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1
Charlie Mariano —
Charlie Mariano Quartet) ... CD 
Bethlehem/
Insanely wonderful early work from Charlie Mariano – some of the freshest, cleanest alto sax work of its time – blown with a tone and sense of soul that goes way beyond some of Mariano's contemporaries at the time! The album was recorded for Bethlehem Records, and is relatively straight – but Charlie already shows a sense of complexity in his presentation that hints at all the greatness to come – and which bursts out here with some refreshing energy that really makes the whole thing sparkle. Charlie's tone is impeccable – somewhere between Lee Konitz and Charlie Parker, with that back bay Boston blend of soul and modernism, making the city one of the best scenes for alto players in the 50s – and he gets some strong rhythm support from the trio of John Williams on piano, Max Bennett on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums. Titles include "Blues", "Floormat", "I Heard You Cried Last Night", "Johnny One Note", and "King For A Day". CD
2
Art Pepper & Ted Brown with Warne Marsh —
Complete Free Wheeling Sessions (Free Wheeling/Vanguard/
Tremendous saxophone interplay throughout – and 2 great 50s sessions that both feature Art Pepper and Warne Marsh! The first half of the CD is the legendary Vanguard album Free Wheeling – one of the few sessions ever cut by tenorist Ted Brown – working here with a group that features Warne Marsh and Art Pepper in the frontline, with rhythm by Ronnie Ball on piano, Ben Tucker on bass, and Jeff Morton on drums. The session's got the outward appearance of a west coast session, but has much more soul overall – the kind of Back Bay Boston sound you'd hear in 50s sessions by Charlie Mariano or Dick Johnson – with plenty of rasp on Pepper's horn, and some nice edges on Brown's as well! Tracks are short, and often with ensemble heads – but the production is beautiful, and the interplay between the three saxophonists comes through with amazing quality! Titles include "Crazy She Calls Me", "Arrival", "Once We Were Young", "Avalon", "Foolin Myself", "Aretha", and "Long Gone". The remaining 7 tracks on the CD were recorded on the same day, but with a lineup that features Ted Brown dropping out, so that the main interplay is between Pepper's alto and Warne Marsh's tenor. Again, the sound is incredible – far fresher than most of Pepper's so-called "classic" sessions, and it shows the edge and creativity of his alto playing in a way that few other albums ever do. We really recommend this one if you've ever been disappointed by another Pepper album – because there's a sharpness here that really comes through. Titles include "All the Things You Are", "What's New", "Avalon", "Warnin", "Stompin At The Savoy", and "Tickle Toe". CD
3
Charlie Mariano —
Charlie Mariano ... LP 
Bethlehem, 1955. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
Insanely wonderful early work from Charlie Mariano – some of the freshest, cleanest alto sax work of its time – blown with a tone and sense of soul that goes way beyond some of Mariano's contemporaries at the time! The album was recorded for Bethlehem Records, and is relatively straight – but Charlie already shows a sense of complexity in his presentation that hints at all the greatness to come – and which bursts out here with some refreshing energy that really makes the whole thing sparkle. Charlie's tone is impeccable – somewhere between Lee Konitz and Charlie Parker, with that back bay Boston blend of soul and modernism, making the city one of the best scenes for alto players in the 50s – and he gets some strong rhythm support from the trio of John Williams on piano, Max Bennett on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums. Titles include "Blues", "Floormat", "I Heard You Cried Last Night", "Johnny One Note", and "King For A Day". LP, Vinyl record album
(Great Japanese pressing – with insert.)
4
Dave Brubeck —
Dave Brubeck At Storyville 1954 ... LP Columbia, 1954. Very Good ... Out Of Stock
Great live work from the Dave Brubeck Quartet – a batch of recordings from Boston's legendary Storyville night club! The lineup features Dave on keys and the mighty Paul Desmond on alto sax – already stepping out here with a clear, crisp tone that's simply beautiful – a style that's a surprisingly nice match for the Boston scene of the 50s, which was budding similar altoists like Charlie Mariano and Boots Mussulli – recorded here with bass by Bob Bates, and drums by Joe Dodge. Tracks are relatively long, and titles include "Back Bay Blues", "When You're Smiling", "Here Lies Love", and "Gone With The Wind". LP, Vinyl record album
5
Otis Redding —
Dock Of The Bay ... LP Volt, 1968. Very Good- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A very important crossover soul album – a huge hit for Otis Redding that was released after his tragic death in December 1967 – but it's also hard to say if it would have had the impact it did had Redding not passed while the LP was still in production. In a way, the record sort of set the stage for the mythologies of pop stars that would surround the tragedies in the coming years of the late 60s – with liner notes on the back by Jon Landau about the impact of Redding's work and passing on the rest of the music industry, which would be even more charged with meaning to folks buying the album at the time, who certainly knew that Redding had cut "Dock of the Bay" a few days before his death, and had missed its meteoric rise to #1 after his passing. And in fact, the album itself is more of a loose collection of tracks pulled from singles and other sources to cash in on Redding's passing – and includes odd numbers like "The Huckle Buck", which had previously appeared on a Stax promo album, or "Tramp", his famous funky duet with Carla Thomas. Other titles include "I'm Coming Home", "Ole Man Trouble", "Open The Door", and "Let Me Come On Home". LP, Vinyl record album
(Atco stereo pressing. The lower left corner of the cover has some wear, splitting, and peeling of the back paste-on - due to moisture. Light wear overall.)
6
Otis Redding —
Dock Of The Bay ... CD Volt/
A very important crossover soul album – a huge hit for Otis Redding that was released after his tragic death in December 1967 – but it's also hard to say if it would have had the impact it did had Redding not passed while the LP was still in production. In a way, the record sort of set the stage for the mythologies of pop stars that would surround the tragedies in the coming years of the late 60s – with liner notes on the back by Jon Landau about the impact of Redding's work and passing on the rest of the music industry, which would be even more charged with meaning to folks buying the album at the time, who certainly knew that Redding had cut "Dock of the Bay" a few days before his death, and had missed its meteoric rise to #1 after his passing. And in fact, the album itself is more of a loose collection of tracks pulled from singles and other sources to cash in on Redding's passing – and includes odd numbers like "The Huckle Buck", which had previously appeared on a Stax promo album, or "Tramp", his famous funky duet with Carla Thomas. Other titles include "I'm Coming Home", "Ole Man Trouble", "Open The Door", and "Let Me Come On Home". CD
7
Columbia/
Two Latin funk classics – back to back in a single set! First up is the self-titled Azteca album – a crowning moment for the west coast Latin scene in the 70s – a wonderful Bay Area set that brings together some of the best talents working on that scene at the time! The set's got a great blend of modes – Latin soul, touches of funk, and plenty of the jazzy inflections you'd expect from a lineup that includes Coke Escovedo on timbales, Paul Jackson on bass, Lenny White on drums, George Muribus on Fender Rhodes, Tom Harrell on trumpet, and Victor Pantoja on congas! Vocals are by Pete Escovedo – who brings in a heady soulful sound to the set – and the vibe is a bit like work by Malo or El Chicano, but even more jazz-based overall! Titles include "Peace Everybody", "Empty Prophet", "Can't Take The Funk Out Of Me", "Azteca", "Ah! Ah!", and "Mamita Linda". Next is Pyramid Of The Moon – a really special record from a really special group – one of two sublime 70s gems from Azteca – a wicked blend of jazz, funk, Latin, and soul – all put together by a young Coke Escovedo! Coke's ostensibly the leader of the group, but there's also a richly collaborative feel going on – a style that brings together jazz players like Tom Harrell on trumpet, Mel Martin on saxes, George Muribus on Fender Rhodes, and Flip Nunez on organ – and Latin players like Victor Pantoja on congas, Coke Escovedo on timbales, and Pete Escovedo on added percussion. In fact, the set's a key early example of the strength of the Escovedo family – and like their best later efforts, the set really stretches out and pushes the boundaries of conventional genres. There's also some great guest work from Lenny White on drums, Mike Nock on keyboards, and Neal Schon on guitars – and vocals are by a range of singers who really keep things fresh. Titles include "Red Onions", "Mazatlan", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Mexicana, Mexicana", and "Love Is A Stranger". CD
8
Old Maid, 2023. New Copy ... $21.99 24.99
A set that's almost a back to basics effort for the Du-Rites – one that makes the best use of the massively funky drums of Jay Mumford and fast-riffing guitar of Pablo Martin – as the duo augment their groove with some additional work on bass, percussion, and keyboards too! Yet there's not much else going on here besides the drums and guitar – which is great, as that brings a focus to the funky energy that some other groups have lost along the way – almost in break record territory at times, but with a fuller feeling in the grooves – on instrumentals that include "Tioli", "Du-Bo", "Bay B MoMa", "Hole In The Wall", "The Sun", "Asbestos", and "Can I Get Intuit". LP, Vinyl record album
9
Touche/
A totally fantastic record, and one we'd put right up there next to some of the best soulful hardbop albums on bigger labels of the 60s – even though the set hardly ever saw much circulation back in the day! As you can guess from the cover, the quintet hails from San Francisco – and they work here with a boldly creative vibe that really reflects the energy they were bringing to their club dates in the Bay Area – leadership by pianist Al Tanner, with smoking tenor from Roy Henderson, and a mix of flute and trumpet from George Alexander – both done in these really great ways. Edwar Williams handles bass, and perhaps the biggest name here is drummer Smiley Winters, who would later go on to more avant fame – yet it's the group together as a whole who work so well, often with the cohesive energy and individual voices of the Horace Silver quintet at its best. Titles include the massive modal number "Kuba" – plus "Rolon's Groove", "Bronson's Blues", "The Magi", "Poor Me", and "Zaltanica" – most nice and long. LP, Vinyl record album
10
Gil Evans, Sade, Jerry Dammers, Paul Weller, & Others —
Absolute Beginners ... LP Virgin/
A great snapshot of jazzy London in the years before the acid jazz explosion of the late 80s – and a surprisingly great soundtrack that's stood the test of time much more than the actual film! The music here represents a jazz-based undercurrent of the London scene that was already turning its ears back in time – to a pre-mod era of the late 50s, which is the setting for Colin McInnes original novel used for the film – portrayed here in a pastiche of vocal and instrumental songs that often have a fair bit of classic touches! Gil Evans was brought in for most of the instrumentals, and turns out some really sparkling charts that have all the charm of his best work of the 50s – and other contemporary artists do a pretty great job themselves – at least on the more jazz-based numbers. Evans numbers include "Va Va Voom" – and the better jazzy tunes includes the excellent "Killer Blow" by Sade, plus "Have You Ever Had It Blue" by The Style Council, "That's Motivation" and "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie, "Rodrigo Bay" by Working Week, "Selling Out" by Slim Gallard, and "Riot City" by Jerry Dammers. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
11
Albert King —
Lovejoy ... LP Stax, 1971. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
A funky classic from Albert King's great years on Stax – a time when he was forging his bluesy roots with all the sharp sounds the Memphis label had to provide! The album's got production and some great songs from Don Nix – who certainly makes his presence known here, by slanting the groove a bit more towards that rockish mode that was working so well with electric blues in the early 70s – a mode that was more of an evolution than the commercialization that would come a few years later – and which here, in the hands of Stax, just adds a bit of funk to the rhythms, while still letting King shine right out on top. Titles include "For The Love Of A Woman", "Lovejoy IL", "Going Back To Luka", "Like A Road Leading Home", "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven", and "Bay Area Blues". LP, Vinyl record album
(Yellow label pressing. Cover has a cutout notch.)
