Big music for a groovy weekend!
Atlantic (Japan), 1965. 2CD
Think you know the sound of Atlantic Records in the 60s? Think again – because this stunning series opens the vault to a huge amount of rare treasures from the legendary label! The package is amazing – and offers up rare tracks that were mostly only issued by Atlantic on singles ... CD (Soul)
Mainstream/Kent (UK), Early 70s.
CD...$11.99
18.99
Fantastic soul from Mainstream Records – an imprint that's normally best-known for their work in the field of jazz, but a label that also cut some killer soul singles in the early 70s! Mainstream soul artists almost never got a chance to record a full-length album – so over the years, ... CD (Soul)
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett Sings Bobby WomackAtlantic/Kent (UK), Late 60s.
CD...$14.99
19.99
Two of the hippest soul artists of the late 60s – coming together here for an incredible collection of work! Bobby Womack would explode into huge fame as a star in his own right at the end of the decade – but at the time of these recordings, he was mostly getting play as a songwriter ... CD (Soul)
Piero Piccioni
Puppet On A ChainSilva Screen, 1970. (reissue)
LP...$26.99
32.99
A very groovy action-based score from composer Piero Piccioni – one of his few non-Italian soundtracks from the time! The music was recorded in swinging London at the end of the 60s – and it's got a mod sound that's very groovy, with Hammond and horns and guitar and electric bass all ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks)
Detour (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s.
A fantastic collection of funky mod and psych tracks from the great Rob Bailey – the man who's steered us through a handful of other wonderful compilations over the years, and won our undying respect in the process! Rob's choices are quite far from the obvious – and are made up from a ... CD (Funky Compilations)
Matthew Shipp
Magnetism(s) (Magnetism – plus bonus tracks)Rogue Art (France), 1999/2016. 2CD
CD...$22.99
25.99
A very cool package – one that offers up two different slices of work from this very compelling trio! First up is a new remaster of the Magnetism album from 1999 – pianist Matthew Shipp at his most fragile – working with frequent partner William Parker on bass and reedman Rob ... CD (Jazz)
Ace (UK), Mid 60s.
LP...$22.99
26.99
A set that's every bit as wonderful as you'd guess from its title and cover – a killer package of all-girl rockers, and one that's filled with rare gems from the 60s! The material here is definitely a lot harder-hitting than more familiar girl group sounds of the 60s – as the tunes are ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Saturn/Cosmic Myth, 1965.
CD...$12.99
13.99
One of the most important Sun Ra albums from the early years of Saturn Records – a set that got a bit more circulation than some of his other records, and which shows the group really expanding their sonic range in a wonderful way! The title track takes up all of side one – and is this ... CD (Jazz)
Elektra/Ace (UK), 1963/1964.
CD...$11.99
18.99
A great two-fer – a pair of albums from the very cool Judy Henske – back to back on a single CD! First up is the self-titled Elektra debut from Judy Henske – an enigmatic 60s figure with a style that lie somewhere between jazz, blues, and folk! Given the mix, Henske was a ... CD (Folk/Country)
Esoteric (UK), 1969/1970.
Fantastic work from Colosseum – a pair of records that really stand out as completely unique hybrids from the British jazz rock years! Although Colosseum are probably best known as a progressive band, they certainly had plenty of jazz touches – and Valentyne Suite spawned the great ... CD (Rock)
Don Drummond
Don CosmicStudio One, Late 60s.
An incredible collection of work from one of the coolest musicians on the Jamaican scene in the 60s – the legendary Don Drummond – an artist who was schooled in jazz trombone, then went on to use the instrument as a surprisingly powerful force in ska, rocksteady, and reggae! This ... CD (Reggae)
Arthur Vint & Associates
Death Rides A HorseRopeadope, 2017.
CD...$8.99
13.99
The music of Ennio Morricone – completely recast into a jazz setting by drummer Arthur Vint and his associates! The project's maybe a bit like the famous John Zorn reworking of Ennio Morricone music from decades ago – but the approach here is more unified, and has as much ear for the ... CD (Jazz)
Pony Poindexter/
Exciting Jazz Of The Early 70s – The Unreleased Recordings 1968 to 1978 – Live At The Domicile (4CD set)
Enja (Germany), 1968/1972/1975/1978. 4CD
A wonderful collection of unreleased jazz recordings from the overseas scene – the kind of open-ended, freewheeling work that brings together American and European musicians in a style that's similar to some of the best albums on the MPS/Saba label! The first CD in the collection is ... CD (Jazz)
Larry Ochs Sax & Drumming Core
Wild Red YellowRogue Art (France), 2017.
CD...$14.99
16.99
Mighty wild sounds from reedman Larry Ochs – who plays some of his boldest sounds in years on both tenor and sopranino saxophones – really driven onwards by the burning energy of the group! The combo features this fierce mix of percussion and electronics, plus trumpet from Natsuki ... CD (Jazz)
Stanton Moore
With You In Mind – The Songs Of Allen ToussaintCool Green, 2017.
One of the most soul-based albums in years from drummer Stanton Moore – a set based around the classic songs of Allen Toussaint, and which features help from a whole host of Nola guest stars too! Tunes are tight, funky, and are a mix of vocal and instrumental numbers – with help from ... CD (Deep Funk)
Malamanya
MalamanyaSecret Stash, 2017.
A set recorded in Minneapolis, but done with a very classic Latin vibe – thanks to a no-nonsense recording style, and a tight combo that features lots of work on tres! The guitar-like instrument is used here to capture a vintage Afro Cuban vibe – a bit like some of the best recordings ... CD (Latin)
Timmy Thomas
Africano/Glades/Get On Down, 1977. (reissue)
12-inch...$12.99
14.98
"Africano" is one of the coolest cuts ever from the great Timmy Thomas – a tribal-styled groover, complete with congas to reference the title, and this wicked bassline that's almost blacksploitation in nature! Riffing guitars really set up the groove, and there's lots of cool ... 12-inch, Vinyl record (Soul)
Billy Ocean
Here You Are – The Music Of My LifeSony, Mid 80s/2017.
Billy Ocean sums up his roots, his early career, and his influences – in a set that's half new recordings, and half older classics from his first years on record! The set begins with "influence and inspiration" – great new recordings from Billy that feature his fresh takes on ... CD (Soul)
Group Home
Livin' ProofPayday/Get On Down, 1995. 2LP (reissue)
LP...$22.99
25.98
Classic debut of Group Home from the height of the Gang Starr foundation, when Primo just couldn't miss on the production front – always a rock solid backdrop from on point rhymes, which is just what you get from Lil' Dap & Melachi The Nutcracker. Strong work that stands up strongly these ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop)
Ropeadope, 2017.
CD...$8.99
13.99
The cover's got a couple of monkeys playing the music – but the sound here actually comes from bothers Mike and Aaron Dolton – the first of whom plays the drums, the latter who seems to handle just about everything else! Their music is a blend of jazz and soul – sometimes with ... CD (Neo Soul)
Arthur Crudup
Arthur Crudup – RockBear Family (Germany), Late 40s/Early 50s.
CD...$22.99
25.98
One of the founding fathers of rock and roll – presented here on a set that brings together all of his best upbeat numbers from the postwar years! Arthur Crudup is definitely a blues singer at heart – but thanks to his original recording of "That's All Right", which was a ... CD (Blues)
Ralph/Crammed (Belgium), 1979. (reissue)
LP...$18.99
19.99
One of our favorite records ever from Tuxedomoon – a set that has them nicely honing their rawer roots into a focused sound that was perfect for the European scene they were set to conquer! The set is the group's last recording before departing their San Francisco roots – a strange ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Reprise/Rhino, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.98
An early moment of genius from The Electric Prunes – and exactly the kind of record that shows why they were a cut above their contemporaries, and why Warner really backed them strongly right from the start! There's a depth here that rivals some of the group's Sunset Strip contemporaries ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Beach Boys
Wild Honey (stereo – 180 gram pressing)Capitol, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$22.99
24.99
A back-to-basics album of sorts – shorter, catchier songs recorded by the group after the collapse of Smile – but a record that still has some really wonderful moments overall – and which shows that The Beach Boys would never be the same after Pet Sounds! There's a mix of older ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Moloch
Moloch (180 gram pressing)Enterprise/Stax, 1970. (reissue)
LP...$22.99
24.99
One of the few rare rock albums issued on the Enterprise sub-label of Stax – and like a lot of the rest, a set that was produced by the legendary Don Nix! The groove here is a rootsy blend of rock and R&B influences – served up with heavy Hammond amidst fuzzy guitar, bass, and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Trevor Lawrence Jr
RelationshipsRopeadope, 2017.
