A great weekend for record shopping in Chicago!
Placebo (Marc Moulin)
Ball Of Eyes (Japanese paper sleeve edition)EMI/P-Vine (Japan), 1971. New Copy Gatefold
A very cool little album from Placebo – arguably the group's most soulful session ever, and one that draws heavily from American funky jazz at the start of the 70s! The grooves are nice and tight, and keyboards are focused on the most soulful sort of riffs – not nearly as tripped out ...
CD
(Jazz)
Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Ensemble
Intergalactic BeingsFPE, 2014. New Copy
Mindblowing sounds from Chicago flute player Nicole Mitchell – a set of work inspired by the science fiction writings of Octavia Butler – with a striking style to match! Although the music has some arch qualities that live up to the darkness of Butler's writings, the performance here ...
CD
(Jazz)
Festival/Warner (Australia), Mid 60s. New Copy
A world of garagey grooves we've never heard before – and a tremendous counterpart to the American Nuggets scene of the 60s! The music here is all from Australia, and shows a really hard, heavy style already in place at the time – one that kind of snuck up beneath the more polished ...
CD
(Rock)
Amadou Balake
Bar Konon Mousso Bar (180 gram deluxe edition)Kindred Spirits (Netherlands), 1978. New Copy (reissue)
An amazing groove from the legendary Amadou Balake – music that's got this tight focus that has everything coming down together right in the middle – from basslines to percussion to some mighty skittish guitar! The rhythmic lines here are even sharper than in other Afro Funk from the ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold
One of the coolest collections of music we've ever heard from the folks at Soul Jazz Records – and a batch of work that we never would have heard otherwise! The sounds here are from a unique point in Spanish music – one in which flamenco guitar mixed with Latin rhythms, gypsy culture, ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Various
Heavy SoulWarner (Australia), Early 70s. New Copy 2CD
Heavy soul, but not just from soul artists – and instead a really great range of tracks that includes work from rootsy rockers and country musicians as well! The package traces the strong influence of soul music on so many different styles at the start of the 70s – bits of funk ...
CD
(Rock)
Mats Gustafsson
Torturing The SaxophoneCorbett vs. Dempsey, 2014. New Copy
CD...$13.99
14.99
Mats Gustafsson tortures the saxophone – but tortures it beautifully, too – in this wonderful set of solo tracks that mix tenor and live electronics, baritone and music box, and some solo baritone moments too! The title's a reference to a hilarious letter sent to Mats by Robert Crumb ...
CD
(Jazz)
Renee Geyer
It's A Man's Man's WorldRCA/Mushroom (Australia), 1974. New Copy
One of the funkiest, most soulful albums to come from Australia in the 70s – and the crowning achievement of singer Renee Geyer! Renee's got a style that makes her a blue-eyed equivalent of Chaka Khan during her years with Rufus – and the band here shares a very similar style, with an ...
CD
(Soul)
Warner (Australia), 1971. New Copy 2CD
The Americans may have invented the surfing film, but the Australians really took it to a new level – creating these amazing movies that were very trippy, and very spiritual – showing a real connection between their surf culture and the natural rhythms of the planet! Morning Of The ...
CD
(Rock)
AJ & The Jiggawatts
AJ & The JiggawattsGED Soul, 2014. New Copy
The first-ever full length we've ever heard from AJ & The Jiggawatts – and a record that really lives up to the promise of their work on funky 45! These guys are a deep funk combo, but one with a difference – energy that's a bit more raw and rough around the edges, in the best ...
CD
(Deep Funk)
Art Webb
Mr Flute/Atlantic/Expansion (UK), 1977. New Copy
Sweet soulful flute galore – a pair of albums from Art Webb, back to back on a single CD! Mr Flute is a tasty batch of uptempo instrumentals from Webb – a lesser-known funky flute player, but one who played on a huge amount of Latin sessions during the 70s (check your session notes, ...
CD
(Jazz)
Warner (Australia), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold
Some blues, but not the kind that's blue – and instead a batch of messed-up, freaked-out, turned-on sounds from the end of the 60s – that magical time when it seemed like so many different genres were crashing together, and coming up with really great new music in the process! The set ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Funky Compilations)
Tramp (Germany), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy
Rare funk, soul, and jazz – all with the same great gritty sound we've come to love from the Movements series! The collection is right in line with some of the excellent funky 45 reissues from the Tramp label – but the set also shows their deeper digging in recent years, and their ...
CD
(Funky Compilations)
Warner (Australia), 1970s. New Copy 2CD
Here's a world we really don't know at all – but which really comes alive, thanks to the strength of the compilation! Australia's been home to lots of famous global acts over the years, but back in the 70s it was a real hotbed of hipster material in a country vein – work that's like ...
CD
(Rock)
Zara McFarlane
If You Knew HerBrownswood (UK), 2013. New Copy
An even better album than Zara McFarlane's debut – and a record that lets us dig even deeper into the wonderful world of her vocals! The instrumentation here is mostly stripped down – usually just a bit of percussion, bass, or piano – used as sparingly here as on some of Jose ...
CD
(Neo Soul)
Dopegems
NecksnappinHeavenly Sweetness (France), 2014. New Copy
Dope gems, indeed – as the album's filled with fierce funky tracks that take us back to the 70s heyday of CTI Records and blacksploitation soundtracks! Yet the sound here isn't just fake retro funk, either – it's really well-crafted, jazz-heavy work that's filled with sweet vibes, ...
CD
(Deep Funk)
Various
Cosmic CountryWarner (Australia), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy 2CD
Not the kind of country music you'd hear from the mainstream of Nashville, and instead a really cool collection of underground work from a variety of US scenes at the end of the 60s – most with the kind of trippy currents you'd expect from the "cosmic" in the title! Lots of the ...
CD
(Rock)
Warner (Australia), Mid 60s. New Copy
Wonderful lost work from The Bee Gees – some surprisingly wonderful Australian recordings, made in the few years before their American debut! The vocal strengths of the group are already firmly in place – those amazing harmonies with a quality that's unlike any other act we can think ...
CD
(Rock)
Wax Poetics
Issue #58 – Spring 2014Wax Poetics, 2014. New Copy
Magazine...$10.99
11.98
Cee Lo Green's on the cover of Wax Poetics this time around, and Action Bronson is on the flip – part of the issue's "real talk" feature with artists! The issue also has articles on older soul legends Swamp Dogg, Freda Payne, Ronald Isley, Brian Jackson, Thom Bell, and Millie ...
Magazine
(Magazines)
Stag O Lee (Germany), Late 50s/Early 60s. New Copy
Wild rockers from the dark side of the moon – very cool early tracks that often use odd studio techniques or weird instrumentation alongside straighter rocking sounds! The approach is best summed up by the legendary Joe Meek – who clocks in on two tracks here – and the collection ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Rock)
Ray Frazier & The Shades Of Madness
Ray Frazier & The Shades Of Madness – Six Sides Of Ultra Rare Northern Soul, Sweet Crossover, & Classic Deep Funk (3 x 7" box set)Jazzman (UK), Early 70s. New Copy 3 x 7 inch (pic cover)
A much-needed set of work from the legendary Ray Frazier and his Shades Of Madness group – an artist who only cut a handful of singles, all of them great! The title makes a lot of promises as to the grooves within the set – but it definitely delivers as well – and shows what a ...
7-inch, Vinyl record
(Funky 45's)
Wire
Issue 363 – May 2014Wire, 2014. New Copy
The cover feature's a great tribute to the role of compilations in music – with a compilation of pieces on the fabulous format from a surprisingly great range of writers – all of whom talk about the way key compilations helped shape their tastes in music! There's also a great feature ...
Magazine
(Magazines)
DJ Center feat Akoya Afrobeat
Dem Say Ah/Push The Fader, 2014. New Copy (pic cover)
A great collaboration between DJ Center and Akyoa Afrobeat Project – one that takes the Afro Funk group into some great new territory! The vibe here still echoes the classic modes of Akyoa's other records, but also adds in some slight clubby touches too – focusing a bit more on the ...
