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Socking soul from the 60s – a record with American roots and a very groovy British sound! The set was the second full length album from Madeline Bell – an American singer transplanted to the mod UK scene of the 60s, where she really flourished in a rich career of hit singles, endless session work, and later fame with the group Blue Mink. The tunes on this set are a wonderful bridge between Madeline's two worlds – and have a sound that's a lot like the uptown soul coming out of the US at the time – sweet and smooth arrangements, topped by deeper soul vocals that make for a wonderful juxtaposition. Arrangements are by British talents Arthur Greenslade, Ian Green, and Keith Mansfield – and titles include "Step Inside Love", "Hold It", "Help Yourself", "After All Is Said & Done", "For Your Pleasure", and "It's Up To You". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff from Jorge Ben! The record features a batch of 3-track medleys that combine titles that Ben recorded over the past 10 years of his career – all blended together in a tight funky way, with that excellent soulful sound that he was using in the mid 70s! The groove is great all the way through – and the record's a massive party that recalls some of Jorge's best tunes ever, all recast in that tight hard 70s funky style we love so much! Includes nice remakes of "Que Maravilha", "Zazueira", "Pais Tropical", "Taj Mahal", "Que Pena", and "Mas Que Nada". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark recording that is one of Jorge Ben's best albums ever! The album is a perfect realization of the way that Jorge mixes Brazilian rhythms with choppy Afro grooves – and the result is a masterpiece that yeilded some of his biggest tracks ever. Included here is the great choppy funk track "Ponta De Lanca", plus loads of other goodies like "O Filosofo", "Xica Da Silva", "A Historia De Jorge", and a great remake of "Taj Mahal" – probably his greatest cut ever. Great all the way through – and is a perfect introduction to Jorge Ben if you don't know his work, and an essential addition to your collection if you do! LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing stuff! Jorge Ben never made a bad record in the 60s – and this is one of his best! The album's filled with tight jaunty numbers that mix big band samba arrangements with quickly strummed guitar, and Jorge's wonderfully raw vocals – all classic stuff for Jorge, but a style that we never tire of! Every track's a winner, and the album glides effortlessly from number to number, grooving along with a stunning mix of instruments, vocals, and this incredible echoey production. Titles include "Vou De Samba Com Voce", "Guerreiro Do Rei", "Descalco No Parque", "Gabriela", "Saida Do Porto", "Bicho Do Mato", and "Zope Zope". LP, Vinyl record album

Very nice 2LP set that brings together a huge amount of Jorge Ben's best tracks from the 60's and early 70's. We hardly need to tell you how great this stuff is, but we should let you know that the set includes the tracks "Chove Chuva", "Mas Que Nada", "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie", "O Telefone Tocou Novamente", "Rita Jeep", "Charles Jr.", "Que Pena", "Zazueira", "Que Maravilha", "Pais Tropical", and lots lots more! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastically soulful album from Jorge Ben – one of his greatest records ever, and a key part of Brazilian music in the 70s! The album marks an earthier shift for Jorge – a sound that's still rooted in the samba influences of the 60s, but which also takes on a bit more soul at the bottom – thanks to rhythmic contributions from Trio Mocoto, who work here famously to help Ben shape the overall feel of the set! There's still a bit of larger orchestrations at moments, but these are used sparingly just to sweeten the sound – leaving the main force of the music to come from Jorge's guitar, and the cuica, percussion, and tamborim of the trio. The vocals are wonderful too – slightly raspy, and with a bit more feeling than we ever remember Jorge having on record – sometimes a bit intimate, yet always with an undeniable presence throughout. One of those records that still sends chills up our spines, year after year – with tracks that include "Oba La Vem Ela", "Ze Canjica", "Pulo Pulo", "Apareceu Aparecida", "Terezinha", "Mulher Brasileira", "Forca Bruta", "O Telefone Tocou Novamente", and "Charles Junior". LP, Vinyl record album

