Terry Callier's first album for Cadet – and the kickoff of one of the greatest three album runs that any soul artist ever recorded! This one's got a different feel than the later two, as it takes songs by Terry, and structures them with these little musical "segue" tracks in between every song, done in a sparer folksy style that recalls Terry's roots in the Old Town scene in Chicago. At the time, Terry was making the transition from folk artist to soul singer – and he'd been picked up by Jerry Butler and The Dells as a promising young songwriter, one of the best talents of the second generation of Chicago soul stars. The record's a stripped-down affair that features a small group with Charles Stepney on harpsichord and organ, Callier on guitar, and backing vocals by Minnie Riperton, Shirley Wahls, and Kitty Haywood. The album kicks off with Terry's great little pop ditty "Ordinary Joe" – probably the catchiest song he ever wrote – then rolls into more somber titles like "Occasional Rain", "Do You Finally Need A Friend", "Golden Circle", and "Blues For Marcus". A totally unique album – and a prime example of the genius that was coming out of Chicago at the time! CD

Possibly the greatest album ever by the legendary Chicago soul singer Terry Callier! Terry's rich mellow voice is mixed with superb arrangements from the Cadet studio team, with Charles Stepney at the head, and the result is completely sublime. The songs are longer than on earlier albums – and spun out with a complex groove that mixes equal parts of jazz, folk, and soul with the soaring spiritual vibe that was running through the Chicago scene at the time. The first side alone is the stuff that legends are made of – with classic tracks like "Dancing Girl", "What Color is Love", and "You Goin' Miss Your Candyman" all in a row, sewn together in a wash of love, soul, and emotion that you'd be hard pressed to find on any other album from the time. Other tracks include "I'd Rather Be With You", "Just As Long As We're In Love", and "You Don't Care" – and the whole album's a masterpiece beyond compare! CD

Possibly the greatest album ever by the legendary Chicago soul singer Terry Callier! Terry's rich mellow voice is mixed with superb arrangements from the Cadet studio team, with Charles Stepney at the head, and the result is completely sublime. The songs are longer than on earlier albums – and spun out with a complex groove that mixes equal parts of jazz, folk, and soul with the soaring spiritual vibe that was running through the Chicago scene at the time. The first side alone is the stuff that legends are made of – with classic tracks like "Dancing Girl", "What Color is Love", and "You Goin' Miss Your Candyman" all in a row, sewn together in a wash of love, soul, and emotion that you'd be hard pressed to find on any other album from the time. Other tracks include "I'd Rather Be With You", "Just As Long As We're In Love", and "You Don't Care" – and the whole album's a masterpiece beyond compare! LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Forget Dionne Warwick, and think Burt Bacharach – because on this sublime little set, The Dells are singing some of Burt's greatest tunes ever – all set to impeccable arrangements by the legendary Charles Stepney! The album's more wonderful than you might even expect – a true high point in the career of all parties involved – and a tremendous recasting of Bacharach's original brilliance – taking his key compositions into the most sophisticated styles of the Chicago soul scene in the 70s! There's a sense of timing and phrasing here that's quite unique – hardly simple covers of Dionne Warwick's approach to these hits – and Stepney's backings feature his own Fender Rhodes, guitar from Phil Upchurch, percussion from members of The Pharoahs, and some fuller horns, harp, and strings. The Dells are equally great too – and serve up some of the best vocals of their career – really magnificent harmonies, and soaring solo parts that seem to even go beyond their best-known hits. Titles include "Walk On By", "Trains & Boats & Planes", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Wives & Lovers", "Close To You", "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "This Guy's In Love With You", "Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head", and "A House Is Not A Home". CD

Forget Dionne Warwick, and think Burt Bacharach – because on this sublime little set, The Dells are singing some of Burt's greatest tunes ever – all set to impeccable arrangements by the legendary Charles Stepney! The album's more wonderful than you might even expect – a true high point in the career of all parties involved – and a tremendous recasting of Bacharach's original brilliance – taking his key compositions into the most sophisticated styles of the Chicago soul scene in the 70s! There's a sense of timing and phrasing here that's quite unique – hardly simple covers of Dionne Warwick's approach to these hits – and Stepney's backings feature his own Fender Rhodes, guitar from Phil Upchurch, percussion from members of The Pharoahs, and some fuller horns, harp, and strings. The Dells are equally great too – and serve up some of the best vocals of their career – really magnificent harmonies, and soaring solo parts that seem to even go beyond their best-known hits. Titles include "Walk On By", "Trains & Boats & Planes", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Wives & Lovers", "Close To You", "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "This Guy's In Love With You", "Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head", and "A House Is Not A Home". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning set from the mighty mighty Dells – a cool collaboration with the legendary arranger Charles Stepney and songwriter Terry Callier – and a record that shows just how far the group had come since their streetcorner harmony days! The vocals are incredible – that rich blend of deep notes and soaring highs that made The Dells one of the most technically amazing soul groups in the 70s – and Stepney's arrangements follow in the same mode as his work for their Dionne Warwick album, and his music for Minnie Riperton and Ramsey Lewis – with lots of groovy currents on the bottom and soaring strings on the top – sophisticated, but completely soulful too – at a level that nobody else can touch! Terry Callier wrote the original tunes "The Love We Had Stays On My Mind", "Freedom Means", "Melody Man", "Free & Easy", "Rather Be With You", and "It's All Up To You" – and the set also includes great remakes of "One Less Bell To Answer", "Make It With You", and "If You Go Away/Love Story". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Pure genius from The Dells – one of the few older vocal groups who could really change and evolve their sound – not by losing anything from their roots, and instead getting better and better with each new release! This set's a perfect example of why The Dells were the pinnacle of sophisticated group soul at the start of the 70s – as they still have all the dynamics of their roots, with a tremendous blend of individual voices and range – but they also work with very hip arrangements and production, courtesy of the amazing Charles Stepney – who allows them to sound funky, righteous, and completely sublime! The mix of message and meaning is wonderful throughout – the record's as much a mature statement of pride as the best coming from Philly International at the time – and titles include "Ain't No Sunshine", "Closer", "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation", "Stand Up And Show The World", "Soul Strollin", "Glory Of Love", and "Love Can Make It Easier". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Charles Stepney arranged, and Bobby Miller arranged and produced, with the great psychedelic soul sound that the Dells were using at the time. 2 tracks from the Always Together LP, here on an original 45! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Funky! "I Want My Momma" is an excellent little psychedelic soul cut – with hard drums at the beginning, echoey production, and some nice fuzzed-out guitars! Charles Stepney arranged, and the track's got stunning Cadet sound to it! "Always Together" is more standard, but features incredible harmonies from the band, who are in tip-top-tip shape at this point! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A very cool 2LP, Japanese-only pressing of Musical Menu – one that features lots of bonus material, and a different set list than the original album! There's lots of great arrangements here from Charles Stepney, who makes the whole thing a real Cadet studios masterpiece! The sound's a bit like some of the Rotary Connection albums put together under Stepney's supervision – but given that the group is the Dells, the vocals are much much better, with a much stronger soul component – and fused with some incredible musical arrangements! Titles include "If You Don't Move I'll Fall", "You Don't Care", "Stand Up & Show The World", "Always Together", "Hallways Of My Mind", "Does Anybody Know I'm Here", "Don't Make Me A Storyteller", "I Hear Voices", "I Wish It Was Me You Loved", "Strung Out Over You", "I Miss You", "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation", and "Good Bye Mary Anne". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Great stuff! "Wear It On Our Face" is one of their wildest cuts, and starts out with this crazy prepared piano introduction that sounds like it was just lifted from a John Cage record! 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the coolest collaborations between the mighty Dells and the great arranger Charles Stepney – a studio talent who really brings some magic to their fantastic harmonies! Stepney adds in all these amazing touches to the record – including John Cage-styled prepared piano on two tracks, and plenty of soaring orchestrations that really up the power of the group's sound! Titles include the wonderful progressive tune "There Is", a great long remake of "Stay In My Corner", and the cuts "Wear It On Our Face", "The Change We Go Through", "Higher & Higher", "Close Your Eyes", "Run For Cover", "Love Is So Simple", "Oo I Love You", and "When I'm In Your Arms". LP, Vinyl record album

