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A nice late 70s album you might have passed over because of the terrible cover art. "Party Freaks, Come On" was Ron Louis Smith's big dancefloor hit from the late 70's, and it's got a nice uptempo Miami funk groove to it – sort of like the stuff by Jimmy Bo Horne, or other artists from the era. The rest of the set's mostly similar uptempo funk, but there's a couple of nice, crisply produced modern soul numbers in the vein of the Natural High compilations, like "Come On And Do It" and "Love Talk". Also includes "The Worm", "Make Me Know It", "We Like To Party" and "You're My Everything". CD

A pair of classic early 60s modern jazz sets – back to back in this great 70s package! First up is the album Far Cry from Eric Dolphy – Eric Dolphy's first meeting in the studio with trumpeter Booker Little – a brilliant batch of modernism that's easily one of the hippest records Little ever worked on! The Dolphy heard here is Eric at his most inventive – sharp-edged and angular one minute, then spiritually lyrical the next – playing flute, bass clarinet, and alto sax equally well on the record – and somehow managing to get Little to share his inspiration perfectly on every number. Other players include Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums – a rhythm team whose abilities are a big part of the success of the record – and titles include "Far Cry", "Mrs Parker Of KC", "Left Alone", "Ode To Charlie Parker", and "Miss Ann". Next is Where – a haunting and unusual batch of tracks from bassist Ron Carter – working here with a group that includes spiritual modernists Eric Dolphy on reeds and Mal Waldron on piano – both players who really add a lot to the set! In a way, the album's more like Dolphy's own work as a leader from the time than the sort of music usually associated with Carter – and Ron really seems to let the reedman shape the overall sound of the set with his tremendous work on alto, flute, and bass clarinet. Carter plays a bit of cello in addition to his bass – giving the record a nicely eerie sound at points – and Waldron's piano, as always, is excellent during this point in his career. Titles include Randy Weston's "Where" and "Saucer Eyes", plus "Bass Duet", which features Carter dueting with George Duvivier, and a very nice version of "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

A really groovy album from Brit easy maestro Ron Goodwin – a set that's a follow up to his earlier Arabian Nights record, but which has an even cooler vibe overall – Lebanese sounds, but done with some of the richer scoring that Ron brought to his soundtrack material, and some nice exotic elements too! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of Ron Carter's best from the 70s – a hip and subtle effort recorded for CTI, with a small group that includes Joe Henderson on tenor, Roland Hanna on piano, and Billy Cobham on drums! Henderson's tenor work dominates the album, and the long tracks really let him snake around mightily – blowing with that dark edge that we totally love, and taking the record in much different directions than some of Carter's other albums. Richard Tee also plays electric piano on the title "117 Special" – and other tunes include "A Feeling", "All Blues", "Rufus", and "Will You Still Be Mine". LP, Vinyl record album

Ron Carter gets sweet and funky on this 70s classic for Kudu Records – a set that's a fair bit different than some of Carter's acoustic trio sides of the decade, or some of his more high-concept work in recent years! The approach here is free and flowing – larger arrangements penned by Carter and David Matthews – all in that sweet Kudu blend of soul and jazz, acoustic and electric elements. Ron himself plays acoustic bass and piccolo bass – alongside some great keyboards from Don Grolnick and Richard Tee. A few cuts have backing singers, but others are more instrumental – and titles include a great cover of "Barretta Theme (Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow)", plus "Anything Goes", "Big Fro", "Quarto Azul", and "De Samba". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet electric work from Ron Carter – subtle magic in the best CTI mode! Ron arranged the set himself, but he's working with a core group of CTI players that includes Bob James and Richard Tee on electric piano, Hubert Laws on flute, Ralph MacDonald on percussion, and Billy Cobham on drums – shifting mood, tone, and color with ease as each new track on the album emerges – and uniting the whole proceedings with work on acoustic bass and piccolo bass! Not funky, but very soulful – with a keen sense of space, but never too much so to make things snoozy. Titles include "Blues Farm", "Hymn For Him", "Two Beat Johnson", and "R2, M1". LP, Vinyl record album