CD...$9.99
14.99
The title definitely sums up the vibe of the record – because although Trevor Lawrence is the drummer at the core, he's also clearly a hell of a warm personality, too – with a very welcoming vibe that makes the album's array of musicians and guest artists feel right at home! The set's ... CD (Jazz)
Jon Davis
Happy JuicePosi tone, 2017.
CD...$11.99
15.99
Top shelf jazz trio from pianist Jon Davis – an artist who might look pretty laidback, sipping wine on the cover – but who serves up some great original material as well as key takes on some classics! Working with bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Mark Ferber on this one, Davis ... CD (Jazz)
Pioneers
Long Shot (180 gram pressing)Trojan/Music On Vinyl (UK), 1969. (reissue)
An early gem from The Pioneers, and one of the first records on the Trojan label too – the kind of head-nodding, late rocksteady sounds that made the imprint a key bridge between the scenes in Kingston and London at the end of the 60s! The Pioneers have a bit more complex vocal interplay ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae)
Dwight Sykes
On The RocksPeoples Potential, Early 80s.
Early 80s underground soul from Dwight Sykes and his Jahari Band – a combo that played in and around the Kalamazoo scene, but never broke big at all on a national level! There's a surprisingly tight quality to the cuts here – as Dwight works with a female vocal trio on some numbers, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown '65Mainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1965.
A very unusual setting for the legendary Ruth Brown – the singer who first rose to fame singing raw-edged R&B tracks for Atlantic Records in the 50s – but who works here in a much jazzier mode overall! The set features backings from Peter Matz – who often accompanied the ... CD (Soul)
Night Blooming Jazzmen
Freedom Jazz DanceMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
That's Night Blooming Jazzmen, not "Jasmine" – the name of one of the coolest projects to ever come from the hands of Leonard Feather! Sure, Feather presented some stiffer acts in his earlier years, but this group definitely isn't one of them – as they're an all-star, all-soul ... CD (Jazz)
Apollonia
Apollonia (deluxe edition)Warner/Wounded Bird, 1988. 2CD
CD...$15.99
18.99
Solo work from Apollonia – working here past her time with both Apollonia 6 and her association with Prince – but still showing an equally strong talent for catchy 80s pop! The music is handled by a host of producers, and most numbers are in a beat-heavy mode that follows on her ... CD (Soul)
Sarah Vaughan
Feelin GoodMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
Sarah Vaughn hit a very groovy new style on her handful of records for the Mainstream label in the early 70s – a new approach that offered her amazing voice a way to stretch out with some of the new sophistication of the time! The arrangements are still jazz, but they've taken a direction ... CD (Vocalists)
Apples
Mind TwisterOdion Livingstone (UK), 1978.
A legendary group from the 70s Nigerian scene – one who could be as trippy as they were funky – often in ways that had them using studio production to really get some cool effects from their vocals and guitar! There's a spacey edge to most of these tracks – one that comes through ... CD (Global Grooves)
Jay-Z
4:44 (with bonus tracks)Roc-A-Fella, 2017.
CD...$14.99
15.99
Jay-Z's 13th album and one he really had no need to do, if not for the love of the game, and it's a rock solid effort with raw, classic school No ID production! It's a testament to Jay Z's enduring status as one of sharpest MCs of all time that the first news bites to come out of this semi-surprise ... CD (Hip Hop)
Radiators From Space
TV Tube Heart (40th anniversary edition – with bonus tracks)Chiswick (UK), 1977.
CD...$11.99
18.99
A classic debut from The Radiators From Space – a group who were contemporaries to the first wave of British punk, but who found a special raw sound that was all their own! In a way, the sound here is almost the earlier pub rock generation spun through the noisier modes allowed by punk ... CD (Rock)
Sire/Rhino, 1977. (reissue)
The Ramones really caught their classic recorded sound for the first time on Leave Home – the second of their three perfect late 70s milestones. As amazing as the debut is, its two-channel shrieking buzz saw sound bowed nicely to the slightly more digestible but just as cathartic roar of the ... CD (Rock)
Boogie Down Productions
Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip HopJive/Get On Down, 1989. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
22.98
Classic Boogie Down Productions circa '89 – with prime street poetry from KRS, perfectly raw beats and overall peak end of the 80s production! Blueprint is an apt title for a couple reasons – the beats aren't what we'd call spare, but they're raw and unvarnished – a perfect ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop)
Art Pepper
Art Pepper QuartetTampa/Omnivore, 1956. (reissue)
LP...$20.99
22.99
Incredible work from alto genius Art Pepper – one of our favorite albums ever by the saxophonist – and a set that we actually love even more than his classic albums for the Contemporary label! Art's in a setting here that really lets him put a lot of edginess on his horn – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz)
Esoteric (UK), 1969.
A jazz rock masterpiece from Colosseum – the kind of record that the British scene could do far far better than any American group at the time! The set is a sweet blend of late beat group grooving – using the heavy R&B-influenced guitar and organ styles of earlier years, and ... CD (Rock)
Platters
Platters – RockBear Family (Germany), Late 50s/Early 60s.
CD...$22.99
25.99
The Platters might have been the kings of the late night ballad, thanks to the magical voice of Tony Williams – but they could also kick it up a few notches at the right time too, and match the energy of their more romping 50s R&B contemporaries! This set brings together 30 tracks that ... CD (Soul)
Dwight Trible with Matthew Halsall
InspirationsGondwana (UK), 2017.
A fantastic setting for the voice of Dwight Trible – one of the few contemporary jazz singers who inherited the style of spiritual jazz greats like Leon Thomas or Joe Lee Wilson! Trible's singing here with backing from a group that includes trumpeter Matthew Halsall, recording on Halsall's ... CD (Vocalists)
Don Burrows Quartet
At The Sydney Opera HouseMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1974.
A record that really shows off the strengths of the Australian jazz scene in the 70s – so much so, it was one of that nation's biggest jazz records of the decade, and also got a fair bit of global circulation too! The album's billed to reedman Don Burrows – who's a bit like his nation's ... CD (Jazz)
Kasai All Stars
Around Felicite (with bonus CD)Crammed (Belgium), 2017. 2CD
Wonderful work from the Kasai All-Stars – a group we first discovered in the Congotronics series with Konono No 1 – and who still have the same wonderful blend of raw rhythms, fuzzy distortion, and very powerful vocals! Their music has this powerfully organic vibe – with acoustic ... CD (Global Grooves)
Little Brother
Listening (with bonus 7 inch)ABB, 2002. 2LP (reissue)
LP...$19.99
22.98
The debut from North Carolina organic hip hop crew Little Brother – an unexpectly strong and soulful effort in the vein of the Roots, mid-career Tribe Called Quest, and early Slum Village! The trio of Phonte, Pooh, and 9th Wonder have been kicking around Durham, NC and the southern hip hop ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop)
Ralph MacDonald
Calypso Breakdown – Sound Of The TK YearsTK/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Late 70s.
Killer tracks from legendary percussionist Ralph MacDonald – an artist who played on countless jazz, soul, and funk sessions of the 70s – but really came into his own with a handful of late 70s recordings for the TK Records label! The best of those tracks are wonderfully compiled here ... CD (Soul)
Carmen McRae
Woman Talk – Live At The Village GateMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1965.
A rock-solid swinger from the great Carmen McRae – working here in a live setting with a very cool combo! The group's more than just a trio – although it is grounded by excellent piano work from Norman Simmons – and the record features nice use of flute from Ray Bernstein, guitar ... CD (Vocalists)
Jay Berliner
Bananas Are Not Created EqualMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
A silly title, but a funky little record – one of the only ones we've ever seen from guitarist Jay Berliner, and one of the best cookers from the early 70s Mainstream Records years! The sound here is almost soundtrack funk at points – lots of up-front lines from Berliner on guitar ... CD (Jazz)
Various
Soul On The Real Side #7Outta Sight (UK), 1970s.
A 70s soul collection beyond compare – one that features a huge amount of tracks that we might have missed otherwise, and which go way beyond the hits into a space of their own! The music here isn't disco, isn't pop, and isn't ballad soul – and instead, represents the always-creative, ... CD (Funky Compilations)
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge (colored vinyl – mono)Atco/Sundazed, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.98
One of the coolest concepts for a record in the 60s – and a set that's the first, and maybe crowning achievement of Vanilla Fudge! The set's mighty trippy – and often offers up very weird, fuzzy remakes of songs that were more mainstream hits for other artists in the 60s – tunes ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Helmut Brandt
Spree Coast JazzSonorama (Germany), 1963.
CD...$18.99
20.98
The baritone sax of German musician Helmut Brandt is at the helm– but the album's equally noteworthy for its strong use of American players Benny Bailey on trumpet, Nat Peck on trombone, and Herb Geller on alto! The concert is one of those wonderful meetings of American and European jazz ... CD (Jazz)
Rudy Ray Moore
Cockpit – The Third Rudy Ray Moore AlbumKent/Dolemite, Early 70s.