Original Cadet single of this stunning soul track, which was the title cut of their great album from 1968. Heavenly harmonies, and nice psychedelic Chicago soul production. 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the excellent Chess Records session that Lou Donaldson recorded in between his two different stretches on the Blue Note label – a small combo date that has a soulful take on the style of his early 60s Blue Note material – with a killer group that includes the mighty Herman Foster on piano, plus Sam Jones on bass, Richard Landrum on congas, and a young Idris Muhammad on drums – listed here when he was still named Leo Morris! Titles include "Relaxing In Blue", "Herman's Mambo", "Pazzing Zone", and "The Wheeler Dealer". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Lou's more unique sides of the 60s – as the album features him as the main soloist over arrangements by a group headed up by Oliver Nelson. As has been ably demonstrated on many sides on labels like Verve, Impulse, and Capitol – there's no better talent than Nelson for taking a strong soulful player, and putting him into a context that will let him solo at his best, and not be overwhelmed by the band. There's some nice organ in the group, and titles include "Tippin In", "Back Talk", "Huffin N Puffin", and "Ignant Oit". LP, Vinyl record album

A very unusual album from this vocalist – proof that Frank D'Rone was always more interesting than most of his contemporaries! The set features soulful backings from Richard Evans, arranged by Johnny Pate – who really gives things more of a groove than usual – on titles that include "Bluesette", "It's A Beautiful Evening", "Little People", "Think I Will", "Make Me Rainbows", and "Mandy Is Two". LP, Vinyl record album

Madly tripped out guitar funk – and a real turning point in the career of guitarist Eddie Fisher! Eddie began his career as a straighter guitarist on the St Louis scene – and although his first album for Cadet was a relatively traditional soul-jazz outing, this one's a wild batch of tripped-out guitar licks! The band's a fuzzy psychedelic one – not in a rock-styled way, but more in an early George Clinton kind of mode, with plenty of rumbling bass at the bottom, warm electric piano lines, nicely placed drum beats, and Eddie's fuzzbox guitar snaking and wah wah-ing over the top! Eddie arranged and produced, and the record's a perfect batch of kicked-back stoner funk numbers that go on and on and on and on! Titles include "Land Of Our Father", "Beautiful Things", "East St Louis Blues", "Another Episode", "Either Or", and "Jeremiah Pucket". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing album by the great guitarist Eddie Fisher – and completely unlike his later funk records! Eddie plays stripped down jazz with a small combo that includes organ by Robert Selby, bass by Paul Jackson, and some rhythm guitar by Phil Westmoreland – and the twin-guitar approach creates this super-dope style that's light years ahead of its time, with a sophistication that points the way to later mid 70s work on labels like CTI and Kudu! Eddie's guitar work is an incredible exercise in spareness and soulfulness – best heard on the fantastic "Third Cup", a long drawn-out jazz stepper that's got to be heard to be believed. The cut's been a favorite on the Chicago jazz stepper's scene for years – and it alone is worth the price of the album. However, the record features some other wonderful stuff – like a sublime version of "Shadow Of Your Smile" that runs for a bubbling 12 minutes – plus the originals "Shut Up", "Scorched Earth", and "Two By Two". LP, Vinyl record album

