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My God – they finally did it! After all these years of hearing about the legendary Smile album from The Beach Boys – hearing snippets on other albums, studio bonus tracks, re-recordings, and all the other sources they've dangled in front of us for decades – Capitol's finally gone and done what they never did back in the 60s – released the whole legendary set together, as one package – and in formats that even exceed anything that might have been issued back in the day! You've probably heard a good number of the songs here before – some as they were chopped up and included on Smiley Smile, 20/20, and other post-Pet Sounds albums by the group – and in some recent re-recordings by Brian Wilson. But trust us, they all sound amazing here together – in the original recordings, with sublime 60s studio production, and godlike arrangements by the young Brian Wilson. Titles include "Our Prayer", "Gee", "My Only Sunshine/You Are", "Cabin Essence", "Wonderful", "Surf's Up", "Holidays", "Vege-Tables", "Good Vibrations", "Love To Say Dada", "Do You Like Worms", "Barnyard", and "I'm In Great Shape". Plus, this hip box set has loads of cool bits – 2CDs that include the original album with 8 bonus tracks on the first disc – then a full bonus CD of "finished" work from the project – alternate takes, expanded versions, and more – including "Our Prayer Dialogue", "Surf's Up 1st Movement", "Vege-Tables (fade)", "Cool Cool Water (version 2)", "Heroes & Villains (children were raised)", and more. Box also comes with a poster, a 36 page booklet, and a button!

An older bandleader takes on sounds from two different groovy sources of the 70s – both of them great! Plays Michel Legrand has Andre Kostelanetz serving up some sweet versions of tunes from some of Legrand's famous soundtracks of the 60s and early 70s – most of them done with fairly broad string arrangements, but underscored with some of the groovier tones and timings that make Michel's music so great. Andre never gets too overemotional, even when things are lush – and titles include "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life", "Summer Of 42", "Lady Sings The Blues", "Orson's Theme", "Once Upon A Summertime", and "Pieces Of Dreams". Plays Chicago is even weirder, but maybe even cooler too – as Andre Kostelanetz handles the music of Chicago – stripping the tunes of the heavy brass styles you might expect, and instead washing them heavily in strings, which then often get a similar dynamic range to the horns! Arrangements are from Don Sebesky, Torri Zito, Luther Henderson, Marty Manning, and Al Capps – and titles include "Fancy Colours", "Make Me Smile", "Questions 67 & 68", "Beginnings", "25 Or 6 To 4", "Flight 602", and "Wake Up Sunshine".

An older bandleader takes on sounds from two different groovy sources of the 70s – both of them great! Plays Michel Legrand has Andre Kostelanetz serving up some sweet versions of tunes from some of Legrand's famous soundtracks of the 60s and early 70s – most of them done with fairly broad string arrangements, but underscored with some of the groovier tones and timings that make Michel's music so great. Andre never gets too overemotional, even when things are lush – and titles include "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life", "Summer Of 42", "Lady Sings The Blues", "Orson's Theme", "Once Upon A Summertime", and "Pieces Of Dreams". Plays Chicago is even weirder, but maybe even cooler too – as Andre Kostelanetz handles the music of Chicago – stripping the tunes of the heavy brass styles you might expect, and instead washing them heavily in strings, which then often get a similar dynamic range to the horns! Arrangements are from Don Sebesky, Torri Zito, Luther Henderson, Marty Manning, and Al Capps – and titles include "Fancy Colours", "Make Me Smile", "Questions 67 & 68", "Beginnings", "25 Or 6 To 4", "Flight 602", and "Wake Up Sunshine".

An early moment of genius from post-Beatles Paul McCartney – a solo set that's wonderfully diverse throughout – filled with the kinds of cool little twists and turns we loved in his late Beatles records, and in his 70s killers with Wings! There's a newly-emerging sweetness going on here – that great sound that started to emerge with the McCartney album – where Paul was a proud, put-together family guy – easily one of the most confident of his fab foursome, and able to bring an incredible amount of charm to just about any style he wanted to try! Some of the best cuts here are the mellower, more personal moments – still delivered with an amazing rock-solid sense of musicianship and production, too – and even the rockers, which might sound clunky in the hands of anyone else, manage to come off with a great deal of charm as well. Titles include the wonderfully playful "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" – plus "Too Many People", "Heart Of The Country", "Dear Boy", "Ram On", "The Back Seat Of My Car", and "Smile Away". 2CD version features some rare tracks and b-sides – including "Another Day", "Oh Woman Oh Why", "Little Woman Love", "Love For You", "Hey Diddle (Dixon Van Winkle mix)", "Great Cock & Seagull Race (Dixon Van Winkle mix)", "Rode All Night", and "Sunshine Sometime (earliest mix)".

