24 tracks including "I Can't Quit You Baby", "My Love Will Never Die", "Groaning The Blues", "Double Trouble", "Three Times A Fool", "She's A Good 'Un", and "It Takes Time". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Funky Woody from the 70s – an excellent and overlooked album, one that has Woody leading a great group with a fair bit of electric players, in a funky big band style that sparkles with the best of the genre! The group's filled with younger unknown players – but from the sound of the record, you can tell that these kids had been listening to a lot of funk – and had a great ear for mixing electric rhythms with cutting solos on tenor, trumpet, and funky flute. Includes a great version of Chick Corea's "Spain", plus the tracks "Lake Taco", "King Cobra", "Toothless Grin", "Jazzman", and "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Jeff Buckley! CD

54 tracks from this rare Chicago blues label – including some unissued material! Music from Otis Rush, the Clouds, Shakey Horton, Sunnyland Slim, Little Willie Foster, Harold Burrage, Magic Sam, Betty Everett, Shakey Jake & Willie Dixon Band, Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm, Buddy Guy, and more. CD

25 tracks in all! CD

Drag strip rockers to more vocals based surf and otherwise pop numbers by The Rip Chords! Hey Little Cobra has a wealth of numbers, with the vocals kind of floating over the arrangements and a surreal way – be they duo harmonies or more layered Beach Boys & 4 Seasons style – with seedy & pulpy rockers and sweeter numbers. Includes "Hey Little Cobra","409", Shut Down", "Drag City" and many more. LP, Vinyl record album

The Kim Trio have a very 70s-styled look on the cover, and come across with a very similar vibe on record – a groovy update of older Korean pop harmony modes, but served up with instrumentation that's heavy on keyboards, and almost gives the group a loungey sort of vibe! The three siblings harmonize nicely at times, and let individual members take the lead at others – and instrumentation is tight, with almost a pre-disco sort of vibe – lots of fast drums, riffing guitar, and keyboard lines – and more than enough bassbits to keep things grooving! Titles include "Graffiti", "The Waterfront", "Young Girl", "You In My Dream", "What Am I To Do", "Goodbye To You", "Not Lonely", and "To The Sky's Edge". LP, Vinyl record album

A wild little record from the Korean scene of the 70s – served up by a band of boys (and one gal), but not the sort of boy band that you'd hear in contemporary K-Pop! Instead, there's a heady, growling sort of groove to the whole record – not entirely hard rock, but touched with an understanding of that mode, which is then carried out in varied ways that really make the most of the dramatic vocals in Korean! Lyrics are sometimes very bold, sometime sweeter – and the instrumentation has fuzzy guitars and organ lines that echo some of the Japanese modes of the late 60s, but with some slightly different phrasing. All titles are in Korean, as are the lyrics – but there's a very groovy, universal sort of appeal to the set! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most hard-edged, gritty material ever cut by the legendary Otis Rush – work done on the Chicago scene of the 50s for Cobra Records – a company who were even more low-fi than Chess Records at the time! Otis' vocals are as incredible as his guitar – and the groups here are often nicely full – not large ensembles, but well-crafted combos that feature plenty of work from key contemporaries on the scene – including Walter Horton on harmonica, Lafayette Leake and Little Brother Montgomery on piano, Harold Ashby and Red Holloway on tenors, and Willie Dixon on bass. All these cuts were originally only issued as rare singles back in the day – and the set features 16 tracks that include "Groaning The Blues", "Violent Love", "Sit Down Baby", "I Can't Quit You Baby", "Checking On My Baby", "She's A Good Un", "Three Times A Fool", and "Love That Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

The only album ever cut by Korean singer Moon Ji-Young – and a really creative set that even includes a few instrumentals next to the really great vocals from the star act! The set was done in collaboration with arranger Yon Seok-won – who comes up with a few funky touches that really send the record over the top, especially on the famous title cut – and in a way, the record feels a bit like some of those late 60s/early 70s Japanese productions that bring in a female artist, but as a way to loosely structure a whole host of playful modes on record – not that Moon was a superstar or actress, but she definitely does a great job of holding sway at the core. Lyrics and titles are all in Korean, and the set's a rare treasure from the 70s scene! LP, Vinyl record album

A rare Japanese-only album from American reedman Steve Marcus – best known for his fuzzy freaky sets on the Vortex label – but heard here in the company of Tokyo reedman Jiro Inagaki – who also made some pretty freaky albums of his own! The tracks here are nice and long – longer than usual from Jiro – with extended snakey saxophone solo from both players, and some sweet electric touches from the Social Media group – who are more laidback here than on some of their more funk-based outings. The change is a nice one, and makes for a real standout from both players – the kind of overlooked early 70s moment that makes digging for Japanese records so great! Titles include "Something", "Fairly Rings", and "Serenity". LP, Vinyl record album