A samba soul masterpiece from Jorge Ben – one of the most brilliant records to come out the fertile late 60s Brazilian scene – and an incredible album that works with the psychedelic flourishes of Ben's contemporaries and a deeper undercurrent of soul & funk! This is one of the most amazing early Jorge Ben LPs, recorded at the end of the 60s, when Jorge was singing with a stone-cold soul sound. The sharp, tight arrangements by Rogerio Duprat & Jose Briamonte made tracks like "Pais Tropical", "Take It Easy My Brother Charles", and "Que Pena" immediate classics – while the percussion and rhythms of Trio Mocoto provide a good part of the unique backdrop. The album is a mix of funky samba, soaring Brazilian soul, and sweeping orchestrations that give the whole thing a jazzy finish – and it's some of the best work that Jorge Ben ever recorded! Other tracks include "Criola", Cade Tereza", "Domingas", "Barbarella", "Quem Foi Que Roubou A Sopeira" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal set from Jorge Ben – one that mixes samba soul with more baroque arrangements from the legendary Arthur Verocai! The record's got a different feel than some of Jorge's other work – almost a wider vision of music that ties his usual funky style to some of the more ambitious modes being explored by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo at the time – expressed here in some larger instrumental passages that shade the tunes lightly, while still letting Jorge step out strongly on vocals and the usual mix of tight percussion and raspy guitar. Titles include "Que Maravilha", "Rita Jeep", "Comanche", "Porque E Proibido Pisa Na Grama", "Cassius Marcelo Clay", "Palomaris", "Maria Domingas", and "Negro E Lindo". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal set from Jorge Ben – one that mixes samba soul with more baroque arrangements from the legendary Arthur Verocai! The record's got a different feel than some of Jorge's other work – almost a wider vision of music that ties his usual funky style to some of the more ambitious modes being explored by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo at the time – expressed here in some larger instrumental passages that shade the tunes lightly, while still letting Jorge step out strongly on vocals and the usual mix of tight percussion and raspy guitar. Titles include "Que Maravilha", "Rita Jeep", "Comanche", "Porque E Proibido Pisa Na Grama", "Cassius Marcelo Clay", "Palomaris", "Maria Domingas", and "Negro E Lindo". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Jorge Ben's greatest albums – a groundbreaking blend of samba and soul that forever went onto transform the face of Brazilian music! The record works off the groove set down by Jorge's earlier hit "Mas Que Nada" (which appears on another LP), and takes the blend of bossa, samba, and jazz, and infuses it with a sense of folksy soul delivered by Jorge's raspy vocals and acoustic guitar work. The combination of styles works perfectly – and every track on the album sparkles with a sense of excitement and new musical discovery that will probably blow away most of the recent records you've bought for your collection! Titles include "Nena Nana", "Espero Por Voce", "Nao Desanima, Joao", "Carnaval Triste", "Gimbo", "Capoeira", and "Anjo Azul". LP, Vinyl record album

The start of an amazing legacy in Brazilian music – and a record that really lives up to its title! Jorge Ben completely reinvents the samba here – and comes up with his own new groove in the process – by blending sharp acoustic guitar lines with rootsy percussion – all at a level that's far more rhythmic than the used of the instrument in bossa nova. There's definitely a bossa element – but Joao's singing is a lot more soulful, as is the overall performance – and the styles started here not only launched Ben's career, but also had a huge influence on generations of musicians to come! Titles include the sublime original version of "Mas Que Nada" - plus "Tim Dom Dom", "Chove Chuva", "A Tamba", "Balanca Pema", and "Rosa Menina Rosa". Great stuff, and essential all the way through – we promise! LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked treasure from the great Jorge Ben – an album recorded between the fame of his "Taj Mahal" hit and Africa Brasil classic – and a set that's every bit as wonderful as those two records! There's a tight, choppy groove to most of the set – that mix of samba, soul, and currents of American funk that Jorge created in his music – turned here towards some of the unusual themes that showed up on his Tabua De Esmeralda album, but maybe given a bit more punch, too – so that even without the benefit of language, the vocals and grooves on the set are completely captivating to a global audience! There's loads of fresh sounds here – some real under-discovered gems from Jorge's key 70s years – and titles include "Cuidado Com O Bulldog", "Zagueiro", "Para Ouvir No Radio (Luciana)", "Jorge De Capadocia", "Dumingaz", "Se Segura Malandro", and "Jesualda". LP, Vinyl record album

