... LP, Vinyl record album

With MOP on "Let It Go". 12-inch, Vinyl record

A pair of albums from this near-forgotten group – both originally issued by Elektra, and presented here with bonus tracks too! First up is the self-titled Crabby Appleton – a set that's got a surprising sort of late psych vibe at times – almost as if the group were hanging on to some of the modes that first got them started, while also stretching out with some of the new sophistication that the 70s had to offer! That psych touch is maybe no surprise, though, given that the group's singer Michael Fennelly was in The Millennium – and works here with some heavier rockers who were in Stonehenge – all in a surprising mix of modes that really keeps things interesting throughout! Titles include the big single "Go Back", plus "Peace By Peace", "To All My Friends", "Some Madness", "Hunger For Love", "Last Night In Your Sleep Fred", "Some Madness", and "The Other Side". Next is Rotten To The Core, the second and last album from Crabby Appleton, and a record that's got the group picking up some harder edges than before – shedding some of the lighter psych elements for harder modes on the downturning grooves, almost as if the group had some blues inspirations they didn't showcase the first time around! The shift is one that has us almost thinking that the group could have hit the heights of 70s AM rock, had they held the course – with lots of surprising nuggets throughout, in a set list that includes "Makes No Difference", "Lucy", "It's So Hard", "Tomorrow's A New Day", "You Make Me Hot", "Gonna Save You", and "Love Can Change Everything". 2CD set features bonus material – "Go Back (alt mono single)", "Try (alt mono single)", "My Little Lucy (alt mono single)", "Some Madness (mono single)", "Can't Live My Life (alt mono single)", "Grab On", "Tomorrow's A New Day (alt mono single)", and "It's So Hard (alt mono single)". CD

A tribute to Art Blakey – with James Newton on flute and Lisle Atkinson on bass! CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Mad homegrown soul from the enigmatic Darondo – a brief Bay Area star back in the 70s, and also host of TV comedy and children's shows! Darondo only ever saw release of 3 singles, but they're all pretty darn great – a weird mix of funk, soul, and sly slinky grooves – very unique in conception, and with a heady, tripped-out vision that makes us wish he'd recorded more. Luv N Haight have really done Darondo justice with this set – bringing together all 6 tracks from the singles, plus 3 more previously unissued numbers – all in a great package that features words from the man himself, plus some great images from his older TV shows. A near-lost soul figure, but one with enough charisma to fill the careers of other more famous acts! Titles include "How I Got Over", "Let My People Go", "Legs (part 1)", "True", "Didn't I", "I Want Your Love So Bad", "My Momma & My Poppa", "Sure Know How To Love Me", and "Listen To My Song". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A really well-chosen set of classic Afro Funk records from Fela Kuti – hand-picked by Idris Elba, and brought together in this limited box set! Open & Close is an early classic from Fela Kuti & Africa 70 – the kind of early 70s record that helped both the leader and the group establish themselves as a global powerhouse of funk and soul! The set begins with the side-long "Open & Close" – a righteous tune that's driven onward by lots of tight drums from Tony Allen – young, focused, and completely amazing here – while Fela delivers all these madly leaping electric piano lines amidst the super-sharp horn section – all moving instrumentally for many minutes before the vocals come into play! Side two features two shorter tracks, but still nice and long in comparison to most funky groups – the wonderful "Swegbe & Pako" and "Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo" – tunes that really send the record over the top! Fela teams up with vibist Roy Ayers on Music Of Many Colors – one of the best soul collaborations ever – a whopping album that brings together the best sides of these monster soul talents of the 70s! In keeping with Fela's work, the tracks are long and Afro-tinged, with a complicated groove that grows over the length of the track. And in keeping with Roy's work, the album has a sweet soulful feel, with lots of nice jazzy touches, cool vibes, and great vocals by Roy. Two long tracks, both classics: "2000 Black" and "Africa, Center of the World". Opposite People is seminal work from one of Fela's most crucial periods – recorded at a time when his soul was the deepest! The album features 2 long tracks – "Opposite People" and "Equalisation Of Trouser & Pant" – and they both have beautiful spooky keyboards in the instrumental passages, then leap into hard soul vocals by Fela. Tremendous stuff – done in a style that shows that no matter how many people cop or remake Fela's sound, he's still the best one to do it! The rare Stalemate album features the side-long tracks "Stalemate" and "Don't Worry About My Mouth" – both really hard-driving numbers, with a fantastic mix of vocals and grooves! Live In Amsterdam is an excellent live set from Fela – one that shows that he was still very capable of going over the top during the 80s! The set's a double LP – and it features 4 great numbers by the group, with Fela on soprano sax, piano, and organ, and plenty of other great work on tenor, alto, and trumpet. Titles include "Gimme Shit I Give You Shit", "Custom Check Point", "Movement Of The People", and "Political Statement Number 1". I Go Shout Plenty is a great one from Fela – with a date of 1986, but a sound that's pure late 70s! The record features 2 long tracks – "I Go Shout Plenty" and "Why Black Man Dey Suffer" – and they're both hard groovers with a strong political feel. "Why Black Man" is especially nice, and has some great keyboard riffing in the middle, with that great tinny sound that you'll hear on the best Fela albums. One that we almost never see – and issued on the Decca subsidiary Afrodisia. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A huge testament to the power of New York City in American music – especially during those 20th Century years when the city was able to foster scene after scene, style after style – serving as a launchpad for sounds that would forever transform the world! The book looks at Latin, bebop, folk, doo wop, punk, disco, and other styles from the pre-hip hop years – and traces the way that local styles became national ones, via the recording opportunities and entertainment showcases that were unique to NYC! The author has a keen knowledge of cultures in all five boroughs, and the music as well – and this softcover edition is almost 500 pages, with some sections of black and white images. Book

