One of those super-rare albums that never went beyond the stage of being a demo, yet which has gone on to be the stuff of legend over the years – maybe in part because it was later discovered to be an obscure side project by the legendary Wrecking Crew of LA 60s studio fame! The approach here is sunshine pop at its best – mixed male/female vocals, working with really well-crafted backings that were all arranged by Allyn Ferguson, who also penned all of the tracks! The vibe is maybe somewhere between Free Design and the Alan Copeland Singers – and the set is every bit as groovy as our favorites from both groups. Titles include "Playtime", "Calico Bus", "Time", "Come Out In The Sun", "Ride A Pink Horse", and "Candy Egg". LP, Vinyl record album

A completely mesmerizing performance from these three avant giants – all working in longform territory that owes a lot to Tony Conrad's sense of sound – but at a level that really draws plenty from the contributions of all three players! Jim O'Rourke handles harmonium, cranking the instrument at a constant level to create these beautiful tones – next to some sharper lines from Arnold Dreyblatt on equally drone-like violin – matched with these long bowed sonic passages from Conrad on cello. The album features a full 41 minute performance, recorded at Tonic in New York – split over both sides of the record. LP, Vinyl record album

The Ebonys sing about life, and a host of other groovy topics too – in this lost soul treasure from the 70s! The set is one of only two albums ever cut by The Ebonys – a consistently great group from the 70s, as is testified by their constant popularity in our racks! The quartet has a 3 man/1 woman harmony sound that's very hip – often applied to righteous themes worked out in a heavy soul mode, and which sounds just as great on the ballads as it does dancefloor numbers. This second album's got an even sharper edge than their debut – thanks to production and arrangements from Tony Camillo – who gives the album some great undercurrents of funk, and a slightly righteous style that reminds us of some of Norman Whitfield's best studio work of the time. Vocals are wonderful – with really great harmonies that balance out beautifully – in ways that are much more unified than other girl/guy soul groups. Titles include "Neighborhood Gossip", "Mr Me, Mrs You", "One Thing On My Mind", "Sing About Life", and "A Love of Your Own". CD

The Ebonys sing about life, and a host of other groovy topics too – in this lost soul treasure from the 70s! The set is one of only two albums ever cut by The Ebonys – a consistently great group from the 70s, as is testified by their constant popularity in our racks! The quartet has a 3 man/1 woman harmony sound that's very hip – often applied to righteous themes worked out in a heavy soul mode, and which sounds just as great on the ballads as it does dancefloor numbers. This second album's got an even sharper edge than their debut – thanks to production and arrangements from Tony Camillo – who gives the album some great undercurrents of funk, and a slightly righteous style that reminds us of some of Norman Whitfield's best studio work of the time. Vocals are wonderful – with really great harmonies that balance out beautifully – in ways that are much more unified than other girl/guy soul groups. Titles include "Neighborhood Gossip", "Mr Me, Mrs You", "One Thing On My Mind", "Sing About Life", and "A Love of Your Own". CD

Perhaps the ultimate album for The Gap Band – and sure, it was a hit, but the record still sounds great today, and the constant sampling of some of the record has kept it fresh in the crates for years and years! The band have lost the heavier funk sound of earlier years, and working in a slick 80s groove mode that they both helped to define and put on the charts with the tracks "Outstanding" and "Early In The Morning", both two killer grooves with a complicated instrumental feel, and some wicked harmony vocals over the top. Lonnie Simmons is still producing the band – and other tracks include "Lonely Like Me", "Stay With Me", "Talkin Back", and "You Dropped A Bomb On Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collaboration between bassist Joe Morris, drummer Luther Gray, and reedman Peter Cancura – all coming together here in searing trio formation that reminds us a lot of the energy of the ESP avant generation! Gray's drums have a nice degree of focus and force – never as loose as might be by another player in such a setting – and Cancura blows both tenor and alto, the former with a hauntingly soulful sound that echoes out nicely in the spare format of the record. Morris' brooding bass is a constant presence throughout – and the album features four long tracks, "Geomantic", "Thicket", "Crow", and "Nettle". CD

