Steely Dan really hitting the heights – moving into hipper, more sophisticated territory than before – pushing the envelope with both their music and lyrics, which are completely sublime! It's hard to put our finger on the magic of this one, but it's the perfect summation of everything that's come before, with a bit of a nod towards the future – yet all with a simple, song-based charm that we really love. The Becker and Fagan team get some key studio help here – showing a move away from previous group-based recordings – and Phil Woods turns in some especially nice work on his sublime solo for "Doctor Wu". Other tracks include "Black Friday", "Bad Sneakers", "Any World That I'm Welcome To", "Your Gold Teeth II", "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More", "Throw Back The Little Ones", and "Everyone's Gone To The Movies". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the first-ever album to be issued under the name of the great Charles Stepney – even though the artist/musician/producer/songwriter had a huge role in the careers of Chicago contemporaries like Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, and Earth Wind & Fire! This set brings together recordings that Stepney made on his own, often in his home studio – many of which are songs that never saw the light of day on some of his bigger-name projects, next to others that feature melodies you might recognize, but done in these sweet jazzy instrumentals that are totally great! Most of the set features Charles on a variety of keyboards Rhodes, piano, and even some cool moogy bits – plus some vibes from time to time – often set to spare early electric drum machine rhythms – in a style that makes you feel like you've stumbled upon Timmy Thomas doing an all instrumental jam session in the early 70s. Given that Stepney first got his start as a jazz musician – playing piano and vibes on some great early 60s sessions – the keyboard work is superb, and the record stands as a completely different testament to his genius – with titles that include "Funky Sci Fi", "Gotta Dig It To Dig It", "Daddy's Diddies", "Rubie Charles", "Notes From Dad", "Black Bold", "Gimme Some Sugar", "No Credit For This", "Imagination", "Look B4U Leap", "Mini Mugg", "Denim Groove", and "That's The Way Of The World". LP, Vinyl record album

The final album from the Talking Heads, and a set that returns them to some of the global elements of their mid-period records, but with a vibe that shows lots of the shifting studio technology of the time! The set's almost a precursor of some of the remix modes that would show up on the world music market during the 90s – as David Byrne and crew effortlessly borrow beats and instrumentation from Latin, Brazilian, and other cultures – while still weaving those elements into tunes that resonate with the work the group had been doing on more recent records. Byrne's vocals have that maturing quality that echoes with more soulful currents than at the start – and the set features a fair bit of guest instrumentation, from rock, jazz, and world music musicians. Titles include "Flowers", "The Democratic Circus", "Cool Water", "Mommy Daddy You & I", "The Facts Of Life", "Blind", "Totally Nude", and "Mr Jones". LP, Vinyl record album

The final album from the Talking Heads, and a set that returns them to some of the global elements of their mid-period records, but with a vibe that shows lots of the shifting studio technology of the time! The set's almost a precursor of some of the remix modes that would show up on the world music market during the 90s – as David Byrne and crew effortlessly borrow beats and instrumentation from Latin, Brazilian, and other cultures – while still weaving those elements into tunes that resonate with the work the group had been doing on more recent records. Byrne's vocals have that maturing quality that echoes with more soulful currents than at the start – and the set features a fair bit of guest instrumentation, from rock, jazz, and world music musicians. Titles include "Flowers", "The Democratic Circus", "Cool Water", "Mommy Daddy You & I", "The Facts Of Life", "Blind", "Totally Nude", and "Mr Jones". LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a sound that's as swirly as its cover – a record that's loaded to the brim with fuzzy guitar and dreamy organ lines – and served up in a style that makes the whole thing one of the most treasured albums from the short-lived psych years on Mainstream Records! The group hail from Boston, but they've almost got the heady sound of some of the trippiest Texas groups of the period – effortlessly mixing garagey grit with heavier psychedelic elements – on titles that include "Trip To The Zoo", "Please Don't Set Me Free", "The Flight", "Mommy & Daddy", "Symphonic Psychedelia", "Crystalescent Heaven", and "One More Heartache". And heck, even their cover of "Gloria" is pretty darn wild! LP, Vinyl record album

Arranged and produced by David Spinozza – with titles that include "Ain't No Song", "Walking Man", "Hello Old Friend", "Migration", "Fading Away", "Me & My Guitar", and "Daddy's Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprising classic from the early 80s underground – a record that came to the world from the scene in Milwaukee, where neither the group nor the rest of the world would have expected the album to have such staying power over the decades! And yet, from the very first needle drop, it's hard to imagine otherwise – as the record's got this raw intensity that's not really punk, certainly not new wave – almost an American primitivist energy that really gets to the heart of the matter from the very first note – and goes on to deliver a non-stop testament of angst and longing, set to scratchy guitar and fast-riffing drums! Gordon Gano's vocals perfectly fit the spirit of the songs – and the set's full of classics that include "Blister In The Sun", "Kiss Off", "Add It Up", "Gone Daddy Gone", and "Prove My Love". 3LP version features a huge amount of bonus material on the second disc – demos of most tracks for the album, and live recordings from the same time – plus UK single tracks "Ugly" and "Gimme The Car" on the bonus 7" single! LP, Vinyl record album

A surprising classic from the early 80s underground – a record that came to the world from the scene in Milwaukee, where neither the group nor the rest of the world would have expected the album to have such staying power over the decades! And yet, from the very first needle drop, it's hard to imagine otherwise – as the record's got this raw intensity that's not really punk, certainly not new wave – almost an American primitivist energy that really gets to the heart of the matter from the very first note – and goes on to deliver a non-stop testament of angst and longing, set to scratchy guitar and fast-riffing drums! Gordon Gano's vocals perfectly fit the spirit of the songs – and the set's full of classics that include "Blister In The Sun", "Kiss Off", "Add It Up", "Gone Daddy Gone", and "Prove My Love". LP, Vinyl record album