CD...$11.99
12.98
Rudy Ray Moore flies the friendly skies – and turns out one of his best records of the 70s! The set is easily one of the tightest albums from Rudy's classic years – and uses a fair bit of musical backings beneath his very raunchy comedy – in ways that are sometimes funky, but ... CD (Soul)
Fruko & Su Tesos
Tesura (180 gram pressing)Discos Fuentes/Vampi Soul (Spain), 1970. (reissue)
The amazing debut of Fruko – the start of his long legacy of great records from Colombia – all with a sound strong enough to challenge the best Puerto Rican and New York grooves of the 70s! There's a raw energy here that seems to go right back to the descarga style at the start of the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Latin)
Reggie Moore
FuriosoMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1972.
We only know Reggie Moore from a handful of records – but he's a hell of a pianist, and one who definitely earns the furioso name in the title! There's a complicated mix of ideas going on in Reggie's head here – sometimes the soaring modalism of the McCoy Tyner generation, sometimes ... CD (Jazz)
Pacific Coast Jazz, 2017.
CD...$9.99
10.99
Great sounds from Sol – an artist with a warm glow right from the start, but also a nice sense of crispness that really personalizes his lyrics! Sol's got an approach here that almost feels like gospel – especially given his vocal range, and his positive energy – but the music is ... CD (Neo Soul)
Folk Implosion/
Kids – Original Soundtrack (colored vinyl)
London, 1995. (reissue)
LP...$21.99
24.99
A seminal soundtrack for a legendary film – music that was made to accompany the riveting story by Larry Clark – but a record that also stood as a big message to the mainstream from the underground! The well-chosen array of groups here burst strongly into larger appreciation, thanks to ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Mingo Lewis
Flight Never EndingColumbia/Wounded Bird, 1976.
CD...$10.99
11.98
One of the hardest-jamming fusion records we've ever heard from mid 70s CBS – a blistering mix of fast guitar, tight drums, and spacey keys – all punctuated by some organic percussion on congas from Mingo Lewis himself! The groove really takes off to the sky – in the manner that ... CD (Jazz)
Trojan/Music On Vinyl (UK), 1967. (reissue)
The birth of the rocksteady sound in late 60s Jamaica – all presented here in a selection of tracks that came from one of the men who made the whole thing happen! Producer Duke Reid had an especially strong ear for more soulful sounds on the Kingston scene – and this set is one of the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae)
Dub Store (Japan), 1966/1967.
CD...$16.99
18.98
Fantastic sounds from the rocksteady years in Jamaica – tracks that are a fair bit more rare and obscure than some of the bigger singles that circulated at the time – even though they feature a fair bit of the same artists and musicians! The work here all came from the studios of ... CD (Reggae)
Meridian Trio (Nick Mazzarella/
Triangulum
Clean Feed (Portugal), 2017.
Triangulum – a great title for the wonderful energy of this group – which swings perfectly between the three sharp points of Nick Mazzarella on alto, Matt Ulery on bass, and Jeremy Cunningham on drums! These guys are freewheeling, but always soulful – not just because of Nick's ... CD (Jazz)
Ronald Bruner Jr
TriumphWorld Galaxy/Alpha Pup, 2017. 2LP
LP...$24.99
25.98
A very well-titled album – given that the whole thing's a real triumph from Ronald Bruner Jr – who serves up some wonderful vocals alongside his work on drums – in a set that's got a swirlingly cosmic approach to soul! The album's overflowing with hip talents from the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Neo Soul)
Clark Terry & Bob Brookmeyer
TonightMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1964.
A killer combination of talents – and one that made a few excellent records in the 60s! Bob Brookmeyer's got a cool, compressed tone – that great approach he developed on valve trombone in the 50s – and it brings a new level of sophistication to the trumpet of Clark Terry here ... CD (Jazz)
Max Cilla
La Flute Des Mornes Vol 1Bongo Joe (UK), 1981. (reissue)
Traditional sounds from Martinique – but played in a very jazzy way by fluteman Max Cilla – whose instrument glides and soars over a range of lively percussion! The group features a bit of piano and bass, but the various drums really lead the sound – as does Cilla's flute, which ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves)
Tatham, Mensah, Lord, & Ranks
Simmering/2000 Black (UK), 2017.
Wicked sounds from this London quartet – a group who've got their roots deep in the city's cosmic scene from the start of the century – and who still can deliver sounds that are more forward-thinking than most of their contemporaries! "Simmering" is more "soaring" ... 12-inch, Vinyl record (New Grooves)
Rob Mazurek
RomeClean Feed (Portugal), 2017.
An incredible solo record from Rob Mazurek – a wonderful change from some of his larger group and collaborative projects – even though we love those a heck of a lot too! This set's a great reminder of the core improvisational genius that Rob's always had, but which sometimes is ... CD (Jazz)
Lynn Castle
Rose Colored CornerLight In The Attic, 1966.
Never-heard sounds from Lynn Castle – a singer who was maybe more famous in 60s LA for her work as a hair stylist – even though she spent her free time turning out really beautiful songs like these! Castle only ever issued one 45 on Lee Hazlewood's label – but the work here is ... CD (Rock)
Jovino Santos Neto & Andre Mehmari
Guris – A Tribute To Hermeto PascoalAdventure Music, 2017.
CD...$12.99
15.98
A gorgeous tribute to the music of Hermeto Pascoal – performed here by the twin pianists Jovino Santos Neto and Andre Mehmari, with some additional guest help from Hermeto himself! The album's way more than just a set of piano work, though – as the music really lives up to the larger ... CD (Brazil)
Eero Koivistoinen
Labyrinth (2CDs – with bonus tracks)Love/Svart (Finland), 1977. 2CD
No sonic labyrinth here – just a great set of hard-blown grooves from saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen! The session's a well-focused effort that has Eero working in quartet formation with acoustic piano, bass, and drums – blowing beautiful tones and colors with a slightly angular approach ... CD (Jazz)
Dub Store (Japan), 1966/1967.
Fantastic sounds from the rocksteady years in Jamaica – tracks that are a fair bit more rare and obscure than some of the bigger singles that circulated at the time – even though they feature a fair bit of the same artists and musicians! The work here all came from the studios of ... CD (Reggae)
Born Bad (France), Late 60s.
A whole host of cool Latin tracks from the French West Indies scene of the late 60s – not music that flowed to Guadeloupe or Martinique from Cuba or Puerto Rico – but fresh new sounds that were directly inspired by the boogaloo generation on the New York scene! The tracks here aren't ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves)
Beach Boys
Beach Boys 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow (Wild Honey stereo/Capitol, 1967. 2CD
CD...$19.99
21.99
An amazing treasure for fans of the Beach Boys during their highest moment of genius – a huge batch of unreleased tracks from their important year of 1967 – plus the rare stereo mix of Wild Honey! We love the Wild Honey album – a back-to-basics album of sorts – shorter, ... CD (Rock)
Joey Negro
Produced With Love (with bonus CD)Z Records (UK), 2017. 2CD
Joey Negro's got a decades-long love of disco – one that began at a time when so many other artists were going for colder, easier ways of serving up a groove – and Joey was a rare talent who could really take things back to the glory days of the clubs! That talent has only gotten ... CD (New Grooves)
Apple/Secretly Canadian, 1973. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$21.99
27.98
Maybe one of the first truly tuneful moments from Yoko Ono – working here with backing from the Elephants Memory group – on a double-length set that shows a really great range from the singer! Yoko's vocals are fragile and sometimes a bit strained in the traditionally structured song ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Charles Lloyd
Passin ThruBlue Note, 2017.
CD...$13.99
14.98
An incredible album from Charles Lloyd – one that seems to return him to his spiritual flowering of the 60s – maybe just because the set begins with a searing long take of his classic "Dream Weaver"! But there's also a richness here that we don't always hear from Lloyd – ... CD (Jazz)
Stanley Cowell
No IllusionsSteeplechase (Denmark), 2017.
