A Pablo Records release – but featuring material that was originally destined for Verve Records in the 50s – a rare performance in Japan by the Jazz At The Philharmonic! The double-length set is overflowing with goodness, all recorded in the open-ended, warm-hearted style that Norman Granz brought to these classic performances! The album starts with an extended set by the JATP All-Stars – a group that features Roy Eldridge and Charlie Shavers on trumpets, Willie Smith and Benny Carter on alto, Bill Harris on trombone, and Ben Webster and Flip Philips on tenors – with rhythm from the combo of Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and JC Heard on drums. JATP titles include a "Ballad Medley", "Tokyo Blues", and "Cotton Tail". The set then features six more tracks by the Oscar Peterson Trio – including "Sushi Blues" and "Up" – and another four by the Gene Krupa Trio – including "Don't Be That Way", and "Cocktails For Two". The set then ends with a long set by Ella Fitzgerald with a quartet – on titles that include "Smooth Sailin", "How High The Moon", "Body & Soul", "Lady Be Good", and "My Funny Valentine" – plus a reading of "Perdido" with the whole JATP group. LP, Vinyl record album

A beautifully understated album from Morgana King – one that has her working with familiar arranger Torrie Zito, but in a style that's a bit more laidback than before! There's a bit of strings on the album, but they really just shade in the sound from the back – leaving plenty of space not only for Morgana's vocals, but also for some great keyboard lines from Don Rebic and guitar from Joe Puma! King's vocals could almost carry the record alone, even without the other instrumentation – but the warmth of the keyboards and well-pointed lines from Puma really help things open up – and subtle use of percussion from Ray Mantilla and Sue Evans makes for some surprising sounds in the background that further the charm of the set. Titles include "Gentleman Friend", "Time After Time", "Dearly Beloved", "Lilac Wine", "With You I'm Born Again", "Through The Eyes Of Love", and "I Wished On The Moon". CD

This famous pair in a late 60s date – with help from Panama Francis on drums, Ray Johnson on electric piano, and Jimmy Bond on bass – all of whom give things a bit more of a kick than usual for Brownie & Sonny! Titles include "Life Is A Gamble", "Long Way From Home", "Rock Island Line", "Big Question", and "Don't Mistreat Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A really special live performance from Thelonious Monk – one that features his killer quartet of the 60s, but also opens the door to some surprise guest appearances too – all of which makes for a recording that's nicely different than much of the Monk live material of the period! The core group is already great enough – the tremendous Charlie Rouse on tenor, and superb rhythm work from Larry Gales on bass and Ben Riley on drums – and they're joined by other players at points, including Clark Terry and Ray Copeland on trumpets, Johnny Griffin on tenor, Phil Woods on alto, and Jimmy Cleveland on trombone – whose presence on the record echoes some of the larger charts that Monk cooked up during the late 50s for a few key albums. The tracks with the added players are especially long – and titles include "Hackensack", "We See", "Epistrophy", "Evidence/Epistrophy", "Don't Blame Me", "Blue Monk", and "Oska T/Epistrophy". CD

Beautifully lofty work from the great Wes Montgomery – a set that was recorded quite late in his too-short career, and really points the way towards some of the sophisticated sounds that might have followed, had Wes not left this planet all too soon! Don Sebesky is at the head of the charts this time around, and while the vibe echoes some of the other work that Montgomery did with larger backings in the period, there's also a nice current of darkness too – this intensity that can come through, even if the tune is a familiar pop number. The ensemble is filled with great players – Herbie Hancock and Hank Jones on piano, Stan Webb on flute, Grady Tate on drums, and Ray Barretto on percussion – and titles include "I'll Be Back", "Road Song", "Yesterday", "Serene", "Green Leaves Of Summer", and "Fly Me To The Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

Mid 50s west coastery from Dave Pell – recording here in an octet that includes Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Ray Sims on trombone, Paul Smith on piano, Tony Rizzi on guitar, and Ronnie Lang on baritone. The tracks are short and slinky, with Pell's sharp tenor in the frontline – on tracks that include "Star Eyes", "I Had The Craziest Dream", "Nap's Dream", "Jazz Wagner", and "Crescendo Date". Great cover – with a Napoleon-like figure blowing a tenor amidst some crazy chicks! LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album – not only for Esther Phillips, who's emerging here as a gifted young lady, very different from her R&B years, but also for the genre of country soul, which was emerging to be one of the most important strands in the new music during the 60s. Esther's not fooling around here – as she's working with Nashville arranger Cliff Parman, and getting backup from the Anita Kerr singers for that true Music City sound. Sounds hokey, sounds like it shouldn't work – but the setting is perfect for Esther's raspy rich tone, and in a way, it forces her to break out even more vocally than she does on other 60s recordings. Titles include "Release me", "I'd Fight The World", "Am I That Easy To Forget", "I Really Don't Want To Know", "Just Out Of Reach", and "Be Honest With Me". A wonderful album – one that sits perfectly next to work by Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, and Brook Benton. LP, Vinyl record album

Probably the most classic of Stitt's sides for Verve – and certainly the one that gets rated time and time again by jazz collectors. We think it's pretty darn great – although we always wonder why folks don't give Stitt's other sides for Verve as much of a chance, because they're all pretty darn excellent! The record's a very laidback session, with 4 long tracks that feature plenty of room for Stitt to meander along on his solos. The group includes Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Stan Levey – and titles include "The String", "BW Blues", and "Blues For Bags". CD

One of the few solo albums ever cut by organist Chester Thompson – a player who's known to most as the keyboardist in Tower Of Power, but one who's also remembered by a select funky few for this killer record for the Black Jazz label! The album's a stripped-down quartet session – with labelmate Rudolph Johnson on tenor, blowing some beautiful lines alongside long, drawn-out Hammond solos from Thompson! The overall feel is similar to some of the great late 60s Prestige sessions – especially Don Patterson dates – with the group free swinging away in a very live format, just like you might have heard if you caught them in some hip southside club. Other players include Al Hall Jr on trombone and Ray Pounds on drums – and the album features four long jamming tracks, with titles that include "Mr T", "Trip One", "Weird Harold", and "Powerhouse". CD

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

Culled from the rich history of the Atlantic records label, and lovingly put together with great notes and everything! 28 tracks in all, including "I Cried A Tear" by LaVern Baker, "What'd I Say (parts 1 & 2)", 'Let The Good Times Roll" and "Just For A Thrill" by Ray Charles, "There Goes My Baby" and "This Magic Moment" by the Drifters, "Charlie Brown" and "Poison Ivy" by the Coasters, "Spanish Harlem", "Stand By Me" and "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" by Ben E King, "Gee Whiz" by Carla Thomas, "Just Out Of Reach" by Solomon Burke, "Last Night" by the Mar-Keys, "I'm Blue (The Gong Gong Song)" by the Ikettes, "You Don't miss Your Water" by William Bell, "I Found A Love" by the Falcons, and "Green Onions" by Booker T & The MG's. LP, Vinyl record album