This is an LP issue of some of her early recordings, originally released on 78. Songs include "Record Ban Blues", "What's The Matter With Baby", "I'm Crying", "Shuckin' And Jivin'", When The Sun Goes Down", "Set Me Free", "My Devotion", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Go Pretty Daddy", "I Ain't Gonna Cry No More", "Old Man's Darlin'", and "One Arabian Night". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty striking little record in the Frank Zappa catalog – the double-length soundtrack for the movie of the same name, and a set that explodes the Zappa palette of sound even further than some of his previous albums! A number of tracks feature a full studio orchestra – sounding as if they were lined up to perform a conventional Hollywood film score, but somehow tricked into working with Frank when he showed up on the podium to conduct the proceedings! Other tunes echo more of the Mothers Of Invention material, but with shorter selections, and lots of twists and turns along the way – all of which make the whole record this really mad pastiche of songs, sounds, and sonic interplay. Titles include "This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich", "Redneck Eats", "She Painted Her Face", "Janet's Big Dance Number", "Daddy Daddy Daddy", "The Girl's Dream", "A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes", and "Mystery Roach". LP, Vinyl record album

A fabulous furry freakout from Frank Zappa – the start of a legendary run in the late 60s – and a record that is still as mindblowing now as it was all those many years back! There's a deadpan quality to the vocals that's unlike anything other groups were trying for at the time – a snotty aspect that's often forgotten amidst all the celebrations of Zappa's hippiedom, but which really makes the record stand out from the pack – giving it a kind of darkness that's a wonderful change from some of the too-earnest psych or folk rock elements of the period. Music is great too – and a lot more simple than in later years – a really tight blend of garage and psych that furthers the almost punky quality of the record. Titles include "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet", "Motherly Love", "I Ain't Got No Heart", "Hungry Freaks Daddy", "Wowie Zowie", "You Didn't Try To Call Me", "Any Way The Wind Blows", and "I'm Not Satisfied". LP, Vinyl record album

Culled from the rich history of the Atlantic records label, and lovingly put together with great notes and everything! Tracks include "Lowe Groovin", "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere", & "Applejack" by Joe Morris, "That Old Black Magic", "Annie Laurie", & "Midnight Special" by Tiny Grimes, "Cole Slaw", by Frank Cully, "So Long", "I'll Get Along Somehow", "Daddy Daddy", & "5-10-15 Hours" by Ruth Brown, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" & "Drinkin Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" by Stick Mcghee, "The Chill Is On", "Chains Of Love", & "Sweet Sixteen" by Joe Turner, "Hey Little Girl" & "Mardi Gras In New Orleans" by Professor Longhair, "Fool Fool Fool" & "One Mint Julep" by the Clovers, and "The Midnight Hour" by Ray Charles. LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic female funk – a set of grooves that's way more natural than you might guess from the beehive in the title – the harder sound of 60s soul and early 70s funk – all pulled together from a host of rare 7" singles from back in the day! The set's got Numero breaking past the range of a single label or local scene – to pull together the best bits from all over, as a massive collection of all-female funky grooves! Titles include "You Got Me Under Your Spell" by Mae Young, "Good Things' by Pearl Dowell, "Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone" by Sandy Gaye, "Daddy Don't Know About Sugar Bear" by Marva Whitney, "Hot Pats (part 1)" by The 20th Century, "I'm Not Ready For Love" by Promise, "Save The Children" by Lolla Collins, "Come Back Boy" by The Ba-Roz, "Second Avenue" by Sonics Band, and the Chicago classic "I'm A Streaker Baby" by Arelean Brown. LP, Vinyl record album

Fantastic female funk – a set of grooves that's way more natural than you might guess from the beehive in the title – the harder sound of 60s soul and early 70s funk – all pulled together from a host of rare 7" singles from back in the day! The set's got Numero breaking past the range of a single label or local scene – to pull together the best bits from all over, as a massive collection of all-female funky grooves! Titles include "You Got Me Under Your Spell" by Mae Young, "Good Things' by Pearl Dowell, "Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone" by Sandy Gaye, "Daddy Don't Know About Sugar Bear" by Marva Whitney, "Hot Pats (part 1)" by The 20th Century, "I'm Not Ready For Love" by Promise, "Save The Children" by Lolla Collins, "Come Back Boy" by The Ba-Roz, "Second Avenue" by Sonics Band, and the Chicago classic "I'm A Streaker Baby" by Arelean Brown. LP, Vinyl record album

A lost legacy of work from Black Jazz Records – the important 70s imprint that's best known for its groundbreaking albums of spiritual and funky jazz – and a company who also issued some rare 45s back in the day! The cuts here represent some of the coolest, funkiest tracks these artists recorded for Black Jazz – all originally issued as 7" singles, some with a two-part approach that has both parts of a longer track spread out over both sides of the wax. The presentation here is as top-shelf as the other Black Jazz reissues handled by Real Gone – complete with notes by Pat Thomas – and titles include "Little B's Poem" and "Peace" by Doug & Jean Carn, "Chi Town Theme" by Cleveland Eaton, "Soul Daddy" and "Be All Your Own" by Kellee Patterson, "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and "Me & Mrs Jones" by Gene Russell, "Coral Keys (parts 1 & 2)" by Walter Bishop, "Moon Child (parts 1 & 2)" by Doug Carn, "Mr TJ (single edit)" and "Devon Jean" by Rudolph Johnson, "Gee Gee (parts 1 & 2)" by Calvin Keys, and "Powerhouse (parts 1 & 2)" by Chester Thompson. LP, Vinyl record album

