Share on TumblrGreat Gift Ideas – and groovy Holiday Music!
Fumio Karashima
Hot Islands (Japanese paper sleeve edition)King/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1978.
A more electric album than usual from pianist Fumio Karashima – but in a great way too! The album has Karashima playing Fender Rhodes, mini-moog, and other keys – in addition to his usual acoustic piano – in a driving quartet lineup with bass from Miroslav Vitous and saxes from ... CD (Jazz CD)
Mourning A BLKstar
Garner PoemsElectric Cowbell, 2018.
A fantastically righteous set – a blend of funk and politics that we haven't heard done this well since the 70s – even though the whole record is aimed at dealing with contemporary issues – as you might guess from the title's reference to the late Eric Garner! The set's dedicated ... CD (Neo Soul CD)
Ry-Co Jazz
Dansons Avec Le Ry-Co JazzVogue/Radio Martiko (Belgium), Mid 60s.
An early killer by Congolese combo Ry-Co Jazz – a set that's got as much Latin in the mix as the jazz in their name – and which serves up both with a lean style that's even groovier than some of the later work by the group! The album captures the combo at the height of their early fame ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Atomic
Pet VariationsOdin (Norway), 2018.
Magnificent music from Atomic – a set that begins with a set of variations on the "Pet Sounds" theme from Brian Wilson – then takes off into some great directions inspired by the music of Steve Lacy, Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, and Edgar Varese! Atomic are always fantastic ... CD (Jazz CD)
Trojan/Doctor Bird (UK), 1973.
One of the tightest, deepest albums ever from Jamaican singer John Holt – even if it has a slightly strange history, due to repackagings and retitling over the years! Holt had been making music for over a decade by the time of this set – and while he still works with some of the bad-ste ... CD (Reggae CD)
Muriel Grossmann
Golden Rule (180 gram pressing)RR Gems (Estonia), 2018. 2LP Gatefold
Searing work from saxophonist Muriel Grossmann – a player who clearly draws a lot of inspiration from late 60s John Coltrane – but who also turns out a record here that's completely her own! The tracks are long, modal, and very spiritual – and the group has an unusual balance ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
VP, Mid 70s. 2CD
A fantastic selection of tracks from a time when reggae and punk were really crossing over on the UK scene – the earliest years of the punk rock movement, when bands like The Clash, Slits, and others were bringing the sounds of Jamaica into much greater mainstream circulation! The cuts here ... CD (Reggae CD)
Moments
On Top (180 gram pressing)Stang/Be With (UK), 1970. (reissue)
The Moments are always on top in our book – one of the greatest harmony groups of all time, and the blueprint for the east coast style that so many others would follow in the 70s! This set is one of their greatest – a key early album for the Stang/All-Platinum label – and a ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
O'Donel Levy
SimbaGroove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973.
Fantastic sounds throughout – and maybe the best album ever by this legendary 70s guitar player! O'Donel Levy's got this tremendous sound that comes from playing an electric hollow body – in a tone that takes the best bits of Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, and strips them down for a ... CD (Jazz CD)
Bruno Spoerri
Rare & Unreleased 1971 to 1996WRWTFWW (Switzerland), 1970s/1980s/1990s.
Very unusual sounds from Bruno Spoerri – once a Swiss jazz musician in a relatively small scene – but now a world-famous composer for his groundbreaking soundtrack and sound library music of the 70s! This set begins in that territory, and then moves on to some equally cool cuts from ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Alain Goraguer
Musique Classee XLes Disques Du Culte (France), Late 70s. Gatefold
That's a pretty racy cover – but the music inside is a lot more cool and classy – a set of sweet jazz funk numbers put together by the famous French maestro Alain Goraguer, with lots of nice electric touches! You may know Goraguer from his 60s work with singers – including France ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks LP)
9th Creation
Reaching For The TopPrelude/Past Due, 1977. (reissue)
Damn funky work from 9th Creation – a group who recorded this set for the mostly-disco Prelude label, but who still serve up the same heavy sound as their earlier work! There's a tightness here that few other groups can touch – that special magic that you can hear when a larger funk ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Jimmy McGriff
Black & BluesGroove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1971.
An unusual double-length album for Jimmy McGriff – released during his funkier years at the Groove Merchant label, but with a gritty sort of sound that takes us back to his first few records on Sue in the 60s! The "blues" in the title is definitely well-chosen – as the tracks ... CD (Jazz CD)
Treasure Isle/Doctor Bird (UK), Mid 60s. 2CD
Four albums' worth of vintage ska from the Jamaican scene – presented here with a heck of a lot of bonus tracks too! These tracks are the real deal – some of the earliest tracks to be circulated under the name of the new style – and the sorts of songs that just about everyone ... CD (Reggae CD)
Hideo Shiraki
Hideo Shiraki Plays Bossa NovaKing (Japan), 1962.
Bossa jazz from 60s Japan – a set recorded right around the same time that Verve first started hitting bossa grooves in the US! The sound here is sharper than a Verve bossa album, though – with some of the same hardbop inflections you'd hear on other Hideo Shiraki albums from the time ... CD (Jazz CD)
Setenta
We Latin Like ThatLatin Big Note (France), 2018.
They may be Latin, but they're also pretty darn funky – and also seem to have picked up the best Brazilian funk currents of the 70s – which they use here to turn out their best album to date! There's lots of echoes of the era of Tim Maia and Toni Tornado, but mixed with some slightly ... CD (Deep Funk CD)
Jazz Line (Germany), 1976.
Searing work from a 70s lineup of the Jazz Messengers – captured here in a nicely stretched-out live performance at the Moers Jazz Festival! The group features lots of youthful talent from David Schnitter on tenor and Mickey Tucker on piano – a great player who really matches the ... CD (Jazz CD)
James Brown
It's A New Day – Let A Man Come InKing/Universal (Japan), 1970.
Further genius from James Brown at the start of the 70s – a record that's starting to show some of the more open-ended grooves he'd explore with the JBs on their own albums – longer, stretched-out tracks that are way more than simple funk and soul! There's a sense of freewheeling ... CD (Soul CD)
Dave Douglas
Brazen Heart – Live At Jazz Standard (8CD set)Greenleaf, 2018. 8 CDs
CD...$46.99
49.99
A tremendous tribute to the ever-evolving genius of jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas – and a super-expanded live set that puts Dave in the company of classic players like John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, or Dexter Gordon – whose extended live expressions never fail to hold our imagination! The ... CD (Jazz CD)
Piero Piccioni
Right Or Wrong/Four Flies (Italy), 1971. (pic cover)
Two tracks from the soundtrack to Dopo Di Che Uccide Il Maschio E Lo Divora – on 45 for the first time ever! "Right Or Wrong" has a fantastic slow funk bassline – stepping at a great midtempo pace, while strings sweep and soar around the edges, and this echoey piano line ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's 7-inch)
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso (1969) (clear vinyl pressing)Philips/Lilith (Italy), 1969. (reissue)
An album of pure genius – easily one of the greatest Brazilian albums ever, and a landmark set from the Tropicalia years! There's a brilliance here that's hard to describe accurately – quite possibly because the young Caetano Veloso is experimenting with so many new ideas, the album ... LP, Vinyl record album (Brazil LP)
Robbie Basho
Venus In CancerBlue Thumb/Traffic, 1969. Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$21.99
24.98
One of the wildest albums ever from the great Robbie Basho – as you might guess from the cover! Basho first made waves with his solo guitar work (and a bit of vocalizations) for the Takoma label, during the early years of John Fahey – but as the 60s ended, Robbie had more of a ... LP, Vinyl record album (Folk/Country LP)
Jimmy McGriff & Richard Groove Holmes
Giants Of The Organ Come TogetherGroove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973.
Twin organs back to back – and a heck of a hard-wailing set from Groove Holmes and Jimmy McGriff! The album cooks from the very first note – and features long tunes that open up with the same sort of solo-heavy approach that you'd get on Holmes' Prestige albums of the 60s – very ... CD (Jazz CD)
Malaco/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1970s/Early 80s.
A heavenly set of southern soul – a package that pulls together a wealth of rare and unreleased singles from the Malaco label – that important Jackson, Mississippi imprint that took on the deeper sounds of the 70s – after the Memphis and Muscle Shoals scenes were losing steam! ... CD (Soul CD)
Tommy Tate
Hold OnMalaco/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1979.
A real killer from Tommy Tate – perhaps the greatest record ever from this overlooked southern soul singer – and a real lost gem in the Malaco Records catalog! Tommy wrote most of the songs himself – and he turns out to be a hell of a writer, too – very much on a par with ... CD (Soul CD)
O'Donel Levy
Dawn Of A New DayGroove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1973.
Totally wicked guitar work from the mighty O'Donel Levy – easily one of the hippest talents to ever work for the Groove Merchant label! Levy's got a sound here that's a bit like Wes Montgomery on some of his late 60s sides, but also a fair bit funkier overall – a style that's steeped ... CD (Jazz CD)
Key & Cleary
Love Is The WayNow Again, 1970s/Early 80s. 2CD
Some of the most unique soul music you'll ever hope to hear – recorded by a pair of artists who mostly worked in Buffalo, New York during the 70s – with a very odd style that's completely their own! We'd quickly place the duo of Jesse Key and Sylvester Cleary in territory that would ... CD (Soul CD)
Creative Arts Ensemble
One Step OutNimbus/Outernational (UK), 1981. 2LP (reissue)
A great bit of work from the hip LA scene that centered around the Nimbus label at the end of the 70s – a collective who work together here with the same spiritual jazz modes you'd find on labels like Tribe or Strata East! The group features some bigger names from the scene, including some ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Akira Miyazawa
Akira Miyazawa (aka Yamame)King (Japan), 1962.
If the cover image of a Akira Miyazawa fishing in a trout stream wasn't already enough to make us love this one, the music on the disc certainly is – as the album's a real shining jewel in the Japanese jazz scene of the 60s, the kind of record that really set a whole new standard for the ... CD (Jazz CD)
Various
Hong Kong ScoreWan Chai (Hong Kong), Late 60s/1970s. Gatefold
Very cool grooves from the world of Hong Kong cinema – not just familiar styles from kung fu movies, but a nice range of different modes too! The music is often funky, but not always – and some tracks have vocals, while others are completely instrumental – brought forth here in a ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations LP)
Jazz Community
Jazz Community RevisitiedSonorama (Germany), Late 70s/Early 80s.
