... LP, Vinyl record album

Libras take note! This record is for you, with a book on your star sign, plus lots of music to accompany your reading. Tracks include "A Man and A Woman", "I Say a Little Prayer", and "Love Theme from 'Elvira Madigan'", a keen fave with all the Libras we know. LP, Vinyl record album

About 30 years back, Joseph Lanza first turned us on to an amazing array of 60s easy listening records that we'd never fully given their due – and here, he continues the journey, but with a key shift into the world of psychedelia too! The book is a wonderful look at the way that easy listening and instrumental pop tried to stay vibrant in the second half of the 60s – and it follows the way that easy artists of the time were picking up the aesthetics of the younger generation in a variety of ways – not just doing cover versions of songs by The Beatles and Stones, but also going for trippier artwork on their album covers, and using more unusual studio techniques in production – all in ways that made for a huge legacy of very groovy records! At times, things would even move backwards – as older songs from the early part of the century were given a mod spin for the 60s generation – and the range of topics covered here is as wonderful as Lanza's presentation. The book is a very cool 7" square format – with lots of album reproductions and great graphics, plus a list of 50 essential records at the back – served up in a softcover volume that's 237 pages in length. (Books, Now Sound) Book

A great look at the genius of David Axelrod – the groundbreaking producer who recorded some incredibly hip albums at Captiol during the late 60s, but who's now only finally getting his due! Axelrod brought a whole new sensibility to the studio in his day – an approach that really stripped down the overly-cluttered modes of the era of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, and which went instead for a spacious approach to the music that seemed to use silence as heavily as it did sound! Axelrod's genius was heard most famously on key 60s recordings by Cannonball Adderley and Lou Rawls for Capitol, but while at the label, he also got the chance to cut some incredibly mind-blowing albums on his own – and to work with some other artists who really benefited from his amazing touch in the studio. This set's a masterpiece – and it features 17 Axelrod numbers from the Capitol years – all hand-picked by Egon of Stones Throw (himself an Axelrod expert), and supported by comments from David himself! Titles include "House Of Mirrors" and "The Edge" by David McCallum, "Theme From The Fox" by Don Randi, "Tensity" by Cannonball Adderley, "Pula Yetla" by Letta Mbulu, "Lifetime Monologue" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Lou Rawls, and "The Signs (part 1)", "Warning Talk (parts 1 & 3)", "The Smile", "The Mental Traveller", "The Fly", and "London" by David Axelrod himself. (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

Sublime instrumental work from the great Jackie Gleason – a beautifully-done collection of his classic sides for Capitol Records – music that's definitely steeped in the romantic moods promised in the title! Jackie's got a way with a tune that few other leaders can touch – cool, shimmering horn parts that often have the lush hues of a Kenton arrangement, but which come across with a lot more warmth overall – just the sort of music to set the mood back in the day – and a really strong contrast to Gleason's dynamic persona as a comedian. The package has a beautiful cover, and features 40 tunes that include "It All Depends On You", "Mystery Street", "If He Walked Into My Life", "I'm In The Mood For Love", "Out Of Nowhere", "The Best Is Yet To Come", "The Moonlight", "That Certain Party", "Glamour", "Ruby", "Lover Man/Smile", "The Girl From Ipanema", "Moon River", and "Days Of Wine & Roses". CD

A wonderful batch of instrumentals from the legendary Raymond Scott – and a set that features some of Scott's most wonderful compositions ever! These numbers all date from the 30s, and were originally released as 78s on the Master Records label – but this later Columbia package really brings the sounds together wonderfully, and gives Scott a long-overdue showcase as one of the budding modernists of the pre-war years – a composer who could match swing and whimsy, exoticism and jazz, playfulness and poise – all without every losing his beat! The instrumental is wonderful, the arrangements inventive, and the whole thing's got the same sort of audio appeal as an old Warner Brothers cartoon. Titles include "Twilight In Turkey", "The Penguin", "The Toy Trumpet", "Powerhouse", "New Years Eve In A Haunted House", "War Dance For Wooden Indians", "Peter Tambourine", and "At An Arabian House Party". (Jazz, Now Sound) CD

Greasy Mike takes on postwar hipness this time around – on a whole set of tracks that either parody beatnik culture, or embrace it fully – served up in a weird and wonderful blend of tunes in jazz, rock, Latin, and other hip styles from the late 50s and early 60s! The set follows the same vibe as some of Mike's other collections – and pulls together overlooked and offbeat tracks from both rare 45s and lost LPs – a mighty cool set list that includes "Gee Dad It's Early" by Guitars Inc, "New York Havana" by The Seven Arts Beat Society, "Last Night" by Ronnie Mann, "Africa Laments" by The Afro Americans, "Monday Night At 8pm" by Harvey Anderson, "Listen To Me Baby" by Ralph Ventura, "House Of Lords" by Isidro Misquez, "The Wiggler" by Leo Wright, "Cut A Loose" by Big Jox Orchestra, and "Moccasin Rock" by Abie Baker. (Rock, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album