A really great little set from Zoot Sims – earthy, and almost a bit more fragile than much of his other work! There's a real "down home" feel to the whole record – as Zoot blows comfortably and easily in a quartet with Dave McKenna on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Dannie ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print 2000 Japanese pressing, includes obi.)
A really great live set – recorded with small combo backing led by vibist Red Norvo, plus work from Jimmy Wyble on guitar, and Jerry Dodgion on flute and alto! (Vocalists) CD
(1997 Blue Note/Capitol pressing with a promotional sticker on the booklet cover and stamp on CD.)
If you've ever loved these guys on record – you'll love them live! This set is brilliant – a perfect example of the way that Frank, Dean, & Sammy could interact together – singing, joking, talking, and effortlessly moving through a range of material in ways that are simply ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
(Out of print, promotional stamp on CD and mark through barcode.)
Sisters Of Mercy —
Floodland ... CD Elektra, 1987. Used ...
$6.99
Titles include "Flood II", "Mother Russia", "Dominion", "Lucretia", "1959", "This Corrosion", "Driven Like The Snow", "Never Land", and "Flood I". (Rock) CD
Lost legendary work from Guy Skornik – a heady set from early 70s France, and proof that there's a hell of a lot of greatness to discover on that scene! The album's got a blend of psych fuzz and deeper ideas that's not that far from Serge Gainsbourg – although the overall presentation ... (French) read moreCD
Very cool early work from the young Grace Slick – material done with her own Great Society group in the years before she joined Jefferson Airplane – but already sounding pretty darn trippy overall! That shocking, thrilling quality of Grace's voice is already firmly in place – ... (Rock) read moreCD
Slum Village —
Fantastic Vol 1 ... CD Long Player/Ne'Astra, 1997. New Copy ...
$8.9919.99
Slum Village's legendary Fantastic Vol 1 – one of the most sought-after hip hop albums of the era – with the most rugged-and-raw Jay Dee production on record! Honestly, we're left pretty close to speechless by how tightly these tracks hold up. This is indeed the template for so many ... (Hip Hop) read moreCD
A landmark album in a landmark package – a set that takes this gem from Sly & The Family Stone, presses it up on a special hi-fidelity gold CD, then cradles the whole thing in special box with a heavy hardcover book with lots of new notes – and a fabric American flag sewn right onto ... (Soul) read moreCD
(Limited edition boxed set with embroidered flag cover, 24k gold disc, hard cover book & photos.)
A great return to form for Hammond giant Jimmy Smith – heard here on an early 90s date for Blue Note, done in the same style as Jimmy's classic work for the label! The set's a live one, recorded in Japan – and the tracks have this open flow that's mighty nice – proof that Smith's ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Really haunting work from Wadada Leo Smith – a key 70s session that features some of his sharpest trumpet work on record, plus some unusual instrumentation that really makes the album stand out! Half the tracks feature some wonderful vibes from Bobby Naughton – spare and dark-sounding, ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Warren Smith on percussion – with Stanley Cowell on piano, Kent Jordan on flute, Steve Novosel on bass, and Chief Bey on percussion – plus vocals from Amirou Willingham. (Jazz) CD
Sonic Youth —
Eternal ... CD Matador, 2009. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
Indie rock elders Sonic Youth's first high profile album on an indie label in about 20 years – the group's first for Matador, and a skillful mix of insistent, exciting melodic precision, barbed lyricism, random bursts of noise, and enough layered hypnotic guitar errata that you'll hear ... (Rock) read moreCD
Sonic Youth's last album from Geffen – capping off one of the most successful runs an art rock band could ever have hoped to make on a major label! Back to the Moore-Gordon-Renaldo-Shelley line-up after a stellar couple of albums with Jim O'Rourke in the band, you could be forgiven for ... (Rock) read moreCD
Sonic Youth still going strong in the mid 00s – following up Murray Street with the just as great, if slightly more ominous and moody Sonic Nurse! This is the period that Jim O'Rourke was in the band, not only as a producer/sound manipulator, but playing guitar and bass and contributing to ... (Rock) read moreCD
A great selection of tracks that includes work with Gary Peacock, Bobo Stenson, John Surman, Dino Saluzzi, Juhani Aaltonen, and Jan Garbarek. (Jazz) CD
Beautifully introspective work from Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko – one of the leading lights of the 60s modern jazz scene that featured Komeda, and still a heck of a compelling artist in his own right! Stanko's tone has a moody, evocative feel that's perfect for the ECM setting of the ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Includes slipcase which appears to be signed by the artist with a sticker over the barcode.)