12-inch, Vinyl record
(Global Grooves)
Witch
Movin' OnTeal/Invisible City Editions (UK), 1980. New Copy (reissue)
An unusual later album from Witch – one that has a sweet funky style at the core – a mode that shows the group picking up a fair bit of disco and club from the American scene, and fusing it with their older Zamrock styles to create a really unique sound overall! At times, the record ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Warner (Australia), 2012. New Copy
A contemporary collection, but one that really lives up to the spirits of the legendary Nuggets collection – as the artists here each pick a favorite track from that garage and pysch powerhouse, then deliver their own very faithful versions! The set's got an extra special twist – given ...
CD
(Rock)
Nicole Mitchell & Joelle Leandre
Sisters WhereRogue Art (France), 2014. New Copy
A beautiful combination of flute and bass – the former from Nicole Mitchell, the latter from Joelle Leandre – both players who really open up in the space of a spare record like this! Leandre's got a very lyrical, spiritual tone to her instrument – but also lots of sharp edges ...
CD
(Jazz)
Warner (Australia), 2014. New Copy 2CD
A new batch of music put together in the spirit of the legendary Morning Of The Earth movie – that famous surf film from Australia that really drew new cosmic connections between mankind, the water, and the music! The original soundtrack for that film is often listed as one of the best ...
CD
(Rock)
Outta Sight (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s. New Copy
Smoking work from the early years of soul music – that time when the style was just coming into its own, through equal parts jazz, R&B, blues, and gospel! The cuts here are those which might be called R&B in another setting, but definitely work together to inform the roots of soul ...
CD
(Soul)
Bibi Tanga Et Le Professeur Inlassable
En Slip Chaussettes (vocal, dub)L'inlassable Disque (France), 2008. New Copy (pic cover)
A very cool little track – one that's got an Afro Funk vibe, but at a pace that's much slower and moodier than usual! The beats have a nicely space feel, and they're interwoven with these little keyboard bursts that sound very cool and trippy – really keeping the right pace to move ...
7-inch, Vinyl record
(Global Grooves)
Nico Fidenco
Zombi HolocaustBeat (Italy), 1980. New Copy
One of the grooviest zombie soundtracks you'll ever hope to own – courtesy of Italian sex maestro Nico Fidenco! Nico scored plenty of previous sex romps before this film, and really brings that heritage into play – as he mixes sweet keyboards and weird electronics with some moodier ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Stanton Davis' Ghetto Mysticism
Isis VoyageOutrageous/Cultures Of Soul, Late 70s. New Copy 2LP
A great counterpart to the rare Stanton Davis Ghetto Mysticism album – and a set that was recorded right around the same time, with a number of previously unreleased tracks! The spiritual energy of that group has been well-loved by collectors for years – and enjoyed by others thanks to ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Jazz)
Jacques Coursil & Alan Silva
Free Jazz Art – Sessions For Bill DixonRogue Art (France), 2014. New Copy
Two giants from the glory days of the BYG/Actuel avant scene in France – working perfectly here on a contemporary set of duets! We haven't heard from Jacques Coursil in a while, but his trumpet work here is really stunning – both in the inventive spirit of Bill Dixon, to whom the ...
CD
(Jazz)
Voice Of Jamaica (UK), Late 60s. New Copy
Some of the greatest grooves from late 60s Jamaica – a special set of early rocksteady numbers with an especially soulful vibe! Most numbers here are from groups or single singers getting some great backup from either other vocalists or some heavy echo in the production – which creates ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Reggae)
Augustus Pablo
Rockers At King Tubby'sJamaican Recordings (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. New Copy
Sublime instrumental sounds from the legendary Augustus Pablo – a musician unlike anyone else who ever came from Jamaica – or the rest of the world for that matter too! Pablo's chosen instrument is the melodica – that cool keyboard that you blow and play at the same time – ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Reggae)
Pearlfishers
Open Up Your Coloring BookMarina (Germany), 2014. New Copy 2LP Gatefold
One of our favorite contemporary pop bands – and one of the few who can really truly live up to the best styles we love from the American 60s and the British 80s – all without sounding hokey or cliched at all! There's a care of songwriting that takes us back to early Prefab Sprout at ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Rock)
Thievery Corporation
SaudadeESL, 2014. New Copy
LP...$17.99
19.98
Maybe our favorite record ever from Thievery Corporation – and one that really stays true to the sound of all the styles that have inspired them! For over a decade, the duo have been playing with elements borrowed from bossa nova, old soundtracks, French pop, and lounge – but this is ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(New Grooves)
Ken Tsukamoto & Yusuke Ogawa
Independent Black Jazz Of America (paperback)Rittor (Japan), 2014. New Copy Book
A really important book for any fan of American spiritual jazz of the 70s – a mixture of essays and discographies, with a focus on some of the best labels of the scene – including Strata East, Black Jazz, Tribe, Nimbus, and many others – plus some key entries from overseas as well! ...
Book
(Books)
Bud Powell
Birdland 1953 (3CD set)ESP, 1953. New Copy 3 CDs
CD...$23.99
26.99
A comprehensive set of live recordings by Bud Powell – recorded in that magical year of 1953, on location at the Birdland nightclub! This set's the biggest and best we've ever seen of these performances – and not only includes a wealth of trio tracks, but also some cuts with Charlie ...
CD
(Jazz)
Hokis Pokis
Magic Of Hokis Pokis (with download)Luv N' Haight, Mid 70s-Early 80s. New Copy 2 LPs
LP...$15.99
19.98
A Long Island group with a very groovy sound – a blue-eyed take on funk and disco, with a great small combo sound that must have been great in the clubs! These guys slide into a groove with a tightness that matches their leisure suits in the photo on the back cover – and serve up these ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Soul)
New Mastersounds
TherapyLegere (Germany), 2014. New Copy
Some of the grooviest, funkiest work we've ever heard from New Mastersounds – and that's saying a lot, given how much we dig all their other records! We've been following these guys for over a decade, and they've never let us down – and they're one of the rare funky combos who really ...
CD
(Deep Funk)
Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro
Ichi Ni San Shi Go Roku (Japanese paper sleeve edition)P-Vine (Japan), 2014. New Copy
These guys are really on fire this time around – and turn in one of the most searing performances we've ever heard from a contemporary funky combo! Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro hail from Japan, and have really earned our attention with their previous funky records – but this time around ...
CD
(Deep Funk)
Caetano Veloso
Multishow Ao Vivo – AbracacoUniversal (Brazil), 2013. New Copy
Caetano Veloso looks like a bit of an old geezer on the back cover of this live set – but damn if he isn't still one of the most exciting talents in the world, even alongside most of the contemporary generation too! The performance is a concert that's very much in the spirit of the studio ...
CD
(Brazil)
Folkways/Mississippi, 1920s/1930s/1940s. New Copy 2LP (reissue)
A landmark collection of music – the now-famous series of American Folk Music volumes put together by Harry Smith in the 50s! The work here spans the space of a few early decades of recorded music – all in styles expertly chosen by Smith, with countless examples of music that might ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Folk/Country)
Stanton Moore
ConversationsRoyal Potato, 2014. New Copy
CD...$10.99
11.99
One of the most solid records we've ever heard from drummer Stanton Moore – and a set that's got to be his greatest jazz session to date! Moore's still got all the playful kick he brought to his drums during more funk-based years – but he's working here in a trio with the wonderful ...
CD
(Deep Funk)
Helen Carr
Down In The Depths On The 90th FloorBethlehem, 1955. New Copy
CD...$11.99
12.99
One of the darkest vocal jazz albums of the 50s – packaged with a great title and cover image that features a lone lit window in a New York skyscraper! Helen's got some incredible backing on the record – a small combo that includes Charlie Mariano on alto sax, Don Fagerquist on trumpet ...
CD
(Vocalists)
EMI, 2000. New Copy
CD...$13.99
14.98
The first-ever full length presentation of a legendary live set from D'Angelo – recorded early in his career, and working through a host of classic tunes that really add in a nice layer to his own great music! D'Angelo's caught here in the legendary temple of groove – London's Jazz ...
