Record Store Day releases go live Sunday moring!
Dave Rempis & Tim Daisy
DodecahedronAerophonic, 2018. 2CD
Drummer Tim Daisy and saxophonist Dave Rempis have been recording together for over a decade – but this time around, they do a great job of balancing out their own duo work with help from a variety of other Chicago improvising musicians! The set features 2CDs – the first of which is ... CD (Jazz CD)
Palm Unit
Hommage A Jef GilsonSuper Sonic Jazz (Netherlands), 2018.
A beautiful tribute to pianist Jef Gilson – one of the hippest French jazz talents of the 60s and 70s – put together by a combo who take their name from his legendary Palm Records label! The group here are a quartet, and they work with wonderfully moody use of Hohner electric piano by ... CD (Jazz CD)
Pete Knutsen
Operation Cobra/Moving Music (Norway), 1978. (reissue)
A killer 70s soundtrack from the Norwegian scene – one that's filled with spare funk groovers and plenty of keyboards – in a way that reminds us a lot of Dave Grusin's music for Three Days Of The Condor – or maybe Henry Mancini on The Thief Who Came To Dinner! Pete Knutsen ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks LP)
Arthur Blythe
Da Da/Columbia/Beat Goes On (UK), 1986/1988. 2 CDs
A pair of 80s albums from saxophonist Arthur Blythe – back to back in a single set! Da Da is a set that mixes some of the sharper edges of Blythe's earlier records with a few more contemporary touches – but always at a level that still has the reedman standing far from the mainstream! ... CD (Jazz CD)
Jef Gilson & Hal Singer
Soul Of AfricaLe Chant Du Monde/Super Sonic Jazz (Netherlands), 1974. Gatefold (reissue)
A groundbreaking set of work from the team of Jef Gilson and Hal Singer – a uniquely cross-cultural session recorded in the Paris scene of the 70s, and easily some of the best work ever from both musicians! Singer's probably best remembered on these shores for his older R&B tenor work of ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Beaver Harris/
Well Kept Secret
Shemp/Corbett vs. Dempsey, 1984. Gatefold
One of the most striking Don Pullen albums of the 80s – a beautifully open session that has the pianist co-leading a version of the 360 Experience group of drummer Beaver Harris – with an excellent lineup that also features Ricky Ford on tenor sax, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone, and Buster ... CD (Jazz CD)
Steve Lacy
Stamps (with bonus track)Hat Hut/Corbett vs. Dempsey, 1979. 2CDs
A massive double-length set from saxophonist Steve Lacy – and maybe one of the strongest 70s statements from his legendary European quintet! The album features two different live performances – each of which open up in the brilliant freedoms allowed by the European scene since the end ... CD (Jazz CD)
Ennio Morricone
Forza G (G-Force)Cinevox (Italy), 1971.
A fantastic album from Italian soundtrack genius Ennio Morricone – done for a film titled G-Force, and which deals with jet pilots – but one that moves at a much slinkier pace overall! The tunes here bubble and brew in that early 70s Morricone warmth that we love so much – not ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Sadao Watanabe & Charlie Mariano
We Got A New Bag (Sadao & Charlie Again) (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Takt/Columbia (Japan), 1968. Gatefold
A fantastic collaboration between two very different reed talents – Japanese saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, and Boston legend Charlie Mariano – each of whom seemed to always push each other to new heights in their music! That's definitely the case here, as Charlie lets his growing ... CD (Jazz CD)
Salim Washington
Dogon RevisitedPassin' Thru, 2018.
CD...$14.99
16.99
The most righteous cover we've ever seen on a record from reedman Salim Washington – and a great indication of how righteous the music inside is as well! Salim has quietly been giving us genius over the past 20 years or so – and this album really continues that legacy – reaching ... CD (Jazz CD)
Krzysztof Komeda
People Meet & Sweet Music Fills The Heart (with bonus tracks)GAD (Poland), 1967.
A fantastic lost slice of work from the legendary Krzysztof Komeda – and a set that's quite different than some of his avant jazz classics of the 60s! This album's still got a lot of jazz in the mix, but there's also a lot of the "sweet" mentioned in the title – mostly in ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Various
Spiritual Jazz 8 – Japan Parts 1 & 2 – Esoteric, Mocal & Progressive Jazz From Japan 1961 to 1983Jazzman (UK), 1960s/1970s/Early 80s. 2CD
The biggest volume so far in the Spiritual Jazz series from Jazzman Records – and maybe the best as well! This fantastic collection looks at the huge legacy of spiritual jazz that flowed from the Japanese scene in the postwar years – sounds that had their initial expression around the ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Liston/P-Vine (Japan), 1983.
A great set of mellow soul from the start of the 80s – not the Positive Force of "We Got The Funk" fame, but a different groove that has a nicely smooth groove! The style here is halfway between soul and AOR, but handled with an indie charm that really keeps things compelling ... CD (Soul CD)
Omni/Iron Mountain Analog Research (Australia), 1950s/1960s/Early 70s.
CD...$16.99
19.99
This great series just keeps on getting better and better – as the hillbillies rise from hell, and take their message into the musical mainstream! Previous volumes have dealt with themes of sin and redemption in country music – and this time around, the scope seems pushed even farther ... CD (Folk/Country CD)
Bosq
Love & ResistanceUbiquity, 2018.
CD...$12.99
16.98
Maybe the strongest album so far from Bosq – and certainly one of the most wide-ranging too – given that the group have a strong global bent to their groove, and they've also made space for a host of guest stars who include Nicole Willis, Bruno Morais, Monolog, and Kaleta! The music is ... CD (New Grooves CD)
Mats Gustafsson & Jason Adasiewicz
TimelessCorbett vs. Dempsey, 2018. Gatefold
Two of our favorite living improvisers – vibist Jason Adasiewicz and saxophonist Mats Gustafsson – each completely tremendous on their own, and even more amazing here together! We're not sure the musicians have ever recorded together before – and the sound of this album is way ... CD (Jazz CD)
Pete Knutsen
Carl Gustav, The Gang, & The Parking Bandits/Moving Music (Norway), 1982. (reissue)
We're not sure what "parking bandits" might be – but Pete Knutsen gave them a very groovy sound on this obscure soundtrack from the early 80s! The album's definitely got a vibe that fits the era – keyboards, fuzzy guitar, and upbeat tunes that aren't that different from early ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks LP)
Mombasa Roots
Mombasa Roots EPAfro 7 (Finland), Early 80s. (reissue)
A Kenyan group from the early 80s – one who work in a great mix of clubby modes and Swahili soul styles! There's keyboards on most numbers, but this isn't the synth pop of the South African scene, as the tunes here generally have deeper grooves overall, and the percussion is usually live ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Sadao Watanabe
Jazz & Bossa (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Takt/Sony (Japan), 1966. Gatefold
Beautiful bossa nova from 60s Japan – groundbreaking work from the young Sadao Watanabe! Like one of his obvious influences, Stan Getz, Watanabe had a great role in bringing the bossa nova out of Brazil – taking a music that had already been introduced to Japan a few years before, and ... CD (Jazz CD)
Fred Lonberg-Holm & The Amphibians Of The Everglad
Bow Hard At The FrogCorbett vs. Dempsey, 2016. Gatefold
One of the most unusual albums we've heard from cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm – and one that's a lot closer to the title than you might think! The album was actually recorded alongside frogs – specifically in the Everglades, where Fred collaborated with sound artist Gustavo Matamoros ... CD (Jazz CD)
Cherry Red (UK), Mid 60s. 6CDs
A deep deep look at a side of the British 60s scene that didn't always make big waves here in the US – but one that had a huge influence on UK sounds for years to come! The mighty book-like package documents the rich stream of sounds that exploded during the beat group years – a moment ... CD (Rock CD)
Ken Vandermark & Michael Snow
DuolCorbett vs. Dempsey, 2015. Gatefold
The album's titled after the 1960 Michael Snow painting that graces the cover – but it features recently-recorded music that remind us that Snow's still a hell of an improviser too! Snow's is maybe best known to most for his important experimental film work of the 60s and 70s – but as ... CD (Jazz CD)
Universal, 1968. 2CDs
CD...$27.99
28.98
Let's just begin by saying that this album features a 33 minute version of "My Generation"! We probably don't even need to say more, but we will exclaim that this is a searing little live set from The Who – one that comes on with the same sort of power as their legendary Live At ... CD (Rock CD)
Moonfires (Alex Puddu)
Gotta Keep It RollinAl Dente (France), 2018.
The Moonfires better keep it rolling, given that they're being chased by a giant ape on the cover – but with the mighty Alex Puddu on guitar, they can't help but take off and soar! The album's got that great commitment to classic cinematic funk styles that we've always loved in Puddu's music ... LP, Vinyl record album (Deep Funk LP)
GAD (Poland), 1973. 2CD
The legendary debut album from Czech combo Jazz Q – a fusion classic that was so strong, it managed to break the group out from behind the Iron Curtain at the time! There's certainly a lot of rock-inspired instrumentation in the mix – including drums that are completely massive and ... CD (Jazz CD)
Sunny & The Sunliners
Little Brown Eyed SoulKey Loc/Big Crown, Late 60s. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
22.98
One of the greatest albums ever cut by Tex-Mex soulsters Sunny & The Sunliners – largely because it's got some really nice funk tracks! The album features a set of all English language tracks – with Sunny Ozuna singing in his best sweet soul style on the ballad tracks, and hitting ... LP, Vinyl record album (Latin LP)
BGP (UK), 1970s.
CD...$12.99
18.98
Funky soul from one of the less-discovered scenes in the south – the hotbed of small labels that were making some mighty great grooves in Atlanta during the 70s! The Peachtree city isn't nearly as well-cited as a soul music source in comparison to places like Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and even ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Sadao Watanabe
Music Break (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Takt/Sony (Japan), 1967.
