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Some of the best of the best of The Fania All Stars – magical music from that short stint when the combo were recording for Columbia Records in the late 70s! While at Columbia, the group grew even more than the styles of their roots at the Fania label – picking up some hipper touches... read more

A landmark album – one that has the Fania All-Stars playing in a Latin club style that greatly influenced dance music for years to come! The title "Cross-Over" might make you think of this one as a sell-out attempt, but it's not – it's a brilliant effort by the New York Latin... read more

One of the proudest moments of the New York Latin underground – a time when some of its best players wound up playing for Columbia, through a brief affiliation between Fania and the larger label! And although you might think that the album would totally sell out the group's best points, it's... read more

One of the proudest moments of the New York Latin underground – a time when some of its best players wound up playing for Columbia, through a brief affiliation between Fania and the larger label! And although you might think that the album would totally sell out the group's best points, it's... read more

Fantastic stuff from Art Farmer, and a real return to more soulful playing, after noodling around a lot with other odd projects during the mid 60s. The group's stone cold and solid – with Cedar Walton on piano, Jimmy Heath on tenor, Walter Booker on bass, and Mickey Roker on drums –... read more

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Funky funky Maynard – and a sweet set of electric big band jazz that's got plenty of nice moments! The album features a core rhythm group that really goes to town – jamming in sort of a Clarke-Boland sort of way, with lots of propulsive changes that create a full-on and often funky... read more

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Maynard really grooves it up on this one – playing with a group that's even larger than some of his early 70s funk sessions, in a style that's got traces of disco and R&B-styled fusion! The set was arranged, conducted, and produced by Jay Chataway – who's going for a nice smooth... read more

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A definite delight from Ronnie Foster – a post-Blue Note set that actually has the keyboardist sounding better than ever! Ronnie's always been one of those guys who seems to work best when moving against a bit of structure – and here, that force is provided by the excellent Jerry... read more

Wicked late 70s work from Ronnie Foster – a rare Columbia outing that's arguably better than his earlier sides for Blue Note! There's more of a soul vibe than before in the music – but in a way that's really foregrounded, and without some of the back/forth wavering that Foster had in... read more

A sweet overview of the early years of Aretha Franklin's career – her formative days at Columbia Records, when she was working in a variety of styles before heading over to bigger fame at Atlantic! Even at this early stage, Aretha's one hell of a singer – and, despite what folks who... read more

A sweet overview of the early years of Aretha Franklin's career – her formative days at Columbia Records, when she was working in a variety of styles before heading over to bigger fame at Atlantic! Even at this early stage, Aretha's one hell of a singer – and, despite what folks who... read more

Fusiony soul from the early 80s on Columbia – and one of the more vocal-oriented albums cut by keyboardist Rodney Franklin! The vocals are sung by Jim Gilstrap, Howard Smith, and Darryl Phinnessee – but at the heart of all the tracks are Rodney's nice soulful keyboards – which... read more

Great keyboard work from Rodney Franklin – an artist who was well-trained in the best 70s fusion modes, and really knew how to keep things real on an 80s groover like this! The set's got less acoustic touches than on previous Franklin albums, but the sound is still plenty soulful throughout... read more

Tremendous work from Rodney Franklin – one of our favorite soulful fusion players from the end of the 70s! The album's a keyboard delight through and through – and Rodney plays both acoustic and electric piano, often on the same track – which creates this nicely expanded sound... read more

Tremendous work from Rodney Franklin – one of our favorite soulful fusion players of the era – and 2 albums back-to-back! The Rodney Franklin album is a keyboard delight through and through – and Rodney plays both acoustic and electric piano, often on the same track – which... read more

A great example of why we always reach for our Rodney Franklin records time and time again over the years – as there's few other players who could serve up a blend of soul and jazz this well! The album's got a great balance of electric and acoustic, that instantly-warm style that Franklin... read more

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Tracks include "Nappy Heads", "Blunted Interlude", "Recharge", "Freestyle Interlude", "Boof Baf", "Temple", "How Hard Is It?", "Some Seek Stardom", "Refugees On The Mic", and "Living Like There Ain't No... read more

