A landmark album from Freda Payne! Freda had been knocking around a bit as a more jazz-oriented singer, and had cut one album for Impulse and one for MGM before this one – but when she hooked up with the hitmaking Holland-Dozier-Holland team for this record, her career really went over the top! The team take Payne's deep soulful voice away from the sophisticated pop of earlier years, and hook it up with a mix of fuzzy Detroit soul and sweeter southern styles. The album includes loads of great cuts – most notably the sublime crossover hit "Band of Gold", but also plenty of other lesser-known gems, like "The Easiest Way to Fall", "Unhooked Generation", "Deeper and Deeper", and "This Girl Is a Woman Now". Her best by far! CD

A sexy little soundtrack from Piero Piccioni – penned for an early 80s film, but done with a slinky style that's pure Euro 70s all the way! Keyboards mix nicely with strings on many tracks – almost in a way that Piccioni seems to borrow from American soul maestros of the previous decade – but there's also some more Italian-styled touches too – including some later bossa inflections that really round out the sound of the record in a wonderful way. And a few especially nice gems have this sense of space that almost makes the music float in the air – recalling the sounds that first made us fall in love with the 60s music of Piccioni. Most solo piano is by Piero, and Toquinho plays guitar on one track – and titles include "Anche Se Sai", "Notte Preziosa", "Occhio Discreto", "Volo Di Mezzanotte", "Bona Nox", and "Ritmo Macumbeiro". This expanded 2CD edition adds in 36 more bonus tracks to the original record – 25 more bonus tracks than the previous release! CD

A trio of albums from this great tenorist! First up is Beboppin, from Ferdinand Povel – a tenorist who may not be one of the bigger stars on the European scene, but one who always finds a way to serve up something special! Povel's got a nice edge in his horn at times – a mode that's always inside, but often sharply spoken – even when he's going for some mellower moments too – a bit of old school bite in the way he approaches the reed, maybe – and a definite sense of attack that really comes on when he's in a more swinging mode! The group here has some great guitar from Wim Overgaauw, whose ringing tones bring a bright balance between Povel's horn and the piano of Frans Elsen – and the rest of the group features Victor Kaihatu on bass and Ruud Pronk on drums. Titles include "Off Minor", "I'm Old Fashioned", "Beboppin", "Deception", "Nobody Else But Me", and "I Fall In Love Too Easily". Some Other Blues features great work as a leader from reedman Ferdinand Povel – a player who's sparked up some great moments on albums by other players over the years, but who hardly ever records as a boss on his own! This set's a "forgotten tape" – recorded in the late 80s, but only issued recently – and it features Povel both on tenor and soprano sax, playing with an angularly expressive tone that even makes familiar standards sound fresh – working with players who include Wim Overgaauw on guitar, Rob Langereis on bass, and John Engels on drums. The mix of guitar and saxophone is pretty lively on the upbeat numbers – especially in the way that Wim uses these sustained notes that almost ring out like an organ – and titles on the set include "Workout", "Some Other blues", "Mr Syms", "Old Folks", "UMMG", and "Waltz New". Good Bait is a live album, and one that features the twin-tenor leadership of Ferdinand Povel and Pete Christlieb – both excellent soloists who get plenty of room here to really stretch out and soar! Other players include Rein DeGraaf on piano, Marius Beets on bass, and Eric Ineke on drums – and titles include long takes on "Milestones #1", "Good Bait", "All The Things You Are", and "Parker 51". CD

Classic work from this massively overlooked 70s soul singer! The set's one of a rare few albums cut by Sidney Joe Qualls – a fantastic talent who's probably better known for his work behind the scenes, and as a songwriter, than he is as a voice on his own. The session is produced with a style that kind of mixes Brunswick Chicago soul with rootsier southern elements – stepping proud in the 70s territory of Johnnie Taylor or Tyrone Davis, but sounding way way better here, and with a much more independent vibe. Plus, the album boasts some incredible material – original tunes written by the likes of Sam Dees, Clifford Davis, George Davis, and others. Titles include "Shut Your Mouth", "Run To Me", "I Enjoy Loving You", "Please Help Me", "Can't Get Enough of Your Love", and "The Next Time I Fall in Love". CD

Trobonist Altin Sencalar is a new name in the lineup of Posi-Tone Records jazz musicians – yet he steps out right away with all the sorts of strength we love from their releases, while also bringing in some strong new flavors as well! There's some Latin currents on the record at times, and Sencalar has a great way of updating the role of trombone in Latin jazz, while also merging it with the strengths of some of his labelmates – working here in a really cool combo that features Diego Rivera on tenor and soprano, Patrick Cornelius on alto and flute, Art Hirahara on piano and Fender Rhodes, Boris Kozlov on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums! We fell in love with Altin's sense of tone and phrasing right away, and are eager to hear more – and titles on this debut include "Homenaje A Armando", "Mixed Feelings", "Reimagined", "Marina's Arrival", "Nutville", "Minor Mishap", and "Fall". CD

Vocalist Amy Sheffer works with an all-star cast here – a very cool quartet that includes Billy Bang on violin, William Parker on bass, and Lou Grassi on drums! Bang is especially great, and his work on violin often recalls the spirit of the 80s work that really made us fall in love with his music – a great companion to the offbeat vocalizations of Sheffer, who certainly channels some of the more groundbreaking vocal jazz modes that emerged from the 70s scene onwards. The tracks were recorded in 2001, and some just feature Sheffer's voice with drums – on titles that include "You Rise", "Words From TS", "Drone Bone", "Improv", "Museeum", "Hovering", and "Bleddidit". CD

A key record in the post-Byrds legacy of the 70s – the famous pairing of JD Souther, Chris Hillman, and Richie Furay – all united in a mode that takes the country rock experiments of the late 60s into tighter territory for the new decade! There's definitely some focused, harmonic moments on the record that echo sounds that the Eagles and Poco were giving the world – but the record's also got plenty more moments that are more open, honest, and really show the way that the trio could put aside egos, and work as a whole. All three sing and play guitar, and Hillman adds some especially nice mandolin – on titles that include "The Heartbreaker", "Fallin In Love", "The Flight Of The Dove", "Rise & Fall", "Deep Dark & Dreamless", "Safe At Home", and "Border Town". CD

Quite a compelling album from the great and sometimes-overlooked Al Stewart – a set that really showcases the evolution in both his songwriting and subject matter – all at a level that seems wonderfully unconcerned with any sort of chart hit or commercial crossover! At this point, Al's kind of the perfect step beyond the earlier version of Brit singer/songwriters you would have found on labels like Harvest or Vertigo – steeped both in a creative sense of subject matter that seems influenced by Dylan, with an ability to spin out narratively unusual tunes that also get way past folksy cliches too – and which are delivered here with well-arranged, well-produced backings – but again, at a level that seems quite far from chartbound. Al's wonderful vocal style is a big part of the album's strength – really individual, and a sound we can fall in love with, no matter what the setting. Titles include "Warren Harding", "Roads To Moscow", "Last Day Of June 1934", "Nostradamus", and "Post World War Two Blues". CD

