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

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

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

The final full album from the legendary Faces – a group who've got all their best elements sharply in focus here, in a way that really stands apart from the growing solo fame of Rod Stewart! Rod the god is still at the helm on vocals – and really sounds incredible – but the group energy of performance is what really drives things throughout – the vibe that makes you realize that these guys play together as well as they party together! Ronnie Wood is sublime on guitar, Kenny Jones tears up the drum kit, and Ronnie Lane's sense of timing holds the whole thing together beautifully. Titles include "Silicone Grown", "Cindy Incidentally", "My Fault", "Borstal Boys", "Glad And Sorry", "Just Another Honky", and the title track "Ooh La La" – which features Wood on lead vocals, and has maybe grown on to become one of the best-remembered Faces tracks over the years! LP, Vinyl record album

A posthumous collection of work from The Faces – a set of some of their best material from the early 70s, served up as a swan song to the great group who was bound to implode at some point in their career! Rod Stewart is amazing here – even more ferocious than on his own early solo work – and the Ronnies, Wood and Laine, are both superb – at a level that always has us trading our old Rolling Stones records for Faces albums – even at a ratio of three to one. Titles include "Cindy Incidentally", "Pineapple & The Monkey", "Flying", "Sweet Lady Mary", "You Can Make Me Dance Sing Or Anything", "Stay With Me", "Had Me A Real Good Time", "Silicone Grown", "Around The Plynth", "Miss Judy's Farm", and "Ooh La La". LP, Vinyl record album

A second set of abstractions on Brazilian references from Fachada – and like his first, a record that has a lean vibe overall, and a funky blend of keyboards, percussion, and some well-chosen guest instrumentation! The set is plenty soulful, but never too smooth – and although much of the instrumentation is electric, the acoustic touches here are key – and really reference a Brazilian style of production, without ever rehashing older territory at all. Titles include "Danca Das Cadeiras", "Bebidas Frias Noites Quentes", "Busca", "Recordacao", "For a Das Sombras", "Pegue", "Segundo Tiro", and "Madrugada Anjaulada". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that really has Fairport Convention knocking it out of the park – making a bold turn towards British traditional music, but in a way that imbues these relics with a whole new life of their own! The album came at a key turning point – after an accident that took one of their members, and which almost saw the group disband – but instead turn towards the past for even deeper inspiration than some of their contemporaries, whom they'd covered on other records – at a level that seems to set Sandy Denny free into this sublime territory of her own! Denny's vocals are incredible – like a thing unlocked from some ancient vault – and they're given this wonderful focus through the growing complexity of Richard Thompson's guitar work, and the understated brilliance of Ashley Hutchings' bass – both of which bring in these modal inflections that are very 60s, and hardly conceived of as accompaniment with the original tunes. The result is tremendous – tunes that are completely transformed, as a touchstone for generations. Titles include "Matty Groves", "Reynardine", "Come All Ye", "The Deserter", "Tam Lin", and "Crazy Man Michael". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that really has Fairport Convention knocking it out of the park – making a bold turn towards British traditional music, but in a way that imbues these relics with a whole new life of their own! The album came at a key turning point – after an accident that took one of their members, and which almost saw the group disband – but instead turn towards the past for even deeper inspiration than some of their contemporaries, whom they'd covered on other records – at a level that seems to set Sandy Denny free into this sublime territory of her own! Denny's vocals are incredible – like a think unlocked from some ancient vault – and they're given this wonderful focus through the growing complexity of Richard Thompson's guitar work, and the understated brilliance of Ashley Hutchings' bass – both of which bring in these modal inflections that are very 60s, and hardly conceived of as accompaniment with the original tunes. The result is tremendous – tunes that are completely transformed, as a touchstone for generations. This great double CD version includes a bonus disc of alternate studio takes and BBC sessions – 17 tracks on 2CDs! CD

A rare early Blue Note album by guitarist Tal Farlow – pre-Verve material that's really wonderful, and which shows that Farlow was already one of the freshest jazz guitar talents of his generation! The record has a cool 2-guitar frontline, played by Farlow and the obscure Don Arnone – with a sound that's very different from Farlow's other work, decidedly more modernist and edgey – almost in the territory of some of the Gil Melle Blue Note recordings, filled with rich colors and tones. The only other instrumentation is bass from Clyde Lombardi and drums from Joe Morello – the latter of whom sounds great here in a pre-Brubeck appearance. Titles include "Tina", "All Through The Night", and "Splash" – and the cool original cover will make your eyes pop out with delight! LP, Vinyl record album

The legendary Charlie Feathers is best known as one of the rawest rockers on the Memphis scene of the 50s – but during the decade, he cut some of his best work for King Records in Cincinnati – a label who captured the dynamic energy of Charlie with the same skill they brought to their R&B work at the time! These sides are completely smoking – arguably some of the best recordings that Feathers cut during this initial burst of activity – work that we'd stand side by side next to some of the best that Sun Records has to offer – and by that, we'd even include some of the famous giants on that label! Both Charlie's guitar work and vocals are wonderfully distinct – and titles include "When You Decide", "Too Much Alike", "One Hand Loose", "Bottle To The Baby", "Everybody's Loving My Baby", "Can't Hardly Stand It", "Nobody's Woman", and "When You Come Around". CD

A brilliant later album from The Feelies – ultimately something of a swan song, serving as what many thought would be their final album! Time For Witness shows The Feelies as a band, much to their credit, assured enough in their legacy as avant rock innovators to be able to deliver the goods with a bit of subtlety – with layered guitar interplay and a sneaky melodic sensibility that's layered in a way that you hear something new years later. We've loved this underrated set for A&M for a couple decades and STILL feel like we learning from it! Includes "Waiting", "Time For A Witness", "Sooner Or Later", "Decide", "For Now", "What She Said", a cool cover of The Stooges classic "Real Cool Time" and more. CD