Beautiful bossa from the Japanese scene of the 60s – a live set from saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, cut during a run of excellent Brazilian inspired sessions at the time! The group on the set is a sextet with Masabumi Kikuchi on piano – and although a few tracks appear to have additional ... CD (Jazz CD)
Jazz Line (Germany), 1978.
Fiercely funky Freddie Hubbard – a late 70s live date, but one that has the same bold power as his early 70s albums for CTI! Like those classics, the tracks here are all quite long – and served up in this beautifully flowing mix of acoustic and electric elements – Freddie on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Don Ellis
Autumn/BGO (UK), 1968. 2 CDs
Two late 60s classics from trumpet legend Don Ellis – back to back in a single set! Autumn is an album of explosive power and imagination from Don Ellis – a set that shows him very firmly shaking off the more academic mode of earlier years, and heading into hipper, more youth-oriented ... CD (Jazz CD)
All City (Ireland), Late 70s/Early 80s. 2LP
What? Irish funk? We thought we knew everything – but if there's one thing we're learning to know, it's that there's still a heck of a lot of great music for us to discover! The vibe here is hipper than you might expect – mostly handled by blued-eyed soul artists, but who've clearly ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations LP)
Pete Townshend
Who Came First (2CD version – with bonus tracks)Universal, 1972. 2 CDs
CD...$31.99
39.98
A fantastic first album from Pete Townshend – one that showed the world that he was a hell of a force to be reckoned with, even away from The Who! There's some elements here that link back to Pete's work with the band, but the music here is already showing lots of new ideas brewing in his ... CD (Rock CD)
Tava Tava Rare (Italy), Late 60s/Early 70s.
Heavy funk from Japanese cinema – fantastic instrumental tracks that are all pulled from "pinky violence" sexploitation films at the start of the 70s! This isn't softcore porn material, as the music is often much harder-hitting overall – more like what you'd hear in crime ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations LP)
Leroy Hutson
Hutson (with bonus tracks)Curtom/Acid Jazz (UK), 1975.
An amazing record – quite possibly the best ever by Chicago soul legend Leroy Hutson! The whole thing's a smooth soul masterpiece beyond compare – a stunning blend of great songwriting, sexy vocals, and buttery production that rank it up there with the best work of 70s giants like ... CD (Soul CD)
20th Century/Universal, 1970s. 3CD
CD...$39.99
49.99
Barry White was one of the undisputed geniuses of 70s soul – a completely new force that helped the music find even more soul and sophistication than ever before – all while still sounding plenty funky too! And while Barry's albums of the decade were mega-hits – as were his ... CD (Soul CD)
Ace (UK), 1960s.
CD...$14.99
19.98
A stunning selection of female soul from Motown – all of it rare, and much of it previously unreleased! The set is a great reminder not only of how much we still have to learn about the biggest soul label in the motor city – but also of the exceptional quality that Motown brought to ... CD (Soul CD)
Mouvements
MouvementsMental Experience (Spain), 1973.
A set from the farther reaches of the European experimental scene in the 70s – but one that's also not as way-out as you might expect! The original album was pressed in a tiny run that was only sold through art galleries in Switzerland – and it's got a very homegrown feel that has each ... CD (Jazz CD)
Hit-Ton Schalllatten/Numero, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$16.99
19.98
A gem of a record from one of the coolest UK groups of the 60s – served up here in a German release that maybe gives The Creation one of their most vibrant covers ever! Despite the European issue of the material, the tracks here are all Brit brilliance from the group and producer Shel Talmy ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Numero, 1970s.
The Numero Group turn their radio to yet another spot on the dial – this time around posing as a 70s AOR station, but working with their usual flair for rare and unreleased tunes! Given that the musical style is one that you're used to associating with big hits, it's great to hear music like ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations LP)
Bob Downes
Blast From The PastBob Downes Music (UK), 1970s.
British reedman Bob Downes at his most progressive – working here in a very hip trio that includes Denis Smith on drums and a young Barry Guy on bass! The tracks are all unreleased, and were recorded at various locations in the 70s – and will stand strongly as proof that Bob was one of ... CD (Jazz CD)
Cherry Red (UK), Early 70s. 5CDs
A massive package of early music from The New York Dolls – tracks that really expand on their too-slim catalog from the first few years! The set begins with two CDs worth of demos by the group – very rough-edged, pre-punk material that's got an even sharper feel than their initial ... CD (Rock CD)
Binsy (Miriam Bordoni)
BinsyPhonotype/Cabiria (Italy), 1975. (reissue)
A really moody little sound library record – heavy on analogue electronics, but used in ways that are nicely changed up from track to track – and quite different than the usual library album of this style! Some tracks are light and tuneful, but others are quite dark and experimental ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Hideo Shiraki
Man Who Causes A StormSuper Fuji Discs (Japan), 1957. (pic cover)
A rare soundtrack session from Japanese jazz legend Hideo Shiraki – and maybe one of the earliest recordings we've ever seen from the drummer too! The cover's somewhat unassuming, but the music inside is quite vivid and rich – jazz tracks used as a film score, often with a quality that' ... CD (Jazz CD)
Riz Ortolani
Uno Scandolo Perbene (with bonus tracks)Cinevox (Italy), 1984.
A wonderfully mellow soundtrack from Riz Ortolani – a bit different than most of his other work, and handled with this spacious style that often has a lead instrumental solo sliding out in front of soft orchestrations! The mood is sometimes somber – maybe not as sexy as you'd guess ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Gabriele Poso
AwakeningBBE (UK), 2018.
CD...$16.99
19.99
Clubby grooves and rootsy percussion – served up here by Gabriele Poso in a really wonderful combination! The music here is as rich and organic as the cover – almost in the 21st Century blend of contemporary and classic that we've loved in records from artists like Joe Clausell or ... CD (New Grooves CD)
Pat Rebillot
Free FallAtlantic/Wounded Bird, 1974.
CD...$10.99
11.99
A really great little album from keyboardist Pat Rebillot – a player you might know from other 70s records with Herbie Mann, and a few other jazz artists – stepping out here as one of his few times as a leader! Pat really makes great use of the space to show off his own thing – ... CD (Jazz CD)
Joe Magnarelli
Magic TrickSteeplechase (Denmark), 2018.
CD...$15.99
19.99
Joe Magnarelli can be one of the most explosively colorful trumpeters we know – and that's definitely the case here, as he works some beautiful magic alongside the alto of Andy Fusco and guitar of John Hart! Both players are equally imbued with hues, and weave this fantastic array of tones ... CD (Jazz CD)
Calvin Valentine
Plush SeatsMello Music Group, 2018.
LP...$18.99
21.98
Instrumentals from rising production talent Calvin Valentine! CV shows a real love for sampled soul throught Plush Seats, along with spacey keyboard texture, some nice nods to classic scratch work and other classic touches. Having recently crafted a full set of beats for an Illa J project, you ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop LP)
El Chicles
Viva TiradoPolydor/Pregador Do Som (Germany), 1970.
A funky killer from this legendary European group – a record that's filled with as much funk and soul as the Latin elements you might have guessed from the title! El Chicles may have been a studio project, but they were a heck of a funky one – with hard drums, tight bass, and mixed-up ... CD (Soul CD)
Johnny Griffin & Eddie Lockjaw Davis
Johnny Griffin/Jazz Line (Germany), 1975. 2CD
Some of the boldest, rawest work we've ever heard from tenor giants Eddie Lockjaw Davis and Johnny Griffin – a duo who recorded famously in America in the 60s – then moved their efforts overseas to Europe, where they were both working in the Clarke Boland Big Band! This set's from that ... CD (Jazz CD)
Armando Trovajoli
La Stanza Del Vescovo (with bonus tracks)Cinevox (Italy), 1977.
A slinky score from Armando Trovajoli – done for a film that was also titled The Bishop's Bedroom – a place where some of the slinky action in the film must have taken place! There's an occasional period vibe to the music – a few older jazz touches here and there – but most ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Weldon Irvine
In Harmony (180 gram pressing)Strata East/Think (Japan), 1974. (reissue)
Weldon Irvine meets Strata East – and the result is one of the keyboardist's funkiest albums ever! The set's more jazz-based than the soul/funk outings Weldon cut for RCA and his own label – with great focus on Weldon's lines on clavinet and Fender Rhodes – supported by sweet ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Maria Monti with Steve Lacy & Alvin Curran
Il BestiarioRi Fi/Unseen Worlds, 1974.
CD...$11.99
12.98
Other-worldly sounds from Italian singer Maria Monti – working here with lots of help from avant genius Alvin Curran and jazz legend Steve Lacy! Curran handled the arrangements, and comes up with these moody electronic backdrops on a few pieces that remind us a bit of Terry Riley – ... CD (Vocalists CD)
Chris Squire
Fish Out Of Water (2CD edition – new stereo mix/Atlantic/Esoteric (UK), 1975. 2CD
One of the greatest Yes albums of the 70s – even if it isn't a Yes album at all! Instead, the set's a stunning solo project from bassist Chris Squire – and a record that shows just how much his talents were to the sound of Yes as a whole! The album's got a vibe that's very much like ... CD (Rock CD)
Takt/Columbia (Japan), 1968. Gatefold
A really great setting for the reed talents of the young Sadao Watanabe – as the music of Burt Bacharach and The Beatles give him a fresh showcase for his sound! The Bacharach material is handled a bit like Watanabe's take on bossa tunes – with fuller backings, but a strong focus on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Sadao Watanabe & Brazilian 8
Sadao Meets Brazilian Friends (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Takt/Columbia (Japan), 1968. Gatefold
A really great meeting of talents – legendary reedman Sadao Watanabe, who'd already done plenty to bring the bossa nova to Japan by the time of this record – and a host of Brazilian musicians who further help him expand his groove! The combo is listed as Sadao's Brazilian 8 – and ... CD (Jazz CD)
Yung Wu
Shore LeaveCoyote/Bar None, 1987.