A rawly beautiful set from Mavis Staples – produced by Jeff Tweedy, and we think it's her best of the past decade! There's a roomy, lived in vibe that's achingly effective on this one – the core group is her road band, with additional players including Tweedy, Patrick Sansone, Mark ... (Soul) read moreCD
Amazing sounds from The Stark Reality – an obscure group from the early 70s, but one who've really risen to fame over the years – thanks to their groundbreaking ear for new music, and their freewheeling way with a funky groove! This package brings together all the incredible work ... (Jazz) read moreCD
The first-ever release of a massive body of work – tracks that were penned and recorded by Randy Starr for consideration by Elvis Presley – a huge batch of songs that were presented to The King during his big 60s years as a film star! Six of these cuts ended up on Elvis soundtracks of ... (Rock) read moreCD
Steely Dan —
Aja ... CD MCA, 1977. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
An undisputed masterpiece, and a record we never tire of hearing – unabashedly the inspiration for our years of jazzy exploration as adults, even though it was probably the closest thing we ever got to the genre as wee lads! Walter Becker & Donald Fagan raise their already-high bar to ... (Rock) read moreCD
The first album from Steely Dan, and a really nice chapter in their career – one that's maybe a bit less iconic than the late 70s records, but in a way that really keeps things interesting! There's definitely less jazz and polish than on the later albums – but already, the group are ... (Rock) read moreCD
The first album from Steely Dan, and a really nice chapter in their career – one that's maybe a bit less iconic than the late 70s records, but in a way that really keeps things interesting! There's definitely less jazz and polish than on the later albums – but already, the group are ... (Rock) read moreCD
Possibly the biggest album ever from Welsh singer Meic Stevens – but a set that's still pretty darn obscure, nonetheless! The album's all in English, and was recorded as a key outing for Warner – before Meic went back to his homeland, and went virtually underground. The style's quite ... (Rock) read moreCD
A tight swinger from Sonny Stitt – one of the standout 60s dates he recorded for the Impulse label, a place where he seemed to get even more care and focus in the studio! The record's got all the soulful swing of Stitt's classics for Roost, but also hits a slightly more lyrical groove at ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(1998 Japanese pressing – includes obi!)
Sonny Stitt & Paul Gonsalves —
Salt & Pepper ... CD Impulse (Japan), 1963. Used ...
$9.99
Head to head blowing from Sonny Sitt and Paul Gonsalves – just the kind of twin-horn performance that Stitt was famous for in his live battle days, and one that also reminds us that Gonsalves can be a very loose swinger when he wants to be! The tracks are all long, and played with the sort ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print late 90s Japanese pressing, includes obi.)
Sonny Stitt & Red Holloway —
Forecast/Partners ... CD Catalyst/P-Vine (Japan), Mid 70s. Used ...
$34.99
A great session of 70s bop revival from the team of Sonny Stitt and Red Holloway – working here in the warm and sunny style of the great Catalyst label! The album Forecast has the two hornmen blowing to acoustic accompaniment from a trio that includes Art Hillary on piano, Larry Gales on ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Some rare non-Ellington material from Billy Strayhorn and Johnny Hodges – both sessions recorded as part of a series done by producer Stanley Dance at the end of the 50s! The feel here is a almost a bit more open and less restrained than the usual Ellington groove – with some standout ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Frank Strazzeri —
After The Rain ... CD Catalyst/P-Vine (Japan), 1976. Used ...
