Joe Williams & Harry Sweets Edison —
Together ... LP Roulette, 1961. Very Good+ ...
$24.99
A gem of a record from this pair of Basie-ites – one that allows Joe Williams to hit some different modes than on his fuller records with the Count – set up here in a nicely relaxed groove with trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison! Arrangements are by Ernie Wilkins, but are more laidback than ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono color bar label pressing with deep groove and AudioMatrix stamp. Cover has light wear, some yellowing from age, and some minor stains at the spine.)
A cool small combo set from vocalist Helen Humes – with excellent backing from a group that features Joe Gordon on trumpet, Teddy Edwards on tenor, Wynton Kelly on piano, and Al Viola on guitar! LP, Vinyl record album
(70s yellow label stereo pressing. Cover has a small cut corner.)
Easily one of the best Ray Charles albums on ABC – if not one of the best Ray Charles albums of all-time. Ray's in his C&W mode here, but it's a bit more restrained than on other LPs, and is replaced here by a sophisticated style that works perfectly with his heartbreaking voice. Proof ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing with Bell Sound stamp. Cover has some wear and aging, small sticker at the top left corner, and a round sticker in back.)
The shrill goofy vocalist lays down a second album of groovy camp tunes that'll make your dog cover his ears! There's a few lame tracks on here, but there's also some great ones, like her versions of "Girl From Ipanema" and "Monday, Monday". Mod arrangements by Fred Bock and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Rainbow label stereo pressing. Cover has light wear and aging.)
A cool album of tracks that has Dakota singing with a bit tighter arrangement than usual, in sort of a pop soul jazz bag, like some of the other Capitol singers at the time who were working with HB Barnum and David Axelrod. The album includes Dakota's groovy track "Young Generation" ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has cutout hole.)
Chris Connor —
New Again ... LP Contemporary, 1988. Near Mint- ...
$2.99
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 one of a kind record that still sparkles as brightly today as it did back in the late 60s – an amazing collaboration between Brazilian vocalist Elis Regina and Scandinavian jazzman Toots Thielemans – done in a style that easily makes it one of the best records ever from both artists! ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 80s issue. Cover has light corner bumps/bends.)
A great set of tracks that represent some of Chris Connor's first recordings as a solo act – a classic album originally issued as a 10" LP by the Bethlehem label! Backing is by the trio of Ellis Larkins – a great pianist with a really moody style that perfectly fits Connor's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original 10" pressing. Vinyl and cover are nice!)
A later date from Audrey Morris – the Chicago singer who's probably best remembered for some classic RCA sessions in the 50s, but who also kept on doing her own thing for decades later in the Windy City! The set's got a very old school feel – quite different than the usual 80s jazz set ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear and is bent at the bottom left corner.)
Cab Calloway —
Cab Calloway ... LP Joker (Italy), Late 1930s-Mid 1940s. Near Mint- ...
$11.99
Sublime work by a singer who should have dominated the 60s – had he not left this planet in an auto accident early in his short career! Jesse is wonderful here – getting even more coolness and class on RCA than he did in an indie setting – with help from the groups of Shorty ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 80s German pressing in a barcode cover, with a cut corner and Best Buy Series sticker.)
A record that revolutionized the concept of jazz vocals in the 50s – thanks to famous performances by Annie Ross and King Pleasure! The tracks on the LP include Ross' early interpretations of Wardell Gray's classics "Twisted" and "Farmer's Market", and the King Pleasure ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label trident pressing. Cover has a bump on the top seam, but is nice overall!)
(In a textured navy cover, with gold title sticker at the spine. Includes the obi and booklet. Obi is torn at the bottom and crinkled in back. Cover has bumped corners and a small split in the bottom seam.)
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
(Cover has a cutout hole and light wear.)
Anita O'Day —
Big Band Sessions ... LP Verve, Late 50s/Early 60s. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ...
$6.999.99
With arrangements and accompaniment by the bands of Gary McFarland, Jimmy Guiffre, Johnny Mandel, and Billy May. LP, Vinyl record album
(Late 70s issue. Cover has light ringwear and some smudges on front and back.)
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.)
No Reservations is quite an unusual little set for the time – as it's a bit looser and less structured than most other vocal dates – very much in the spirit of Faye's famous performances in clubs, with a gritty, personal approach to the music that's really great. The orchestrations are ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(60s mono rainbow label pressing. Cover has small splits on the top & bottom seams, but looks nice overall!)
