Quite hip stuff from McTyner – really righteous sounds from his 70s run for Milestone Records, recorded with a great lineup that includes Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Gary Bartz on alto, Azar Lawrence on soprano and tenor sax, Bulster Williams on bass, Billy Hart on drums, and Mtume on percussion! With players like that, it would be hard to miss – but McCoy's also not one to just let the cats do their own thing – as he directs the group with a sense of power and majesty that's really wonderful. Tyner spins out long dramatic lines in a post-Coltrane Impulse mode that's almost more like Alice Coltrane than his usual bag – and the horn solos of Bartz and Lawrence really give the set a crackling edge. Ttiles include "Paradox", "Desert Cry", "La Cubana", and "Sama Layuca". LP, Vinyl record album

Outtasite mellow soul from The Ultimates – an obscure east coast group with a really heavenly sound! The bulk of the album is from the group's only album – The Ultimates From The Beginning – recorded in 1969 with a warm and groovy harmony approach, of the sort that many other groups would begin working in during the 70s – but which comes across with a surprisingly professional style here! There's a great quality to the vocals on most tracks – smooth, but with just a few crackles – in a mode that humanizes the tunes nicely, and gives them a feel that reminds us a bit of The Delfonics or The Whatnauts. Titles include "She Went Away", "You're My Lady", "I Just Can't Stand It", and "Girl I've Been Trying To Tell You". CD

The first album by Marcos Valle after years and years away from the studio – a set that really reintroduced his talents to a whole new generation! The set was recorded for the Far Out label in London – a then-new imprint who were doing a great job to bring back a Brazilian groove that had been lost since the 70s – and Valle was one of a few key artists they had a big hand in reviving! The record's got a great modern bossa nova feel, with a good electric sound, and lots of nice moody grooves on piano and guitar, plus nice vocals by Marcos himself – sounding a bit older than on his 80s soul records, but in a way that really makes the album crackle with charm! Titles include "Novo Visual", "Nordeste", "Bar Ingles", "Bahia Blue", "Cidade Aberto", and a remake of "Vontage De Rever Voce". CD

The first album by Marcos Valle after years and years away from the studio – a set that really reintroduced his talents to a whole new generation! The set was recorded for the Far Out label in London – a then-new imprint who were doing a great job to bring back a Brazilian groove that had been lost since the 70s – and Valle was one of a few key artists they had a big hand in reviving! The record's got a great modern bossa nova feel, with a good electric sound, and lots of nice moody grooves on piano and guitar, plus nice vocals by Marcos himself – sounding a bit older than on his 80s soul records, but in a way that really makes the album crackle with charm! Titles include "Novo Visual", "Nordeste", "Bar Ingles", "Bahia Blue", "Cidade Aberto", and a remake of "Vontage De Rever Voce". LP, Vinyl record album

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Subtle brilliance from Caetano Veloso – just the sort of record to still remind you what a genius he can be, even when he's not hitting you over the head with his music! The style here is relatively straightforward MPB, but still done in a way that's head and shoulders above just about anyone else – songs that have a presence and personality that goes way beyond a simple understanding of language – and which crackle with wonderfully warm vocals from the maturing Caetano. Any sense of softness is more than supported with a deep amount of spirit – and the album's beautifully intimate feel throughout. Titles include the track "Sina", sung with Djavan, "Surpresa", written with Joao Donato, and the tunes "Genesis", "Sonhos", "Meu Bem Meu Mal", and "Trem Das Cores". LP, Vinyl record album

Two great 90s sessions from Cedar Walton – back to back in a single set! Composer is a record that not only shows off the great skills of pianist Cedar Walton as a composer, but one that also shows how he can really work a special sort of magic when he lets some horns into his group, and shifts from his usual mode in a trio! Walton's always wonderful on the keys – and works here with Christian McBride on bass and Victor Lewis on drums – but it's the presence of the hornmen on the record who really shade things wonderfully – the presence of Vincent Herring on alto, Ralph Moore on tenor, and Roy Hargrove on trumpet – all really bringing out some great qualities in Walton's original tunes. Titles include "Martha's Prize", "Minor Controversy", "Hindsight", "Groove Passage", "Theme For Jobim", and "Groundwork". Roots is a masterpiece of color from pianist Cedar Walton – a set that has all the right elements and instruments really opening up his sound! The core trio is excellent – Cedar on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and the great Lewis Nash on drums – at his crackling 90s best – yet these players are expanded in all these great tonal ways – with rich tenor from Joshua Redman, sparkling trumpet from Terence Blanchard, and great guitar from Mark Whitfield – who really seems to echo Cedar's sense of color on his strings. Titles include "Mode For Joe", "Bolivia", "Fiesta Espanol", "Firm Roots", "I'll Let You Know", and "When Love Is New". CD

