Heavy duty hardbop – one of three amazing Epic Records sessions cut by drummer Dave Bailey! Dave didn't ever cut many sessions as a leader – but when he did, they really cooked hard – with a quality level and sharpness of vision that easily rivals the best on Blue Note or Prestige Records at the time! In fact, this album would have been right at home on either imprint – a smoking session of soulful hardbop, with very long songs that allow plenty of room for solos by players who include Charlie Rouse on tenor, Clark Terry on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, and Horace Parlan on piano – who are all in the group with Dave, alongside bassist Peck Morrison. There's a nicely unbridled feel to the whole set – a real "something extra" that's always made the album a treasure – and titles include the side-long 17 minute "Blues For JP", plus "Slop Jah", "Little Old Mongoose", and "Evad Smurd". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic little album that's every bit as groovy as its cover – served up by vibist Dave Pike, and one of the first true expressions of his talents! The set's a standout early American date that predates Pike's later experiments for MPS – done in a great blend of soul jazz and some tighter Atlantic Records influences – all served up by a hip group of players that includes Billy Butler on guitar, Clark Terry and Marty Sheller on trumpets, and Grady Tate on drums – plus Herbie Hancock making a rare appearance on organ! There's a great little bounce to most numbers – not really funk, but a blend of soul instrumental and more contemporary jazz styles – in a way that takes a Blue Note groove more towards the jukebox audience. Titles include "When I'm Gone", "Devilette", "Sweet Tater Pie", "Blind Man Blind Man", and "Sunny". LP, Vinyl record album

That's "bards" of prey, not birds of pray – a great selection of country singers, really doing their best on a well-chosen batch of unusual material! There's some of the slight doom/gloom themes going on here that you'll find in other material from the Hillbillies In Hell series – but there's also maybe a more expansive ear for the music too, maybe more thoughtfulness for the quality of the vocals instead of the oddness of the tune – an effort that we can wholeheartedly endorse! Titles include "Afraid To Rock The Boat" by Roy Clark, "The Little Bird" by John D Loudermilk, "Hell Walks The Street" by Shirl Milete, "Ballad Of Black Mountain" by Mac Curtis, "These Boots Are Made For Walkin" by Hayden Thompson, "Sing & Shout" by T Tommy & The Chanters, "Hell Bound Train" by David Rodgers, "Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down" by Slim & Zella Mae Cox, and "Listen To The Devil Laugh" by Dave Baker. And oddly, a few tracks here are repeated in other versions, by other singers too! LP, Vinyl record album