An overlooked classic from Thin Lizzy – an album that really has the group coming into their own – refining the sharper edges of Vagabonds, but still a bit free of the tightness of Jailbreak! There's a great undercurrent of funk at times – those sharp drums that made the Thin Lizzy sound so great at the time – and all the best elements are focused into one at the most powerful moments – that guitar/bass/Lynott vocal blend that proved unstoppable! Yet Phil also snakes out with these beautiful sensitive moments at points, too – really finding his own as a singer, and realizing that sometimes gentler passages can be as powerful as the brasher lyrics. Titles include "Philomena", "Sha La La", "Banshee", "Showdown", "Still In Love With You", "She Knows", and "Dear Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe our favorite album ever from Traffic – a set that has the group coming back together, after a fracture that took them in separate musical directions – reformed with a sound that's very different than before! The tracks are longer, and have more influences from both folk and jazz – a deeper sound and spirit, and one that also maybe reflects the loss of Dave Mason from the group! The trio really finds this amazing way forward, almost with some echoes of the hipper side of the Island Records underground – with Steve Winwood on vocals throughout, and on some mighty nice organ and piano – and Jim Capaldi on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on a variety of saxes, flute, and percussion. Titles include "Glad", "Freedom Rider", "Empty Pages", "Stranger To Himself", and "Every Mother's Son". LP, Vinyl record album

The incredible first album from Traffic – a record that was already way ahead of the pack, and would set the tone for so many other sounds and modes from others in years to come! At some level, the group were just coming off the big beat group years in the UK – that time of strong inspiration from American soul, jazz, and R&B – but they're already pushing all these elements in very different ways – certainly psychedelic, as you'd guess from the image on the cover – but also still holding onto a lot of the soul and jazz that first inspired them! To our ears, the reed work of Chris Wood is as important to the record as the Hammond from Steve Winwood, guitar from Dave Mason, and drums from Jim Capaldi – plus the vocals from all three – and in addition to the classic title cut "Mr Fantasy", other tunes include "Dealer", "House For Everyone", "Berkshire Poppies", "No Face No Name No Number", and "Coloured Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

The incredible first album from Traffic – a record that was already way ahead of the pack, and would set the tone for so many other sounds and modes from others in years to come! At some level, the group were just coming off the big beat group years in the UK – that time of strong inspiration from American soul, jazz, and R&B – but they're already pushing all these elements in very different ways – certainly psychedelic, as you'd guess from the image on the cover – but also still holding onto a lot of the soul and jazz that first inspired them! To our ears, the reed work of Chris Woods is as important to the record as the Hammond from Steve Winwood, guitar from Dave Mason, and drums from Jim Capaldi – plus the vocals from all three – and in addition to the classic title cut "Mr Fantasy", other tunes include "Dealer", "House For Everyone", "Berkshire Poppies", "No Face No Name No Number", and "Coloured Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

Usher comes home strong on his first album in nearly a decade –with his ageless voice, overall presence, and almost unrivaled way of fitting right in while also slyly transcending the reigning sounds of pop, soul and R&B of any given day! It's a 20 track set that's surprisingly strong throughout, giving him plenty of space to do just about everything he does so well – tight collaborations, tender balladry, dancefloor ready jams and all. He's still a king! Includes "Keep On Dancin'", "Good Good" with Summer Walker & 21 Savage, "Kissing Strangers", Risk It All" with with HER, "Big", "On The Side", "I Am The Party", "Luckiest Man", "I Love U", "Please U", "Room In A Room", "Bop", "Stone Kold Freak", "Coming Home" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Usher comes home strong on his first album in nearly a decade –with his ageless voice, overall presence, and almost unrivaled way of fitting right in while also slyly transcending the reigning sounds of pop, soul and R&B of any given day! It's a 20 track set that's surprisingly strong throughout, giving him plenty of space to do just about everything he does so well – tight collaborations, tender balladry, dancefloor ready jams and all. He's still a king! Includes "Keep On Dancin'", "Good Good" with Summer Walker & 21 Savage, "Kissing Strangers", Risk It All" with with HER, "Big", "On The Side", "I Am The Party", "Luckiest Man", "I Love U", "Please U", "Room In A Room", "Bop", "Stone Kold Freak", "Coming Home" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Terri Walker's every bit as great here as when we first fell in love with her music many years back – so much so that it's hard to believe there's been any passage of years, as the album's got all the freshness and sense of promise of the neo soul generation from back in the day! As before, Terri knows that keeping it lean is her best approach – and the record really benefits from the center placement of her vocals, as she delivers lyrics that are both personal and honest, warm and open. Titles include "I Surrender", "You're Not Coming Home", "Fearless", "I Remember", "Finally Over You", "Rhythm Of Change", and "I'm Not The One". LP, Vinyl record album

