Includes most of the early southern soul material that Alexander recorded for Dot at Fame Studios – plus a rare 70s track for Buddah! CD
(Out of print.)
2
Burt Bacharach —
Lost Horizon ... CD Razor & Tie, 1973. Used ...
Out Of Stock
One of Bacharach's strangest records! The soundtrack was written for the huge flop musical Lost Horizon – and it features all vocal tracks, sung by the likes of Shawn Phillips, Sally Kellerman, and Diana Lee. The overall feel is very sing-songy, with kind of a children's them sort of sound – but there's actually a few nuggets of great songwriting in here, especially on the tracks "The World Is A Circle" and "Living Together, Growing Together". CD
Jon Batiste & Stay Human —
Social Music ... CD Razor & Tie, 2013. Used ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
A really unique album from pianist Jon Batiste – a set that's straight jazz at some points, a bit Crescent City at others, but always with a feel that's very individual – and one of the freshest new styles we've heard in years! Jon's instrumental tracks are wonderful – full of rich feeling and color that comes not just from his own work on piano and other keyboards, but also from the quintet's instrumentation – which occasionally features tuba used in this unusual bassy-bottom mode – alongside great alto from Eddie Barbash. Some numbers are vocal tracks – with lyrics that are personal, and surprisingly powerful – usually relatively simple, but integrated with the instrumentation at a level that's very different than the usual jazz vocal mode. Titles include "It's Alright", "Lonely Cry In Manhattan", "D Sharp Movement 1", "The Spirit Is With Us", "Express Yourself", "Let God Lead", "San Spirito", and "Naima's Love Song". CD
With the genius "Lucky Man" – plus "The Three Fates", "Knife Edge", "Take A Pebble", and "The Barbarian". Deluxe edition includes the original album, a new alternate stereo mix by Steve Wilson, DVD-Audio stereo and surround versions of the new mix, plus bonus tracks. CD
Deluxe edition includes the original album, a new alternate stereo mix by Steve Wilson, DVD-Audio stereo and surround versions of the new mix, plus bonus tracks. CD
Larry Graham & Graham Central Station —
Raise Up ... CD Listen 2/Razor & Tie, 2012. Used ...
Out Of Stock
Larry Graham's definitely got his groove back – and steps out here with his funkiest album in years! Graham's not content to just recall the glory days of Graham Central Station – as he really goes for a nice range of flavors in the set – including a taste of New Orleans, heard in the opening drumline on the record – then echoed by some of the tight horn parts in other sections – even though other numbers move into a tighter electric funky style. As before, the bass is definitely driving the bus on most numbers – and Larry's got help on the set from both Prince and Raphael Saadiq – whose vocals really help expand the sound too. Titles include "Throw N Down The Funk", "Raise Up", "Shoulda Coulda Woulda", "Higher Ground", "Welcome 2 Our World", "Movin", and "One Day". CD
One of the most compelling larger projects put together by Merle Haggard during his "concepts" years at Capitol Records – a double-length set that has the country legend dipping into the spiritual side of the spectrum, with key recordings at a number of different locations! The album features work recorded at the chapel at San Quentin Prison, at the Big Creek Baptist Church in Tennessee, a Rescue Mission in Nashville, and at the Assembly Of God Tabernacle back in California – all of which make for a nicely varied expression of the way that country music comes into play with spiritual themes, along with help from famous guests The Carter Family, and some vocals from Bonnie Owens too! The Strangers provide the backings, and although there's some spoken bits from time to time, the clear appeal of the record is Merle's great vocals as he takes on tunes that include "The Family Bible", "Guide Me Lord", "Life's Railway To Heaven", "Steal Away", "On The Jericho Road", "Precious Memories", "Turn Your Radio On", "Where Could I Go", "If We Never Meet Again", and "I Saw The Light". CD
