The great keyboardist Mike Melvoin is at the top of his game here – getting a rare session as a leader, and working on Hammond, electric harpsichord, electric piano, and even ondoline! The small combo features Emil Richards on percussion, Don Peake on guitar, and Hal Blaine on drums – and the set features groovy versions of "Summer in the City" and "For No One", plus some originals, all played on a number of different keyboards. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-remembered albums from the moog pop generation – a record that's definitely a cut above the rest, thanks to the top-shelf talents of pianist Mike Melvoin! Melvoin is a name you'll recognize from countless other great LA sessions of the 60s – and Mike was always able to shift and move into the best sorts of styles when he wanted – jazz, soul, funk, and here, the new world of moogy instrumentals – served up here with some nice electronic effects that really keep things interesting! The record also features groovy help from Paul Humphrey and Earl Palmer on drums, and Dennis Budimir on guitar – and Beaver and Kraus were the "moog consultants" on the record too. There's some nice originals – including "One Man One Volt", "Plastic Cow", and "Medicine Man" – plus covers of "Born To Be Wild", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Spinning Wheel", and "Ballad Of John & Yoko". LP, Vinyl record album

With Harry Edison on trumpet, Jake Hanna on drums, Plas Johnson on saxophone, and Mike Melvoin on keyboards. LP, Vinyl record album

With Ray Brown on bass, Herb Ellis on guitar, Bobbye Hall on congas, Jake Hanna and Jimmie Smith on drums, and Mike Melvoin on keyboards. LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from this blue-eyed soul group of the 70s – one who've been picked and kept alive by some key underground scenes over the years – like the Northern Soul world of the UK, and the beach music scene in the Carolinas! The group here have some key jazz contributions from Mike Melvoin on piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, and Tom Scott on tenor – and as with their first record, there's a nice current of soul running through the music – a way of using soulful elements in subtle ways, which is really the appeal of these guys – as they really know how to slide in with a compelling style and a warm vocal approach! Titles include "Get It Up For Love", "I Can't Stop This Love Song", "When You Get Right Down To It", "Who's Foolin' Who", and "Magical Lady". CD features four bonus tracks, all singles – "Skysurf", "Can't Let You Down", "Gemini Lady", and "Love Connection". CD

Nice stuff from Pat Williams! Although known for mostly groovy 60s stuff (ala his legendary Verve and soundtrack work), this album features Williams hitting more of a 70s jazz funk groove, with a nice electric edge. The tracks are long, and the solos are played by Tom Scott and Marvin Stamm (mostly) – and the rest of the group includes Mike Melvoin on keyboards, John Guerin on drums, and Larry Bunker on percussion. Cuts include "And on the Sixth Day", "The Witch", and "Mr. Smoke". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic set of tracks from Peggy – featuring the sublime hit "Is That All There Is?", produced by Lieber & Stoller, and arranged and conducted by Randy Newman. Other arrangements are by the likes of Mike Melvoin, Mundell Lowe, George Tipton, and Bobby Bryant – all of whom conspire to give Peggy one of her hippest albums ever. Titles include "I'm A Woman", "Love Story", "Brother Love's Travelling Show", and "Don't Smoke In Bed". LP, Vinyl record album

Nice stuff from Pat Williams! Although known for mostly groovy 60s stuff (ala his legendary Verve and soundtrack work), this album features Williams hitting more of a 70s jazz funk groove, with a nice electric edge. The tracks are long, and the solos are played by Tom Scott and Marvin Stamm (mostly) – and the rest of the group includes Mike Melvoin on keyboards, John Guerin on drums, and Larry Bunker on percussion. Cuts include "And on the Sixth Day", "The Witch", and "Mr. Smoke". CD

Jose Feliciano really lives up to the title here – stepping out strongly with the same style used on his "California Dreamin" hit – a massive blend of strings, soul, and Jose's unique vocal approach! Feliciano came out of the Latin market in the 60s, but by the time of this record he's really a key crossover force in soul – and one that helped establish the brown-eyed variant of the music through his massive work for RCA. The instrumentation is often as groovy as the record – with backing by a small combo that includes Milt Holland on percussion, Ray Brown on bass, and Mike Melvoin on keyboards – plus added arrangements from RCA talents George Tipton and All Capps. Titles include the groovy "Hitchcock Railway", plus "Younger Generation", "Sad Gypsy", "Hi Heel Sneakers", "She's Too Good To Me", and "Sleep Late My Lady Friend". LP, Vinyl record album