Wonderful work from Leon Thomas – easily one of his greatest albums ever, and a set that was recorded at the same time he was working with Pharoah Sanders! Thomas really rose to fame on Sanders' classic "The Creator Has A Master Plan" – and this set really takes off from that moment – letting Leon spin out some spiritual vibes of his own, and step into a few fresh new styles as well! The album's plenty righteous right from the start – partly because the lineup includes James Spaulding on alto and flute, Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and the enigmatic "Little Rock" on tenor – who is actually Pharoah Sanders – but also because Leon serves up a shorter take on "The Creator Has a Master Plan" – done in a great style! The album also features a classic vocal take on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father", with lyrics that we totally love – plus the frenetic "Malcolm's Gone" – and the tracks "One", "Echoes", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", and "Damn Nam". CD features three bonus tracks – a live recording of "Um Um Um" and "Damn Nam" – plus a take on "Night In Tunisia". CD

A great collection of groundbreaking early work from Michal Urbaniak – early European recordings that are very different than his American records from later years! First up is Paratyphus B – some of Michal Urbaniak's heaviest work of the 70s – an album of relatively free and exploratory fusion, recorded in Stuttgart with a group of Polish contemporaries who include Urszula Dudziak on voice and percussion, and Adam Makowicz on electric piano! Urbaniak plays soprano sax, tenor, and flute next to his more familiar electric violin – and many of the tracks are spacey explorations in sound, with some sort of rhythm, but really more a focus on the jamming of the keys, violin, and Dudziak's incredible voice. Titles include "Valium", "Irena", "Sound Pieces", "Winter Piece", and "Paratyphus B". Inactin is one of the greatest albums that Polish jazzman Michal Urbaniak ever cut – and a sparkling session of funky fusion recorded in Germany, at the studios of Horst Jankowski! The album feels like one of the great MPS electric albums from the 70s – and it's got loads of cool Fender Rhodes and clavinet playing, spacey electric violin, and some tight choppy soprano work. Urszula Dudziak lays down some incredibly spooky vocals on the best tracks – riffing away in an otherworldly way that matches the funk on the album. Includes the nice breakbeat tracks "Inactin" and "Ekim", plus the cuts "Lato", "Fall", and "Groovy Desert". 3CD set features 2CDs worth of rare bonus live material – a concert recorded in Bremen in 1972, with very long tracks that include "Introduction/Valium", "Sound Pieces", "Irena", and "Groovy Desert/Silence/Lato". CD

A rare jazz treasure from the European scene of the early 70s – killer material from a wealth of American artists and local talents – all done as special sessions for Dutch radio, and never issued to the public on record! Despite the radio origins of the music, the sound here is tremendous – easily on a par with the best MPS sessions of the time – which is no surprise, given that many of the artists here worked in similar circles! The first half of the set features the trio of pianist Louis Van Dyke augmented with guests who include Mark Murphy, Helen Merrill, Eddie Jefferson, Toots Thielemans, Herb Geller, and Dave Pike – all stepping out into the spotlight while Van Dyke's combo backs them up with lively grooves that are often heavy on bossa influences! The second half features larger orchestrations from The Metropole Orchestra – a soaring big band who groove wonderfully, often in support of vocals from Murphy or Greetje Kauffeld, but also featuring instrumental solos from European players Ack Van Rooyen, Piet Nordijk, Ferdinand Povel, and others. The whole set is worth it alone for the vocals of Murphy – because the record easily stands as some of his best work ever from this decade – and given how great Mark was at the time, that's really saying a lot! Small group titles include "Children Of The Sun", "So What", "Love Sick", "Sao Paulo", "Con Alma", "Seventh Day", and "Falling In Love With Love" – and bigger group numbers include "Out Of This World", "My Shining Hour", "Let's Fall In Love", "Get Happy", "I'll Wind", "This Time The Dream's On Me", "Paper Moon", "One For My Baby", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", and "That Old Black Magic". 37 tracks in all! CD

An unusual session in the 50s Bethelehm catalog – one that features work by pianist/arranger John Towner Williams, based around a selection of Harold Arlen tunes, and set to a variety of larger backings that include west coast players Herb Geller, Milt Bernhardt, and Gene Cipriano! The style here is heavy on the trombones – using a brace of them on most tracks to create a fluid sense of tonal color – almost in a post-Kai & JJ way, but a bit more traditional overall. There's still some nice space for solo work, despite the larger arrangements on the set – and titles include "My Shining Hour", "Let's Fall In Love", "Stormy Weather", "Hit The Road To Dreamland", "Get Happy", and "That Old Black Magic". CD

Plenty of life here – as pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto gets some wonderful rhythm accompaniment from Sam Jones on bass and Billy Higgins on drums – both of whom make the record flow like the best Cedar Walton trio sides from the time! Yamamoto's definitely got his own touch on the keys, though – a sometimes-sensitive style that's especially nice on the ballads, which he has a very contemplative way of handling. The album's one of Yamamoto's best from the decade – a real treat that seems to draw plenty from the work of Jones and Higgins – and titles include "Billysam Blues", "When I Fall In Love", "Green Dolphin Street", and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life". CD

A near-lost bit of work from Chicago pianist John Young – better known for his work on Argo, but sounding great in this moody 60s session – recorded in Chicago with a familiar lineup that includes Victor Sproles on bass and Phil Thomas on drums. Young's got a nice rhythmic approach to the keys that's a bit similar to the early Lewis style of the time – yet which also sparks with those modern touches that could also come at surprising moments from the Chicago piano crew of the period. Titles include "I Don't Wanna Be Kissed", "Bones", "Cubana Chant", "In Love In Vain", "Serenata", "Baby Doll", "Circus", and When I Fall In Love". CD features 3 bonus alternate takes too! CD

A fantastic combination of funky grooves – the studio talents of Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and the Brazilian-tinged fusion of the legendary Azymuth! The jazzy trio are in great form here – tunes that are lean, and which really offer up all the best aspects that the group brought to their music back in the late 70s and early 80s – spun with a slightly different format by the lineup of Alex Malheiros on bass, Ivan Mamao Conti on drums, and Linklon Kiko Contentino on Fender Rhodes and keyboards – but handled perfectly by Adrian and Ali in the studio – with just the right sort of sound to avoid some of the slicker production that the group had on some of their other American recordings from years back. All tunes are new originals – and titles include "Pulando Corda", "Friendship Samba", "Apocolyptico", "Cat Jump", "Fall Afternoon", "Ao Redor Do Samba", and "Sumare". CD

A wonderfully genre-hopping collection – put together by Toru Hashimoto, the man behind such incredible Japanese series as the Free Soul, Cafe Apres Midi, and Suburbia compilations for many different labels! Toru really lives up to his legend here, and mixes music from different scenes and styles, but in a way that not only makes total sense – but also seems to have the tracks resonate even more strongly in the company of each other – moving from soul to bossa, jazz, vocal, and even hip hop cuts! Titles include "It's You" by Joyce Cooking, "I've Got You Under My Skin" by G9 Group, "Persian Love" by Holger Czukay, "Never Did I Stop Loving You" by Alice Clark, "What Else Can I Say" by Ingram, "Another Day" by Precise Hero, "NYC Tonight (version voc Shintaro Sakamoto)" by Dump, "Beautiful Love" by Myron & the Works with Meshell Ndegeocello and Robert Glasper, "Just The Way You Are" by Meta Roos & Nippe Sylwens Band, "Little Girl Lost" by Penny Goodwin, "Hunk Of Heaven" by Lemuria, "Why Don't We Fall In Love" by John Valenti, "Love Oh Love" by Vince Andrews, "You've Got To Have Freedom" by Pharoah Sanders, and "In All The Wrong Places" by Kero One. CD

