A classic set of British soul by PP Arnold – LA native, and a onetime member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue who ended up staying behind in the UK after a mid 60s tour! The album's got a very interesting approach that's quite a bit more sophisticated than the sound of the Ike Turner group – with production by Andrew Loog Oldham, and rich arrangements by Tony Meehan that float in bits of Brit easy, and full-styled 60s pop orchestrations, alongside more righteous straighter soul backings – all for a mix that's great, and which makes this mod treasure a very different album than American soul of the period! Titles include "Letter To Bill", "Dreamin", "Eleanor Rigby", "As Tears Go By", "To Love Somebody", and a great version of "God Only Knows". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic set of British soul by PP Arnold – LA native, and a onetime member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue who ended up staying behind in the UK after a mid 60s tour! The album's got a very interesting approach that's quite a bit more sophisticated than the sound of the Ike Turner group – with production by Andrew Loog Oldham, and rich arrangements by Tony Meehan that float in bits of Brit easy, and full-styled 60s pop orchestrations, alongside more righteous straighter soul backings – all for a mix that's great, and which makes this mod treasure a very different album than American soul of the period! Titles include "Letter To Bill", "Dreamin", "Eleanor Rigby", "As Tears Go By", "To Love Somebody", and a great version of "God Only Knows". CD

Very cool – the London production of this hip musical adaptation of Othello – maybe even better than the American one! Singers include PP Arnold and PJ Proby – and backings are by the rock group Gass! LP, Vinyl record album

Shindig magazine usually looks at the past, but this time around the past is closer than usual – as they've got a special feature on the best releases of 2023 – although many of them also have to deal with older music! And in true Shindig fashion, Big Star is on the cover – with an exclusive interview that also discusses the tensions that were rising during the creation of their legendary album Radio City! The issue's also got other features – articles on Donovan, Paul Williams, PP Arnold, Plasticland, The Fairies, Chris Farlowe, and others – plus a look at the changing scenes during the 20 key musical years of 1964 to 1984. Magazine

Includes selections by Giorgio Moroder, Philip Oakley, Jeff Lynne, Culture Club, Heaven 17, Helen Terry, and PP Arnold. LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Small Faces, PP Arnold, John Mayall, Chris Farlowe, The Nice, and more! LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Dinah Shore With Henri Rene And His Orchestra, Mario Lanza With Ray Sinatra And His Orchestra And The Jeff Alexander Choir, Pee Wee King And His Golden West Cowboys, Eartha Kitt With Henri Rene And His Orchestra, Perez Prado And His Orchestra, Eddy Arnold With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Eddie Fisher With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Kay Starr With Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra And Chorus, Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte With Tony Scott And His Orchestra And Chorus, and more. CD

Early rock, rhythm & blues and boogie woogie-fueled numbers from the late 50s and early 60s southern Louisiana and southeast Texas scenes– a real treasure trove of tunes in the Boppin' In The Bayou series from Ace Records! This one's pretty heavy with sax and piano-backed proto rock – dynamite tunes from forgotten heroes and a few legendary cats alike – with numbers by Frankie Lowery, a great early tune by Mickey Gilley, Gene Dunlap, Pee Wee Trayhan, Shelby Martin and many more. 28 tracks in all – and the titles include "Made In The Shade" by Gene Dunlap & Jokers, "TC Show" by Gene King & His Mecaton Band, "Baby Hurry Home" by Pee Wee Trayhan, "My Baby's Cheating On Me" by Mickey Gilley, "Ha Ma Man" by Warren Storm, "Me And My Baby" by Rick Johnson, "Cinderella" by Paul Marvin, "Rock & Roll Baby" by Bobby Wheeler & His B-Bops, "Somebody Knocked At My Door" by Arnold Broussard, "Little Cajun Girl" by Gene Rodrigue and more. CD