A totally wonderful session from bassist Leroy Vinnegar – different than some of his other, straighter sides – in that the lineup here is full of wonderful up-and-coming players, plus some key cool forces on the LA scene! The album features vibes from a very young Roy Ayers – working here on one of his first sessions ever – and also features trumpet from Freddy Hill, piano from Mike Melvoin, tenor from Teddy Edwards, and both piano and vibes from Victor Feldman – topped with drums from either Ron Jefferson or Milt Turner, depending on the tracks. Tunes are nice and long, and include some great originals – in a lineup that includes "Restin In Jail", "Motherland", "Hard To Find", "Down Under", "For Carl", and "Wheelin & Dealin". CD

2 early 70s sessions from Billy Eckstine – both recorded for Stax Records! First up is Senior Soul – a well-titled set not only given Billy's age, but also because of the surprisingly soulful undercurrent to the record – an extension into the genre even greater than Eckstine's previous recordings for Motown – and proof that he was really trying to stretch out towards new audiences at the time! Artie Butler handled the backings, and he uses a groove that's pretty full, but never overwhelming – more ebullient soul than some of Eckstine's more familiar jazz – with backing vocals and bright horns, yet still plenty of space for Billy to do his thing. The best numbers have Eckstine coming across with the 70s cool of Grady Tate on his vocal sides – and titles include "Thank You For The Moment", "A Song For You", "A Man Who Sings", "Today Was Tomorrow Yesterday", "I Believe In Music", and "Living Like A Gypsy". If She Walked Into My Life is extremely compelling stuff – and you've really got to give Billy credit for reinventing himself like this! The album features Billy's deep deep voice amidst arrangements by Artie Butler, Jimmy Jones, Mike Melvoin, and Billy Byers – sort of a blend of Grady Tate sophisti-jazz, and Scott Walker baroque, with a moody mellow sound that would make either of them proud. Titles include "The Taste Of My Tears", "I Am Yours", "Maybe This Time", "The Very Thought Of You", and "All In Love Is Fair". CD

Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, Harry 'Sweets' Edison on trumpet, Jake Hanna on drums, Plas Johnson on saxophone, and Mike Melvoin on keyboards. CD

Killer Peggy Lee on Capitol Records – 2 very groovy albums on a single CD! Then Was Then is a sublime mid 60s effort that has Peggy working with arrangers Sid Feller, Billy May, and Cy Coleman – all of whom continue in the same groovy territory Lee hit at the time with Jack Marshall – a blend of romping rhythms, swinging jazz, and some slightly soulful touches that really come off well! The song selection is especially great – as it features some really unusual numbers that get past overdone standards, and some of the too-heard tunes from Peggy's Capitol years. Titles include "I Go To Sleep", "Then Was Then", "Seventh Son", "They Say", "Trapped In The Web Of Love", "Losers Weepers", "Shadow Of Your Smile", and "Leave It To Love". Bridge Over Troubled Water is wonderful work from Peggy Lee's newly mature years on Capitol Records – a set that follows from some of the hipper arranging and songwriting styles she was working with at the end of the 60s! Peggy's badass 60s self is even more pronounced here – as she's a forthright, adult singer on most of the tunes – workign with subjects she might not have touched at all a decade before – all with some great help on arrangements from the mighty Mike Melvoin. A few tunes are older, but most are relatively contemporary for the time of the album's release – and titles include "Something Strange", "You'll Remember Me", "He Used Me", "I See Your Face Before Me", "Always Something There To Remind Me", and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?" CD features 3 bonus tracks – "Maybe This Summer", "Stop Living In The Past", and "This Could Be The Start Of Something Big". CD

One of Gabor Szabo's amazing late 60s albums for the Skye label – trippy, jazzy, and with a mod exotica vibe that would never be matched again! Gabor's playing guitar in a two-guitar frontline, which makes for lots of dreamy interplay between the strings – a shifting pattern of sound that's even more exotic than some of Szabo's earlier work on Impulse, thanks to added help from guitarist Francois Vaz. The rest of the group is great too – and features mighty Mike Melvoin on organ, plus fender bass, cello, and percussion – all produced by Gary McFarland with a wonderfully evocative feel! Titles include "Dear Prudence", "Stormy", "Walk Away Renee", "Michael From Mountains", "I've Just Seen A Face", and "You Won't See Me". LP, Vinyl record album