Classic tracks from one of the greatest songwriting teams in soul music during the 60s and 70s – the legendary trio of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland – two of whom started out as soul singers, and all three of whom left behind a huge legacy on the Detroit scene! And while the trio were a famous part of Motown before moving off to start their own HDH family of labels, the work here also expands past those roots and includes some other gems that really show the wide reach of their music – including some non-soul titles that stack up here as a real surprise! As always with Ace Records, the notes tell the huge story behind the music, along with a great set of vintage images – and the package features 24 tracks in all, with titles that include "Band Of Gold (unedited alt version)" by Freda Payne, "There's A Ghost In My House" by The Fall, "New Breed Kind Of Woman" by Lamont Dozier, "Come & Get These Memories" by Laura Nyro, "Leaving Here" by Eddie Holland, "Come See About Me" by Barbara Mason, "Helpless" by Kim Weston, "A Love Like Yours" by Dusty Springfield, "You Keep Me Hanging On" by Vanilla Fudge, "This Old Heart Of Mine" by Bettye Swann, "Take Me In Your Arms" by Isley Brothers, "Don't Do It" by The Band, "Love's Gone Bad" by Chris Clark, "How Sweet It Is" by Brenda Lee, and "Where Did Our Love Go" by Donnie Elbert. CD

Killer soul from the Forte label of Kansas City – a tiny imprint, but a really great one too – and a company with an especially strong ear for the funkier side of the spectrum! This Numero set really gets back to the greatness that first made us fall in love with their collections in the first place – and brings together a really wonderful batch of rare singles that work perfectly as a whole album – no filler, no trans-genre stepping, and just a rock-solid batch of soul cuts that you'd have to dig deep in the American underground to find this strongly! The package is wonderful – plenty of notes, photos, and the usual Numero sense of history – but even without all that, the music is more than enough – a smoking pile of singles that includes "Whtever You Do" by Gene Williams, "I'm Gonna Get Your Thing" by Lee Harris, "Baby Your Love Is Amazing" by The Four Darlings, "I'll Never Be Satisfied" by Tony Ashley & The Delicates, "Baby Be Good" by The Rayons, "With Fun In My Life" by James Whitney, "Reaching For Our Star" by Sharon Revoal, "Daddy Don't Know About Sugar Bear" by Marva Whitney, and "Cry Night & Day" by The Fantasticks. CD

Heavy grooves from the Far Out label – a set of cuts from the company that don't just fall into their usual Brazilian bag – and which stretch out in a sweet array of styles that include funky fusion and African-inspired rhythms! Most of the artists here normally work in a Brazilian vein, but the collection offers up some fresh takes on their sound – and also manages to pull together some more obscure Far Out tracks, including a few unreleased cuts too! Titles include "Poweride" by Marcos Valle, "Pembe (unreleased version)" by Future Warriors, "Somewhere Beyond (unreleased version)" by 4Hero Presents Natures Plan, "Eighties Times" by Jose Roberto Bertrami, "Magnetic Feel (unreleased version)" by Roc Hunter, "Chameleon (Offworld rework)" by Azymuth, "Strike Hard" by Troubleman, "Jazz Carnival" by Azymuth, and "New Morning" by Sabrina Malheiros. CD

A huge array of soul tracks from the Mainstream label – an imprint that was probably best known for its jazz work of the early 70s, and as the launching pad for a few key rock groups – but one who also cut some killer soul tracks in the best New York and Philly styles of the period! Mainstream only ever issued most of its soul material as singles – 45s issued on their own label, and under the IX Chains, Brown Dog, and New Moon imprints too – spread out in an array of under-circulated, poorly-distributed releases that never fully got their due at the time – partly because much of the music was years ahead of its time! There's a groove here that reminds us of the hippest sounds from bigger labels – including Philly International or All-Platinum – with a similar blend of sweetness, honest vocal performances, and some top-shelf studio work that gives the lyrics a hell of an instrumental push, but all without ever sounding slick or commercial. The package is a much-needed look at this scattered legacy – and brings together 24 rare cuts that include "These Memories" by Almeta Lattimore, "I'm The One Who Loves You" by JG Lewis, "Come Back (part 1)" by The Fantastic Puzzles, "I Can't Give You Up" by Linda Perry, "It Ain't Like It Used To Be" by Randolph Brown & Company, "No Rebate On Love" by The Dramatics, "You're A Friend Of Mine" by Words Of Wisdom, "Satisfy My Woman" by Calvin Arnold, "Plain Out Of Luck" by Nia Johnson, "We're Not Too Young To Fall In Love" by Jackey Beavers Show, "Let The People Talk" by The Steptones, "To Whom It May Concern" by Ellerine Harding, "It's So Real" by McArthur, "Stop & Think A Minute" by Charles Beverly, and "That's The Way She Is" by Bobby Earl Williams. CD

An amazing compilation – a decade in the making, and filled with wonderful grooves – most of which have never appeared on CD or LP reissues! And while the music itself is already wonderful, the package also includes an amazing 80 page book, too – a rich research project that digs deep into the American underground of the 70s – and features a wealth of photos, images, and historical details on music that never got it's due back in the day! The set's based around the groundbreaking series of Soul Cal 12" reissues put together by Stones Throw about a decade ago – wonderful records that unearthed rare grooves that fall beautifully in a space between funk and club – almost all originally issued on tiny little labels from all over the US, but working together to create a rich vibe in the set. Given the book, there's a Numero-like heft to the whole thing – although the range of grooves is even greater than one of their collections – and titles include "Ecology" by Anubis, "You Can Be A Star" by Luther Davis, "Don't Get Discouraged" by UPC All Stars, "Things Cannot Stop Forever" by Stanton Davis, "Free Your Mind" by Record Player, "Get Down" by Freedom Express, "Keep Running Away" by Clifford Nyren, "Love Is" by Leon Mitchison & The Eastex Freeway Band, "What It Takes To Live" by Key & Cleary, "I'm Gonna Miss You Girl" by Ellis & Cephas, "It's A Bad Feeling" by Mixed Sugar, and "Put A Smile On Time" by Rhythm Machine. CD

A deep deep dive into the farther reaches of the California scene in the late 60s – music that's completely wonderful all the way through, and presented with a level that really blows away some of the less-official collections on the market! If you know the hit sounds of the time, you'll know a bit of what to expect here – but the selection of cuts goes way way deeper, put together by Alec Palao, a guy we'd already trust with anything Cali from the 60s – and who really knocks himself out with this set! If you dig Beach Boys, Mamas & Papas, and the Byrds, you'll find plenty of new sounds here to fall in love with – and as usual with Ace, the whole thing comes with superb notes, and even features a few unreleased tracks – including two rare cuts by Third Wave, who recorded one album for MPS! Titles include "Niki" and "Three Kingfishers Ferris Wheel" by Third Wave, "Go Try & Put Out The Sun" by The Forum, "Soul Sunrise" by JP Rags, "A Thousand Faces" by The Thousand Faces, "Out In The Open" by The Justice League, "Meadows & Flowers" by Curt Boettcher, "Richard & Me" by Evergreen Tangerine, "Someday Sunday" by The Gettysburg Address, "Lazy Bones" by The Tricycle, "Sugar Stone" by The Candy Company, "The Life You Lead" by A Small World, "Summer Flower" by Crystal Set, and "Until Now" by Augie Moreno. CD