12
New Riders Of The Purple Sage —
New Riders Of The Purple Sage/Columbia/
A pair of Purple Sage classics – back to back on in a single set! First up is the classic debut of New Riders Of The Purple Sage – one of the leading lights of the new acoustic scene in the Bay Area after the shaggier, more electric years of the Haight Street scene! Jerry Garcia plays pedal steel and banjo on the record, and at some level these guys definitely owe a bit to some of Jerry's more acoustic explorations – especially on records to come – but they've also got their own brand of hippie country that's mighty nice, and which has a much more easygoing, less-jamming vibe than some of the headier San Francisco groups of the period. The set also features more guest work from Mickey Hart and Commander Cody – and titles include "Portland Woman", "Garden Of Eden", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Glendale Train", "Dirty Business", "Louisiana Lady", and "All I Ever Wanted". Powerglide is a set that has the New Riders Of The Purple Sage expanding their sound a bit – moving past the acoustic trio at the core to add in more pedal steel and even a bit of dobro – all at a level that seems to further their commitment to country-influenced Bay Area acoustic grooves! As before, Jerry Garcia makes a few appearances on the set, but it's clear that the group don't even need his help to sound great – working with vocals that are more harmonic and confident than before, and with songs that also really show them growing as tunesmiths too. The set features the original cuts "Sweet Lovin One", "Rainbow", "California Day", "Contract", and "Runnin Back To You" – plus a great cover of "Dim Lights Thick Smoke & Loud Loud Music". CD
13
Gil Evans, Sade, Jerry Dammers, Paul Weller, & Others —
Absolute Beginners (2LP version) ... LP Virgin (UK), 1986. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
A great snapshot of jazzy London in the years before the acid jazz explosion of the late 80s – and a surprisingly great soundtrack that's stood the test of time much more than the actual film! The music here represents a jazz-based undercurrent of the London scene that was already turning its ears back in time – to a pre-mod era of the late 50s, which is the setting for Colin MacInnes original novel used for the film – portrayed here in a pastiche of vocal and instrumental songs that often have a fair bit of classic touches! Gil Evans was brought in for most of the instrumentals, and turns out some really sparkling charts that have all the charm of his best work of the 50s – and other contemporary artists do a pretty great job themselves – at least on the more jazz-based numbers. Evans numbers include versions of Charles Mingus' "Boogie Stop Shuffle" and "Better Git It In Your Soul", plus his own "Va Va Vaoom" – and the better jazzy tunes includes the excellent "Killer Blow" by Sade, plus "Have You Ever Had It Blue" by The Style Council, "That's Motivation" and "Absolute Beginners" by David Bowie, "Rodrigo Bay" by Working Week, "Selling Out" by Slim Gaillard, and "Riot City" by Jerry Dammers. LP, Vinyl record album
14
Steve Gray/Amphonic/
Two Amphonic sound library sets – back to back on a single CD! Shades Of Grey is a great set from Steve Gray – with some killer smooth jazz funk numbers! The feel's like a hip late 70s soundtrack, surprisingly wonderful overall – nice and tight, but never too uptight – that wonderful balance you'd find on some of the best sound library sets of the time! Steve Gray's at his best throughout – leading a large ensemble with the deftness of some of the best soundtrack maestros of the time – and titles include "El Sol", "Finely Fluted", "Simply Sophisticated", "Bill's Basement", "Only A Dream Away", and "Powerdrive". Brit Easy genius Syd Dale takes the helm on It's A Colourful World – a warm set of instrumental tunes dedicated to the west coast – topped with a San Francisco cover image, but with more than enough modes to stretch down highway 101 to Los Angeles! The sound is almost more early 70s than you'd guess from the date – not entirely funky, but quite picturesque – mixing some warm TV-styled soundtrack styles with evocative horns and woodwinds. Titles include "San Francisco Bay", "Redwood Valley", "Flamingo Parade", "The Puppet Factory", "Pink Bacardi", "Dancing At The Palace", and "French Lace". CD
15
Hour Glass —
Hour Glass 1967 to 1969 (Hour Glass/United Artists, Late 60s. Near Mint- 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
A pair of early records from Hour Glass – back to back in a single set! First up is the self titled Hour Glass album – fantastic early work from Gregg And Duane Allman – a set that's nothing at all like their Allman Brothers material, but which has a wonderful style nonetheless! At some level, there's a very strong soul current running through the music – as the group mix in songs by Curtis Mayfield, Deon Jackson, and others with some headier rock material – all set up in these arrangements by Dallas Smith that seem to begin in uptown soul, then push things into more psychedelic territory! The blend is great, and makes for a really wonderful record – on titles that include "I've Been Trying", "No Easy Way Down", "Out Of The Night", "Nothing But Tears", "Heartbeat", and "Silently". Power Of Love is an excellent second set from Hour Glass – the pre-Allman Brothers Band that featured both Duane and Gregg Allman, the latter of whom is really coming into his own on the record! Unlike the group's debut, this one features a lot more original material by Gregg – and guitars that start to crackle in that sweetly cresting style that would become the group's hallmark, and which would have an undeniable influence on the sound of rock in the 70s. At some level, the whole thing's an early southern effort to answer the sounds of the Bay Area scene – and comes off beautifully, thanks to titles that include "To Things Before", "I'm Not Afraid", "Home For The Summer", "Down In Texas", "Now Is The Time", and "Going Nowhere". LP, Vinyl record album
16
Masked Marauders —
Masked Marauders – The Complete Deity Recordings ... CD Deity/
A pretty great idea for a late 60s rock record – even if the record itself is even better than its idea! The whole concept of the "masked marauders" was that the group was supposedly formed by big rockers of the time – unable to be listed on the cover, because of contractual obligations. And in truth, the set does sound a lot like it could have been lifted from sessions by The Rolling Stones, or Get Back-era Beatles – plus maybe a few other contemporaries too – yet it's all actually the work of some great unknowns, who came up with a sweet gimmick to get the record out there! On its own, the set's a real charmer – and has a mix of rootsy modes and tighter, deeper ideas that's not unlike some of the George Harrison/
17
Pointer Sisters —
Pointer Sisters/Blue Thumb/
Two early albums from this legendary group – back to back in a single set! First up is the self-titled Pointer Sisters – the group's debut, and an album that's a lot deeper than most of their crossover pop from years to come! At the time of the album's release, the trio were a badass group of female singers on the Bay Area scene – out to redefine the role of the girl group in soul – working not only with righteous power that was a real change from modes of the 60s – but also this trans-temporal quality that had them reaching back with ease for references from decades past, which also includes a surprising amount of jazz! The highlight here is the group's classic funky break version of Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can" – and other titles include "Naked Food", "Wang Dang Doodle", "Sugar", "Pains & Tears", "Jada", "River Boulevard", and "Cloudburst". That's A Plenty is a wonderfully retro-styled set from the Pointer Sisters – one that has the group singing in a variety of older jazz modes, but which also mixes in a nice dose of heavy funk as well! The format's an odd one, but very typical of the group's genre-blending style – of the sort that first got them noticed strongly in the early 70s, then helped them bridge out to a wide variety of audiences later in the decade. Styles include bop, swing, and even a bit of trad jazz – plus some bluesier funk on the best numbers – and the album features an incredible 8 minute version of "Love In Them There Hills", done in a sweet 70s electric style! Other tracks include "Grinning In Your Face", "Little Pony", "Fairytale", "Black Coffee", "Shaky Flat Blues", and "That's A Plenty/
18
Al Tanner Quintet —
Happiness Is Takin Care Of Natural Business – Dig (with bonus tracks) ... CD Touche/
A totally fantastic record, and one we'd put right up there next to some of the best soulful hardbop albums on bigger labels of the 60s – even though the set hardly ever saw much circulation back in the day! As you can guess from the cover, the quintet hails from San Francisco – and they work here with a boldly creative vibe that really reflects the energy they were bringing to their club dates in the Bay Area – leadership by pianist Al Tanner, with smoking tenor from Roy Henderson, and a mix of flute and trumpet from George Alexander – both done in these really great ways. Edwar Williams handles bass, and perhaps the biggest name here is drummer Smiley Winters, who would later go on to more avant fame – yet it's the group together as a whole who work so well, often with the cohesive energy and individual voices of the Horace Silver quintet at its best. Titles include the massive modal number "Kuba" – plus "Rolon's Groove", "Bronson's Blues", "The Magi", "Poor Me", and "Zaltanica" – most nice and long. CD features bonus tracks "Lobby Lizards" and "Kuba (alt)". CD
Also available Happiness Is Takin Care Of Natural Business – Dig ... LP 30.9919
Johnny Guitar Watson —
Listen/Fantasy/
2 of Johnny Guitar Watson's best albums ever – back to back on a single CD! First up is Listen – quite possibly the rarest of all Johnny Guitar Watson albums – and his first from the 70s – a mindblowing batch of trippy soul tunes that sounds far different than much of his later work! Johnny's not yet in the funky mode here – and he's working in a very cool flanged-out approach that has his vocals tripping lightly with his guitar – in a spacious soul mode that captures some of the energy of Shuggie Otis at the time. The overall sound is incredibly righteous – and the album's a delight throughout! Titles include "Lovin You", "If I Had The Power", "You Bring Love", "I Get A Feeling", and "You're The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Had". I Don't Want To Be Alone Stranger is sublime mid 70s work from Johnny Guitar Watson – a Bay Area blend of soulful production, jazzy playing, and bits of bluesy phrasing, with a hard-to-match quality that we'd put in the same camp as work by Shuggie Otis from the time. Johnny's vocals and guitar are amazing – very laidback and trippy, without all the silly stuff that you sometimes get on later records. "I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger" is a great stepper with a jazzy finish and a really catchy hook – and other good cuts include "Lonely Man's Prayer", "You Make My Heart Want To Sing", "Tripping", "Strong Vibrations", and "It's Way Too Late", a reworking (and real steal) of a song from Jon Lucien's great "Rashieda" album! CD
20
Various —
1000 Volts Of Stax – Rare & Unreleased Tracks From The Golden Era Of Soul ... CD Stax (UK), Late 60s/
Think you know everything there is to know about Stax Records? Think again – because this series serves up an incredible batch of material that was either unissued back in the day, or hardly ever got much circulation at the time! The project comes from the years after the initial Stax Singles box sets – and tracks here include numbers found during that process, but unissued – and others that were only discovered after digging through vaults of tape – and realizing just how much music the label recorded, but never even pressed onto wax! Yet that result is not surprising – given that the famous Memphis studio was always hopping around the clock – with groups like Booker T & The MGs, Mar-Keys, or Bar-Kays jamming in the studio, then making way for a range of singers and other guests as well – an all-star lineup who turn out some top material in this set. Titles on this first volume include "Hide Away" by Booker T & The MGs, "Don't Worry About Tomorrow" by Bobby Marchan, "Cupid" by Otis Redding, "Don't You Like To Me" by Albert King, "Hippy Dippy" by The Mar-Keys, "I've Got Dreams To Remember (alternate)" by Otis Redding, "Never Let Me Go (alternate)" by William Bell, "Cloudburst" by The Mad Lads, "Sweet Devil" by Mable John, "When My Love Comes Down" by Ruby Johnson, "Floyd's Beat" by Floyd Newman, "Run Around" by Carla Thomas, "Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay" by Booker T & The MGs, and "Just Enough To Hurt Me" by The Astors. CD
21
Masked Marauders —
Masked Marauders – The Complete Deity Recordings ... CD Deity/