Von Freeman on tenor sax, Jodie Christian on piano, Eddie De Haas on bass, Wilbur Campbell on drums. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful dreamy album that's quite different from the classic Getz/Gilberto collaboration – but which also shares much of that set's lyrical beauty! This album was recorded live, in 1964, when Stan Getz was playing with his quartet that included Gary Burton on vibes – an incredible lineup that made for some wonderfully moody sounds! The vibes/tenor approach was a high point in Getz's career – especially as the young Burton could create these beautiful washes of sound that were a perfect counterpoint to Getz's breathy playing. And although Astrud Gilberto is thrown into the mix here to give the album a bit of bossa appeal – vocals on 6 titles that include "Corovado", "Eu E Voce", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "One Note Samba", "Only Trust Your Heart", and "The Telephone Song" – there's also 4 more tracks that are all instrumental, and which show the Getz/Burton union in all of its glory! These tracks include "6 Nix Pix Flix", "The Singing Song", "Here's That Rainy Day", and "Summertime". And for reference, the rest of the group includes Gene Cherico on bass and Joe Hunt on drums – but on 3 tracks, Chuck Israels plays bass instead of Cherico, and on a few others, Helcio Milito plays drums instead of Hunt, and Kenny Burrell joins in on guitar. LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A seminal set of work from the Blue Note scene of the 60s – a record that's not just noteworthy for its role in helping return tenorist Dexter Gordon to the spotlight, but also for the fantastic work of pianist Sonny Clark in the quartet! Sonny's in wonderful form throughout – and seems to be even more relaxed and inventive than in the company of some of the other horn players he'd work with on Blue Note – and that's saying a lot, given the company he would keep! Gordon's solos are confident and mature, but deeply personal too – and the rest of the group features Butch Warren on bass and the great Billy Higgins on drums – a percussionist whose sense of looseness and imagination really matches that of Dex. Titles include "Where Are You", "Three O'Clock In The Morning", "Cheese Cake", "Second Balcony Jump", and "Love For Sale". LP, Vinyl record album

A massive LP for Dobie Gray – following on the heels of his hit single, "The In Crowd". The tune's quite a recognizeable oldie – and the rest of the record has a similar LA pop soul sound, with arrangements and songs by Billy Page, and a groove that's like some of the rougher west coast soul coming out in the mid 60s on labels like Cash, Money, or Mira. Titles include "Monkey Jerk", "Be A Man", "Mr. Engineer", "See You At The Go Go", and "In Hollywood". LP, Vinyl record album

