... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Two younger Brazilian music serve up a tribute to the music of older Brazilian giants – the guitarist Guinga, and sublime composer/multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal! Yet the setting here is quite different than you might expect – at least for the music of Pascoal – as the duo work with just the harmonica of Gabriel Grossi, and seven string guitar of Felix Junior – but in a pairing that still manages to open up with all the complexities of the songs! Grossi's an especially great discovery – blowing with all the vivid tonal depth of some of our few favorite Brazilian harmonicists from the past – and in a legacy that might well put him up there alongside Toots Thielemans and Mauricio Einhorn, for his ability to create sounds with the richness of a reed instrument. The set includes a few Pascoal compositions – "Balaio", "O Farol Que Nos Guia", "Suite Norte Sul Leste Oeste", and "Fatima" – plus Guinga tunes "Exasperada", "Baiao De Lacan", and "De Menor" – and originals by the duo, very much in the right spirit for the setting – with titles that include "Senhorinha", "Domingo Pascoal", and "Selva De Pedra". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A killer set of New York Latin from vocalist Papo Felix and bandleader Ray Rodriguez – recorded slightly after the Latin Soul generation, but done with plenty of dark little edges – thanks to production from Joe Bataan! There's a bit of salsa in the mix here, and a bit of descarga jazz too – all coming together in a tightly rhythmic mode that's almost better than most of the bigger name work coming from the scene at the time. Most tunes have a sharp, catchy sort of groove – definitely an heir to the Latin Soul sound – and titles include "Senor Fluta", "Felix The Cat", "Workout (parts 1 & 2)", "Para Puerto Rico Voy", "Bob & Bill In Manor E", and "Hechate Pa Ya". LP, Vinyl record album

Felix Cavaliere may be best known to some for his work in the Rascals – but years later, he stepped out as a solo act on his own – with a sound that nicely drew from all of his early work on Atlantic Records! The sound here is kind of a late 70s update of the blue-eyed mode that Felix had with his earlier group – given a bit more of an AOR spin in the production, through use of a top-shelf array of jazz fusion players in the backings. Despite the pianos on the cover, Cavaliere mostly plays Fender Rhodes and organ next to his vocals – on titles that include "Only A Lonely Heart Sees", "All Or Nothing", "People Got To Be Free", "Outside Your Window", "Love Is The First Day Of Spring", "You Turned Me Around", and "Good To Have Love Back". LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

A rare holiday album from string maestro Felix Slatkin – one of the more dynamic orchestra leaders to record for Liberty Records during the glory days of bachelor pad music! Felix is usually in a style that's got more zing in the strings – but here, he steps things down a bit for a set of Holiday goodies – turning his orchestra arrangements to Christmas tunes, with a slight flair from time to time that keeps the record from sounding as sleepy as it might if it were on a label like Columbia or Decca. Titles include "Deck The Halls", "White Christmas", "Adeste Fideles", "O Holy Night", "Joy To The World", and "Away In A Manger". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A weird set of compressed 70s rock – and one of the few releases on the tiny Guiness label. Felix has an approach here that's almost like some of the best crossover British rock of the time – jangly and earthy at times, but with a nice studio approach to the production – in a way that spaces out the vocals nicely next to the guitars in a post-glam sort of way. Titles include "Try Not To Listen", "My Love & I", "Love Is All Around", "Dear", "Black", "Mother", and "Jackie's Back In Town". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Archie Bell & the Drells, Wilson Pickett, the Five Stairsteps, Eddie Holman, the Van Dykes, the Impressions, David Ruffin, Betty Everett, Barbara Acklin, James Brown and more. CD