A pretty great idea for a late 60s rock record – even if the record itself is even better than its idea! The whole concept of the "masked marauders" was that the group was supposedly formed by big rockers of the time – unable to be listed on the cover, because of contractual obligations. And in truth, the set does sound a lot like it could have been lifted from sessions by The Rolling Stones, or Get Back-era Beatles – plus maybe a few other contemporaries too – yet it's all actually the work of some great unknowns, who came up with a sweet gimmick to get the record out there! On its own, the set's a real charmer – and has a mix of rootsy modes and tighter, deeper ideas that's not unlike some of the George Harrison/
22
Luv N' Haight, Late 60s/
A way way deeper set than the first volume of Bay Area Funk – and a collection that shows that things got pretty heavy on the San Francisco and Oakland scenes of the 70s! A good number of the tracks here are instrumental, and show some wonderful interplay between the trippier sides of funky jazz and the harder sides of soul going on in the Bay Area back in the day – killer music from the fringes that often got lost in the shuffle of all the better-known music coming out on the bigger labels! The work here is all from very tiny labels – expertly selected and all officially cleared by the Luv N Haight team with keen respect for the artists involved – and in a way, the package has set a new high standard for the label! A tremendous discovery, and filled with tracks we'd never heard before – titles that include "Stop Look Listen" by Primevil, "Poor Sad Child (part 1)" by The Windjammers, "Born To Live With Heartache" by Mary Love, "Move In The Room" by Dawn & Sunset, "Ebony" by Project Soul, "Acid Lady" by San Francisco TKOs, "Hip Breakin" by Little Denise Stevenson, "Devil's On The Run" by Uptights Band, "Brute Strength" by Mile Selesia, and "Lenient With My Love" by The Relatives. CD
23
Big Beat (UK), Late 60s. New Copy ... $11.99 14.99
A long-overdue full length album from Ace Of Cups – a really unusual female group from the Bay Area scene of the late 60s – but one who never hit the heights of their bigger San Francisco contemporaries! The girls have this really great look on the back – kind of flower power, but with a bit more charm – a quality that comes through in the music, with is often more garagey than trippy – but which also has a way of putting forth female vocals and honest ideas that might not flourish this strongly for similar groups until the post-punk years. That approach makes the whole thing a truly timeless collection of tracks – of the sort that maybe resonate more strongly today than they did back in the 60s. Titles include "Music", "Boy What You'll Do Then", "Glue", "Taste Of One", "Stones", "Looking For My Man", "Pretty Boy", "Waller Street Blues", "Catch You Later", "Simplicity", "I Wanna Testify", "Hear Every Sound", and a great version of "Afro Blue". CD
Also available It's Bad For You But Buy It! ... LP 22.9924
Big Beat (UK), 1968. New Copy ... $22.99 26.99
A long-overdue full length album from Ace Of Cups – a really unusual female group from the Bay Area scene of the late 60s – but one who never hit the heights of their bigger San Francisco contemporaries! The girls have this really great look on the back – kind of flower power, but with a bit more charm – a quality that comes through in the music, with is often more garagey than trippy – but which also has a way of putting forth female vocals and honest ideas that might not flourish this strongly for similar groups until the post-punk years. That approach makes the whole thing a truly timeless collection of tracks – of the sort that maybe resonate more strongly today than they did back in the 60s. Titles include "Music", "Glue", "Taste Of One", "Stones", "Pretty Boy", "Waller Street Blues", "Simplicity", and a great version of "Afro Blue". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available It's Bad For You But Buy It! ... CD 11.9925
Paramount/
An underground classic from Karen Dalton – a record that's almost out of time, given its early 70s release – as Karen sings with spare backings that are almost in a Folkway Records mode at points, but with all these headier currents that are also indicative of the Bay Area generation too! Dalton's voice is completely unique too – unlike anything you'll ever hear – phrasing that almost hearkens back both to vintage jazz and Appalachian folk, but a style that's more long hair – as are some of the backings too. The set was recorded upstate in Bearsville – and really has all the hallmarks of the freedoms of that scene at the time – summed up beautifully on material that includes "Something On Your Mind", "In A Station", "Take Me", "Same Old Man", Are You Leaving For The Country", "Katie Cruel", and "How Sweet It Is". LP, Vinyl record album
(Light In The Attic reissue from 2010 in a matte cover. Includes the insert.)
26
Luv N' Haight, Early 70s. New Copy ... $7.99 16.98
Mad homegrown soul from the enigmatic Darondo – a brief Bay Area star back in the 70s, and also host of TV comedy and children's shows! Darondo only ever saw release of 3 singles, but they're all pretty darn great – a weird mix of funk, soul, and sly slinky grooves – very unique in conception, and with a heady, tripped-out vision that makes us wish he'd recorded more. Luv N Haight have really done Darondo justice with this set – bringing together all 6 tracks from the singles, plus 3 more previously unissued numbers – all in a great package that features words from the man himself, plus some great images from his older TV shows. A near-lost soul figure, but one with enough charisma to fill the careers of other more famous acts! Titles include "How I Got Over", "Let My People Go", "Legs (part 1)", "True", "Didn't I", "I Want Your Love So Bad", "My Momma & My Poppa", "Sure Know How To Love Me", and "Listen To My Song". CD
27
Columbia/
Heavy soul from the Bay Area scene – a fantastic set of tracks from the enigmatic Goapele! Goapele's an underground singer with a really righteous feel – and she's not afraid to use some heavy beats and funk to send her message home. The set's got a really well integrated instrumental feel – shifting slightly in style from track to track, but always with a positive and progressive approach only serves to push Goapele's lyrics all that much deeper. No softness here – just a mad kicking approach that's made us give the Bay Area another listen these days! Features guest work by Soulive, Pep Love, Zion I, and Casual – and titles include "It Takes More", "Closer", "Ease Your Mind", "Got It", "Romantic", "Too Much The Same", "Catch 22", "Salvation", and "Back To You". CD
(Out of print.)
28
Blue Thumb, 1973. Very Good+ Gatefold ... $6.99
The fantastic debut of The Pointer Sisters – an album that's a lot deeper than most of their crossover pop from years to come! At the time of the album's release, the trio were a badass group of female singers on the Bay Area scene – out to redefine the role of the girl group in soul – working not only with righteous power that was a real change from modes of the 60s – but also this trans-temporal quality that had them reaching back with ease for references from decades past, which also includes a surprising amount of jazz! The highlight here is the group's classic funky break version of Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can" – and other titles include "Naked Food", "Wang Dang Doodle", "Sugar", "Pains & Tears", "Jada", "River Boulevard", and "Cloudburst". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout hole, ring wear, edge wear, and light aging.)
29
Prestige, 1971/
2 funky classics from the legendary Pretty Purdie! Purdie Good is Bernard Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s – tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat" and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland", "You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". Shaft is a full funky session from master drummer Bernard Purdie – a set that expands out his previous Prestige vibe, and almost goes for a soundtrack scope to match the record's Shaft title! The set leads off with a great take on the Isaac Hayes hit – one that follows in the same fully-flowing, slow-building mode as Ike's – but which comes across here as an instrumental with some great solo work from Houston Person – playing here almost in a Stanley Turrentine sort of mode! Other tracks continue the hip mix of jazz and larger backings – and feature a lineup of players that includes Neal Creque on electric piano, Gerry Thomas and Danny Moore on trumpets, Willie Bridges and Houston Person on tenors, Billy Nichols and Lloyd Davis on guitars, Gordon Edwards on Fender bass, and Norman Pride on congas. The sound is warm without ever sounding too smooth – and Purdie's funky drums at the bottom ensure that most tunes are nicely lively. Titles include "Shaft", "Butterfingers", "Summer Melody", "Changes", "Way Back Home", and "Attica". CD
(Out of print, small cutout hole through case.)
30
Prestige/
2 funky classics from the legendary Pretty Purdie! Purdie Good is Bernard Purdie's first album as a leader for Prestige – cut right after he'd hipped up plenty of other sessions for the label with his famous funky drums! The groove here is very much in the best Prestige jazz funk mode of the early 70s – tightly vamping rhythms that draw heavily from Purdie's monstrous drums – and which also offer solo showcase space for Harold Wheeler on electric piano, Ted Dunbar on guitar, Tippy Larkin on trumpet, and Charlie Brown and Warren Daniels on tenor. Rhythm is augmented by Gordon Edwards on Fender bass and Norman Pride on congas – and the grooves hit a variety of modes that show that Purdie could sometimes be a more open-thinking rhythmatist than his funky contemporary Idris Muhammad. Titles include great instrumental versions of "Cold Sweat" and "Montego Bay", plus the originals "Wasteland", "You Turn Me On", and "Purdie Good". Shaft is a full funky session from master drummer Bernard Purdie – a set that expands out his previous Prestige vibe, and almost goes for a soundtrack scope to match the record's Shaft title! The set leads off with a great take on the Isaac Hayes hit – one that follows in the same fully-flowing, slow-building mode as Ike's – but which comes across here as an instrumental with some great solo work from Houston Person – playing here almost in a Stanley Turrentine sort of mode! Other tracks continue the hip mix of jazz and larger backings – and feature a lineup of players that includes Neal Creque on electric piano, Gerry Thomas and Danny Moore on trumpets, Willie Bridges and Houston Person on tenors, Billy Nichols and Lloyd Davis on guitars, Gordon Edwards on Fender bass, and Norman Pride on congas. The sound is warm without ever sounding too smooth – and Purdie's funky drums at the bottom ensure that most tunes are nicely lively. Titles include "Shaft", "Butterfingers", "Summer Melody", "Changes", "Way Back Home", and "Attica". CD
31
Blue Thumb, 1973. Very Good+ ... $23.99
A brilliant debut from Sylvester – quite different than his later disco and club work – although still pretty upbeat and groovy overall! The album's a really unique sort of effort – one that's unabashedly gender-bending, but also wonderfully solid from a musical perspective – funky at points, rootsy at others – with an odd blend of 70s soul and older R&B elements, all filtered through the genre-bending sound of the Bay Area scene of the time! Arrangements are by Sylvester and The Hot Band, but Ben Sidran produced, and we're sure that the record's offbeat qualities are partly due to his own great style of the time – that weird, slightly messed-up groove you'd find on Ben's Blue Thumb album. The set features wild covers of "Southern Man" and "My Country Tis Of Thee" – plus "Whiter Shade Of Pale", "Gimme A Pigfoot", "God Bless The Child", "I'm A Steam Roller", "That Is Rock n Roll", and "Come Back Baby". LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing – with scratch n smell sticker! Cover has light wear, and a cutout hole.)
32
Dangerous/
The second album from Too Short, and like the first, a set that firmly established both the Cali scene and the Bay Area as a hotbed of harder-hitting hip hop! And sure, there were countless later gangsta acts that slide into the sorts of cliches that often marred the genre – but back at the start, folks like Too Short, Ice T, and NWA were really exploding with a sense of message that was quite a surprise to anyone whose ears were pointed to the east – really opening the door for countless other scenes to add their two cents – including the big wave that would soon rise from the south. The whole thing still sounds surprisingly fresh all these many years later – and titles include "Life Is Too Short", "I Ain't Trippin", "Nobody Does It Better", "Cuss Words", "City Of Dope", "Don't Fight The Feelin", "Rhymes", and "Pimp The Ho". LP, Vinyl record album
(Recent blue vinyl reissue.)