A stunning start to the 80s from Fela Kuti – and a record that has the Egypt 80 band cooking every bit as strongly as Africa 70! The album's got this massively cooking vibe right from the start – fast-running, fast-riffing rhythms that are peppered with horns at the beginning of "Original Sufferhead", which then lay back for a nicely weird tenor solo, and some great keyboards too! "Power Show" is great too – with more other-worldly energy, and a vibe that almost makes it feel like Sun Ra has joined the band – and decided to deliver a solo on one of those weird keyboards of his! The arrangements are amazingly tight, and a bit more sophisticated than usual – and the whole thing grooves wonderfully. LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning start to the 80s from Fela Kuti – and a record that has the Egypt 80 band cooking every bit as strongly as Africa 70! The album's got this massively cooking vibe right from the start – fast-running, fast-riffing rhythms that are peppered with horns at the beginning of "Original Sufferhead", which then lay back for a nicely weird tenor solo, and some great keyboards too! "Power Show" is great too – with more other-worldly energy, and a vibe that almost makes it feel like Sun Ra has joined the band – and decided to deliver a solo on one of those weird keyboards of his! The arrangements are amazingly tight, and a bit more sophisticated than usual – and the whole thing grooves wonderfully. LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool collection of cuts that were originally issued as 7" singles in recent years, but which work perfectly together here as a full length set that introduces the world to the deeply funky talents of Kevin Finigier! Kevin hails from Argentina, but has a deep love of American soul and funk, particularly the 60s variant that was big in the UK mod scene – and here, he serves up some wicked grooves that may well be some of the best contemporary work in this mode we've heard for years! The production is nice and gritty – really back at the level of the indie funky 45 scene from back in the day – and the set mixes instrumental numbers that have a wicked sharp explosion of sounds with some heavy vocal tracks that are equally nice. The Kevin Fingier Collective deliver the cuts "Addis Ababa", "Sunglasses After Dark", "El Basement", "Latin Dynamite", and "Cocktail De Medianoche" – and other tracks include "I Love Without A Love" by Jo Ann Hamilton, "Why Don't You Go Home" by Diane Ward, "Um Brilho Novo" by Josi Dias, "Kairo Bancou Moulu" by Abdoulaye Badiane, and "Don't Wanna Cry No More" by Gerri Granger. CD

A real genre-defying record from the contemporary London scene – a set produced by Shabaka Hutchings, and done with that post-jazz vibe that's really been creeping into his music in recent years! There's a very strong hip hop component to the record at times – thanks to key appearances from Billy Woods, Elucid, Anthony Joseph, and others – but the album also has an instrumental focus at the core, with work from Alex Hawkins on piano, Ross Harris on reeds, Daisy George on bass, and Jas Kayser on drums – players who work with lots of production and processing, so that their contributions are often abstracted into part of a richer, darker whole. Kofi Flexx is less of an artist than a process, as described in the notes – and that process is very strongly at work here – on titles that include "It Was All A Dream", "Apothecary", "Increase Awareness", "Aim", "Fire", "Babylon Dun Topple", "Flowers In The Dark", "By Now", and "Show Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A later Motown Christmas session – recorded by The Four Tops in the mid 90s with a decidedly modern soul take on the sounds of The Holiday! Most of the numbers are traditional tunes – both secular and spiritual – and the group's producing their own work throughout the set. Aretha Franklin joins on 3 tracks, and titles include "Christmas Here With You", "This Christmas", "The Christmas Song", "Silent Night", "Twas The Night Before Christmas", "Little Drummer Boy", and "Christmas Delight". CD

Genius live work from tenor saxophonist Jonas Kullhammar – working here in trio formation with bass and drums, freely creating on the fly – and evoking the power of Sonny Rollins live classics for Blue Note and RCA! We've raved elsewhere on these pages about Kullhammar's tone and musical vision on the tenor – but it steps out even more strongly on this set, thanks to firm support from drummer Daniel Fredriksson and bassist Torbjorn Zetterberg – who both match Jonas' inventive energy on the record. As with Sonny Rollins Vanguard recordings for Blue Note, there's a tremendous depth of spirit and sound here, and one record is not nearly enough to capture the scope of talent – which is why we're happy they've decided to issue 3 albums worth of material from this date! Titles on this first volume include "One Down One Up", "Have Horn Will Blow", "Apex", and "Blessing In Disguise". CD

Genius live work from tenor saxophonist Jonas Kullhammar – working here in trio formation with bass and drums, freely creating on the fly – and evoking the power of Sonny Rollins live classics for Blue Note and RCA! We've raved elsewhere on these pages about Kullhammar's tone and musical vision on the tenor – but it steps out even more strongly on this set, thanks to firm support from drummer Daniel Fredriksson and bassist Torbjorn Zetterberg – who both match Jonas' inventive energy on the record. As with Sonny Rollins Vanguard recordings for Blue Note, there's a tremendous depth of spirit and sound here, and one record is not nearly enough to capture the scope of talent – which is why we're happy they've decided to issue 3 albums worth of material from this date! Titles on this second volume include "Inchworm", "Sweet Georgia Bright", "J Blooz", "You Don't Know What Love Is", and "Oleo". CD

Very groovy stuff! If you're not familiar with The Free Design, they were a cool easy/jazzy vocal group from the late 60s/early 70s, and they had a sound that was somewhere between The Four Freshmen and The Carpenters, and which also owed a lot to some of the Brazilian vocal groups of the 60's, like Grupo Manifesto or the Quarteto Em Cy. But over and above cool easy vocal harmonies, the group also wrote some pretty keen tracks that had a weird slightly-psychedelic bent to them. We're not saying that they were dropping acid or anything, but imagine what would happen if Karen and Richard Carpenter got their hands on Brian Wilson's stash, and spend the afternoon messing around in his studio – and you'll begin to get part of the picture. Loads of groovy cuts, including "I Found Love", "Bubbles", "2002 – A Hit Song", "My Brother Woody", "You Could Be Born Again", and a cool version of "A Man & A Woman". CD

One of the wildest of the classic Free Design albums, and one that will leave you scratching your head – thinking that these guys were either the biggest acid freaks around, or the most simplistic kiddie-minded adults you'll ever meet! We don't know what got into the water in the studio on this one, but the group are really expanding their minds here – taking on some groovy-as-groovy can be material – all with the sweet mixture of harmony vocals, easy instrumentation, and hippie-era naivete! The titles alone state the case – with tunes that include "Stay Off Your Frown", "Bubbles", "Kije's Ouji", "That's All, People", and "Butterflies Are Free" – plus a great cover of "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head". LP reissued on nice heavy vinyl, with a sweet gatefold cover! LP, Vinyl record album