CD
(Neo Soul)
Voice Of Jamaica (UK), Early 60s. New Copy
Killer ska from the earliest days of the genre – not the remakes or revivals that have happened heavily since the late 70s onwards – but all the best bits from the early scene in Jamaica! The collection features some great gritty numbers that mix American R&B with the nascent ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Reggae)
Columbia, 1994. New Copy 2CD
CD...$14.99
16.98
20th anniversary edition of Nas's masterpiece Illmatic – which will probably stand forever as one of the greatest hip hop full lengths of its time – maybe even for all time. Nas has had some creative ups-and-downs over the years, but nothing can take away the impact of this damn near ...
CD
(Hip Hop)
Kutimangoes
Afro FireTramp (Germany), 2014. New Copy
An Afro Funk combo, but one who really open up their groove, too – mixing in some great outside instrumentation that still stays close to the roots! The core combo is a sextet with a really firey brace of saxes in the lead – a pair of players, one of whom sometimes shifts to flute ...
CD
(Global Grooves)
Rory More
Looking For LazloSudden Hunger (Italy), 2014. New Copy
Rory Moore plays two of our favorite instruments here – vibes and organ – but he's also got help from a great host of guest artists too – a range of singers and musicians who really help make for a rich range of sounds! The style is a very cool amalgam of space age styles, sound ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(New Grooves)
Howard McGhee
Life Is Just A Bowl Of CherriesBethlehem/Solid (Japan), 1956. New Copy
Quite an unusual album for trumpeter Howard McGhee – one that has the famous bop trumpeter working in a sweet "with strings" format – ala similar 50s sessions on Verve! Frank Hunter handles the larger group here – working the strings with some nice touches that go way ...
CD
(Jazz)
Rob Mazurek
Mother OdeCorbett vs. Dempsey, 2014. New Copy
CD...$11.99
12.99
Rob Mazurek has always been more of a multi-instrumentalist instead of just a cornet player – but on this amazing solo set, he really pushes the boundaries even further – by taking up a huge host of different elements and different sounds! That soaring, spacious horn is still in the ...
CD
(Jazz)
Manu Dibango
AfricadelicAurora, Early 70s. New Copy
Incredibly funky work from Manu Dibango – a set that's easily as great as his classic Soul Makossa album – but which is a lot more obscure overall! The work's got a fiercely-jamming quality all the way through – lots of rumbling percussion at the bottom, and also a bit of ...
CD
(Global Grooves)
Jackie Wilson
WhispersBrunswick/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1966. New Copy
Wonderful Chicago soul from Jackie Wilson – one of the classic Brunswick albums he recorded in the Windy City – with stunning production by Carl Davis and arrangements by Sonny Sanders! The album's a perfect showcase for Wilson's incredible vocals – soaring out to new heights in ...
CD
(Soul)
Woima Collective
Frou Frou RokkoKindred Spirits (Netherlands), 2014. New Copy
African rhythms with a distinctively Ethiopian inspired sound from Woima Collective – with even more dexterous percussive textures than on their earlier work – nicely layered underneath some snakey, hypnotic horns and psych funk guitar grooves! The players include veterans of ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Andrzej Korzynski
Man Of MarbleFinders Keepers (UK), 1977. New Copy (reissue)
Maybe the coolest record we've ever heard from Polish soundtrack artist Andrez Korzynski – done in a range of groovy styles that rivals some of the best Italian and French work of the time! At points, there's an all-out funky feel to the record that matches Euro cop/crime soundtracks with ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Soundtracks)
Michel Polnareff
Double Best Of Michel Polnareff (180 gram vinyl)Universal (France), Late 60s/1970s/1980s. New Copy 2LP
A special vinyl-only collection of work from Michel Polnareff – one of our favorite French pop talents from the end of the 60s! Polnareff's got this quality that's unlike anyone else we can think of – very expressive, but without being overly emotive – sometimes crafting the ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(French)
Piero Piccioni
Cuore Di CaneBeat (Italy), 1976. New Copy
The film's got a very weird story – about the evolution of a dog into a human – and Piero Piccioni turns out to be a very good choice for the soundtrack! Initial moments are done in a style that's more serious than usual for Piccioni – some broader, more traditional elements that ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Dave Rempis, Darren Johnston, Larry Ochs
SpectralAerophonic, 2014. New Copy
Wonderfully complicated reed lines from the team of Dave Rempis on alto and Larry Ochs on tenor and sopranino sax – augmented here by trumpeter Darren Johnson, whose instrumental tones are a perfect fit for the record! The style of the set's a bit like some of Ochs' early material with Rova ...
CD
(Jazz)
Gil Melle
QuadramaPrestige (Japan), Mid 50s. New Copy
Sublime work from one of the true originals of 50s jazz! Gil Melle was a baritonist – but with a sound and approach that was completely unique – very different than bigger names on the instrument, like Jimmy Giuffre or Pepper Adams. He had an icy touch that was surprising for the ...
CD
(Jazz)
Eddie Kendricks
Love KeysAtlantic/Real Gone, 1981. New Copy
An overlooked solo gem from Eddie Kendricks – recorded at a time when he was years past his solo Motown fame, but still burning strong on Atlantic Records! The set was recorded down in Alabama, and gives Eddie a slightly different setting – one that unlocks some really rich aspects of ...
CD
(Soul)
Franco Micalizzi
L'Ultimo Cacciatore (The Last Hunter)Chris' Soundtrack Corner (Germany), 1980. New Copy
Sweet grooves for an early 80s action film – penned by the great Franco Micalizzi, who'd done some tremendous work for Italian cop and crime movies in the 70s! The music here really draws on Franco's funky past – with lots of tight-stepping electric basslines that even make the ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Gene Chandler
Girl Don't Care (with bonus tracks)Brunswick/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1967. New Copy
A wonderful wonderful soul album from the great Gene Chandler – quite possibly our favorite work ever from this under-acknowledged Chicago singer! Chandler's way past his "Duke Of Earl" years on this record, and is hitting his stride as one of Chicago's best soul singers of the ...
CD
(Soul)
Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden – Jazz GreatBethlehem/Solid (Japan), 1954. New Copy
The album definitely lives up to the title, and features the mighty Jack Teagarden in a number of small group settings – all with a straight ahead punch that gets away from some of the gimmicks of his other 50s sessions! Teagarden's trombone is still one of the sharpest instruments of his ...
CD
(Jazz)
Carlos Garnett
Black Love (with bonus tracks)Muse/Soul Brother (UK), 1973. New Copy
A 70s soul jazz classic – one of those albums we go back to again and again over the years for inspiration! The album was one of the first from young reed player Carlos Garnett – and it's virtually a super-session for the time – with a sublime lineup that perfectly blends ...
CD
(Jazz)
Sahib Shihab
SentimentsStoryville/SeriE.WOC (Italy), 1971. New Copy (reissue)
One of the coolest, most compelling albums we've ever heard from reedman Sahib Shihab – and that's saying a lot, given how much we love all his other music! This rare gem's got a very exotic feel –explained by Shihab in the notes as coming from a Tunisian influence on the leadoff track ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Jazz)
Hues Corporation
Freedom For The Stallion (with bonus tracks)RCA/Big Break (UK), 1973. New Copy
A landmark set from The Hues Corporation – and a record that's really poised at the crossroads of 70s soul! The group are probably best known for the super-huge hit "Rock The Boat" – a tune that bubbled under in discos for months, then became one of the first mainstream ...
CD
(Soul)
Otis Spann
Sweet Giant Of The BluesFlying Dutchman/Ace (UK), 1969. New Copy
The last album ever from the mighty Otis Spann – and maybe one of the greatest, too! The set's got Otis working in a hip blend of blues and jazz – served up with some tight combo work from west coast players who include Tom Scott on tenor and flute, Max Bennett on bass, Luie Shelton on ...
CD
(Blues)
Pierre Dorge & New Jungle Orchestra
Tjak Tjaka TchicaiSteeplechase (Denmark), 2014. New Copy
CD...$15.99
18.99
Pierre Dorge pays tribute to the late reedman John Tchicai – a frequent musical partner over the years, and a player who's shaped the sound of countless others on both sides of the Atlantic! Tchicai got his start with Archie Shepp on the New York scene of the 60s, but moved over to Denmark ...
CD
(Jazz)
Benet
Benet (with bonus track)EMI/Soulmusic.com (UK), 1992. New Copy
A pretty sweet batch of early 90s R&B from Benet – which is the brother and sister duo of Eric and Lisa Benet – a couple years before Eric would conquer the charts as a solo act! It's a nice little record that's warm and good-natured, and produced with a bright and smooth, but not ...
