... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Just-Ice wasn't actually part of the old school – although to some, the 1986 release might seem pretty darn close – but he definitely does a good job here of keeping things nice and clean on his classic debut! Production is from Mantronik, but there's also a harder edge than most of his other work in the studio – maybe thanks in part to edits by the great Chep Nunez, who was responsible for doing some great work on the Ultimate Breaks & Beats series! The sound blasts out of the deck with a very booming 80s sound – and the set also features some human beatboxing from DMX, who often explodes with the quality of a drum machine. Titles include "Back To The Old School", "Gangster of Hip Hop", "Latoya", "Cold Gettin Dumb", "Little Bad Johnny", and "Put That Record Back On." The picture cover is a dope notebook-style graffiti drawing of Just-Ice, DMX, Latoya, and Mantronik – that last of whom is carrying a Roland 909! CD

Produced by Mantronik. 12-inch, Vinyl record

This is Just-Ice's first single, with a track that didn't make it to the LP, plus the original version of "Latoya" that's better than the LP version. "Put That Record Back On" is the cut here, with classic Mantronix production, from around the same time as his other big singles. And all the cuts include a whole lot of nice beat boxing from the Human DMX. 12-inch, Vinyl record

This group is probably best known to the world by their name Lafayette Afro Rock Band – which was their first incarnation, when they were turning the Paris funky jazz scene on its ear in the early 70s! This album's of a later vintage, and the band's tightened up their act a bit – but the groove is still quite strong, and all the right elements are firmly in place. Lafayette Hudson's still on funky bass, Frank Abel lays down wonderful keyboards – and tracks include "Hi Fi Woman", "The Gap", "Funky Bunch", "Funky Lovin", "Quick", and "Passing Dreams". LP, Vinyl record album

Ice T's cover of the Curtis Mayfield classic. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Just-Ice wasn't actually part of the old school – although to some, the 1986 release might seem pretty darn close – but he definitely does a good job here of keeping things nice and clean on his classic debut! Production is from Mantronik, but there's also a harder edge than most of his other work in the studio – maybe thanks in part to edits by the great Chep Nunez, who was responsible for doing some great work on the Ultimate Breaks & Beats series! The sound blasts out of the deck with a very booming 80s sound – and the set also features some human beatboxing from DMX, who often explodes with the quality of a drum machine. Titles include "Back To The Old School", "Gangster of Hip Hop", "Latoya", "Cold Gettin Dumb", "Little Bad Johnny", and "Put That Record Back On." The picture cover is a dope notebook-style graffiti drawing of Just-Ice, DMX, Latoya, and Mantronik – that last of whom is carrying a Roland 909! LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite Just-Ice tracks which features classic spare production by Mantronix at the height of his skills, and 6 and 1/2 minutes of completely different lyrics. 12-inch, Vinyl record

The second post Mantronik set from the frequently slept on 80s rap genius Just-Ice – featuring production by none other than KRS-One – with a few righteous and ruthless tracks that stand up with the best from the earlier classic LPs! The rugged and raw KRS backdrop serves Just-Ice's gruff delivery very well – and if Desolate isn't the masterpiece it could have been, it's quality still eclipses many more popularly heralded albums from the era – and it's finally available after way too many years out of print! "Na Touch Da Just", "Desolate One", "Welfare Recipients", "Hijack" and a surprisingly dope performance by Heavy D on "Ram DanceHall Session." CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Killer stuff – as Jerry's getting the full early Philly treatment here, with arrangements by Thom Bell, Bobby Martin, and Roland Chambers, and production by a young Gamble and Huff! The sound isn't nearly as icy as the old Vee Jay days – but that's fine with us, as Jerry is nice and soulful on tracks like "Moody Woman", "When You're Alone", "I Forgot To Remember", "Brand New Me", "What's The Use Of Breaking Up", and "Walking Around In Teardroops". Nice cover, too – with Jerry standing in a pile of fake diamonds! LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A record with a really beautiful title – and a sound that definitely lives up to the "Sailing Ice" on the cover! The music is very much in the best post-Coltrane mode – played by a group led by the great Japanese drummer Motohiko Hino, and featuring Mabumi Yamaguchi on tenor and Yasuaki Shimizu on soprano and tenor – two reed players who really express themselves with a great sense of spirituality, and lots of searching energy throughout. The tracks are mostly originals (save for a version of "Soultrane") – served up in freewheeling modal grooves, and peppered with sharp, soulful solos that search out bold new territory, but which never get too free and sloppy. The set was recorded live, but the recording quality is excellent – and titles include "Sailing Ice", "New Moon", and "Soultrane". CD features bonus tracks "Rio Rome" and "Milky Shade". CD