David Johansen wipes off the lipstick and kicks off his heels for this first solo set –sans drag, we're left with a normal looking dude – and one hell of a great, still glammy sounding record that's right up there in greatness with his New York Dolls canon! Wow, is this ever underrated. David would go on the tweak his style and persona in a bunch of different ways, to varying creative and commercial success. Here he's just out to make kick ass rock and roll record as he'd done with the dolls, sans the wardrobe and junkie hijinks, but with all all the blistering rock guitar and gritty R&B influences. This one really blazes! Includes "Funky But Chic", "Girls", "Not That Much", "Donna", "I'm A Lover" and "Frenchette". CD
Frankie Beverly and crew can't miss at this point – and as usual, Maze stands head and shoulders above most of its soul contemporaries from the time. The overall feel is nice and warm, with plenty of focus on Frankie's sweet smooth vocals – and the band grooves behind him in a slightly jazzy style that must have sounded like an instant classic at the time and still sounds great today. With the classic "Back In Stride", plus "Reachin Down Inside", "Can't Stop The Love", "Too Many Games" and "Magic". CD
One of the classic sets on the short-lived Tumbleweed label – with tracks that include "Rosewood Bitters", "Moving Right Along", "Resurrection", "Good Time Charlie", "Song For A Friend Soon Gone", "A Friend & Nothing More", and "Louisville AD". CD
With 23 tracks including "Cry On", "I Done Got Over It", "While The City Sleeps", "Hittin' On Nothing", "Straight From The Heart", "He's My Guy", and "Nobody Wants To Hear Nobody's Troubles". CD
Speedy West may be the greatest pedal steel slinger in the history of the instrument, and together with ace guitarist Jimmy Bryant they bridged the gap between the 50s Western swing of Bob Wills and the soon to arrive Sun Records sound with their pioneering country-jazz instrumentals. This is essential stuff for fans of traditional country stompers – or sweaty, swaggering boogie in any genre! Tracks include "Stratosphere Boogie", "Blue Bonnet Rag", "Cotton' Picking", "Old Joe Clark", "Slepwalker's Lullaby", "Arkansas Traveler", "The Night Rider", "Speedin' West", "Comin' On", "Bryant's Bounce", "Pickin' Peppers", "Shuffleboard Rag", "Filppin' The Lid" and lots more. CD
Picking up where the previous Stratosphere Boogie collection leaves off, this is volume two of the caffeinated country swing and rockabilly rabble rousing of the pioneering duo. Speedy West could play the pedal steel like a man on fire or a doomed, sinnin' fool, and guitarist Jimmy Bryant was just as hot – and without their instrumentals the worlds of country and unashamedly twangy rock would be sad indeed. Tracks include "Frettin' Fingers", "Lover", "Two Of A Kind", "Yodeling Guitar", "West Of Sonoma", "Opus 1", "Truck Driver's Ride", "T-Bone Rag", "Railroadin'", "Jammin' With Jimmy", "The Rolling Sky", "Pushin' The Blues", "Swingin' On The Strings", and "Caffeine Patrol". 20 tracks in all. CD
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Dar Williams —
Honesty Room ... CD Razor & Tie, 1995. Used ...
Temporarily Out Of Stock
Bobby Womack —
Poet ... CD Beverly Glen/Razor & Tie, 1982. Used ...