CD
(Soul)
Sugar Billy
Super Duper LoveFast Track/P-Vine (Japan), 1975. New Copy
A classic indie cooker from Sugar Billy – a bit funky, a bit clubby – and a really great batch of grooves done in a pre-disco mode! The tracks are all pretty darn upbeat – somewhat warmer than the funk of Fatback or Kool & The Gang, but still with a nicely rough-edged feel ...
CD
(Soul)
Dave Rempis/
Naancore (180 gram vinyl)
Aerophonic, 2014. New Copy
Dave Rempis really goes over the top here – and Lasse Marhaug provides some bold electronics to match! Rempis turns in some of the most frenetic work we've ever heard him do on alto sax – and Marhaug races to keep up and collaborate with him on a range of electronic flourishes – ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Jazz)
Luaka Bop/Stones Throw, Early 70s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold
LP...$22.99
23.98
A really mind-bending collection of African grooves – one that digs deep into the West African scene of the early 70s – and comes up with a massive batch of tunes that really opens up our understanding of the music! The sound here isn't just 70s Afro Funk – as the tunes include a ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Son Palenque
Afro-Colombian Sound ModernizersVampi Soul (Spain), 1970s/1980s. New Copy 2LPs
Seminal sounds from Son Palenque – one of the funkiest, earthiest groups to ever come from the Colombian scene – and an ensemble who draw so much inspiration from African styles, they've really found a musical bridge across the Atlantic! There's a fair bit of Afro Funk in the mix here, ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Rudy Royston
303Greenleaf, 2014. New Copy
CD...$9.99
14.98
The first album as a leader from drummer Rudy Royston – a player we've enjoyed for years in the company of others, and one who emerges here with a really fresh voice of his own! Rudy's drums are bold, but also have this way of opening up and allowing magical interplay between all the other ...
CD
(Jazz)
Anthony Joseph
TimeNaive/Heavenly Sweetness (France), 2014. New Copy Gatefold
Anthony Joseph has always sounded great – but this time around he's got some stellar help from Meshell Ndegeocello – who wrote, arranged, and produced the entire album! The result is the best material we've ever heard from Joseph – a completely righteous record that gives his ...
CD
(New Grooves)
Franco Bixio
A Pugni NudiCinevox/Chris' Soundtrack Corner (Germany), 1974. New Copy
A funky soundtrack for this film about fist fighting – scored by the great Franco Bixio with the same sense of punch and power he brought to his crime and cop scores! The music's got this great blend of strings and pulsating passages – a sense of drama that's never overdone, and which ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Elmer Bernstein
Ava Collection (Walk On The Wild Side/AVA/Intrada, 1962/1963/1964/1965. New Copy 3 CDs
A great collection of 60s soundtracks from Elmer Bernstein – all originally issued by the indie Ava label, where Bernstein was one of the biggest stars! Elmer had already had a number of years experience working in Hollywood – including some classic late 50s scores that perfectly mixed ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Tabu (UK), 1980s. New Copy 10 CDs
Every single album by the mighty SOS Band – packaged in one sweet little set, complete with two more CDs' worth of bonus material as well! The group were one of the best funky soul acts of the 80s – and had an amazing run on Tabu Records – all of which is documented here in a ...
CD
(Soul)
Ambrose Akinmusire
Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To PaintBlue Note, 2014. New Copy
CD...$10.99
11.98
The music here is as evocative as the title – almost a mix of contemporary Blue Note modes with older ECM styles – all served up as a perfect showcase for the ever-growing talents of trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire! We've really dug the last two records from Ambrose, and this one seems to ...
CD
(Jazz)
Monty Alexander
Harlem-Kingston Express Vol 2 – The River Rolls OnMotema, 2014. New Copy
CD...$11.99
15.99
A really great second chapter in the Harlem/Kingston series from Monty Alexander – and material that may well be some of his most exciting in years! Monty's always been very upfront about his Jamaican roots – and has expressed them in a number of ways on a number of different sessions ...
CD
(Jazz)
Keith Barrow
Physical Attraction (with bonus tracks)CBS/FTG, 1978. New Copy
CD...$15.99
16.98
A great secular set from Keith Barrow – a singer who started in gospel, but who's always been best-remembered for this modern soul gem from the 70s! Keith's got a great range to his vocals – one you can hear right from the start, as he dips and soars effortlessly with a quality that's ...
CD
(Soul)
Blue Mitchell
Heads Up! (with bonus tracks)Blue Note (Japan), 1967. New Copy
One of the first albums to feature the trumpet of Blue Mitchell in a larger group – a really great move that let his soulful horn really come to the lead! Blue sounds wonderful here – soaring out in front of larger charts from Duke Pearson, Jimmy Heath, Don Pickett, and Melba Liston ...
CD
(Jazz)
RCA/Big Break (UK), 1982. New Copy
A really nice step forward for Odyssey – a record that's a bit tighter and more electric than previous sets, but which also has a nice sort of depth as well! These guys manage to balance a love of the hook with all the right sort of touches to keep the cuts from ever being too poppy or ...
CD
(Soul)
Lion, Mid 60s. New Copy
A treasure trove of rare mid 60s garage rock from the state of Michigan – the complete anthology of local legends The Bossmen! MI was soon to become a breeding ground for some of the most revolutionary rock of the 60s – and while The Bossmen aren't best remembered rockers of the region ...
CD
(Rock)
Barbara Mason
TransitionBuddah/Soul Brother (UK), 1974. New Copy
Transition is right – as the cover has Barbara floating above a Curtis Mayfield-ish scene of drugs, war, gambling, and Satan – a really righteous image that beautifully sums up the vibe of the record! The set was recorded at Sigma Sound in Philly – with excellent arrangements ...
CD
(Soul)
Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles
Complete Atlantic Sides Plus (Over The Rainbow/Atlantic/Real Gone, Mid 60s. New Copy 2 CDs
CD...$28.99
29.98
The complete Atlantic Records material from Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles – a group who'd recorded for other labels before these sides, but who really hit their stride with Atlantic! The collection brings together live tracks, two full albums, singles, and even some unreleased tracks as ...
CD
(Soul)
Yusef Lateef
Doctor Is In & OutAtlantic (Japan), 1976. New Copy
One of Yusef Lateef's funkier albums for Atlantic – and a record that features some great keyboard work from Kenny Barron! The liner notes indicate a current Lateef fascination with rhythm, and it tries to present this fascination in a way that implies a bigger intellectual approach to the ...
CD
(Jazz)
Jones Family Singers
Spirit SpeaksArts+Labor, 2014. New Copy
A contemporary gospel group, but one with a killer sound that really takes us back to the best styles of 60s and 70s soul-influenced ensembles! The Jones Family Singers is a tight, well-crafted outfit – one who express themselves with plenty of secular passion alongside their spiritual ...
CD
(Gospel)
Carol Sloane
Sophisticated Lady (Japanese paper sleeve edition)All Art/Muzak (Japan), 1978. New Copy
Carol Sloane's always been a sophisticated lady in the way she approaches jazz vocals – but this set takes things even further, by giving the singer a set of classic Ellington tunes to work with! The approach is great – way different than usual bigger group Ellington vocal records, as ...
CD
(Vocalists)
Red Astaire
Nuggets For The Needy Vol 2 (red vinyl pressing)House Of Godis, 2014. New Copy 2 LPs
It's been awhile since we've heard from Red Astaire (aka Freddie Cruger), but it's definitely been worth the wait – as it's given him time to dig through his vaults, and come up with this second volume of rare recordings! Most of these cuts have never been issued before – and represent ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(New Grooves)
Luaka Bop, 1992. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$18.99
19.98
A great return for the legendary Tom Ze – an artist who'd been brought back to prominence via the efforts of a Luaka Bop compilation – then given this great chance to record for the label on his own! The set's a great return to form for Ze – who sprung from this moment into a ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Brazil)
Mike Marshall & Turtle Island String Quartet
Mike Marshall & Turtle Island String QuartetAdventure Music, 2014. New Copy
CD...$12.99
15.99
A really beautiful setting for the mandolin of Mike Marshall – a set that features his lead instrument alongside the Turtle String Quartet! The group themselves are very open to new ideas, but also bring a very different vibe to the record than some of Marshall's other albums – not ...