A really great genre-hopping Christmas collection – one that features jazzy tunes, vocal numbers, and a few rock and country tracks as well – all of which really live up to the vintage spirit of the image on the cover! The set follows nicely in the style of the similarly-titled predecessor – and features an array of 29 postwar tracks that come from that moment when the marketing of Holiday spirit was a very big part of the music business! There's plenty of familiar tunes here, done in unusual versions – and some more obscure Christmas cuts that definitely make the set worthwhile – on titles that include "Mrs Santa Claus" by Nat King Cole, "Peace On Earth" by Peggy Lee, "Hello Mr New Year" by The Coolbreezers, "Merry Christmas To You All" by Elton Britt, "Christmas Candy" by Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely, "It's A Marshmallow World" by Vic Damone, "Snowbound For Christmas" by The DeCastro Sisters, "Be A Santa" by McGuire Sisters, "When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter" by Gene Autry, "Sleigh Ride" by Johnny Desmond, "Here Comes Santa Claus" by Sammy Kaye with Don Cornell, "Christmas Is A Feeling In Your Heart" by Andy Williams, "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by 101 Strings, "Jingle Bell Rock" by Eddy Arnold, and "Snowy White Snow & Jingle Bells" by Vaughn Monroe. CD

A really wonderful project that was years in the making – a mix of American club and Brazilian elements – put together by a group that includes members of Azymuth and Banda Black Rio, as well as the legendary Arthur Verocai! Jose Roberto Bertrami's the strongest contributor here – and the music really echoes that great late 70s/early 80s point when the Azymuth fusion groove crossed over into tighter, funkier territory – coming off here with a sound that's got really universal appeal and a wickedly classic vibe overall – like some unusual cross-breeding of Brazilian grooves and Salsoul Records! Vocals are by Mia Mendes and Marcina Arnold, but the instrumentation is even better than the lyrics – filled with jazzy touches, blended with bits of strings, and perfectly produced all the way through. Really tremendous stuff – one of the freshest records we've heard from Far Out in years – with titles that include "Mystery", "Keep Believing", "Dead Dance", "The Last Carnival", "A Disco Supreme", "Vendetta", and "Don't Cha Know He's Alright". 2CD set features 8 more bonus remix tracks too! CD

An incredible collection of music from the great pianist Lennie Tristano – and maybe the first-ever set to truly get at the range of genius he could express on the piano! Given that Tristano only made a small amount of records during his too-short career, yet also left a major impact on the field of modern jazz – this set really documents the full span of everything that Tristano had to offer – pulled from a wonderful range of his own recordings, all of which appear here for the first time! These aren't casual solo recordings done in the basement – and instead, the package brings together a mixture of studio, live, and even television performances – all with a different spirit on each of the CDs in the set! One of the most revelatory is the final CD – which features a number of tracks in a "free session" in 1948 - with Tristano on piano, Lee Konitz on alto, Warne Marsh on tenor, and Billy Bauer on guitar – coming together with an amazing sound throughout. That same disc also features a superb 1962 live date at the Half Note – with Konitz on alto and Zoot Sims on tenor. CD1 is wonderful too – a selection of live material with the tremendous Billy Bauer on piano – a player, like Tristano, who was instrumental in shaping the sound of his instrument in modern jazz during the postwar years. CD3 features live performances by a sextet that includes Konitz, Marsh, and Bauer – plus Arnold Fishkin on bass and Jeff Morton on drums. CD2 features beautiful solo performances recorded from the early 50s through 1970. CD4 features trio session, most with Peter Ind on bass – while CD5 features different trio and duo material, but with Sonny Dallas on bass. The set is impeccably done – in cooperation with Tristano's family – and given the wealth of material, the whole thing may well have doubled his recording catalog in the process, while also really illuminating so many different aspects of his career! CD