Massively beautiful pop tunes by this incredibly harmony group! The Free Design have a sound and approach that's like nobody else – and at the end of the 60s, they looked over their shoulder, saw dozens of harmony groups who'd been working before them, and decided to strip the sound down and recraft it with child-like innocence. No wonder they've been a huge influence on loads of today's groovy bands – and on you too, we're sure, after you hear such dreamy tunes as "Butterflies Are Free", "Kites Are Fun", "You'll Be You & I'll Be Me", "Stay Another Season", "Happy Together", "Time & Love", "Like To Love", and "When Love Is Young". CD

A wealth of piano trio material from the west coast scene of the 50s and early 60s – tracks pulled not only from long-lost albums by pianists Russ Freeman, Richard Twardzik, Jimmy Rowles, and Clare Fischer – but also even more obscure recordings that only appeared on Pacific Jazz collections! The scope of the package is really tremendous – as it begins with some of the first Pacific Jazz trio sides by Russ Freeman and Richard Twardzik – both done during their years with Chet Baker – then runs through Jimmy Rowles' full album Rare But Well (recorded for Liberty in 1954), a variety of shorter trio sessions by Freeman and Rowles, and Clare Fischer's early trio sides – First Time Out (1962) and Surging Ahead (1963). And as always with Mosaic, the whole thing's incredibly well done – put together with tremendous care in both the mastering and notes, so that the whole thing's not just some happy accident in jazz. 51 tracks, 3CDs, and beautiful throughout! CD

An insane classic from one of the wildest funk bands ever! According to reports, George Clinton and the band cut this set in a marathon 48-hour stretch in the studio – working like mad all night and day long, after dropping a motherlode of some mighty fine acid! We don't know if that story's entirely true, but the music on the album certainly backs it up – as it's some of the band's freest, most open-ended, most heavy-jamming work ever recorded! Guitars dominate over funky bass and drums – and the whole thing's an amazing blend of music, swirled together into a non-stop psychedelic party that includes P-Funk gems like "Funky Dollar Bill", "Free Your Mind", "Eulogy and Light", and "I Wanna Know If It's Good To You". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure little quartet session from Red Garland – recorded with Les Spann on both guitar and flute, caught at a time when he was just starting to make waves on the New York scene! The presence of Spann gives the record a decidedly different feel than most of Garland's work on Prestige – as the hollow-body guitar tones bring some much bluesier inflections to some of the tunes, offset by more chromatic runs that really illuminate others. Red's own piano is still wonderfully soulful, and presented here with a pointed sense of economy on some numbers – and rhythm is by Sam Jones on bass and Frank Gant on drums. Titles include "Marie's Delight", "This Can't Be Love", "Blues For News", "I Just Can't See For Looking", and "Solar". CD

Beautiful early work from John Coltrane – recorded in the sensitive company of the Red Garland trio, and with Donald Byrd joining in on trumpet on the frontline! The tracks are longish and open – a bit more directed than the average blowing session numbers, but done with some of the similar spirit that Coltrane and Byrd both brought to those outings. The greatness of Coltrane's tenor needs no introduction at this point, but let us just say that the interplay with Garland is nicely subtle – and rounded with some great shades of soul. Titles include "Soft Winds", "Solitude", "Undecided", "Two Bass Hit", and "What Is There To Say". CD

Rare early work for Savoy Records – originally 78rpm material, compiled here into a full album! Titles include "I Cover The Waterfront", "Love Walked In", "Indiana", "Somebody Loves Me", "Penthouse Serenade", "Undecided", "Red Sails In The Sunset", and "More Than You Know". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Pure bossa magic – and a wonderful illustration of why the early music of Joao Gilberto was so tremendous! (Actually, all of his music is tremendous, but that seems to be especially the case here!) The tracks are all fantastic – breezy, breathy, and almost effortlessly sung throughout – songs that drift in air almost of their own accord, yet also manage a gently rhythmic groove that's probably the best definition of the style of bossa that you could ever hope to find! Most numbers feature acoustic guitar upfront in the mix alongside the vocals, plus a bit of light percussion – and even when there's fuller orchestrations on the record, they're used spaciously and gently – often with some nice jazzy inflections. Titles include "Briga Nunca Mais", "Ho Ba La La", "Rosa Morena", "Bim Bom", "Lobo Bobo", "E Luxo So", "Aos Pes Da Cruz", "Saudade Fez Um Samba", and "Desafinado". This CD edition includes 3 bonus tracks, from Cantando As Musicas Do Film Orfeo De Carnaval – "A Felicidade", "Manha De Carnival" and "O Nosso Amor". CD

Two very different groups – both presented in unissued performances recorded on the same day in Copenhagen during the spring of 1959! First up is the Jimmy Giuffre trio with some tremendous guitar from Jim Hall – a key player who really helped Jimmy find that airy, open approach on his Atlantic Records gems at the end of the 50s – working here with just the bass of Buddy Clark for accompaniment. Giuffre mostly plays modern clarinet, in that famous style of his, but also handles a bit of tenor – on titles that include "Time Machine", "Careful", "The Little Melody", and "Song Of The Wind". And speaking of clarinet, that instrument gets a nice workout on the Gene Krupa tracks – as does tenor and flute, all handled by Ed Wasserman – who plays in a Krupa quartet that also includes Ronnie Ball on piano and Jimmy Gannon on bass. The music has that open, lively small combo vibe that marked some of Gene's best 50s sessions for Verve – and titles include long takes on "Undecided" and "Flamingo" – plus a 25 minute reading of "Sing Sing Sing". CD

A pair of great Jerry Goldsmith soundtracks – back to back on a single CD! Shock Treatment is a soundtrack that's as great as you might guess from the title – penned for a psycho-thriller, and done with a slight bit of "shock" in the music – not really electricity, but these odd tones that have a cool spacey feel at the best moments – similar to some of the ways that Goldsmith could work real magic with acoustic instrumentation on some of his sci fi scores. Even the more standard passages are pretty great – tense, and a real cut above the usual of the time. CD features bonus tracks added to the soundtrack – with titles that include "Broken Glass", "Home Work", "Night Scene", "Nelson's Seduction", "Another Treatment", "Hot Money", and "Nelson's Escape". Fate Is The Hunter has a decidedly different feel – kind of cool and gentle, almost watery at times – with an undercurrent of jazz that almost reminds us of some of Johnny Mandel's best soundtracks of the time! Titles include "Forest Scene", "Night Scene", "Moon Fish", "The Room", and "Fate Is The Hunter". CD