A beautiful collection of work from the legendary Phyllis Hyman – a set that not only includes her groundbreaking records as a solo act, but also a big range of her famous collaborations with jazz artists who include Norman Connors, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, and Grover Washington! Hyman is a singer unlike anyone else – an artist who was raised equally in jazz and soul, then found a way to mix the best of both with a new sort of sophistication that made her one of the most important female soul talents to show the way forward during the 80s – an artist who was always equal parts class and care, soul and style – and one who departed our planet all too soon. Fortunately, even after a short time of recording, Phyllis already left us an amazing legacy of music – as you'll hear in this set of overstuffed gems – a 33 track package that includes "Sacred Kind Of Love", "Baby", "You Know How To Love Me", "Under Your Spell", "Sleep On It", "Loving You Losing You (12" mix)", "Deliver The Love", "Can't We Fall In Love Again", "Let Somebody Love You", "Gonna Make Changes", "Black & Blue", "Somewhere In My Lifetime", "I'll Be Around", "Betcha By Golly Wow", "No One Can Love You More (7" version)", "Just Imagine", "Love Surrounds Us Everywhere", "In A Sentimental Mood", "In Search Of My Heart", "I Don't Want To Lose You", "Why Did You Turn Me On", "Riding The Tiger (single)", and "Tonight You & Me (disco version)". CD

A massive batch of work from Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon – their full 1968 album for Epic, plus a wealth of rare singles as well! Johnny & The Bandwagon were one of those US groups that was arguably a lot more popular overseas – especially on the British scene, where their uptempo, hard-grooving style was perfect for the Northern Soul dancefloors! Their sound is wonderful – a bit different than the usual US hit group of the time, with drums that really romp on the bottom of most numbers – spurring further dynamic vocals from Johnny and the group – a soaring, upbeat approach to soul music that's almost more motivational now than ever before. As always with Ace Records, you can expect a hell of a lot here – full notes on the Bandwagon phenomenon overseas, and a whopping batch of 24 tracks that also includes rare material recorded for Bell. Titles include "Breakin Down The Walls Of Heartache", "On The Day We Fall In Love", "I Ain't Lyin", "You", "Girl From Harlem", "Don't Let It In", "People Got To Be Free", "When Love Has Gone Away", "Let's Hang On", "Sweet Inspiration", "Music To My Heart", "High & Dry", "In The Bad Bad Old Days", and "Sally Put Your Red Shoes On". CD

It's been quite awhile since the last High Llamas album – and in that time, the genius of Sean O'Hagan seems to have distilled even more – to a point where all those great elements he was able to layer together on previous records come out with a spare focus that maybe makes the whole thing even more wonderful! The album's as completely charming as its title and title track – and maybe seems to even borrow a bit from the coolest currents of the Japanese indie scene in the 90s, while also letting Sean's wonderful vocals warm things up – every bit as great as when we first fell in love with his music in Microdisney, but maybe even better with age. The record features guest appearances from Bonnie Prince Billy, Rae Morris, and Fryars – and titles include "Hey Panda", "Sisters Friends", "Hungriest Man", "The Water Moves", "Yoga Goat", "Stone Cold Slow", "The Grade", and "Fall Off The Mountain". CD

Never-issued live material from Odyssey – recorded years after the group's initial emergence in the New York psych scene in the late 60s, but with a sound that still has them sounding pretty darn trippy overall! There's definitely a lot of "room" feel in the recording – as the set was not done straight from the soundboard – yet that also really gives you a sense of the way these guys have mastered their instruments, as they stretch out and cascade through space at a level that's very different than the early work – really psych into prog, especially on a few of the album's really long tracks! The performance has a huge amount of long, majestic organ solos – and titles include "For Band Babies", "Lord Make A Regular Man Out Of Me", "She Who Must Be Obeyed", "Winter Summer Spring & Fall", and "One More Time Can't You Feel". CD also features four bonus tracks too! CD

A great bit of drawn-out fusion – played by a British trio that features electric keyboards, bass, and percussion! The tracks have a jamming jazz-rock approach – but never get too overindulgent, and never fall into the traps of some of the other British groups of the time. Instead, the groove is pure – with some nice dropped-out moments that have the keyboards working on lines that sound like they might have been lifted off of one of Sonny Fortune's great mid-70s albums. The lineup features Peter Robinson on Fender Rhodes and other keyboards, Alyn Ross on bass, and Morris Pert on drums and percussion – plus some guest soprano sax from Robin Thompson on three of the four songs. All tracks are long, and titles include "Stardance", "Orinoco", and "From The Region Of Capricorn". CD

Tremendous early work from Karin Krog – a great example of her rich vocal talents and creative energy, recorded well before her more experimental sessions of the 60s! Even at this early date, Karin's got a strong commitment to improvisation and unique phrasing – a style that really transforms all the tunes in the set, and marks them as her own through inventive performance with the trio of Egil Kapstad on piano, Kurt Lindgren on bass, and Jon Christensen on drums. Krog's voice is amazing – icy, yet never heartless – and her tones ring out especially beautifully on the modal groover "Karin's Kicks" – but sound great throughout, on other tunes that include "All Blues", "Lover Man", "By Myself", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", and "Mood Indigo". CD

A very dynamic set from bassist Jason Roebke – a set that uses graphic scores to direct improvsations by the members of the quartet, who are a very tightly-matched group of players, very able to deliver on Roebke's musical vision! The lineup features some especially great work on clarinet and saxes from Ed Wilkerson – a player we haven't heard as much of in recent years, but who still has the bright fire and imagination that first made us fall in love with his bold music decades ago – and the group also features lots of dark-tinged piano from Mabel Kwan, a player whose depth offsets Wilkerson's energy beautifully. The group also features Marcus Evans on drums, a player who can shake things up in all the right ways – on titles that include "Pulse & Tone", "Quarter Note Equals Eighty", "Stability & Coda", "Piano Spacer", "Four Spheres", and "Starting & Stopping". CD

A dancing soul party, but one that's got a nice sort of focus too – not a completely random collection of cuts, but one that features a fair bit of very early work from Van McCoy, and some great group soul too! Unlike a DJ set in the clubs, the collection's got no problem with mixing together a few tracks in a row by certain artists – which does a great job of compartmentalizing the big run of 25 tracks that make up the set – almost all unusual numbers that really keep things interesting! Titles include "Help Is On The Way", "The Woman Who Made Me A Man", "Ain't Got No Love", "Generation Gap", "Back Tracking", "Just Another Dress Rehearsal", and "If I Could Make You Mine" by Van McCoy; "Appreciation", "Giving Up", and "If She Wants Him" by The Ad-Libs – plus "Funky Drop" by The Soul Suspects, "I'm Stuck On You" and "Merry Christmas Baby" by The Poets, "Hold On Baby" and "It Hurts So Bad" by Sam Hawkins, "I'm Your Love Man" and "If Change Don't Come Soon" by The Lost Souls, "When I Fall In Love" by The Imperial Wonders, and "Ain't It Funny What Love Can Do" by Kenny Young. CD