CD...$12.99
13.99
One of the most beautiful albums to come from the Hoboken scene in the 80s – a Feelies side project that's every bit as great as that group's albums from the time! In fact, the style here is almost an answer to the mode of their classic Good Earth album – a similar blend of hypnotic ... CD (Rock CD)
Sony (Japan), 1970s.
Philly soul at its finest – served up here in a collection that brings together classics from the Philadelphia International label, plus some nicely overlooked cuts! Most of the music here comes from the world of Gamble & Huff – that legendary production duo who helped take soul ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations LP)
Takt/Sony (Japan), 1967. Gatefold
One of Sadao Watanbe's excellent late 60s bossa albums – beautifully rich, but mellow readings of bossa nova numbers – in a way that takes music that had already been introduced to Japan a few years earlier, and gives it even wider exposure with Sadao's wonderfully soulful, jazz-based ... CD (Jazz CD)
Victor Gould
EarthlingsCriss Cross (Netherlands), 2018.
CD...$14.99
18.99
Darkly beautiful sounds from pianist Victor Gould – an up-and-coming player who's also turning into a hell of a leader too! Vic works here with a fantastic core trio – Dezron Douglas on bass and Eric McPherson on drums – both players who are perfectly suited to set up the right ... CD (Jazz CD)
East West/Now Again, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$23.99
24.98
An astonishingly rare treasure by exotic jazz genius Lloyd Miller – originally issued by East West Records in a run of just a few hundred copies! Recorded at The University Of Utah, it's a wonderful synthesis of the eastern and otherwise globally-inspired instrumentation Miller is beloved for ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Various
Praise Poems 6 – A Journey Into Deep Soulful Jazz & Funk From The 1970s (with bonus download)Tramp (Germany), 1970s. 2LP
Fantastic sounds from this always-great series – one that's always got an unassuming title, but which always turns us onto a great range of songs we've never heard before! As with previous volumes, the approach here is really unique – not really spiritual jazz, or righteous soul – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations LP)
Azar Lawrence
ElementalsHigh Note, 2018.
CD...$14.99
16.99
Saxophonist Azar Lawrence has been having a hell of a renaissance in recent years – and a record like this only helps move that process forward – providing a mighty large feather in Azar's ever-growing cap! The album's a great one from start to finish – a evolution of the ... CD (Jazz CD)
Alkaholiks
21 & OverRCA/Get On Down, 1993. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
22.98
Ain't no party like a Alkoholik party! The Liks first LP, and a breath of fresh air at the from the early 90s west coast scene – and all these later, a bellwether for classic hip hop, period. Straight up, stripped down beats from E Swift and King Tee – plus a couple of very early ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop LP)
Edgar Varese
Complete Works Of Edgar Varese Vol 1 (Complete Works/El (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s. 3CDs
A trio of albums that represent important early recordings of compositions by groundbreaking sonic genius Edgar Varese! First is the album Complete Works – an early series of recordings supervised by composer Edgard Varese – featuring versions of what were then his complete works! The ... CD (Out Sound CD)
20th Century/Universal, 1970s.
Barry White was one of the undisputed geniuses of 70s soul – a completely new force that helped the music find even more soul and sophistication than ever before – all while still sounding plenty funky too! And while Barry's albums of the decade were mega-hits – as were his ... CD (Soul CD)
Brian Charette with George Coleman
Groovin For Big GSteeplechase (Denmark), 2018.
CD...$15.99
19.99
Modern Hammond hero Brian Charette gets some great help here – tenor legend George Coleman, whose presence in the group makes an already-solid combo really sound great! Coleman was never a tenor player to work with an organ back in the 60s and 70s – but his work here is really ... CD (Jazz CD)
Takt/Columbia (Japan), 1967. Gatefold
Haunting early work from Japanese reed legend Sadao Watanabe – an artist who makes the record way more than just a set of familiar ballads! True, the set's a bit more mellow than some of Watanabe's other work of the time – but his work on alto and flute really have this subtle sort of ... CD (Jazz CD)
Robb Scott
SirenExpansion (UK), 2018.
A beautiful tribute to the Cali soul sound of the 70s – served up here by Robb Scott with a wonderfully groovy sound! The music here recalls that great moment when things could be tight, but never slick or commercial – maybe the productions of Larry Mizell, or the flowing soulful ... CD (Neo Soul CD)
Crown Heights Affair
Dreaming A Dream/De-Lite/Robinsongs (UK), Late 70s. 2CD
Three early albums from Crown Heights Affair – all brought together in a single set! First up is Dreaming A Dream – a dream of a record from Crown Heights Affair – the group's classic first set, and maybe as fine a batch of early club work you could ever hope to find! Like so ... CD (Soul CD)
Lil Albert
Movin In (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Silver Cloud/P-Vine (Japan), 1976.
A sweet mellow stepper from Lil Albert – a singer who first got things going in the Hawaiian group Society Of Seven – but who hits some completely different, completely great territory here! The set was recorded in mid 70s LA, with arrangement and production by Ernie Freeman – ... CD (Soul CD)
Dave Rempis/
Throw Tomatoes
Astral Spirits, 2018.
Two fantastic improvisations from the Chicago scene – both featuring the well-known talents of Dave Rempis on saxes and Tim Daisy on drums – plus the rising genius of Matt Piet on piano! Piet's a name we've only begun to pay attention to – but his bold sense of freedom here ... CD (Jazz CD)
Judnell/Now Again, 1970. 2LP
LP...$22.99
25.98
A record that definitely lives up to its title – as it's a lot freer and more spiritual than later work from drummer Bubbha Thomas and his Lightmen group! This set perfectly captures the unique vibe that the ensemble brought to the Houston scene at the start of the 70s – really the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra
Black SunFar Out (UK), 2018.
Fantastic sounds from the Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra – a group with family ties to Azymuth and Incognito, and who work here in the best blend of Brazilian and soulful elements that might imply! The ensemble is a crowning achievement for the Far Out label – a summation of all the ... CD (New Grooves CD)
Gerardo Iacoucci
Industria No 1Canopo/Intervallo (Italy), 1972. (reissue)
A beautiful little sound library set – but in a noisy sort of way! Gerardo Iacoucci really takes the "industry" in the title seriously – and creates all these cool tunes that capture the sound of automation and factory work – mostly through modes that are rhythmic and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Kei Ichinanagi/
Eros + Massacre
Columbia/Super Fuji Discs (Japan), 1970. (pic cover)
Really dark soundtrack material from early 70s Japan – a cool 7" EP that almost has the depth of a full album! Side one features three shorter tracks – each with titles in Japanese – and the instrumentation is a mix of rootsy drums and flute lines, plus these sweeter strings ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's 7-inch)
Hugh Masekela
Live At The Record Plant – 24 February 1974Hi Hat, 1974.
Hugh Masekela at a really fantastic point in his career – recorded live for a radio broadcast, and working with a freewheeling style that's quite different than both his early and later work! The vibe here is right up there with some of the few longer-form jazz recordings made by Hugh in the ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Philadelphia International/Robinsongs (UK), Mid 70s. 2CD
Massive work from this legendary group – a studio ensemble who started out backing some of the best soul singers on the Philly scene of the 70s – but who soon got the chance to shine in the spotlight on their own! The musicians are all the cream of the crop of the city's scene – ... CD (Soul CD)
Lightmen Plus One
Fancy Pants (2LP version – mono/Judnell/Now Again, 1971. 2LP
LP...$22.99
25.98
Some of the most righteous sounds we've ever heard from Houston legends The Lightmen – recorded at a time when the group was at their most spiritual, and very firmly following a cosmic path set down by drummer Bubbha Thomas! The music here owes nothing to the hippest sounds coming from the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Charles McPherson
Today's ManMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973.
A great document of the more soulful shift made by Charles McPherson in the 70s – and an album that features his moody alto work set amidst a slightly larger group – filled with great players that include Chris Woods on flute, Richard Williams and Cecil Bridewater on trumpet, Frank Wess ... CD (Jazz CD)
Ornette Coleman
Live At Manchester Free Trade Hall 1966Hi Hat, 1966. 2CD
A fantastic live set from a crucial time in the career of Ornette Coleman – that mid 60s moment when he'd moved past the alto sax to play trumpet and violin as well – and was working with the groundbreaking trio that included Charles Moffett on drums and David Izenzon on bass! The ... CD (Jazz CD)
Narassa (Sandro Brugnolini)
Guerra E AngosciaRotary/Intervallo (Italy), 1973. (reissue)
Moody work from the darker side of the Italian sound library scene – served up here under the Narassa name of composer Sandro Brugnolini! Sandro did jazzy work in his early days, but here he's awash in deep textures of sound – very much in the spirit that was showing up in Italian ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Idrees Sulieman
GroovinSteeplechase (Denmark), 1986.
A great later moment from trumpeter Idrees Sulieman – a player that most folks know for his famous 50s appearances on Prestige Records sessions, before he left these shores and had a much more obscure later career overseas! During that time, though, Sulieman really grew as a player – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
RD Burman
MuktiSubah Zindagi (UK), Late 70s.
A classic soundtrack from Indian film composer Rahul Dev Burman – and one that reminds us just how important the voice was to the format over the years! Unlike some Bollywood soundtracks, which have long upbeat songs that are driving the dance numbers in the film – this score has a ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Jerzy Milian
Orkiestra Rozrywkowa Pritv W KatowicachPolskie Nagrania (Poland), 1975. (reissue)
Funky genius from Poland's Jerzy Milian – a vibes player we normally know in much smaller settings, but who sounds great here in an MPS-styled big band album from the 70s! The tracks are relatively short and punchy – all with some great rhythms and a fair bit of drum breaks too – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Azoto
Disco FizzRams Horn/Mondo Groove (Italy), 1979. (reissue)
An intriguing bit of Italian disco – one that has some of the sweet porno touches of the genre's earliest years, but which also picks up some of the more interesting progressive elements that started to surface in the early 80s! There's some really nice percussion and guitars on the set, and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Nico Gomez & His Orchestra
Bossa NovaOmega/Pregador Do Som (Germany), 1972.
