All Categories — LPs  

Her final LP. 14 tracks in all, includes "We Need A Resolution", "More Than A Woman", "Never No More", "Read Between The Lines", "It's Whatever" and "I Can Be".... read more

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A gem of a record from Nat Adderley – filled with short soulful groovers, and done with an upbeat vibe that rivals some of Cannonball's best of the 60s! Joe Zawinul handled the arrangements, so there's definitely a strong influence here from the Cannon group – and although the players... read more

No music – and as far as we can tell, the whole album's lifted from bits that appeared in the hit TV show. Not that that's a problem, though, as Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, and crew never fail to please. Bits include "Breasts", "Archie & Maude",... read more

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One of Mose's best albums for Atlantic – an ambitious session that features larger arrangements backing him up, making for a much fuller sound than on other records! The album includes a greatly grooving version of "Wild Man On The Loose" – done with this cool sneaky organ... read more

The major label debut of Amuzement Park – almost more obscure than the indie set that preceded it, and kind of in a different mode altogether! There's still a boogie groove to most of the set, but the group are also funking things up a bit more – possibly following a Minneapolis... read more

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AWB's first for Atlantic – and a nice slice of funk that proves that they can mix it up with the best groups of the 70s! The record's got plenty of sweet electric keyboards over smooth funky basslines – and as the years go by, the band's white boy vocals don't sound nearly as bad as we... read more

Sure, it's not classic funky Average White Band, but the album's a great one that showcases the group's best second suit – their smooth compressed late 70s soul sound – a great evolution of their earlier groove, and one that showed them as a great mainstream soul act! The tunes are a... read more

Later Atlantic work by LaVern Baker – almost more traditional than her earlier sides! The album has LaVern singing with arrangements by Clyde Otis – lusher backings than in earlier years, giving the record a classic 60s bluesy sort of approach. Titles include "Endless Love",... read more

A great little album from Ray – even if it is a bit different than some of his other work from earlier years. The feel is kind of 70s R&B, with a jazzy touch, and if you're not looking for straight Latin stuff, this is actually a pretty great album – as Ray gets the group to work... read more

Fantastic work from Archie Bell & The Drells – an important record that bridges their earlier and later sounds! It's a key transitional album for the crew – as most of the album's in the harder rawer Texas funk groove of earlier year, but some of it features newer production by... read more

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A searing debut from Black Heat – one of the best funk acts to record for Atlantic during the 70s, and a tight little group with a sound that's a mixture of New Orleans funk and New York heavy! The album's got a bit of vocals – figuring in on about half the tracks – but the main... read more

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A funky female duo from the P-Funk empire – one of George Clinton's few girl-based projects of the 70s, and a group who are markedly more funk-based than Parlet! Vocals are by the duo of Lyn Mabry and Dawn Silva – but the main sound of the set comes from the tightly crafted rhythms... read more

Sweet 70s funk from the great Oscar Brown – quite a change from his jazz-based work of the 60s, but a great new sitting for all of his wonderful wit and warmth! Brown's still a hell of a songwriter, and one with a very socially-conscious eye – sharper here than before, with lots of... read more

A sweet bit of funky jazz vocals from Oscar Brown Jr – recorded during his early 70s stay at Atlantic Records, in a style that's very different than his early work! The tracks are all still original numbers by Oscar – penned with that clever bad-rapping approach to the lyrics that... read more

A rare meeting of 2 modern talents from the 50s – joined together in one unique performance from the Newport Jazz Festival in 1971! The baritone sax of Gerry Mulligan's a nice contrast to the usual Brubeck alto of Paul Desmond – long-departed from Dave's combo by this time, but... read more

Titles include "Green Onions", "Judy", "Your Love", "Done Your Daddy Dirty", "The Circle", and "Hidden".... read more

One of our favorite albums ever from Solomon Burke – a great little set that draws on all of his deep soul roots for Atlantic, but also gets a little bit funky too! There's a growing maturity in Solomon's music here that we really love – a quality that gets past the churchy cliches,... read more

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Seminal southern soul from the legendary Clarence Carter – one of his early killers for Atlantic Records, all of which really stand out from most of his work to come in later years! There's a raw, raspy brilliance here that's undeniable – the blind singer stepping out with incredible... read more