A damn funky little album – even if we can't read any of the titles or notes on the cover! The whole thing's completely in Japanese – leaving our English-skilled eyes at a loss – but our ears are more than happy with the sounds coming out of the disc – some incredible funk with a very majestic feel – almost an MPS-type big band funky record, but with these deep inflections of soul that really send the whole thing home! Arrangements are complicated, yet always forceful enough to keep on the groove – and the horns move from roles as tight punch upfront to softer colors in the background – really creating a dynamism in the instrumentation that keeps the whole thing very unique. The whole record works together as a single sonic piece – maybe even more so since we can't distill things down on the basis of language – and there's great funky bass, guitar, and keyboards mixed in with the larger set of horns! LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique record – one that follows in the Japanese tradition of mixing folk inspiration and jazz instrumentation – yet one that takes the music much father overall, with a freewheeling improvised sound that's totally great! The core energy of the set comes from the saxes of Gil Ok-Yun, who carves out these beautifully edgey lines – next to work on the daegeum from Lee Saeng-Gang, who plays the wood flute with an equally evocative vibe – earthy and folksy at times, but always with a free improv vibe – next to the percussive work on janggu from Lee Sung-Jin and bongos from Ryo Bok-Sung. The set just features two long tracks, both beautiful and both improvised – "Daegeum & Bongos" and "Samul & Saxophone". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the only albums of jazz we've seen from the Korean scene of the 70s – and a really special little record that aims to echo some of the most spiritual modes from the US scene of the time! The record's the brainchild of arranger Lee Pan Guen – who doesn't play on the record, but leaves the music to a hip lineup that features trumpet, tenor or soprano sax, piano, bass, and drums plus percussion – often used in a way that's either modal or slightly lyrical, depending on the tunes. A few tracks are remakes of American numbers, but done at a level that's very personal and fluid – echoing the spiritual currents of the original tunes on the set – and titles include "Han O Baek Nyun", "My Favorite Things", "Gasiri", "Bin Ba Da", "Arirang", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime early work from Magic Sam – an Chicago bluesman who never hit bigger fame until the last few years of his too-short career – but who's represented here with some killer sides from the legendary Cobra label! Sam's guitar playing alone is worth the price of admission – deft and sharp, with moments that really step out from some of his electric contemporaries – and his vocals have a great gritty sense of soul that really shows his ties to the west side scene of the 50s and 60s – almost with an R&B sort of inflection at times. The package brings back rare 78s with crystal-clear sound – and titles include "21 Days In Jail", "All Your Love", "Look Whatcha Done", "All Night Long", "Love Me With A Feeling", "Magic Rocker", and "Roll Your Money Maker". CD

A wild little record from the Korean scene of the 70s – served up by a band of boys (and one gal), but not the sort of boy band that you'd hear in contemporary K-Pop! Instead, there's a heady, growling sort of groove to the whole record – not entirely hard rock, but touched with an understanding of that mode, which is then carried out in varied ways that really make the most of the dramatic vocals in Korean! Lyrics are sometimes very bold, sometime sweeter – and the instrumentation has fuzzy guitars and organ lines that echo some of the Japanese modes of the late 60s, but with some slightly different phrasing. All titles are in Korean, as are the lyrics – but there's a very groovy, universal sort of appeal to the set! CD

A hell of a record from bassist Aston Barrett – best known for his work behind Bob Marley during the classic years, but stepping out here as a powerful force on his own – away from the late Great One, and recording here either under his own name, or with The Wailers! As the title implies, these tunes are all instrumentals – work from the pre-dub years, then later work from that generation – a time when the bass was even more crucial than ever, and kind of the glue that could hold together a really great dub! Some tracks were issued on Aston's own Fam's label, and others are from a variety of other obscure 45s from the time – titles that include "Gideons High", "Soul Constitution", "Guided Missile", "Work", "Family Man Skank", "Cobra Style (disco mix)", "Well Pleased (disco mix)", "Tribute To Y Mas Gan", "Rebel Am I", "Distant Drums Version", "Ixes", and "Steppers Rock". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Kenny Garrett on alto and soparano sax – plus guest work from George Duke, Joe Sample, and Paulinho Da Costa. Titles include "Cobra", "Big Time", "Hannibal", "Jo Jo", "Amandla", "Jilli", and "Mr Pastorious". CD