One of three rare Chess Records sessions recorded by Chicago pianist King Fleming – a great player who was part of the same big generation and Ramsey Lewis and Ahmad Jamal – and was supposedly a big influence on the latter! Every one of Fleming's records are a bit different – and this set features a combo with William Cochran on drums and Melvin Jackson on bass – who'd later go on to great fame with Eddie Harris. Arrangements are by Fleming and Will Jackson – and original titles include "Darn It", "Riff A Plenty", "Walk Softly", and "Weary Traveler". LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous work from an alto player with a very unique conception – a player who was unlike Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, or some of his precursors on the instrument – and instead really took off in bold new directions, like Lou Donaldson or fellow Chicagoan Sonny Cox in the mid 60s! Bunky's got a very sharp edge on his horn – one that's deft and skillful, but never too boppish. Instead, he really uses space and timing to carve out a new sort of groove – one that's punctuated slightly by the rhythms of the combo, but which also firmly takes its cue from Bunky's own forcefully blown horn. Players here include Cleveland Eaton on bass, Willie Pickins on piano, and Harold Jones on drums – and titles include "Playin For Keeps", "Mi Compasion", "Brazilano", "Mama Looka Boo Boo", and "What Can I Do". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work from Al Grey – one of the most soulful trombonists of his time – all pulled from the Chess/Argo albums Last Of The Big Plungers, Snap Your Fingers and Al Grey Billy Mitchell Sextet LPs! Easily some of Grey's hippest work – with players who include Billy Mitchell on tenor, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Floyd Morriss and Herbie Hancock on piano, and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes! Titles include "Things Ain't WhatThey Used To Be", "Open Wider Please", "I Got It bad And That Ain't Good", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "The Elder", "Bewitched", "Bluish Grey", "Wild Deuce", "Bantu", "Melba's Blues", "Nothng But The Truth", "RBQ", "Minor On Top", "African Lady", "Hi Fly" and "Home Fries". LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent stuff – a record that we love it to death, and listen to all the time! Woody Herman's band meets the soulful arrangements of Richard Evans, and the whole thing cooks nicely in the Chess studios in Chicago. The result is a tasty blend of soulful big band tracks, with a strident groove that Woody never duplicated, and with the kind of baroque arrangements that Evans was bringing to some of the best soul work on Cadet at the time. Donny Hathaway plays organ, and the group does a killer version of his own "Flying Easy". Other titles include "The Hut", "Sex Machine", and "It's Your Thing" – but it's all great! LP, Vinyl record album

A killer album of funky blues – recorded by Howlin Wolf during the period when Chess/Cadet was backing its older artists up with some of the newer funk musicians it had working in its studios! The overall sound works quite well – and although purists at the time moaned at the way artists like Wolf, Etta James, and Bo Diddley were being handled (especially with a "we know better than them" message on the cover like this!), the funky blues records from this time actually seem to be some of the most enduring from Chess – especially with younger listeners in the 21st Century! A big part of the success here goes to producers Charles Stepney and Gene Barge – who helped bring together a younger batch of players for Wolf's backing – including Pete Cosey and Phil Upchurch on guitars, Louis Satterfield on bass, and Morris Jennings on drums. Titles include "Spoonful", "Tail Dragger", "Smokestack Lightning", "Red Rooster", "Evil", and "Down In The Bottom". LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic bit of lost Chicago jazz, featuring an incredibly tight and soulful combo made up of a bunch of obscure players who never really made it otherwise. The group features George Patterson on alto and soprano, Charles Kinnard (not Kynard) on tenor, Cleo Griffin on trumpet, and Tom Washington on piano. The set includes a number of incredible originals by the group which have sort of a late Horace Silver sound, but with a soulful Coltraney twist in parts. Cuts include "Sadder Days", "Time is of the Essence", and "Our Mambo", and a great cover of the theme from "The Knack"! Some tracks have a vocal group behind the combo, but they have a swingin' sound, and they're not on all tracks. One of our favorite lost albums ever! CD

A record of understated brilliance from the great Ahmad Jamal – recorded with his superb trio that featured Jamil Nasser on bass and Frank Gant on drums! The vibe here is great – very open and flowing – tracks shorter than his Impulse years, but already showing that amazing sense open creative energy. Titles include the unusual "The Fantastic Vehicle", a version of the Rollins tune "St Thomas", a slightly Latin take on "Misty", and the cuts "April In Paris", "Allison", "Maybe September", and "The Girl Next Door". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of tracks from Jamal's earlier albums for Argo – featuring a set of standards played with the classic trio of Jamal, Israel Crosby, and Vernel Fournier, all given the light, lyrical touch that made his work so popular at the time. Titles include "Taboo", "I'll Remember April", "Angel Eyes", "Like Someone In Love", "The Breeze & I", and "For All We Know". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent Chess session by Etta, with hard Chicago soul production by Monk Higgins and Ralph Bass – and the kind of searing vocals that always made Etta a treat, whether rocking or mellow! The album's got some wonderful hard soul tracks, of the style that Etta could really cut loose with when she was at her best. This album is very heavily weighted in this more storming mode – and it's tremendous! She's so much more better remembered in the pop realm for the more tender and ballady material she cut over the years, but there's a heck of a strong case to be made for grittier gems such as this album! Titles include "Happiness", "It's All Right", "842-3089 (Call My Name)", "That's All I Want From You", "Nobody Like You", "I Prefer You", "Don't Pick Me For Your Fool" and more. This great version from Kent UK is the first ever (!!!) CD release and it's expanded broadly, with 12 bonus tracks: "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", "I Got You Babe", "Misty", "I've Gone Too Far", "The Soul Of A Man", "Miss Pitiful", "Slow And Easy" and more. CD

Classic Etta for Chess, yet largely overlooked In her canon! This is really strongly produced stuff – it's got its sweet moments, but there's plenty of heft and grit, too! It's the kind of material that works really well with her deep, soulful voice – and the female backing vocal arrangements suit Ella's lead perfectly with Ella's lead. The tracklist here is rich with bluesy standards, though they're taken to grand heights by Ella – plus some great lesser known originals from the pens of the Chess writers. Titles include the storming, totally killer opener "Take Out Some Insurance", plus "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good", "I Think Its You", "Someone", "Weepers", "Hold Back My Tears", and "You're The Fool". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic Etta for Chess, yet largely overlooked In her canon! This is really strongly produced stuff – it's got its sweet moments, but there's plenty of heft and grit, too! It's the kind of material that works really well with her deep, soulful voice – and the female backing vocal arrangements suit Etta's lead perfectly. The tracklist here is rich with bluesy standards, though they're taken to grand heights by Etta – plus some great lesser known originals from the pens of the Chess writers. Titles include the storming, totally killer opener "Take Out Some Insurance", plus "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good", "I Think Its You", "Someone", "Weepers", "Hold Back My Tears", and "You're The Fool". This completely great Kent Soul CD edition comes with a full album's worth of bonus tracks – more early 70s work for Chess and Cadet of similar caliber. 10 bonus tracks in all: "The Love Of My Man", "The Sound Of Love", "WOMAN", "I Found A Love", "Tell It Like It Is", "I Never Meant To Love Him" and more. CD