Features some great work by Joe Henderson on tenor – in a group that features Carter on bass and piccolo bass, Chick Corea on piano, and Tony Williams on drums – plus some surprisingly nice larger horn arrangements too. Titles include "GJT", "Gypsy", "Tinderbox", "A Theme In 3/4", and "Parade". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful album by Ron Carter – and quite rare, too! The record features a group that's got a nice 70s modal soul jazz sound – with players that include Herbie Hancock on acoustic and electric piano, Hubert Laws on flute, Sam Brown on guitar, and both Billy Cobham and Grady Tate on drums – all working in sweet small group mode alongside Carter's excellent work on acoustic and Fender bass. The sound is sometimes spacey, sometimes groovy – and marks a key chapter in Carter's career, one that has him stepping out of the background into a great role as a leader – setting the stage for many more albums to come in the 70s! Titles include the very funky "Uptown Conversation", plus the tracks "Half A Row", "Doom", and "Einbahnstrasse". Very soulful, with a stone mellow moody groove! CD

A haunting and unusual batch of tracks from bassist Ron Carter – working here with a group that includes spiritual modernists Eric Dolphy on reeds and Mal Waldron on piano – both players who really add a lot to the set! In a way, the album's more like Dolphy's own work as a leader from the time than the sort of music usually associated with Carter – and Ron really seems to let the reedman shape the overall sound of the set with his tremendous work on alto, flute, and bass clarinet. Carter plays a bit of cello in addition to his bass – giving the record a nicely eerie sound at points – and Waldron's piano, as always, is excellent during this point in his career. Titles include Randy Weston's "Where" and "Saucer Eyes", plus "Bass Duet", which features Carter dueting with George Duvivier, and a very nice version of "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". LP, Vinyl record album

A haunting and unusual batch of tracks from bassist Ron Carter – working here with a group that includes spiritual modernists Eric Dolphy on reeds and Mal Waldron on piano – both players who really add a lot to the set! In a way, the album's more like Dolphy's own work as a leader from the time than the sort of music usually associated with Carter – and Ron really seems to let the reedman shape the overall sound of the set with his tremendous work on alto, flute, and bass clarinet. Carter plays a bit of cello in addition to his bass – giving the record a nicely eerie sound at points – and Waldron's piano, as always, is excellent during this point in his career. Titles include Randy Weston's "Where" and "Saucer Eyes", plus "Bass Duet", which features Carter dueting with George Duvivier, and a very nice version of "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". CD

Ron Carter on bass, Herbie Hancock on piano, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, James Newton on flute, and Tony Williams on drums. Tracks include "Hat And Beard", "Cantaloupe Island", "Recorda Me", and "Little B's Poem". CD

Post Beau Brummels work by Ron Elliott – and a set that really echoes the group's best moments on Bradley's Barn and some of the later albums! The style here is slightly rootsy, as in the later years of the BB's – a blend of country influences and California hip – often played with small group instrumentation, but carried off with a chromatic sophistication that's really unique – a bit like the work of Tom Rapp, but not nearly as tortured. Elliott's vocals are great – sometimes gruff, but certainly with a great degree of humanity – and titles include the two-part, side-long "Candlestickmaker Suite", plus "Lazy Day", "All Time Green", "Deep River Runs Blue", and "To The City To The Sea". LP, Vinyl record album

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Drummer Gerry Gibbs has a hell of a trio for this set – and a great batch of guests as well – all of whom help make some real magic on jazz instrumental versions of soul tunes from the 70s! The core trio features Kenny Barron on piano and Ron Carter on bass – both wonderfully sensitive players, without any of the "thrasher" qualities you might guess from the group's name on the cover – and some passages expand things with the addition of Warren Wolf on vibes, Steve Wilson on alto sax, and Larry Goldings on Hammond – all players we really love too. Titles include "Pick Up The Pieces", "Where Is The Love", "What's Going On", "Reasons", "Too High", "Fantasy", "Creepin", and "Brazilian Rhyme". CD

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"I am not a number! I am a very groovy LP!" This collection features work from the classic Prisoner TV show of the 60s – starring Patrick McGoohan – and featuring the main theme by Ron Grainer, plus assorted incidental music by A Elms and W Josephs. The whole thing's set up in a progression of bits from episodes that include Arrival/Chimes, Free For All, The General, Dance Of The Dead, Many Happy Returns, and Once Upon A Time. CD

A reunion of Miles' legendary sidemen after his death in 1991, including live renditions of "So What" and "All Blues", plus "RJ", "Little One", "Pinocchio", "Elegy" and "Eighty One". CD

Ron Haynes on trumpet and flugelhorn and Vic Baker Sr on drums. CD

Sheffield Drum Record is a fantastic album full of open drumbreaks ripe for sampling! CD

