All Categories — All Formats  

... read more

... read more

... read more

"Broke" is pretty straight blues – slow electric guitar work out front, in a sad trippy tone. "Mardi Gras" is more lively – with a rolling New Orleans groove underneath.... read more

Groovy stuff – with a great 60s Capitol finish! Jack Marshall arranged this set of 10 songs, half of which are Jobim songs, with other songs written by Joao Gilberto, Menescal, Luiz Bonfa and 2 songs credited to Jack Marshall. Songs include "Girl From Ipanema", "Manha De... read more

A genius album from Swedish baritone giant Lars Gullin – and a set that's from a period that was much less documented on our side of the Atlantic! Gullin was one of the undisputed masters of the instrument, and his American recordings on Mercury and Prestige stand as proof to his talent... read more

Lots of great material on here – albums that include Soft Lights & Bobby Hackett, In A Mellow Mood, Rendezvous, Don't Take Your Love From Me, Gotham Jazz Scene, At The Embers, Bobby Hackett Quartet, Easy Beat, Blues With A Kick, and the unusual Hawaii Swings!... read more

... read more

The complete collection of Hag's 60s singles at Capitol – with some of his most legendary songs – along with some equal treasures that just didn't hit as big on the charts! It's a pretty tightly-focused set that starts with the formative, Bakersfield honky tonk-honed style of the... read more

Let's get this straight. Merle Haggard SINGS "Okie From Muskogee" but he is not THE "Okie From Muskogee". Nevertheless, this is the record that put the honky in honky tonk. Merle sure pretended to not like hippies back in '69, and story has it he even refused an invitation to... read more

One of the great early Merle Haggard records with The Strangers – and a classic that swung open all kinds of doors for Hag and all honky tonk legends to follow! The barroom laments come into full bloom on this record, with the unvarnished honky tonk style that Hag helped define, though done... read more

Career-to-date spanning Ben Harper ballads compilation hand-picked by Ben.... read more

... read more

... read more

Groovier than you might think – but that's what we've come to expect from Jimmie!... read more

... read more

... read more

Sweet smooth and funky work from Eddie Henderson – a nice move from his more righteous work of the mid 70s, into an R&B-tinged sound that would take him far in years to come! The sound is surprisingly great, and still pretty darn righteous – thanks to some great production by Skip... read more

An excellent document of how the rawer soul jazz spiritualism of the early 70s smoothed out to become the spacey mellow fusion of the late 70s. The players all have their jazz funk chops – and include Paul Humphrey, Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin, and Bill Summers – and they've taken... read more

An excellent document of how the rawer soul jazz spiritualism of the early 70s smoothed out to become the spacey mellow fusion of the late 70s. The players all have their jazz funk chops – and include Paul Humphrey, Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin, and Bill Summers – and they've taken... read more

With "Who Knows", "Machine Gun", "We Gotta Live Together", "Power To Love", and "Changes" – all recorded live at the Fillmore East on New Years Eve, 1969!... read more

... read more

An 80s groove classic – and a killer bit of Captiol Records soul from High fashion! Of all US major labels, Capitol was probably putting out the best soul in the early 80s – and this is a tight modern batch of up-tempo tracks, right up there with other contemporary classics on the... read more

An 80s groove classic – and a killer bit of Captiol Records soul from High fashion! Of all US major labels, Capitol was probably putting out the best soul in the early 80s – and this is a tight modern batch of up-tempo tracks, right up there with other contemporary classics on the... read more

A masterpiece of boogie – and proof that Capitol was the label to watch back in the early 80s! "Feelin Lucky Lately" is everything we could ever hope for in an 80s groove number – and a cut that builds with a slow, sophisticated intro – the unleashes a great electric... read more

A pair of gems from High Fashion – back to back on a single CD! Feelin Lucky is an 80s groove classic – and a killer bit of Captiol Records soul from High fashion! Of all US major labels, Capitol was probably putting out the best soul in the early 80s – and this is a tight... read more