$49.99
Funky keyboard work from Frank Strazzeri – a player who's really stretching out here in the 70s, with a massively cosmic vibe you'd never have guessed from his earlier work! Strazzeri had recorded and played heavily around the LA scene by the time of this mid 70s release – but most of ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A great early album from pianist Kunhiko Sugano – a set that has the leader working in a relaxed live setting, in a small Japanese club that also features a conga added to his usual trio! Most numbers begin with an introspective introduction from Sugano – those lyrical lines he does so ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A great bit of drawn-out fusion – played by a British trio that features electric keyboards, bass, and percussion! The tracks have a jamming jazz-rock approach – but never get too overindulgent, and never fall into the traps of some of the other British groups of the time. Instead, ... (Rock) read moreCD
A completely fresh take on the Charlie Parker aesthetic of the bop generation – updated for the 70s, but in ways that are still pretty classic overall! The group's a large one, but plays with a tightness that goes way past their gimmicky name – thanks to players who include Med Flory ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A very groovy set from guitar genius Gabor Szabo – one that features all those cool tones and elements he'd developed on his late 60s albums for Impulse and Skye Records, given a tighter LA groove here, with almost an A&M Records vibe! There's loads of great solos throughout, played in a ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Includes 20 tracks with Tiny Grimes on guitar, Ben Webster on tenor, Benny Morton on trombone, Edmond Hall on clarinet, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, and Slam Stewart on bass. (Jazz) CD
(Mid-90's Black Lion pressing, booklet has a slight cut corner.)
One of the most complex Cecil Taylor records we've heard in years – and that's saying a lot, given the usual complexity of his music! Taylor plays piano and vocalizes a bit – but he's also tied strongly here to the Italian Instabile Orchestra – a large lineup of varied horn, ... (Jazz) read moreCD
John Tchicai plays the music of Thelonious Monk, and a few of his own tunes too – in a wonderful set that shows beautifully why we always look out for work from this enigmatic saxophonist! There's definitely a Monkish vibe to the record, but Tchicai's approach is often quite personal too ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A concept album from the Louisiana scene of the 70s, but one that's much more down to earth than big label projects of the time – and which comes across here in a really unique blend of southern rock guitar and some nicely complicated ideas! The approach is almost impossible to describe ... (Rock) read moreCD
A surprisingly nice set from Irma Thomas – recorded in a spare and stripped down way, but without any of the "too earnest" cliches that can sometimes mar other recent albums by classic soul stars! The feel here is almost gentle and easygoing at times – still in the powerful ... (Soul) read moreCD
With 23 tracks including "Cry On", "I Done Got Over It", "While The City Sleeps", "Hittin' On Nothing", "Straight From The Heart", "He's My Guy", and "Nobody Wants To Hear Nobody's Troubles". (Soul) CD
Belgian guitarist Rene Thomas was one of the few players to break out of the postwar Paris jazz scene and actually get to record in America – and on this classic set from 1960, he's grooving with a very hip group that includes JR Monterose on tenor, Hod O'Brien on piano, and the rhythm ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A very hip set of soul jazz tunes from Belgian guitarist Rene Thomas – one of the best European players of his generation! The album feature Thomas on guitar, backed by a group that includes Lou Bennett on organ, Jacques Pelzer on sax and flute, Gilbert Rovere on bass, and Charles Bellonzi ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Cal Tjader —
Tjader ... CD Fantasy (Japan), Late 60s. Used ...
$29.99
An excellent album from legendary vibist Cal Tjader – and one of his truly electric albums! A key factor to the greatness of this one is keyboardist Al Zulaica – who plays some amazing Fender Rhodes on the album, really unlocking a whole new sound of Cal's vibes in the process! The ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A wonderfully intimate set from Allen Toussaint – one that features Toussaint at the piano, working in a live setting, and serving up new versions of his own famous compositions – often with some great pre-song patter that gives a bit of background on the tunes! The performance is a ... (Soul) read moreCD
The leaders are sporting some serious 80s fashions on the cover – but the record's got a really solid sort of sound – and an approach that strongly shows the growth in both players since their earlier years at Blue Note! Tyner's a musician who really took off in strides during the 70s ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Out of print 2013 Japanese SHMCD pressing, includes obi.)
James Blood Ulmer —
Blues All Night ... CD In & Out (Germany), 1990. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
Raspy guitar from James Blood Ulmer – cut right at the end of the 80s decade when he was clearly one of the most inventive players on his instrument! The set's got a quality that's similar to some of James' other records from the US of the time – as it's trying to branch out to a wider ... (Jazz) read moreCD
James Blood Ulmer on guitar and vocals, Amin Ali on electric bass, and Aubrey Dayle on drums. (Jazz) CD
(Out of print, punch through barcode.)
Umbra —
Umbra ... CD Lion, Early 70s. New Copy ...