It's the late 70s, so you know things are beginning to wind down a bit for Jimmy Castor, but even though this doesn't pack the same funky punch as It's Just Begun, it's still a solid effort, if a bit polished for our taste. As the title implies, it's full-on funk from the get go, with the bass... read more

Some of Ray's biggest tracks for Atlantic, including many remakes of standards like "Just For A Thrill", "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin", "Am I Blue", and "It Had To Be You". You've heard it all a million times, but it's still beautiful stuff – and... read more

Fairly decent jazz session, and one in which Ray plays alto sax and electric piano, along with his usual acoustic piano. Milt Jackson is on vibes, of course, and the rest of the group includes Kenny Burrell, Percy Heath, and Art Taylor. Titles include "Soul Meeting", "X Ray... read more

Great work by this legendary hard swinging band – an early 60s American album issued on Atlantic Records, in the years before the Clark Boland Band's legendary run on MPS! Despite the early date, the album's got all the core elements of the band's sound in place – soaring rhythms,... read more

Great early genius from the Clarke Boland Big Band – proof that Kenny and Francy were onto something great, right from the start! The album really has the group hitting the heights of their MPS years – stretching out way past earlier big band modes, into the hip mix of rhythms and... read more

Tight electric fusion from Billy, with some funky drumming, and some tracks that are a bit more subdued. John Scofield is on guitar, Richard Davis plays bass, and Billy drums, plays moog, and handled most of the arrangements. With "Life & Times", "Siesta", "Earthlings&... read more

Full throttle fusion from Billy Cobham, the kind of stuff we once winced at because of the really over the top moments of heavy, heavy jamming, but that we find ourselves more sympathetic to these days, probably for the more sublime moments that poke through the onslaught here and there, including... read more

It's hard to even begin to hint at Ornette's greatness on Atlantic – but this set does a pretty darn nice job! Tracks are all from the years 1959 to 1961, and perfectly rhythmic, in that modal mode of the classic years. Titles include "Una Muy Bonita", "Lonely Woman",... read more

A key album for any fan of classic Ornette Coleman – a 1971 Atlantic release that pulled together tracks from the late 50's and early 60's that didn't make it onto Ornette's earlier records for the label! Why these tracks weren't released at the time is a mystery to all, because the material... read more

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A great complement to the classic Atlantic albums by Coltrane – material recorded during the same stretch, but never issued at the time! The 1970 set features some undiscovered gems recorded with groups that include Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, and McCoy Tyner... read more

Wonderful wonderful wonderful work from the legendary John Coltrane – and even though it's probably one of his best-selling albums of all time, it's still a treasure – and has an essential place in just about any jazz collection! We've heard the original title version of "My... read more

Amazing stuff – and one of Chris Connor's greatest records for Atlantic! There's a depth to this set that passes some of her others from the time – partially because the album features a very hip set of tunes, written by Ornette Coleman, Norman Mapp, John Lewis, Peggy Lee, and others... read more

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Mr. Blues is right! Hank's soulful alto is set in some nice little group settings, playing short tracks that are a mix of originals ("Mr. Blues", "Smoky City", and "The Turfer") and soul or pop tunes. Hank also plays a bit of piano on the record, and other players... read more

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Titles include "Dark Star", "Just A Song Before I Go", "I Give You Give Blind", "In My Dreams", and "Carried Away".... read more

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Titles include "Carry On", "Teach Your Children", "Helpless", "Almost Cut My Hair", and "Country Girl".... read more

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A great little record by Bobby – recorded hot on the heels of his big hit recording of "If I Were A Carpenter", and with a surprising respect for Tim Hardin and a lot of the other young songwriters of the post-folk years. Keep in mind that Darin was really feeling his mortality at... read more

Obscure bit of spiritual soul by Wayne Davis, who also recorded another record for the Black Fire label (home of Oneness of Juju). Roberta Flack guests on this album, and gives him the thumbs up in the notes on the back, and the whole thing's got the same sort of jazzy soul feel of her first album... read more

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With Sidney De Paris on cornet, Omer Simeon on clarinet, Don Kirkpatrick on piano, and Harold Jackson on bass.... read more