Searing samba soul from Jorge Ben – one of his best-remembered albums of the 70s, and for good reason too! The album's got a slightly fuller feel than some of Ben's other work of the time – never slick, but with backings balanced nicely against his own raspy vocals and acoustic guitar – sweetening things up with a bit of the strings you'd find on Forca Bruta, but with a hint of the soul to come on Africa Brasil! The balance is great – thanks to arrangers Osmar Milito, Darcy De Paulo, and Hugo Bellard – and as usual, Jorge's vocals are the main attraction – dipping, turning, and rising with this really unique, personal feel – Ben-like brilliance at its brightest. The whole thing's wonderful – a key gem from the Philips years – and titles include "Cinco Minutos", "Zumbi", "Brother", "Os Alquimistas Estao Chegando Os Alquimistas", "Errare Humanum Est", "Menina Muler Da Pele Preta", "Hermes Tri", and "O Namorado Da Viuva". LP, Vinyl record album

A nicely rootsy little album from Maria Bethania – recorded during a period when some of her music could often sound much fuller and more electric! The album's got subtle help from Toninho Horta, Dori Caymmi, and Guto Graca Mello – all of whom arrange Maria's vocals in a sophisticated singer/songwriter sort of mode – very personal, often spare, and used with a sensitivity to the lyrics that's really wonderful. The Terra Trio also play on the record, and titles include "Ciclo", "Filosofia Pura", "Motriz", "Vinho", "Lua", "Cantar Pra Fazer O Sol Adormecer", and "Rio De Janeiro". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little live set from Maria Bethania – one recorded with the lighter, looser sound she was using in the early 80s – and which stands as a nice contrast to her more dramatic concert performances of the 70s! The music director for the show is Gilberto Gil, and there's a bit of the warmer overtones that Gil was using in his own music at the time – not really the soulful modes, but stronger use of electric keyboards and flowing rhythms that bring in a bit of jazz and a nice sense of fullness. Titles include "Prenda", "Luzes De Ribalta", "Gas Neon", "O Que E O Que E", "Cantico Negro", "Cancao Da Volta", "De Noite E De Dia", and "Nossos Momentos". LP, Vinyl record album

Maria Bethania recorded some of her best early material in a live setting – and this album is great testament to that fact! Unlike some of her Tropicalia contemporaries – whose live records could sometimes be a bit rough around the edges – Bethania's albums were always very well-put together performances done with tremendous musical backings – all quite sophisticated, sometimes even more so than her studio sessions, and magically recorded in a way that still preserved a strong sense of intimacy in her vocals! Titles include "Ponto De Oxum", "Minha Historia", "Lembrancas", "Rosa Dos Ventos", "Janelas Abertas No 2", "Movimento Dos Barcos", and "Flor Da Noite". LP, Vinyl record album

Another dose of ridiculous bluesy heaviness from Blue Cheer, without as much bluster as their first couple of albums, but the same bloated appeal. 10 numbers in all, including "Fool", "You're Gonna Need Someone", 'Hello LA, Bye Bye Birmingham", "Saturday Freedom", "Ain't That The Way Love's Supposed To Be", "Rock & Roll Queens", "Better When We Try", "Natural Man", "Lovin' You's Easy" and "The Same Old Story". LP, Vinyl record album

80s greatest hits compilation for the German market – with "Summertime Blues", "Just A Little Bit", "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "The Hunter", "Parchment Farm", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