Way way more than just bossa nova – a mighty groover from the great Nico Gomez! Nico's known for his harder pounding tracks that have become favorites with the funky crowd, but this stellar album shows that Nico could also work in jazzier territory when he wanted to – as the album's a ... CD (Latin CD)
Yasutaka Tsutsui
Inner Space Of Yasutaka Tsutui (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Super Fuji Discs (Japan), 1985.
A sweet swing revival set from 80s Japan – served up here by clarinetist Yasutaka Tsutsui – a player we don't really know at all, but who gets a nicely classic vibe on the set! Instrumentation is relatively laidback – usually a smallish combo mode, with piano and guitar providing ... CD (Jazz CD)
Wire
Issue 411 – May 2018Wire, 2018.
That's the great Larry Heard on the cover – aka Mr Fingers – one of the coolest forces in the early days of Chicago house, and a musician who's continued to soar to the cosmos in all the years since! The issue also has articles on vocalist Aisha Devi, electronic legend Doris Norton, ... Magazine (Magazine)
Louis Armstrong
Pops Is Tops – The Verve Studio Albums (I've Got The World On A String/Verve, 1957. 4CD
CD...$39.99
49.99
Louis Armstrong only recorded briefly as a solo act for the Verve label (apart from his famous recordings with Ella Fitzgerald) – but he made some excellent albums for the legendary imprint, all of which are included here with a huge amount of bonus tracks too! CD 1 features the great I've ... CD (Jazz CD)
Johan Lindstrom Septett
Music For Empty HallsMoserobie (Sweden), 2018.
A rich vision in sound from Johan Lindstrom – not just a guitarist, but a hell of a composer too – working here with an all-star group that features other great players on the Moserobie label! Yet despite that connection, the vibe here is very different than other Moserobie music ... CD (Jazz CD)
Fratello Joseph Bassi
Ciao Amore (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Albore Jazz (Japan), 2018.
A trio record without any drums – which allows for really great interplay between the bass of Fratello Joseph Bassi, the piano of Domenico Sanna, and tenor of Max Ionata! We're used to hearing Ionata in a more snapping sort of session, but he's maybe even more compelling here – carving ... CD (Jazz CD)
Allison Silver, Steven Heller
20th Century Alcohol & Tobacco Ads – 100 Years Of Stimulating AdsTaschen, Book
Book...$30.99
40.00
The world of vice never looked so beautiful before – spun out over hundreds of pages filled with vintage images from advertisements for cigarettes and booze! The book is as lovely inside as it is on the cover – filled with a huge array of well-chosen images, all in color throughout ... Book (Book)
Tim Maia
Disco ClubAtlantic/Mr Bongo (UK), 1978.
CD...$10.99
11.98
Not the throwaway disco you might expect – and instead, an excellent album in the 70s run of Brazilian soul giant Tim Maia – and one that provides a bit of a link to the legacy of his nephew Ed Motta in later years! The album's filled with uptempo tunes – as you'd expect from the ... CD (Brazil CD)
Nick Finzer
No ArrivalPosi tone, 2018.
CD...$11.99
15.99
Trombonist Nick Finzer's got a round, warm sound throughout – a well-blown approach to his instrument that comes on with all the rich colors of a classic player like Curtis Fuller or JJ Johnson! Yet there's also a freshness to the record, too – partly because Nick wrote about half the ... CD (Jazz CD)
Blue Mitchell
Last Tango = BluesMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973.
No tango here – just a great batch of hard, funky, trumpet-heavy groovers – all in the best early 70s Blue Mitchell mode! The album's easily one of Blue's best from the time – and although the tracks are a bit short, they're put together in a way that dovetails nicely with his ... CD (Jazz CD)
Teo Usuelli
La Rivoluzione Sessuale (with bonus tracks)Beat (Italy), 1968.
A sensual soundtrack for the sensual revolution – presented here with a nice balance between dreamy numbers and groovier tunes! Some of the music here actually uses woodwinds in almost a chamber-style mode, while others bring in more of the 60s electric elements you'd expect – but ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Mayuzumi Toshi
Only On MondaysSuper Fuji Discs (Japan), 1964.
A very cool mix of music – served up here on a soundtrack CD that's almost like having an audio version of a movie! The songs are all relatively short, and are the mix of jazz and lighter melodies that you might find in an early 60s Italian soundtrack – perfect music for the ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
SSJ (Japan), 1972.
Quite an unusual trio date from the legendary pianist Bill Evans – a set that has him working in a trio with frequent (and wonderful) partner Eddie Gomez on bass – but one that also includes the very surprising inclusion of Tony Oxley on drums! Oxley's a name you'll know best for his ... CD (Jazz CD)
Bulk, 2018.
CD...$10.99
11.99
The triumphant return of Dr Octagon – finally a worthy follow-up to the Dr Octagon/Dr Octagonecologyst album, one of the most influential hip hop LPs ever – we can't imagine Madvillian and so many other other willfully out there rap classics would've happened without it! Keith's ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Harold McNair
Affectionate FinkIsland/Monkey Dog (Germany), 1965.
An incredible record from reedman Harold McNair – one of the key Jamaican jazz players who hit the London scene in the same post-colonial wave as Joe Harriott and Shake Keane – and maybe our favorite of the bunch! Harold's a hell of a talent on both tenor and flute – and although ... CD (Jazz CD)
Matador Soul Sounds
Get Ready (colored vinyl – with bonus download)Color Red, 2018.
LP...$19.99
21.98
Heavy sounds from this deep funk supergroup – a killer sextet that features Alan Evans of Soulive on drums, Eddie Roberts of New Mastersounds on guitar, as well as members of Pimps Of Joytime and Orgone! The group sports two female singers – Kim Dawson and Adryon De Leon – both ... LP, Vinyl record album (Deep Funk LP)
Sun Ra
Of Abstract DreamsStrut (UK), Mid 70s.
A fantastic album from Sun Ra and the Arkestra – one that we'd rank right up there with our favorites on the Saturn Records label! The work here has never been issued, and it's extremely beautiful, too – pulled from a few just-discovered studio sessions done after the group was parting ... CD (Jazz CD)
Piotr Wylezol
Human ThingsPolskie Nagrania (Poland), 2018.
Maybe the first we've ever heard of Piotr Wylezol – a Polish pianist, and a great songwriter too – one who creates these beautiful little pictures in sound, which are then opened up by the musicians in his group! The lineup here is great – as colorful as the songs themselves ... CD (Jazz CD)
Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Soundprints
ScandalGreenleaf, 2018.
CD...$12.99
13.99
A beautiful collaboration between trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joe Lovano – a record that has both musicians really hitting the heights of their creative powers! Dave's got this angular, edgey feel that takes us back to his earlier records – not that we haven't liked his ... CD (Jazz CD)
Dario Carnovale/
Untitled (Japanese paper sleeve edition)
Albore Jazz (Japan), 2018. Gatefold
A record without any title, but more than enough energy to brilliantly state itself – thanks to magical interplay from the trio of Dario Carnovale on piano, Alessandro Turchet on bass, and Luca Colussi on drums! And yes, the format is one that you're certainly familiar with – but this ... CD (Jazz CD)
Quincy Jones
Walk, Don't RunMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1966.
A wonderful soundtrack from the great Quincy Jones – one that's maybe not as well-known as his albums for Mercury at the time, but which is maybe even groovier! There's loads of great elements going on in the music – a bit of whistling from Toots Thielemans at times, some wordless ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
David Bowie
Changes TwoParlophone, 1981.
CD...$13.99
14.99
The second great entry in the Changes series from David Bowie – and, like the first, a well-chosen array of tracks that really get at his creative genius as a pop star – which includes a few great titles from his post-Berlin years! The set does a great job of spanning the 70s – ... CD (Rock CD)
Lyrichord/Psychic Sounds, Late 50s. (reissue)
Not the famous Divine Horsemen group from the LA scene, but instead a landmark set of recordings from Haiti – originally captured on tape by avant filmmaker Maya Deren, and issued here in an album that went on to have a surprisingly huge impact over the years! For folks in the postwar years, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Babla
Babla's Disco SensationSubah Zindagi (UK), Early 80s.
A definite disco sensation from Babla – a singer who refits older Indian film songs with new club grooves for the 80s – definitely very much in the mode that's promised by the title! The set features older songs by Shankhar Jakishan, Kalyanji Anadji, and Hemant Kumar – plus a few ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Leon's Creation
This Is The BeginningStudio 10/Acid Jazz (UK), 1970. (reissue)
A rare album of funky soul from the Bay Area scene at the start of the 70s – and a set that's every bit as righteous as you might expect from the cover! The group's the creation of singer/keyboardist/arranger Leon Pattillo – hence the name – and you might know Leon from his later ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Workshop De Lyon
50th Anniversary (Inter Frequencies/Bisou/Souffle Continu (France), 1970s/1980s/Early 90s. 6CD
A huge testament to the genius of this important French free jazz ensemble – a group who were already quite different than the rest at the start, then only grew into more compelling modes as the years went on! The core trio here that drives all the performances is Maurice Merle on saxes, ... CD (Jazz CD)
Elektra, 1967. 4CD, DVD & LP set (reissue)
CD...$92.99
99.99
What can we say? This is one of the greatest albums of all time! The record's got a sound that's completely unique – as crack LA garage punk rock meets Hollywood baroque production, and the result is an amazing bit of loud guitar noise backed by strings and horns, all graced by the godlike ... CD (Rock CD)
Stelvio Cipriani
Rage (Fuoco Incrociato) (with bonus tracks)Cinevox/Digitmovies (Italy), 1984.
Stelvio Cipriani works here in a mode that's maybe a bit more string-heavy than some of his 70s work – but still used with that great sense of compression and space that always makes his music so wonderful! Unlike some other Italian soundtracks of 80s vintage, this one really has the sense ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Culture Power 45, 2018.