An overlooked roots rock nugget from the early 70s – and a record that should be known well enough for its work from singer Judy Roderick – an artist who'd already spent plenty of time in the folk underground of the 60s! Yet the sound here isn't folk at all – much heavier, as if Judy's picked up some influences from blues and southern rock – qualities that come through especially when she picks up the electric guitar, which she does on most of the album's tracks – in a way that's very different than her folk records of the 70s! The production is nice and lean – that respectful, laidback vibe that labels like Atlantic were giving records like this at the time – on titles that include "Shake It & Break It", "Canyon Persuasion", "Cocaine Shuffle", "Maid Of Constant Sorrow", "Callin You Down", and "Country Girl Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible! The record's one that will blow away all your previous understandings of Rod Stewart – a wicked reinterpretation of the Faces sound, done with heavily acoustic instrumentation and really wonderful production. Includes Rod's landmark take on "Handbags & Gladrags" – plus "Man Of Constant Sorrow", "Cindy's Lament", "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down", and "I Wouldn't Change A Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible! The record's one that will blow away all your previous understandings of Rod Stewart – a wicked reinterpretation of the Faces sound, done with heavily acoustic instrumentation and really wonderful production. Includes Rod's landmark take on "Handbags & Gladrags" – plus "Man Of Constant Sorrow", "Cindy's Lament", "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down", and "I Wouldn't Change A Thing". CD

"Total improvisation on sonic canvas" from the team of pianist Nobu Stowe and sound designer Lee Pembleton – joined on the set by Perry Robinson on clarinet and micro ocarina, Blaise Siwula on tenor and alto clarinet, John McLellan on drums, and Ross Bonadonna on bass clarinet, alto sax, and guitar. The sound is heavily dominated by Stowe's piano – no surprise, since he's one of the constant elements throughout the set – but Pembleton's light, sonic touches are also heard too – although delivered with a nice sense of subtlety, enough to preserve the acoustic soul of the set. Titles include "Duo 1A", "Quartet", "Duo 2E", "Trio 3B", "Round Midnight", and "Hommage An Klaus Kinski". CD

A surprisingly sweet solo effort from Beach Boy Dennis Wilson – a record of surprising depth and darkness, and arguably stronger than most of the albums at the time from the larger group! Dennis produced the album himself, with some executive help from James William Guerico – whose guidance here seems key, given the overall quality of the set. There's some echoes of Beach Boys' styles in the music, but the sound is much more personal as well – Wilson's ragged vocals in the lead on all numbers, sometimes upfront and fragile, sometimes given a bit more umph through the use of processing – at that level that the whole group would often experience in the studio during the 70s. The album's as much of a showcase for Dennis' writing skills as it is for his vocals – and songs are co-written with co-producer Gregg Jakobson, as well as Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Karen Lamm-Wilson. Titles include "River Song", "Friday Night", "Thoughts Of You", "Dreamer", "Time", "You And I", and "What's Wrong". This limited version of the expanded Legacy edition is really amazing – with a huge booklet of notes and photos, as well as essays on Dennis' music – plus session bonus tracks that include "Mexico", "Holy Man", "Only With You", and "Tug Of Love". Also features a full bonus CD with the sessions for the unreleased Bambu album – with tracks that include "School Girl", "It's Not Too Late", "Under The Moonlight", "Are You Real", "He's A Bum", "Cocktails", "I Love You", "Constant Companion", and "Time For Bed". CD

A surprisingly sweet solo effort from Beach Boy Dennis Wilson – a record of surprising depth and darkness, and arguably stronger than most of the albums at the time from the larger group! Dennis produced the album himself, with some executive help from James William Guerico – whose guidance here seems key, given the overall quality of the set. There's some echoes of Beach Boys' styles in the music, but the sound is much more personal as well – Wilson's ragged vocals in the lead on all numbers, sometimes upfront and fragile, sometimes given a bit more umph through the use of processing – at that level that the whole group would often experience in the studio during the 70s. The album's as much of a showcase for Dennis' writing skills as it is for his vocals – and songs are co-written with co-producer Gregg Jakobson, as well as Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Karen Lamm-Wilson. Titles include "River Song", "Friday Night", "Thoughts Of You", "Dreamer", "Time", "You And I", and "What's Wrong". This expanded Legacy edition is really amazing – with a 24-page booklet with notes and photos – plus session bonus tracks that include "Mexico", "Holy Man", "Only With You", and "Tug Of Love". Also features a full bonus CD with the sessions for the unreleased Bambu album – with tracks that include "School Girl", "It's Not Too Late", "Under The Moonlight", "Are You Real", "He's A Bum", "Cocktails", "I Love You", "Constant Companion", and "Time For Bed". CD

