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A sweet live performance from Joao Nogueira – originally done for the Ensaio TV program in Brazil – with all the up-close qualities that always make that show so great! The set's actually a bit more electric than other Ensaio sets – a surprising change, given the sometimes rootsy... read more

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Marty Paich takes on a host of Broadway tunes from the 50s – but as always with his best work, the result is something quite far from its roots – an amazing batch of jazzy instrumentals that owes very little to the original conception of the tunes! Paich's got an incredible ear for... read more

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Van Dyke Parks' masterpiece – and one of the hippest records to come out of LA in the 60s! The album's a strangely anachronistic one – steeped in the kind of past-days scoring found on early records by Harpers Bizarre and Randy Newman (both of which Parks had a hand in!), wrapped... read more

The seminal Gram Parsons solo debut, and arguably his most consistant post-Burritos album. GP is pretty much the record that put the country in country rock – with a sharp steel guitar cry throughout, an unpretentious proud/poor delivery, and those sweet harmonies with Emmylou Harris. The... read more

More country rock classics from Gram and Emmylou Harris. Includes the tacks "Return of the Grievous Angel", "Brass Buttons", "$1000 Wedding", "Love Hurts", and "In My Hour of Darkness".... read more

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Here begins the period that Prince went from a fascinating, genre defying hitmaker to an unstoppable cultural force – bringing a bit of a new wave pop punch to the funky synth soul – and somehow crafting some of the most irresistible singles of the 80s! We can't imagine anyone being... read more

Titles include "The Future", "Electric Chair", "Vicki Waiting", "Partyman", "Scandalous", and "Batdance".... read more

Recorded in 1987, but never officially released until 1994, when Prince was trying to get out of his Warners contract. Prince's attempt to return to his more funky side after flirting with more straight pop songs was a Holy Grail amongst collectors for a time, and though we don't like it as much... read more

Classic Prince – an album that signaled an end to the first part of Prince's storied career, leaning heavily on his fascination with new wave, mixed with the r&b grooves and 70s funk of his earliest LPs. Prince is definitely in a transitional mode here, the easy politics of the punk era... read more

Early work from Prince – really his first full fledged masterpiece! Prince ushered the 80s in with a mix of recognizable influences, but filtered through his unique sensibility – taking taught a funk sound, layered vocals, crisp rhythms, ultra catchy songs and that unbridled,... read more

Compelling early work from Prince – with a host of influences present on the surface, showing more clearly from whence he developed his unique sound. There's a bit of the record that reminds us of Shuggie Otis mid 70s output, and other tracks show that Prince had been paying attention to the... read more

Three new wave funk tracks off Prince's excellent Dirty Mind LP, a unique early Warner Brothers promo single, not necessarily because it features any non album tracks or special mixes like many of his later singles would, but more for the (slightly) novel format.... read more

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What a great tune! Although folks had been saying for years that Prince was funky, "Kiss" was the first tune to really have him going to town on the instruments – in a way that we always expect from a true funk act. The track snaps along with an intensity that makes it an instant... read more

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An overlooked record in the grand scheme – which is unforgivable in our book! This self-titled album Prince's second LP, and already his vision is becoming a little more focused, and you could really hear the seeds of his later efforts – and really remarkable, unique, and fascinating... read more

One of the greatest crossover albums of the 80s – and the record that catapulted Prince very firmly into the mainstream! There's a tightness here that surpasses even that of Prince's early classics for Warner Brothers – an unabashed love of a pop hook that makes for some incredibly... read more

A sprawling classic from Prince – that tracks that perfect the pop, funk & soul kaleidoscope of his best 80s jams, and adding a remarkable, previously unexplored depth and breadth of styles! A lot of folks tried to designate Prince's massive, fearless, beginning-of-the-end-of-the-80s... read more

A sprawling classic from Prince – that tracks that perfect the pop, funk & soul kaleidoscope of his best 80s jams, and adding a remarkable, previously unexplored depth and breadth of styles! A lot of folks tried to designate Prince's massive, fearless, beginning-of-the-end-of-the-80s... read more

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Three tracks off Dirty Mind.... read more