The second full length compilation LP from the Chicago-centric (but not exclusive) Culture Power 45 collective – and not a simple assortment of solo or group tracks, but filled with heavy collaborative tracks by an incredible roster – including Dug Infinite, Thaione Davis, Primeridian, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop LP)
Soulive, 2018.
LP...$18.99
19.99
The cover here is a bit different than usual for a Soulive release, and the sound is a bit different too – as the trio definitely explore some of the cinematic funk modes promised in the title! The drums are heavy and the keyboards are warm, but there's also modes here that go back farther ... LP, Vinyl record album (Deep Funk LP)
Yusef Lateef
Live At Ronnie Scotts – 15th January 1966Gearbox (UK), 1966.
CD...$11.99
12.99
A fantastic lost slice of work from reedman Yusef Lateef – a performance recorded at the legendary Ronnie Scott's club in London, with backing from a trio that features the wonderful Stan Tracey! Tracey was a committed modernist who really helped shape the sound of the UK scene at the time ... CD (Jazz CD)
Soul Jazz (UK), 1970s/Early 80s. 2CD
A much-needed look at the incredible German music scene of the 70s – a sprawling landscape of prog, fusion, electronics, and more – all put together beautifully here with the usual completeness we've come to expect from Soul Jazz! Many of the names are familiar – the sorts you've ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Cheek To Cheek – The Complete Duet Recordings (4CD set)Verve, Late 40s/1950s. 4CD
CD...$44.99
49.99
A really great little collection – one that not only includes the famous Verve albums that Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong recorded together – but also some earlier material for Decca Records, some singles, live tracks, and other rare items as well! At first glance, the pairing of ... CD (Vocalists CD)
People
Ceremony – Buddah Meet RockTeichiku (Japan), 1971. (reissue)
Quite a weird little record – part psychedelia, but with some really rootsy elements – and also some odd use of recorded music as well! The sound here is really mindblowing – experimental and trippy, but never too free or over the top – and the core instrumentation includes ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Fumio Itabashi
NatureBetter Days/Mule Musiq (Germany), 1979. (reissue)
Brilliantly buoyant piano work from Fumio Itabashi – caught here at the height of his 70s powers! Fumio's playing acoustic keys on the set, but he definitely draws some inspiration from the electric generation – creating a wonderful sense of flow that really takes off throughout the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Nazia Hassan
Disco DeewaneSubah Zindagi (UK), 1981.
A disco album with a difference – given that the set was recorded in London by young Pakistani singer Nazia Hassan, and produced and arranged by Biddu – the man who gave the world the famous Biddu Orchestra records in the 70s! There's definitely grooves here that reflect Biddu's other ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Tramp (Germany), Late 50s/1960s/Early 70s.
Heavy tracks from a variety of rare singles – most of which appear here on a full length collection for the first time ever! The Movements series has been going for many volumes now, and it never fails to amaze us – as the music is not only wonderful, but also served up at a level that ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Cassandra Wilson
5 Original Albums (Blue Light Til Dawn/Blue Note/Universal (Germany), 1990s/Early 2000s. 5CD
Five full Blue Note albums from singer Cassandra Wilson – all packaged here in tiny LP-styled sleeves! First up is Blue Light Til Dawn – a beautiful early album from Cassandra Wilson – a singer who already had a really deep sound, right at the start – and definitely hit her ... CD (Vocalists CD)
Omnivore, 1996.
CD...$15.99
16.99
A pair of rare later moments from Sandy Bull – the revolutionary guitarist who made some amazing records in the 60s! Steel Tears is from the mid 90s – a record that has Sandy Bull very firmly established in the Nashville scene, after making his big early waves on the west coast. The ... CD (Folk/Country CD)
BBE (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s.
CD...$16.99
19.99
A fantastic collection of Ethiopian funk – rare singles from the late 60s and early 70s – all brought together as an amazing illustration of a time when the scene was really on fire! The music here has this incredible resonance between ancient and modern – local and global – ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Riz Ortolani
Una Ragione Per Vivere E Una Per MorireDigitmovies (Italy), 1972.
A great early 70s western score by Riz Ortolani! Una Ragione Per Vivere E Una Per Morire is crafted with a slightly different feel than usual for the time – almost more straight dramatic than the some of the seedier Italian western sounds of the period, with shimmering orchestral passages ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Orquesta Akokan
Orquesta AkokanDaptone, 2018.
A record that may well single-handedly mark the huge shift in American/Cuban relations in years to come – as the set's a tremendous project between the New York forces of Daptone Records, and the overlooked genius of the younger scene in Havana! Make no mistake, this isn't your usual Daptone ... CD (Latin CD)
Bobby Shad & The Bad Men
Bobby Shad & The Bad MenMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
The only album to ever credit producer Bob Shad as a leader – even though the man had been behind so many famous records on labels that include Mainstream, Time, and Mercury! This set has Shad taking the hip vibe of the Mainstream label to the forefront – mixing funky jazz and trippier ... CD (Jazz CD)
Archie Bell & The Drells
Dance Your Troubles AwayTSOP/Sony (Japan), 1975.
Although Archie Bell & The Drells had recorded earlier with Gamble & Huff on Atlantic, this is their first album for the team's own label – and it's a killer! In a way, Archie and group were sort of responsible for getting Gamble & Huff their own famous imprint in the first place ... CD (Soul CD)
Renee Rosnes
Beloved Of The SkySmoke Sessions, 2018. 2LP Gatefold
LP...$37.99
39.98
Pianist Renee Rosnes blows us away once again – returning to work with in a very similar mode as the one she used on her last album for the Smoke Sessions label – which was a real revelation, and a set that had us falling in love with Renee's music all over again! If anything, the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Four Flies (Italy), Late 60s/1970s.
Freaky funk from the Italian scene – exactly the kind of grooves that will open your ears if you think that funky sounds can only come from American soul bands or jazz musicians! The music here is filled with heavy drums, tight basslines, and lots of other groovy instrumental touches – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks LP)
Acid Jazz (UK), Late 60s.
20 killer tracks, and a set that goes way beyond most other collections of UK mod music on the market – as this series really digs deep, and gets far past some of the overdone 60s numbers that are more in the oldies market than the true mod blend of rock and soul! The series was started ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Freddie Hubbard
Goin' UpBlue Note (Japan), 1960.
A real burner from Freddie Hubbard's early years at Blue Note – filled with rich hues, colors, and tones! The group's a quintet – supported by lyrical rhythms from the trio of McCoy Tyner on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums – working alongside Freddie's ... CD (Jazz CD)
Four Flies (Italy), Late 60s/1970s.
Sunny grooves with a fantastic sound – music that echoes some of our favorite Italian soundtracks of the 60s and 70s – but most of it previously unreleased! The work here is from undertapped sources of the period – not some of the oft-compiled songs from the Italian ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks LP)
Spectral (Dave Rempis/
Empty Castles
Aerophonic, 2018.
A beautiful triangulation of horns from the Spectral Trio – working here on their second album, with a mighty nice lineup that features Larry Ochs on tenor and sopranino, Dave Rempis on alto and baritone, and Darren Johnston on trumpet! The sound here feels more focused on textures than ... CD (Jazz CD)
Apostles
Banko WomanPMG (Austria), 1977.
The Apostles are nice and groovy here – working in this offbeat way that combines upbeat cuts with some unusual mellower numbers – but all at a level that really keeps things interesting throughout! These guys can clearly move with the groove and hit some sharp funky instrumentation at ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Kalyanji Anandji
Muqaddar Ka SikandarSubah Zindagi (UK), Mid 70s.
A great little Bollywood soundtrack by one of key composers of the genre – and one that's still got all the right sort of elements you might expect! There's some really great upbeat tracks – nice groovers that even get a bit funky at times – and which have a few cool instrumental ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Gunesh
GuneshEverland (Austria), 1980.
Gunesh might look a bit unusual on the cover – like some crazy mountain folk who've somehow gotten ahold of band instruments – but on the album, they've got this tight funky sound that's mighty nice – yet which is also still as unusual as their look! The instrumentation is jazz ... CD (Jazz CD)
Lisa Stansfield
DeeperEar Music, 2018.
CD...$15.99
16.99
It may be years since Lisa Stansfield last topped the charts – but the singer's lost none of her charm, and is still completely at the top of her game – as you'll discover in this wonderfully grooving set! At some level, it's as if nothing has changed at all – the rhythms are ... CD (Soul CD)
Z Records (UK), Late 70s. 2CD
Don't think "fusion" as in the usual electric mode of the jazz genre – think instead of the kind of cool cuts that mix together a few different modes – Brazilian and funky, vocal and groovy, modal and Latin – all of which you'll hear in this great little set! The ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Makaya McCraven
Highly RareInternational Anthem/P-Vine (Japan), 2017.
Raw sounds from the Chicago scene – a mighty nice performance from the group of drummer Makaya McCraven – captured on four track cassette at the tiny Danny's Tavern! The setting and recording style really works with the approach of the group – as Makaya's drums are nice and loud ... CD (Jazz CD)
David Grubbs
Now That The Audience Is AssembledDuke University Press, 2018.
Book...$13.99
19.99
A beautiful book-length prose poem from David Grubbs – an artist that some know as a musician, some as a singer, and some as a writer for his previous essential volume on improvised music! The book is very narrative – and tells this dream-like story of a musician faced with the need to ... Book (Book)
Edu Passeto & Gui Tavares
Noite Que Brincou De Lua (180 gram pressing)Amendoim/Far Out (UK), 1981. (reissue)
A Brazilian duo with a really wonderful sound – one that manages to merge acoustic instrumentation, vocal harmonies, and some light electric touches – all with a sound that's both jazzy and folksy at the same time! Edu Passeto and Gui Tavares have this unique vibe that maybe reminds us ... LP, Vinyl record album (Brazil LP)
Joe Moks
Boys & GirlsPMG (Austria), 1979.
The music of Joe Moks has a nice sing-song feel here – a vibe that's almost more reggae than you'd expect from her Nigerian roots – but with an offbeat style that's also not like anything that might have come from Kingston! Instead, the groove here feels a bit like when American or ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
PMG (Austria), 1975.