Two from the second Fugees LP. We're still amazed at how much the Fugees improved from their first album – they finally bring Lauryn Hill to the front and her dope rhymes and sung choruses hold everything together. While were not fans of anything Wycleff and Pras have done since, they... read more

Surprisingly great work from Full Force – a set that seems to only get better with the passage of time, set apart nicely from most of its 80s soul contemporaries with a good deal of homegrown charm! Sure, there's some pretty heavy beats here – and sure, the sound is a few notches... read more

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A pair of 70s guitar classics from Eric Gale – back to back on a single CD! Ginseng Woman is a wonderfully strong effort from Gale – a player who'd done countless studio work on fusion sessions in the 70s, but who never really broke that strongly as a leader until this set! Gale's... read more

2 fusion classics from guitarist Eric Gale – back to back on one CD! Ginseng Woman is wonderfully strong effort from Gale – a player who'd done countless studio work on fusion sessions in the 70s, but who never really broke that strongly as a leader until this set! Gale's tone here is... read more

Sweet fusion from the great Eric Gale – two late 70s albums back to back on a single CD! Part Of You is part of Gale's great run for Columbia Records in the late 70s, and a set that's got a nicely grooving bottom – thanks to production from Ralph MacDonald, and arrangements from... read more

A wonderful set of work by a jazz guitarist who doesn't get enough love! Hank Garland was a player who recorded mostly in the Nashville studio scene, but who also had a warmly chromatic approach to jazz, one that was light years ahead of many of his contemporaries on the instrument. Hank's style... read more

One of Erroll Garner's best-selling albums ever – a famous live date recorded in the mid 50s – and a record that's as important to his catalog as the classic Misty! Garner's playing before an apparently large audience, but the recording quality is still nice and clear – a strong... read more

One of Erroll Garner's best-selling albums ever – a famous live date recorded in the mid 50s – and a record that's as important to his catalog as the classic Misty! Garner's playing before an apparently large audience, but the recording quality is still nice and clear – a strong... read more

One of Erroll Garner's best-selling albums ever – a famous live date recorded in the mid 50s – and a record that's as important to his catalog as the classic Misty! Garner's playing before an apparently large audience, but the recording quality is still nice and clear – a strong... read more

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A great posthumous release from the mighty Marvin Gaye – a set that's half comprised of material that Marvin was working on before his early death, and half pulled from rare personal recordings he'd entrusted to his mother! The cover carries a message that some of the material might be "... read more

Marvin Gaye's last album ever – and a sensuous batch of grooves that almost return him to the sound of Let's Get It On! The style here is a bit more modern, but the sound is still great – a smoother approach to soul than most of Gaye's contemporaries at the time, recorded in a way that... read more

Marvin Gaye's last album ever – and a sensuous batch of grooves that almost return him to the sound of Let's Get It On! The style here is a bit more modern, but the sound is still great – a smoother approach to soul than most of Gaye's contemporaries at the time, recorded in a way that... read more

Incredible electric work from Stan Getz – one of his few sessions of this type from the 70s, and a doozy! The album follows heavily on the heels of Getz's brilliant Captain Marvel set – mixing together electric rhythms and some wonderfully open-minded blowing, in a sound that shows... read more

A wicked album that's one of Stan Getz's best from the 70s! The record features Stan reunited with Chick Corea, whose warm lyricism was the lynchpin in Getz's landmark Sweet Rain – the stunning session from 1968 that is perhaps our favorite-ever Getz album. Corea plays electric piano here,... read more

A wicked album that's one of Stan Getz's best from the 70s! The record features Stan reunited with Chick Corea, whose warm lyricism was the lynchpin in Getz's landmark Sweet Rain – the stunning session from 1968 that is perhaps our favorite-ever Getz album. Corea plays electric piano here,... read more

One of the last albums that Stan ever cut with larger arrangements – a surprisingly nice late 70s session that features backings from Lalo Schifrin! Most of the tunes on the set are Schifrin originals (save for one dodgy number from Evita!) – done in a sweetly flowing soundtracky style... read more

A wonderful return ot the sounds of Brazil for Stan Getz – a 70s album that reunites him with Joao Gilberto, but in a style that's somewhat different than the pair's older Verve recordings! The sound here is looser, freer – more in that breezy Brazilian mode that evolved out of the... read more