$5.9916.99
Fantastic sounds from a Colorado trio who only existed for a few short years at the start of the 70s – and worked in this wicked blend of fuzz and freak, acid and heavy – all with a sound that's really incredible, given the homemade nature of these recordings! The tracks here aren't ... (Rock) read moreCD
Free and easy grooves from the great Phil Upchurch – a set that has the guitarist evolving more strongly into the world of fusion, after beginning his career with instrumental soul, shifting to heavier funk, and continuing to really open up his jazz chops as the years went by! Here, Phil's ... (Jazz) read moreCD
Bebo Valdes —
Bebo ... CD Calle 54 (Argentina), 2003. Used ...
$4.99
Two great live sets from the Townes Van Zandt – back to back in a single collection! The first CD features a beautiful intimate performance in Johnson City – a small spot in Tennessee that was crucial to the early years of country music recording, which seems to echo here in the ... (Rock) read moreCD
Townes Van Zandt —
Last Rights ... CD Gregor, 1996. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
Amazing music from Laurance Vanay – actually a recording name for Jacqueline Thibault, a hell of a great keyboardist but an artist the label thought would be better off billed as a man! The sound here is halfway between the spacey experiments of Brian Eno and Cluster, and some of the more ... (Rock) read moreCD
Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilssen-Love —
Japan 2019 (7CD set) ... CD PNL (Norway), 2019. New Copy 7CD ...
$48.9959.99
Brilliant improvisations between to major figures – already great musicians on their own, then joined by some key Japanese players over the course of this extended package of performances from an overseas tour! The set begins with long improvisations between Paal Nilssen Love on drums and ... (Jazz) read moreCD
A jazz vocal masterpiece from Sarah Vaughn – one of her greatest albums ever, and a record that raised the bar for countless vocal sessions in years to come! Sarah's working here in an intimate group arranged by Ernie Wilkins – filled with famous trumpet solo work by Clifford Brown, ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Very nice jazz-oriented material that has Sarah working with Jimmy Jones, one of her best accompanists, or John Malachi, who was in Billy Eckstine's band at the same time Sarah was with the group. All the tracks have nice small combo instrumentation – and Sarah keeps things nice and warm ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Vocalist Fay Victor pens lyrics for a jazz composer we're not sure we've ever heard with words before – modern piano legend Herbie Nichols, a player whose songs are often as full of angles and sharp changes as Thelonious Monk! And as you might guess from a style like that, the music doesn't ... (Vocalists) read moreCD
Looks like Gary Osborne and Paul Vigrass lost a few buttons off their shirts on the front cover – but they keep things tight on this great album of duet material from the 70s – one of their excellent and overlooked sets from the time! Part of the real strength of the album comes from ... (Rock) read moreCD
Alexander Von Schlippenbach Quartet —
Three Nails Left ... CD FMP/Corbett vs. Dempsey, 1975. New Copy Gatefold ...
$12.9915.99
Amazing work from this seminal group on the FMP scene – a quartet led by pianist Alexander Von Schlippenbach, but equally balanced between the saxes of Evan Parker, bass of Peter Kowald, and percussion of Paul Lovens! We're not sure how much to take the "nails" in the title ... (Jazz) read moreCD
(Remastered from the original tapes – and first time on CD!)
One of the most badass records ever issued by funky guitarist David T Walker – a set that's got a looser, freer vibe than some of his other albums – and which puts Walker in territory next to Shuggie Otis and Phil Upchurch from the same time in their careers! The set's equal parts jazz ... (Soul) read moreCD
T Bone Walker —
Good Feelin' ... CD Verve/Polydor (France), 1968. Used ...
$7.99
A rare gem from T Bone Walker – one of the few hip sides he cut in Europe at the end of the 60s – and very different than his more traditional work! The set was put together by Robin Hemmingway – who also handled the hip Hal Singer record from the same time – and the ... (Blues) read moreCD
(Out of print and sealed with a mark through the barcode.)
Tracks include "Show Time", "Trouble In Mind", "Bad Luck", "Salty Papa Blues", "Since I Fell For You", "Time Out For Tears", and "Trouble In The Lowlands" – 16 tracks total. (Vocalists) CD
Kamasi Washington opens the door to a bit more collaboration here – while also really managing to stay true to the vision that he's given us on his previous instant-classic albums! In just a short span of time, Kamasi has become a saxophone voice for a generation – linking past ... (Jazz) read moreCD