The crowning achievement of the legendary Keith Hudson – a landmark album of instrumental dub that started out in very small circulation, but soon grew to become one of the most important albums of the genre! The sound here is spare, stark, and simple – but in the best way possible – as Hudson takes the music right down to its core, yet seems to create even more powerful flow in the process – revising the 60s Jamaican love of American soul into a more cosmic mode for the next decade – but all with a raw approach that makes each element come across with a great deal of focus. Titles include "Black Heart", "Pick A Dub", "Don't Move", "Blood Brother", "Michael Talbot Affair", "In The Rain", and "Satia". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... Cassette

... CD

Shoes maybe look a bit too new wave on the cover, but still sound perfect within – very much in charge of that perfect yet understated approach to a tune that has gone on to make them legends in all the many years since this album was released! The group were never out to change the world, and maybe that held them back at the time – but they were also never trying for big chart success, or too-slick modes – and there's a wonderfully honest, down to earth approach to the songwriting and production that clearly sets the stage for all the bigger late 80s groups that would follow in their wake. Nearly every tune is a completely catchy mofo – and titles include "Curiosity", "In Her Shadow", "Double Talk", "The Summer Rain", "Under The Gun", "The Tube", and "What Love Means". CD

Classic! The third LP from the Time, and last before Morris Day went off and started his solo career – though by this point Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had departed the group. Nonetheless, the sound is still tight modern funk, with Jesse Johnson and crew keeping things in the great post-Prince Minneapolis pop-funk sound, including some nice dance numbers like "Jungle Love" and "The Bird" – and Morris just being Morris on cuts like "My Drawers", "Chili Sauce" and "If The Kid Can't Make You Come". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks from Zero 7, Cymande, Faithless, Jaffa, Boards Of Canada, Herbert, Roger Sanchez, Ian Pooley, Spacek, and more. CD

If you grew up in Chitown, like we did, you'll know that Jerry Butler never got old – and through the years he continued to make some pretty darn great music, even when he was falling far from the limelight in the rest of the country! This album's a great little early 80s effort that steps off from territory that Jerry explored on his LPs for Philly International – a smoothly stepping, sophisticated soul style that's a fair bit like work happening over at Chi-Soul records in its waning years. Jerry's voice is still incredible, and sounds really great on the mellower tunes on the set – perfect numbers for his maturing vocals, in a similar mode to Walter Jackson's late work. Titles include "No Fair Falling In Love", "All The Way", "Don't Be Afraid To Show How You Feel", "Ask Me What You Want", "Simple Beautiful", and "Night Life In The City". LP, Vinyl record album