A rare little promo single – one that features 2 tracks from Prince's first self-titled LP, packaged up here for the dancefloor!... read more

Pryor's really hit his stride here, and made the transition to the mainstream, though he's still a darn funny motherf*#ker. Skits include "Shortage Of White People", "New N*ggers", "Cocaine", "Mudbone", "When Your Woman Leaves You" and "Our... read more

You've seen the movie, now own the album! Pryor cuts loose in his prime early 80s years, reminding you that for a long stretch of time, he was America's top black comic. Includes "Women","Prison", "Africa", "Mafia Club", "Mudbone", "Freebase&q... read more

Great stuff – one of Flora Purim's more R&B-sounding albums from the 70s, produced by George Duke with an appreciation for Flora's Brazilian jazz roots, but with a smoother sound that's in keeping with Duke's own work of the time! The combination is pretty sweet – a professional... read more

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By this point in his career, Eugene Record's come a long way from his roots in Chicago soul – as the record's a smooth uptempo album of modern soul tracks, done in a style that's definitely aiming for the dancefloor. Still, we've got to admit that most of the tracks are pretty nicely done... read more

A surprisingly great album from Joshua Redman – and a follow-up to the Yaya set issued with the same group. Like the excellent Yaya album, the group on this one is a trio of Redman, keyboardist Sam Yahel, and drummer Brian Blade – grooving together in a slightly groovy, slightly... read more

Eli Paperboy Reed gamely steps out of the classic soul comfort zone the drums heavy dancefloor tune "WooHoo"! He cover's Robyn's "Call Your Boyfriend" on the flip.... read more

Talib Kweli & producer Hi Tek reunite as Reflection Eternal – a solid return to from one of the most championed underground duos of the late 90s – still sharp and vital at the end of 00s! Titles include "RPM's", "City Playgrounds", "Back Again" feat... read more

Overlooked later gems from Elis Regina – some of her late-life albums recorded for Warner Brothers! Essa Mulher is a killer – recorded in the company of arranger Cesar Mariano, whose masterful touch made for some of Elis' best albums of the 70s! Cesar arranged and conducted here, and... read more

REM's major label debut – the culmination of years spent inching closer and closer to the mainstream – and one of the best examples of the past several decades of a band rooted in the indie rock underground reinventing themselves as superstars, without compromising their uniqueness or... read more

REM's major label debut – the culmination of years spent inching closer and closer to the mainstream – and one of the best examples of the past several decades of a band rooted in the indie rock underground reinventing themselves as superstars, without compromising their uniqueness or... read more

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Easily the best record so far from Maria Rita – a set that really pushes her talents a lot, and reaches for a wider range of expression! The vocals are still very much at the forefront – that great legacy from mother Elis Regina, with a similar heavenly approach that works with just... read more

A stunning debut from Maria Rita – the daughter of Elis Regina and Cesar Camargo Mariano, a team responsible for some of the greatest music in Brazil during the 70s! Maria has a sad and sweet voice – a lot like her mother's, and recorded here in a setting that includes light jazz,... read more

Crisply popping funky grooves from Roger – an underappreciated mid 80s solo record from the voice of Zapp! The Saga Continues finds Roger still rocking his trademark effects laden vocals and vamping guitar work well into the middle of the decade – with even tighter syncopated... read more

A rare 60s album by the lovely Sonia Rosa – lots of sweet bossa tunes, handled with a very light touch! The set's got Rosa singing and playing acoustic guitar in front of larger backings by Chiquinho Moraes – nice and jazzy on most of the tracks, with a sound that pushes Rosa past the... read more

A great mixture of jazzy themes and tense moments – similar to some of Elmer Bernstein's great work in the same style – with driving upbeat numbers sliding into mellower, sadder ones – all fitting perfectly together as a rich tapestry of sound and mood! The players on the set... read more

Warm and wonderful soul from David Ruffin – key proof that the singer could keep on going strong, long after his earlier fame at Motown! The record's got a new sense of sophistication that really breaks David into new territory – a style that's nicely different than the backings Ruffin... read more