CD
(Jazz)
Jonathan Sigel
Hard WaterJonathan Sigel, 2014. New Copy
Sweet soulful trumpet from Jonathan Sigel – an artist who's got a really great ear for the best fusion styles of the 70s – particularly work by some of the more R&B inflected trumpet players of the time! The grooves are awash in warm keyboard lines, and sometimes feature either a ...
CD
(Neo Soul)
Essential, Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy
Rare funk from two great indie labels of the 70s – the Fungus imprint, which handled a fair bit of Swamp Dogg side projects – and the excellent Zodiac, which was home to some of the deepest artists on the Chicago scene at the start of the 70s! Both labels had a great ear for the harder ...
CD
(Funky Compilations)
Armando Trovajoli
7 Volte 7 (with bonus tracks)GDM (Italy), 1968. New Copy
Some of the grooviest work we've ever heard from Armando Trovajoli – one of his sweet 60s soundtracks for the 7 Golden Men series of heist films – done with a great mix of mod jazz and lots of vocal touches! The vocals are especially great – sung by I Cantori Moderni – but ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Diana Ross
Ross (Motown) (LP sleeve edition)Motown/Culture Factory (France), Mid 70s. New Copy
CD...$16.99
18.99
Diana Ross in the sweet clubby 70s – working here in a set of upbeat groovers that really show off her talents as a disco diva! The tunes are mostly upbeat, and surprisingly fresh – not nearly as disco cliched as you might expect, and handled in just the right way to take advantage of ...
CD
(Soul)
Ace (UK), Mid 60s. New Copy 2 CDs
Legendary work from one of the greatest soul labels ever – a tiny Alabama imprint that helped bring the Muscle Shoals sound to the masses – thanks to the work of producer Rick Hall, and his crack band of session players! The music here set a whole new standard for soul in the south ...
CD
(Soul)
Bruno Nicolai
GeminusPan (Italy), 1969. New Copy
Bruno Nicolai is at the top of his game here – really working magic for the soundtrack to this extended late 60s mini-series for Italian television! The music sums up all the best Nicolai modes of the time – some of those Morricone-like moments of mellow groove, mixed with starker ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Main Ingredient
Rolling Down A Mountainside/RCA/Expansion (UK), 1975/1976. New Copy
Double greatness from The Main Ingredient – two full albums on a single CD! Rolling Down A Mountainside is mid 70s magic from The Main Ingredient – a set that has the trio working with even more sophistication than on previous records, yet still holding onto all the harmonies that ...
CD
(Soul)
Jacques Berrocal
ParallelesAlga Marghen (Italy), 1976. New Copy
A really compelling mixture of free jazz and other avant elements – a record beyond compare from trombonist and trumpeter Jacques Berrocal, put together with all the freedoms of the French scene of the 70s! Each track has a slightly different lineup, and a slightly different flavor – ...
CD
(Jazz)
II Close
More To A Man (with bonus tracks)Tabu/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1993. New Copy
An R&B trio from that time when more street-based aesthetics were coming into the mainstream of soul – bits of hip hop that were used to bring a really fresh groove to music like this! The touches are slight, but help add in a nice sort of kick to the groove – even in the mellower ...
CD
(Soul)
Riz Ortolani
L'Etrusco Uccide AncoraDigitmovies (Italy), 1972. New Copy
The movie's a spooky one, with some great tense moments in the soundtrack – but Riz Ortolani also brings his warmer sensibility to bear as well, and creates that magical mixture of darkness and light that you'll find in the best Italian film scores of the 70s! The music is mostly orchestral, ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Various
Beat From Badsville Vol 3 – Trash Classics from Lux & Ivy's Vinyl Mountain (2 x 10" vinyl pressing)Stag O Lee (Germany), Late 50s/1960s. New Copy 2 x 10"
A great entry in this ultra-cool series – two slabs of 10" vinyl, packaged in a great gatefold cover – with an assortment of really rare, really raw, really raunchy tracks from the early days of rock and roll! The set features different themes for each of the four sides of the ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Rock)
Frank Lacy
Live At SmallsSmalls Live, 2014. New Copy
CD...$11.99
15.99
One of the greatest albums we've ever heard from trombonist Frank Lacy – an artist who hardly ever takes the spotlight as a leader, but who really shines at the helm of this amazing set! The group has a depth of feeling that takes us back to some of Lacy's more spiritual projects of previous ...
CD
(Jazz)
Omni Sound/Muzak (Japan), 1977. New Copy
Killer work from pianist John Coates – a lesser-known player who labored for years in the east Pennsylvania scene, but who went onto have a surprisingly big influence with records like this! Coates has this beautifully lyrical touch on the keys – one that's really open to new colors ...
CD
(Jazz)
Carlo Savina
I Tre Del ColoradoDigitmovies (Italy), 1965. New Copy
A vibrant 60s western score – done with dramatic themes that echo the American style of the 50s, although with some key spaghetti western touches as well! The main theme has a triumphant feel that comes back at a few key points – but more interesting are the mellower passages, some of ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Maxine Sullivan With The Scott Hamilton Quintet
Something To Remember You By (aka Uptown) (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Concord/Muzak (Japan), 1985. New Copy
One of the greatest records we've ever heard from the legendary Maxine Sullivan – and a set that's got a bit more of a contemporary jazz vibe overall! The set's done with the group of tenorist Scott Hamilton – a great player to choose for a session like this, as he's one with a very ...
CD
(Vocalists)
Cecile Verny
Fear & FaithJazz Haus (Germany), 2014. New Copy
CD...$14.99
15.99
A wonderfully strong set from singer Cecile Verny – thanks to a backing combo who's as proud and bold as her vocals! Often, a singer like this never gets the sort of groove she deserves – sometimes lost amidst some fuller R&B arrangements, or under-whelmed by trippier abstract ...
CD
(Vocalists)
Studio One/Rockashacka (Japan), Late 60s. New Copy
Some of the first great sounds to come from the legendary Studio One Records – an assortment of early rocksteady singles, including a fair bit of rare gems we've never heard before! These rocksteady tracks are the precursor to later reggae work from Jamaica – and show a strong ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Reggae)
Spandettes
Spandex EffectDo Right (Canada), 2014. New Copy Gatefold
These guys might have a gimmicky name, but their sound is wonderfully soulful – and backed here by some very tight small group instrumentation – in a mode that's somewhere between old school funk and soul, but with some more contemporary clubby touches too! The trio clearly draw ...
CD
(New Grooves)
Upsetter Revue/
Play On Mr Music/Rockashacka (Japan), Late 70s. New Copy (reissue)
Heavy rhythms and soulful rootsy vocals from the vaults of Lee Scratch Perry – in the form of a legendary rare jam by the Upsetter Revue – featuring the Heptones, the Congos and Junior Murvin! "Play On Mr. Music" is an incredible side of Black Ark genius, circa '77, ...
12-inch, Vinyl record
(Reggae)
Carlo Savina
Pizza ConnectionGDM (Italy), 1985. New Copy
A great mid 80s mafia soundtrack by Carlo Savina! The film's setting is New York City, and sure enough, there are some sly little nods to The Godfather in the orchestrations by Savina, but it's ultimately got a masterfully composed vibe that's plenty original! It's got a nice, classical string-la ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Fiorenzo Carpi
Le Avventure Di Pinocchio (3CD set)Digitmovies (Italy), 1972. New Copy 3CD
One of the weirdest versions of Pinocchio you'll ever see – not the animated cartoon by Disney, but a strange live action production for 70s Italian TV! The music here is surprisingly great – and comes off with a flair that's maybe even more complicated than the images on the screen ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Ennio Morricone
Mio Caro Dr GraslerGDM (Italy), 1990. New Copy
A romantic later soundtrack by Ennio Morricone for Mio Caro Dr Grasler, aka The Bachelor – in a timeless piano and strings mode! The setting of the film is pre-World War I Austria, and it has a strong dramatic cast, so the elegance is quite befitting – but it's never stodgy or anything ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Melodious Myles & Bo
Odyssey Love/VH, 1985. New Copy (reissue)
A Chicago dancefloor gem from the mid 80s by Melodious Myles & Bo! "Odyssey Love" has a lean, melodic house vibe that holds up incredibly well – with insistent beats, a catchy and prominent bass groove, and atmospheric keys floating in and out. It fills out the whole side and ...