33
Karen Dalton —
In My Own Time (50th Anniversary silver vinyl pressing) ... LP Just Sunshine/
An underground classic from Karen Dalton – a record that's almost out of time, given its early 70s release – as Karen sings with spare backings that are almost in a Folkway Records mode at points, but with all these headier currents that are also indicative of the Bay Area generation too! Dalton's voice is completely unique too – unlike anything you'll ever hear – phrasing that almost hearkens back both to vintage jazz and Appalachian folk, but a style that's more long hair – as are some of the backings too. The set was recorded upstate in Bearsville – and really has all the hallmarks of the freedoms of that scene at the time – summed up beautifully on material that includes "Something On Your Mind", "In A Station", "Take Me", "Same Old Man", Are You Leaving For The Country", "Katie Cruel", and "How Sweet It Is". Features a huge amount of bonus material – three alternate takes from the album sessions, and six more live tracks from 1971! LP, Vinyl record album
Also available In My Own Time ... LP 39.99(Limited silver colored vinyl!)
34
Darondo —
Let My People Go (180 gram pressing) ... LP Luv N' Haight, Early 70s. New Copy ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Mad homegrown soul from the enigmatic Darondo – a brief Bay Area star back in the 70s, and also host of TV comedy and children's shows! Darondo only ever saw release of 3 singles, but they're all pretty darn great – a weird mix of funk, soul, and sly slinky grooves – very unique in conception, and with a heady, tripped-out vision that makes us wish he'd recorded more. Luv N Haight have really done Darondo justice with this set – bringing together all 6 tracks from the singles, plus 3 more previously unissued numbers – all in a great package that features words from the man himself, plus some great images from his older TV shows. A near-lost soul figure, but one with enough charisma to fill the careers of other more famous acts! Titles include "How I Got Over", "Let My People Go", "Legs (part 1)", "True", "Didn't I", "I Want Your Love So Bad", "My Momma & My Poppa", "Sure Know How To Love Me", and "Listen To My Song". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Let My People Go ... CD 7.99(Limited pressing on 180 gram vinyl – with download!)
35
Green Day —
Dookie ... CD Reprise, 1994. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Bratty Bay Area pop punks Green Day hit the bigtime – paving the way for FAR too many lesser acts to hit paydirt, sure, but you can't get too mad at Billie Joe, Mike and Tre for that when this one is still such a blast decades later! Nowhere near as lowbrow as the title or cover art would make it look, it's actually one the better rock & roll albums of its era to convey the thoughts and feelings of bored, lonely, angry and in some ways pretty depressed youth...somehow doing that through catchy sing-a-long anthems. Pretty amazing thing to pull off, actually! Includes "Longview", "Welcome To Paradise", "Chump", "Basketcase", Pulling Teeth", "When I Come Around", "She", "Sassafras Roots" and more. CD
(Earlier pressing with "Ernie" on the back.)
36
Crash Crew —
On The Radio (voc, inst) ... 12-inch Bay City, 1981. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
One of our favorite tracks from the early 80s, with a sort of beeping, bouncing good time boogie track and back and forth rhymes from the Crash Crew over top. 12-inch, Vinyl record
(White label promo in a grey Sugar Hill sleeve.)
37
Buddy Guy —
I Left My Blues In San Francisco ... LP Chess, 1969. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
Not the Bay Area effort you might guess from the title – and instead a sweet Chicago session that's easily one of the funkiest records that Buddy Guy ever cut! There's a great mix of funk and soul mixed in with the blues – thanks to arrangements from Charles Stepney and Gene Barge, who groove Buddy up in the same new funky mode that Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters got from Chess Records at the same time. A few cuts are more stripped-down and classic – but most have this great tight groove, with instrumentation by Stepney on some surprisingly funky drums, plus Matt Murphy on guitar, Phil Upchurch on bass, and Gene Barge on tenor sax. Titles include "Goin Home", "Buddy's Groove", "She Suits Me To A Tee", "Every Girl I See", "Too Many Ways", "Crazy Love", "Keep It To Myself", and "When My Left Eye Jumps". LP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 80s Original Chess Masters pressing. Cover has some ringwear, a bit of chewing at the top seam, center split in the bottom seam, and some stained spots in back.)
38
Quicksilver Messenger Service/United Artists, 1968. Very Good ... Out Of Stock
Heavy Bay Area sounds here – with cuts that include "Superbyrd" and "Your Old Lady" by Steve Miller Band, "Stranger In My Own Home Town" and "Revolution" by Mother Earth, and "Codine" and "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" by Quicksilver Messenger Service. LP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo pressing. Cover has light surface wear, splitting on spine, spot of pen on the back.)
39
Luis Vecchio —
Afro Rock ... LP De Wolfe (UK), 1971. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
A totally killer sound library set – every bit as funky as others that have been issued under the Afro Rock title – but a lot more obscure! The group here has wicked bass and plenty of percussion next to the drums – and the top of the sound also has some horn work that underscores more contemporary soul touches – as the whole thing holds together like some of the best Afro-inspired work on the London scene at the time, with maybe some keyboard touches that feel like they're lifted out of the Bay Area or East LA! The whole thing is a wonderfully rhythmic, totally funky party – and titles include "Facade", "Renegade", "Megaton", "Boss", "Nsambei", "Cult", "Green Hell", and "Waboco". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Afro Rock ... LP 32.99(Original pressing! Cover has some light wear, tape traces on the spine which is also split a bit, and back has some stamps. Label has a bit of marker – vinyl is nice!)
40
Karen Dalton —
In My Own Time ... CD Just Sunshine/
An underground classic from Karen Dalton – a record that's almost out of time, given its early 70s release – as Karen sings with spare backings that are almost in a Folkway Records mode at points, but with all these headier currents that are also indicative of the Bay Area generation too! Dalton's voice is completely unique too – unlike anything you'll ever hear – phrasing that almost hearkens back both to vintage jazz and Appalachian folk, but a style that's more long hair – as are some of the backings too. The set was recorded upstate in Bearsville – and really has all the hallmarks of the freedoms of that scene at the time – summed up beautifully on material that includes "Something On Your Mind", "In A Station", "Take Me", "Same Old Man", Are You Leaving For The Country", "Katie Cruel", and "How Sweet It Is". CD
Also available In My Own Time ... LP 39.9941
Karen Dalton —
In My Own Time (50th Anniversary edition – with bonus tracks) ... CD Just Sunshine/
An underground classic from Karen Dalton – a record that's almost out of time, given its early 70s release – as Karen sings with spare backings that are almost in a Folkway Records mode at points, but with all these headier currents that are also indicative of the Bay Area generation too! Dalton's voice is completely unique too – unlike anything you'll ever hear – phrasing that almost hearkens back both to vintage jazz and Appalachian folk, but a style that's more long hair – as are some of the backings too. The set was recorded upstate in Bearsville – and really has all the hallmarks of the freedoms of that scene at the time – summed up beautifully on material that includes "Something On Your Mind", "In A Station", "Take Me", "Same Old Man", Are You Leaving For The Country", "Katie Cruel", and "How Sweet It Is". Features a huge amount of bonus material – three alternate takes from the album sessions, and six more live tracks from 1971! CD
Also available In My Own Time ... LP 39.9942
Karen Dalton —
In My Own Time (50th Anniversary edition) ... LP Just Sunshine/
An underground classic from Karen Dalton – a record that's almost out of time, given its early 70s release – as Karen sings with spare backings that are almost in a Folkway Records mode at points, but with all these headier currents that are also indicative of the Bay Area generation too! Dalton's voice is completely unique too – unlike anything you'll ever hear – phrasing that almost hearkens back both to vintage jazz and Appalachian folk, but a style that's more long hair – as are some of the backings too. The set was recorded upstate in Bearsville – and really has all the hallmarks of the freedoms of that scene at the time – summed up beautifully on material that includes "Something On Your Mind", "In A Station", "Take Me", "Same Old Man", Are You Leaving For The Country", "Katie Cruel", and "How Sweet It Is". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available In My Own Time ... LP 39.9943
Jesse James —
Jesse James ... LP 20th Century, 1968. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
An incredible record – and the reason to buy rare soul vinyl! This is the kind of balls-out, once-in-a-thousand soul album that you'll dig through racks for years to find – totally solid, no filler, all top-shelf material sung by an amazing under-acknowledged artist with an incredible voice! Jesse hails from the Bay Area, and he's got a style that's unlike anyone else we can think of – partly southern party (ala The Tams), partly Chicago male (ala Garland Green or Gene Chandler), and partly New York uptown (ala Chuck Jackson or Tommy Hunt). But that mix doesn't even begin to describe Jesse's talents – as the record is a killer batch of original tunes, all linked together with some "live" audience noise, with vocals by Jesse that will have you coming back again and again to the record. Truly one of the real gems in our soul collection – a record that we own not just for one track, but for the amazing standout performance that sets it apart from a thousand other albums! Titles include "Green Power", "Thank You Darlin", "Facts Of Life 68", "Believe In Me Baby (parts 1 & 2)", "Bring My Baby Back", and "I'll Always Love You". LP, Vinyl record album
44
Judy Roberts —
Other World ... LP Inner City, 1980. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
Sweetly grooving vocals from Judy Roberts – a Chicago homegirl, but one with the warm sunny touches of the California scene of the late 70s! The record's got Judy working with a tight small combo – keyboards, bass, guitar, and percussion – grooving away in a sweet mode that works well with her vocals – almost bossa-inspired at points, but mostly with a soaring, open sort of quality that's almost a cross between some of the hip European singers of the 70s, and the best jazz vocal talents from the Bay Area. The album's got some nice electric remakes of tunes like "Senor Blues", "Round Midnight", and "Last Tango In Paris" – plus the tracks "The Other World", "The River Must Flow", "Rainbow In Your Eyes", and "No Turns". LP, Vinyl record album
