Leonard Cohen's first live album, featuring material captured in London, Brussels, Paris and Berlin in 1972, plus a couple of recordings from 1970 – including Cohen's legendary appearance at Isle Of Wight! Live Songs never really got its due respect in its day, but it's pretty much an essential document of Cohen's transition from poet turned recording artist into a poet turned guitar wielding troubadour – and excellent stuff even without the slow building cultural relevance. Essential Cohen! Titles include "Passing Thru", "Bird On The Wire", "Nancy", "Improvisation", "Story Of Isaac", "Please Don't Pass Me By", "Tonight Will Be Fine", "Queen Victoria" and more. (Rock, Folk/Country) LP, Vinyl record album

The first ever recordings of Mississippi Fred McDowell – the legendary Alan Lomax Recordings – recorded in Como, Mississippi in September of 1959! It includes songs that would be part of his canon for the rest of his career, mostly just his voice and guitar in raw, beautiful, soul-shaking form. He's got some vocal accompaniment "When The Train Comes Along", plus Fanny Davis on the comb on a couple tunes and a second guitar by Miles Pratcher on a few. Perfection! Includes "Shake 'Em On Down", "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning", "Drop Down Mama", "Going Down The River", "Worried Mind Blues", "When The Train Comes Along" and more. (Blues, Folk/Country) LP, Vinyl record album

Doc Watson's excellent self-titled LP for Vanguard – a pivotal folk guitar record to say the very least – and easily one of our favorite albums to blossom from the folk revival movement of the 60s! The authenticity is a hallmark here, but that aside, the flat out skill is untouchable. Doc plays guitar, 5-string banjo and harmonica on the set, with second guitar by John Herald on just a couple tunes. Titles include "Nashville Blues", "Sitting On Top Of The World", "Country Blues", "Six Thousand", "Omie Wise", "Talk About Suffering", "Doc's Guitar", "Deep River Blues", "St James Hospital", "Tom Dooley" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Sandy Bull's third album – a pair of long pieces that combine the multicultural folk instrumental experimentation – with Bull playing guitar, bass, bass drum, oud and hand percussion – rolling in a bit more electric blues on one side, and meandering psychedelic impulses on the other! The album features 2 sidelong pieces, "No Deposit, No Return Blues" and "Electric Blend" – the both recognizable as Bull's work if you've heard is previous couple of excellent LPs for Vanguard, but actually manage to work in more conventional grooves and more far out experimentation – splitting the difference in that regard. "No Deposit, No Return Blues" does work in some laidback electric blues guitar and spare percussion backing, but tinged with Sandy's Middle Eastern touches, too. "Electric Blend" works in the evolving sprit of his earlier "Blends", with with inspiration from the later 60s psyche sounds. LP, Vinyl record album

Great duo work from Carl and Pearl Butler – maybe not the sexiest country couple, but sounding great hear on titles that include "Loving Arms", "Kentucky", "Who Knows Right From Wrong", "Dreaming Of A Little Cabin", "Sing Me A Blue Blue Song", and a nice take on "Satisfied Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

A really early record by a young, fresh-faced George Jones – his full length debut, actually – released in 1957 by Starday, not too long after his debut appearance at the Grand Ole Opry! George had been recording some artistically promising, if underselling singles for a couple years prior, including the now legendary rockabilly sides (on which he was billed as "Thumper" Jones), but this was his first full length showcase as a rising country singer. The title is pure showbiz, as George wouldn't be a big star for a couple more years. He was ready, though! The songs are great, and he wrote or co-wrote most of 'em – and oh man, that VOICE – this is where the legend begins, people! Includes the early classic "Why, Baby, Why", and a whole bunch of great tunes, including "You Gotta Be My Baby", "Ragged But Right", "It's OK", "Still Hurtin'", "Boat Of Life", "Let Him Know", "Play It Cool" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Raw North Mississippi blues from Fred McDowell – some of best of the 60s – or any other era! Recorded on portable equipment in 1964 and 1965 sessions in Como and Holy Springs, MS and Berkeley, CA – and capturing the buzz of his guitar and grain in his voice so beautifully! A couple tracks feature a second guitar, and just one has additional voices, allowing McDowell to hook you on his own – and he doesn't let go. Fantastic stuff. Includes "I Ain't Gonna Be Bad No More", "Where Were You", "Do My Baby Ever Think Of Me", "Bull Dog Blues", "Red Cross Store Blues", "You Got To Move", "I Wish I Was In Heaven Sittin Down", "Frisco Lines", "I Looked At The Sun" and more. 12 tracks in all. (Blues, Folk/Country) LP, Vinyl record album