Rare Hawaii soul from the end of the 70s – an album that's a great extension of the sunny sound heard previously from Lemuria! Babadu's got a gently grooving glow that's right up there with the Free Soul sound of years back – an approach that's smooth, but not in commercial or chart ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Beautiful work from the legendary Hoagy Carmichael – and one of the few albums to feature him singing his own work! Hoagy's name is one that you're more likely to see in the songwriting credits than in the artist slot for a record – but he's actually got a wonderful voice, one that's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 80s mono Japanese pressing – GXH 3505 M – with insert.)
A great collection of bop sides from 40s LA – tracks that ostensibly feature Cole on piano, jamming with Lester Young on tenor and Red Callender on bass! Oddly, no other players are listed in the notes – even though there's clearly a drummer and trumpeter on the session – so it's ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Heavy maroon label pressing, with deep groove. Cover has a split spine.)
One of our favorite albums by Nat King Cole – done with a bit more depth and feeling than some of his other Capitol sets of the time – and some great jazzy backings, too! Arrangements are by Dave Cavanaugh, but there's almost a Basie-like quality to the group at times – never too ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s French pressing on Pathe Marconi. Cover has light wear, some aging, and a bent portion at the top of the spine.)
An unforgettable album from Natalie Cole – a record that came at a time when her R&B career was faltering slightly, and a set that not only helped Natalie reach a new level of sophistication in her music – but also find a huge new audience too! If the title sounds familiar, it's ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Later work by Billy Eckstine – a nice little album from the early 60s, recorded in a dark and somber tone that shows a whole new side to his voice! The album features amazingly restrained arrangements by Billy May – a mix of jazz and strings that has a sadder, deeper style than before ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo color bar label pressing, with deep groove. Cover has light wear.)
Groovy backings from Sid Bass – and titles that include "Thrill Me", "Show Me A Man", "Wild Is Love", "Like Love", "Mr Wonderful", "For Every Man There's A Woman", and "Since I've Been To You". LP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has a bent corner and light wear.)
No Reservations is quite an unusual little set for the time – as it's a bit looser and less structured than most other vocal dates – very much in the spirit of Faye's famous performances in clubs, with a gritty, personal approach to the music that's really great. The orchestrations are ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(60s mono rainbow label pressing. Cover has small splits on the top & bottom seams, but looks nice overall!)
Happy Dolls —
Show Album No 1 ... LP Beatball (Korea), 1978. New Copy (reissue)...
$18.9933.99
A very cool quintet of Korean lovelies from the 70s – five gals who could sing sweetly when they wanted, but also hit some funkier sounds on their instruments as well! The Happy Dolls follow strongly in the tradition of earlier Army base acts from the postwar Korean scene – but they've ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of the rarest Lee Hazlewood albums, and one of the coolest, too – the set falls a bit later than some of his other work on the Swedish scene – and, like Cowboy In Sweden, it's also a soundtrack too – but the vibe is different than that one, and almost shows this maturation of ... read moreCD
Wonderfully groovy work from the team of Jackie Cain & Roy Kral – a set that has the pair moving into much hipper modes for the 60s, and really taking off from the greatness of earlier records! Backing is still by Roy's core trio, with acoustic piano at the lead – but the addition ... read moreCD
Queen of Soul is right! Heck, on these early albums, Etta practically invented soul – or at least invented a deep soul style of singing that would be taken up by countless other female singers during the 60s, but rarely matched with this kind of brilliance. Straight up beautiful stuff! The ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo blue fade label Cadet pressing. Cover has light ring wear & aging.)
Eddie Jefferson —
Body & Soul ... CD Prestige/OJC, 1968. Used ...
$6.998.99
Seminal work from one of the hippest jazz singers ever – a session that showed the world that Eddie Jefferson was firmly back in business during the 60s! The set's got a really rollicking feel, and a bit more influence from soul than the bop of Eddie's roots – with elements of gospel ... read moreCD
A beautiful album of heartfelt vocal tracks by a young Etta Jones – featuring arrangements by Oliver Nelson that rank among the best sort that he was penning for vocalists of this sort during the 60s. Etta's got a nice mix of material here, and although some of the tracks are a bit well-known ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black and silver label stereo pressing with deep groove and Van Gelder stamp. Cover has light wear & aging.)
It's always something nice when Etta Jones makes a record – but this one is especially so, thanks to some intimate small group backing from players who include Oliver Nelson, Lem Winchester, Wally Richardson, and Richard Wyands! The style is relatively intimate throughout – more late ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s OJC pressing. Cover has light wear, some aging, and is stained at the spine.)
Etta Jones —
Sugar ... LP Muse, 1990. Near Mint- ...
$5.997.99
Here's a nice one – the only album we've ever seen by vocalist Dee Lawson, an icy yet soulful singer with a style that's clearly forged in the June Christy mode! The set features some nice small combo backing that really matches the late night mood of the tunes – more jazz-based ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Multi-color bar pressing with deep groove! Vinyl is in great shape, but has a short click on one track – the rest is nice.)