CD...$15.99
19.99
A nicely fresh setting for pianist Stanley Cowell – a record that moves past his more frequent trio format, to feature the longstanding genius in a quartet with Bruce Williams on alto and flute! Williams has a laidback, lyrical tone that seems to bring out a different side in Cowell's music ... CD (Jazz)
Various
Complete Loma Singles Vol 1Loma/Real Gone, Mid 60s. 2CD
CD...$29.99
31.98
The first days of the legendary Loma Records – a 60s side-label at Warner Brothers, and one with a rock-solid reputation for top-shelf soul! Loma never hit the heights of Atlantic, Stax, or Motown – but the quality of the work on this collection is every bit as wonderful as the output ... CD (Soul)
Binker & Moses (Binker Golding/
Journey To The Mountain Of Forever
Gearbox (UK), 2017. 2LP Gatefold
LP...$25.99
26.99
That's quite a cover for a record by Binker & Moses – especially as the duo's always quite down-to-earth, and not nearly the kind of proggish act you might expect from the album's image! Yet they've also expanded a bit this time around – not into a full-jamming group, as they ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz)
Television Personalities
Mummy You're Not Watching MeFire (UK), 1982. (reissue)
LP...$23.99
24.99
The second fantastic set from this seminal group from the early 80s UK scene – a combo who might have been punk at the core, but also worked with a smattering of mod influences – ala The Jam – but also weren't afraid to get a bit psychedelic at times too – in ways that make ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Sdban (Belgium), 1970s. 2CD
Funk from Belgium? Believe it or not, stranger things have happened – and we can promise that if you played these tracks back to back with more familiar grooves from other 70s sources, you'd quickly find that these Belgian grooves are right up there with the best of the bunch! The set's ... CD (Funky Compilations)
Kendrick Lamar
DAMN.Aftermath/Interscope, 2017.
DAMN!, indeed – Kendrick has yet to take even a small step down from the creative peak he's been riding for years – and takes another daring step forward with this strong, strident, no-mess-taking classic in the making! The surprise-announced DAMN! finds him taking on timely concerns ... CD (Hip Hop)
Damily
Very AombyBongo Joe (UK), 2017. (reissue)
A record of very fast rhythms from Madagascar – so much so, we had to check the speed on our turntable when first putting it on! The core of the sound comes from the wicked guitar work of Damily, plus vocals, bass, and percussion – all wrapped tightly together, then sent soaring on ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves)
Nate Wooley
KNKNIGHGH – Minimal Poetry For Aram SaroyanClean Feed (Portugal), 2017.
A record that comes on with the frenzy of an Ornette Coleman Quartet session – and one with a very similar lineup too – given that Nate Wooley is on trumpet, Chris Pitsiokos is on alto, Brandon Lopez is on bass, and Dre Hocevar is on drums! Yet the sound is freer, and bolder too – ... CD (Jazz)
Kalakuta (Germany), Early 90s/2017. (pic cover)
Two early soul tracks by the great Ed Motta – both given a sweet rework here, and expanded out strongly for a 12" single! The work is from a time when Motta had really embraced an American boogie soul style of the 80s – but he still sings with that amazingly fluid, jazzy vibe he's ... 12-inch, Vinyl record (Neo Soul)
Art Pepper with Bill Watrous
West Coast Sessions Vol 4 – Bill Watrous (Funk N Fun – with bonus tracks)Atlas/Omnivore, 1982.
CD...$15.99
16.98
The cover says Art Pepper, but the record's one of our favorite albums ever cut under the leadership of trombonist Bill Watrous – a set that was part of a Japanese-only series that brought together some of the best players on the west coast scene at the end of the 70s! Watrous is maybe not ... CD (Jazz)
Marcos Valle
Vontade De Rever Voce (180 gram vinyl)Som Livre/Vinilisssimo (Spain), 1981. (reissue)
Funky soul from the great Marcos Valle – a great blend of mellow grooves and upbeat tunes recorded at the same time Valle was working in the US with Leon Ware! The style here is very similar to Ware's 2 albums for Elektra – both of which feature work from Valle, and include tunes that ... LP, Vinyl record album (Brazil)
Kokotob
Flying HeartClean Feed (Portugal), 2017.
A really unusual combination of instruments – or, that is, a familiar combination – but used here in really unusual ways! The group features Taiko Saito on vibes and marimba, Niko Meinhold on piano, and Tobias Schirmer on clarinet and bass clarinet – and all instruments are often ... CD (Jazz)
Television Personalities
Don't The Kids Just Love ItFire (UK), 1980.
The first great full length album from The Television Personalities – perfectly raw in production and perfectly sharp in barbed Brit poppish punk songs – a fantastic group the deserves mention in the same breath as more celebrated crossover groups from the era! The sound is far from ... CD (Rock)
Lloyd McNeill
Washington Suite (with bonus download)Asha/Soul Jazz (UK), 1970. (reissue)
LP...$22.99
26.99
One of the most beautiful albums ever recorded by DC flutist Lloyd McNeil – and one of the grooviest, too! Lloyd's work is always amazing – stretched-out, spiritual, and filled with life – but this time around, there's a definite groove to the record that's undeniable – an ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz)
Frank Wess
Award WinnerMainstream/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1954.
One of the best entries in the Commodore Series on Mainstream – a collection of obscure mid 50s recordings by flute and tenor player Frank Wess, done in small group settings with a variety of players that include some of his bandmates in the Basie group! There's a more tightly arranged feel ... CD (Jazz)
Gary Burton
ThrobAtlantic (Japan), 1969.
A very groovy record from vibes legend Gary Burton – a set that was done for Atlantic Records right after Gary's big rise to genius on RCA – but with a feel that's even wilder than those wonderful records! There's a bit of the Vortex Records approach going on here – some slight ... CD (Jazz)
Estrada Orchestra
JazzbeatjaatisStereophonk (Estonia), 2017.
A fantastic full album from this ultra-cool group – a funky combo from contemporary Estonia – with ties to the Misha Panfilov Sound Combo that you might know from a sweet selection of recent 45s! Misha's in this group on bass, and also produced the record – with a raw sound that ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz)
Basta (Netherlands), 1960s. 2CD
An amazing lost trove of work by electronic music Raymond Scott – sounds that were never issued commercially, and which may well represent the last corner of his genius yet to be explored! The music here was all created in Scott's home studio on Long Island – and is a fantastic blend ... CD (Sound Library)
Nosferatu
NosferatuVogue/Long Hair (Germany), 1970. Gatefold (reissue)
A fantastic group from the German scene at the start of the 70s – a crucially overlooked act who only ever cut this one album – a really great set that sparkles even more from production by Conny Plank! Nosferatu are part of a big wave of progressive German acts of the time – but ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Jack Bongo Burger
End On BongosHi Fi/Modern Harmonic, 1957. (reissue)
LP...$23.99
24.99
A sweet set from that great record moment when Latin styles were coming into play with the hipper sounds of the bachelor pad world! Jack "Bongo" Burger was a west coast percussionist with a very similar style to Jack "Mr Bongo" Costanzo – and in fact, since they're both ... LP, Vinyl record album (Latin)
Fremeaux & Associates (France), 1950s/Early 60s. 3CD
CD...$18.99
29.99
The crumbling of the 19th Century colonial empires may have hurt the European economy a bit – but it also did wonders for their music – as artists and styles got mixed up even more than before, and a strong wave of new sounds from the south and west started to have a big impact on the ... CD (French)
Various
C88 (3CD set)Cherry Red (UK), 1988. 3CD
The third great volume in this wonderful series that looks at the huge explosion of British indie rock in the mid 80s – and a collection that maybe compiles tracks from the last great year of the scene! Not that British music stopped dead in its tracks – but the following year saw ... CD (Rock)
Ten Years After
Stonedhenge (mono)Deram/Sundazed, 1969. Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$23.99
24.99
The title and cover are a great illustration of the direction that Ten Years After is taking here – a really wonderful blend of trippier influences with the sharp-edged, blues-influenced sound at their core! Even a look at the surface of the record will show you that something different is ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Elektra/Rhino, 1966. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.98
Love's first album – a seminal bit of Sunset Strip rock, and every bit as powerful today as it was in the 60s! The style's a bit sharper-edged than the group's classic and more familiar Forever Changes set, but it's still pretty darn great – a completely fresh batch of guitar-heavy ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Elektra/Wounded Bird, 1968/1969. 2CD
CD...$15.99
18.99
Excellent work by a near-forgotten act that blossomed briefly at the end of the 60s folk-rock boom – the incredible Earth Opera, a group that tied together many styles into a rich and unique sound! Both the albums on this set came out of the crumbling Boston scene of the late 60s – ... CD (Rock)
Miles Davis
Cinema Of Miles DavisEl (UK), Late 50s/1960s.
A compelling exploration into the use of the music of Miles Davis in film – one that begins with a famous French soundtrack from the new wave generation, then moves onto vintage Miles tunes that were used in other movies over the years! The core of the record features Davis' score to the ... CD (Jazz)
Twiggy
Beautiful Dreams EPEmber/Munster (Spain), 1966/1967. (pic cover)
A weird batch of tracks from Twiggy – the ultra-skinny late 60s model who set the tone for countless others to come! Twiggy displays a rare vocal side of her talents here – singing with a cool London female pop style – one that's perhaps a bit more subdued than some of her ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's)
Nilamaye
Las Flores Del SolBongo Joe (UK), 2017. (reissue)
A contemporary group, but one that draws upon a huge tradition of Afro-Colombian sounds – pulled together by its members through travels that have taken them through all the many different regions of their diverse nation, and served up in a very spare style that mostly just features voice and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves)
Various
Mamey Colorao – Spanish Harlem Dancefloor Fillers 1952 to 1962 – More Afro-Cuban Roots Of BoogalooGrossoi (Spain), 1950s/Early 60s.
