A sharp little record that's as well put-together as its 70s cover – served up by a group who certainly have some of the rootsy modes you'd guess from their name, but honed into a sharper studio sound, thanks to production help from Terry Melcher and Mark Lindsay! The record's one of those real 70s mysteries – a set that got plenty of care from the label, and which is filled with catchy tunes that could have crossed over big on AM radio – but which were maybe lost in the shuffle, while the promotion team behind the record were sneaking into some Sunset Strip lounge for mid-afternoon cocktails. Melcher and Lindsay also apparently appear on the record – and titles include "One More Round", "Piece Of My Life", "Together Now", "Tracy", "Ain't It Sad", "Whatcha Treatin Me So Bad For", and "Love You Tonight". CD

A sweet disco set from the late 70s – the only one we've ever seen by the Partners, who we're guessing were some sort of European studio combo! The sound is mighty nice – exactly what you'd guess from the title – the best sort of funky Euro disco style of the time, with some sweet harmony vocals that almost have a Bee Gees vibe – yet never nearly as poppy as their disco tunes! There's a warmth here that marks the Paris in contrast to other European club sounds of the time – and attention to lyrics that goes way past the usual "let's throw a singer at some grooves" – especially on the album's mellower cuts. Titles include "Partners", "Friday", "Dance", "Green Eyes", and "Love Meant To Be". CD

A lovely little record, and one that's got a vibe that's very different than you might guess from the creepy image on the cover! Pidgeon are a post-folk group who mix the wonderful vocals of Cheri Gage with some nicely dreamy, sometimes psychedelic arrangements – all of which give the whole thing a wonderfully swirling, soaring sort of vibe! In addition to Gage, who also plays autoharp, the set features early work from Jobraith – who'd later go on to fame in a very different mode, but who harmonizes wonderfully here next to Cheri on many numbers. Titles include "Of The Time When I Was Young", "Springtime Girl", "The Dancer", "House On A Hill Among Trees", "The Wind Blows Cold", and "Dark Bird". CD

Very cool work from Quintessence – an overlooked British group at the end of the 60s, and one who've got a sound that's every bit as spiritual as you'd guess from the cover! These guys are so influenced by Eastern thought, their lead singer is named Shiva – and most of the group members have names that follow suit – yet they also work in a style that's equal parts progressive rock, with a current of jazz – which they spin out beautifully with instrumentation that includes a fair bit of flute, next more conventional guitar, bass, and drums. Their earliest material also features sitar and tambura, which are dropped a bit later on – although the group still seems to find the right spiritual currents – and this wonderful set features three full albums by Quintessence – In Blissful Company, Quintessence, and Dive Deep – with 28 tracks that include "Body", "Gange Mai", "Pearl & Bird", "Notting Hill Gate", "Sea Of Immortality", "Burning Bush", "Shiva's Chant", "Maha Mantra", "Twilight Zones", "Sri Ram Chant", and "Dance For The One". CD

Sampha's a singer who's always hard to peg, but one who grabs you right away – with a voice that's one of the most unique, distinct, and powerful in contemporary soul music – and which deserves to be heard in all its brilliance on a record like this! We're not sure how to describe what we like so much – there's a raspiness at times that make his lyrics almost feel conversational and up-close, and a touch of a London accent that makes familiar words a bit more meaningful, and maybe a slight sense of warmth amidst it all – an indication that Sampha's never too full of himself, even though you might guess that from his image on the cover! Production and instrumentation is nicely understated – really letting the voice flow over the keys and other elements – on titles that include "Spirit 2.0", "Wave Therapy", "Only", "Rose Tint", "Inclination Compass", "Stereo Colour Cloud", "Jonathan L Seagull", "Satellite Business", "Time Piece", "Only", and "Can't Go Back". CD

Not just a live album from the great soul singer Myles Sanko, but one that showcases his talents with a full orchestral setting – as you might guess from the image on the cover! The setting unlocks this new sort of majesty in Myles' music – this soaring sensibility that's a real reward to all of us who've been following his music for years – and which is an equal treasure to those just discovering Sanko for the first time! The orchestrations never overwhelm his vocals – and instead they have this way of pushing out the sound even more – a richness in sound that Myles can't help but respond to – on titles that include "Come On Home", "This Ain't Living", "Forget Me Not", "My Inspiration", "Just Being Me", "Forever Dreaming", "High On You", and "Light In My Hand". CD

A pair of classics from Strawberry Alarm Clock – back to back on a single CD! First up is their classic Incense & Peppermints – dreamy pop psych from Strawberry Alarm Clock – a great late 60s group who skirted the worlds of Sunshine Pop and more jamming garage rock! This album's got a lot more to offer than you might guess from just the title hit – as the instrumentation sometimes gets nicely tripped out – with cool use of organ, harpsichord, and guitar – plus plenty of special effects in production – and even some of the song styles and lengths are unusual too, making the album way more than just a batch of cute little tunes. Titles include the classic "Incense & Peppermints", the eight minute jammer "The World's On Fire", the instrumental "Pass Time With SAC", and the cuts "Paxton's Back Street Carnival", "Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow", "Strawberries Mean Love", and "Unwind the Clock". Next is Wake Up It's Tomorrow – a great little second set from Strawberry Alarm Clock – much headier and tripped-out than their first! For the record, the group's not just working off the success of a previous single – and instead is really taking time in the studio to try out new ideas, musically, lyrically, and (most importantly) in the range of cool production techniques used on the set! There's still a warm harmony vocal approach on some of the album's best tunes, but they're also matched here with some more progressive guitar parts and fuzzier instrumental touches – in a way that brings a bit of darkness into the sunshine, and creates the wonderful sense of counterpoint that was always the group's strongest suit. Most tunes are nicely unfamiliar, and titles include "Curse Of The Witches", "Black Butter – Past, Present, & Future", "Soft Skies No Lies", "They Saw The Fat One Coming", "Nightmare of Percussion", "Tomorrow", "Sit With the Guru", and "Pretty Song From Psych-Out". CD also features single mixes of "Tomorrow" and "Sit With The Guru". CD