Garland Green's great remake of this classic! He sings it with a nice deep Chicago soul style, augmented by some of the slightly modern/southern style production of the Spring label. "You & I Go Good" is even better, though – a sweetly stepping number that follows in the spirit of Garland's Uni classics – crackling vocals sounding wonderful on the top, while an undeniable groove bubbles in the back! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A gem of an album from trumpeter Matthew Halsall – his third on the Gondawa label, and like all the others, a set that we'd easily rank right up there with the best 70s spiritual jazz on labels like Strata East or Black Jazz! The set's got a fluid sound that's extremely compelling – kind of a post-Coltrane vibe that has all the players stretching out nicely, but always in a soulful way – never too overdone, or too avant – always staying in the right sort of expressive modes to keep their energy focused. And in the group with Halsall's trumpet is the tenor of Nat Birchall – labelmate on Gondawa, and a player we totally love too – with rhythm support from Adam Fairhall on piano, Gavin Barras on bass, and Gaz Hughes on drums – plus a bit of harp from Rachael Gladwin on one track. Titles include "Samatha", "The End Of Dukkha", "Song For Charlie", and "Music For A Dancing Mind". Remastered edition – features bonus tracks "Only You", "Singing Everyday", and "Breathless". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A nice set from the British folk boom of the mid 60s – a rare one from singer Dorris Henderson and future Pentangle founder John Rensbourn! Florida born, LA raised singer Dorris Henderson moved to London in 1965 and was soon singing London's folk clubs, where she met Rensbourn. A solid mix of traditionals and then contemporary folk songs – stripped down and honest takes on "Saly Free And Easy", "Cotton Eyed Joe", "Mr Tamborine Man", "Going To Memphis", Something Lonesome", "Mist On The Mountain" and more. This edition includes bonus tracks from a rare 45 – "Hangman" and "Leaves That Are Green". CD

Two very cool, very trippy numbers – both with almost a freakbeat sort of vibe! "Look At The Lights" has superb arrangements from John Cameron – who brings in a bouncy groove with jazzy flourishes next to the more psychedelic vocals, lyrics, and guitar! "Hold On To Your Mind" is an especially unusual number – very obscure, and a track that begins with this freewheeling romp that mixes piano, percussion, and a rolling rhythm that's maybe a more condensed version of the Church Of Anthrax territory explored by John Cale and Terry Riley – then graced with wicked vocals that really send the whole thing over the top! 7-inch, Vinyl record

A stone 70s classic from the Isley Brothers – a set recorded right at the height of their glory days – at a time when their sound was completely on the money! The cover has the group on stage – a photo taken during their run of arena concerts at the time – but the album's a studio effort throughout, and really shows the group's increasing understanding of the way the right production would bring out all the best elements in both their instrumentation and vocals! In fact, although the groovers are great, the group are maybe at their height with the impeccable production on two ballads – the sublime "Voyage To Atlantis" and "Footsteps In The Dark" – served up alongside the midtempo tune "Tell Me When You Need It Again", another great track that almost has the same power as the other two. But the whole thing's great – in the best Isley Brothers 70s way – and tracks include "Climbin Up The Ladder", "The Pride", and "Go For Your Guns". CD

A stone 70s classic from the Isley Brothers – a set recorded right at the height of their glory days – at a time when their sound was completely on the money! The cover has the group on stage – a photo taken during their run of arena concerts at the time – but the album's a studio effort throughout, and really shows the group's increasing understanding of the way the right production would bring out all the best elements in both their instrumentation and vocals! In fact, although the groovers are great, the group are maybe at their height with the impeccable production on two ballads – the sublime "Voyage To Atlantis" and "Footsteps In The Dark" – served up alongside the midtempo tune "Tell Me When You Need It Again", another great track that almost has the same power as the other two. But the whole thing's great – in the best Isley Brothers 70s way – and tracks include "Climbin Up The Ladder", "The Pride", and "Go For Your Guns". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked 60s soul killer on Atlantic Records! We love Deon Jackson – we love his sweetly honest vocal style, we love his songs, and we love the great production he gets from the legendary Ollie McLaughlin! This album is the only one he ever cut – and it's a masterpiece all the way through! Ollie's production mixes some wonderful lilting qualities with rollicking hard soul – it's a far-reaching approach that works incredibly well with Deon's unique approach to the vocals! Includes the super-hit "Love Makes The World Go Round" and a charming uptown soul take on "King Of The Road", plus "Come Back Home", "1-2-3", "You Said You Love Me", "SOS", "Love Is What You Make It" and "Hush Little Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Go Power indeed – as the album's a really stripped down groover, and one that has the tenor of Illinois Jacquet working in spare trio formation with Milt Bucker on Hammond and Alan Dawson on drums! The record's got a sound that's even earthier than some of Jacquet's other work for Argo – partially because the session was recorded live at Lennie's On The Turnpike in Boston, but also because the tracks are longer and a bit more open-ended. Buckner's a great counterpart for the album, with a groove that's deeper than we remember – and the hip drumming of Alan Dawson helps keep things in a groovier 60s mode throughout. Titles include "Watermelon Man", "Illinois Jacquet Flies Again", "On A Clear Day", and "Pamela's Blues". CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Could anyone ever utter a sexier line than "Don't go to strangers, come to me?" We think not, and it's material like that that makes the album a real killer from Etta Jones – one of her best from the 60s, cut when she was really developing her skills as a vocalist, but still had enough of an edge to be interesting. Backing is by a small group that includes Frank Wess, Roy Haynes, and Richard Wyands – and the album has a relaxed, jazzy quality that easily makes it one of the real standouts in Etta's career! Titles include "All The Way", "Where Or When", "Yes Sir, That's My Baby", "If I Had You", "Something To Remember You By", and "Don't Go To Strangers". CD

