Some of our favorite themes from the 70's and early 80's (the days when we were spending the most time in front of the tube), with 65 classics in all! Titles include What's Happening, Alice, Mork & Mindy, Moonlighting, Soap, Benny Hill, Chips, MacGyver, Incredible Hulk, Dukes Of Hazzard, Fantasy Island, The Young Ones, Too Close For Comfort, Who's The Boss, and lots lots more! (Soundtracks, Now Sound) CD

Mike Curb was a big boss at this time at MGM, which meant he could record moody vocal group albums like this one, and try to pass them off to the kiddies. Breezy and cheezy, with a few hits and some originals. LP, Vinyl record album

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A wonderful album from Lalo Schfrin! This one mixes together bossa piano and sweeping string arrangements – in a style that's incredibly dark-edged and driving, with a sound that's at once spooky and lovely – a dancing groove that makes the best tracks really sparkle! The album's light years away from other "piano with strings" albums of the time – proof that Schifrin was easily one of the most imaginative forces of his generation, and an arranger who really helped reshape music in the 60s. Titles include the incredible version of "Maria" that's played quite often by Gilles Peterson – plus loads of other nice ones, like "The Wave", "Insensatez", "You And Me", "Murmurio", "Rapaz De Bem", "Rio After Dark", and "Time For Love". (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

(Brazil, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

Breezy bossa nova – Hollywood 60s style! The album's one of the best cut for Capitol by guitarist Laurindo Almeida – and has a sweet groovy little style that features Laurindo's lovely guitar work over some lightly dancing small combo backings that include flute, harmonica, organ, percussion, and even a bit of whistling on a few tracks! The vibe's very much in the best Verve/Impulse takes on the bossa – done with a clear California influence, which keeps things cool and breezy – and which also pushes Almeida past his sometimes-staid style on guitar. Two cuts also feature some great vocals by Irene Kral – and titles include "Twilight In Rio", "Old Guitaron", "Sarah's Samba", "Izabella", "Winter Moon", "Girl From Ipanema", and "Choro For People In Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Breezy bossa nova – Hollywood 60s style! The album's one of the best cut for Capitol by guitarist Laurindo Almeida – and has a sweet groovy little style that features Laurindo's lovely guitar work over some lightly dancing small combo backings that include flute, harmonica, organ, percussion, and even a bit of whistling on a few tracks! The vibe's very much in the best Verve/Impulse takes on the bossa – done with a clear California influence, which keeps things cool and breezy – and which also pushes Almeida past his sometimes-staid style on guitar. Two cuts also feature some great vocals by Irene Kral – and titles include "Twilight In Rio", "Old Guitaron", "Sarah's Samba", "Izabella", "Winter Moon", "Girl From Ipanema", and "Choro For People In Love". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

The genius of Nicola Conte gets the remix treatment – in this wonderful new album that steps off heavily from his massive Jet Sounds set of a few years ago! If you know Nicola, he's the wunderkind behind the Schema label – and, probably more than anyone in the world right now, one of the few producer/musicians who can really handle a retro-sounding groove. Conte's steeped in classic jazz, soundtracks, and bossa nova – all of which come into play in his music – and this set has him working with a host of able talents who help to take his unique creative vision even farther than before! Titles include "Jazz Pour Dadine" remixed by The Dining Rooms, "Arabesque" done by Micatone, "Forma 2000" reformed by Les Gammas, "Dossier Omega" redone by Espen Horne, "The In Samba" done by Kyoto Jazz Massive, "Missione A Bombay" by Eddy & Dus, "Mambo De Los Dandies" by Gerardo Frisina, and "Trappola Mortale (traffic replay) done anew by The Freeform Arkestra. (New Grooves, Now Sound) CD