A really unique album from the great Etta Jones – a session recorded down in Muscle Shoals, and not in Chicago – a setting that gives James an extra sort of deep soul power! The backing is nicely different than some of the other Chess material – killer work from the legendary Fame Studios lineup that included Barry Beckett on organ, Charles Chalmers on tenor, and Roger Hawkins on drums – all coming together with the great Rick Hall at the production helm! Etta's back in hard-belting R&B-tinged territory here – a bit more sophisticated than the 50s, with a good mix of hard soul numbers and ballads, opening up in some southern territory that really suits her well. Titles include "The Same Rope", "Watch Dog", "Tell Mama", "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Just A Little Bit", and "Don't Lose Your Good Thing". LP, Vinyl record album

Seminal sounds from saxophonist John Klemmer – very different than his smoother records of later years – and a key step in the direction of spiritual fusion! Klemmer blows saxes and flutes, sometimes with really cool effects pedals – and the group also features the great Lynn Blessing on vibes, plus Mike Lang on Fender Rhodes and organ, and Art Johnson on guitar and effects! John plays with great abandon on some of these tracks, and with an angular style that's more in keeping with some of the European players of the time, than it is with his labelmates at Cadet – and titles include "Gardens Of Uranus", "Summer Song", "Regions Of Fire", and "Lady Toad". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful early work from John Klemmer – one of the most under-rated talents of his generation, and a great player who frequently gets overlooked because of his later, smoother work. This album is Klemmer's first – recorded with a soulful Chicago tenor sound, touched with some of the freedoms of the late 60s Cadet Records scene. The approach is a bit like Eddie Harris at his best – with Klemmer rolling out soulful, stretched out notes over backing by a Harris-inspired rhythm section that includes Melvin Jackson on bass, Wilbur Cambell on drums, and Jodie Christian on piano. The groove is very solid, very in the pocket – and Klemmer blows in a tradition that includes Frank Strozier and Eric Alexander – 2 other players who've made a strong contribution to the Chicago scene. Titles include "My Blues", "Will N Jug", "Passion Food", "Stand In the Sun", and "Later With Them Woes". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful early work from John Klemmer – one of the most under-rated talents of his generation, and a great player who frequently gets overlooked because of his later, smoother work. This album is Klemmer's first – recorded with a soulful Chicago tenor sound, touched with some of the freedoms of the late 60s Cadet Records scene. The approach is a bit like Eddie Harris at his best – with Klemmer rolling out soulful, stretched out notes over backing by a Harris-inspired rhythm section that includes Melvin Jackson on bass, Wilbur Cambell on drums, and Jodie Christian on piano. The groove is very solid, very in the pocket – and Klemmer blows in a tradition that includes Frank Strozier and Eric Alexander – 2 other players who've made a strong contribution to the Chicago scene. Titles include "My Blues", "Will N Jug", "Passion Food", "Stand In the Sun", and "Later With Them Woes". CD

A fantastically beautiful record that stands as the first meeting between Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land – an album that's possibly even better than the more famous Blue Note work by the pair! This is one of those "once in a lifetime" jazz sessions – filled with magical interplay that's made the record a favorite with collectors for years, and done with a sound that's as lyrically graceful as it is soulful and righteous! Hutcherson's vibes are at their warmest 60s mode, but still have some of the angularity of his more modern sides for Blue Note – but Land is the real discovery here – as he steps out with a fluidity that surpasses any of his earlier hardbop albums, a flowing exploratory style expressed on both flute and tenor – with a mode that's years ahead of its time, and sounds a lot more like work on labels like Strata East or Muse from the 70s. Tracks are nearly all originals by Land, and are the kind of thoughtful jazz compositions that show up on a rare few records from the 60s – all of them are great, and sparkle with creativity and a subdued sense of righteousness. The other players on the date include Joe Sample on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Donald Bailey on drums – and titles include "One For Nini", "Angel Dance", "The Peace Maker", "40 Love", "Stylin", and "The Aquarian". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastically beautiful record that stands as the first meeting between Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land – an album that's possibly even better than the more famous Blue Note work by the pair! This is one of those "once in a lifetime" jazz sessions – filled with magical interplay that's made the record a favorite with collectors for years, and done with a sound that's as lyrically graceful as it is soulful and righteous! Hutcherson's vibes are at their warmest 60s mode, but still have some of the angularity of his more modern sides for Blue Note – but Land is the real discovery here – as he steps out with a fluidity that surpasses any of his earlier hardbop albums, a flowing exploratory style expressed on both flute and tenor – with a mode that's years ahead of its time, and sounds a lot more like work on labels like Strata East or Muse from the 70s. Tracks are nearly all originals by Land, and are the kind of thoughtful jazz compositions that show up on a rare few records from the 60s – all of them are great, and sparkle with creativity and a subdued sense of righteousness. The other players on the date include Joe Sample on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Donald Bailey on drums – and titles include "One For Nini", "Angel Dance", "The Peace Maker", "40 Love", "Stylin", and "The Aquarian". CD

One of Ramsey's excellent funky piano records for Cadet – featuring his second trio with Cleveland Eaton on bass and Morris Jennings on drums, and a sound that's nicely expanded from the mid 60s hit years. Charles Stepney plays a bit of organ on the album, and Henry Gibson gives the group a nice kick on on congas and percussion – and there's a couple of excellent cuts with a good hard funk sound. Titles include "Back To The Roots", "Crescent Noon", "Up In Yonder", and "Love Now On". LP, Vinyl record album