The Tibbs serve up a very classic style of soul – as you might guess from the retro image on the cover – very 60s-oriented, with hard-driving rhythms from the group's well-crafted lineup, all topped with mighty dynamic vocals from lead singer Roxanne! And sure, this isn't new territory for the market – but The Tibbs do it a lot better than most, and the vocals, horns, and grooves all come together with a sharper focus and real commitment to the sound than most other groups who are swimming in the same water. Titles include "For Lack Of Better Words", "Give Me Reason", "Chicken Bones", "Rafaela", "Guess I'm Guilty", "Last Train", and "In Orbit". CD

An unusual group that we only know from this one Italian soundtrack – and a combo who's not nearly as electronic as you might guess from their Kraftwerk-sounding name! Instead, the approach here is a bit like that of Goblin on their horror scores from the same time – a style that uses keyboards, guitar, and bass that come from a more progressive music background than other Italian soundtrack composers – but which also comes off here with a lot less of the jamming modes that you'd hear in Goblin's work. Instead, the overall sound is relatively laidback – lessons learned from the great Italian composers of the early 70s, especially in their balance of subtle and more experimental sounds – all poised nicely to build over the course of the film. There's some great use of electric bass here – often quite spare and pulsating – and the CD reissue features 26 tracks in all, including a number of bonus tracks! CD

The funkiest record ever issued by this 70s group best known for clubbier work – a set that foregrounds the badass vocals of female singer Samaki, who kicks it nicely over a host of short tracks that mix political messages with a few personal themes! The whole thing's every bit as righteous as you might guess from the cover – with plenty of influences from bigger names on labels like Curtom or Westbound during the early 70s – but handled with a nice approach that's got some rough edges too! Titles include "Help The Poor", "Daddy Could Swear", "Ticket On The Ark", "Sayin It Doin It", and "I Got Stronger". CD

Forget the cheapo look of the cover, as the set's a classic batch of gems from the Trojan Records catalog – 2CDs worth of material, with 55 titles that go way past the obvious hits – served up in a great mix of rocksteady and early reggae modes, and filled with the kind of tunes that instantly bridged the space between Kingston and London at the end of the 60s! The package takes off from a mainstream Trojan set from back in the day, and offers the much deeper dig that we love from the Doctor Bird label – tunes that make the whole thing more of a journey of discovery than you might guess from the simple statement of the title. Tracks include "Build It Up" by Tito Simon, "Sweet Sensation" by The Melodians, "This Is Reggae Music" by Zap Pow, "Floating" by Greyhound, "Black Pearl" by Horace Faith, "Liquidator" by Harry J Allstars, "Elizabethan Reggae" by Boris Gardiner & The Love People, "I Need Your Sweet Inspiration" by The Pioneers, "Red Red Wine" by Tony Tribe, "Think About That" by Dandy Livingston, "Down In The Boondocks" by Delroy Williams, "Reggae From The Ghetto" by John Holt, "Yesterday Man" by Nicky Thomas, "Who's That Lady" by Paris Connection, and lots lots more! CD

A killer look at one of our favorite scenes in the UK in the punk years and beyond – the city of Leeds, home to a surprising amount of really fantastic groups – some of whom were initially united in a scene-based style, many more who later exploded in a range of very groovy modes that were all their own! The title's taken from a song by The Mekons – back when they shared a lot with Gang Of Four – and in addition to those two great groups, the package features material by a startling array of others – groups who really run the gamut once the 80s moves on – in a lineup that includes Cassandra Complex, Three Johns, Vicious Pink, Deja Vu, The Hollow Men, Wedding Present, The Mission, Son Of Sam, Age Of Chance, Edsel Auctioneer, Pale Saints, Snapdragons, Sisters Of Mercy, Soft Cell, Girls At Our Best, Scritti Politti, The Neats, Jerks, and many others. As you'll guess from the groups, there's a great range of punk, indie, and industrial material here – plus some noisy bits as well – and the whole thing's presented with a great booklet of notes on everyone included, and the scene in Leeds as well. CD

Extremely heady work from the French scene of the early 70s – and hardly the Latin Rock album you might guess from the title! Ergo Sum have a sound that's as contemplative as their name – a slow-building, almost brooding blend of jamming, jazzy work on flute, Fender Rhodes, organ, guitar, violin, bass, and drums – all topped by the distinctive vocals of Lionel Ledissez, who's got a raspy, rough-edged appeal that almost sounds like Cat Stevens gone to seed! The lyrics are all in English, which adds to the appeal of the record – and the flute and keyboard parts are handled by Jean Guerin. Titles include "Night Road", "John's Nightmare", "Faces", "Second Rebirth", and "Albdion Impressions". As with all Lion reissues, the production is wonderful – lots of notes and photos on the music, plus bonus tracks that include "Mexico (inst)", "It's Me", "Tijuana", and "All's So Comic". CD

The complete legacy of Glad – and the related New Breed group as well! The set begins with the group's classic album Feelin Glad – a sweet bit of 60s sunshine, and a record that's every bit as charming as you might guess from the cover – served up by a group who are well into the best harmonies of the time, but also digging for something deeper too! The vibe isn't really psychedelic, but there's certainly some of those elements at play – as the group get help on some larger arrangements from producer Erik Wangberg, who uses just the right touches from song to song to keep things interesting, and from ever falling into too-familiar territory! The record's filled with groovy little original tunes in a variety of flavors – and titles include "Bedtime Story", "A New Tomorrow", "Sweet Melinda", "Silly Girl", "Johnny Silver's Ride", "No Ma It Can't Be", and a cool remake of "Shape Of Things". CD also features 8 more mono Glad singles, mostly of tracks from the album – plus 8 more earlier tracks by The New Breed – all mono singles by an earlier version of the group, already really able to deliver pure Cali harmonic genius! CD

An amazing collection of work from Jackie Ross – a singer who was arguably the greatest female soul artist in Chicago during the 60s! Jackie's got a really wonderful approach – sweet on top, but with a hard punch below – very much at the best level of some of Motown's heavyweights of the same period – but not nearly as well-known! That aspect makes this set a really fresh discovery – not just Jackie's few hits, but lots of other rare album and single material too – including a few unreleased tracks that really round out the collection wonderfully. And as you'd guess from Ace/Kent, the packaging and presentation is wonderful – not just crystal-clear quality to the recordings, but really rich notes and images that make the whole thing sparkle way more than any previous collection of Ross' work for Chess. Titles include "Everything But Love", "Selfish One", "Misty", "Wasting Time", "You Really Know How To Hurt A Girl", "Honey Dear", "My Square", "Stick To One", "Dynamite Lovin", "Take Me For A Little While", "I Dig His Style", "Trust In Me", "It's Going All The Way", "Jerk & Twine", "I've Got The Skill", and "Haste Makes Waste". CD