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A very groovy vocal set – produced by Teo Macero with a nicely modern edge!... read more

An overlooked chapter in the Zapp/Roger story of the 80s – the only album ever issued by vocalist Bad Bobby Glover! Roger Produced, and there's plenty of Zapp talent on hand for the record, too – which means that the overall groove is heavy on the kind of funky basslines, electrified... read more

An overlooked chapter in the Zapp/Roger story of the 80s – the only album ever issued by vocalist Bad Bobby Glover! Roger Produced, and there's plenty of Zapp talent on hand for the record, too – which means that the overall groove is heavy on the kind of funky basslines, electrified... read more

A tremendous debut from this overlooked late 60s group from the UK – a powerhouse that would later go onto fuel bigger groups like Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake & Palmer, and Uriah Heep! This initial outing has a surprisingly soulful feel at times – still very rockish in the... read more

A smoking second set from The Gods – and a record that captures the British scene at a perfect point when new ideas were definitely coming into play, but could still be served up in a style that was pretty lean and mean overall! All the cuts on the set have the potential of being much longer... read more

One of Benny Golson's great funky albums for Columbia records – a set that's worth it alone for his sweet version of "Killer Joe" – the tune he first made famous with the Jazztet, recut here with a nice 70s vibe! The cut begins with Benny doing a cool monologue at the... read more

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Includes the tracks "Texas Tea Party", "Ain't Cha Glad?", "Dr Heckle & Mr Jibe", and "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues".... read more

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Dex's famous return to New York in the mid 70s – recorded at the Village Vanguard in 1977, and featuring some of his best group-heavy playing of the decade! The quintet is fantastic – and includes Woody Shaw, Ronnie Matthews, Stafford James, and Louis Hayes. Features versions of Shaw's... read more

A great little record of groovy groovy tracks – and the one that will make you surprised you're buying an Eydie Gorme album! Lots of light organy bossa ditties, including the great title cut, versions of Jobim stuff, and "The Coffee Song", a hit on the London club scene in the Jazz... read more

A great little record of groovy groovy tracks – and the one that will make you surprised you're buying an Eydie Gorme album! Lots of light organy bossa ditties, including the great title cut, versions of Jobim stuff, and "The Coffee Song", a hit on the London club scene in the Jazz... read more

A great double-header – especially since both albums are top-shelf! Don't Go To Strangers is a 60s classic from Eydie Gorme – and a set that showed the world that she had a lot more to offer than just some peppy duets with Steve Lawrence! Sure, Eydie had sung on her own before –... read more

Prepare to discover a new favorite singer – the smooth, sweet, and soulful Vivian Green, a great new vocalist who's stepping out here with an excellent debut! The album's very much in the tradition of the best underground female NuSoul releases of the past few years – combined with the... read more

Wonderful solo work from Billy Griffin – the man who headed The Miracles after Smokey Robinson left the group – heard here on a string of classic 80s sides for Columbia Records! Billy's got a sound that's almost as sweet as Smokey at his best – but a groove that's a bit deeper... read more

Smooth 80s soul from Billy Griffin – formerly of The Miracles, but emerging here as a solo artist on his own, with a strong bid for stardom, dressed in a slick narrow-tie linen-jacket-with-collar-turned-up 80s stab at crossover fashion! Billy's voice is a lot better than his choice of outfit... read more

Smooth 80s soul from Billy Griffin – formerly of The Miracles, but emerging here as a solo artist on his own, with a strong bid for stardom, dressed in a slick narrow-tie linen-jacket-with-collar-turned-up 80s stab at crossover fashion! Billy's voice is a lot better than his choice of outfit... read more

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Includes the tracks "I'm Just Wild About Harry", "Doodle Dee Doo", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", and "Tom Dooley".... read more

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One of the greatest moog albums ever – all original sounds and tunes from the legendary Bruce Haack! Haack had spent most of the 60s doing small label kiddie records on his own, but this late 60s gem on Columbia is probably his best known work – a masterpiece of short and groovy little... read more

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A strong little set of post bop tracks from saxophonist Lenny Hambro – one of two rare albums he cut for Columbia during the 50s, and a tight session with Wade Legge on piano, Dick Garcia on guitar, and Clyde Lombardi and Mel Zelnick on rhythm. The tracks are short, and Hambro's sax work is... read more