This Blue Cheer record, their first of two in 1969, has a different lineup on each side–with Bruce Stephens on guitar, tortoise shell, & sandblocks, and Burns Kellogg on piano & organ on the somewhat more bluesy & song-oriented Side 1, while Randy Holden takes over guitar & vocals for the much heavier psych-rock approach on Side 2. Titles include "When It All Gets Old", "I Want My Baby Back", "Aces'N'Eights", "Peace Of Mind", "Honey Buter Lover", and the mind-melting "Fruit & Iceburgs". LP, Vinyl record album

At this point, the heavy rockers of Blue Cheer's members included Dickie Peterson on bass, guitar, and vocals, Gary Yoder on guitar, harp and vocals, Norman Mayell on drums, percussion, guitar and sitar and Ralph Kellogg on piano, organ and bass. The tracks include "Good Times Are So Hard To Find", "Love Of A Woman", "Make Me Laugh", "Pilot", "Babaji", "Preacher", "Black Sun", "Tears By My Bed", "Man On The Run", "Sandwich", and "Rest At Ease". LP, Vinyl record album

Boy, does the heavy slab psychedelic sludge grooves of Blue Cheer ever sound wonderful, even more than 40 years since it originally walked the earth! Outsideinside hit not too long after the classic Vincebus Eruptem, and damned if we can determine why it's not as celebrated as the debut. That fuzzed out stomp of a sound is back in full effect, as are the titanic drums and an overall sound that uses an electric blues influence as a springboard into heavy cosmic space. Includes their ferocious cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" plus "Feathers From Your Tree", "Just A Little Bit", "Gypsy Ball", "Come And Get It", "The Hunter", "Babylon" and "Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal criss-crossing of styles from the late 60s Cali scene – served up by a group who were steeped in blues, but a big part of the psychedelic scene at the time – and somehow managed to merge both of their worlds effortlessly, at a level that was even more powerful and effective than most of their contemporaries! Leigh Stephen is a monster on guitar – already using lots more freak and fuzz than the earlier generations who inspired him – and bassist Dick Peterson also sings, almost as if he's channeling his instrument to give him the same soulful depth that would later come from Phil Lynott – all supported by the driving drums of Paul Whaley. The whole thing's got a nice freaky sound, thanks to production from Abe Voco Kesh – and titles include the great long original "Doctor Please", plus takes on "Summertime Blues" and "Parchment Farm" – and the titles "Out Of Focus", "Rock Me Baby", and "Second Time Around". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of the greatest Luiz Bonfa albums we've ever heard! The record was recorded in Paris in 1962 – and it's got a clean lively bossa sound that reminds us a lot more of the catchy early work by Joao Gilberto and Baden Powell than Bonfa's sometimes flowery sessions from the same time. There's a tight jazz combo backing him up – with drums, bass, and flute – and a number of tracks have some wonderful breathy vocals next to Bonfa's driving guitar. There's more than a few great uptempo numbers – and the whole album's really a mad bossa treat! Titles include "Bonfa Nova", "Teu Olhar Triste", "Lila", "Sorrindo", "Bossa Em Re", and "Dor Que Faz Doer". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little session from Luiz Bonfa – one that features a hip core combo mixed with slightly larger backings – all in a groove that really stands out from other mainstream bossa albums of the 60s! Bonfa's acoustic guitar is set up here with Jerome Richardson on flute, Don Payne on bass, and Helcio Milito on drums – all working in a sound that's lightly touched with occasional bits of strings or woodwinds from Hal Mooney – never too much to over-sweeten the music, and often in ways that underscore the bluer, sadder tones in the music. Bonfa contributed to me great original tunes to the record that really stand out – numbers that include "Avocado", "Moonlight In Rio", "Embolada", "Her Face", "Dream Girl", "Sambalero", and "Zomba" – all of which make the record stand out from other familiar bossa tunes of the time. LP, Vinyl record album

