A sweet harmony set from Pozo Seco – working here partly as the duo of Don Williams and Susan Taylor, and partly in the trio format known from their previous records as the Pozo Seco Singers! The duo tracks are especially nice, and really showcase Taylor's amazing vocals – and the... read more
Bobby Previte's Weather Clear Track Fast —
Hue & Cry ... CD
Enja (Germany),
1993. Used ....
$8.99
Drummer Mike Pride's working with a great group here – some especially nice alto and tenor work from Jon Irabagon, whose angular lines really help shape the set – and a cool mix of piano and synth from Alexis Marcelo, whose electric touches at the start really help enforce the freshness... read more
No drummer's corpse here – as, if anything, the sound of the album is more than enough to keep the drummer alive and well – thanks to work from percussionist Mike Pride, and an array of other guest players too! The title track takes up the whole first half of the album – and... read more
A burner of a set from Tito Puente – very well titled to suit the energy of the session! The tracks are all highly rhythmic numbers – short, but filled with jazzy horn flourishes and the kind of snapping rhythms that made the Puente group one of the biggest crossover favorites of the... read more
An undisputed funk classic – even back in the days before anyone ever said the phrase "funk classic"! This album must have been deleted the day it came out – because even though it's attained legendary proportions with groovers worldwide, it's always been hard to find –... read more
Heavy soul from Ike Quebec – one of Blue Note's greatest players of the 78 era in the 40s, stepping out here on one of his brilliant comeback sets from the early 60s! The set features Ike blowing in an all soul jazz mode – working with a quartet that includes some great work from... read more
Top shelf Chi underground hip hop from Galapagos4 veterans Qwel & Maker – with Q on the rhymes and M on the beats – with guests Quazaar, The Grouch from Living Legends, Swamburger of Soliloquists Of Sound, Scud One, Scarlet Monk and Wes Restless. Pretty much everything we've heard... read more
After having built his reputation with some amazing performances during The Roots non-stop live performances, the Roots human beatbox releases his first solo LP, and does a respectable job on the mic, rhyming that is. Beats by Marley Marl, Pete Rock and Scott Storch, guest spots by Meshell N'Degeoc... read more
Without a doubt, one of the most famous scores to come out of Hollywood in the 40s – David Raksin's enduring soundtrack for Laura – and it's as beautiful now as ever! The theme was recorded time and time again over the next few decades – in vocal and instrumental versions, by... read more
A killer debut from Rasputin Stash – a funky group who work with all the long-haired inspiration you'd expect from their name! The groove is a mix of guitars and tight horns – undercut by the kind of heavy basslines that later made the group a good fit for Curtom Records, and lots of... read more
A pair of post Philly International gems from Lou Rawls on Epic – Now Is The Time from '82 and Close Company from '84 – in a single set! Now Is The Time is a solid soul effort from Lou, still working wonders here in the early 80s on a record that stands the test of time surprisingly... read more
Red Baraat —
Shruggy Ji ... CD
Sinj,
2013. New Copy ....
$11.9912.98
Raw percussion, brass and party-ready global grooves from Brooklyn combo Red Baraat! Eclecticism is a big part of the picture here – with diverse strains of styles from around the world – with a bit of an emphasis on Eastern percussive funk, thanks to the dhol drum being such a key... read more
Some of the last recordings ever made by Otis Redding – produced by Steve Cropper in mid 1967, but not issued by Atlantic until after Otis' tragic early death! The style of the tracks is very much in keeping with Redding's classic Stax work – and it seems that even more of the tunes on... read more
Dewey Redman —
Musics ... CD
Galaxy (Japan),
1979. New Copy ....
$15.99
A beautifully soulful record from the great Dewey Redman – straighter than some of his 70s recordings, but in a really great way that shows that Dewey could still be quite compelling in another sort of way! The sound of his tenor here is wonderful – blowing with a rich, full,... read more
A real breakout set from the young Joshua Redman – the kind of record that made some mighty big ripples in the jazz world at the time – and which ended up in more record collections than we can count – and for good reason, too! The group's a rock-solid quartet – with Redman... read more
Lou Reed's fantastic early solo LP – melding the aloof, plaintive vocal performance style he perfected with the Velvets and unbelievable sharp songwriting with the vamped up, fuzzed out guitars of Mick Ronson, some symphonic touches, and the guiding spirit of Ziggy Stardust era Bowie. This... read more
The first couple Rene & Angela records for Capitol – together for the first time on this great CD from Expansion! First up, is the great self-titled debut from Angela Winbush and Rene Moore as a duo – a tight batch of modern soul that sounds great to this day! There's a mixture... read more