Nothing fancy, but a great import 12" single that features three of Rufus' best tracks! "Stop On By" is the best to have here – as it's a perpetually favorite groover that sounds great as a single!... read more

This album gives you three sides of live material and one side of four studio tracks. The live songs include "You Got Love", "Dance Wit Me", "Sweet Thing", "Pack'd My Bags", "Tell Me Something Good", "Ain't That Peculiar", and "Do... read more

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A great album of modern soul that always seems to get overlooked! The record was produced by Mtume and Reggie Lucas, and a lot of it has a sweet mellow vibe that reminds us of Leon Ware or Leroy Hutson. The title cut "One Way Love Affair" is a killer, and the record includes other nice... read more

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Warm mellow soul from David Sanborn – a surprisingly nice early album, recorded without all the schmaltz of his later work! The style is still quite full and professional, but there's also somehow a more earnest feel to the work – as Sanborn plays with a core group that includes Victor... read more

A blaring batch of tracks played by an all-star all-sax group that includes Herb Geller, Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Seldon Powell, Hal McKusick, and Georgie Auld. Bob Prince arranged and conducted, and the approach is surprisingly modernist, with the saxes carrying the bulk of the... read more

A classic to end all classics – and the record that showed the world that the kung fu genre could be every bit as funky as American crime and action films! Lalo Schifrin's at the height of his powers on this set – working in a blend of raw guitars, rolling bass, and choppy rhythms that... read more

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Insanely fantastic! Ananda Shankar was one of the hippest sitar players of the 60s – an artist who was not only steeped in the strongest traditions of Indian music heard in other more mainstream players, but one who also had a keen ear for modder and funkier grooves of the time! This rare... read more

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Paul Simon's mid 80s landmark – a record that brought together Simon's unique voice and pop folk songwriting skill with South African, Chicano, zydeco other global musical styles – held together by some of the best songs Simon ever put together! With lesser material, this would feel... read more

Lots of Penderecki compositions – including his great "Cannon For Orchestra & Tape" – plus George Crumb's "Night Of The Electric Instruments", the great "Beginnings" from the Wind Harp record, and Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" – the... read more

Lots of Penderecki compositions – including his great "Cannon For Orchestra & Tape" – plus George Crumb's "Night Of The Electric Instruments", the great "Beginnings" from the Wind Harp record, and Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" – the... read more

Lots of Penderecki compositions – including his great "Cannon For Orchestra & Tape" – plus George Crumb's "Night Of The Electric Instruments", the great "Beginnings" from the Wind Harp record, and Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" – the... read more

Sly Stone's definitely back on the right track here – returning to the heights of his earlier powers in this late 70s comeback album for Warner Brothers! The record's got a lot of touches of the old Sly funky sound, but it's done in a slightly tighter style too – a bit more polish than... read more

Sly Stone's definitely back on the right track here – returning to the heights of his earlier powers in this late 70s comeback album for Warner Brothers! The record's got a lot of touches of the old Sly funky sound, but it's done in a slightly tighter style too – a bit more polish than... read more

Soaring, sweeping piano work from Paul Smith – a fluid player who was already known for his "liquid sounds" of the 50s, and who gets a great showcase here in a batch of bossa-inflected material! The style here is less straight bossa than you might think – and Smith really... read more

Soaring, sweeping piano work from Paul Smith – a fluid player who was already known for his "liquid sounds" of the 50s, and who gets a great showcase here in a batch of bossa-inflected material! The style here is less straight bossa than you might think – and Smith really... read more

Soaring piano work from the great Paul Smith – a player who's working here with a much more vibrant sound than on some of his Capitol sides of the 50s! Smith's got a much harder approach to the keys than during his "liquid sounds" years – one that's possibly a bit influenced... read more

Soaring piano work from the great Paul Smith – a player who's working here with a much more vibrant sound than on some of his Capitol sides of the 50s! Smith's got a much harder approach to the keys than during his "liquid sounds" years – one that's possibly a bit influenced... read more

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Titles include "S Beat", "The Runaway", "Love Is", "I Wanna Take You There", "Heartbreaker", and "Rhythm Of The World".... read more