The fantastic first album from The Funkees – a Nigerian group, but one who also spent a good deal of time on the London scene – and who work here in a freaky, fuzzy, funky style that we might put somewhere in the same space as music by Demon Fuzz or Cymande! Like both of those groups, ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Percy Faith
Disco Party (with bonus track)CBS/Sony (Japan), 1975.
A sweet little disco party from Percy Faith – a man who cut some pretty sleepy records in the 60s, but really managed to open up his groove in the 70s! The whole thing's maybe the same disco take on older instrumental styles that Henry Mancini would cut a bit during the period, too – ... CD (Now Sound CD)
Ernie Hawks & The Soul Investigators
Scorpio ManTimmion (Finland), 2018.
Ernie Hawks looks right out of the 70s on the cover – with his long hair, fringe jacket, and fiercely-held flute – which he mixes here with some great grooves from the Soul Investigators, in a vibe that's maybe even better than classic! The album's all instrumental, and has this ... CD (Deep Funk CD)
Matt Piet & His Disorganization
Rummage OutClean Feed (Portugal), 2018.
A strong group statement from Chicago pianist Matt Piet – a newer player on the city's improvising scene, but one who's already making his presence known – lined up here beautifully with heavyweights Josh Berman on cornet, Nick Mazzarella on alto, and Tim Daisy on drums and percussion! ... CD (Jazz CD)
Shelly Manne
MannekindMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
An incredible album – unlike anything else that Shelly Manne recorded! The record features Shelly getting all dope and mellow, sliding around on the kit in a kickback set of complex drum fills and percussion effects – with lots of unusual rhythms you never would have heard on his ... CD (Jazz CD)
Pierre Schaeffer & Groupe De Recherches Musicales
Musique ExperimentaleCacophonic (UK), 1962. (reissue)
Groundbreaking work from the French scene of the postwar years – easily one of the most important places to put the word "experiment" in experimental music! The sounds here really live up to the promise of the title – really revolutionary explosions in sound from musicians ... LP, Vinyl record album (Out Sound LP)
James Burton
James Burton (Japanese paper sleeve edition)A&M/Universal (Japan), 1971.
James Burton gave his guitar talents to many over the years – but here he stands strongly in the lead – on a cool set of instrumentals issued at the start of the 70s by A&M! The album's a bit unusual for the label at the time – as it was recorded in Nashville, with production ... CD (Rock CD)
Neil Ardley's New Jazz Orchestra
On The Radio – BBC Sessions 1971Dusk Fire/BBC (UK), 1971.
Fantastic live recordings from the legendary New Jazz Orchestra of Neil Ardley – a key force that united the worlds of British avant jazz and rock at the start of the 70s – but with a style that leaned a lot more towards the world of the former overall! Many of these players are ... CD (Jazz CD)
Heavenly Sweetness (France), 2018. 2CD
A beautiful celebration of the first ten years of Heavenly Sweetness – a fantastic French record label that's not only given us spiritual jazz from giants of the 70s, but also opened our ears to both new sounds from contemporary artists, and a wide array of rhythms from around the globe! All ... CD (New Grooves CD)
Tom Verlaine
Cover (with bonus tracks)Elektra/Wounded Bird, 1984.
CD...$10.99
11.99
A great little album that's still very much in the best mode of Tom Verlaine's early solo years – just the kind of set that will come as a discovery to folks who maybe didn't realize how much Verlaine's music had an influence on underground sounds for years to come! The production, guitar ... CD (Rock CD)
Mauricio Smith
Bitter AcidMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1967.
A killer album of hard instrumental Latin soul tracks – one of the few albums ever done by funky reed player Mauricio Smith! On the set, Smith plays flute, alto, and soprano sax – and the record's filled with short little groovers that have a nice choppy sound, and lots of heavy conga ... CD (Latin CD)
Various
Eccentric Soul – The Saru LabelNumero, Late 60s/Early 70s.
CD...$11.99
14.98
A great look at an obscure indie soul label from the Cleveland scene at the end of the 60s – and a company that's definitely a cut above, given that it released some early O'Jays singles in the years before their crossover fame in the 70s – and members of that group also wrote a fair ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Randy & The Randies
Randy & The RandiesMississippi, Early 80s.
Maybe the complete work of Randy & The Randies – a set that includes a few live tracks, rare singles, and even their songs for the soundtrack of the Beauty film from 1982! These guys hail from the Pacific Northwest, and have a sound that's even rougher and more ragged than some of the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Roxy Coss
Future Is FemalePosi tone, 2018.
CD...$11.99
15.99
Roxy Coss's second album as a leader for the Posi-Tone label – and it's her strongest to date, both by design and in performance! Where her Chasing The Unicorn album set up a whimsical sensibility, this one obliviously sets up a tone of strength and determination – undercurrents of all ... CD (Jazz CD)
Gilberto Gil, Nando Reis, & Gal Costa
Trinca De AsesBiscoito Fino (Brazil), 2018. 2CD
Three Brazilian musical giants – all coming together in a live setting – and presented in a way that reminds us of some of the great collaborative MPB projects of the 70s! All three artists participate vocally – taking verses alone and together, and frequently trading lines or ... CD (Brazil CD)
Spacemen 3
Dream Weapon (with download)Superior Viaduct, Late 80s. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)
One of the most amazing albums ever from Spacemen 3 – and maybe the one in which they really hit their core potential! The group's previous records had all been great – and introduced a whole new level of fuzz and echo to the late 80s indie scene – but this set has the group ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Steve Khan
Public Access/GRP/BGO (UK), Late 80s/Early 90s. 2CD
A trio of later albums from a guitarist who first rose to fame in the 70s! First up is Public Access – a record that's got a slightly goofy cover, but a sound that's much richer than you might expect – thanks in part to great work on the album from percussionist Manolo Badrena! Some ... CD (Jazz CD)
Gizelle Smith
Ruthless DayJalapeno (Spain), 2018.
Gizelle Smith got caught in the rain on the cover – but you'd hardly know that, given the sunny, upbeat vibe of the album! Smith's a singer who's been bubbling under for years, and this sweet little set may be the one that breaks her out to the big time – as the album has her going ... LP, Vinyl record album (Deep Funk LP)
Moraes Moreira
Moraes MoreiraSom Livre (Brazil), 1975.
Some of the coolest work we've ever heard from Moraes Moreira – a really unique hybrid of styles that includes samba soul, jazzy funk, and other Brazilian modes from the 70s – all wrapped up into a beautifully fresh and personal approach! There's elements here that would please any fan ... CD (Brazil CD)
Mississippi, 1960s. (reissue)
Weird guitars from around the globe – served up by a host of artists who work in the same instrumental territory as American groups like The Ventures or Surfaris – but who have a much stranger sound overall! There's a number of tracks on here from postwar Japan – a great scene ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Cortex
Avant Garde Party MusicClean Feed (Portugal), 2018.
The title might be a bit goofy, but it's actually a pretty great way to sum up the spirit of this group – as the contemporary Cortex come from avant roots, but also have a vibrancy that makes their music sound more celebratory than confrontational! The quartet features endlessly creative ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Evan Parker/
Music For David Mossman – Live At Vortex London
Intakt (Switzerland), 2018.
CD...$18.99
19.99
Great work from a really well-matched trio of players – a group who remind us yet again that age has no limits in the world of improvised music! In fact, it may well be the maturity of these musicians that makes the whole thing work so well – as the balance between individual identity ... CD (Jazz CD)
Mingering Mike/
Mingering Mike – The Amazing Career Of An Imaginary Soul Superstar
Princeton Architectural Press, 2007.
Book...$7.99
24.95
An incredible document of the legendary Mingering Mike – the self-styled 70s soul superstar who never recorded any music, but created a huge body of work on hand-drawn record sleeves and 45s! Mike's story has been told briefly before in Wax Poetics, but this book really gets to the full ... Book (Book)
Edmony Krater
An Ka SonjeHeavenly Sweetness (France), 2018.
The first album in many years from Edmondy Krater – an overlooked musical genius from the scene in Guadeloupe – and one who maybe sounds better here than ever before! Krater's always had an ear for blending jazz with some of the more recent currents of the island – but that ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Beverly Glenn-Copeland
Beverly Glenn-CopelandSuper Sonic Jazz (Netherlands), 1970. Gatefold (reissue)
An underground classic from Beverly Glenn-Copeland – an artist who was later known more as a keyboard player, but who here works in this amazing blend of folk, jazz, and soul! The album's vaguely in the territory of Terry Callier on early 70s Cadet Records, but also has its own special vibe ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Tompkins Square, Mid 70s.
Beautiful sounds from the Entourage ensemble – a group who were years ahead of their time, but hardly got recognized in the 70s – because all of their work was issued on the Folkways label! In some ways, the group grew out of two different strands – both the acoustic underground ... LP, Vinyl record album (Out Sound LP)
Danny Offia & The Friks
Funk With MePMG (Austria), Early 80s.
An early 80s set from the Lagos scene – and one that's about as far from the Afro Funk sound of the 70s as that city is from New York! Instead of full-on ensemble styles, Danny Offia has this nice lean groove – basslines that bump with a wickedly catchy sound, laced with keyboard solos ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Yamandu Costa & Renato Borghetti
Borghetti Yamandu – O FilmeEstacao (Brazil), 2018.
A record as vivid as its cover – a beautiful collaboration between 7-string guitarist Yamandu Costa and Renato Borghetti – who plays the gaita ponto, an accordion that's used here in ways that echo both Brazilian and European modes – but which also open up in special tones ... CD (Brazil CD)
Sonia Santos
CrioulaSom Livre/Discobertas (Brazil), 1977.
A sweet 70s set from Sonia Santos – a Brazilian singer who works here in samba with a touch of jazz – all recorded together in an approach that combines the best 70s studio modes for both styles! Percussion at the bottom is mixed with keyboards from Edson Frederico, and some occasional ... CD (Brazil CD)
Deva Mahal
Run DeepMotema, 2018.