This set is from a few years later than the first Beach Boys Song Book – and as such, features a groovier sound overall! There's still plenty of strings in the mix, but the arrangements from Mort Garson and Perry Botkin also show some of the growing love of sound used by the group –... read more

... read more

... read more

... read more

... read more

Soulful reggae from Jacob Miller and Inner Circle, not their roughest roots material, but with a nice polished approach that helped them appeal to a much wider audience, with "Groovin In Love", "This World", "Ghetto On Fire", "Tired Fe Lick Weed In A Bush",... read more

Iron Maiden's monumental Live After Death – a standard bearing live album in the metal realm – and a vital snapshot of the British heavy metal heroes at the peak of their powers! Maiden pretty much conquered the live metal world on this tour – and Live After Death features... read more

Iron Maiden at their mid 80s peak – and along with Number Of Beast and Piece Of Mind, Powerslave completes one of the mightiest trilogies in metal history – pretty much cementing the Maiden legend! Kicking off with the incredible one-two punch of "Aces High" and "2... read more

One of the greatest new male soul voices of the 80s – served up here in a beautiful batch of ballads, love songs, and mellow cuts! Freddie Jackson could number plenty of groovers amongst his hits, but he also always seemed most at home with a ballad – where the complexities of his... read more

... read more

Freddie Jackson was certainly one of the biggest new soul stars of the 80s – and this debut LP is still a treasure! Freddie's got a skill that transcends his age – with an approach that's decidedly 80s, but classic enough to last for years and years. The songs on the record are all... read more

... read more

Pivotal singles from the amazing Wanda Jackson – one of the greatest female rock and country voices from the 50s onward – who mixes a cutesy coo and a feral growl for a sound that was pretty much unprecedented at the time! The material bridges proto rock and country music in a way that... read more

One of the best rock and/or country LPs of the late 50s and early 60s! Capitol signed the rockabilly rebel princess several years prior to the release of this collection of her jumpy, frenetic singles, and had Wanda record more crossover material, which she succeeded at in incredible fashion. ... read more

The cover says this is "an album if great rockin songs by Wanda Jackson" and they are indeed pretty rockin! Rather than rock, these tunes are more rockabilly, of course – and Wanda's amazing, raspy yet pretty voice is definitely rooted in classic honky tonk, too. It's a really... read more

The cover says this is "an album if great rockin songs by Wanda Jackson" and they are indeed pretty rockin! Rather than rock, these tunes are more rockabilly, of course – and Wanda's amazing, raspy yet pretty voice is definitely rooted in classic honky tonk, too. It's a really... read more

... read more

A nice little second set from Javier – funky, chunky, and with a stripped-down sound that's mighty nice! The record avoids the sometimes sophmore tendencies to pack things up a bit more than before – and Javier's held onto all of the charm that made his first record so nice, and most... read more

... read more

... read more

Classic trumpet-heavy jive from Jonah Jones! The focus is on Jonah's gutbucket swinging style, with his trumpet up front in the mix in post-KC swing-type tunes. Things get a bit campy at times, but this pop-jazz-swing style worked extremely well for Jones and Capitol. Titles include "Moten... read more

... read more

Trumpeter Jonah Jones swings nicely with a Broadway theme – yet still manages to keep things in his charming blend of trad, swing, and some groovier elements too! The set's mostly instrumental, although Jonah sings on a few numbers with that warmly raspy voice of his – and as with most... read more

Weirdly groovy stuff from Jonah Jones – playing here in his usual pop-gospel-swing style, but with backing by a set of voices that gives that album a nice full sound. The vocal group isn't nearly as soporific as those used on other pop/jazz albums from the time, and they have a nice lilting... read more

... read more

A classic from Der Mickle!... read more

... read more

... read more

Proof that the Kenton sound could work in just about any format – as Stan transforms a host of older tunes from his book into a bossa nova groove! The approach is simple, but great – as the rich Kenton tones and colors are infused with some added rhythms laid down by Milt Holland,... read more