A much-needed look at a key force in Italian disco – the legendary Baia Degli Angeli, a club that was as important to Europe as the Paradise Garage was to New York! The CD features a great selection of numbers that played strongly on Angeli's dancefloor in the late 70s, most of which have a spacey electronic quality that links them strongly to some of the best underground club of New York at the time. The CD's mixed together in a way that recreates the feel of the legendary floor – and titles include "Midnight Madness" by Don Ray, "Zone" by Rhythm Makers, "Don't You Know Who Did It" by John Forde, "Pazuzu" by Tony Silvester & The New Ingredient, "Surprise" by Andre Gagnon, "Sweet Lady" by Chain Reaction, "Timing Forget The Timing" by Black Devil, "Magnifico Mambo" by Five Letters, "Come On & Rock" by Needa, "Point Zero" by Voyage, "Un Habit En La Bemol" by Flashback Roger Gravel, and "Monkey Star" by Arpadys. CD

A funky little collection, and one that's got way more going on than just the blues 45s mentioned in the title – as the cuts here include some great instrumentals and soulful work as well! We loved the previous volumes in this series, and this one is every bit as smoking – a mix of cuts we never would have put together ourselves, and which sound stunningly great together – pulled from a time when the worlds of blues, funk, and soul weren't as separate as they became in later years – when fans of a funky 45 would just reach out for anything that was good, greasy, and gritty. Titles include "Harmonica Boogie" by The Confiners, "Hotel Blues" by Eddie Boyd, "For Liz" by Andrew Brown, "All Nite (part 2)" by Big Eddie C Campbell, "You Better Cut That Out" by Eddie Burns, "Sting Ray" by Mack Johnson, "Sunny Side Of Love" by Raful Neal, "Down In The Chile" by The Wild Child, "Rock" by Chuck Higgins, "67 Blues" by Little Willie Pollard, and "You Don't Believe A Word I Say" by Big Daddy Simpson. CD

Music from Gino & Gina, Billy & Lillie, Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins, Don & Juan, Dottie and Ray, Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker, The Tracey Twins, Joan And Joy, Duane Eddy, Jimmy Dell, Dee & Patty, and more - 32 tracks in all. CD

A massive collection of work from these important years in music – and even if you don't know or care about Gary Crowley, who's pictured on the cover, you'll find plenty to love here if you dig UK sounds from the late 70s and early 80s! As indicated by the title, the set focuses on new wave and punk tracks – which also means that there's plenty of post-punk too – and the package does a really great job of offering up music that stands the test of time, even though much of it never got much play on American airwaves back in the day – music that really helped set the tone for a generation, and whose effects are still resonating all these many years later. As with volume one, the presentation is great – a very nice package, with detailed notes – and the 2LP version features 28 titles – with work by The Times, Shake, The Limps, Newtown Neurotics, The Slits, Gary Valentine, Basement 5, Dolly Mixture, Liquid Stone, The Subterraneans, Stiff Little Fingers, The Jam, Zounds, The Cure, The City Limits, Moving England, The Barracudas, Penetration, X-Ray Spex, The Limit, Magazine, Golinski Brothers, The Clash, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Dave Sampson & The Hunters, Dickie Pride, Vernon Girls, Terry Wayne, Don Lang, Ray Ellington, Squadronaires, Janice Peters, Vince Taylor & His Playboys, The Silhouettes, Jean & The Statesides, The Olympics, The Memos, and Bobby Day & The Satellites. LP, Vinyl record album

35 songs from Norris Mims, Billy Adkinson, Mike Patterson & the Rhythm Rockers, Neal E Hemphill, Hank Chess, the Team Beats, Chuck Henderson, Pete Hardin, Chuck Miller, Don Ray, and more. CD

Beautiful hardbop from Boston – and one of the first-ever albums recorded by trumpeter Donald Byrd as a leader! The set was originally done for the obscure Transition label – also home to inventive early recordings by Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor – and as with those records, there's a very special sort of sound going on here – as the date's a quartet outing, with a very unusual group – with Ray Santisi on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Jim Zitano on bass – all giving Byrd plenty of room to solo in the lead. The record features a very different side than some of Donald's other early two-leader sessions (such as the dates with Pepper Adams) – especially as he blows with a warmth and moodiness that we don't normally hear from him at this point – sounding fantastic on titles that include "Little Rock Getaway", "If I Love Again", "What's New", and "Stella By Starlight". CD

Features Barbara Dennerlein on Hammond and synth – plus Ray Anderson on trombone and tuba, Antonio Hart and Craig Handy on saxophones, Steve Nelson on marimba and vibes, Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums, and Don Alias on percussion. CD

Mighty nice material from the earliest years of Jackie DeShannon – a full unreleased album for Liberty, plus a bunch of other rare tracks too! The album is fascinating – as it's a tribute to Ray Charles, and has Jackie not singing her own songs, as she would do famously later – but instead taking on tunes from the Ray Charles songbook, especially heavy on the Atlantic years – which come across with this soulful style that's really a change for Jackie! And sure, she's always had a current of soul in her music – but here, she has raspy vocals on a number of cuts, almost echoing Etta James – and great arrangements that really fit the vibe. Ray Charles titles include "Night Time Is The Right Time", "Georgia On My Mind", "I'll Drown In My Own Tears", "Ain't That Love", "Hallelujah I Love Him So", and "What'd I Say". The bonus material is also heavy on soulful styles too – in part because a number of them were recorded with great R&B producer Clyde Otis – and the set features a total of 24 tracks, with other titles that include "Wishin Won't Get It", "I Must Be Dreaming", "Shed A Tear", "Don't You Feel Sorry For Me", "Gonna Search", and "Nothing Can Stop Me". CD

A massive selection of songs from the same period as Ellington's album of the same name. With a whole bunch of his classic players, including Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Hodges, Ray Nance, Al Hibbler, Oscar Pettiford, and many more. Tracks include "Work Song", "Come Sundday", "The Blues", "Three Dancers", "I Ain't Got Nothin But The Blues", "I'm Beginning To See The Light", "I Didn't Know About You", "Mood To Be Woo'd", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Caravan", "Everything But You", "Mood Indigo", "Sophisticated Lady", "Solitude", "Black Beauty", "Balcony Serenade", "Tell Ya What I'm Gonna Do", "Come To Baby, Do!", "I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So", "Suddenly It Jumped", "A Gathering In A Clearing", "You Don't Love Me No More", "Back Home Again In Indiana", "Just You, Just Me", "Beale Street blues", "Transblucency", "My Honey's Lovin Arms", "Memphis Blues", "St Louis Blues", "Midriff", and "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You". CD