"I am not a number! I am a very groovy LP!" This collection features work from the classic Prisoner TV show of the 60s – starring Patrick McGoohan – and featuring the main theme by Ron Grainer, plus assorted incidental music by A Elms and W Josephs. The whole thing's set up in a progression of bits from episodes that include Arrival/Chimes, Free For All, The General, Dance Of The Dead, Many Happy Returns, and Once Upon A Time. CD

The legendary meeting of two of the greatest jazz violinists ever! Stephane Grappelli was one of the best-recorded European jazz artists by the time of this 1965 album – and here, he gets the chance to play with Stuff Smith, an American talent on the instrument who was decidedly less well-known, but every bit as great (actually, far better, and more expressive, at least in our book!) Steph and Stuff play with backing by a French rhythm section that includes Rene Urtreger, Michel Gaudry, and Michel Delaporte – and tracks include "S'posin", "Skip It", "Blues In The Dungeon", and "This Can't Be Love". CD

The story of Guided By Voices – a group who labored in the American underground for quite some time before finding big fame – a story that makes the group's success far more interesting than most! The book details all the work and time that Robert Pollard put into getting the group going, and finding the right path forward – and Pollard cooperated heavily with the author, so that his voice is every bit as much a part of the book as that of James Greer. This softcover edition features a black and white photo section in the middle, and some great discographical details at the end – including solo and side projects too. 319 pages. Book

The group's first, with production courtesy the great Gary Katz, who's put a fine touch on many Steely Dan LPs. While we were a bit dismissive of this effort at the time, it's kind of become a bit of a watershed in retrospect, the high water mark for the American Acid Jazz scene, if a bit commercial, and definitely a nice portrait of the mid 90s NYC scene, with loads of great players from all over the spectrum. Titles include "El Gollpe Avisa", "Buddah Head", "Nerd", "Balimka", "Rentstrike", and "Saturday Afternoon". CD

One of the most unusual groups we've heard from the Lagos scene of the 70s – a combo who definitely have a bit of funk in their style, but also a pretty trippy sound too – one that seems to draw from some of the headier sounds in the UK from a few years before – maybe folk-funk, touched with a bit of acid guitar – set to basslines that groove nicely on some of the album's best tracks – in a way that nicely offsets the unusual vocals! The whole thing's pretty trippy – even when funky – maybe more like some of the Zamrock funk of the period, but very much its own thing too – with tracks that include "Grottic Depression 1", "Change Of Tide", "Doomed", "Funk From Mother", "Grottic Depression 2", and "Bad Times". CD

One of the most unusual groups we've heard from the Lagos scene of the 70s – a combo who definitely have a bit of funk in their style, but also a pretty trippy sound too – one that seems to draw from some of the headier sounds in the UK from a few years before – maybe folk-funk, touched with a bit of acid guitar – set to basslines that groove nicely on some of the album's best tracks – in a way that nicely offsets the unusual vocals! The whole thing's pretty trippy – even when funky – maybe more like some of the Zamrock funk of the period, but very much its own thing too – with tracks that include "Grottic Depression 1", "Change Of Tide", "Doomed", "Funk From Mother", "Grottic Depression 2", and "Bad Times". LP, Vinyl record album

A really burning record from the Venezuelan scene at the height of its musical growth – and an album that seems to echo the blend of Latin and rock styles that were happening on the American west coast at the time – but with a nicely different vibe! Guitars and keyboards come into play with plenty of percussion and jazzy instrumentation – and the result is a sound that's wonderfully funky at times, and also compressed in a way that's different from the longer jams of some of US groups. Yet there's also all these weird little twists and turns – that almost-experimental vibe that you'll hear in Venezuelan groovers from the period – great surprises along the way, on titles that include "Caliente", "Amor Y Felicidad", "Escandalo", "Semilla", "Vete", "Sinfonia Numero 20", and "No Te Olvides Del Senor". LP, Vinyl record album

A great lost date from the wonderful Gigi Gryce – a set that features the altoist in an sextet, but often swinging with a looser vibe than on some of his better-known albums from the 50s! There's a mix of soulful and modern here that's not unlike the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet – both players of Gryce's same postwar generation, and coincidentally recording for Mercury at the same time. Although the groove here is definitely different – less emphasis on the bottom, and more on the top – not just Gryce's wonderfully raspy alto, but also the trumpet of Richard Williams too. All other players are great as well – and Eddie Costa brings in some sweet vibes – in a lineup that also features Richard Wyands on piano, and either Reggie Workman or George Duvivier on bass, and either Walter Perkins or Bob Thomas on drums. Tracks include "Reminiscing", "Gee Blues Gee", "Blue Light", and "Night In Tunisia". CD

A great lost date from the wonderful Gigi Gryce – a set that features the altoist in an sextet, but often swinging with a looser vibe than on some of his better-known albums from the 50s! There's a mix of soulful and modern here that's not unlike the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet – both players of Gryce's same postwar generation, and coincidentally recording for Mercury at the same time. Although the groove here is definitely different – less emphasis on the bottom, and more on the top – not just Gryce's wonderfully raspy alto, but also the trumpet of Richard Williams too. All other players are great as well – and Eddie Costa brings in some sweet vibes – in a lineup that also features Richard Wyands on piano, and either Reggie Workman or George Duvivier on bass, and either Walter Perkins or Bob Thomas on drums. Tracks include "Reminiscing", "Gee Blues Gee", "Blue Light", and "Night In Tunisia". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the hippest records to ever come out of the Newport series of recordings! Side one of the set features some groundbreaking early work from Cecil Taylor – in a quartet that includes Steve Lacy on soprano sax, Buell Neidlinger on bass, and Dennis Charles on drums – one of the most modern lineups that must have played at Newport at the time! The tracks – "Johnny Come Lately" and "Nona's Blues" – must have really shook up the Newport audiences, so much so that the remainder of the record, on side two, must have seemed traditional by comparison. Yet that side is decidedly modern too – and features work by the Gigi Gryce-Donald Byrd Jazz Lab – with Byrd on trumpet, Gryce on alto, and Hank Jones on piano. Tracks are tightly arranged, but with strong soulful soloing – perhaps some of the best the group ever recorded. Titles include "Batland" and "Splittin". CD