45
Marlena Shaw —
Let Me In Your Life ... LP South Bay, 1982. Sealed ... Out Of Stock
A near-lost indie soul effort from Marlena Shaw – recorded for the tiny South Bay label in the years after leaving bigger fame at Columbia, but still working here with producer Johnny Bristol, who makes for a surprisingly professional sound. Marlena's still trying to crack the clubs with some uptempo numbers, but to our ears the mellower cuts are the best – as they get back towards the roots that first made us love her music. These include "Love Is Alive & Well", "Next Time I Fall In Love", and "Without You In My Life". LP, Vinyl record album
46
Too Short —
Life Is – Too Short ... CD BMG/
The second album from Too Short, and like the first, a set that firmly established both the Cali scene and the Bay Area as a hotbed of harder-hitting hip hop! And sure, there were countless later gangsta acts that slide into the sorts of cliches that often marred the genre – but back at the start, folks like Too Short, Ice T, and NWA were really exploding with a sense of message that was quite a surprise to anyone whose ears were pointed to the east – really opening the door for countless other scenes to add their two cents – including the big wave that would soon rise from the south. The whole thing still sounds surprisingly fresh all these many years later – and titles include "Life Is Too Short", "I Ain't Trippin", "Nobody Does It Better", "Cuss Words", "City Of Dope", "Don't Fight The Feelin", "Rhymes", and "Pimp The Ho". CD
Also available Life Is – Too Short ... LP 19.9947
Tower Of Power —
Urban Renewal ... CD Warner, 1974. Used ... Out Of Stock
Classic east bay grease from the early days – featuring the good lineup of T of P, with Chester Thompson on organ, and Lenny Williams on lead vocals. Titles include "Give Me The Proof", "I Believe In Myself", "Walkin Up Hip Street", "Maybe It'll Rub Off", and "Come Back Baby". CD
48
Various —
I Am The Center – Private Issue New Age In America 1950 to 1990 ... CD Light In The Attic, 1950s/
An amazing compilation – and a really groundbreaking attempt to get to the true heart of new age music – that initial moment of meditative sound on records from the American underground – very pure in both spirit and execution before the whole thing got watered down and commercial! The massive set digs way deeper than we might have expected – way past the Bay Area indies who rose the genre to prominence, to a whole host of tiny US labels from the postwar years onward – home to individual players with a very personal sound – on instruments that range from conventional piano to global sources, electronics, and even some items of their own invention. The choice of tracks is perfect – really getting back to the basics of the genre in a great way – and the music is very laidback and meditative, with ethereal qualities that are completely sublime – especially in the context of the great packaging and notes of the whole collection. Many tracks here were never issued on CD – and many were only from rare tapes, too – and the double-length batch of work is one of the most unique musical journeys we've ever taken! Titles include "Lifting Off" by Joanna Brouk, "Arabian Fantasy" by Daniel Emmanuel, "Formentera Sunset Clouds" by Iasos, "Seventh Chakra Keynote B" by Steven Halpern, "Om Mani Padme Hum" by Constance Derby, "Unicorns In Paradise" by Laraaji, "Blue Spirals" by Daniel Kobialka, "As The Earth Kissed The Moon" by Michael Stearns, and "Waterfall Winds" by Alice Damon. CD
49
Virgil Gonsalves —
Jazz San Francisco Style ... LP Liberty, 1956. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
An unusual Bay Area group – with Virgil Gonsalves on baritone sax, Dan Pateris on tenor, Bob Badgely on trombone, Clyde Pound on piano, Gus Gustafson on drums, and either Ron Crotty or Max Hartstein on bass. LP, Vinyl record album
50
Steve Miller —
Children Of The Future ... LP Capitol, 1968. Very Good ... Out Of Stock
The first moment of genius from the Steve Miller Band – a killer debut that also features a young Boz Scaggs as a key member of the group! Steve's the core star here, though – setting things up in this amazing blend of psych, blues, and hard rock – one that's easily a lot more ballsy than most of his Bay Area contemporaries at the time – really taking off on some propulsive rhythms, razor-sharp guitar, and cooking keyboards! Scaggs' vocal help is mighty nice – and titles include "You've Got The Power", "Pushed Me To It", "Junior Saw It Happen", "Baby's Callin Me Home", "Roll With It", and "Key To The Highway". LP, Vinyl record album
51
Steve Miller —
Children Of The Future (with bonus track) ... CD Capitol/
The first moment of genius from the Steve Miller Band – a killer debut that also features a young Boz Scaggs as a key member of the group! Steve's the core star here, though – setting things up in this amazing blend of psych, blues, and hard rock – one that's easily a lot more ballsy than most of his Bay Area contemporaries at the time – really taking off on some propulsive rhythms, razor-sharp guitar, and cooking keyboards! Scaggs' vocal help is mighty nice – and titles include "You've Got The Power", "Pushed Me To It", "Junior Saw It Happen", "Baby's Callin Me Home", "Roll With It", and "Key To The Highway". CD features the bonus track "Sittin In Circles". CD
52
Various —
KSOL – 21 Super Soul Souvenirs Vol. 2 ... LP KSOL, 1969. Very Good- ... Out Of Stock
Second volume of nice, nice radio soul from the 60s put together by Bay Area radio station KSOL. As you'd imagine, there's some bigger hits, but there's some nice nuggets of almost forgotten R&B and soul too. 21 numbers in all, including "I Really Love You" by Dee Dee Sharp, "Baby Scratch My Back" by Slim Harpo, "She Blew A Good Thing" by The Poets, "Sad Girl" by Jay Wiggins, "Turn On The Love Light" by Bobby Bland, "Am I Grooving You" by Freddie Scott, "Why Do I Do These Foolish Things" by the Magicians, "Something I Want To Tell You" by Johnny & The Impressions, "The Richest Girl" by Little Helen, and "Send My Baby Back" by Freddie Hughes. LP, Vinyl record album
Partial matches: 62
53
Jackson 5 —
Best Of Jackson 5 Remixes – Compiled By Soul Source (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD Universal (Japan), Early 1970s. Used ... Out Of Stock
What a great idea! The classic Motown work of The Jackson 5 is remixed and remade by a host of super-hip producers! The cuts really retain a lot of their Motown soul flavor, and the remixers do an excellent job of pulling out some of the best elements – like guitar riffs, piano lines, and drumbeats – while still preserving the original vocal direction of the songs. This limited package features tracks from both of the older Soul Source remix collections of The Jacksons – with a total of 15 tracks that include "Ben (HF rmx #4)", "Darling Dear (rejuvenated by Muro mix)", "I'll Be There (Small Circle Of Friends rmx)", "It's Great To Be Here (Kenny Dope rmx)", "We're Almost There (DJ Spinna rmx)", "Get It Together (4Hero rmx)", "ABC (Love Stream mix)", "I Want You Back (Kei Kobayashi's routine jazz party mix)", "Ain't No Sunshine (SSY rmx)", "Never Can Say Goodbye (Shinichi Osawa 3000 rmx)", and "The Love You Save (Asakusa Sunaga T Experience SC 01 mix)". CD
(2009 Japanese pressing – includes obi!)
54
Tricatel (France), Late 70s. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)... $29.99 32.99
Beautiful vocal work from Guy Cabay – put together with a strong touch of jazz, a bit of bossa, and a swirling vibe that's mighty nice! Guy's got a breathy style of singing that works perfect with the backings – and its bits of guitar, organ, and other elements – often used as gently as Cabay's vocals, but in a style that's warm and sophisticated – like some of the hippest material on Saravah Records in the 70s, particularly work by Pierre Barouh! These tunes also often have a breezy rhythm that borrows from bossa nova, and which really suits the style of Guy's vocals – on titles that include "Julia Deus", "Pove Tiesse", "Tot Reguede", "Camamele Et Cataplame", "A M'Vwezene", "Li Robaleu", "Pax Pollinibus Bonae Voluntatis", and "Li Sabat D'Sinte Mere L'Oto". LP, Vinyl record album
55
Various —
Super Funk Vol 5 – Super Funk Is Back – Rare & Classic Funk 1968 to 1977 ... LP BGP (UK), Late 60s/
One of the deepest-digging entries in the Super Funk series so far – a blistering batch of underground singles that serve up some of the roughest funk of their generation! We'll be honest in saying that we'd only heard a few of the tracks here before – and our hats are off to BGP for taking this already-great series and making it go even deeper – far past familiar funk classics that usually get showcased on the label, and much more into the realm of the crate-digging underground, or the ebay-rarity stratosphere! A handful of cuts here are previously unreleased – never even issued on wax back in the day – and the rest are all pretty darn hard to find too, and all plenty darn great from a musical perspective. The package features a whopping 21 tracks in all – including a rare 1970 funky remake of "Twine Time" by Alvin Cash, plus "Home Brew" by Miles Grayson, "Just Sitting" by Smithstonian, "Can't Get Enough" by 87th Off Broadway, "Hi Off Life" by Eternal Flames, "Give Me Another Chance" by The Uniques, "Hold On" by Lorenzo Holden, "Free The Soul Man" by La May & Company, "Little Boy Blue" by The Phillips Brothers, "You'd Be Good For Me" by Jeanette Jones, "Who Done It? Who Drained The Pool?" by Big Daddy Green, "Low Rider (Deuce & A Quarter)" by Smokey Wilson, "Can't Buy Soul" by Hebrew Rogers, "Shake A Leg" by Jackie Wilson, "Face To Face" by The Explosions, and "Turn Around & Go" by Lee Bernard. LP, Vinyl record album
56
Atco/
Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound, the studio referenced in the title of the album, and presented in a wonderful cover image that has Cher standing outside the tiny facility with a host of legendary studio players that include Eddie Hinton, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Beckett, and Roger Hawkins! Sonny's also standing in the crowd in the photo, but he's as in the background as he is on this set – as Cher's singing alone in a soul-styled mode that's befits the setting of the album. Titles include a funky take on "I Walk On Guilded Splinters", plus "For What It's Worth", "Cry Like A Baby", "Save The Children", "Do Right Woman", and "Dock Of The Bay". Plus, the 2LP set features a huge amount of bonus tracks – 11 more numbers from a whole second Muscle Shoals album, but which was never issued – with titles that include "Momma Look Sharp", "Chastity's Song", "It Gets Me Where I Want To Go", "Easy To Be Hard", "I Believe", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", and "The First Time". LP, Vinyl record album
(180 gram clear & purple vinyl pressing. Includes the insert.)