Martin Denny's music always takes us away to the tropics – and this set is a whole Forbidden Island of exotica tunes! The record features the classic Denny exotica quartet with Augie Colon and Julius Wechter – plus some additional guest players on flute, percussion, and guitar – rounding out things very nicely. The expanded sound works nicely for Denny's style – and the mood incorporates plenty of easy lounge arrangements of the fairly standard instrumentation in the backdrop – broadened wonderfully in the arrangements! It's sort of a blue-eyed tropical feel – one that makes it a cheeky classic! The set includes some good originals like "Goony Birds", "Cobra", "Exotica", and "Primitiva", plus the Les Baxter tunes "Port Au Prince" and "Sim Sim", as well as a perennial exotica fave, "March Of The Siamese Children". This version includes both the mono & stereo mixes of the full track list! CD

2 classic bits of exotica on one CD! Forbidden Island is an excellent session that's one of the harder to find Martin Denny albums on Liberty! The record features the classic Denny exotica quartet with Augie Colon and Julius Wechter, plus some additional guest players on flute, percussion, and guitar. The expanded sound works nicely for Denny's style – and the set includes some good originals like "Goony Birds", "Cobra", "Exotica", and "Primitiva", plus the Les Baxter tunes "Port Au Prince" and "Sim Sim", as well as a perennial exotica fave, "March Of The Siamese Children". On Primitiva, Denny's classic quartet format is augmented by extra percussion that includes gongs, cymbals, tuned logs, steel drums, chimes, chromatic bamboo, and lots more! Tak Shindo also sits in and plays a bit of Koto, for a nice Eastern feel on some tracks. Titles include "M'Bira", "Burma Train", "Kalua", "M'Gambo Mambo", and "Mau Mau". Groovy cover, too, with a model standing waist-deep in ice water! CD

Titles include "King Cobra", "Riot", "Maiden Voyage", "Watermelon Man", "Driftin", "Dolphin Dance", "One Finger Snap", "Cantaloupe Island" and "Speak Like A Child". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the hippest groups of the 60s to blend Eastern influences and Western rock music – a nicely lean trio that comes across with results that are even cooler than some of their contemporaries! Part of the record's strength is its leanness – as other instrumentation might have gotten in the way a bit more, and larger arrangements might have made the whole thing sound a bit fake. Yet instead, there's a raw quality to the record that recalls similar east/west experiments on Vanguard Records at the time – served up by a group that features Guy Duris on electric oud and electric sitar, Bruno Giet on electric minitar, and Farshid Golesorkhi on electric melodica and dumbek! Vocals are by all three, but there's a very strong focus on the instrumentation too – on titles that include "Fruit Of The Desert", "Layla", "Birds Of India", "Train To Bombay", "Caravan Of Silk", "Azaar", "Cobra Fever", "A Little Star", and "Cobra Fever". LP, Vinyl record album

Raucous drag strip rockers and driving R&B-fueled instrumentals by The T-Bones – killer material on Liberty from a group of young session wizards – including Hal Blaine, Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, Dave Pell, Steve Douglas and others! It's wildly fun stuff that goes all in with the drag strip novelty – but totally transcends it – with some rubber-burning, rumbling excellence! Killer guitars, sax, organ drums from a one-time relatively anonymous cast of players. Includes "Hey Little Cobra", "Shut Down", "Drag City", "Draggin'", "Scorchin", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Boss Drag" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Our favorite album by this Brit jazz rock combo from the mid 70s! The groove on this one is the most straightforward of any of the band's albums – and there's a number of nice cuts that have a strong funk sound with plenty of Afro soul influences – a great straightforward sound that gets past some of the more jamming modes of other work. The band's almost got a style that recalls Mandrill or Cymande, but with a bit more fusion overall – on titles that include "Mr J", "Mah Jong", "Spanish Fly", "Amuso Fi", and "Cobra Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning live recording from Elis Regina – one of the last few records she cut during her short time on this planet – and one of the best as well! The album's got a jazzy fire that's missing from some of Regina's other material of the time – and Elis sings with a group that includes a stellar guest performance by Hermeto Pascoal on a number of tracks, and runs through a lively set of tracks that includes a bunch of excellent groovers – upbeat numbers that almost get a bit funky at times. A highlight of the album is the long cut "Cobra Criada", which builds slowly into a complex funky line, with Elis scatting madly over the top. Other goodies include "Asa Branca", "Cai Dentro", "Garota De Ipanema", and a great remake of "Upa Neguinho", with nice messed-up arrangements. LP, Vinyl record album

