Music from Bill Frisell, Devo, Sugar Minott, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Schoolly D, Jimi Hendrix, the Residents, and others. CD

Includes music by Devo, Dexys Midnight Runners, Thompson Twins, Modern English, Bow Wow Wow, Stray Cats, Soft Cell, Gary Numan, Men Without Hats, and more – 20 tracks total. CD

Not just key early punk work from both sides of the Atlantic, but important punk precursors too! 100 tracks in all, and a big booklet of notes! Music from the Ramones, the Clash, the Saints, the Damned, the Buzzcocks, Iggy & the Stooges, Wire, New York Dolls, the Fall, Patti Smith, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, the Boys, the Dead Boys, Suicide, Devo, X, the Boomtown Rats, Fear, Gang Of Four, and much more. CD

The rare Nirvana 6 track EP released in Australia and Japan during the band's 1992 tour. Includes 4 covers: Devo's "Turnaround", "Molly's Lips" and "Son Of A Gun" originally by The Vaselines and "D-7" originally by The Wipers. Also includes "Aneurysm" and "Even In His Youth", originally b-sides for the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single. CD

Features tracks by Devo, Frank Black, The Apples In Stereo, Optiganally Yours, Shonen Knife, Komeda, Dressy Bessy, Bis, The Sugarplastic, Cornelius, and Bill Doss! CD

A deep dip into the sound of the late 70s – served up by writer Jon Savage, an author who's first claim to fame was his work on UK punk – which makes him a perfect guide for the sounds of this generation! Yet the music here is way more than just punk, too – as Savage really gets at the spirit of the time by mixing together revolutionary late 70s classics with more down to earth cuts – show just how much was going on at the time, and how the late 70s was still a moment of great experimentation and new ideas, even past the world of mohawks and safety pins! As with the other great entries in this "year" series from Savage, the overall presentation is wonderful – richly detailed notes that show his keen sense of musical observation and understanding – and a blend of 46 fantastic cuts on 2CDs, with titles that include "No Bones For The Dogs" by Joe Gibbs, "Magic Fly" by Space, "Prophecy Revel" by Bo Jangles, "Soda Passing" by The Boys, "Neat Neat Neat" by The Damned, "Utopia Me Giorgio" by Giorgio, "Day By Day" by Generation X, "The Modern Dance" by Pere Ubu, "Warm Leatherette" by The Normal, "Heavy Manners" by Prince Far I, "Kings Lead Hat" by Brian Eno, "Being Boiled" by The Human League, "28/8/78" by Scritti Politti, "Tired Of Walking Tired" by The Diodes, "I Remember" by Suicide, "Never" by Penetration, "White Night" by The Lines, "Come Back Jonee" by Devo, "The Set Up" by Cabaret Voltaire, "Human Fly" by The Cramps, "Situation" by The Middle Class, "Hippie" by Suzannes, "Warrior In Woolworths" by X Ray Spex, "Hindu God Of Love" by Lipstick Killers, "All Night Party" by A Certain Ratio, "Spacer" by Sheila B & Devotion, and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by The Slits. CD

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Lovely live work from Maria Bethania – proof again that a concert setting often brings out her best! The album's got a title that links it to her recent double album – but the overall nature of the performance is much more all-encompassing – older songs mixed with newer ones, delivered in a style that's surprisingly intimate, even at the few points when the backings get somewhat large. Jamie Alem handles the arrangements – in the best modes he's used on other records with Bethania, but with a fair bit of acoustic guitar upfront in the mix – and titles include "Tua", "Fonte", "Curare", "Saudade", "Reconvexo", "Encanteria", "Santa Barbara", "Linha De Caboclo", "E O Amor Outra Vez", "Olho De Lince", and "Guriatan". 36 tracks on 2CDs. CD

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21 songs from Against All Authority, Dillinger Four, Falling Sickness, Mustard Plug, The Queers, Nobodys, 88 Fingers Louie, Heckle, Funeral Oration, Digger, and more. CD