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One of Chico's strongest albums of the late 70s – a masterful set of sophisticated tunes, recorded with some great guest help from Milton Nascimento, Zizi Possi, and Elba Ramalho! The album's got a slightly melancholy feel overall – not completely somber, but a slightly world-weary sound that makes the album a bit different and more mature than some of Chico's earlier work – and which beautifully unlocks a new chapter in his tremendous talents. The style is great – perfect for Buarque's growing international fame at the time, but not in a way that's ever too commercial. Titles include "Calice", "Feijoada Completa", "Tanto Mar", "Apesar De Voce", "Pequena Serenata Diurna", and "Ate O Fim". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked gem from Chico's mid 80s period – a record filled with strong and subtle songs, often backed by some nicely jazz-tinged arrangements from Cristovao Bastos! The album's not as revolutionary as some of Chico's earlier records, but it more than makes up for that with an incredibly solid quality overall – and a mature, sophisticated approach to songwriting that easily matches some of Caetano Veloso's best work of the same time. Titles include "Pleas Tabelas", "Samba Do Grande Amor", "Mil Perdoes", "Vai Passar", "As Cartas", and "Suburbano Coracao". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful mid 70s album by Chico Buarque – proof that he was still one heck of a songwriter, and a pretty decent singer, despite the fact that he'd grown a silly-looking moustache! The production's very nice, too – with that excellent compressed sound that was being used on some Brazilian vocal albums at the time, like work by Joao Donato. Includes the "O Que Sera", a sublime duet with Milton Nascimento that's one of the best versions we've ever heard of the song. Other tracks include "Vai Tabalhar Vagabundo", "Voce Vai Me Sequir", "Corrente", and "Passaredo". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic illustration of the live music tradition on Brazil – one that really arose on records during the 60s, and blossomed strongly on 70s records like this – which feel almost more like an event than a recorded document! The concert features a magnificent meeting of Chico Buarque and Maria Bethania – both very strong talents on their own, balanced in this really great way amidst larger backings from Maestro Gaya – duetting on tunes that really turn into something special from their performance – never a challenge of egos, but instead a wonderful folding of strong ideals. Terra Trio provide the rhythms – and most numbers are Buarque originals – with titles that include "Flor Da Idade", "Vai Levando", "Bem Querer", "Noite Dos Mascarados", "Tanto Mar", "Gota D'Agua", "Com Acucar E Com Afeto", and "Sem Fantasia". LP, Vinyl record album

The classic recording of Chico Buarque's opera Malandro – done with the supervision of Chico himself, who also stars on vocals along with singers that include Gal Costa, Zizi Possi, MPB4, Nara Leao, Alcione, Moreira Da Silva, and Francis Hime. Hime handled the arrangements and directed the music – and titles include "O Malandro", "Viver De Amor", "Hino De Duran", "Terezinha", "O Meu Amor", "Pedaco De Mim", and "Opera". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the strangest albums in the career of Chico Buarque – and one of the best-remembered too! Os Saltimbancos is a children's play adapted by Buarque from original text by Sergio Bardotti – set to music by Luiz Enriquez Bacalov, and recorded in both Rome and Rio! Most of the album is spoken, with narration by Magro from MPB-4 – and the story is about some unhappy animals that are on their way to the big city to become musicians! The donkey (played by Magro) gets tired of doing hard labor and meets a dog (played by Ruy, another of the MPB-4 guys), a cat (played hilariously by Nara Leao), and a hen (Miucha, the sister of Chico Buarque). The music is pretty strange, and some of the tracks have a sound that's actually kind of avant-poetry, with lots of strange sounds, shouts, and whispers – in a manner that's almost as experimental as it is whimsical. Titles include "Minha Cancao", "Bicharia", "O Jumento", "Todos Juntos", and "A Batalha". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic soundtrack recorded in the immediate post-Tropicalia years – featuring some of the best early 70s work by Chico Buarque, Nara Leao, Maria Bethania, and others! The cover has a mad image with Buarque, Leao, and Bethania in top hats and shiny uniforms – and the music follows up with a similarly lively spirit – samba-esque, with other touches of rock and jazz production that give the work an expansive and trippy feel. Roberto Menescal handled the arrangements – and titles include "Cacada" by Chico Buarque, "Mais Uma Estrela" by Nara Leao, "Soneto" by Orquesta De Cordas, "Soneto" by Nara Leao, "Partido Alto" by MPB-4, "Formosa" by Nara Leao & Maria Bethania, "Baioque" by Maria Bethania, and "Cantores De Radio" by Chico, Naria, and Maria together! LP, Vinyl record album