A very heady combo from the French scene at the start of the 70s – one who seem to have really been inspired by the free jazz experiments of the BYG/Actuel scene right at the end of the 60s! The group's a septet, as you'd guess from their name – and they shift between unified expressions and very frenzied moments when each individual player is doing their own thing – yet somehow managing to make a sense of the sound as it rises together! Players include Sonny Grey on trumpet – a surprise if you know his straighter work from earlier years – plus William Treve on trombone, Jean-Francoise Sicard on alto sax and flute, Gerard Coppere on tenor and flute, Jean-Louis Mechali on vibes and drums, Francois Mechali on bass, and Manuel Villarroel on piano. Titles include "Parisionophobie", "Theme Z", "Relaxin", "Terronesia", "Brack", and "Amma". CD

Robert Aaron is an unusual figure on the New York scene – a farther part of the no wave scene in its glory days, yet also a musician who was also playing outside on the streets around the town too – maybe something you wouldn't guess from his image on the cover! This set brings back Aaron's talents in a nicely respectful way – giving his work on saxes and organ a new vibe, thanks to a well-chosen array of musicians by the Heavenly Sweetness label – including the great Chieck Tidiane Seck on Hammond and Fender Rhodes, Roger Raspail on percussion, and Monette Sudler on some guest guitar! Anthony Joseph sings on one track too – and titles include "Trouble Man", "A Song For Monette", "Maimouna", "Thembi", "Bombo", "Sweet Obsession", and "Bombo". CD

Four rare albums from the great Moe Bandy – maybe not the biggest country star of the 70s, but one who cut a fantastic run of records like these! Bandy's got a very classic honky tonk style – down-home, blue-tinged tunes that often have Moe himself as the punching bag – with an honest look at the struggles of life and love, all served up with lean instrumentation that feels a lot more like some barroom performance than the arena-filling work of some of his superstar contemporaries! All four albums are produced by Ray Baker in a nicely understated mode – almost more 60s in style than you'd guess – with Bandy's wonderful vocals ringing out over some really well-chosen tunes, and classic instrumentation on steel guitar to echo the bluer currents in the lyrics. The set is long overdue, and features the CD debut of these four great records – 40 tracks in all, with titles that include "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind", "A Baby & A Sewing Machine", "A Wound Time Can't Erase", "Are We Making Love Or Just Making Friends", "Up To Now I've Wanted Everything But You", "A Four Letter Fool", "No Deal", "Bic Flicking Baby", and "I Guess I Had A Real Good Time Last Night". CD

Excellent work from this smooth Chicago vocal group! The album may well be the best the group ever recorded – and it features some stellar ballad work produced with a nice spacey tone, almost in a Rose Royce mellow mode – by Jerry Butler's Fountain Productions team and by Clarence Johnson, who brought the group up from the beginning! The real strength of the album, though, is the group's vocals – wonderfully harmonious, but with a rougher edge and a deeper soul than many other 70s groups of the same type. The album includes the massive semi-hit "Guess Who's Back In Town" – plus other good ballads like "How Do You Think You're Gonna Find Love", "Let's Work It Out", and "Distant Melody". The album also features some uptempo numbers – and other tracks include "Run & Tell That", "Dance A Thon", and "No Limit". CD

A righteous set of lovers rock from the Love Joys – a female duo, as you might guess from the cover – but one who work here with a wonderfully deep sound! This isn't the crossover material you might hear from other artists of this nature – as there's a very tough-edged presentation to the whole thing – echoey, dubby rhythms recorded at Wackies, with some especially splashy drums next to the nodding basslines – allowing lots of space that has the vocals echoing out in space as they trade back and forth – in a way that's quite different from more familiar harmony modes. Titles include "Stranger Get Up", "All I Can Say", "Watch Them", "How Long", "Love Is Not A Game", "Jah Light", "Studio Man", "Wherever Jah Send Me", and "Are You ready". CD

Three great 60s albums from jazz singer Carmen McRae – all in a single set! Second To None is one of Carmen McRae's best records of the 60s – an album done with beautiful arrangements from Peter Matz, who's probably best known for his work with Barbara Streisand at the time – and who really helps McRae take her music to the next level! Carmen was already one of the most sophisticated jazz singers of the 50s – but in the following decade, she really perfected her phrasing – and was able to grab material and make it completely her own – all with a mode that's steeped in the special sort of inflections a jazz singer can bring, but which is also able to maybe be even more adult in approach overall. The strings soar, the percussion is fairly spare and often a little bit off kilter – and Carmen emphasizes her phrasing and more earthy tendencies without any empty histrionics – on titles that include "In The Love Vain", "The Music Makes Me Dance", "Too Good", "Once Upon A Summertime", "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", and "Cloudy Morning". Live & Doin It is about as strong an example of the genius of Carmen McRae as you could ever hope to find – a live album that displays Carmen's impeccable phrasing in a very stripped-down setting – and one that also swings with a fair degree of sophisticated soul as well! Back in the 50s, Carmen paved the way for later stars like Marlena Shaw or Nancy Wilson – and here, she outdoes both of them with effortless ease – working with a very cool trio that features Norman Simmons on piano, Victor Sproles on bass, and a very young Stu Martin on drums. The set's got that strong understanding of soul that was explored even more fully in her Atlantic Records years – which really transforms tracks in unexpected ways. Titles include "Guess Who I Saw Today", "Quiet Nights", "Trouble Is A Man", "My Ship Has Sailed", "No Where", "Meaning Of The Blues", and "I Only Have Eyes For You". Haven't We Met is great work from Carmen McRae – light and groovy one minute, deeply expressive the other – but all with a sense of balance that few other singers can touch at this point in her career! Carmen's already moved past straight jazz, yet she also avoids the traps of bigger label commercial singers too – really making the best of the sophisticated charts by Don Sebesky, yet also always reminding us who's in charge! The album's on a par with the excellent work to come for Atlantic records – and titles include the groovy "Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries", "Who Can I Turn To?", "He Loves Me", "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Limehouse Blues", "I'm Foolin' Myself", "Fools and Lovers", and the title track – a wonderfully groovy take on the Kenny Rakin tune "Haven't We Met". CD