Houston Person on tenor saxophone and Ron Carter on bass. CD

A kicking little cut, and one that has a snapping snare and tribal percussion in the groove, warmed up by all sorts of sweet keyboard and instrumental touches! The whole thing's got the soulful energy you'd expect from Ron Trent – but there's also maybe a futurist vibe that shows just how much he's grown musically in recent years! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Ron Carter on bass, Billy Higgins on drums, and Cedar Walton on piano. CD

Produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, with Christian McBride on bass and Sean Jones on flugelhorn. CD

Ron Blake on tenor and soprano saxophone, Johnny Griffin on tenor saxophone, Shedrick Mitchell on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Greg Hutchinson on drums. CD

One of Ron Carter's best from the 70s – a hip and subtle effort recorded for CTI, with a small group that includes Joe Henderson on tenor, Roland Hanna on piano, and Billy Cobham on drums! Henderson's tenor work dominates the album, and the long tracks really let him snake around mightily – blowing with that dark edge that we totally love, and taking the record in much different directions than some of Carter's other albums. Richard Tee also plays electric piano on the title "117 Special" – and other tunes include "A Feeling", "All Blues", "Rufus", and "Will You Still Be Mine". This CTI 40th Anniversary edition was remastered using the original analog tapes. CD

A very nice return to basics for Ron Carter – a trio session that features Mulgrew Miller on piano and Russell Malone on guitar, with Ron playing simply bass – and working in a straight jazz style that's really a refreshing change from some of his higher-concept projects! The lack of drums and use of guitar takes us back almost to the sound of the early Jamal trio – but there's an overall feel here that's more open, and more fluid – really adding some depth to tunes that might otherwise come across a bit too academic. Titles include the originals "NY Slick", "On & On", "A Theme In 3/4", "Parade", "Quick Sketch", and "Cedar Tree". CD

Features Javon Jackson on tenor, Edwin Russel on trumpet, Gonzalo Rubalcaba on piano, Lewis Nash on drums, and Steve Kroon on percussion. Tracks include "Well You Needn't", "Cut & Paste", "MSRP", "St. Thomas", "I Thought About You" and "Stablemates". CD

With Art Farmer on flugelhorn, Hubert Laws on flute, Kenny Barron on piano, JJ Johnson on trombone, Ralph MacDonald on percussion, and Billy Cobham on drums. CD

Ron Carter plays here with pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Harvey Mason, and guitarist Hugh McCracken, in a setting that is augmented by an off-kilter string section, and which has that sort of bright sound that characterized some of Carter's recordings from the time. Many of the tracks have a relaxed funky groove, and Carter's bass is very up front in the recording, with lots of tight plunked hard solo notes. Tracks include "12+12", "Woolaphant", and "One Bass Rag". LP, Vinyl record album

Ron Carter plays piccolo bass – in an extended live performance with Kenny Barron on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Ben Riley on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

With Kenny Barron on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Ben Riley on drums; plus guests Kermit Moore, Charles McCracken, John Abramowitz, and Richard Locker on celli; Hugh McCracken on guitar and harmonica, and Ralph MacDonald on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual Japanese-only collection of work by bassist Ron Carter – pulled from American sides for Fantasy, and done by Suntory Whiskey! The set features the new tracks "Double Bass" and "36414" with Jay Berliner on guitar and Kenny Barron on piano – and other titles include "Ah Rio" with Chet Baker on trumpet, "NY Slick" with JJ Johnson on trombone and Hubert Laws on flute, "12+12" with Kenny Barron on piano, and "Epistrophy" with Barron and a mixture of woodwinds. LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Benny Golson on tenor, Joe Locke on vibes, and Sir Roland Hanna on piano. CD

An unusual set of duets with Richard Galliano on accordion and Ron Carter on bass. CD

Features Ron Carter on bass, Kenny Barron on piano, and Lewis Nash on drums! CD

Nice trio side from the rhythm section that fueled Miles' classic quintet. Ron, Herbie & Tony developed an advanced interplay backing Miles, almost telepathic, with just the right amount of space & a great harmonic underpinning, and this is one of the few trio sides they cut. Most of the tunes are penned by the members of the group, and include the great title track, "Dolphin Dance", "United Blues" & "Lawra". LP, Vinyl record album

Japanese reedman Sadao Watanabe joins this hip trio on alto – with Hank Jones on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

Two whole albums with just Ron Carter on bass and Jim Hall on guitar! CD

George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Mike Stern on electric guitar, Ron Carter on double bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. CD