One of the biggest hits ever for Weather Report – thanks to Joe Zawinul's leadoff track "Birdland" – one of those tunes that entered the canon immediately, and saw countless covers pop up over the years – kind of a rare thing for a jazz tune at this point in time! The track's driving, building energy shows a newly focused side to Weather Report – one that's traded some of the spacier, more experimental moments of the past for a dynamic energy that still puts them ahead of most other 70s fusion supergroups. The presence of Jaco Pastorius is felt quite strongly here – especially on the way the colors ebb and flow up from the bottom – and the way that Jaco's using his bass with the energy of a solo jazz guitar! Alex Acuna and Manolo Badrena are on percussion, and Wayne Shorter's reeds still crackle with a nice degree of soul – on titles that include "Harlequin", "Rumba Mama", "A Remark You Made", "Teen Town", "Palladium", "Havona", and "The Juggler". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the biggest hits ever for Weather Report – thanks to Joe Zawinul's leadoff track "Birdland" – one of those tunes that entered the canon immediately, and saw countless covers pop up over the years – kind of a rare thing for a jazz tune at this point in time! The track's driving, building energy shows a newly focused side to Weather Report – one that's traded some of the spacier, more experimental moments of the past for a dynamic energy that still puts them ahead of most other 70s fusion supergroups. The presence of Jaco Pastorius is felt quite strongly here – especially on the way the colors ebb and flow up from the bottom – and the way that Jaco's using his bass with the energy of a solo jazz guitar! Alex Acuna and Manolo Badrena are on percussion, and Wayne Shorter's reeds still crackle with a nice degree of soul – on titles that include "Harlequin", "Rumba Mama", "A Remark You Made", "Teen Town", "Palladium", "Havona", and "The Juggler". CD

The groundbreaking first album from Weather Report – a massive session that took fusion to a whole new level for the 70s! Most of the players here had been associated with Miles Davis at some point in the year or two beforehand – and Miles' electric work is definitely a starting point for this group – but they quickly flow off in whole new directions, thanks to the mighty legacy of their own talents on previous records! The group features an intense lineup with Wayne Shorter on saxes, Joe Zawinul on keyboards, Miroslav Vitous on bass, Alphonse Mouzon on drums, and Airto on percussion – all coming together in a groove that's often incredibly raw and free – with plenty of sharp electronic bits from Zawinul crackling under the acoustic elements in the music. The sound is still quite revolutionary all these years later – and titles include "Tears", "Eurydice", "Orange Lady", "Umbrellas", and "Milky Way". LP, Vinyl record album

The first album by British bandleader Mike Westbrook – and a searing session that crackles with energy that's missing from much of his later work! The album features Westbrook unlocking a whole new chapter in British jazz – bringing together a host of top-shelf London players that include John Surman on baritone and soprano saxes, Mike Osborne on alto, and Harry Miller on bass – all working in an array of rich colors, tones, and musical shapes – swinging all the time, but also managing to explore some pretty heady space! The whole thing's amazing – never bogged down in its own sense of self – and simply a fresh, bold statement by a young talent ready to set the world on fire! Tracks include "Pastoral", "Awakening", "Image", "Dirge", and "Portrait". LP, Vinyl record album

One of only two albums that organist Baby Face Willette cut for Blue Note – and it's a killer! The record is a hard-wailing trio format – with Willette on organ, Grant Green on guitar, Ben Dixon on drums – and it's got a sound that's very similar to Green's excellent Grant's First Stand LP – a stripped-down sound that's a bit more rough around the edges than some of the other organ jazz dates you might normally hear on Blue Note! The groove is totally no-nonsense, and Willette's a firecracker on organ – running up and down the keys and pedals with amazing dexterity, and a sound that should have made him one of the biggest Hammond players of the 60s. Green's great too, and the drums of Dixon are more than loose enough to fit the vibe of the soloists beautifully. Titles include "Soul Walk", "Stop & Listen", "Jumpin Jupiter", and "Work Song". CD

