This double-length set brings together two albums' worth of work that Carmen McRae recorded for the Groove Merchant label in the early 70s! The style here is strongly jazzy, but with a firm dose of soul too – all in a mode that follows nicely from Carmen's late 60s sessions for Atlantic ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout notch, some ring and edge wear, and small blemish spots in back.)
From its booze-soaked title cut, to its haunting selection of lonely ballads like "Midnight Sun" and "Stranger Called The Blues", this is one of the most fantastic vocal jazz albums of all time – and a record that we'd recommend instantly to anyone! June Christy has an ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original mono turquiose label pressing. Cover has splitting on all seams, surface wear, big spot of marker, aging, some tape remnant, some pen on the back.)
Titles include "They Came To Cordura", "I Love Paris", "Chicago", "Monique", "Something Wonderful Happens In Summer", "The Moon Was Yellow", and "Hidden Persuasion". LP, Vinyl record album
(Abridged early 80s pressing in a barcode cover. A nice copy.)
Sinatra at his lonely best – as emphasized by the cover image, which has him sitting alone at a bar, looking sadly into his drink. The album's got backings by Gordon Jenkins, a bit more flowery than some of Nelson Riddle's, but in that sad dreamy mode that Sinatra worked with on the Wee ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
An incredible pairing of two important 60s talents – magnificent vocals from Arthur Prysock, and some of the best backings he ever received – thanks to Basie! LP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo MGM pressing with deep groove. Cover has a factory sticker on the front and faint ringwear.)
An incredible record from Billie Holiday – and not really a proper sort of "album" at all! Instead, the set features the posthumous release of tapes from sessions recorded with pianist Jimmy Rowles and bassist Artie Shapiro – tracks that feature Billie singing in a looser ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Michele Hendricks —
Carryin On ... LP Muse, 1987. Very Good+ ...
$4.99
A solo set from Michele Hendricks – possibly best known for her work with Hendricks & Co, a vocal group with her famous father Jon – but still sounding pretty great here on her own! The set's a simple, soulful outing – one that has Hendricks singing in some deep-toned vocals ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of Esther Phillips' biggest comeback albums from the 70s – a classic set that takes her deeply soulful vocal approach, and sets it to some sweet jazz funk backings – served up by guitarist Joe Beck, who almost gets equal credit on the album cover! The rest of the lineup is equally ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing with Van Gelder stamp. Includes Kudu inner sleeve. Cover has a cutout notch.)
(Mono black label pressing. Includes the Capitol inner sleeve. Cover has some ringwear, tiny split in the bottom seam, and a small name in marker in back.)
A superb set of duets between Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams – a set that's a key part of Johnny's rise into soul music during the 70s, and one that also forms a cornerstone of the early career of Deniece Williams too! Williams' soaring vocal range is a great match for the trademark ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Hard to imagine that Julie London would ever have to ask anyone to make love to her – at least not when she looks as sexy as this on the cover! The album's a key early classic for Liberty – still very fragile, personal, and up-close enough to make you think you might just be able to ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono turquoise label pressing with deep groove. Cover has splitting on all seams, surface wear & aging, small sticker.)
Tender Loving Care has Nancy singing with arranger Billy May – who comes across here with a bit more sensitivity than usual for his Capitol work, especially given the 60s time of the recording! Sometimes, May is using full strings as a broad pillow of sound for Nancy's vocals – but ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Rainbow label stereo pressing. Cover has light wear.)
A sweet bit of California work by Julie Kelly – part jazz singer, part singer-songwriter – with a style that's steeped in that warm late 70s sound that was so popular with some of the female singers in the Bay Area. There's a nice open-ended feel to the album – in that Julie ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some ring and edge wear, bumped corners, and a small filled in peeled spot from sticker removal.)
Arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis. LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono white label promo with deep groove. Cover has ring and edge wear, yellowing from age, splitting in the top seam, and a few call letter stamps in back.)
Accompanied by Ray Brown on bass, Benny Carter on alto, Ron Eschete on guitar, Marshall Otwell on piano, and Jimmie Smith on drums. LP, Vinyl record album
Includes tracks by Glen Cambell, Bill Champlin, Betty Buckley, Wintly Phipps, Marie Osmond, Dobie Gray, Mark Isham, Sandi Patti, and more. LP, Vinyl record album
A light and dreamy set of Brazilian vocal tracks – recorded in 1967, and featuring the voice of singer Lenita Bruno, a strong 60s talent with a style that's somewhat like Sylvia Telles. Arrangements on the set are by Clare Fischer – who plays piano, organ, and electric harpsichord in a ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Beautiful beautiful record, and still one of the greatest jazz vocal albums ever made. The great King Pleasure sings in a raspy vocalese style similar to Jon Hendricks or Eddie Jefferson, but with a sense of warmth and delivery that the two of them never seem to reach. The set list here features ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 70s issue. Cover has light wear, a smudge from sticker removal, and some minor blemishes in back.)