A monster from start to finish – not only the greatest album from War, but maybe one of the greatest mainstream funk albums of all time! The set's got a really unique groove – one that so many others tried to copy, but which was forged here first – in a wicked LA blend of Chicano funk, heavy organ lines, and soulful singing that sews the whole thing together perfectly. Just about every cut is upbeat and funky – rolling along at that low-rider pace that was War's lasting contribution to funk music – and the album features the huge hits "World Is A Ghetto" and "Cisco Kid", two of the brightest spots on radio funk from the 70s – plus classics like "Four Cornered Room", "City Country City", "Where Was You At", and "Beetles In The Bog". Plus, this box set features an insane amount of extra material – bonus tracks that include "This Is My Song Milton James", "Lee's Latin Jam", "LA Sunshine (original jam)", "War Is Coming (original jam)", and "Lonnie's Wednesday Night Jam" – plus 6 more "making of" sides of wax that feature all sorts of session performances of key tunes! LP, Vinyl record album

Mindblowing work from Ella Washington – a lesser-known force in southern soul during the late 60s, but a singer whose music really leaves us breathless! Washington's work on this set is impeccable throughout – far beyond the simple southern soul cliches that were coming to be common in the generation of Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner – and instead, very much in her own space – recorded with sophistication and emotion that so many other singers wouldn't tap this well until a few years later. The themes of the tunes are great – heartfelt, but still with an emotional inner strength that really matches Ella's vocals – and titles include "Stop Giving Your Man Away", "Sweeter & Sweeter", "Fragile", "Starving For Love", "He Called Me Baby", "All The Time", and "The Affair". LP, Vinyl record album

Two older players, cooking together beautifully on this early 80s session – and both hitting a vibe that almost makes the set smoke like some rare 60s gem on Blue Note! Frank Wess plays both tenor and alto sax – both of them extremely deep and soulful – with these open, thoughtful solos that almost show more imagination and maturity than in the early days – and also a swinging vibe that's undeniably great. Trumpeter Johnny Coles turns out to be a perfect partner for the session – and manages to mix his sweeter tones with some of his more modern phrasing too – in ways that make the album a treasure trove of unexpectedly great surprises – loads of illuminated passages that keep us coming back again and again over the years. The rhythm section is a good reason for the strength of the set too – and features Kenny Barron on piano, Reggie Johnson on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – on titles that include "Celia", "Minority", "An Oscar For Oscar", "Ill Wind", "Morning Star", and "Whistle Stop". LP, Vinyl record album

A key record in the evolution of Tony Williams as a drummer – and kind of a powerful summation of all the changes he'd made in the 70s – before a return to straighter jazz in the next decade! Williams' drumming here is incredibly fierce at points – almost at a Billy Cobham level – but he also shows the sensitivity to deeper sounds that he first brought into play during the 60s – and manages to mix an ear for fusion modes with some freer elements too – thanks to help from a lineup of players that includes Herbie Hancock and Brian Auger on keyboards, Cecil Taylor on piano, Jan Hammer on Fender Rhodes, Stanley Clarke on bass, Ton Scott on lyricon, and Ronnie Montrose on guitar. Titles include "Tony", "Coming Back Home", "Morgan's Motion", "Eris", "Open Fire", and "Hittin On 6". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little collection of work that Sonny Boy Williamson recorded for Chess in the 50s and early 60s – presented here as one of the well-done archival packages that Chess was doing in the early 70s, as interest in their classics was coming back again. Most of the numbers here feature Williamson on vocals and harmonica, working with likely Chess associates who include Otis Spann and Lafayette Leake on piano, Muddy Waters and Robert Lockwood on guitars, and Willie Dixon on bass – and the set features the tracks "Born Blind", "I Wonder Why", "This Is My Apartment", "Cool Disposition", "I Know What Love Is All About", "Too Close Together", "Keep It To Yourself", and "Don't Lose Your Eye". LP, Vinyl record album

The title's a weird one, because the album was recorded in the studio and not on stage – but we're hardly going to complain, because the record's so great! Wilson is really cooking for this one – leading an all-great group that includes Curtis Amy, Roy Ayers, Jack Wilson, Joe Pass, Bobby Bryant, Anthony Ortega, and other 60s LA soul jazz luminaries – all coming together in a style that's certainly big band, but which allows plenty of space for breakout solos – and which really grooves a lot more like a small combo session than you might expect! Titles include "Los Moros De Espana", "In The Limelight", "Musette", "Lighthouse Blues", and "El Viti". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary live set from Amy Winehouse – a concert performance that helped cement her status as one of the true soul legends of the 21st Century – before she was taken away from us all too soon! A few years before, nobody would have guessed that up-and-coming Amy would have been able to command such a large arena presence – and she manages to do so here while still staying very true to herself, and to the kind of deep soul presentation that always made her such a standout from the pack. Titles include "Rehab", "Me & Mr Jones", "Cupid", "F*ck Me Pumps", "Tears Dry On Their Own", "Monkey Man", "You Know I'm No Good", "Valerie", "Cherry", "Wake Up Alone", "Back To Black", and "Hey Little Rich Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary live set from Amy Winehouse – a concert performance that helped cement her status as one of the true soul legends of the 21st Century – before she was taken away from us all too soon! A few years before, nobody would have guessed that up-and-coming Amy would have been able to command such a large arena presence – and she manages to do so here while still staying very true to herself, and to the kind of deep soul presentation that always made her such a standout from the pack. Titles include "Rehab", "Me & Mr Jones", "Cupid", "F*ck Me Pumps", "Tears Dry On Their Own", "Monkey Man", "You Know I'm No Good", "Valerie", "Cherry", "Wake Up Alone", "Back To Black", and "Hey Little Rich Girl". LP, Vinyl record album