A definite shot at the pop market by Ella Fitzgerald – quite possibly recorded as a follow-up to the 60s success of former singing partner Louis Armstrong, who's referenced nicely in Ella's rendition of the title hit! The first 4 tracks on the set were done in the UK, under the leadership of arranger Johnny Spence – and the remaining 8 were done back on Ella's home turf, with familiar backings by Frank DeVol, and an overall sound that's a bit more lush than those on the British numbers. Includes a hit reading of "Can't Buy Me Love", plus "Hello Dolly", "The Sweetest Sounds", "My Man", "Volare", "The Thrill Is Gone", "How High The Moon", and "Lullaby Of The Leaves". CD

The cover of this one might make the album one of the campiest records on Verve – but the session's a surprisingly great one, with a straighter vocal approach than you'd guess! Monica's got a really sweet vocal style – a bit sexy, and certainly adult – arranged here with some nice jazzy touches from Frank DeVol, working in backings that are a lot hipper than those we remember him using with other singers from the time. Monica handles herself like a big girl in front of all those Marines – all-woman, but clearly not giving it away to the first man in blue who walks down the street. Titles include "Blues In The Night", "Miss You", "Rough Ridin", "All Alone", "The Song Is You", "Undecided", and "I'll Be Seeing You". CD

Unheard sounds from the legendary Charlie Parker – a set that features 58 previously-unknown alternate takes of classic recordings from Parker's years with Verve producer Norman Granz – all presented here with a huge amount of detail in the notes! The set is incredible – and has appeal that goes far beyond just pleasing the legion of Parker devotees out there – as the way that Charlie approaches a solo is incredible, and it's equally incredible to hear him trying out different approaches on these different tracks – even on some of the numbers that stop short or are incomplete takes – because there's a sense of fire and excitement that still grabs you, and maybe a lot more than many other artists on a full-length solo. There's a reason why early fans of Bird were so fanatic about hearing everything they could by the man – and this set continues that legacy, and really lives up to the faith – with never-heard takes on "Bloomdido", "Visa", "Okiedoke", "Tune X", "Tune Z", "Star Eyes", "Fiesta", "Tico Tico", "An Oscar For Treadwell", "Mohawk", "My Little Suede Shoes", "Night & Day", "Almost Like Being In Love", "If I Should Lose You", "Tune Y", and "What Is This Thing Called Love". Great notes by Phil Schaap, too – a huge booklet! CD

Really unique work from the team of Kevin Sandbloom and Melany Bell – both sweetly soulful singers who intertwine their vocals nicely on the tunes in the set! Kevin's got a bit of a jazzy approach, and Melany a deeper sound overall – and paired together, they really sound great – with this full range that unfolds nicely over spare backings that often just feature a bit of acoustic guitar and percussion – quite a change from the usual indie soul set! Sandbloom's clearly going for some deeper tones with his vocals, and Bell helps bring a good sense of focus to the record when she joins in – and the overall sound is surprisingly sophisticated, given the simplicity of the setting. Titles include "Viva Los Angeles", "Lovechild", "Always", "All That Money", "Smooth Assassination", "Let's Stay Together", "Echoplex", and "Devotion Time". CD

Marshall Jefferson and crew lay down a nice batch of tracks with a surprisingly soulful groove, despite an all-out attack on the dancefloor. Includes the tracks "Devotion", "That's The Way Love Is (Underground Mix)", "Satisfaction", "You Must Be The One", and "Suspicious". CD