A massive package of work from Bedlam – an early project from drummer Cozy Powell, and one with a legacy that's surprisingly bigger than the single album they issued back in the day! The first 2CDs feature both a new mix and 1973 mix of the self-titled Bedlam album – a searing set that stands as a great bridge between generations and styles on the UK hard rock scene! The group's most famous member is drummer Cozy Powell – the ersatz leader of the lineup – but the whole combo hits on all burners, with great lead vocals from Frank Aiello, guitar from Dave Ball, and bass from Dennis Ball – plus keyboards on the set from both Max Middleton and Felix Pappalardi – the latter of whom produced. Powell's drums are fantastic throughout – really driving the whole thing along – and Aiello comes across like some lost lead act from the glory days of the arena scene. The set features one killer break track called "Seven Long Years" – a stone jammer that begins with some great drums that break nicely into guitars – and other titles include "Believe In You", "Hot Lips", "Sweet Sister Mary", "Putting On The Flesh", "Set Me Free", and "The Beast". CD3 features a Live In London set from 1973; CD4 features a Live in New York set from 1974; CD5 features a related Big Bertha Live In Hamburg set from 1970; and CD6 features 16 more formative tracks from 1968 to 1970, recorded as Bedlam, Ace Kefford Stand, Big Bertha, and Ideal Milk. CD

Late 60s psyche pop on Atco from Bo Grumpus – a Boston group who only ever cut this one LP that we know of – and it's a groovy one! The sound has kind of tight pop combo groove with catchy melodies – fleshed out into trippier territory with some keys, trumpet, and overall bigger arrangements – some of which was done by Felix Pappalardi, who would go onto to bigger things with Mountain! Titles include "Sparrow Tune", "Think Twice", "Yesterday's Street", "The Breath O'Love", "A Knowing Young Touch", "Ragtimey Love", "Travelin In The Dark", "Brooklyn", "The Moon Will Rise" and "If I Came To You". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album from Dinosaur L – the legendary New York dancefloor project of Arthur Russell! – fleshed out and expanded more than ever before by Sleeping Bag and Get On Down Records! The group's core sound is a punky, funky, chunky amalgam of bass thumping, guitar riffing, keyboard filling, and sax honking – all very much in the spirit of Russell's best quirky club work of the time, but with the added sound here of a more expanded approach – one that takes the tunes in a whole new territory than the more famous 12" singles! The tracks on the original set were simply numbered – "1", "2", "3", and so on – and come across almost as free-jamming instrumentals – but this reissue appends the songs with their 12" titles, so "#1" gets parenthetically entitled "You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean" and "#5" as "Go Bang!", plus this disc adds several 12" versions that were not on the original LP release, like Francois K's mix of 'Go Bang!" and Larry Levan's mix of "In The Corn Belt". Totally great stuff – as experimental as it is funky! This 2CD box set edition is amazing – coming in a heavy-duty box with each disc in an oversized gatefold style sleeve – and it includes more Arthur Russell collaborative and/or pseudonymous material for Sleeping Bag with or as Bonzo Goes To Washington, Felix, Sounds Of JHS Brooklyn and Indian Ocean. Other tracks include "School Bell/Treehouse" (Indian Ocean), "You Can't Hold Me Down (Extended Version)" (Felix), "5 Minutes (R-r-r Radio Mix)" (Bonzo Goes To Washington) and more. Also includes a nice booklet of photos, artwork and artist testimonials – plus notes by Russell biographer Tim Lawrence. CD

Just the first album from pianist Sean Mason, but a set that already feels like an effort from a much more mature musician – a set of original music that's overflowing with the kind of life and color that you'd be more likely to hear on some of the bigger-name efforts on this label associated with Jazz At Lincoln Center! It's pretty daring to begin your recorded career with an extended original suite – but Mason's clearly got the strengths to pull it off, and gets some especially great help from Chris Lewis on tenor and Tony Glausi on trumpet, both players who can wrap around each other and somehow create a sound that's even greater than the sum of its parts! The group also features Felix Moseholm on bass and Domo Branch on drums – and titles include "Final Voyage", "Lullaby", "Closure", "Kid", "Lavender", "Silky M", and "One United". CD