The jazz community here is pretty small – just a sextet, but one that had a huge impact on the Swiss jazz scene at the time! The group have a vibe that's maybe a bit earlier than the date of the material here – maybe more like some of the early 70s expressions from the American, German ... CD (Jazz CD)
Charlie Walker
Close All The Honky Tonks/Columbia/Morello (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s. 2CD
Four fantastic albums from Charlie Walker – one of the lesser-remembered talents of the late 60s country scene, but a singer whose work on albums like these can match the best of the bunch! As you'd guess by some of the titles, the tunes are heavy on references to barrooms and drinking ... CD (Folk/Country CD)
Various
Lefto Presents Jazz CatsSdban (Belgium), 2018.
The jazz cats here are all pretty contemporary – younger musicians and combos on the current scene in Belgium – which turns out to have a fantastic array of really fresh sounds! Some groups play straight, some maybe use a bit more electronics – others are more acoustic than ... CD (New Grooves CD)
Craft, Late 50s/Early 60s.
CD...$14.99
15.99
A great look at the legendary Ric & Ron Records label – a key force in the development of New Orleans soul – 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 ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Amiri Baraka
It's Nation TimeBlack Forum/Motown, 1972. Gatefold (reissue)
An amazing record that's as powerful as the political message of the title – the hippest record ever cut by Amiri Baraka, and that's saying a heck of a lot! Baraka delivers a long and complex set of poetic reflections on the state of Black America, spiritual awakening, and political ... LP, Vinyl record album (Comedy/Spoken LP)
Benny Golson
Turning PointMercury/Universal (Japan), 1962.
An incredible, and oft-overlooked album from the great Benny Golson – and one of the few early albums that really point the way to his huge run of work for decades to come! The style here is a bit looser, and more open than some of Golson's previous albums – less of a focus on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
Live At KEXP (with bonus download)Colemine, 2018. Gatefold
LP...$20.99
27.98
A great combo, in a really great setting – the trio of organist Delvon Lamarr, captured in a sweet live radio performance! The tunes are long and open – very much in the group's killer blend of soul jazz and deep funk – with plenty of room for Delvon to soar out on the keys of ... LP, Vinyl record album (Deep Funk LP)
Legere (France), Late 60s/1970s.
An extra-groovy collection of sound library gems – put together in conjunction with the recent film about this overlooked genre of funky music – and featuring a special selection of tracks picked by key stars of the documentary! The work here comes from a variety of important library ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Lightmen Plus One
Energy Control Center (2CD version – with bonus tracks)Lightin/Now Again, 1972. 2CD
Cosmic jazzy genius from Bubbha Thomas & The Lightmen – the kind of a record that sounds like it should have come out of Detroit or Chicago in the early 70s – and not the Texas scene from which the group hailed! The Lightmen have a vibe that reminds us a lot of The Pharoahs or some ... CD (Jazz CD)
Charlie Mariano
Jazz IntersessionKing (Japan), 1964.
A rare Japanese session from American reedman Charlie Mariano – and one of the few recorded documents of his time on the Tokyo scene! The album really captures Charlie at a pivotal – and under-recorded – point in his career – definitely stretching out from the tight lines ... CD (Jazz CD)
Matthew Shipp
Ao Vivo Na Jazz Na FabricaSESCSP (Brazil), 2016.
Beautifully bold solo work from Matthew Shipp – recorded here solo, in Brazil – with a freely-flowing sound that's a great reminder of his organic genius at its best! There are times when Shipp can sometimes be a bit too cold or academic, but that's definitely not the case here – ... CD (Jazz CD)
Tom Brumley & The Buckaroos
Steelin The ShowCapitol/Omnivore, Late 60s.
CD...$15.99
16.98
Smoking steel guitar from Tom Brumley – the musician who gave the Buckaroos group such a great song when they were working behind country legend Buck Owens! This may be one of the few albums to ever have Tom's name as the lead artist – and it hand-picks some of the best cuts from the ... CD (Folk/Country CD)
Grapefruit (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s. 3CD
A very cool little genre – one that overlaps a bit with UK folk and some of its prettier pop of the period – and which often gets the same sort of top-shelf studio and production help as the best of the psychedelic generation! The music here is heavy on strings, woodwinds, and other ... CD (Rock CD)
Herb Alpert, 2018.
Herb Alpert remakes himself again – taking all the best tunes from his classic years on A&M records, then fitting them to contemporary grooves – all at a level that's a bit like some of the Verve Remixed projects from years back, but even better! These aren't remixes, but new ... CD (Now Sound CD)
Jimmy McGriff
Stump JuiceGroove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1975.
Massively funky – and one of Jimmy McGriff's best albums for the Groove Merchant label! The album's follows strongly on the mode of Jimmy's classic Worm album – also produced by Sonny Lester, issued slightly before on the Solid State label. The set's got that stripped-down, hard-n-funk ... CD (Jazz CD)
Pat Kalla & Le Super Mojo
JonglerFavorite (France), 2018.
A great little album from French singer Pat Kalla – an artist whose "Super Mojo" here is really the genius of producer Bruno "Patchworks" Hovart! The set is a collaboration between Pat and Patchworks – and uses the great vocals of Kalla to bring new focus to the ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd Got Soul – The Best Of Bobby ByrdPolygram/Universal (Japan), Early 70s.
Essential material by this funky soul legend – even if you've got his one and only album! This is an excellent compilation of the very hard to find work of this James Brown partner and singer, with a track list of 22 cuts that includes lots of cool rare funky 45 tracks, and a number of ... CD (Soul CD)
Starvue
Upward BoundMidwest International/Everland (Austria), 1980.
The only full album from Starvue – a late 70s Chicago group who were part of that overlooked scene in the city once the bigger labels had moved on! In truth, if Starvue were working on the coasts, they could have been huge – as they've got a really sharp, focused approach to ensemble ... CD (Soul CD)
9th Creation
Love Crime EPTrack/Past Due, Early 80s. (reissue)
A rare later set from 9th Creation – done after their funk classics in the 70s, and with a nicely updated sort of groove! Side one is the "dance side" – and has the group working with more beats and basslines than before, but still finding a great way to keep all their charms ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Joyce & Alfredo Del Penho
Argumento – Cancoes De Sidney Miller Ao VivoKuarup (Brazil), 2018.
A really lovely collaboration between the legendary Joyce and the younger Alfredo Del Penho – working together in a live setting as the expand nicely on the songs of Brazilian composer Sidney Miller – a talent from the pre and early bossa years, whose music sounds surprisingly fresh in ... CD (Brazil CD)
Art Farmer/
Another Git Together
Mercury (Japan), 1962.
One of our favorite records ever from the legendary Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet – and a rare later date, recorded after their more famous albums for Chess! The lineup here is a bit unusual – in that a young Grachan Moncur III is in the combo on trombone – really adding some ... CD (Jazz CD)
Jazzman (UK), Late 60s/1970s/1980s.
A really tremendous collection of overlooked jazz from the UK scene – most of it recorded in the late 60s and 70s, at a time when the nation was really exploding with new ideas – so much so, the bigger labels weren't able to keep pace with recording during the period! Instead, it was ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Julien Dyne
Teal (2LP 45 rpm pressing)Soundway (UK), 2018. 2LP
Julien Dyne has a great sense of pulse and a chunky approach to rhythm here – almost as if he's taking a cut-and-paste approach to more conventional club music, yet still staying soulful in the process! We've liked Dyne's previous records, but this one really steps to the next level – ... LP, Vinyl record album (New Grooves LP)
University Of Central Arkansas, 2018.
The 20th Anniversary of the legendary Southern Music Issue of Oxford American – with an especially great focus on the state of North Carolina this time around! The placement of the state has given it a fantastic musical legacy – one that stretches farther than you might expect, through ... Magazine (Magazine)
Junior Parker
You Don't Have To Be Black To Love The BluesGroove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1974.
A fitting title to this one – as it virtually describes the standard that the blues business was operating on during the early 70s – as artists came out of the shadows and found big audiences on college campuses, rock clubs, and other crossover scenes! The concept is carried to the Nth ... CD (Blues CD)
Minoru Muraoka & New Dimension Group
BambooKing (Japan), Late 60s.
60s jazz meets Japanese bamboo flute – all in a session with a great mix of groovy and exotic touches! The record's a unique meeting of jazz and folkloric elements – done in a style that's a bit like some of the late 60s sessions of this nature on MPS, but a fair bit groovier overall ... CD (Jazz CD)
Chico Mann
Manifest Tone – The Best Of Vols 1 to 3Kindred Spirits/Soundway (UK), 2006/2007/2008. Gatefold
A great little package that brings together the best cuts from the Manifest Tone series of albums by Chico Mann – a great blend of funky rhythms and African roots – served up by Antibalas guitarist Marquitos Garcia! There's certainly an element of the Antibalas groove going on here ... CD (Deep Funk CD)
High Note/Music On Vinyl (UK), 1977. (reissue)
Bob Andy's come a long way here from his earlier work with Marcia Griffiths – taking on some new rasta energy, as you might guess from the title – and singing in an even headier style than before! The set was recorded at Treasure Isle, with bad-stepping rhythms from Sly & Robbie, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae LP)
Andrew White
MM & M Series Vol 1 – MothballsAndrew's Music, 1987/2018.
Reedman Andrew White dusts the mothballs off some tapes in the vaults – and comes up with some really great recordings in the process! The set begins with a series of variations on a single theme – most with Andrew just on piano, instead of his usual saxophone. The next section ... CD (Jazz CD)
Chico Buarque
Caravanas – Ao VivoBiscoito Fino (Brazil), 2018. 2CD
A fantastic live follow-up to the Caravanas album by Chico Buarque – and done at a similar level that shows that Chico's lost none of his charms as the years go by! The set's got the man upfront, singing and playing acoustic guitar – with a combo behind him, kicking up the rhythms in a ... CD (Brazil CD)
Deodato
Os Catedraticos – AtaqueEquipe/Far Out (UK), 1965.