One of the hippest records to ever come out of the Newport series of recordings! Side one of the set features some groundbreaking early work from Cecil Taylor – in a quartet that includes Steve Lacy on soprano sax, Buell Neidlinger on bass, and Dennis Charles on drums – one of the most modern lineups that must have played at Newport at the time! The tracks – "Johnny Come Lately" and "Nona's Blues" – must have really shook up the Newport audiences, so much so that the remainder of the record, on side two, must have seemed traditional by comparison. Yet that side is decidedly modern too – and features work by the Gigi Gryce-Donald Byrd Jazz Lab – with Byrd on trumpet, Gryce on alto, and Hank Jones on piano. Tracks are tightly arranged, but with strong soulful soloing – perhaps some of the best the group ever recorded. Titles include "Batland" and "Splittin". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the best material from Gambian psych funk pioneers Guelewar – a double-length collection, pulled from stellar albums of the late 70s and early 80s! Guelewar's got a really great sound here – one that brilliantly blends heavy, hypnotic rhythms, passionate vocals, swirling guitars and psychedelic organ grooves – all to create really unique vibe, and more than worthy of the legendary fame the group's gotten over the years! You might know Guelewar from their earlier work in the Supreme Eagles and Super Alligators – both great groups who prefaced the material here – infusing regional traditions with western funk, soul, and psych – to create a wicked groove that eventually evolved into the Guelewar sound! Titles include "Sama Yaya Demma N'Darr", "Sunu Makaan", "Ya Mom Samaray", "Njarama", "Tasito", "Wollou", and "Kele Fasane". CD

Detroit's Guilty Simpson teams up with Philly producer Small Professor – with appearances by Boldy James, Statik Selektah, AG, Castle & Euclid – plus remixes by DJ Revolution & Zilla Rocca. Production wise, it's got a lot a dense beats and off-kilter, though walloping percussion – with eerie synths and other elements giving it a foreboding vibe. It's a nice fit for Guilty's tough, no nonsense flow, and the titles include "Get That Pay (Scooby Mix)", I'm The City" feat Boldy James & Statik Selektah, "It's Nuthin" feat AG, On The Run" feat DJ Revolution, "Go" feat Castle & Elucid, "Get That Pay (OG Mix)", "The Easiest Way (Remix)" and the vinyl bonus track "Go (Zilla Rocca Remix)". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the trippiest work ever issued by New Zealand's Peter Gutteridge – music that's much more spare and spooky than his work with The Clean and The Chills – and which has a freaky fuzzy quality that's somewhere in a space between Suicide and Spacemen 3! The album was originally only issued on cassette, and has a sound that's perfect for that format – stark and somewhat distorted – with vocals that are nicely muddy, and slip right down in alongside the fuzzy guitar – sometimes joined by other voices, but always with a murky, muddy quality that's totally great – reflective of that excellent late 80s generation who embraced distortion, fuzz, and psych – but took the music to much deeper, darker territory than some of the cleaner bands from a few years before. Titles include "Lonely", "Hang On", "Ocean", "Cause Of You", "Rubout", "Planet Phrom", "Having Fun", "First Instrumental", "Exhibition 2", "Fifty Seven Seconds", and "Chinese Garden". LP, Vinyl record album

A near-lost session from pianist Al Haig – playing in an unusual (for him) format that features piano, guitar, bass, and drums! Haig's piano is recorded with a style that makes it a bit echoey – using the space of the studio in a way that seems to hang the notes in air a bit more, creating a sound that's got lots of nice blue undertones. The guitarist on the set is Benny Weeks, and he's mostly playing rhythm – and the rest of the group features Teddy Kotick on bass and Phil Brown on drums. Tracks are all relatively familiar – a mixture of evergreens and bop standards – but they're played by the group with an evocative quality that's got some nice rough edges. Titles include "You Go To My Head", "Woody N You", "The Man I Love", "Stella By Starlight", "Undecided", and "Tea For Two". CD

A real lost slice of work from the career of Chico Hamilton – recorded for the short-lived Dig label, owned by R&B artist Johnny Otis in the mid 50s! The group here is slightly different than Hamilton's quintet that recorded for Pacific Jazz – in that it's got a sound that's a bit less arranged, and which often opens up into some more freewheeling jazz styles at times. Buddy Collette and Jim Hall are on the session from Chico's regular group – and Buddy's really the co-leader of the set, and contributed some fantastic original tunes that are perfect for his colorful work on reeds. And the group's also got Curtis Counce on bass and Gerald Wiggins on piano – bringing a decidedly heavier groove to the record than on most 50s Hamilton work – one that's topped off by the trumpet of John Anderson, often muted but still powerful enough to make its presence known on the set. Titles include the Collette originals "It's You", "Green Dream", "Jungle Pogo Stick", "Tanganyika", and "A Walk On The Veldt" – plus other session originals "And So Is Love", "Wagnervous", and "The Blindfold Test". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Hard Meat are a group with a name that's a bit misleading – you might guess some sort of Spinal Tap-ish posturing hard rock act – but instead, these guys have a really moody kind of quality that mixes plenty of acoustic instrumentation in with some more progressive electric passages – all at a level that almost makes you feel like these guys started out as a folk group, but one who wanted to jam a lot more in the end! Guitar and vocals are handled by Mick Dolan – a superb instrumentalist, and a compelling singer – and the other two members of the group include Steve Dolan on bass and Mick Carless on drums and percussion – both players who use acoustic elements as much as their guitarist. The blend almost makes you feel as of Joe Boyd had decided to record a prog album for Island – and titles include "Universal Joint", "Run Shaker Life", "Through A Window", "Yesterday Today Tomorrow", and "Time Shows No Face". LP, Vinyl record album

Originally recorded and released only in Japan, and finally out now in the US – this is one of Johnny Hartman's greatest recordings, and perhaps his strongest jazz session ever! The backing is fantastic, and Johnny's deep voice opens up to new depths on this batch of standards all interpreted by Coltrane. The 'Trane reference is not incidental, either, because Johnny really hits a new level on this material, and breaks out of his usual sleepy style of singing, into a more free, more modal groove. Titles include "Summertime", "Nature Boy", "Violets For Your Furs", and "On Green Dolphin Street". CD