The great self-titled set from Tuff Darts – one of the less-remembered groups to play the CBGB scene of the late 70s, and one who effortlessly blend punkish energy with tighter power pop sounds! The group are maybe a strong precursor of new wave styles to come in the following year or two after the record's release – but they've also got a rawer sound overall, and a snottier vibe on some of their tunes – not exactly Dead Boys territory, but with the vibe that you might guess from their look on the cover! Yet they're also not afraid to get tuneful when they want, which happens on a few key tunes here – part of a great lineup that includes "My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms", "Phone Booth Man", "Your Love Is Like Nuclear Waste", "Rats", "Slash", "Fun City", and "Love & Trouble". CD

A fantastic extension of the Jazz Is Dead series – a run of records that's already got a wonderfully collaborative vibe, which is taken even further with these tracks! As you might guess from the title, the album features remixes of cuts from the previous nine volumes – and the choice of remixers is really top-shelf – a great run of talents who now add their voices to the stunning sounds created by the host of famous jazz/funk talents who worked alongside Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad in the studio! Every track has a nicely different vibe, but not in a way that's schizophrenic – as the music really opens up from the sounds at the core, while still holding onto them as well. Titles include "Gotta Love Again (Kaidi Tatham rmx)" with Marcos Valle, "Soulful & Unique (Pink Sifu rmx)" with Roy Ayers, "Soulsea (Cut Chemist rmx)" with Gary Bartz, "Redor Do Samba (DJ Spinna rmx)" with Azymuth, "Liasons (Diabiase rmx)" with Joao Donato, "Nancy Wilson (Shigeto rmx)" with Brian Jackson, "Windfall (Natureboy Flako rmx)" with Doug Carn, and "Jazz Is Dead (Georgia Anne Muldrow geemix)" with The Midnight Hour. CD

Mighty nice work from The Brother Boys – a contemporary group, but one who've got a sound that's very steeped in older folk and country styles – all at a level that makes them a perfect group to focus on in this excellent series! As you might guess from their image on the cover, the group work heavily with acoustic instrumentation – in ways that move forward from postwar bluegrass and hillbilly styles, but which often have some of the sensitivity of the hipper country-inspired singer/songwriter scene – with echoes of Gene Clark or Gram Parsons from time to time! The double-length package features lots of work from the group's earliest years, and later material too – a total of 51 tracks that include "Pinto Pony", "Blue Days Black Nights", "Two Men", "Majestic", "The Diamond Stream", "Blue From Now On", "Band Box", "Moosnhine Grin", "I Just Roll Along", "Conversation With Death", "The Ramshackle Shack", "Crazy Heart", "Darkest Day", and "Gonna Row My Boat". CD

A group who have plenty of the funk that you might guess from their name, but one who can also do a great job with a mellower cut too – as you'll hear in this wonderful collection of their too-short legacy on record! The group were formed in Harlem during the early 70s, and had a run that never really cracked the charts at the time – yet which rivaled some of the hippest work of their generation – every bit as sharp a funk group as Kool & The Gang, and able to shift into other vocal modes with the dexterity of The New Birth – both great references for the sounds on this set! All the work was originally issued on the group's own label, and is presented here as a full collection for the first time ever – with cuts that include "Breezies", "Ready Made Family", "Funk Power", "The Whole Groove", "Moving World", "The Whole Thing", and "Before The Next Teardrop Falls". CD

Revelatory sounds from Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru – an Ethiopian nun, but one who had a secret side life as a pianist and composer – stepping out here on a selection of solo tracks that have a wonderfully captivating vibe! Gebru's music first got wider exposure in the Ethiopiques series, but the sounds within are hardly the better-known grooves from that nation in the 70s – and instead, the tracks are beautifully intimate, and almost have a pastoral sort of quality – minimal piano lines sometimes touched with spiritual vocals – but with a spirituality that's much more universal and secular than you might guess from Gebru's work in the church – almost 4AD at times, but in a lo-fi way. The music is very hard to describe in words, but has a stunning presence that will grab your ears right away – on titles that include "Aurora", "Quand La Mer Furieuse", "Have You Seen Assayehegn", "Farewell Eve", "The Pilgrim Song", "Famine Disaster 1974", and "The Home Of Beethoven". CD

One of the most soulful records we've heard in years from the late pianist Harold Mabern – and that's saying a hell of a lot, as Harold gave us plenty of soulful sets during his many years on the planet! The record is as fantastic as you might guess from the title – as Mabern takes on tunes made famous by John Coltrane, but delivers the goods in this soaring style that's very much his own – and maybe most specifically, at a level that recalls the vibe he first hit in the 60s when playing with Lee Morgan, and then took to even newer heights on some of his fantastic 70s material – particularly recordings with reedman Frank Strozier! Here, the reeds are handled by Eric Alexander on tenor and Vincent Herring on alto – a hell of a pair – and the group also features really strong work from Steve Davis on trombone, who's really at the top of his game throughout. The rest of the group feature the familiar team of John Webber on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums – both also really rising to the occasion – and although we'll not be hearing much from Mabern in years to come, this set is a hell of a farewell. Titles include "Impressions", "Blue Train", "Naima", "Straight Street", "My Favorite Things", and "Dahomey Dance". CD

A rare disco outing from funky drummer Alphonze Mouzon – one of a few albums he cut with the group Poussez! Alphonze is very much in charge of the groove here – handling all writing, arranging, and production chores for the record – and playing drums, keyboards, and percussion, while also throwing in a bit of his own vocals too! The groove is less of the guitar-heavy funk of Mouzon's mid 70s years, and very much the disco set you'd guess from the cover – and despite the image of a sexy duo on the front, Poussez is actually a trio of female singers, plus one other member who delivers "moaning and handclaps"! Tracks are all long, and with a very good instrumental undercurrent – with guest work from Bob Malach, Randy Brecker, and Ray Gomez – and titles include "Come On & Do It", "Boogie With Me", "You're All I Have", and "Never Gonna Say Goodbye". CD features a bonus disco mix of "Come On & Do It" by Ray Thode. CD