Groovy instrumental takes on Laura Nyro tunes – including "And When I Die", "California Shoeshine Boys", "Farmer Joe", "Emmie", and "I Never Meant To Hurt You". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Eighty-One", "Worse and Worse", "Raise Four", "Pretty Polly", "On The Street Where You Live", and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". CD

An all-star outing, and a later date for pianist Red Garland – working here with Ron Carter on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – on titles that include "Solar", "Oleo", "But Not For Me", "Love For Sale", and "Never Let Me Go". LP, Vinyl record album

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Second volume collecting some excellent bits of both music and dialogue from the great TV series The Prisoner. Just like the show, which we can't get enough of, these wonderfully groovy tracks keep us coming back for more, from the more tense thriller type moments to atmospheric bits and even some lighter pieces too. 39 (!) tracks in all, with great titles like "Speedboat Dash", "Exam Results", "Number 6 Takes The Life Belt", "Human Chess", "MS Polotska" and "Nocturnal Escape". CD

We can't get enough of this stuff! Another fab collection of groovy soundtrack bits, and oblique dialogue from just about our favorite TV series of all time. This batch has more of the dramatic moments, chase scene buildups, sonic scene setting and electronic tones tied together in one long collage of mod sounds. 32 tracks in all, including "janet's Party", "European Drive", "Exploding Ball", "Poisoned Beer", "Turkish Bath", "Boxing Booth", "Attack On The Bulldozer" and "Regression". CD

The title's an apt one, as the session features spare, unaccompanied duets between guitarist Jim Hall and bassist Ron Carter – done at a time when both players were stepping into some of their warmest, most sensitive years. Hall's especially great here – and even though he had already built a career out of working in lighter, less rhythm section-based settings, the early 70s saw him moving into even more unfettered territory – and opening up with incredibly personal, sensitive notes that danced equally well with the space around them. Titles include "St Thomas", "I'll Remember April", "Alone Together", "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", and "Autumn Leaves". CD

A key history lesson for those who thought that pot culture in music only started with Cypress Hill – a weird sound play album originally issued by Elektra Records in the early 70s! The album's the brainchild of producer/director Ron Jacobs – who put the whole thing together with a feel that's almost like freeform FM radio from the left end of the dial at the time – little bits and sketches that are often satiric stabs at the mainstream, although delivered with a lot more wit than we'd expect from the average pothead! The whole thing's kind of like Free To Be You & Me for the stoner crowd – and titles include "Getting Hung-Up", "Creativity", "Funniness", "Physical Effects", "The History Of Marijuana", and "Eating Food". LP, Vinyl record album

Ron McClure on bass, Rick Margitza on tenor and soprano saxophone, Jon Davis on piano, and Jeff Williams on drums. CD

Ron McClure on bass, 'Jabali' Billy Hart on drums, Marc Copland on piano, Rich Perry on tenor saxophone, Conrad Herwig on trombone, Tim Hagans on trumpet. CD

Houston Person on tenor sax and Ron Carter on bass. CD

One of the sweetest sets ever cut by organist Ron Levy – and a record that's done very much in the mode of the older Prestige soul jazz and jazz funk that first inspired his work! Of course, that relation to Prestige is no surprise – given that Ron's working here with Melvin Sparks on guitar and Idris Muhammad on drums – who both help give the record a feel that's a lot more classic than you might expect for the date. But the real star of the set is Levy, whose clean, lean lines on the Hammond B-3 recall the early genius of Charles Earland at its best! Titles include "Zim Zam Zoom", "Lost Tribes", "Sons Of Abraham", "Last Go Round", "Silver Cannonball", and "Lonely Avenue". CD

Duets between guitarist Akio Sasajima and bassist Ron Carter. Tracks include "Waltz For Brazil", "Gentle Rain", "God Bless The Child", and "Akiology". CD

A real surprise – and a record we come back to again and again! Sickler's trumpet has a nicely different feel than Kenny Dorham's – and the group's got some especially nice tenor from Jimmy Heath – supported by rhythm from Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful combination of players – really stretching out here in a hip double-length set! The live performance features three key musicians all recording for Milestone Records in the 70s – Sonny Rollins on tenor and soprano sax, McCoy Tyner on piano, and Ron Carter on bass – joined by drummer Al Foster, who provides some great energy to round out the quartet! But not all the tracks here are quartet ones, either – as the set also features some duet, trio, and solo moments too – really changing things up on some extended tracks that continue to keep things interesting! Titles include the excellent "Cutting Edge" – plus "Continuum", "Alone Together", "Nubia", "NO Blues", and "Don't Stop The Carnival". LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring guest appearances by the rest of the Stones. LP, Vinyl record album