Genius, pure genius! If you've ever wondered why folks think Stan is so great, check out this landmark set of postwar modern swing tunes – some of the most groundbreaking work of its generation, and proof that there was still a lot of room to grow within the big band format. June Christy... read more

A collection of some of Kenton's early 50s hits, presented here as "encores", with most of the tracks arranged by Pete Rugolo. 11 tracks in all, including "He's Funny That Way", "Painted Rhythm", "Journey To Brazil", "Somnambulism", "Chorale... read more

Beautiful modernist work from Kenton – one of the first albums to cull his genius together as a whole, filled with the kind of tracks that perfectly sum up his unique approach at the time! If you've ever wondered what makes Kenton so great, this is the album to begin with – as it's... read more

One of the hippest Stan Kenton albums of the 60s – a set of original compositions by Dee Barton – Stan's drummer at the time, and a composer to rival the great ones who contributed to the Kenton group of the 40s and 50s! Barton's work here is totally great – modern, but never too... read more

... read more

... read more

A great example of the Kenton powerhouse in action – a 90 minute double-live recording that really set a new standard for jazz sets of its type! The album features a side apiece dedicated to each of the three acts – one by Kenton's orchestra, one by Christy on vocals, and one by the... read more

Surprisingly enjoyable record in which King Curtis runs through a number of C&W favorites, and turns them into R&B sax instrumentals. The album shows what a clear link there was between the two musical traditions, and includes classics like "Night Train To Memphis", "You're... read more

... read more

... read more

A fantastic record from Kitty Haywood and her female vocal quartet – an ensemble that shifted easily between secular and spiritual material, and who did a lot of backing work on the Chicago scene in the 70s. The set's one of their few albums as a group – and it's a sublime batch of... read more

One of the greatest power pop albums ever recorded – a blistering batch of tight little rocking tunes that took pop music back to basics at the end of the 70s! The group have an almost Beatles-esque flair for the short catchy tune – but have also pumped up things nicely with a smoothly... read more

Not the power pop phenom Knack of "My Sharona" fame – and not the mid 60s UK Knack. This is the mid 60s Sunset Strip Knack – and one of at least 3 great band to have that name that we've been hipped to so far! This particular Knack was fairly short-lived. They signed with... read more

One of the many chapters of Jimi's career before his famous Experience recordings – a set of hard rocking soul tracks with singer Curtis Knight, recorded in a really lively sort of party feel! The quality of the set almost makes us think this one was a live session – especially on the... read more

High school and hot rods – groovy Capitol work, courtesy of producer Gary Usher – and of course, it features an incredible roster of west coast studio geniuses behind the curtain! A fun mix of instrumentals and vocal tunes, with beach and surf harmonies, R&B-indebted rumblers and... read more

... read more

Vintage promo photo!... read more

... read more

An incredibly lovely record from Kraftwerk – fashioned along the same suite-like style as Radio Activity, and served up with some haunting and charming tunes throughout! The electronics are quite spare, yet very thoughtful – never a note out of place, as the quartet build their careful... read more

An incredibly lovely record from Kraftwerk – fashioned along the same suite-like style as Radio Activity, and served up with some haunting and charming tunes throughout! The electronics are quite spare, yet very thoughtful – never a note out of place, as the quartet build their careful... read more

... read more

An original promo single from Kraftwerk's groundbreaking Trans Europe Express album featuring the awesome genre-crossing title track, and the clanging coda, plus the cool, cool "Europe Endless" on the b-side, with a similarly machine like groove.... read more

Sparkling work from singer Irene Kral – and possibly the best album she ever cut! The backings here are by the Herb Pomeroy group – a slightly modern ensemble that still knows how to swing with a good dose of Boston soul – and the overall feel of the album's a lot more forceful... read more

A pair of killers from Kwick – back to back on a single CD! First up is the self-titled Kwick – sweet 80s groove from a quartet who were once known as The Newcomers, and recorded some Memphis singles for Stax – but who here reemerge more than fully-formed – leaping into the... read more