An organ bossa classic from the legendary Eumir Deodato – one of his strongest albums from his early years in Brazil! There's a very jazzy feel to the set all the way through – thanks to a tightly arranged group that not only features the organ and percussion you might expect from such ... CD (Brazil CD)
James Brown
BodyheatPolydor (Japan), 1976.
An enduring classic from James Brown – quite possibly the strongest of his late 70s albums, and a record that nicely balances the harder funk of the early part of the decade with a more sophisticated style that almost gets slightly jazzy at times! The vocals are planted strongly at the top ... CD (Soul CD)
Isao Suzuki/
Samba Club
King (Japan), 1981.
A wicked wicked set of tracks from Japan – one that blends together jazzy riffing and Brazilian rhythms, all played with a surprisingly soulful bent! Suzuki's on bass and piccolo bass, and Yamamoto plays not only electric piano but also a bit of electric harpsichord – which adds a cool ... CD (Jazz CD)
Coke Escovedo
CokeMercury (Japan), 1975.
An incredible fusion of all the greatness that was going on in the Bay Area scene of the 70s – put together by Coke Escovedo – the brother of Pete and Sheila E, former leader of Azteca, and onetime member of Santana! Yet this set sounds like none of that previous work at all – ... CD (Soul CD)
Prestige/Craft, 1960s. (reissue)
LP...$18.99
21.99
One of our favorite collections of Holiday jazz tunes ever – featuring tracks mostly pulled from the Prestige Records vaults of the 60s, including some really heavy-hitting soul jazz numbers and a few rare singles! The set list is more than enough to sell this one to any fan of Christmas ... LP, Vinyl record album (Holiday Music LP)
Lee Konitz
Chicago N All That JazzGroove Merchant/Ultra Vybe (Japan), 1975.
A record that's got maybe one of the worst covers ever for legendary altoist Lee Konitz – and that's saying a lot, given that he recorded hundreds of albums – but a set that's also well worth dipping into, as it's got some wonderful surprises along the way! First off, there's electric ... CD (Jazz CD)
Makaya McCraven
Universal BeingsInternational Anthem, 2018. 2CD
CD...$12.99
13.99
Maybe the crowning achievement of drummer Makaya McCraven so far – a double-length set that stands as a huge testimony to all the many waves he's been making in jazz for the past few years! The album features four slices of live performance – recorded in New York, Chicago, LA, and ... CD (Jazz CD)
Sound Miracle (Spain), Late 20s/1930s/1940s/1950s/Early 60s.
Not your usual set of electronic music – as this very cool collection brings together sounds from a range of different sources – from scientific experimenters who were working alone in their sonic laboratories, to bigger artists who got more of their music circulated to the public! Yet ... LP, Vinyl record album (Out Sound LP)
Mabrak
Drum TalkDug Out (UK), 1975.
The drum talks on the record, but so do the basslines – which get lots of work to set the scene for the wonderful percussion work of Leroy Mabrak Mattis! The record's one of the most unusual to come out of the Kingston scene in the 70s – a bit in the rootsy territory of work by the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae LP)
Frank Foster
Basie Is Our BossArgo/Universal (Japan), 1963.
Basie may be his boss, but Frank Foster's definitely his own man – especially working here on this hip little session for Chess Records – a small group date with some key members of the Count's ensemble! There's a bit of the Basie sense of arrangement in the tunes – especially in ... CD (Jazz CD)
Art Blakey
S Make ItLimelight/Verve (Japan), 1964.
A lost classic from Art Blakey – quite different from some of his Blue Note work! The album's a very swinging mid 60s session, noteworthy for the presence of John Gilmore, recording here in one of his few appearances away from Sun Ra. Gilmore wails on tenor, and he sounds great next to Lee ... CD (Jazz CD)
Roger Doyle
Oizzo NoCacophonic (UK), 1975.
Very cool work from the Irish avant garde of the early 70s – served up here by a key member of what must have been a pretty small scene! Roger Doyle is a drummer, with experience in jazz – but here, he's working in this huge variety of experimental sounds – leading a Moondog-like ... LP, Vinyl record album (Out Sound LP)
Sound Miracle (Spain), Late 20s/1930s/1940s/1950s.
A great overview of early flamenco from the Spanish recording scene – tracks that begin before the Revolution, and move into the postwar years – but all with a spare sort of energy that shows just how timeless the style has always been! Most numbers just feature a singer, some clapping ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Roland Kirk
Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful EdithVerve (Japan), 1967.
One of the most unusual Roland Kirk albums of the 60s – his only session for Verve, and a record cut with a slightly different feel than some of his work for Mercury or Atlantic! The core group's an unusual one – a quartet that features a young Lonnie Smith on piano, plus Ronnie ... CD (Jazz CD)
Terumasa Hino Quartet
Alone, Alone & Alone (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Takt/Columbia (Japan), 1967.
One of the great ones from the young Terumasa Hino – a beautiful quartet session that really demonstrates his strength as a soloist on the trumpet! As you might guess from the title, there's a nice sense of melancholy to the record – a blueness that's carried off wonderfully by Hino on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Takeshi Inomata
Modern Punch For YouKing (Japan), Mid 60s.
The punch here is in the groove – a nice little burst down at the bottom of the rhythms, which makes most of these tunes swing nicely! The set's a bit hard to describe right off the bat – but it's kind of a mix of jazz ensemble swinging with some groovier 60s modes – bits of ... CD (Jazz CD)
Music From Memory (Netherlands), 1980s/Early 90s. 2 CDs
Really cool sounds from the European underground of the 80s – mostly music that's quite far from the pop in the title, as much of it is quite understated, and comes from the farther reaches of the post-post-punk scene! These tracks aren't nearly as dark as the cold wave sounds of the same ... CD (Rock CD)
David Axelrod
Earth Rot – A Musical Comment On The State Of The Environment (with bonus instrumentals album)Capitol/Now Again, 1970.
CD...$14.99
15.98
One of the most righteous, message-oriented albums ever from David Axelrod – and the third in his legendary trilogy of instrumental sets for Capitol Records! Earth Rot moves even past the modes of Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience – to offer up a chilling message on the ... CD (Jazz CD)
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s.
The hippest funky jazz from the start of the 70s – music that takes all the pride, power, triumph, and challenge of the 60s – and focuses into a bold new energy for a young generation! The work here draws equally from jazz and soul, with lots of other global influences coming into play ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
In Embrace
Too (with bonus tracks)Glass Redux (UK), 1985.
The most obscure album from In Embrace – a group who were already a pretty darn obscure corner of the UK post-punk scene to begin with! The "group" is really Gary Knight – who works with various collaborators over the years – in a way that's got a nicely personal ... CD (Rock CD)
Nile Rodgers & Chic
It's About Time (with bonus track)Universal, 2018.
Nile Rodgers isn't on the cover, but he's definitely in the grooves – giving us an updated version of the classic Chic sound – complete with all the best snapping rhythms and plenty of riffing guitar! Rodgers opened the door for plenty of guests this time around – voices who push ... CD (Soul CD)
Masahiko Togashi with Albert Mangelsdorff
Session In Paris Vol 2 – Colour Of DreamKing (Japan), 1979.
One of a pair of great late 70s European dates from Japanese percussion master Masahiko Togashi – and a set that features some especially striking trombone from the legendary Albert Mangelsdorff! Given Albert's previous experiments in free, open-ended groups – his talents here are ... CD (Jazz CD)
Lee Perry & The Upsetters
Scratch The Upsetter AgainTrojan/Antarctica Starts Here, 1970. (reissue)
LP...$20.99
24.98
Nice batch of early 70s cuts by Lee Perry, replete with his unique approach and the roots of the out there production and songwriting skills that Lee would use to transform Jamaican music for decades to come! Taken from the LPs Scratch The Upsetter Again and Eastwood Rides Again, filled with the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae LP)
Sadao Watanabe & Akira Miyazawa
Latin Barock CollectionKing (Japan), 1965.
Is that barock or baroque? Whatever the case, the album's a pretty darn groovy affair – twin flutes from Sadao Watanabe and Akira Miyazawa – two of Japan's best reedmen at the end of the 60s – working here with some sweet arrangements that mix classical roots with mod ... CD (Jazz CD)
MPS (Germany), Late 60s/Early 70s.
A fantastic trip through the farther reaches of the MPS/Saba Records label – headed up here by the great Nicola Conte – who's taken plenty of inspiration from these tunes in his own music as well! As you'd guess by the title, there's a spiritual jazz approach going on here – but ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Fall
Totale's TurnsSuperior Viaduct, 1980. (reissue)
An early Fall live album and a fiery set that captures the coy, cynical genius of Mark E Smith and prime era of the band it's shambling best! At this early point, the Fall's studio recordings were pretty much live, too, but the presence of an audience makes all the difference – a tension and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Big Four
Jazz At The TorysKing (Japan), 1957.
That's Torys, as in Suntory's – the big Japanese distillery who's hosting this special performance of The Big Four – a crackling lineup that features soulful tenor from Hidehiko Matsumoto and drums from George Kawaguchi! The core group have an energy that's like the best American bop ... CD (Jazz CD)
Guido & Maurizio De Angelis
L'Allenatore Nel Pallone – Mundialito (edit)/Four Flies (Italy), 1984. (pic cover)
Two of the grooviest tracks from the score to L'Allenatore Nel Pallone – both issued here on a limited 45! "Mundialito" has a Braziliany groove at the bottom, with lots of cuica next to percussion – but the overall rhythm is more leaping and Italian, and a chorus does all ... 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's 7-inch)
Gilberto Gil
Ok Ok Ok (with bonus tracks)Biscoito Fino (Brazil), 2018.
A really great record from Gilberto Gil – a Brazilian legend who maybe strayed from his genius a bit in later years, but who's really been back on track of late! Gilberto's wonderful here – very up-close and personal, but also sharply witty too – returning to that energy that ... CD (Brazil CD)
Nino Rota
Fellini Soundtracks (Early Movies/DOL (Russia), Late 50s/Early 60s. 5CD
5CDs, and a set of great soundtracks to early films by director Federico Fellini – music that forever set the standard for a new generation of film composers! First up is La Strada – the brilliant mid 50s filled that starred a young Giulettia Masini as one of the saddest clowns ever to ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
Hideo Shiraki
Hideo Shiraki Plays Horace SilverKing (Japan), 1962.
