Fresh Commandments for 1980's MC's, like "Thou shall not wear fake Gazelles!", over Whodini-style production complete with vo-coder. My Fila is a take-off of My Addidas, featuring The Jaz. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Rare work from tenor giant Dexter Gordon – two performances recorded early in his important time on the European scene – both of which are marked by the new imagination and energy that Dexter was bringing to his music after leaving our shores! The first three tracks are from 1963, and feature long titles played with a group that features Bent Axen on piano, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, and William Schiopffe on drums – done in a mode that recalls some of his Blue Note material of the period, with maybe more group tightness overall than some of his later European work – on the tracks "Soul Sister", "Night In Tunisia", and "Three O'Clock In The Morning". The next three tracks are even earlier, from Gordon's first year in Europe – recorded In 1962, in Oslo – with an unusual combo that features Einar Iversen on piano, Erik Amundsen on bass, and Jon Christensen on drums – players who make for some mighty fresh backing alongside Gordon's tenor, on titles that include "Ernie's Tune", "Second Balcony Jump", and "Stanley The Steamer". CD

Herbie Hancock is certainly Takin Off at this point in his career – stepping into the limelight with an excellent batch of soul jazz tunes, including the first recording of his classic "Watermelon Man", the one track that probably put all his kids through school! Although that one went on to become a standard within a few short years in 60s jazz, it still sounds great here in the original – a very fresh take on the sound of soul jazz in the 60s – offered up here in a 7 minute version that has more sharp soloing than most other takes on the tune! The group here is great too – with Dexter Gordon on tenor, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – and the tracks are all also originals by a young Herbie – including "Watermelon Man", "The Maze", "Driftin", "Three Bags Full", "Alone & I", and "Empty Pockets". LP, Vinyl record album

Herbie Hancock is certainly Takin Off at this point in his career – stepping into the limelight with an excellent batch of soul jazz tunes, including the first recording of his classic "Watermelon Man", the one track that probably put all his kids through school! Although that one went on to become a standard within a few short years in 60s jazz, it still sounds great here in the original – a very fresh take on the sound of soul jazz in the 60s – offered up here in a 7 minute version that has more sharp soloing than most other takes on the tune! The group here is great too – with Dexter Gordon on tenor, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – and the tracks are all also originals by a young Herbie – including "Watermelon Man", "The Maze", "Driftin", "Three Bags Full", "Alone & I", and "Empty Pockets". CD features bonus alternate takes of "Watermelon Man", "Empty Pockets", and "Three Bags Full". CD

An album that bristles with color right from the very first note – thanks not just to work from Bobby Shew on trumpet and flugelhorn, but also Gordon Brisker on tenor and flute, and Bill Mays on both acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes! The group is one that cut a few great albums around this time – almost out of time in their approach, as they're neither back to tradition jazz albums, nor inflected with any sort of 70s funk or fusion elements either – just focused, well-done material that features a fair bit of original compositions by group members too! Titles include "Run Away", "Navarro Flats", "Class Reunion", "Kachina", and "She's Gone Again". CD

An overlooked early gem from Bobby Shew – a set that's equally great for his own work on trumpet and flugelhorn as it is for the Fender Rhodes of pianist Bill Mays, and tenor and flute of Gordon Brisker! The pair are a great combination here – and the set's got these easily flowing original tunes that are wonderful – 70s west coast, but with a bit more of a bite – and recorded in this stripped-down, no-nonsense style that's very different than so many other Los Angeles jazz sessions of the time on bigger labels. The whole thing comes in an unassuming package that's led to it being overlooked for years – but it's a gem through and through, like some of the best on the Catalyst label in the mid 70s. Titles include "Olvera Street", "Play Song", "La Rue", "Surprise Samba", and "No Hurry". CD

A killer collection of early work from producer Joe Gibbs – the kind of all-burning material that made Joe such a fresh new voice on the rocksteady scene in Kingston, and a studio whiz who helped set the tone for countless others to come! There's a quality to this work that's wonderful – groups that are tight, but never uptight – and singers that are very much part of the groove, almost urged on by the instrumentation by the well-chosen studio players that Gibbs chose for these early gems on his Amalgamated record label. Titles include "Long Shot" by The Pioneers, "I'm Moving On" by Keith Blake, "Miss Tourist" by Errol Dunkley, "Hold Them" by Roy Shirley, "Train To Soulville" by Cool Sticky, "Push It In" by The Versatiles, and "Come Brothers" by Hugh Malcolm. 2CD set features a stunning 46 bonus tracks, a number of which appear here on CD for the first time – other Joe Gibbs late 60s productions for artists who include Vin Gordon, The Versatiles, Creations, Eric Monty Morris, The Overtakers, Leaders, Dennis Walks, Lee King Perry, Lord Salmons, Neville Hinds, and others. CD

