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Nat Adderley demonstrates that he can be as funky as brother Cannonball in this nice set of short groovers recorded for CTI from the late 60s! The record is one of Nat's few funky ones, and he's got some nice backing by Joe Zawinul, Grady Tate, Ron Carter, and Jerome Richardson. Cuts have the... read more

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A sweet Latin-styled set from trumpeter Herb Alpert – but one that's got a very different vibe than his faux Latin grooves of the 60s! The set here is done with key contributions from both Juan Carlos Calderon as a songwriter, and Jose Quintana as a producer – both talents who really... read more

A whole new level of genius for Herb Alpert – a record that's light years away from his earlier work with the Tijuana Brass, and which has the trumpeter stepping strongly into the world of smooth jazzy fusion! The title track here went platinum the minute it was released – and became... read more

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Trumpety magic from Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – a record that's known not only for its classic cover of a model dipped in whipped cream, but also for it's tremendously groovy groove! The Tijuana sound is very firmly in place by the time of this set – Mexican-inspired, but... read more

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The first album by Atlantic Starr – a tight set of modern soul tunes with a very different feel than their later work! Part of the credit goes to Bobby Eli – who arranged and produced the set, giving it a feel that's almost late Philly – tight, sophisticated, and right on the... read more

The first album by Atlantic Starr – a tight set of modern soul tunes with a very different feel than their later work! Part of the credit goes to Bobby Eli – who arranged and produced the set, giving it a feel that's almost late Philly – tight, sophisticated, and right on the... read more

The title's certainly right on this one – because Atlantic Starr serve up a really brilliant blend of electro funk and mainstream soul – balanced with that near-perfect sound that made them one of the best groups of their generation! Despite the size of the combo, the sound is... read more

A groovy little classic from Atlantic Starr – and a great example of the group's wonderfully catchy way of hitting a groove! The music's never pop, but has some captivating hooks all the way through – sweet little bits mixed in with the funky soul approach of the ensemble – made... read more

Insanely wonderful work by Bacharach – in a way that we can hardly begin to describe (but we'll certainly try!) By the time this one was recorded – 1971 – Burt's reputation as a songwriter and arranger were so firmly established that he had an incredible amount of freedom in the... read more

An incredible live recording by Burt Bacharach – and one that wasn't issued in the US! This early 70s concert is great proof that the Bacharach magic didn't come from any studio tricks – but from the genius of Burt himself – as the maestro's working here in a fantastic larger-than... read more

Quite possibly the greatest moment ever for Burt Bacharach – and that's saying a heck of a lot, considering the greatness of all of his work! The record's a slightly-overlooked gem from Burt's 70s years – a record that steps off the compressed sophistication of his best 60s work for... read more

Quite possibly the greatest moment ever for Burt Bacharach – and that's saying a heck of a lot, considering the greatness of all of his work! The record's a slightly-overlooked gem from Burt's 70s years – a record that steps off the compressed sophistication of his best 60s work for... read more

Fantastic! We love Burt Bacharach in so many ways that it's easy to forget the genius of these early A&M sides – but going back to them is always a treat, and it's wonderful to hear the way that Burt lays down his own work when given the chance! You know the tracks – "House... read more

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A far reaching late 70s set from Gato Barbieri – a record that blends fusiony jazz funk, lush stings, and Latin rhythms and fluid solos on a varied batch of tunes! One of the more interesting things about the production is that those varied approaches often come into play within the same... read more

A far reaching late 70s set from Gato Barbieri – a record that blends fusiony jazz funk, lush stings, and Latin rhythms and fluid solos on a varied batch of tunes! One of the more interesting things about the production is that those varied approaches often come into play within the same... read more

An obscure groover from Booker T – working here away from the MGs, and in a very different mode! The best tracks on the album have a smooth mellow soul feel – with keyboards in the lead over a nicely stepping groove, and Booker laying down some surprisingly nice vocals, not always that... read more

A groovy bossa gem from the glory days of A&M Records – an ultra-hip group recorded with production by Sergio Mendes! The feel here is a lot like that of Brasil 66 – bossa rhythms, sunny CA instrumentation, and lovely female vocals – in this case sung singularly, by the... read more