A totally fantastic record, and one we'd put right up there next to some of the best soulful hardbop albums on bigger labels of the 60s – even though the set hardly ever saw much circulation back in the day! As you can guess from the cover, the quintet hails from San Francisco – and they work here with a boldly creative vibe that really reflects the energy they were bringing to their club dates in the Bay Area – leadership by pianist Al Tanner, with smoking tenor from Roy Henderson, and a mix of flute and trumpet from George Alexander – both done in these really great ways. Edwar Williams handles bass, and perhaps the biggest name here is drummer Smiley Winters, who would later go on to more avant fame – yet it's the group together as a whole who work so well, often with the cohesive energy and individual voices of the Horace Silver quintet at its best. Titles include the massive modal number "Kuba" – plus "Rolon's Groove", "Bronson's Blues", "The Magi", "Poor Me", and "Zaltanica" – most nice and long. CD features bonus tracks "Lobby Lizards" and "Kuba (alt)". CD

Late sound library grooves from the UK scene – but still pretty darn groovy! First up is Metropolis Now – a 1980 set from arranger Dick Walter, with production from Syd Dale – who clearly keeps things in the same groovy style as his own excellent work for Amphonic! Instrumentation is jazzy, but mixed with a good deal of electric funk – almost making the record sound like one of those great electrified big band albums from the mid 70s that were burning big – a groove that's even more surprising coming from an obscure sound library source at the start of the 80s! Titles include "Times Square", "Greyhound Runaround", "Vegas Venue", "Texas Turnaround", "Metropolis Now", and "Pacific Coast Highway". Otto Keller comes up with some warm grooves for Mix & Match – a set that's got the same sweet jazzy overtones as the best German sound library records from the mid 70s! There's a nice sort of sparkle to most of the tunes – some nice 60s easy and bossa influences in the music – and production and instrumentation that's much more mid 70s than you'd guess from the date of the session. Syd Dale handled production and musical direction – and titles include "Bella Vista", "Spanks", "Walk The Lonely Road", "Blue Monday", "Catwalk", "Sun City", and "East River Mist". CD

Talk about standing in the shadows of Motown! This set's a whole batch of really rare tracks from the Detroit scene of the late 60s – some of which were only issued on tiny labels, and lots more of which appear here for the first time ever – all from the mighty deep vaults of soul producer Dave Hamilton! Dave's a lost legend from the Motor City – a cat who captured talent that was every bit as good as that appearing on bigger indies – like Westbound, Groovesville, or Ric Tic – but who also recorded more gems than he could issue back in the day – which is what makes his music so ripe for discovery all these many years later. The set's overflowing with cuts that rival some of the best Northern Soul singles of the period, and also includes some cool steppers that show the way that Dave could guess where Detroit sounds would go in the 70s – all with a quality and production level that's way more than you'd expect from Hamilton's tiny studio. CD features 24 tracks in all – lots never issued – and titles include "Happiness Is Here" by Tobi Lark, "Lean Lanky Daddy" by Little Ann, "Heavenly Thing" by The Mark-Keys, "You Did" by Priscilla Page, "What Should I Do" by Little Ann, "Blue Funk" by Dave Hamilton, "Talking Bout Love" by Tobi Lark, "Your Love Is What I Want" by The Ravins, "Just A Mistake" by The Ebonettes, "That's All She Wrote" by Gil Billingsley, "Love Friends & Money" by James Lately, "Sweep It Out In The Shed" by Tobi Lark, "I'm Pretending" by Priscilla Page, "Nothing In This World" by Dottie & Millie, "You Won't Miss The Water" by Chico & Buddy, and "Marriage Is Only A State Of Mind" by James Carpenter. CD

Mid 60s magic from a record label that only lasted a few short years – yet one that's gone on to have as much prominence for real soul collectors as the music of Atlantic and Motown! Loma Records was a small offshoot of Warner Brothers on the west coast – yet one that worked far from the hit territory of its parent company, and instead captured all these wonderful groups and singers who might never have gotten exposure otherwise – a few of whom would go on to record later for bigger labels, but most of whom lost the chance for fame once Loma closed its doors! The quality of the music here is incredible – really top-shelf productions, at a level that rivals some of the best Detroit studios of the time, mixed with some of the cool class of Chicago soul as well – served up in a style that works equally well for vocal groups and solo singers. And while Loma recorded some deep soul cuts during this period, this set focuses on the more upbeat numbers – as you'd guess from the "Northern" in the title – served up in a collection that not only features rare singles, but also a few unissued tracks too! CD set features 25 tracks in all – and include "Mean It Baby" by Carl Hall, "You Can't Outsmart A Woman" by Kell Osborne, "I'm Getting Weaker" by The Soul Shakers, "My Heart Needs A Break" by Linda Jones, "Bright Lights" by Delilah Kennebreuw, "Runnin Around" by Tony Amaro & The Chariots, "Baby Don't Look Down" by Billy Storm, "The Big Jerk (part 1)" by Clyde & Teh Blue Jays, "Better Think Of What You're Losing" by Tommy Starr, "The Man With The Golden Touch" by Charles Thomas, "Got A Thing Goin" by The Invincibles, "It's Your Love That I Need" by The Marvellos, "Just A Little Longer" by The Enchanters, "I'll Find A Way" by Bobby Reed, "Go For Yourself" by Larry Lester, "See The Silver Moon" by The Apollas, "Lies" by Bobby Freeman, and "If You Should See Her" by Ben Aiken. CD

The solo debut of Eric Boss – a singer you might know as part of the duo of Myron & E – who gave us some great harmony soul records on Stones Throw and Timmion! Here, Eric is a much straighter soul singer overall – working with a sharp funky punch in the backings, with plenty of Mighty Mocambo help that you'd guess from the record's placement on their label! Tunes move nicely between 60s and 70s funky soul modes, but often with a more complex, contemporary vibe on the rhythms – and although the set features guest work from Gizelle Smith and Gift Of Gab, Eric hardly needs any help to make a strong statement on his own. Titles include "Bad Luck", "Closer To The Spirit", "I Wanna Ride", "Spiders", "Get Next To You", "Forward", "Merry Jane", and "Your Life Is Up To You". CD features the bonus track "The Turning Point" – with Ishtar. CD