Plenty to party with here – snapping Miami grooves from KC and the band – still very much in a classic 70s mode! There's a bit more strings here than before, and almost more emphasis on lyrics – even though those are still pretty repetitive, the sort of chants that KC always got going out in the clubs. And although there's no massive hits here, the album does feature the wicked title cut "Do You Wanna Go Party" – a track that has a funkier edge than the rest, a cool moogy bit, and a stretched out groove that even features a kalimba solo! Other titles include "Hooked On Your Love", "Ooh I Like It", "Please Don't Go", and "I've Got The Feeling". LP, Vinyl record album

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... CD

A nicely different album than some of Peggy Lee's other albums for Capitol Records – a set of sophisticated arrangements, handled by Quincy Jones – which really give Lee the kind of setting to remind the world that she can be as compelling of a jazz singer as she can a vocalist on upbeat groovers! Jones here is coming off of work by his larger groups of the late 50s, and has a wonderful sense of tone and shading – creating this richness that's as deeply blue as the image on the cover, and which really works on the more melancholy currents that Peggy could hit at the right moments – those qualities that would get explored a bit more in later years, but which really find their way to open up here. The group features nice work from Benny Carter on alto and Victor Feldman on vibes – and there's a sense of loss and longing to the record that almost rivals that on the Sinatra album Wee Small Hours. Titles include "As Time Goes By", "If You Go", "I Wish I Didn't Love You So", "I Get Along Without You Very Well", "When I Was A Child", "Here's That Rainy Day", and "I'm Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

The LP and midnight mixes have that commercial friendly eazy jazz sound. The gangsta mix (not 'gangsta' at all) is completely different, and ends up sounding like something from the days when Lyte was dope. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... CD

Nothing fancy, but a wonderfully stripped-down session that has an early Wes working with his original group that included Mel Rhyne on organ. The album's one of the few from the time that allow you to hear Rhyne grooving away in a down-home Indiana style – and the set list is made up of Montgomery originals like "Missile Blues", "Geno", and "Fried Pies", plus a few pop covers. LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Titles include "Vacilon", "Negra Soy", "Mujer", "Samba Roll", "El Gato Montes", "Noche De Ronda", and "La Mocura". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Drums galore from the great Sandy Nelson – an artist who was one of the most hard-burning talents on the kit, back in the day – with a propulsive quality that makes a record like this take off right from the very first note! As with so many of Sandy's instrumental classics from back in the day, there's no record of the players on the date – but they've got to be some of LA's top-level studio talents, as there's some excellent saxophone solos on the set – and some especially great guitar! At a time when guitar-heavy instrumental rock albums were king, Sandy managed to bring the drums center stage – while still also holding onto the kinds of sounds you'd love from those groups too – all arranged by Rene Hall with a mighty sharp groove. Titles include "Drums A Go Go", "Whittier Blvd", "Do The Boomerang", "Soul Drums", "The Clapping Song", "Boot Leg", and "Casbah". CD