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Some of the dreamiest pop ever recorded at Warner Brothers during the early 60s – the full album to back up Joanie Sommers' excellent hit single "Johnny Get Angry". The tune's the epitome of the girl pop sound of the time – and it's backed up by lots of other nice numbers... read more

A great little record that's way more jazz than some of Joanie Sommers' other albums – thanks to arrangements from Marty Paich and Tommy Oliver – both of whom help things stay lively, even when sweet – and almost give the album a similar feel to some of the best Bethlehem or Mode... read more

A whole new dimension of pop from the lovely Joanie Sommers – an album of bossa tunes, recorded with strings and backing by the great Laurindo Almeida! The style is wonderfully sweet – and works perfectly with Joanie's gentle vocals – and although not all the tunes are strict... read more

An album of season-themed tunes – similar to Julie London's Calender Girl album – although not as month-specific. Stan Applebaum's on hand to help with arrangements, and his styles here are a mix of jazzy backgrounds and some fuller, lusher styles that still have plenty of space for... read more

Joanie's second album for Warner Brothers – and a date that features some especially nice backings from Neal Hefti, who helps swing Sommers into some great jazzy territory, but always with that playful Hefti touch that we love so much! Instrumentation is always interesting, even underneath... read more

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The Staples and Curtis Mayfield – working together here in a very Curtom groove! This great little set picks off where the group's work on the Let's Do It Again soundtrack left off – taking The Staples far past their Memphis sound of the Stax years, into a hipper, more adult kind of... read more

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An interesting set of tracks that traces the roots of Candi Staton from a rough southern soul singer into a sophisticated diva whose transformation marked a similar path that was taken by many other artists from her generation. The 14 track compilation pulls together titles from Candi's albums on... read more

Later stuff by Candi, with a sound that's less rootsy than her earlier stuff with Rick Hall, and which shows her slowly transforming into more of a soul diva. Titles include "Victim", "Yesterday Evening", "So Blue", and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me".... read more

A lost bit of mid 70s soul from Candi – an album that's often eclipsed by the Young Hearts hit before it, but which actually comes across stronger than that one! The groove is funky southern soul on the best cuts – tight and full, but still with a harder edge on the bottom, and rhythms... read more

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Rod Stewart steals from Jorge Ben – and gets the biggest hit of his career with this Brazilian funk-influenced disco tune that crossed over big! The single features a special disco mix by Jim Burgess.... read more

Late 70s soul fusion from masters of the groove – perhaps the best ever by the late 70s supergroup Stuff – featuring a core group that includes Cornell Dupree, Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, and Richard Tee! This time out the smooth sound is vibrantly top notch – all produced by Steve... read more

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Hardly the surf music set you'd expect from the title – but still a set that's plenty surf-washed, thanks to a great choice of exotic numbers for the record! The Surfers are a vocal group, not a guitar-based instrumental combo – and they harmonize with a mixture of jazz and pop modes... read more

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Includes the Larry Levan mix, and features cover art by Keith Haring.... read more

More sweet and smooth than muddy – but that's what we'd expect from James Taylor during these classic years! Titles include "You've Got A Friend", "Riding On A Railroad", "Highway Song", "You Can Close Your Eyes", and "Soldiers".... read more

A great little album of 60s instrumentals – played by a small guitar-heavy group led by drummer Mel Taylor, who's got a really heavy driving sound! The notes say that Taylor has been featured on hundreds of records during the 60s – and given that his sound here is a lot like Hal Blaine... read more

Classic! The third LP from the Time, and last before Morris Day went off and started his solo career – though by this point Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had departed the group. Nonetheless, the sound is still tight modern funk, with Jesse Johnson and crew keeping things in the great post-Prince... read more

One of the two 80s masterpieces by this amazing Minneapolis group, before Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis left to change the face of commercial R&B! This first album and it's follow-up remain as a couple of the more enduring moments of slick, stylish American pop soul, and represent just a huge... read more

One of the two 80s masterpieces by this amazing Minneapolis group, before Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis left to change the face of commercial R&B! This first album and it's follow-up remain as a couple of the more enduring moments of slick, stylish American pop soul, and represent just a huge... read more