One of only two albums that organist Baby Face Willette cut for Blue Note – and it's a killer! The record is a hard-wailing trio format – with Willette on organ, Grant Green on guitar, Ben Dixon on drums – and it's got a sound that's very similar to Green's excellent Grant's First Stand LP – a stripped-down sound that's a bit more rough around the edges than some of the other organ jazz dates you might normally hear on Blue Note! The groove is totally no-nonsense, and Willette's a firecracker on organ – running up and down the keys and pedals with amazing dexterity, and a sound that should have made him one of the biggest Hammond players of the 60s. Green's great too, and the drums of Dixon are more than loose enough to fit the vibe of the soloists beautifully. Titles include "Soul Walk", "Stop & Listen", "Jumpin Jupiter", and "Work Song". CD

A trio of excellent albums from master drummer Tony Williams – all brought together in a single package! Believe It is crackling funky fusion from Tony Williams' "new" version of his classic Lifetime group – a quartet that featured some smoking guitar work by jazz rock legend Allan Holdsworth! The sound on the set is very full-on and jamming – fuzzed-out guitars taking over most of the tracks, and Tony jumping into the fray with some really frenetic work on drums – miles away from his earlier jazz work in the 60s, and really taking off with the best sort of rock/jazz fusion energy! Titles include "Snake Oil", "Fred", "Proto Cosmos", "Red Alert", and "Mr Spock". On Million Dollar Legs, Tony Williams is a million miles from his work with the Miles Davis Quintet on this record – grooving in a heavy rock/fusion mode with his New Lifetime group that includes Allan Holdsworth on guitar, Tony Newton on bass and vocals, and Alan Pasqua on keyboards! The tracks have a post Jeff Beck kind of approach – lots of heavy riffing in a way that does create a bit of funk at the right moments, almost in the Alphonze Mouzon/Tommy Bolin mode – and Williams' drums are right at home in the setting, and somehow filled with as much imagination and creativity as before! Titles include "Sweet Revenge", "Inspirations Of Love", "Lady Jade", "What You Do To Me", and "Joy Filled Summer". Joy Of Flying is a key record in the evolution of Tony Williams as a drummer – and kind of a powerful summation of all the changes he'd made in the 70s – before a return to straighter jazz in the next decade! Williams' drumming here is incredibly fierce at points – almost at a Billy Cobham level – but he also shows the sensitivity to deeper sounds that he first brought into play during the 60s – and manages to mix an ear for fusion modes with some freer elements too – thanks to help from a lineup of players that includes Herbie Hancock and Brian Auger on keyboards, Cecil Taylor on piano, Jan Hammer on Fender Rhodes, Stanley Clarke on bass, Ton Scott on lyricon, and Ronnie Montrose on guitar. Titles include "Tony", "Coming Back Home", "Morgan's Motion", "Eris", "Open Fire", and "Hittin On 6". Great CD reissue – full notes, and a 20 page booklet with the usual Reel Music attention to detail! CD

There's a nicely punctuated vibe to this sweet set of later tracks from Delroy Wilson – instrumentation that's moved into the digital age, but which still has that slow funky crackle at the bottom that seems to work so well with Delroy's vocals! The approach seems to work especially well at the midtempo range that graces most of these cuts – gentle grooves that work really well, both with the covers that Wilson takes on for the record, and the original songs that are especially nice! Titles include "Love To See You Smile", "What's Going On", "Play Something Pretty", "Sharing The Night Together", "There's No Getting Over Me", and "Honey". LP, Vinyl record album

Two classic Lloyd Charmers productions – back to back on CD, with lots of bonus tracks too! Delroy Wilson steps up strongly with Sarge – a set that's got an unassuming cover and a very deep vibe – this mellow groove that always seems to work great with Delroy's style – and lets him really push over the top with all sorts of warmly crackling energy, stretching things more than some of his contemporaries who were maybe just content to kick back in the rhythm. The set's definitely one to remind you that Wilson was one of the more soulful Jamaican singers of his time – and titles include "My Conversation", "I'm Still Waiting", "My Cecilia", "Ain't That Loving You", "Everybody Needs Love", "Got A Date", and "The Last Thing On My Mind". On Boothe Unlimited, the great Ken Boothe is featured strongly on vocals, but the set also features a fair bit of instrumentals too – that balance between soulful lyrics and dubby instrumentals that you'd usually find on a 7" single, carried out here as a showcase for some stunning production from the great Lloyd Charmers! Titles include "Ain't No Sunshine", "Look What You've Done For Me", "You've Broken The Guitar", "Out Of Love", "Missing You", "To Get Rhythm", and "Second Chance". CD features 13 tracks on CD for the first time ever – and also includes 12 bonus tracks, all discomixes of titles on the albums! CD