The cover and the title are a great illustration of the growth of Bobby Womack on this classic 70s set – a mode of presentation that's maybe a bit more badass than before, without the down-home image of Bobby holding his guitar! Some aspects of the record are plenty darn righteous – and live up to the social commentary of the title – and these are mixed with Womack's rootsy vocals in a way that's really unique – almost as if a Marvin Gaye message album was crafted down in Memphis or Muscle Shoals. Some bits of the record are almost blackploitation funk in their use of wicked keyboards, sharp guitar, and larger charts – and the tunes blend together in this very cool way that really makes the whole set fit together nicely. Womack's voice is fantastic, as always – and titles include "Put Something Down On It", "What's Your World", "Git It", "I Don't Know", "Jealous Love", and 2 very nice "Interlude" tracks! LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet early soul from Stevie Wonder – an album that features his young and developing voice on a mixture of Motown soul tunes and pop covers done in a mellow sort of style. The record's still got Stevie's vocals swimming in larger backings and strings – but it does have these amazing breakout moments that really catch us off guard, coming through with a level of soul that's stripped down and lean – and which shines the gem that Stevie would soon become from this rough diamond stage! Good cuts include "Sylvia", "Thank You Love", "My World Is Empty Without You", and the sublime "Hey Love", which is one of Stevie's best cuts ever, and is worth the price of the record alone! LP, Vinyl record album

A record of incredible beauty, yet one that's also almost impossible to describe in words – as this second set from Japanese singer Hako Yamasaki has her really moving past the first one – coming across with an even richer sound in her vocals, and mixing just the right amount of electric piano and electric guitar in with the acoustic elements in the music! The song styles here join together wonderfully – and the album's a rich tapestry of subtle emotions that transcends the boundaries of language – and which is very different than both the quirky Japanese rock experiments of the time, or the more polished work of the city pop generation to come. Titles include "Shiroi Hana, "Mukai Kaze", "Tsunawatari", "Harmonica Fuki No Otoko", "Help Me", and "Tanjo Iwai". LP, Vinyl record album

Frank Zappa live in the 70s – working with a surprisingly hip large ensemble, with all the sharp changes and unusual moments of his classic studio albums! Like some of Zappa's other concert performances, there's an approach that steps a few years back – clearly to please the group coming to hear their favorites, but in a way that also offers up a nice sharpening-up of the music too – especially given that the whole thing's happening live on stage! There's some great jazz help here – horns from The Brecker Brothers, Lou Marini, Ronnie Cuber, and Tom Malone – plus wonderful vibes from Dave Samuels and keyboards from Eddie Jobson – and even a bit of narration from Don Pardo. Titles include "I'm The Slime", "Titties & Beer", "Cruisin For Burgers", "The Illinois Enema Bandit", "Punky's Whips", "Big Leg Emma", and "Sofa". LP, Vinyl record album

Frank Zappa live in the 70s – working with a surprisingly hip large ensemble, with all the sharp changes and unusual moments of his classic studio albums! Like some of Zappa's other concert performances, there's an approach that steps a few years back – clearly to please the group coming to hear their favorites, but in a way that also offers up a nice sharpening-up of the music too – especially given that the whole thing's happening live on stage! There's some great jazz help here – horns from The Brecker Brothers, Lou Marini, Ronnie Cuber, and Tom Malone – plus wonderful vibes from Dave Samuels and keyboards from Eddie Jobson – and even a bit of narration from Don Pardo. Titles include "I'm The Slime", "Titties & Beer", "Cruisin For Burgers", "The Illinois Enema Bandit", "Punky's Whips", "Big Leg Emma", and "Sofa". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most ambitious projects we've ever seen from Numero – and that's saying a lot, given some of their other releases! This package is equal parts cultural document and musical treasure trove – a heavy book full of photos from a time when Upper Volta was stepping past its colonial history, and finding a new cultural identity as an independent nation – presented alongside a rich array of the sounds that were shaping the scene at the time! The cover image has a feel that's maybe older than its 70s vintage – and some of the music does, too – relatively rootsy at points, with heavy percussion, riffing guitar, and jazzy inflections on some of the horns – and a bit less polished and produced than work coming from scenes like Nigeria or South Africa at the same time. The whole thing's similar to Numero's Light On The Southside set – but maybe even better, as the music here is even more unique – and the images are ones that bring forth a culture we never would have experienced otherwise. Titles include "Air Volta" and "Mama Soukous" by Volta Jazz, "He Ya Wannan" by Ouedraogo Youssef, "Si Tu Maime" and "Ram Passomaye" by Coulibaly Tidiani & Dafr Star, "Milaoba" by Les Imbattables Leopards, and "Gentlemen Doromina" by Echo Del Africa. 3LPs, 26 tracks, and a hardcover 144 page book! LP, Vinyl record album

