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An early 80s look at Latin jazz from David Amram – with a who's who of Latin jazz players and stellar jazz musicians of other realms – including Paquito D'Riveria, Candido, Machito & Machito Jr, Brazilian percussion guru Duduca Fonseca, David Fathead Newman, Jimmy Knepper, Pepper... read more

Righteous soul, but with a wicked groove too – a killer set from Aquarian Dream, made even better by some great Norman Connors production! In a way, Aquarian Dream were to Norman Connors what Ramp were to Roy Ayers – in that the group wasn't really that dominated by Connors, but they... read more

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A sweet sweet set of electric 70s funk – recorded by Booker T during a brief, but well-needed reunion with the MGs! The sound here is quite different than Stax-era MGs – as Booker plays a range of keyboards, not just organ – and the grooves have these great jazz funk touches at... read more

Once Puba left the group, we were all ready for this sophomore effort to just fall flat. But Sadat X and Lord Jamar aquit themselves nicely on the mic, and the beats are head-noddingly satisfying too, no doubt due to Dante Ross's guidance. And they don't let up on their hardcore 5% stance either.... read more

Pure greatness from Brand Nubian at their early best! The Nubes' have made a handful of solid-to-great albums, but none could top this essential debut. Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar are on point with the politicized rhymes over classic early 90s jazzed up, funky beats, built from now well... read more

One of the last Brand Nubian singles before Grand Puba left the group, for the first time.... read more

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This one's a real shift from her earlier jazz-based work, or her recent recordings for Verve – and a sweet funky fusion album that Dee Dee recorded for Elektra in the late 70s. The set was produced by Stanley Clarke, and has a soul/fusion sound that's not that different than his own work of... read more

Absolutely burning live recording of Brownie's group co led with Max Roach, and also featuring Sony Rollins. This set features some the group's best playing, limited only by the mediocre sound quality of the recording. Great extended takes on "I'll Remember April", 'What's New",... read more

Easily one of our favorite albums by Tim Buckley – and a record that really opens up with some key jazzy touches! Buckley's still got his roots in folk here, and his vocals are yet to hit the extremes of Starsailor or Lorca – but there's also a new sense of inflection to the way he... read more

An exceptional early release from the tragic Tim Buckley – done with a really unique sound that mixes late 60s folk rock with some subtly jazzy overtones! The record features beautiful string arrangements from the legendary Jack Nitzsche, and some beautiful work on piano, harpsichord, and... read more

Beats by Jay Dee, Easy Mo Bee, Q Tip, Dj Scratch and others. 13 tracks: "The Coming (intro)", "Do My Thing", "Everything Remains Raw", "Woo-Hah", "It's A Party", "Ill Vibe", "Keep It Moving", "Abandon Ship", "Hot... read more

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A smoking live set from the Butterfield Blues Band – and like all the group's work, as much of a jazz and soul album as a blues one! Butterfield drew his inspiration from the Chicago bluesmen, it's true – but his style also has plenty of echoes of New Orleans soul, Memphis R&B, and... read more

Titles include "Walkin Blues", "Get Out Of My Life Woman", "Mary Mary", "East West", "Two Trains Running", and "Work Song".... read more

Massive lost work from the Butterfield Blues Band – recorded in 1964, quite early in the group's career – but a set that already has them hitting hard with a really powerful sound! The recording quality and overall sound is nice and rough – a gritty groove that's more closely... read more

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A post-Blue Note effort, and Donald's changing things up a bit with his 125th Street Orchestra and Uptown Singers – funking along in a way you'd expect from the longwinded title! Byrd loostens up the smoother backgrounds of his recent Larry Mizell helmed work, and in their place are grooves... read more

A post-Blue Note effort, and Donald's changing things up a bit with his 125th Street Orchestra and Uptown Singers – funking along in a way you'd expect from the longwinded title! Byrd loostens up the smoother backgrounds of his recent Larry Mizell helmed work, and in their place are grooves... read more

Funky electric groove from Donald Byrd – a post Mizell effort that's still burning in a crisp groove similar to his classic 70s Blue Note work – one that's absolutely dripping with keys! Isaac Hayes produced this one, and also played a lot of those keyboards on the session with Byrd's... read more

Funky electric groove from Donald Byrd – a post Mizell effort that's still burning in a crisp groove similar to his classic 70s Blue Note work – one that's absolutely dripping with keys! Isaac Hayes produced this one, and also played a lot of those keyboards on the session with Byrd's... read more

A vocoder heavy track from Donald Byrd – one that's co-written with Isaac Hayes, and served up with plenty of beats on the bottom! You'll be hard pressed to hear a lot of the sweet trumpet of earlier years, but "Midnight" moves back into the sweeter groove of before – still... read more

A definite soul based session for Donald Byrd – and that's saying a lot here, because his previous decade's worth of work had all had some sort of R&B focus! The main force behind the set here is Isaac Hayes – who's producing, arranging, and playing most of the keyboards on the... read more

