A real departure in the career of Brian Hyland – and light years away from his earlier fame as a teen pop singer! The Hyland of this record is a brooding one – mature, sometimes slightly folksy – but also able to draw on a wealth of soul, blues, and other musical references that were never part of his earlier music. The album unites Hyland with another older 60s star – Del Shannon, who wrote some of the songs, played guitar, and also produced the album. Shannon, like Hyland, was at a similar head-searching point in his career – and was a perfect foil for the new ideas that were bubbling around in Brian's head. There's a strangely somber feel to the set – handled partially by intimate guitar work, but also by some large, but gentle arrangements that use strings sparingly to create the same sort of sad, evocative sounds that you might expect from a Tim Hardin album. Hyland actually scored a hit with the album's great remake of "Gypsy Woman", but the original tunes are really the best – and include "On The East Side", "Mail Order Gun", "I'm Without You", "Driving Me Crazy", and "You & Me". CD

A set that may well be the record where Elton John totally gets it together – transcending his already-brilliant previous recordings, and finding a way to the special spot that would forever make him a legend! There's a mix of well-crafted songs and soulful presentation that's completely superb here – very personal, very much that new Elton John mode that made thte approach of him and Bernie Taupin so different than so many others in this heady generation of singer/songwriters – and that's really saying a lot! Production and arrangements are great, too – up-close when needed, and never overdone – testified to by the album's classic lineup of tracks that includes "Tiny Dancer", "Levon", "Razor Face", "Madman Across The Water", "Holiday Inn", "Indian Sunset", and "All The Nasties". CD

Pure brilliance from start to finish – especially the second side of the record, which has a continuous run of tunes that's very unique – and still completely sublime all these many years later! The album shows the fracturing ideas of the group, but crafted together with a unity you won't find on The White Album or Let It Be – still a way of making it all gel together beautifully, as the fab four stretch their wings to find new ways of being. Added instrumentation is used wonderfully – never overdone, but with orchestral passages that can really hammer home the best musical moments – and titles include "I Want You", "Because", "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Golden Slumbers", "The End", "Her Majesty", "Polythene Pam", and "Sun King". CD

A bittersweet farewell from The Beatles – a record that definitely shows the fracturing unity of the group, with lots of near-solo moments – but a set that also makes us really wonder what they'd have done with all this genius, had they managed to hold it together! There's great hints here of the solo work to come – especially from George Harrison and John Lennon – and the Phil Spector production really helps open up a new sound for the group. Includes the genius cuts "I Dig A Pony", "Two Of Us", "Across The Universe", "I Me Mine", "One After 909", "For You Blue", and "Let It Be". CD

Georgeous and richly emotion instrumental textures from Richard Skelton's working again as A Broken Consort – crafting layers of atmospheric, evocative mood on Crow Autumn! Skelton's earlier limited edition 2 part alternate version was released on his own Sustain-Release label, and giving it a broader platform and reworked presentation is the Tompkins Square label, home to long lost relics and modern treasures like this one alike. Skelton makes a unique layer of sounds from acoustic, organic instrumention, and it's wonderful, compelling stuff. Titles include "Day Reveals", "A Mercy Kill", "Like Rain", "Mountains Ash", "The River", "Beneath" and "Leaves". CD

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A Krautrock classic from start to finish – and very much the sort of music from the early 70s German scene that had a huge impact on music well into the 21st Century! The songs here are maybe a bit shorter than on some of the contemporary albums from the scene, but no less experimental overall – mixing conventional instrumentation with wild production and effects – so that sounds from players like Harald Grosskopf on drums, Manuel Gottsching on guitars, and Klaus Schulze on keyboards all end up sounding much wilder than you might expect! Dieter Dierks serves a key role as the "magier em mischpult" – helping weave the amazing sounds throughout in his legendary studio – on titles that include "Elektronenzirkus", "Intergalactic Radio Guri Broadcasting", "Der Planet Des Sternemadchens", "Planet of Communication", "Der Narr Im All", and "Intergalactic Nightclub". CD

An album with a very mod-looking cover – and a set that's also overflowing with lots of mod-styled tracks to match – a cool current of soul from the 60s, but still handled with the sharper 70s vibe of young Attractions! Production is by Nick Lowe – and although The Jam were also turning towards more soul-styled sounds at the time, Elvis and Lowe may well have done them one better with this set. Titles include "Love For Tender", "Opportunity", "The Imposter", "Secondary Modern", "King Horse", "Possession", "High Fidelity", "Riot Act", "Human Touch", "Beaten To The Punch", and "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down". Remastered with 10 bonus tracks. CD

Spacey piano work from Jordan De La Sierra – material that's clearly informed by the 60s experiments of La Monte Young and Terry Riley, but which also has a more open, spiritual quality too! The piano has a nice sense of tuning – one that's almost watery at points – and Jordan's in no rush to let the notes unfold, as he often waits for one to resonate out before starting the next – which creates this very spacious, meditative quality throughout – a mode that's also inspired by Indian music, but much more laidbck and North California! The package reproduces the original 2LP set – complete with artwork and original notes. (Out Sound, Rock) CD

A pretty amazing 70s moment from Bob Dylan – a legendary tour that was a bit of a rock and roll circus on wheels – hence, perhaps, the unique name of the tour! Bob's in a very collaborative spirit here – working with famous guests who include Mick Ronson, Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Joni Mitchell, Ronee Blakely and Ramblin' Jack Elliott – all in an upbeat mode that surfaced most strongly on some of Dylan's tracks on the Desire album, which was issued during the two legs of the tour. CD

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