Not the better-known sounds of the Spanish Harlem scene from the Latin Soul years – but the kind of cuts that set the style for that mad movement to come – thanks to a flurry of Cuban percussion, American jazz, and some other cross-cultural influences! Most of these tracks are played ... LP, Vinyl record album (Latin)
Warner/Wounded Bird, 1971.
CD...$10.99
11.98
One of the less-remembered records from the era of the giant rock festival – a set of tracks that were recorded during a wild cross-country hippie caravan! Although maybe not another Woodstock, the album does have some long live tracks that are really worth seeking out – in a ... CD (Soundtracks)
Arian
ArianFavorite (France), Early 80s. 2LP (reissue)
Arian's perm on the cover gives you a hint of how the set might sound – and the whole thing is maybe even better than you might think! The album's an unusual soul set from early 80s Yugoslavia – with vocals that are partly in English, and a sound that's heavy on the same kind of ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
We Want Sounds (France), Early 70s.
That's reedman Hadley Caliman on the front cover – looking mighty righteous, and really setting the vibe for the music on the collection – a far-reaching, deeply-soulful batch of tracks from the Mainstream Records label in the early 70s! Mainstream's maybe not as well-remembered as a ... CD (Funky Compilations)
Bert Myrick
Live N'WellStrata/BBE (UK), 1965.
A fantastic lost set from the Detroit jazz scene of the 60s – by a group who was years ahead of their time, and who bridged a number of different parts of the city's scene! The group's listed here under the name of drummer Bert Myrick, but was actually co-led by George Bohanon on trombone ... CD (Jazz)
Roscoe Mitchell
Bells For The South SideECM (Germany), 2017. 2CD
CD...$24.99
29.99
A fantastic program of live recordings – all captured at the Museum Of Contemporary Art in Chicago – as part of their 50th Anniversary tribute to the AACM! Roscoe Mitchell works here in a very unusual format – with four different trios, each heard separately – then grouped ... CD (Jazz)
Jorge Ben
Solta O PavaoPhilips/Universal (Brazil), 1975.
An overlooked treasure from the great Jorge Ben – an album recorded between the fame of his "Taj Mahal" hit and Africa Brasil classic – and a set that's every bit as wonderful as those two records! There's a tight, choppy groove to most of the set – that mix of samba, ... CD (Brazil)
Ace (UK), Mid 60s.
The heavier sound of UK girl pop in the 60s – not the sunnier, more string-laden sounds that were crossing the Atlantic at the time – but female singers who gravitated towards a deeper, fuzzier side of the spectrum – and were often years ahead of their time with their approach! ... CD (Rock)
Art Pepper with Lee Konitz
West Coast Sessions Vol 3 – Lee Konitz (High Jingo – with bonus tracks)Atlas/Omnivore, 1982.
CD...$15.99
16.99
A mighty meeting of two modern alto giants – a set cut under the leadership of Lee Konitz, but which also features some great work from Art Pepper too! Both Pepper and Konitz were two of the most distinctive players to emerge in the 50s – both in the generation after Charlie Parker ... CD (Jazz)
Maryn E Coote
MaskeraadPeoples Potential, Late 80s.
Some of the most unique 80s soul you'll ever hope to hear – recorded by Estonian singer Maryne E Coote, who's also known as the mother of Uku Kuut – and who also bills herself on the cover as a private detective too! The work here is all in English, unlike some of Coote's other ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Willie Clayton
Crossroad Of The BluesKES, 2017.
Always-great work from Willie Clayton – a blues singer in scene, but one who often works with a sound that's equal part southern soul – especially that late 70s moment when some of the older southern soul singers moved onto the Malaco Records blues scene! Willie's recorded with Otis ... CD (Blues)
Jonah Parzen-Johnson
I Try To Remember Where I Came FromClean Feed (Portugal), 2017.
A totally cool combination of musical elements – baritone sax and analog electronics – both played here by Jonah Parzen-Johnson with a style that's unlike anything else we can think of! Sure, saxes and electronics have come together before – ever since Richard Tietelbaum and ... CD (Jazz)
Ray Price
Please Don't Leave MeSouthern Routes, 1950s/Early 60s.
CD...$12.99
13.99
A really wonderful collection of work by the great Ray Price – a very well-chosen selection of tracks that focuses strongly on his excellent early days, and avoids some of the softer sounds of later years! The Ray heard here is the kind of the honky tonks – working in a midtempo groove ... CD (Folk/Country)
Tomorrow's Gift
Goodbye FutureInterchord/Long Hair (Germany), 1972. Gatefold (reissue)
One of those amazing groups from the early 70s German scene – the kind of outfit who were doomed to failure right from the start, but didn't ever let that stop them from making some incredible music! The sounds here came about as a result of the dwindling Tomorrow's Gift lineup woodshedding ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Angles 9
Disappeared Behind The SunClean Feed (Portugal), 2017. Gatefold
A really fantastic set from this Swedish nine piece ensemble – a record that's overflowing with brash performance and unbridled energy – adventurous, but never totally free – and always given the right sort of focus to make things come across with a tremendous amount of power! ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz)
Association
Insight Out (colored vinyl pressing – mono)Warner/Rhino, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.98
Fantastic dreamy pop! Despite the fact that this one yielded the super-huge hits "Windy" and "Never My Love", the album's also filled with great 60s pop tunes that you've probably never heard before – all as fantastically well-crafted and delicately strung-out as the big ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Willie Colon & Ruben Blades
SiembraFania (France), 1978.
A classic 70s salsa jammer from Willie Colon – working here with his one of his greatest vocalists – the young Ruben Blades, back before he'd crossed over to super-huge success! The album really marks a departure for Willie – moving past the bad boy style of earlier records, that ... CD (Latin)
Various
Milk Of The Tree – An Anthology Of Female Vocal Folk & Singer/Grapefruit (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s. 3CD
The female voice found a whole new way to flower in the world of folk music during the 60s – a style that helped women get past some of the more standard sultry modes of postwar pop, and hit the kind of righteous currents and deeper themes that helped transform a generation! The moment began ... CD (Rock)
Albert King
Born Under A Bad Sign (180 gram pressing)Stax, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.99
One of THE electric blues records of the 60s – a seminal set by Albert King that was probably blasted out of more college dorm rooms than southside juke joints, but which still more than deserves its due! The set was recorded by Stax with a nice raw sound – guitar very much upfront, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Blues)
Marcos Valle/
A Paraiba Nao E Chicago/Mr Bongo (UK), 1978/1981.
One of our favorite later tunes by Marcos Valle – a fantastic bit of modern soul that was created with help from Leon Ware – and which also has the same great vibe as some of Ware's best groovers from the start of the 80s, but with a Brazilian twist too! The flipside features Don Beto ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's)
Missy Elliott
Supa Dupa FlyEast West, 1997. 2LP (reissue)
LP...$22.99
24.98
The debut of Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot! Supa Dupa Fly was roundly acknowledged as an instant classic upon arrival, and we all knew it was no flash in the pan, but it's pretty amazing how fresh it sounds after all these years, and seamless mix of hip hop, soul and lean, unforgettable ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop)
Ambrose Akinmusire
Rift In DecorumBlue Note, 2017. 2CD
No rift in decorum here – as the record may well be one of the tightest, most focused efforts we've ever heard from trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire – a beautifully-played live set from a really wonderful quartet! Ambrose shapes his notes perfectly throughout – over these building, ... CD (Jazz)
Ray Barretto
AcidFania, Late 60s. (reissue)
A monster! If you buy one Latin record this year – make it this one – because it's one of the greatest ever recorded! Ray's late 60s Acid album is a landmark recording – a sublime mixture of Latin jazz, percussion, and soul – grooving hard in a variety of styles, and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Latin)
Rebecca Trescher Ensemble 11
Floating FoodEnja (Germany), 2017.
CD...$12.99
15.98
Rebecca Trescher strongly wields her clarinet on the cover – but throughout the album, her approach is much more subtle – and wrapped up beautifully with the other sounds from her Ensemble 11! The music is a mixture of jazz and larger compositional ideals – with the leader on ... CD (Jazz)
Sam & Dave
Double Dynamite (180 gram mono pressing)Stax, 1966. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.99
Sublime early Stax work from Sam & Dave – the kind of record that forever changed the way the male voice was used in group soul music! The rhythms on the tunes are totally raw – bass, drums, and guitar that are kind of fused into a dirty funky bottom that proves a perfect foil for ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Myra Melford
Alive In The House Of Saints Vol 1Hatology (Switzerland), 1983.
