The album's one of Jackie Gleason's finest – and a perfect demonstration of the lush, romantic backings that he did so well for Capitol during the decade – an approach that was very much in direct contrast to Gleason's pyrotechnic personality in TV comedies, but which was a surprisingly good fit for the late nite, booze-heavy antics of Jackie in real life. There's a sense of loss and longing here that few other arrangers at the time could duplicate – and while the album's clearly poised to be a tool in the act of seduction, it's got an emotional depth that might actually have your potential conquest running home with memories of sadness past flooding her mind – not actually coming across with the goods! Titles include "You're My Greatest Love", "It's The Talk Of The Town", "She's Funny That Way", "Coquette", "Did I Remember", "Dancing In The Dark", and "You & The Night & The Music". LP, Vinyl record album

Breezy brilliance from the legendary Gabor Szabo – and one of the grooviest albums the Hungarian guitarist recorded during the 60s! The set's almost a tightening up of the style that Szabo first brought to prominence in his work with Chico Hamilton – a sound that's got roots in gypsy guitar, but which is also influenced by modern, Latin, and soulful styles of the 60s. There's an airiness to Gabor's guitar that's almost trippy – but which never goes too far out on the set, and really keeps a focus on the backings laid down by the album's highly rhythmic combo of Chico Hamilton, Ron Carter, Victor Pantoja, and Willie Bobo. Szabo makes a surprisingly great vocal appearance on 2 tracks – "Bang Bang" and "Autumn Leaves" – both sung in this weirdly dark style that's a great contrast to the lightness of his work on guitar. Other titles include Gabor's hit "Spellbinder", plus "Gypsy Queen", "It Was A Very Good Year", "Yearning", and "Cheetah". (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

Smoking instrumentals from the California scene of the early 60s – tracks that nicely bridge the space between surf guitar, R&B, and exotica – served up with plenty of sax, organ, and searing guitar! Most of the work here came from the studios of tiny Downey Records – done in a rough-edged, garagey style that's simple, but extremely effective – and a really nice contrast to mainstream California instrumentals of the time. The groups vary throughout, but most of the tunes are linked with a shared production technique that uses heavy echo, straightforward performance, and the occasional spare added element to spice up the music – a really great sound that has plenty of dark edges! Titles include "Migrane" and "Eight Ball" by The Hustlers, "Blockade" and "Here Comes The Bug" by The Rumblers, "Intoxica" and "Comanche" by The Revels, "Space Battle" by Stories In Sound, "Water Wheel" by Chuck Higgins, "Here Comes The Sun" by The Rumblers, "Rosemary's Baby" by Ed Burkey, "Ghost Of Mary Meade (part 2)" by Little Caesar & The Ark Angels, A Week From Tuesday" by The Pastel Six, and "Theme Of Etiquette" by The Hindus. (Rock, Now Sound) CD