One of the hippest albums ever from singer Joe Lee Wilson – a righteous vocalist with a style we'd rank right up there with Leon Thomas or Andy Bey in the 70s! The album's got an easygoing vibe that's a nice change from some of Joe's other records – a quality that's never too forced, and which has Wilson sliding into the tunes wonderfully without any sort of gimmicks or tricks. His voice often has a nice crackle, which further underscores his instrument-inspired approach – and also makes the lyrics sound that much more wonderful too. The set was produced by Noah Howard, possibly in Paris – and it features a quartet with Bobby Few on piano, Steve Sax on saxes and flute, Jack Gregg on bass, and Al Levitt on drums. Includes the lovely originals "Dedicated To My Father", "Come & See", and "Secrets From The Sun" – plus a great take on Billy Gault's "Mode For Trane". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible album from Amy Winehouse – even way better than her fantastic debut! Although a contemporary soul album, this one's steeped in tradition – soul styles that run the gamut from Detroit down to Kingston, and which are carried off here with a rougher, sharper-edged sound than before! The instrumentation on here is really mindblowing – almost at a Motown level, with isolated instruments really crackling out from the fuller backings – all set to rhythms that snap and bounce, and are almost a bit funky at times. Credit is definitely due to producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi – but Amy's vocals are really tremendous too – classic, but really personal and fresh! Titles include "Rehab", "Just Friends", "Back To Black", "Love Is A Losing Game", "He Can Only Hold Her", "Some Unholy War", and "Me & Mr Jones". CD

An incredible album from Amy Winehouse – even way better than her fantastic debut! Although a contemporary soul album, this one's steeped in tradition – soul styles that run the gamut from Detroit down to Kingston, and which are carried off here with a rougher, sharper-edged sound than before! The instrumentation on here is really mindblowing – almost at a Motown level, with isolated instruments really crackling out from the fuller backings – all set to rhythms that snap and bounce, and are almost a bit funky at times. Credit is definitely due to producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi – but Amy's vocals are really tremendous too – classic, but really personal and fresh! Titles include "Rehab", "Just Friends", "Back To Black", "Love Is A Losing Game", "He Can Only Hold Her", "Some Unholy War", and "Me & Mr Jones". LP, Vinyl record album

A standout solo moment for Yazz – the singer who first rose to fame as part of the Coldcut soundsystem, then really broke big at a point when UK soul was cracking the American mainstream! Yazz may have a bleached-out look on the cover, but her sound is deeply soulful – and fits in perfectly with the house-styled grooves on the record – backings that have an unabashed love of disco, at a time when listening audiences were maybe forgiving that music for all of its previous excesses, and strongly embracing its best qualities again – in a groove that's maybe a bit similar to Lisa Stansfield at the time, although with more beats and less strings. Production and backings are by Coldcut, FON, Youth, and other hip talents – and titles include her great remake of "The Only Way Is Up" – plus "Systematic People", "Wanted On The Floor", "Stand Up For Your Love Rights", "Fine Time", "Where Has All The Love Gone", "Got To Share", and "Turn It Up". LP, Vinyl record album

An electronic pop masterpiece – and the first moment of international exposure for the mighty Yellow Magic Orchestra! Before this set, the trio of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono, and Yukihiro Takahashi had already been making plenty of waves on the Japanese music scene – but the record gave them a focused showcase they never had before, and helped set the stage for so much other electronic music in years to come! The tracks are tuneful, but also created from lots of different electronic elements – video game noise, analogue electronics, drum machines, keyboards, and more – mostly wonderfully tuneful instrumentals, which gave the work a very universal appeal. Titles include "Computer Game (Theme From The Circus)", "Computer Game (Theme From The Invader)", "Yellow Magic (Tong Poo)", "Cosmic Surfin", "Firecracker", "Simoon", "La Femme Chinoise", "Bridge Over Troubled Music", and "Mad Pierrot". LP, Vinyl record album