A really really beautiful little compilation – one with a sound that's every bit as powerful as the image on its cover! The music here all comes from the Gospel Roots label of Miami soul powerhouse TK Records – a key force in mainstream soul in the 70s, but also a company who issued some excellent spiritual material at the time! The work here isn't rootsy gospel – and instead reflects all the hip, righteous changes that were coming into the music during the 70s – bits of blacksploitation funk in the rhythms, powerful lead singers upfront, and an impeccable production style that often mixed deep soul vocals with modern soul presentation. This side of the TK legacy has been crucially ignored over the years – but this wonderful package more than corrects that fault – by offering up some of the key tracks from the Gospel Roots label, alongside a lavish booklet that's filled with notes, photos, and record images – all recounting the overdue tale of this great music. Not all artists are southern – there's a number from up north, and even a few from Chicago – and titles include "Tell Me" by The Fantastic Family Aires, "After The Rain" by Pastor TL Barrett, "Will You Save Me" by The Jordan Singers, "Never Say What You Want" by The Phillipians, "Help Me To Carry On" by The Fabulous Luckett Brothers, "I've Got To Make A Change" by Bright Clouds, "Wake Up Everybody" by The O'Neal Twins, "On Jesus Program" by The Original Sunset Travelers, "Blessed Be The Name Of God" by The Brooklyn All Stars, and "Christians Catch Hell" by Reverend Edna Isaac & The Greene Sisters. LP, Vinyl record album

Classic Christmas cuts from a range of female singers – some jazzy, some a bit more pop – almost all recording these sweet little gems in the postwar years, during a huge boom of Holiday music in the US! Titles include "Snowbound" by Sarah Vaughan, "The Christmas Song" by Peggy Lee, "Winter Wonderland" by The Andrews Sisters, "I'd Like You For Christmas" by Julie London, "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt, "The Tree" by Peggy Lee, "Jingle Bells" by Dinah Shore, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland, "The Man With The Bag" by Kay Starr, "Frosty The Snowman" by Ella Fitzgerald, and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Patti Page. LP, Vinyl record album

Righteous roots reggae from the digital generation – a whole host of tracks produced by the legendary King Jammy – a force who was really able to keep the spiritual fires of the 70s burning well into the following decade! The selection of cuts here is great – and if anything, the crispness of the production seems to bring out the message in the music even more – really emphasizing the power of the lyrics, in a mix of work by 70s artists still working at a very relevant level, alongside some of the up-and-comers that Jammy was so good at searching out! Titles include "Storm Is Coming" by Junior Delgado, "Why Should I" by Admiral Tibet, "Got To Be Strong" by Pad Anthony, "Up Full One" by Dennis Brown, "Only The Poor Man Feel It" by Kentucky, "World Inflation" by Junior Murvin, "Victim Of Babylon" by Admiral Tibet, "Cry For The Youths" by Wackad, "Stop The Violence" by Junior Delgado, and "Chain Grabber" by Johnny Osbourne. LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing music from the golden years of Ethiopian Music – a set of tracks that will take you beyond the music of Mulatu, into a wealth of other talents from the scene at the same time! The sound here is incredible – a mix of heavy funk, spacey jazz, and other exotic touches all coming together – a unique sort of sound that's beyond referent, and which is easily some of the freshest music on the planet back in the 70s! The vinyl-only collection pulls tracks from different volumes of the Ethiopiques CD titles – and offers up a strong focus on the funkiest and grooviest numbers from that legendary series. Tracks include "Muziqawi Silt" by Wallias Band, "Hasabe" by Ayalew Mesfin, "Antchin Yagegnulet" by Tamrat Ferendji, "Amlak Abet Abet" by Asselfetch Ashine & Getenesh Kebret, "Temeles" by Alemayehu Eshete & Hirut Bequele, and "Aynotchesh Yerefu" by Samuel Belay. LP, Vinyl record album

The sound of tomorrow, today – served up here with the genius of Brownswood Records – a company who've been one of the most forward-thinking in modern music for quite a few years! Brownswood is run by longtime DJ Gilles Peterson – whose ears are always amazing for picking out sounds that blow our mind – especially when it comes to up-and-coming artists, of the sort who are getting some great exposure here! As with previous volumes, there's a genre-blending mix of soul, jazz, and other styles going on – on cuts that include "Catastrophe" by Tadi The Great, "To Be A Woman" by Plumm, "Voyager One Lost" by Seigfried Komidiashi, "Twice" by Ceeow, "Rough Of The Felt" by Nowsm, "Good & Low Key" by Victoria Jane, "Keeping On" by Jericho Noguera with Buddy Analogue, "Crinje" by Zenel x Plumm, and "Like Summer" by Shirkers x Ceeow. LP, Vinyl record album

Greasy Mike's been making the global rounds on records like this – serving up an imagined landscape of weird and wonderful sounds, all pulled from rare singles of late 50s/early 60s vintage! We're not sure Mike's efforts will ever win him a harem, but he's done a great job here – coming up with tunes that often have some slight exotic or Eastern sort of vibe, mixed with more familiar American sounds of the time – like electric guitar or Latin percussion! Titles include "Ole Tsasa" by Valisas & His Slaves, "Desert Wind" by The Vaqueros, "Cairo Twist" by The Royce McAfee Combo, "Cobra" by The Boys, "Sahara" by The Cotillions, "Port Said" by The Kasuals, "Moroc-Kin" by Arabian Knights, "Snake Charmer" by Torrents, "The Bagdad Fantasy" by Ilo Kay & His Trio, and "Istanbul" by Jol Coyes Boys. LP, Vinyl record album