Drums galore from the great Sandy Nelson – an artist who was one of the most hard-burning talents on the kit, back in the day – with a propulsive quality that makes a record like this take off right from the very first note! As with so many of Sandy's instrumental classics from back in the day, there's no record of the players on the date – but they've got to be some of LA's top-level studio talents, as there's some excellent saxophone solos on the set – and some especially great guitar! At a time when guitar-heavy instrumental rock albums were king, Sandy managed to bring the drums center stage – while still also holding onto the kinds of sounds you'd love from those groups too – all arranged by Rene Hall with a mighty sharp groove. Titles include "Drums A Go Go", "Whittier Blvd", "Do The Boomerang", "Soul Drums", "The Clapping Song", "Boot Leg", and "Casbah". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Takanori Niida on drums – with Oz Noy, Jon Herington, or Tomo Fujita on guitar, and Will Lee, James Genus, and Janek Gwizdala on bass. CD

... CD

A very cool recording, done in Kenya on a cell phone in contemporary years – but one that comes across with a very timely vibe, given that Oduor Nyagweno is one of the last living masters of his craft! That craft is his handling of the nyatiti instrument – an eight stringed smallish harp that has these stark tones that are often as metallic as they are melodic, and played here with these modal, cyclical passages alongside his vocals – so that the instrument is often doubling in rhythm while also providing melody! There's a few other guests along the way, but almost all of the album features Nyagweno just on vocals and nyatiti – on titles that include "Olang", "Otieno", "Kwetu Nyawara", "Asuka", "Dero", and "Maya Thumwa Manyaka Nene". LP, Vinyl record album

An early gem from singer Freda Payne – recorded back in the days when she was a jazz vocalist, years before her famous hits as a soul artist in the early 70s! The album's a darkly-tinged session with arrangements by Manny Albam – done in the late nite mode that you'd expect from the title, and featuring the kind of sad songs that you'd hear on an album from the time by Lorez Alexandria. The highlight of the album is a great vocal reading of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" – and other tracks include "Out Of This World", "Sweet September", "Blue Piano", and "After The Lights Go Down Low". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most romping tunes ever recorded by Prince – the kind of cut that was an instant dancefloor stormer back in the day, and still sounds mighty groovy all these many years later! The song is featured here in it's very extended version – and is backed by the fantastic non-LP cut "Erotic City" – a masterpice of slinky funk! The track grooves for over 7 minutes – and if you were to ask us the one Prince tune we remember most fondly from the 80s dancefloor, this would be it! 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

The obscure first Verve album from Don Randi – a great little pianist who was well known for his lively club work on the LA scene in the early 60s! Don's got a touch on the keys that's both lyrical and soulful – somewhere between the pyrotechnics of Ramsey Lewis and the smoother grooving of Duke Pearson – always well-composed, but breaking out with some tremendous solo bits from time to time! The album's got Don working with Mel Lewis on drums, and Leroy Vinnegar on bass – and titles include "Take Six", "TJ's Blues", "I Love Paris", "That's All", and "Interlude". CD

Legendary work from Smokey Robinson and his wonderful group – a killer set from the second all-male version of The Miracles – recorded with some wonderfully soaring harmonies! The group's got a nice bite on the bottom here – a groove to go with the "go go" promised in the title – at a level that made these Miracles really take off on Motown dancefloors, yet still also have the late nite appeal of the earlier group too. The album includes the big hit dance number "Going To A Go Go", the classic ballad "Tracks Of My Tears", and loads of other wonderful numbers like "Ooo Baby Baby", "Let Me Have Some", "All That's Good", and "My Girl Has Gone". LP, Vinyl record album