A groovy bossa gem from the glory days of A&M Records – an ultra-hip group recorded with production by Sergio Mendes! The feel here is a lot like that of Brasil 66 – bossa rhythms, sunny CA instrumentation, and lovely female vocals – in this case sung singularly, by the... read more

Brilliant 60s pop from the team of Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart – best known for their key early songwriting work for The Monkees, but a heck of a great duo on their own! Boyce & Hart have a sparkly, sunshiney sound that's very much a part of The Monkees generation – a beautiful... read more

Brilliant 60s pop from the team of Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart – best known for their key early songwriting work for The Monkees, but a heck of a great duo on their own! Boyce & Hart have a sparkly, sunshiney sound that's very much a part of The Monkees generation – a beautiful... read more

One of the headiest albums from the team of Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart – as you might guess from the image on the cover! The album continues the playful quality of previous A&M sets, but also has a deeper feel too – a bit more soul on the vocals, which really comes through on the... read more

A standout set from the songwriting team who provided plenty of greatness for The Monkees – but who sound equally great on their own! The music here really soars nicely – tight LA pop from the late 60s, but never too overdone – and often set up with a jaunty groove that's a... read 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... read 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... read more

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Bass heavy funk from the Brothers Johnson and Quincy Jones. This track was the heavier b-side to their "Strawberry Letter 23" single, but is issued here as a double a-side promo, and while not as completely sublime as that track, it's a mighty commercial funk groove in its own right!... read more

More hit magic from the Brothers Johnson – still working with Quincy Jones at this point, and virtually setting up the blueprint for jazzy soul in the 80s! Backings are by an all-star team, and Rod Temperton's helping out Quincy with arrangements – going for that snapping groove... read more

Smooth jazzy soul from the Brothers – still sounding wonderful at this point, producing themselves for the record, and using the best parts of all those lessons they learned from Quincy Jones! The bass is a bit down in the mix for this album – a good move, considering that 1981 was... read more

Smooth jazzy soul from the Brothers – still sounding wonderful at this point, producing themselves for the record, and using the best parts of all those lessons they learned from Quincy Jones! The bass is a bit down in the mix for this album – a good move, considering that 1981 was... read more

Excellent mid 70s duet jazz from pianist Dave Brubeck & alto Paul Desmond! Duets 1975 is a nicely laidback work from the duo – playing here with no other accompaniment, in a spare set of material that's incredibly fragile and intimate – and all the better for that. The move is a... read more

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Early genius from The Carpenters – a really tremendous little album, and one that's quite different than their soft rock hits of the 70s! There's a plenty playful feel to the set – energy that comes right off the best Sunshine Pop of late 60s A&M Records – to which this album... read more

A sweet Phil Spector production!... read more

We don't know about you, but we never get tired of Cheech & Chong's jokes about reefer and East LA. Loads of classic material on this first LP: "Blind Melon Chillin", "Wink Dickerson", "Acapulco Gold Filters", "Vietnam", "Trippin In Court",... read more

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A stunning set – and one of our favorite modern soul albums ever! The set was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in 1980, and it's one of the best-ever records to come out of that hallowed hall of grooves – a one-off debut from the team of Tonee & Bill Collins, set to impeccable... read more

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One of the few albums as an artist from the great Nick De Caro – one of the hipper arrangers of the 60s, best known for his collaborations with Claudine Longet on A&M! Nick's a very subtle genius – one who can work firmly inside the mainstream, but also bring something different to... read more

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Fairport Convention's 9th album in a relatively short history, and a homey little set that often has the group working strongly in a folk-based mode! Instrumentation is a mixture of electric and acoustic guitars, plus mandolin, violin, and assorted percussion – brought in at just the right... read more

A post-Parsons effort from The Flying Burrito Brothers – unfairly overlooked and worthy country rock from the innovators! The live "Last Of The Red Hot Burritos" was the final album of this period of Burrito history, an energetic set that's heavy with classics from the first couple... read more