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We have to admit we find these records to be a lot of fun, but no one could possibly buy the spiel in the liner notes about their "effect on the imagination and subconscious of the listener". Two extended soundscapes here: side one is "The Psychologically Ultimate Seashore",... read more

A great example of the way that Gil Evans really opened up his groove in the 70s – moving here way way past the cool jazz and third stream of earlier years – into a soulful style that's far groovier than might be expected! Part of the strength of the set is because of the players... read more

Titles include "Sympathy For The Devil", "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", "Piece Of My Heart", "These Foolish Things", and "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever".... read more

A sweet 70s classic from Roberta Flack – recorded with a mellow jazzy undercurrent that really fits the spirit of the title! The set's a bit more varied in moods than some of Flack's previous Atlantic efforts – showing a stretching of wings from Roberta, but still very much in some... read more

Mindblowing work from Roberta Flack – an album that should be in the collection of any fan of righteous soul music! Forget all the wimpier modes of Flack's later years – because here, the young Roberta is a vision of positive power and spiritual soul – a singer with roots in jazz... read more

What can we say? We've heard this one a million times, it sold over a million copies – but it's still incredible! The record is Roberta's first, and it features her in a mellow trio format, augmented by some occasional larger arrangements by William Fischer. At most points, though, the... read more

No matter how many times we'd heard Roberta Flack and winced during the 70s, we have to admit that we actually enjoy hearing her quite a bit these days – especially on material like this, pulled from her classic years at Atlantic when she was forging a whole new sound that was a unique blend... read more

Over the years, the team of Flack & Hathaway became such an adult easy soul cliche that it's easy to forget what an amazing record this is! At the time of its release, Flack and Hathaway were some of the hippest forces in soul. Individually, each had taken the music to new heights and new... read more

Aretha Arrives in great style – and a mixture between her earlier vocal jazz years at Columbia, and her later southern soul sides of the 60s! Arif Mardin is already arranging Aretha's work at this point, and the backing group includes southern soul studio giants like Spooner Oldham, Tommy... read more

Aretha Franklin and electric piano – a really great combination that makes for a whole new level of soulfulness in the 70s! The album's one of Franklin's greatest of the decade – a deepening of the sound she first brought to Atlantic in the 60s, and a maturation of that groove –... read more

Given that Atlantic's big claim to fame with Aretha was that they took her from being a supper club jazz singer and made her a hard soul act, we've always been a bit surprised at the way they chose to hook her up with some Bacharach tunes after her first few sides – giving her a classier... read more

A beautiful album that perfectly mixes both sides of Aretha – the earlier hard-hitting soulster, and the developing vocalist with a rich talent for more sophisticated material. The album features the anthemic title cut in Aretha's famous version – plus the sample favorite "Rock... read more

A classic "discovery" of tenor saxophonist Von Freeman – one that was already relatively late in his career, but a key appearance on Atlantic under the auspices of Roland Kirk! The setting here is as loose and laidback as Von needs to really do his thing – backing by a trio... read more

US issue of a session that was also floating around on MPS. 4 long tracks of moody spacey jazz, most with vocals by Mark Murphy, who gets very deep and wandering, and blends in with the instruments in a rich, warm way. Includes the great track "Space A La Mode", a nice slow electric... read more

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Songs from Wind & Wuthering sessions – recorded in 1977 before guitarist Steve Hackett's departure.... read more

A very groovy set of pop-jazz guitar tunes – originally recorded by Metronome Records in Sweden, but issued here by Atlantic. The core of the recording is Gustafsson's guitar trio, but the record also features some larger backing by Georg Riedel that have a nice airy feel to them. While the... read more

A killer debut from Curtis Hairston – an overlooked 80s soul singer who should have made it big, given the strength of this set! The album's got a tight groove, but is never too commercial – a bit away from other Atlantic soul of the time, thanks to some solid studio help from Kae... read more

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An amazing record, from an amazing player – the mighty Rufus Harley, heard here on tenor, flute, and soprano sax – as well as bagpipes, his "trademark" instrument! Don't be put off by the bagpipes, though, because Harley plays in a righteous soul jazz groove, and uses the... read more

One of Harley's beautiful albums for Atlantic, and a record that shouldn't work at all – but it does! Harley plays bagpipes throughout the album, and he does so in a way that sounds nothing like any of the snoozy Scottish assumptions you may have about the instrument. Instead, Harley draws... read more