One of the great albums from Terry Callier's "second chapter" on record – a time when he was working for Elektra Records, and doing work that was a bit straighter soul than before – and also slightly jazzy as well! The record's kind of a mix of jazzy grooves and smoother soul... read more

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Titles include "Gabriela's Song", "Lenda", "Obsession", "Velho Piano", "Guararapes", "Desenredo", "The River", and "Like A Lover".... read more

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Right out of the subways and into the top 40! Titles include "Fast Car", "Mountains O Things", "She's Got Her Ticket", "Why", "For My Lover", "Behind The Wall", and "Talkin Bout A Revolution".... read more

A seminal set in the rebirth of straight jazz in the early 80s – a wonderful record with a much warmer, more traditional feel than you'd expect from some of the players involved! Bassist Stanley Clarke and pianist Chick Corea really return to their roots here – Stanley with some of the... read more

Titles include "Black Roses", "With All In Mind", "The Ballad Of Freddie & Larry", "Sand", and "Night Sounds Loud".... read more

A much better record than we want to admit, with Natalie moving towards jazzy numbers and standards, for a blockbuster Grammy winning effort. Her voice stands up well to the mainstream polish, and even the creepy "duet" with her father is enjoyable. 22 tracks in all, including "The... read more

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One of the most treasured albums ever by The Cure! Includes "Why Can't I Be You", "Just Like Heaven", "Catch", "Hot Hot Hot" and more.... read more

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An overlooked gem from keyboardist Joao Donato – cut in a mid 80s stretch when he was hardly doing any recording at all! The set's almost more of a jazz record than some of Donato's previous work – recorded with a warm vibe that's right up there with the best Brazilian fusion of the... read more

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The classic debut – with "Break On Through", "Soul Kitchen", "Crystal Ship", "Light My Fire", "Back Door Man", and "The End".... read more

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Titles include "Tell All The People", "Touch Me", "Shaman's Blues", "Easy Ride", "Wild Child", "Do It", and "Wishful Sinful".... read more

Titles include "Tell All The People", "Touch Me", "Shaman's Blues", "Easy Ride", "Wild Child", "Do It", and "Wishful Sinful".... read more

Plenty of gems – including "When The Music's Over", "People Are Strange", "Moonlight Drive", "Horse Latitudes", "Unhappy Girl", "Love Me Two Times", and "Strange Days".... read more

The Doors original and the Ray Manzarek-produced X cover on the flip!... read more

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Sublime late live work from Bill Evans – a well-recorded performance for French radio, and one that really stands out from some of the scratchier late 70s concerts on the market! Bill's working here with a sound as sensitive and picturesque as the cover image – never pushing things too... read more

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The debut album from Five Special – a wonderful group who push an older harmony soul style firmly into the 80s groove generation! Decked out in skinny ties, suspenders, and soft linen jackets, Five Special manage to keep the vocals sweet while picking up the groove – working with... read more

A well-titled set from Chico Freeman – as the reedman definitely takes older modern modes into new territory here – moving in almost Monk-ish space, but with some sharper, bolder tones overall! The album's a surprising one for an early 80s major label release – a great reminder... read more

A lovely later recording from Stan – very spare and spacious, and recorded with a casual approach that's quite striking, and really fresh. The album features Stan playing alongside pianist Albert Dailey – with no other rhythm accompaniment, just piano and tenor sax. The tunes are... read more

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An unusual later album from Dexter Gordon – and one of his few sessions ever with Hammond organ! Shirley Scott handles the keys of the B-3 – and the group also features Grover Washington Jr on soprano sax, Kirk Lightsey on piano, and Eddie Gladden on drums. Titles include "Besame... read more

The remix of "Little Of This" improves the LP version (from the "2000" LP) with more of a late night/jazzy feel using Bobbi Humphrey's "Just a Love Child" that works better with Puba's vocals. Plus another remix from Stud Doogie.... read more

We'll be honest and admit we prefer Puba with Brand Nubian, though you can't front on this nice single off his his first solo LP, with the non-LP b-side "Mind Your Business" about Puba's early days with Masters of Ceremony. Beats by Puba, T Ray and the Stimulated Dummies.... read more

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A really unique album for Chaka Khan – one in which she teams up with a host of jazz artists to craft a classic-styled set of vocals! Given that Chaka was at the height of her 80s groove solo career at the time of this one, the move was a surprising one – but also a great chance for... read more

A smooth, clean-toned example of early 80s fusion from John Klemmer! Klemmer is backed by Dean Parks, John Tropea, Don Grusin, Victor Feldman, Abe Laboriel, and Harvey Mason, with some spacial synths here and there and even some vocalising by John! Tracks include "Magnificent Madness",... read more

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The only full length record we've ever seen from singer Suzi Lane – and a catchy batch of late 70s disco produced by Giorgio Moroder, but also featuring arrangements by Harold Faltermeyer – in a tuneful, hook-styled mode that's as sweet as can be! Suzi's vocals are the seductive and... read more