Rare work as a leader from baritone saxophonist Harry Carney – working here in a swinging smaller group of players from the larger Ellington ensemble – including Paul Gonsalves on tenor, Willie Cook and Ray Nance on trumpets, Booty Wood on trombone, and Rollins Griffith on piano. The set's got a very different feel than the usual Ellingtonian outing like this – as it features songs and arrangements from Kenny Graham – the inventive British leader of the 50s who really knew how to work some fresh sounds from players like these. There's definitely a London modern vibe going on – and tracks include "Mabulala", "Five O'Clock Drag", "Tree Of Hope", "Blues For Blokes", "Baby Blue", and "Rock Me Gently". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little relic from the San Francisco scene of the late 60s – the first album released by a group who'd been making some big waves in the city for the past few years, but never hit the fame of some of their contemporaries! The group originally featured Dan Hicks – of Hot Licks fame – who had departed by the time of this recording, yet still left some of his own love of roots elements in their sound. But there's some rougher moments too – sharper guitars, and a bit bolder vocals – alongside other tunes that have a slightly warmer, more nostalgic appeal. Titles include "Time To Get Straight", "High Coin", "Easy When I'm Dead", "When I Go Sailin By", "Wabash Cannonball", and "When The Movies Are Over". LP, Vinyl record album

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Gal Costa pays tribute to one of the greatest Brazilian songwriters of an earlier age – the great Ary Barroso, one of the first to also get his songs translated into other global languages too! The language here is all Portuguese, though – but nicely updated by Gal in that range of styles she was using at the end of the 70s – a bit of jazz at times, and with that evolved level of MPB arrangement that was helping song artists find their way forward – done on this set by arrangers Roberto Menescal and Perna Froes. Caetano Veloso joins Gal on a duet of "No Tabuleiro Da Bahiana", and other tracks include "E Luxo So", "Folha Morta", "Camisa Amarela", "Aquarela Do Brasil", and "Novo Amor" – plus Gal's classic reading of "Aquarela Do Brasil". LP, Vinyl record album

Gal's in the prime of her sexy diva style here – singing in a sweet warm style with smooth jazzy arrangements that bring out a whole new side of her career. Obviously, the album's not as groundbreaking as some of her early work – but the quality is very high, and Gal's voice is always wonderful, no matter what the setting. Arrangements are by Gilson Peranzzetta and Lincoln Olivetti – and titles include "Meu Bem, Meu Mal", "Canta Brasil", "Roda Baiana", "Festa Do Interior", "Massa Real", and "Estrela, Estrela". LP, Vinyl record album

Heady heady work from the legendary Gal Costa – caught here right at her early best, smack dab in the middle of the Tropicalia years! The album's one of Gal's legendary collaborations with arranger Rogerio Duprat – and it's very much in the spirit of her other incredible session from 1969, but also features some even heavier and more tripped out guitar – in a way that really pushes the psychedelic aspect of the work! The sound here is really amazing – very fuzzy and freaky at times, in ways that make the album one of the most rocking sets of the entire Tropicalia scene, but in ways that still hang onto the quirky experimental qualities of work by Os Mutantes or Caetano Veloso. Gal's vocals really rip out amazingly at times – light years away from the sweet sound of the late 70s, and more in the frenetic, urgent style you'd expect from the politically-charged scene that spawned the set. Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil join Gal on a great version of "Pais Tropical", Jards Macale guest stars on the classic "Empty Boat" – and other tracks include "Tuareg", "Meu Nome E Gal", "Pulsars E Quasars", and "Cultura E Civilizaco". Essential! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful live set from 1971, featuring a very stripped down set of stuff. Gal comes in at first accompanying herself on guitar, then the band slowly joins in, but never really gets in the way of her voice. The sound is spare, and the production rough, and this one has a dark moody feel to it that you don't always get with her LPs. Tracks include "Falsa Baiana", "Coracao Vagabundo", "Como 2 e 2", and "Hotel Das Estrelas". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor". LP, Vinyl record album