Very groovy organ work from the amazing Mike Dogliotti – a player with a wonderful sense of whimsy and rhythm, heard here in a key collection of jazzy groovers – tracks that are almost the Argentine answer to Walter Wanderley's classic bossa sides from the 60s! The styles here are all quite lively – with a fair bit of heavy percussion underneath Mike's lightning-fast work on the keys – organ lines that move way faster even than Wanderley's best, and which show a similarly fluid approach! And in case you're worried that you've never heard of Dogliotti before, don't worry – because the package features a whopping 27 tracks in all, including 2 complete albums' worth of music, plus bonus tracks – more than enough to help you catch up on listening! Titles include "Don Pascual", "Candela", "Dona Gregoria", "Las Mazanas", "Siga El Baile", "Tierra", "Biricunyamba", "Ahi Va La Camparsa", "Chiquilada", "Biafra", "El Candomble", and "Palo Y Tamboril". (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

A great little album of Latiny tunes from Henry Mancini – played by a very hip lineup of west coast jazzmen! The rhythms have a great mix of Latin influences and Mancini magic – the kind of grooves you'd hear on his 60s soundtracks at the time, played by a lineup that includes Bud Shank and Tom Scott on reeds, Buddy Childers and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Ray Brown on acoustic bass, Max Bennett on fender bass, Larry Bunker on percussion, and Shelly Manne on drums. The vibe is nice and relaxed – a bit more upbeat than bossa, but not as all-out as other RCA Latin sessions – thanks to Mancini's nice sense of warmth and space in the arrangements. Titles include some pretty darn cool takes on "Mission Impossible", "Fistful Of Dollars", "Magnificent Seven", "Touch Of Evil", and "Springtime For Hitler", from the film The Producers. Other titles include "Patricia", "Zacatecas", and "Las Cruces". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff from Gary – one of his more obscure albums, and a record dedicated to the signs of the Zodiac! The tracks are a mixture of Gary's usual easy jazz approach – with vibes, whistling, and bossa-style rhythms showing up a lot – plus a few more driving numbers that are more like his arranged work for other players, and which even include some nicely funky tunes! A real gem – lost amidst most of his catalog – possibly because the marketplace wasn't ready for such zodiacary! Titles include "Sad Eyes", "Long Live The King", "Close Your Eyes & Follow Me", "Can't Help Dancing", "Runaway Heart", "Thanks But No Thanks", and "Days Dipped In Dreams". (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A dream of a record from Gary McFarland – lightly jazzy instrumentals with a warm bossa nova undercurrent! The style is incredible – a sweet blend of vibes, guitar, and even some light whistling – often also featuring wordless jazz vocals – scatting along with the groove in a melodic and lovely kind of way! The whole thing's incredibly charming, and even familiar tunes come across sounding quite different in McFarlands hands. Titles include "From Russia With Love", "More", "Emily", "La Vie En Rose", "The Love Goddess", and even a groovy take on "I Want To Hold Your Hand". For you true swingers, the cover includes directions for mixing a "Soft Samba Cocktail" (courtesy Spanish Sherry Institute)! (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A swirling batch of easy groovers – the light and lively orchestrations of Aldemaro Romero, augmented by lead guitar from Charlie Byrd! The sound is Latin-inflected with a soaring finish – part 60s easy, part bossa-inspired orchestration, with touches of Italian soundtrack styles as well. If you know any of Aldemaro's other records of the time, you know how groovy this one is – and it's made all the more so by Charlie Byrd's nice guitar work. Titles include "You Get Me Crazy", "It Never Ends", "Romance", "Moliendo Cafe", "El Gavilan", "Pajarillo En Onda Nueva", and "El Catire". (Vocalists, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A crazy album of funky tracks from Lalo Schifrin – very different than most of his other jazz and bossa work! This set's got some very tripped out styles that mix together funky backings, jazzy riffing, and even some nice electronics – a sweet little groove that's even more wild and hip than even the best of Schifrin's soundtrack work from the 60s! Some tunes certainly show the deft talent for arranging woodwinds and rhythms that first caught the ears of so many listeners on famous soundtracks – but in the setting of this record, away from any directorial needs, Lalo's also free to explore some groovier music ideas – and he really lets loose tremendously as the set rolls on! The titles alone should tell you the feel of the record – with names like "Secret Code", "Dissolving", "Vaccinated Mushrooms", "Wheat Germ Landscapes", and "How To Open at Will The Most Beautiful Window". (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A great little package, and way more than just the familiar exotica moments on mainstream compilations – as your guides here are Lux Interior and Poison Ivy of The Cramps – two folks who know more than plenty about the music of the farther reaches of the postwar years! And although their other collections for this label have gone way out to pull in some totally obscure material, the blend here is more measured – so that you'll get great cuts by some of the bigger exotica names, mixed with other numbers that are more unusual – and some that we wouldn't have even thought to include in such a package – all awash in sounds from the islands, tropical percussion, and even a few birdcalls and chants along the way! The 2CD set features a great range of material – and titles include "The Twisters" by Mel Henke, "Hampi" by Yma Sumac, "Mystery Of Love" by Olatunji, "Jardin De La Noche" by Robert Drasnin, "Mood For You" by Phil Moore, "Alegres Conga" by Cal Tlader, Envy" by Bill Russo, "Kele Kele" by Johnny Richards, "African Bossa Nova" by Ahmed Abdul Malik, "Tabu" by Augie Colon, "Pua Carnaeon" by Arthur Lyman, "Adventures In Paradise" by Leo Addeo, "Dance Of The Nustas" by Elisabeth Waldo, "Pagan Love Song" by Alex Stordal, "Balikpapan" by Jimmy Namaro Trio, and "Train To Ranchipur" by Markko Polo Adventurers. CD