A totally wonderful little package – overflowing with the kind of rare 45s that broke big on the British scene of the 60s – not just the Northern Soul dancefloors, but also the mod scene down in London too! The collection is really well-done – and has a booklet with notes on all the singles, and a good number of label scans too – and there's a huge amount here that's pretty darn fresh to our ears – grooves that run from romping soul, to gritty R&B, to bumping garage rock, and even a bit of popcorn too – all coming across like a non-stop party of grooves! Titles include "I Can Take Care Of Myself" by The Spyders, "Sugar Shack Queen" by Georgia Lynn, "The Push & Kick" by Mark Valentino, "Running Around Town" by Teddy & The Twilights, "Passing Through Music City" by Music City Swingers, "My Mind" by The Misunderstood, "Show Me The Way" by Free For All, "Has It Happened To You Yet" by The Falcons, "Take It Baby" by The Showmen, "I'm Gonna Get You" by Leroy Harris, "I Feel So Bad" by Earl wade, "Love Wheel" by Millie Foster, "Buzzzzz" by Jimmy Gordon, "Gone" by Timi Yuro, "I Will Love You" by Richie Barrett, and "Hard Hard Way" by Silent Glo. CD

Herbie Hancock is certainly Takin Off at this point in his career – stepping into the limelight with an excellent batch of soul jazz tunes, including the first recording of his classic "Watermelon Man", the one track that probably put all his kids through school! Although that one went on to become a standard within a few short years in 60s jazz, it still sounds great here in the original – a very fresh take on the sound of soul jazz in the 60s – offered up here in a 7 minute version that has more sharp soloing than most other takes on the tune! The group here is great too – with Dexter Gordon on tenor, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – and the tracks are all also originals by a young Herbie – including "Watermelon Man", "The Maze", "Driftin", "Three Bags Full", "Alone & I", and "Empty Pockets". CD also features 3 bonus alternate takes of tunes from the album! CD

One of the most horn-heavy albums we've ever heard from Roswell Rudd – a set cut in the company of a number of other trombonists, and part of the wonderful musical evolution that marks these recent years of Roswell's revived career! Most music comes from the sound of trombones on the date – handled by Rudd with players who include Ray Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, and Eddie Bert – alongside some hip rhythm support from Henry Grimes on bass and Barry Altschul on percussion. The music's often as modern as any other sounds Roswell's given us in recent work, but also stretches back a bit towards earlier jazz traditions too – a really compelling musical blend that makes the album a fresh one all the way through. Titles include "Hulla Gulla", "Astro Slyde", "Elton Dean", "Fan Fare", "Slide & The Family Bone", "A Place Above",a nd "To The Day". CD

A wailer! This rare 1955 album is one of Donald Byrd's first records as a leader – recorded for the tiny Transition label in Boston, but with a hardbop groove that's right up there with his early work for Savoy and Blue Note. The record is practically a Jazz Messengers session – as it features Art Blakey on drums, Horace Silver on piano, Hank Mobley on tenor, and Doug Watkins on bass – and it's also got the unique aspect of a two-trumpet frontline, as the young Joe Gordon joins Donald on the instrument for the session. Tracks are long and open-ended – with incredibly well-crafted playing that really keeps the set fresh, despite the young age of Donald at the time. Titles include "El Sino", "Doug's Blues", "Hank's Tune", and "Hank's Other Tune". CD

A massive tribute to the genius of soul in the Windy City – a wonderful compilation that really gets at the special sound Chicago brought into play during the early years of soul! The set is filled with key cuts from the Chi-town scene of the time – some of them lesser-known that the famous hits always associated with our hometown – and beautifully selected to really capture a moment when soul music was first starting to come together as a style! You can definitely hear roots from Chicago blues, gospel, and R&B in the cuts – but they're definitely all soul, all the way through – a killer batch of nuggets that manages to offer up fresh bits from some big names, and uncover some great cuts by some less familiar folks. The package features full track-by-track notes on the tunes by Bill Dahl – and titles include "Tragic" by The Sheppards, "At The Party "by Wade Flemons, "Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum" By The Dells, "Tell Him" by The Drew-Vels, "I've Got A Girl" by Major Lance, "Senorita I Love You" by The Impressions, "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" by Don & Bob, "My Heart Cries" by Etta & Harvey, "Isle Of Sirens" by Jerry Butler, "Enchanted Garden" by The Accents, "You've Got A Great Love" by The Chanteurs, "Father Knows Best" by The Radiants, "Let Em Try" by Rosco Gordon, "Behind The Curtains" by Jan Bradley, and "Puppy Love" by Barbara Lewis. CD