Genius, pure genius – Trevor Horn's transformation of the overcluttered Yes groove down into a lean, mean bit of bass and funk for the 80s! The whole thing snaps, crackles, and vamps along magnificently – a blueprint for Art Of Noise, and countless other groups to come! The remix is even more in the Horn trickery camp – and is also a bit sparer than the original tune. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A sweet neo soul set from Brazil – one that uses the raspy qualities of the vocals in ways that make the whole record completely sublime! Even if you can't understand the lyrics, you'll be captivated immediately – as the record has this warm swirl of keyboards that's fantastic – wrapped up warmly in this magical musical swirl, and set off by the way the vocals crackle crisply alongside – all in a mode that echoes plenty of underground American soul modes, but with a vibe that's really fresh! Titles include "Jazz", "Follow Me", "Meu Grande Amor", "Inebrio", "Nova York", "Cores E Peles", "Welcome", and "Se Foi". CD

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The Jazz Is Dead series goes mighty deep with this gem of a record – opening the door for two legendary Tribe Records talents from the Detroit scene of the 70s – reedman Wendell Harrison and trombonist Phil Ranelin – both of whom sound superb throughout! As with other volumes in the JID series, the production pair really adapt their sound and strategy to fit the best modes of the guest – so that this time around, Ali Shaheed Muhammad's just adding some strong basslines to the tunes, and Adrian Younge plays a variety of keyboards and guitar – yet neither get in the way of the vision that's clearly coming from both Harrison and Ranelin! Tracks almost feel like an update of older Tribe Records modes – and drummer Greg Paul provides a nice crisp crackle at the bottom. Tunes include "Running With The Tribe", "Ursa Major", "Black Census", "Open Eye", "Genesis", and "Fire In Detroit". CD

The Jazz Is Dead series goes mighty deep with this gem of a record – opening the door for two legendary Tribe Records talents from the Detroit scene of the 70s – reedman Wendell Harrison and trombonist Phil Ranelin – both of whom sound superb throughout! As with other volumes in the JID series, the production pair really adapt their sound and strategy to fit the best modes of the guest – so that this time around, Ali Shaheed Muhammad's just adding some strong basslines to the tunes, and Adrian Younge plays a variety of keyboards and guitar – yet neither get in the way of the vision that's clearly coming from both Harrison and Ranelin! Tracks almost feel like an update of older Tribe Records modes – and drummer Greg Paul provides a nice crisp crackle at the bottom. Tunes include "Running With The Tribe", "Ursa Major", "Black Census", "Open Eye", "Genesis", and "Fire In Detroit". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible! This is quite possibly the best of this legendary series of Jamaican soul, funk, and reggae tracks – and it's a masterpiece! The track selection is amazing, and the set has a bit more crackle than earlier volumes – with loads of great 70s production, including nice dubby bits, and some excellent instrumentation. Titles include "Mission Impossible" by Randy's Allstars, "Make It Reggae" by Shark Wilson & The Basement Heaters, "Rebel Soldiering" by Johnny Clarke, "Jungle Lion" by Lee Perry, "Take It Easy" by Hopeton Lewis, "Jackie's Theme" by Jackie Mittoo & Randy's Allstars, "Uptown Top Rankin" by Althea & Donna, "Cincinatti Kid" by Prince Buster, and "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy. 15 cuts in all – and all great! LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible! This is quite possibly the best of this legendary series of Jamaican soul, funk, and reggae tracks – and it's a masterpiece! The track selection is amazing, and the set has a bit more crackle than earlier volumes – with loads of great 70s production, including nice dubby bits, and some excellent instrumentation. Titles include "Mission Impossible" by Randy's Allstars, "Make It Reggae" by Shark Wilson & The Basement Heaters, "Rebel Soldiering" by Johnny Clarke, "Jungle Lion" by Lee Perry, "Take It Easy" by Hopeton Lewis, "Jackie's Theme" by Jackie Mittoo & Randy's Allstars, "Uptown Top Rankin" by Althea & Donna, "Cincinatti Kid" by Prince Buster, and "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy. 15 cuts in all – and all great! LP, Vinyl record album

A masterful set of old school funk & soul put together by DJ Andy Smith – who also worked some magic a few years back for the BGP label on the Northern Soul tip – this time out doing his thing with prime funk from the late 60s & early 70s! Smith does a excellent job of mixing sample classics that helped build golden age hip hop, many deeper tracks – funk nuggets from The Blackbyrds, Billy Garner, Funk Inc, Spanky Wilson and many more! Vinyl version is not a continous mix like the CD – and works as a straight up, excellent funky compilation. Titles include "Cracklin' Bread" by Dave Hamilton, "It's My Thing"by Betty Moorer, "I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky" by Ripple, "I Got Some" by Billy Garner", "Can't Get Enough" by 87th Of Broadway, "Skunk Juice" by Pazant Brothers, "I'm A Good Woman" by The Generation", "Tighten Up" by Roosevelt Matthews and more. 24 tracks on 2LPs. LP, Vinyl record album