57
Ujama/
A sweet set from the digital generation, but one that shows that the best spirit of the roots reggae years were alive and well in the music of a singer like Horace Ferguson! Horace has this gently grooving style that's mighty nice – up in the higher range of the spectrum, which almost seems to bring a more human, youthful quality to his presentation of the message-oriented lyrics – all backed with production from Prince Jazzbo, who keeps things nice and lean in a mix of rhythms, basslines, and keyboards! Titles include "Tranquilizer", "Tickle Me", "Hunts Bay", "Slave", "Gazuma", "Great Stone", and "Sensi Addict". LP, Vinyl record album
58
Beatsqueeze (France), 2024. New Copy ... $26.99 29.99
The second installment in the Videoclub – and like the first, a set of tracks that definitely lives up to the vintage action styles promised on the cover! The tracks are heavy on influences from classic crime, cop, and kung fu soundtracks – served up as shorter instrumental tracks that also make a nice nod to 70s sound library styles too – all with production that's totally great, and right on the money – so that the music never sounds too contemporary at all, and really has the spirit of analog funk from back in the day! Titles include "Trouble In Istanbul", "Bombay Sapphire", "Land Cruiser Radio", "Cairo City Limits", "High Voltage", "Golden VHS Awakening", and "She's An Agent". LP, Vinyl record album
59
Urban Discos (Japan), 2023. New Copy ... $8.99 29.99
The group's just a trio, but they've got a wonderfully full sound – a rich funky groove that comes from just drums, bass, and keyboards – yet which has this soaring reach that almost takes us back to the 70s genius of work on labels like Fantasy or Prestige! Drummer Toshiyuki Sasaki is a monster on the kit – snapping things into the groove from the very first note, and driven on strongly by the basslines of Shigeki Umezawa – while Mariko Nakabayashi warms things up in a wonderful way with all sorts of great keyboard solos – often in an electric piano mode, but sometimes with a wider sonic reach as well! The approach is a bit like the Indigo Jam Unit from years back, but maybe has some more classic touches as well – thanks to versions of cuts by Weldon Irvine, Manzel, and Deodato, all mixed in with the group's own music too. Titles include "Another World", "Space Funk", "Looking Back", "Inner Space", "La Ritournelle", "Skyscrapers", "Caught Up", "Nautical Table", and "We Getting Down". CD
60
No Mountain/
A record that's really out of time and place – a set that sounds nothing like most other material issued in 1980, and which also hardly shows any traces of the Louisiana roots of Will & James Ragar! Instead, the set's got this laidback style that's almost folk funk at times, especially the variant from the late 60s and early 70s – maybe a bit like the music of Alzo & Udine. Guitars are mostly acoustic, but warmed up in nicely smooth ways – not through commercial production, just by inflecting the proceedings with a knowledge of jazzier phrasing, which comes through in the vocals, piano, and occasional other instrumentation too. There's a warm, laidback approach to the record that's really beautiful – and titles include "As The Day Grows Tired", "My Shining Sun", "She's Laughter", "Melting Pot", "Needs", "Hidden Away", "Just A Wanderer", "Oregon", and "Parade". This reissue also adds in the bonus tracks "Forever" and "Bayou Paradise". LP, Vinyl record album
61
Fantasy/
Seminal work from this legendary duo – singers Martha Wash and Izora Armstead – better known by their later name as The Weather Girls, but already pretty darn great here as Two Tons! The pair first famously sang backup for Sylvester in the Bay Area, but quickly stepped out on their own, due to their vocal strengths – already full formed here, and given some mighty sharp studio help from supersoul producer Harvey Fuqua! Fuqua was really hitting his clubby style at this time, which really lets the girls' vocals soar – in a way that's similar to their later Weather Girls work, but maybe a bit more tied here to the Bay Area soulful style of the Fantasy Records scene. Titles include "Gone Away", "Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven", "Do You Wanna Boogie", "Just Us", "Got The Feeling", "Taking Away Your Space", and "One-Sided Love Affair". LP, Vinyl record album
62
Time Capsule (Japan), Late 1970s/
A really unique selection of Japanese reggae tracks from back in the day – and work that's very different than sounds from both the underground scene in Kingston, and the big wave of reggae hits on the major labels! The pace of many of these cuts has them moving in almost a lovers rock sort of mode – easygoing, warm, and with lots of soulful touches – often served up with instrumentation that echoes some of the city pop generation as well, although maybe a bit more down to earth, given the genre! You might almost think of these tunes as city pop reggae variants – mostly with female singers in the lead – and titles include "Hittin Me Where It Hurts" by Marlene, "Johannesburg" by Junko Yagami, "Coffee Break" by Miharu Koshi, "Tsukikage No Nagisa" by Miki Hirayama, "Music" by Chu Kosaka, "Lazy Love" by Izumi Kobayashi, and "Tenkini Naare" by Lily. LP, Vinyl record album
63
Assiko Golden Band De Grand Yoff —
Magg Tekki ... LP Mississippi, 2023. New Copy ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Glorious work from this Senegalese group – heavy on percussion of many styles, but equally heavy on vocals too – as the voices of the group members soar and unite during performance, mixing together with a style that's as joyous as it is rhythmic! There's a nice edge in production – recorded live, without the polish that often marred work of this nature during the world music boom decades back – and even the later addition of some saxes, kora, and effects does nothing to impair the liveness of the recording – on titles that include "Xarritt", "Baye Ndongo", "Borom Darou", "Mix Louange", "La Musique Du Coeur", "Sama Nene", and "Magg Tekki". LP, Vinyl record album
64
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science —
Soul Vibrations ... CD Om Records, 2008. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Soul Vibrations and eclectic hip hop groove from J Boogie's Dubtronic Science – featuring a stellar crew of guest MCs – J-Boogie's full length debut and another high quality album from Om Records! Soul Vibrations features a diverse roster of guests – including Lyrics Born, Zumbi of Zion I, The Rebirth, Crown City Rockers, Jrod Indigo, Jennifer Johns and more – on tunes that range from hazy Cali toasted hip hop soul, Latin, soul & jazz inflected numbers, dubbier funk, and elements of Afrobeat. Nice stuff with laidback beats, keys, often with horns in the mix – and the vocal guests bring their a-games. Titles include "Sweet Music" feat Tony Moses, "Revolution" feat Lyrics Born & The Mamaz, "Que Pasa?" feat Deuce Eclipse, "For Your Love" feat Zumbi of Zion I & Rothma, "Leave It Behind" feat The Rebirth & Aima The Dreamer, "Alive" feat Crown City Rockers & Jrod Indigo, "14U" feat Ohmega Watts & Regen Fykes, "Out To The Bay" feat Capital A & Aima The Dreamer, and more. CD
(Digipak has light wear.)
65
Jackson 5 —
Soul Source – Jackson 5 Remixes ... LP Motown/
What a great idea! The classic Motown work of The Jackson 5 is remixed and remade by a host of super-hip producers! The cuts really retain a lot of their Motown soul flavor, and the remixers do an excellent job of pulling out some of the best elements – like guitar riffs, piano lines, and drumbeats – while still preserving the original vocal direction of the songs. The new versions of the tracks are equally great – like Monday Michiru's version of "I Wanna Be Where You Are", which has sweet vocals from Monday, and some great Fender Rhodes work! Titles include "It's Great To Be Here" remixed by Kenny Dope, "ABC" redone Kayoko Kimura & The Fireflys, "Hum Along & Dance" remixed by United Future Organization, "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Shinichi Osawa, "I'll Be There" remixed by Small Circle Of Friends, and "I Want You Back" remixed by Kei Kobayoshi. LP, Vinyl record album
(Rare vinyl pressing – heavy cover and vinyl! Includes original hype sticker too. A great copy.)
66
Pleasurewood —
They Live ... LP Farfalla (France), 2023. New Copy ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Tight, spare, and mighty funky – a set of contemporary cuts served up in a sound library style, but with a lot more grit in the grooves than most! These guys really dig funky drums, heady basslines, and raw guitars – of the sort that makes some of these tracks feel a lot more like funky 45 instrumentals than you might guess from the cover – and which are mixed with a few more laidback tracks that make great use of keyboards too! The set's got an instrumental diversity that's great, but which also mostly sticks to the heavy funk side of the spectrum – on titles that include "The Gaffer", "Soul Bay", "Firework", "They Live", "Strobing Lights", and "Move". LP, Vinyl record album
67
Frank Foster & Frank Wess —
Two For The Blues ... CD Pablo/
A wonderful reunion of the team of Frank Foster and Frank Wess – caught here in an easy-going and laidback style that's miles away from their work with Count Basie! The youthful rhythm section of Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, and Marvin Smitty Smith really adds a lot to the set – giving the record a later sort of soul jazz vibe, one that's perfect for the pair to solo over in open-ended lines. Both Franks play tenor sax, and Wess plays flute and alto as well – while Foster does some excellent work on soprano sax. Titles include "Bay Street", "Two For The Blues", "But For The Likes Of You", "Nancy With The Laughing Face", "Your Beauty Is A Song Of Love", and "A Time For Love". CD
(BMG Direct pressing.)
68
Karin Krog & Bengt Hallberg —
Two Of A Kind ... LP Four Leaf Clover (Norway), 1982. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
One of the most darkly beautiful sessions ever recorded by vocalist Karin Krog – a batch of spare duets done with pianist Bengt Hallberg – in a way that offers both artists plenty of space to stretch out and do their thing! Karin's vocals are recorded with an echoey quality that only seems to further underscore the edge and emotion in her singing – and in addition to some very fluid acoustic piano, Hallberg also plays some electric keys on the set as well – often in a much more laidback, spacious sort of groove – one that creates a nice degree of juxtaposition as the tunes roll on. As usual with Krog at this point, there's a fair number of lesser-known tunes that really make the set great – including the John Surman compositions "Like That" and "The End Of The Day Song". Other titles include "Dear Bix", "You Must Believe In Spring", "Love Walked In", "Spring In Manhattan", and "I Ain't Here". CD features 2 previously unissued bonus tracks – "A Child Is Born" and "Cabin In The Sky". LP, Vinyl record album
(Japanese Baybridge pressing. Includes insert. Cover looks great, with just a small strip of adhesive residue on the opening.)
69
Timo Lassy & Jukka Eskola —
Nordic Stew ... LP Dox (Finland), 2024. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
We've loved the work of Timo Lassy and Jukka Eskola for many years – right back to when we first heard them in the Five Corners Quintet – and here, the players are reunited in a set that was recorded in New Orleans, and digs deep into that city's musical roots! Make no mistake, this isn't some hokey attempt to recreate a Nola sound – but just overseas musicians using the scene to really find new inspiration – as the tenor of Timo and trumpet of Jukka are matched with work from Delfeayo Marsalis on trombone, David Torkanowsky on keyboards, Roland Guerin on bass, and Herlin Riley on drums. A few tracks add in additional brass – and titles include "Cross Atlantic Connection", "At Leroys", "King Cake", "Duke Of Bayou", "Long Walk", and "Sweet Holler". LP, Vinyl record album
70
Little Richard —
King Of Rock & Roll ... LP Reprise, 1971. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
A much rootsier set than some of Little Richard's other work for Reprise Records – a record that almost goes back to the old days, but via the hipper styles of the early 70s! HB Barnum arranged and produced the set, but the groove is less funkier than some of Barnum's other work of the time – a bit more rockish in some of the rhythms and instrumentation, which is no surprise considering the title – with a nod back towards late 50s modes, but in that new-roots way that Warner was hitting with other artists of the period. Richard's vocals hold up very well in the setting – and apart from the original tunes "Green Power" and "King Of Rock & Roll", the album features versions of "Midnight Special", "Dancing In The Street", "Brown Sugar", and "Born On The Bayou". LP, Vinyl record album
(Tan label stereo pressing. Cover has surface wear.)
71
Various —
Country Funk 1969 to 1975 ... CD Light In The Attic, Late 60s/
A sweet little set that definitely aims to stake out its own little territory – with a groove that lives up surprisingly well to the title! The music here is way funkier than you might expect – and comes from a time when many popular singers were working in studios staffed by cats who were pretty darn cool – and had a great ear for picking up some of the best musical undercurrents from other scenes – including some of the best soul and funk that was really breaking out in the US at the start of the 70s! As a result, many of these tracks have unexpectedly funky rhythms at the bottom – way different than the kind of backings that you might have heard in country soul records from a few years before – and different too than the redneck rock that was becoming more popular with some of the bigger acts on the charts. You're bound to recognize a few bigger names here – as the set's not just country artists – and as usual, the Light In The Attic crew have done a stunning job of putting the whole thing together. Titles include "LA Memphis Tyler Texas" by Dale Hawkins, "Georgia Mountain Dew" by Johnny Adams, "Light Blue" by Bobby Darin, "I Wanta Make Her Love Me" by Jim Ford, "Hawg Frog" by Gray Fox, "Fire & Brimstone" by Link Wray, "Street People" by Bobby Charles, "Bayou Country" by Gritz, "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" by Johnny Jenkins, and "Studspider" by Tony Joe White. CD
(Out of print.)