Goin Latin, and goin groovy too – thanks to some wonderful arrangements from Chicago soul legend Richard Evans – who really helps Ramsey Lewis open up his sound on the set! The format's less straight Latin than you might expect from the title – and Evans brings in a bouncing, bassy bottom that's still got a strongly American flavor – not really Latin Soul, but something of a blend of Latin and bossa elements with some of Evans' more soul-styled modes of the time! The mix of styles is really great – Ramsey's Chicago groove taken a bit south of the border – and tracks include the heavy smoker "Hey Mrs Jones", plus "Summer Samba", "Free Again", "Blue Bongo", "Function At The Junction", "One Two Three", "I'll Wait For You", and "Spanish Grease". CD

Goin Latin, and goin groovy too – thanks to some wonderful arrangements from Chicago soul legend Richard Evans – who really helps Ramsey Lewis open up his sound on the set! The format's less straight Latin than you might expect from the title – and Evans brings in a bouncing, bassy bottom that's still got a strongly American flavor – not really Latin Soul, but something of a blend of Latin and bossa elements with some of Evans' more soul-styled modes of the time! The mix of styles is really great – Ramsey's Chicago groove taken a bit south of the border – and tracks include the heavy smoker "Hey Mrs Jones", plus "Summer Samba", "Free Again", "Blue Bongo", "Function At The Junction", "One Two Three", "I'll Wait For You", and "Spanish Grease". LP, Vinyl record album

Easily one of Ramsey Lewis' most successful records – featuring the hit soul jazz style that he forged with the Young/Holt rhythm combo, honed to perfection before a live crowd at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The record's a key part of Ramsey's live recorded output – showing the trio in pyrotechnic form before the kind of packed-house audiences they were playing to nightly at the time. Includes swinging versions of "Hard Day's Night", "High Heel Sneakers", and "Hang On Sloopy" – plus the original cut "Movin Easy". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key records from the Cadet/Concept scene in late 60s Chicago – a tremendous collaboration between pianist Ramsey Lewis and arranger Charles Stepney – and the kind of record that took soul and jazz to a whole new level! Ramsey on his own is great enough at this point – but add in Stepney's touch, and the record becomes something really brilliant – a blend of soaring strings, groovy rhythms, and spaciously stepping piano lines – all held together with a tremendous amount of creative imagination! The group here features a young Maurice White on drums and Cleveland Eaton on bass – both hitting a groove that's quite different than the Ramsey Lewis Trio sound of years back, with a lot more space, a lot hipper rhythms, and just the right sort of groove to match Stepney's sophisticated touches. The piano gets a bit electric at times, but is mostly acoustic overall – and titles include a great version of Minnie Riperton's "Les Fleur", a funky version of "Mighty Quinn", and the cuts "Afro Boogaloo Twist", "Maiden Voyage", "Ode", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Only When I'm Dreaming", and "Eternal Journey". CD

One of the key records from the Cadet/Concept scene in late 60s Chicago – a tremendous collaboration between pianist Ramsey Lewis and arranger Charles Stepney – and the kind of record that took soul and jazz to a whole new level! Ramsey on his own is great enough at this point – but add in Stepney's touch, and the record becomes something really brilliant – a blend of soaring strings, groovy rhythms, and spaciously stepping piano lines – all held together with a tremendous amount of creative imagination! The group here features a young Maurice White on drums and Cleveland Eaton on bass – both hitting a groove that's quite different than the Ramsey Lewis Trio sound of years back, with a lot more space, a lot hipper rhythms, and just the right sort of groove to match Stepney's sophisticated touches. The piano gets a bit electric at times, but is mostly acoustic overall – and titles include a great version of Minnie Riperton's "Les Fleur", a funky version of "Mighty Quinn", and the cuts "Afro Boogaloo Twist", "Maiden Voyage", "Ode", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Only When I'm Dreaming", and "Eternal Journey". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key records from the Cadet/Concept scene in late 60s Chicago – a tremendous collaboration between pianist Ramsey Lewis and arranger Charles Stepney – and the kind of record that took soul and jazz to a whole new level! Ramsey on his own is great enough at this point – but add in Stepney's touch, and the record becomes something really brilliant – a blend of soaring strings, groovy rhythms, and spaciously stepping piano lines – all held together with a tremendous amount of creative imagination! The group here features a young Maurice White on drums and Cleveland Eaton on bass – both hitting a groove that's quite different than the Ramsey Lewis Trio sound of years back, with a lot more space, a lot hipper rhythms, and just the right sort of groove to match Stepney's sophisticated touches. The piano gets a bit electric at times, but is mostly acoustic overall – and titles include a great version of Minnie Riperton's "Les Fleur", a funky version of "Mighty Quinn", and the cuts "Afro Boogaloo Twist", "Maiden Voyage", "Ode", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Only When I'm Dreaming", and "Eternal Journey". CD

Jazzy and classy – and one of the first of Ramsey's albums to feature him working with larger arrangements instead of the usual trio. In this case, the whole thing was arranged and conducted by Richard Evans – with a spacey hip sound that's not too far from some of Ramsey's later work for Cadet with Charles Stepney. Evans' arrangements are in that strident stepping Soulful Strings mode – and Ramsey's working the keys hard and soulfully over the top, bouncing around the piano in a hard mode that wipes away any schmaltz that you might have caught on the records otherwise. The whole thing grooves quite nicely in a mix of spacey jazz and easy soul – and titles include "The Pawnbroker", "Saturday Night After The Movies", "Girl Talk", "Matchmaker", "Return To Paradise", "Goin Hollywood", "From Russia With Love", and "The Gentle Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

A mid 70s double LP collection, with many of Ramsey's finest moments from the previous decade, featuring the Young/Holt rhythm combo, as well as quite a few with Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. 19 tracks in all: "The In Crowd", "Function At The Junction", "Jade East", "Since I Fell For You", "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", "Wade In The Water", "Hurt So Bad", "Felicidade (Happiness)", "Maiden Voyage", "Soul Man", "Hang On Sloopy", "Day Tripper", "What Now My Love", "Julia", "Cry Baby Cry", "Tennessee Waltz", "Ain't That Peculiar", "Les Fleur" and "A Hard Day's Night". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the hardest-hitting electric sets ever cut by Ramsey Lewis – a live performance from the start of the 70s, done with a really gritty groove! Ramsey's on both Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano – the former of which is played with even more forces than on his Cadet studio recordings – heard here in small group formation, without any added studio backings – just the guitar of Phil Upchurch, the bass of Cleveland Eaton, and the drums of Morris Jennings. The tracks are a bit longer than usual for Ramsey on Cadet too – and often hit these down-n-dirty modes that are similar to turn of the 70s work by Les McCann or Junior Mance. Tracks include "Do Whatever Sets You Free", "Them Changes", "Unsilent Majority", "Something", and "See The End From the Beginning". LP, Vinyl record album