Light and lively work from the great Gal Costa – a set that's light years away from her Tropicalia experiments of a decade before, but which is equally beautiful in its own sort of way! First off, Gal's vocals are amazing – more expressive and dynamic than in the early days – with a range of different emotions that comes off wonderfully, and without some of the heaviness of some of her contemporaries – such as Maria Bethania. The arrangements, while not entirely tropical, mix together jazz choro modes with more contemporary touches – providing a surprisingly strong, sparkling backdrop for the lyrics! The album features a nice remake of "India", plus the tracks "Forca Estranha", "Olha", "Meu Nome E Gal", "Balance", and "Samba Rasgado". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the richest, most expressive albums ever from the great Gal Costa – a set from her immediate post-Tropicalia years, and one that shows that she's got a lot more to offer than just a wild sense of experimentation! Gilberto Gil is the musical director here – with help from Rogerio Duprat and Arthur Verocai – and the album's got the lofty feel you'd expect from all three talents – a rich blend of all the modern developments in Brazilian music that had taken place in the 60s, but infused with a newly rootsy sense as well – one that takes the whole thing back to a personal, expressive territory that's really wonderful. Instrumentationincludes work on keyboards by Wagner Tiso and Tenorio Jr, plus a bit of guitar from Roberto Menescal – and Gal does a great version of Caetano Veloso's "Relance" – alongside other tracks that include "Passarinho", "Da Maior Imortancia", "India", "Volta", and the funky "Pontos De Luz". The whole thing's incredibly beautiful – and it's got Gal in a wild bikini cover, too! LP, Vinyl record album

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A strong live set from the great Paco DeLucia – one that has his sublime acoustic guitar sounds really ringing out in the large space of a theater – which creates a slightly different vibe than some of his more close-up studio records of the 70s! DeLucia is extremely commanding in this space – and seems to reach out with even more majesty than ever – incredibly deft work on the strings of the guitar, full of fire and feeling – on a set of original numbers that reference tradition, then completely dismantle it as well. Ramon De Algeciras joins on a bit of second guitar, and titles include "Solea", "Fandangos", "Rumba", "Guajiras", "Alegrias", and "Tarantas". LP, Vinyl record album

A great introduction to the music of Paco De Lucia – and a set that features some of his most sublime solo recordings from the early years! The music here mostly features Paco's acoustic guitar alongside a secondary player on the instrument – either Ramon De Algeciras, Ricardo Modrego, or Larry Coryell – but almost always with De Lucia very strongly in the lead, stepping deftly over rhythms from the other player, with a sense of musical vision that's simply breathtaking! Paco's a player who helped move flamenco guitar way way past any hokey cliches you might expect – and the music here is deeply personal and profoundly moving – a real testament to his unique genius. Titles include "Entre Dos Aguas", "Zorongo Gitano", "Castro Marin", "Guairas De Lucia", "El Vito", "Chanela", and "En La Caleta". LP, Vinyl record album

A great Japanese collection – filled with groundbreaking classics from this legendary guitarist! LP, Vinyl record album