A killer set from Freddie Hubbard's legendary years on CTI! Like the classic Red Clay album, there's 4 tunes here, all longer cuts – where everyone gets a chance to stretch out a bit, over smooth (but not too smooth!) electric grooves, supported by great orchestrations from Don Sebesky! Ron Carter & Billy Cobham provide a tight but elastic rhythmic underpinning – a great foil for solos by players who include Keith Jarrett on electric piano, George Benson on guitar, Hubert Laws on flute, and Freddie himself on trumpet. Airto & Ray Barretto are on percussion, with some nice percolating accents to the grooves – and titles include the classic "Povo", an oft-sampled monster – plus "In A Mist", "The Godfather", and "Sky Dive". LP, Vinyl record album

A trio of key albums from the Pink Fairies – served up with lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Never Never Land – the fantastic debut of the Pink Fairies – easily one of the shaggiest, headiest bands on the UK scene at the start of the 70s – and a group who rose from the ashes of the equally important Deviants! The record's an unusual mishmash of modes – a set that confidently swaggers between psych, hard rock, and maybe even a bit of proto-punk – very confident in its approach, and coolly compressed in the production, but never in the slick style that would dominate British rock more strongly in the mid 70s. The Fairies aren't afraid to let their freak flag fly, but they're also clearly moving past hippiedom too – on titles that include "War Girl", "Do It", "Say You Love Me", "Tack One Side Two", "Thor", "Uncle Harry's Last Freakout", and "The Dream Is Just Beginning". What A Bunch Of Sweeties is filled with freaky fuzz from the Pink Fairies – a seminal UK group who were maybe trapped in a space between late psych and early glam – and somehow equally important to both! There's lots going on in the set – modes that are as offbeat as styles put forth by The Fugs in the late 60s, but a lot sharper overall from a musical perspective – especially in the way the group uses great guitar work and a few catchy numbers to sew the whole thing together – on titles that include "Portobello Shuffle", "Marilyn", "Pigs Of Uranus", "Walk Don't Run", "X-Ray", "I Went Up I Went Down", and "I Saw Her Standing There". Kings Of Oblivion is maybe the most fully-formed album from the legendary Pink Fairies – and a set that's got some really searing guitar from Larry Wallis – a melodic genius whose sound really holds things together, and gives the group a stronger focus than ever before! The guitar lines seem to bring out and amplify all the ideas the group were going for before – and maybe give the group a sense of darkness that they never fully reached – not hard rock cliche, but this tightness that's also completely individual – maybe like early Thin Lizzy at their best, yet in a completely different way. Titles include "I Wish I Was A Girl", "City Kids", "When's The Fun Begin", "Chromium Plating", "Street Urchin", and "Chamber Maid". Bonus tracks include "Going Down", "Walk Don't Run (first version)", "War Girl (alt mix)", "The Snake", "Do It (single mix)", "Uncle Harry's Last Freakout (alt mix)", "Well Well Well (alt mix)", "City Kids (alt)", and "Hold On (single)". CD

One of the crowning achievements of The Turtles – a set that features all original material by members of the group, and stellar production by Ray Davies of The Kinks! The set's the only full length that Davies ever handled – and it's obvious the group really rose to the occasion for the honor – hitting territory that's nicely sophisticated, yet which still has the sharpness of their earlier material too – a bit like the territory that Ray was hitting at the time with his own music. The songs are both a lot more personal, and have some deeper currents too – as The Turtles, like so many other west coast pop acts, were really maturing at the end of the 60s. Titles include "She Always Leaves Me Laughing", "Somewhere Friday Night", "Dance This Dance", "You Don't Have To Walk In The Rain", "Bachelor Mother", "Love In The City", and "House On The Hill". LP, Vinyl record album

Although Pat was a mainstream vocalist, she's got a heck of a great sound – one that's lean, groovy, and very well suited for the 60s-styled title of the album! Pat's a jazz singer on one side, but also has an edge to her tone – at a level that's a bit like Lorez Alexandria during some of her jazz outings of the same time – a very groovy mode that's quite different than most other standard vocals, with a depth of feeling that's totally great! Backings are by a small combo with Seldon Powell on tenor and flute, Kenny Burrell on guitar, and Ray Bryant on piano – and the album's got some groovy tracks like "Joey Joey Joey", "Get Out Of Town", "Don Cha Go Away Mad", "Moon & Sand", "The Music That Makes Me Dance", and "The Sounds Of The Night". LP, Vinyl record album

A later date – but proof that the Fania All Stars groove can always be strong, no matter what the setting! This album's actually recorded by a smaller ensemble from the larger group – a sextet that includes Ray Barretto on congas, Roberto Roena on bongos, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Bobby Valentin on bass, Papo Lucca on keyboards, and Johnny Pacheco on flute and guiro – a very percussive ensemble working here in a strongly jazz-based mode! The sound is great – and even at the few points when the keyboards are slightly modern, there's always an overall sound that preserves an older Latin jazz approach. Some numbers have chorus vocals, but these really don't dominate – and the main focus here is instrumental work – on titles that include "The Click","Allegria", "Guasasa", "Quasedito", "De Nuevo A La Carga", and a great cover of Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together". LP, Vinyl record album

A tremendous set from one of the best – and most under-recognized – groups of the British jazz rock scene at the end of the 60s! The group have an approach that mixes heavy blues-influenced jamming with some of the lighter, more lyrical touches that were showing up at the time – in a way that gives them a firmly grounded sound at one level, but also a slightly more sophisticated, contemplative approach – making the group almost a UK equivalent to the sound of the Steve Miller Band at the time. The jazzier tracks on the album feature work by some great straight British players – including Harry Beckett and Ray Warleigh – and the album's also got a few nice slightly funky cuts that are known for their breaks! Tracks include "The Dansette Kid", "Hickory", "Not Foolish, Not Wise", "Poor Mabel", "Believe In Me", "Don't Give Up", "Hickory", and "Tadpole". LP, Vinyl record album

Milt Jackson sings, in addition to his familiar vibes on this set – an unusual date done during his Pablo Records run of the late 70s – and a surprisingly great little album overall! As you might guess, Jackson's not the greatest singer in jazz – but it's this quality that also makes the record really great – kind of an honest approach to the tunes that reminds us of the sort of singers we used to catch at south side jam sessions here in Chicago – vocalists whose love of a tune was so great, they were willing to get out and take whatever chances they may – showing a care for the lyrics that's almost greater than a more proficient singer. Electric piano backs up Jackson on most of the vocal numbers – creating a cool, soulful glow – and other players on the record include Cedar Walton on keyboards, Dennis Budimir and John Collins on guitar, Billy Higgins on drums, and Ray Brown on bass – who also produced the session. Titles include "Heartstrings", "Don't Worry Bout Me", "Yes Sir That's My Baby", "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face", "Someone I Love", and "Parking Lot Blues". CD