CD...$11.99
14.99
The first full album from Deva Mahal – a relatively young singer, but one who comes across with a power that makes us think that she's been recording for years! Deva's definitely got a contemporary soul approach, but works with a rasp in her vocals that's a bit blues-influenced too – ... CD (Neo Soul CD)
Antonio Zambuju
Ate Pensei Que Fosse MinhaSom Livre (Brazil), 2018.
The songs of Chico Buarque live anew in a wonderful setting – given a completely different interpretation here by singer Antonio Zambujo, even on a track that features guest work from Chico himself! The music is a blend of acoustic guitar, percussion, and some jazzier elements – ... CD (Brazil CD)
Bernard Estardy
Bernard Estardy's Space Oddities 1970 to 1982Born Bad (France), 1970s/Early 80s.
Fantastic sounds from an unsung French music hero – sonic genius Bernard Estardy, whose talents mostly lay behind the studio window, where he worked magic with some of the best French singers of the 60s through the 90s! Yet during that time, Estardy was also recording some very cool cuts of ... CD (Sound Library CD)
Miracles
MiraclesColumbia (Japan), 1978.
An overlooked groover from The Miracles – a late 70s set for Columbia Records, and one that's got a sparkling sound throughout! The album really has the group hitting some great modern soul modes for the set – arrangements by David Foster that push them forward even more, and which ... CD (Soul CD)
Cut Chemist
Die Cut (with download)A Stable Sound, 2018. 2LP Gatefold
LP...$26.99
29.99
A modern classic from the legendary Cut Chemist – delivering on his reputation as a true school/blueprint era hip hop torch carrier while transcending it at the same time! You've got to expect that anything Cut Chemist produces, remixes, or applies his DJ skills to will be a rewarding aural ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop LP)
Terumasa Hino
Snake Hips EP – On The Corner/Super Fuji Discs (Japan), 1969. (pic cover)
A fantastic little record – some of the earliest funk work we've ever heard from the legendary Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino – featured here on two tracks for the soundtrack of Snake Hip! First up is "On The Corner" – a tune that's got lots of heavy electric piano in ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's 7-inch)
Philly Groove/Music On Vinyl (UK), 1968. (reissue)
A landmark album in harmony soul – one of those records that pushed the genre to a whole new level! The Delfonics emerge fully formed here as one of the most compelling groups of their time – a tremendous trio with a really unique approach to soul music – one that's heartfelt and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Batteaux
BatteauxColumbia/Be With (UK), 1973. (reissue)
An overlooked gem from the 70s – the one and only album from Batteaux, a group who do a great job of mixing older folksy soul modes with some tighter 70s production! David and Robin Beatteau are the core of the group – and work in this sing-song blend of vocals and acoustic guitar that' ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips – At Onkel PO's Carnegie Hall Hamburg 1978Jazz Line (Germany), 1978. 2CD
Esther Phillips might be best known for her studio records in the 70s – that great line of classics she recorded for the Kudu Records label – but she's completely on fire here in a live setting, where she stretches out even more than usual – and really reminds us of her genius! ... CD (Soul CD)
Czarface & MF Doom
Czarface Meets Metal FaceSilver Age, 2018.
The Czarface team of Wu-Tang veteran Inspectah Deck and Boston underground hip hop heavyweights 7L & Esoteric are joined by the one-and-only MF Doom – a bonafide supergroup – and one of the finest comic book/sci-fi rap records since Madvillainy! Each one of these characters is so ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Karl Henrik Ousback
Somewhere & SomewhenNightingale (Sweden), 2018.
This might be the first we've heard as a leader from drummer Karl Henrik Ousback – but he's already won us over strongly with his crackling sense of energy on the set! In some way, Ousback's almost working in a Jazz Messengers mode of the modern Swedish scene – as his group features ... CD (Jazz CD)
Jazz Line (Germany), 1978. 2CD
The only thing better than small combo work from Dizzy Gillespie is live small combo work from Dizzy Gillespie – as the legendary trumpeter really takes off in a concert setting! This excellent German set from the late 70s is a great case in point – as the tracks are long and flowing, ... CD (Jazz CD)
Sidewalk Chalk
Orchid Is Born (colored vinyl – with download)Sidewalk Chalk, 2018. 2LP
LP...$28.99
29.99
Soaring hip hop soul from Chicago! An Orchid Is Born finds the group confidently covering a lotta territory in a great batch of songs that roll from timeless live band hip hop to jazzy soul, and the pair of lead vocalists – Maggie Vale and Rico Sisney – bring both lyrical and stylistic ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop LP)
Funk To The Max (Netherlands), 1976. Gatefold
Vintage live recordings by George Clinton and his mighty P-Funk empire in the mid 70s – rehearsal sessions for the famous P-Funk Earth Tour – recorded in an airplane hanger in upstate New York! The sound is incredibly crisp and vibrant – these aren't sloppy rehearsal moments, but ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Fat Possum, 2018. Gatefold
LP...$16.99
19.99
A pretty great little collection – put together by Memphis music expert Robert Gordon in support of his book of the same name! The sounds here aren't overdone Memphis cliches – no Elvis hits or Stax Records standards – and instead, the record showcases those criss-crossing modes ... LP, Vinyl record album (Blues LP)
Martin Kuchen & Landaeus Trio
Vinyl (Four Lamentations & One Wicked Dream Of Innocence/Moserobie (Sweden), 2016.
A special CD dedicated to previous vinyl – as the disc features both vinyl-only albums by saxophonist Martin Kuchen – issued in very limited amounts for Record Store Day events! First up is Four Lamentations & One Wicked Dream Of Innocence – beautifully blue-tinged work from ... CD (Jazz CD)
Serge Gainsbourg & Jean Claude Vannier
Les Chemins De KatmandouFinders Keepers (UK), 1969. (reissue)
A lost chapter in the legendary legacy of music from the team of Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier – the pair who created Serge's fantastic Melody Nelson album, and also did the funky soundtracks for the films Cannabis, La Horse, and Sex Shop! This set is every bit as groovy as those ... LP, Vinyl record album (French LP)
Hampshire & Foat
HoneybearAthens Of The North (UK), 2018.
The team of Warren Hampshire and Greg Foat have already given us some amazing music on record – but this strangely-titled set may well be their crowning achievement so far! The set's got kind of a creepy look and feel – and a layout that replicates some of the more sophisticated UK ... CD (Jazz CD)
Baba Brooks & Others
Gay Feet Every Night – Featuring Baba Brooks and his BandDoctor Bird/Dub Store (Japan), 1966. (reissue)
LP...$23.99
24.98
Raw grooves from the Jamaican scene of the pre-reggae years – served up here in a blend of early ska, jump up soul, and other jazzy styles of the time – all handled by Sonia Pottinger, who was the first female producer on the Kingston scene! There's a nice mix of modes going on here, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae LP)
Jazz Line (Germany), 1981. 2LP Gatefold
Full-on power from drummer Elvin Jones – really opening up here on the kind of super-extended live tracks that he only ever seemed to record overseas! The concert has Jones leading a fantastic group – with twin saxes from Carter Jefferson and Duane Armstrong, bold piano from Fumio ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Shacks
HazeBig Crown, 2018. 2CD
The Shacks really seem to have found their sound here – balancing the sometimes-sweet vocals of Shannon Wise with a grittier edge in the music – not entirely garagey, but also never too overproduced! There's almost an 80s indie vibe going on here in the presentation – a group who ... CD (Rock CD)
Hailu Mergia
Lala BeluAwesome Tapes From Africa, 2018.
CD...$11.99
14.98
The first record in many years from Ethiopian keyboardist Hailu Mergia – and a set that we actually like even better than his earlier work! This album's more jazz than some of the previous efforts – performed in a trio with bass and drums by players who often make things tightly ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Harold McKinney
Voices & Rhythms Of The Creative ProfileTribe, 1974. (reissue)
One of the most righteous albums ever issued by the always-righteous Tribe Records label of Detroit – a really collective effort, one that features ensemble vocals and spiritual jazz – all pulled together by pianist Harold McKinney! The album showcases a group named Voices Of The ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Los Chicos Malos
Los Chicos Malos (180 gram pressing)Discos Fuentes/Vampi Soul (Spain), 1980. (reissue)
Los Chicos Malos look a bit folksy on the cover, but the sound of the album is anything but – and instead is a cool Colombian take on the best New York salsa modes of the 70s! The sound is clear and sharp throughout – on-fire tracks that are driven by plenty of percussion, and topped ... LP, Vinyl record album (Latin LP)
Lou Johnson
Sweet Southern Soul (180 gram pressing)Cotillion/Run Out Groove, 1969. (reissue)
LP...$23.99
25.98
An incredible bit of southern soul – and one of the few records ever by deep soul singer Lou Johnson! The masterpiece was recorded at the Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, at a time when the outfit was at the height of its powers – capturing Lou with a sweet-burning style that matches (if ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Takoma/Craft, 1960s/Early 70s.
A fantastic introduction to the world of acoustic sounds that were brewing deep in the American underground of the 60s – far from the scenes of standard folk, jazz, and rock – where some true pioneers would make music that would only get full appreciation in decades to come! This ... CD (Folk/Country CD)
B-Boy/Octave (Japan), 1988.
Maybe not the first full length album by a female MC, but a really well-remembered set from the early days – and one that hardly tries to go for any crossover modes at all! Instead, Sparky-D really keeps it live and close to the streets – beginning the set with an acapella track that ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Karl Berger
In A Moment – Music For Piano & StringsTzadik, 2018.
CD...$14.99
15.99
Really beautiful work from legendary jazz composer/musician Karl Berger – a set that's maybe more "serious" than some of his early material, and definitely fits the "music with" title of the set! Berger's playing piano here with a string sextet – bass, violin, two ... CD (Jazz CD)
Ellerine Harding
EllerineMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
Breathy, beautiful soul from Ellerine Harding – a lesser-known 70s singer, but one who managed to cut this great album for the Mainstream label! Like some of the other soul on Mainstream, the approach here is inflected with a bit of jazz – arrangements scored by Wade Marcus, and ... CD (Soul CD)
Soundway (UK), Mid 80s.