One of Francis Lai's best soundtracks from the 70's, and one of the few that live up to the greatness of his classic scores for A Man & A Woman and Live For Life. The instrumental tracks are moody and spare, with a cool European sound, and lots of nice keyboards and solo instruments. Tracks... read more

... read more

A pair of classics from Ronnie Laws – back to back on a single CD! On Mr Nice Guy, Laws really makes a big move into the soul field – quite a big record for him back in the day, and a set that helped him reach an even wider audience at the time! Ronnie sings as much as playing sax on... read more

A 60s LP that compiles Julia's earlier sides for Capitol – a mixture of jump blues, swing, and R&B, recorded with players that include Red Norvo, Benny Carter, Vic Dickenson, and Baby Lovett. Titles include "Last Call For Alcohol", "After Hours Waltz", "King Size... read more

A 50s LP that compiles Julia's earlier singles for Capitol – a mixture of jump blues and early R&B, done with some nice jazzy touches that give the tracks a Kansas City groove. Titles include "Last Call For Alcohol", "I Was Wrong", "Tell Me Daddy", "Ain'... read more

... read more

A sweet and slightly Latinized album from Peggy – one that features backings based around a variety of acoustic and electric guitars, with arrangements by Dave Grusin, Dick Hazard, Bob Bain, and Billy May. The album's got more varied moods than you'd expect for such a project – and... read more

A pretty bold assertion from Peggy, but she backs it up nicely in this obscure album of "guy" songs that includes titles like "Good For Nothing Joe", "Charley My Boy", "Jim", "Bill", and "It's So Nice To Have A Man Around the House". And... read more

Music direction by Lou Levy – which is quite a surprise – with arrangements by Dave Grusin, Lalo Schifrin, and Billy May – on some unusual tracks that include "My Sin", "The Boy From Ipanema", "Talk To Me Baby", "The Right To Love", "The... read more

A classic collaboration between Peggy Lee and Nelson Riddle – and a record that really set the tone for Lee's famous Capitol sides of the 60s! The groove here is very upbeat – as you might guess from the title – with a bouncing, almost syncopated approach that's definitely Riddle'... read more

Very groovy work from Peggy – a set of tunes tone with a nice little Latin flair! The tunes themselves are all Broadway hits of the late 50s and early 60s, but they're redone wonderfully here – so that they often bear little resemblance to the originals. Jack Marshall handled the... read more

... read more

... read more

A hip collection of tracks from Peggy Lee – featuring tunes recorded for Capitol during the late 60s and early 70s, put together as a special package for Placidyl sleeping pills! The album's hardly sleepy, though – and the standout cut is Peggy's awesome version of "Spinning... read more

Definitely somethin groovy from Peggy Lee – thanks to backings from Ralph Carmichael, and instrumental solos from Toots Thielemans!... read more

A hip collection of tracks from Peggy Lee – recorded for Capitol during the late 60s, but issued in this special package that was a limited edition one put out by Sylvania in the early 70s. The standout cuts are Peggy's awesome versions of "Spinning Wheel" and "Sitting On The... read more

Peggy does her thing with big, late 50s swing arrangements on Things Are Swingin' – 1958 sessions that found Peggy in the company of a 10 piece crew featuring Shelly Manne on drums, Joe Harnell on the keys, Pete Candoli on trumpet, Barney Kessel on guitar and more! This is straight up, 50s... read more

The great John Lennon album from 1973 – still in an exhilaratingly creative mode with strong Plastic Ono traces, even if the overall effect is more mainstream friendly – ultimately, an album that stands incredibly well on its own, even if its something of a bridge to John's rock and... read more

... read more

An obscure late 60s rock opera – but a pretty great one too, and a set with some rougher, more soulful moments than Hair, Oh Calcutta, or any of its contemporaries! The instrumentation here is really great – almost in a Melvin Van Peebles mode at times, with basslines that step around... read more

... read more