Important 70s work from the greta La Monte Young – a set that takes off strongly on his exploration of tones and sonic waves – heard here in two very unique settings! Side one features a quartet – with Young on voice and sine wave generator, alongside Jon Hassell on trumpet, Garrett List on trombone, and Marian Zazeela on voice – all elements that are fused togther beautifully in these slow-moving waves of sound – rising and falling with the kind of organic tonalit that Hassell later explored in his own music, but in a more dynamic way. Side two features Young solo, but working with three different sine waves – which are set up in one of La Monte's drift studies – a progression of sound with very subtle shifts – almost constant in quality from the outside, but with a slow-moving drift that's very hypnotic, and which lives up to the dreamlike promise of the title. CD

Important 70s work from the greta La Monte Young – a set that takes off strongly on his exploration of tones and sonic waves – heard here in two very unique settings! Side one features a quartet – with Young on voice and sine wave generator, alongside Jon Hassell on trumpet, Garrett List on trombone, and Marian Zazeela on voice – all elements that are fused togther beautifully in these slow-moving waves of sound – rising and falling with the kind of organic tonalit that Hassell later explored in his own music, but in a more dynamic way. Side two features Young solo, but working with three different sine waves – which are set up in one of La Monte's drift studies – a progression of sound with very subtle shifts – almost constant in quality from the outside, but with a slow-moving drift that's very hypnotic, and which lives up to the dreamlike promise of the title. LP, Vinyl record album

An essential look at the spiritual jazz legacy of Impulse Records – a set that's maybe a bit overdue in this series, given that Impulse first opened the door to these modes with their recordings of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders in the 60s! For some reason, Impulse had a perfect ear for this music – able to let players stretch out and be free, but also work some of the earlier modal jazz impulses into longer-form tunes that still had a pulse of rhythm – and which were often a bit different than the freer jazz styles on a label like ESP. Make no mistake, there's plenty of improvisation going on here – but it's also part of the larger, unified spirit of the tunes – a real message in the music, on selections that include "Sister Mamie" by Yusef Lateef, "Three Flowers" by McCoy Tyner, "7th Day" by Freddie Hubbard, "Half & Half" by Elvin Jones, "Groove Waltz" by McCoy Tyner, "The Blessing Song" by Michael White, "Turiya & Ramakrishna" by Alice Coltrane, "A Taste Of Honey" by Phil Woods, "Constant Trob (part 1)" by John Klemmer, "Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah" by Pharoah Sanders, "Maimoun" by Marion Brown, "Lonesome Lover" by Max Roach, "Fantszm" by Elvin Jones, "Acknowledgement" by John Coltrane, "Thembi" by Pharoah Sanders, and "Journey In Satchidananda" by Alice Coltrane. And let us say that even if you have some of these tracks on other records, there's something completely sublime about the way the whole thing is put together – and the way the tracks sound next to each other! CD

The rich tenor sound of Jerry Bergonzi sounds wonderful here – set up strongly next to the guitar work of Sheryl Bailey, a player with a loose, open style that really mixes well with Jerry's own! The duo have a way of really moving past any familiar guitar/tenor pairing – into a world of colors and flowing tones that's completely captivating throughout, and delivered in a way that makes us fans of Bergonzi all over again, constantly amazed at his ability to open up different chapters in his career, while never failing to deliver the goods. The lineup also features Phil Grenadier on trumpet, Harvie S on bass, and Luther Gray on drums – and titles include "Obama", "Czech Mate", "Double Billed", "Extra Extra", "Loudzee", "Separated", and "The Truth". CD

The rich tenor sound of Jerry Bergonzi sounds wonderful here – set up strongly next to the guitar work of Sheryl Bailey, a player with a loose, open style that really mixes well with Jerry's own! The duo have a way of really moving past any familiar guitar/tenor pairing – into a world of colors and flowing tones that's completely captivating throughout, and delivered in a way that makes us fans of Bergonzi all over again, constantly amazed at his ability to open up different chapters in his career, while never failing to deliver the goods. The lineup also features Phil Grenadier on trumpet, Harvie S on bass, and Luther Gray on drums – and titles include "Obama", "Czech Mate", "Double Billed", "Extra Extra", "Loudzee", "Separated", and "The Truth". CD