The final recording from the good Captain and his last crew, and one of our favorites. Sideways rhythms collide with arthritic guitar parts in a remarkable gumbo topped off by Don Van Vliet's unique lyrical vision. A modern classic! Includes "Ice Cream For Crow", "Semi Multi Coloured Caucasian", "Hey Garland, I Dig Your Tweed Coat", "The Past Sure Is Tense", "The Witch Doctor Life" and "81 Poop Hatch". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A record with a really beautiful title – and a sound that definitely lives up to the "Sailing Ice" on the cover! The music is very much in the best post-Coltrane mode – played by a group led by the great Japanese drummer Motohiko Hino, and featuring Mabumi Yamaguchi on tenor and Yasuaki Shimizu on soprano and tenor – two reed players who really express themselves with a great sense of spirituality, and lots of searching energy throughout. The tracks are mostly originals (save for a version of "Soultrane") – served up in freewheeling modal grooves, and peppered with sharp, soulful solos that search out bold new territory, but which never get too free and sloppy. The set was recorded live, but the recording quality is excellent – and titles include "Sailing Ice", "New Moon", and "Soultrane". LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a really beautiful title – and a sound that definitely lives up to the "Sailing Ice" on the cover! The music is very much in the best post-Coltrane mode – played by a group led by the great Japanese drummer Motohiko Hino, and featuring Mabumi Yamaguchi on tenor and Yasuaki Shimizu on soprano and tenor – two reed players who really express themselves with a great sense of spirituality, and lots of searching energy throughout. The tracks are mostly originals (save for a version of "Soultrane") – served up in freewheeling modal grooves, and peppered with sharp, soulful solos that search out bold new territory, but which never get too free and sloppy. The set was recorded live, but the recording quality is excellent – and titles include "Rio Rome", "Sailing Ice", "Milky Shade", and "New Moon". CD

The harmony vocal stylings of the Mighty Diamonds are given a New Orleans funk tinge by the production team of Allen Toussaint and Marshall Seehorn. The set includes New Orleans classics like "Get Out Of My Life Woman" and "Sneakin Sally Through The Alley", plus other nice ones like "Cat O Nine", "Coming Through", and "Back Weh Mafia". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little soul track – and the record that put George Clinton on the map! "Testify" is a landmark cut – with a great rolling soul sound that takes up the heavy production style of Detroit, and points it towards the psychedelic future of the Mothership. The flipside's a great harmony track, too – with some nice vibes floating in the background, and a good gimmicky chorus! It's more of a Chicago track than a Detroit one – but it's done very nicely. 7-inch, Vinyl record

An incredible album of early 60s soul tracks from South Africa – issued here in the US by Mercury! The record's got some amazing stuff – including at least 2 tracks that seem to be directly ripped off later by Hugh Masekela for "Grazing in the Grass". Titles include "Brown Pepper" by Cassius The Great, "Ice Cream & Suckers" by Soweto Stockvel Septette, "Mr Bull No 4" by Mr. Bull, "Sweetie Love" by Jabulani Quads, "School In" by SDV Swing Band, and "Lindi" by TV Sisters. Great stuff! LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

One of the great albums from Terry Callier's "second chapter" on record – a time when he was working for Elektra Records, and doing work that was a bit straighter soul than before – and also slightly jazzy as well! The record's kind of a mix of jazzy grooves and smoother soul – typical for the fusion division of Elektra at the time, where Callier's hard-to-peg work was relegated. There's some really great songs on the record – and although the arrangements sometimes lack the sensitivity of the Cadet scorings of earlier years, they're still pretty great from a modern soul perspective. Richard Evans is producing and arranging the session, and Terry's still got help from a lot of Chicago friends like Minnie Riperton, Eddie Harris, and Phil Upchurch – all of whom help to keep the album relatively strong. Titles include some really nice originals, like "African Violet" and "Butterfly", both of which are some of Terry's best compositions from the time – plus "Love Two Love", "Martin St Martin", "Street Fever", and "Be A Believer". CD

... CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A strange one for Legrand – a soundtrack written for an obscure action film that starred Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, and Patrick McGoohan! The music is mostly orchestral and dramatic – but given Legrand's genius, it's touched with warm chromatic elements that occasionally show his roots in other styles. Titles include "The Fight", "Through The Ice", "Mission Completed", "The Crevasse", "The Satellite Falls", and "Tigerfish". CD