A key second chapter in the long and wonderful career of Joni Mitchell – a set that brings together the four albums she recorded for the Asylum label in the mid 70s – a post-Blue period that really had Joni opening up and exploring a lot in her music – including a jazzier side of the spectrum that never showed up as strongly before! First up is For The Roses – a sometimes-overlooked album in the career of Joni Mitchell – but a set that's every bit as great as the two huge hits that bracket it! Joni's really finding a great way forward, sounding more mature, and bringing some jazzier currents into her music – thanks in part to help from reedman Tom Scott and bassist Wilton Felder of The Crusaders – and a style of songwriting that's sometimes more fluid than before, and often a lot more biting too! Titles include "Woman Of Heart & Mind", "You Turn Me On I'm A Radio", "For The Roses", "Barbangrill", "Cold Blue Steel & Sweet Fire", "Let The Wind Carry Me", "Lesson In Survival", and "Judgement Of The Moon & Stars". Court & Spark is a key record in the second chapter of Joni Mitchell on record – a set that has both her vocals and her overall music style flowing with all these amazing touches you might not have heard a few years before – jazzier currents in her music that really set the album apart from earlier work in Joni's career! Mitchell responds to the music with soaring vocals that are completely wonderful, and nicely changed up in character from tune to tune – given backing by a host of great jazz and studio players who include Tom Scott on reeds and Joe Sample on keyboards! Titles include her classic version of "Twisted" – a redone version of the old Annie Ross track – plus the classic hit "Help Me", and "Just Like This Train", "Car On A Hill", "Court & Spark", "Down To You", "Free Man In Paris", and "People's Parties". Miles Of Aisles is the first-ever live album from Joni Mitchell – and a record that sounds a fair bit different than a concert set might have during the Reprise years – as Joni's got plenty of help from Tom Scott & The LA Express, who bring a tight yet intimate vibe to the proceedings! Joni's definitely a superstar at this point – as you might guess from the size of the amphitheater on the cover – but she's also got an even stronger ability to come across with a personal, pointed style – one that's very different than the overblown hype of so many other 70s live albums. The set includes a few tracks not yet on albums, and a nice mix of material – including the live version of "Big Yellow Taxi" that ended up as a hit single – and the cuts"You Turn Me On I'm A Radio", "Blue", "Woman Of Heart & Mind", "Both Sides Now", "Real Good For Free", "Jericho", "Circle Game", "Cactus Tree", "The Last Time I Saw Richard", "People's Parties", and "Woodstock". Hissing Of Summer Lawns is a further step forward in the career of Joni Mitchell – a record that not only continues the jazzier currents she explored in the 70s, but also brings in a whole bunch of different modes as well – so much so, it's almost as if Joni's daring anyone to still call her a folk singer with the album! The themes are wonderfully sophisticated, as is the songwriting – the king of material that would keep Mitchell strong for decades, while so many of her contemporaries faltered – as you'll hear on the tracks "In France They Kiss On Main Street", "Sweet Bird", "Shadows & Light", "The Boho Dance", "Don't Interrupt The Sorrow", "The Jungle Line", and "Edith & The Kingpin". CD

A set that's got much more subtle beauty than you might guess from the "jam" in the title – not really any sort of jam session at all, and instead a lively, lyrical piano trio session in the best Japanese tradition of the 70s! Toshihiko Ogawa has a magnificent scope on the keys – really able to reach out, stretch out, and keep things moving on the long tracks on the set – bringing plenty of his own energy to the material, even when the tunes are familiar – with superb work from Kunimitsu Inaba on bass – a player who has these warm, rounded tones that seem to wrap the whole thing up in a great way. The legendary drummer Donald Bailey brings a crisp touch to the record – and titles include "Half The Battle", "Mood Indigo", "Blues For Tak", and "Bouncing With Bud". CD

A legendary record from the late 60s scene in Peru – recorded by a group with the mod roots you might guess from their look on the cover, but who are definitely starting to let their hair down and get a bigger dose of the psychedelic generation in their mix! Instrumentation features all the fuzzy guitars and organ lines you might expect – delivered at that level that's made the group one of the key proponents of the legendary Peruvian scene at the time – one of the heights of South American rock experimentation. The group turn in unusual versions of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", "Strange Brew" and "Hey Joe" – and they serve up some wild originals too, including "Pepper's Boogaloo", "Answer", "Is My Guitar", "Raga Gag", "Words Of Pain", and the wild "Betty Boom Little Monster Doggie & Peggie At The Witches Castle". CD version has 3 bonus cuts – including a Spanish version of "Stormy", plus the instrumentals "Un Nuevo Verano" and "Outside Woman Blues". CD

A macho disco classic from the TK Records family of labels – in case you couldn't guess from the image on the cover! The drums are more pounding here than on the typical clubby record of the time – especially on the title track – and there's this nicely funky groove at most points, a full-on forceful style that makes no bones about where the music is headed – and which gets things going long before the vocals come into the mix! Those are sung by Karen Silver – who never tries to compete with the rhythms, but just finds a nice way to slide along with the groove. Titles include "I'm A Man", "I Can't Get Over You", "Melody Of Love", "Good Times", and "Make Time For Love". CD features the bonus track "I'm A Man (7" version)". CD

Very long, very spiritual improvisations from a really wonderful group – the Fire Into Music quartet of trombonist Steve Swell, a group with superb work from Hamid Drake on drums, William Parker on bass, and the late Jemeel Moondoc on alto saxophone! As you'd guess from the title, the album is something of a tribute to Moondoc, who left the planet in 2021 – and who was really one of the standard bearers of more spiritual jazz expression at the time of these recordings, when the style had fallen out of favor with some of the underground. Yet the rest of the group is equally amazing – and the pairing of Parker and Drake is completely sublime on its own, especially given the open space they are allowed in the very long tracks that make up the set. Swell is great too – both as a leader and a very sly sound-shaper on trombone – and the set features a full 55 minute improvised performance from the El Dorado Ballroom in Houston – plus six more slightly shorter tracks recorded in Marfa and Guelph – on titles that include "Box Set", "Junka Nu", "Space Cowboys", and "Swimming In A Galaxy Of Goodwill & Sorrow". CD