Brazilian funk, Brooklyn style – and one of the hippest collections of Brazilian grooves we've ever heard! The collection was put together by New York DJs Sean Marquand and Greg Caz – and it's got a wickedly funky vibe that comes from plenty of 70s samba soul! The style here is really different than other Brazilian Beats titles from Mr Bongo – as the work here is all classic, and chosen from a really fresh perspective – the new wave of interest in this music that's been bubbling up from the American underground, with a completely different perspective on the grooves from older scenes in Rio, Tokyo, or London! Most tracks here should be new to your ears – and although some of the tracks here have been reissued before, but they really come alive in different ways, thanks to the depth and careful pacing of the set. 22 tracks in all – with titles that include "Cafua" by Nonato, "Taieiras" by Ely Camargo, "Jeep" by Erasmo Carlos, "Cobra Criada" by Joao Bosco, "E Necessario" by Tim Maia, "Marcas" by Quarteto Uai, "Skim Dum Dum Dum" by Ana Rosely, "Black Soul Brothers" by Miguel De Deus, "Mais Kriola" by Helio Matheus, "A Festa" by Silvio Cesar, "Tava Mas Nao Tava" by Edson Frederico, "Uma Rosa Pra Dita" by Os Increveis, "Aleluia" by Robson Jorge & Licoln Olivetti, and "Beija-Flor Suite" by Chalo Eduardo. LP, Vinyl record album

Round Two features the tracks "16 Bars (Live At The Lyricist Lounge 1993)" by The Notorious B.I.G., "Oh No" by Mos Def & Pharoahe Monch featuring Nate Dogg, "Makin It Blend" by Q-Tip & Words, "Get Up" by Cocoa Brovaz, "Let's Grow" by Royce Da 5'9", "Ms Fat Booty 2" by Mos Def & Ghostface Killah, "W.K.Y.A." by Saukrates featuring Redman, "Sharp Shooters" by Talib Kweli & Dead Prez, with production by Hi-Tek, "Legendary Street Team" by Kool G Rap & M.O.P., with production by Mighty Mi, "The Grimy Way" by Big Noyd & Prodigy, with production by The Alchemist, "Battle" by Erick Sermon featuring Sy Scott, "Still Here" by Big L featuring C-Town, with production by Hi-Tek, "Right and Exact" by Dilated Peoples, with production by The Alchemist, "I've Committed Murder (Gang Starr remix)" by Macy Gray, produced by Premier and featuring Mos Def, "Outro Live At The Lounge" by Q-Tip, "Da Cipha Interlude" featuring Punch, Cobra Red, Planet Asia, Guilty & Phil Da Agony, with production by Madlib – and more. CD

With selections by Beenie Man & Ms Thing, Baby Cham, Lady Saw, Elephant Man, Ms Thing, Beenie Man & J, Tanto Metro & Devonte, Cobra, Akon, and Kardinal Offishall. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "So Hard To Say Goodbye", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Cobra", "You Are My Starship", "Eternity", "Conditions Of The Heart", "River Of Love", "You Can't Hurt Me Anymore", "Feel The Heat", "We're Still Friends", "You're Making Me High", "K.C.", "Not Just Another Love Song", and "Can't Say No". CD

The masterpiece by one of the most obscure artists in the Italian sound library scene of the early 70s – music that easily moves from funky sounds to cosmic styles to jazzy moments and beyond – sometimes within the space of a single tune! Gerardo Iacoucci's music is a huge change from the kind more facile sound library material coming out of the UK – the sorts of short, catchy songs designed for easy use in commercials or TV – and instead, the work here is richly conceived and presented, with a new sort of surprise at each track on the record – and just the right sort of balance to appeal to fans of both groovy and more wild sound library material. Titles include "Violenza", "Il Cobra", "Produzione Industriale", "La Caverna", "Citta Del Capo", "Zombie", "From Tokyo To Las Vegas", and "Assenza Di Gravita". LP, Vinyl record album

Sublimely soulful work from Larry Willis – just the kind of record to beautifully demonstrate the strong power of his later years! Although Willis is probably best remembered for his funky sides of the 70s, by the time of this early 90s date, he'd matured into a much deeper feeling player – a pianist with a sense of rhythm and color that almost matches McCoy Tyner, and a great leader for a larger group – as you'll hear here on a sextet outing with Curtis Fuller on trombone, Tom Williams on trumpet, and John Stubblefield on tenor and soprano sax. The horns really add a lot to the album – some sharper edges alongside the warmly rhythmic modes of Larry's piano – and rhythm is by Ben Riley on drums and David Williams on bass. Titles include "For Jean", "King Cobra", "Wayman's Way", "Sensei", and "A Tribute To Someone". CD