The music of Horace Silver is magically presented here by drummer Hideo Shiraki – grooving nicely in the same exotic approach to soul jazz you'd find on Silver's best Blue Note sides of the late 50s! Shiraki's always had a bit of a Jazz Messengers approach in his music – at least at ... CD (Jazz CD)
Dust To Digital, Late 60s/Early 70s.
A really fantastic little package – one that presents a key look at the farther reaches of Mississippi in the 60s, 70s, and 80s – served up in a great batch of music all collected by William Ferris! Starting in the mid 60s, Ferris sought to document the disappearing scene around him ... LP, Vinyl record album (Blues LP)
Storyville/Solid (Japan), 1966/1978/1983.
Kenny Drew's the star of the set on piano – playing solo here on a session from 1978, with a young bassist Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen in 1966, and an early 80s set of duets with bassist Bo Steif on the remainder of the tracks! The album does a nice job of blocking things out – so ... CD (Jazz CD)
James Brown
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch MeKing/Universal (Japan), 1968.
A great lost album from James Brown – and totally funky! The record's got a super-hip cover that shows James standing in a blue room with three fine foxy ladies, and the words "I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me" are emblazoned across the top – and the whole thing's as ... CD (Soul CD)
Time 5
This Is Time 5King (Japan), 1971.
Groovy vocals from 70s Japan – a very hip male quintet, and one with the same harmony sound as The Four Freshmen or The Hi-Los! Given the date of the record, the tunes are a bit more contemporary – but still swung by the group with a very jazzy style, one that often has sweet small ... CD (Vocalists CD)
Evan Parker
Snake DecidesIncus/OTOroku (UK), 1986. (reissue)
An insanely wonderful piece of work from saxophonist Evan Parker – and maybe the record that will really have you deciding that Parker's a genius! The set is all solo soprano sax, recorded live in St Paul's church in Oxford – which creates this really rich sense of sound – but ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
John Coltrane
John Coltrane 1963 – New Directions (3CD set)Impulse, 1963. 3CD
1964 was the year The Beatles invaded America, but 1963 was the year that John Coltrane revolutionized jazz – thanks to the Impulse Records sessions contained in this set! The package features the entire run of recordings that Coltrane did for Impulse in 1963 – including alternate ... CD (Jazz CD)
Milford Graves
Babi (with bonus CD)IPS/Corbett vs. Dempsey, 1969/1976. 2CD Gatefold
One of the rarest albums ever from percussionist Milford Graves, and one of the most intense as well – a completely unbridled live performance that features saxes from Hugh Glover and Arthur Doyle! Glover and Doyle are amazing together – and with that trademark raspy tone, Doyle's set ... CD (Jazz CD)
Big Four
Original Big FourKing (Japan), 1959.
Great work from a group who definitely earn their name – as the quartet was one of the biggest and best groups in the Japanese jazz scene at the time! The lineup features brilliant tenor from Hidehiko Matsumoto – a player who's young here, starting a decades-long run in jazz, but ... CD (Jazz CD)
King (Japan), Late 60s.
Incredible work from the Japanese scene of the end of the 60s – a record that mixes together traditional instrumentation, bossa rhythms, and groovier jazz touches – all in a sublime blend that would have been a feather in the cap of A&M or Verve Records at the time! The work here ... CD (Jazz CD)
Lyn Collins
Think (About It)People (Japan), 1972.
The funkiest album ever recorded by Lyn Collins – a stone solid set that really lives up to the legacy of her funky 45s! Like those gems, this one has Collins working with James Brown on production and the JBs in the background – creating a razor-sharp groove that's probably the ... CD (Soul CD)
Bo Diddley
Let Me Pass (500% More Man)Chess/Elemental (Spain), 1965.
A mid-60s smoker from the great Bo Diddley – a set that's maybe more obscure than some of his initial classics, but equally great! Bo's completely on fire right from the start – fast-riffing his guitar with that rhythm he invented, and which bore his name for decades to come – ... CD (Blues CD)
Helen Merrill
Helen Merrill In TokyoKing (Japan), 1963.
A rare Japanese session from vocalist Helen Merrill – one of a few key 60s recordings she cut on the Tokyo scene, after initial fame in the US! The album features a great small group arranged by drummer Takeshi Inomata, played by a combo that includes alto, baritone, and trumpet – all ... CD (Vocalists CD)
Gigi Gryce
Reminiscin'Mercury (Japan), 1960.
A great lost date from the wonderful Gigi Gryce – a set that features the altoist in an sextet, but often swinging with a looser vibe than on some of his better-known albums from the 50s! There's a mix of soulful and modern here that's not unlike the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet – ... CD (Jazz CD)
Toshiko Akioshi
Toshiko Akiyoshi Meets Her Old PalsKing (Japan), 1961.
Toshiko Akioshi makes a trip back to the Japanese jazz scene in the early 60s – for this great little session that has her meeting up with "old pals" from previous years – including Sadao Watanabe on alto sax, Akira Miyazawa on tenor, and Hideo Shiraki on drums! The reunion ... CD (Jazz CD)
Lee Scratch Perry & The Upsetters
Upsetter/Trojan/Doctor Bird (UK), 1969/1970.
A pair of classic Lee Scratch Perry albums – back to back on a single CD! First up is the legendary Upsetter record – revolutionary at the time, still great today – and done with a spare sound that displays the roots of his unique approach! These early tracks don't have the ... CD (Reggae CD)
Simon Finn
Pass The DistanceMushroom/Antarctica Starts Here, 1970. (reissue)
LP...$20.99
24.98
A beautifully fragile record cut by UK folkie Simon Finn – a singer with an incredibly distinct voice, recording here in an equally distinct musical setting! Finn's guitar and percussion are set in a trio with tabla, percussion, and dulcimer from Paul Burwell – and a lot of other ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Procol Harum
Procol's Ninth (3CD set)Chrysalis/Esoteric (UK), 1975. 3CD
A hugely expanded version of this record – with two and a half CD's worth of unreleased material! The core record is quite an unusual moment for Procol Harum – still riding strong here onto their ninth album as a group – but also bringing in the legendary production team of ... CD (Rock CD)
Tubby Hayes
Down In The VillageFontana/Universal (Japan), 1962.
Genius work by one of our favorite tenor players ever – the amazing Tubby Hayes! Hayes was one of the best British jazz talents ever, and his raw tenor sound is right up there with Sonny Rollins and Hank Mobley for sheer power and inventiveness. This laidback session features Hayes at the ... CD (Jazz CD)
Aloe Blacc
Christmas FunkAloe Blacc, 2018.
A full on funky soul Christmas gift from Aloe Blacc! AB wasn't messing around with the title here, he delivers genuinely funky Christmas cheer from beginning to end, all the more endearingly so, as it's rooted strongly in new original songs rather than leaning on the classic Christmas songbook like ... CD (Holiday Music CD)
Hideo Shiraki
Hideo Shiraki (1958)King (Japan), 1958.
A late 50s stormer from Japanese drummer Hideo Shiraki – caught here at a great point in his early career! The album's got a bit more of a swing-based feel than some of Shiraki's later sides – a bit more Verve-like energy than Blue Note style – which is a-ok with us, because the ... CD (Jazz CD)
London/Abkco (Japan), 1968. 2 SACD & Flexidisc
CD...$43.99
49.98
One of the greatest albums ever from The Rolling Stones – a set that still draws on all the bluesy roots of their best 60s material, yet which also shows a sharper, nastier edge as well! The album shows the tremendous sense of focus and power the Stones had in this crucial late 60s stretch ... CD (Rock CD)
Anderson Paak
Oxnard (with bonus track)12T/Aftermath, 2018.
CD...$12.99
13.98
Cinematic hip hop soul from Anderson.Paak named after a seaside city west of Los Angeles, CA – but it's not Malibu, it's the stunning follow up Oxnard – a little looser, more diverse, and ultimately just as impressive set from this still rising talent! The uber-impressive guest list ... CD (Neo Soul CD)
George Duke
Faces In Reflection (180 gram pressing)MPS (Germany), 1974. (reissue)
LP...$25.99
29.99
Killer keyboards from the legendary George Duke – and one of his most righteous albums for the MPS label! The album's a spectacular set that showcases both sides of Duke's genius at the time – his spacey, soulful approach to a laidback tune – and his more jamming styles on the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Hideo Shiraki/
Modern Ameriachi For You
King (Japan), 1965.
Not sure what they mean by "Ameriachi" in the title – but from the sound of the music, there's definitely a great A&M Records-styled mix of jazz, Latin, and South American modes! The set begins with a set of cookers from drummer Hideo Shiraki – working with an excellent ... CD (Jazz CD)
Eugene McDaniels
Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse (180 gram pressing)Atlantic/Music On Vinyl (Netherlands), 1971. (reissue)
A monster album that's gone onto influence a generation – but which was barely recognized at the time! Singer Eugene McDaniels had scored big with some pop hits in the 60s under the name Gene McDaniels – but here, he steps out in a righteous batch of offbeat funk tunes – filled ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Los Sospechos
PostalesColemine, 2013.
Deep funk, but with a compelling twist – bits of South American styles filtering into the mix from time to time, but in subtle ways that never lose the groove! The album's a soundtrack, but works more like a funk album on its own – and is a great full length follow-up to some of the ... CD (Deep Funk CD)
John Young
Touch Of PepperArgo/Universal (Japan), 1962.
One of the few sides ever recorded as a leader by Chicago soul jazz pianist John Young – a tasty trio set with just the right touch of pepper! The tracks are short and lively, very much in the mode of other Chicago trio players – like John Wright or Ramsey Lewis – and most of the ... CD (Jazz CD)
Tony Allen & Jeff Mills
Tomorrow Comes The Harvest (10 inch LP)Blue Note (France), 2018.
The great Tony Allen has always been a hell of a collaborator – especially in his later years – and here, he makes some really wonderful music with Jeff Mills – a criss-crossing of acoustic and electric percussion patterns that are every bit as hypnotic as Allen's early material, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Ray Bryant Trio
Gotta Travel OnArgo/Universal (Japan), 1966.