12-inch, Vinyl record
(New Grooves)
Lenny Williams
Spark Of Love (with bonus tracks)ABC/Soulmusic.com (UK), 1978. New Copy
A real classic from Lenny Williams – most likely his strongest solo album ever! By the time of this set, Lenny had been out of Tower Of Power for a few years, working on his own in the west coast scene. But the real genius here comes from producer/arranger Frank Wilson – once a key ...
CD
(Soul)
Wah Wah (Spain), 1971. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)
An even more tuneful set than the first record from OPMC – one that features shorter tunes with a bit more lyrical appeal – and this style of dreamy harmonizing that almost reminds us of the best early Atlantic work from The Bee Gees! The settings here are simpler – mostly a mix ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Rock)
RCA/Soulmusic.com (UK), 1976. New Copy
A really great album from the revived 70s version of The Tymes – a group who draw on a long legacy of harmonies in Philly soul, and who work here in a setting that really brings out their best! The whole record was produced and directed by Billy Jackson – and it's got a Philly/New York ...
CD
(Soul)
Harvey Mason
MVP – Most Valuable Player (plus bonus tracks)Arista/Soulmusic.com (UK), 1981. New Copy
Harvey's fifth and final album for Arista – another win for the funk-soul-fusion MVP! Given that Harvey worked on some of the best fusion sessions of the 70s, it's more than safe to give him "most valuable player" award – because without his drums, many a record would have ...
CD
(Soul)
Josefus
Dead ManHookah/Numero, 1970. New Copy (reissue)
LP...$14.99
15.98
A rare slab of underground hard rock from Josefus – circa 1970, and a good half decade ahead of its time! It's got a walloping, fuzz-drenched blue rock swagger you might expect from subterranean TX rockers at the time – but the Zeppelin-y vocals, and overall dark and sludgy Sabbath-y ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Rock)
Finders Keepers (UK), Mid 70s. New Copy
One of the coolest collections of underground Thai rock we've seen – and it certainly is The Heavier Sound Of the Luk Thung Underground – including a uniquely Thai vision flavored with a Black Sabbath riff, psych makeovers of Thai folklore, and a bunch great tunes that meld Bangkok life ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
George Davis
Scapula – Bop Acetates Chicago 1949Corbett vs. Dempsey, 1949. New Copy
CD...$9.99
10.99
Very rare work from an early bop saxophonist in Chicago – reedman George Davis, who's best known for bringing together the team of Jackie & Roy! Davis recorded briefly for Aristocrat/Chess Records, but has hardly any output of his own – which makes this previously-unissued live set ...
CD
(Jazz)
Michael Henderson
Fickle (with bonus tracks)Buddah/FTG, 1983. New Copy
A mix of 80s groove and mellower material from Michael Henderson – a sweet extension of the jazzy soul he first laid out in the 70s! The style here is a bit more electric and contemporary than before – less of the deeper, warmer tones – and a bit more synth drums and keyboards. ...
CD
(Soul)
Leaders Of The New School
Future Without A PastElektra/Traffic, 1991. New Copy 2LP (reissue)
The amazing debut of those most hyperactive of the Native Tongues, the short-lived, ultra fresh Leaders Of The New School! Busta & Co. splintered apart after just two albums, but this will always be a shiny trophy in the mantle with the all time freshest East Coast hip hop. It sounds great to ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Hip Hop)
Boogie Down Productions
By All Means NecessaryJive/Get On Down, 1988. New Copy (reissue)
LP...$19.99
20.98
Seminal late 80s righteous hip hop from KRS and Boogie Down Productions! By All Means Necessary shows remarkable change in lyrical style from Criminal Minded, delivering a eavy dose of knowledge at a time when so much hip hop was all about rocking the party. KRS's lyrics here mark a serious turn ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Hip Hop)
Horace Andy
Get WisePressure Sounds (UK), 1975. New Copy
Prime 70s work from Horace Andy – recorded in this laidback, soul-drenched style that almost recalls the Kingston sound of a few years before! The setting is very earthy and up-close – a perfect placement for Andy's really unique vocals, which almost approximate some of the more ...
CD
(Reggae)
Bugge Wesseltoft
OK WorldJazzland (Norway), 2014. New Copy
One of the most unusual albums we've heard in years from Bugge Wesseltoft – an artist who's been moving increasingly towards solo keyboard modes, but who works here with a whole host of globally-based musicians! The record was done in conjunction with the world music festival in Oslo, and ...
CD
(Jazz)
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
PinataMadlib Invazion, 2014. New Copy
CD...$14.99
15.98
Smart , streetwise raps from Freddie Gibbs, backed by restlessly inventive production from Madlib – here on one of the best records yet on 'Lib's own Madlib Invazion imprint! If you'll forgive us a little bit of repetition – because we KNOW we've written this before – there's ...
CD
(Hip Hop)
Bohannon
Gittin Off (with bonus tracks)Dakar/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1975. New Copy
Tremendously tight grooves from Hamilton Bohannon – tunes that have this amazing way of wrapping together the bass, drums, and guitar – all in this fast-chugging style that's plenty funky all the way through! Bohannon was one of the most minimal of his 70s funk contemporaries – ...
CD
(Soul)
Michael Henderson
Wide Receiver (with bonus tracks)Buddah/FTG, 1980. New Copy
A soaring standout from Michael Henderson – proof that his move from jazz bassist to lead soul star was a great one! The album's got a tight groove that's right on the money – a style that's rooted in funky jazz, yet delivered with some straight soulful lyrics too – balancing ...
CD
(Soul)
George McCrae
Singles 1974 to 19767T's (UK), Mid 70s. New Copy
The mid 70 singles of George McCrae – cut for TK records and featuring material that helped him crossover in a big way – both the A & B sides of singles from released in the US and UK! The tunes flaunt that incredible mix of the Miami soul sound of the era and TK groove firmly in ...
CD
(Soul)
Will Downing
EuphoriaWill Downing, 2014. New Copy
Euphoria is a great title for this one – as the record really brings us to new heights of enjoyment with the music of Will Downing! Will's always had a hell of a voice – one that sounds great in any sort of setting – but this time it seems an even better fit than usual – ...
CD
(Soul)
Death Waltz (UK), 2013. New Copy Gatefold
French composer Rob's chilling, synth-soaked soundtrack for Maniac – the 2013 remake that's nearly as notorious as the early 80s original – so it makes perfect sense that Rob's soundtrack actually comes pretty damn close to topping the dark 80s synth scores by Vangelis, Tangerine Dream ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Soundtracks)
Link Quartet & Miss Modus
Hotel ConstellationHammond Beat, 2014. New Copy
CD...$14.99
15.99
The Link Quartet gets a whole new groove here – not just through the addition of soul singer Miss Modus, but also via the album's blend of sci-fi narrative with Hammond-based funk! The approach makes the record one of the most compelling and most unified ever from this combo – a set ...
CD
(Deep Funk)
Dennis Brown
Visions Of Dennis Brown17 North Parade, Late 70s. New Copy (reissue)
The late night lover gets on the African Roots wagon and heads deep into Rasta territory with Joe Gibbs at the helm on this mid 70s gem! Dennis Brown was well established as a leading Lovers Rock and Jamaican soul singer by the time he cut this excellent roots effort for Joe Gibbs in the mid 70s, ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Reggae)
Resolution 88
Resolution 88Synthethesia (UK), 2014. New Copy
A really sweet set from the UK – recorded by a contemporary combo, but with a feel that's right up there with our favorite funky fusion from the 70s! The keyboards really dominate here, but they're nicely balanced against some excellent work on tenor sax – which rounds out the sound ...
CD
(Jazz)
Mats Aleklint Quartet
Mats Aleklint QuartetMoserobie (Sweden), 2013. New Copy
A beautifully bold session from trombonist Mats Aleklint – a player we don't know well at all, but who really steps out on this set as a leader for Moserobie Records! The sound is a bit looser than most of the recent work on the label – not entirely free, but nicely without any strong ...