A second great set of tunes from the Chicago scene of the early soul years – one that features a number of alternate takes and previously unissued tunes, including a few great numbers by unknown groups! The set was put together by Chicago soul expert Bob Miner – and has a real focus on group obscurities from the end of the doo wop era to the earliest years of Chicago soul. Miner's got a keen eye for the uncommon, and has pulled together a number of tracks from rare singles, acetates, and audition discs. The fidelity is surprisingly good, given the source of many of the materials – and the package is a refreshing change from the oft-compiled bigger hits of the Chicago scene. Titles include "No Greater Thing" and "My Love" by Twilites, "Wait A Minute" by The Kittens, "Honey Hush" and "Money Honey" by The Eagleaires, "Our Love" and "Stormy Weather" by Four Gents, "We Belong Together" by Upsetters, "Chaney" by The Cardinals, "Moments Of Infatuation" by Jackie Bee, "African Twist" by Harold Curington, "This Angel Of Mine" by The Amps, "In The Still Of The Night" by Larry & DuDrops, "Do Do De Dop" and "Can You Explain It" by The Devotions, and "Makin Eyes" by Cookie & The Dedications. 29 tracks in all! CD

Possibly the best entry in Art Ensemble Of Chicago's Dreaming Of The Masters series – as the set's devoted to the work of John Coltrane, and has a really unified feel throughout! About half the tunes are Coltrane compositions, and the rest are originals by the Art Ensemble – done with fluid, open sounds that are less a strict tribute to Coltrane, than an expression of the ideas in jazz he allowed! As you might guess, the reeds play strongly in the sound of the set – and both Joseph Jarman and Roscoe Mitchell hit some great moments on the Coltrane tunes especially – notes that are quite different than any Trane might have played, but which he would no doubt appreciate in his music. Titles include "Dreaming Of The Masters", "Impressions", "Spiritual", "Naima", "Song For Atala", and "Go Head". CD

Another fine effort from the Chicago Underground Duo – multi-instrumentalists Chad Talyor and Rob Mazurek – and like the duo's earlier work on Thrill Jockey, it's a wonderful listen, that traipses through elements of Don Cherry-like jazz experimentation, and percussive, minimalist avant rock! The sound is uncategorizable in the best sense, and the duo has chops that devour most of their contempories. Another great one! Mazurek works on cornet, organ, celest, piano, harpsichord and more, and Taylor is drums, perussion, gongs vibe and more. Tracks include "In Praise Of Shadows", "Falling Awake", "The Glass House", "Cities Without Citadels", "Pangea", "Funeral Of Dreams" and "The Light Between". CD

A really nice set – arranged chronologically – with one disc devoted to Ellington's pre-war 78 rpm recordings, and two discs pulled from his classic Columbia LPs. 66 tracks total, plus a great booklet with detailed notes on each track. CD

A great little album – a lot better than you might think from the concept! After the death of JFK, Oliver Nelson penned this extremely strong tribute to the man – featuring snippets of speeches made by Kennedy during his time in office as president, used as bridges between jazz based backings by Nelson that are filled with some of his strongest writing of the time. The notes are more devoted to Kennedy's memory and Nelson's genius than the usual liner notes – so we're not sure who the players are – but the overall style is right up there with some of Nelson's best serious work from the time, and features a striking use of strings against jazz solo instrumentation, almost in a manner that recalls Ralph Burns' best styles of the 50s. Titles include "The Artists Rightful Place", "Jacqueline", "Day In Dallas", "Let The Word Go Forth", and "John Kennedy Memory Waltz". CD

A massive overview of work from the legendary Front Line label – an imprint started by Virgin Records in the mid 70s, and one that quickly became as important as Island or Trojan in the growing world of reggae! Front Line was heavy on roots, but also released some great dub material as well – all of which is brought together in this huge box of 92 tracks – which includes 11 previously unreleased selections, and 30 that had never been issued on CD! The package is divided up into sections – with a three chapter evolution of the label, plus additional 12" mixes on one CD, and another devoted entirely to material from the vaults – which makes the collection an essential set for collectors, and not just an introduction to the label. Artists include The Mighty Diamonds, U Roy, Twinkle Brothers, Gladiators, Gregory Issacs, Sly Dunbar, Jah Lloyd The Black Lion, Big Youth, Delroy Washington, I Roy, Tapper Zukie, Althea & Donna, Prince Far I, Poet & The Roots, Johnny Clarke, The Revolutionaries, Keith Hudson, and many many more! CD