A double-length collection of work from two obscure Atlanta soul labels – the Tragar and Note imprints, both run by local producer Jesse Jones! Back in the day, Atlanta wasn't nearly as big of an outlet for soul records as it's become in recent years – so Jones' labels were key in showcasing under-exposed local talent in the city, a range of soul groups, solo singers, and funk combos – all produced here with a really fresh sound! Nearly every track here is super-obscure – and there's few southern soul cliches to get in the way of the music – no overdone blues, no Hotlanta disco, no Muscle Shoals copies – just honest-to-goodness indie soul at its best – full of life, vitality, and personality – all presented with the usual deep-digging Numero look at the artists in the notes. The package is one of the biggest Numero collections so far – and really tells the tale of this crucially overlooked scene – a key link between more familiar southern styles and rising Northern modes, all with a personality of its own. Titles include "All Because of You" and "Down In The Country" by Tee Fletcher, "The Hump" and "Tipping Strings" by The Knights, "Somebody Got A Help Me" and "Love is So Mean" by Richard Cook, "Ain't That Sharp" by Young Divines, "Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone" by Sandy Gaye, "Messing Around" by Bobby Owens & The Diplomats, "Shake Daddy Shake" and "Try" by Eula Cooper, "Tumbling Down" by Langston & French, "You Got A Spell On Me" by Bill Wright, "Now That I'm Wise" by Nathan Wilkes, and "Nitecap" by L Daniels. LP, Vinyl record album

A double-length collection of work from two obscure Atlanta soul labels – the Tragar and Note imprints, both run by local producer Jesse Jones! Back in the day, Atlanta wasn't nearly as big of an outlet for soul records as it's become in recent years – so Jones' labels were key in showcasing under-exposed local talent in the city, a range of soul groups, solo singers, and funk combos – all produced here with a really fresh sound! Nearly every track here is super-obscure – and there's few southern soul cliches to get in the way of the music – no overdone blues, no Hotlanta disco, no Muscle Shoals copies – just honest-to-goodness indie soul at its best – full of life, vitality, and personality – all presented with the usual deep-digging Numero look at the artists in the notes. The package is one of the biggest Numero collections so far – and really tells the tale of this crucially overlooked scene – a key link between more familiar southern styles and rising Northern modes, all with a personality of its own. Titles include "All Because of You" and "Down In The Country" by Tee Fletcher, "The Hump" and "Tipping Strings" by The Knights, "Somebody Got A Help Me" and "Love is So Mean" by Richard Cook, "Ain't That Sharp" by Young Divines, "Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone" by Sandy Gaye, "Messing Around" by Bobby Owens & The Diplomats, "Shake Daddy Shake" and "Try" by Eula Cooper, "Tumbling Down" by Langston & French, "You Got A Spell On Me" by Bill Wright, "Now That I'm Wise" by Nathan Wilkes, and "Nitecap" by L Daniels. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Buju Banton, Terror Fabulous, Spragga Benz, Nadine Sutherland, Wayne Wonder, Louie Culture, Brian & Tony Gold, Daddy Screw, General Degree, Don Youth, Donovan Steele, Frisco Kid, Chippie Ranks, and Gary Minott. LP, Vinyl record album

Mr Bongo really goes back to its roots here – and returns to the kind of rare global gems that first made us fall in love with the label in the first place! Over 20 years ago, Mr Bongo were one of the key global forces in opening up people's ears to the sounds of funk and soul from around the globe – digging up rare nuggets from out of the way places that might have echoed American styles, but turned them on their ear – or the kinds of cuts that were completely unique, but which could stand next to the kind of funky 45s that were being sampled for hip hop! This collection brings together some of the best cuts that continue that legacy – some rare singles, some obscure European tracks, and lots of others you never would have discovered otherwise – with titles that include "Deixa A Tristeza", "Piranha" by Alipio Martins, "Seara De Oxala" by Barbosa, "Mathar" by Dave Pike Set, "Freak" by Tappa Zukie, "Mama Hot Daddy Cool" by Big Youth, "Fish & Funjee" by Lantei Lamptey, "Karam Bani" by Buari, "Handsome Boy (parts 1 & 2)" by The Rwenzoris, "He's Forever" by King James Version, "Chanson D'Un Jour D'Hiver" by Cortez, and "Can't Live Without You" by Connie Laverne. LP, Vinyl record album

A great slice of work from the early years of Ernestine Anderson – one of her key swingers for Mercury, and the kind of record that should have made her huge at the time! There's a hip-stepping quality here that points nicely towards the 60s – a bit more of a bounce in the backings, almost a Basie-esque quality at times – thanks to arrangements from Ernie Wilkins and Gigi Gryce, both of whom bring a great ear for horn charts to the date. Anderson's inherent sense of soul really opens up strongly with both arrangers – swinging with poise one minute, but bluesy undercurrents the next – in ways that really mark the record as coming from the more jazz-based side of late 50s Mercury spectrum. Titles include "Harlem Nocturne", "A New Town Is A Blue Town", "Nobody's Heart", "I Got Rhythm", "Beale Street Blues", "My Heart Belongs To Daddy", and "I Wish I Was Back In My Baby's Arms" LP, Vinyl record album

Joan Baez, back when she was really pretty darn amazing – a young, fresh, powerful force in 60s folk music! The set features Baez on vocals and guitar – with additional electric guitar on a few tracks, a bit of mandolin, and some bass. Includes great readings of Dylan tunes "Farewell Angelina", "It's All Over Now Baby Blue", "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", and "Daddy You Been On My Mind" – plus Donovan's "Colours". LP, Vinyl record album