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

A very cool record that we might well put right up there with Mel Torme's "California Suite" as a musical tribute to the west coast – or the "Manhattan Tower" of Gordon Jenkins as some sort of tribute to a city! The album's a long piece on the glory of San Francisco – with lots of differently-themed tunes that refer to aspects of the city in mid-century – composed by the team of Libby and Stephen McNeil, set to music by David Rose –a nd featuring vocals by Ray Goman, Shepard Menken, Bob Grabot, Bill Thompson, and others. Titles include "Fog Over Frisco", "Meet The Press", "When You Call It Frisco Smile", "Around The Town Sequence", andee "Mission Dolores". Side two features "Four Moods In Memory" – a suite of themes played by Rose, with narration by Don Sherwood. LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-swinging jazz featuring drummer Specs Powell – and a tight batch of Basie-esque players, grooving along on a number of short lively tracks that are almost in the Count Basie style of the Roulette years! The lineup features alto and baritone sax from Sahib Shihab, tenor and clarinet from Aaron Sachss, alto and flute from George Dorsey, trumpet from Ray Copeland and Leon Merian, and trombones from Jimmy Dahl and Jimmy Cleveland – and piano is handled by Hank Jones and Nat Pierce, the latter of whom really knows how to make a group like this swing nicely! The set includes some very fresh originals by Pierce – including "Spyder Blues", "Rat Race", "Movin In", "Suspicion", and "Dispossessed" – plus versions of "You Don't Know What Love Is", "He's My Guy", and "I'll Remember April". LP, Vinyl record album

Despite what you might guess from the title, the record's not a blues-based one – but a great little blowing session from an all-star array of players! It's our guess that Prestige chose to use the word "blues" in the title because "soul jazz" had yet to come into prominence – but the album's definitely a push of the hardbop blowing session mode in the soul jazz direction – using players that include Art Farmer, Idrees Sulieman, Jerome Richardson, Jimmy Forrest, Pepper Adams, Ray Bryant, and Tiny Grimes on a batch of longish tunes that have plenty of bluesy overtones. Arrangements here are by Jerry Valentine, who we don't really know – but he really gets the feel of the record right – and tracks include "Sent For You Yesterday", "Blue Flute", "Jelly Jelly", and "I Wanna Blow Blow Blow". CD

An excellent album from Max Roach – cut at a time when he was rising from the ashes, after the too-soon death of trumpeter Clifford Brown – and began working with really inventive younger players who would drive him into a whole new mode of righteous styles! That's definitely the case here – as Roach leads a group that includes Kenny Dorham on trumpet, filling in the Clifford Brown spot with a very different sound – next to Sonny Rollins on tenor, Ray Bryant on piano, and George Morrow on bass – players who really help open new doors in the music! The tunes are a mixture of the hardbop that Roach forged with Brown, plus a growing sense of the spiritual, slyly sneaking in, and working an agenda that is at once subtle and powerful – on titles that include "Dr Freezee", "Mr X", "Woodyn You", and "Body & Soul". CD features 3 bonus tracks – "Minor Trouble", "Love Letters", and "It Don't Mean A Thing". CD

A rare treat from Zoot Sims – an album of soprano sax material, recorded in striking contrast to his more familiar tenor! The sound is oddly more traditional than usual – and unlike many other players in the 70s, Sims doesn't use the soprano in a Coltrane-inspired mode, but in a way that takes it back to its roots in jazz from earlier years. And when we say "traditional", we don't really mean trad jazz, because Zoot's phrasing and overall use of the instrument still has a relatively modern feel – augmented certainly by the excellent recording quality of the album. The rest of the group features Ray Bryant on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Grady Tate on drums – and titles include "Wrap Up", "Bloos For Louise", "Someday Sweetheart", "Baubles Bangles & Beads", and "Willow Weep For Me". CD

Hard-swingin tracks from Ernie Wilkins – one of the most soulful arrangers of his time, working here in a wonderful all-star session from the 50s! The album's definitely got the "top brass" promised in the title – a lineup that features Donald Byrd, Ray Copeland, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Wilder on trumpets – all working at a level that allows plenty of space for well-blown solos, but tied up in tighter ensemble formation overall – all with that Wilkins sense of swing that really set Ernie apart at the time. Rhythm is from a trip that includes Hank Jones on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Kelly Clarke on drums – and titles include "58 Market Street", "Trick Or Treat", "Speedway", "Dot's What", "Top Brass", "Imagination", and "Willow Weep For Me". Also features the album Trumpets All Out – an all-trumpet affair, one that features 5 different players on the instrument – Art Farmer, Emmet Berry, Charlie Shavers, Ernie Royal, and Harold Baker – supported by spare rhythm from the trio of Don Abney on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. There's a definite swing-based approach here – different than usual for some of Farmer's outings of the time – but the differences between the players are nicely pronounced, and the amazing thing about the album is how it manages to pack so much solo energy in such a relatively small space, in a way that still lets you hear the different voices clearly. Titles include "She's Just My Size", "Five Cats Swingin", "Blues In 6/4", "Trumpets All Out", and "Low Life". LP, Vinyl record album

A live trio recording with Barron on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. Tracks include "Solar", "Blue Moon", "Alter Ego", and "Everybody Loves My Baby, But My Baby Don't Love Nobody But Me". CD

Features Kenny Barron on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. Tracks include "Twilight Song", "The Only One", "Shuffle Boil", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". CD

A heck of a rare slice of Donald Byrd's career – a rare "with strings" session, recorded in 1957, but never issued until a brief 1982 LP on Discovery! The set also marks a rare early large set of arrangements by Clare Fischer – who backs up Byrd's shimmering trumpet lines with some great strings on the album – making for a moody session that's also got some nice modernist touches underneath. Given Byrd's Parisian recordings, and his work for a variety of labels at the time (this one was supposedly done for Warner Brothers), it's interesting to hear his more open style before it was clamped into the tighter Blue Note groove of the 60s. Titles include "Varmeland", "Lazy Afternoon", "Moon Mist", "I'm A Fool To Want You", "Dearly Beloved", and "September Afternoon". Added to this session is a slightly unusual choice – a much harder-edged quartet session from 1956 – Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill. The hard-to-find recording was originally cut for the obscure Transition label, and features a very different side than some of Byrd's other early two-leader sessions – especially as he blows with a warmth and moodiness that we don't normally hear from him at this point. The rest of the group includes Ray Santisi piano, Doug Watkins bass, and Jim Zitano drums – and titles include "Little Rock Getaway", "If I Love Again", "What's New", and "Stella By Starlight". CD

Early CTI/Kudu material from alto legend Hank Crawford – part of a strong 70s run that helped him find a whole new audience for his soulful sound! Crawford got his start with Ray Charles, and cut some classic albums for Atlantic in the 60s – but during the 70s, his sound really warmed up a lot with the right electric touches – providing a flow in the backdrops while Hank too off on tight, well-blown solos – almost the alto sax equivalent to what the tenor of Stanley Turrentine was crafting at the time. Arrangements here are by Don Sebesky and Bob James – sometimes a bit funky, sometimes laidback – and other musicians include James on Rhodes and George Benson on guitar. Titles include a great funky take on "Alone Again Naturally" – plus "We Got A Good Thing Going", "I Don't Know", "A Little Tear", and "Down To Earth". CD