CD...$16.99
19.99
Beautifully joyous work from Myra Melford – a set recorded early in the career of the pianist, with his first trio – and abristle with sound that really grabs us right from the start! Melford here seems to be working in a level that's maybe as post-Tyner as some of the post-Coltrane ... CD (Jazz)
Alex Sipiagin
Moments CapturedCriss Cross (Netherlands), 2017.
CD...$14.99
18.99
We've loved the music of trumpeter Alex Sipiagin for quite some time – but there's really something special going on here – a slightly different vibe that makes the record stand out from the rest of the pack! First off, the album features all original compositions – songs that ... CD (Jazz)
Lazarus
Lazarus/Bearsville/Wounded Bird, 1971/1973.
CD...$11.99
13.99
A pair of records from this overlooked harmony group of the 70s! The self-titled Lazarus album has this warm glow right from the start – a mode that seems to draw on the same kind of relaxed energy that was showing up in the work of groups like America or Crosby Stills & Nash – a ... CD (Rock)
Hidden Orchestra
Dawn ChorusTru Thoughts (UK), 2017.
A record with a sound to match its evocative title – maybe the most heady work to date from Hidden Orchestra – and that's saying a lot, given the depth of their other releases! These guys definitely take the "orchestra" in their name seriously – and while the lineup is ... CD (New Grooves)
David S Ware
Live in New York, 2010Aum Fidelity, 2017. 2CD
CD...$18.99
20.99
Gigantic genius from the late David S Ware – heard here in an unreleased performance from the final years of his time – at a time when his saxophone greatness was still very much in full flower! The group is a trio – with William Parker on bass and Warren Smith on drums – ... CD (Jazz)
Lee Morgan
Roulette Sides (10 inch LP)Roulette/Warner, 1960.
LP...$17.99
19.98
A lost treasure from Lee Morgan – three superb tracks that were initially issued as one side of a split record done with John Coltrane – at a time when neither of them were really signed to the Roulette Records label! That obscurity led both sets of material to quickly disappear from ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz)
Split Decision Band
Split Decision BandNow Again, Early 80s.
An overlooked treasure from Split Decision Band – a group whose one single issued back in the day has gone onto become a sought-after classic with funk and soul collectors! And yet besides that one famous single, these guys actually have a lot more to offer – an incredibly well-develope ... CD (Soul)
Christoph Erb/
Don't Buy Him A Parrot
Hatology (Switzerland), 2017.
CD...$16.99
19.99
Mindblowing work from this Chicago trio – a great reminder that you can still find something fresh in improvising music – as long as you know where to look – or listen! There's a cyclical energy to the trio at times – sometimes waves of sound that dance around each other ... CD (Jazz)
Otis Redding
Soul Album (180 gram mono pressing)Volt/Rhino, 1966. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.99
Classic stuff by Otis – and a very appropriately titled album! The record's from the prime mid 60s years of Redding's recorded output – before Atlantic started pumping out everything he ever recorded, and when the folks at Stax were using all their talent to put together a well-conceive ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Various
Welcome To Zamrock 2 – How Zambia's Liberation Led To A Rock Revolution 1972 to 1977 (CD & book)Now Again, Mid 70s.
Fantastic sounds for fans of funk and rock alike – music from the freaky, fuzzy 70s scene in Zambia – a place where styles effortlessly criss-crossed to really produce something new and unique! The work here is often heavy on fuzz guitars, but also has some wickedly soulful basslines ... CD (Global Grooves)
How Do You Are (Germany), Late 70s.
Mellow fusion, jazzy soul, and lots of warm 70s pop currents – all coming together in a great third installment of this wonderful series! The collection goes way past the familiar "yachtpop" material you might expect from the title – less top 40 AOR than the kind of more ... CD (Funky Compilations)
UGK (Underground Kingz)
Too Hard To Swallow (clear vinyl)Jive/Get On Down, 1992. 2LP (reissue)
The early 90s debut of UGK and early triumph for Pimp C & Bun B, even if it was a little bit ahead of its time! Given a massive platform by Jive at the time, UGK proved a little Too Hard To Swallow for the mainstream early on, finally breaking out with Ridin' Dirty a few years later, but this ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop)
Outta Sight (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s.
A set that's got Northern Soul in the title, but which instead focuses on the raw grooves from the generation before – the upbeat, hard-wailing R&B material that first took shape in the postwar years – then went on to become a huge driving force behind soul music at the start of the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Thelonious Monk
Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960Sam Records/Saga, 1959. 2CD
CD...$22.99
24.99
A rare and unused soundtrack recording by Thelonious Monk – and a set of music that would be a standout in his catalog, even if it wasn't planned for a film! You probably know the Art Blakey soundtrack for the movie – which was the used and released version – and you might even ... CD (Jazz)
Various
Zaire 74 – The African ArtistsWrasse, 1974. 2CD
Amazing music from an amazing moment – the legendary Zaire 74 concerts that took place before the Rumble In The Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Frazier! The moment was one of great pride and power – and although the concert performances have become the stuff of legend over ... CD (Global Grooves)
Federico Bonifazi with Philip Harper
East 74th StreetSteeplechase (Denmark), 2017.
CD...$15.99
19.99
Federico Bonifazi is great pianist, and also a hell of a writer too – one with a very fully-formed voice in jazz – able to fit complex ideas in a very tight space, while still very much letting the soloists do their thing! And yet Federico also seems to bring out a new depth in his ... CD (Jazz)
Transatlantic/BGO (UK), Early 70s. 2CD
Four fantastic albums from John James – an overlooked acoustic guitarist from the same British scene that gave us John Renbourn and Bert Jansch – but one who never fully got his due! James is featured here on four albums for the Transatlantic label from the early 70s – mostly ... CD (Folk/Country)
Epic, 2017. 2LP
LP...$23.99
24.98
A win for wily hip hip mainstay Big Boi's growing legacy as a solo star! The onetime more subtly innovative half of the Outkast – subtle as compared to Andre 3000's more flamboyant presence, anyway – succeeding mightily out front now, backed with solid, wisely timeless Organized Noize ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop)
Carl Winther & Jerry Bergonzi
Inner JourneySteeplechase (Denmark), 2017.
CD...$15.99
19.99
A really great pairing, and one we're not sure we've ever heard before – the tenor of Jerry Bergonzi and the piano of Carl Winther – coming together here in an album that sparkles especially strongly on its big number of original tunes by Winther! Winther's got a round, rolling ... CD (Jazz)
Tim Buckley
Look At The Fool (180 gram pressing)DiscReet/Real Gone, 1973. (reissue)
LP...$22.99
24.99
The last album that Tim Buckley ever gave the world – and a great leaping-off point for speculation about what he might have done, had he not left the planet too soon! Tim's actually beginning to explore a bit of funk in his music here – still using that amazing voice with all of its ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock)
Braen & Raskovich (Alessandro Alessandroni/
Drammatico (180 gram pressing)
Panda/Sonor (Italy), Early 70s. (reissue)
They're not kidding with the title of this one – as the album leaps off to a very dramatic style, right from the start – with a surprisingly noisy sound titled after the incubation of the heavens! That noise moves aside a bit as the album moves on, but the whole thing still stays very ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library)
Jeanette Jones
Dreams All Come TruePlayback (Australia), Late 60s/Early 70s.
The first-ever full length collection of work from Jeanette Jones – a San Francisco singer who's only been slowly discovered over the years, thanks to the efforts of the folks at Kent Records! Back in the day, Jones got one single on the market – the excellent "Darling I'm ... CD (Soul)
Terrence Parker
God Loves DetroitPlanet E, 2017.
One of the boldest statements we've heard from the Detroit underground in years – and a great reminder that the city's legendary club sound is still alive and well – if you know where to look! Terrence Parker serves up a set that makes the Planet E label very proud – and which ... CD (New Grooves)
Outta Sight (UK), Late 50s/1960s.
One of the coolest clubs on the Soho scene at the end of the 50s – and a place that was arguably one of the most important spots for soul music in the UK during the 60s! Yet the club was also a jazz venue, too – and it was that legacy that allowed it to slowly introduce soul music ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Lyrichord/Sub Rosa (Belgium), 1971. 2CD
Ethiopian music from the 70s, but mostly work that's much more rootsy than the sounds you'd hear on the Ethiopiques series – despite the placement of "urban" in the title! Instead, these cuts represent a recorded version of that nation that circulated more widely amongst listeners ... CD (Global Grooves)
Kent (UK), 1960s.