CD
(Jazz)
Vangelis Katsoulis
Sleeping Beauties – A Collection Of Early & Unreleased WorksInto The Light (Greece), Late 80s/Early 90s. New Copy
A prime set of rare material from Greek electronic music pioneer Vangelis Katsoulis! Sleeping Beauties rouses some great pieces from rare releases original released in 1987 and 1990 – plus some equally strong unreleased material from that period – and couple of more recent recordings. ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Rock)
Robbie Basho
Voice Of The EagleVanguard (UK), 1972. New Copy
A soaring set from the great Robbie Basho – one of the most unique artists of his generation! Basho's often mentioned in the same breath as John Fahey, but a record like this really shows his difference – as the record not only features wonderful work on both 6 and 12 string guitar ...
CD
(Folk/Country)
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy CD & Book
A killer collection of sound library funk from the UK – a scene that served up some of the rarest grooves of the 70s! The music is every bit as funky as American work from the early 70s – like records from CTI, or blacksploitation soundtracks – but most of it was never issued on ...
CD
(Sound Library)
Roberto Faz
Ahi Na MaUniko (Canada), 1958. New Copy
Really lively work from Roberto Faz – just the kind of sweet combo work that made his music so great! Roberto feels like he's a few years ahead of the rest of the pack here – still sometimes working in a lusher mode with his band, but often hitting these moments with a sharper punch, ...
CD
(Latin)
Dennis Brown
Words Of WisdomJoe Gibbs/17 North Parade, 1979. New Copy (reissue)
A late 70s gem from Dennis Brown – and a great mix of material – with some standout Lover's Rock style hams, plus some more strident and spiritually resonant numbers! It's really nice set of numbers with Joe Gibbs, but before taking bigger step in the dancehall era to come in the 80s. ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Reggae)
Peter Brotzmann Trio
For Adolphe SaxFMP/Cien Fuegos (Austria), 1967. New Copy (reissue)
A landmark album of free jazz – Peter Brotzmann's first record, and a hard-driving set of material that blows away most avant jazz work from the US at the time! The album takes the energy of the ESP generation, and turns it up more than a few notches – as Brotzmann blows his head off ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Jazz)
Gil Scott-Heron
Pieces Of A Man (with bonus tracks)Flying Dutchman/BGP (UK), 1971. New Copy
Our favorite-ever album from Gil Scott-Heron – and a set that we'd easily rank as one of our favorite soul records of the 70s! The mix of modes is mindblowing right from the start – as Gil's poetry comes into play with his growing talents as a singer, and his warm sensibility for jazz ...
CD
(Soul)
Orquesta El Macabeo
Macacoa/Electric Cowbell, 2014. New Copy (pic cover)
These guys just keep on getting better and better with each new record – soaring out in a salsa groove that's as classic as anything on mid 70s Fania Records – but which also has a fresh, youthful feel of its own! The percussion, horns, and voices step together perfectly on the massive ...
7-inch, Vinyl record
(Funky 45's)
Keni Burke
You're The Best (with bonus tracks)RCA/FTG, 1982. New Copy
CD...$15.99
16.98
A really wonderful album from Keni Burke – recorded around the same time as his classic Changes set, and in some ways even better than that record! The set's got a fantastic mellow soul feel – lots of tracks that are uptempo, but which manage to hang onto a soulful finish that really ...
CD
(Soul)
O'Bryan
Be My LoverCapitol/PTG (Netherlands), 1984. New Copy
O'Bryan's virtually a one man show here – handling vocals, keyboards, arrangements, and other instrumental bits too – but he also gets some great help on the album's lean arrangements, with just the right sort of funky touches on guitar, bass, and drums! The set starts out with a ...
CD
(Soul)
Red Astaire
Nuggets For The Needy Vol 2House Of Godis, 2014. New Copy
It's been awhile since we've heard from Red Astaire (aka Freddie Cruger), but it's definitely been worth the wait – as it's given him time to dig through his vaults, and come up with this second volume of rare recordings! Most of these cuts have never been issued before – and represent ...
CD
(New Grooves)
Sahel Sounds, 2014. New Copy
Very cool contemporary work from Mali – music that's a lot more electric and beat-oriented than other sounds you might already know from the scene – but still served up in a style that's nice and stripped-down too! There's a mix of electricity and organic acoustic elements that almost ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Grover Washington Jr
All My Tomorrows/Columbia/BGO (UK), 1994/1996/1997. New Copy 3CDs
A trio of 90s albums from Grover Washington! All My Tomorrows is an overlooked gem from reedman Grover – recorded in his later years, but a set that's actually got more of an acoustic style overall – one that goes back to the roots farther than any of Grover's fusion records! ...
CD
(Jazz)
Chuck Jackson
I Don't Want To Cry (180 gram pressing)Wand, 1961. New Copy (reissue)
A real landmark from soul singer Chuck Jackson – part of a unique wave of male vocalists who really took the music to new heights in the 60s! Jackson's got this way of balancing heartbreaking emotion with masculine control – summed up perfectly in the album's title track, then carried ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Soul)
Keni Burke
Changes (with bonus tracks)RCA/FTG, 1981. New Copy
CD...$15.99
16.98
A standout solo moment from the amazing Keni Burke – an artist who's come a long way from his youthful start in the 5 Stairsteps! Keni had recorded other adult work by the time of this early 80s set, but Changes is easily his best-remembered album – a masterpiece of 80s groove, all ...
CD
(Soul)
Jerry Goldsmith
Blue Max – Original SoundtrackLegacy/La La Land, 1966. New Copy 2CD
One of the most famous Jerry Goldsmith soundtracks ever – even if the film itself wasn't much of a hit! Goldsmith really rose to the top ranks of film composers with his work for Blue Max – able to orchestrate both full action and quiet moments with effortless ease – often ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Folkways/Mississippi, 1920s/1930s/1940s. New Copy 2LP (reissue)
A landmark collection of music – the now-famous series of American Folk Music volumes put together by Harry Smith in the 50s! The work here spans the space of a few early decades of recorded music – all in styles expertly chosen by Smith, with countless examples of music that might ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Folk/Country)
Billy Griffin
Be With MeCBS, 1982. New Copy (reissue)
LP...$4.99
(CD)
Stellar solo material from ex-Miracles mainmain Billy Griffin – a singer with the same great range as Smokey Robinson in the original incarnation of that group, really sounding great here on his own! Billy's got this high-soaring style that really works great for the album's blend of modern ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Soul)
Afrique
Soul MakossaMainstream/P-Vine (Japan), 1973. New Copy
A killer album of Afro Funk – with a very unusual origin! In the wake of Manu Dibango's big hit (and some kind of failure to register the copyright), many many versions of "Soul Makossa" were recorded and released, some good, some bad. This album is a good example of that ...
CD
(Soul)
Bruno Canfora
La Regina Dei TartariDigitmovies (Italy), 1960. New Copy
The reign of the Tartars is carried off here in a beautifully dramatic score from Bruno Canforna – one that echoes the mix of exotic orchestrations you'd hear in the best gladiator films of the time – but with some darker rumblings as well! The scene is a bit more Eastern than most ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Shel Silverstein
Freakin At The Freakers BallColumbia/BGO (UK), 1972. New Copy
One of the trippiest albums ever recorded by creative wordsmith Shel Silverstein – an amazing talent who's known for his famous work with Playboy, his poetry for kids, and even his contributions to country music! This set's got a wild style that definitely lives up to the Freakers Ball ...
CD
(Vocalists)
Digitmovies (Italy), 1964. New Copy
An early spooky soundtrack from Riz Ortolani – a composer we usually know best for more playful work of the 60s, but who really shines here in his score for a film also known as Castle Of Blood! The music has this tense, spare sort of feel – almost prefacing more atonal moments to come ...
CD
(Soundtracks)
Vogue/RPM (UK), Mid 60s. New Copy
Wonderfully groovy work from Antoine – one of the hipper French singers of the mid 60s, and an artist who mixed headier sounds with some of the upbeat French pop modes of the time! The rhythms and instrumentation are often in the best jaunty mode we love from Parisian record of the period ...