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Arguably one of the most successful double live albums ever! Includes the classic "Baby I Love Your Way", and "Show Me The Way".... read more

A really crazy LP of Zodiac pondering, with cool electronic music by Mort Garson – the guy behind "The Wozzard of Id"! There's some cool spoken bits about the featured "sign" on the LP – then these cool little musical interludes, which are very much in Garson's best... read more

A really crazy LP of Zodiac pondering, with cool electronic music by Mort Garson – the guy behind "The Wozzard of Id"! There's some cool spoken bits about the featured "sign" on the LP – then these cool little musical interludes, which are very much in Garson's best... read more

A really crazy LP of Zodiac pondering, with cool electronic music by Mort Garson – the guy behind "The Wozzard of Id"! There's some cool spoken bits about the featured "sign" on the LP – then these cool little musical interludes, which are very much in Garson's best... read more

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A work of understated brilliance from guitarist Jim Hall – and one of our favorite records by him! The setting is simple – Hall plays live with a trio, on a set of familiar standards – but the results are remarkable, as both Hall and the rhythm section manage to bring a hell of a... read more

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Afro Funk meets 80s groove – and the band's not a bad extension of some of the Afro Funk jams of the 70s. Sipho Mabuse produced, and sings lead vocals. Tracks include "Soul Fire", "Dance", "Liven Up", "Get Funky", and "Party".... read more

Pretty hip stuff from drummer Billy Hart – and a record that mixes New York loft jazz traditions with a warmer sense of soul jazz that was being forged by some of the players on the record. Players like Don Pullen, Eddie Henderson, Hannibal Marvin Peterson, Dewey Redman, and Oliver Lake come... read more

An amazing collaboration between rock group Spooky Tooth and French composer Pierre Henry – a great meeting of the minds that comes out sounding pretty darn groovy! Henry's right at the height of his "Psyche Rock" experiments here – and he inflects the band's darker style... read more

An all-star soundtrack to this comedy film from the 70s – starring Raquel Welch, Bill Cosby, and a very young Harvey Keitel! Most of the tracks on the set are from other A&M albums, but there's a few tunes that are original to the set – including the vocal track "No Love... read more

Off the Rhythm Nation LP, remixed by Shep Pettibone.... read more

A breakout album for Janet, with prime New Jack, or should we say New Jill, Swing production from the then unstoppable Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Flyte Tyme production team. Includes "Control", "Nasty", "What Have You Done For Me Lately", "The Pleasure... read more

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Do you remember a time not so long ago when it seemed as if the Jackson family would rule pop music forever? A crowning moment in New Jack, or New Jill Swing, as it were, with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis at the top of their game. Loads of hits on this album, including "Escapade", "M... read more

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A great but overlooked bit of crossover funk from Chas Jankel – guitarist for Ian Dury & The Blockheads during the late 70s! We're pretty partial to the cut "Glad To Know You" – which is a wicked post-punk crossover tune – almost in the Human League mode, but with... read more

A great but overlooked bit of crossover funk from Chas Jankel – guitarist for Ian Dury & The Blockheads during the late 70s! The real standout here is the original version of "Ai No Corrida" – a track probably best remembered from Quincy Jones' Dude album, but sounding... read more

An overlooked bit of crossover funk from Chas Jankel – best known both as the musical force of Ian Dury & The Blockheads during the late 70s, and as the composer of "Ai No Corrida", which was covered more famously by Quincy Jones! This set's got a surprisingly great feel that's... read more

Warmly grooving vocal work from Howard Johnson – one of the few albums the singer cut under his own name, and a sparkling gem from the 80s groove scene! Howard's got a style that really sets the stage for some of the bigger singers of his time – a sound that's mature, yet still very... read more

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In the early 70s, Quincy Jones surrounded himself with some of the best young soul and jazz talent he could find, plus a few older pros – and the result was a great series of albums that spanned genres and created a whole new approach to modern R&B. This gem of a record was put together... read more

Quincy just never stopped putting out classic soulful albums! This one, from the early 80s, features a smooth jazzy blend of tracks, with a strong nod to the kinds of souped-up studio sounds that were being used by groups like The Crusaders, but also with a lot of the kind of soulfulness that made... read more