72
Ahl Nana —
L'Orchestre National Mauritanien ... LP Radio Martiko (Belgium), Early 70s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
The sounds of the Sahara have been making big waves in recent years – but way back at the start of the 70s, this legendary group really set the scene with a set of key recordings done in Casablanca! Ahl Nana were some of the first to mix the electric guitar with more regional instrumentation – often with a sound that's relatively spare, and which really lets the fuzzy tone of the instrument mingle with percussion and chorus vocals from the rest of the group – all at a level that's maybe slightly less psychedelic than recent Saharan guitar work, but no less hypnotic overall! The whole collection is a real revelation, and brings together these lost recordings for the first time outside of Africa – with ten titles that include "Hob Mene", "Nahnou Sigharou El Ouatane", "Zeinab Moussa", "Bayna Daouali", "Emolli Tidwall Eherne", and "Yer Sabou Yerkoy". LP, Vinyl record album
73
Cher —
3614 Jackson Highway (with bonus tracks) ... CD Atco/
Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound, the studio referenced in the title of the album, and presented in a wonderful cover image that has Cher standing outside the tiny facility with a host of legendary studio players that include Eddie Hinton, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Beckett, and Roger Hawkins! Sonny's also standing in the crowd in the photo, but he's as in the background as he is on this set – as Cher's singing alone in a soul-styled mode that's befits the setting of the album. Titles include a funky take on "I Walk On Guilded Splinters", plus "For What It's Worth", "Cry Like A Baby", "Save The Children", "Do Right Woman", and "Dock Of The Bay". Plus, the CD features a huge amount of bonus tracks – 11 more numbers from a whole second Muscle Shoals album, but which was never issued – with titles that include "Momma Look Sharp", "Chastity's Song", "It Gets Me Where I Want To Go", "Easy To Be Hard", "I Believe", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", and "The First Time". CD
Also available 3614 Jackson Highway (180 gram pressing – with bonus LP) ... LP 29.9974
Martin Denny —
Exotic Percussion ... LP Liberty, Early 60s. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
It might be argued that Martin Denny's percussion was always exotic, but this album adds a bit more to the mix, by adding a whole bunch of strange Eastern instruments, all outlined in the notes on the back. The group includes Augie Colon, Julius Wechter, Harvey Ragsdale, and Frank Kim – all of whom play percussion on various tracks. Includes "My Tane", "Cumana", "Day Delight", "Monlight On The Ganges", and "Song Of The Bayou". LP, Vinyl record album
75
Little Richard —
King Of Rock & Roll ... CD Reprise/
A much rootsier set than some of Little Richard's other work for Reprise Records – a record that almost goes back to the old days, but via the hipper styles of the early 70s! HB Barnum arranged and produced the set, but the groove is less funkier than some of Barnum's other work of the time – a bit more rockish in some of the rhythms and instrumentation, which is no surprise considering the title – with a nod back towards late 50s modes, but in that new-roots way that Warner was hitting with other artists of the period. Richard's vocals hold up very well in the setting – and apart from the original tunes "Green Power" and "King Of Rock & Roll", the album features versions of "Midnight Special", "Dancing In The Street", "Brown Sugar", and "Born On The Bayou". CD
76
Stanley Turrentine —
Joyride (RVG remaster edition) ... CD Blue Note, 1965. Used ... Out Of Stock
A very successful album for Blue Note – and one that took the searing tenor sax of Stanley Turrentine and backed it with some boldly soulful arrangements from Oliver Nelson! Nelson was perfect at this sort of session – able to provide full backings that infused the record with energy, yet never dominated the space of the soloist – and Turrentine really rises to the occasion here, and matches the quality heard in similar Nelson sessions with Jimmy Smith, Lou Donaldson, and Cannonball Adderley! Other players in the core group here include Kenny Burrell and Herbie Hancock – but Stan's the main star of the set with his gutsy tenor lines, all blown beautifully in a way that points towards his later experiments in this mode. Titles include "Bayou", "Mattie T", "Little Sheri", and "River's Invitation" – and the CD features the bonus tracks "Gravy Train" and "A Kettle Of Fish". CD
77
Chuck Wayne —
String Fever ... CD Vik/
One of the livelier albums cut by guitarist Chuck Wayne – a player who's sometimes heard in some very mellow settings! This set's got Chuck's guitar in a variety of small groups throughout the session – with players that include Gene Quill on alto, Caesar Di Mauro on tenor, Don Joseph on trumpet, and Eddie Costa on vibes and piano – all well suited with a nice mix of modern small group styles, in a mode that's not unlike some of the sides that Joe Puma cut with Costa. There's a tightly arranged feel at some points, but a more laidback one at others – and Wayne's guitar rings out nicely in the mix, on tracks that include "Lover Man", "Rockabye Bay", "Body & Soul", "Snuggled On Your Shoulder", "Carmel", and "Love For Sale". CD
78
Wilson McKinley —
Spirit Of Elijah ... LP Voice Of Elijah, 1971. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
An obscure bit of Christian rock from the Seattle scene at the start of the 70s – but a record that's got a lot more to offer than just that unusual pedigree! Don't think "Jesus rock", think instead of some of the more laidback, open-minded singer/
79
John Zacherley —
Zacherle's Monster Gallery (clear with green swirl vinyl pressing) ... LP Crestview/
A classic album by one of the coolest cats to ever record a Halloween record – Philly TV figure John Zacherley, whose recorded career consists almost entirely of horror parody material! Zach's got a strong ability to emulate the kind of creepy figures in older horror films of the 30s and 40s – focusing mostly on their goofier sides, which are then used to present the album's whimsical horror-themed numbers, all set to jazzy backings by Gerald Alters! Imagine Bela Lugosi performing his different characters on a jazz vocal album, and you'll get part of the flavor of this classic – which includes the titles "Baying At The Moon", "Transylvania PTA", "Frank & Drac Are Back", "Coolest Little Monster", "Come With Me To Transylvania", and "Spider Man Lullaby". LP, Vinyl record album
80
Ernestine Anderson —
My Kinda Swing ... LP Mercury, Late 50s. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
Ernestine works her way through a set of bluesy tunes with a spot of jazz – with backing by Ernie Wilkins orchestra, with players that include "Hank Jones, Tate Houston, Yusef Lateef, Ernie Royal, and Clark Terry. Titles include "My Kinda Love", "See See Rider", "All My Life", "Mound Bayou", "I'll Never Be The Same", and "Black Moonlight". Nice stuff, in the manner of her other albums on Mercury from the time! LP, Vinyl record album
81
Les Baxter —
Fruit Of Dreams (Ports Of Pleasure/Capitol/
2 rare slices of exotica by Les Baxter – back to back on one CD! The first half of the set features material from the album Ports Of Pleasure – a dreamy exploration of south sea ideals that's got a more lightly drifting quality than some of Baxter's more percussive exotica albums, and which is awash in dreamy soundscapes penned by Les himself! The orchestrations are large and bold throughout – mixing strings and woodwinds almost in a soundtrack-y mode – but always with the light sense of interplay that makes Baxter's work so great. Titles include "Monkey Dance Of Bali", "Pearls Of Ceylon", "Tahiti A Summer Night At Sea", "Hong Kong Cable Car", "Tramp Steamer To Singapore", "Harem Silks From Bombay", and "Sidewalk Cafes Of Saigon". The Sacred Idol is a real standout set from the end of Les Baxter's run at Capitol Records – originally scored for a film that was never released, but a great set of tracks that more than stands strongly on its own! The theme here is a Mexican/
82
Classical M —
Bad Guys – The Complete Collection ... CD Lion, Late 60s. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Nothing "classical" about these guys – as Classical M is a really great psychedelic group from late 60s France, and one who add in an unusual array of sounds and styles to their music! As with other reissues on the Lion Productions label, this one's an overstuffed array of great tunes from a band who's really been lost to the shifting sands of time – brought back here in all their glory with 24 tracks recorded over their 3 year existence, all supported by a great set of notes on the tunes! Lyrics are often in English, and sung with a compressed quality that squeezes in nicely amidst the guitar – sometimes coming off with folksy touches, in an earnest and slightly experimental mode that's not unlike some of the work of the early Saravah crowd. Titles include "Once In A While", "Gog Demagog", "J'Ai Decide", "Pauvre Cobaye", "C'Est La Guerre", "Love Love Is There", "Bad Guy", "Such A Lovely Voice", "Once In A While", and "Le Romancier Tcheque". CD
83
Dumisani Maraire & Nyunga Nyunga Mbira —
Tichazomuona ... LP Nyami Nyami (France), 1986. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
An album from the 80s, but one with a very timeless vibe – as the set is heavy on mbiri work from Dumisani Maraire – recorded in a way that mostly just features vocals alongside the sparkling tones of the thumb piano! The mbiri is likely amplified here – as it's got a resonance and presence that you'd not find in a more standard recording – but the overall session is free of too-commercial polish or any sort of other instrumentation – as Dumiani and his family deliver these really beautiful lyrics by trading back and forth in a really classic way. Titles include "Tichazomouna", "Zanu Inokuperekedza", "Hande Kubasa", "Ndofa Ndichibayiwa", and "Mwandikanganwa". LP, Vinyl record album
84
Nautilus —
Revival ... LP Urban Discos (Japan), 2023. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
The group's just a trio, but they've got a wonderfully full sound – a rich funky groove that comes from just drums, bass, and keyboards – yet which has this soaring reach that almost takes us back to the 70s genius of work on labels like Fantasy or Prestige! Drummer Toshiyuki Sasaki is a monster on the kit – snapping things into the groove from the very first note, and driven on strongly by the basslines of Shigeki Umezawa – while Mariko Nakabayashi warms things up in a wonderful way with all sorts of great keyboard solos – often in an electric piano mode, but sometimes with a wider sonic reach as well! The approach is a bit like the Indigo Jam Unit from years back, but maybe has some more classic touches as well – thanks to versions of cuts by Weldon Irvine, Manzel, and Deodato, all mixed in with the group's own music too. Titles include "Another World", "Space Funk", "Looking Back", "Inner Space", "La Ritournelle", "Skyscrapers", "Caught Up", "Nautical Table", and "We Getting Down". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Revival ... CD 8.9985
Will & James Ragar —
Will & James Ragar One (with bonus tracks) ... CD No Mountain/
A record that's really out of time and place – a set that sounds nothing like most other material issued in 1980, and which also hardly shows any traces of the Louisiana roots of Will & James Ragar! Instead, the set's got this laidback style that's almost folk funk at times, especially the variant from the late 60s and early 70s – maybe a bit like the music of Alzo & Udine. Guitars are mostly acoustic, but warmed up in nicely smooth ways – not through commercial production, just by inflecting the proceedings with a knowledge of jazzier phrasing, which comes through in the vocals, piano, and occasional other instrumentation too. There's a warm, laidback approach to the record that's really beautiful – and titles include "As The Day Grows Tired", "My Shining Sun", "She's Laughter", "Melting Pot", "Needs", "Hidden Away", "Just A Wanderer", "Oregon", and "Parade". This reissue also adds in the bonus tracks "Forever" and "Bayou Paradise". CD
Also available Will & James Ragar One (with bonus tracks) ... LP 21.9986
Various —
Ost Kraut – Progressives Aus Den DDR Archiven 1976 to 1982 Tiel 2 ... CD Bear Family (Germany), Late 70s/
A second chapter of rare prog rock from the East German scene – material that's much more obscure than the bigger Krautrock names from the West – who got a lot more circulation at the time, and plenty of attention as the years moved on! That's definitely not the case with these artists – as much of the work here never made it past the Iron Curtain back in the day – and together, the tracks on the set not only showcase a very strong scene that was happening in the GDR, but also follow proggish inclinations that seemed to last a lot longer into the 80s than most of the work from Western Europe. The package is every bit as revelatory as the first volume – a double-length set with cuts from Karat, Bayon, Prinzip, Kleeblatt, Passion, ZOE Band, Karussell, City, Electra, Stern Combo Meissen, Lift, Transit, and many others we'd not heard before! CD
87
Capitol, 1950. Very Good ... $9.99
Legendary vocal work from the postwar years – some of the earliest recordings from the enigmatic Yma Sumac – an artist whose records really laid the groundwork for an entire generation of exotica records to come! Sumac's authenticity has been debated over the years – but there's no denying that she's got this incredible vocal range – a many-octave approach that almost makes her sound like a human theremin – as she works with exotic backings from Les Baxter to offer up a take on Peruvian roots, styled towards a 50s bachelor pad listener! Titles include "Xtaby", "Wayra", "Taita Inty", "Monos", and "Tumpa". LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono purple label pressing with deep groove. Cover has light surface wear and aging, some edge wear, and some writing in pen and a small tear at the opening in back.)