Buddy DeFranco plays tunes associated with Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw – but in a completely different way than before – with a wider-open swing for the 50s! The work here is all small combo, not big band – and there's a free-flowing groove that's totally great – a sound that carries echoes of the earlier years, but which comes across with that modern inflection to swing that made Buddy's years at Verve so great. Few players could come up with a balance of modes as great as this – and on the 2 sessions in the set, DeFranco's clarinet is caught alongside trumpet from either Don Fagerquist or Ray Linn, tenor from Georgie Auld, vibes from Victor Feldman, piano from Paul Smith or Carl Perkins, guitar from Barney Kessell or Howard Roberts, bass from Leroy Vinnegar or Joe Mondragon, and drums from Stan Levey or Milt Holland. First volume features 14 titles that include "Benny's Bugle", "A Smooth One", "Air Mail Special", "My Blue Heaven", "Seven Come Eleven", "Cross Your Heart", "Frenesi", "Indian Love Call", "Summit Ridge Drive", and "Stardust". CD

Don't let the title put you off, because this certainly isn't a session of background music – and the name simply refers to the fact that the arrangements on the set really showcase the strong horn work of the Ellington orchestra! Duke's still on piano for the session, but the real strength of the album's carried by classic Ellington players that include Ray Nance, Willie Cook, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, and Lawrence Brown. Arrangements are by Bill Mathieu and Gerald Wilson – and although many of the tunes are older Ellington numbers, they've got a tight groove (and excellent recording quality) – which updates the material nicely. Titles include "Midriff", "Main Stem", "Happy Go Lucky Local", "What Am I Here For", "Kinda Dukish", and "Perdido". LP, Vinyl record album

Two of the biggest singers who ever worked for Verve Records – captured perfectly at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1957! Ella Fitzgerald steps out with a strong, lively groove on the first half of the set – swinging things with a looser, more upbeat quality than on some of her mellower Verve studio sets of the late 50s – really grooving it up with small combo backing from the trio of pianist Don Abney! Billie Holiday also gets some small combo backing too – a hip trio with Mal Waldron on piano, Joe Benjamin on bass, and Jo Jones on drums – often a bit more laidback than the group on Ella's sides, but in a great way that helps Holiday hit a very intimate sound, even before this large audience. Ella sings "This Can't Be Love", "Body & Soul", "April In Paris", "I Got A Crush On You", and "Airmail Special" – and Billie sings "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "What A Little Moonlight Can Do", "My Man", "Willow Weep For Me", and "Lady Sings The Blues". CD also features 3 more unissued bonus tracks by Ella – "Too Close For Comfort", "Lullaby Of Birdland", and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Myself A Letter". And, added to all of this are 7 more tracks recorded by Carmen McRae at Newport, not issued by Verve in the 50s because Carmen was working for Decca! These sides feature trio backing too – from groups featuring Ray Bryant and Junior Mance on piano – on titles that include "Body & Soul", "Skyliner", "I'll Remember April", "Perdido", and "Love Is Here To Stay". CD

A completely cooking little live set from Aretha Franklin – and a crowning moment not just in her career, but for Atlantic Records soul in general! Aretha's working here before a very enthusiastic crossover crowd at the Fillmore West in San Francisco – getting tight backing from the combo of King Curtis (Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, and Pretty Purdie in tow!) – and hitting a groove that's often rawer, grittier, and more deep-soul tuned than some of her studio sides from the time! The recording quality is totally great – and goes out of its way to preserve the presence of the audience, and showcase Aretha's own interaction and strong sense of personality. Ray Charles makes a surprising guest appearance on one track, but the whole show is really Franklin's own – a majestic little live date that features the tunes "Spirit In The Dark", "Respect", "Make It With You", "Don't Play That Song", "Dr Feelgood", and "Love The One You're With". CD

Of the classic "big names get together for a session" albums on Verve, the best ones always seem to be the ones with one of the "Sonnys" in the list of leaders. This one compiles titles from the Sonny Side Up album – which featured Stitt and Rollins, plus others from 1957 sessions in which Diz played with one or the other player. The set's a beautiful batch of long tracks with lots of blowing room, and a deep soulful hardbop groove that you don't always hear on Verve. The rhythm section for all groups is comprised of Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant, and Charlie Persip – who are part of the reason for the magnanimous groove of the set – and titles include "After Hours", "Con Alma", "Haute Mon", "Sumphin", "Weatleigh Hall", "I Know That You Know", and "The Eternal Triangle". LP, Vinyl record album

Damn great tenor work from Buck Hill – recording here in a well-matched combo that also features the great Johnny Coles on trumpet! Coles' sound is really nice at this point in his career – a bit more biting and human than the polish of some previous sides – in ways that sound especially great when he's wailing in the frontline next to Hill's raspy tenor. The rhythm section has plenty of life too – Barry Harris on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – and producer Houston Person brought a nice sense of "room" to the session, recording these guys in ways that beautifully showcase their collaborative presence. Titles include "Brakes", "Wip Wap", "Someone Like That In Your Life", "RH Blues", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". CD

Billie Holiday's last recording – and a really beautiful little set that's a perfect cap to her all-too-short career! The album's got a style that's similar to the better-known Lady In Satin album – with backings from Ray Ellis that are a bit more lush than those used during the Verve years, but which also provide some much-needed focus to the music too – a quality that's still strongly jazz-based, but almost seem to refresh Holiday's singing a bit. Make no mistake, Billie's definitely in her later years here – but that also makes for an instantly heartbreaking quality too – a mode that's distinctly Holiday all the way through, with echoes of her hardship throughout most of the tunes. Soloists include Gene Quill on alto, Sweets Edison on trumpet, and Jimmy Cleveland on trombone – and titles include "All The Way", "Don't Worry 'Bout Me", "Sometimes I'm Happy", "Deed I Do", and "All Of You". CD

A killer set from Freddie Hubbard's legendary years on CTI! Like the classic Red Clay album, there's 4 tunes here, all longer cuts – where everyone gets a chance to stretch out a bit, over smooth (but not too smooth!) electric grooves, supported by great orchestrations from Don Sebesky! Ron Carter & Billy Cobham provide a tight but elastic rhythmic underpinning – a great foil for solos by players who include Keith Jarrett on electric piano, George Benson on guitar, Hubert Laws on flute, and Freddie himself on trumpet. Airto & Ray Barretto are on percussion, with some nice percolating accents to the grooves – and titles include the classic "Povo", an oft-sampled monster – plus "In A Mist", "The Godfather", and "Sky Dive". CD also includes an alternate take of "Naturally". CD