An excellent bit of modern soul by Debra Laws – really her only album, but an instant classic nonetheless! The set's an impeccable batch of smooth tracks – recorded with production by brothers Ronnie and Hubert – and Debra's vocals have a sophisticated jazzy touch that sets the... read more

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Two of the doper tracks from the "T.I.M.E" LP – two that still have the classic Leaders' sound from the "Future Without..." LP. To our ears, Busta's solo material has still never sounded nicer than these tracks with Charlie Brown and Dinco D. The Large Professor gives... read more

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What can we say? This is one of the greatest albums of all time – and it's made even better through the addition of a bunch of previously unissued tracks! The record's got a sound that's completely unique – as crack LA garage punk rock meets Hollywood baroque production, and the... read more

What can we say? This is one of the greatest albums of all time! The record's got a sound that's completely unique – as crack LA garage punk rock meets Hollywood baroque production, and the result is an amazing bit of loud guitar noise backed by strings and horns, all graced by the godlike... read more

Much more of a hard rock affair than the group's third LP – kind of a return to the heavy guitars of Da Capo after the baroque beauty of Forever Changes – but a stone winner nonetheless! Arthur Lee's genius is still firmly in place, and although there's a back to basics rock feel on... read more

A very cool Elektra compilation – with rare non-Buddah work by the Lovin Spoonful, plus material by Al Kooper, Tom Rush, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse!... read more

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Great big Dee-troit rawk, like no other group of madmen could have ever created! This is the album that established the Motor City as the capital of late 60s/early 70s gonzo psychedelic rock, and still stands as probably the most massive live recording of the era. Pile-driving outer space noise... read more

Great big Dee-troit rawk, like no other group of madmen could have ever created! This is the album that established the Motor City as the capital of late 60s/early 70s gonzo psychedelic rock, and still stands as probably the most massive live recording of the era. Pile-driving outer space noise... read more

One of Sergio Mendes' most electric outings from the 70s – a tasty mixture of LA fusion, Brazilian rhythms, and the group's unique twin female vocal lead! The mix of sounds is wonderful – and makes for a really solid album that shows how much soul Sergio had soaked up in the decade he'd... read more

Real 80s groove soul – with polished sound that's got a bit of a jazzy flavor in it, thanks mostly to the competent instrumentation of the band. Titles include "You Satisfy Me", "Just A Little Bit", "Heavy Rotation", "Start It Up", "Sweet... read more

Missy's catchy hip hop nostalgia anthem "Back In The Day" features a really sharp Jay-Z spot.... read more

Keep It Movin features Elephant Man. Production by Timbaland.... read more

Tracks include "So Addictive" (intro) featuring Tweet, "Dog In Heat" featuring Redman & Method Man, "One Minute Man" featuring Ludacris, "Lick Shots", "Get Ur Freak On", "Scream" (aka "Itchin'"), Old School Joint", "... read more

Timbaland comes correct again, with a solid beat that has his trademark funky syncopation but with a nod towards the old school, and while no ones going to give Missy any awards for her rhymes, she's still better than the half a dozen soft porn on the mic of the moment female MCs out there.... read more

Includes her classic version of "Twisted" – plus "Just Like This Train", "Car On A Hill", "Help Me", "Court & Spark", "Down To You", "Free Man In Paris", and "People's Parties".... read more

One of the best records ever from Don Nix – a legendary figure whose work on the Memphis scene of the 60s touched countless of rock and soul artists – recording here with a nicely tight sound at Muscle Shoals! Like some of his contemporaries, Nix made the move from Memphis to Muscle... read more

A great illustration of the transition from folk to the singer/songwriter era at the end of the 60s – the overlooked Elektra debut of Steve Noonan, an artist who hailed from the same Orange County scene as Tim Buckly and Jackson Browne, the latter of whom contributed a few great songs to this... read more

A great little album from O Terco – a later album from the group, but one that still has them sounding plenty wonderful! As before, there's a progressive vibe to the music – a mixture of jazz and rock that really comes through well in the mature, fusion-based instrumentation of the... read more

The incredible debut of Phil Ochs – easily one of the most powerful folk albums of the 60s, and a set that wears its politics on its sleeve like few other records! In an era when many folkies worked a social agenda with sly jokes and twee metaphors, Ochs went straight for the jugular and... read more

Easily the greatest album ever recorded by the legendary Phil Ochs – a masterpiece of politics and power, filled with themes that still resonate strongly 40 years later! From the very first note of the set, Ochs expresses himself with a confidence, intelligence, and clear-headed vision that... read more

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Dirt Dog's 2nd album is a little more schizophrenic, twisted, and under the influence than his first. It sounds a little more inspired by Rick James and Flavor Flav, as raw dog as a hip hopper can shimmy without getting arrested. Tracks include "Cold Blooded", "Rollin Wit You",... read more

Ol' Dirty Bastard...Osiris...Big Baby Jesus...what can we say? Whether ODB had really fallen off the deep end or if it was just an act, this is still one of our favorite Wu-Tang related LP's – with more energy and sense of humor than most, and featuring the best hip hop singing since Biz... read more