Ten tracks from Bruce Hornsby, Cracker, REM, Nanci Griffith, Me Phi Me, Jeffrey Gaines, Iris DeMent, Paul Brady, Barenaked Ladies, and Col Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit. CD

A very cool little set – maybe not the deepest dive into the decade of the 70s, in that the package isn't full of unissued tracks or super-rare singles – but it does represent a great look at the decade that goes way past the hits, and much farther than the charts – including the sort of material that was slightly ignored at the time, but has gone on to be really appreciated in more recent years! The book-style set is filled with great choices and unusual tunes – work from both the US and UK scenes, some of it by bigger names represented here by more unusual cuts – some by others who barely cracked the mainstream, but did some great work at the time. There's one full CD of female artists, and a pretty unusual mix of titles – 71 titles in all, by artists who include Murray Head, The Records, Ronnie Lane, Terry Reid, Sandy Denny, Wendy Waldman, Freddie King, Montrose, Tim Buckley, Don Nix, Jerry Williams, Big Star, Tony Joe White, Delaney & Bonnie, John Prine, Michael Franks, Bobby Charles, Andy Pratt, Hirth Martinez, Robert Palmer, Jess Roden, Roy Harper, Patto, Sharks, The Roches, Linda Lewis Valerie Carter, and many others! CD

The first-ever massive look at the female pop legacy of UK genius producer Joe Meek – a studio talent maybe best known for his work with instrumental groups, but one who also created some real magic with girl singers too! Joe's ear for twangy guitars, offbeat sounds, and otherworldly echo really works wonders here – as he takes more familiar styles of tunes and really gives them a great spin – bringing out some of the best quality in the female singers, many of whom never really cracked the charts that strongly in the 60s – and certainly never sounded as great as in the hands of Joe Meek! The package offers up very detailed notes on the singers, the songs, and Mee's special approach to the music – and the 3CD set features 88 tracks in all, with work from Valerie Masters, Lea & Chess, The Halos, Gunilla Thorn, Eve Boswell, Yolanda, Carol Jones, Pat Reader, Flip & The Dateliners, Diane & The Javelins, Glenda Collins, and others – including some unknown singers, and a number of unissued tracks too! CD

The birth of Miami soul, and a beautifully done document of the rare Deep City label – home to Willie Clarke, Clarence Reid, and Betty Wright in the years before Alston and TK Records! Way before Miami soul started cracking the charts at the start of the 70s, Deep City was already putting the best parts in place – working with a tight roster of artists and an equally tight in-house band that rose from the ranks of Florida A&M's Marching 100 band – razor-sharp instrumentalists who helped forge a groove worthy to rival the sounds of Memphis, Muscle Shoals, and even the best of Detroit at the time – given that some of the work here has a much sweeter soul sound than other 60s southern soul. As usual, the Numero team have done an incredible job with the package – pulling out rare photos, personal stories, and just the right amount of information to breathe new life into the Deep City label and help it live anew. CD features 17 tracks in all – including "Paralyzed" and "Good Lovin" by Betty Wright, "Am I A Good Man" by Them Two, "Someone To Fulfill My Needs" and "I Love You Baby" by The Moovers, "I Am Controlled By Your Love" and "Willing & Able" by Helene Smith, "Good Thing (part 1)" by Frank Williams & The Rocketeers, "It's My Baby" and "The Upset" by Paul Kelly, and "Stay Away From My Johnny" by Freda Gray & The Rocketeers. CD

Great work from a label that was way out in the Cleveland scene of the 60s – but which bristles with some of the best energy of Detroit and Chicago at the time! The tiny imprint never cracked the big time, but not for lack of quality – as the cuts here have a sharp blend of deep soul vocals and tight arrangements – of the sort that we've always loved in the best smaller Chicago indies of the late 60s – particularly the kind of labels that were operating in the shadows of Chess and Brunswick. A core group of artists recorded most of this music – and make for a very unified feel throughout – especially given that even some of the numbers with solo singers still really maintain a group soul sort of vibe. And the overall quality of the package takes us back to the earliest days of projects like this from the Numero Group – right down to the very detailed story of the label's unique place in 60s soul music. Titles include "There's No You" by The Occasions, "Demanding Man" and "Two Can Make It" by The Sensations, "She Didn't Know" by Sammy Jones, "Ain't That A Heartache" and "Baby Don't Go" by Norman Scott, "You're Not Loving A Beginner" by Jesse Fisher, "How long Will It Last" by The Soul Notes, "Why" by The Springers, and "Party At Lester's" by Lou Ragland & His Bandmasters. 2CD set – with 40 tracks and a great booklet! CD