A beautiful hard burner from Gene Krupa – a perfect example of the way he could skirt different camps of jazz when working in small group format! Players here are all top shelf – and include Ben Webster, Bill Harris, Teddy Wilson, Ray Brown, and Charlie Shavers – a lineup that almost makes the record come across like a JATP All-Star session, save for the fact that the tracks are a bit shorter! Titles include "Don't Take Your Love From Me", "Capital Idea", "Paradise", "Overtime", and "Coronation Hop". David Stone Martin cover, too! LP, Vinyl record album

Allen Lowe on ternor saxophone, Julius Hemphill on alto saxophone, Don Byron on clarinet, Jeff Fuller on bass, Ray Kaczynski on drums & Jay Gitlin on accordian. CD

Although Nelson went on to become a very successful pop jazz arranger during the 1960s, this early 1959 album features him as a bright new jazz soloist – with a keen talent for blowing the alto with a tone that is at once soulful and lyrical, yet somehow darkly edgey. The session features a strong hardbop lineup – with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Ray Bryant on piano, and Art Taylor on drums – and it's a nice tightening up of the looser blowing session format heard on Prestige a few years before. Titles include "Ostinato", "Jams & Jellies", "Don't Stand Up", and "Booze Blues Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

Tight west coast jazz, arranged and led by Pell on tenor, and featuring work by Don Fagerquist, Marty Paich, Ray Sims, and Tommy Tedesco. Shorty Rogers supervised the session, and it's got a very similar feel to some of his RCA sides at the time. As you might guess from the title, the tracks are "western-themed" ones – like "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Wagon Wheels", "Cool Water", and "South Of The Border". Nice cover, too! LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great little live set – recorded in Central Park in the late 60s, before a very large crowd! Lou sounds great, as always – and the Ramsey Lewis material is very much in the spirit of the live mid 60s Cadet recordings. Maxine Brown is the real treat, though, as the live setting is quite a contrast to her more staid sides for Wand. Maxine sings "In The Midnight Hour" and "Soul Serenade", Lou Sings "They Don't Give Medals", "Tobacco Road", and "On Broadway", and Ramsey plays "Salute To Ray Charles", "Hang On Sloopy", and "Goin Out Of My Head". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few solo albums ever cut by organist Chester Thompson – a player who's known to most as the keyboardist in Tower Of Power, but one who's also remembered by a select funky few for this killer record for the Black Jazz label! The album's a stripped-down quartet session – with labelmate Rudolph Johnson on tenor, blowing some beautiful lines alongside long, drawn-out Hammond solos from Thompson! The overall feel is similar to some of the great late 60s Prestige sessions – especially Don Patterson dates – with the group free swinging away in a very live format, just like you might have heard if you caught them in some hip southside club. Other players include Al Hall Jr on trombone and Ray Pounds on drums – and the album features four long jamming tracks, with titles that include "Mr T", "Trip One", "Weird Harold", and "Powerhouse". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the landmark classics of the rising British jazz scene of the late 60s – an unusual pairing between modern trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and famous arranger John Dankworth – both coming together in this sublime set of instrumental tracks based on the story of Don Quixote! The music is something that stands alone from the story completely – a key moment in Wheeler's rise to genius, as he crafts these tremendous solos over a larger group directed by Dankworth – almost a Sketches Of Spain for the Brit scene – with work from an array of players who include Dankworth, Tony Robert, Tony Coe, and Ray Swinfield on saxes – plus John McLaughlin on guitar and Dave Holland on bass – all working together in a really inventive lineup that instantly made the record a classic on the scene. Includes "Preamble", "Don The Dreamer", "Sweet Dulcinea Blue", "Bachelor Sam", "The Cave Of Montesinos", "Altisidora", and "Don No More". CD

A really cool collection of vintage country music Christmas tunes – not just hits, but some excellent obscure material – all pulled together in a way that really lives up to the high standards we expect from the Bear Family label! These tracks are pulled together from a variety of labels and sources, and don't just include cowboy numbers you might guess from the "range" in the title – but also western swing, honky tonk, and maybe a few countrypolitan gems as well! The set features 26 titles in all – with great graphics and notes throughout – to accompany titles that include "Santa Claus Is Coming" by Skeeter Davis, "Santa's On His Way" by Bob Wills, "North Pole Boogie" by Billy Briggs, "Christmas Can't Be Far Away" by Eddie Arnold, "Christmas Time's A-Coming" by Bill Monroe, "Jolly Old St Nicholas" by Wilf Carter, "I Wish Everyday Was Christmas" by Ray Salter, "New Baby For Christmas" by George Jones, "Blue Snowfall" by George Morgan, "White Christmas" by Ernest Tubb, "Christmas Carols By The Old Corral" by Tex Ritter, "No Place Like Home On Christmas" by Little Jimmy Dickens, "It's Christmas Time" by The Louvin Brothers, "Home At Christmas" by Nelson Young, "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa" by Brenda Lee, and "We Wanna See Santa Do The Mambo" by Terry Fell. CD

We're always happy to take a trip to Crampsville – as the journey means that we not only get to live within the world of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, we also get to discover a huge amount of obscure singles from the glory days of the indie 45! The Cramps built their music on building blocks like these – weird, obscure tunes from the late 50s and early 60s – often leaping across genres in a single tune – mixing rock and R&B, slinky lounge with gritty sleaze, and always exploding with the kind of energy that never could have lasted past the few minutes of music that fit on a 7" record. The set's very much in the great mode of other Righteous Cramps-inspired titles – and features 52 tracks that include "Love Slave" by Bart Mattson, "She'll Never Let Him Go" by Gin Gillette, "Little Joe" by Jack Day, "I'm Blue" by The Ikettes, "Chicken Rock" by Scott Wood & His Band, "Big Foot" by Googie Rene, "The Tingle" by Jackie Weaver, "She's Mine" by Johnny Strickland, "I Got School" by Scott Miller, "Stop At The Hop" by Don Eee, "Rock & Roll Fever" by Gene Ray, "The Gorilla Walk" by Sascha Burland, "The Cat" by Rod Willis, "Watch Your Step" by Bobby Parker, and "I'm Buggin Out Little Baby" by Donny Lee Moore. CD

The second half of the Ebb Records Story – featuring late 50s work from this groundbreaking LA label! The focus here is on R&B and bluesy material – and the style is thrown pretty far, from urban blues to rootsier work – and there's a total of 29 tracks, with titles that include "What Is Life" by Floyd Dixon, "Chicken Baby Chicken" by Tony Harris, "No Buts No Maybes" by Professor Longhair, "Cha Cha Cha" by Jerry Hawkins, "She's My Witch" by Kip Tyler, "Don't You Know" by Tony Allen, "Come Back" by Tony Allen, and "When The Deal Go Down" by Ray Agee. CD

Music from Aretha Franklin, Booker T & The MG's, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Professor Longhair, Jackie Wilson, Sam & Dave, Huey Piano Smith & The Clowns, Don Covay & The Goodtimers, The Cadillacs, and more. CD