Two classic albums from the great Sonny Rollins – both made during some time on the LA scene of the late 50s, and matched here with a more obscure third album that issued alternate sides from the sessions! First up is the classic Way Out West – a set that brings the east coast tenor of Sonny Rollins into contact with a west coast rhythm section of Ray Brown and Shelly Manne! Despite Rollins' silly look on the cover, and the album's overall "western" theme, the session's a brilliant one – right up there with Sonny's strongest trio sides of the late 50s, and a key link in a string of excellent recordings for Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside! The lack of a piano really opens up the style of the set – letting Sonny explore freely on his solos, while Brown's bass and Manne's drums do more than enough to keep the rhythms going on their own. Solos aren't as "out" as on the Village Vanguard sessions, but certainly every bit as inspired – and titles include "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Solitude", "Come, Gone", "Way Out West", and "Wagon Wheels". Next is Sonny Rollins & The Contemporary Leaders – one of Sonny's brilliant west coast sessions for Contemporary – records that shouldn't sparkle as much as they do, but which actually stand with his best work of the 50s! Sonny's blowing in front of a session of "leaders" that includes Hampton Hawes, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, and Victor Feldman, who plays vibes on one track. Sonny's the real leader here, though – as his bold, proud tenor tone really takes front seat, carving lines that never get tired, bringing a sparkle into tunes like "You", "How High The Moon", "I've Found A New Baby", "The Song Is You", and "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". Heck, even with songs like those, the album should be weak – but there's an undeniable magic that really makes it great! Last is Contemporary Alternate Takes – a great collection of alternate takes from Sonny's landmark recordings for Contemporary Records in the late 50s – material recorded in LA with an easier-swinging groove than some of his New York work, in a style that let Sonny blow in round, warm, and really open tones – almost foreseeing his work for RCA in the mid 60s. Players include Ray Brown, Shelly Manne, Victor Feldman, and Barney Kessel – and the set features alternate takes of "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Come Gone", "Way Out West", "The Song Is You", and "You". CD

A fantastic classic material from Savoy Brown! The approach is maybe familiar blues rock, but the sound is also very special – with a great sense of fusion of all the elements, so that vocals, guitar, and rhythms all seem tightly tied together – still with the kind of bravado you might expect, and plenty of strong guitar from Kim Simmonds – but also given this focus that's really wonderful, especially when heavy piano lines come into the mix to almost give things a Mose Allison vibe, and added horns open up some currents of soul. A strong cut above the competition – with titles that include "Master Hare", "A Hard Way To Go", "That Same Feelin", "A Little More Wine", "I'm Crying", "Is That So", and "Stay While The Night Is Young". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A groovy batch of rock and roll tracks for this hip mod sex romp from the late 60s! Titles include "Just Like Me", "Picture Of Her", "Waltz For Caroline", "Possession", "Looking Back", "Taking Out Time", and "Virginals Dream" by The Spencer Davis Group; "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush", "Utterly Simple", and "Am I What I Was Or What I Am" by Traffic; and "It's Been A Long Time" by Andy Ellison. LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

The second Steely Dan album in the last three years, and only their third in the previous 20! On Everything Must Go, the Dan take a more laidback, easy funk approach to the arrangements than the incredibly grand scale of their mid-to-late 70s work. The tunes are comparably minimal, in fact, but don't fret it. For one thing, they have nothing left to prove in the grand jazz rock vein – they've already reached the top of that mountain. There is no need for Becker and Fagen (or we fans) to stress over topping Aja all these years into their career, especially when they can crank out a wonderfully hummable groove and barbed, incisively witty lyrics in their sleep. They are still way, way, WAY more interesting in 2003 than pretty much all of their poorly-aging 70s contemporaries, and the fact that we still have these guys in fine form is something we refuse to take for granted! Tracks include the title song, "The Last Mall", "Blues Beach", "Godwhacker", "Slang Of Ages", "Green Book", and more. CD

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... LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A rare non-Blue Note 60s date as a leader from Stanley Turrentine – recorded for Impluse when his (then) wife Shirley Scott was contracted to the label – and featuring the talents of both players on some very groovy tracks! The quartet features both Stan's tenor and Shirley's Hammond – with bass by Ron Carter and drums from Mack Simpkins – all in an easy-going groove that recalls some of the best Turrentine/Scott pairings on Prestige! There's a quality here that's relaxed, but never lazy – professional, but never slick – and the album's great proof that although both players could be great on their own, they often sounded even better together at this point in their careers. The album features a cool version of "On a Clear Day", which Shirley always manages to kick into a nice groove – plus the tracks "Good Lookin Out", "Let It Go", "Sure As You're Born", "T'Aint What You Do", and "Ciao Ciao". CD