An interesting mix of 70s radio ready rock and harder edged numbers from Treasure – a group featuring vocals, keys and synth from one time Young Rascal Felix Cavaliere – and hard rock guitar guru Vinnie Cusano, later to go by Vinnie Vincent and join Kiss! The sound is catchy and tailor made for 70s stadium rock, but the group never hit that kinda pay dirt. Titles include "I Wanna Love You", "Turn Yourself Around", "My Lady Once Told Me", "When The Sun Shines", "Jubilation" and more, plus bonus single version of "I Wanna Love You". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album from Dinosaur L – the legendary New York dancefloor project of Arthur Russell! – fleshed out and expanded more than ever before by Sleeping Bag and Get On Down Records! The group's core sound is a punky, funky, chunky amalgam of bass thumping, guitar riffing, keyboard filling, and sax honking – all very much in the spirit of Russell's best quirky club work of the time, but with the added sound here of a more expanded approach – one that takes the tunes in a whole new territory than the more famous 12" singles! The tracks on the original set were simply numbered – "1", "2", "3", and so on – and come across almost as free-jamming instrumentals – but this reissue appends the songs with their 12" titles, so "#1" gets parenthetically entitled "You're Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean" and "#5" as "Go Bang!", plus this disc adds several 12" versions that were not on the original LP release, like Francois K's mix of 'Go Bang!" and Larry Levan's mix of "In The Corn Belt". Totally great stuff – as experimental as it is funky! This 2CD box set edition is amazing – coming in a heavy-duty box with each disc in an oversized gatefold style sleeve – and it includes more Arthur Russell collaborative and/or pseudonymous material for Sleeping Bag with or as Bonzo Goes To Washington, Felix, Sounds Of JHS Brooklyn and Indian Ocean. Other tracks include "School Bell/Treehouse" (Indian Ocean), "You Can't Hold Me Down (Extended Version)" (Felix), "5 Minutes (R-r-r Radio Mix)" (Bonzo Goes To Washington) and more. Also includes a nice booklet of photos, artwork and artist testimonials – plus notes by Russell biographer Tim Lawrence. CD

A supergroup of sorts, with members from bigger earlier British groups – working here with the great Felix Pappalardi at the production helm for their one and only release! The album mixes upbeat romping tunes that have that catchy UK pop mode of the period with a few mellower moments – all the kind of cuts that almost could have made this one a crossover success, but which likely fell between the cracks as one of the many overlooked projects on the Private Stock label. Titles include "The Right Time", "Miracle Mile", "Dark Cloud", "You can Do It", "Little Darlin", and "Once Again A Love Song". CD

Felix Slatkin conducts on both recordings – originally 10" Capitol sessions, put together here on a full LP! LP, Vinyl record album

Surprisingly soulful stuff from this Canadian combo – an album produced by Felix Pappalardi, with a sound that definitely shows his touch! Although they've got a British-sounding name, the group work in much warmer territory overall – personally-penned tunes that sometimes have the gentleness of folk, but often have a fuller presence too – especially in the way the vocals come up close, and the instrumental mix has a nice sense of depth. There's some compelling use of trumpet alongside the core guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums – and the album also features a bit of sitar too. Titles include "Phoebe", "I Would Be The One", "Speaking Of Dreams", "Looking Glass", "Beatrice", "Girl Is Young", and "Presenting Myself Lightly". CD

Just the first album from pianist Sean Mason, but a set that already feels like an effort from a much more mature musician – a set of original music that's overflowing with the kind of life and color that you'd be more likely to hear on some of the bigger-name efforts on this label associated with Jazz At Lincoln Center! It's pretty daring to begin your recorded career with an extended original suite – but Mason's clearly got the strengths to pull it off, and gets some especially great help from Chris Lewis on tenor and Tony Glausi on trumpet, both players who can wrap around each other and somehow create a sound that's even greater than the sum of its parts! The group also features Felix Moseholm on bass and Domo Branch on drums – and titles include "Final Voyage", "Lullaby", "Closure", "Kid", "Lavender", "Silky M", and "One United". CD

The first full album from the great Fred Neil – recorded for Elektra Records in the years before his underground fame on Capitol – and with a sound that's maybe a bit more bluesy overall, but in a very cool way! Fred's songwriting strengths are very much at play here – as almost all songs are originals – but there's also a tighter focus that compresses most numbers to the 2/3 minute range – instead of making them more of the wispier workouts of later years. The group's quite an interesting one – with on guitar and dobro from Pete Childs, bass from Felix Pappalardi, and harmonica from John Sebastian – all at a young point that has them bringing plenty of folk blues inflections to their performances, but in a way that's completely free of any hoke or cliche. CD