A huge array of soul tracks from the Mainstream label – an imprint that was probably best known for its jazz work of the early 70s, and as the launching pad for a few key rock groups – but one who also cut some killer soul tracks in the best New York and Philly styles of the period! Mainstream only ever issued most of its soul material as singles – 45s issued on their own label, and under the IX Chains, Brown Dog, and New Moon imprints too – spread out in an array of under-circulated, poorly-distributed releases that never fully got their due at the time – partly because much of the music was years ahead of its time! There's a groove here that reminds us of the hippest sounds from bigger labels – including Philly International or All-Platinum – with a similar blend of sweetness, honest vocal performances, and some top-shelf studio work that gives the lyrics a hell of an instrumental push, but all without ever sounding slick or commercial. The package is a much-needed look at this scattered legacy – and brings together 24 rare cuts that include "These Memories" by Almeta Lattimore, "I'm The One Who Loves You" by JG Lewis, "Come Back (part 1)" by The Fantastic Puzzles, "I Can't Give You Up" by Linda Perry, "It Ain't Like It Used To Be" by Randolph Brown & Company, "No Rebate On Love" by The Dramatics, "You're A Friend Of Mine" by Words Of Wisdom, "Satisfy My Woman" by Calvin Arnold, "Plain Out Of Luck" by Nia Johnson, "We're Not Too Young To Fall In Love" by Jackey Beavers Show, "Let The People Talk" by The Steptones, "To Whom It May Concern" by Ellerine Harding, "It's So Real" by McArthur, "Stop & Think A Minute" by Charles Beverly, and "That's The Way She Is" by Bobby Earl Williams. CD

We can remember when this movie spooked the heck out of us – and now it remains as a charming period piece from the days when New York was overrun by gangsters dressed up in baseball uniforms or overalls – representing a version of the Big Apple during the bankrupt 70s that's turned out to have more longstanding charm than the gang in Clockwork Orange! The music's very well-suited in a period style – a sweet mix of Latin, funk, rock, and soundtrack spookiness – with titles that include "Echoes In My Mind" by Mandrill, "Baseball Furies Chase" by Barry De Vorzon, "In Havana" by Kenny Vance & Ismael Miranda, "Nowhere To Run" by Arnold McCuller, and of course the classic "In The City" by Joe Walsh. CD

The second killer set in this series – a wonderful blend of AOR hits and soulful singers – wrapped up in a stunning style that's a great subgenre in itself! Many of the tunes here are familiar, but served up in versions you might not know at all – done by soul artists who were clearly inspired by the warmer styles of mid 70s AOR, but who also bring the modes back to soul music, and really open up the tunes with fantastic vocals and mighty nice grooves! The set is particularly heavy on that late 70s/early 80s moment when things were really coming together in the modern soul scene – and the set features titles that include "Dedicate This Heart" by Dionne Warwick, "Dreams" by Richie Havens, "Monkey See Monkey Do" by Patti Labelle, "Euphrates" by Main Ingredient, "Sara Smile" by Impact, "Listen To The Music" by Isley Brothers, "Gringo" by Arnold McCuller, "What You Won't Do For Love" by Roy Ayers, "Tin Man" by John Edwards, "It's Too Late" by Billy Paul, and "I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me" by Esther Phillips. CD

A brilliant bit of psychedelia – still as fresh today as it was many decades back – and the crowning achievement of Pink Floyd during the early Syd Barrett years! The album's got all the best elements of the group firmly in place – the penchant for long-jamming tracks that still manage to always maintain a sharp edge – mixed with some of the wittier, more playful lyrics that Barrett brought to the group – all wrapped up with a sense of depth and darkness that goes way beyond most of their contemporaries. The record's a masterpiece through and through – from its first guitar-heavy jam on "Astronomy Domine", through the strutting, vamping madness of "Bike" – all up and down other gems that include "Lucifer Sam", "The Gnome", "Take Up Thy Stethoscope & Walk", "Interstellar Overdrive", "Chapter 24", and "The Scarecrow". 3CD set features a full CD of the mono version, a full CD of the stereo version, and a bonus CD with the tracks "Arnold Layne", "Candy & A Currant Bun", "See Emily Play", "Apples & Oranges", "Paintbox", "Interstellar Overdrive (take 2)", and "Matilda Mother (previously unreleased alt version)". Plus, the package is a hardcover book-styled one – with lyrics, photos, and a pull-out booklet of artwork! CD