A great debut from Bow Wow Wow, and a mighty second act from Maclolm McLaren – whose work with the young group was one of his main projects after getting rejected by the Sex Pistols! This group's got a very different vibe, and an equally longstanding appeal – as playfully new wave as the Pistols were punk – with all sorts of romping rhythms that are heavy on drums, played by ex-members of The Ants – and fronted with lead vocals from the teenaged Annabella Lwin – a singer who really knows how to step out front with a lot of brash, young energy! There's a tribal groove to most tracks that really fits the title of the album – and tracks include "Jungle Boy", "King Kong", "Chihuahua", "Go Wild In The Country", "Why Are Babies So Wise", "Orang-Outang", and "Hello Hello Daddy (I'll Sacrifice You)". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those 70s rock albums that seems to turn up in a fair bit of collections of hip soul and jazz – a bit like the work of Harvey Mandel, and with a similar blend of blues rock currents with farther-reaching ideals! Roy Buchanan is spectacular on the guitar here – the kind of player who almost could have fronted a bigger arena rock group, given his chops – but who choses instead to keep things close to the chest, with the more down to earth vibe of his look on the cover – even though his playing here is pretty outta sight. Roy's got some great help on the album – including some of the MGs on a version of "Green Onions" – plus more guitar from Steve Cropper on other tracks, plus piano from Jan Hammer, bass from Stanley Clarke, and drums from Narada Michael Walden. Other titles include "Judy", "Your Love", "Done Your Daddy Dirty", "The Circle", and "Hidden". LP, Vinyl record album

Very cool work from Henson Cargill – a lesser-known talent from the Nashville scene at the start of the 70s! The set revolves kind of loosely around the Great Depression, but goes further back and forward in time for other tunes that echo the sentiments, and the sound rolls from dusty country ballads to sweeter 60s style grooves with female backup singers, to country rock and folk. He tackles some famous tunes like Merle Haggard's "Daddy Frank" and The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" with a surprising stylistic twists (the latter is done in a blue eyed country soul style), and all of it's pretty great! LP, Vinyl record album

The title's no lie – because the album is one of the shining jewels of Lou Donaldson's legendary funk years for Blue Note – that second period when he returned to the label at the end of the 60s, and really helped redefine the sound of soul jazz at the time! The format here is very much the same as other Donaldson classics from the time – like Hot Dog or Possum Head – in that the tracks are long, open, and plenty darn grooving – locked in some funky rhythms that feature Idris Muhammad on some very heavy drums! Other players are great too – and include Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Melvin Sparks on guitar, and Lonnie Smith on Hammond – all cooking things up nicely on tracks that include "West Indian Daddy", "Donkey Walk", "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky", and "Hamp's Hump". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most classic albums of the 70s – a never-ending hit that's continued to inspire generations! Back in the early years of punk, we were thinking that Rumours was a record that would pass by quickly – but it turns out to have a fair bit more staying power than Never Mind The Bollocks – and continues to get new interest and new appreciation as the years go on! And, after decades, we're finally on board with the greatness of the record, and everything the group was going through, and put into the songs within – a classic lineup that includes "Dreams", "Don't Stop", "Never Going Back Again", "Go Your Own Way", "The Chain", "You Make Loving Fun", "Oh Daddy", and "Gold Dust Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

Soulful city pop from the end of the 70s – a record that features the unique vocal stylings of Ginji Ito next to these really groovy, surprisingly jazzy arrangements – which also include some work from Ryuichi Sakamoto! The instrumentation alone is worth the price of admission – with a great mix of percussion and tight drum work next to keyboards, guitar, and some great work on sax and flute from Kazuo Takahaski. Sakamoto plays keys, lyrics are in Japanese, and titles include "Sweet Daddy", "King Kong", "Deadly Drive", "I'm Telling You Now", and "Hobo's Lullaby". LP, Vinyl record album

Tracks include "Dangerous MC's" featuring Snoop Dogg & Busta Rhymes, "I Really Want To Show You" featuring Nas with K-Ci & Jo-Jo, "Rap Phenomenon" featuring Redman & Method Man, "Tonight" featuring Mobb Deep, "Let Me Get Down" featuring Missy Elliott, Craig Mack, & G-Dep, "Come On" featuring Sadat X, "Big Booty Hoes" featuring Too $hort, "Dead Wrong" featuring Eminem, "Notorious B.I.G." and "Would You Die For Me" featuring Lil Kim & the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy, "Biggie" featuring Junior M.A.F.I.A., "Can I Get Witcha" featuring Lil Cease, "Who Shot Ya", and "If I Should Die Before I Wake" featuring Ice Cube, Beanie Sigel, & Black Rob. LP, Vinyl record album

A big new chapter for Prince in the 90s – his first set with the New Power Generation, and a record that definitely has him amping up his game for the decade! There's maybe a bit more sampling here, and a groove that certainly has one ear open for the younger sound of R&B at the time – while still coming across with all that care, class, and top-shelf vibe that made Prince's work of the previous generation such an important funky influence on the younger crowd who were growing up with equal parts soul and hip hop to influence their sound. Tracks include "Daddy Pop", "Diamonds", "Cream", "Insatiable", "Live 4 Love", "Push", "Money Don't Matter 2 Night", "Jughead", "Gett Off", "Walk Don't Walk", "Strollin", and "Willing & Able". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album – even if it was the only session that Cannonball Adderley ever cut for Blue Note! The album was recorded at a time when Adderley was working with Miles Davis – and as such, the session features a group that includes Miles, blowing trumpet in a cool tone that's a perfect offset to Cannonball's more soulful style on alto sax – also different than the sound of his brother Nat, who was Adderley's more frequent partner on records. The rest of the group includes Hank Jones on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Blakey on drums – and like John Coltrane's Blue Train, the record's more of an "special session" than the usual Blue Note album, but the strength of the players make it one of the more memorable records of its day! Titles include "Somethin' Else", "One For Daddy-O", "Autumn Leaves", "Love For Sale", and a nice moody take on "Dancing In The Dark". LP, Vinyl record album