A nice little funk album from Eddie – one that shouldn't work, but does nicely, thanks to a unique approach to the groove! Eddie's still playing plenty of electric sax on the set – and is going for a sound here that's equal parts soul jazz, modal groove, and down and dirty funk! The... read more

One of Eddie's groovier Varitone albums, and a record that has a very electric sound to it! At times, Eddie's electric sax is so off-beat that you'd think he was playing a synthesizer instead of a sax, but in true Harris form, he always keeps it funky, and even the weird sounds have a great groove... read more

A massive batch of funky soul jazz – the Second Movement (to the first album Swiss Movement) of the collaboration of Eddie Harris and Les McCann! The vibe here is even freer, and hipper, than on the first set – with a host of long tracks that have Les really working the Fender Rhodes... read more

Not to be confused with Donny Hathway Live, this album was issued after Donny's untimely death, and features rare live material from his classic years – most recorded during the same concerts on Donny Hathaway Live! As the fame of his first concert album will attest, Donny's an extremely... read more

Isaac Hayes' first album as a solo act – and a much more stripped down record than his later baroque symphonic sides! Ike's working here in trio mode – playing piano and singing, alongside bass from Donald Duck Dunn and drums from the great Al Jackson – who brings in a warmly... read more

Groovy session of piano trio material, recorded in Chicago by the city's "great white hope" of the 60s: pianist Eddie Higgins. The set was recorded for the Dunwich production group (who gave the world The Shadows of Knight), but was licensed to Atlantic for final release. The group's a... read more

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A totally fantastic set from the turn of the 70s, and one of Freddie Hubbard's most soulful, spiritual albums ever – a seminal chapter in the evolution of soul jazz – and a record that was a keen inspiration for changes to come on labels like Strata East and Black Jazz! The group here... read more

8 tracks, including a couple of certified Chicago house classics, on this major compilation that took the Chicago club sound and delivered it to the masses: "Work It Out", "Cold World", "Love Baby", "I Can't Let Go", "Chain Of Fools", "Think!&q... read more

As the liner notes say: "Everything a woman needs to know to love and be loved by a man...The importance of his orgasm, the etiquette of orgies, what goes on in a man's head sexually - and much, much more." How could we top that? The album that inspired Rudy Ray Moore's Sensuous Black... read more

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Great stuff! We love Deon Jackson – we love his voice, we love his songs, and we love the great production he gets from the legendary Ollie McLaughlin! This set features 12 of Deon's great soul work recorded with Ollie for the Detroit-based Carla label from the 60s – and they're... read more

A wonderful little record – a real standout in both the careers of Milt Jackson and Coleman Hawkins! The album captures Hawk during his great later years – that time when his sound was even more soulful and inventive than ever – with lots of odd modern undercurrents that really... read more

Wild and wonderful work by Keith Jarrett – light years away from his records on ECM! The album features a quartet that includes Dewey Redman on tenor, Charlie Haden on bass, and Paul Motian on drums – but it's clearly Keith who's driving the bus here, taking lots of odd twists and... read more

Features work by Dave Remington, Max Hook, Marty Marsala, Doc Cenardo, Hal Carnes, and others.... read more

The third album in Margie Joseph's early 70s run for Atlantic Records – and like the rest, a batch of super-tight tunes arranged and produced by Arif Mardin – done with the same sense of sophisticated soul he was bringing to the work of Aretha Franklin at the time! Margie's nicely a... read more

By this point, it's years past Eddie's big hits at Motown – but he's still a great soul singer, and can put over a track with a lot more skill than most of his early 80s contemporaries. The album features 2 great tunes by Lou Courtney – plus a number of others done in a sweet smooth... read more

A great blend of older jazz styles and the sweet 70s funk of Robin Kenyatta – served up with a hip sort of sparkle overall! There's a few familiar jazz modes in here that definitely live up to the spirit of the title – but most of the record is more open, laidback, and somewhat... read more

An album so heavy, it blew plenty of minds when first released at the end of the 60s! This set's the first-ever utterance from the King Crimson empire – the initial outing of the group, which featured Greg Lake on vocals, and lots of airy, darkly atmospheric guitar from the legendary Robert... read more

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