A stone groover from the great Ray Bryant – one of his brilliant albums for Cadet from the 60s! Ray's soul jazz trio (with Freddie Waits on drums) is augmented by the 2-horn trumpet section he used on some of his other Cadet recordings from the time – trumpet from Snookie Young and ... CD (Jazz CD)
Third Ear Band
Third Ear Band – Elements 1970 to 1971 (Third Ear Band/Harvest/Esoteric (UK), 1970/1971. 3CD
A stunning collection of work from Third Ear Band – a set that features their first album, a rare soundtrack, and lots of rare and unusual material too! The set begins with the self-titled Third Ear Band – the amazing debut of one of the most unique groups of the early prog years ... CD (Rock CD)
Art Ensemble Of Chicago/
Art Ensemble Of Chicago & Associated Ensembles (21CD set)
ECM (Germany), Late 70s/1980s/1990s/2000s/Early 2010s. 21CD
CD...$98.99
109.99
A huge chapter of work from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – one that not only includes their own albums for the ECM label, but also related solo and side projects too! The set begins with four Art Ensemble albums – Nice Guys, Full Force, Urban Bushman, and The Third Decade – all of ... CD (Jazz CD)
This Mortal Coil
Filigree & Shadow4AD (UK), 1986. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$30.99
32.98
Tremendous work from This Mortal Coil – only the second album by the 4AD Records collective, but one that doubles the length of the first – and explores some even deeper territory in the process! The group take songs that had been forgotten from previous generations – beautiful ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Polskie Radio (Poland), 1965.
Dizzy Gillespie in Europe, 1965 – and a record that stands as a tremendous entry to Dizzy's very cooking small combo work of the time! The group is fantastic – and features a young Kenny Barron on piano, with Chris White on bass and Rudy Collins on drums – and James Moody on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Johnny Griffin/
Jazz Jamboree 63 Vol 2 – Polish Radio Jazz Archives
Polskie Radio (Poland), 1963.
Poland's Jazz Jamboree festival really opened up in 1963 – and featured great performances from jazz musicians all over the European scene – plus key Polish talents, and a few American guests as well! This second volume really smokes with some very long tracks that are heavy on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Stag O Lee (Germany), Late 50s/Early 60s.
Raw rockers, offbeat groovers, and lots more odd bits from the glory days of the indie single – pulled together here in a package that sounds as sexy as it looks! The Stag-O-Lee label has been giving us some great collections in recent years, and this one's right at the top of their stack ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Ghetto Brothers
Power/Salsa International/Everland (Austria), 1972.
A legendary record from one of the most unique Latin groups of their time! In an early 70s world where many Latin combos were going for class and poise, the Ghetto Brothers moved in another direction entirely – working here with a fair bit of electric guitar alongside more familiar Latin ... CD (Latin CD)
Maceo
USPolydor (Japan), 1974.
A killer-diller bit of essential funk – the only full album cut by Maceo with James Brown production! The set's got Maceo coming back strongly into the JB fold, with a fierce array of funky cuts that kick it every bit as hard as the best JBs work of the time. No surprise, the JBs are ... CD (Soul CD)
Stag O Lee (Germany), Late 50s/Early 60s.
A strange title, a strange cover, and lots of strange sounds within – a set that's very much in keeping with the mad mix of music we've loved from the Stag-O-Lee label over the years! As with other entries in this series, it's a bit hard to say what style of music the set really holds – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Various
Fame Northern SoulFame/Kent (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s.
CD...$12.99
18.99
Upbeat sounds from Muscle Shoals – music that's normally dubbed by the term of Northern Soul, but which was recorded in one of the best scenes in the American south! That confusion's easy to fix – as the "northern" in Northern Soul has always referred to the interest in a ... CD (Soul CD)
Wild Honey
UntamedTK/Everland (Austria), 1979.
An obscure disco trio from the Miami soul scene of the 70s – working here in a way that's maybe like a deep soul take on some of the Philly female trios of the same time! The strings are soaring and the grooves are tight – but there's maybe a richer vocal approach from the group than ... CD (Soul CD)
Various
Brownswood Bubblers Volume 13Brownswood (UK), 2018.
A lucky number 13 for the Brownswood Bubblers series – a great reminder that the compilation is still one of the best places we know for getting turned onto new music from the global underground! And by that, we don't mean the lame dance music "underground" of more than a decade ... CD (New Grooves CD)
Maisha
There Is A PlaceBrownswood (UK), 2018.
CD...$13.99
14.99
A record with a soaring spirit from the contemporary London scene – a fantastic full-length statement from Maisha, a group we'd heard about over the years – but are only now getting a chance to enjoy! The group's led by drummer Jake Long, but features this really tremendous work on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Larry Coryell
Restful MindVanguard/Wounded Bird, 1975.
CD...$10.99
14.99
Guitarist Larry Coryell really changes it up from before – shedding both some of his electric modes and his vocal inclinations – and also working with a completely different group, who give the record a very unusual sound! Coryell plays a lot of acoustic guitar here, in addition to ... CD (Jazz CD)
Henri Texier
AmirJMS (France), Mid 70s. (reissue)
A 70s classic from bassist Henri Texier – a musician who's been a key part of the French jazz scene for decades, and already had a very unusual approach in his early years! Texier is fantastic here on acoustic bass – but he's also already opening up in so many other ways too – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Larry Coryell
ReturnVanguard/Wounded Bird, 1979.
CD...$10.99
14.99
A great entry in the ever-diverse catalog of guitarist Larry Coryell in the 70s – a set that has him both returning to Vanguard Records, and to more electric modes than on a few previous records – and also working with the sons of Dave Brubeck in a nicely tight mode! The album's maybe ... CD (Jazz CD)
Bear Family (Germany), Late 40s/1950s/Early 60s.
CD...$9.99
11.99
Maybe one of the coolest country Christmas collections we've ever heard – but then again, we'd expect no less from the folks at Bear Family! There's a lot of great original tunes here – which are mixed with country-fied takes on more popular Holiday songs from the midcentury years ... CD (Holiday Music CD)
Sisters Love
With LoveMoWest/Get On Down, Early 70s.
LP...$18.99
20.98
The incredible lost album from the group Sisters Love – material slated for release in the early 70s, but never saw the light of day, save for a handful of singles – a mix of rootsier southern soul and impeccable west coast funk styles, finally brought to light and with bonus tracks, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Ronald Snijders
Safe ReturnRonald Snijders/Everland (Holland), 1980. (reissue)
Fantastic funky flute from Ronald Snijders – a European player of the 70s, but one whose work really reminds us a lot of the soulful groove of Bobbi Humphrey at the same time! Like Bobbi, Ronald often has this clear, clean tone on his instrument – as spacious as it is soulful, which ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Itibere Orquestra Familia
Pedra Do EspiaFar Out (Brazil), 2001. 2CD
Wonderful jazziness from Brazil! This group has a sound that's beyond compare – influenced clearly by the 70s work of Hermeto Pascoal, but much more tuneful, light, and dancing – vocals blending with piano, percussion, and a host of angular reed instruments! The sound is incredible ... CD (Brazil CD)
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra (Japanese version)Sony (Japan), 1979. (reissue)
An electronic pop masterpiece – and the first moment of international exposure for the mighty Yellow Magic Orchestra! Before this set, the trio of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono, and Yukihiro Takahashi had already been making plenty of waves on the Japanese music scene – but the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Flying Dutchman/Octave (Japan), Late 60s/Early 70s. 2CD
A mighty sweet collection of grooves from the Flying Dutchman label – that early 70s hotbed of funk, soul, and spiritual jazz! The set features some of the best-remembered gems from the label – plus some nice surprises along the way – all spread out in a double-length set, with ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Monk Higgins
Extra Soul PerceptionSolid State/Dusty Groove, 1968.
One of the few albums ever issued as a leader by Monk Higgins – a genius musician/arranger who first got his start on the Chicago scene of the 60s, then moved out to the west coast at the end of the decade – where he also helped inject some funky new sounds into the Blue Note label! ... CD (Jazz CD)
Various
Discophilia Belgica – Next Door Disco & Local Spacemusic From Belgium 1975 to 1987 – Part 1/Sdban (Belgium), Late 70s/1980s. 2LP Gatefold
A European disco world that's ripe for rediscovery – one that's much more obscure than better-known club work from Germany, France, and Italy – but which may well be even groovier than the work from those three scenes! The package is a great complement to some of the funk and jazz sets ... LP, Vinyl record album (Funky Compilations LP)
Holger Czukay/
Full Circle
Trio/Gronland (Germany), 1982.
CD...$13.99
14.99
A fantastic trio of talents – the mighty bassist and drummer from Can, joined by the suddenly-solo Jah Wobble from Public Image Limited – all in a set of grooves that brings out all the best of their talents! Given that Wobble already presents some beautifully heavy bass, Czukay ... CD (Rock CD)
Ugly Things
Issue 49 – Winter 2018Ugly Things, 2018.
A heavy book-size edition of Ugly Things – a magazine that only comes out quarterly, but is so big that it might take you three months just to get through each issue! Manfred Mann are on the cover – and the issue also includes interviews with group members Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness ... Magazine (Magazine)
Holy Modal Rounders
Moray Eels Eat The Holy Modal RoundersElektra/Wounded Bird, 1968.
CD...$10.99
14.99
The Holy Modal Rounders in all of their glory – weirder and even more hard to define than ever before – but maybe a bit more focused and tuneful than during the time that founders Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber spent in the Fugs! The group here also includes the young Sam Shepard ... CD (Rock CD)
9th Creation
SuperheroesHilltak/Past Due, 1979. (reissue)
Fantastic funk from 9th Creation – a group who really tighten up their sound for this record, but still stay as wonderful as before! There's a totally right-on-the-money vibe to the whole thing – like the best Wayne Henderson/At Home productions from the late 70s – or maybe that ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Disco Soul Gold (UK), 2018.
Don't let the title fool you – as these aren't the common soul tracks you'd find on the pop charts – and instead represent a great slice of the UK underground scene – soul cuts that are tight and together, but nicely far from the mainstream! The set follows in the mode of the ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
KPM/Be With (UK), 1976. (reissue)
Nick Ingman's known to some for his groovy guitar instrumentals of the 60s – but here, he's at the top of the sound library game – serving up bigger group instrumentals in two different styles! Side one features "distinctive themes" – and has Ingman working a big band ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Pride (with David Axelrod)
Pride (2018 Black Friday Release)Warner/Get On Down, 1970. (reissue)
A lost treasure from David Axelrod – an obscure 1970 rock project, and one that's almost even hipper than his work with the Electric Prunes! The style here is rock, but the sound is very much in an Axelrod mode – quite spacious, and with this wonderful undercurrent of funk – ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Holger Czukay
MoviesEMI/Gronland (Germany), 1979.