A new year's always a new way to fall in love with contemporary soul music – thanks to the annual gems we always get in this great series from Expansion Records! For decades, the UK label has been one of the best outlets for new music from the neo soul underground – and in recent years, as so many releases are digital-only, their efforts with this collection series is even more important – as provides a massive overview of great contemporary soul cuts that may never make it to any sort of physical format at all! There's other cuts from album released mixed in with singles and more obscure cuts – and as always, the set list is superb – a batch of 35 tracks that include "Dot Dot Dot" by Marquel Jordan, "Something Like This (breakdown rmx)" by Tristan, "Don't Throw Our Love Away" by Ashley Scott, "Love Can Make You Feel So Happy" by Ipso Facto, "Slow Motion" by Kenya with Noel Gourdin, "This Is Worth It" by Blue Soul Ten, "While I'm Alone" by Alton McClain Scarborough, "Such A Good Feelin (Don-E chuffed mix)" by Rich Beggar, "Alone Again" by Ernie & The Family McKone, "Light Up My World" by Victor Haynes, "Soul Steppin (Soul Syndicate rmx)" by Shirley Jones, "Move Me No Mountain" by Lisa Dietrich, "I Believe" by Khari Cabral & Jiva, "Moods" by The R&R Soul Orchestra, "Here We Got Again" by Output/Input, "Now's The Time For Us" by Julian Joseph, and "If It Feels Good" by We Are One X-Perience. CD

Killer Christmas work from Tony Bennett – a set recorded in the 60s, but a classic that endures strongly over the years! Tony's vocals are superb here – that nicely matured style that's kept him in front of younger ears over the years – and the backings are somewhat traditional, but never stiff or cliched. Robert Farnon adds in some strings and chorus bits at times, but some of the best cuts have a jazzier flavor – and even the fuller-styled numbers fall back nicely to let Bennett's vocals dominate up front. Titles include "Christmasland", "I Love The Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", "Winter Wonderland", "Snowfall", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "My Favorite Things", and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". CD

A pair of classics from Deodato – back to back on a single high-quality CD! First up is Prelude – a legendary album from the 70s funk scene – and one of the crowning achievements of keyboard maestro Eumir Deodato! Deodato got his start during the bossa years of the 60s – where his sophisticated charts were already enough to make his career a landmark – but in the following decade he picked up the Fender Rhodes, and really took off in a great new direction with classic records like this! The set's a wonderful blend of larger charts and jazzy soloing – with sublime Rhodes lines from the leader, plus a mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation in the best CTI mode – underscored by percussion from both Ray Barretto and Airto. The features Deodato's remake of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" into the funky "2001" – soaring with Fender Rhodes lines that set a new standard for the instrument, with a funky undercurrent that few would have expected for the tune. Other tracks are nice too – and include a great bossa-y version of "Baubles Bangles & Beads", plus "Spirit Of Summer", "September 13", and "Carly & Carole". Deodato 2 is filled with funky keyboards galore – and one of the greatest records ever from this legendary Brazilian jazz talent! The album follows nicely off Deodato's Prelude classic for CTI – and like that one, this set's built on long-flowing tunes that rise and fall with a wonderful sense of rhythm – a sublime electric piano groove that's quite different than anything Deodato recorded before – and possibly never realized this perfectly again after his CTI years. Other players include Stanley Clarke on bass, Billy Cobham on drums, and Hubert Laws on flute – and titles include the massive Latin funk track "Super Strut", plus the tunes "Pavane For A Dead Princess", "Skyscrapers", and a great version of "Nights In White Satin". Plus, this CD reissue features 3 bonus tracks – "Venus", "Do It Again", and "Latin Flute"! CD

The keyboards of Greg Foat have a really great setting here in a collaboration with Gigi Masin – served up in a style that's maybe more laidback and spacious than before, yet in a way that makes us fall in love with Greg's electric piano lines all over again! Masin's got roots in more ambient sounds, but the record definitely has a jazz approach at the core – plenty of the increasingly sensitive styles that Foat has developed as the years moved on – shifting from an initial role as a guy who could handle vintage keys, to a point where he's really emerged as a more fully-fledged jazz player overall! The blend of keyboards and a larger sonic palette still has plenty of live instrumentation in the mix – different than a project of this sort by an artist like Bugge Wesseltoft – and titles include "London Nights", "Viento Calido", "Your Move", "Sabena", "Leo Theo", "Love Theme", and "Dolphin". CD

Amazing music from Jimmy Giuffre – and a much-needed document of this under-recorded time in his career! The 2CD set brings together two different live performances – each done two years after his groundbreaking Free Fall album for Columbia, and with a sound that's even more far-reaching than that classic set! The Giuffre heard here is extremely free on his reeds – especially clarinet, which is blown at a level that prefaces countless European free jazz work to come – with an incredible range of sounds, colors, and tones. Giuffre also plays tenor – with more bite and soul than ever before – almost at an ESP sort of level – and the accompaniment on both sessions is very loose and free, too – with Joe Chambers on drums on both concerts – working with Richard Davis on bass on a trio set, and with a quartet that includes Don Friedman on piano and Barre Phillips on bass. The whole thing is mindblowing – a chapter of this amazing musician's career that demands to be heard – and stands as even more of a revelation than other Giuffre releases in recent years. Titles include "Cry Want", "Syncopate", "Drive", "Angles", "Quadrangle", "Crossroads", and "Three Bars In One". CD

Sublime solo bass work from Joelle Leandre – and a set that's brimming over with the sorts of qualities that first made us fall in love with her music so many decades ago! Leandre's an improviser, and she can play quite freely – but she also never seems to lose a sense of warmth that holds her music together – this special sort of spirit that always makes us feel that, especially in the world of solo bass, Leandre's maybe got more heart and soul than others in her field – linking free improvisation with an inherent sense of tunefulness, yet never in a way that ever feels song-based or precomposed. The set features five selections, all improvised at a performance in Zurich in 2022. CD

Sun Ra's first album as a leader – originally issued on the Transition label, but presented here in its better-known incarnation by Delmark Records! Even at this early point, Ra had a sound unlike any of his contemporaries – large group and modern, but not in a way that showed any similarities to work going on in New York or LA – a voice that was all his own, and already quite boldly stated, even in these early years! The format might be somewhat familiar – an ensemble with horns and rhythm – but the overall execution really starts to open up as the album moves on – with odd phrasings, timings, and unusual moments that live up to all the promise you might expect from Ra. Even Mingus and some of his better-known contemporaries weren't heading in these directions in the mid 50s – and the record is a proud showcase of the freedoms that players were often accorded in the less-trafficked Chicago scene of the time. Horns include Art Hoyle & Dave Young on trumpets, John Gilmore on tenor sax, Pat Patrick on baritone, Julian Priester on trombone, and James Scales on alto sax – and rhythm includes Jim Herndon on tympani, Robert Barry on drums, Wilbur Green on electric bass, and a young Richard Evans on acoustic bass! Titles include "Brainville", "Call For All Demons", "Transition", "Lullaby For Realville", "Street Named Hell", "New Horizons", "Fall Off The Long", "Possession", and "Future". This CD reissue is really well-done too – with pages of writings by Ra, including some poetry! Also features the bonus track "Swing A Little Taste". CD