Not "modernists" as in the kind you'd find in the art world – but instead "mods", of the sort that were the biggest proponents of soul music in mid 60s London! The package is a stellar array of rare soul tracks that all fit right in the best mod vibe that bubbled big for ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Trunk (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s.
That couple on the cover's looking pretty darn groovy – and the sound of the record is definitely one to match – the sound of postwar Britain starting to let its hair down, and open up to a lot of new musical ideas! Like the previous volumes of Britxotica, this collection offers up ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations)
Various
Afrobeat/BBE (UK), 2010s.
A killer collection of contemporary Afro Funk work – but all served up from quite a surprising source! The music here is all from Brazil, but also continues that nation's long tradition of sharing roots and culture with the continent across the Atlantic – a legacy that's sometimes been ... CD (Global Grooves)
We Want Sounds (France), Late 60s/Early 70s.
Not the Bob Marley of the famous Island Records years in the 70s, but instead the originator from a few years before – heard here on an excellent collection of early work with The Wailers! The style here is maybe more in line with some of the soul-inspired harmony trios to emerge in Kingston ... CD (Reggae)
Simon Law
Look To The SkyDome (UK), 2017.
An overdue full-length set from Simon Law – one of the founding members of Soul II Soul, and a British soul producer as well – working here in a mode that delivers strongly on both sides of his experience! The album's a very collaborative effort – and features appearances from ... CD (Neo Soul)
Joe Gibbs/17 North Parade, 1978. 3LP
LP...$34.99
38.98
Essential! The mighty debut album from African disciples Culture pairing up with the Mighty Two, Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson is one of the landmark sets of roots reggae, a defining moment of the genre dropped during the year when two sevens clashed. And though the apocalypse didn't rain down ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae)
Analog Africa (Germany), Late 70s/Early 80s.
You might know "Soul Makossa" – the worldwide hit by Manu Dibango that was covered by many folks, and sampled heavily in later years too – but this set takes a look at the deeper scene behind that famous groove, through a host of wickedly funky tracks from the late 70s scene ... CD (Global Grooves)
Stelvio Cipriani
Polizotto SprintDigitmovies (Italy), 1977.
Classic Italian cop work from the mighty Stelvio Cipriani – one of the few Italian composers who can work in a heavily electric mode, yet still get the richness of that scene's more acoustic years! The music is heavy on guitar and keyboards – but not in the later way inspired by Goblin ... CD (Soundtracks)
Warren Baker with Paul Tanner & Andre Montero
Music For Heavenly BodiesOmega/Modern Harmonic, 1958.
There's two sorts of heavenly bodies on the cover – but the real charms of the record lie inside, as the set's overflowing with incredible early theremin recordings! The album features spacey orchestral settings arranged by Warren Baker, and conducted by Andre Montero – plus fantastic ... CD (Now Sound)
Reprise/Warner (Japan), 1964.
One of the more obscure 60s albums from legendary arranger Nelson Riddle – one of a handful done for Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records label – after famously backing the singer on sessions for Capitol in the 50s! Riddle's even more creative and dynamic here than in those previous years ... CD (Now Sound)
Roy Ayers
Daddy BugAtlantic (Japan), 1969.
A brilliant set of straight jazz material from Roy Ayers – a set recorded for Atlantic at a time when he was working for the label in Herbie Mann's group – but done in a much more righteous groove that really points the way towards Roy's growth in the 70s! The lineup changes a bit ... CD (Jazz)
De-Lite/Ultra Vybe (Japan), Late 60s/Early 70s.
A slice of soul you might never expect – early work from the De-Lite label, a company better-known for their famous club hits of the late 70s – but starting out here with an amazing array of deep soul 45s! The music is a wonderful contrast to the disco and club of the label's fame ... CD (Funky Compilations)
John Holt
1000 Volts Of Holt (180 gram pressing)Trojan (UK), 1973. (reissue)
LP...$22.99
23.99
A seminal set from vocalist John Holt – stepping out here on his own after an early stretch of greatness with The Paragons – and working as a bright star on his own, with a level of crossover power that should have made him huge on the global scene! The album's as much a soul record as ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae)
Susana Estrada
Sexadelic Disco Funk Sound Of Susana EstradaSauce/Espacial (Spain), Early 80s.
Sweet sexy sounds from Spanish singer Susana Estrada – a performer known for her famous erotic work of the 70s, stepping out here in a set of clubby tracks for the disco generation! The early 80s date of these tracks mark Susana as maybe being a bit later than some of the porn stars turned ... CD (Soul)
Guido & Maurizio DeAngelis
Continuavano A Chiamarlo TrinitaDigitmovies (Italy), 1971.
A beautifully sensitive soundtrack for this early film from the team of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill – very different than most of the other western music of the time – which is a fitting accompaniment to the unique actions of the pair onscreen! There's a fair bit of acoustic guitar in ... CD (Soundtracks)
Giusto Pio
Motore ImmobileCramps/Soave (Italy), 1979. (reissue)
Amazing sounds from the 70s Italian scene! Giusto Pio was a contemporary and colleague of Franco Battiato, and this excellent recording was produced by Battiato, and it's got the same sort of fragile, beautiful, minimal sound that made his classic works so great! The album contains two long ... LP, Vinyl record album (Out Sound)
Hat Hut/Corbett vs. Dempsey, 1980. Gatefold
Billy Bang has always been one of the most incredible players on his instrument – a jazz violinist who could take the strings into freely creative territory, yet also somehow manage to swing – a balance that nobody ever seemed to manage as well as Bang! And while Billy's work in groups ... CD (Jazz)
Tommy Turrentine
Tommy TurrentineTime/Solid (Japan), 1960.
One of the most fantastic hardbop albums of all time! Tommy Turrentine was the less-famous trumpet-playing brother of Stanley Turrentine – but he was a hell of a player in his early days, and he cut some amazing records with his brother during the younger years of his career. This is the ... CD (Jazz)
Wayne McGhie
Love Is The Answer/Tramp (Germany), 1972. (reissue)
2 sides of the funky soul sound of Toronto's Wanye McGhie in the early 70s! "Love Is The Answer" have a more tightly snapping funk sound than you might from the tender hearted title, with really commanding vocals by McGhie – backed by a great group including members of The ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's)
Warner, 1984. (pic cover, reissue)
12-inch...$11.99
12.99
One of the most romping tunes ever recorded by Prince – the kind of cut that was an instant dancefloor stormer back in the day, and still sounds mighty groovy all these many years later! The song is featured here in it's very extended version – and is backed by the fantastic non-LP cut ... 12-inch, Vinyl record (Soul)
Tyree Glenn
Tyree Glenn At The London House In ChicagoRoulette/Warner (Japan), 1961.
Deep-voiced trombone from the great Tyree Glenn – a player with a wonderfully expressive sound that he borrowed from the trad jazz era, but made swing in a more modern setting on records like these! Glenn really runs the gamut of phrasing on his horn – in a way that maybe makes him a ... CD (Jazz)
Be! (Germany), Late 50s/Early 60s. 2CD
Brilliant work from pianist Michael Naura – one of our favorite players on the German scene at the start of the 60s – and one of the few who was really picking up the best sorts of soulful currents from the American scene! Most of the work here features Naura's excellent combo with ... CD (Jazz)
Oscar Rocchi & Tullio De Piscopo
Metamorphosis (180 gram pressing)Edizioni Minstrel/Spettro (Italy), 1981. (reissue)
A great little project from two underground legends of Italian music – keyboardist Oscar Rocchi, whose legacy includes some great jazz and sound library material – and drummer Tullio De Piscopo, who could play with avant talents, but also hit some tighter grooves for the clubs! This ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library)
Marian McPartland
Bossa Nova + SoulTime/Solid (Japan), 1960.
One of the most unique albums ever cut by pianist Marian McPartland – and definitely a set that offers up the bossa and soul promised in the title! Marian's playing electric and acoustic, over some very groovy rhythms from the trio of Ben Tucker on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, and Ralph ... CD (Jazz)
Warner, 1984. (pic cover, reissue)
12-inch...$11.99
12.99
One of our favorite tracks ever from Prince – an instantly funky, instantly catchy tune that never fails to blow us away with its dexterity! The jam sounds great, even after all these years – and it's backed by a non-LP cut, "Another Lonely Christmas" – in which Prince ... 12-inch, Vinyl record (Soul)
Kondi Band
SaloneStrut (UK), 2017.
Very cool sounds from a wonderful pairing of sources – the ancient African thumb piano and contemporary funky production – at a level that's almost a 21st Century update of the American 70s kalimba experiments by Phil Cohran and Earth Wind & Fire! There's moments here that ... CD (Global Grooves)
Mushroom/Esoteric (UK), 1971.