Rene & Angela —
Wall To Wall ... CD
Capitol (France),
1981. Used ....
$24.99
Wall To Wall grooves from the team of Angela Winbush and Bobby Watson – easily one of the duo's best records ever, and a masterpiece of jazzy 80s groove! The sound here is clean, lean, and very bouncy on the bottom – that best blend of keyboard riffs and jazzier basslines that Capitol... read more
A solid smoker from the lesser-known Jeannie Reynolds – a hell of a 70s soul singer, and one who should have been huge – especially given the rich vocals on this set! Jeannie's brother LJ Reynolds handles production this time around, and he brings in a nice sharper edge to the set... read more
Tracks include "Moment With Minnie", "Perfect Angel", "Memory Lane", "Lovin You", "Here We Go", "Inside My Love", "Love & Friend (live)", "You Take My Breath Away", "Woman Of Heart & Mind" and "Adv... read more
Nice 17 track compilation of Minnie's classic work for Capitol! The selection is excellent, and the CD features most of the stuff you'd ever want to have by her, including "Perfect Angel", "Memory Lane", "Lovin You", "Stick Together", "Inside My... read more
The last album ever from the amazing Minnie Riperton – and one of her greatest records as well! The album was sadly issued after Minnie's untimely early passing from this planet – but it's a heavenly batch of tunes that definitely shows that her love of music lives forever –... read more
Minnie Riperton —
Perfect Angel ... CD
Capitol/Micro Werks,
1974. New Copy ....
$7.999.98
Minnie Riperton's first album for Epic – and the record that broke her from a hip Chicago underground artist into one of the seventies' biggest soul divas! The record moves past the baroque soul of Minnie's early years with Rotary Connection and Charles Stepney – and hits a mix of... 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
The amazing second album from Brazilian singer Maria Rita – and a real departure from the first! This time around, Maria's working live in the studio – in a warmly spontaneous setting that's a nice departure from the more confined modes of her debut – and which is given some... read more
A landmark live set from the Rolling Stones – featuring material from their smoking tour of 1969! The set really captures the Stones at their most nasty – that great turning point when their edge was maybe sharpest of ever, right in the best Let It Bleed mode – but with even more... read more
A crucially important record in Sonny Rollins' career – one that had him breaking out of the straight bop sound, and emerging as a major power on the tenor sax – one with limitless creative power! The set features Rollins working with only drum and bass accompaniment – played by... read more
What can we say? Another nice one from Philly's finest, including guest appearances from Mos Def, Common, Erykah Badu and JazzyFatNastees. Includes "The Next Movement", "Step Into The Realm", "The Spark", "Dynamite", "Without A Doubt" "Ain't... read more
The always-great team of Jim Rotondi and Eric Alexander bring their special magic to the European scene – working here in a Hammond quartet that came from Jim's teaching work overseas – in a date that may well be one of the most cooking we've heard from both players in years! Rotondi's... read more
A pivotal record for Patrice Rushen – a set that has her really tightening up the groove from previous albums on Prestige – heading much more towards the focused soul-drenched grooves of her Elektra Records years! The set's a stunner – still very much with the hip, west coast... read more
Jackie Ryan —
Listen Here ... CD
Open Art,
2012. Used ....
$7.99Just Sold Out!
70s salsa, but with a bit of a nod to the clubs – sort of the same mode the Fania All-Stars were hitting on their Columbia albums of the latter part of the decade, but a bit looser overall! From the cover, you might expect there to be a few Latin Hustle elements on the set – but the... read more
Mongo teams up the great Latin diva La Lupe in the early 60s for a tasty set of Latin Jazz and Descargas. The band includes the great set of players Mongo was using at this time – including Marty Sheller, Pat Patrick and Bobby Capers, plus Kako sits in on percussion, though La Lupe sings on... read more
Includes "Evil Ways", "Jingo", "Hope You're Feeling Better", "Samba Pa Ti", "Black Magic Woman" and more.... read more
Savoir-Flair —
Savoir-Flair ... CD
Soultex,
1983. Used ....
$9.99Just Sold Out!