Fantastic soul from Mainstream Records – an imprint that's normally best-known for their work in the field of jazz, but a label that also cut some killer soul singles in the early 70s! Mainstream soul artists almost never got a chance to record a full-length album – so over the years, this soul legacy has been somewhat lost in the shifting sands of time (and shifting piles of funky 45s) – which makes this collection a much-needed resurrection of that material – especially when given the ultra-hip, extra-level presentation of the Kent label! The CD features 23 great tunes from these years – some of them in the modern soul mode promised in the title, lots more in kind of a hip funky soul approach – very early 70s New York, with righteous themes mixed with more familiar soul styles – all set to impeccable instrumentation. Titles include "Oh My Love" by Almeta Latimore, "Come Back With Your Love (part 1)" by Special Delivery, "Grass Ain't Greener" by Charles Beverly, "Love Bug" by Sugar Billy, "You'll Do It" by Calvin Arnold, "I'll Never Trust Love Again" by McArthur, "You've Got A Lot To Give" by Chocolate Syrup, "I'll Never Be The Same (part 1)" by Chapter Three, "I've Been Trying To Love You" by Lenny McDaniel & The Last Nikle, "Slow Down World" by Charles Colbert, "Everyone Has Someone" by Linda Perry, "Your Love Is Like A Rising Sun" by Steptones, "Let Her Know" by Bobby Earl Williams, "Please Don't Set Me Free" by Jeany Reynolds, and "Today Or Never" by Eleventh Commandment. CD

The second killer set in this series – a wonderful blend of AOR hits and soulful singers – wrapped up in a stunning style that's a great subgenre in itself! Many of the tunes here are familiar, but served up in versions you might not know at all – done by soul artists who were clearly inspired by the warmer styles of mid 70s AOR, but who also bring the modes back to soul music, and really open up the tunes with fantastic vocals and mighty nice grooves! The set is particularly heavy on that late 70s/early 80s moment when things were really coming together in the modern soul scene – and the set features titles that include "Dedicate This Heart" by Dionne Warwick, "Dreams" by Richie Havens, "Monkey See Monkey Do" by Patti Labelle, "Euphrates" by Main Ingredient, "Sara Smile" by Impact, "Listen To The Music" by Isley Brothers, "Gringo" by Arnold McCuller, "What You Won't Do For Love" by Roy Ayers, "Tin Man" by John Edwards, "It's Too Late" by Billy Paul, and "I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me" by Esther Phillips. LP, Vinyl record album

A groovy blend of bossa themes and some of the lighter pop treatments that Bonfa often received – not really a problem for us, as the approach always filled out his sound a bit more, and made for some catchy tunes with a very groovy style! Tracks include "Bahia Soul", "Dois Amores", "Song Of The Hills", "Dreamy", "Samba De Orfeu", "Na Paz Do Amor", and "Rancho De Orfeu" – and arrangements are by Deodato, Bonfa, and Arnold Goland. LP, Vinyl record album

Pretty nice stuff from Brubeck's early years! The record features the work of his octet – a group that gives a rare opportunity to hear Brubeck in a large group setting, and one that also features work by Cal Tjader on drums (!), plus Dick Collins and Paul Desmond on their usual instruments. Titles include "The Prisoner's Song", "Schizophrenic Scherzo", "Playland At The Beach", and "Serenades Suite". Nice Arnold Roth cover too! LP, Vinyl record album

We can remember when this movie spooked the heck out of us – and now it remains as a charming period piece from the days when New York was overrun by gangsters dressed up in baseball uniforms or overalls – representing a version of the Big Apple during the bankrupt 70s that's turned out to have more longstanding charm than the gang in Clockwork Orange! The music's very well-suited in a period style – a sweet mix of Latin, funk, rock, and soundtrack spookiness – with titles that include "Echoes In My Mind" by Mandrill, "Baseball Furies Chase" by Barry De Vorzon, "In Havana" by Kenny Vance & Ismael Miranda, "Nowhere To Run" by Arnold McCuller, and of course the classic "In The City" by Joe Walsh. LP, Vinyl record album