A real treat for Cannonball Adderley fans in the years after his passing – vintage live material recorded in 1960, right at a time when Adderley was really finding his groove! The lineup here features a classic quintet – with brother Nat on cornet, Victor Feldman on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – rolling out in a heavy soul jazz groove that's right up there with Cannon's best Riverside albums from the time! The tracks are longish, given the live setting – with energy to match his Live In San Francisco or Japan albums – and titles include "Big P", "One For Daddy O", "The Chant", "Azule Serape", and "What Is This Thing Called Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A record with a plain white cover, but a sound that's mighty rich – served up by a hip London collective led by drummer Chiminyo, and featuring very soulful contributions from Axel Kaner-Lidstrom on trumpet, James Mollison on tenor, David Mrakpor on keyboards and bass, and Wonky Logic on bass synth and keyboards! There's vocals along the way too – from singers who include Dunja Botic, Plumm, and Solomon OB – and the record is a live one, with ver spontaneous energy in that best London mode of mixing jazz and soul with some contemporary currents – on titles that include "MIA", "Mirrors", "Rampant Monarchist Chant", "Naughty Daddy", "Pressure", "El Flat", "The Future's Ours", and "Chat". LP, Vinyl record album

A real standout in Blossom Dearie's run of albums for Daffodil Records – thanks to a lot of electric piano in the mix, and an expanded musical lineup that includes Hubert Laws on flute, Jay Berliner on guitar, Grady Tate on drums, and Toots Thielemans on harmonica! The style here is tighter and more studio-oriented than some of Blossom's other records from the time – but the overall approach is still mostly gentle, in the Daffodil spirit – with Dearie's own vocals and electric piano work dominating the tunes, and other players only coming in to flesh out the tunes where needed. The electric piano is especially nice – used in sparely, blocky modes that echo out behind the vocals – creating waves of sound that buoy Blossom's vocals up beautifully. A number of tracks are familiar numbers, but redone here in unique versions – and titles include "A Paris", "Spring In Manhattan", "Killing Me Softly", "You'll Never Lose The Love You Gave To Me", "Smiling Feet", "My New Celebrity Is You", "Unless It's You", "The Pro Musica Antiqua", "Long Daddy Green", "A Song For You", and "Inside A Silent Tear". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer album of crossover soul from the mid 70s – one that dropped like a bomb when it hit, and gave this UK group a number of big hits in America! Keyboardist Rod Temperton wrote all the tracks on the album – and he's got keen talent for both funky numbers and ballads. If soul stations played album side specials the way that classic rock stations do, side one would be in heavy rotation – as it kicks off with the funky title cut, rolls into the hit "Boogie Nights", cuts to the sample classic "Ain't No Half Steppin" (forever made famous by Big Daddy Kane), and steps into the moody ballad "Always & Forever". It's hard to beat that lineup, but side two does a pretty good job – and includes a similar mix of titles like "Super Soul Sister", "All You Do Is Dial", and "Sho'nuff Must Be Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer set – early RPM recordings of the great John Lee Hooker – nice and raw, and with all the hard-hitting quality of his best early work! Titles include "Driftin From Door To Door", "She Left Me On My Bended Knee", "Good Rockin Mama", "Let Your Daddy Ride", "Don't You Remember Me", and "Hug & Squeeze You". LP, Vinyl record album

A famous date that showcases the Chess Records influence on the sound of the Brit rock scene – one that has a number of key players "giving back" to the label, and working on a special date with Howlin Wolf! Wolf's rough vocals are in the lead on all tracks, and he also plays a bit of harmonica and guitar as well – and other artists include Steve Winwood on piano and organ, Eric Clapton on guitar, Bill Wyman on bass, and Charlie Watts on drums – all players who are respectful of the original bluesy sound of Chess, and who clearly dig the opportunity to show off their chops in the setting. Titles include "I Ain't Superstitious", "Poor Boy", "Do The Do", "Red Rooster", "Built For Comfort", "What A Woman", "Highway 49", "Who's Been Talking", and "Rocking Daddy". LP, Vinyl record album

A holy grail of funky music – the one and only album ever cut by Marie Queenie Lyons, a heck of a hard soul singer who's best known for her rare funky 45s! The album is stunning – every bit as great as any of Marie's singles, and with an incredibly unified sound that should have made the album an instant soul classic as soon as it was released. Think Marva Whitney, Vicki Anderson, Lyn Collins, and other sock-soul divas – and you've only got part of the picture, as Marie really pushes things over the top, and enjoys some great raw production that really sends the whole thing home! Plus, some of the tracks on the set were written by a young Don Pullen, who supposedly also played on the record – in a rare funky appearance in his pre-avant jazz days. Includes a funky remake of "Fever", plus the cuts "I Don't Want Nobody To Have It But You", "Your Key Don't Fit Anymore", "You Used Me", "Daddy's House", "See & Don't See", "Your Thing Ain't No Good Without My Thing", "I Want My Freedom", and "Try Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Early soul from one of Motown's first great groups – the mighty Marvelettes, really sparkling here in a style that's a bit earthier than some of the later Motown hits! The vocals are wonderful – sweet yet honest, and crackling with a mode that goes far beyond standard girl group conventions. Most tunes are originals from the cream of early Motown writers – William Stevenson, Norman Whitfield, and the Holland-Dozier-Holland team – and titles include "Strange I Know", "Smart Aleck", "My Daddy Knows Best", "Why Must You Go", "Too Strong To Be Strung Along", and "Silly Boy". LP, Vinyl record album