Although Ramsey first scored big with his spare trio recordings during the late 50s, by this point in his career, Cadet were wisely playing with his sound a lot, adding in new elements to keep things fresh and soulful. Such is the case with this album, which has Ramsey's second trio (with Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White) performing with very groovy arrangements by Richard Evans. The result is some totally cool material – very much in the best crossover mode of the Cadet Concept years. The highlight of the album is the Eastern-tinged funky number "Jade East", which has some nice sitar and chimes in the background. Other tunes include "Party Time" and "Bear Mash", plus hard piano covers of "I Was Made To Love Her", "Soul Man", and "Respect". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic pop soul jazz from the inventor of the genre! Ramsey's funky piano is backed by some soulful arrangements handled by Richard Evans – in a really tight style that includes great percussion, electric bass, and an all-out kicking style that makes even the mellowest tunes groove! Evans really adds a lot to the set – expanding the core groove of the Lewis trio with a proud and righteous Chicago approach – really bringing some "soul" to the soul jazz sound of the group, with incredible results! Titles include "Money In the Pocket", "Wade In the Water", "Ain't That Peculiar", "Up Tight", and "Hold It Right There". LP, Vinyl record album

A great Chess Records session from organist Jack McDuff – a set that also features great work on saxes from Red Holloway, Leo Johnson, and David Young – working with jack on a club date in the Bay Area! The vibe is great – very much as groovy and unusual as some of McDuff's Blue Note work – with some especially great rhythmic modes on the cuts "Soul Yodel" and "The Jolly Black Giant" – next to other tunes that include "Middle Class Folk Song", "Georgia", and "Red White & Blooze". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic funky classic from Brother Jack McDuff – a set that's a key part of his evolving style of the late 60s – as Jack leaps from straight organ jazz to a world of wonderful grooves! The set features some larger arrangements from McDuff and the great Richard Evans – definitely in the best Chess/Cadet studio style of the time – moving towards a level of sophistication that really pushes past standard organ jazz from a few years before! Titles include "Black Is", "Hold It For a Minute", "Two Lines", "Summertime", "Jelly Jam", "The Pulpit", "Win Lose Or Draw", and "You Sho Walk Funky". LP, Vinyl record album

A very groovy 70s set from the mighty Jack McDuff – one that has him taking a bit of a Charles Earland turn, as he adds in some other keyboards to his work on Hammond – including some nice bits on Fender Rhode and moog! George Benson plays a fair bit of guitar solos on the set, and the record also features Pee Wee Ellis on alto and tenor, and Ray Mantilla on congas and percussion! Titles include some great long groovers – including "Blue Monsoon", "A Long Goodie", and a nice cover of "Don't Mess With Mister T". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual album originally released on the small west coast Zephyr label which features a great all-star lineup – work from Buddy Collette on alto and flute, Russ Freeman on piano, Herbie Harper on trombone, Larry Bunker on vibes, and Shelly Manne on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing work from Minnie Riperton – her first solo album, cut at the end of the 60s, after a number of years of work with the group Rotary Connection. The album builds off the now famous sound of Rotary Connection – but takes it to the next level, with arch-baroque production by the great Charles Stepney – who couches Minnie's fantastic vocals in a suite of shimmering soulful tracks that mix strings, horns, jazzy piano, and slight touches of bouncing rhythms. The overall sound is impossible to describe – sort of a cross between Burt Bacharach on A&M, Scott Walker's 3rd album, and the sound of Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On. The album's pure genius all the way through – one of the highlights of the Chicago scene of the 60s – and proof that Riperton, Stepney, and crew were shooting for the outer limits of soul music! Titles include "Les Fleur", "Only When I'm Dreaming", "Rainy Day In Centerville", "Memory Band", "Expecting", "Whenever Wherever", and "Oh, By The Way". CD

Mindblowing work from Minnie Riperton – her first solo album, cut at the end of the 60s, after a number of years of work with the group Rotary Connection. The album builds off the now famous sound of Rotary Connection – but takes it to the next level, with arch-baroque production by the great Charles Stepney – who couches Minnie's fantastic vocals in a suite of shimmering soulful tracks that mix strings, horns, jazzy piano, and slight touches of bouncing rhythms. The overall sound is impossible to describe – sort of a cross between Burt Bacharach on A&M, Scott Walker's 3rd album, and the sound of Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On. The album's pure genius all the way through – one of the highlights of the Chicago scene of the 60s – and proof that Riperton, Stepney, and crew were shooting for the outer limits of soul music! Titles include "Les Fleur", "Only When I'm Dreaming", "Rainy Day In Centerville", "Memory Band", "Expecting", "Whenever Wherever", and "Oh, By The Way". This album's a 2nd pressing of the album Come to My Garden, from 1982, with one less track. LP, Vinyl record album

A massively beautiful piece of work by "the new Rotary Connection" – a version of this groundbreaking Chicago soul ensemble which featured Phil Upchurch, Henry Gibson, and Charles Stepney – the cream of the Chicago production scene! Minnie Riperton's still in the band on vocals, and her work on the LP is similar to that on the legendary Come To My Garden LP. The album features the incredible track "I Am the Blackgold of the Sun" – a haunting soul anthem that has been a favorite of groovers for years, and which was later made into a house track by NuYorican Soul. A great album all the way through, and filled with loads of excellent cuts! LP, Vinyl record album