Genius work from the legendary Bill Fay – one of those 70s artists who never got their due back in the day, but who have gone on to become a crucial piece of the musical puzzle as the years move on! Fay recorded two incredible records for Decca – treasures as rare as the early Nick Drake albums – and like Drake, Bill was years ahead of his time, although in very different ways – an incredible songsmith, with qualities that maybe come through best of all in the material within! The tracks are all from Fay's personal archives – recorded in the early 70s in a stripped-down mode, but as fully formed songs – brought to the light of day by David Tibet, and presented here in a way that finally give these lost years their full exposure. Titles on this first volume include "Plan D", "Inside The Keeper's Pantry", "Arnold Is A Simple Man", "Time Of The Last Persecution", "Backwoods Maze", "The Sun Is Bored", "Release Is In The Eye", "Tell It Like It Is", and "Pictures Of Adolf Again". CD

A 60s Reprise issue of earlier material that Dizzy Gillespie cut live in Paris – not his Salle Pleyel concerts, but some great work with a variety of groups! One combo features Wade Legge on piano and Nat Peck on trombone – on cuts that include "Moon Nocturne", "Fais Gaffe", "This Is The Way", and "Always". Another features Don Byas on tenor, Hubert Fol on Alto, and Raymond Fol on piano – on the titles "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams", "I Don't Know Why", "Dizzy's Blues", and "Everything Happens To Me". And the third group features Byas on tenor and Arnold Ross on piano – on "Hurry Home" and "She's Funny That Way". LP, Vinyl record album

Otis Spann made some great records over the years, but he sounds especially nice on the handful of sessions he did for the Bluesway label – which seem to take a Chess Records approach, then give the whole thing an extra-added punch! Otis is in the lead on piano and vocals, but the group's got searing guitar from Muddy Watters, Sammy Lawhorn, and Luther Johnson – kicked in by fantastic rhythms from Mac Arnold on electric bass and Francis Clay on drops – all topped by some smoking work from George Smith on harmonica! The set was recorded live in the studio, and you can definitely hear some of the guests having a good time – while the group smoke their way through tunes that include "Popcorn Man", "Spann Blues", "Chicago Blues", "My Home Is On The Delta", "Nobody Knows Chicago Like I Do", and "Down On Sarah Street". LP, Vinyl record album

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 – often served up here by singers that were the bigger names of their generation, caught in a very special setting for the month of December! As usual with Bear Family, the presentation is great – vivid images inside and out – and notes on every single track – supporting a selection of 27 titles that include "I'll Be Walking The Floor This Christmas" by Ernest Tubb, "Senor Santa Claus" by Jim Reeves, "Christmas Dinner" by Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Snowdeer" by Carl Smith, "They Shined Up Rudolph's Nose" by Johnny Horton, "Santa Claus Jr" by Eddi Cletro, "It's Christmas Every Day In Alaska" by Hank Thompson, "It Was Jesus (undubbed)" by Johnny Cash, "Reindeer Boogie" by Hank Snow, "The Christmas Boogie" by Davis Sisters, "I'm Your Private Santa Claus" by Eddie Arnold, "I'm Gonna Tell Santa Claus On You" by Faron Young, "Captain Santa Claus" by Bobby Helms, "Santa's Big Parade" by The Louvin Brothers, and "Christmas In My Hometown" by Sonny James. CD

Genius work from the legendary Bill Fay – one of those 70s artists who never got their due back in the day, but who have gone on to become a crucial piece of the musical puzzle as the years move on! Fay recorded two incredible records for Decca – treasures as rare as the early Nick Drake albums – and like Drake, Bill was years ahead of his time, although in very different ways – an incredible songsmith, with qualities that maybe come through best of all in the material within! The tracks are all from Fay's personal archives – recorded in the early 70s in a stripped-down mode, but as fully formed songs – brought to the light of day by David Tibet, and presented here in a way that finally give these lost years their full exposure. Titles on this first volume include "Plan D", "Inside The Keeper's Pantry", "Arnold Is A Simple Man", "Time Of The Last Persecution", "Backwoods Maze", "The Sun Is Bored", "Release Is In The Eye", "Tell It Like It Is", and "Pictures Of Adolf Again". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album