A killer little set that's as heavy as it sounds from the title – a wealth of rare material pulled from the studio of Detroit producer Dave Hamilton – a good deal of it never issued at the time! Hearing this set is like finding a pile of rare 45s stuffed in the back corner of a long-lost record shop – because although much of the work was never issued, it crackles with the intensity of the best funky 45s – lots of funky drums, offbeat guitar, and raspy soul vocals – produced with a real edge to all the work, so that all of the hardest elements of the tunes really come through in the mix! The album features one track appearing here for the first time ever – "Remember" by Chico – plus other rare tracks that include "Marriage Is A State Of Mind" by James Carpenter, "Soul Suite" by Dave Hamilton, "You Fool You Fool" by Prophet & His Disciples, "The Deacons" by Dave Hamilton, "Funky Trip" by Johnny Walker, "A Drop In The Bucket" by The Deacons, "Brand New Girl" by Billy Garner, "The Devil Is Gonna Get You" by The Future Kind, "Party Time" by James Carpenter, and "Grown Folks Thing" by OC Tolbert. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Ray Tellier's San Francisco Orchestra, Palais Royal Californians, Eric Pease & His Astoria Band, Jimmy Elkins & His Wintergarden Orchestra, Watson & His Green Mill Orchestra, Des Tooley, Cliff Clarke & His Kookaburras, Gil Deach, Maurice Gilman & His Orchestra, Frank Coughlans & His Trocadero Orchestra, Dudley Cantrell & The Grace Grenadiers, Seven Pearce Arrows, Jack Allen's Original Katzenjammers, and Les Welch & His Eight Beat Boys. LP, Vinyl record album

Rare 78 rpm recordings from Fess Williams, Taylor's Dixie Orchestra, Ross Deluxe Syncopators, Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks, Williamson's Beale Street Frolics Orchestra, Jimmie Lunceford & his Chickensaw Syncopators, Mart Britt, Blue Steele, Andy Kirk & his Twelve Clouds of Joy, and Slatz Randall. CD

Mad Mats is not only digging beyond the crates here, he's also digging beyond any conventional expectations you might have – as the set's got a unique vibe that may well make it one of the most compelling BBE compilations in years! The music is from the late 60s through the present – but it all comes together in a very future-sounding way – with rhythms that are often offbeat, electric elements that seem to crackle with independent energy, and vocals that can fall down in the mix one minute and burst forth the next! This isn't a dance music compilation, and it's also not a set of rare funk tracks either – and instead, Mats creates his own very personal journey in sound – heedless of time periods, genres, and often national boundaries. Titles include "Take A Stand" by Psalms, "Big Big Boss" by Johnny Moore, "Badly" by Cuthead, "Sherriff (Murlo rmx)" by Gappy Ranks, "Keep The Music Alive" by Yvonne Gray, "Evil Woman" by Bobby Hebb, "Jazz In Outer Space" by BSTC, "The Traveller" by Deft, "Space Based" by Mode M, "Don't Hold Back The Feeling (key trip dub)" by U N I, "Animations" by Intimate Disco, and "Jah I See You" by Ensemble Entendu. LP, Vinyl record album