Some of the trippiest soul music ever recorded – an amazing collection of work by the legendary Rotary Connection – early home to vocalist Minnie Riperton and arranger Charles Stepney! Rotary Connection was a unique late 60s combination of soul, jazz, and rock-based modes – all inflected by more baroque production styles coming down in the Chicago scene of the time – balanced perfectly by the genius of Stepney – who often drew inspiration from avant classical work to round out his sound! Stepney gave the group a heady heady sound that went far beyond the airy vocal sound of Minnie Riperton or the rougher edge of Sidney Barnes – and the mix of unusual instrumentation, odd recording techniques, and strange timings made the group's music years ahead of its time – at a level that's really only fully appreciated these many years later. This 2CD set goes way beyond previous collections of Rotary Connection work, because it shows a real appreciation for the more adventurous sounds of Stepney in the studio – and brings together the trippiest, most freewheeling cuts from the group's 4 albums for Chess/Cadet – as well as a number of key tunes that have been heavily sampled over the years. 33 tracks in all – including "The Salt Of The Earth", "Rapid Transit", "Magical World", "I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun", "A-Muse", "Sursum Mentes", "Memory Band", "Hey Love", "The Sea & She", "Song For Everyman", "Love Is", "We're Going Wrong", "Life Could", "Teach Me How To Fly", "VIP", "Let Them Talk", "Love Has Fallen On Me", "Respect", "Pink Noise", "Want You To Know", and "This Town". CD

Beautiful spacey soul and righteous rock/soul grooves from one of the most enigmatic groups ever to come out of the Chicago soul scene! The drummer really kicks it on this one – and more than a few cuts have a nice backbeat to them, and the record probably has a bit more of a rock feel than some of the group's other work. But that doesn't stop this one from still being completely wonderful – and Minnie Riperton gives up some of the best vocals of her young career, set to airy spacey production by the great Charles Stepney. Tracks include "Love Me Now", "Merry Prankster", "Lonely Summer", "Amuse", "Want You To Know", "Country Things", "Living Alone", and "We Will Be Free". LP, Vinyl record album

A massively beautiful piece of work by "the new Rotary Connection" – a version of this groundbreaking Chicago soul ensemble which featured Phil Upchurch, Henry Gibson, and Charles Stepney – the cream of the Chicago production scene! Minnie Riperton's still in the band on vocals, and her work on the LP is similar to that on the legendary Come To My Garden LP. The album features the incredible track "I Am the Blackgold of the Sun" – a haunting soul anthem that has been a favorite of groovers for years, and which was later made into a house track by NuYorican Soul. A great album all the way through, and filled with loads of excellent cuts! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best Rotary Connection albums for Cadet – with an incredible baroque spacey soul sound that still feels very fresh today! The group's vocals are especially eerie – and float around these wild arrangements by Charles Stepney, peppered with strings, soul, fuzzy guitars, and even slight bits of electronics. The album features their incredible cut "Memory Band" – the one that begins with those cool sitar riffs that have been sampled by Tribe Called Quest and The Fugees. Other tracks include "Ruby Tuesday", "Soul Man", "Amen", "Rapid Transit", and "Black Noise". LP, Vinyl record album

A pair of gems from the legendary Rotary Connection – an early Chicago group that featured Minnie Riperton on vocals, and Charles Stepney on production! Songs is amazing soul from Rotary Connection – and one of their greatest albums! The "songs" concept has the group working over a bunch of tunes by other folks – and the record features many late 60s rock titles, redone with the group's incredible baroque soul sound. Charles Stepney did the arrangements, and the music has that airy eerie quality that worked perfectly for Minnie Riperton's amazing voice. Includes a stellar cover of "Respect", with a slow trippy groove that has been sampled over the years – plus a wild cover of "Tales of Brave Ulysses" that virtually defines the term "psychedelic soul". Other tracks include "The Weight", "This Town", "The Salt Of The Earth", and "Sunshine Of Your Love". Hey Love is a massively beautiful piece of work by "the new Rotary Connection" – a version of this groundbreaking Chicago soul ensemble which featured Phil Upchurch, Henry Gibson, and Charles Stepney – the cream of the Chicago production scene! Minnie Riperton's still in the band on vocals, and her work on the LP is similar to that on the legendary Come To My Garden LP. The album features the incredible track "I Am the Blackgold of the Sun" – a haunting soul anthem that has been a favorite of groovers for years, and which was later made into a house track by NuYorican Soul. A great album all the way through, and filled with loads of excellent cuts! Other tracks include "If I Sing My Song", "Hey, Love", "Love Has Fallen On Me", and a cover of Terry Callier's "Song For Everyman". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

An amazing batch of sophisticated soul tracks – and a favorite with the righteous groove scene! On the surface, the record's a combination of jazz and soul tracks in the same mode that you'd find on some of Nancy Wilson's albums for Capitol during the same time – but digging deeper, you'll find an undercurrent of politics, feminism, and social commentary delivered with surprising intensity. Marlena Shaw's voice is generally sweet, but she's set up in some extremely powerful arrangements by Richard Evans and Charles Stepney that recast even the simplest phrase into a whole new setting of strength and pride – and Bobby Miller of Dells fame also helped make the record what it is, and helped write some of the best songs on the record. The set includes Marlena's classic original reading of "Woman Of The Ghetto", which has been sampled by just about everyone, plus "California Soul", which has a nice hard break, and the tunes "Liberation Conversation", "Where Can I Go?", and the original version of "Go Away Little Boy" – as sweet a statement of womanhood if there ever was one! CD