Side B is Marcia Griffiths alone – while Side A includes Cobra, Tony Rebel, and Beenie Man. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Classic Herbie Hancock from the early years – and a great mix of soul jazz and modernist inspiration! The record include a nice groovy "hit" – Herbie's "Blind Man Blind Man" – an obvious follow-up to "Watermelon Man", but still a standout track with a lot of imagination, and a fierce soul jazz hook that just won't quit! The rest of the record, while also groovy, starts to show many more signs of Herbie's far-reaching conception – especially shared with players like Tony Williams on drums, Grachan Moncur on trombone, and Chuck Israels on bass – who all work with Herbie in a larger than usual group that also includes Grant Green on guitar, Donald Byrd on trumpet, and Hank Mobley on tenor. The lineup is as great as it sounds on paper – and the larger setting really helps expand Herbie's new ideas – on tunes that include "Blind Man Blind Man", "And What If I Don't", "A Tribute To Someone", "King Cobra", and "The Pleasure Is Mine". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of records from this overlooked UK group – back to back in a single set! The self-titled Paladin album has an unassuming cover, but a sound that comes through nice and bold – served up by a group of players who'd already cut their teeth on work in other acts in the years before, and who come together with a well crafted vibe from the start! There's lots of great organ on the record from Peter Solley, and Keith Webb's drums are nice and strong too – and titles include "Carry Me Home", "Third World", "Bad Times", and the long "Dance Of The Cobra" – and a nice take on the Lalo Schifrin tune "The Fakir". Next is Charge – a record with a stunning cover by the great Roger Dean – and a stunning sound to match – one of the few sets ever issued by Paladin, a group who are a bit more hard-rocking than the Yes-like cover image might imply – but who also let loose with some great prog touches as well! The blend is maybe perfect for the group's placement on the Bronze label – an imprint that always seemed to bring out a bit more bite in its music – and while there's some long keyboard and organ solos, those are also balanced with some really searing guitar parts that ramp things up nicely. Titles include "Give Me Your Hand", "Well We Might", "Good Lord", "Mix Your Mind With The Moonbeams", "Watching The World Pass By", and "Get On Together". CD features the bonus track "Sweet Sweet Music". CD

A sweet Blues Horizon collection of rare Cobra Records material from Otis Rush – including some rare alternate tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Mega Banton, Red Dragon, Pappa San, Mad Cobra, Ghost, Beenie Man, Pinchers, and more! LP, Vinyl record album

The third volume in this very groovy series takes a distinct Brazilian turn – and opens up into a sparkling set of bossa jammers and hard jazzy numbers that are extremely well-selected for the set! Not all the tracks are Brazilian in origin, but they are all hard to find – and the groove's extremely solid throughout! Tracks include "Quo Vadis Samba" by Goykovic-Novacek, "Carcara" by Tempo Trio, "Tim Dom Dom" by Joao Donato, "Jangal" by Dom Um Romao, "Batucada Sergiu" by Luis Carlos Vinhas, "Grand Nite For Swinging" by Mary Lou Williams, "Consolacao" by Larry Willis, "Influencia Do Jazz" by Bossa Tres, "Mudei De Idea" by Osmar Milito, "Un Sabor Latino" by Ricardo Marrero, "Cobranca" by Carlos Penha, and "Tema Pro Lins" by Rosinha De Valencia. Lots more, too! LP, Vinyl record album

A compilation that's way more than jazz – as it features cuts from a moment when Brazilian music was really coming into its own during the bossa nova generation, yet still had some ties to earlier styles as well – which means that in addition to the sorts of bossa tunes you'd expect, you'll also hear versions of songs by Horace Silver, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin! The selection of cuts is nice – and the record begins with some straighter jazz numbers that evolve into bossa – in a lineup that includes "Nana" by Os Cobras, "O Menino Desce O Morro" by Milton Banana, "Samba In The Perrotoquei" by Bola Sete, "I Got Rhythm" by Dick Farney, "Nica's Dream" by Sergio Mendes, "Love For Sale" by Rubens Bassini, "Copacabana" by Brazilian Jazz Quartet, "Esperanca" by Tamba Trio, "Influencia Do Jazz" by Ed Lincoln, and "O Morro Nao Tem Vez" by Joao Donato. LP, Vinyl record album