Not a soundtrack album from Holger Czukay – despite what you might guess from the title – and instead a batch of nicely tuneful, often-catchy tracks that somewhat follow the style of late 70s work from Can! Not surprisingly, Holger's joined by group makes Jaki Liebezeit on drums, and ... CD (Rock CD)
Erik Andresen
Cointreau (10 inch LP)Jazzaggression (Finland), 1969.
Fantastic – two rare tracks from Norwegian alto saxophonist Erik Andresen – issued here for the first time ever! Side one features the long original title track "Cointreau" – which has Egil Kapstad on electric piano, an instrument that seems to encourage the best sort ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Christian McBride
Christian McBride's New JawnMack Avenue, 2018.
Bassist Christian McBride works here with a mighty striking group – a quartet that features Josh Evans on trumpet, Marcus Strickland on tenor and bass clarinet, and Nasheet Waits on drums – all players who give this record an edge that we're not used to hearing from Christian! The ... CD (Jazz CD)
Holger Czukay & Rolf Dammers
CanaxisSpoon/Gronland (Germany), 1968.
CD...$13.99
14.99
A fantastic early project from Holger Czukay – an early solo set, done during a time when Can were just getting started – and at a level that's years ahead of its time! Czukay uses lots of tapes and sound samples with his own basslines – crafting this pan-global landscape of ... CD (Rock CD)
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis/Curtom/Antarctica Starts Here, 1971. 2LP Gatefold (reissue)
LP...$23.99
29.98
One of the greatest albums ever from the legendary soul singer Curtis Mayfield – even though it's different than most of the rest as well! Curtis is captured here in a small club, with a tight band, spinning out these extended readings of some of his best tunes – both tracks he sang ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Marcus Strickland
People Of The SunBlue Note, 2018.
CD...$13.99
14.99
Saxophonist Marcus Strickland continues the electric explorations of his previous project with Meshell Ndegeocello – but works here on his own, with his very cool Twi-Life group – which certainly opens up a whole new dimension in his music! Marcus blows sopranino, alto, tenor, and bass ... CD (Jazz CD)
Tramp (Germany), Late 70s/Early 80s.
The cover's a bit creepy, but the set's a great one – way more soulful than the image of a dummy might make you expect! The collection follows strongly in the same territory as the funk titles on the Tramp Records label – and like those, digs deep in the American underground to find a ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Cherry Red (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. 3CD
A really great look at the more tuneful side of the UK scene during the prime years of punk rock – a set that doesn't ignore punk for more mainstream material – but instead shows the way the new sound was influencing bands in a variety of styles, who were then also turning things back ... CD (Rock CD)
Freddie Gibbs
FreddieESGN, 2018.
One of the toughest, leanest, tightest and most on point efforts from Freddie Gibbs to date – and one of the best! Despite the dead on perfect homage to the Teddy Pendergrass's quiet storm soul classic Teddy with the cover art here, make no mistakes, the material is Freddie Gibbs at his most ... CD (Hip Hop CD)
Various
Unusual SoundsAnthology, Late 60s/1970s.
CD...$10.99
11.99
The sounds here aren't that unusual at all – and in fact, they're mostly pretty darn groovy – a superb selection of sound library funk from the glory days of the European scene – collected here together in support of the book of the same name! In case you're new to the scene ... CD (Sound Library CD)
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Solid State SurvivorAlfa/Sony (Japan), 1979. (reissue)
Tremendous work from this groundbreaking electro pop trio – a group who seem to compress all the best electric energy on both sides of the planet at the time – creating a leaner, catchier take on some of the hippest German modes, mixing them with their own quirky energy, and paving the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Jared Sims
New York SessionsRopeadope, 2018.
CD...$8.99
15.99
Saxophonist Jared Sims is the leader, but we're equally taken here with the work of the rhythm section – a sharp, soulful unit that features Chris McCarthy on piano, Alex Tremblay on bass, and Evan Hyde on drums! We're not sure we've ever heard Tremblay before, but his round tone really sets ... CD (Jazz CD)
El (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s. 3CD
The great John Barry as a young man – stepping out here on songs that are a lot more rocking than his later fame as a soundtrack composer – served up in a massive 3CD box that collects together singles for Parlophone and Columbia, plus some early rock songs from films! The style here ... CD (Soundtracks CD)
MKWAJU Ensemble (Midori Takada)
MKWAJUColumbia/WRWTFWW (Switzerland), 1981.
Beautifully percussive sounds from Midori Takada and the Mkwaju ensemble – a group that features Takada on vibes, marimbas, gongs, and tom tom – alongside other percussion and marimbas too! Joe Hisaishi produced, and also plays keyboards – but the electric elements are light, and ... CD (Rock CD)
New Monuments (Yeh/
New Monuments – New Earth
Pleasure Of The Text, 2018.
The legendary Don Dietrich is in a perfect setting here – working with two younger musicians who really captured all the unbridled frenzy of his famous group, Borbetomagus! Dietrich is on tenor and electronics – and violinist C Spencer Yeh is equally electrified at times – both ... CD (Jazz CD)
General Franco Lee Ezute
Onye Kata ObiaGet/Bongo Joe (UK), 1989. (reissue)
General Franco is alive and well – at least General Franco Lee Ezute, as the sound of his work on this record is so vibrant, it will keep his legacy alive for decades! The rhythms move fast, the guitar dances along at a similar speed, and Franco works with his Harmony Kings International ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Warner/Groove Line Records (UK), Late 70s/Early 80s. 3 CDs
Ashford & Simpson may have gotten their start at Motown, but they really found their groove at Warner Brothers – as you'll hear on this massive collection of tracks from their landmark late 70s years at the label! Even many decades later, the strength of this music is undeniable – ... CD (Soul CD)
Ace/Westbound (UK), Early 70s.
CD...$12.99
18.99
Deep deep funk from the legendary Westbound label – the important early home to Ohio Players and Funkadelic, but also host to some other great funky groups too! In keeping with the name, the cuts here focus on the kind of Westbound tracks that have great drum breaks in their groove – ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Maeng Won-Sik
Night At Seongbulsa (180 gram pressing)Cobra Rose (Korea), Early 70s. Gatefold (reissue)
There's so much going on here, we can only say "wow" – and hope that we can find a way to describe this very groovy album in words! The set's billed as "Korean lyric song and folk music in jazz" – and while that might be appropriate for some, if you don't know the ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Chic/
Chic Organization 1977 to 1979 (Chic/Warner, Late 70s. 5CD
The full spectrum of Chic magic from back in the 70s – all the group's early albums, rare singles and mixes, and even the Sister Sledge album handled by Nile Rodgers too! First up is the group's self-titled album – classic work from Chic, and a great batch of choppy funky dancefloor ... CD (Soul CD)
Brown Sugar
I'm In Love With A Dreadlocks – Brown Sugar & The Birth Of Lovers Rock 1977 to 1980 (with bonus download)Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s. 2LP
LP...$26.99
29.99
The first collection we've ever seen to do justice to the Brown Sugar trio from the UK reggae scene of the late 70s – a group who do a fantastic job of merging older sweet soul styles with a new lovers' vibe, all in a mode that's completely sublime! The group's noteworthy as the starting ... LP, Vinyl record album (Reggae LP)
Various
50 Years MPSMPS (Germany), Late 60s/1970s.
CD...$6.99
7.99
A nicely-priced introduction to the very cool MPS record label – easily one of the hippest jazz imprints going in the 60s and 70s – and one of the few that was able to reach around the planet, and unite styles from all over the globe! This set brings together key cuts that made MPS so ... CD (Jazz CD)
Erik Andresen
Gip (with bonus CD & download)Flower/Jazzaggression (Finland), 1970. (reissue)
One of the few albums as a leader from Norwegian alto saxophonist Erik Andresen – a fantastic musician who played in countless other settings, but who's really at his best in the quartet on this session! Andresen has this way of blowing straight and soulful one minute, then stepping outside ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
9th Creation
Bubble GumRite Track/Past Due, 1975.
A classic album of jazzed-up funk – the lasting legacy by this oft-sampled group! 9th Creation originally hailed from west of the Bay Area scene of the 70s – and this album was recorded in Oakland with the same sweet jazzy finish as work by some of the other big Northern California ... CD (Soul CD)
Various
Stay Awake – Various Interpretations Of Music From Vintage Disney Films (2018 Black Friday Release)A&M, 1988. 2LP Gatefold
One of the most novel, and dare we say coolest alternative soundtrack compilations of the late 80s! Stay Awake features a wildly diverse roster of artists covering, reinterpreting and paying tribute to songs from older Disney films – including Tom Waits, Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Natalie ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Various
If Music Presents You Need This – World Jazz Grooves – Compiled By Jean Claude & Victor KiswellBBE (UK), Late 60s/1970s.
Not a set of world music-inflected jazz – although there is a bit of that – and instead, a wonderful collection of spiritual numbers from around the world – most recorded in the 70s, at a time when barriers were really breaking down in jazz music! All tracks here are nice and ... CD (Funky Compilations CD)
Sarathy Korwar
My East Is Your WestGearbox (UK), 2018. 2CD
CD...$13.99
14.99
A really amazing little record – one that's partly in the "jazz meets Indian" mode of Joe Harriott's experiments of the 60s – but a performance that also brings in a lot more from spiritual jazz, even though most of the instrumentation is more traditional! The set is live, ... CD (Jazz CD)
Various
Brainfeeder X (4LP set)Brainfeeder, 2010s. 4LP
LP...$55.99
59.99
A fantastic celebration of the first ten years of the Brainfeeder label – an imprint that's slowly been shaping the sound of soul, hip hop, and other styles over the past decade or so – with a reach that's starting to make waves in jazz and other music too! Brainfeeder has always had a ... LP, Vinyl record album (Neo Soul LP)
Contrast, Late 20s/1930s/Early 40s. 2CD
CD...$13.99
19.99
A very different Christmas collection than usual – as this set features mostly pre-war blues with a very gritty feel – and not the usual Holiday warmth you might know from more famous records! Much of this material was originally issued on 78rpm discs, and has this gritty vibe that ... CD (Holiday Music CD)
Keith Mansfield/
Voices In Harmony – KPM 1125 (180 gram pressing)
KPM/Be With (UK), 1973. (reissue)
One of the grooviest albums from the 70s KPM sound library – a set that features loads of upbeat vocal numbers in harmony, conducted by two of the swingingest cats to ever work for the label! Vocal material is a bit unusual in the KPM world – which usually focused on the kind of ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Ted Lucas
Ted LucasYoga Records, 1975. (reissue)
The lasting legacy of the enigmatic Ted Lucas – a somewhat mysterious figure who moved between Detroit and Los Angeles in the late 60s – but who works here with a sound that's completely his own! Part of the record was created as demo tracks for Warner Brothers – who'd issued ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Mansur Brown
ShiroiBlack Focus (UK), 2018.
