A set that features two early 80s albums from the great Doug Sahm – plus a full CD of rare bonus material from the early days too! First up is Hell Of A Spell – a set that marks a new label for Doug Sahm, and maybe a slight shift in sound too – one that uses roots modes that extend a bit more past more familiar Texas territory, but only to showcase the depth in Sahm's music that continued to make him a legend long after his too-early passing! Doug's got a way of delivering a lyric that goes right past any sense of poster or artifice – a quality that makes these tunes completely charming, even though the modes might seem easy or familiar. The lineup includes some nice tenor sax and organ work – and titles include "Hangin On By A Thread", "Tunnel Vision", "Ain't Into Lettin You Go", "All The Way To Nothing", "Hell Of A Spell", "Can't Fake It", and "I Don't Mind At All". Nuevo Wave Live is a great concert set from Doug Sahm – continuing that great tradition of really letting his tunes open up before an audience – on titles that include "San Antone", "She's About A Mover", "Who Were You Thinkin Of", "The Rains Came", "T-Bone Shuffle", and "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues". CD2 features lots more tracks 25 additional titles that include early material in The Pharoahs, Mar Kays, and Dell-Kings – plus some solo tracks, one number with The Spot Barnett Band – and other tracks supposedly with Ernest Tubb, T-Bone Walker, and Freddy Fender – a few of each, but without much detail in the notes. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the very best rock albums of the late 60s from overlooked genius Doug Sahm and his Sir Douglas Quartet – a brilliant hybrid of the laconic country and rural rock ragged glory that was piping through so many under appreciated groups at the time (and went on to be bastardized by crap factories like The Eagles) and classical Spanish and Mexican folk guitar playing. Sahm plays fiddle, guitar, pedal steel and just about anything with strings, along with the amazing Augie Meyers (who you may remember from the beautiful organ work he contributed to Bob Dylan's late masterpieces Time Out Of Mind and Love And Theft) and others. Beautiful stuff! Includes "Mendocino", "I Don't Want", "I Wanna Be Your Mama Again", "At The Crossroads", "Lawd, I'm Just A Country Boy In This Great Big Freaky City", "She's About A Mover" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Doug Sahm in the studio is already pretty darn great – as you'll know from his Sir Douglas Quintet albums – but live, he's maybe even more amazing – as he really opens up with a personal style that showcases all those mixes of modes from the Texas roots that helped make him one of the most unique figures in rock and roll! The first CD here features Sahm working in a live setting in Philly in 1973 – a well-recorded set that has all sorts of slices of his already-long career coming into play in a really great way. Titles on that set include "San Antone", "I'm Glad For Your Sake", "She's About A Mover", "Are Inlaws Really Outlaws", "The Rains Came", "Wolverton Mountain", and "Mendocino". The second set here is even better – recorded in Houston with a nicely gritty edge – very much the kind of confident south Texas setting that has Sahm setting fire to everything that drives him! Titles include "Texas Tornado", "Rain Rain", "At The Crossroads", "Wasted Days & Wasted Nights", "Papa Ain't Salty", and "Georgia". CD

We love Wayne Talbert – and think he's one of the great under-discovered talents of his time! Wayne worked in the Sir Douglas Quintet, which is probably how he ended up recorded for Mercury – but he's got a sound that's very distinct, and has this really amazing mix of jazz, soul, and Texas elements – but all with a vibe that's unlike anything else we can think of! Wayne wrote most of the tunes on this set himself, and they often have these jazzy arrangements that includes bits of vibes, modal piano, soaring horns, and other elements that are all jumbled together – with a unique blend that's maybe in the territory of that great Shades Of Joy album on Fontana, with a similar disregard for easy labels or tags! Yet Talbert's soulful vocals also have a charm that really sets this one apart, too – almost Mose Allison meeting Joe Cocker somewhere down near the border – a quality that should have made Wayne huge – on titles that include "Dues to Pay", "What More Can I Say", "Schizophrenic Susan Minnick", "Funky Ellis Farm", and "Hell of a World". CD

Includes tracks by Bobby Fuller Four, Sir Douglas Quintet, Steve Miller Band, Floyd Dakil Combo, The Loose Ends, Augie Meyers, Mouse, and The Thirteenth Floor Elevators – 18 tracks total. CD