Out Of Stock
The first of Bobby's highly successful Poet albums from the early 80s – wonderfully done albums that showed the world that he was still very much on top of his game at the time! The sound here is great – still with that older Womack rasp and warmth, but also done in a slightly smoother mode that grooves things up with some modern soul touches, yet never loses Bobby's charm! Tunefully, the record is one of his best in years – with some wonderful mellow soul groovers that never fail to delight – all produced with a warm California sound, and featuring some great backing vocals by The Waters and a host of other Womacks. Titles include "So Many Sides Of You", "Lay Your Lovin On Me", "Secrets", "Just My Imagination", "Games", "If You Think You're Lonely Now", and "Where Do We Go From Here". CD
An excellent Jon Lucien compilation that's way way better than the one that came out on Razor & Tie! This one features only work from Jon's RCA years – which were easily his best-ever. Plus, it's also got 4 previously unissued tracks that were recorded during the early 70s – but never issued until now. These are titled "Time For Me To Fly", "Child Of Love", "Black Flower", and "Follow Your Heart" – and they're all great! Of course, the other stuff's fantastic, too – and is some of the most godlike jazzy soul ever recorded on this planet. Titles include "Lady Love", "Who Will Buy?", "Adoration", "So Little Time", "Listen Love", "The Pleasure Of Your Garden", and the wonderful groover "Would You Believe In Me". 20 cuts in all! CD
A set that may well be the record where Elton John totally gets it together – transcending his already-brilliant previous recordings, and finding a way to the special spot that would forever make him a legend! There's a mix of well-crafted songs and soulful presentation that's completely superb here – very personal, very much that new Elton John mode that made thte approach of him and Bernie Taupin so different than so many others in this heady generation of singer/songwriters – and that's really saying a lot! Production and arrangements are great, too – up-close when needed, and never overdone – testified to by the album's classic lineup of tracks that includes "Tiny Dancer", "Levon", "Razor Face", "Madman Across The Water", "Holiday Inn", "Indian Sunset", and "All The Nasties". CD
A set that may well be the record where Elton John totally gets it together – transcending his already-brilliant previous recordings, and finding a way to the special spot that would forever make him a legend! There's a mix of well-crafted songs and soulful presentation that's completely superb here – very personal, very much that new Elton John mode that made thte approach of him and Bernie Taupin so different than so many others in this heady generation of singer/songwriters – and that's really saying a lot! Production and arrangements are great, too – up-close when needed, and never overdone – testified to by the album's classic lineup of tracks that includes "Tiny Dancer", "Levon", "Razor Face", "Madman Across The Water", "Holiday Inn", "Indian Sunset", and "All The Nasties". CD
Ralph Moore's a player we always like to keep our ear on, and this album's no exception – a cracklingly soulful batch of tunes played with a razor-sharp quintet, all tied together beautifully with Moore's tenor on top! The date's great proof that rock-solid sessions could still be cut well after the classic Blue Note or Prestige Records years – and Moore's sense of timing and guidance easily matches that of many other tenor titans from previous years. And even more than some tenorists, who really see themselves as the star of the show, Ralph's got a sense of warmth and comradeship that always seems to bring out the best in his players – who on this date include Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Benny Green on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and either Victor Lewis or Kenny Washington on drums. Titles include "Pheobe's Samba", "Girl Talk", "Line D", "Monk's Dream", "310 Blues", and "Hopscotch". CD
Here's where it all happens – the huge culmination of all the years of heavy funk and psychedelic soul created by George Clinton and the P-Funk empire – fused into an amazingly tight groove that helped win over much bigger audiences than ever before! The album title and cover are very fitting – as George Clinton launches the mothership, forges his classic space-funk image, and blows the P-Funk empire into an arena-filling mega-star act – all with grooves that are still some of the tightest, sharpest funk you'll ever hear – all these many decades later. The instrumentation is razor-sharp – played by giants like Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell – and the lyrics still have all the edginess and naughtiness of the earlier years – tied together wonderfully to make a very unified album, and one that's full of classics too! Titles include "Mothership Connection (Star Child)", "Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples", "P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)", "Handcuffs", "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)", and "Unfunky Ufo". CD
Here's where it all happens – the huge culmination of all the years of heavy funk and psychedelic soul created by George Clinton and the P-Funk empire – fused into an amazingly tight groove that helped win over much bigger audiences than ever before! The album title and cover are very fitting – as George Clinton launches the mothership, forges his classic space-funk image, and blows the P-Funk empire into an arena-filling mega-star act – all with grooves that are still some of the tightest, sharpest funk you'll ever hear – all these many decades later. The instrumentation is razor-sharp – played by giants like Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell – and the lyrics still have all the edginess and naughtiness of the earlier years – tied together wonderfully to make a very unified album, and one that's full of classics too! Titles include "Mothership Connection (Star Child)", "Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples", "P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)", "Handcuffs", "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)", and "Unfunky Ufo". CD features a bonus version of "Star Child", a promo radio version! CD