Sweet and soulful early work from Stanley Turrentine – one of the few albums he recorded in the early 60s with wife Shirley Scott – then one of the greatest female organ players in the business! The album's got a easy going soul jazz feel that's a lot like the work the pair cut for Prestige – with great organ rhythms from Scott, and some additional conga from Ray Barretto – cooking up the rhythm section a bit more than usual! Titles include "Never Let Me Go", "Sara's Dance", "Trouble", and "Major's Minor" plus the bonus track "They Can't Take That Away From Me". CD

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

The only "west" these guys have gone is the West Village – the home of their aesthetic, and a post-Stonewall playground that was getting very firmly noticed by the mainstream by this point! The album's their last big one for Casablanca – and features arrangements from Horace Ott, who gives the record a surprisingly soulful core in the grooves – something that's also enforced by the production at the New York branch of Sigma Sound! Titles include the massive hit "In The Navy", plus the tracks "Go West", "Citizens Of The World", "I Wanna Shake Your Hand", "Manhattan Woman", and "Get Away Holiday". LP, Vinyl record album

Finally! Andre Williams has been getting loads of press over the past few years as the true "Funky Godfather" that he is – but up until now, nobody's ever done a good compilation of his work! This long-overdue set from Tuff City digs through the vaults of Avin, Sport, & Wingate – smaller labels that Williams recorded with around the same period that he was working with Chess – and the result is a funky funky batch of great little tracks, the sort that we always sell for a bundle on our funky 45 pages! Williams hard funky talent rings loud and true here (a hell of a lot more than on those recent recordings) – and the album's filled with great gems like "Black Bull", "Loose Juice", "Soul Groove", "Bassology", "Hard Hustling", "Jivin Around", "Rip Tips (parts 1 & 2)", "Pearl Time", "Chicken Thighs", and the great "Sweet Little Pussy Cat". CD has 3 bonus tracks, too! CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key records that really helped cement the strong reputation of Tatsuro Yamashita in the 70s – served up with the kind of standout material that easily made him one of the most soulful Japanese singers of his time! Yamashita arranged and produced the whole set, which has these warm jazzy backings that include some early keyboard work from Ryuichi Sakamoto – and Tatsuro has an ear for well-produced grooves that almost rival some of the best Cali soul of the period, save for the fact that his lyrics here are all in Japanese! Titles include "Bomber", "Monday Blue", "Love Celebration", "Follow Me Along", "2000 Feet Of Rain", "This Could Be The Night", and "Paper Doll". LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Mission To Moscow", "In A Persian Market", "Isle Of Capri", "In A Little Spanish Town", "I Love Paris", and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Includes songs by Tab Hunter, Pat Boone, Nick Todd, the Dell-Vikings, Jim Lowe, Ronnie Love & his Orchestra, Jimmy Dee & the Offbeats, the Shields, and more – 14 tracks total. CD

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

A great debut from Bow Wow Wow, and a mighty second act from Maclolm McLaren – whose work with the young group was one of his main projects after getting rejected by the Sex Pistols! This group's got a very different vibe, and an equally longstanding appeal – as playfully new wave as the Pistols were punk – with all sorts of romping rhythms that are heavy on drums, played by ex-members of The Ants – and fronted with lead vocals from the teenaged Annabella Lwin – a singer who really knows how to step out front with a lot of brash, young energy! There's a tribal groove to most tracks that really fits the title of the album – and tracks include "Jungle Boy", "King Kong", "Chihuahua", "Go Wild In The Country", "Why Are Babies So Wise", "Orang-Outang", and "Hello Hello Daddy (I'll Sacrifice You)". LP, Vinyl record album

Mad homegrown soul from the enigmatic Darondo – a brief Bay Area star back in the 70s, and also host of TV comedy and children's shows! Darondo only ever saw release of 3 singles, but they're all pretty darn great – a weird mix of funk, soul, and sly slinky grooves – very unique in conception, and with a heady, tripped-out vision that makes us wish he'd recorded more. Luv N Haight have really done Darondo justice with this set – bringing together all 6 tracks from the singles, plus 3 more previously unissued numbers – all in a great package that features words from the man himself, plus some great images from his older TV shows. A near-lost soul figure, but one with enough charisma to fill the careers of other more famous acts! Titles include "How I Got Over", "Let My People Go", "Legs (part 1)", "True", "Didn't I", "I Want Your Love So Bad", "My Momma & My Poppa", "Sure Know How To Love Me", and "Listen To My Song". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album