! Titles include "April April", "Percussion + Tunes", "Speedy Gonzalez", "Flageolett Dance", and "Meine Kleine Spanische".

An incredible record by Lenny Tristano – one that features him playing solo piano, but in a way that's so inventive, so creative, so pyrotechnic, that Atlantic Records had to include text on the back cover saying "No use is made of multi-tracking, over-dubbing, or tape-speeding" – just to prove that the whole thing was simply a product of Tristano's legendary prowess on the piano! The album's also one of the last (the last?) that Lennie ever cut – and although many other players are kind of faltering in last sessions like this, Lennie's sounding better than ever – ready to take on a realm of new challenges in the 60s. Titles include "Love Lines", "G Minor Complex", "Becoming", and "Deliberation".

A killer set of funky jazz from veteran vibes man Billy Wooten – backed by mod funk masters Speedometer – live at the London's Jazz Café! The hour + set was captured back in 2003, and the players are in fantastic form, sounding like they've worked together for years. They totally roll with a funky vibe, too, not so much on the gritty side of the sound, but with a deft, controlled energy that's phenomenal. Wooten's vibes out from of guitar, sax trumpet, flute, keys, drums and percussion of the mighty Speedometer. We wish we were there! Titles include groovy takes "Open Up JB (Paarty)", plus "Sookie Sookie", "In The Rain", "In The Middle", "Steve's Song", plus Wooten's "Chicango (Chicago Land)", "Monkey Hips & Rice" and more.

Ta'Raach mixes up a diverse ode to most influential sounds of the Motor City – bridging musical styles and eras – in a mix for Mochilla! Ta'Raach manages to mix bits and pieces of classic and underground Detroit sounds into a unique mold with his own inventive vibe – fusing 60s indie soul to blistering rock, 70s & 80s underground funk to R&B, pop and hop hop. Underground and mainstream sounds share space with otherworldy touches and MC/DJ narration. It's a 55 continuous mix with no tracklist – with recognizable voices and melodies speeding by and colliding with the sounds of the underground!

Blue Note Now – and Blue Note Then – a cool little set that mixes contemporary grooves from the Blue Note catalog with some of the older gems that made the label great back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s! In truth, some of the contemporary cuts go back more than a few years – but come together nicely on CD1, to show the way the label's really grown in the past decade or two – moving into great soulful territory with tracks like "Little B's Poem" by Quasimode, "Freedom Dance" by Lionel Loueke, "It's All Over Your Body" by Jose James, "Black Radio" by Robert Glasper Experiment, "Soin Something" by Soulive, and "Time After Time" by Cassandra Wilson. CD2 features loads of older killers – including "Feel Like Makin Love" by Marlena Shaw, "Harlem River Drive" by Bobbi Humphrey, "Kathy" by Horace Silver, "Adams Apple" by Wayne Shorter, "Afrodisia" by Kenny Dorham, "Black Byrd" by Donald Byrd, and "Speedball" by Lee Morgan.

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.

A treasure trove of Brit sound library work – most of it from the legendary KPM 1000 Series, plus assorted bits from the Conroy label as well! The work here leans heavily towards funky jazz – those fuzzy, hard-driving tunes that always made KPM sides a key choice for action films and cop shows – and which have made digging through sound library records such a delight all these many decades later! The compilers did a really wonderful job with this set – creating a feel that's a bit different than the usual sound library collection – because although funky overall, the package also features some jazzy moments too – key cuts that are interspersed with the action moments to create a really fleshed-out sense of mood and feeling. Plus, the set list is huge – 25 tracks in all, running for well over 70 minutes – truly the treasure trove we promised at the start of this review, with titles that include "Soul For Sale" and "Tycoon" by Keith Mansfield, "Block Buster" and "Head In The Clouds" by Johnny Pearson, "Loco Motion" and "Soul Foot Strut" by Dave Gold, "Traffic" and "Challenger" by Alan Hawkshaw, "Short Cut" by James Clarke, "Heavy Traffic" by James Cameron, "Speculation" by David Lindup, "Vegas To LA" by Dick Doerschuk, "Tough Assignment" by Chris Gunning, "Speedway" by Nick Ingman, "String Boogie" by Brian Bennett, and "The Double Take" by Steve Gray.

Time Exposure has a lot of 80s electro funk in the mix, particularly Clarke's impeccable bass lines, which are heavy throughout. Titles include "Play The Bass '10", "Heaven Sent You", "Speedball", "Future Shock" and the great title track.