An amazing batch of sophisticated soul tracks – and a favorite with the righteous groove scene! On the surface, the record's a combination of jazz and soul tracks in the same mode that you'd find on some of Nancy Wilson's albums for Capitol during the same time – but digging deeper, you'll find an undercurrent of politics, feminism, and social commentary delivered with surprising intensity. Marlena Shaw's voice is generally sweet, but she's set up in some extremely powerful arrangements by Richard Evans and Charles Stepney that recast even the simplest phrase into a whole new setting of strength and pride – and Bobby Miller of Dells fame also helped make the record what it is, and helped write some of the best songs on the record. The set includes Marlena's classic original reading of "Woman Of The Ghetto", which has been sampled by just about everyone, plus "California Soul", which has a nice hard break, and the tunes "Liberation Conversation", "Where Can I Go?", and the original version of "Go Away Little Boy" – as sweet a statement of womanhood if there ever was one! LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing batch of sophisticated soul tracks – and a favorite with the righteous groove scene! On the surface, the record's a combination of jazz and soul tracks in the same mode that you'd find on some of Nancy Wilson's albums for Capitol during the same time – but digging deeper, you'll find an undercurrent of politics, feminism, and social commentary delivered with surprising intensity. Marlena Shaw's voice is generally sweet, but she's set up in some extremely powerful arrangements by Richard Evans and Charles Stepney that recast even the simplest phrase into a whole new setting of strength and pride – and Bobby Miller of Dells fame also helped make the record what it is, and helped write some of the best songs on the record. The set includes Marlena's classic original reading of "Woman Of The Ghetto", which has been sampled by just about everyone, plus "California Soul", which has a nice hard break, and the tunes "Liberation Conversation", "Where Can I Go?", and the original version of "Go Away Little Boy" – as sweet a statement of womanhood if there ever was one! CD

Hip hip stuff from Richard Evans and the gang at Cadet Records! The record is the second outing by The Soulful Strings – a group that kind of started as a studio side project, but who became a surprisingly popular act during the late 60s. The album includes some excellent original tunes by Evans – including "Soul Message" and "The Stepper", the latter of which is virtually a blueprint for the jazzy stepping groove that's always been a hit on Chicago dancefloors. A wonderful mix of strings, flute, organ, and more – all with a strong rhythm section that keeps the whole thing soulful and grooving! Titles include "Jericho", "Minor Adjustment", "The Who Who Song", "Alice Blue Gown", and "Inner Light". LP, Vinyl record album

2 LP set compiling some of the greatest tracks by this legendary Chicago studio assemblage led by the great bassist/arranger Richard Evans. The track list is a perfect example of the sound that they did so well, and is more proof that Chicago had one of the most interesting soul scenes in the world. Cuts include "Burning Spear", "Zambezi", "The Stepper", "Soul Prelude", "Groovin", "Listen Here", and lots lots more! LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

One of the coolest Christmas albums we've ever heard – and maybe one of the coolest sets ever from this legendary soul instrumental project from Chicago! The Soulful Strings are already great on other albums, but they really blow us away here with the way they completely transform familiar tunes – using the impeccable arrangements of the great Richard Evans, and a host of hot strings from Dorothy Ashby on harp, Cleveland Eaton on bass, and Phil Upchurch on guitar – plus a bit of hip vibes from Bobby Christian as well! And Evans' style here really outdoes itself – and hits a similar level to the best Charles Stepney material on Cadet at the same time – making for amazing sounds on titles that include "Little Drummer Boy", "Snowfall", "Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairy", "Sleigh Ride", and "Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers". Way more than a Christmas record – and actually one we'll happily play all year long! CD

One of the greatest albums ever by the Soulful Strings – certainly the hippest, and the one with some of the most complex moments! The record still features arrangements by Richard Evans – who's even better here than before – but you can also feel the presence of Donny Hathaway, who contributed two great numbers to the album – "Zambezi", which he wrote with Evans, and the fantastic "Valdez In The Country", one of Donny's greatest songs ever, given its first-ever performance here, with vocals (probaby Donny's) underneath the instruments, humming away soulfully. The record also features some other fantastic Cadet/Chisoul numbers – like "Voices Inside" (which Donny did on his first album), and Eddie Harris' "It's Cold Duck Time" and "1974 Blues". A massive batch of funky soul instrumentals – right up there with the best Cadet/Concept work of the late 60s! LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal pop psych classic from the UK scene – served up here by a group that seem to borrow a bit of the energy from the late 60s Bee Gees at their trippiest, but who also really have a way for turning out a tune that has a very groovy vibe! Part of the credit might go to producer John Schroeder – a Brit sound library giant in his own right, and clearly able to make the sound of the records guitars, organ, and vocals sound incredibly groovy. But it's also clear that the group have plenty of great energy of their own – as they kept on going strongly, even after this early breakout record. Titles include their seminal "Pictures Of Matchstick Men", plus "Ice In The Sun", "Elizabeth Dreams", "Sunny Cellophane Sky", and "Spicks & Specks". Groovy cover, too, with the band sitting on a pile of matchbooks! LP, Vinyl record album

A very nicely selected 2LP set of tracks from Stitt's oft-overlooked years at Argo/Chess! The tracks have him in great company that includes the pianists Barry Harris, John Young, and Ronnie Matthews – and if you know Stitt's style from the time, you know that his choice of piano player made a very important difference in the sound of his playing. Most of the cuts are easily blown quartet material – with a lot of creative imagination applied to tunes that would otherwise be top-snooze material in the hands of a lesser player. Titles include "Ko Ko", "It's Hipper Than That", "A Natural Fox", "Wee", "Reed & A Half", "Flame & Frost", and "A Minor Sax". LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet 70s work from Sonny Stitt – quite different than his bop years, but with a smooth funky finish that puts it in the same territory as CTI or Kudu Records in the 70s! Sonny's getting full backing here – arrangements by Don Sebesky, who crafts some elegant and slinky sounds for the album's gently grooving tracks – and although the set's not a hard-edged funk effort, it's got the same mix of soul and jazz that you'd find in some of Stanley Turrentine's work of the time. Sonny Plays both alto and tenor, and Roland Hanna handles the electric piano. Highlights include the bouncy "Blue Monsoon", a nice mellow version of "The World Is A Ghetto", and the tracks "Got To Be There", "Fifty Per Cent", and "Ben". LP, Vinyl record album

Sonny Stitt in a sweet electric funk mode – working here in a style that's almost more CTI/Kudu than the usual Cadet Records groove! Arrangements are by James Brown heavyweight Pee Wee Ellis – who also plays some moog on the set – and other players include Wilbur Bascomb on bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Patti Brown on electric piano! Titles include the classic "Slick Eddie", plus "Bachianas Brasilieras/Funky Interlude", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Spanish Harlem", and "Ocho Rios". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record