Breezy bossa nova – Hollywood 60s style! The album's one of the best cut for Capitol by guitarist Laurindo Almeida – and has a sweet groovy little style that features Laurindo's lovely guitar work over some lightly dancing small combo backings that include flute, harmonica, organ, percussion, and even a bit of whistling on a few tracks! The vibe's very much in the best Verve/Impulse takes on the bossa – done with a clear California influence, which keeps things cool and breezy – and which also pushes Almeida past his sometimes-staid style on guitar. Two cuts also feature some great vocals by Irene Kral – and titles include "Twilight In Rio", "Old Guitaron", "Sarah's Samba", "Izabella", "Winter Moon", "Girl From Ipanema", and "Choro For People In Love". CD

The Latin sound is a groovy sound too – thanks to some great arrangements from the legendary Henry Mancini! The album's less a straight Latin date than it is a new approach to the grooves Mancini was laying down on his 60s soundtracks – a mix of bossa and cha cha-inspired themes that sparkle wonderfully with warm jazzy touches from a host of LA players who include Dick Nash on trombone, Harry Klee on flute, Ted Nash on alto and tenor, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Laurindo Almeida on guitar, and Gene Garf on organ – all working beautifully under Mancini's direction, with a sound that's both tight and relaxed at the same time! Lots of tracks have some nice groovy organ, which gives the arrangements a cool lively sound – and titles include "Preciosa", "Baia", "Carnavalito", "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars", "Tico Tico", and the nice "Senor Peter Gunn", a Latin remake of Mancini's big hit! LP, Vinyl record album

Genius work from a man who's ready to take on the best bossa arrangers of the 60s! Guitarist Carl Henry Breuggen may hail from Chicago, but he's got a sound that's as sunny as Rio and the Italian Riviera all put together – a wonderful wash of light strings, bossa rhythms, gentle guitar, and wordless female vocals that are enough to rival the best Italian soundtracks of the glory years. The production on the entire set is incredible – arranged with Claus Ogerman-like perfection, and recorded at a level that's far beyond that of most bossa-revival work these days. All three tunes fit together perfectly – and although the CD's a short one, it's completely without fault to our ears – and is a title that we're gladly stocking next to classics like Jobim's Stoneflower and Wave albums for CTI! (New Grooves, Now Sound) CD

One of the best of Charlie Byrd's pop bossa recordings for Columbia – featuring a small group that includes flute, bass, and drums behind Charlie's acoustic guitar. The album includes a stellar reading of "Canto De Ossanha", done as "Let Go", and featuring a breezy approach to the track that's just great. Other tracks include "Blues 13", "Esperando O Sol", "Bird of Paradise", and "Lonely Princess". (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album