A wailer! This rare 1955 album is one of Donald Byrd's first records as a leader – recorded for the tiny Transition label in Boston, but with a hardbop groove that's right up there with his early work for Savoy and Blue Note. The record is practically a Jazz Messengers session – as it features Art Blakey on drums, Horace Silver on piano, Hank Mobley on tenor, and Doug Watkins on bass – and it's also got the unique aspect of a two-trumpet frontline, as the young Joe Gordon joins Donald on the instrument for the session. Tracks are long and open-ended – with incredibly well-crafted playing that really keeps the set fresh, despite the young age of Donald at the time. Titles include "El Sino", "Doug's Blues", "Hank's Tune", and "Hank's Other Tune". CD

Herbie Hancock is certainly Takin Off at this point in his career – stepping into the limelight with an excellent batch of soul jazz tunes, including the first recording of his classic "Watermelon Man", the one track that probably put all his kids through school! Although that one went on to become a standard within a few short years in 60s jazz, it still sounds great here in the original – a very fresh take on the sound of soul jazz in the 60s – offered up here in a 7 minute version that has more sharp soloing than most other takes on the tune! The group here is great too – with Dexter Gordon on tenor, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – and the tracks are all also originals by a young Herbie – including "Watermelon Man", "The Maze", "Driftin", "Three Bags Full", "Alone & I", and "Empty Pockets". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive tribute to the genius of soul in the Windy City – a wonderful compilation that really gets at the special sound Chicago brought into play during the early years of soul! The set is filled with key cuts from the Chi-town scene of the time – some of them lesser-known that the famous hits always associated with our hometown – and beautifully selected to really capture a moment when soul music was first starting to come together as a style! You can definitely hear roots from Chicago blues, gospel, and R&B in the cuts – but they're definitely all soul, all the way through – a killer batch of nuggets that manages to offer up fresh bits from some big names, and uncover some great cuts by some less familiar folks. The package features full track-by-track notes on the tunes by Bill Dahl – and titles include "Tragic" by The Sheppards, "At The Party "by Wade Flemons, "Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum" By The Dells, "Tell Him" by The Drew-Vels, "I've Got A Girl" by Major Lance, "Senorita I Love You" by The Impressions, "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" by Don & Bob, "My Heart Cries" by Etta & Harvey, "Isle Of Sirens" by Jerry Butler, "Enchanted Garden" by The Accents, "You've Got A Great Love" by The Chanteurs, "Father Knows Best" by The Radiants, "Let Em Try" by Rosco Gordon, "Behind The Curtains" by Jan Bradley, and "Puppy Love" by Barbara Lewis. CD

13 tracks in all, including "Uptown" by Dope On Plastic, "Can't Get Enough" by Black By Demand, "Go Brooklyn" by Stetsasonic, "She Fe MCs" by De La Soul, "God Made Me Funky" and "Poetical Terror" by Too Poetic, "Swollen Pockets" by Phase N Rhythm, "Wrath Of My Madness (DJ Premier rmx)" by Queen Latifah, "Ain't U Freshco" by Freshco & Miz, "Ooh I Love You Rakeem" by Prince Rakeem, "Feelin James" by Fresh Gordon and "Jump Around (Pete Rock rmx)" by House of Pain. CD

A rare slice of work from Dexter Gordon – an early 70s live date in Paris, recorded by Jef Gilson, and featuring the George Arvanitas trio as a rhythm section, plus trumpet by the great Sonny Grey! The mix of players is totally great, and makes for a record that's fresher than some of Dex' other live European dates of the period – a bit loose and freewheeling, with some of the deeper soul of his early 60s years. Grey's trumpet is an especially nice aspect to the recording – but we also totally dig the bass of Jacky Samson and drums of Charles Saudrais! Arvanitas keeps his piano mostly pointed straight ahead – and titles include "Fried Bananas", "Caloon Bloos", "Dexter Leaps Out", and "No Matter How". CD features 3 bonus tracks too – "Untitled Ballad", "Some Other Blues", and another take of "Fried Bananas". CD