... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A pretty amazing survey of the Cali art scene of the late 70s – served up here in a book that's half essay, half images – with work from dozens of important artists who include Edward Ruscha, Jim Melchert, Charles Gaines, Joe Goode, Patrick Hogan, The Kipper Kids, Hal Fischer, Judy Chicago, Robert Arneson, Peter D'Agostino, Karen Carson, Robert E Brown, Tony Berland, Terry Fox, Gary Panter, Raymond Pettibon, and even the folks at Survival Research Laboratories! The book offers up large, full-color images of dozens of important art works – and the writing does a great job of contextualizing the material – as part of an exhibition put together by the Museum Of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. 312 pages, hardcover, and super-heavy! Book

A very cool little set – maybe not the deepest dive into the decade of the 70s, in that the package isn't full of unissued tracks or super-rare singles – but it does represent a great look at the decade that goes way past the hits, and much farther than the charts – including the sort of material that was slightly ignored at the time, but has gone on to be really appreciated in more recent years! The book-style set is filled with great choices and unusual tunes – work from both the US and UK scenes, some of it by bigger names represented here by more unusual cuts – some by others who barely cracked the mainstream, but did some great work at the time. There's one full CD of female artists, and a pretty unusual mix of titles – 71 titles in all, by artists who include Murray Head, The Records, Ronnie Lane, Terry Reid, Sandy Denny, Wendy Waldman, Freddie King, Montrose, Tim Buckley, Don Nix, Jerry Williams, Big Star, Tony Joe White, Delaney & Bonnie, John Prine, Michael Franks, Bobby Charles, Andy Pratt, Hirth Martinez, Robert Palmer, Jess Roden, Roy Harper, Patto, Sharks, The Roches, Linda Lewis Valerie Carter, and many others! CD

With segments featuring Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Tony Hancock, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

James Williams on piano and organ, Christian McBride on bass, Tony Reedus on drums, Billy Pierce on tenor and soprano saxophone, Clark Terry on trumpet, vocals and flugelhorn, and Steve Nelson on vibraphone. CD

James Williams on piano and organ, Christian McBride on bass, Tony Reedus on drums, Billy Pierce on tenor and soprano saxophone, Clark Terry on trumpet, vocals and flugelhorn, and Steve Nelson on vibraphone. CD

Persip plays with Superband, including Tony Barrero, Jack Walrath, Ambrose Jackson, and Genghis Nor on trumpets, Matt Haviland, Jason Forsythe, Herb Hubel, and Nathan Durham on trombones, Marcus Rojas on tuba, Sue Terry, Sayyd Abdul Al-Khabyyr on alto and flute, Craig Rivers and Orpheus Gaitanopoulos on tenor and flute, Pablo Calajero on baritone, Darrel Grant on piano, Melissa Slocum on bass, and Eli Fountain on percussion. CD

Featuring Harry South, Ian Hamer, Brian Dee, Dave Pearson, Harry Klein, Marcolm Cecil, Spike Heatley, Bill Eyden, Tony Mann, and Terry Lovelock. CD

Cannonball Adderley and Earle Warren on alto saxophone, Jerome Richardson on baritone saxophone and flute, Ray Brown and Sam Jones on bass, Ray Brown on cello, Nat Adderley on cornet, Albert Heath, Grady Tate, and Osie Johnson on drums, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Wild Bill Davis on organ, Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan on piano, Danny Bank, Jimmy Heath, Phil Woods, and Robert Ashton on reeds, Budd Johnson and Seldon Powell on tenor saxophone, Yusef Lateef on tenor saxophone and flute, Britt Woodman, Jimmy Cleveland, Melba Liston, Paul Faulise, Tom McIntosh, Tony Studd, and Urbie Green on trombone, Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Joe Newman, and Snooky Young on trumpet, Milt Jackson on vibraphone, and Marion Williams on vocals. CD

One of the coolest, most unusual albums ever from the great John Cale – a set that draws strongly on his roots in the New York underground of the mid 60s – including time spent with Tony Conrad and other experimentalists! The record is almost all instrumental – and has Cale mixing modes that include spare passages that are very evocative and contemplative, with fuller orchestral outbursts that are somewhere in the territory of his material with Terry Riley, but more freewheeling and less minimalist overall. Piano is the main instrument on many numbers, and Cale stuns us with his command of the keyboard – and the album features one striking vocal performance on the song "King Harry", alongside other titles that include "The Philosopher", "Brahms", "Legs Larry At Television Centre", "John Milton", and "Intro/Days Of Steam". CD

Upbeat stormers from the legendary Chess Records – a collection of 20 tracks from the 60s that bristle and burn with the best energy of a Northern Soul dancefloor! The package really spans the genius of Chess at the time – running through soul, jazz, blues, and gospel in search of a groove – going past the bigger hits to feature some great lesser-known gems, including a few singles from tinier Chess-related labels! There's plenty of Chicago and Detroit 60s grooves running through the set – mixed with other great bits that pick up the sound nicely, and stretch out with some really unusual touches! Titles include "Hold On" by The Radiants, "It Ain't Necessary" by Mamie Galore, "Ordinary Joe" by Terry Callier, "Leave It In The Hands Of Love" by Fontella Bass, "Landslide" by Tony Clarke, "Sweeter Than The Day Before" by The Valentinos, "More & More" by Little Milton, "More Love That's What We Need" by The Gospel Classics, "I Can't Help Myself" by The Gems, "Wade In The Water" by Ramsey Lewis, "Boogaloo Baby" by Tommy & Cleve, "Make Sure" by The Dells, and "Peak Of Love" by Bobby McClure. CD

An absolute treasure trove of rare soul singles from Pied Piper Productions – a mid 60s Detroit soul operation that features Funk Brothers Jack Ashford, Joe Hunter, and Mike Terry – laying down sounds that rival the best Motown groovers of the period! The work is amazing throughout – soul cuts heavily focused on the groove and amazing lead vocals – recorded in ways that are similar to the best of Detroit at the time, but with some rawer aspects too – which makes for a massive package of Northern Soul gems! The package features both solo singers and great groups too – artists who include Lorraine Chandler, The Hesitations, September Jones, The Cavaliers, Willie Kendrick, Nancy Wilcox, and – heard here on rare singles and LP tracks that were originally released on labels like Karate, Kapp, Ruby and Giant – plus a number of recently unearthed titles that are seeing release for the first time ever! The set features 24 tracks in all, and the usual superb Kent notes and packaging – with titles that include "I Can't Hold On" by Lorraine Chandler, "Stuttering Sam" by September Jones, "Gambler's Blues" by Nancy Wilcox, "This Heart Is Lonely" by Rose Batiste, "Just Can't Leave You" by Tony Hesher, "Could It Be" by Micki Farrow, "I Fell In Love (Can't Help It)" by Freddy Butler, "He'll Be Leaving You" by The Pied Piper Players, "If Only You Knew" by Mike & Ray, "Time Changes Things" by Willie Kendrick, and "Lonely Too Long" by The Sandpipers. CD

19 songs from Donnie Dean, Tony Kaye, Tom & Larry, Artie Garr, Terry Black, Vic Donna, Don French, Chase Websterm Jamie Coe. Al Apollo, and more. CD

Music from Harry Head, Tony Penn, Don Crawford, Buddy Miller (2), Dave Hill, Larry Lee And The Leesures, Nick Terry And The Toy Terriers, Ronnie Price And The Velvets, Big C, Jerry And The Del-Fi's, Jerry Hawkins (2), and more - 28 tracks in all. CD