The solo debut of Mase, after time in Children Of The Corn, and a role as one of Puff Daddy's up-and-coming stars – emphasized here by Sean Combs name on the back of the album cover, and the set's placement on Bad Boy! Yet as the record will attest, Mase has a straightforward, hard-edged approach that's not the typical P-Diddy/Puff Daddy sound – some echoes of the harsher world that was lingering out there in the wake of Biggie's death, and emphasized by some of the fresher producers here – including the young Neptunes and Jermaine Dupri. Guests include Jay Z, Busta Rhymes, Eightball, MJG, DMX, Lil Kim, and Puff Daddy himself – and titles include "Mad Rapper", "Will They Die 4 You", "The Player Way", "What You Want", "24 Hours to Live", "Do You Wanna Get $", "Need To Be", "Niggaz Wanna Act", "Take What's Yours", "Love U So", "Feel So Good", and "Wanna Hurt Mase". LP, Vinyl record album

An incredibly groovy record from the LA scene of the 60s – part of a trio of cool Capitol sets with cover art by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth – all put together by studio genius Gary Usher! The tunes here are all originals – jaunty numbers with a definite hot rod vibe, but with a groove that's even hipper than usual – kind of a swinging soundtrack sort of approach, especially on the ultra-catchy vocals! Usher sings leads with Dick Burns – and the combo features Glen Campbell and Billy Strange on guitars, Ernie Freeman on piano, Carol Kaye on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums – all making for a rock-solid approach to the music. Titles include "The Lonely Stocker", "Three Kats In A Tub", "Hey Rat Fink", "1947 Avanti", "The Waltz Of The Rat Finks", and "The Ballad Of Effin Fink". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky soul gem from one of those underground groups who seemed to be able to take on any sort of style with effortless ease – stepping easily here between upbeat funk, soaring club grooves, and some deeper soul moments that really help ground the whole thing! The production is often nice and lean – so that the group's charms really come through, and aren't buried by any sort of too-commercial styles at all – maybe a good thing, too – and the set brings together material from the group's rare album and singles – a great archival rescue project that's right in line with other great work from the Athens Of The North label. Titles include "Way I Feel", "Righteous Love", "Premonitions", "Daddy's Home", "Disco Kat", "Bass Man Do Your Thing", and "Our Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous record from one of the hippest soul singers ever – and an album that has Gil Scott-Heron really pushing forward after his initial classics for the Flying Dutchman label! There's less spoken material here and more sung passages – as Gil's really discovering his confidence as a singer, moving effortlessly between jazz and soul – and getting superb accompaniment from Brian Jackson, who plays both acoustic and electric piano next to Gil's electric. Backings are spare – just bass and drums – and it's no surprise that the album was released on the legendary Strata East label, as it rivals the rest on that imprint for righteous spiritual power! Titles include Gil's classic "The Bottle" – which went on to become a huge hit in many versions – plus the beautiful "Your Daddy Loves You", heard here in the original version – and the tunes "Peace Go With You Brother", "Back Home", "Rivers Of My Fathers", and "A Very Precious Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A real classic by Cal – one of the trademark albums of his time at Verve, and a unique blend of jazz, Latin, and other groovy influences! The tunes have that lightly jazzy approach that made Cal a hit with the radio and jukebox crowds at the time – a bossa-influenced mix of vibes, piano, and percussion – dancing easily over some very lively rhythms. Cal's group on the set features pianist Paul Griffin and percussionist Armando Peraza – both of whom bring a nice soulful finish to the album, helping it live past the "Whiffenpoof" in the title! Tracks include "The Prophet" – one of Cal's classics – plus "Soul Motion", "Reza", "Doxy", and "Daddy Wong Legs". Very groovy, very vibesy, and very very Verve. LP, Vinyl record album

We love Bobby Troup, and we love records like this that show what a lost link he was in styles of male jazz vocal singing that keep turning up with singers like Harry Connick Jr and some of his contemporaries! Bobby wrote every track on this one, and the set's got lots of his cool little hipster ditties, like "Do Re Mi", "One October Morning", "Daddy", "Snootie Little Cutie", and "Baby, Baby All The Time". The backing's by a cool west coast ensemble with Red Norvo on vibes and Jimmy Rowles on piano, and they give the set a nice lively feel that has more swing than some of Bobby's other LPs. A great set of vocal tracks, and the kind of stuff we wish they'd start reissuing more in this country. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most fantastic hardbop albums of all time! Tommy Turrentine was the less-famous trumpet-playing brother of Stanley Turrentine – but he was a hell of a player in his early days, and he cut some amazing records with his brother during the younger years of his career. This is the only record we've ever seen that features him as a leader – but the session's a monster, with the kind of razor-sharp hardbop playing we'd stack up there with must-have LPs like Art Blakey's Freedom Rider, Hank Mobley's Caddy For Daddy, or the legendary Young Lions session on Vee Jay. The group features a number of players who were working with Max Roach at the time – including Stanley Turrentine on tenor and Julian Priester on trombone – as well as Roach on drums, Horace Parlan on piano, and Bob Boswell on bass. Titles include "Gunga Din", "Too Clean", "Time's Up", "Long As You're Living", "Blues For JP", and "Webb City". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most fantastic hardbop albums of all time! Tommy Turrentine was the less-famous trumpet-playing brother of Stanley Turrentine – but he was a hell of a player in his early days, and he cut some amazing records with his brother during the younger years of his career. This is the only record we've ever seen that features him as a leader – but the session's a monster, with the kind of razor-sharp hardbop playing we'd stack up there with must-have LPs like Art Blakey's Freedom Rider, Hank Mobley's Caddy For Daddy, or the legendary Young Lions session on Vee Jay. The group features a number of players who were working with Max Roach at the time – including Stanley Turrentine on tenor and Julian Priester on trombone – as well as Roach on drums, Horace Parlan on piano, and Bob Boswell on bass. Titles include "Gunga Din", "Too Clean", "Time's Up", "Long As You're Living", "Blues For JP", and "Webb City". LP, Vinyl record album