Vintage 70s Swiss radio recordings by American jazz legends Sahib Shihab, Art Farmer and Clifford Jordan – each performing a few numbers with the excellent, ever-adaptable Jazz Live Trio! The set kicks off with a 1970 performance featuring Sahib Shihab out front. First is a laidback, moody take on "You're Mine You", which is a really nice showcase for Sahib's baritone sax in a lighter mood. Next up, though is a playful, loose and energetic take on Monk's "Well You Needn't" – and the trio shines pretty brightly on this one – with a lot of heat coming from Klaus Koenig's piano, Peter Frei's bass and Alex Bally's drums. Next is a pair of pieces with Art Farmer in 1977 – Farmer's flugelhorn perfectly leading Duke Ellington's "In A Sentimental Mood" and speeding things up nicely with Sonny Rollins's "Oleo". The CD closes with a trio of numbers featuring tenor great Clifford Jordan in 1970: "Japanese Dreams", "Inward Fire" and a brilliant reading of "Bags' Groove" to close – with some of the best soloing on the entire set. A real gem in the Swiss Radio Days Jazz Live Concert Series – among the very best of them, actually!

A second smoking set from the folks at Record Kicks – filled with tunes that shout, scream, and groove "Let's Boogaloo"! There's no sense of time or place to the collection – which is what makes it so darn great – as tunes from the 60s bump into those from more recent years, played by deep funk and mod jazz combos from around the globe – all united in a love of funky rhythms, smoking Hammond organ, and tightly-crafted guitar licks! CD version features 16 tracks in all – with titles that include "Need No Doctor" by The Hypnomen, "New York Soul" by Ray Barretto, "Slush Puppy" by Slow Slushy Boys, "The Spider" by Skeewiff, "Quiens Que Resolverio" by Bronx River Parkway, "Italian Playboys" by Link Quartet, "Breakaway" by Frank Popp Ensemble, "Just Keep On" by Speedometer, and "Lover & Friend" by Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham.

Latin soul supreme, with the great title cut about Speedy Gonzales, plus tracks like "I'm Insane", "Psychedelic Baby", "Talk About Luv", and the massive "Hey Joe, Hey Joe", which you'll be singing all day after hearing it. An excellent groove throughout, as only Joe could do it, and will all the fun and humor you'd expect from his recordings!

Tremendous work by Lee Morgan – easily one of his greatest albums, and a soaring session of modal energy that easily rivals the best work of the Impulse era! The album's got a slightly different feel than usual for Blue Note – a sense of freedom, joy, and soaring energy that's totally great – explored by a crack group that features Morgan on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Harold Mabern on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – all coming together with a unique sense of creativity! The rhythm section is one of the key factors here – as Mabern, Cranshaw, and Higgins have a fluid groove that really sets the tone for the record – letting Morgan and Shorter stretch out to the height of their powers, and explore some incredible modal and soulful themes. Titles include the seminal 11 minute reading of "The Gigolo", plus "Yes I Can No You Can't", "Speedball", and "Trapped" – as well as an excellent reading of "You Go To My Head" that completely opens up the old standard! Plus, this CD reissue's got a bonus alternate take of "The Gigolo", for an extra 10 minutes of music!

2 of the grooviest soundtracks ever recorded by this Italian genius! For the score to the mod 60s film Il Profeta, Trovajoli adds in some great elements like twanging guitars, trippy sitar, and hammond organ – all of which groove along in kind of a "go go" mode on the set's best numbers, laying out a vision of swinging Italy that really makes us wish we were there! Titles include "Il Profeta", "Abbiamo Capito", and "Topo Di Campagna", all done in a number of versions, making for a total of 16 cuts in all! La Matriarca is even better – built around one lovely little melody, similar to Francis Lai's legendary A Man & A Woman soundtrack! The tune is totally compelling, and is played in a variety of speeds and settings – on organ, electric harpsichord, and piano – all with jaunty little rhythms, and a slightly bossa, slightly Frenchy sound to it. Really wonderful, and the kind of ditty you'll be humming for weeks after you listen to it! There's 9 tracks in all – including "Bossa Nova Remix", "Piano Solo", "Slow Take", "Main Titles", and "Dream Version". 25 cuts in all – with both soundtracks on the CD!

Think funk music has to be old to be good? Think again – as Keb Darge takes you on a tour of some of the best funk you'll ever find on one CD, and it's all by current groups! Nobody knows more about old funk than Keb – as his work as a DJ, collector, and compiler have been keeping the music alive for years. But Keb's also open minded enough to realize that there's a heck of a lot of new groups that have been inspired by the classic grooves of the late 60s and early 70s – and who share his love for totally authentic funky tracks that are perfect in every way, top to bottom with dirty, heavy, messed-up funk! The set brings together 14 recent tracks from the deep funk underground – killer cuts that were issued as rare 7" singles, plus a few previously unissued numbers, all with the sock-hard finish of classic work by James Brown or The Meters – and with the added bonus that these are groups that you could actually get up, go out, and see in a club! Tracks include the previously unissued tracks "Wait Up" by Speedometer and "The Badger" by Connie Price & The Keystones – plus "Texas Rumble" by The Imaginary Visions, "Forty First Street Breakdown" by Naomi Davis, "One Note Brown" by The New Mastersounds, "Got To Be The Way It Is" by Sharon Jones, "Who's The King" by Joseph Henry, "The Matador" by The Mighty Imperials, "GT" by The New Mastersounds, "Funky So & So" by The Sugarman Three, and "Blow Your Top (part 1)" by The Soul Destroyers.