Sweet electro grooves from the South African scene of the 80s – funky, soulful sides that are quite different than some of the nation's sounds that were getting bigger global play at the time! The 80s was a time of great worldwide awareness of the political struggles of South Africa and its ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Starchild & The New Romantic
LanguageGhostly International, 2018.
Starchild here sings with a group called New Romantic – a really great name, given the 80s vibe of the set! Yet the music isn't the soft electro pop of the UK new romantics – as the groove here is more funky soul, but with a slightly sexy vibe – almost in the legacy of some of ... CD (Neo Soul CD)
I Am Other/Columbia, 2017.
The Neptunes & co.'s ever-evolving hip hop/electro pop creative outlet NERD is back with their best in years! NERD not only never ever really dies, they're also never ever to be dismissed as an occasional throwaway side project, and they never put out the same record twice. This one finds ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Thundercat with OG Ron C & The Chopstars
DrankBrainfeeder, 2018.
A chopped-up take on Thundercat's album Drunk – handled here by OG Ron & The Chopstars – who provide a surprisingly sensitive take on the music! The album's billed as "chopped not slopped" – and that claim definitely seems right – as the music here is mostly ... CD (New Grooves CD)
Arbee Stidham
Time For BluesMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
A really interesting setting for the vocals and guitar of bluesman Arbee Stidham – set up here in front of a larger ensemble led by Ernie Wilkins, who brings in some nice currents of funk and soul as well! The recording quality is quite faithful – Stidham's guitar is way out front of a ... CD (Blues CD)
Tuff Crew
Danger Zone (with bonus track)Octave (Japan), 1988.
Beat-heavy work from the Tuff Crew – a group who definitely live up to their name on the bottom end! Much of the work here is very drum machine-heavy – in a style that was maybe used more widely a few years before in hip hop, but which still gives this album by the group a nice sense ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Nat Birchall
Cosmic LanguageJazzman (UK), 2018.
The language of saxophonist Nat Birchall has always been pretty cosmic – but this time around, he seems to be reaching out even more – working on these long-spun tracks with a really unique quartet! The group features sublime work on harmonium from Adam Fairhall – an instrument ... CD (Jazz CD)
Crown Heights Affair
Dance Lady Dance/De-Lite/Robinsongs (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. 2CD
A trio of albums from Crown Heights Affair! First up is Dance Lady Dance – super-tight work from Crown Heights Affair – a group who've added in a bit of strings to their sound, but still have the same fantastic funky sound as their early work! The blend here is really a cut above so ... CD (Soul CD)
Hamilton De Holanda
Casa De Bituca – The Music Of Milton Nascimento (CD & DVD)Adventure Music, 2017. CD & DVD
We've always loved albums by Hamilton De Holanda – but here, it really feels like there's something different and special going on – maybe in part because the songs are all classics by Milton Nascimento, but also because there's this fantastic core energy of the group – which ... CD (Brazil CD)
Shorty Rogers
Jazz Waltz (180 gram pressing)Reprise/Pure Pleasure (UK), 1961. (reissue)
Don't think "waltz music", think "modal jazz" – because the version of jazz waltz that Shorty Rogers serves up here is a great precursor to the great grooves to come on the European scene – especially the work from the artists at MPS Records! Tunes all have this ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
T La Rock
Lyrical King (with bonus tracks)Octave (Japan), 1987.
A well-titled set from the lyrical king – the mighty T La Rock, one of the key mid 80s MCs who helped introduce a whole new level of sophistication to hip hop! T La Rock maybe never hit the heights of KRS-One, Rakim, or other contemporaries – but this set has all the sharp fire and ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Vicki Sue Robinson
Vicki Sue Robinson (with bonus tracks)RCA (Japan), 1976.
Full on disco from Vicki Sue Robinson – a bit crossover at times, but handled with a top-shelf approach all the way through! Maestro Warren Schatz produced and arranged the set – and the tunes have a smoothly grooving approach that really lets Vicki flow out nicely in advance of the ... CD (Soul CD)
Intruders
Energy Of LovePhiladelphia International/Intermusic (Spain), 1974.
A fantastic album from The Intruders – their last full record as a group, and a set that really shows all the growth they'd experienced as a harmony group in just a few short years! We love their early singles, and even their previous album for Philly International – but there's also ... CD (Soul CD)
Emotions
RejoiceColumbia (Japan), 1977.
A huge hit for both The Emotions and Maurice White – whose Kalimba Productions handled this album in the same hit mode they'd been using for Earth Wind & Fire! There's a polished, soaring bounce her that definitely shows the Earth Wind & Fire touch – and which takes the girls ... CD (Soul CD)
Philip Catherine
Selected Works 1974 to 1982 (September Man/Atlantic (France), 1970s/Early 80s. 5CD
A totally great collection of work from French guitarist Philip Catherine – a very unusual player on the European jazz scene of the 70s, and one with a style that's quite different than most of his American contemporaries! Catherine works in electric modes often, but usually with kind of an ... CD (Jazz CD)
Dezron Douglas
Soul Jazz (180 gram pressing)Venus (Japan), 2018.
Bassist Dezron Douglas is always a name we look for on a record – and although this set is one of the few he's ever given us as a leader, his playing and approach never let us down! For the set, Douglas revisits a number of older soul tracks, but in a way that's completely instrumental ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Sun Ra
Sun EmbassyRoaratorio, 1968/1969.
Rare late 60s material from the Sun Ra Arkestra – all recorded at their home turf in Philly at the time – in the very comfortable setting of the Sun Studios! The music here is really beautiful – different than some of the more freewheeling live performances of the period, and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Francis Lai
Love Story (with bonus tracks)Paramount/Quartet (Spain), 1970.
A soundtrack masterpiece from French maestro Francis Lai – a film score that's maybe even more globally famous than his work for A Man & A Woman! The style here is quite European, despite the American fame of the movie – and Lai has no trouble blending a sense of light melody with ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Tuff Crew
Back To Wreck Shop (with bonus tracks)Warlock/Octave (Japan), 1989.
The Tuff Crew burst out of the Philly scene with this overlooked gem from the end of the 80s – an album that may not be top of the history books, but which still has all the raw creative energy of those great indie years before the first big assault on hip hop by the major labels! The ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Secret (UK), 1983.
CD...$14.99
16.99
Plenty of sweet keyboards here, and a groove that's almost ahead of its time – a real precursor to some of the more sophisticated jazzy soul of the later part of the decade – handled here with great early 80s flair by the mighty Shakatak! The group almost sound like an early ... CD (Soul CD)
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Ban
Best Of Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm BandWarner/Varese, Late 60s.
CD...$13.99
14.99
Heavy funk from one of the coolest, grooviest bands on the LA scene at the end of the 60s – a freewheeling ensemble who were almost to that city what Sly & The Family Stone were to San Francisco! Yet unlike Sly Stone, Charles Wright was never as concerned with crossing over to the ... CD (Soul CD)
Martinho Da Vila
Alo Vila IsabeeeelSony (Brazil), 2018.
Still-tremendous work from one of the greatest voices in samba music – working here in a set that's filled with lively rhythms, and which also features a few younger guests in the spotlight as well! Martinho's voice is full of charm, with this raspy edge that belies his maturity – but ... CD (Brazil CD)
Favorite (France), Late 70s/Early 80s.
A decade's worth of slinky sounds from the French scene – a good number of which were recorded after the big disco boom years in the US – at a time when the European clubs kept things going with some fresh flavors of their own! The style here isn't as overtly disco as you might think ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Pharaway Sounds (Spain), Late 70s.
Funky disco from 70s Spain – a wonderful collection of upbeat, hard-grooving titles that owe plenty to the sound of New York and Philly – but which also have their own sort of groove too! There's elements here that take off from the early 70s Spanish rumba mode of blending flamenco ... CD (Latin CD)
Let's Dance/Still Music, Mid 80s.
A cool collection from the earliest years of the Chicago house music scene – a time when the city's grooves were maybe as beholden to the styles from overseas as they were the new vibe going on in the Windy City! Lots of these tracks have heavier beats than basslines, and almost reflect some ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Johan Graden
Olagenheter (180 gram pressing)Moserobie (Sweden), 2018. Gatefold
A fantastic debut album from pianist Johan Graden – stepping out here as a leader, at the beginning of what should be a fantastic career for years to come! Graden's both a composer and piano player, and he's working here with a style that's right up there with the best of the modern jazz ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Robbie Basho
Live In Forli – Italy 1982ESP, 1982.
A breathtakingly beautiful recording of the legendary Robbie Basho – and a much-needed addition to his too-small catalog of albums! Make no mistake, Basho has given us some key records over the years – but his genius was so deep, and his life was so short, it always feels like there ... CD (Folk/Country CD)
Thievery Corporation
Treasures From The TempleEighteenth Street Lounge, 2018.
Thievery Corporation go back to the vaults – and come up with a host of unusual material from the Temple Of I & I sessions! The music here is a great extension of the sound of that record – and includes unused tracks, remixes, and dubplates – all with the same collaborative ... CD (New Grooves CD)
If you're ever in Chicago, be sure to visit our Chicago record store!
1120 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Open 10am–8pm daily.
All the great stuff appears here at our online record store first — but if you shop locally, you'll also get a chance to handle the goods before you buy!
1120 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Open 10am–8pm daily.
All the great stuff appears here at our online record store first — but if you shop locally, you'll also get a chance to handle the goods before you buy!
We buy new and used LPs, 45s, vinyl records, and CDs
in the store from 11am–6pm daily. Feel free to stop by with used vinyl and sell or trade with us.We pay top prices for older jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, and other genres in good shape!
See why Dusty Groove is consistently rated one of Chicago's Best Record Stores!
We happily accept debit and credit cards!