A great concept album from Skid Row Joe! Titles include "Wino", "Daddy & The Wine", "She Burnt The Little Roadside Tavern Down", "One Dime For Wine", and "Bottle Bottle". LP, Vinyl record album

A stone cold smoker from the Chicago scene of the 50s – the kind of record we're proud to say came from our hometown! The album brings together the best of some of the under-recognized players in the Windy City at the time – including bassist Wilbur Ware, alto saxophonist John Jenkins, pianist Junior Mance, and a young Johnny Griffin – really tearing up the set on tenor! There's a groove here that's modern, yet soulful – fresh, clear, and very concisely blown – with a number of different musical strands all tied together tightly, and handled by the players with a sharpness that few groups today could hope to match. Titles include the legendary "Mama Daddy", plus "Desert Sands", "Be-Ware", "31st & State", and "Latin Quarters". LP, Vinyl record album

Volume 4 in Columbia's LP series that collected classic sides that Louis cut for Columbia back in the early days. Titles include "Body & Soul", "Knockin A Jug", "Shine", "I'm Confessin", and "I'm A Ding Dong Daddy". LP, Vinyl record album

Early brilliance from the quartet that finally put Rockford, Illinois on the map! Titles include "He's A Whore", "The Ballad Of TV Violence", "Hot Love", "Elo Kiddies", "Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School", and "Taxman Mr Thief". LP, Vinyl record album

With Red Callendar on bass, John "Ironman" Harris on drums, Dinky Morris on saxophones, Jimmie Noone on tenor and clarinet, Curtis Peagler on alto, Snooky Young on trumpet, and special guest Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis on tenor. Titles include "Big Fat Daddy", "Piney Brown", "Finance Company Blues", "How Long Blues", and "Reel Ya Deel Ya Dee Dee Dee". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing record – one that we'd never part with! The session is one of Blossom Dearie's greatest records ever – a sublime set of tunes recorded in London, at the end of the 60s, with larger arrangements than usual, and a feel that's almost psychedelic. Backings were arranged and conducted by Brian Gascoigne – with a host of Brit underground jazz players that include Harold McNair, Ian Carr, Kenny Wheeler, and Ray Warleigh. More incredibly than that, though, is the set of tunes that Blossom wrote and chose for the record – tunes that have really dark edges, playful turns, and which go past the simplicity of some of her other work. The whole thing's truly amazing – really – and is a record that we've been coming back to again and again and again over the years! Titles include "I Know The Moon", "Long Daddy Green", "Hey John", "That's Just The Way I Want To Be", "Dusty Springfield", "Will There Really Be A Morning", and "I Like London In The Rain". LP, Vinyl record album

Forget the silly cowboy costume on the front cover – because this is a heck of a great album! Bo might have gotten saddled (no pun intended!) with a silly gimmick for the title and image of the set – but the album's one of his best from the early Chess years, and features a rip-roaring batch of tracks that really cut it up in his classic scratchy guitar mode of the time! Lyrics are great – nearly all originals by Bo himself, with that hip swinging, and hard-wailing approach that was always a lot of fun – and cuts include "Gunslinger", "Diddling", "Cheyenne", "Cadillac", and "Doing The Craw-Daddy". LP, Vinyl record album

A second pressing of the first Bo Diddley album – and a set that's fantastically twangy! We never tire of Bo Diddley's incredible guitar work – and you'll get plenty of it in this early album he cut for Chess, a tasty batch of 12 tracks, all original tunes with a stripped-down gutbuckety sound – rough, raw rhythms that feature plenty of Bo's gritty guitar over the top! The cover's got a picture of Bo holding a conventional hollow-body – nice and echoey, and a bit different than his later trademark square guitar – but the sound is still loud and proud throughout. Titles include "Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Hey Bo Diddley", "Bring It To Jerome", "Say Bossman", "Diddley Daddy", "Hush Your Mouth", and "Who Do You Love". LP, Vinyl record album

The birth of a genius – and an amazing batch of early material from the legendary Bo Diddley! Even at his start, Bo was unlike anyone else – a completely unique, completely self-contained bluesman who not only brought a wealth of new songs and styles to Chess Records, but who also did so with a good deal of humor as well! This beautifully-done package perfectly traces Diddley's early roots at Chess – by going in session-by-session order, starting with key early singles, and moving into some of his weirder, wilder grooves. Given the shortness of the tunes, there's a huge amount of material in the package – offered up in master takes, alternates, and other odd versions – complete with information on all sessions and players. Titles include "Heart O Matic Love", "She's Fine She's Mine", "Pretty Thing", "Diddley Daddy", "Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Who Do You Love", "Love Is Strange", "Down Home Special", "Bo Meets The Monster", "Say Man", "Say Boss Man", 'Mona", "Our Love Will Never Go", and "Crackin Up". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most classic albums of the 70s – a never-ending hit that's continued to inspire generations! Back in the early years of punk, we were thinking that Rumours was a record that would pass by quickly – but it turns out to have a fair bit more staying power than Never Mind The Bollocks – and continues to get new interest and new appreciation as the years go on! And, after decades, we're finally on board with the greatness of the record, and everything the group was going through, and put into the songs within – a classic lineup that includes "Dreams", "Don't Stop", "Never Going Back Again", "Go Your Own Way", "The Chain", "You Make Loving Fun", "Oh Daddy", and "Gold Dust Woman". LP, Vinyl record album