A real step forward for Quincy Jones – a record that really shows the jazzman moving into sophisticated new territory – a sound that's just right for the CTI generation! The album's got a vibe that's a bit similar to Quincy's Walking In Space album, but it's a lot deeper too –... read more

A really great, oft-overlooked album from the best period of Quincy Jones! This album is quite possibly Quincy's most farthest-reaching – as he works in an array of styles that really shows his growing genius in the studio – not just jazz and soundtrack modes, but more soul-based ones,... read more

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A great bit of 70s electric work from Quincy – and probably his funkiest album ever! Quincy's really stepping out here from the straighter and spacier styles of earlier records – going for more of the dirty grooves he was cutting up for soundtrack albums, and hitting notes that were a... read more

A great bit of 70s electric work from Quincy – and probably his funkiest album ever! Quincy's really stepping out here from the straighter and spacier styles of earlier records – going for more of the dirty grooves he was cutting up for soundtrack albums, and hitting notes that were a... read more

The Dude at the height of his powers – serving up a smooth blend of soul and jazz that set the standard for an entire generation! As with some of his other 70s albums, Quincy's working here with a host of great talents that make the record sizzle – guests that include Hubert Laws,... read more

A hip little collection of funky work from Quincy Jones – nearly all of it from his key 70s years on A&M Records! The vibe here is totally great – possibly the best-remembered sound of the Q, recorded at a time when he was also gracing the world with a fair bit of funky soundtracks... read more

One of the greatest Quincy Jones albums of all time! The record's a spacey jazz masterpiece – and it combine's Quincy's soulful soundtrack vision with the excellent production talents of Creed Taylor, for a monster album of long drawn out cuts that mix soul jazz with more sophisticated... read more

Sweet funky Q for the 70s – easily one of the coolest albums ever from Quincy Jones! The album's got a very heavy electric vibe – one that's kind of a laidback take on the styles that Jones was forging in some of his 70s soundtrack work – served up with massive work on the... read more

Despite the fact that most of these guys participated in some of the best funky fusion records coming out of the 70s west coast scene, this record's not what it should be – especially when you consider it's got players like George Bohannon, Ernie Watts, and Oscar Brashear. Still, it's not a... read more

Just the kind of cool high-concept work we love from A&M Records – an all-star project with performances by Jessi Colter, Eric Clapton, Bernie Leadon, Waylon Jennings, and others!... read more

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An incredible album from Peggy Lee – baroquely beautiful, in a way that builds massively off of her "Is That All There Is Period" – and take her into territory that's almost equal to Lotte Lenya! The whole album was written by the team of Lieber & Stoller, in a sad, boozy... read more

With Liebman on tenor, in an assortment of groups – with co-production from James Brown mainstay Pee Wee Ellis, who also plays tenor and electric piano, and co-wrote many songs! Leon Thomas also sings a bit on the record, too.... read more

With Liebman on reeds and Richie Bierach on piano – plus percussion from Badal Roy!... read more

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French pop meets LA production – and the result is some of the best work ever recorded by A&M Records – a gently groovy, slightly sexy sound that really helped define the label in its early years! Claudine Longet's got a gentle Parisian style of singing that's perfect, simply... read more

French pop meets LA production – and the result is some of the best work ever recorded by A&M Records – a gently groovy, slightly sexy sound that really helped define the label in its early years! Claudine Longet's got a gentle Parisian style of singing that's perfect, simply... read more

Dreamy vocals, catchy tunes, bossa rhythms – it's gotta be Claudine Longet! During the late 60s, Claudine first warmed ears in America with a lovely take on the gentle sounds of the Astrud Gilberto era – a French-accented approach to mellow vocal pop, often touched with a bit of jazz... read more

The genius of 60s pop is hardly summed up better by anyone else than Claudine Longet! This dreamy female singer cut a handful of excellent late 60s albums for A&M – and this gem from 1967 is one of her best! The set's arranged by Nick DeCaro, and produced by Tommy LiPuma – all in... read more