Matthew Shipp in a solo mode – not a new format for him, but somehow one that seems to come alive with all this new sort of energy on record – maybe in part because in recent years, it really feels like Shipp has opened up a whole new world of color and imagination in his music! There's something really special taking place here – both in the timing of the notes, and the way they interact with each other – tonal beauty that we're not sure we ever heard this strongly in Shipp's earliest years, even though there's still a great deal of depth and darkness as well! This is definitely the kind of record that makes us fall in love with Matthew Shipp all over again – and titles include "That Vibration", "Jazz Emotions", "The Essence", "Crystal Structures", "Tune Into It", "Bulldozer Poetics", and "Essence Of Silence". CD

Starpoint's getting a bit loose and free with their fashions on the cover of this one – but the grooves themselves are tighter than ever! If anything, Starpoint seems to be a lot more confident than before – working in a mode that's completely free from late 70s trends, but which also doesn't fall into the traps of others of their generation – a sound that's electric and funky, yet also plenty darn soulful too. Renee Diggs' vocals are completely great on the album – bringing in a depth that's really appreciated, and giving the group a much more well-rounded sound than so many other all male ensemble funk acts of the time. Ballads and mellower numbers are every bit as great as the groovers too – and titles include "All Night Long", "Get Your Body Up", "Bring Your Sweet Lovin Back", "Show Me", "I Can Give You Love", and "It's You". CD

The greatest album to date from Ken Vandermark's Territory Band – and a record that firmly places the group in a lineage of experimental jazz orchestrations that runs from Duke Ellington through Charles Mingus and the later work of the London Jazz Composers Orchestra! There's a strength here that goes beyond any of the group's earlier efforts – and although some numbers continue their freely improvised moments, others fall into a straighter, even more focused sound – one that's got the boldness of Mingus at its best, with lots of powerful passages that give way to even more personal solo moments. Players include Ken Vandermark, Fredrik Ljungkvist, and Dave Rempis on reeds; Axel Dorner on trumpet, Johannes Bauer on trombone, Paul Lytton and Paal Nilssen-Love on percussion, Jim Baker on piano, Kent Kessler on bass, and Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello. 3CD set features 2 studio discs and 1 live radio performance – with titles that include "Fall With A Vengeance", "Untitled Fiction", "Corrosion", "Cards", and live performances of all numbers on disc 3. CD

A really great collection of work from the ultra-rare Links label – a short-lived imprint from the ska/rocksteady years of the scene in Kingston – and one that only issued a handful of records, all of which were pretty darn great! The label was founded by BB Seton of The Gaylads, and all the cuts here have a similarly soulful vibe as work from that great group – the growing emphasis on strong lead vocals over instrumentation on the Jamaican scene – sometimes with harmonies that were almost strong enough to blow away American soul groups of the time! Titles include "Looking For A Girl" and "Let's Fall In Love" by The Gaylads, "Can't You See" and "I Remember Someone" by Ken Boothe, "Give Love A Try" by Delroy Wilson, "Hog In A Minty" by Prince Glen, "Sweet Melody" by Big Joe, "It Comes & Goes" by The Melodians, "Small World" by Randall Thaxter, and "Something New" by Conscious Minds. CD

Celi Bee picks up a few 80s touches for this album – mixing her usual disco groove with some slight Eruo electro touches – adding in a nice dose of darkness to the set! Celi's still got an undeniably strong talent for a catchy tune – the kind of vibe that first made us fall in love with her music during the TK years – and even amidst some colder keyboards here, she still comes across with plenty of charm – a sing-song way of hitting the lyrics that makes even simple, silly words kind of groovy. This approach is heard to great effect on the track "Donkey Donkey" – and on other tunes that include "It's Love", "Blow My Mind", "Dancin Nuts", and "Love Drops". CD

That's Brenda & Herb, not Peaches & Herb – Herb Rooney and Brenda Reid of the excellent 60s group The Exciters – grooving together here in a really full-on vocal approach that's clearly inspired by the best aspects of Ashford & Simpson! Tracks have a lush, full feel – arranged by Lou Hemsey in a mode that works equally well on the dancefloor tracks and on the mellower numbers – and there's an ambitious approach that could fall flat on its fact, but hangs together well – thanks to the overall execution of the set! The group may not be one of the best-remembered pair from the disco years – but they do a great job here of matching the best work of their contemporaries. Titles include "I Think I'm Gonna Like This", "Lie Down", "I Wanna Make You My Sweetheart", "Two Of Us", "Look What They've Done To Our City", and "What Goes Around". CD

The second and final chapter in the career of Cristina – the female singer who was a key link in the New York club scene between Grace Jones and Madonna! Like the former, Cristina was not a singer at heart – but rose into the mainstream with a quirky ear for a tune and model-like looks that helped carry off her act. And like the latter, she clearly marched to the beat of her own tune – and did so with enough charisma and self-assured star power to get that tune out into the clubs. This second album features Cristina working in a very different style than on her debut – teaming with Don Was in a set of Detroit recordings that also featured a fair bit of original lyrics by Cristina. The camp/retro mode of the first album is still present here, but in a more subtle way – and the disco grooves have been replaced by more of the Was Not Was proto-funk approach, which means heavier beats and noisier guitars overall. The core album features original tracks "What's A Girl To Do", "Ticket To The Tropics", "The Lie Of Love", "Quicksand Lovers", and "He Dines Out On Death" – plus covers of "Blue Money" and the Brech/Weil tune "Ballad Of Immoral Earnings". The CD adds in some bonus tracks – "Things Fall Apart" and "Disco Clone (7" mix)". CD

An early session from German pianist Wolfgang Dauner – one with a sound that's every bit as great as you'd expect from the title! The "dream talk" component here is one that comes from Dauner's gentle, yet modern approach to the keys – one that's clearly learning lessons from 50s modernists like George Russell or Bill Evans, but which is stretching out here in some of the bolder freedoms of the European scene at the time – a precursor to later modes on MPS and Saba, but performed here with a bit more careful restraint. The record's nicely free from some of the overindulgences of some of Dauner's 70s sides, and is an acoustic effort throughout – extremely imaginative, with a "set free" quality that's also never too "out", nor too full of itself – a bit like the best early recordings by Steve Kuhn. Wolfgang's approach to the keys is nothing less than revelatory – and he receives well matched accompaniment from bassist Eberhard Weber and drummer Fred Braceful. Titles include "Free Fall", "Dammerung", "Soul Eyes", "A Long Night", "Dream Talk", and "Bird Food". CD