A fantastic bit of vocal jazz, sung by the legendary Swingle Singers in a style that shaped easy listening and soundtrack music for years to come! The French group had roots in vocalese jazz traditions – from groups like Lambert Hendricks & Ross or Les Double Six – but for this ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Red label stereo "Bachanalia" pressing in a Grammy Award Winner cover, with a cut corner, light wear and aging, and bumped corners.)
A lovely vocal chorus album, with kind of a mix of Sunshine Pop and easy modes – all set to arrangements by Al Ham! Titles include "Quentin's Theme", "Jean", "Sweet Caroline", "Yesterday When I Was Young", "My Cherie Amour", "Everybody's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Arguably one of Frank's best collections of standards – with sublime Nelson Riddle arrangements! Titles include "The Girl Next Door", "Like Someone In Love", "A Foggy Day", "It Worries Me", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "Little Girl ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a half split top seam, light wear & aging.)
A nice batch of pop soul on Liberty from Timi Yuro – an underappreciated vocalist who walked that fine line between uptown soul and pop vocals! Like so many Liberty recordings of the era, the arrangements are big and polished, courtesty of Bert Keyes. The backing vocals are just as sparking ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono pressing. Cover has some light surface wear, clear tape on bottom seam.)
A groovy groovy treasure! The work of The Swingle Singers is well known to any fan of 60s French tunes – as their groundbreaking approach to vocalese had a huge influence on other pop, easy, and soundtrack work of the time. This nicely-done set features jazz scat versions of tunes by all ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of the greatest, straightest sets from Mel Torme – an all-classic batch of tracks that's quite different than his other album for Columbia! Torme checks in as a totally committed, totally serious jazz vocalist here – with an impeccable approach to the music that puts this album ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label CSP Collector's Series pressing. Cover has light wear, some yellowing from age, and a small sticker in back.)
Sarah Vaughan takes on the work of Duke Ellington – almost presented here in a style that's similar to some of the Songbook albums on Verve from the 50s! Billy Byers handles most of the arrangements here – especially on the larger group numbers – but some tracks are also in a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cut corner and light wear.)
Frank Sinatra —
Pal Joey ... LP Capitol, 1957. Very Good ...
$4.99
A soundtrack as important to the sound of Sinatra on Capitol Records as High Society – maybe even more so, as it features seminal readings of Rogers & Hart standards "Bewitched", "I Could Write A Book", "The Lady Is A Tramp", and "There's A Small ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing. Cover has some surface wear, aging, price sticker remnants, small split in the top seam, and a center split in the bottom seam held with yellowed clear tape. Label on Side 2 has a peeled spot from sticker removal.)
Great work from Adam Wade – a slightly overlooked singer of the 60s, and one who steps out here in a great mix of soul styles and fuller vocal modes! Wade often has the kind of mature sophistication that could rival Johnny Mathis – and a number of cuts here are certainly cut from a ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has a split top seam, half split bottom seam, light surface wear.)
One of the greatest Bobby Darin albums ever! Gone are all the gimmicks of some of his teen records, and in their place is a solid, serious approach to jazz vocals that has Darin standing tall with the likes of Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. Honest, this is one of our favorite vocal ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Yellow harp label pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear, tiny drill hole.)
Quite an unusual album for Dionne Warwick – a late 60s effort that has her returning to her gospel roots, and singing with backing from The Drinkard Sisters – a group originally founded by Dionne's mother, and which featured a young Cissy Houston! The sound here isn't as strictly ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo pressing. Vinyl has some fogginess from oxidation. Cover has a small cutout hole, unglued seams, and is bent a bit at the spine and top left corner.)
Chris Connor —
Witchcraft ... LP Atlantic, 1959. Very Good ...
$4.99
A lovely side by Chris Connor for Atlantic, recorded not too long after her stint at Bethlehem – where she'd perfected an icy cool style of singing that's still to be matched to this day! The album features larger arrangements by Richard Wess – but still has a light jazzy feel, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 60s blue & green label stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear and aging, mostly in back.)
A 60s classic from Tony Bennett – a record that sported a huge title hit, but which also stands strongly as a really unified album! Tony's at his maturing best here – still working with core jazz inspiration from the Ralph Sharon Trio, but also getting fuller strings from George Siravo ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Titles include "Early In The Morning", "Plain Jane", "Dream Lover", "Mack The Knife", "Beyond The Sea", "Clementine", and "Artificial Flowers". LP, Vinyl record album
A classic set of tracks from Peggy – featuring the sublime hit "Is That All There Is?", produced by Lieber & Stoller, and arranged and conducted by Randy Newman. Other arrangements are by the likes of Mike Melvoin, Mundell Lowe, George Tipton, and Bobby Bryant – all of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Great work from Lou Rawls on Capitol – one of his fine fine albums produced by David Axelrod, with that snapping tight groove that works amazingly well with his vocals! The arrangements are super-tight – jazzy backings that have Lou shifting between that monologue style that he ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo rainbow label pressing. Cover has a cutout hole, aging, wear, and a number in marker.)