Two albums from Peggy Lee on one CD. First up is I Like Men! – an obscure album of "guy" songs from the end of the 50s! There's a playful feel to the music that fits Lee's vocals very well – as do the bouncy arrangements from Jack Marshall, who turns out to be one of the ... read moreCD
Mellow magic from Johnny Mathis – a late 70s set that updates his older style for a crossover audience in adult contemporary! The style is smooth and polished, but never so much so that Johnny's amazing voice can't shine through – thanks to soulful arrangements from Gene Page, who'd ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Japanese jazz vocalist Junko Mine made a great trip to LA for this album – working here under the leadership of pianist Lou Levy, with a group that includes some of the best west coast jazz players of the 50s! At the time, American labels were often ignoring the talent that was still ... read moreCD
Really great work from Positive Force – a group who gave the world a rare groove classic back in the 80s, and who return here with fresh material that's every bit as great! The last time around, their lead singer was Denise Vallin – and here, the lovely Leslie Page steps up to the ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
2 Capitol Records gems from Louis Prima & Keely Smith – on a single CD, and with bonus tracks too! Hey Boy Hey Girl is a groovy little soundtrack recording – done for a rare film that starred Louis Prima and Keely Smith, working very much at the height of their 50s Capitol powers! ... read moreCD
All girl singers should be this lucky! Gale Robbins is a pretty nice vocalist, although nothing fancy – but on this set, she's lucky enough to have some great backings from Eddie Cano – whose orchestra picks up the pace with plenty of musical flourishes, and the occasional light Latin ... read moreCD
(2008 Japanese pressing – includes obi!)
OC Smith/Jerry Butler/O'Jays and more —
Headliners ... LP Sunset, 1969. Very Good+ ...
$1.993.99
With Gloria Lynne and Fats Domino. (Soul, Vocalists)LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a small split on the spine.)
Leon Thomas —
Full Circle ... LP Flying Dutchman, 1973. New Copy (reissue)...
$14.9929.99
The last album in Leon Thomas' classic run of albums for the Flying Dutchman label – and one of the most unique as well! There's a tighter feel here than some of Thomas' more free-flowing spiritual jazz sessions – but the sound is hardly commercial at all, either – and still has ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of our favorite recordings ever of George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess – done by Bethlehem Records in the mid 50s, and featuring nearly every one of the label's great talents at the time! The choice of the lead characters is a bit odd – as Mel Torme plays Porgy and Francis Faye ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono red label pressing. Includes booklet, but no handkerchief. Cover has some surface and edge wear, and a few split corners on the box top.)
Soul jazz vocalist Dwight Trible gathers the forces for this magnificent effort – an album pairing his emotionally rich vocals and singular spirit with a group of largely west coast allstars – and it's pure genius! The Life Force Trio, from what we can tell, is simply the moniker for ... read moreCD
Rare early material from singer Lee Wiley – pulled from a series of V-Disc recordings, with backing by the group of guitarist Eddie Condon! Players include Jack Teagarden on trombone, Bobby Hackett on trumpet, and Pee Wee Russell on clarinet. LP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 80s issue, with insert. Cover has minimal wear.)
An excellent lost album from Nancy – and one of her most original! The record takes the sophisticated soul vocals of her late 60s albums on Capitol, and twists them with a hip LA jazzy style arranged by Don Sebesky, and performed by The Crusaders and Arthur Adams. Great stuff, and with the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Spanky Wilson —
Let It Be ... LP Mothers Records/P-Vine (Japan), 1975. New Copy (reissue)...
$19.9939.99
Spanky Wilson really takes off here – hitting some of her boldest soul modes to date – and serving up a few funk-heavy classics in the process! Production and arrangements are by HB Barnum – who draws on his own rich legacy of soul projects for the set, and finds a way to let ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Spanky Wilson —
Spankin' Brand New ... LP Mothers Records/P-Vine (Japan), 1969. New Copy (reissue)...
$19.9934.99
Heavy soul from the great Spanky Wilson – an album that explodes with energy right from the start – in a groove that definitely lives up to the title! Spanky's got a great mix of funk and class on this set – a punch in the rhythms at points, yet also a poise in the way she ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Jimmy Witherspoon —
Spoon ... LP Reprise, 1961. Near Mint- ...
$0.997.99
Mellow blues with a touch of jazz – a really great session cut by Jimmy Witherspoon, with backings by Bob Florence – played by a smallish group that includes Gerald Wilson, Herbie Harper, Earl Palmer, Gerry Wiggins, and Teddy Edwards! The sound here is nicely subdued – not that ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono tri-color Pop Series pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear, some aging, and a small sticker in back.)
Ann Young & Yuji Ohno Trio —
As Well Be Spring ... LP Columbia/Lawson (Japan), 1975. New Copy (reissue)...
$28.9949.99
A lovely set of 70s jazz vocals – recorded by American singer Ann Young, with backing by a Japanese combo led by pianist Yuji Ohno! The sound is pretty darn soulful – tracks that range from modal groovers to mellow ballads, all sung by Ann with a really rich vocal approach, and backed ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Great Japanese pressing – with obi!)
Various —
Pops In Jazz ... CD Kang & Music/Fantasy (South Korea), 1960s/1970s. Used 2 CDs ...
$8.9918.99
Music from Freddy Cole, Stanley Turrentine, Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Ruth Brown, Merl Saunders & Friends, Charlie Byrd, Hank Crawford, Etta Jones, Sonny Rollins, and more – 28 songs in all. (Jazz, Vocalists)CD