A continuing step forward on the long and fantastic journey of keyboardist Mark De Clive-Lowe – and a set that definitely resonates with his growing commitment to spiritual jazz, but which also has some of the more cosmic elements that first made us fall in love with his music! The set's a collaboration with producer/DJ Shigeto, and singer/flautist Melanie Charles – both of whom wonderfully balance out the work on keyboards – especially Charles, whose well-crafted vocals are maybe even more amazing here than on her own records – soaring out with a soulful vibe that really transforms the music! Shigeto's clearly adding in some great touches on rhythms and the overall sound – as the whole thing soars to the skies on references from Don Cherry, Pharoah Sanders, and others – but handled in a completely new way. Titles include "MFT", "Bushido", "Strings", "Kanazawa", "Love Is Everywhere", and "The Creator Has A Master Plan". CD

Two of our favorite living improvisers – vibist Jason Adasiewicz and saxophonist Mats Gustafsson – each completely tremendous on their own, and even more amazing here together! We're not sure the musicians have ever recorded together before – and the sound of this album is way more than we might even have expected – a beautiful collaboration that brings out very sensitive sides of both artists, but at a level that's also true to greatest depths of their creative powers! Mats works these fantastic textures on alto, tenor, and baritone sax – alongside mostly vibes from Jason, who adds in a bit of balafon too – on selections that are often quite tuneful, and maybe even evoke a more soulful side of both musicians. Things are never too intense, but still push the boundaries too – and titles include "See Them Cold But See Them Last", "Time Is Less", "Valerie", "Memory Is A Voice", "A Fall They Call It", and "Dagger". CD

A gem of a record from trumpeter Matthew Halsall – one of our favorite jazz musicians of the past 20 years, and an artist who just seems to be growing and growing with each new release! This set picks up on the organic, meditative quality of some of Halsall's recent records – but it also has a bit more bite, and is maybe almost a return to the roots of his earliest records on the Gondwana label – those classics that first made us fall in love with his music over a decade ago, and which made Matthew a real front-runner of the current global spiritual jazz underground! The set's got this very rich presentation – as the leader's work on trumpet is mixed with harp from Maddie Herbert, flute and tenor from Matt Cliffe, piano and kalimba from Livin Gheorghe, and great use of percussion, bass, and drums – all on long tracks that build with the best sort of post-Coltrane energy – titles that include "Joyful Spirits Of The Universe", "Mindfulness Meditations", "Tropical Landscapes", "Harmony With Nature", and "The Energy Of Life". CD

We love the 70s work of Japanese pianist Fumio Karashima – and this album is one of our favorites from the decade! Fumio's got this way of being both bold and lyrical at the same time – long flows on the keyboard that are partly in the school of McCoy Tyner, but used to transform the more personal touches of an older scene like Hank Jones or Tommy Flanagan – really bursting forth here with long tracks that bristle with the new sort of imagination that the Japanese scene was unlocking at the time! The rest of the trio is equally great – with George Mraz on bass and Motohiko Hino on drums – and titles include "Tears", "Revlis", "Landscape", "The Fall", and "In My Usual Wal". CD

A bright, positive set from pianist Harold Mabern – one that's overflowing with soul and spirit – and a perfect example of his strengths during the 90s stretch when his career really took off again! The trio's got a well-balanced approach to rhythm – bold basslines from Christian McBride, whose youthful tones seem to warm up Mabern's music more than ever – and tight drums from Jack DeJohnette, who knows nicely that less is more – and never tries to overwhelm the interplay between Harold and Christian! Titles include "Big Time Cooper", "Moment's Notice", "Look On The Bright Side", "Our Waltz", and "Too Late Fall Back Baby" – a number you might remember from Mabern's Strata East years, sounding mighty nice here, too! CD

Two full albums from one of the most popular jazz singers of his day – back to back on the same CD, with bonus material too! First up is the album I Worry About You – fantastic work from Arthur Prysock – a singer who really helped redefine the role of the male singer in the 60s, even though he's hardly remembered today! The title cut is one of his anthems – the kind of song that's heartfelt, yet masculine at the same time – almost a different twist on territory that singers like Jerry Butler or Chuck Jackson would explore in their work. Great arrangements – with a mix of strings and jazz – and titles include "I Worry Bout You", "My Everything", "I Just Want To Make Love To You", "You Loved Me Yesterday", and "Keep A Light In The Window For Me". Next is Sings Only For You – a beautiful record from a hell of a great singer – one who established a genre that was all his own, and set a whole new standard for male jazz singers in the 60s! Arthur Prysock's got some of the depth of the Billy Eckstine generation that came before him – but he's also got a mode that's more personal, almost conversational too – sophisticated, but never stand-offish – just this hip cat that really knows how to deliver a tune and make it his own! The arrangements here really fit that style too – nicely understated, but again with all these modern elements that really make things great – as Prysock makes his way through tunes that include "Only For You", "Let Her Wonder", "When I Fall In Love", "Imagination", "Don't Quit Me Now", and "Time After Time". CD features four bonus tracks – "Do You Believe", "Good Rockin Tonight", "One More Time", and "Pianissimo". CD

Four albums that show the continuing evolution of Earl Scruggs in the 70s – with a sound that's very different than his earlier music, and maybe even sharper instrumentation overall! First up is I Saw The Light – a record made after the famous banjo pioneer split with Lester Flatt, and was very popular with a young rock crowd – as evidenced by help he gets here from Linda Ronstadt and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – not to mention Gary and Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements, and Norman Blake! The mix of famous names and the growing Scruggs Review sound is great – and the record is an unlikely but important entry in the rise of country rock during the early 70s, with a very different quality than some of Earl's earlier work. We might well thank the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – as the vibe is similar at times to their shifting music of the period – mixed with some Mike Nesmith inspiration, as a few of his tunes are included. Titles include "Lonesome & A Long Way From Home", "Silver Wings", "Never Ending Song Of Love", "Rock Sant & Nails", "Some Of Shelly's Blues", "It's A Picture From Life's Other Side", and "Propinquity". Features bonus tracks "The Cure", "I Saw The Light", "Fireball Mail", and "Tramp On The Street". On Live From Austin City Limits, the great Earl Scruggs takes on the growing Austin scene – which turns out to be a perfect fit for his Revue's blend of new country modes and older styles of instrumentation! Earl leads off the set with stunning work on banjo – maybe even sharper than earlier years – and the group lead off with some Dylan material at the start, showcasing some of their rock leanings – but soon bringing on other songs of their own, and making for this beautiful mix of key instrumental moments and lyrical passages. Lead vocals are from Gary Scruggs, and Randy and Steve Scruggs are in the group too – on titles that include "Nashville Skyline Rag", "I Shall Be Released", "Tall Texas Woman", "I Just Can't Seem To Change", "Black Mountain Blues", "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven", and "The Swimming Song". Strike Anywhere is a mighty nice album from the great Earl Scruggs – recorded with his boys' Revue group, and a sound that really helps keep Earl's instrumentation fresh for the 70s! Years back, we never would have thought that mixing the legendary Scruggs banjo sound with keyboards would have worked – but the change here is a great one, as Earl makes the shift that a few of his traditional instrumental contemporaries were doing at the time – such as Vassar Clements or Bashful Brother Oswald – finding a new setting for the instruments that still shine out in the lead at all the best moments. Titles include a great remake of "Mandolin Wind" – plus "Muhammad Ali", "Bring It On Home To Me", "You Really Got A Hold On Me", "I Think Of You", and "Dreaming As One". On Bold & New, the great Chips Moman produced and recorded the record – a set that shows that move that Earl had made into country rock during the decade, delivered in the best possible hands! Vocals are from some of Earl's sons, and the man himself still gets gets in plenty of banjo solos too – as the group mix their own material with a few from Bobby Emmons, who plays organ, electric piano, and clavinet on the set. Titles include "The Cabin", "Our Love Is Home Grown", "That's Alright Mama", "Found Myself A New Love", "Games People Play", "Take The Time To Fall In Love", and "Louisiana Lady". CD