A stunning record that takes us back to the glory days of cosmic sounds at the start of the century – that moment when new ideas seem to be constantly exploding from the London scene in a flurry of classic records that really enriched our lives! That spirit is recaptured here beautifully under the guidance of producer Mark De Clive-Lowe, whos' working here with an all-star lineup of talents from the glory days – Domu, Paul Randolph, Bembe Segue, Vanessa Freeman, and others – really updating an older broken beat vibe with richer currents of jazz and soul that show just how much all artists have evolved over the years! Titles on this first volume include "Anybody Out There", "Little Did I Know (inst)", "Find The Beauty", "I See You (inst)", "Little Did I Know (Domu's keep bouncin mix)", "Together (inst)", and "Working On it (inst)". LP, Vinyl record album

Reedman Daniel Carter's in some great company here – a trio that features the bass of William Parker and piano of Matthew Shipp – both bold musical partners that really give the album a lot of depth! Shipp is especially great, and at times really seems to dominate the proceedings with his energy – that non-stop spiral of constant creation that has made his work in recent years so rewarding – balanced with Parker's always strong command of the bass, and shifting sounds from Carter – who blows flute, clarinet, tenor, alto, and soprano sax – as well as a bit of trumpet. The album features a live performance of the title suite, "Seraphic Light" – divided into three sections. CD

Current Rage were one of the more obscure groups to come out of the Athens, GA scene in the early 80s – but they've also got all the instantly creative energy that made that short-lived world of music every bit as exciting as some of the best New York sounds at the time! There's a nicely choppy approach to the rhythms going on here, and plenty of strong guitar play too – deft music that's somewhere in the territory of Pylon, and like that group, maybe a warmer US answer to British post-punk sounds of the same time. Titles include "Right Side Of The Brain", "Bitte Schoen", "Sweet Torture", "My Dog Sam", "Looking Through Gels", and "Scream In The Dark". Expanded version features bonus tracks that include "Adventures In America", "Punch A Clock", "The Theme", "Constant Hiss (demo)", and live tracks "My Dog Sam", "AF", "Tequila", and "The Book Pressed Flowers". LP, Vinyl record album

Current Rage were one of the more obscure groups to come out of the Athens, GA scene in the early 80s – but they've also got all the instantly creative energy that made that short-lived world of music every bit as exciting as some of the best New York sounds at the time! There's a nicely choppy approach to the rhythms going on here, and plenty of strong guitar play too – deft music that's somewhere in the territory of Pylon, and like that group, maybe a warmer US answer to British post-punk sounds of the same time. Titles include "Right Side Of The Brain", "Bitte Schoen", "Sweet Torture", "My Dog Sam", "Looking Through Gels", and "Scream In The Dark". Expanded version features bonus tracks that include "Adventures In America", "Punch A Clock", "The Theme", "Constant Hiss", and live tracks "My Dog Sam", "AF", "Tequila", and "The Book Pressed Flowers". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from the Kenny Drew trio of the 80s – a lineup that always manages to bring out some deep sounds in their music – in this case, just the right undercurrent of sadness and loss to fit the title well! Drew's piano is beautiful at this point in his career – as fluid as before, but even more filled with feeling and depth – matched perfectly by the sensitive bass work of Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, and the drums of Ed Thigpen – who, like Drew, is still constantly evolving in his second home overseas. The tunes are all well-chosen to fit the theme of the title – and tracks include "The Last Romantic", "Django", "Willow Weep For Me", "Elegy", "Tune Down", and "Finale". CD

An excellent trippy soundtrack – to a film we'd love to see, and which starred Charles Aznavour, Ringo Starr, John Astin, James Coburn, John Huston, Richard Burton, and Marlon Brando! The crazy outing is accompanied by a great Dave Grusin score that includes lots and lots of heavy guitars – quite different from his usual bag, and a nice fit with the few vocal numbers in the film – some standout rock titles that go along nicely with Dave's sweet instrumental grooves! Includes "Rock Me" and "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf, "Child Of The Universe" by The Byrds, and the excellent Grusin instrumentals "Marlon & His Sacred Bird", "Constant Journey", "Spec Ra Tac Para Comm", and "Opening Night By Surgery". LP, Vinyl record album