Classy grooves from the Texas scene of the early 80s – a lost little album of modern soul, boogie, and bits of jazz! Savoir-Flair are headed by Roger Boykin – a keyboardist who'd recorded in a straighter jazz mode on other records, but who turns his talents here towards that great... read more
Scolohofo (John Scofield) —
Oh! ... CD
Blue Note,
2003. Used ....
$7.99
An all-star group – featuring John SCOfield, Joe LOvano, Dave HOlland, and Al FOster, hence the unusual name of the ensemble – all grooving in an angular mode that recalls the current Blue Note sound at its freshest. Lovano's edgey tenor and soprano work really make the session hold... read more
Shirley Scott & Clark Terry —
Soul Duo ... CD
Impulse/Passion (UK),
1966. New Copy ....
$16.99
A sweet 60s session from the team of Shirley Scott and Clark Terry – musicians who never played together regularly, but who really work wonders on this unique record! Shirley's got that perfect tone on Hammond she hit during her Impulse Records years – a groove that's leaner and... read more
An amazing assortment of tunes by the criminally under appreciated Ann Sexton – featuring some of the most broadly appealing female soul of the 70s! Ann's style is warm and heavily soulful, touching on the heaving funky vocal style of Marlena Shaw and Esther Phillips, with a great capacity... read more
A brilliant return to form for Marlena Shaw – one of the first albums in years to truly capture her wonderful sound from years back! The album's a simple, no-nonsense set that has Marlena singing with a small combo that includes some great piano and Fender Rhodes from David Hazeltine –... read more
At last! Someone's finally gone and put together a real collection of Marlena Shaw's fantastic jazzy soul work! Sure, there's been other compilations out on the market – but this one's the real deal, and spans her years at Chess/Cadet, Blue Note, and Columbia – years that saw Marlena... read more
A tremendous bit of jazz history – 2 classic Archie Shepp albums on 1 CD! Yasmina features Archie Shepp at his spiritual best – recording in Paris in 1969, and absorbing a heck of a lot of pan-African influences! The centerpiece of the album is the amazing "Yasmina" –... read more
An album of incredible beauty – and one of the key early sides that Shorter cut for Blue Note! It's nearly impossible to describe the genius of these records without playing them – and upon playing, all words disappear in the brilliance of Shorter's incredible tone, solo imagination,... read more
A great title for this Wayne Shorter set – given the free flights and soaring lines served up throughout! There's no need for a net, since Wayne's hardly likely to touch the ground – really loose and free right from the start of the album – less driven by the rhythms than pulling... read more
An incredible record from Labi Siffre – spare, simple, and totally beautiful – in a space beyond category! The album is the sort that should have been a real standout in the 70s – early work by one of the freshest songwriters to hit the British scene, sung in a style that's a bit... read more
A classic set from Horace Silver – one in which his quintet is expanded by some great guest work from trombonist JJ Johnson! Johnson's at the height of his 60s powers here – blowing with that lean, soulful style that always made any record sparkle – and although he's only on half... read more
A beautifully soulful set from Horace Silver – hardly the "with brass" session you might guess from the title, and instead a well-integrated album that really showcases a new level of arranging genius from Horace! The set is heavy on hip horns – with work from Oscar Brashear,... read more
An excellent 70s album from Horace Silver – one that's often overlooked, but which yields of listening joy, once you open it up! The set's got some wonderful modal/spiritual numbers – in a mode that would make the record highly prized if it were issued on Strata East, and which is... read more
Horace Silver —
Silver's Blue ... CD
Epic/Columbia (France),
1956. Used ....
$11.99
Killer early work from Horace Silver – and a rare non-Blue Note session from the 50s! The album's Horace's only date for Columbia, and it's got a feel that's similar to some of the Jazz Messengers' hardbop recordings for the label at the time – cooking with a soulful intensity at the... read more
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
Alex Sipiagin —
Prints ... CD
Criss Cross (Holland),
2006. Used ....
$9.99Just Sold Out!