A fantastic debut from guitarist Mansur Brown – a player you might recognize from earlier work with Kamaal Williams – now stepping out on his own, but with production from Williams on his own label too! Brown's got this incredibly open approach to the guitar – a flurry of styles ... CD (Jazz CD)
Weldon Irvine
Cosmic Vortex (Justice Divine) (180 gram pressing)RCA/Pure Pleasure (UK), 1974. (reissue)
LP...$34.99
44.98
A genius bit of work from the legendary Weldon Irvine – a mightily righteous effort that more than lives up to its heady title and cover! After turning out 2 great albums on his own indie Nodlew label, Weldon really steps into greatness with this set – using the bigger budget of his ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Giuliano Sorgini
Africa Oscura – Afro-Dark Electronic Percussions (180 gram pressing)Four Flies (Italy), 1976.
A really great record that definitely lives up to its title and cover – a set that's sort of a cool 70s take on exotica modes from years past! The music here is almost all performed by Giuliano Sorgini – who plays drums and lots of percussion, then adds in electronics too – using ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soundtracks LP)
Think (Japan), 1960s.
A killer collection of rare blues material – and one that's pretty darn funky at times too! The set dives deep into the very underground world of the blues 45 – not the previous scene of rare 78rpm recordings that have been documented heavily for decades – but the later ... CD (Blues CD)
Redefinition, 2018.
LP...$24.99
25.98
The Du-Rites pay tribute to the glory days of the cop/crime soundtrack in the 70s – serving up a set of spare, tight funk instrumentals – heavy on guitars and keyboards, and almost always set up with some mighty nice drums! The liner notes tell the tale of a "lost" show from ... LP, Vinyl record album (Deep Funk LP)
Strut (UK), Early 80s.
A totally great collection of work from the German scene of the early 80s – a time that's often referred to as the German New Wave – although the music was usually a fair bit darker than any new wave sounds in the Anglo world! Instead, maybe think of this work as a cool compression of ... CD (Rock CD)
Stag O Lee (Germany), Late 50s/Early 60s.
Slow grinders and lots lots more – a sweet set of raunchy little numbers from the years in which teen pop and rock and roll were taking over the mainstream – but still left lots of space for the creation of nasty little singles like these! As with previous volumes, the music is a mix ... CD (Soul CD)
Various
A2 – An A-Square CompilationAce/Third Man, Late 60s. 2LP Gatefold
LP...$24.99
27.98
A great look at the Michigan scene before things broke big on labels like Elektra and Columbia – rare early recordings from the A Square label – some of them never issued at the time, and together a perfect portrait of that amazing new sound that was coming from Detroit, Ann Arbor, and ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Ultrafunk
Ultrafunk/Robinsongs (UK), Mid 70s. 2CD
A pair of albums from this British funk group of the 70s – one who were a precursor to bigger English soul sounds to come! First up is the self-titled Ultrafunk album – a rare bit of funk from the mid 70s UK scene – cut with a groove that's got plenty of blacksploitation ... CD (Soul CD)
Irma Thomas
Take A LookImperial, 1966. (reissue)
Tremendous vocals and really rich arrangements – an album that pushes Irma Thomas a bit in the direction of uptown soul, yet still keeps all the deeper elements intact! Some of the backings here are fuller than before – added strings and backup vocals, used in a way you might expect ... LP, Vinyl record album (Soul LP)
Peter Brotzmann & Heather Leigh
Sparrow NightsTrost (Austria), 2018.
A fantastic entry in the late-life partnership that reedman Peter Brotzmann has formed with steel guitar player Heather Leigh – the kind of instrumentalist that Brotzmann never would have played with back in the day – but who seems to really open him up with an unheard range of color ... CD (Jazz CD)
Instant Composers Pool (Misha Mengelberg, Peter Br
GroupcomposingICP/Corbett vs. Dempsey, 1970. Gatefold
A landmark album from this groundbreaking free jazz ensemble – a record that's as important to improvised music as Peter Brotzmann's Machine Gun or Derek Bailey's solo albums! And no surprise, the group features Brotzmann on tenor and Bailey on guitar – alongside Misha Mengelberg on ... CD (Jazz CD)
Mars Williams with Witches & Devils
Ayler Xmas 2ESP/Soul What, 2018.
CD...$12.99
15.99
Finally – the world of free jazz gives us a tremendous Christmas album – Mars Williams' second installment in his Ayler Xmas series, and maybe even better than the first! The music here is fantastic – an assortment of older Holiday standards, but performed as if they were handled ... CD (Holiday Music CD)
Yoruba Singers
Fighting For SurvivalInterculture/Cultures Of Soul, 1981. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
22.98
Sweet electric funk from the Yoruba Singers – a group you might expect to have a spiritual bent, given their name – but who work here with lots of heavy rhythms, and some pretty fantastic keyboards! They're definitely "singers", though – as many tracks have the ensemble ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Keith Mansfield/
Big Business/KPM/Be With (UK), 1973. (reissue)
A double-barreled gem from the UK sound library world of the 70s – two different themes, both of them groovy! Side one features Big Business numbers by Keith Mansfield – not industrial themes, but the kind of slinky, jazzy material that would have been perfect for that world where 70s ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Brian Bennett/
Hot Wax – KPM 1177 (180 gram pressing)
KPM/Be With (UK), 1976. (reissue)
Some definite hot wax from the British sound library world of the 70s – even if the record wasn't issued to the public at the time! Brian Bennett, Alan Hawkshaw, and John Fiddy each serve up tunes to match the title's promise of "the latest trends in production music" – which ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Andrew Cyrille/
Lebroba
ECM, 2018.
CD...$16.99
18.99
A fantastic trio of talents – coming together in the best ECM mode that always seems to make a really special sort of magic out of very individual talents! The album's led by drummer Andrew Cyrille, but is equally balanced between the talents of Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet and Bill Frisell ... CD (Jazz CD)
Ike & Tina Turner
Live In Paris (Japanese paper sleeve edition)United Artists/Universal (Japan), 1971. Gatefold
One of the most obscure albums from the big hit years of Ike & Tina Turner – a double-length live set recorded in Paris, and one that's every bit as smoking as their American live material from the time! The concert setting really lets the pair show off all their talents – and the ... CD (Soul CD)
Motohiko Hamase
ReminiscenceStudio Mule (Germany), 2018.
Very poetic sounds from bassist Motohiko Hamase – a contemporary recording, but one that almost takes us back to that late 70s/early 80s moment on the Japanese scene, when musicians were combining electric and organic elements – but in ways that had a surprising mix of modes! Hamase ... CD (Jazz CD)
Francis Coppieters
Piano Viberations – Small Group Jazz Featuring Piano & Jazz With Rhythm – KPM 1166 (180 gram pressing)KPM/Be With (UK), 1975. (reissue)
A straight jazz set from KPM, but a great one too – a record that's a great mix of piano and vibes, handled in an almost MPS-ish sort of way! There's a few funky numbers here, and some great rhythms too – very dynamic grooves that are heavy on modal influences, and which really sparkle ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Ed Motta
Criterion Of The SensesMembran (Germany), 2018.
A mindblowing record from the great Ed Motta – a set that continues all the warmer, English language elements of his recent albums – but one that also seems to have Ed hitting a new sort of sophistication too! The sound is incredible – almost out-AORing all the global AOR ... CD (Neo Soul CD)
Zbigniew Namyslowski
Kujaviak Goes FunkyPolskie Nagrania (Poland), 1975. (reissue)
Some great funky jazz by one of Poland's greatest musicians! Zbigniew Namyslowski cut his teeth playing modernist alto sax in the group of Krzystof Komeda, but on this mid 70s set, he's grooving hard in a tight set of choppy fusion tracks with that hard European approach on the downbeat! The ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Werner Muller
Jazz MutationsSonorama (Germany), 1961.
Great ensemble jazz from the German scene of the postwar years – music that's got lots of hip twists and turns, a bit like some of the later music from the great Raymond Scott and his orchestra! Werner Muller made a fair bit of instrumental albums on the German scene of the 60s – but ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Charles Bradley
Black VelvetDunham/Daptone, 2018.
The great Charles Bradley left this planet all too soon – and although we've got this final album of music to enjoy, it's only a partial consolation for Bradley's early departure! The set's maybe a bit like some of the albums of Otis Redding material that were issued after his passing – ... CD (Deep Funk CD)
Warner/Ace (UK), Mid 60s.
CD...$14.99
19.98
An excellent collection of rare female soul from the 60s – a set that not only features overlooked 45rpm singles from Warner Brothers at the time – but also some great gems from their famous Loma Records imprint too! If you think you know this territory, think again – as there's ... CD (Soul CD)
Holger Czukay
Der Osten Ist RotVirgin/Gronland (Germany), 1984.
A great solo moment from Holger Czukay – a set that really has him breaking from his music with Can – and really showing off some of the more playful sides of his personality! The songs are quirky and electronic, and remind us more of the German new wave than anything from the ... CD (Rock CD)
Almighty & Insane Books, 2018.