Includes Charlie Feathers, Glen Glenn, Hal Harris, Don Cole, Johnny Todd, Ray Scott, and more! LP, Vinyl record album

A whole host of genre-breaking tracks from Texas impresario Augie Meyers – both an artist in the underground country rock scene, and the creative force behind the TRC label, which is showcased here in a variety of different recordings! If you know some of the important criss-crossing styles that were taking place in Austin during the mid 70s, you'll get some of the vibe here – but Augie hails from San Antonio, where the groove has maybe even more border-styled influences – served up here in a variety of tracks that really work together with a unified vibe. As always with Bear Family, the package and notes are great, and really help get at the special side of the music – presented here on 26 tracks that include "Country Groove" and "Henrietta" by Doug Sahm, "Domingo" by Denny Ezba, "Mezcal Road" by El Molino, "Meet Me In Seguin" and "Where I Belong" by Carol Meyer & The Western Head Band, "Boogie Woogie Country Girl" by Wild Man Ray Liberto, "Dynamite Woman" by Sir Douglas Quintet, "Faded Love" by Brother Al Stricklin, and the tunes "Deed To Texas", "High Texas Rider", "Sun Shines Down On Me In Texas", "Just Because", "Wedding Bells", and "Why Don't We Make Love Like We Used To" by Augie Meyers. CD

Sam Dees is a hell of a singer, and he's a hell of a songwriter too – one who's worked not just with the southern soul stars of his roots, but also a much wider range of soul talents too! This wonderful collection really gets at the strength of Dees' amazing ability to pen a special soul tune – as it features work from a surprisingly huge array of talents from all sides of the soul spectrum – including a fair bit of vocalists we never knew worked with Sam's material. We love Dees' own records to death – and have enjoyed many of his demo recordings over the years, too – but a set like this really shows the important influence he had on soul music in the 70s – the way he touched so many folks, and helped them out with his meaningful lyrics. The set features great notes on Sam and his contribution – and 22 tracks that include "Where Did We Go Wrong" by LTD, "Vanishing Love (UK rmx)" by The Chi-Lites, "Girl Overboard" by Dorothy Moore, "So Your Love Finally Ran Out" by Les McCann, "Run To Me" by Sidney Joe Qualls, "Save The Overtime" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, "Seconds Of Your Love" by Johnnie Taylor, "One In A Million You" by Larry Graham, "Spoiled By Your Love" by Anita Ward, "What A Way To Put It" by The Temptations, "Good Guys Don't Always Win" by Ray Crumley, and "My World" by Sam Dees himself! CD

A tremendous collection of 70s soul – one of our favorite-ever compilations from the UK Kent label! The set focuses on the lesser-known gems of the Spring and Event labels – companies who were well-known for bigger hits by Joe Simon, Millie Jackson, and others – but who also cut some sublime singles in a modern soul mode, many of which were new discoveries to our ears before this CD! The package is really incredible – filled with 23 cuts that really opened our ears to the labels, and which do a fantastic job of blending mellow, sophisticated, and bits of southern soul in the 70s! Titles include "What Did I Do Wrong" by The Mayberry Movement, "You Didn't Love Me Anyhow" by Act One, "I Can't Believe You Love Me" by Lou Jackson, "House For Sale" by Millie Jackson, "Alakazam" by Sonny Ross, Time" by Don Williams & The Exchange, "There's Another In My Life" by Phillip Mitchell, "Can I Get A Witness" by Jackie Verdell, "C'Mon & Give It Up" by Clare Bathe, "Please Come Home" by Garland Green, "I'm The Other Half Of You" by Ray Godfrey, and "Lead Me On" by The Internationals. CD

Beautiful hardbop from Boston – and one of the first-ever albums recorded by trumpeter Donald Byrd as a leader! The set was originally done for the obscure Transition label – also home to inventive early recordings by Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor – and as with those records, there's a very special sort of sound going on here – as the date's a quartet outing, with a very unusual group – with Ray Santisi on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Jim Zitano on bass – all giving Byrd plenty of room to solo in the lead. The record features a very different side than some of Donald's other early two-leader sessions (such as the dates with Pepper Adams) – especially as he blows with a warmth and moodiness that we don't normally hear from him at this point – sounding fantastic on titles that include "Little Rock Getaway", "If I Love Again", "What's New", and "Stella By Starlight". CD

The heady second album from Bill Fay – much more introspective and moodier than his first outing for Deram, and a session done in tight collaboration with British guitar legend Ray Russell! Russell's got Fay working here with a much smaller group than on the first album – a collection of jazz-influenced players that includes Nick Evans on trombone, Tony Roberts on reeds, and Alan Rushton on drums – all working with Russell's guitar in an intimate, slightly folksy setting. Fay's songwriting and vocals are darker than before – as can easily be told from the titles of tunes like "Don't Let My Marigolds Die", "Dust Filled Room", "Pictures Of Adolf Again", and "Til The Christ Come Back". But somehow, Fay manages to pull the whole thing off beautifully – with none of the cliches or heavy-handed styles you might expect, really working in a transcendent mode that reminds us of the best of early Leonard Cohen. CD

A completely cooking little live set from Aretha Franklin – and a crowning moment not just in her career, but for Atlantic Records soul in general! Aretha's working here before a very enthusiastic crossover crowd at the Fillmore West in San Francisco – getting tight backing from the combo of King Curtis (Memphis Horns, Billy Preston, and Pretty Purdie in tow!) – and hitting a groove that's often rawer, grittier, and more deep-soul tuned than some of her studio sides from the time! The recording quality is totally great – and goes out of its way to preserve the presence of the audience, and showcase Aretha's own interaction and strong sense of personality. Ray Charles makes a surprising guest appearance on one track, but the whole show is really Franklin's own – a majestic little live date that features the tunes "Spirit In The Dark", "Respect", "Make It With You", "Don't Play That Song", "Dr Feelgood", and "Love The One You're With". CD

Sweet jazzy grooves from this hip Italian duo – Enzo & Gianni Lo Greco, who've also recorded as Quintetto Lo Greco for Schema Records! The sound here is definitely in a Schema groove – lots of jazzy instrumentation on piano, sax, trumpet, and trombone – very much in the best 60s Italian jazz mode, but kicked up just a bit with some rhythms aimed at the dancefloor – never too over the top, and all acoustic all the way through – a club jazz groove that's perfect for anyone who also digs work on labels like DejaVu or Ricky Tick! There's a bit of vocals on the record – sung by guests Alice Ricciardi, Felix, Katharine Ruestow, Roxie Ray, and Dionne Charles – and titles include "Sam Blues", "Feelin Good", "Don't Cry", "Much More", "Broken Rose", "Iperbole", "Please Don't Go", "Sweet Love", "Changes", and "Goodbye". CD