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Classic! The third LP from the Time, and last before Morris Day went off and started his solo career – though by this point Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had departed the group. Nonetheless, the sound is still tight modern funk, with Jesse Johnson and crew keeping things in the great post-Prince Minneapolis pop-funk sound, including some nice dance numbers like "Jungle Love" and "The Bird" – and Morris just being Morris on cuts like "My Drawers", "Chili Sauce" and "If The Kid Can't Make You Come". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Marietta Waters, Gary Wright, Panarama, John Denver, and Laurie Alda. LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever full length album from vibist Max Beesley – and a much-needed expression of some of the deeper ideas that he's always had in his music! Max was an artist who first started making waves during the earliest years of acid jazz on the UK scene – but like the best of his contemporaries, he's really grown a heck of a lot since then – to a point where he's able to deliver a cinematic funky jazz masterpiece like this – a record that's got plenty of his own great work on vibes, amidst heavy drums, funky basslines, and sweet keyboards – all set up in larger arrangements that have a sense of majesty we never would have expected in Beesley's music! Titles include "Saturn's Dust", "We'll Always Have Yesterday", "Fire", "Sergio's Bag", "Ice", "Snake Oil", and "Zeus". CD

The first-ever full length album from vibist Max Beesley – and a much-needed expression of some of the deeper ideas that he's always had in his music! Max was an artist who first started making waves during the earliest years of acid jazz on the UK scene – but like the best of his contemporaries, he's really grown a heck of a lot since then – to a point where he's able to deliver a cinematic funky jazz masterpiece like this – a record that's got plenty of his own great work on vibes, amidst heavy drums, funky basslines, and sweet keyboards – all set up in larger arrangements that have a sense of majesty we never would have expected in Beesley's music! Titles include "Saturn's Dust", "We'll Always Have Yesterday", "Fire", "Sergio's Bag", "Ice", "Snake Oil", and "Zeus". LP, Vinyl record album

"Who In The F***" features Eightball & MJG. "Comin' After You Remix" features Ice Cube. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A stunner from Nicole Mitchell – a flautist who's been pretty much redefining the jazz flute throughout her early career – here delivering a genre-defiant masterwork with her Black Earth Strings group! The String includes Chicago Sinfonetta Chamber Orchestra vet Renee Baker on violin & viola, diverse Chicago scene players Tomeka Reid on cello and Josh Abrams on bass, and Shirazette Tinnin on drums and percussion – and the group does in wonderful job of moving the boundless spirit of Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble recordings in a stripped down, acoustic, but unencumbered setting. From the dynamic improvisation to spiritually resonant compositions, it's incredible stuff – working in elements of African rhythmic influences, moving melodies, both graceful and muscular interplay, with soulful and funky jazz of decades past and the future to come. 16 tracks in all: "Crossroads", "No Mater What", "Ice", "Windance", "Renegades", "By My Own Grace", "What If", "Symbology" (#s 1, 2A & 2), "Wade", "Waterdance", "Mama Found Out", "Waris Dirie", "Aaya's Rainbow" and more. CD