An amazing little record that seems completely unto itself – born in that incredible early 70s moment when the UK was overflowing with elements of prog, psych, and hard rock – but served up here by a group who seem to take their own path right from the start! The instrumentation is ... CD (Rock)
Parlophone, 1977/1978.
7-inch...$13.99
14.98
Fantastic work from the Berlin period of David Bowie – one of his few catchy tunes from the time, backed with an unreleased live recording! "Be My Wife" is fantastic – not only does the tune have all the darkness of the Heroes/Low period, but it also has a surprisingly ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Rock)
Run-DMC
Raising HellProfile/Get On Down, 1986. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
22.98
The massive third album from Run DMC – made at the top of their game – an pivotal effort that brought them to peak popularity and helped break hip hop in a huge way in the pop culture landscape! Part of the album's strength is its guitar-heavy sound on some of the grooves – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Hip Hop)
King Tubby & The Aggrovators
Shalom DubRadiation Roots, 1975.
Shalom means "peace" no matter what the setting – but it's especially apt here, in a righteous set of dubs from King Tubby and The Aggrovators! The album's got a laidback vibe that really reflects the personal inner spirit that was taking hold of the Jamaican scene at the time ... CD (Reggae)
Orchestra Soledad
Vamonos/Futuro/BBE (UK), 1970. (reissue)
LP...$21.99
22.99
Raw salsa from the streets of Brooklyn – served up here by a very obscure group, but one who work in the best styles of the Fania and Cotique Records scenes of the time! There's a strong Puerto Rican influence on the rhythms at times – very much that new spirit that was emerging with ... LP, Vinyl record album (Latin)
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
King & Queen (180 gram gold vinyl pressing)Stax, 1967. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
21.99
A legendary collaboration between Otis Redding and Carla Thomas – the former of whom was definitely the king of the Memphis soul scene at the time of the record's release, and the latter of whom was certainly going for the title of queen with her power on the record! Carla here is a lot more ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Fabio Fabor/
Superman (180 gram pressing)
Edizioni Minstrel/Spettro (Italy), 1984. (reissue)
80s keyboards galore – lots of work on Oberheim, Arp, and Polymoog instruments – mixed with a bit of Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano too – all set to lots of beats programmed on a Commodore 64 and early DMX drum machine! This isn't one of those retro-styled albums by a youngster ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library)
New Sound Quartet
Crazy Colours (180 gram pressing)Edizioni Minstrel/Spettro (Italy), 1979. (reissue)
Sweet electric grooves from this obscure Italian combo – one who's actually a quintet, not a quartet – and play in all these wonderful funky jazz styles! The approach is a bit CTI/Kudu Records at times – or more instrumental club music in other moments – and the lineup ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library)
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. 2CD
The real sound of the old school, and the best beats from the streets – the kind of early underground hip hop tracks that still sound wonderful after all these years! These are tracks from the earliest years of the style – when funk was as much a part of the music as lyrics – and ... CD (Funky Compilations)
Various
Welcome To Zamrock – How Zambia's Liberation Led To A Rock Revolution 1972 to 1977 (CD & book)Now Again, Mid 70s.
Fantastic sounds for fans of funk and rock alike – music from the freaky, fuzzy 70s scene in Zambia – a place where styles effortlessly criss-crossed to really produce something new and unique! The work here is often heavy on fuzz guitars, but also has some wickedly soulful basslines ... CD (Global Grooves)
Modern Sound Quartet (Oscar Rocchi)
Horoscope (180 gram pressing)Edizioni Minstrel/Spettro (Italy), 1978. (reissue)
A fantastic trip into the twelve signs of the Zodiac, courtesy of the Modern Sound Quartet – a very funky instrumental group that features lots of sweet keyboards from Oscar Rocchi! The music follows a similar format to other great zodiac funk records of the 70s – in that each of the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library)
Roberto Pregadio & Franco Micalizzi
Il Pistolero Dell'Ave Maria (180 gram pressing – with poster)Carosello/Spettro (Italy), 1970. Gatefold (reissue)
A really great pairing of Italian soundtrack talents – the mighty Roberto Pregadio, who gave us the Kriminal and Satanik records – and the great Franco Micalizzi, who served up lots of funky cop/crime grooves in the 70s! This obscure western is scored with a flair that really seems to ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks)
Astral Dimension (Fabio Fabor)
Galassia M81 (180 gram pressing)Edizioni Minstrel/Spettro (Italy), 1981. (reissue)
Lost sound library genius from Fabio Fabor – working here under the name of The Astral Dimension – which is a very good tag for the sound on the set! Although recorded in 1981, the record has all the warmth of some of Fabor's 70s material – lots of swirling, spacey keyboards ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library)
Various
Praise Poems 5 – A Journey Into Deep Soulful Jazz & Funk From The 1970s (with bonus download)Tramp (Germany), 1970s. 2LP
A record with a sound that's much richer than you'd expect from the cover – not the spare, stark image on the front – but a wonderfully deep array of sounds from the more spiritual side of the jazz spectrum! As with previous volumes, the collection of tunes here is amazing – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations)
Ifriqiyya Electrique
RuwahineGlitterbeat (Germany), 2017.
Very dark sounds from this cross-cultural combo – a group who certainly draw from Tunisian roots at times, but who almost come across sounding more like one of the darker acts from the post-punk generation! The "electrique" in the name is well-put – as even the acoustic ... CD (Global Grooves)
Warner (Japan), Late 60s.
There's nothing "soft" about the nuggets in this great little collection – as all the tracks here are the cream of the crop of the late 60s pop scene in the US – not super-huge hits, but instead some overlooked gems that definitely warrant the "nuggets" in the title! ... CD (Rock)
Bobby Hutcherson
Highway One/Columbia/BGO (UK), 1978/1979/1980. 2CD
A trio of incredible records from Bobby Hutcherson – two on CD for the first time ever! Highway One is a wicked post-Blue Note session from Bobby Hutcherson – one that's put together in a different way than his previous work, but still completely sublime throughout! The feel is almost ... CD (Jazz)
Pacific Express
Black Fire (180 gram pressing)Matsuli (UK), 1976. (reissue)
A seminal album from one of the hippest groups going on the South African scene of the 70s – a combo who mixed equal parts electric jazz and R&B, in a mode that's strongly inspired by American groups of the time! The Pacific Express vibe has plenty of echoes of the Earth Wind & Fire ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves)
Saigon Supersound, Late 60s/Early 70s.
Incredible sounds from Saigon – music that's often quite funky and surprisingly soulful – and which no doubt shows a strong influence on the scene from all the American GIs who were playing their music overseas! Other collections of this nature maybe localize the music a bit more than ... CD (Global Grooves)
Ennanga Vision
Ennanga VisionSoundway (UK), 2017.
One of those records that definitely lives up to its cover – as it's not only a great mish-mash of styles, it's also got some 80s instrumental currents that might come as a surprise if you know other records on the Soundway label! The work recasts older elements of Ugandan music with old ... CD (Global Grooves)
17 North Parade/VP, 1976. 3CD (reissue)
A classic slice of Jamaican roots – and an essential record from the godlike hands of Lee Perry! The set was produced by Perry at Black Ark – and instantly became the stuff of legend, even though the initial version of the album got very limited exposure – which has led to years ... CD (Reggae)
Cameron Graves
Planetary PrinceMack Avenue, 2017.
A fantastic debut as a leader from pianist Cameron Graves – an artist you might know from Kamasi Washington's album The Epic – and an even more tremendous talent when he gets his own chance to shine in the spotlight! Graves has a very bold, righteous vision here – a mode that's ... CD (Jazz)
Melvin Van Peebles
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (180 gram pressing)Stax, 1971. Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$22.99
24.98
One of the most fantastic soundtracks of the 70s – and maybe even of all time – thanks to a non-stop blast of insane styles and grooves – all quite different than other blacksploitation records of the time! For this, his masterpiece film, Melvin Van Peebles composed a non-stop ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul)
Arnaldo Baptista
Loki (180 gram pressing)Polygram/Polysom (Brazil), 1974. (reissue)
A freaky little solo album by Arnaldo Baptista of Os Mutantes – a set that's every bit as wild as you might guess from the cover! The album was recorded right after the first few classics by Os Mutantes – in 1974 – and Baptista wrote all of the songs, except for one, which lists ... LP, Vinyl record album (Brazil)
Jukka Eskola Soul Trio
Jukka Eskola Soul TrioTimmion (Finland), 2017.
A fantastic full length set from trumpeter Jukka Eskola and his Soul Trio – a combo with a strange sort of name! The group here is actually a sextet – as the core combo gets guest help from Timo Lassy on saxes, Magnus Lindgren on flute, and Ville Herrala on bass – who really ... CD (Jazz)
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!