A charming little set from the great Dave Frishberg – easily one of the hippest singers and songwriters in jazz during the past few decades! The set's got Dave working solo – just singing along with his own piano accompaniment – in a whimsical way that matches the same sort of energy you'd get from Blossom Dearie or Bob Dorough in a similar setting – both good comparisons, given how much each have sung some of Frishberg's tunes! And as a way of tipping his hat back, the set features a great version of Dearie's "Long Daddy Green" – plus an extended "Johnny Hodges Medley", and loads of great tunes that include "The Dear Departed Past", "Eloise", "One Horse Town", "Zanzibar", and "Blizzard Of Lies". LP, Vinyl record album

Prime Hag, recorded during his peak song writing years in the early 70s, and one of the better LPs recorded with the Strangers! Merle's in his gentler story song mode for much of the record, but with driving Bakersfield honky tonk sound to keep things moving at a tight clip. Haggard penned several of the tunes, including "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)", "Turnin' Off A Memory" and "Irma Jackson", but nods to Tommy Collins and Bob Wills for the Bakersfield style stompers – including "Bring It On To My House, Honey", "Wildwood Flower", and "The Funeral", plus Red Foley's great "Old Doc Brown". LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection of Merle Hagard classics – including "Kentucky Gambler", "Daddy Frank", "Okie From Muskogee", "Uncle Lem", "Swinging Doors", "Mama Tried", "The Fightin Side Of Me", "Silver Wings", "Sing Me Back Home", "Sing A Sad Song", "Branded Man", "Working Man Blues", and "I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer set – early RPM recordings of the great John Lee Hooker – nice and raw, and with all the hard-hitting quality of his best early work! Titles include "Driftin From Door To Door", "She Left Me On My Bended Knee", "Good Rockin Mama", "Let Your Daddy Ride", "Don't You Remember Me", and "Hug & Squeeze You". LP, Vinyl record album

Strutting guitars, stomping rhythms, and a great mix of glam and soul – the trademark groove of the UK's classic Hot Chocolate! The album's filled with great tunes that resonate with their trademark compressed sound – vocals wrapped on guitars and set to sweetly stepping rhythms – all produced to perfection by the mighty Mickie Most, with a sound that so many other current groups try to go for, but can never reach this right! Errol Brown's on lead vocals, and wrote a good deal of the tunes – and titles include "Heaven Is In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac", "Living On A Shoe String", "Sugar Daddy", "Man To Man", "You Could've Been A Lady", "Seventeen Years Of Age", and "Sex Appeal". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic package of work – material that not only helped kick off the career of the legendary Howlin Wolf, but also the Memphis powerhouse Sun Records too! The material here was all cut in the Sun Studios right at the start of its famous run – material recorded by Sam Phillips long before Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis – at a time when he was deeply interested in the shifts taking place in southern blues at the time, and was willing to take a chance on the mighty talents of Howlin Wolf! Wolf was no newcomer to the scene, but hadn't gotten recorded much before – especially not at this level, which brings out qualities that really ignited a long stretch of important 50s sessions after Sun licensed a few key tracks to other labels before they got their own imprint up and running. This very cool 10" package features titles not issued at the time – ten great tracks that were in the Sun Records vaults for years – presented here in a very cool vintage-styled LP. Titles on this second volume include "Color & Kind", "My Baby Walked Off", "Baby Ride With Me", "Smile At Me", "California Blues", "Well That's All Right", "Mr Highway Man/Cadillac Daddy", "Decoration Day Blues", "Dorothy Mae #2", and "CV Wine Blues/Drinkin CV Wine". LP, Vinyl record album

Loads of 70s gems – including "Lonesome Onry & Mean", "Honky Tonk Heroes", "Luckenbach Texas", "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys", "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way", and "Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line". LP, Vinyl record album

A hardcore classic from Lil Kim – her first full length set as a solo act, and a record that maybe set a new standard for rawness in the world of female hip hop at the time! The record's got some famous help from Notorious BIG, Jermaine Dupri, Puff Daddy, and Jay Z – but Kim's clearly the driving force of the record on her own – Brooklyn in the house, on titles that include "We Don't Need It", "Crush On You", "Drugs", "No Time", "Big Momma Thang", "Queen Bitch", "Player Haters", "MAFIA Land", and "Take It". LP, Vinyl record album

No filters here, as Hank Mobley's sound is clean, lean, and right on the money – hitting that newly-sophisticated groove of the Caddy For Daddy years in this sweet unissued set! The date was recorded in the 60s, but unissued by Blue Note for many years – another one of those head-scratching mysteries from the label, yet also a real treat to 80s jazz fans who finally got their hands on the sides – a whole new discovery of Hank Mobley's genius, further appreciated at a time when we weren't hearing more from him. The players are top-shelf all the way through – and include Freddie Hubbard or Donald Byrd on trumpet, Herbie Hancock or Barry Harris on piano, Paul Chambers or Butch Warren on bass, and Philly Joe Jones or Billy Higgins on drums. Titles include "Chain Reaction", "Third Time Around", "Hank's Waltz", and "The Feelin's Good". Only briefly on LP – and only in this pressing! LP, Vinyl record album