British music breaking through – served up here in a set of sounds that really reflect the massive musical year of 1971! As you might guess from the "underground" in the title, the collection's a bit one-sided – as it's not out to document the hits of the time, but instead the work that was bubbling under and having such a huge impact on the world – even if some of these artists never saw the fame they deserved, or were a few years away from bigger success with the tracks on the set! The package is heavy on work from the psych-into-prog years – much of which never falls into the excesses of either – and there's also a few hard rockers, some jazzier bits, and lots more surprises along the way – served up in a set list of 52 tracks by artists who include Keef Hartley, Jade Warrior, Pink Fairies, Procol Harum, Family, Samurai, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Nucleus, Yes, Status Quo, Cressida, BB Blunder, Beggars Opera, Pretty Things, Spring, Hawkwind, Audience, Atomic Rooster, Patto, Caravan, John Martyn, Peter Hammill, and many others. CD

Rare soul from the Detroit underground at the end of the 60s – most of it pretty darn funky too! The work here all comes from the hands of the legendary Dave Hamilton – a key Motor City talent who turned out a stunning array of music on many different labels back in the day – then also managed to come up with some equally great work that never even got released at the time! Kent/Ace Records have been digging deep into Dave's vaults for the past decade or so, and we've loved all those other previous collections – but we've also gotta say that we're really stunned by this one – as there's a darker, funkier vibe to some of these cuts than we might have heard previously – almost a Westbound Records vibe at times, with great guitar and these nicely trippy grooves – especially on the earliest cuts in the set. There's a few numbers from later years – Dave kept woodshedding all through the 70s into the 80s – but most tracks are late 60s/early 70s vintage, and supported by the usual top-shelf notes that make each Kent collection way more of a history lesson than just a pile of funky 45s! Titles include "Party Time" by Chico & Buddy, "Challenge My Love" by Tobi Lark, "My Sweet Baby" by JT's Rhythm Band, "The Dreamer" by Felecia Johnson, "Showdown (part 1)" by Simon Barbee & The Barbabes, "I Gotta Have You (alt take)" by Little Ann, "When I Say Groove" by Dave Hamilton, "Guess I'll Go To Packin" by Carolyn Franklin, "Four O'Clock Blues" by Glemie Derrell, "Moving On" by Little Stevie & The Sensational Reynolds Singers, "It Takes Two" by Del-Phis, and "Somebody is Wrong" by Presberry. CD

Excellent work from the South African scene of the 80s – music that maybe provides a pathway to the new freedom to come, thanks to a joyous, upbeat sense of spirit – one that's equally wonderful all these many years later! The cuts here are all clubby, but less in the disco mode that you'd guess from the title – as styles include a fair bit of influences from both the New York and European scenes, especially some of those cross-cultural elements that might have been coming out of places like Paris, or the downtown clubs in New York! Vocals are mostly in English, and the tunes are heavy on basslines, beats, and keyboards – but often have a much warmer, more soulful vibe than some of the tinnier South African synth cuts of the period – in a mode that makes the whole thing equally appealing to any fan of 80s soul from around the globe. Titles include "You & Me" by Margino, "Good Vibes" by Hot Soul Singers, "No No Senor" by Brenda & The Big Dudes, "Let's Get It On" by Supa Frika, "Ea Kgiba Ngoale" by Black Fire, "Ambiguously The Same" by Soundburger, "Saturday Night Special" by Varikweru, "Love Satisfaction" by Supa Frika, and "Holiday" by Margino. CD

Rare work from Weldon Irvine – a selection of tracks recorded as private studio outings, reissued briefly by Luv N Haight in the early 90s, and then only on vinyl! The style here is much more jazz-based than some of Irvine's soul recordings – a mode that's often all instrumental, and which features Weldon playing more acoustic piano than on his 70s fusion classics – but usually mixed in with sweet electric elements, too – which creates this wonderfully righteous balance in the music! The whole thing's very soulful, with plenty of undercurrents of the RCA years – and guest players include Steve Grossman on tenor, Marcus Miller on bass, Tom Browne on trumpet, and Bobby Broom on guitar – the latter 3 of which all worked with Weldon at GRP, making us guess that some of these 80s sides were intended for release on that label. Titles include "Kundabuffer", "Music Is The Key", "Mr PC", "We Can Try Again", and "Blues For Spike". CD

An incredible tribute to the legendary Strata Records in Detroit – performed by Jazzanova with a host of other guests – and at a level that's maybe the greatest thing the group has ever given us on record! The vibe here is a lot more Strata and spiritual than the style you'd expect from Jazzanova – as they take on tunes by label legends like Lyman Woodard, Kenny Cox, Sam Sanders, Maulawi, and other talents from the same Motor City underground of the 70s that gave the world Tribe Records. Instrumentation is a blend of Fender Rhodes and lots of live jazz work on flute, tenor, trombone, and trumpet – sometimes topped with vocals from Sean Haefeli, who really helps open up the soulful side of the tunes! Wonderful throughout, better than we might have even guessed – with titles that include "Joy Road", "Face At My Window", "Ortotundes", "Loser", "Scorpio's Child", "Creative Musicians", "Lost My Love", "Inside Ourselves", and "Saturday Night Special". CD

A fantastic follow-up to the legendary Home Schooled collection from Numero Group – and, like that one, a set that focuses on the surprisingly great genre of kid soul that flourished in the 70s – in the wake of bigger groups like the Jackson Five, Sylvers, and 5 Stairsteps! These groups are all from similar territory – mostly comprised of younger members, but who work with an undeniably great sound overall – grooves as sharp as most of their adult counterparts in the indie soul field – and maybe a lot more energy and enthusiasm in their music – which makes for tracks that are wonderfully upbeat, positive, and overflowing with goodness! Most of the work here is from the early 70s – and, as always with Numero, the set is presented in a very thoughtful manner – with some great notes and wonderful sound quality overall. There's a few of our favorite Chicago groups on here, mixed with loads of other artists we've never heard before – and titles include "Runnin Wild" by Scott Three, "You Got Me Believing" by Leonard Kaigler, "Guessing Games" by Jimi Hill, "I Want A Little Girl" by The Bennetts, "Everywhere You Go" by The Next Movement, "Because I Love You" by Brighter Side Of Darkness, "It's Time For Love" by Soul Emotions & Co, "The Other Guy" by Mighty Mustangs, "Love Got A Piece Of Your Mind" by Five Ounces Of Soul, "Funky Breakdown" by Little Man & The Inquires, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by The Brothers Rap, "I'm Free No Dope For Me" by The Dynamics, and "Girl Why Do You Want To Take My Heart" by Magical Connection. CD