Groovy backings from Sid Bass – and titles that include "Thrill Me", "Show Me A Man", "Wild Is Love", "Like Love", "Mr Wonderful", "For Every Man There's A Woman", and "Since I've Been To You". LP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has a bent corner and light wear.)
Urszula Dudziak —
Midnight Rain ... LP Arista, 1977. Very Good+ ...
Just Sold Out!
A gem of a record from vocalist Urszula Dudziak – the closest she ever came to doing a "straight" set of vocals, but still one that lives up to her unique style! The album was produced by Michal Urbaniak with a sweet electric vibe – never too smooth or overproduced, but with ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(White label promo. Includes printed inner sleeve. Cover has a cutout hole, light wear, and a promo sticker.)
One of our favorite albums by Nat King Cole – done with a bit more depth and feeling than some of his other Capitol sets of the time – and some great jazzy backings, too! Arrangements are by Dave Cavanaugh, but there's almost a Basie-like quality to the group at times – never too ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s French pressing on Pathe Marconi. Cover has light wear, some aging, and a bent portion at the top of the spine.)
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.)
This is an LP issue of some of her early recordings, originally released on 78. Songs include "Record Ban Blues", "What's The Matter With Baby", "I'm Crying", "Shuckin' And Jivin'", When The Sun Goes Down", "Set Me Free", "My ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono pressing with deep groove. Cover has light aging.)
It's always something nice when Etta Jones makes a record – but this one is especially so, thanks to some intimate small group backing from players who include Oliver Nelson, Lem Winchester, Wally Richardson, and Richard Wyands! The style is relatively intimate throughout – more late ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s OJC pressing. Cover has light wear, some aging, and is stained at the spine.)
Beautiful work from the legendary Hoagy Carmichael – and one of the few albums to feature him singing his own work! Hoagy's name is one that you're more likely to see in the songwriting credits than in the artist slot for a record – but he's actually got a wonderful voice, one that's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 80s mono Japanese pressing – GXH 3505 M – with insert.)
A great collection of bop sides from 40s LA – tracks that ostensibly feature Cole on piano, jamming with Lester Young on tenor and Red Callender on bass! Oddly, no other players are listed in the notes – even though there's clearly a drummer and trumpeter on the session – so it's ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Heavy maroon label pressing, with deep groove. Cover has a split spine.)
(Original German pressing. Cover has light ringwear, some yellowing from age and some spotty blemishes, bent corners, and some gloss separation around the edges in back.)
Jimmy Witherspoon —
Hey Mrs Jones ... LP Reprise, 1961. Near Mint- ...
$14.9918.99
Very cool work from Jimmy Witherspoon – a set that's different than some of his looser, bluesier work of the postwar years – as he works here with some tight, soulful arrangements from the great HB Barnum! Barnum brings a very different vibe to the set – almost currents of LA ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono tri-color label pressing with deep groove! Cover has some light wear around the edges, but is very nice overall.)
Nat King Cole —
At The Sands ... LP Capitol, 1959/1960. Sealed Gatefold ...
Just Sold Out!
An important album by Nat King Cole – one that presented him in a live format, working in front of a very relaxed crowd at the Sands, expressing himself in a way that's quite different than some of his studio albums. The staid sound of Cole is opened up a bit here in the live set – a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono pressing, still sealed with a cutout hole and square sticker spot. Shrinkwrap is torn across the bottom, but is still intact and unopened.)
Mel Torme & George Shearing —
Vintage Year ... LP Concord, 1987. Near Mint- ...
$2.994.99
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
(Early 80s Japanese promo pressing, still sealed with top obi.)
Mel Torme & George Shearing —
Elegant Evening ... LP Concord, 1986. Near Mint- ...
$1.993.99
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.)
Early work by singer Beverly Kenny – a great 50s jazz vocalist who never got her due, but who managed to make some pretty fine records at the time! This album's one of them, and features backings from Ralph Burns – not as dark and moody as some of his other work of the 50s, and in a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s Spanish Fresh Sound pressing. Cover has some yellowing from age in back.)
A real sweet soul gem from Nancy! The record has her working with arrangements and production by Gene and Billy Page – who give the record a great smooth 70s soul finish, and a feel that's a lot more unified than some of her other efforts from the decade. Nancy sings some great versions of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A wonderfully moody album from singer Helen Merrill – recorded with backing by pianist John Lewis, in an overall feel that's got some of the styles that Lewis forged with the Modern Jazz Quartet! The tunes are familiar ones, mostly, but arranged in a style that's got wonderfully sad and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Henri Rene and his orchestra accompany Eartha on this record named after her 1956 autobiography. There is an tiny excerpt from her book on the back cover but the songs don't seem to necessarily reflect her life story. It's a nice collection of some relatively tame tunes in that throaty Earth Kitt ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear and aging, half split top seam, and a 4 inch split in the bottom seam.)