Original score for the 1927 silent film! CD

A key album from the later Charles Lloyd years on ECM – from a moment when the saxophonist seemed to be completely reinvigorated, and exploring very different territories than his music of the 60s! Part of the sound has Lloyd hitting a few ECM vibes – hard not to do with a group that features John Abercrombie on guitar, Dave Holland on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – but there's also moments that are looser and freer, too – really showing the individuality that's always been such a hallmark of Charles' recordings, and which here is hardly going to cowtow to any sort of stricter style for the label. The tenor work is superb – very sinuous and constantly exploring, but never overindulgent – and titles include "Voice In The Night", "Dorotea's Studio", "Homage", "Pocket Full Of Blues", "Forest Flower Sunrise/Sunset", and "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing". CD

A unique large group session from Art Pepper – one of his few this way as a leader, despite constant 50s presence as a sideman in big ensembles! Arrangements are by Marty Paich, who more than makes things swing – and there's a nice rhythm section dancing underneath a larger group – with Russ Freeman on piano, Joe Mondragon on bass and Mel Lewis on drums. Players in the fuller lineup include Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Herb Geller on alto, Bill Perkins on tenor, and Bob Enevoldsen on trombone and tenor – and titles are mostly modern numbers written by other jazzmen like Horace Silver, Denzil Best, Jimmy Giuffre, and Sonny Rollins. Titles include "Groovin High", "Move", "Four Brothers", "Anthropology", and "Airegin". LP, Vinyl record album

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 is really unique – bits of koto and shakuhachi amidst the fuller, soaring backings of the New Herd of Toshiyuki Miyama – who themselves are supported by some extra Latin percussion! The mix of modes is wonderful – a strong bossa undercurrent that keeps the whole thing gliding along nicely – thanks in part also to a great array of tunes from Brazil, Europe, and the US. Titles include "Constant Rain", "Mas Que Nada", "Sunny", "Il Bacio", "Un Homme Et Une Femme", "Vivre Pour Vivre", and "Agua De Beber". CD

That's Miles Davis and Jeanne Moreau on the cover – and image is a perfect summation of what makes this period in film music so unique! The set brings together music from the French new wave of the late 50s and early 60s – a time when revolutionary directors were putting fresh new images on screen, and also turning to lots of new ideas for their music, too – using jazz musicians like Miles to create some of their soundtracks, and also moving past some of the more overblown orchestral styles that had dominated most of the world of film scores during the postwar years. Much of the work used by these directors was in a style that was closer to the people, and more fitting for the sorts of themes in the films – and this 3CD collection features a wonderful array of different modes from the period. Many films are included here with a few selections from their famous soundtracks – and the 3CD package includes work from Tires Sur Le Pianiste (Shoot The Piano Player) by Georges Delerue, A Bout De Souffle (Breathless) by Marial Solal, L'Eau A La Bouche by Serge Gainsbourg, A Double Tour by Paul Misraki, Les Liaisons Dangereuxes by Art Blakey with Barney Wilen, La Tete Contre Les Murs by Maurice Jarre, Le Bel Age by Georges Delerue, Les Bonnes Femmes by Paul Misraki, Jules Et Jim by Georges Delerue, Lola by Michel Legrand, Les 400 Coups (400 Blows) by Jean Constantin, Une Femme Est Une Femme by Michel Legrand, Zazi Dans Le Metro by Fiorenzo Carpi, Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud by Miles Davis, and Cleo De 5 A 7 by Michel Legrand. CD

A collection of tracks that amount to some of incredibly deep audio archaeology – a wonderful, consciousness wakening collection of globe spanning 78s from the first half of the 20th Century – all from the darkest corners of the EMI Vaults! Honest Jons does an impressive job of collecting recordings that are first and foremost exciting pieces of music – and they reportedly spent a couple of years going through thousands and thousands of 78s and to put this thing together. It was worth the effort! The album includes recordings from China in the 10s, Bali and London in the 20s, Constantinople, Kenya and Spain in the 30s, Uganda & Trinidad in the 50s, and much more from each decade in many parts of the world. Cuban rumbas, Middle Eastern & African string tunes, more pop oriented British tunes, vocal and pop with a global focus. Wonderful stuff! Titles include "The English Sound Table" by GU Hsu, "Lagu Kebiar" by Gamelan Gong, "Rumba Negra" by Sacasas, "Laughing" by Vemngopal Chari, "Different Kind Of Motor Car Noises" by Vengopal Chari, "The Queen's Canary" by Mighty Sparrow and more. CD