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... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Features Ron Carter on piccolo bass, Stephen Scott on piano, Leon Maleson on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, and Steve Kroon on percussion – plus a quartet of cellists! CD

Featuring Raekwon on "Imagine This" and Cam'ron and The FEDS on "5 Men & A Mic" 12-inch, Vinyl record

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Ron Geesin's a British arranger with a host of amazing talents – from early work in the exotica field, to a famous collaboration with Roger Waters – always handled with a mindblowing sense of sound and scope! Here, he delivers a superb score for the film Sunday Bloody Sunday – a dark-themed drama that's given backing by Geesin that's maybe even more illuminating than the images on the screen at times – as Ron captures a moody vibe in perfect ways, but also changes things up a fair bit instrumentally – which makes each new selection feel very different, even though they are unified in mood. Bridget St John sings on the track "Chemical Dreams", and plays guitar on "Motoring Sparkle" – and other titles include "Intriguing Cables", "Sky High Balloons", "Piccadilly Bustle", "Blitzful Memories", and "Affections For String Quartet". Plus, the LP also features great bonus tracks from other Geesin projects – four more tracks from a 1985 documentary on Viv Richards, and six more from a 1970 documentary on mental health, titled "Shapes In A Wilderness" – both a great match for the main score. LP, Vinyl record album

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Underground soul genius from the great Ron Henderson – one of those great 70s also-rans – a true top talent who never fully got his due, but who cut some really wonderful material back in the day! The set features rare 70s singles and some unreleased tracks – all of which work together to showcase Ron's special way of blending older deep soul currents with warmer mellow soul touches – a great blend of southern and sophisticated styles that was years ahead of its time, which may well be why Henderson's genius is only getting its full appreciation in the 21st century! The package features 13 cuts in all – including "Your Love", "Reole Rose", "Sunshine", "She Pleases Me", "The Other Side", "Problem Child", "Yours Is The Love I Want", "You're Twenty One Today", and "Baby I Wanna Be Yours". LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing music for the Alejandro Jodorowsky film The Holy Mountain – even more compelling and complex than his sounds for El Topo! The score is a wonderful mix of earthy, organic elements and a few more composed and equally groovy parts – handled by Jodorowsky in collaboration with trumpeter Don Cherry and pop producer/arranger Ron Frangipane! Some of the work has the hypnotic blend of global elements you'll find in Cherry's recordings of the time – particularly his groundbreaking early 70s work in Sweden – and although Frangipane brings in some bigger, fuller charts, he always does so with a sense of irony, and this undercurrent of darkness that continues to link his sounds with those of Cherry. The double-length score is a wonder throughout – maybe Jodorowsky's highest musical moment – and titles include "Psychedelic Weapons", "Rainbow Room", "Alchemical Room", "Mattresses Masks & Pearls", "City Of Freedom", "Starfish", and "Violence Of The Lambs". LP, Vinyl record album

The warm basswork of Ron McClure really sets the scene here – for a record that also opens up with some really well-crafted work on tenor from Rich Perry! Perry's always a player with a subtle edge – one that doesn't strike you right away, but builds up in this really nice way over the course of a record – definitely the case here on a set that mostly features original material from McClure, and the group's pianist Michael Eckroth – who has a way of hitting occasional bright notes that balance the sound of Perry's horn. The group also features Steve Johns on drums – and titles include "Agua Caliente", "When It's Over", "Semi Herbal", "Talkin Turkey", "Bystander", "Two Blocks From Somewhere", and "Turned Around Footprints". CD

Features Michel Petrucciani on piano and Ron McClure on bass! CD

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... LP, Vinyl record album

A modern Blue Note classic from pianist Geri Allen – a set that has the younger artist working alongside Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums – for a sound that's completely fantastic throughout! The album's not Allen's first, but it's one that definitely helped her reach the kind of audience her talent deserved – and throughout, she's got a way of mixing classic modes with some of the key qualities that really set her apart – the latter of which may come through most strongly on the original tunes on the set! The whole thing's a great testament to the piano trio format at its best – something very different and very personal, as you'll hear on titles that include "Feed The Fire", "In The Middle", "A Place Of Power", "In The Morning", "RTG", and "Drummer's Song". CD