A surprisingly jazzy score – thanks to orchestrations by Ralph Burns, and musical direction by Elliot Lawrence! And of course, the vocals by Sammy Davis Jr are pretty darn nice too! (Soundtracks, Vocalists)LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout hole. Shrink has a vintage store sticker.)
Various —
KBIG Choice ... LP World Pacific, Early 1960s. Near Mint- ...
$11.9914.99
With selections by Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Charles Kynard & Buddy Collette, Roy Haynes, Gerald Wilson, Les McCann, Gil Evans, Laurindo Almeida & Bud Shank, and others. (Jazz, Vocalists)LP, Vinyl record album
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.)
(Mono yellow label pressing with deep groove. Cover has minimal wear and aging.)
Jimmy Rushing/Ada Moore/Buck Clayton —
Cat Meets Chick ... LP Columbia, 1956. Near Mint- ...
$11.9914.99
An interesting set – kind of a parody of the Girl Meets Boy album that had been issued a year or two before on Columbia – done with vocals by Jimmy and Ada Moore, and recorded as a "story in jazz" about love, love found, and love lost. Jimmy and Ada sing both separately and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Anita sings it swinging and simple – working with a smallish combo to back her up, and vocalizing in a relatively uncluttered style that's in keeping with her best mode at Verve! The tunes are mostly standards, sung in a way that bridges swing and later styles of jazz vocalization – no ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Verve Inc pressing with a trumpeter logo and deep groove. Cover has small splits on spine & bottom seam, light surface wear. The back cover has tape remnant on the sides.)
Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original blue target label pressing with Van Gelder stamp. Cover has light wear and a few small stains.)
Easily Barbara's most soulful set for Motown – recorded at the end of the 60s with a joyous, bouncy groove that's really sweet! Barbara's still got some of the more serious vocal approaches of other albums, but also loosens up here in a well-crafted Motown mode – almost setting the ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
One of the most amazing jazz vocalists of our generation returns here with an incredible group – a majestic combo to match all the spiritual inclinations in his music – with work from Kamasi Washington on tenor, Mark De Clive-Lowe on piano, Miguel Atwood Ferguson on viola, and both ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Given what a freewheeling, open-minded, and lyrical jazz singer Mark Murphy is, it's hard to imagine him really loving "the blues" – and fortunately, most of that love is extended in the title, because the album itself is less of the blues effort that you might think. True, the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label Bill Grauer pressing with deep groove and microphone logo.)
Al Martino plays off his big fame here as Johnny Fontane in The Godfather – serving up an album that includes the title hit of the film, plus a number of other modern Italian-styled numbers! By the early 70s, the Italian fare of Al's old days was fading, but thanks to Coppola and the film, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A really wonderful collaboration between two very unlikely partners – and a great album that really stands out as some of the best work from both artists in the 60s! Count Basie's group gets hard and soulful on the record – and even a little funky on the best cuts – and Jackie ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Cover has two cutout holes and light wear.)
Tony Randall & Jack Klugman —
Odd Couple Sings ... LP London, 1973. Near Mint- Gatefold ...
$4.99
Terrible! But pretty darn wonderful, too – at least if you dig The Odd Couple! Considering their roots in Broadway, Randall and Klugman should be pretty decent singers – but instead, they decide to camp it up for this one, as they spend a lot of time arguing about and during sweet old- ... (Comedy, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Phase 4 stereo pressing. Cover has a cutout hole.)
Nina selected a very nice batch of standards and hip jazzy tracks for this classic Colpix release from the early 60s – and the set's a great example of her unique skill for blending folksy material with more sophisticated stuff, in an amazingly haunting style that has endured for decades. ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo gold label pressing. Cover has light wear and aging.)
The cover might be a bit "on the nose" – but the album itself has some really nice tracks, thanks in part to production and arrangements by Pee Wee Ellis, who always managed to get the best out of Esther during the 70s! The groove's got a lot top shelf clubby soul and easygoing ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the insert and Mercury inner sleeve. Cover has a cut corner and is bent a bit at the edges and bottom left corner.)