A very cool Japanese package, one designed to appeal to lovers of classic film noir and postwar crime fiction! The set brings together an assortment of jazz and vocal tracks – the sort that might have been coming over the radio in the background while two lovers plotted a murder, or a gang of thieves were staking out a bank – a nice moody mix of work from Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Teddy Wilson, Duke Ellington, Les Brown, Lee Wiley, Peggy Lee, John Kirby, and others! LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet cuts for the Christmas season – a great batch of jazz, vocal, and R&B numbers pulled from the postwar years – excellent songs and singles from a time when the best sort of Holiday music was coming out on record, year after year! The set's a great addition to the ever-growing Bear Family Christmas collections – and like the rest, it really shows a strong understanding of what makes a great Christmas tune so great – not just a hit, or a familiar chart number from the past – but new takes on old tunes, or fresh songs that really show just how much Holiday music was flooding the record business back in the day! The package is great, with notes on each track – and titles include "Ole Santa" by Dinah Washington, "Mambo Santa Mambo" by The Enchanters, "I've Had A Very Merry Christmas" by Jerry Lewis, "Happy New Year Baby" by Johnny Otis, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" by Ramsey Lewis, "Christmas Ball" by Georgie Auld with Bill Darnel, "Jingle Bells" by Knuckles O'Toole, "Jing A Ling Jing A Ling" by The Andrews Sisters, "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson, "Come On Santa Let's Have A Ball" by Kay Martin & Her Body Guards, and "Mister Santa" by Dorothy Collins. LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at the Dutch jazz scene in the 50s and 60s – a spot in Europe that was turning out some really fantastic modern material – at a level that's every bit as great as better-known work coming from France, Germany, and Scandinavia at the time! Many of the players here quickly became giants who would dominate on the Dutch scene for years to come – and even at this early point, their work is wonderful – occasionally graced with guest work from American players, but already more than great enough on its own – and filled with a mix of sharp rhythms, new ideas, and impeccable instrumentation throughout. As with other Sdban titles, the presentation is wonderful – not just a great set list, but an overall feel that makes the package as hefty as the music inside. Titles include "Four On Six" by Kwartet Martin Verlinden, "So Why" by Kwartet Leo Meyer, "Amsterdam Blues" by Diamond Five, "Lady Elisabeth" by Tony Vos Quartet, "Blues For Eddy" by Red & Brown Brothers, "Sem" by Frans Elsen, "Relaxin With Rhythme" by The Rhythme All Stars, "Mensen Van Morgen" by Herman Schoonderwalt, "Wives & Lovers" by Rita Reys & Oliver Nelson, "Comin Home Baby" by Trio Tony Vos, "Sing Sing Sing" by Leddy Wessel with Jack Van Poll, "Blues Minor" by Boys Big Band, and "Afro Blues" by Herbie Mann with Wessel Ilcken Combo. LP, Vinyl record album

The resurgence of one of the most groundbreaking periods in recent groove history – the almost-forgotten post-punk years in England, a time of incredible musical convergence! In the heady days of the early 80s – a time when much music was being lost under a gloss of big hair, tinny keyboards, and wispy vocals – a small underground of British musicians were bringing together bits of funk, punk, disco, reggae, and 70s electronica – crafting dark and funky little tunes the likes of which we've barely heard since! A number of these groups went onto do much larger (and weaker) recordings – but this package brilliantly documents the edgy brilliance at the beginning of the post punk years: a nihilistic horizon on the other end of punk – no longer angry, caustic, and shouting, on one hand with the wind knocked out of its apparent sails, on the other, slowly fomenting in secret places, coming up with music far more powerful than punk ever was. And for some strange reason, much of it was pretty darn funky – thanks to a heavy use of simple electric bass, scattershot (sometimes primitive) drum parts, and nice electronic touches, almost in an inverse to American electro. The music more than speaks for itself – and the set's as classic a batch of tunes from the time as we'd ever heard. Titles include "Shack Up" and "Knife Slits Water" by A Certain Ratio, "In The Beginning There Was Rhythm" by The Slits, "20 Jazz Funk Greats" by Throbbing Gristle, "Vegas El Bandito" and "Coup" by 23 Skidoo, "She Is Beyond Good & Evil" by The Pop Group, "Being Boiled" by The Human League, "To Hell With Poverty" by Gang Of Four, and "24 Track Loop" by This Heat. LP, Vinyl record album

A jazz message from late 50s Tokyo – loud, proud, and proof that the Japanese scene was really coming into its own! The set's awash in great bop and swing performances from the postwar years – exclusive tracks to this set, played by four different groups that include Akira Miyazawa on tenor, Shungo Sawada on guitar, and Eiji Kitamura on clarinet – all players that work with other key jazzmen of the Tokyo scene at the time, on sharp-edged tracks that include "An Instant Of The Life", "Funny Bone", "Wherever I Go", "Hello Mr Basie", "Flashing", and "Jog". LP, Vinyl record album