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Features classic New Orleans work by Professor Longhair, The Party Boys, Robert Parker, Eddie Lang, Irma Thomas, Bobby Mitchell, and Paul Marvin. LP, Vinyl record album

The best work ever from the great Johnny Adams – a Crescent City soul singer with a hell of a lot of power, brought into wonderfully strong focus here on these early recordings for the Ric & Ron label! Johnny recorded later in Nashville and Jackson, but he's never sounded better than on these early sides – which have a depth of feeling and timeless power that we'd rank right up there with some of the most important names during the early years of soul. The material is nicely free of overdone New Orleans styles – and instead has this care and class that really reaches out from the roots of the material, to showcase Johnny as a singer with a great deal of care and class, but one who's still able to let loose in the best deep soul modes too. Adams hardly ever got the chart coverage he should have deserved – but this 24 track set will more than support his strong legacy – with detailed notes, and a stunning array of tracks that include "Closer To You", "Teach Me To Forget", "Who You Are", "Showdown", "A Losing Battle", "Life Is Just A Struggle", "Cold Cold Heart", "Coming Around The Mountain", and "Nowhere To Go". CD

An excellent overview of the second half of the short run of the Ric & Ron labels – tiny imprints from New Orleans in the early years of soul music, but a crucial force in the development of the Crescent City sound! The work here is mostly from the early 60s, and really shows New Orleans soul coming into its own – finding a way to fuse together all the rich array of sounds, styles, and cultural influences that made the sound of the city so unique – with lots of romping rhythms, deeply soulful vocals, and some mad piano lines that really add that signature New Orleans touch! Nearly every cut here is a winner, and this Ace Records presentation of the label's legacy is easily the best treatment of Ric & Ron we've ever seen. The set features 24 tracks – including some rare and unissued numbers – and titles include "Send Me Your Picture" by Bobby Mitchell, "A Losing Battle" by Johnny Adams, "Unemployed" by Warren Lee, "Check Mr Popeye" by Eddie Bo, "Honest I Do" by Tommy Ridgley, "I Guess I Always Will" by Jimmy Easterling, "I Don't Talk Too Much" by Martha Carter, "The Git Back (part 1)" by Guitar Joe Morris, "Question Of Love (demo)" by Barbara Lynn, and "Carnival Time (demo)" by Al Johnson. CD

A fantastically soulful delight! The CD features a continuous mix of tracks handled by New York's supreme maestro Ron Trent – a perfectly blended and expertly selected batch of spiritual house, strident soul, and jazzy grooves. Not a bit of BS in the mix, and lots of rare sides lifted from singles on the Giant Step DJ pool – solid all the way through, and cutting a swath through the garbage to lift out the future of soul and club music! Titles include "Lamentations (you son)" by Carl Hancock Rux, "Future Love (original)" by Atlantis feat Naomi, "Stars (Tauriva mix)" by Jiva, "Elevation (Shelter late night voc)" by Blaze, "Naima" by Hipnotic, "Saturday Night Experience (Ron Trent mix)" by Jody Watley, "Rise (Sentinel Dome mix)" by Richard Worth, "Jingo (Aquamarine mix)" by Kalawang, "Do You Know" and "Holiday (DJ Deep & original)" by Donnie, and "When It Rains (Restless Soul rmx)" by Jeymes Samuel. CD

A key force in the development of New Orleans soul – the homegrown Ric & Ron Records label – home to some of the best early productions from the Crescent City! The roster of talent here is really amazing – a host of artists who'd go onto develop the New Orleans style even more strongly in the 60s, mixed with some lesser-knowns who really sparkle in this setting – sharp, tight, damn soulful singles that are all delivered without any overproduction, and nicely free of all those cliches that would later overwhelm music from the Big Easy. The rhythms alone are worth the price of the record – hard-romping piano, bass, and drums that really set an instrumental fire right from the start – then pave the way for searing lead performances from the singers and instrumental stars. The set's the best we've ever seen of these early days of the label – and features 24 tracks that include "Tell It Like It Is" by Eddie Bo, "Easy Rockin" by Eddie Lang, "I Love You Still" by Joe Jones, "Come On" by Johnny Adams, "Don't Lie To Me" by Mercy Adams, "Don't Mess With My Man" by Irma Thomas, "Carnival Time" by Al Johnson, "Nobody Knows" by Martha Carter, "All Nite Long (parts 1 & 2)" by Robert Parker, "Cuttin Out" by Professor Longhair, "Let's Get It" by Edgar Blanchard, and "Rocket To The Moon" by Chris Kenner. CD