A really wild record, and one that's filled with odd analog electronics, taken to some very trippy territory! Titles include the side-long "Cannabis Sativa" – plus "Methedrine" and "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-swinging work arranged and conducted by a young Neal Hefti – already showing a great flair here for a bouncy tune and the kind of "punch" that later made him a huge hit with Count Basie! Tracks include "Sure Thing", "Uncle Jim", "It's a Happy Holiday", "Lake Placid", "Why Not", and "Two For a Nickel Three For a Dime". LP, Vinyl record album

If this is reality, lead us onward – as the set is a mindblowing batch of trippy psych-funk from The Heliocentrics – even more offbeat and experimental than before, in ways that make the combo the true heirs to the legacy first begun by Stark Reality! The album's definitely funky at the core, but it's also filled with loads of amazing sounds – instruments tuned weirdly, played weirdly, and produced weirdly – so that over the heavy drums, there's often lots of freaky, fuzzy bits and tripped-out sounds – in ways that make the record feel like some lost acid trip outtakes from the Westbound studios of the early 70s – or like some obscure funk band that dropped acid at Andy Warhol's loft! The packaging offers up a visual example of what your ears will be going through when you tune into the music – and titles include "Mysterious Ways", "Collateral Damage", "Black Sky", "Calabash", "Path Of The Black Sun", "Mr Owusu I Presume", "Eastern Begena", and loads of cool interlude tracks too. CD

If this is reality, lead us onward – as the set is a mindblowing batch of trippy psych-funk from The Heliocentrics – even more offbeat and experimental than before, in ways that make the combo the true heirs to the legacy first begun by Stark Reality! The album's definitely funky at the core, but it's also filled with loads of amazing sounds – instruments tuned weirdly, played weirdly, and produced weirdly – so that over the heavy drums, there's often lots of freaky, fuzzy bits and tripped-out sounds – in ways that make the record feel like some lost acid trip outtakes from the Westbound studios of the early 70s – or like some obscure funk band that dropped acid at Andy Warhol's loft! The packaging offers up a visual example of what your ears will be going through when you tune into the music – and titles include "Mysterious Ways", "Collateral Damage", "Black Sky", "Calabash", "Path Of The Black Sun", "Mr Owusu I Presume", "Eastern Begena", and loads of cool interlude tracks too. CD

If this is reality, lead us onward – as the set is a mindblowing batch of trippy psych-funk from The Heliocentrics – even more offbeat and experimental than before, in ways that make the combo the true heirs to the legacy first begun by Stark Reality! The album's definitely funky at the core, but it's also filled with loads of amazing sounds – instruments tuned weirdly, played weirdly, and produced weirdly – so that over the heavy drums, there's often lots of freaky, fuzzy bits and tripped-out sounds – in ways that make the record feel like some lost acid trip outtakes from the Westbound studios of the early 70s – or like some obscure funk band that dropped acid at Andy Warhol's loft! The packaging offers up a visual example of what your ears will be going through when you tune into the music – and titles include "Mysterious Ways", "Collateral Damage", "Black Sky", "Calabash", "Path Of The Black Sun", "Mr Owusu I Presume", "Eastern Begena", and loads of cool interlude tracks too. LP, Vinyl record album

You probably know the music – as the record got a lot of press when it came out – but in case you don't, some tracks feature Herbie Hancock and Christian McBride backing Joe up, and others have Eliane Elias and Oscar Castro-Neves. Titles include "Boto", "Felicidade", "Passarim", and "Photograph". CD

Early solo work – with titles that include "The Man Who Invented Himself", "Brenda's Iron Sledge", "Do Policemen Sing", "The Lizard", "Acid Bird", "Meat", "Out Of The Picture", "Love", "City Of Shame", and "I Watch The Cars". LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the most tripped-out music ever from The Holy Modal Rounders – and that's saying a lot, given the nature of the group! This unique early album on ESP features two side-long tracks – both of which are mini-suites of sort, and filled with odd sounds, weird themes, and a strange mixture of hippie instrumentation and sci-fi experimentation! The group for the record is a quartet – with the core combo of Peter Stampfel on violin and vocals and Steve Weber on guitar, augmented by playwright Sam Shephard on drums and Lee Crabtree on piano and organ – plus extra vocals from the trio of Antonia, Barbara, & Wendy. The music is in the best free-thinking style of other rock on the ESP label in the 60s – and titles include "Jimmy & Crash Survey The Universe" and "The Second-Hand Watch". LP2 features Live In 1965 – Some of the earliest music ever from The Holy Modal Rounders – a rare live performance from 1965, recorded at the Chess Mate nightclub in Detroit, and featuring only the duo of Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber! The music here is a bit more folksy and a bit less trippy than some of the Rounders' later recordings, but it still shows a decidedly left-field approach – not just in the subjects of the tunes, but also in the way the guitar, banjo, and fiddle are used – almost as additional voices at times, instead of conventional folk instrumentation. Titles include "Crowley Waltz", "Black Eyed Suzy", "My Mind Capsized", "Fishin Blues", "Rum Mountain", "Random Canyon", "Skin Game", "Indian War Whoop", and "Flop Eared Mule". LP, Vinyl record album

Banging acid house tracks from Mike Hitman Wilson. 12-inch, Vinyl record

Banging acid house tracks from Mike Hitman Wilson. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A great selection of some of Bobbi's funkiest tracks for Blue Note – with a focus on the tunes that have been big with the sample crowd over the past decade, all of which (no coincidence, thinks us!) are produced by the great Larry Mizell! Tracks include "Harlem River Drive", "San Francisco Lights", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "My Little Girl", "Blacks & Blues", and "Please Set Me At Ease". Great funky flute and breezy keyboards – and every cut's a gem! CD