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... LP, Vinyl record album

Although he sucked monumentally during the 70s, when he was blowing his head off with his group Passport, Klaus Doldinger was actually a damn good soul jazz tenorist during the 60s – and he cut some great groovy LPs that were issued in the US, like this one from 1963. The record features Doldinger with his classic quartet – featuring the great Infried Hoffman on organ, and Klaus Weiss on drums. The band has a really lively sound that feels a bit like American soul jazz, but which also carries a lot of the Saba/MPS groove – mostly because of a lighter rhythmic touch, which lets the band dance around a bit more on the sound of the tracks. Titles include "Song Of Delilah", "Signal", "Solar", and "Bluesy Toosy". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic set from the young tenorist Klaus Doldinger – hardly jazz made in Germany, as the whole thing has a smoking soul jazz quality to rival the best on Prestige Records at the time! Klaus plays tenor throughout – in a fantastic combo that features Hammond organ from the great Ingfried Hoffman, and drums from Klaus Weiss – who'd later go onto great fame in funk and fusion. Titles include "Signal", "Solar", "Blues For George", and "Bluesy Toosy". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet electric 70s session from the mighty Joao Donato – very different than his earlier bossa work of the 60s – and with the same funky appeal as the best work on his classic Quem E Quem album! This set's got a tighter feel overall – very much in a samba soul style, with lots of great Brazilian bits mixed up with funk and jazz touches – including a range of great keyboards handled by Donato himself! Drums are by the mighty Wilson Das Neves – who brings in some breaks at a few points – and the whole thing's supremely soulful too – with titles that include the funky classic "Bananeira", plus "Patumbalacunde", "Lugar Comum", "Tudo Tem", and "Naturalmente". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the great records made by the cool French jazzy vocal group that included Ward Swingle and Christine LeGrand, and which did stuff that was much more straightforwardly jazzy than the semi-classical work of the Swingle Singers. This LP's got them backed by Jerome Richardson and his quartet, and has them running through a set of tracks associated with Ray Charles' Atlantic work. Cuts include "Stompin' Room Only, "Hit The Road, Jack", "Yes, Indeed", and "One Mint Julep", and all have a swingin' jazz vocalese sound. Cool stuff by one of the great lost groups of the 60's. LP, Vinyl record album

Great early stuff by this swingin' French vocal group! These guys swung as hard as American groups, like Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross – but they stuck to hipper, jazzier material, and had a driving sound that never let up! The group is led by singer Mimi Perrin, who also handed the arrangements – and it features French jazz greats Ward Swingle and Eddy Louiss. Includes some great jazzy versions of "Naima", "Boplicity", "Westwood Walk", and "Early Autumn". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A killer early album of Batucada tracks – filled with lots of tight, short, hard percussive groovers! LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool Japanese album of Brazilian percussion – audiophile, and plays at 45rpm! LP, Vinyl record album

A straight dramatic score for this 60s western that starred Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot. The style is dramatic and sweeping, and the only slightly groovy number is the vocal theme "Shalako". Other titles include "Irena", "Apache's Pursuit Of Shalako", "Lady Dagget's Desertion", "Apache's Dawn Attack", and "Pete Wells Death". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer batch of large ensemble numbers – very much in the mode of the Clarke-Boland Big Band, or some of the other groups on MPS at the time! The group's led by Jerry Van Rooyen, the Dutch jazzman and composer who did some excellent funky soundtrack work over the years – a fact that certainly shows up in the tracks on the set – which have a sweetly grooving feel mixed in with the large ensemble jazz – a great approach that would have been right at home in some hip Euro film score from the time! Van Rooyen gives the material a soulful feel that's a lot like some of Quincy Jones' best scoring from the 60s – blending together work on organ, Fender Rhodes, and piano (played by Frans Elsen, Rob Madna, and Rob Franken) – with breakaway horn solos by players like Benny Bailey on trumpet and Rolf Ericson on trumpets, Ake Persson and Jiggs Whigham on trombones, and Herb Geller, Ferdinand Povel, and Tony Coe on reeds – most of whom are players who've sparked great notes previously on sets with the Clarke-Boland Big Band, or other hip MPS ensemble projects. Titles include "Sonlite", "Because I Love You", "Some Blues", "For Nathalie", "The Runners", "JBW", "Green", and "Whirligig". LP, Vinyl record album