The full scope of genius from the legendary Alvin Cash – not just his 60s gritty groovers, but a host of later funk tracks as well – all packaged into a beautiful book-styled package! Cash is one of our favorite Chicago artists ever – a dancer by trade, but a flamboyant personality who always managed to make his way center stage – whether live or in the recording studio! The set begins with early "twine" numbers from Alvin – some romping heavy soul tracks that have a very deep bottom, and a raw sound that's equal part R&B and Chicago soul – definitely tuned towards the dancefloor crowd that was a natural fit for Cash's energy. As the set moves on, it then picks up some wicked late 60s singles for the Toddlin Town label, and also includes some excellent early 70s groovers for Sound Stage Seven – some of Alvin's hardest, heaviest numbers ever. The set features work by Alvin Cash with The Registers, Hundred Dollar Bills, The Crawlers, and Scott Brothers Orchestra – and titles include "Keep On Dancing (parts 1 & 2)", "Funky 69", "Moanin & Groanin", "Doin The Creep", "It's Party Time", "Funky Washing Machine", "Alvin's Doin His Thing", "Funky Street", "Doin The Ali Shuffle", "Whip It On Me", "The Charge", "Boston Monkey", "The Philly Freeze", "Alvin's Boogaloo", "Let's Do Some Good Timing", "The Bump", "Twine Time", "Twine Awhile", "The Barracuda", and "You Shot Me Through The Grease". CD

The "lovers" here are funky 45 lovers – the kind that dig rare singles from the 60s and 70s as much as we do – plenty of which you'll find stacked up nicely in this killer set! The package delves into the legacy of 7" singles from Miami soul powerhouse TK Records – and the package is full of more unusual tracks that go way past some of the big TK chart and club hits of the time, to really show the range of material that was making the label so great – and such an important force in the record racks at the time! Familiar names mix nicely with lesser-knowns – and the set features 23 tracks in all, with titles that include "Our Day Is Here" by JP Robinson, "Nowhere" by Hokis Pokis, "For Lovers Only" by New Image, "Let Me Take Care Of Your Heart" by The Smith Brothers, "Our Day Is Here" by Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners, "Man Of Mine" by Betty Wright, "Secret Lover" by Paulette Reaves, "Come On With It" by Lew Kirton, "Sweet Vibrations" by Latimore, "Moon Ride" by Universal Love, "Dance Craze" by New Image, "Funky Party" by Clarence Reid, and "Don't Waste My Time" by Jerry Washington. CD

Massive! This is probably the best-ever album of rollerskating grooves – and is the most famous entry into a short-lived funk genre that sprung up around the rollerskating craze of the late 70s and early 80s. The rollerskate sound took a tight stepping funk groove from earlier years, and mixed it with the extended instrumental style of club music – creating a sound that was a mix of funk and disco that worked perfectly for skating around a track, and which had a huge influence on the beat of early hip hop. The centerpiece of the album's the massive sample track "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" – an instantly recognizable number that features tight vamping guitar and good choppy rhythms. The cut's offered up here in 2 parts – and the rest of the record's just as great, with titles that include "Roller Skate", "We're Gonna Funk You Up", and "Thinking About You Baby". CD features some great bonus tracks – the 12" version of "Bounce Rock Skate Roll (parts 1 & 2)", plus "Jammin Big Guitar" and "Rockin Big Guitar". CD

A rare bossa treat – and one of the best albums ever recorded by jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks! The album came out only briefly, at the start of the bossa craze in the US – and it features Hendricks singing a batch of tracks popularized by Joao Gilberto, translated into English, and backed by arrangements by Johnny Carisi and Johnny Mandel. The album's way more than just a bossa cash-in session – as Jon was comitted to Brazilian sounds from the start, and really presents the material here in a wonderful way – mixing his fragile vocal style with lightly jazzy arrangements, in a manner that's both in keeping with the greatness of bossa recordings from Brazil, yet also infused with all the soulfulness of America. Tracks include "Jive Samba", "Chega de Saudade", "Outra Vez", "O Pato", "Bolinha De Papel", and "Coisa Mais Linda". CD

A great little set – way more than you might think from the cover! Ostensibly, this one's a cash-in album for the mid 70s Star Wars soundtrack craze – but since it's handled by trumpet genius Don Ellis, it's got a surprisingly funky feel – with many tracks that recall his own great soundtrack work of the time, especially the nice electric current in his grooves. In fact, the album only has two tracks from the Star Wars soundtrack – despite the fact that the logo for the movie is displayed largely on the cover – and all other tracks are originals by Ellis, handled with a sweet mix of electric funk and funky jazz soloing! Lots of nice keyboards, and titles include "Star Wars", "Orion's Sword", "Eros", "Lyra", "Ursa", "Vulcan", "Crypton" and "Arcturas". CD

30 cuts of the classic doo wop sides that the Spaniels cut for the Vee Jay label in Chicago, during the late 50's. In contrast to labelmates The El Dorados, The Spaniels were a bit smoother, and added more of a sweet harmony sound to their style – as you'll know from tracks like "Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite", "Baby It's You", and their version of "Stormy Weather". But the big list of tracks on here also includes a number of uptempo tracks that have a rawer sound, like "Automobiles", "Play It Cool", "Bounce", and "Crazee Baby". Great stuff, and just about the most complete collection of their work! CD

Includes the songs "Tiny's Tempo", "Koko", "Moose The Mooche", "Yardbird Suite", "Ornithology", "A Night In Tunisia", "Cool Blues", "Relaxin' At Camarillo", "Chasin' The Bird", "Cheryl", "Milestones", "Embraceable You", "Scrapple from The Apple" "Out Of Nowhere", "Quasimodo", "Crazeology", "Bluebird", "Au-Leu-Cha", "Parker's Mood", and "Merry Go Round". CD

Great work by this youthful alto talent from Italy – a player with a tone that's every bit as classic as you might expect from the album's cover! Cafiso plays with an edge that's sharp, but a tone that's almost as deep as a tenor at times – really opening up on the longer tracks here, with a sense of spontaneous invention that's spurred along strongly by rhythms from Andrea Pozza on piano, Aldo Zunino on bass, and Nicola Angelucci on drums. The set includes a version of "Seven Steps To Heaven" – as promised in the title – plus "Yesterdays", "Green Chimneys", "Skylark", "Milestones", and "Crazeology". CD

A double-length reissue of very hard to find Hank Mobley sessions from the mid 50's – Mobley's Message, and Mobley's Second Message. The record's filled with damn great hard bop tenor material, with groups that include players like Donald Byrd, Art Taylor, Kenny Dorham, Doug Watkins, and Walter Bishop. All tracks are long, with that good Rudy Van Gelder "roominess" that graced most of the best Prestige albums of the late 50's. With the cuts "Bouncing With Bud", "Alternating Current", "Crazeology", "The Latest", and "Xlento". CD

A well-done reissue of Charlie Parker's classic work on the Dial label. This volume features material recorded on November 4th and December 17th, 1947, in New York City with players that include Miles Davis, Duke Jordan, Tommy Potter, and Max Roach. Collection includes master and alternate takes of the tunes "My Old Flame", "Out Of Nowhere", "Don't Blame Me", "Drifting On A Reed", "Quasimodo", "Charlie's Wig", "Bongo Beep", "Crazeology", and "How Deep Is The Ocean" – 21 tracks total. CD