Killer work from one of the smokinest soul labels of the west coast scene of the 60s – mighty Mirwood Records, a company that's kept the Northern Soul scene humming for decades! Mirwood wasn't one of the biggest, or most chart-topping labels – but the company came up with some incredible work in the uptempo mode that's really held strongly over the years. The label boasted some great singers with a straightforward, no-nonsense approach – often working with tight rhythms and rolling piano lines to send the tunes home with a solid sort of punch! This special vinyl-only set features some of the most crackling cuts from the Mirwood catalog – 14 titles that include "Do The Temptation Walk" by Jackie Lee, "That Beatin Rhythm" by Richard Temple, "My Little Girl" by The Bob & Earl Band, "I Wanna Do Everything For You Baby" by The Mirettes, "I Can't Get Away" by Bobby Garrett, "Is She In Your Town" by Curtis Lee, "Mine Exclusively" by The Olympics, "Where There's A Will" by Jimmy Thomas, "I Can't Stop You" by The Performers, "Stubborn Heart" by The Sheppards, and "Don't Pretend" by The Belles. LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool little set, and one that's a lot different than you might expect from the "new romantics" reference in the title! Sure, there's some cuts here that are from the moment when the British scene was cracking the charts with nice haircuts, catchy electro rhythms, and smart lyrics – but the bulk of the set is actually music from the generation before – the kind of work that inspired the new romantics of the early 80s, mixed with cuts from that era, but which are not nearly as well known! The box begins very early in the 70s, and traces bits of prog, glam, and other pre-punk styles – then ends up in more familiar territory at the end, but with a less familiar vibe. Make sense? Probably not – but that's the great thing about a really well-done collection like this – 59 tracks with really great notes – and work from Tubeway Army, The Cure, Zager & Evans, Lounge Lizards, Grace Jones, Fox, Magazine, Spandau Ballet, Heaven 17, Japan, Yellow, Nightmares In Wax, Visage, Landscape, Flying Lizards, Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band, Sister Sledge, Lipps Inc, Barry Gray, Glaxo Babies, New Order, Blue Rondo A La Turk, Tom Tom Club, ABC, M, Heat Exchange, John Foxx, The Normal, and many others! CD

Music by Jimmy Witherspoon, Lloyd Glenn, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Otis, Lowell Fulson, Charles Brown, Jimmy McCracklin, the Nightengale Jubalaires, and Dusty Brooks – 24 tracks total. CD

A stunning amount of music recorded in just the space of two short years – all standing as a mighty strong testament to the production genius of Niney The Observer during the roots reggae generation! The package features a fair bit of tracks that have never been on CD before, and as stated, includes a host of rare 7" singles originally issued on the Observer, Third World, and other labels – sounding far better here than on some crackly, mispressed, or recycled vinyl! The clarity of the package makes both the vocals and subtler elements of production come out strongly, while also giving plenty of grounding to the rhythms and their sweet dubby touches around the edges. The 49 track package is a who's who of hipper reggae singers of the time – with work from Gregory Isaacs, Junior Byles, I Roy, Horace Andy, The Soul Syndicate, Jacob Miller, Big Youth, Leroy Smart, Dillinger, and others – including Niney himself. CD

A really great compilation put out by the folks at Red Hot – an organization dedicated to "Fighting Aids Through Popular Culture". Previous sets by the group have focussed on jazz, bossa, and other music – and this time around, the focus is Africa, currently suffering from a rampant AIDS epidemic. As a response to the problem, Red Hot have brought together a host of different artists in a set of new Afro Funk tracks that would do Fela proud! In fact, over and above the politics, the set's actually one of the best new Afro Funk projects we've ever heard – with a list of artists that includes Archie Shepp, Lateef, Gift Of Gab, Talib Kweli, Jorge Ben, D'Angelo, Femi Kuti, Macy Gray, Meshell Ndegeocello, Cheikh Lo, Tony Allen, Positive Black Soul, Kelis, and others – all coming together in a really wonderful set of tracks that crackle with excitement! Unfortunately, one of Aids most famous African victims includes Afro Funk pioneer Fela. As a loving tribute, the set's made up of new versions of Fela tunes – with titles that include "No Agreement", "So Be It", "Gentleman", "Shakara/Lady", "Water No Get Enemy", "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake", "Colonial Mentality", and "Shuffering & Smiling". CD

A pretty nice mix of tunes that falls under the retro lounge/bossa and acid jazz side of things – put together by the folks in 45 Dip, and featuring 2CDs worth of material groovy enough to make any party chill out with a solid soul vibe. The overall presentation is in that trendy Hed Kandi mode – but that also means that you're getting a good portion of semi-hit tunes at a nice low price, all in one sexy package. Titles include "What Do People Do All Day" by Aim, "Epoca" by Gotan Project, "Twilight Reservation" by Tim Love Lee, "Sweet Revenge" by Bobby Trafalgar, "Coming Out Of The Sky" by Space Hoppa, "Crazy Lounge" by Yasmine Tamara, "Beach Boy" by Disjam, "Tippy Tippy Toe" by Crackpot, "Green Tomatoes (wild turkey mix)" by 45 Dip, "East Side Story" by Soul Drummers, "Zambumba" by Zuco 103, "Carnaval Do Sao Vincente (LP mix)" by Cesaria Evora, and "Saturday Morning TV" by Sam Paglia. 29 tracks on 2CDs! CD