An excellent set that brings together Fats Navarro's recordings for Savoy – late 40s sides that were always poorly packaged and annotated on record, which are compiled here wonderfully, with great notes, and a few unissued tracks! Players include Leo Parker, Kenny Dorham, Sonny Stitt, Ernie Henry, Tadd Dameron, Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, and Charlie Rouse – and the set's got a huge amount of titles, including "Boppin A Riff", "Fat Boy", "Everything's Cool", "Webb City", "Fracture", "Calling Dr Jazz", "Red Pepper", "Spinal", "Fat Girl", "Ice Freezes Red", "A Bebop Carol", and "The Tadd Walk". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the early 00s "commercial" LP's that's at least as dope as our underground favorites – real hip hop that still keeps the party people movin', with a number of cuts produced by the Neptunes & Swizz Beats. Tracks include the instant classic "Nothin", plus "Hit Me Slime" featuring Nas, Ice-T, Nelly, & others, "God's Favorite", "Grimey", "Nahmeanuheard" (original and remix), "Mr. CEO", "Live My Life" featuring Ja Rule, "Full Mode", "Love Ya Moms" featuring Capone & others, "Head Bussa", "Wanna Be Like Him", "Black Clouds", "Banned From Another Club", "Now I Pray", "Consider This" featuring Kelis, and the bonus track "The Life Of A (Gangsta) Capone". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Dangerous MC's" featuring Snoop Dogg & Busta Rhymes, "I Really Want To Show You" featuring Nas with K-Ci & Jo-Jo, "Rap Phenomenon" featuring Redman & Method Man, "Tonight" featuring Mobb Deep, "Let Me Get Down" featuring Missy Elliott, Craig Mack, & G-Dep, "Come On" featuring Sadat X, "Big Booty Hoes" featuring Too $hort, "Dead Wrong" featuring Eminem, "Notorious B.I.G." and "Would You Die For Me" featuring Lil Kim & the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy, "Biggie" featuring Junior M.A.F.I.A., "Can I Get Witcha" featuring Lil Cease, "Who Shot Ya", and "If I Should Die Before I Wake" featuring Ice Cube, Beanie Sigel, & Black Rob. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible pairing of talents – and a record that proves once again that the vibes of Roy Ayers are maybe one of the most powerfully soulful forces in the universe! It's no surprise that Roy's old records have formed the building blocks of key hip hop tracks over the years – and year, Ayers serves up vibes alongside fresh production from Oh No – in a set of all instrumental tracks that are overflowing with sweet vibes from the master, plus a blinding array of beats, samples, and other great production elements! Tracks are short and to the point, yet still deliver plenty – and titles include "Another Two 4", "Ice Cold Coolers", "Penthouse Elevators", "Intended Mayhem", "Short Tempers", "Dead Ringers", "Unbeautiful", "Leeches" and "Problems & Solvers". CD

An incredible pairing of talents – and a record that proves once again that the vibes of Roy Ayers are maybe one of the most powerfully soulful forces in the universe! It's no surprise that Roy's old records have formed the building blocks of key hip hop tracks over the years – and year, Ayers serves up vibes alongside fresh production from Oh No – in a set of all instrumental tracks that are overflowing with sweet vibes from the master, plus a blinding array of beats, samples, and other great production elements! Tracks are short and to the point, yet still deliver plenty – and titles include "Another Two 4", "Ice Cold Coolers", "Penthouse Elevators", "Intended Mayhem", "Short Tempers", "Dead Ringers", "Unbeautiful", "Leeches" and "Problems & Solvers". LP, Vinyl record album

A great introduction to the music of Shuggie Otis – the tripped-out guitarist who's best known for his early 70s classics for Columbia Records! This set comes from those three amazing albums – and showcase Shuggie's shift from bluesy funk guitar to the more laidback, tripped-out work of his classic Inspiration Information album! Cuts from that classic take up all of side two – including "Aht Uh Mi Hed", "Sparkle City", "Inspiration Information", and "Island Letter" – and side one features other gems that include his original recording of "Strawberry Letter 23", plus "Me & My Woman", "Hurricane", "Baby I Need You", "Sweet Thang", and "Ice Cold Daydream". LP, Vinyl record album

Relatively late work in the classic years of Procol Harum – but as any true fan of the group will tell you, these guys never stopped being great – even if the rest of the world wasn't paying as close of attention as they were back in the 60s! Gary Brooker's vocals and piano are still going strong – and the songs have that great sense of structure and subtle drama that always made the group so unique – a mode that other groups might have overdone, but which is so well balanced here, the sound is completely sublime – full-on sonic punch one minute, spare elements the next – all handled with an honest, open vibe that was pretty darn unique in the glossy music world of 1977. Titles include "Strangers In Space", "Wizard Man", "Something Magic", "Skating On Thin Ice", "The Worm & The Tree", and "The Mark Of The Claw". LP, Vinyl record album