88
Lutoslawski —
Cello Concerto/Philips, 1987. Near Mint- ... Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Dutch pressing. Cover has a small sticker in back.)
89
Various —
Bolinus Brandaris – Flamenco From The Bay Of Cadiz (CD & book) ... CD Dust To Digital, 2023. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
A series of new recordings – different than the mostly 78-based music we know from the Dust To Digital record company – yet one that's presented in a format that's every bit as compelling as some of the other global projects from the label! The recordings were done in Cadiz, almost as an ethnographic project – with under-recorded flamenco artists in a very lean setting – as a way of showing that at a grass roots level, flamenco is still very much alive and has a very vibrant role in contemporary Spain – one that's maybe even more powerful here than in glossier studio recordings of the music. The package is great – a hardback book with 96 pages of images, photos, and writing on the music – with a CD that includes the selections "Rondena" by Jesus Guerror, "Saeta" by El Nino Del Parque, "Malaguena" by Ana Polanco & Victor Rosa, "Alegria" and "Buleira" by Trini & Juani De La Isla with Jesus Castilla, "Solea" by Jesus Catilla & Juani De La Isla, and "Seguiriya" by Pedrin De La Isla & Victor Rosa. CD
90
Various —
Boppin By The Bayou – Made In The Shade – Cool Tracks From Hot Wax – 28 Louisiana Dancefloor Fillers ... CD Ace (UK), 1950s/
Early rock, rhythm & blues and boogie woogie-fueled numbers from the late 50s and early 60s southern Louisiana and southeast Texas scenes– a real treasure trove of tunes in the Boppin' In The Bayou series from Ace Records! This one's pretty heavy with sax and piano-backed proto rock – dynamite tunes from forgotten heroes and a few legendary cats alike – with numbers by Frankie Lowery, a great early tune by Mickey Gilley, Gene Dunlap, Pee Wee Trayhan, Shelby Martin and many more. 28 tracks in all – and the titles include "Made In The Shade" by Gene Dunlap & Jokers, "TC Show" by Gene King & His Mecaton Band, "Baby Hurry Home" by Pee Wee Trayhan, "My Baby's Cheating On Me" by Mickey Gilley, "Ha Ma Man" by Warren Storm, "Me And My Baby" by Rick Johnson, "Cinderella" by Paul Marvin, "Rock & Roll Baby" by Bobby Wheeler & His B-Bops, "Somebody Knocked At My Door" by Arnold Broussard, "Little Cajun Girl" by Gene Rodrigue and more. CD
91
Various —
Street Sounds From The Bay Area – Music City Funk & Soul Grooves 1971 to 1975 ... CD BGP (UK), Early 70s. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Funk, soul and funky soul from the Bay Area – fantastic early-to-mid 70s numbers from the scene sprung from Ray Dobard's Music City Record Shops and label – numbers by Darando, Chucky Thurmon, Houston Outlaws, Kevin Burton, Benida Madison, Dry Ice, Victor Green, Love Uprisers, Soul Messengers and more! The artists nail a number of funky modes here – from raw, rumbling stripped down numbers to more grooving organ backed gems, both tightly snapping and loosely lumbering numbers, a bit of jazz funk and more – usually with powerhouse vocals. 17 tracks in all: "Just A Man" by Chucky Thurmon", "The Rock That Killed Goliath" by Al Tanner, "Is It Right" by Kevin Burton, "Time Flies" by Benida Madison, "A Lonely Place" by Bob Carson, "Eddie Boogaloo" by Love Uprisers, "Ruby Dee" by The Cookin' Bag, "Gimme Some (Version 1)" by Darando and more. CD
92
Polydor (Japan), 1973. Used ... $18.99
A slightly gentler album than the first Captain Beyond outing – but one that really has the group stretching out their wings wonderfully! The set's recorded both in Macon and Sausalito – and really has a vibe that indicates that mix – a core southern rock element, handled with the soulful undercurrents of early 70s Capricorn Records – but given some freer-thinking elements at times from the Bay Area scene! The drums power through nicely at some of the best points – but even the laidback tunes are pretty darn great – and we honestly never can understand why Captain Beyond weren't as big as some of their contemporaries from the southern scene. Titles include "Starglow Energy", "Evil Men", "Drifting In Space", "Bright Blue Tango", "Everything's A Circle", and "Voyages Of Past Travelers". CD
(Includes obi!)
93
Roundtable (Australia), 1972. New Copy ... $24.99 40.99
A previously unissued album from Indian guitarist Amancio D'Silva – recorded during his legendary run of work at Lansdowne Studios, but making its first-ever appearance here! The work on the set is every bit as far-reaching and progressive as some of D'Silva's official releases – and like those sides, this one does a tremendous job of blending complicated guitar lines, unusual rhythms, and some super-hip instrumentation! Amancio has a way of playing guitar that's a bit like Gabor Szabo – airy and exotic at times, with a free-flowing quality that's really explored nicely here on the longish tunes on the set. Players include Don Rendell on saxophone, Stan Tracey on piano, and Alan Branscombe on flute, vibes, and electric piano – but best of all is the use of sitar and tabla on the record – often employed sparingly, but in a way that adds some great echoes of Indian music. Titles include "A Street In Bombay", "What Maria Sees", "A Song For Francesca", and "Konkan Dance". LP, Vinyl record album
(Great pressing – in a cool flip-back cover – like a vintage album in the Lansdowne Series!)
94
Baystate/
A very unusual session for Carmen McRae – a live recording that features only her vocals and piano, on spare readings of a number of sophisticated songs that ably demonstrate the class and care she was bringing to her work at the time! The approach is quite different from some of the smoother, more soul-based records that McRae was cutting in the 70s – a very laidback, late nite sort of date that takes us right back to Carmen's earliest years on record – but with a 60s' worth of hipness thrown into the mix. She's still got some sense of poise on the tunes, but also brings up a slightly earthy undercurrent at points too – a relaxed, mature vibe that really fits the intimacy of the record. Titles include "The Last Time For Love", "More Than You Know", "I Can't Escape From You", "I Could Have Told You", "Please Be Kind", and "Supper Time". CD
Also available (Out of print 1986 Japanese CD pressing, includes obi.)
As Time Goes By – Live At The Dug ... LP 6.99
As Time Goes By – Live At The Dug ... CD 39.99
95
Baystate/
A very unusual session for Carmen McRae – a live recording that features only her vocals and piano, on spare readings of a number of sophisticated songs that ably demonstrate the class and care she was bringing to her work at the time! The approach is quite different from some of the smoother, more soul-based records that McRae was cutting in the 70s – a very laidback, late nite sort of date that takes us right back to Carmen's earliest years on record – but with a 60s' worth of hipness thrown into the mix. She's still got some sense of poise on the tunes, but also brings up a slightly earthy undercurrent at points too – a relaxed, mature vibe that really fits the intimacy of the record. Titles include "The Last Time For Love", "More Than You Know", "I Can't Escape From You", "I Could Have Told You", "Please Be Kind", and "Supper Time". CD
Also available (Out of print SHMCD pressing, includes obi.)
As Time Goes By – Live At The Dug ... LP 6.99
As Time Goes By – Live At The Dug ... CD 24.99
96
Columbia, 1970. Near Mint- ... $9.99
If you think you know Boz Scaggs, think again – because this early Columbia album features a whole different sound! The Scaggs here is a really loose and soulful one – as Boz steps out of the freewheeling late 60s Bay Area scene with a really wonderful take on blue-eyed soul – an approach that's clearly informed by the sound of The Rascals and some of the New York scene, but which also has some tasty California touches that really transform the mood. Boz vocals are pure and straightforward – and the instrumentation on the set has a tight, but laidback sort of feel – no surprise, as Boz' band of the time was really great. There's a real Free Soul sort of feel to the record – and tracks include "Moments", "Downright Women", "Painted Bells", "Alone Alone", "Near You", "We Were Always Sweethearts", "Can I Make It Last", and "We Been Away". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some ringwear, edge wear, and is bent at the bottom corners.)
97
Baybridge (Japan), Mid 40s. Near Mint- ... $4.99 14.99
Rare early material from singer Lee Wiley – pulled from a series of V-Disc recordings, with backing by the group of guitarist Eddie Condon! Players include Jack Teagarden on trombone, Bobby Hackett on trumpet, and Pee Wee Russell on clarinet. LP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 80s issue, with insert. Cover has minimal wear.)
98
Toshiko Akiyoshi —
Ten Gallon Shuffle (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD Baystate/
A hokey title and cover, but a great little record – a lesser-known gem from the Toshiko Akioshi big band, recorded in the mid 80s for Japanese release! Toshiko's still working strongly with reedman Lew Tabackin here – and as always, the sound of the reeds really make the record – not only on the bold ensemble passages, but also on the snakey, well-crafted solos that slide out of the fuller arrangements – letting Lew, Frank Wess, and Jim Snidero contribute some really great work on the longer tracks. Titles include "Ten Gallon Shuffle", "Fading Beauty", "Blue Dream", and "Happy Hoofer" – and in case you're wondering, that's a young Monday Michiru on the cover! CD
(2006 Japanese pressing in a cool textured cover – includes obi!)
99
Mott The Hoople —
Mott The Hoople ... LP Atlantic, 1969. Near Mint- Gatefold ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Seminal work from Ian Hunter and group – recorded in 1969, and a great harbinger for the sound of the 70s! Titles include "Rock & Roll Queen", "Half Moon Bay", "Rabbit Foot & Toby Time", "Wrath & Wroll", "Laught At Me", "Backsliding Fearlessly", and "You Really Got Me". LP, Vinyl record album
(Later UK pink rim label Island pressing in a Robor Limited cover.)
100
Eugene B Redmond —
Blood Links & Sacred Places – A Poetic Excursion Thru The Black Experience ... LP Black River Writers, 1973. Very Good+ Gatefold ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Righteous poetry and jazz from Eugene Redmond – aka Illu Gan Gan – a very spiritual figure from the early 70s Bay Area scene! The album was recorded live in the studio, in a style that has Redmond introducing his work, then moving into dramatic recitations backed up by small combo jazz instrumentation that includes guitar, percussion, and soprano sax. The feel is open and free, almost an African-American take on the beat poetry style of late 50s San Francisco – but with themes that are more righteous, and a bad-talking style that puts the record in the same sphere as contemporaneous work by Camille Yarbrough, Jayne Cortez, Wanda Robinson, and even Iceberg Slim. Titles include "Hummin Hookin & Cookin", "Sun Ritual", "Epigrams For My Father", "River Of Bones & Flesh & Blood", "The Edge Of Myself", and "All Athighed In Black". LP, Vinyl record album
(Early 00s Ikef reissue. Cover has some marks and remnants from price sticker removal.)
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