Book...$16.99
20.00
Chicago house music was underground right from the start – mostly hosted in secret urban spaces, long before the nightclubs were willing to take a chance on the revolutionary new music! As such, street-level communication was the way that most folks found out about the DJs and events tied to ... Book (Book)
Champian Fulton
Stylings Of ChampianChampian, 2018. 2CD
That's a mighty sunny image on the cover from Champian Fulton – a singer we'd normally associate with a small jazz club in the wee small hours of the evening – given the classic combo approach of her sound! Fulton's a heck of a pianist, and a great singer too – and this album ... CD (Jazz CD)
Skull Snaps
Skull SnapsGSF/Mr Bongo (UK), 1974.
CD...$10.99
11.98
One of the most legendary funk albums of the 70s – a real gem through and through, and filled with the best range of sounds the east coast scene had to offer at the time! The Skull Snaps only ever cut this one album during the early 70s – and it's a masterful blend of hard funk, sweet ... CD (Soul CD)
Terumasa Hino & His Group
Feelin' Good (Japanese paper sleeve edition – with bonus track)Takt/Columbia (Japan), 1968. Gatefold
An early hardbop gem from Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino – quite different than you might think from his more famous work of the 70s – with a rolling, soulful groove that would almost be at home on 60s Blue Note! Given Hino's chosen instrument, we'd probably link this one best to ... CD (Jazz CD)
Garota FM (Brazil), 2018.
Book...$32.99
40.00
A very cool idea for a book – a "discobiografia" – a volume that's both a discography of the legendary Brazilian band Os Mutantes, and a biography of the group and all of its members, told through its music! The book's written by Chris Fuscaldo – a Brazilian musician ... Book (Book)
Werner Muller
Feuilleton In Jazz (10 inch LP)Sonorama (Germany), Early 60s.
Great ensemble jazz from the German scene of the postwar years – music that's got lots of hip twists and turns, a bit like some of the later music from the great Raymond Scott and his orchestra! Werner Muller made a fair bit of instrumental albums on the German scene of the 60s – but ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Teensville, Mid 60s.
CD...$13.99
14.99
A great little songbook compilation – and one that features material that we might never have heard at all! Back in the 60s, there were definitely key groups and singers whose tunes were covered by others – like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and even Donovan – but The Hollies, despite ... CD (Rock CD)
Brian Auger
Full Circle – Live At Bogie'sFreestyle (UK), 2018.
Brian Auger doesn't come full circle with his early work – and instead, he moves far forward – really soaring here in a tight trio setting, with even more jazz in the mix than on his classic recordings! The set's a great reminder that – despite all the keyboards, funk, and soul ... CD (Jazz CD)
Beatles
Beatles – The White Album (4LP deluxe anniversary edition – 180 gram vinyl with 12 X 12 booklet)Apple, 1968. 4LP (reissue)
LP...$89.99
99.98
The Beatles at their late best – on a self-titled set that's been long immortalized as The White Album! The White Album capped offed a period of intense creativity for the band, with a double set that's as freewheeling as anything they'd ever release. It's got raw rockers with wry lyricism, ... LP, Vinyl record album (Rock LP)
Glen Campbell
Glen Sings For The KingCapitol, Late 60s.
A fantastic lost slice of work from Glen Campbell – recorded in the studio during the years of his big initial fame in the 60s – but never issued to the public at all! Instead, these tracks were recorded for "The King" – that is, Elvis Presley – a bit like demos ... CD (Rock CD)
Be Bop Deluxe
Sunburst Finish (3CD/Harvest/Esoteric (UK), 1976. 3CD & DVD
One of the crowning moments of Bill Nelson and Be Bop Deluxe – a set in which it seemed that everything the group was trying for really came together – in a mode that's both tuneful and timeless, and which – a bit like Sparks or 10CC – was slightly out of time with the rest ... CD (Rock CD)
Joanne Grauer
Joanne Grauer – Introducing Lorraine FeatherMPS (Germany), 1977.
A fantastic 70s album from the legendary German label MPS – but one that gives some great early exposure to a pair of talents from the LA scene! Joanne Grauer plays keyboards with a sweet breezy vibe – a bit like some of the hippest Bay Area indie jazz sides of the time, and made even ... CD (Jazz CD)
Various
Studio One Lovers RockStudio One/Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s.
A set that offers up a slightly different look at the Studio One label – and at the lovers rock style of reggae that broke big at the end of the 70s! Studio One is often known for its rough-edged early classics – but right from the start, the label had a great ear for soul – ... CD (Reggae CD)
Poeira Zine (Brazil), 2018.
Book...$34.99
39.00
A fantastic second volume in this series – and every bit as ear-opening as the first! As you'd guess from the title, the book offers up a look at groundbreaking records from Brazil – and starts in the mid 70s, to run through the 80s – a period in Brazilian music that sometimes ... Book (Book)
Conya Doss
ClearConyadosssongs, 2018.
The music of Conya Doss has been making our world a whole lot better for many years now – and even after nearly two decades, the lady hasn't lost her touch at all! In fact, Doss emerges here with a new sense of maturity that only seems to deepen her songwriting – which was already ... CD (Neo Soul CD)
Various
State Of The Union – The American Dream 1967 to 1973 – Presented By Bob Stanley & Pete WiggsAce (UK), Late 60s/Early 70s.
CD...$12.99
18.98
A great look at the changing tone on the American scene at the end of the 60s – that moment when Vietnam, social unrest, and many other problems weighed heavily on the country's consciousness – and made their presence manifest in all sorts of pop music as well! We're not talking about ... CD (Rock CD)
Aaron Parks
Little BigRopeadope, 2018.
Aaron Parks is a master of tones here – not just the ones from his own piano and keyboards, which can come spiraling out with effortless ease – but also the sound of the quartet's guitar from Greg Tuohey, which often has its own way of shading things in! The album may well be the most ... CD (Jazz CD)
Chocolateclay
Chocolateclay (Japanese paper sleeve edition)Cat/P-Vine (Japan), 1977.
Sweet Miami funk from the team of George "Chocolate" Perry and Clay Cropper – one of the rarest TK albums from the time, and also one of the funkiest too! The sound here is slightly polished, but never too much – a bit more in the sound of bigger Florida groups, like Miami, ... CD (Soul CD)
Michel Legrand
Les Demoisilles De Rochefort – Chanson Des Jumelles/Universal (Japan), 1967. (pic cover, reissue)
A beautiful pic sleeve 7" single – one that brings together two of the grooviest tracks from the Michel Legrand soundtrack to Les Demoisilles De Rochefort (aka Young Girls Of Rochefort) – upbeat, jazzy, and totally swinging – and very French too! 7-inch, Vinyl record (Funky 45's 7-inch)
Fly By Night, Late 70s/Early 80s. 2LP
A great look at changing modes in the sound library scene – music from a moment when things were getting a bit more electronic – as they also were in the pop and soul mainstream! The rhythms here are often programmed, but that also gives the music a nicely varied approach – not ... LP, Vinyl record album (Sound Library LP)
Baba Commandment & The Mandingo Band
Siri Ba KeleSublime Frequencies, 2018.
Rootsy grooves and heavy rhythms from Baba Commandant – an album recorded in Burkina Faso, and done with a nice blend of guitar, bass, and drums – plus plenty of work on balafon and n'goni! The steel tones of the n'goni ring out nicely next to the warmer percussive melody of the ... CD (Global Grooves CD)
Cem Karaca
Yoksulluk Kader OlamazTurkofon/Pharaway Sounds (Spain), 1977. Gatefold (reissue)
Cem Karaca is sounding even loftier here than before – mixing in some cool keyboard elements to his music, almost creating a prog-styled sound at times – with a lot more complexity than just a few short years before! His vocals also seem to rise to the setting, too – with all ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Dexter Gordon
Espace Cardin 1977Elemental, 1977.
A fantastic late live date from Dexter Gordon – one that's noteworthy not just for his own strong work on tenor, but also for the presence of bop pianist Al Haig – who comes as quite a surprise on the session! Haig and Gordon have never played before on record – although their ... CD (Jazz CD)
Ntombi Ndaba
TomorrowAfrosynth, Late 80s. (reissue)
LP...$19.99
22.98
Sweet South African soul from Ntombi Ndaba – recorded at a time when electro elements were being used heavily down in Johannesburg, but never at a level that makes Ntombi's music sound too thin at all! Instead, these songs are almost a contrast to some of the more lightweight South African ... LP, Vinyl record album (Global Grooves LP)
Infinite Sound
Contemporary African-Amerikan MusicArch/Aguirre (Germany), 1975. (reissue)
A real standout from the 70s spiritual jazz scene – and that's saying a lot, given how many outstanding records that scene gave us over the years! The group's got a very interesting approach – a trio lineup, with fantastic work on bass from Glenn Howell – who you might know from ... LP, Vinyl record album (Jazz LP)
Woody Shaw
Live In Bremen 1983Elemental, 1983. 2CD
We completely love the music of Woody Shaw – but unfortunately, the legendary trumpeter left this planet way too soon, and only gave us about 20 years of recordings! Fortunately, the vaults have yielded some gems like this over the years – unreleased live material that not only adds to ... CD (Jazz CD)
Tim Maia
Tim Maia (1977)Som Livre (Brazil), 1977.
70s soul from Brazil – and a tremendously strong effort from the legendary Tim Maia! This record was Tim's first after an initial run on Polydor – and it shows Maia tightening up his groove even more, but still avoiding the slicker sounds of later years. There's a really focused sound ... CD (Brazil CD)
Terry Callier
New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier (with bonus tracks)Prestige/Craft, 1964.
Terry Callier's first album – recorded in 1964 when he was a wee teen hanging around Chicago's folk scene! As the title indicates, the album's definitely got a folk-styled sound – but also as the "new" implies, it's got a sound all it's own, fresh and free – and that ... CD (Soul CD)
If you're ever in Chicago, be sure to visit our Chicago record store!
1120 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Open 10am–8pm daily.
All the great stuff appears here at our online record store first — but if you shop locally, you'll also get a chance to handle the goods before you buy!
1120 N Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Open 10am–8pm daily.
All the great stuff appears here at our online record store first — but if you shop locally, you'll also get a chance to handle the goods before you buy!
We buy new and used LPs, 45s, vinyl records, and CDs
in the store from 11am–6pm daily. Feel free to stop by with used vinyl and sell or trade with us.We pay top prices for older jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, and other genres in good shape!
See why Dusty Groove is consistently rated one of Chicago's Best Record Stores!
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