An obscure salsa set from the start of the 70s, and a stone cooker too – thanks to top-shelf production from Joe Bataan – a great artist in his own right, and a surprising choice to helm this set! Yet the credit here really goes to leader Paul Ortiz – who plays piano and leads the group through some very fresh salsa changes – that new young spirit of pride and power that was bubbling on on Fania at the time, handled here with equal care, and arrangements from Jose Madera Jr, who plays timbales in the group! Papo Felix delivers lead vocals, and the group has a bold four-trumpet frontline – which really soars on titles that include "Guajiron", "Quien Quita", "Total", "Mi Amiga", "Son Los Que Son", "Despierta Puertoriqueno", and "Me Negra Va A Gozar". LP, Vinyl record album

A moody little set – one that features an array of great players in slightly shifting lineups, working through a good deal of original music by Brendan Romaneck, plus a handful of extra standards! There's kind of no core to the album in terms of the players, and that makes for a nicely unsettling feel – you almost don't know what to expect from track to track. Pianist Keith Javors is on the most tracks, but still isn't on the first one – and Chris Potter plays soprano and tenor sax on 6 numbers, while Steve Wilson plays alto and soprano on 5 other cuts. Terrell Stafford's on four of the tracks with Wilson, and bassist Delbert Felix and drummer John Davis make shifting appearances throughout the set too. The tunes have a shifting array of colors that's really great – showing the change of players is no accident at all – and titles include "The Vibe", "Minion", "11 02", "You'll Never Know", "3 Steps Ahead Of The Spider", and "Dream Behind The Winter". CD

A double-length set from The Rascals – possibly their most stretched-out exploration of ideas, at least during their initial run for Atlantic Records! The 2LP set features a fair bit of shorter, catchier tunes on the first record – many with some righteous soul overtones – but on the second record, the group really open up – hitting some longer jamming tunes on side three, and moving into a 15 minute instrumental on side four! Vocals are great from all three singers – Gene Cornish, Eddie Brigati, and Felix Cavaliere – and the rhythms are rock-solid too, often augmented with a bit of Atlantic-styled backings by Arif Mardin, to further enforce the soulfulness of the set. Titles include the hit "People Got To Be Free", plus "American The Beautiful", "Any Dance'll Do", "A Ray Of Hope", "Look Around", "Boom", "Heaven", "Cute", "Baby I'm Blue", and "Adrian's Birthday". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Dean Elliott & His Big Band, the Three Suns, Felix Slatkin, Bob Thompson, Les Baxter's Drums, Lenny Dee, Dave Harris & The Powerhouse Five, Russ Case, David Carroll, Alvino Rey, Robert Maxwell, and more. CD

Includes tracks by Dick Hyman, Felix Slatkin, Enoch Light, Les Baxter, Mel Henke, Los Brasilios, Julie London, Warren Barker, and Ray Connif. CD

Music from David Rose & His Orchestra, Richard Marino & His Orchestra, Les Baxter & His Orchestra, the Bobby Hammack Combo, Dickie Harrell, Les Baxter, Dean Elliott & His Big Band, Tak Shindo, Felix Slatkin, Jack Malmsten, and more. CD

With Felix Fan on cello. CD

Solid jamming from Mountain – one of the tightest guitar-based groups of their day, and hard rockers that could serve up a nice dose of soul! Tunes have a great mix of tight rhythms and fierce guitars – a bit dated at times, but with some nice production overall by Felix Pappalardi. Titles include "Don't Look Around", "Taunta", "Nantucket Sleighride", "Tired Angels", "The Great Train Robbery", and "The Animal Trainer & The Toad". LP, Vinyl record album

The first full album from the great Fred Neil – recorded for Elektra Records in the years before his underground fame on Capitol – and with a sound that's maybe a bit more bluesy overall, but in a very cool way! Fred's songwriting strengths are very much at play here – as almost all songs are originals – but there's also a tighter focus that compresses most numbers to the 2/3 minute range – instead of making them more of the wispier workouts of later years. The group's quite an interesting one – with on guitar and dobro from Pete Childs, bass from Felix Pappalardi, and harmonica from John Sebastian – all at a young point that has them bringing plenty of folk blues inflections to their performances, but in a way that's completely free of any hoke or cliche. Titles include "Travelin Shoes", "Water Is Wide", "Gone Again", "Candy Man", "Yonder Comes The Blues", and "Little Bit Of Rain". LP, Vinyl record album