CD
(French)
RCA/Big Break (UK), 1981. New Copy
Odyssey certainly does have the melody – and that's always been one of the factors that's made them stand out from the rest! Even though the group worked largely in a territory that had a strong dancefloor feel, they always put enough work into their vocals and overall tunes to make for work ...
CD
(Soul)
Mercury, 1973. New Copy 4CD & DVD
The crowning achievement of a young Elton John – and the record that took an already-great run of earlier records, and pushed it even further with a new depth of songwriting and imagination! The double-length set isn't exactly a concept album – at least not one with a unified narrative ...
CD
(Rock)
Otis Trio
74 ClubFar Out (UK), 2014. New Copy
A very cool combo from contemporary Brazil – a trio who work with guitar, bass, and drums at the core – but open up plenty of space for extra work on vibes, tenor, soprano, trumpet, and trombone! The vibes are especially great – and feature on almost all the tracks here – ...
CD
(Jazz)
Kenny Graham
Small World Of Sammy LeeTrunk (UK), 1963. New Copy
A wonderful jazz soundtrack from the legendary Kenny Graham – the important postwar Brit bandleader who was known for his seminal Afro-Cubists group – heard here in a much different context! Kenny's still got all that great sense of tone and color he brought to some of his more ...
CD
(Jazz)
Eminent Stars
Sittin' In With The Eminent StarsTramp (Germany), 2014. New Copy Gatefold
Stardom seems eminent with this fierce funky combo – a quintet of players with a deep love of southern sounds from the 60s – particularly the best grooves coming out of Memphis or New Orleans! The mix of instrumentation features tight trumpet, tenor, and guitar – and although the ...
CD
(Deep Funk)
Debra Debs
Life CyclesDebra Debs/Arts Quest (UK), 2013. New Copy
A brilliant batch of new millenium soul from Debra Debs! Debra is a London-based, Cameroon-born singer, and Life Cycles is the first full length effort we've heard from her, but it leaves us with little doubt that she'll be around for years to come. This is some of the nicest indie soul we've ...
CD
(Neo Soul)
Peter Walker
Second Poem To Karmela – Or Gypsies Are ImportantVanguard/Light In The Attic, 1968. New Copy Gatefold
A totally hip instrumental album from Peter Walker – a Vanguard Records treasure that we'd rank right up there with the label's classics from Sandy Bull! Like Bull, Walker has a way of taking older folk instrumentation into richly psychedelic territory – working here on both the Indian ...
CD
(Folk/Country)
Orlando Julius
Disco Hi Life (180 gram pressing)Hot Casa (France), 1976. New Copy
One of the clubbiest African records of the 70s – and a set that would be equally at home on a New York dancefloor as it would back in Lagos! Orlando Julius was always a funky cat – an artist with one ear keenly tuned to the American funk and soul underground, and ready to fuse those ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
Tabu (UK), Late 70s/1980s/Early 90s. New Copy 6CD/DVD/7"
The classic funk and soul sounds of the Tabu label – in a fantastic box set, compiled by Ralph Tee – with an incredible assortment of Tabu treasures by Brainstorm, SOS Band, Alexander O'Neal, Cherrelle, Demetrius Perry, Rhonda Clark, Kathy Mathis, Mary Davis, Anacostia, Lalo Shifrin and ...
CD
(Funky Compilations)
Julius Hemphill
Raw Materials & Residuals (180 gram pressing – with bonus CD)Black Saint (Italy), 1978. New Copy (reissue)
An excellent set from Julius Hemphill – one that has him working in trio formation with Abdul Wadud on cello and Famoudou Don Moye on percussion – players that seem to be a perfect fit for his spirit on the date! There's a slightly loft jazz feel to the record, but the overall sound is ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Jazz)
Ace (UK), Late 50s. New Copy
A key force in the development of New Orleans soul – the homegrown Ric & Ron Records label – home to some of the best early productions from the Crescent City! The roster of talent here is really amazing – a host of artists who'd go onto develop the New Orleans style even ...
CD
(Soul)
Bubble Gum Machine
Bubble Gum MachineSenate/Rock Beat, Late 60s. New Copy
A sweet 60s pop group that definitely lives up to its name, but one that also has a surprisingly soulful undercurrent too! The leadoff cut – "Wha Cha Gonna Do For Me Now" – has a killer break at the start, and a pretty groove groove all the way through – and is arranged ...
CD
(Rock)
Tonu Naissoo
Tonu Naissoo Trio (with bonus tracks)Jazzaggression (Finland), 1968. New Copy
Some of the earliest work from legendary Estonian pianist Tonu Naissoo – an artist who's only gotten his due on the global scene in the past decade or two, but who was a hell of a visionary right from the start! Tonu's got this way of balancing lyrical elements and darker corners – ...
CD
(Jazz)
Verve, 2014. New Copy
CD...$17.99
18.98
Wonderful work from Ledisi – a singer we've dug for many many years – and who always lives up to our faith in her music! We first dug Ledisi as an underground talent back in the 90s – but with this Verve album she's poised to take on all the best that mainstream soul has to offer ...
CD
(Neo Soul)
Joe McPhee
TrinityCJR/Bo Weavil (UK), 1971. New Copy (reissue)
One of Joe McPhee's strongest early albums – and a real breakthrough from his sound on Nation Time! The group here is a trio – with Mike Kull on electric and acoustic piano, and Harold E Smith on percussion – and the lack of a bass player gives the group an incredible sense of ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Jazz)
Barbara Mason
Love's The ThingBuddah/Soul Brother (UK), 1975. New Copy
A really great step forward for Barbara Mason – a record that's got her working in a more mature mode than before, and a deeper soul style as well! One of the bigger developments of Barbara Mason's career was her participation in the "answer song" cycle that circulated around ...
CD
(Soul)
Bob Frank
Bob Frank (LP sleeve edition)Vanguard/Light In The Attic, 1972. New Copy Gatefold
A wonderful lost gem from the legendary Vanguard Records – a set issued in the 70s, but with the best independent spirit of the label from the decade before! Bob Frank is a very unique songwriter – and has this amazing ability to paint these personal little pictures in song – ...
CD
(Rock)
Incredible Bongo Band
Return Of The Incredible Bongo Band (180 gram deluxe 40th anniversary edition)Pride/Mr Bongo (UK), 1974. New Copy (reissue)
The Incredible Bongo Band returns – with a second super-tasty batch of funky instrumentals! As before, the group seek to rework older echoes of music with some tight 70s funk percussion – played by a lineup that includes lots of drums from Jim Gordon, and loads of sweet percussion from ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Soul)
Susan Justin
Forbidden World (180 gram vinyl with poster)Death Waltz (UK), 1982. New Copy
A sweet electric score to an odd early 80s Roger Corman production – served up with lots of Jupiter 8 keyboards and clavinet! The sound is relatively spare overall – fitting for the movie's alien themes – and the electronics pulsate at a level that feels very organic – ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Soundtracks)
Neneh Cherry
Blank ProjectSmalltown Supersound (Sweden), 2014. New Copy
CD...$12.99
15.99
Some of the most striking work we've heard from Neneh Cherry in years – and a great follow-up to her previous project with The Thing! This set has Neneh working with producer Kieran Hebden – who returns Cherry to the offbeat, arty sound of her early years on the British scene – ...
CD
(Soul)
Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim)
African PianoJapo/ECM (Germany), 1969. New Copy
Haunting solo work from Dollar Brand – recorded live in Copenhagen, with a sound that's full of tone, texture, and subtle beauty! Dollar Brand is one of the few players that can hold us rapt with a session like this – and as with his trio and larger group work, the tunes have an ...
CD
(Jazz)
Souljazz Orchestra
Inner Fire (with bonus CD)Strut (UK), 2014. New Copy
LP...$19.99
21.99
Easily the best work we've ever heard from the Souljazz Orchestra – a set that pushes their sound way past their Afro Funk-styled roots – into a realm of spiritual sounds that really live up to their name! The jazz component is even stronger than before – really wonderful ...
LP, Vinyl record album
(Global Grooves)
If you're ever in Chicago, be sure to visit our Chicago record store!
1120 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm.
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 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm.
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!