A great little set from Leroy Hutson – proof that he was still going strong through all his years at Curtom! The vibe here is a bit different than his first few records, and you might be suspicious with Leroy wearing a disco shirt on the front – but the sound is wonderful, and only shows Hutson blossoming into a more sophisticated singer, songwriter, and producer – one with a great ear for the careful balance needed for the modern soul generation! The shift is a bit like Roy Ayers on his late 70s work for Polydor – and Hutson is definitely on a par with Ayers in our book – we'd always put the two side by side for the strength of their work in the 70s. Seminal tracks include "So Nice" and "Right or Wrong" – both of which are amongst some of his best work ever – and other tracks include "Unforgettable", "Funk In My Life", and "Lonely Without You". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderfully expansive album from The Incredible String Band – initially performed as a stage project with the Stone Monkey dance troupe, and featuring the ISB at their most evocative and creative! Some tunes have a darker, sinister undercurrent – that link between the band and the acid folk underground – but others are more hippy dippy, with playful touches that still seem to have this undercurrent of evil somehow – an offbeat quality that really marks the special way that British groups like this were taking folk in very odd directions at the time – never losing sight of roots, but still never having the sense of optimism or indulgence of American acts. The double-length set has loads of especially nice instrumental moments – both acoustic and electric – and titles include "Bridge Song", "El Wool Suite", "The Juggler's Song", "Bad Sadie Lee", "Partial Belated Overture", "Walking Along With You", "Invocation", and "Robot Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A special single issued to coincide with the over-hyped release of Michael's Dangerous album – featuring "Jam" from that record, plus the real treasure: a Masters At Work remix of "Rock With You" – one that features all the great bits of the original, plus some nice house inflections for the dancefloor! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... CD

An assortment of tracks recorded by Jobim during his classic years – featuring an assortment of "convidados", or guests, that rank among some of the best Brazilian artists of the time! The set brings together work from many corners of Jobim's work for Universal, Philips, and Verve – and titles include "Chovendo Na Roseira" and "Aguas De Marco", done with Elis Regina; "Pra Dizer Adeus" and "Luiza", done with Edu Lobo; "Por Toda Minha Vida" and "A Felicidade", done with Nelson Riddle; "Saudade da Bahia" done with Dorival Caymmi; and "Tema De Amor Por Gabriela" done with Gal Costa. CD

One of the greatest soundtracks ever – a record that set a whole new standard for audio representation of a film! The mad music for the set was composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Vincius De Moraes – and performed by Luiz Bonfa on guitar – but despite such prime bossa pedigree, the whole thing's got a sound that goes way beyond the familiar – a crazy mix of batucada percussion, samba rhythms, bossa guitar, and loads of sound effects from the film – so much so that the first half of the record is almost a sound-for-sound replication of the first 20 minutes of the movie! The sound collage is amazing – an extremely unique approach to soundtrack representation, and one that's never been done so beautifully since. A truly breathtaking record, filled with mindblowing sounds – and an early example of the genius that would explode in 60s music in Brazil. Some key bossa classics are represented here in early versions – including "Felicidade", "O Nosso Amor", and "Manha De Carnaval" – but they're wrapped up in odd sounds and rhythms that really make them sound different! Plus, this CD also includes a 13-minute medley of tracks from the score, performed by Bola Sete at the 1966 Monterey Jazz Fest! CD

One of the greatest soundtracks ever – a record that set a whole new standard for audio representation of a film! The mad music for the set was composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Vincius De Moraes – and performed by Luiz Bonfa on guitar – but despite such prime bossa pedigree, the whole thing's got a sound that goes way beyond the familiar – a crazy mix of batucada percussion, samba rhythms, bossa guitar, and loads of sound effects from the film – so much so that the first half of the record is almost a sound-for-sound replication of the first 20 minutes of the movie! The sound collage is amazing – an extremely unique approach to soundtrack representation, and one that's never been done so beautifully since. A truly breathtaking record, filled with mindblowing sounds – and an early example of the genius that would explode in 60s music in Brazil. Some key bossa classics are represented here in early versions – including "Felicidade", "O Nosso Amor", and "Manha De Carnaval" – but they're wrapped up in odd sounds and rhythms that really make them sound different! LP, Vinyl record album

2 of Boogaloo Joe's best and rarest albums on one CD – guitar jazz funk at its best! First up is Boogaloo Joe – a killer session of funky guitar jazz, and the record that gave Ivan "Boogaloo" Joe Jones his nickname! The set's a full-on wailer that really blows away Joe's first two on Prestige – breaking out ouf the box with a killer lineup that includes Rusty Bryant on tenor, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Sonny Phillips on organ – all working with Joe's incredibly tight guitar lines to craft some wicked tunes that take soul jazz firmly into the sound of the 70s! Titles include "Boogaloo Joe", "People Are Talking", "Dream On Little Dreamer", and "Atlantic City Soul". Right On Brother is next – and is Ivan's first truly sublime album – a set that showed the world that he was easily one of the greatest jazz guitarists of his generation – able to spin out single-note jams with a speed and dexterity that few others could match! The groove here is totally great and very righteous – heavy drums from Bernard Purdie, wailing organ from Charles Earland, and saxophone from Rusty Bryant – all cooking together in the best early 70s Prestige jazz funk mode! Titles include "Right On", "Brown Bag", "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", and "Poppin". CD

Proof that Elvin Jones wasn't just riding on the laurels of the Great One during his years with John Coltrane – as the album's a breakout date that has Jones firmly establishing his own voice in jazz! There's an explosive power here that makes us think that Elvin must have really just been biding his time with Coltrane – waiting for the chance to try out his own new ideas in music, and finding the perfect accompanists here in a trio that includes Jimmy Garrison on bass and a young Joe Farrell on tenor, soprano sax, and flute! The lack of a piano in the group really makes for a sense of new freedom that's totally great – not dreamy, melodic piano-less work, as in some of the LA groups of earlier years – but a searing, soaring intensity that Farrell was a perfect choice to head up. And while the format might serve to be an excuse for Coltrane-styled blowing, the approach here is decidedly not – a more focused, energy driven approach that really makes strong use of Jones' work on the drum kit, throbs with soulful undercurrents from Garrison's bass, and is topped off by angular, effortlessly-blown lines from Farrell – clearly pointing the way towards a generation of players that would emerge in his wake during the 70s. Tracks include "Village Greene", "Reza", "Kei Ko's Birthday March", and "Sweet Little Mama". CD