A classic album by Keely Smith – Louis Prima's one-time wife and classic singing partner, working here on her own! Swingin Pretty features arrangements by Nelson Riddle – showcasing Keely as a great singer in her own right, able to work in that sophisticated jazz-based style that you'd ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo rainbow label pressing. Cover has a light wear on the top seam with a tiny split, but looks great overall!)
A jazz vocal masterpiece from Sarah Vaughn – one of her greatest albums ever, and a record that raised the bar for countless vocal sessions in years to come! Sarah's working here in an intimate group arranged by Ernie Wilkins – filled with famous trumpet solo work by Clifford Brown, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(70s Trip pressing inside an original Emarcy cover, with small split on the bottom, light wear & aging.)
Dinah Washington —
Finer Dinah ... LP Harlem Hitparade, 1950s/1960s. Near Mint- ...
$4.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(70s issue. Cover has light wear.)
Dakota Staton —
Ms Soul ... LP Groove Merchant, Early 70s. Very Good+ ...
$3.99
A 70s set from the great Dakota Staton – but done with a lean, jazzy vibe that really gets back to the spirit of some of her earlier recordings! The group's a small combo, with the great Norman Simmons on piano – always a great accompanist for a jazz singer, and working here with ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A great little live set from Mel Torme – and one that features the same jazzy style as his studio albums for the Bethlehem label from the 50s! The combo behind Mel is a smallish one – Marty Paich on piano and arrangements, Larry Bunker on vibes, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Max Bennett ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 80s Cayre pressing. Cover has some ring and edge wear, yellowing from age, and small blemish spots in back.)
(EU pressing. Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
Chris Connor —
New Again ... LP Contemporary, 1988. Near Mint- ...
$4.99
Features arrangements by Michael Abene and Richard Rodney Bennett – who both play keyboards on the record! Also features trumpet from Claudio Roditi, tenor and alto from Bill Kirschner, and some guest flute from Dave Valentin. LP, Vinyl record album
A pretty groovy little album from Dinah Washington – at first glance a set of older standards, but at second glance a date that features some wonderfully swinging arrangements from Quincy Jones! The Q really helps Dinah break from the usual mode here – providing here with an upbeat, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear and a cutout hole.)
Dave Mackay with Vicky Hamilton —
Hands ... LP Discovery, 1968/1982. Near Mint- ...
$5.99
A split LP that offers some key tracks from the classic Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton album on Impulse from 1968, plus later piano trio recordings by Dave from 1982! Dave & Vicky are represented here by the first 4 tracks on the record – "Blues For Hari", "Here", ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Titles include "Time Out For Tears", "Salty Papa Blues", "September In The Rain", "This Bitter Earth", "Mixed Emotions", "Mad About The Boy", and "What A Difference A Day Made". LP, Vinyl record album
Jackie & Roy at the height of their ABC powers – really stepping out strongly here with a bold jazz vocal approach that nobody else can touch! Both Roy Kral and Jackie Cain get a few moments of their own in the spotlight, especially Jackie, who steps out on a number of the tracks – ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo black label pressing. Cover has a promo ink stamp on the back and looks great!)
A really unique little record from Jackie & Roy – one that has them singing a super-fresh batch of tunes from budding songwriters Andre and Dory (nee Langdon) Previn! The tunes are all really great – the kind of playful material that seems to bring out the best in Jackie & Roy, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Smooth and sophisticated grooving from Esther Phillips – a record that really has her shaking off the rag-tag and rootsy modes of earlier years, and gliding sweetly into the mainstream! Phillips' vocals are still as soulful and compelling as ever, but the backings are quite full – ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A bit of a groovy switch for this great and under-recognized singer – a set that updates his sound with some 60s swingers that include "I Can See For Miles", "Mr Dream Merchant", "Hard To Believe", "Lelainia", "Woman Woman", and "Let's Go ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo Dynagroove pressing. Cover has light wear and a cut corner.)
Mellow magic from Johnny Mathis – a late 70s set that updates his older style for a crossover audience in adult contemporary! The style is smooth and polished, but never so much so that Johnny's amazing voice can't shine through – thanks to soulful arrangements from Gene Page, who'd ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Later work by Billy Eckstine – a nice little album from the early 60s, recorded in a dark and somber tone that shows a whole new side to his voice! The album features amazingly restrained arrangements by Billy May – a mix of jazz and strings that has a sadder, deeper style than before ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo color bar label pressing, with deep groove. Cover has light wear.)