Chicago's second album – not as familiar as the first, and with some really great moments! The group is working here in the same extended-length format as on their debut, going for some more complicated tunes spread across the album's double length – jazzy riffing still firmly in place, and going for some vocal moments that almost have a nice Brother-era Beach Boys sound to them. Includes the great "Make Me Smile", plus the cuts "Poem For The People", "In The Country", "Wake Up Sunshine", "25 Or 6 To 4", "To Be Free", "Fancy Colours", "West Virginia Fantasies", "Where Do We Go From Here", and "Memories Of Love". More grooves than you might remember, too!

My God – they finally did it! After all these years of hearing about the legendary Smile album from The Beach Boys – hearing snippets on other albums, studio bonus tracks, re-recordings, and all the other sources they've dangled in front of us for decades – Capitol's finally gone and done what they never did back in the 60s – released the whole legendary set together, as one package – and in formats that even exceed anything that might have been issued back in the day! You've probably heard a good number of the songs here before – some as they were chopped up and included on Smiley Smile, 20/20, and other post-Pet Sounds albums by the group – and in some recent re-recordings by Brian Wilson. But trust us, they all sound amazing here together – in the original recordings, with sublime 60s studio production, and godlike arrangements by the young Brian Wilson. Titles include "Our Prayer", "Gee", "My Only Sunshine/You Are", "Cabin Essence", "Wonderful", "Surf's Up", "Holidays", "Vege-Tables", "Good Vibrations", "Love To Say Dada", "Do You Like Worms", "Barnyard", and "I'm In Great Shape". 2LP set is on super-heavy vinyl, with a really great cover packaging job – and features 5 bonus tracks that are alternate takes and mixes of album tunes! Includes lyrics and liner notes too.

An amazing album from Build An Ark – even more spiritual and far-reaching than their first – and still with a vibe that rivals some of the most righteous jazz ever issued in the 70s on labels like Impulse and Strata East! The ensemble features both older and younger players – coming together in a collective exploration of some of the hipper sides of the jazz spectrum – all in a mode that recalls early genius of Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, and others from many years back – recorded in a style that's completely sensitive to the nuances of the music. Carlos Nino produced, and also contributed some of the tunes – and group members include Dwight Trible on vocals, Nate Morgan on piano, Adam Rudolph on kalimba, and Derf Reklaw on congas – but that's only the tip of the iceberg, given the size of the group. Titles include "Sunshine", "Healing Song", "Love Sweet Like Sugar Cane", "Dawn", "River Run", "When Ancestors Speak", "Morning Glory", "In Her Smile", and "You Yourself Are The Key To The Universe".

Driving rhythms, rave-up guitar licks, groovy mod organ and proto-psychedelic guitar – from 60s Thailand! The Thai Beat series shines a warm light on the rare rock from "the Land of Smile" – and it's a worthy endeavor! The freewheelin' sunshine 60s groove stretched all across the globe, and this series does a pretty incredible job of show just how far – on top of showcasing some worthy groovy music! 20 tracks in all: "Kratae" and "Gangsaen '66" by Johnny's Guitar, "Meow" by The Cat, "Yipmerdai" by Der Dong Dang, "Boongatanyon" and "James Bond Theme" by Son Of PM, "Louise Kennedy" by Poo Yai Lee, "Kaw-Liga" by Silver Sand, "Yom Pha Barn Norn Pahwaa (Satan's Nightmare)" by Paiboon and lots more!

Another sweet batch of tunes from funky, groovy Thailand – the 3rd volume in the wonderful series from Subliminal Sounds! Once again, the set focuses on a sunny variety of grooves from the 60s & 70s Bankok scene – featuring the Thai take on funk, female harmony groove, late 60s/early 70s rock and roll, Moogy jams and all around offbeat nuggets! 18 tracks in all: "Thai Boxing" by Jiraphand Ong-Ard, "Cham Chai" by Supaphorn, "Sunshine Day" by Don, "Jong Wai Korn" by Suda Chuenbarn, Noom Rai Por" by Royal Sprites, "Where Is The Love?" by Flash, "Let's Go!" by Panatda, "Paradise In Bangkok" by The Law & Sandy and more!