Proof that Elvin Jones wasn't just riding on the laurels of the Great One during his years with John Coltrane – as the album's a breakout date that has Jones firmly establishing his own voice in jazz! There's an explosive power here that makes us think that Elvin must have really just been biding his time with Coltrane – waiting for the chance to try out his own new ideas in music, and finding the perfect accompanists here in a trio that includes Jimmy Garrison on bass and a young Joe Farrell on tenor, soprano sax, and flute! The lack of a piano in the group really makes for a sense of new freedom that's totally great – not dreamy, melodic piano-less work, as in some of the LA groups of earlier years – but a searing, soaring intensity that Farrell was a perfect choice to head up. And while the format might serve to be an excuse for Coltrane-styled blowing, the approach here is decidedly not – a more focused, energy driven approach that really makes strong use of Jones' work on the drum kit, throbs with soulful undercurrents from Garrison's bass, and is topped off by angular, effortlessly-blown lines from Farrell – clearly pointing the way towards a generation of players that would emerge in his wake during the 70s. Tracks include "Village Greene", "Reza", "Kei Ko's Birthday March", and "Sweet Little Mama". CD

If you've only heard George Jones in later years, when he was the king of the heartbreaking ballad, you'll find plenty here to discover – as his early recordings for Starday Records are something else entirely – and almost have George hitting a rockabilly mode at times! This set's got some of Jones' best early singles for the Texas label, plus some overlooked gems – wrapped together to offer a wonderfully vibrant picture of a superstar in the making – already a singer with a voice that few folks could match, equally well-suited to catchy upbeat numbers and some of the more heartfelt tracks that offset things nicely. Titles include "Accidentally On Purpose", "Tall Tall Trees", "No Money In This Deal", "Too Much Water", "If I Don't Love You", "Why Baby Why", "Eskimo Pie", "How Come It", "Accidentally On Purpose", "Hold Everything", "Maybe Little Baby", "Rock It", "Mexican Boogie", "Gonna Come Get You", "Taggin Along", "That's The Way I Feel", and "You Gotta Be My Baby". CD

More greatness than usual for Duke Jordan – thanks to the presence of Charlie Rouse on tenor and Richard Williams on trumpet! Titles include "Truth", "Tall Grass", "Sultry Eye", and "Undecided Lady". CD

A classic bit of London funky guitar from Ronny Jordan – the heir apparent to Grant Green and Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones – and one of the best new players of his generation! The set takes the older funky guitar styles of the 60s soul jazz generation, and fuses it with a 90s nujazz approach – to come up with some tight groovers that have a surprisingly classic feel, yet which also sparkle with the fresher sounds of the time – some of the hip rhythms that were bubbling around in London during the Talking Loud and early Acid Jazz years. Titles include a great remake of "So What", the jazz/hip hop classic "Get To Grips", and the cuts "Cool & Funky", "Summer Smile", "Show Me", "Nite Spice", and "After Hours". CD

One of the wildest sets ever recorded by Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki – and that's saying a lot, given some of his other work! The vibe here is fusion, but with a definite 80s spacey twist that's hinted at by the cover – as Kawasaki handles most of the instruments himself, mixing his cool guitar lines with keyboards, rhythm patterns, and other elements – all in a wonderful wave of sound, almost similar to some of the Japanese electronic instrumental work of the time, but still very jazz-oriented overall! Titles include a nice reading of "Concierto De Aranjuez" – plus "Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo", "Introduction From Schelomo", "A Felicidade", "Marilyn", "Mercy Of The Dragon", "Hawaiian Caravan", and "Twilight Song". LP, Vinyl record album

A record that's definitely got plenty of layers, as Khalab works with a different collaborator on just about every track – which makes for a nicely varied vibe throughout the album! Tunes are often upbeat, but more complicated than clubby – layered with a nice sense of sound that has the collaborators' contributions shifting through subtle sonic patterns as the record moves on – in a lineup that includes "Romantic Loco" with Tenderlonious, "Drone Ra" with Yazz Ahmed & Alessi Obino, "Acid Vaccine" with Clap Clap, "Layers" with Joshua Idehan, "Mental Coach" with Gabin Dabire, "Female Side" with Tommaso Cappellato, and "Tunnel Of Jealousy" with Lady Blue Eyes. LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Zooming At The Zombie", "Front And Center", "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Undecided", "Prelude For Trumpet", "Revolutionary Etude", and "Blue Skies" – 22 tracks total. CD

The title definitely gets it right on this one – as the set's about as perfect a collection of Eartha Kitt's work as you could ever hope to find – a surprisingly huge batch of music that not only includes familiar hits and holiday classics, but also some unusual rare bits as well! At 22 tracks, the package is hardly an accidental collection of Kitt's music for RCA – and instead, it's really well-chosen, and thoughtfully put together – with remastering from the first generation session masters, and some liner notes that offer great insight to Eartha's music. Titles include "Je Cherche Un Homme", "I Want To Be Evil", "Mink Schmink", "Let's Do It", "C'Est Si Bon", "Just An Old Fashioned Girl", "Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell", "Thursday's Child", "Angelitos Negros", "Lovin Spree", "The Blues", "The Heel", "Santa Baby", "Proceed With Caution", "Uska Dara", "Under The Bridges Of Paris", "My Heart Belongs To Daddy", "Monotonous", "I Wantcha Around", "Lilac Wine", and "Annie Doesn't Live Here Any More". CD

Titles include "Ida, I Do", "Undecided Now", "I'm Busy And You Can't Come In", "When The World Is At Rest", "Concentratin' On You", "Hello Bluebird", and "Rebecca Came Back From Mecca". CD

A record that really has Alexis Korner stretching out from the straighter blues of his 60s material – using his fantastic style on a set of tunes that show as much New Orleans influence as you might guess from the title – but also an evolved British roots rock quality too! The group is very interesting – relatively lean, and with loads of saxophone solos from Mel Collins – the reedman who made some early 70s King Crimson albums so great – plus second guitar from Peter Thorup, who also adds a bit of slide, and makes for a strongly guitar-based groove amidst some of the slightly funky rhythms. Titles include "Gospel Ship", "Lo & Behold", "County Shoes", "Don't Change On Me", "Rock Me", and "Sweet Sympathy". LP, Vinyl record album

The sound of Kraftwerk, updated for a whole new generation – almost as if the quartet had decided to show all the folks in 80s electro soul and the world of Detroit techno that they could still do things better than anyone else! The result is a set of fresh 1991 remixes of classics – still fortunately spare enough to retain all the charms of the originals, but sometimes with the groove picked up a bit for more contemporary dancefloors! Titles include "The Robots", "Computer Love", "Pocket Calculator", "Autobahn", "Radioactivity", "Trans Europe Express", "Metal On Metal", and "Music Non Stop". CD