One of our favorite recordings ever of George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess – done by Bethlehem Records in the mid 50s, and featuring nearly every one of the label's great talents at the time! The choice of the lead characters is a bit odd – as Mel Torme plays Porgy and Francis Faye ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono red label pressing. Includes booklet, but no handkerchief. Cover has some surface and edge wear, and a few split corners on the box top.)
A real breakthrough for Lou Rawls – a set that again paired him with arranger Onzy Matthews, and which even more deeply explored the unique space between jazz, soul, and the blues that became Rawls' prime territory back in the 60s! Matthews' backings are hip and jazzy throughout – ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo rainbow label pressing. Cover has light wear and a price sticker mark.)
Early recordings by the King Cole Trio, with Nat King Cole on piano, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass, and also with a later line-up of Irving Ashby on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Jack Costanzo on bongos. LP, Vinyl record album
(70s green label pressing. Cover has clear tape on the top seam.)
Carmen McRae —
Here To Stay ... LP MCA/Coral, 1950s/1960s. Near Mint- ...
$1.99
Includes "Love Is Here To Stay", "How Many Stars Have To Shine?", "Sometimes I'm Happy", "Just One Of Those Things", "My One And Only Love", "I'll Remember April", "A Room With A View", and more. LP, Vinyl record album
(70s issue. Back cover has two small checks in pen.)
One of the best albums that Lou Rawls cut with the team of HB Barnum and David Axelrod – that incredible duo who made some of his 60s Capitol albums so great! The style here is wonderful – upbeat grooves from Barnum – who brings more soul into Lou's music than before – ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A key moment in the career of vocalist Ernestine Anderson – a record that not only returned her to the public eye after a flurry of initial sides in the late 50s and early 60s, but which also finally helped Anderson find a sound that worked! The album's done with backing by the Monty ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some light wear.)
Mel Torme & George Shearing —
Vintage Year ... LP Concord, 1987. Near Mint- ...
$4.99
A key pairing of vocalist Mel Torme and pianist George Shearing – two aging jazz artists who really helped re-ignite each others' careers in the 80s! The format here takes Torme back to the best years of his jazz roots – and features spare backing from Shearing's trio, at a level that's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
These guys never miss! For years, we'd always passed up the later work of Jackie & Roy – thinking, in our elitist minds, that only their early work was worth merit. But this session from 1982 proves how wrong we were – as it's a stellar batch of small group tracks – sung in ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Mel Torme & George Shearing —
Elegant Evening ... LP Concord, 1986. Near Mint- ...
$3.99
One of the great Mel Torme comeback albums of the 80s – with piano from George Shearing! Titles include "I'll Be Seeing You", "You Changed My Life", "You're Driving Me Crazy", "My Foolish Heart", "Last Night When We Were Young", and the cool ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing. Cover has a small sticker and a bit of pen inside the opening.)
An obscure moment in June Christy's career, but a great one too – a rare later recording, done many years after her time at Capitol Records – in a laidback setting with a hip group of west coast players! June's voice definitely shows a bit of age, but she's still head and shoulders ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s pressing. Cover has some ringwear and small blemish spots.)
A Capitol classic from Dakota Staton – and the record that made her a real leading lady at the label in the years before Nancy Wilson's rise! The set's got a wonderfully laidback feel that's in keeping with the title, yet it also swings nicely too – kind of a new level of soul in jazz ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono turquoise label pressing. Cover has a half split top seam, center split on spine, but looks nice overall.)
A tasty little 2LP set – one that collects the excellent late 50s vocal work cut for the Bethlehem label by Chris Connor! At the time, Chris had a sound that she virtually invented – icy vocals backed by small combo jazz, in a very spare and subtle setting – and the sound was, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A really great album from Nancy Wilson – a set that still has her working with the jazzy undercurrents of her best 60s work for Capitol Records – yet also moving into some hipper, more sophisticated soul styles too! There's a really strong adult vibe to the record – not that ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 80s blue label Capitol reissue in a barcode cover, with light wear, small cutout hole, and some splitting in the top seam in back.)
One of Della Reese's greatest records – and a unique little session cut "live in the studio" before a very appreciative crowd! Bobby Bryant wrote out some very hip charts for the session, and they're made even better by organ work by Bill Doggett and piano lines by Gerald Wiggins ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing. Cover has some wear and aging.)
One of Frank Sinatra's last great ballad albums for Capitol – a sad and dreamy batch of tunes that kicks off with the incredible "Only The Lonely" – one of those Sinatra torch songs that's so great, so sad, nobody else has ever been able to record a better version, nor have ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono rainbow label pressing. Cover has minimal wear.)