A jazzy Christmas, but a vocal one too – as the set mixes together instrumental jazz with cuts from key singers of the postwar years – all in a package that makes for a mighty nice take on the sounds of the season! Titles include "Blue Xmas" by Miles Davis with Bob Dorough, "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" by Julie London, "Jingle Bells" by Count Basie, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Dave Brubeck, "May Everyday Be Christmas" by Louis Jordan, "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" by Lionel Hampton, "That's What I Want For Christmas" by Nancy Wilson, "Winter Wonderland" by Chet Baker, "Greensleeves" by John Coltrane, "Silent Night" by Dinah Washington, and "Jingle Bells" by Duke Ellington. LP, Vinyl record album

An early entry in the classic Mood Mosaic series – a set of compilations that were crucial in helping to bring rare European tracks over to our American ears, especially in a pre-internet world! There's a real 90s sample head vibe to the record – 70s vintage tracks that have just the right sort of beats, basslines, and keyboards to appeal to a later scene – with a set list that includes "Coming and Going" and "Go Down Dying" by Ray Brown, plus "Caribbean Sunrise" by Clay Pitts, "Vixen & The Constable" by Ingo Kantor, "Le Train Fou" by Jacques Denjean, "Amame" and "Dr No Piano" by Claudia Vita, "Good Time" by Dan Seepers Soul, "Pazuzu" by Tony Sylvester, "Continental Exchange" by Sounds Nice, and "Sado Maso" by De Giafferi. LP, Vinyl record album

The tenth edition in this really fantastic series – a collection of tunes that's moved way past the traditional funk compilations from years back – really showing the evolving taste for a groove in the global underground! The tunes here effortlessly mix together rare soul, groovy jazz, and plenty more – pulled from impossibly rare 45s and albums that remind us that, even though we've spend decades digging in the crates, we still have a heck of a lot to learn about music! We're especially in love with some of the more obscure soul jazz vocalists here – artists we never would have discovered otherwise – and the package features tracks that include "Spooky" by Frankie Greer Quartette, "Kitchen Cookin" by Eddie Buster Band, "The Mustang (parts 1 & 2)" by The New Philadelphians, "Under The Covers" by The Kats, "Coming Home Baby" by Ronny Pellers Satin Sound, "Evil Ways" by The Lido, "El Mexicano" by Brazada, "Title Town" by Herb Crawford Jazz Ensemble, "Little Sister (parts 1 & 2)" by The Headliners, "Radiation Funk" by Maxell, and "String Around My Heart" by Eunice Haze. LP, Vinyl record album

Mad sounds from the late 60s world of Japanese pop – a mindblowing, ear-opening batch of singles we never would have gotten our hands on otherwise! The music here feels like sounds coming out of some backroom jukebox in a Nikkatsu "new action" film – or maybe the kind of offbeat pop that Quentin Tarantino might throw into a soundtrack – but there's also a much deeper range of sounds going on than you might expect, with wonderfully clever instrumentation, and lots of surprisingly heartfelt passages in the vocals! And sure, the language might be a barrier – but there's a really universal sense of appeal to this music – a variant of 60s soul and pop, focused through a different sort of lense – and the instrumentation alone is great – with wicked guitars, Hammond, and other garagey touches! As usual with Ace, the whole thing's supported with nicely detailed notes that tell the whole story behind these wonderful lost gems (we like this one even better than the fab first volume) – and titles include "Namida No Go Go" by Emy Jackson & Blue Comets, "Koi Gurui" by Chiyo Okumura, "Tokyo No Hito" by The Peanuts, "Warui Kuse" by Kazumi Yasui, "Boy & Girl" by Akiko Wada, "Namida No Mori No Monogatari" by Akiko Nakamura, "Saike Na Machi" by Reiko Mari, "Bazazz No 1" by Kayoko Ishuu, and "Furi Furi 5" by Linda Yamamoto. LP, Vinyl record album

A really beautiful collection of music – and work from a scene that we've hardly heard from before – given that all these tracks were taken from the 60s catalog of the Caife Records label in Ecuador! The music is often an unusual hybrid of modes – older folkloric styles mixes with more contemporary expressions – often driven by an urban interest in the nation's traditions, which involve many different cultural strains spread out over its diverse terrain. Caife was an imprint that sought to capture music that might have fallen through the cracks otherwise – and in terms of sound and style, most of this work feels much older than what you might have heard coming from Colombia, Mexico, or Cuba in the 60s – with a fair bit of acoustic instrumentation, and often a strong current of sentiment, as is hinted at in the title. The package is a very well-done resurrection of this near-lost legacy – with a beautiful booklet of notes and rare images – including a shot of the hoarder's office in a high rise, where most of the tapes had been sitting for decades. Titles include "Sendero Del Dolor" by Segundo Bautista, "Ingratitud" by Hermanas Mendoza Suasti, "Cotopaxi" by Biluka Y Los Canibales, "Desesperacion" by Bentiez Y Valencia, "Lejos De Ti" by Los Tres Ases, "Vaca Lechera" by Conjunto Caife, "Pasional" by Lucho Munoz, "El Anacu De Mi Guambra" by Biluka Y Los Canibales, and "Ensonacion" by Los Inaquingas. LP, Vinyl record album