A really wonderful soundtrack, with loads of groovy tracks! The film stars Jack Lemmon, and the format of the record is similar to the Odd Couple – in that musical tracks are interspersed with dialogue, to keep the feel of the progression of the movie. Side one has some especially groovy... read more

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A killer 70s soundtrack from Herbie Hancock! The record takes the funky style that Herbie was cutting with the Headhunters, and blends it with some more sophisticated scoring that's top in the 70s action and blacksploitation modes – perfect for the dark theme of the movie's story. There's... read more

One of those albums that always gets lost between the Sextant/Headhunters days – and the later Rockit hip hop records. Herbie's clearly trying to find a voice here – working in a mode that's actually smooth soul on most cuts, mixing keyboards and vocals in a style that's similar to... read more

The future is now! Or at least it seemed to be back in 1983 when Herbie teamed up with Bill Laswell to record this classic album of computer-driven keyboard grooves! Whatever you might think of the music, the record was a genius move for Herbie – who was kind of flopping around in a number... read more

A seminal jazz funk session of the 70s – Herbie Hancock's legendary meeting with The Headhunters, and a killer batch of tunes that really gave the combo their name! Herbie's playing a wide range of keys here – including Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and Arp – but almost even better is... read more

A seminal jazz funk session of the 70s – Herbie Hancock's legendary meeting with The Headhunters, and a killer batch of tunes that really gave the combo their name! Herbie's playing a wide range of keys here – including Fender Rhodes, clavinet, and Arp – but almost even better is... read more

A brilliant Japanese-only album from Herbie – quite different than his US work at the time! Although the Herbie in America in 1981 was very heavily involved in electric keyboard work and more R&B-oriented styles of expression – this Japanese-recorded Herbie's an all-acoustic one,... read more

Funky mid 70s Herbie – one his funkiest of the era! Herbie plays a host of kool keyboards (like Fender Rhodes, Arp, Hohner Clavinet, etc), and he's joined by a group that includes just about all of the Headhunters (Paul Jackson and Mike Clark in the rhythm section), as well as Wah Wah Watson... read more

Later stuff, but a pretty unique album from Herbie! The sound's a bit smoother than some of the groundbreaking electric albums, but the playing's top-shelf, and the record features a number of jazz funk numbers with soulful vocals – including work by Gavin Christopher and The Waters. Think... read more

Herbie plays a host of cool electric keyboards in this nice session of modern jazzy tracks – recorded in the company of some of his best bandmates, like Bennie Maupin, Tony Williams, Harvey Mason, Ron Carter, Alphonse Mouzon, and Paul Jackson. The feel's a bit smoother than some of the more... read more

Soulful 70s work from Herbie Hancock – a record that tightens things up from the Headhunters and Sextant sessions, but which still retains a lot of their depth and charm! Players here including some previous partners – like Bennie Maupin on reeds and Paul Jackson on bass – plus... read more

Soulful 70s work from Herbie Hancock – a record that tightens things up from the Headhunters and Sextant sessions, but which still retains a lot of their depth and charm! Players here including some previous partners – like Bennie Maupin on reeds and Paul Jackson on bass – plus... read more

Soulful 70s work from Herbie Hancock – a record that tightens things up from the Headhunters and Sextant sessions, but which still retains a lot of their depth and charm! Players here including some previous partners – like Bennie Maupin on reeds and Paul Jackson on bass – plus... read more

An incredible record – and virtually the blueprint for countless other keyboard records to come! At the height of his 70s powers, Herbie really takes off into space with this set – moving away from more commercial music, and hitting a groove that's totally righteous, totally electric,... read more

An incredible record – and virtually the blueprint for countless other keyboard records to come! At the height of his 70s powers, Herbie really takes off into space with this set – moving away from more commercial music, and hitting a groove that's totally righteous, totally electric,... read more

The follow up to Herbie's groundbreaking hit album Future Shock. There's some rehashing of themes here, with the remake of "Rockit" called "Hardrock" here – basically the same number with some heavy guitar added and a few different solos – plus similar numbers that... read more