A well-selected set of tracks by the legendary vocalist Leon Thomas – one that focuses squarely on his recordings for the Flying Dutchman label – with standouts from his own records, a crucial collaboration with Johnny Hodges, and a previously unreleased tune as well! The collection features a really wonderful range of music – some tunes with the righteous feel of Thomas' singing with Pharoah Sanders, some others with a tighter soul feel, and even a few more with a classic jazz approach that's mighty nice! The albums under Thomas' name often feature some great small group backings – with players who include Billy Harper on tenor, and Roy Haynes or Bernard Purdie on drums – and some of the larger backings feature excellent arrangements from Oliver Nelson and Pee Wee Ellis. Titles include "Shape Your Mind To Die", "Just In Time To See The Sun", "It's My Life I'm Fighting For", "The Creator Has A Master Plan", "Let The Rain Fall On Me", "China Doll", "Bags' Groove", "One", "Come Along", "Let's Go Down To Lucy's", "Love Each Other", "Balance Of Life (Peace Of Mind)", "Umbo Weti", "Welcome To New York", and a previously unreleased version of "Um Um Um". CD

A massive tribute to The Meters – one that features rare versions of some of their best funky classics! If you dig The Meters, you'll no doubt recognize most of the tunes – but you've probably never heard them in these versions before – as most of them are pulled from the farthest reaches of the 60s and 70s funky underground! Most numbers change things up a bit in terms of instrumentation – using a guitar where you might normally hear an organ, tipping the rhythm a bit more towards one speed or another – but all of them continue strongly that chunky, gritty approach to instrumental funk the New Orleans combo first forged in the late 60s – a legacy that still lives on in lots of current work, but which sounds even fresher in these rare gems from years back. There's also a few original compositions by some of these artists, but they're all tunes that fall strongly within a classic Meters groove – and titles include "Cissy Strut" by Rod Piazza, "Flight Of The Phoenix" by Dennis The Fox, "Slot Machine" by Duke Of Burlington, "Cissy Strut" by King Herbert & The Knights, "Cardova" by Syd Jones & The Gay Troubadours, "The Cissy's Thang" by The Soul Seven, "Look Ka Py Py" by The Invaders, "Chicken Strut" by King Herbert & The Knights, "Madrox" by Big Band Katouuice, "Cissy Strut" by Sacramento Senior High School, "Big Splash" by Band It, and "Soul Heart Transplant" by Ebony Rhythm Band. CD

A huge collection of work from one of the most important scenes in the UK during the punk and post-punk years – the city of Manchester, a place where it seemed like great new records were coming out every single week, and really setting the tone for so many changes that were taking place on the scene down in London, too! The package is huge – 76 tracks in all – and while you'll recognize some of the familiar Manchester names here, including a few Factory Records legends – you'll also be surprised at how many different artists, all working in experimental and fresh new styles, were all lending their talents to the scene over the space of the four short years covered in the set. As always with Cherry Red, there's plenty of notes to teach you about the music – served up by artists who include Sister Ray, Accident On The East Lancs, The Out, Gods Gift, Joy Division, The Drones, Jilted John, The Nosebleeds, 48 Chairs, Crispy Ambulance, The Fall, Ludus, Biting Tongues, Hamsters, Blue Orchids, Kevin Hewick, Section 25, Manchester Mekon, If Only, Spurtz, The Still, Vibrant Thight, Magazine, The Hax, Property Ove, Grow Up, Miss Kate, Buzzcocks, Slaughter & The Dogs, V2, Gyro, Salford Jets, Direct Hits, and many others. CD

A great one that showcases the group's best second suit – their smooth compressed late 70s soul sound – a great evolution of their earlier groove, and one that showed them as a great mainstream soul act! The tunes are a bit mellower overall, but still have a lot of crackle and warmth – and Hamish Stuart's lost none of his vocal charm, and in fact may even sound better in a more laidback, less funky heavy setting! With the great break track "Stop The Rain" – and the cuts "When Will You Be Mine", "Please Don't Fall In Love", "Walk On By", "Feel No Fret", "Atlantic Avenue", "Ace Of Hearts", "Too Late To Cry" and "Fire Burning". CD features bonus single mixes of "When Will You Be Mine", "Walk On By", "Feel No Fret", and "Stop The Rain". CD

Majestic male soul from Brunswick Records – the label who recorded some of the best material ever from singers like Gene Chandler and Jackie Wilson, and who also gave lots of other singers a great shot too! This set moves way past obvious Brunswick hits, and includes loads of lesser-known singles that are totally great – some funky, some laidback, and lots of them very very groovy – in that totally hip Chicago soul mode that Brunswick did so well. There's a number of artists here who only recorded briefly for Brunswick, before hitting fame elsewhere – and others who are remembered for the few rare gems they left behind at the label – all brought together here in a wonderful 25 track set. There's plenty of surprises throughout – and titles include "Doing The Feeling" by Alvin Cash, "Contract On Your Love" by Chuck Bernard, "I'll Bet You" by Billy Butler, "Sweet Sweet Revenge" by Alvin Valentine, "Hold On" by Marvin Smith, "This Melody Is For My Baby" by Ben Monroe, "Sweet Temptation" by Isaac Hayes, "Wrapped Up In Your Warm & Tender Love" by Richard Parker, "A Mean Thing" by Donald Height, "Just A Little Misunderstanding" by Johnny Williams, "You Got Me Walking" by Cicero Blake, "Once You Fall In Love" by Eddie Mcloyd, "Just A Thing Called Love" by John Parker, and "You Are" by Bobby Reed. CD

A great assortment of rare grooves from the 70s – most of them cuts that fall nicely in the space between early disco and uptempo soul – working together here in a batch of tracks that includes a fair bit of selections from the TK Records family of labels, plus some other 70s indies as well! Soul is every bit as important as the groove on most of these cuts – and you'll recognize some older singers making the 70s scene, amidst some others who only cut a few records during the decade – in a lineup that features 18 tracks in all, with titles that include "Try To Hold On" by Bobby Moore, "We Got Love On Our Side" by Silver Blue, "I Got It (part 1)" by New York Port Authority, "Discomania" by The Lovers, "Bumpin Bus Stop" by Thunder & Lightnin, "Be Real" by Tomorrow's Edition, "Love Chant (part 1)" by Eli's Second Coming, "Disco Man" by Three Ounces Of Love, "Back From The Dead" by Bobby Byrd, "I Don't Know If I Can Make It (part 1)" by Dawson Smith, and "Baia" by Alice Street Gang. CD