Music with a message – and a wonderfully spiritual groove, too – served up here in a killer collection that goes way past the obvious, and unearths an amazing collection of work from the 70s onwards! The set's not your usual batch of post-Coltrane or Impulse Records cuts – and instead, the music comes from a very deep array of American underground records from the 70s, as well as some rare European releases from that decade and later years, plus lost tracks from the vaults – all coming together in a set of tracks that's as mind-expanding as it is righteously progressive! We'd only ever heard a few of these numbers before – which makes the whole thing a huge discovery to our ears – and titles on this second volume include "Abeba" by Mabon Dawud Quintet, "Ain't Gonna Wait That Long" by Thomas Meloncon, "Song Of Deliverance" by Roy Hytower & The Crowd Pleasers, "Leigh Ann's Dance" by Sheila Landis, "Easy Tune For Dancing" by Now, "Mystic Sky" by Deep Jazz, and "Sandance" by All Williams Quintet Plus One. LP, Vinyl record album

A whole host of classic rock and roll Christmas tunes – plus a few great doo wop numbers as well – all brought together in a single package with a great sort of late 50s vibe! Titles include "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus" and "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Pat Boone, "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Run Rudolph Run" by Chuck Berry, "Hey Santa Claus" by The Moonglows, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Jimmy Charles, "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by The Cadillacs, "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms, "Frosty The Snowman" by Jan & Dean, "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" by Patti Page, and "White Christmas" by The Drifters. LP, Vinyl record album

Sweet early 80s tracks from the legendary Bunny Striker Lee – work that shows him stepping effortlessly into the dancehall modes of the time – still a master of rhythm, and of finding the right sort of talents to add to his sound! The package features a nice mix of bigger names and up-and-coming talents – and also includes a number of unissued tracks from Bunny's archives, which fit perfectly alongside the singles in the set – music that's mostly in a late roots-into-dancehall mode, instead of some of the bigger, more commercial work that would circulate under the dancehall name a few years later. As always with Pressure Sounds, the presentation, sound quality, and notes are great – and titles include "Gun Fever" by Frankie Jones, "People Cruel (12" mix)" by Cornell Campbell & Errol Scorcher, "Lay Down Flat" by Devon Edwards, "Revolution Fighters" by Simple Simon, "Too Popular" by Trevor Castell, "Babylon No Badda Haul & Pull Me" by Devon Edwards, "A Place Called Zion" by The Paragons, "The Right Time (12" mix)" by Neville Brown & John Wayne, "Bandulo (12" mix)" by Cornell Campbell & Scientist, "Know Yourself Mankind" by The Paragons, "Lazer Beam (12" mix)" by Don Carlos & Papa Tullo, and "I Man Come Again" by Johnny Clarke. LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary look at the sounds of Puerto Rico – one that brings together tracks from a time when the island was really hopping with fresh new rhythms, served up by a host of young, soon to be important leaders – music that's every bit as powerful as work coming from Havana and New York at the time! The rhythms here are slightly different – with some bomba and plena thrown into the mix, served up with plenty of percussion too – all at a level that would have a huge influence on Latin music for decades to come! The package features detailed notes that provide the sort of background and information that some of the leaner Latin reissues of previous years never had – and titles include "Cortaron a Elena" by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "En Orbita" by Baltazar Carrero, "Habla Cuembre" by Los Caballeros Del Ritmo, "El Plenero" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta, "Dejalo Que Suba" by by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "Belinda" by Chivirico, "Cucala" by Cortijo Y Su Combo con Ismael Rivera, and "Ron Con Coco" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta. 30 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

The Nigerian scene might be best-remembered as a hotbed of Afro Funk in the 70s – but during the same key stretch, the nation also gave rise to a heady rock underground, too – one that often mix psychedelic inspirations with some of the soul and funk that were coming from the bigger names on their scene at the time! In other words, there's plenty of guitars here – but also plenty of groove – basslines that really get the tunes going, and a mix of funky drums and rootsy percussion that make the music way more than just standard rock of the time – and even a lot groovier than some of the Zamrock or South African sounds that got a bit more exposure. The package is as great as the sound within – a big book that's filled with detailed notes on the music, the scene, and the tumultuous Nigerian politics of the period – plus lots of photos and images as well! The collection features 18 tracks in all – titles that include "Mother" by Waves, "Never Never Let Me Down" by Formulars Dance Band, "Keep On Moving" by The Hygrades, "Everybody Likes Something Good" by Ify Jerry Krusade, "Onye Ije" by The Strangers, "Stone The Flower" by The Hykers, "Never Too Late" by The Apostles, "Tell Me" by PRO, "Float" by Tirogo, "I Can't Be Satisfied" by Founders 15, and "Ballad Of A Sad Young Woman" by Wrinkar Experience. LP, Vinyl record album