Although Nelson went onto become a very successful pop jazz arranger during the 1960s, this early 1959 album features him as a bright new jazz soloist – with a keen talent for blowing the alto with a tone that is at once soulful and lyrical, yet somehow darkly edgey. The session features a strong hardbop lineup – with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Ray Bryant on piano, and Art Taylor on drums – and it's a nice tightening up of the looser blowing session format heard on Prestige a few years before. Titles include "Ostinato", "Jams & Jellies", "Don't Stand Up", and "Booze Blues Baby". CD

A trio of key albums from the Pink Fairies – served up with lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Never Never Land – the fantastic debut of the Pink Fairies – easily one of the shaggiest, headiest bands on the UK scene at the start of the 70s – and a group who rose from the ashes of the equally important Deviants! The record's an unusual mishmash of modes – a set that confidently swaggers between psych, hard rock, and maybe even a bit of proto-punk – very confident in its approach, and coolly compressed in the production, but never in the slick style that would dominate British rock more strongly in the mid 70s. The Fairies aren't afraid to let their freak flag fly, but they're also clearly moving past hippiedom too – on titles that include "War Girl", "Do It", "Say You Love Me", "Tack One Side Two", "Thor", "Uncle Harry's Last Freakout", and "The Dream Is Just Beginning". What A Bunch Of Sweeties is filled with freaky fuzz from the Pink Fairies – a seminal UK group who were maybe trapped in a space between late psych and early glam – and somehow equally important to both! There's lots going on in the set – modes that are as offbeat as styles put forth by The Fugs in the late 60s, but a lot sharper overall from a musical perspective – especially in the way the group uses great guitar work and a few catchy numbers to sew the whole thing together – on titles that include "Portobello Shuffle", "Marilyn", "Pigs Of Uranus", "Walk Don't Run", "X-Ray", "I Went Up I Went Down", and "I Saw Her Standing There". Kings Of Oblivion is maybe the most fully-formed album from the legendary Pink Fairies – and a set that's got some really searing guitar from Larry Wallis – a melodic genius whose sound really holds things together, and gives the group a stronger focus than ever before! The guitar lines seem to bring out and amplify all the ideas the group were going for before – and maybe give the group a sense of darkness that they never fully reached – not hard rock cliche, but this tightness that's also completely individual – maybe like early Thin Lizzy at their best, yet in a completely different way. Titles include "I Wish I Was A Girl", "City Kids", "When's The Fun Begin", "Chromium Plating", "Street Urchin", and "Chamber Maid". Bonus tracks include "Going Down", "Walk Don't Run (first version)", "War Girl (alt mix)", "The Snake", "Do It (single mix)", "Uncle Harry's Last Freakout (alt mix)", "Well Well Well (alt mix)", "City Kids (alt)", and "Hold On (single)". CD

A massive collection of work from these important years in music – and even if you don't know or care about Gary Crowley, who's pictured on the cover, you'll find plenty to love here if you dig UK sounds from the late 70s and early 80s! As indicated by the title, the set focuses on new wave and punk tracks – which also means that there's plenty of post-punk too – and the package does a really great job of offering up music that stands the test of time, even though much of it never got much play on American airwaves back in the day – music that really helped set the tone for a generation, and whose effects are still resonating all these many years later. As with volume one, the presentation is great – a very nice package, with detailed notes – and the 4CD set features 77 titles – with work by The Times, Shake, The Limps, Newtown Neurotics, The Slits, Gary Valentine, Basement 5, Dolly Mixture, Liquid Stone, The Subterraneans, Stiff Little Fingers, The Jam, Zounds, The Cure, The City Limits, Moving England, The Barracudas, Penetration, X-Ray Spex, The Limit, Magazine, Golinski Brothers, The Clash, and others. CD

A well-done little collection – one that's maybe a second look at the Prix Label, covered by Numero Group in a previous collection – but which revisits the tapes and brings back a number of alternate recordings from the vaults of the label! The title's a reference to the cut "You & Me" by Penny & The Quarters – a heartbreaking soul track that was initially lost to time, until Numero manages to place it on a Ryan Gosling film – which gave that cut some very long legs, and opened the door here to some equally wonderful and obscure soul tracks – a lineup that includes "You Are Giving Me Some Other Love" and "I Cried A Tear" by Penny & The Quarters, "Don't Take Your Love From Me" by Eddie Ray & Joe King, "Since I Fell For You" by Brenda Walker, "All In The Past" by Eddie Ray, "You Are Mine" by Jay Robinson, "Will I Ever" by Jay Robinson with Penny & The Quarters, "I'm A Stranger" by Joe King, and "Untitled Studio Moves" by Harmonic Sounds Band – plus the famous "You & Me" by Penny & The Quarters. LP, Vinyl record album

We know what you're thinking, how rare is the "rarest soul label" in the title, and more than that, how good are the tracks? Fortunately, in this case, the answer is really rare, and really great! 14 tracks from the rare Washington DC Shrine label, produced by Eddie Singleton and compiled in the early 90s for the Horace's reissue imprint. This set's a nifty batch of 60s soul stormers, with more of a Detroit sound than you might guess, and titles include "Don't Let Him Hurt You" by Les Chansonettes, "Guess Who Loves You" by Eddie Daye & The Four Bars, "No Other Way" by the Cautions, "Mad At The World" by the Epsilons, "No More Like Me" by Ray Pollard, "Stop Overlooking Me" by the Cairos, "I Believe I'll Love On" by Jimmy Armstrong, "You're My Only Love" by the Counts, "She Went Away" by Linda & The Vistas and "Huh Baby" by the Prophets. Nice stuff, and as you've guessed, you'll never find the originals! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic look at the Spring Records label in New York – a company that had a few big crossover hits in the 70s, but also issued a lot more rare and obscure material over the years – with a long legacy that even hit the early years of the old school scene! One of Spring's great contributions was finding a way for fast funk groups to shift into a disco mode when the earliest years of the clubs got going – but there's also a lot more going on here too – including some great deep soul ballads, warm midtempo steppers, and cuts that point the way towards the modern soul generation on the rise. The package also features six never-issued cuts, alongside some well-chosen and overlooked Spring Records gems – all put together with the usual strong notes and excellent sound we love from Ace/Kent! Titles include "If We Get Caught I Don't Know You" by Prince Philip Mitchell, "Falling In Love" by Victor Tavares, "Save The Best For Me" by The Determinations, "Do You Feel Me" by Act I, "I'm The Other Half Of You" by Maxine Weldon, "If You Could Turn Into Me" by The Fatback Band, "Magic's In The Air" by Ronnie Walker, "Hold On" by Ray Godfrey, "If You Say You Love Me" by Us, "The Storm Is Passing Over" by Jackie Verdell, "Beauty" by The Joneses, "Kill The Monster" by Flower Shoppe, "I Ride Alone" by The Internationals, "Get Right" by Richard Barbary, "Daddy's Coming Home" by Prince Harold, and "Of Your Life" by Vernon Brown. CD