It's hard to imagine a more perfect 60s southern soul album – the legendary vocals of Percy Sledge mixed with classic Muscle Shoals production from Quin Ivy – all wrapped around a host of hip tunes that go way past the easy 60s soul hits! The formula here is similar to that cooked up... read more
Alice Smith —
She ... CD
Rainwater,
2013. New Copy Gatefold ....
$11.9912.98
A long-overdue return from Alice Smith – somehow sounding even better here than before! The songs are every bit as catchy as Smith's previous work, and also have an equally great genre-crossing quality – not really just soul, but with a songsmith appeal that's bound to reach out and... read more
A pretty great record from singer Jennie Smith – not just for her own vocals, but for the unusual batch of tunes on the set! Jennie sang regularly on the Steve Allen show – and Steve penned every tune on the set – giving Smith a batch of music that goes way past overdone... read more
A key turning point for Johnny Hammond Smith – 2 hip albums from the latter half of the 60s, a time when he was really changing up his groove! First up is Soul Flowers, one of Johnny's most obscure records – and a great little album that's filled with short tracks played by a largeish... read more
Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes —
Expansions ... CD
Flying Dutchman/BGP (UK),
1975. New Copy ....
$12.99Just Sold Out!
Quite possibly the most celebrated album ever from keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith – a groove-heavy classic that's burned up many a dancefloor in its day, yet also a record that features some great mellow moments as well! The title track "Expansions" is virtually a blueprint for... read more
A lost jazz-funk gem – originally recorded at Club Mozambique in Detroit in 1970, but not issued by Blue Note until the mid 90s! The set's right up there with Lonnie's classic Move Your Hand live set – as the tracks are long, free, and very funky, performed by a hip group that includes... read more
Wadada Leo Smith & Louis Moholo —
Ancestors ... CD
Tum (Finland),
2012. New Copy ....
$16.9919.98
Tremendous duets between these two seasoned players – a set that really lives up to the best energy of both musicians! Smith's trumpet is especially nice – stretched-out, soulful, and flowing – with a quality that really takes us back to his more dynamic recordings of the 70s... read more
Solange —
True ... CD
Terrible Records,
2013. New Copy ....
$6.99
Beautifully catchy soul from Solange Knowles – a set that's completely captivating in its basic approach – yet surprisingly far from commercial as well! The album's almost got a 80s sort of vibe – but the soul from that time that was often warmer than the rest because it never... read more
The third LP from supremo salsa combo Sonora Poncena under Papo Lucca's direction and a wonderful early production effort from the great Larry Harlow, to boot! Algo De Locura is a great record that's been overlooked for decades and it sounds as great to us as their earlier couple of albums –... read more
Incredible work from a group who've definitely earned their name! Naming a group SOUL might be suicide for a band that can't carry off the groove – but these guys are funky monsters, with a real talent for a hard heavy sound that was rarely matched by other combos. The band have a great... read more
Essential! When this one came out at the end of the 80's, it not only restored our faith in modern soul music, but it also drew the world's attention to the rich rich talents that had been bubbling under in London's mid 80's rare groove scene. The record's a classic, and most of the tracks still... read more
Soul Searchers —
We The People ... CD
Sussex/Soul Brother (UK),
1972. New Copy ....
$16.99Just Sold Out!
One the all time great funky albums of the 70s – a mad little record with a sense of rhythm and timing that was years ahead of its time! The Soul Searchers (along with Chuck Brown) later became known for their heavy-hitting Go Go work at the end of the decade – but here, they're a... read more
Steve Spacek —
Space Shift ... CD
Sound In Color,
2005. Used ....
$3.99Just Sold Out!
An amazing album – and a space soul classic for the 21st Century! Steve Spacek really caught us by surprise with this set – because he's working here in a much deeper groove than ever before – one that's slower, spacier, and which has him coming off like some outer space version... read more
Melvin Sparks —
Sparks/Akilah ... CD
BGP (UK),
1970/1972. Used ....
$9.99Just Sold Out!
2 great ones from funky guitarist Melvin Sparks – back to back on a single CD! The Sparks album is a killer – one of the best from Prestige during the runaway classic years of the early 70s! Melvin Sparks is a genius guitarist, with a talent as rich as that of Grant Green, who's... read more
Great work from this British singer of the 50s – a vocalist whose tones match those of the best American gals on the west coast scene of the time! Rosemary Squires sings here with a well-crafted approach to the lyrics – never too over the top, but never too staid either – a... read more
A treasure trove of unreleased material from the Stalk Forrest Group – one full album, other bonus tracks, and their only ever single – all compiled together in a sweet set that documents the pre-history of Blue Oyster Cult! These guys aren't as sinister as in their BOC years, but... read more