The Nigerian scene might be best-remembered as a hotbed of Afro Funk in the 70s – but during the same key stretch, the nation also gave rise to a heady rock underground, too – one that often mix psychedelic inspirations with some of the soul and funk that were coming from the bigger names on their scene at the time! In other words, there's plenty of guitars here – but also plenty of groove – basslines that really get the tunes going, and a mix of funky drums and rootsy percussion that make the music way more than just standard rock of the time – and even a lot groovier than some of the Zamrock or South African sounds that got a bit more exposure. The package is as great as the sound within – a big book that's filled with detailed notes on the music, the scene, and the tumultuous Nigerian politics of the period – plus lots of photos and images as well! The collection features 18 tracks in all – titles that include "Mother" by Waves, "Never Never Let Me Down" by Formulars Dance Band, "Keep On Moving" by The Hygrades, "Everybody Likes Something Good" by Ify Jerry Krusade, "Onye Ije" by The Strangers, "Stone The Flower" by The Hykers, "Never Too Late" by The Apostles, "Tell Me" by PRO, "Float" by Tirogo, "I Can't Be Satisfied" by Founders 15, and "Ballad Of A Sad Young Woman" by Wrinkar Experience. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark double-live album that was easily one of the most important soul record moments of the 70s! The concert was an all-star event held in LA to celebrate the anniversary of the Watts riots – but it features a killer lineup of talent from the roster of Stax Records – by then a proud independent with more than enough power to spread a nationwide message from Memphis to Los Angeles without any trouble! The record is nicely segmented – so that it offers up mini "sets" by each artist – really recreating the feel of the event, at a level that lived on in countless living rooms long after the concert was over. Titles include "Son Of Shaft/Feel It" and "I Can't Turn You Loose" by The Bar-Kays; "Ain't No Sunshine" by Isaac Hayes, "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" and "Hearsay" by The Soul Children, "I Like What You're Doing To Me" and "Gee Whiz" by Carla Thomas; "The Breakdown" and "Do The Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas, "Killing Floor" and "Angel Of Mercy" by Albert King"; "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers; and "Knock On Wood" by Eddie Floyd. Also includes 2 studio tracks recorded after the show – "Oh La De Da" by The Staple Singers, and "Lay Your Loving On Me" by Eddie Floyd. LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark double-live album that was easily one of the most important soul record moments of the 70s! The concert was an all-star event held in LA to celebrate the anniversary of the Watts riots – but it features a killer lineup of talent from the roster of Stax Records – by then a proud independent with more than enough power to spread a nationwide message from Memphis to Los Angeles without any trouble! The record is nicely segmented – so that it offers up mini "sets" by each artist – really recreating the feel of the event, at a level that lived on in countless living rooms long after the concert was over. Titles include "Son Of Shaft/Feel It" and "I Can't Turn You Loose" by The Bar-Kays; "Ain't No Sunshine" by Isaac Hayes, "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" and "Hearsay" by The Soul Children, "I Like What You're Doing To Me" and "Gee Whiz" by Carla Thomas; "The Breakdown" and "Do The Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas, "Killing Floor" and "Angel Of Mercy" by Albert King"; "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers; and "Knock On Wood" by Eddie Floyd. Also includes 2 studio tracks recorded after the show – "Oh La De Da" by The Staple Singers, and "Lay Your Loving On Me" by Eddie Floyd. LP, Vinyl record album

The love here is in the music – a really warm, wonderful blend of tracks in a variety of styles – all coming together in the sunny spirit hinted at by the cover! It's a bit hard to sum up the genius of the set in words – as Miche takes vintage soul, Latin, Brazilian, and other modes – but makes a record that's very different than the usual funky compilation – one with a much deeper sense of spirit! Most tracks are pretty darn obscure, which really helps them work together wonderfully – in a lineup that includes "Summer Love" by Mandisa, "Skying High" by South Funk Blvd, "Hung Up About You" by Atlantis, "Don't Need No Fortune Teller" by Ad Libs, "Now You've Gone Away" by City Lites, "Serrado" by Quintaessencia, and "It Was September" by Superior Elevation. LP, Vinyl record album

Miche's at it again – and he's somehow managed to top the great sound of the first volume in the series – digging deeper into the past, coming up with more soulful numbers overall, then throwing in just the right touch of Brazilian grooves to even things out! As before, there's no unifying label or scene to these tracks – they're just brought together in celebration of a really joyous, positive, uplifting vibe – one possessed by each track alone, but which really steps out strongly as they all resonate together! Titles include "Save The Best For Last" by Alice Cohen & Fun City, "You & Me" by Mark Meadows, "Take To The Sky" by Mixed Generation Enterprize, "I Like What She's Doing" by Billy Boomer, "Straight Forward" by PJ City, "Realize" by Maxwell, "High On You" by Freedom, "Blow My Mind" by The Lost Family, "As" by The Family Tree, "A Luz Que Brilha Meu Viver" by Banda 22, "Misterio Brilhante" by Ze Da Lata, "Then I Reach Satisfaction" by Eleventh Commandment, and "Dame Solamente Amor" by Rogers Mitchell. LP, Vinyl record album