Think you've heard everything on Motown? Think again – because this sweet little set is filled with unissued 60s recordings by some of the best male singers on the label! The collection is a soul fan's dream come true – as the music here represents some real lost corners of Motown, with sounds that span almost the full stretch of the 60s – and really show the label's greatness at work – because if most of these tracks were recorded by other labels, they would have been pushed as potential hits! There's great work from artists who were just starting out, surprising moments from big names at the time, and a few entries we wouldn't have guessed without looking at the notes – and titles include "Headin North" by Shorty Long, "Only On The Weekend" by The Headliners, "Satisfaction Is Guaranteed" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, "Safety Zone" by Marv Johnson, "Hold On To Me" by The Spinners, "Show Me You Can Dance" by The Hit Pack, "Tell Me How To Forget A True Love" by Johnny Bristol, "Mojo Hannah (studio)" by Marvin Gaye, "I Wanted To Cry" by Bruce Channel, "I'm Gonna Make It To The Top" by Freddie Gorman, "This Ole Heart" by The Quails, "The Night We Called It A Day" by The Four Tops, and "Just Your Love" by Ivy Jo. CD

Vocalist Fay Victor pens lyrics for a jazz composer we're not sure we've ever heard with words before – modern piano legend Herbie Nichols, a player whose songs are often as full of angles and sharp changes as Thelonious Monk! And as you might guess from a style like that, the music doesn't easily lend itself to vocalization – but when it does, the results are amazing – as Victor's not only penned some fantastic lyrics for these tunes, she also delivers one of her best performances on record to date! The sound is modern, but never too outside – maybe like Jon Hendricks taking on some of Monk's music, in the way that Fay always retains a sense of humanity – working here with piano from Anthony Coleman, alto and baritone from Michael Attias, bass from Ratzo Harris, and drums from Tom Raney. Titles include "Descent Into Madness", "Non Fraternization Clause", "The Culprit Is You", "Shuffle Montgomery", "Sinners All Of Us", and "Bright Butterfly". CD

The last 2 albums that the Impressions ever cut for ABC during the 60s, both of them pretty darn nice! The Fabulous Impressions has a vibe that's way more than you'd expect from the group's supper club style on the cover – as the record features a great set of original Curtis Mayfield compositions, sung by the group in great form, with arrangements by the total genius Johnny Pate! The record is filled with haunting soul tracks like "Isle Of Sirens", "Aware Of Love", "It's All Over", "Love's A Comin", "You Ought To Be In Heaven", and "She Don't Love Me" – all written by Curtis, and all proof that he's always been one of the best soul songwriters! A nice little gem that often gets lost in the band's catalog – but one to seek out, even if you're a bit nervous about a record with "fabulous" in the title! We're A Winner is a whole new level of pride and power for The Impressions – as you might guess from the bold statement of the title track! It may seem hard to believe from the perspective of the 21st Century, but back in the mid 60s, a message like "We're A Winner" was quite a strong one – a new anthem of righteous identity that was one of the first truly political statements from a young Curtis Mayfield, and a great precursor of the genius to come in the 70s! But even at this early state, there's still plenty of genius going on – not just in Mayfield's sublime songwriting, but also in the harmonies of the group, and the beautiful treatment they get in the studio from arranger Johnny Pate. The album's one of their key classics from the ABC years – and titles include "We're A Winner", "Moonlight Shadows", "Nothing Can Stop Me", "I'm Gettin Ready", "Let Me Tell The World", and "Little Brown Boy". CD

A mighty nice early album from Jimmy Cliff – a set that's maybe not as well-known as his massive hits of the 70s, but which definitely sets the tone for all the greatness to come! Jimmy's voice already has this raw, righteous power that's incredible – trained in the soul of the rocksteady generation, but given all these nice lean production touches that were handled by Cliff himself – clearly already really getting his ears around the best aspects of the forces available at Dynamic Studios! There's some key ringers in the set – including Winston Wright on organ and Tommy McCook on tenor – and The Heptones provide some mighty nice backing vocals too. The whole thing has a much rawer sound than you might guess for a record on a major label – and titles include "Black Queen", "Be True", "Oh Jamaica", "Commercialization", "The Price Of Peace", "Poor Slave", and "Rip Off". CD

A fantastic new chapter in music from Cecile McLorin Salvant – a singer who's only been with us for a little more than a decade, has already gotten a Grammy and a MacArthur Genius Grant – yet hasn't let that stop her from being even more creative than ever! Cecile's still very much a jazz singer at the core, but there's also an expressive range here that we might never have guessed on her earlier records – and that's saying a lot, as those albums really blew us away! The singer's really breaking out of just the world of jazz vocals here – rising with star power, ala Gregory Porter or Esperanza Spaulding – but also maybe going deeper at the same time too. Titles include a surprising remake of "Wuthering Heights", plus "Thunderclouds", "Unquiet Grae", "Moon Song", "Trail Mix", "The World Is Mean", "Obligation", "Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying", "I Lost My Mind", and "Dead Popular". CD

A beautiful score to this lesser-known Marcello Mastroianni film from 1970 – sublime sounds from the great Armando Trovajoli – done in a beautiful mix of electric keyboards, wordless vocals, and dreamy orchestrations! The set's got this warmly stepping groove that's really tremendous – spacious sounds that draw on Trovajoli's previous bossa work, with some more electric 70s elements at times – but never too much at all. The whole thing's as charming as you'd guess from the cover – and titles include "Se Mesi Di Felicita", "Tema Di Oreste", "Dramma Della Gelosia", "Incontro Alla Balera", and "Adelaide". CD also featuers 6 never-issued bonus tracks – plus a poster-style booklet too! CD