An explosion of groundbreaking sounds from the 60s – all records issued in the magical year of 1965 – with a fresh vibe that would influence years of soul, psych, and garage styles to come! Jon Savage has already given us two other great year-based collections on Ace, but this one might be one of his most impressive – given that most folks tend to overlook the musical power of 1965, in favor of bigger explosions later in the 60s – but all of which were inspired by these earlier moments of fire! You'll definitely recognize some of the tunes here, but with his usual genius, Jon Savage has a way of mixing the familiar with the obscure – coming up with new ways to put everything together, and really opening up our ears in the process. As with previous volumes, the notes are huge – with plenty of details on the sounds within – and the 2CD package features a whopping 48 tracks in all – with titles that include "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by The Silkie, "Concrete & Clay" by Unit Four Plus Two, "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" by The Byrds, "Buttermilk (part 1)" by Sly, "Boot Leg" by Booker T & The MGs, "Fortune Teller" by Tony Jackson with The Vibrations, "That's The Way It's Got To Be" by The Poets, "Come & Stay With Me" by Marianne Faithful, "See My Friends" by The Kinks, "Too Many People" by The Leaves, "I've Got Mine" by The Small Faces, "The Duck" by Jackie Lee, "The Story Of John Hardy" by Sir Douglas Quintet, "We Sell Soul" by The Spades, "Blow Your Mind" by The Gas Co, "You Just Gotta Know My Mind" by Karen Verros, "Can You Hear Me" by Lee Dorsey, "London Town" by Pretty Things, "Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl" by The Barbarians, "I'm Alive" by The Hollies, "Leaving Here" by The Birds, and "Twine Time" by Alvin Cash & The Crawlers. CD

A great period in the career of Doug Sahm – early 70s recordings for Atlantic that have Sahm tightening things up and really refining the sound of the Sir Douglas Quintet – yet still holding onto that fantastic charm that easily makes him one of the most unique talents of his time! Doug's a bit more firmly in the lead on these sides – singing, playing piano, and a fair bit of guitar as well – and the players on the sessions are often an all-star lineup – with guests who include Bob Dylan on guitar, Dr John on organ, Barry Goldberg on piano, David Bromberg on dobro, and Jerry Garcia on pedal steel. 2CD set features the full albums Doug Sahm & Band and Texas Tornado – plus lots of bonus singles and alternates too. 42 tracks in all – with titles that include "It's Gonna Be Easy", "Me & Paul", "Don't Turn Around", "Columbus Stockade", "Texas Tornado", "Chicano", "Someday", "Blue Horizon", and "Your Friends". CD

An explosion of groundbreaking sounds from the 60s – all records issued in the magical year of 1965 – with a fresh vibe that would influence years of soul, psych, and garage styles to come! Jon Savage has already given us two other great year-based collections on Ace, but this one might be one of his most impressive – given that most folks tend to overlook the musical power of 1965, in favor of bigger explosions later in the 60s – but all of which were inspired by these earlier moments of fire! You'll definitely recognize some of the tunes here, but with his usual genius, Jon Savage has a way of mixing the familiar with the obscure – coming up with new ways to put everything together, and really opening up our ears in the process. As with previous volumes, the notes are huge – with plenty of details on the sounds within – and the 2CD package features a whopping 48 tracks in all – with titles that include "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by The Silkie, "Concrete & Clay" by Unit Four Plus Two, "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" by The Byrds, "Buttermilk (part 1)" by Sly, "Boot Leg" by Booker T & The MGs, "Fortune Teller" by Tony Jackson with The Vibrations, "That's The Way It's Got To Be" by The Poets, "Come & Stay With Me" by Marianne Faithful, "See My Friends" by The Kinks, "Too Many People" by The Leaves, "I've Got Mine" by The Small Faces, "The Duck" by Jackie Lee, "The Story Of John Hardy" by Sir Douglas Quintet, "We Sell Soul" by The Spades, "Blow Your Mind" by The Gas Co, "You Just Gotta Know My Mind" by Karen Verros, "Can You Hear Me" by Lee Dorsey, "London Town" by Pretty Things, "Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl" by The Barbarians, "I'm Alive" by The Hollies, "Leaving Here" by The Birds, and "Twine Time" by Alvin Cash & The Crawlers. CD

A whole host of genre-breaking tracks from Texas impresario Augie Meyers – both an artist in the underground country rock scene, and the creative force behind the TRC label, which is showcased here in a variety of different recordings! If you know some of the important criss-crossing styles that were taking place in Austin during the mid 70s, you'll get some of the vibe here – but Augie hails from San Antonio, where the groove has maybe even more border-styled influences – served up here in a variety of tracks that really work together with a unified vibe. As always with Bear Family, the package and notes are great, and really help get at the special side of the music – presented here on 26 tracks that include "Country Groove" and "Henrietta" by Doug Sahm, "Domingo" by Denny Ezba, "Mezcal Road" by El Molino, "Meet Me In Seguin" and "Where I Belong" by Carol Meyer & The Western Head Band, "Boogie Woogie Country Girl" by Wild Man Ray Liberto, "Dynamite Woman" by Sir Douglas Quintet, "Faded Love" by Brother Al Stricklin, and the tunes "Deed To Texas", "High Texas Rider", "Sun Shines Down On Me In Texas", "Just Because", "Wedding Bells", and "Why Don't We Make Love Like We Used To" by Augie Meyers. (Folk/Country, Rock) CD